*Thank-you for the reviews on the last chapter. They were greatly appreciated. Thank-you all so much*
I wake up the next morning as my alarm goes off with Rachel still in my arms. Our bodies pressed up against each other. I reach over her and turn off my alarm clock. Rachel is still sound asleep beside me. I take my hand and softly rub her arm before I lean over and kiss her neck softly. She stirs a little as I continue to lay soft kisses on her neck. She rolls over onto her back looking at me with her blue eyes and a smile on her face. "Good morning, Roman."
"Good morning, Rachel," I say as I kiss her lips softly. "How are you this morning?"
"Wonderful," she says as she runs her hand over my cheek. "Last night was amazing."
"I have to agree," I say with a smile before I kiss her lips again. Last night was beyond amazing for me. "We can have a quick recap if you want to before Sky wakes up," I say nuzzling at her neck as my hands find one of her breasts.
"How can you possibly have that much sex and still want more?" she asks me with a smile.
"Because I am so addicted to you I need you and want you so badly," I say with a smile. "So what do you say?"
"I can never say no," she says with a smile as I lay my body on top of hers. She wraps her arms around my neck as I kiss her lips softly. I start to make love to her once again as if the night before wasn't enough; I don't think I can ever get enough of Rachel. We cum together as a passionate love making session comes to an end. I finish my release inside of her before I kiss her lips softly.
"I guess I should go wake Sky up," I say as I remove myself from Rachel. "It's getting late and our mornings aren't exactly easy going."
"All right," she says as she sits up and looks at me as I put on a pair of basketball shorts. "I have to leave soon to get ready for work but I can make you two breakfast if you'd like."
"That would be awesome," I say with a smile before I kiss her lips. "You can put on one of my t-shirts and a pair of shorts or pants; whatever you like. Just help yourself. I have to go wake up Sky."
"All right," she says with a smile as she gets out of my bed. I admire her body once more before I leave the room to wake up Sky.
I walk into Sky's room and she looks beautiful as she sleeps. She is clinging tight to her doll in the semi-dark room, her curly brown hair covering some of her face and her mouth hanging open. I sit down on the bed. "Sky, it's time to wake up," I say as I gently shake her to wake up.
"Roman," she says groggily as she stirs. "My stomach hurts."
"What's wrong?" I ask.
"My stomach hurts. I can't go to school today. I don't want to go to school today," she says as she grimaces at me holding her stomach. I am concerned and I have never dealt with this type of thing before. "I don't think I can go to school today."
"But today is your first cello lesson," I say as I feel her head. "And you don't seem to have a fever."
"But my stomach hurts," she says as she sits up. "I don't think I can go to school today. Please don't make me go, Roman."
"Why don't you want to go to school? I thought you liked going to school?" I ask.
"I do but I don't like the other kids. They don't like me," she says. "I sit by myself at lunch and play by myself at recess. No one ever wants to work with me on partner activities. I don't want to go."
"Sky, it's really not an option and I think your stomach is just fine. It takes time to make friends."
"Really?" she asks. "Because I haven't even made one and Jaida won't talk to me at school and then there is this Haley girl. She is evil!"
"Why is she evil?" I ask with a smile. She truly is my daughter.
"She just is! She always makes fun of me. She calls me a music freak. She says I never talk because I'm stupid. NO one ever wants to talk to me. She always starts the other kids in making fun of me too. She called me a freak because I don't have a mom anymore. She's just really mean to me and I hate it. Please don't make me go to school, Roman."
"Sky," I say as I take her hand. "People in life aren't going to like you. Do you know how many people in this world don't like me? There are a lot. People are always going to talk about you and call you names but you can't let it get to you. I don't. People used to say I sucked as a wrestler and used to say all sorts of bad things about me but I proved them wrong. I proved them I could be better and I proved that their words and criticism didn't mean a thing to me. I kept my head up and didn't let them get to me. You cannot let what this little brat says about you get to you. She's probably jealous of you. She calls you a name stand up for yourself. If no one wants to talk to you; you talk to them. Don't be shy. And I'm sure you're not the only one in your class that loves music. You just have to find someone that likes what you like. And most friendships start with a hi."
