"What's with the tears? It's Christmas eve"
I looked down at my feet, knowing damn well if I looked up I wouldn't be able to brush this whole thing off.
"I'm fine"
"Steph"
"No really, I'm fine. Let's just go back inside"
With his 2 fingers, he lifted my head so my eyes could meet his. I could see the look of concern in his eyes. Paul of all people could always get the truth out of me. Looking into his eyes I felt comfort. I remembered everything we had been through, Dad forcing us apart, me meeting Chad, him meeting Miranda, and us backstage being "Just Friends". A part of me missed him.
"Steph"
I lowered my head again "Listen Paul I'm ok really."
He lift my head up again "You and I both know you can't lie to me. That's why your looking down and refuse to look me in the eye. Look me in the eye and tell me nothing's wrong."
He knew I couldn't. I stepped back from him and looked him in the eye. That twinkle in his eye was a look I couldn't refuse. I sighed in defeat and a victorious smile spread across his face. I playfully slapped him on the arm and made my way over to sit by the pool. He quickly followed.
"It's just that I'm worried about Aurora," I began. "Chad is being such an a##. The last time he spoke to Aurora was on her birthday and that was in July." I scoffed at the thought, "He sent her $50. Like really, really that's exactly what she needs, money, forgetting the fact that her grandfather is a billionaire." I took a sip of my champaign and Paul took the glass away. I licked my tongue out at him.
"But she misses him alot, but you will never know it because sh..."
"She is just like you in every way and is a very strong individual on the outside but is really hurting on the inside."
I smiled. I loved when he finishes my sentences, it's like he's in my head.
"You know I hate it when you do that?" Okay I lied but he don't need to know that.
"What? When I finish your sentences because I know you just as well as you know yourself?" He said with that sexy smirk of his
"Yeah that! But no he just..." I rolled my eyes, "He just really doesn't give f##k and it's irritating. Like, the man I spent damn near 6 years with is not the man he is now, and our daughter is suffering from it."
"Well you know I can relate with that, but with the Miranda situation the only thing is I got out early. Stephanie your that kind of person that has a big heart and is so kind that it is easily taken advantage of. That's what Chad did. Your marriage was really over 3 years ago, but you being the person you are you stuck it out another year. 2 years ago you finally let go and the divorce was clean and quick, but the pain was still there. Everyday your living with the fact that the one man you trusted cheated and had a whole other family. That's not going to be easy to deal with especially when there's a kid involved."
I felt the tears burning in the back of my eyes. This is the Paul I know. He understands me, he talks to me, he listens to me, he has a genuine heart, he would never harm nor hurt me, he always there for me. This is the Paul I remember, this is the Paul I love. Yes I still love him. My first true love, therefore I'll never forget him. He moved closer to me.
"But I know if anybody can make it through this you can. Your a strong beautiful woman and your daughter is following directly in your footsteps. Your beautiful, your strong, and your a smart woman, you can get through this, and if you need me I'm always here for you."
That did it. The tears streamed down my face. I got up and walked further by the pool side. I silently cursed myself for crying, but it's been so long since someone has said them words to me. It reminded me of everything we had in the past and why I loved him and why it had hurt so bad when we broke up. I felt a presence behind me.
"Ay ay ay come here"
He turned me around and looked me in my eyes. "It's okay to cry especially when you need to."
I caressed his cheek. "Thank you"
He pulled me into a hug, and held me tight. I felt safe.
"No problem, That's what friends are for."
Immediately my heart dropped to my stomach. Friends.

"Mommy wake up, wake up"
"No I'm sleepy go away"
"But it's Christmas, you've got to get up"
"One more hour"
"No more hours"
I felt the cover pull off of me and a sudden cold breeze came over me. I shivered.
"Mom get up now"
"Alright, alright" I opened my eyes to find my daughter standing by my bedside, but she wasn't alone.
"Merry Christmas Stephanie" Murphy said as she stepped closer to give me a hug.
"Merry Christmas," I said with a strange look. "Sweetie what are you doing here?"
"We wanted to come and celebrate with you guys, so you and Aurora wouldn't be lonely." She answered with a smile looking just like her father.
"We?"
"Yeah, We." There was that voice again.
My eyes looked up and met a tall blonde man with a beautiful smile on his face. I glanced at the clock on my nightstand, 10:32.
"Hi. How did you guys get here? I mean, How did you guys get in?"
"Well mommy you phone was ringing over and over again so when it rang for the last time I came in and saw it said 'Paul' so I answered it and he was saying how he wanted to come over and spend some time with us. I said yeah really fast. I mean I knew you would like it. We wouldn't have to be alone again on Christmas."
Even with that smile of hers I saw the pain in her eyes and knew she really meant she wouldn't have to be alone again without a father like figure around. I smiled as I sat up.
"Well can you pass me my robe sweetheart so we can head downstairs?"
She ran to bathroom and I smiled as I glanced at Paul. He had a suspicious smile on his face and I mouthed the word 'What', he snickered and nodded toward me. I looked down and I could have died. I was wearing a silk pink lace gown that barely covered my thighs. I could feel my cheeks turn red. I heard Paul giggle.
"Oh shut up"
"Nice, very nice"
Just then Aurora came in with my robe and I quickly put in on and got up. It was short but at least it was longer than my gown. We made our way downstairs and Aurora ran over to the tree. She just knew all the gifts were hers and she loved every minute of it. As I went to sit on the couch I trip over a big duffel bag.
"Oh sorry," Paul said as he snickered I slightly slap him on the back and and asked what it was. He smiled and winked at me. Just then he pulled out present after present after present and Murphy ran over to him.
"Daddy is all of this mine?"
"Well yeah, but a few are for Aurora and a few are for" He looked at me with a smile, "Stephanie"
I smiled and ran hers through my hair. I bent my legs up on the couch. "Aurora why don't you hand Murphy her gifts, since their here you don't have to wait until Tuesday."
Paul looked at me with a wicked smile. 'What about me' He mouthed. 'What about you' I smiled back as he looked at me and shook his head in disbelief.
"Mommy, you want me to give Paul his gift?"
He smiled and looked at me "Liar" he said with a smile.
The kids opened their gifts and played. I watched Aurora and smiled seeing her so happy warmed my heart. "Here you go "
Paul handed me a little box and a few other gifts. "Open this one first" He said as he pointed to the little box. I ripped the wrapping paper off in stared at a little blue box. I looked at him. "Open it" I untied the ribbon and took off the top and a tear instantly fell from my eye. It was the red heart shaped locket with the words 'One step at a time' printed on it that I saw when we was in New York back in 2001.
"Oh my god, you remembered?"
"Stephanie, I never forgot"
We stared into each other eyes for a minute then I looked back down at the locket. It was literally 9 years ago and my birthday was coming up and he asked me what I wanted and I told him I had no clue. We took a walk in NYC one night after the show and we walked past this jewelry store with this locket in the window. I stopped to admire it and told Paul it was just like the one my grandmother gave me when I was young but while I was running track in high school I fell and it broke. He knew about my grandmother and I relationship and how close we were. I looked at him again and I felt myself smile a warm smile. I can't believe he remembered.