Chapter 57

Silence... as the couple lovingly gazed at each other's eyes. After an afternoon well spent, despite of the rain and mishaps, the wonderful moment they shared in that little cabin would always be embedded in their hearts and memories together.

It was amazing that after all these years, they would end up like this. That it would take having a wonderful ten year old girl to be born in this world in order for them to finally confessed their feelings for each other.

It was now seven o' clock at night and the rain had brought some parts of the campsite muddy and unable to trek. After being fetched by the ranger from the cabin, Robbie and Alex had never left their gazes at each other. They watched each other's movements, and took in every detail of the other.

"Mom," Sasha called as her eyebrows creased. Though by now she understood that her parents were probably liking each other, she was still not used to see them too loving. Only this morning had she seen them arguing and now, their eyes won't leave each other.

She was starting to feel isolated but somehow, she was relieved that the arguments had stopped.

"Mom!" she called that made Alex startled. Her mother completely looked like a zombie, except that she was smiling.

What happened when they were away? Did his father enchanted her mother in some way? Did he cast a spell on her?

The girl never saw her stare longer at one person before... particularly to a guy. She had met several men that liked her mother. There were Brian and Christopher who were really nice and yet, her mother never looked at them like how she looked at her dad.

Could her father be a wizard? She wondered, suddenly smiling for thinking ridiculous things.

"You look weird, Mom," she blurted out before she could even stopped herself. She hated how she always said some things from her mind right away then regretted it once it came out. She expected her mom to get upset but instead, both she and her dad laughed.

"I'm sorry, honey," Robbie said. "Did it bother you?"

"What?" Sasha asked.

"That you have weird parents?"

"Then that would make me a weird child!" she exclaimed, and started laughing.

Truly, it was fun to have weird parents but there was really something that changed since they came back. She just could not put her finger on it.

"What happened to you awhile ago, Mom, Dad?" she started. "Michael and Toni told me, that you guys went on a hike. But you disappeared too long that I almost cried. I was so worried.."

She lowered her head as the pair looked at her with concern. They were all sitting in the living room, the pair was on the couch while Sasha was on the floor beside them. Alex had made some hot chocolate for them after Michael and Toni brought them dinner.

They set their cups down and sat beside her on the floor, one on each side.

Robbie took the girl's chin and smiled at her.

"Thank you for thinking about us and I'm sorry for letting you worry. It was my fault. I wanted to spend some time with your mom but the rain fell hard and we could not go down that hill," Robbie explained.

"You went on a hill?" Sasha asked. "Where is it?"

"I'll take you there when it gets better outside. Right now, it was bad out there. So would you forgive us?"

"I'm not mad, Dad. I was just worried. But I know you'll take care of Mom. You loved her."

Robbie smiled, taking off his hand from his daughter's chin and gazed at Alex.

"And I love him, too, Sasha," she replied, smiling sweetly at Robbie.

It felt good knowing that Sasha was on board on this. Probably, it would be harder if Robbie was not her dad... if she tried dating other guys before.

"I know, Mom. I saw how you have googly eyes and act like a zombie when you look at Dad today."

"I do?" Alex asked, and Robbie chuckled.

"I never saw you look at anyone like that before."

Robbie's smile widened. "You're oggling me."

Alex rolled her eyes at him and he laughed.

"Well, I got attractive parents. If not, then how can I be this pretty?" and Sasha grinned.

The pair laughed, and squeezed their "little lady bug".

"Very well then, I think we better get ourselves ready to bed, don't you think?" Robbie suggested, as his eyes meant something else. He stared at Alex, sending him silent signals only they could understand.

Alex bit her lip. The idea of sleeping next to Robbie only by themselves won't really mean anything at all. Sleep had become a reference to something else.

Sasha gulped down her hot chocolate. With so much activity that day plus worrying about her parents, it had made her really exhausted.

"Okay, Mom, tuck me to bed," she announced as she set her cup down on the table.

Alex stood up and offered her hand to Sasha. The girl took it and stood up. She bent over to kiss her dad on the cheek.

"Goodnight, Dad. I love you," she said and smiled. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"I'm proud of you, Sasha. You'll be sleeping by yourself like a big girl," there was a hint of relief knowing he would be alone with Alex in the bedroom.

Excitement and anticipation filled him. Suddenly, he couldn't wait to be alone with her again. Now that the bed was so much better than that god-forsaken mattress, he was more confident than ever.

