Never Too Late
A/N: This is a future-fic and will occasionally contain flashbacks in time designated by ".x.x." upon entering and exiting, just so you know.
.
Disclaimer: Like all the rest... Don't own WoWP, etc, yadda, yadda, yadda... Here we go...
.
Rain pounded the roof of her quaint suburban home and through the lightening that flashed in the sky, and the thunder that rattled the windows, the faint outline of her humble house could be made out. Red and beige brick adorned the exterior walls and rose bushes, secretly her favorite, lined the facade, extending up the windows that faced the small front lawn.
It was nothing fancy, like she had always thought she wanted, just two bedrooms, one bathroom, a nice kitchen with rich, warm wood, and new stainless steel appliances, though they were rarely used... except for the microwave... and a large living room with a desk in the far corner so Alex could work on her illustrations from home.
It was warm and cozy, safe and secure... just what she needed after everything she had been through... the perfect place to raise a family... almost.
"Hey, mommy..." called a young brunette emerging from her room, awoken by the storm.
Alex Russo looked up from her magazine at her daughter and noticed the worry on her child's face, trying to stay brave. "Katie, honey, what are you doing up? It's late."
"I know. It's just that..." she started, fidgeting with her fingers, looking at the floor.
"C'mere, Katie" Alex said, patting the deep red couch "What's wrong?" she asked with a worried smile.
Young Katie walked quickly to her mother, across the simple tan carpet and hopped up on the couch next to Alex, leaning against her, as a loving arm wrapped around her shoulders. "I... It's..."
"It's okay, honey. Remember what I told you? You can tell me anything, okay?" Alex assured, rubbing her daughter's back, a bit of a smile forming as Katie slowly nodded.
Moving her hand back to her child's shoulder, she gave it a gentle squeeze to encourage her to continue. "It's okay." she reassured softly.
"Well... I'm... I just couldn't sleep." Katie blurted out quitely.
Alex chuckled softly to herself, "Sweetheart, it's okay to be scared of the thunder. You know, I still-"
"I'm not scared, mommy." she replied indignately. "I'm a big girl now!" Katie stated proudly.
"Katie... you're four." Alex stated dryly, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. And while her child was too young to know what sarcasm was, she still reconized the tone when she heard it... so naturally, being her mother's daughter, she playfully stuck out her tongue.
Alex giggled at her little girl, thinking about how much she resembled herself. She had the same dark hair, the same delicate features, and the same indominable spirit. But at the same time, what struck her most, were her daughter's eyes... she had her father's eyes... and that always made her smile.
Sure, Katherine was mischievious, and occasionally careless and stubborn, though Alex denies that these traits came from her, but she was also kind, caring, and compassionate... just like her father, the man she loved... no, the man she still loves... the man she wishes was still in her life.
"Can you tell me a story? Just 'till I fall asleep?" Katie asked, but quickly added, "... but not cause I'm scared." She had always felt like she needed to be strong for her mother, but she never understood why. Maybe it was because Alex had raised her by herself, maybe it was because she subconsiously felt her mother's lonliness... or maybe it was because sometimes, at night, she would wake up and hear her mom crying...
Alex smiled down at her little girl, "Of course, sweetheart. Which- Whoa!" she yelped as Katie grapped her hand and sprung from the couch dragging her mother quickly to her room.
Powder blue paint covered the walls, intermingled with whispy patches of white, and large pink and green butterflies, unicorns, and fairies danced among the painted clouds... That's what happens when you let your child 'design' her room, Alex thought.
Katie jumped into bed and motioned for her mother to lay down beside her after she was snuggly tucked in. Alex flopped down beside her, causing little Katie to giggle at her mother's antics. "Ok, honey," she said, rolling onto her side, tucking her hand under her head "what story do you want to hear?"
Katie thought about if for a little bit, pursing her lips together as she made her decision. She loved her mom's stories, and all of the funny voices she attempted, but there was one story she desparately wanted... needed to hear. It was the one she'd wished her mother would tell her for as long as she could remember, which, granted, wasn't that long, but for a child, was an eternity. She wanted to know about her father.
"I want you to tell me about daddy." Katie stated bluntly. Alex froze but she retained her composure, not wanting to show her daughter how difficult this would be for her.
Though stoic on the outside, inside, her mind raced. A thousand questions buzzed through her consciousness, her heart's rythmic beating picked up it's pace, and she could feel her palms become damp. "Wh... What?" she stuttered out. "Why?"
