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Chapter 3:

'What did you just say?' Diane asked Claire her eyes wide at the new piece of information 'Owen is Madison's father?' she repeated 'You're joking right?' she asked her again and Claire gave her a deadly look.

'Do I look like I am joking right now?' she asked 'Do you know how bad this is?' Claire asked pacing up and down the length of her office, rubbing her forehead with her finger tips 'How the hell did this happen?' Claire asked to no one in particular, letting herself drop on the chair behind her now 'Of all the men who could have been Madison's father, it had to be Jessica's fiancé?' She asked her almost in tears.

'Oh honey…Does Jessica know?' Diane asked. Diane was part of the trio and has known both Jessica and Claire since they were young. She had been the first to move to New York and Claire had followed not long after…right when she needed a fresh start. She trusted being around Diane more than she trusted being around her own family. Being the rebellious one, Claire found herself being the black sheep of the family, but despite everything that her family seem to think of her or not really, Claire has been the most successful one of all, all while being a single mother. She was truly a powerhouse. A woman full of energy and dreams ready to be achieved, who has faced many challenges in her life, all which she tackled, some with more pride than others, and while all challenges came with certain amount of difficulties, this for Claire felt like was the hardest.

Her friendship with Jessica was on the line, her life was on the line and that of Madison…and also Owen. She might not exactly know him but this situation clearly put him in a very tough situation. Owen. Claire could still feel his eyes on her, the feel of his skin, the feel on his stubble against her cheek…his hand in hers.

'Claire?' Diane whispered. She could tell that Claire had drifted somewhere far away in her head, and Claire finally looked at her 'Does Jessica know?' she asked her again.

'No…NO' she snapped as she got up from her chair again' Are you insane? She can't find out about this…ever' Claire told her, picking up her pace once again.

'Claire…you have to tell her. You can't possibly keep something of this magnitude from her…This affects her life directly Claire. The man she is about to marry has a daughter…with her best friend' Diane told her.

'Don't you think I know that?' Claire shot back at her 'I feel like my mind is about to explode thinking about this. She will never forgive me if she finds out' Claire said.

'This is not your fault Claire…and not even Owen's for that matter. You two met before they did' Diane told her.

'And you really think that that will make a difference? Because if the situation was in reverse I don't think I would give a shit when they met' Claire replied.

'How did Owen react?' Diane asked her after a while then.

'I don't know…he seemed happy actually, but we hardly had any chance to talk. Madison is with him and Jessica at the moment. They offered to take care of her while I had to come here' Claire informed her.

'Madison is with them? Oh my God. I wonder what is going through Owen's mind right now' Diane told her.

oooOOOooo

He watched her as she went up and down the slide time and time again, never seemingly getting tired of repeating such action. She was so young and innocent, and full of energy and she was all his. His and Claire's.

Claire.

The gorgeous woman who has captivated him since that moment when he looked up from his car and turned to look at the beautiful red-haired woman who stopped to help him out even though he was a complete stranger. He often wondered what made her stop and help him. Women usually kept on driving ahead, fearing their safety, but she was brave and he loved that about her.

Then they made love and it was like making love to a woman for the first time…so beautiful and full of awe of what her body offered him. The way she looked at him, the way she kissed him and touched him, the sounds of her glorious moans and the way she looked when she climaxed…Owen closed his eyes and tried to push those thoughts at the back of his head but then the image of her at Starbucks popped up and Owen felt like he was going down a road he had tried to bury five years ago…since that morning when he woke up and she was gone. There were so many things he wanted to ask her, so many things he wanted to know, so many things to think about and so many things to discuss now that they share a daughter.

Meeting Madison had changed him instantly…he could feel it in his bones, deep in his soul. He could feel it even as he look at her now, watching her having the time of her life…this new human being that has suddenly entered in his life and rocked the hell out of it in a good way…even if having her in his life was going to cause a lot of chaos and heartache. How was he supposed to tell Jessica that Claire's daughter is his? How was she going to react? How did he feel about it? How did he feel about having a daughter? About having a daughter with Claire…a woman he has only met once in his life apart from today? How was he going to deal with this? How does he feel about Claire now, knowing she is Jessica's best friend? How does he feel about getting married? Is he still convinced that that is the path to take? Was he ever convinced?

'Owen, Owen…go slide. Go slide' Madison told him as she came running towards him.

