A/N: This story takes place after that night. After Norma's letter to Alex. After deciding to leave him. What happened on screen can and will be assassinated on this story. I will go back and explain everything that happened—little by little.

Xx

"Wake up, birthday girl," Norma combed with her fingers Amanda's thick and brunette hair. Her daughter slept peacefully, just like any other four-year-old would.

Amanda scrunched up her nose, and Norma smiled, knowing that she surely got that habit from her. She stirred a bit more, turning her back to her mom.

"Banana," Norma said in a singsong voice. She knew her daughter was awake.

"No, mommy," she begged sleepily. "Five more minutes."

"No," Norma smiled, pulling down her unicorn covers. "You can't sleep in, it's your birthday, and you have to go to school."

It was the right thing to say because Norma was still talking when the little girl turned around, looking at her mother through sleepy eyes.

"It's my birthday," she chirped, "I'm a big girl now."

"Yes, you are," Norma leaned down, cupping her little face, kissing so gently her tiny nose.

Amanda wrapped her arms around her mother's neck and spoke firmly. "I'm not a baby anymore."

Norma nodded in negation. "That's not true. You'll always be my baby."

"And daddy's baby?"

The mention of her father stilled Norma. She swallowed hard and continued to comb Amanda's hair. "And daddy's baby, too."

"Okay," the little girl seemed satisfied with her mom's answer, pleased to know that she'll always be a baby in the eyes of the people she loved most.

"Happy birthday, baby," Norma grinned, enamored of the look on her daughter's face. Her blue eyes were glowing more than ever at that instant, her long dark lashes flapping away every time she blinked.

"Thank you, mommy," she beamed easily, pulling Norma in for a sweet hug.

"Oh, I can't believe my baby is four!" Norma carried Amanda out of bed, pretending she was too heavy for her already. "What am I going to do now?"

Amanda let out a loud shriek when her mom attacked her tiny belly, tickling her nonstop while still holding her in her arms.

"Stop!" Amanda squealed, her little face turning as red as an apple. "Mommy!"

"No, I'm not going to stop!" Norma laughed, burying her face in the crook of her tiny neck.

Her tiny and adorable giggles loaded the pink room, bringing nothing but happiness to Norma's swelled heart.

Amanda didn't stop giggling until she was sure that her mom was done with her war. Norma watched her take a deep breath, her little face turning back to its standard tone.

Norma drew her closer, kissing her cheeks and face as she made her way to the bathroom.

Helping Amanda wash her face was the only thing that Norma was allowed to do. Anything else, Amanda wanted to do on her own. Norma applied the precise amount of toothpaste on her little toothbrush, stepping aside and supervising her little bundle of joy.

"Good job," Norma beamed when her four-year-old succeeded once again.

"All done," Amanda grasped her purple hairbrush and smoothed her bangs out, handing Norma the brush and letting her do the rest like every other morning.

After styling her hair, Norma kissed the crown of her head and found her daughter staring back at her through the mirror.

"Are you sad, mommy?"

Norma had no idea how her child could read her perfectly at the age of four. She wonders if she's going to be able to continue doing it for years to come.

"I'm not sad, honey," she admitted. "Mommy just gets a little bit sensitive on your birthdays."

"It's okay," she spoke gently. "I'll always be your little girl."

Norma dipped down and kissed her rosy cheek. "Yes, you will."

After getting her dressed and ready for school, they headed downstairs, Amanda cheerfully asking for pancakes and bacon for breakfast.

"Do you still want chocolate chips on your pancakes?"

"No," Amanda replied as she reached for her green crayon, holding down the pages of her coloring book.

Norma looked back at her. "No? But you love chocolate chips on your pancakes."

"Those are for little girls, momma."

Norma kept her eyes steady on her, watching her color her big tree passively, sticking her tongue out while doing so.

She bit her lip. "Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Okay."

Norma had to snicker at her daughter's character. Who knew that turning four would mean so much to Amanda. She's always been too bright and independent. But Norma didn't like the idea of her little girl changing so quickly when it wasn't eight o'clock yet and her day hasn't even started.

Norma placed a cup of apple juice in front of her, examining her little drawing unabatingly.

"It's so pretty!" she announced astonishingly. "Is that for me?"

