Touching the Heart of Ace

??I kiss my baby??s toes. Mmm Mmmm Mmmm. I kiss my baby??s feet. Mmm Mmmm Mmmm. I kiss my baby??s knees. Mmm Mmmm Mmmm. I kiss my baby??s tummy. Mmm Mmmm Mmmm. I kiss my baby??s fingers. Mmm Mmmm Mmmm. I kiss my baby??s hands. Mmm Mmmm Mmmm. Now I kiss my baby??s cheeks and then she will fall asleep. Mmm Mmmm Mmmm.??

Well she did not. She just blinked drowsily at me with her soulful eyes. So similar yet so different from her daddy. Robbie eyes always held pain, passion, anger, the all-knowing look that came with the experiences that would make a lesser man crumple.

My Princess had the most innocent eyes in the world with a slight twinge of mischief when she wanted a cuddle or a quick kiss.

??I love you baby girl.??

She smiled, a drip of drool falling to her chin. Did she know what I was saying to her? Did she know that she had my heart in her tiny palms? That if a moment came where she would demand my heart literally I would give her mine without a single regret.

No, she didn??t.

Not yet anyways.

??Sleep, Baby Angel.?? She blinked again scowling at me. It was her nap time and she did not want to. She stretched her chubby tiny arm to me and I quickly pressed a kiss. ??You know what daddy brought for you yesterday???

I jumped up and she whined clearly distressed not seeing my face anymore.

??I am here, sweetie, I be right back.?? I came back as quickly as I went. Her innocent widened with wonder at my ??tada??. She kicked her legs, trying to get the gift quickly.

I chuckled and picked up the toy sunflower. I slowly put it up her swing, my baby??s eyes following the bright yellow flower with leaves hands clutched close to its face. It was like the flower toy could not believe that my baby was this pretty.

I gently tapped the petals which made the flower bob its head sideways and Little Lia squealed.

But soon her eyes found mine and she gurgled. ??I know baby, it is beautiful. But you are more beautiful. Now, my little baby, take a nap. So you will turn more pretty when you wake up.??

She blinked and yawned tiredly. Yet, she fought her sleep to keep on staring at me, ignoring the bobbing flower. I brushed my hand on her head. I still could not get over the fact that she was so tiny and cute and pretty and...

I sighed.

I rubbed her fuzzy head and slowly she slipped to the dream land with a frown. I shook my head, and kissed her forehead. It was like she was frowning because she did not get her kiss because she relaxed just like that. I smiled. God! My heart.

How could anyone reject such a precious child? Then again postpartum depression made Janice blind or that was what doctor said.

It was by accident that I found out, that Janice was not fond of Lia. A new nurse accidently took my girl to Janice to feed her. God! I was sleeping and woke up to my baby??s pained screeches. Janice cussed up a storm towards her own daughter.

Called her... I did not want to remember it.

??TAKE THAT THING AWAY FROM ME!!!??

I frantically ran to the voices and took Lia off the frozen nurse. Robbie almost turned the whole hospital down if not for his distraught daughter crying on my chest. He almost got that nurse fired.

It was like Janice hated everything that got to do with my girl.

??No one asked you to fuck me, you, pathetic bitch. This changes nothing. I don??t...?? Robbie said to Janice which I accidently heard because honestly I was scared he would do something disastrous.

What was that supposed to mean? Were they not in this situation together? Robbie clamed up for several days, clutching baby and I closer.

I went back to college after a few days, but then the situation got out of control, which no one bothered to explain to me. I hated when they coddled me and refused to talk to me like an adult; even Robbie.

Mom personally asked if it would be a bother to look after the princess in the weekends. Aunt Marie could not take care of the baby, with her depleting health. Of course I agreed, it was the least I could do.

When we got discharged, Robbie and Lia did come to his penthouse, so I could manage between studies, teaching, and taking care of her. But my pretty little Princess was a diva, kicking, screaming and clawing Robbie, so she could be with me.

Long story short, I was at Robbie??s beach house.

I frowned when the calling bell, went off.

Who might that be?

I opened the door to a stoic Jason. I turned around gulping knowing what this visit was about.

??Ace, tell me, what I heard is wrong.??

I hated when Jason called me Ace; he only called me that in anger.

??Come in, I was going to make some lunch. Do you ha...??

??Drop the act, and tell me.??

??What do you want me to tell???

not ??taking a break?? from your

wringed my sweaty palms together.

about that... it was not big deal... I just take this semester off,

NO INTENTION

his down. ??SHH... Please, she is sleeping, lower your voice, please

STANDING UPSIDE DOWN.?? Jason ground his teeth together, closing his eyes. ??So, it is

needs me,

wrong with you??? He chuckled humourlessly ??Do you have any idea what you are getting yourself into? Are you a retard? Taking care of

and sure as hell not turning yourself into a permanent babysitter.?? He took my wrist, and dragged me to

You don??t

What are you? What the

stop cussing.

did you ask me to stop

care what you think, but call her names

serious... You are fuc...??

glared at him not

me? You will talk to the daddy dearest to break things off with you and you know what you did? Came back holding his baby like you fucking popped it out! Jesus Christ.?? Jason started laughing with his wet eyes. ??Why are you not finding it funny? I

she... she needed me. I needed her.

to think of yourselves but listen to me, it is one thing to have an affair; another different thing of whole another dimension to move

breaking with each

she

does not care about you. It does not love you, just like its daddy will never love you. You are letting the whole fucking family use you like a

to reply. He

Its mother does not need it, its grandmother

??Leave.??

??What???

are not talking

you choosing that...?? Jason flinched at my look. ??Over me?

me, just like her father, but I am not here because she loves me. I am here because I love her.?? I did not let tears fall, not for this, never

real parents. You will never be able to love her

??And why is that???

SHE IS NOT YOUR KID. YOU CAN??T LOVE

is you and my

looked like he was slapped. ??It is different

her kid, why does my mom fucking love you like she does me? Even more than me, because she thinks she lost a lot of

??It is different.??

??How???

Goose. You don??t know how you love. I know. I saw it with my own eyes. How you... You don??t know how you fucking stopped breathing in my arms, because your heart was... I don??t care if you hate me. If you don??t come with me now, I am telling

??Y... You won??t...??

I will. Come with

??NO!??

??Fine! Watch me.??

will hate you

time I know why someone hates me. I will take it as a

??JASON! Please.??

OF THAT DEMON

she hear all this? How long

heart,

not even wailing, she was just... as if she knew she was not loved and she was trying to hold all that pain in but her tiny heart could not keep it in.

and tried to pick her up, but she refused. She turned her tear stained face away. She

don??t know how much I love you... I...?? She was not listening to me, her face still turned away from my chest and she was trying

??I...?? Jason started.

the moment. Why was he not supporting me? ??Oh and Jason Andrei Philip, if you think that mom knowing about us, will stop Robert from coming for me, you are sadly mistaken. I have no illusions that he loves me but... if he is breathing, he will come for me. He will fu...

to cuddle up with Lia but she was

stood in front me, and he

him a cursory glance before fighting

that pain in their eyes. The pain of

an overall failure, but never did I ever thought I was

am here, please

My brother, your Dave, is being difficult. We fight all the time. It is not serious. I promise, I was not shouting at you. I know you are a baby, and

look, not at all believing him. But after the fifth sorry, she gently stretched her arms to

back, scared, and she took her arms back. My baby gave out a tiny cough before tears slowly trickled down her already

DA...?? Jason slapped his mouth hard and picked her up in the most awkward way possible. She was dangling in air as Jason stretched his arms as far as it