'Sure pumpkin' he replied and Madison laughed.

'You called me pumpkin like mommy' she told him and Owen froze for a minute. Where did that come from? It slipped out so naturally 'Oops…princess…let me correct myself…Sure princess' he told her.

'I like princess' she told him.

'Then let me tell you a secret' he told her in a whisper as he leaned down so he could look her in her eyes 'You will always be my princess' he told her. He was starting to say things so naturally, like he had no control whatsoever on what to say. Things were flowing out of his mouth.

Madison smiled at that blushing slightly, just like her mother did earlier, and Owen couldn't help but notice the similarities. She even has freckles on her nose and a little on her cheeks.

'So which princess is your favourite?' Owen asked her.

'Belle' Madison replied immediately 'I love her dress' she told him.

'Yes…her gown is stunning isn't it?' Owen told her and Madison nodded 'I tell you what…I will ask your mommy and maybe we can watch Beauty and the Beast together, what do you say?' he asked her.

'Can mommy watch it with us?' she asked.

'Of course, if she wants to' Owen replied 'Now…let's get you on that swing, shall we?' he asked her as he picked her up, sat her down on the swing and started pushing her slowly, enjoying this new feeling of being a daddy to this amazing little girl.

oooOOOooo

Somehow Claire had managed to put her head into the work she had actually come to the office for and also ended up in an unexpected meeting and conference call, and now as she glanced at her watch, she realized it was past the three hour mark she had given Jessica and Owen, and Claire was beginning to wonder where they are and getting a slightly worried, probably over nothing. She couldn't help but wonder how things were going and how strange it must feel for Owen. Just like that he walked into Starbucks and became a father of a three year old, almost four. Who would have told them this morning that they were finally coming face to face only to realize things have changed way too much and were too complicated to try and pick up where they left off if there was still that physical attraction, that chemistry…that spark she felt. This morning when their eyes first met each other, they were too shocked to even think or feel anything, but when their hands touched and when he kissed her cheeks before she left, Claire could swear she still felt it and something tells her he feels the same way too. Her mind drifted to that night and it was so clear and felt so real, it almost felt like she was in that moment, when he was kissing her, his tongue in her mouth kissing her passionately, his fingers in her hair, and then he was going down her neck, his hand on her breast…and the phone started ringing making her jump on her chair.

'Hello' she said trying to keep her voice from breaking.

'Your daughter is here' Zara, her personal assistant informed her.

'Send them in' Claire told her before hanging up.

Madison must have ran towards Claire's office as she was bursting through the door before Claire even had a chance to get off her chair.

'Mommy' she called out happily.

'Hey pumpkin' Claire told her as she picked her up and sat her on her knees, pulling her in a big hug 'Did you have fun?' she asked her and Madison nodded enthusiastically.

'Owen bought me this, look mommy' Madison told her showing off her new plush toy of Belle and Claire looked up to see Owen smiling at them, still standing next to the door his hand in his pockets, looking incredibly handsome.

'I see she has already filled you in on her favourite cartoon' Claire told him as she got up from her chair and walked to the front of her desk while Owen approached her.

'Yes she has' Owen laughed 'And I promised her that if it is okay with you, we can do a movie night and watch it together' Owen told her.

'I am sure we can arrange that' Claire said with a smile looking at Madison.

'You have to come too mommy' Madison told her 'Will you see Beauty and the Beast with us?' she asked her.

Claire looked at Owen who smiled with a shrug and then back down at Madison who was looking with her eyes twinkling, waiting for her to say yes 'Okay sweetheart I will' Claire told her and Madison started cheering making both of them laugh 'Now why don't you go over there (pointing to where the couch was in her office) and do some colouring?' she asked Madison.

'Okay mommy' Madison replied happily before she went hopping towards the couch, her blonde hair bouncing.

'You have done an amazing job Claire' Owen told her and Claire looked up at him smiling.

'Thanks. I am glad someone can see that. It hasn't been easy' she told him.

'I am sure it hasn't. I wish I could have helped' he told her.

There was an awkward moment of silence as they now rested against the desk both looking at their daughter 'I'm sorry Owen…I am sorry I got up and left without saying a word' she finally told him and Owen turned to look at her, his hands still in his pockets.

'Where's Jessica?' Claire asked him, suddenly realizing that she wasn't there.

