Chapter 41

"So what happened to you and Kellan?" Alex inquired as soon as they were tucked in for the night.

Robbie had told her that it would be best to sleep with Sasha that night, especially after what happened that day, in which she truly appreciated.

Alex thought it would be just her and Sasha, but she was surprised when Robbie asked them to sleep in the master's bedroom all together.

Now, squeezing Sasha in the middle of them, her eyes stared blankly at the ceiling. She glanced at her mother to answer her question.

"Don't get mad at Kellan, Mom, okay?" Sasha said.

"Sasha..." Alex said, chuckling. "I promise I won't, okay. Now tell me."

Sasha took a deep breath and blew it on her face.

"I got lost in the cave, Mom, but it's not Kellan's fault. It was mine. I picked up a beautiful rock from the cave and didn't follow Kellan. I went into another passage instead."

"Were you scared, my princess?"

It was Robbie's turn to ask as he caressed his daughter's cheek.

Sasha turned her body towards him and nodded.

"I tried to look for him, Dad, but I was not able to. I tried many times until the phone battery almost died, and I got tired. So I sat down... I cried... for awhile... until Kellan came back and he took me to where the gold rocks are."

Alex smiled. There was a hint of excitement in Sasha's voice upon mentioning the gold rocks. She was somehow thankful that her daughter had experienced something wonderful out of this.

"I have them in the pocket of my dress. I wanted to give them to both of you," Sasha added, turning her head slightly to her mom then faced Robbie again.

Robbie couldn't help but hold her daughter's cheek.

"Come here," he ordered and Sasha obliged as she snuggled into his chest. "You were very brave, princess. Even if it was really dark and creepy, you still tried. I'm proud of you."

Sasha looked up to him and smiled. It was great hearing her dad how proud he was of her despite of all the mistakes she had made.

"Well, Kellan saved me, too. He's my hero," she said, biting her lip as she waited for his reaction.

"Ohhh... so, I'm guessing you're having a crush on Kellan, right?" Robbie teased.

Lowering her gaze, she nodded as her face turned red all of a sudden.

"Well, don't worry, I won't tell," Robbie teased again, glancing up at Alex who smiled back at him. "I don't blame you, he is a very handsome boy."

"You think so?"

"I know so. Before I have met you, that boy was like a son to me. If you and him-"

"Robbie, don't play matchmaker, please," Alex warned, her eyes teasing. "Sasha is too young for that."

"Dad! I'm only ten years old," Sasha exclaimed in embarassment. "He can't be my boyfriend!"

"Wait a minute! I didn't say you can have him as your boyfriend now," and he playfully pinched her nose. "You better not have any ideas. You're still daddy's girl until you're twenty-one."

"Twenty-one?"

"Yes, Sasha. You're going to finish college before you get a boyfriend, understand? Unless it's Kellan, of course then maybe I would consider," and he winked at Alex who rolled her eyes at him.

"DADDY, stop it!" and Sasha punched his chest.

Robbie laughed, and Alex laughed along with him.

"Very well then, let's get you to bed. We have a big event tomorrow," Alex said as she lay down on the pillow.

"About that..." Robbie started. "I moved everything on a later date."

"Why? I mean... I thought it was already planned out?"

"From what happened earlier, I could not go on with it. Besides, I think we could use an extra week to bond together as family. We haven't really done that since we came here."

"What are you planning?"

Robbie grinned. "It's a surprise."

"I love surprises!" Sasha chimed in.

"I'm glad you do. Now, listen to your mom and take a rest, okay. We'll talk about it in the morning," and he leaned in to give Sasha a kiss on her forehead. "Goodnight, my princess."

"Goodnight, Dad," and she yawned. "Aren't you going to give a goodnight kiss to Mommy?"

Robbie was caught off guard. His daughter was now the one playing matchmaker in a way.

"Well... I-I thought you don't want us to kiss," he stammered as his eyes lifted to Alex. The latter looked away.

"It's okay, Daddy. Mom and I talked about it."

Robbie's eyebrows knitted.

"Talk about what?"

"Having other babies after me."

"Babies?" and he looked at Alex who gave her a faint smile. "We're.... We're not planning to have one yet, Sasha. I love to spend more time with you first before that happens."

'If it still happens...' he almost added.

With the way their relationship was going, it would take longer for he and Alex to have sex again.

Robbie needed to keep his pride and ego from getting stomped on. He was tired of being considered a regret.

But then, no matter what he told himself, he could not stop himself from not showing his affection to her.

He just loved her so much it hurt... and he just wished she would see that...

Yet, she was still blind no matter what and he didn't know what else to do about it but wait.

He just hoped he would not get tired of waiting... because he was afraid that it would die down.

'Die down? As if it ever did,' his mind dictated.

It just made it stronger each time he breathed...

"Daddy, I'm getting sleepy. C'mon, kiss Mom already so we can turn off the lights," Sasha insisted, scratching her eyes and yawning.

Robbie gazed at Alex and swallowed hard.

How could he not? But does she want him to?

His lips had been longing for it and yet... he knew he shouldn't until Alex asked first.

But before he could say something, Alex sat up just as he did. Then reaching for the collar of pajamas, she pulled him towards her. Their eyes dropped in each other's lips and on an impulse, Alex iniated the kiss. He was caught by surprise that his mind blurred suddenly, and when he was about to kiss her back, but she pulled away from him.

He felt disappointed, but at least it was something to cherish for the night... and dream about as well, too.

For Robbie, it was enough for now. Alex had initiated the kiss and that was important. He now realized that maybe there was hope...

'Just baby steps... baby steps...' he thought.

"Goodnight," he whispered as he gazed at Alex who was biting her lip like Sasha did. It amazed him how both of them looked exactly alike... even with their lips.

He turned off the lamp beside him and lay down on the pillow.

He watched Sasha's serene face as her head rested on the pillow. One hand was under her head, and he could not be more thankful for his daughter.

Because if the girl did not insist, he would never have gotten that kiss....

And he longed for more days to come that he would be able to touch those lips again as she willingly offered it to her...

Just like today.