Amanda looked at her and then moved her glare to their fridge, paying particular attention to the many sketches that were held together by colored coded magnets on the refrigerator. "You already have a lot of these, mom. This one is for daddy."

"That's not fair!" she stated. "I love your drawings!"

Amanda smiled widely. "I'll make you a special one today."

"You promise?" Norma beamed happily, poking her daughter's tiny tummy.

"Yes!" she giggled gleefully.

"Alright," Norma kissed her head and walked back to the stove. "I can't wait to see it."

The essence of bacon filtrated through the house, producing a cheerful hooray from the tiniest human being in the house. Nothing that her daughter's smile wouldn't fix.

Norma inspected her as she ate her breakfast eagerly. Stabbing the strawberry anxiously with her fork and bringing it to her mouth with vigor.

"Easy there, squid."

Amanda smiled back at her, her dimples showing. Norma was in love with her daughter. The most beautiful little girl, her bright blue eyes and dark hair gave her an individual look. The way her bangs ceased firmly just above her eyebrows, cupping her little face fondly.

There was a knock on the front door, and Amanda instantly gasped, her eyes widened.

Norma gasped too. "Who could that be?"

"Daddy!"

She dropped her fork and ran to the corridor. Norma followed her with a broad smile plastered on her face. Nothing could compare to the happiness her father caused on this little girl.

"Wait for me to open the door, honey," Norma shrieked as she witnessed her daughter run straight to the door.

"It's daddy!" she announced brightly.

"Are you sure?" Norma grinned.

"I can see him through the window!" her voice high and enthusiastic.

"Let's see," as soon as Norma opened the door, Amanda rushed to her father's opened arms.

"Munchkin!" Alex caught the giggling kid in his arms, Amanda wrapping her tiny arms around his neck instantly.

"You came!" she exclaimed, her tiny voice muffled against his neck.

"Of course I did!" he ran his hand through her hair. "You think I'd miss your twentieth birthday?"

"Daddy!" Amanda leaned back, staring back at him. "I'm four!"

"Are you sure?"

Amanda laughed. "Yes!"

"I don't think that's right," Alex grinned playfully. "But I'll believe you just this once."

"You're silly," Amanda said as she nipped his nose.

"You'll always be my baby, you know that, right?" Alex looked like a child on Christmas. His daughter breaking down every single one of his walls.

"Yes," she responded. "Mommy said the same thing."

Alex, for the first time since he arrived, planted his eyes on Norma, catching her gazing back at them devotedly. Norma gave him a side smirk, as she continued to rest her head on the door frame with her arms crossed.

"Well, mommy is right," Alex told Amanda in a hushed voice. "Mom is always right."

Norma felt a cold spark run through her body, as she listened to him say those words. Amanda probably didn't think much of it, but Norma understood every single word.

"Happy birthday, Banana," Alex grinned from ear to ear, resting his forehead against his daughter's.

Amanda giggled quietly, encasing her arms again around his neck. "Thank you."

"I brought you something," he confessed.

Her eyes augmented spontaneously. "What is it?!"

Alex turned around, revealing the pink, blue and purple unicorn bike with training wheels situated extensively at the bottom of the stairs, carrying a large hot pink bow on the handlebar.

Neither Norma nor Alex were ready for the sudden yelp of joy that escaped their daughter's tiny body. Alex put her down immediately, and Amanda ran to the bike with the same interest her parents expected her to have.

"Is it mine!?" she asked anxiously, probing the bike ideally.

"Yes!" Alex exalted with a huge smirk.

"Mommy!" Amanda turned to her. "Look at my new bike!"

Norma met them at the foot of the stairs in a blink of an eye.

"I see it, baby!" Norma beamed. "It's gorgeous! Do you like it?!"

"I love it!" she yelled and ran to her father. "Thanks, daddy! I love it so much!"

Alex leaned down a bit while she tied her little and short arms around his knees. The little girl beyond thrilled about the bike she's been wanting since the beginning of summer. Alex had promised her one, but only if her mom approved, and Norma thought it was a good idea to give her the bike when she was least expecting it.

