Chapter 12

Hey guys I'm back with another chapter! Thank you so much for all your reviews last chapter! You guys are so sweet. :) Thank you to all my guest reviewers, sorry I can't reply to you because that's how it's set up but, thank you all the same. PLEASE REVIEW and let me know what you think of this chapter! God Bless.

-Vegter999

Author's Note: Any non-English words in this chapter will be in Norwegian.

Warning: This chapter will contain swearing.

Erik's POV:

On Thursday as I was heading out the door for work, a little voice called after me.

"Pappa?"

I turned to see Jakob standing there, his hands clasped together in front of him.

"What is it min lille kriger (my little warrior)?" I inquired.

"Um...well I was just thinking. I know you and Mamma have a special day and I was wondering if well..."

"What?" I smiled encouragingly at him.

"I was wondering if we could have a special day too. I mean just us?"

I pulled him to me and kissed the top of his head.

"I would love that."

"Really?"

"Of course. I love spending time with you." I knelt down to his level.

"In fact how about after I get home from work today we go and get some hot chocolate?"

His eyes lit up.

"Hot chocolate?! Really?!"

"Really" I grinned.

He threw his arms around me.

"I love you Pappa! You're the best!"

"I love you too son" I kissed his cheek.

"Now I really have to get to work."

I rose to my feet and grabbed my briefcase.

I ruffled Jakob's hair before kissing his head one last time and headed out the door.

###

Ruth's POV:

It was difficult to keep Jakob's attention on his studies during the day due to the fact he kept anxiously fidgeting and waiting for Erik to get home. He'd related to me Erik's promise to take him out after he'd finished work for the day and I was incredibly happy for him, but not when it caused him distraction from his schoolwork.

Finally, I dismissed them from their lessons and Jakob immediately scurried to the window to watch for Erik's car.

I couldn't help but grin and shake my head at his eagerness.

"Jakob sweetie" I ruffled his hair "watching out the window is not gonna make him get here any faster."

Yet, Jakob seemed to have tuned me out as he simply kept gazing out the window intensely.

"Jakob come over here and help me with a puzzle. I'm sure Pappa will be here soon."

Jakob reluctantly moved away from the window and sat down at the coffee table in the living room with me, beginning to help me place the pieces of an 800 piece puzzle I had begun to work on yesterday while the girls watched the movie The Great Unicorn Adventure, which Jakob obviously had never taken a liking to.

Finally, the sound of a key turning in the door could be heard and Jakob dashed to the front of the house just as Erik pushed the door open and put his briefcase down.

"Pappa you're back! Can we go now?! Can we?!"

"Whoa Jakob give your Pappa a chance to catch his breath first" I admonished him.

"We can go in a minute Jakob. Just let me say hi to your mother and sisters first ok" Erik said, patiently.

Jakob sighed dramatically.

"Ok."

"Patience is a virtue son" Erik kissed him on the forehead.

He then turned to me.

"How was your day darling?" he kissed me.

"Oh nothing special. I mean it's always special to watch the kids for the day but..."

"I understand Ruth. Don't worry."

He then proceeded to go and greet the girls, giving them each a kiss. Finally, he turned to Jakob, who was practically bouncing up and down in anticipation by the door.

"Alright Jakob we can go now."

"Yes!" he exclaimed.

"We'll be back in a little while" Erik said to me.

"Ok have fun. And take care of him" I warned, gazing at him seriously.

"I always do" he kissed me one last time and then they both slipped on their coats and boots and headed out the door.

Erik's POV:

Jakob bounded out towards the car and I couldn't help but smile and shake my head at his childish enthusiasm. I recalled what it was like at that age and I felt it amazing when I kept catching glimpses of my younger self in him.

Jakob hopped in the backseat while I got in the drivers side and started the car.

"You buckled Jakob?" I called back.

"Yep."

I slowly pulled out of the driveway and soon we were cruising down the road.

"Where are we going Pappa?"

"Well I thought we could go to a place in Oslo that your Grandpappa used to take me when I was your age. Sound good?"

"Yeah."

I smiled into the rearview mirror and then continued focusing on the road.

When we finally arrived in Oslo I pulled up to the coffee shop and turned off the ignition.

Jakob and I got out of the car and he took my hand as I led him inside.

The room was lit with overhanging lights, giving the area a soft glow, and the familiar sound of coffee being made, as well as the pastries on display in the glass case, brought back pleasant memories.

Jakob and I headed up to the counter.

"What can I get for you?" the woman behind the counter inquired.

