~ Chapter 8 ~

What About Now

Beau sat down with a small smile on his lips loving every minute of what was happening between Daniel and his Mom. He didn't dare to make his smile bigger just in case his mom saw it, and he would get into trouble. Maybe not a lot of trouble, but it was still trouble. Beau loved the way how they interact with each other. So much sarcasm, but it was very funny for him. That was for a ten year old kid really.

Daniel did his go, focusing the ball to the pins carefully; also eyeing the lane to make sure gets a perfect shot. Wilhelmina snorted, and he heard it, but he didn't turn to her. He swayed his hand back and then forward, letting go of the ball. But after all that hard work, he failed to get a strike by just one pin; which he was very disappointed by. Especially when he saw the look on Wilhelmina's face – which read SMUG in big, bold capital letters. She didn't even try hiding her smirk. After a moment, Daniel sat down in front of her. They were both watching Beau play, he was good too, well better than him anyway, at least he was beating his mother.

Twenty minutes later – Beau asked Wilhelmina if he could buy something from the counter. Wilhelmina nodded handing him some money, and then asked their driver to go with her son.

And then there were two. She sat down, trying to make herself look comfortable of the situation. She busied herself with her Blackberry, texting Marc about her situation.

To: Marc

From: Wilhelmina

Marc, he's staring!

--

To: Wilhelmina

From: Marc

Are you sure he's staring or just looking?

--

To: Marc

From: Wilhelmina

What are you talking about? Does it matter? It's staring – that's always the word for me...

--

To: Wilhelmina

From: Marc

Is he making you feel uncomfortable?

--

To: Marc

From: Wilhelmina

What a dumb question to ask. Good bye Marc.

--

To: Wilhelmina

From: Marc

So he is then. Bye-bye Willie – missing you already! X

'Ugh, he is so gay!' thought Wilhelmina to herself.

She stared back at Daniel. Daniel glanced to see Beau still in the queue to get his milkshake? Then returned to staring at Wilhelmina.

"He's a good bowler."

"Well, I guess like mother like son." She smirked.

He smirked back and took the seat next to hers. "So what else is he in to?" Daniel leaned backward, his elbows resting on the back of the seat. Wilhelmina had the sudden urge to look at him, but she stopped herself.

"Why the sudden interest to my son?"

"I just thought I'd ask." he replied simply. She thought what harm could it do? It would be good to show off her son too – well their son, but he doesn't know that, and he doesn't need to know it.

"He's a very talented boy. I think I got that from me, not his father. He goes to a private school twenty minutes away from home." She said while picking on her nails, it was because she was feeling nervous of Daniel's sudden questions.

"Talents such as? Scheming?" he smiled but then shook his head when he realized it didn't sound as funny as much as it did in his head.

"Daniel..."

"Forget I said that, so, talents such as?"

"Well, I guess, he can play 5 instruments, he takes dancing lessons, he's very in to drama and theatre and all that. He's got a decent voice, he loves sports especially football and tennis. What else, hmm, he's speaks French as well as English and a little bit of Spanish and Italian." Wilhelmina finished with a glance at Daniel. She smiled when she saw Daniel's reaction, his mouth formed an 'O' shape. This kid was better than him.

"That's shocking, he has a lot of time."

"Yes."

"I played soccer with him earlier. I have to admit he was good."

Wilhelmina smiled, real this time. Daniel didn't think it was a smirk; it was cuter than her normal smiles, so it was definitely not a smirk. "Maybe you weren't really that good Daniel."

"Don't think just because you beat me in bowling that you can beat me on anything."

"Sure... Business wise, I'm beating you, bowling, two beautiful children I have a happy life."

"Do we have to do this? Really Wilhelmina?" she smiled again, and it freaked the hell out of him even more.

"It's been ten years since I've seen that smile you know."

"Oh, another trip down memory lane Daniel? Stop it now." She said firmly, glaring at him with eyes he's been used of seeing for the past five years.

"Right... Okay, I'm sorry."

"Good."

Beau came rushing back with his milkshake in hand a chocolate bar in his other hand. Daniel moved back to his original seat, allowing the kid to sit down.

"Want the chocolate Mom?" he asked looking up to meet Wilhelmina's softened eyes.

"No thank you sweety." She smiled.

"Daniel?" he looked over to Daniel who had surprised eyes, he pointed to himself, "You're asking me?"

"Err, yeah." He laughed a little. Daniel shrugged, "Why not.". Beau threw the chocolate bar to him and he caught it with one hand. "Thanks buddy.". He took the wrapper off and started eating it while looking at the mother and son.

He liked seeing this side of Wilhelmina, the caring mother type, he wasn't even sure there was this side to her, but he thanked the people of the security cameras for letting him take the information of Wilhelmina taking a vacation to France. Originally, he took the flight to Paris just to see what she was up to, his first thought was that she was plotting another scheme to get him out of Mode. So he was relieved to see her son.

"You'd still be here for your birthday right Mom?" his thoughts were again distracted. Birthday. Of course, he almost forgot. Wilhelmina's birthday was the week after, only a few people knew about her birthday, family members, and a few trusted friends of hers. And him. He knew because he used to date her. He once threw a surprise party for her, he decided not to invite her friends. It was just him, Wilhelmina and little Nico. She said it was one of the best – no it was the best birthday she's ever had. He was of course thanked very kindly that night, when Nico was asleep.

He did the maths and if that was ten years ago and she was 26, then this year, she should be turning 36 years old.

A 36-years old mother of two kids; a daughter aged 17 and a son aged 10. That was some achievement. Though he was sure she'd said to him that she wanted to start a family, with someone she truly loves and care for. One who wouldn't betray her and accept her for who she is.

And ten years ago, that man was him.

A/N: Happy reading. R&R - not much to say really, xD

Preview: Willie's birthday. Daniel calls Nico. Err, what else.. Oh, the pool scene! :D