"Cause..." Alex noticed the tears brimming in her daughter's eyes, and she felt her stomach twisting as Katie continued. "Some of the other kids at pre-school... they... made fun of me" she sniffled. "They said that my daddy didn't want me... that... that... he didn't love me... and that's why he's not here." Alex could feel her heart breaking as she watched the silent tears slip from her daughter's eyes and before she could stop it, her own soon followed.
"Is that why you were so upset when I picked you up today?" she asked, wiping her eyes, as Katie slowly nodded.
"Katie, you're father loves you very much, okay? It's just that..." she paused. He doesn't know that you were even born.
"It's just what, mommy?"
"Nothing, honey. Now, what did you want to know?" Alex asked to deflect the question, stroking her daughter's cheek. She knew this day would come eventually, she just didn't expect it to be so soon. She knew she would have to tell her something... the truth... but could she tell her daughter the whole truth?
"Hmm..." the young brunette started, tapping her index finger on her chin, "tellll meee" she paused, quirking the side of her mouth up, "everything."
Damn it! Alex took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Okay" she said, a smile growing on her face. And doing her best Inigo Montoya impersonation, "Let me explain... No... There is too much... Let me sum up!"
Katie looked at her mother quizically for a moment, knowing she was trying to change the subject.
"What? That's from the Princess Bride... Anything? No? Nothing? C'mon!" Alex joked.
"Mom."
"Ugh. Fine." she said, finally allowing herself to roll her eyes. This girl knows me too well. "Yippee!" Katie exclaimed, clapping her hands.
Alex rolled onto her back and folded her hands across her stomach and took several calming breaths before beginning. "Well, your father and I... we fell in love when we were young but... um, my parents wouldn't let us to be together."
"How come?" Katie asked.
"They said that..." Jesus, how do you explain this to a four year old? "...they said that he wasn't right for me."
"Oh," her daughter said softly, "was he mean to you?" she finished sadly.
"What!" Alex asked, clearly startled at that thought. "No! Absolutely not!" She stated firmly. She looked over at her daughter and smiled fondly in rememberance. "He was kind, and sweet, and gentle, and he loved me... he truly loved me... and he would never hurt me. He..."
.x.x.
He snuck into her room late one night after her parents had gone to bed, closing her door behind him as silently as he could, flicking the lock. "Alex, are you awake?" he asked softly, walking toward her bed.
"What took you so long?" she replied in mock frustration, as she sat up in her bed, the smile on her face in the pale moonlight seeping through the windows giving her away. In that moment, with the moon beams caressing her soft skin, and the innocent expression on her face, he would have sworn she was an angel... beautiful and perfect.
"Sorry, I didn't want them to hear." he said, motioning with his head in the direction of Jerry and Theresa's room. He climbed into her bed, placing a soft slow kiss on her lips as he laid them both down, facing each other.
Gently he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, tracing up and down her spine with his finger tips. She shivered under his touch and melted into his embrace, having completely forgotten the 'frustration' from earlier.
Never in her young life had she felt so safe, so secure... so loved. Every moment she spent in his arms was a moment she'd wished could last forever. "I love you."
"I love you too, Alex." he whispered to her before leaning forward and connecting his lips with hers. Alex returned his kiss with ferver, running her hands through his hair, as her tongue grazed his bottom lip, begging his mouth for entrance.
Once granted, tongues wrestled for dominance, neither caring who actually won... it didn't matter... it never mattered... and as the kiss deepened, growing more passionate by the second, hands began roaming freely. A touch here, a rub there, a gentle caress of her breast, fingers grazing his toned abs, soft moans filling the quiet room.
She pulled back from him to stare into his kind and loving eyes, before whispering "I'm ready."
Clothes were stripped and tossed carelessly around the room, butterflies filled their stomachs, and eyes met as he positioned himself at her entrance. "Are you sure?"
She gave a quick nod, "Yes", and closed her eyes, pressing her forehead into his neck, to brace for the quick burst of pain. She felt him push forward...
.x.x.
"Mommy?" Katie asked, nudging her mom's shoulder. "Mommy, are you okay?"
Alex shook her head, snapping out of her daze. "What? Katie, what's wrong?" Alex asked nervously, seeing the tears on her daughters face.
"I don't know... You stopped talking... and... and..." the young brunette sniffled.
