Little Emerald runs down the corridor from her room to Ermanno's room wearing her onesies the next morning and tries to open the door but could not so she bangs on his door with her small hands.
"Daddy wake up," said Emerald.
Ermanno opens his eyes and sees Xavier sleeping beside him.
He again hears the soft banging on the door. He smiles listening to Emerald call him. He gets out of bed and walks to the door and opens it.
Emerald looks at him and then covers her eyes with her small teeny tiny hands.
"Daddy you are n.a.k.e.d," said Emerald.
Ermanno laughs and says "I am wearing pants"
"But not a shirt," said Emerald still covering her eyes.
Ermanno went inside and wore a t-shirt and came out and picked Emerald in his arms and threw her on his shoulder.
Emerald laughs and Ermanno tickles her and takes her downstairs and sees Rose preparing breakfast wearing a t-shirt, leggings and socks.
'Of course, she is wearing socks' thought Ermanno.
Rose smiles at Ermanno which he doesn't return.
Rose looks down and stops smiling.
'Mr trying too hard to be a tough guy' said Rose in her mind
"Daddy I want to see the balcony," said Emerald and Ermanno nodded.
Rose saw them go out and as soon they went out they came in.
Emerald was hugging Ermanno tight.
"It's cold out there," said Emerald and Ermanno laugh and both sat on the living room couch.
Ermanno covered her with a small blanket on the head of the couch and started talking.
Rose saw both of them and smiled.
Every time Rose saw Emerald talking to Ethan she would imagine Emerald talking to Ermanno.
"Daddy I can count numbers and say alphabets" said Emerald.
"Can you tell me" said Ermanno.
"Aanhann" said Emerald and started singing the alphabets.
Rose looked up the clock and then decided to go wake up Xavier.
"Xavi, get up," said Rose.
Xavier opened his eyes and sees Rose's smiling face. He sits up and sees the room and makes pouty lips and starts shedding tears.
"Xavi, what's wrong?" Asked Rose seated on the bed with him.
"Mama wakes me up every day," said Xavier.
"I know you miss her. If you give me a chance I would like to help you today" said Rose.
Xavier looked at Rose with anger and said "No. You were not there before I don't want you now" and got out of bed and ran into the bathroom and cries.
Rose could hear him cry so she knocked on the door and said "Xavi. I am sorry I was not here before but please give me a chance. I would really like to help you".
"Go away" shouted Xavier.
Rose stepped back and shed tears being hurt by his rejection.
Rose wiped her tears and went down to the living room and saw Emerald counting numbers on her little fingers and Ermanno smiling at her.
Rose went close to them and said "Xavier is awake .Could you help him till I help Emerald clean up"
"Okay. See you later princess" and kissed Emerald's cheek and left her side and looked at Rose and asked, "why couldn't you help him?"
"I tried, he started shouting and crying," said Rose and looked down.
"Try harder next time and grandpa called. He has talked to the school and Emerald can join in the school with Xavier," said Ermanno and left to help Xavier.
Rose saw Ermanno leave and then felt Emerald hug her legs and say "why are you sad mummy?"
Rose smiled and picked her up and said "because my baby didn't kiss me today"
Emerald kisses Rose and asked, "are you happy now?"
"I am very happy. I have what I always wanted. My own family" said Rose and hugged Emerald.
"We are family. Daddy said so too" said Emerald.
"Yes. We are. You, me, daddy and Xavi" said Rose.
"And papa, mama, daddy, Kyle.. " said Emerald and started saying everyone's name she could think of.
Rose helped Emerald to dress up and Ermanno helped Xavier and he dressed up too.
Xavier was in a hurry to leave because Elisio had promised to meet him today in school.
After breakfast, Xavier was basically pulling Ermanno out of the apartment.
"Dad come on hurry up," said Xavier pulling Ermanno's hand.
"Wait a minute will you. Let me finish my coffee" said Ermanno.
"Drink it fast" said Xavier.
"Wow. You really like school don't you. I never liked school" said Rose.
"I don't care what you like" said Xavier.
"Xavi, that's no way to talk to your mother" said Ermanno.
"It's okay. We will get there." Said Rose and smiled at Xavier and said "but I would like to know your likes."
Xavier looked at Rose irritated and looked away from her and held Ermanno's hand.
Ermanno got up from his place and Xavier started pulling his hand.
Emerald saw Xavier pull Ermanno and went close to Ermanno and pulled his pant and said "daddy come on hurry up"
Ermanno laughed at Emerald and said, "why are you in a hurry?"
"I don't know," said Emerald and giggles.
Xavier looked at the smiling Emerald and said "what is wrong with you? Why are you always smiling?"
"I don't know," said Emerald.
"That's the only answer you know?" Asked Xavier.
"I don't know," said Emerald and Xavier banged his hand on his forehead and Emerald did the same.
Rose laughed and said "she is following the leader"
Xavier looked at smiling Emerald and asked: "so you will do what I will do?"
"Aanhann," said, Emerald.
Xavier smirked and Ermanno picked both his children in his arms and said "don't make plans in your little mind Xavi. If you get her into trouble, there will be punishment and remember dad is not here to bail you out" warned Ermanno.
"But you said I can call mama and papa anytime I want. And papa is awesome. He knows everything. If you punish me, he will take care of you" said Xavier.
"Take care of you? Xavi, do you even know what that means?" Asked Rose.
"Yes, papa says that all the time. He says he will take care of anyone who hurts me. Remember that... Mummy" said Xavi.
"Stop scaring your mom and dare you come up with any plans. I am warning you." Said Ermanno.
Rose was shocked to hear Ermanno warn Xavier and even more shocked to hear Xavier threatened her.
'What would he do?' thought Rose.
"I am a good boy dad. I won't do anything bad" said Xavier and looked at Rose and continued "and get caught"
Ermanno shook his head and looked at Rose and said "we'll fix him" and started walking out of the apartment with both Emerald and Xavier in his arms.
"Goodbye mummy. See you soon with or without Emerald" said Xavier and smirked.
Rose felt a chill run down her spine seeing Xavier like that.
"Holy f.u.c.k, he is only 5" reminded Rose to herself.
'what the f.u.c.k has mr Devonte been teaching him? And what did Ermanno mean we will fix him? What's wrong with Xavi?" Thought Rose to herself.
Rose was staring at the exit where all three left and was scared as shit when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
She screamed and the nanny screamed with her.
Rose kept her hand on her chest and saw Xavier's nanny do the same and the nanny said "I am sorry mam. I didn't mean to scare you."
"That's okay," said Rose.
"I saw what Xavier did and I should say he's grandfather has a lot of influence on him. Sabrina mam constantly kept reminding Xavier how he should be a good boy and not threaten anyone like that. Xavier is very smart. He grasps everything very fast. Mr Elisio sir would always teach him things and Sabrina mam tried erasing that from his little mind. I know it's not my place to say this but I really hope you keep Xavier away from Mr Elisio sir and keep him close to Ermanno sir. Both son and father are completely different from eachother and Xavier will be better off away from Mr Elisio sir. And the first thing you should do is take away his secret phone in which he talks to Mr Elisio sir. We are responsible for the upbringing of our children. If you really want him to grow up to be a good man. Do what is right and take a stand for your child. I am only telling you this cause I haven't seen any child threaten anyone at the age of 5. If he can scare fully grown women like us at this age. Only God have mercy on what he will be capable when he grows up" said the nanny.
Rose couldn't believe what she was hearing. But there is no way she was letting Elisio get into her way between her and her children again.