Departure Lounge (Completed)

No turning back

As predicted story time lasted close to one hour, the girls hadn't seen Nate for so long that they spent a full twenty minutes asking him questions about where he was, what he was doing and if he didn't like them anymore; after much reassurance that they were still his number one girls, myself and Nate read two bedtime stories. When they finally went to sleep I left the room to change from my work attire and Nate said he'd wait downstairs.

"Nate?" He wasn't in the main living room as I expected him to be, for a moment I felt a feeling of panic that he had already left until I heard commotion in the kitchen and Nate's voice cursing himself; I pushed open the door to find him crouched over a broken plate picking up the scattered pieces.

"What are you doing?" I tried not laugh at his clumsiness but failed.

"It slipped, I was trying to have everything ready by the time you were done but I guess I underestimated your need to spend more time with me." He was wearing his signature smirk while my own face turned red.

"Get what finished?" I asked attempting to change the topic.

"Dinner." He answered and nodded towards the den. Moving towards the connecting door I took a cautionary glance back at him not sure what to expect on the other side of the door. Nate smiled at my hesitation then brought his attention back at the broken shards on the floor. Pushing the door open to the living room I first noticed that all the lights were off and the fireplace was on, the fire giving the room a warm, sensual glow the setting obviously reeked of romance and I physically tensed as reality kicked in, this was a date and most important of all it was a date with Nate.

"It's not too much is it?" Nate spoke from behind.

"No, it's beautiful. When did you do all this?" I attempted a best to shake off my nervousness.

"I called the restaurant and organise for them to deliver dinner to us. I'm a regular and favourite so it wasn't that hard." He chuckled and stepped passed me placing two bowls on the coffee table, one with grapes and the other with what looked like cheese. Taking in the entire spread it looked as though he ordered purely appetizers from the menu, it wasn't much but nevertheless the intoxicating scent of a few dishes causes my stomach to grumble. "Sit, you must be hungry." Nate said while slightly pushing me towards the table.

"This looks lovely Nate, thank you." I said to him in to which he just simply nodded in response and took the seat across from my place. We ate mostly in silence except for when we commented on the taste of a certain dish, we kept to conversation in neutral territory or at least I kept it that way, as I feared to acknowledge the elephant in the room.

"So their father is back." It wasn't just the sudden broken silence that cause my slight whiplash but the actually words he spoke.

"How did you find out?" I asked curious as to how he managed to find out and so soon-as I hadn't mentioned it to anyone.

"I may not be the girls legal guardian but I have always made sure I stay up-to-date with your well-being Lexi." I was about to questioned what he meant but he continued, "Let's just leave it at that for now-have you already contacted your lawyers?"

"I have, just to arrange an appointment though." I met his steady gaze from across the table, "But I am not expecting much-I don't feel so confident about my odds in this-he is their natural father I am but a stranger, we share no actual relation..."

"Stop...do not doubt yourself Lexi."

"How can I not? I have no experience as a caregiver; I knew them for only a few hours before I promised to look after them. I am in way over my head here Nate. I am going to lose them-how can compete against their father, their father-someone they are actually related to." The panic really started to seep in-the fear of losing both girls, I hadn't realise I was crying until Nate was using his fingers to wipe away my tears away.