"And what, honey?"
"You were staring out my window, and.. you were smiling... but..."
"It's okay, Katie. But what?" Alex gently encouraged.
Katie whimpered a few more times before she could continue. "But then... you started crying..." she said, concern evident in her voice. "Are you okay, mommy?"
Alex reached a hand to her cheeks and could feel the moisture that had formed from the salty liquid seeping from her eyes. She couldn't believe it. She was crying... she was still crying... but she knew why. She could see him again, touch him once more, and feel his warm breath on her skin... even if only in her mind. She knew why she tried not to think about him, she knew why she didn't want to tell Katie about him... Losing him hurt too damn much... forcing him away like she did fractured her world... and now she was reliving it.
"Yeah, I'm fine... It was... I was just thinking about me and your father's first time." Alex smiled fondly through her tears. Suddenly, her eyes popped open. What the hell did I just say? Shit! How am I going to explain that to a four year old? Maybe she won't notice. Maybe she won't ask...
"First time what, mommy?" Damn it!
"Um, nothing, Katie. Don't worry about it." Alex said, a hint of caution in her voice. She smiled again as her daughter pushed out her bottom lip into Alex's trademarked pouty face. "I'll tell you that story when you're older, okay." She giggled as Katie quickly nodded her head. "And don't try that pouty face on me, young lady... I invented that!"
"Well... It's getting late." Alex said with a grunt, pushing herself off of the bed. "Time for you to go to sleep."
"But mmmooomm" Katie whined "What about the story about daddy?"
"I'll tell you more tomorrow, alright. You need your rest." Alex leaned over to place a loving kiss on Katie forehead. "Good night."
"Fine." Katie huffed. She was excited about finally being able to hear about her father and now that her mom had started her story, she didn't want it to end.
"Good. I'll see you in the morning." Alex turned and started to head back into the living room. Once at her daughter's door she paused and reached her hand up to turn out the light.
"Mommy?" the little girl called in a weak voice.
"Yes, Katie?"
"What's his name?" Alex turned, studying her child. She didn't want to tell her, not yet anyway. But she could see the pleading in Katie's eyes. "Katie, it's not important, not right now, okay?" she asked hopefully.
If they weren't so similar, Alex might not have noticed the mischevious glint emerging in Katie's eyes, but she did... she just wasn't expecting this...
"If you tell me, then I won't have to tell Mrs. Jenkins that you forgot to pick me up Monday after school." Katie said in a sing-song voice.
"Wha-gah-tha-ugh-Katie!" Alex immediately slapped her had over her mouth and she thought her eyes might pop out of her head. Oh my God! I'm turning into dad! Double damn!
Katie giggled at her mom's antics.
Alex shook her head, clearing out the confusion from that realization. "I didn't forget... I was just late... there's a difference." She stated with conviction. "Besides, you can't threaten to tell our neighbor something just to get me to do something... that's blackmail. It's wrong."
Katie looked at her mom for a bit, analyzing what she just said before asking, "What's blackmail?"
"Nothing. Don't worry about that either. You're- " Alex stopped when she saw the realization wash over her young child, and as Katie smiled out an excited "Oh!", she threw her hands up in exasperation... "Great. And now you know what blackmail means. Perfect." Of course she figured it out. Crap!
"So... What's his name?" the adorable brunette tried again.
"Ugh. Fine." Alex huffed, trying to remember the name she'd placed on Katie's birth certificate.
"His name is, um..." she started, shakily trying to recall... "Jesse Reynolds."
"Do you miss him?" Katie asked
Alex felt the tears jerk back into her eyes as memories flooded her mind. "Everyday." she replied, wiping her eyes.
Even though Katie was young and didn't know what it was, she felt empathy toward her mother, she felt Alex's pain as her own... And even though she didn't know her father, she knew that she missed him, that she wanted him in her life... "Me too." she sniffled.
Alex nodded and wiped the final traces of moisture from her face, and smiled at her beautiful daughter when she spoke. "Thank you, mommy... for telling me."
"You're welcome, honey. Now, go to sleep. Tomorrow we'll go get some ice cream and tell you some more about your dad, okay?"
I hate lying to her about her father...
.
.
A/N: chapter 1 is done, chapter 2 coming shortly. And for those of you who've read my other stuff and are concerned about what i might do to them... don't be... i have no intention of doing anything especially bad to them... a sweet story is what i'm planning here... eventually.