"But no one talks to me," she says.
"Do you talk to them first?"
"No," she says, "because I know they don't like me because of Haley. She says I smell too and my hair is dirty. She really doesn't like me. She calls me Smelly Skylar."
"You're not smelly," I say. "Do you want me to go talk to the school?"
"No," she says. "Don't do that. It will make it worse. Just don't make me go."
"Sky, I can't have this fight with you every morning," I say. "You have to go to school. I know it's hard right now but it will get easier. If Haley starts with you stand up for yourself. Don't let her tear you down. You are smart enough to know that her words are just that. She is jealous and that's all it is. But if you never talk to anyone they aren't going to talk to you so your job today is to say hi to at least one person in your class and try to make a friend. Okay?"
"I don't know," she says. "I'll try but I can't promise anything."
"I bet you can make a friend. You're too awesome not to," I say. "Haters are gonna hate and a Reigns is going to Reign," I say. "That's what I always say."
"You're funny," she says with a laugh.
"All right well it's time for you to get dressed for school," I say. "What do you want to wear today?" I ask as I get up from her bed.
"My blue polo and khaki skirt," she says as she gets out of bed. I get out the outfit that she wants and as I am about to leave the room she says, "Roman?"
"Yeah?"
"It smells good. Who is cooking breakfast?"
"A friend," I say with a smile. "Get ready for school and then I'll do your hair before breakfast."
"Okay," she says as she grabs her clothes.
I walk into the kitchen to see Rachel cooking us breakfast. "Smells good," I say with a smile.
"Thanks," she says as she puts pancakes onto three plates. "How is Sky?"
"She doesn't want to go to school because of some Haley girl."
"Yeah, she wanted to leave Build-a-Bear the other day because of her. I don't know what she does to her but Sky is terrified of her."
"She's a brat," I say as Sky comes into the kitchen in her school uniform. "That's what it is."
"Rachel," she says, "what are you doing here? Did you sleep over?"
Rachel looks at me as she puts the plates of pancakes onto the table as she is wearing one of my t-shirts and a pair of my shorts. "She did," I say with a smile. "She might be spending the night once in a while or maybe every time I'm home," I say.
"Why?" asks Sky as she sits down at the table to eat breakfast as I grab a brush and some detangling spray to do her hair.
"Because Rachel and I boyfriend and girlfriend now," I say as I look at Rachel. She smiles at me as I smile at her. I never expected to speak those words.
"I thought you didn't have girlfriends?" she asks as she pours syrup on her pancakes.
"Well, there is a first time for everything," I say, "I didn't think I would ever have a daughter but I do. Sometimes life just hands you the unexpected and you have to roll with it."
"Oh," she says. "Are you going to get married?"
Before I can answer Rachel speaks for me, "we just started this relationship. We have a lot to work on before we ever think about marriage."
"Oh," says Sky as she eats her breakfast as I start to do her hair. Time is tight. "Roman, you're pulling it!" she yells.
"I'm sorry," I say as I continue to brush through her hair.
"I want a braid!"
"Rachel," I say. "It's all yours."
"Okay," she says as she comes over and braids her hair quickly.
"How did you do that?"
"It's very simple. You just part the hair into three parts and braid them together. You just cross them over or under whichever you prefer. Crossing over might be easiest for you."
"All right," I say with a smile. "Thanks."
"You're welcome," she says as she kisses my lips before we sit down to eat with Sky.
After we finish breakfast Sky says goodbye to Rachel before she goes to brush her teeth. I walk Rachel to the door because she has to go home to get ready for work. "You might want to think about bringing some clothes here to stay for the nights you sleepover so you don't have to rush out of here before work to go home to get ready."
"Are you sure?" she asks.
"I'm positive. I don't mind it at all. Just a couple of outfits," I say with a smile.
