CHAPTER 20
YEAR LATER
"Daddy, Daddy"
Lauren looks up and smiles hearing the little boy's voice to see Ian running to the door as Sark enters the room.
Sark picks Ian up kissing his cheek, "Hello my boy." He smiles taking in his son's smiling face.
"Julian"
Sark looks down as now five year old Sophia hugs his waist, "Baby girl." He crouches before the girl getting a hug, "How is everything?"
"Ian tore up my drawing." Sophia huffs pouting
"Sophia you know he doesn't mean to do it." Sark looks at the 18 month old boy. "He's still learning not to do things."
"He always gets into my stuff." Sophia huffs
"He's already had his time out Sophia." Lauren reminds as she joins them.
Sark stands kissing Lauren lightly, "Missed you"
"Missed you too." Lauren smiles
"Daddy" Ian tugs on his Daddy's pant leg.
Sark picks the little boy up, "How was everything?"
"Good. And..."
"Done for the month." Sark shrugs "I'm bloody glad."
"I bet." Lauren smiles "Lunch is almost ready."
Sark nods handing Ian to her, "I'm going to go change."
Lauren tugs at his tie, "The infamous Mr Sark seems to be spending more time in jeans and T-shirts than suits and ties."
Sark looks at Sophia tugging on one of her pigtails "Yes well he is also spending more time chasing after kids rather than adults."
Sophia grins at Sark. "Can we go play outside?"
"After lunch." Lauren answers. "Now lets get you two washed up for lunch."
LATE AFTERNOON
Sark steps up to Lauren kissing her neck, "How were things around here?"
Lauren shrugs "Good. Baby down?"
"Mmm. Sophia?"
"Playroom." Lauren replies. "How was LA?"
"Fine."
Lauren turns her arms going around his neck, "I missed you."
Sark smiles "I missed you as well."
Lauren kisses him lightly, "Go spend some time with Sophia."
Giving Lauren a final kiss he walks out of the kitchen heading to the playroom. He smiles when he sees Sophia sitting at the table drawing, "Baby girl do you still want to go outside?"
Sophia looks up and nods, "When I'm done."
Sark smiles at her serious tone, "All right." He joins her at the table sitting on the floor beside her. "What are you drawing?"
"A picture."
Sark looks at the picture of stick figures and rainbows, "Well it's very nice."
"Did Daddy get my pictures?"
"Yes he did. He has your other pictures up on his wall."
"When is Daddy going to visit?"
"Sophia"
"Why is he still in time out?" Sophia asks curiously. "You and Mama never sent me to time out as long as Daddy's been in time out."
"Well Daddy did something bigger than ripping up paperwork or throwing a tantrum or pushing Ian."
Sophia sets her crayon down and looks at Sark, "What did he do?"
"It's complicated sweetness."
"Is Daddy in trouble for taking me on vacation?"
"Partially." Sark admits "But he took some items that didn't belong to him."
"Daddy stole" Sophia says her eyes widening, "You and Mama tell me never to take things."
Sark smiles at her serious tone, 'Hard to believe someone so innocent is part of me.' "Stealing is bad." Sark nods
"What did Daddy take?"
"Why don't you finish your picture" Sark changes the topic not wanting to delve into adult issues.
"OK"
HOUR LATER
Lauren smiles watching from the living room as Sark playfully chases after the laughing Sophia in the backyard. 'He's such a good Dad.' She laughs as Sark catches the little girl then tosses her in the air as the girl shrieks with laughter. 'She adores him so much.'
"Julian" Sophia giggles her arms going around his neck
"Come on baby girl we should get inside."
"Why can't we stay outside?"
"Because it is time to go inside." Sark kisses her nose and heads into the house setting Sophia down just as Lauren walks into the room with baby Ian who is sleepily rubbing his eyes.
"Have fun outside Soph?"
Sophia nods grinning
"Go wash your hands." Lauren says
"OK" Sophia runs out of the room
Lauren shakes her head
"Daddy" Ian holds his arms out.
Sark takes the boy from Lauren
Lauren smiles seeing Sark listen with interest to Ian's chatter.
EVENING
Sark looks up from his laptop when he hears wailing coming from the living room. Standing he heads walks out of the study heading down the hall to hear Lauren's angry voice.
"Sophia Alexandra go upstairs right now!"
Sark steps into the living room to find Sophia standing there her arms crossed over her chest as she glares at her Mom.
"NO" Sophia stomps her foot "He took my book"
"That doesn't mean you push your brother." Lauren says walking the floor with the crying baby. "Go upstairs right now"
"He's a stupid head."
