AALIYAH'S DADDY

"You're already here!", Aaliyah exclaimed when she saw Albee coming down the stairs after they arrived home from the park. "Come with me! I'm going to tell you something!", she said as she cheerfully grabbed Albee's wrist and pulled him away.

Arianna watched as the kids whisper to each other's ears. She wondered what they're gossiping about. This kids already know so much which is quite worrying.

"Are you sure?",Albee asked after Aaliyah whispered something.

Aaliyah nodded. "Yes! I'm not kidding! That really happened! I'm sure that's him! Mum was so upset afterwards. I really felt sorry for her." she said changing her facial expression from happy to sad in just a snap.

Albee lowered his eyes and thought for a while. He then smiled and glanced at Aaliyah. "Alright. In exchange, I'm going tell you something too. That guy on the picture you showed me last time.... he's now upstairs in mommy Belle's room."

Aaliyah's eyes widened. "Really?", she exclaimed. She paused for a while and then happily dashed away excitedly. Albee watched as she run upstairs with expectant eyes. He likes to see Aaliyah happy. How he wished his mother could be happy too... he thought as he turned to the woman looking at him from a distance.

***

"Daddy! Is my daddy really here? Where's my daddy?!!" Aaliyah exclaimed as she pushed the door open. She surveyed the room and caught Belle and a man looking back at her. Was it him? It looks like him!

"Daddy!", she yelled as she run towards the man on the bed. Roy who was caught off guard froze at the sight of the little girl hugging his legs. "Daddy! You came! You finally came to see us!"

Belle was stunned too. Who told Aaliyah that Roy was her father? She was surprised but her heart felt warm as well as she smile at the little girl after recovering from the shock.

"Come here, Aaliyah..." she beckoned to her. She then hugged the little girl after Aaliyah climbed to her lap.

"Roy... I'd like you to meet Aaliyah. My daughter." she said. Roy though was so confused he wasn't able to say anything and just stared at the two of them. Belle noticing Roy has fallen to a trance couldn't help but reach out and hold his had. "She's our daughter." she clarified.

Roy snapped out of his daze at once. A daughter? He had a daughter with Belle? Something that connects him to her. How incredible!

Roy was so overwhelmed he just hugged the two of them without a word. All the pain he's been through all this years seemed to have vanished as he held Belle and and their child in his arms. He gave each of them a kiss on their forehead as he savor this wonderful moment with them.

"Hey, be careful alright? What if your wound tears again?",Belle mumbled.

Roy wouldn't listened though. He was so blissed out he almost wanted to cry. "Let's get married alright? We'll make it a big wedding. The grandest wedding of all!", he proposed.

Roy felt Arabella's body becoming stiff right after his words and he realized his mistake. He then let go of them and looked away. He wasn't thinking straight. Why would he just blurt out a marriage proposal like that? He was just too happy he went out of control.

"I don't want a wedding." Arabella mumbled.

"Yeah. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say it like that." he stated anxiously. "I mean, I'll wait for you... til you can finally have me in your heart.... no matter how long it takes." he stuttered as he tried to explain. It was awkward. He just found them but he was rushing things out. He erred big time.

Arabella shook her head. "No. I mean, let's just register our marriage. There's no need for a grand wedding." she uttered. She then squeezed his hand as she smiled at him. She deserves this, right? She deserves to be happy.

Roy pulled Belle to his embrace once more and kissed her hard. This must be a dream because it felt so good- so good to be true! He thought he was crazy... well maybe he really is.

"Roy, the child is watching..." Belle muttered as she push him away.

Yes. Aaliyah was watching with her head tilted to one side. "So.... he's really Aaliyah's daddy, right?" the little one asked innocently.

The couple exchanged glances and both laughed at the child. Roy then opened his arms and beckoned her to come closer. "Come here, baby girl. Let daddy hug you." he told her with a smile.

Aaliyah run to his arms and let him hug her. She finally has a daddy. She can finally enjoy having a complete family.

***

"Mamma... is it true?" Albee asked as he watch his mother get busy in the kitchen. "Aaliyah told me she met my father. Was it really him?"

Arianna paused. Lately, the kids are getting more curious about their dads that they asked about them a lot. And now, with Aaliyah's father finally showing up, it's no surprise Albee wanted to know more about his.

"Yes." she replied. If she could, she wouldn't want to say anything more.