"Thanks," she says with a smile. "All right, I'll see you after work today. You have a good day."
"You too," I say with a smile before I kiss her lips. "Have a great day," I say to her as she walks to her car.
I shut the door behind her and smile to see Sky standing in front of me. "You love her," she says as she grabs her book bag.
"I don't know," I say with a smile. "Let me go get a shirt on and then I'll take you to school."
"All right," she says as she stands at the doorway. I grab a shirt from the drawer and throw it on. I throw my hair up into a messy bun and then grab a pair of socks from my drawer before putting on my sneakers. I run down stairs and as usual we are running late.
I drop her off at school just before they lock the doors. "Have a good day, Sky," I say as I hug her. "I'll be here at the end of the day to pick you up. Remember what I told you, your job is to say hi to one person and make a friend."
"Okay," she says with a smile. "I'll try my best."
"Shit, Sky, I forgot to pack you a lunch." I dig in my pocket for my wallet. I pull out the smallest bill I have and hand it to her. "Here is $20 buy yourself lunch."
"Thanks," she says with a smile. "Bye, Roman."
"Bye, Sky," I say, "and remember what I told you; Haters are gonna hate but a Reigns is gonna Reign!" She runs to the door as she waves to me. I smile at her as she walks into the door. The teacher waves to me and I wave back before I get back into my car.
While Sky is at school I take the time to go out and do some grocery shopping to buy some more food for the house now that I have an idea of what the kid eats. After I go grocery shopping I go back home to put the groceries away and to clean up the kitchen after Rachel's delicious breakfast. I then change the sheets on my bed before relaxing by the pool for the afternoon before taking a shower before going to pick up Sky from school. As I stand outside waiting for her I just hope she had a good day and made at least one friend at school. She walks out of the building with a teacher pushing a big instrument. "What is all this?" I ask as Sky reaches me.
"It's my cello," she says, "I have to practice."
"Oh," I say. "It's as big as you."
"I know," she says. "Can you put it in the car?"
"Yes," I say as I take it from the music teacher and put it in my car. "So how did she do?"
"Mr. Reigns," says the music teacher. "She is a natural. She has skipped the first book and went straight to the second one. She is very talented on the instruments. She knew all the notes and she knew exactly what to do. I say you have a musical prodigy on your hands. She is wonderful on the piano and the cello. She can play you a song you will be impressed."
"That's great," I say as I look at Sky. "Her mom was a musician. Her mom was just as talented as her. She gets it from her."
"I see," she says, "she is determined to be a musician. She did a great job."
"Thank-you," I say.
"You're welcome," she says with a smile. "Sky, I will see you tomorrow but remember to practice. Your next lesson is Monday."
"Okay," she says. "Thank-you."
"You're welcome," she says with a smile. "You two have a great evening."
"You too," I say as I help Sky into the car. I get into the driver's seat and start the car. "How was school?"
"It was good," she says as I pull out of the parking lot. "I really liked my cello lesson."
"That's good. Did you do what I asked you to do? Did you say hi to someone and make a friend?"
"No," she says. "I tried but no one wanted to talk to me."
"You can always try again tomorrow," I say. I am determined for her to have at least one friend but I am starting to worry about her socializing skills. She can socialize with adults with no problem but when it comes to children she just doesn't want to or she's too shy to do it and I have no idea why. I wish I knew more about her. I wish I knew about her past to know why she is the way she is today. There has to be some type of information like that somewhere. Jenn had to have something I just don't know where to find it. Maybe Rachel is right I should take her to a therapist to see what's wrong. I don't know but Sky worries me.
*A/N: So what did you think? How is Roman falling into the father role? Do you think he's doing a good job? As for Sky is it Haley that makes it hard for her to make friends or is it herself making it hard to make friends? Anyone believe she may have had socializing issues BEFORE she came to Roman and that may be why Jenn never put her in school? Would a therapist help? Please review and thank-you for reading.