"Thanks, Dad. But I was actually excited to do it as well. I don't want you guys squeezing me again in the bed," and she chuckled.

Finally her baby girl was beginning to grow up. Alex smiled inwardly. She didn't know the transition would be that quick. Sasha used to be that clingy to her and now, she suddenly wanted to be independent.

That made her, as a mother, feel accomplished.

"Goodnight, Dad," Sasha said as she started walking towards the room with Alex.

"Goodnight, my princess," Robbie replied.

Soon, the mother and child, went inside Sasha's bedroom in the cabin.

Sasha went under the sheets. Alex kissed her forehead.

"Goodnight, my baby girl," Alex whispered.

Sasha smiled. "You haven't called me that since I was five."

"Well, now, I want to call you that again. Baby girl."

"Okay, Mom, since I know I am you're only baby girl," and she grinned.

"Yes, and you'll always be," Sasha smiled and closed her eyes.

Alex stared at her daughter and smiled. She could not believe how time flew so fast.

She stood up, look over once more and closed the door behind her.

When she came back to the living room, Robbie was lying on the couch, eyes closed. His face looked so relax and the light from the fireplace illuminated his face.

Alex sighed. They said that if you could watch a person while he was sleeping for long hours in front of a fire place, then that's how you know you truly love a person.

She walked over to the couch and sat beside him. She remembered how she would wake up sometimes and watched him sleeping beside him when they were younger. She never knew back then that she actually admired him while he was sleeping. He looked like an angel, as his breathing was calm as his chest rose slowly up and down, just like Sasha.

She lifted her hands, started tracing his nose, then his cheek, and his jaw. Those lips... She bent down and gave him a quick peck on the lips.

"Alex..." he called as she let go of his lips. A smile curved on his lips, and he opened his eyes.

She held his cheek and smiled.

"Sorry... You look so handsome I can't resist," she told him.

"It's okay. But I want another one," and she bent down again as they kissed.

"Better?" she asked as they let go.

"Much better," he replied. "Come here, lie down with me."

"You don't want in the bedroom?"

"I'm afraid we won't sleep at all if we're in there, and I'm exhausted."

She laughed.

"So you think here would be better?"

"Yes... just don't do anything weird to me and you'll awaken something else."

She smacked his arm.

"I'm not a pervert!" she exclaimed.

"How would I know? You kissed me when I'm sleeping."

She narrowed her eyes at him.

"You're not actually sleeping."

"Well, I'm about to until you sneaked a kiss."

She rolled her eyes.

"Now, let's stop arguing and get your beautiful ass beside me," he ordered.

"You're too bossy!"

"You haven't seen me being a big boss to you yet. Wait till honeymoon and I'll show you."

"I think I'd like that," and she bit her lip.

"Stop seducing me!"

Alex chuckled.

"C'mon, my love, as much as I wanted to do it with you every single day-"

"Every single day? Who said we will do it everyday?"

"I'm just saying-"

She bent down and took his lips to stop him. It lingered for quite awhile, as he pulled her neck, building up intensity then she let go.

"Why everyday when we can do it every minute?" she whispered.

He let out a deep sigh as she kissed him again. By now, Robbie's senses awakened and the heat that crawled in his body.

"Sht, Alex!" he whispered, breathlessly as he placed his forehead on to hers. "How can I resist you?"

"Then, don't. Let's go to the bedroom," and she bit his ear.

"Fck! Fine... you win," and Alex laughed.

She stood up and put out the fire from the fireplace as Robbie waited for her. Then, hand in hand they walked to the bedroom, and locked the door.

"I love you," Robbie whispered as he pulled her to a kiss.

"I love you, too," she mumbled underneath his lips.

Soon, they were buried deep in each other's arms, passionately kissing as the minutes and hour passed. They made love like they had never been before.... and fell asleep with their naked bodies, underneath the soft sheets of the bed.

A promise of more days like this, where they just hold each other in their arms, breathing in each other's scents was what they looked forward to.

They gazed at each other one last time, smiling and soon, fell asleep.

The next day was a new day for them. A wonderful day to start... not just as friends but an assurance of love that would last a lifetime.

A future... in which tomorrow would tell how it would become in the next few days or even months to a year.

Tomorrow would be the first day they were officially a couple...

And they hoped it would be nothing but wonderful.

If only fate would allow...