EIGHT…

8.

PHOEBE'S POV

"Mummy.."

I heard Xavier call from the door way. Percy let go of me immediately and I glared at him, finally snapping out of whatever spell he had me under then turned to my son.

I heaved a sigh, trying to calm my beating heart and refraining from slapping myself for allowing him almost.... almost...

" heii.....what are you doing here Xa ? Did I wake you up? "

I got down on my knees and took his face into my hands, pulling myself together. He just stared at Percy instead. I knew if he was old enough he'd be asking what was going on. This was awkward...

"Come,let me take you to bed."

I took his hand but he shook me off.To my surprise he walked to Percy and took his hand instead.

"You take me to bed."

He said to him and my lips set in a thin line. Percy chuckled,

"Yes boss..."

and followed him out. I followed, watching Percy tug him in bed and sit beside him.

"Tell me a story."

"Xavier, you should sleep. It's really late and da...uncle has to sleep..."

God why did things have to always get this awkward between us? I was a total wreck inside, frustrated with myself for feeling things anytime he was close after all these years. There was no denying it here, the tingles which left me still bothered and hot was evidence.

*Fucking hormones...*

I hissed to myself, making a mental note to stay as far away as possible. I should contemplate getting him kicked out....

"It's ok Phoebe. I'm not feeling that sleepy."

He interrupted me.I glared at him and sat at the other end of the bed, trying again.

"Sleep now baby."

I touched his forehead to feel his temperature. Maybe he was getting sick.

"But mummy, I want to hear a story."

"And I'll tell you one."

I rolled my eyes. Why couldn't he just take a hint?

"You can go to bed.I'll stay with him."

I wanted to protest but then, Xavier can be so stubborn sometimes. Once he had declared he wanted Percy to tell him a story, so shall it be and I didn't want to spend a second with Percy in the same room.

Well... It's not like anything would happen... Just wanted to be far from him you know.....

I kissed my son goodnight and left the room, totally ignoring the heat brewing in my core from his eyes following me.

*Screw you!*

PERCY'S POV..

I was aware she was running from me, trying to cover the look of starvation in her eyes with anger. I smirked as I watched her quickly kiss her son and scramble out of the room.

*This isn't over*

"Are you telling the story?"

The boy said and I turn to him and smile.

" of cause. "

I ran my hands through his hair.

*If he were mine..*

wait what? The idea of being a father terrified me more than anything in the world.. even more than hurting Phoebe, I couldn't be thinking like that.

He pulled at my shirt and I looked down at him. He raised an eyebrow at me.

" once upon a time there lived a beautiful princess in a big castle. "

"A very big one? " he interrupted and I couldn't help the smile. He was adorable..

"Yea,really huge. She had no one to talk to or play with.........."

Before I realized he was dossing off. I smiled to myself and congratulated myself for a good job done. I covered him well with the blanket and stood.

Looking around the room my eyes fell on a picture on the bedside table. It was a picture of the boy.I took it and stared. There were several others hanging on the wall and i moved to them.

There was one where he was just a baby and in his grandpa's arms with Phoebe and Denise standing behind. There was another when he might be one or so...he was sitting in a car, his little arms stretched out towards his mother.

And there were several others of him in his uniform and birthdays. There were pictures of Harold and Phoebe too.

I Clenched my fists holding back the urge to smash the frame. I moved over to the boy on the bed. Looking at him closely springs an imagination...........

I never messed up the way I did and Phoebe and I were together...maybe married. And he was our son........ God!

But I did mess up and now she's with another man. They looked genuinely happy in those pictures and they do look genuinely happy around the house...

Except I knew Phoebe too well to know she was only pretending. ... Even so, I should let things be . That kid needed both parents in his life... pulling at my hair, I sighed.

My phone suddenly rang and I jumped up a bit. Christ!

"Louis, you're still up? " I said in annoyance.

"Where are you? It's very late."

I took a last look at Xavier and left the room. I hung up as I pushed the door open. Louis was sitting on the bed with his legs crossed. He looked worried.

"Start talking already".

He said sternly. I looked at him in confusion.

"I heard everything,in Phoebe's room so you better not lie to me."

He warned. Well shit ! I signed and sat at the edge of the bed, not knowing how to begin.

"She's the same girl right. The one you've been having sleepless nights over. The one you want to go back in Time for. Phoebe is the mystery girl right."

I nodded slowly and stood up beginning to to pace back and forth.

"I loved her so much. Why did I have to be so stubborn to accept it? If I had allowed my heart,all this wouldn't have happened. I still don't understand why I did what I did..."

He inhaled and held on for a second before asking the question I've been avoiding for the past three years.

"What did you do? "

"The worse you can imagine.."