Roy is 9.

Chapter 23: Baby Please Come Home

Oliver's POV

I followed Dinah around the mall and carried numerous amounts of shit as she piled everything she picked up into my arms. I staggered behind her towards the cash register. We waited in line before it was our turn. I swiped my credit card and glared at the flashing total before signing the receipt.

Dinah stated, "Okay. That's it for everyone on my list except Roy and my mother. We're almost finished."

"Dinah, we've been to almost every store," I grumbled.

"Not my fault that you have a lot of people to shop for… What did you get for Roy?"

"I thought you were going to get something for him."

"I already did. He's your son, Oliver. You adopted him. You have to take responsibility for the boy and get him something is Roy's first Christmas as your son. Try to make it special for him."

"I don't even know what he wants."

"That's because you barely spend time with him."

"I spend-" I began before someone called my name.

I turned around to see the last person on the entire planet that I wanted to see. I saw the busty blonde that I'd had sex with a few nights ago before Dinah came in. What was her name?

"Oliver, you never called me back," she purred as Dinah's posture immediately became defensive. "I thought that we had fun a couple of nights ago-"

"I'm sorry. Do I know you?" I lied as Dinah slightly glared at me.

"We met at that nightclub. You took me to your mansion and we-" she began before Dinah started walking away.

"Dinah, wait! You don't understand-" I began before she quickly turned around and backhanded me.

"I understand perfectly. You couldn't have waited until I got back? Really? Does our relationship mean anything to you?"

"Of course it-"

"Never mind."

********Break********

Dinah's POV

I finished drying my eyes with a tissue. Great. Now my makeup is ruined. Damn him. Why does he always have to do shit like this? I groaned as my phone rang.

"Hello?" I answered the phone.

"Dinah, is Ollie with you?" Roy asked.

"No… Are you okay?" I asked.

"I'm at school. I think he forgot about me again."

Poor baby.

"Roy, didn't school end like two hours ago?"

"Yeah," he responded sadly.

"Hold on. I'm coming to get you."

I practically cursed Oliver's name the entire time as I drove through town like a crazy woman as I tried to get to Roy. What kind of parent forgets their child?

Eventually, I got to his school. He dragged himself over to my car and climbed into the passenger seat. He was practically frozen from the cold. I turned the heat up before leaning over to ruffle his red hair.

"You alright, baby?"

"Not a baby," he muttered as I noticed that his eyes were slightly red and puffy.

"Have you been crying?"

"Crying's for babies."

"Right… You're freezing. How about-"

"Can you please just take me home?"

"Alright."

********Break********

Oliver's POV

I walked into the kitchen to see Roy and Dinah making hot chocolate and cookies together.

"Dinah, what are-"

"You forgot to pick up your son from school," she hissed before leaning over to kiss Roy's cheek. He instantly wiped the lipstick from his cheek as she moved past me and called, "I'll show myself out. Bye Roy."

I looked over at Roy who just glared at me before hopping down from his chair and heading upstairs without saying a word. I groaned and ran a hand through my hair.

It's not like I meant to forget to pick the kid up. I am trying to run a billion dollar company. And it's not like I meant to cheat on Dinah. She was gone for like two whole weeks. What was I supposed to do?

Eventually, I headed upstairs to Roy's room to find him playing some dumb game on his PlayStation. Kid was giving me the silent treatment. I cleared my throat before I sat down beside him.

"Hey, I'm sorry about-"

"You forgot me. Parents shouldn't forget their kids… but you're not a parent. You're just my guardian," he bitterly replied.

"Roy-"

"If you really want to make it up to me then go get Dinah back… She's really the only adult that cares about me."

********Break********

Dinah's POV

I could faintly hear singing outside of my mother's house. What in the world is going on? Is that carolers? Do people even do that anymore? Yeah, I definitely hear singing. But, it's Christmas. Why are people outside of my mother's house singing?

"Mama, do you hear something?" I called.

"Sweetie, look carolers. I didn't think people did shit like that," she replied as I joined her at the door.

The two of us watched as a group of carolers sang:

The snow's coming down.
I'm watching it fall.
Lots of people around.
Baby, please come home.

The church bells in town
All singing in song.
Full of happy sounds.
Baby, please come home.

They're singing "Deck The Halls."
But it's not like Christmas at all
'Cause I remember when you were here
And all the fun we had last year.

Pretty lights on the tree.
I'm watching them shine.
You should be here with me.
Baby, please come home.

They're singing "Deck The Halls"
But it's not like Christmas at all
'Cause I remember when you were here
And all the fun we had last year.

If there was a way,
I'd hold back this tear.
But it's Christmas day.

They broke off as Oliver suddenly stepped from out behind them with a bouquet of flowers in his hands. He sang loudly and off-key:

Please.
Please.
Please.
Please.
Baby, please come home.

Mama and I swapped glances and eye rolls as he pleaded, "Dinah, my Pretty Bird, I'm so sorry. I'll never do it again. Please take me back. I love you."

"Don't do it! He's a selfish dumbass!" Mama hissed into my ear.

I replied, "Ollie, you won't ever change."

Roy suddenly popped up and pleaded, "He can't help it that he's stupid. Please take him back. We need you."

"Oh my Lord, he's so adorable!" Mama crooned before she immediately snatched Roy up and dragged him inside for cookies and hot chocolate.

Oliver and I were left alone with his cheesy apology. I crossed my arms and leaned against the doorway before saying, "Are you going to get rid of our audience?"

He immediately dismissed them and moved closer to me. He said, "Dinah, I'm sorry. I should have never have done it. I was drinking and-"

"You promised you weren't going to drink anymore. You know what you're like when you're drunk. Roy needs you sober, Ollie."

"I know. I'm sorry, Pretty Bird."

"What did you get Roy?" I asked, immediately changing the conversation.

"A new bow, a new gaming system, games, a few thousand dollars' worth of shit he'll never play with, and papers."

"Papers?"

He nodded and said, "Adoption papers… We talked about it and we'll make everything official tomorrow."

"Ollie, that's incredible. Do you know how much that means to the boy?"

"I know but I think this next question will mean more," he replied before he suddenly dropped down to one knee. He reached inside his coat pocket and pulled out the biggest diamond ring I'd ever laid eyes on. He asked, "Dinah, will you marry me."

I quickly recovered before replying, "I'll think about it… but you really have to get your shit together first."

Thanks for all the reviews, favorites, and follows! Sorry that I don't have much time to write anymore but school has me crazy busy.

Merry Christmas!