'She got a phone call, something related to the wedding so she had to go to take care of it. I would have called to let you know she was just with me, but I don't have your number' Owen told her.

'It's okay Owen' Claire assured him, as her green eyes locked with his, as the time stood still for the longest moment.

That was when the office door opened and Diane appeared in the doorway 'Oh I'm sorry…I thought you left' Diane told her 'I'll come back later…'

'No wait…It's fine. I will just look at them a little later' Claire told her as she went to take the documents from her 'Actually…Do you think you can take care of Madison for a while. Owen and I need to talk' Claire told her.

'Sure' Diane replied as she glanced Owen's way 'Hi Owen' she said.

'Hi Diane' he replied with a with a bit of a forced smile. It was obvious to him that Diane had already heard the news.

'Madison honey, can you go a little bit with Diane? You can take your colours with you if you want' Claire told her and Madison packed everything and put them in the bag before she jumped off the couch and hurried towards Diane 'Hey…say goodbye to Owen and thank you' she told her and Madison turned around and hugged him.

'Bye and thank you' she said in the cutest voice ever.

'You're welcome princess' he replied as he bent down to hug her and kiss her cheek. She turned to leave but then stopped and ran back towards Owen who was still down on one leg, and kissed him on his cheek and Claire laughed watching her daughter acting like that.

'She definitely likes you' Claire told him as Diane closed the door behind her.

'Yeah I think she does' Owen replied beaming as he got up from the floor 'I really wish you stayed that night' he told her after a while 'Things could be so much different today' he told her longing for days that he knew he can never get back. He has missed out on his daughter's birth, milestones, memories and so much more and all because Claire didn't stay until he woke up. 'Why didn't you stay?' he asked her sounding somewhat upset but not mad 'Why did you leave before I woke up?' he asked softly.

Claire stepped away from him at that and made her way towards the big window in her office as she folded her arms but didn't say anything, letting her mind wonder back to that night.

'Claire? Why did you leave?' he asked her again and then a thought crossed his mind and it almost made him sick in his stomach 'Did I hurt you?' he asked her and Claire turned to look at him then, catching the look of panic on his face.

'No no…God no' she said wanting to reassure him that it had nothing to do with what he was thinking. God how wrong he was! 'I can assure you it is not that…you were…amazing Owen' she told him in a whisper, a faint smile spreading on her face.

He smiled softly at that compliment 'Then what is it? Why did you leave?' he asked her again, obviously needing an answer.

'I was married' she finally blurted out and Owen almost gasped out loud at that statement.

'What? You were…married?' he asked her surprised. He never noticed any ring on her finger, he must be hearing wrong but then again he was slightly drunk that night.

'Yes' Claire confirmed 'I'm sorry if I made you break any values or rules or whatever' she told him.

'Forget about that' he told her 'You were married?' he asked again and Claire was almost starting to get pissed off. For Heaven's sake she knows what she did was wrong but come on, does he have to keep repeating it?!

'Yes' she replied again.

'You're not anymore?' he asked realizing she talked in the past tense.

'Nope' she told him as she turned to walk past him but Owen stopped her sliding his hand around her to rest it on her hip.

'What happened?' he asked her.

'Not that I have anything to hide or that I don't want to tell you, but I think we have bigger issues to discuss' she told him 'We can leave that for another time' she told him, letting him know that she will eventually tell him just not now, before she took a step back and walked to another part of the office desperately needing some space, feeling like his perfume was pulling her to him. Then there were his eyes and the way that he keeps looking at her, like he was trying to look deep in her soul.

'You're right Claire, I'm sorry I don't mean to make you feel uncomfortable or anything' he started telling her.

'It's not that Owen. I don't mind telling you, it's just that we need to talk about the situation we found ourselves in and Jessica' she told him.

'We have to tell her' Owen told her immediately.

'Are you crazy?' Claire asked him shocked that he would simply come out and say that.

'Claire I know it is not going to be easy but the longer we drag this out the harder it will be' he told her.

'She is my best friend, don't you get that? Don't you get how bad this is? Her best friend not only slept with her fiancé but also had a child from him' Claire told him.

'Claire I know that but I didn't even know Jessica at the time. It is not like what happened then, happened now' he told her 'That would be very very bad but this happened almost five years ago' he told her.

