A Parents' Love

Pyr was torn.

When he took in Kayla and Cole, he assumed that the people in The Nest would also pitch in. He was so wrong.

Cole was not sleeping well at night and Kayla was constantly crying, looking for her mama. The little man must have sensed something was wrong because whenever his big sister cries, he does too.

And from what Pyr could see, it happened when Angel was not around them.

Each time Angel would leave the room they cry. It was irritating and frustrating. The minute the kids cannot see her or sense her presence they cry and ask for attention. Like the time Thea took her to the nearest mall to buy her clothes. They were just gone for two hours, yet it felt like an eternity.

That was five days ago.

Pyr looked at his 'family'. The great room of his house never felt this used. He never even bothered to put a carpet on the dang floor. Now the living, dining, and great rooms were sporting a light grey carpet the same shade as the kids' room. The loft and the stairs were also childproofed. While the cabinets had child locks to make sure Kayla will not accidentally hurt herself. She even has her reading nook in the living room with a small teepee.

His gaze zeroed on Angel, she was seated on the floor with Kayla on her lap, helping their daughter to read. Cole was peacefully sleeping in his bassinet, his feeding bottles were nearby. 'They looked so cozy together,' he thought. Yet he knew better.

"Babe, we will be having pizza for lunch, you okay with it?" he called out.

"Pizza?!" asked Kayla

"Yes, pizza, but we will not be ordering. We are going to make it," he stated and smiled at Kayla.

"I wanna help!!!" She stood up and ran to where he was. The kids' furniture that his crew ordered came in handy. They were also all over his house, from little sofas to a picnic table outside. He had to guess that some of the new residents were also graced by the sudden buying of things.

Some of the women and children they had rescued were already sent back to their countries. Interpol had to transport them and place them in protective custody to ensure they were never harmed again. They had done their part. If ever something happens, the fault will not be on him and his crew.

"Wanna help too?" Pyr asked Angel, who remained unmoving from her spot on the floor. She shook her head and picked up the eBook reader she had brought when she went to the mall.

He knew something was bothering her. Her movements were stiff and there were times that she was so hesitant in her every move. The handful of times she was out with some of his crew, they noticed that she was too tense around them.

His phone rang when he looked at who was calling he couldn't help but grin. The President of the Philippines was on the line. He must have something important to say because it was rare for him to drop a call.

"Babe? Wanna test if you can make a pizza? The dough is ready. I need to take this phone call outside." He walked to where she was and took the child's bassinet. "I'll take Cole with me, we need time alone," he dropped a kiss on her forehead before stepping outside.

He cannot help but grin, yes, he was torn. It was hard to juggle work and kids. But seeing the look of irritation on Angel's face made his frustration and irritation vanish.

Whatever revenge she will be dishing out for him…was something he was looking forward to.

〜(꒪꒳꒪)〜〜(꒪꒳꒪)〜〜(꒪꒳꒪)〜〜(꒪꒳꒪)〜〜(꒪꒳꒪)〜

The man was testing her.

Angel watched as Pyr picked up the bassinet and walked out the deck. The caller must be someone important to leave the house. She shrugged, as she walked to the kitchen island and started chopping some onions. She could care less for whoever he was about to call. For all she knows, it would be a woman. Someone whole, someone…

"Mama, you okay?" Kayla's voice brought her back. When she looked down at the onion she was preparing, it was nearly finely minced. She closed her eyes. How can she be jealous? She cannot even remember if she was married or not…

"Mama is okay, baby," she assured the child. "Help mama cook?" The latter gave her an enthusiastic nod before climbing the stool that was bought for her.

Angel's movements were practiced and it looked like she knew how to make pizza from scratch. She was not surprised that Pyr had two fridge and both were full, the same goes for his walk-in pantry and storage room. She would bet every piece of memory she had that the crew had bunkers somewhere.

She looked outside. The white roof of the gazebo his crew built could be seen from their house. It was a stark reminder that Kayla and Cole were Pyr's ward until the adoption papers were done. It was also the place where they buried the kids' mother.