"Sophia" Sark says warningly "you don't call your brother names. Go upstairs."
Sophia stomps out of the room. A moment later they hear the bedroom door slam shut.
"Shh" Lauren rubs Ian's back
"What happened?"
Lauren shrugs "I didn't see it. I heard her say stop it then a thud and Ian started crying." Lauren kisses Ian's head as he continues crying. "I should go talk to her."
"I will. You deal with Ian." Sark walks out of the living room and heads upstairs knocking on Sophia's door he enters to find Sophia sitting on her bed with her bear and blanket.
"He took my book."
Sark sits on the bed, "That doesn't mean you can push your brother. He's still just a baby Sophia."
Sophia pouts, "I want to be the baby again."
"Well you can't be. Besides you are almost ready to start school. You are pretty independent while Ian still needs a lot of help. You're growing up... both of you are."
"Why doesn't he get punished when he takes stuff?"
"He's a baby. He's still learning things. He probably wanted your attention." Sark points out "Besides I don't think he's really old enough to understand the concept of time out and punishment."
"I guess not." Sophia sighs. "Is my time out done?" She asks hopefully.
"No." Sark chuckles "I want you to stay up here for a while."
"How long?"
"We'll let you know."
Sophia sighs
Sark smiles kissing her head, "No toys baby girl. Time out means no toys."
"I know."
"Good girl." Sark stands walking out of the bedroom he closes the door behind him.
Lauren looks up as Sark walks into the living room, "Well?"
"I told her we'd let her know when time out is over."
Lauren nods pressing her lips to Ian's head as the boy sniffles
8PM
"Mama"
"Yes?" Lauren brushes Sophia's hair back.
"I miss Daddy."
"I know you do."
"But Julian's like my Daddy right?"
"I suppose" Lauren watches as Sophia picks at her comforter. "I know he loves you so much. The happiest I have ever seen him is around you and Ian." She smiles remembering all the times she has seen Sark smile and laugh around the children.
"Mama"
"Hmm"
"Can Julian be my Daddy now?"
"What about Michael?"
"I can have two Daddies. I have friends at school who have two Mamas and Daddies." Sophia looks down, "And Daddy's not here." She says sadly, "I just want a Daddy."
Lauren hugs the little girl, "Oh sweetie" she kisses her daughter's head, 'I'm going to hear her call Sark Daddy. All I've wanted for so long.' "Why don't you go ask Julian?"
"OK" Sophia throws off the covers scrambling out of bed she runs out of the room.
Lauren follows her wiping at the tears that have welled up.
"Julian" Sophia runs into the study
Sark looks up and smiles "Shouldn't you be in bed?" He asks as the little girl stops beside his chair.
"I wanted to ask you something."
"OK" Sark looks at Lauren briefly then back at Sophia. "What is it?" He asks as he lifts the little girl onto his lap.
Lauren watches as Sophia leans up whispering into Sark's ear, 'Such a sweet sight.' She blinks back tears watching as Sophia hugs him before scrambling off his lap.
"Night Daddy" Sophia calls running out of the room.
Lauren smiles seeing Sark's pleased yet stunned expression. "We'll be up in a minute to tuck you in." She calls to Sophia just as the girl passes her. She makes her way over to the desk dropping on Sark's lap.
"She called me Daddy." He says awed
"What we've waited for since the day I told you I was pregnant."
"What brought this on?" Sark asks
"She wants a Daddy who's around. She has always adored you... I'm a little surprised she waited this long." Lauren kisses him lightly, "We should go and tuck her in."
Sark nods "If he ever gets out... he's going to bloody kill me." He sighs standing.
"He's probably never getting out." Lauren shrugs
"I guess"
"Come on lets go"
LATE THAT NIGHT
Lauren smiles at Sark as they stand in the middle of the living room dancing, "I'm glad you're home."
"As am I." Sark smiles back
"I hate when you're gone."
"I hate being gone." Sark smoothes a stray strand of hair back, "It's weird."
"What is?"
"I spend more time at home than I've spent anywhere other than lockup."
Lauren smiles "You have a family now." She rests her hand on his cheek. "If you spent more time out of the house I would have had to hurt you." She teases
Sark kisses her palm, "Thank you"
"For what?"
"Everything. For giving me a chance. For loving me despite what I am." He smiles, "For giving me two incredible children." He kisses her lightly.
"Not like I lost out." Lauren smiles "If it wasn't for you I'd be stuck in an unhappy marriage. Wouldn't have two incredible babies."
"I would do anything for you."
"I know"
"I wonder what will happen next" Lauren muses
"Whatever it is we'll be together."