Chapter 11

Carlos's POV

Stephanie and I were packing our bags getting ready to catch a flight with the family when there was a knocking at the door. I looked at Steph over the flap on my suit case and we frowned. We weren't expecting any guests.

I kissed babe on the cheek when I passed her and walked down the stairs to the foyer to check who was at the door. Only a few people knew the location of my house and most of them were already inside. I looked through the peep hole and smiled at what I saw. A young lady with sunglasses on with one eyebrow raised chewing on a piece of gum like it was going out of style.

I opened the door and was attacked with a hug and a kiss. "It's about time you answered this door." She said hugging me close.

I had to step back and get a close look at the young lady in front of me. Julie was now sixteen years old and taking the world on without a flinch. I had just gotten her a car for her birthday with GPS and a constant guard following her, but she didn't need to know that! Julie stands at 5'7 with long dark hair like mine and eyes like mine. It was like looking in the mirror but only seeing a female looking back.

"I heard from Ella you were here when I called for our weekly chat. You weren't gonna leave without saying hello were you?" Julie asked walking through the door towards the living room.

That's when the gasps started. All of Julie's Aunts, Uncle, grandparents and soon to be step mother were staring at her. Julie saw Steph and right to her for a big hug. It was nice to see my favorite women in one place as a family for once.

"Is that our precious Julie?" Mama asked with tears in her eyes. Julie was passed around for hugs, wincing every once in a while, and kissed by the family she hasn't seen in nearly three years when I was in the hospital after that terrible encounter with Scrog.

"You are one beautiful young lady sobrina (niece)" Celia said as everyone sat on the couch. We only had an hour before we took off for Trenton but we would make the most of it with Julie here.

"Gracias tia." Julie said with a smile. I was glad to hear that during her middle school and high school years she had chosen to take Spanish instead of French.

"Hobla espanol nieta?" Papa asked with a raised eyebrow questioningly. I smiled at his question.

"Si abuelo, aprendí en mi escuela." Julie said with a giant smile. My family looked so happy to see that my daughter could speak our native language even though I didn't raise her. I looked over at Steph and gave her a look.

"Now I just have to get Stephanie to learn." I said with a grin. She winked at me and smiled.

Julie looked around the room and must have noticed all the suitcases filling the room. "Were you guys heading out so soon?"

"Unfortunately yes carino (sweetheart). We were going to stay and visit you but there was a change in plans after the military ball." I said trying to do damage control before my daughter thought I didn't want to see her.

"What was the change of plans? Was it because the family interrupted your alone time with Steph?" Julie said with a wink.

"That and your Papa is getting hitched so he wanted to get home to plan." Raphael said nudging her with his shoulder.

Julie's eyes widened and grabbed babe's hand looking at the ring I put on her finger not too long ago. She hugged Steph and then ran to give me a hug. "I can't believe it! It's about time! I'm gonna have a Step mom!"

Everyone was sporting smiles and laughing as Julie was clearing expressing her feelings on my fiancé. I looked at the clock and noticed that it was about time for us to head out to catch our flights. Julie saw me look at the clock and knew our time together was coming to an end.

I pulled my daughter to my side and held her tight. "We have to go carino but I promise to see you soon ok?" I looked into her eyes and saw a flash of something there but wasn't able to figure out what before it was gone. I saw tears gather in her eyes and held her even closer. "Stephanie or myself are only a phone call away."

Julie bit her lip and looked at me like she wanted to say something but nodded and went to say good bye to the rest of the family. "Well I should be heading home too. Ron and my mom didn't really want me to drop by unannounced but I wanted to say hello anyway. Love you all!"

Within the hour we were all packed up and ready to head back home, but something wasn't right. Why didn't my ex and her husband want my child to visit me?

Steph's POV

I can't tell you how nice it was to see Julie again after all these years. Sure we emailed and talked occasionally but it wasn't the same as seeing the person up close. The moment I saw her walk into the living room I knew something was off and was hoping Carlos would pick up on it. I have gotten good at reading people ever since I learned how to read Carlos through his blank face and I know that something is up.

When Julie was saying her goodbyes and announced that she showed up against her parent's wishes I knew something was up big time. Rachel would never keep Julie from Carlos, but would Ron?

I kept silent as Carlos drove us to Haywood to his apartment. I was getting an odd feeling in the pit of my stomach like something wasn't right and I was missing a small piece of information.

We arrived home and began to unpack when I felt strong arms wrap around me from behind and a whisper in my ear. "I smell something burning babe." I turned in his arms and rested my head on his chest.

"It was nice to see Julie today before we left. But I can't get past my spidey sense going off during her visit." I said and looked up concerned into the eyes of the man I loved so much.

I heard Carlos take a deep breath and sigh. He pulled me down to sit next to him on our bed and held me close. "I couldn't help but feel the same when she was saying goodbye." Carlos kissed my temple and looked into my eyes. "I'm going to have a chat with Rachel tomorrow morning."

I smiled at Carlos and got up to finish unpacking. Every once in a while when Carlos blocked my path he would bend down and give me a kiss before passing me.

We haven't discussed our living arrangements yet but for now I wouldn't go a single night without sleeping next to my love Carlos.

After unpacking we grabbed a quick dinner from Ella's wonderful cooking and had a shower that was filled with heat along with the hot water. When we were pruned and out of breathe we exited the shower and got ready for bed.

When we crawled into bed Carlos pulled me into his chest with my back to his front and kissed me goodnight. Tomorrow I would face my demons and hopefully tell the world that I belonged to Carlos Manoso as his woman but for now I could rest knowing things will be taken care of until tomorrow.

Until I heard someone at the door.

Carlos' POV

I was snuggled in bed nice and warm with my fiancé about to fall asleep from an eventful day when I hear knocking on our door. Babe looks over her shoulder at me and frowns thinking the same thing as me. Who is at our door at this time of night?

I get out of bed and pull on a pair of boxers and look over at my fiancé. "Stay in bed it's probably the guys wanting to give me the paper work they couldn't finish. She smiled and blew me a kiss before snuggling down in the sheets and going to sleep. I shook my head and went to the door.

I didn't even bother to look through the peep hole because only people I trust had the fob to get up here. I opened the door with force ready to yell at whoever was disturbing my time with my fiancé and stopped in my tracks.

"Daddy?" Julie said with tears streaking down her face. I stood there frozen wondering how she got here and why. I pulled her into the apartment and sat her on the couch.

"What's wrong Jules?" I asked trying to wipe her tears. It was hard to see my daughter cry.

"I had to get away from there!" Julie said looking down at the carpet. "When I got home from visiting you I knew I was going to be punished like I usually was but it was just one too many times and this time might be different."

"What are you saying baby?" I asked so concerned about what would force her from her own home and state to come seek me for help. "You can tell me anything Julie."

That's when I heard Steph walk into the room and Julie run to her and crumple to the floor in a tight embrace crying her heart out. Stephanie looked up at me with a look of despair and concern. For the first time in my life I had no idea how to handle a situation.

Please R&R