The past

"My dad was in the U.S army. I lost him when I was 6." I said.

"Oh." Diana exclaimed, "I'm really sorry."

"It's okay. He died for the one thing he loved most, aside from his family; his country."

"I was the only child of my parents and mom was young when he passed away. After a few years of struggling to fend for her and myself, she decided to get married."

Flashback:

"Coco, You can't just bring your child to my doorstep one morning and decide she will live here from now on, that's not how things are done!" I heard nana saying from the dining room.

I was sitting in the living room, holding the teddy bear dad gave me, with my luggage sitting just beside me. My eyes surveyed the house. It was my first time being there.

"I know, mom. I know." My mother, a beautiful, petite woman with long brown hair replied. At that time, She looked pretty tall to me, "But I have to."

"You know Scott doesn't like children." She added.

Nana scoffed, "I don't know why you would want to leave your only child for that man." "He's not good for you!"

"Enough mom!" My mother's voice cut in, irritatingly, "We've been over this."

"Every man I've ever loved has never been good enough for you anyways."

Mother strode to the living room and sat down beside me, "You're okay, sweetheart?" She asked.

I nodded shyly, without saying a word.

"You'll be staying with Nana from now on." My mother said, "Nana's really nice, you just be good to her, okay?"

"Yes mommy." I replied in a tiny voice and turned to Nana who walked into the living room, "Hello nana!" I greeted.

The old lady smiled at me, "Come here." She said, opening her arms for a hug. I slowly walked up to her and accepted her embrace.

A kiss was planted on my hair. It was from my mother.

The door flew open and closed with a loud bang.

End of flashback.

"And that was the last time I saw my mom." I said.

The entire room was absorbed in silence. I could have sworn I heard a cricket from a distance.

"What happened to her?" Diana's voice broke after a while.

"She died." I replied, nearly inaudibly, "Found out her husband was cheating on her. Went to bed and never woke up."

"Grandma died when I just started college." I added, "She had been struggling with her health and refused to tell me."

"She decided to put me first before her health." I added in a quivering voice.

"Are you okay, Mélie?" Damien Jaeger asked with concern.

My cheeks felt wet. I swiped my fingers over it, "I'm fine." I replied.

I rose to my feet and ran upstairs, already feeling more tears building up in my eyes. The wounds still felt fresh and painful. I thought, as I ran into a dark room, banging the door shut behind me.

"I didn't think it would still hurt so much." I whispered, dragging myself down to the floor with my back resting against the door, "But it still hurts."

"It hurts so much."
~

"Mélie." A distorted voice called my name.

It was Damien Jaeger. I had fallen asleep on the floor, "Mélie, please open the door."

I rose to my feet, feeling a bit heavy. The room looked darker now and I could barely see anything through my half open eyes which seemed a bit heavy as well.

I opened the door and my eyes fell on Damien Jaeger, who's hand was hanging in the air, preparing to knock again.

"Damien I…" I wanted to talk.

He pulled me to himself, "It's okay." He whispered, his hand patting my head, "You don't have to say anything."

My heavy chest felt lighter in the comfort of his embrace. He was right! I didn't have to say anything. I might just tear up all over again.

"I love you." I whispered weakly.

He didn't say anything but continued stroking my hair in silence. I know that he didn't have to say anything to me. I spent forever in silence, wrapped up in his arms.

"I'm okay." I finally said, slowly removing myself from his body, "I feel better now."

"You sure?" Damien Jaeger asked and I nodded in response, "Wanna go downstairs or just stay here?"

I dragged my running nose, "I think we should head back." "Darcy's still there...and it won't be a good idea to end our first dinner with Diana this way." I added.

Damien Jaeger's fingers searched mine and he pushed his fingers into my slender ones and we headed back to the dining room in silence.

"Mélie." Diana cried when she saw me.

"Oh Mélie, I'm so sorry, my child!" She said, raising to her feet to meet me.

I smiled at her but I was sure that she would see, in the well lit room, that it was a smile that didn't reach my eyes, "It's not your fault."

"I was the one who insisted on finishing my story." I added.

"That was the past." Diana said, "I'm your mother now, my sweet!" She added, hugging me with such tenderness that I felt a bloom in my chest.

"Thank you." I whispered into her ears.

"Merci!" She said as we ended the embrace.

I laughed dryly, "Merci."

"Oh!" I exclaimed when my eyes fell on Darcy, "She fell asleep."

Diana laughed, "She had a little too much hot chocolate!"

"I guess we should all head to bed then." She said.

Damien Jaeger picked Darcy up, careful not to wake her up, "Yes. I think we should call it a night."

"I'd prefer having my granddaughter in bed with me tonight." Diana suggested, "My bed hasn't had company in years!"

I laughed lightly, "Sure."

Damien Jaeger lowered Darcy into Diana's arms.

"Good night."

"Good night." I said as she strode upstairs. She stopped and looked back as if she had forgotten something, then quickly threw a wink before vanishing upstairs.

"Diana's a bit crazy." I heard Damien Jaeger say beside me.

I chuckled, "She is."

"Let's go to bed then." Damien Jaeger said and took hold of my hands once more as we walked upstairs.