"Two hot chocolates please."

"Do you want a kids size for him?" she pointed at Jakob, who by now had let go of my hand and was pressing his nose up against the glass as he gazed at the assortment of treats in the display case.

"Yes please."

I then leaned over and tapped Jakob's shoulder.

"Jakob stop putting your nose on the glass, you know better than that."

"Can I get a pumpkin bar Pappa? Please?"

I sighed.

"Alright, but only one."

I turned back to the employee.

"We'd like two pumpkin bars too please."

"Certainly."

I then had her charge the payment to my debit card and she handed us a bag with the pumpkin bars in it.

"You're drinks will be brought to you shortly" she said, handing me my receipt.

"Thank you."

I turned to Jakob.

"Wanna go sit at the table your Grandpappa and I used to sit at?"

"Sure."

I took his hand and led him over to a booth in the corner that was somewhat tucked away at the back.

Jakob plopped himself on the cushions while I took the seat across from him and took out one of the pumpkin bars and handed it to Jakob, who began eagerly to munch on it while I decided to save mine for later.

"So how was your schoolwork today?" I asked.

"Not really good. I couldn't focus."

"Oh well we all have days like that. What's important is you keep at it."

"What was your favorite subject in school when you were my age?"

"Oh well I liked to read a lot. I hated anything and everything to do with math."

"I hate math too. Did you play any sports?"

"Yeah I played football* a lot with kids in the neighborhood."

"Were you any good?"

"I was decent. I wasn't the best but I wasn't the worst."

"Oh, how many..."

Our conversation got interrupted as the waitress delivered our drinks to us and then quickly left us again to our conversation.

"Sorry buddy what was it you were asking?" I inquired, handing him a straw for his hot chocolate.

"How many girlfriends did have before you met mamma?"

I snorted at the randomness and utter innocence of his question.

"Not including your Mamma, three."

"When did you have your first one?"

"When I was seventeen. Her name was Leah."

"Did you kiss?"

"Yep. After I walked her home from the basketball game."

"How long was the kiss?"

"It was endless" I joked.

His eyes almost bugged out.

"That's disgusting!" he exclaimed.

I chuckled.

"Come on finish your hot chocolate before it gets cold."

Jakob began to quickly slurp the liquid through the straw.

"Don't go too fast Jakob, we've got time. I don't want you to choke."

Jakob then proceeded to take noticeably slower slurps.

Once he was finished, we lifted ourselves from our seats and headed out into the cool winter air.

I placed my arm around him and he leaned against my side as we strolled lazily towards the car.

"Pappa?"

"Hmm?"

"Thank you."

I beamed at him and pulled him into my embrace, kissing him on the head.

"Your welcome."

"Erik?" a familiar voice said.

I quickly released Jakob, though I still kept a firm grip on his hand, as I turned to see Magnus standing there.

I felt the familiar tide of anger rise within me but, all I could do was glare at him as I wasn't about to cause a scene in front of my own son.

"I didn't realize you'd be here" he said, taking a few steps toward me. His eyes then fell upon Jakob and they softened.

"You must be Jakob. I've heard a lot about you."

"I'm not allowed to talk to strangers" Jakob replied, firmly.

"Oh well I'm not a..."

"That's a good idea Jakob. Now please take the keys and get in the car and wait for me ok. Thank you." I stroked his head as he took the keys and once he was in the car and I was sure he couldn't hear anything, I turned back to Magnus with a scowl.

"He's a cute kid. Looks just like you" he remarked.

"What do you want Magnus?! Are you stalking me now is that it?!" I snapped.

"Erik despite your paranoid fantasies I actually have no interest in doing so!" he responded frustratedly.

"Really! Then what do you call showing up at my work, then at my house when I'm not there, and finally at this coffee shop at the exact time that I decide to take my son here?!"

"First of all, I came to your work because I wanted to talk to you, second I was merely dropping off a letter which hardly counts as forcing my way onto your property, and thirdly I came here because I actually have good memories of this place too when Pappa used to take me!"

"Oh please don't pretend you ever gave two shits about our family because you didn't! You ruin everything Magnus! EVERYTHING!"

A flash of hurt crossed his gaze.

I then simply turned and stalked towards the car. Thankfully, he did not follow.

*For all my American viewers, football is actually the name in Europe for what would be called soccer in the United States.

Wow I felt this was a really hard chapter to write but by the grace of God I did it! PLEASE REVIEW and let me know what you think of this chapter. God Bless.