Before acquiring the bike, Alex had texted Norma a photo of it, requesting her opinion. He had sent her a picture of an orange bike, with a flowery basket in front, but Norma had said that Amanda was no fan of the color orange. Once he sent her a photo of the unicorn one, she was sure that it was the one, and that their daughter, an impeccable fanatic of unicorns, will think that the original bike was the most beautiful present in the world.

And they were not wrong.

"But I don't know how to ride it," Amanda looked up at her father pitifully. "What if I fall and hurt my knee."

"You won't," Alex promised her, kneeling down and meeting her gorgeous blue eyes. "I will teach you everything you need to know, okay? You don't need to be scared."

"Okay," Amanda said but didn't look convinced.

"You see those tiny wheels?"

Amanda nodded.

"Those are training wheels. They are there to protect you until you're ready to ride it on your own."

"Really?"

"Yes," he whispered and maneuvered his daughter on top of the bike, assembling her tiny feet on the pedals. When her little hands were clutching the handlebar securely, he took a step back and noticed the look of terror on her little face. "You're fine, munchkin," he convinced her. "You won't fall, I promise."

"It's not moving," Amanda said innocently, and her parents let out a little laugh.

"It won't move until you're ready for it to move, honey," Norma approached her, placing her hands on her knees to catch a better look at her daughter's face. "You will learn how to ride it in no time."

"Can I take it to school?"

Norma and Alex exchanged looks. "You can't take it to school, Banana," her dad said. "And speaking of school, you have to get going, don't you?"

"I want to take it to school," Amanda murmured, and Norma looked at Alex, who quickly came to her salvation.

"Amanda, baby?" he knelt back down, getting his daughter's attention. "The bike will be here when you get back from school today, okay?"

"Will you teach me how to ride it after school?" she asked impatiently.

"Yes, of course, I will."

Amanda's face lit up, and Alex caught her just in time when she bounced off the bike and settled in his arms.

"I love you, daddy."

Alex enveloped his arms around her tighter, if likely.

"Oh, I love you more, munchkin."

Norma's heart trembled inside her rib cage, hammering aggressively against her chest. Witnessing them like that was her only deficiency. She knew that Amanda would break the remaining walls that he embedded again after their separation. That their world would revolve entirely around this little girl and they were not mistaken.

"I have to go, sweet pea, but I'll pick you up from school today."

"Okay," she chirped, binding her arms around his neck. "Have a good day at work."

Alex smiled. "You have a good birthday, okay?"

"I will," she beamed.

Alex put her down, and Amanda examined her bike one more time before turning to her mother.

"Go finish breakfast, honey."

"Okay, mommy," she obeyed. "Bye daddy!"

"Bye, munchkin!"

When Amanda was out of eyesight, Alex turned to Norma.

"I hope I didn't overstep? I want to take her out for ice cream after school."

"Alex, of course not," Norma explained, crossing her arms across her chest. "I was going to ask you if you wanted to pick her up today, I know how much you like spending time with her."

"I can't believe she's four."

"I know," she sighed. "Time flies, huh?"

"It feels like just yesterday I was changing her diapers," Alex said melancholically. "And now she owns a bike."

Norma gave him a slight smirk. "She'll always be our baby."

Alex removed his glare from Norma's burning orbs. He tucked his hands into his front pockets and scrutinized the rocks and dusty pavement unhurriedly. He can't stare at her for too long. If he does, it'd be like starting all over again.

Their daughter's birthdays are a sharp reminder of the years they've spent apart. Still legally married but separated for shallow judgments. Each passing year is another living torment for Alex, but this is what Norma wants, so he has no other choice than to settle—settle for nothing less.

"Um, I have to get going," he spoke, sensing the tension in the air between them.

"Sure," Norma was quick to respond. "Make sure she's here for supper."

"No problem," Alex nodded. "Have a good day, Norma."

Norma didn't say much but followed Alex with her gaze. The lingering cologne that used to drive her crazy was torturing her once again.

"Alex?"

He turned around, raising his eyebrows in question.

"Uh, I just—," Norma didn't know what to say. "Thank you for making our daughter so happy."

Alex stared back at her, penetrating her soul. "It's my job to make her happy, Norma," he spoke softly before turning around. "I failed as a husband... I can't fail as a dad, too."