'I don't think it will matter. If I was in her situation I don't think I would give a shit when it happened. The fact remains that we slept together. The two people who she cares about and trusts the most' Claire told him.

'Claire…the fact that I made love to you all those years ago, again…before I even knew Jessica existed, will not erase the years her and I spent together, and everything that we built. We are getting married' he told her as if she needed to be reminded, feeling some sort of pain physically at the thought. The man that she has hoped to meet again for the last five years has finally emerged from his hiding place only to find out that he was engaged to her best friend and ready to get married.

'Oh this is hopeless' Claire said as she plopped down on the couch were Madison had been sitting couple of minutes ago. Owen walked over to where she was and sat down next to her, hesitating at first but then he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her into him, and Claire let herself lean into him, her head now resting against his shoulder. She closed her eyes and tried not to think to much about this, but it was bloody hard. His scent was enveloping her, clouding her mind and everything else and Claire could feel herself drown…drown in everything that was Owen, as his fingers kept pressing into her skin, his thumb caressing her shoulder and his lips pressing soft kisses to the top of her head.

Owen closed his eyes inhaling in her scent, letting it fill his souls, taking him to that faithful night. She still smelled the same…the way only she could smell mixed with a little bit of vanilla. Her soft red locks caressing his lips, Owen couldn't seem to stop kissing the top of her head, feeling the need to keep her close, to stay in that moment and then she was moving slightly, tilting her head back, and their eyes locked on each other momentarily, feeling her breath on his face, his breath on her face, her eyes staring at his lips now, and Owen felt himself starting to lean in to close that gap that seemed to big, that gap that would change everything once again, when the bloody phone started ringing again startling them both, making Claire gasp out loud, literally jumping away from him and hurrying to pick up the phone.

He ran a hand through his hair, letting it fall down his face hard as he took a deep long breath. His eyes were on frame, watching her dealing with business, his eyes scanning her from top to bottom, lingering that little bit on her ass hugged fondly by the jeans she had on and his mind drifted again to that night…feeling her lips on his skin, her tongue kissing every inch, her hands going down his chest and then she was….

'I'm sorry for that' he heard her say snapping him out of his memory and probably at a good time too.

'It's fine' he replied, still sitting down not daring to stand just in case. He watched her now jumping up to sit on the edge of her desk, her feet swaying in the air, her hands gripping the edge of the desk, realizing she was keeping her distance from him on purpose and probably for the better. They almost kissed just before the phone started ringing. One minute they are trying to figure out the best way to handle this situation and the next they almost made it even more complicated more than it already is.

'Aren't you scared about how she is going to react?' Claire asked him.

'Of course I am but we don't have a choice Claire, we have to tell her. I want to be in my daughter's life. I already missed out on a lot, I don't want to miss anymore' he told her.

'I understand that and I don't plan to keep you away from her or put any restrictions on your visiting hours, even though I don't really know you. You are still a stranger strictly speaking, I don't really know anything about you' she went on 'For Heaven's sake I just found out your name, five years later' she said.

'Well I am glad that you are not going to make it difficult for me to spend time with our daughter' Owen started telling her as he got up from the couch now and started walking towards her 'But I don't agree that we are strangers. I do know how many freckles you have on your face, or how your face looks like when you are about to cum or how your hands feel on my body' he went on and Claire could feel herself heating up…heating up for her best friend's fiancé damn it, scolding herself, trying to cool down and stop hearing what he was saying. Why was he saying those things? Damn it she really wanted to kiss him again! She has been wanting to kiss him again for the last five years and now that he is standing mere inches away from her, she can't.

'So when do you want to tell her?' she asked him, ignoring everything that he has been saying on purpose.

'Tomorrow' he told her.

'So soon?' she asked not really prepared to deal with this, and Owen nodded 'And Madison? Do you want to tell her or do you want to get to know her a little bit better before filling her in on the latest news?' she asked him.

'What do you suggest?' he asked her, knowing that Claire could provide better judgement when it comes to their daughter, and hoping that maybe one day so could he.

'Well she does like you' Claire told him with a shrug and a smile as she recalled her daughter kissing Owen just few minutes ago 'I think we can tell her. She doesn't seem like she needs time to get to know you better. I think she will be good if you want to tell her' Claire told him.

'Great' Owen said excitedly 'At least I will be looking forward for that encounter…the other one not so much' he told her.

'Same here' she said.