Remembering how that day went was heartbreaking. The doctor found out that one of the veins in the brain popped causing a massive hemorrhage. Mila was doing her best to fight, and somehow, willed her body to live for the sake of her unborn child.

[Kayla was doing her best not to sob. When Pyr told them they were to bury her mama on the property, the little girl clung to her.

He looked so solemn and sad when he told them what caused her death. She was trying to understand her new papa was telling her, however, for the child, she couldn't.

Angel looked down at Kayla. She buried her face against her stomach and refused to look at Pyr. She could see that the male was lost for words on how to tell her what happened. That her mama would never be back.

'I'll do it,' she mouthed and she visibly saw the signs of relief on his face.

'Thank you,' he replied. He wanted to say more but decided to let her handle it.

The door to the kids' bedroom closed, leaving her and Kayla. Thankfully, Cole was being looked after by some of Pyr's younger crew. Angel lifted Kayla in her arms and they walked to the master's bedroom. She sat on the rocker with the little girl in her arms.

And waited.

"I want my mama," Kayla began.

"I know, baby, so do I," she replied.

"But mama Angel, you lost memory, right?" there was a confused look in her voice. "How you want your mama?"

"I remember her," the young woman replied. "I remember seeing her grave, and seeing my brothers." Angel took a deep breath before continuing. "My mama is gone too…"

"No!" The little girl's voice raised an octave, there was a nervous tilt in her. Kayla's eyes watered and her lip began to tremble. "My mama is not gone! She is just sleeping! She will wake up! She has to! She has to!"

"Kayla…"

"Mama needs to wake up. She promised that she will never leave me! She tolds me! She will be cooking and reading books and taking care of me! She…" her words ended as tears began to cover her little face. "Mama, Angel, my mama..."

Angel could only hug the little girl and listen to her. "She…" sniff, "promise me…" another sniff, "…mama said, we will be together forever…" a broken sob, "…she sleep…my…mama…she…sleeps…" She said those words over and over again, and all Angel could do was hold her.

"Watashino hahawa usotsukidesu. [My mother is a liar.]." Kayla suddenly spoke in Japanese.

Speaking in the same language, Angel gently asked, "Do you think she lied?"

"Yes! She tolds me! She promised…" she looked so mad when she replied in English yet Angel knew better.

"Kayla, listen to Mama Angel," the latter looked at her and gave a slow nod. "Your mama loves you, Kayla."

"No! She broke her promise!" the little girl insisted.

"Kayla," Angel began in a soft-spoken voice. "Your mama did not lie." Her words made the little girl frowned. "She will never leave you, she is always with you."

"But Papa Pyr said, we will bury her!"

"Yes, we will. But, baby, she will be here," she took her cold hand and placed it on her chest. Angel could feel her little heart beating fast. "She will never leave you, Kayla. Yes, we cannot see her, however, each time you look into your heart you will see her there."

"How?"

"Close your eyes, and think of her," Kayla did as she was told. Angel saw the moment Kayla understood what she was telling her.

"Mama…" the way she uttered one single word broke everything inside Angel. Tears fell as she gave a watery smile. Kayla sobbed again, but this time, it was a different kind of sob.

It was a sob of a little girl who accepted that her mama will not wake up, will not hear her laughter, nor will she feel her mama's touch. It was a pivotal moment in her little life when the two most important people in her life were gone.

Angel hugged her and sang a lullaby. The lyrics were in Tagalog, the meaning was full of emotions as she sang about love between mother and child. Though Kayla was unable to understand it, her sobs weaned, and she finally slept. Her little arms wrapped around the woman who vowed to love her like she was her daughter.

While outside the room, Pry could only close his eyes and leaned against the closed door. As the last notes of the song ended, he too made a vow.

To protect, cherish, and love the kids that were in care. Jin roared in response. For once, both man and beast were in agreement.

The children were theirs, his, Jin, and Angel. And they will do anything to keep them safe, and to make them feel loved. ]

"Love you, Kayla."

"Love you too, mama."