*Five years later*
Smiles climbs down the stairs elegantly looking all beautiful in her lavender trouser suits. Her curly cherry brown hair falls to the back, and she looks even more beautiful than before.
"You shouldn't be playing like that, darling you might get yourself injured," she said, crunching to the little boy's height, and kissing his forehead.
"No, I won't, I'm big enough to take good care of myself and you too, "Nate said, smiling at Smiles.
The little boy has cherry brown hair like the mom and gray eyes like the dad. But his character and strictness come with the father's domineering gene.
"you're still too little for that," Smiles chuckles, patting on his hair.
Nate frowns," I will be turning six, I'm no longer small. Even my friends say I'm a big boy" he complains.
Smiles couldn't help but laugh, "I see you have been hyping yourself with your friends "She attempted to carry the little boy but he resisted, "no hug for Mama? " Smiles pout.
Nate frowned deep in thought, after a long contemplation, he gave in and hugged Smiles.
"When will Kate and Grandma be coming?"Nate asked eyes on his mom.
" Um… I think they will come today. Why? Do you miss them?"Smiles asked.
Nate quickly adjusted himself, behaving like the man he ought to." No" he said shortly.
Even though he is hiding it, Ashley can see it. He is missing his sister but doesn't want to accept it.
The two always get into fights when they are together, Nate never stops bullying her and Kate will never stop touching his things without permission.
Fiona saw it wise to separate the two for a little while so they could figure it out themselves.
" What's wrong?"Smiles asked, concerned about seeing the sad look on his face.
Nate didn't want to talk but after a long silence, he gave in."I want to see Kate, I think I miss her" he confessed.
This got Smiles smiling," What do you miss about her?" She pressed on.
Nate frowns, thinking." he's no longer taking my things, I don't have anyone to play with. Playing with these toys is boring " he complains.
Just then, Fiona and Kate walk in. The little girl looked so happy.
Seeing his sister finally back, Nate runs to her and takes her in for a hug. Kate was taken aback by his sudden hug.
"What is wrong, Nate?" Kate asked innocently.
"Nothing, I'm just missing you" Nate confesses. This got Fiona smiling as she watched the two chat.
"But, you always bully me and refuse to give me your toys" Kate complains, with a sad face.
Nate picks up his toy on the floor and hands it to her, "Here, you can have it. Any toy of your choice. You can play with it as long as you want, just don't go and leave me again" he said, almost crying.
Kate felt sad, she almost tore up."what about walking with you? Promise you won't make fun of me when you are with your friends!" She urges.
Nate nods, "I promise. They are not even my friends, we are no longer friends" he informs.
Kate frowns, "why?" She asked.
"Because they are always looking at you, I don't like it. They are not my friends anymore" he explains and pulls Kate along," come, I've got a lot of toys to show you. Mama got them for me while you were away" he said and Kate followed him behind.
The two walk to their PlayStation and start working on their stuff, talking and laughing.
"He's a very possessive and jealous big brother," Fiona said, chuckling. "He didn't even pick my height, can you imagine? He didn't miss me, he missed only his sister" she continued.
Smiles, laughs, and takes her mom in a hug. "But I have your time," she said and pulled away.
"Hmm, I know you do," Fiona hums in satisfaction. "You look all dressed, where to?" She asked, noticing her dress code.
"Ah, yes. I have a meeting with a client today, it's actually a board meeting with so many CEOs in most parts of America" she informs, smiling.
Fiona nods, "what if you meet him?" She asked.
Smiles frown, "meet who?" She asked, confused.
"Stop claiming dumb children, you know what's at stake. The meeting you are about to attend isn't an ordinary one, you will meet with big CEOs all over America, what is he there? It's not what if, he will be there"
Smiles chuckles at the understanding of who she is talking about, "Oh Mom, you worry a lot. I've checked the list of all the possible CEOs that will attend and he's not on the list." Smiles assured, "Who knows, he might have gone bankrupt after I left him" she murmurs.
Deep down, she knows it's impossible but she can't somehow brush off the feeling. She hadn't seen him on the news or in any public places and his company name seemed to have gone extinct alongside the splendid poison frog.
"Fine, you take good care of yourself while I handle these grandchildren of mine," Fiona said, gazing at the duo playing happily.
"He looks so much like Keane, his little self" Fiona confesses, gazing at the little boy.
He looks so busy and happy playing with his sister. Kate wasn't any less.
Kate is a blond with amber-blue eyes. Guess she wanted to look like her dad but mama kept her hooked.
Her smiles and beauty are the exact copy of Smiles. The naive little innocent her of years back.
"What? Why are you staring at me like that?" Kate asked, seeing the look on her brother's face. He has been staring at her for some time now.
"You are so pretty, like mama. It's like you were mama when she was way younger like us" Nate chuckles, touching his sister's cute little cheek.
Kate giggles, loving her brother's compliment. "I'm sure you look like Papa, mama said we will get to see her when he comes back from his trip" she innocently explains.
" I don't want to see him," Nate said, displeased because she mentioned his name.
"why?" Kate asked innocently, frowning.
"I don't like him, I don't want him to come, never" Nate explains.
Kate opened her mouth today but was cut by Smiles's call.
" Nathaniel, Kaitlin… come give mama your good luck kisses," Smiles said, arms open.
Kate was the first to run into her arms, "mama!" She yells, "See, Nate gave me his toy to play with," she said, happily.
"That's so nice, I'm sure you two are getting along" Smiles pinch on her cheeks. Kate nods.
Nate didn't bother running, he walked his way to his mom. "Let me hug her too, will you?" He asked Kate who nodded and gave space.
Smiles couldn't be any happier seeing her two children getting along after a long fight and struggle.
Smiles takes him in for a hug, pulling Kate along. She didn't want one, she wanted both, needed them.
They are her source of strength, her source of joy and happiness. And she loves them both equally.
"Kisses for mama!" She said that they both peck on her cheeks, Nate on the left and Kate on the right.
"What should Mama bring for you?" Smiles asked, pushing herself up after giving them her kiss
"Candy, doughnuts, and biscuits" Kate yells excitedly.
"Noted, and you Nate? What should Mama bring for you?" Smiles asked the little boy who didn't bother asking for anything.
"You!" Nate said nonchalantly.
Smiles couldn't help but smile, he's so much like Keane and she loves him for that. Maybe she hasn't gotten over him yet, but how can she when she has to see him every second of her life?
"Is that all you want?" Smiles asked and the little boy nodded.
"Ok then, mama promised to bring back her beautiful self to you" she pinched his nose, "and you" she pinched on Kate's nose.
" Love you lots lots more," Smiles said and kissed the air.
The children behave to have caught the kiss in the air as they both place it on their chest.
" We love you too mama " With that, Smiles left.