"What did he tell you? Does he want you back, too?" he probed. Unlike Aaliyah's father, it was said that his dad was already married to someone else. He didn't know what happened but he really wanted her mother to be happy too, just like her aunt. He looked at her and waited for her answer but she didn't say anything to him. He just saw her lower her head as if concealing something.

***

Arianna and Roy were both seated on a bench as they watch Belle and the children play around the playground. Roy has been living with them for a few days now, and he has been nothing but good to Belle and their child. Arianna also heard from Belle that they had already registered their marriage the other day which is good news.

"I didn't know you recovered your eyesight." Roy remarked beside her.

"Yes. I started my treatment after I gave birth to Albee." she replied. She was very thankful to her friend Gwen and her husband. They did everything for her. With their help, she was able to undergo a hyperbaric oxygen therapy and gradually recovered her eyesight.

"You're son is very smart. Yago would be very happy to meet him." Roy commented. "Have you heard anything from him? He just disappeared after hearing news of you vanishing while on a cruise."

Arianna went silent. She actually didn't want to talk about that so she just smiled and tried to change the subject. "He's alright, don't worry. How about you? What are your plans now that you're finally reunited with your family?",she asked.

"We haven't talked about anything yet but... I would love to go on a honeymoon in Hawaii or something. What do you think?", he jested.

Arianna laughed at the idea. "Wow. Hawaii is good. Aaliyah would surely be delighted." she answered. Roy frowned though.

"Would you think I'm a bad father if I tell you... I wished we could go on a honeymoon without Aaliyah? I mean..." he stuttered a bit. Seeing how he struggled to explain his point, Arianna couldn't help but chuckle. Of course she understands. He wanted some alone time with her new wife and it's perfectly understandable. She would be more than willing to take care of the child for them.

"You don't have to explain! Look at your face turning red!" she teased. Arianna was busy laughing at the silly guy's expression that she didn't realize someone approaching them from behind. The next thing they knew, a punch flew past Arianna and hit Roy's face so hard that he tumbled down the bench. Arianna was so shocked she hurriedly reached out to help Roy up. He was still injured! Just who was that crazy person just now?

When Roy and Arianna turned to look at the assailant, both of them were surprised to see Yago standing behind the bench. His furious look had them perplexed.

"I heard someone wants to go on a honeymoon. How about I send you to hell first?", he said between gritted teeth. His words only sending more bewilderment to the two of them.

"What are you even saying!", Arianna exclaimed as she stand before Roy as if shielding him. "You have no business here. You also don't have the right to assault people like that!"

Yago's eyes darkened even more at the sight of Arianna defending another man in front of him. She has never treated him like this before as if he's a stranger who has no place in her life... in her heart.

"Look, I think you should talk about this. There might be some misun-"

"Shut up!", Yago roared which cuts Roy's words. "I don't wanna talk. I only want to kill you!" he yelled before trying to throw a punch to Roy again. Arianna blocked it with her arm though and it hit her elbow hard.

Yago was truly enraged. Arianna kept depending the guy. He doesn't want to hurt Arianna though. He just wanted to vent his anger on that traitor!

"Mamma... who is this crazy man?", out of no where, the sound of a child's voice broke the silence. All of them turned to look at the child. "Who are you mister?", he asked Yago.

There, a small boy was standing with furrowed brows. Behind him was a little girl. Arianna turned pale. Why are the kids here? They shouldn't witness a violent scene like this. Where's Belle?

"Albee, go and take Aaliyah back to your aunt." Arianna urged him.

"She left to buy us some ice cream." Aaliyah replied. "What's happening?" she added, turning to look at Yago. She then whispered to Albee's ear, "Why is your daddy bullying my dad?"

Albee clenched his fist when he heard that. Is this Yago dela Vega that they were talking about? He's bullying her mum! "Are you Santiago dela Vega? Why are you bullying my mother?" he asked, his expression cold.

Yago stared at the little boy. Arianna already have two children? But this boy....

"Why aren't you saying anything? Why are you still bothering my mother? Is it that you still like her?" the boy continued asking.

Yago sneered at the gutsy little boy. "So what if I do?" he said.

Albee stared at his father with that cold look for a long time before displaying a smirk. "Alright then! I'll allow it after you file for a divorce!"

All three people were stunned. What was this boy saying?

Albee continued his staring contest with Yago. Who cares about his wife? He just want his mum to be happy.