Hi! Sorry for the late update! But life is crazy!but here it is!..let me know what you think of it so far...will try to upload as often as I can which is probably once a week..thanks for your patience!..

Our one year mark was fast approaching and things could not have been better between me and Buffy. We still kept it low and I was amazed that we managed to keep it a secret for so long without any suspicion.

As time passed, I began to realise the connection Buffy and I had was unique and special. It is difficult for me to put to words but I feel so deeply connected to her like I can sense when she is near or I could tell how she feels by one look.

The attraction I have towards her only multiplied as each day passes and the sex; amazingly mind-blowing.

The way we connect during intimacy was something I never felt before. I feel so whole and complete with her. I have long since admitted to myself that I am in love with her but admitting it to her was something else. I would like to think that she was as crazy about me as I am about her but I was still nervous about telling her.

I wanted to do something special for our one year and was thinking of going on a trip with her where we could just be us. No hiding.

We were in my apartment, basking in the afterglow of lovemaking. I was lying on top of her, with my head on her chest, feeling her trace the tattoo on my back. Times like this I relished the warmth of her embrace, the feeling of her heart beating against my ears. A few times, the movement of her chest as she breathes and the sound of her heart beating has lulled me to sleep.

"Angel?"

"Hmm?"

"I'm invited to Fashion Week in New York".

Oh man! That means I won't be seeing her for a few days.

"I'll miss you", kissing her chest.

"I…um…I want you to go with me, as my date…my boyfriend…if you are available that is".

I lifted my head to face her. Am I hearing this right? I know how private she was and how she wants us to be a secret.

"Are you sure?"

"I don't want us to be a secret anymore. I want the whole world to know how happy I am. No more hiding…unless you don't want to".

Oh, I want to. I've always wanted to. No more secret rendezvous in our trailers, no more having dates only at home. We could be a 'normal' celebrity couple.

"Honey, it's what I've wanted for a long time but I want you to be sure of this".

"I'm sure. I want this".

At that moment my heart swelled with joy and warmth as I leaned down and kissed her. What started to be a gentle and loving kiss became passionate and wet when she thrust her luscious tongue in my mouth.

I welcomed it and submit to the mating of my tongue and found myself hard again. Needing to breathe, I broke the kiss and rested my forehead on hers, feeling her warm breath on my face and my shaft sprung to life, thirsting for her warmth and my beautiful goddess willingly, quenched the thirst in the most satisfying, breathtaking way imaginable.

I was invited to Fashion Week twice before but never attended because well, I wasn't that interested but I was looking forward to going to New York. Clearly, it was because of Buffy but I also thought we could extend our stay and celebrate our one year. By the time we were in New York, we would have gone public so the secrecy bit was not an issue.

I went ahead and checked with Buffy's assistant on her schedule and knew she had four days to spare.

New York, being Buffy's home turf made arrangement for our romantic getaway slightly nerve-racking for me but I did some research and had a few things arranged throughout the four days.

I booked a suite at The Plaza Hotel, reserved a romantic candlelight dinner at her favourite restaurant, plan a picnic at Williamsburg Waterfront, enjoy a boat ride along the river at the Great Lake in Central Park, take a walk through Brooklyn Bridge Park and a few other things in store, hoping it would be a memorable for her.

For those four days, no Hollywood, no work, no kids, just us enjoying each other. I'm excited just thinking about it.

I was doing a fitting for Fashion Week. Albert, my stylist had just arrived with a few outfits so I could pick my look for the event. Just as I led Albert to my living room,

"Daaaaddddyyyyy!" Kathy ran to up and hid behind me, her hands wrapping my legs.

"What?...what is it?"

"Liam said he's going to kill me!"

Sure enough, Liam came running with a book in his hand and Kathy held my legs tighter.

"She spilled soda all over my homework!", Liam reached out to Kathy to try to hit her.

"Liam, wait", but he wasn't listening. He tried to scratch, hit and pull Kathy away from me. I have had enough.

"Hey! Enough! Stop it!" I held Liam's hands tightly in mine. My fourteen year old stopped struggling and looked at his eight year old sister with complete annoyance.

"Kathy, go to your room!"

"But Daad…" Liam starts to protest but immediately shuts his mouth when I glared at him.

I knew Kathy would take a chance to mock or stick her tongue out to Liam as she walked, thinking I wouldn't notice but I'm their father.

With my eyes still on Liam, I said, "Kathy Alicia Callahan, if you make a face at Liam, I will take away Mr Bubbles".

I could hear her huff and started stomping away to her room. Mr Bubbles was her wolf soft toy, a gift she got for her sixth birthday that she loved so dearly.

I apologised to Albert and asked that he gave me a few minutes to settle my kids, took Liam to the dining area, pulled a chair to sit and made Liam stand in front of me.

"Tell me what happened", I calmly asked.

"It's her fault! She never listens! I told her not to bother her and she doesn't care!"

"There is no need to raise your voice. You're not answering me. I asked you what happened".

Liam took a moment, sighed and told me what transpired. He was in his room, dutifully doing his homework when Kathy went into his room, with a soda at hand, asking him to play with her. Of course, he turned her down but Kathy being the curious eight year old went to Liam's desk to see what he was doing.

Annoyed, Liam told her to leave him alone and bickering between the siblings ensued. The next thing they knew, the soda she left on his table spilled all over the math homework he had finished earlier.

"Let me see", I said and Liam handed me the book.

I carefully opened the book and it was wet, sticky and a little smudgy but no pages were torn. The soda will leave a stain on the pages but otherwise, the book will be fine once it was dried out.

"It's fine. It will dry out. I'll help you later. There are no smudges on your homework pages so it's fine".

Liam nodded quietly and looked at the floor.

"Liam, hitting your sister is never okay. Saying those things to her is not cool. She's your little sister."

"But it's her fault, Dad. I wasn't doing anything".

"I know that and I will talk to her about it but what you did isn't right either. I get that you're angry but you shouldn't have hit her."

"I'm sorry".

"You're not a little boy anymore Liam and I need you to look out for her when I'm not around. She needs to know she can count on you other than me and your mom".

He nodded.

"Good".

"Dad, can I ask you something?"

"Anything".

"Why do you and mom split up?"
His question caught me off-guard and I tried to search for the model answers in the many books that I read but nothing comes to mind. I gave up and explained it the best way I knew how to my teenage son.

"Sometimes, things happen in a marriage and as much as we try, it just doesn't work. But, please know that your mom and I love you and Kathy very much. And although I'm not always with you, I will always be there for you. I'm always your Dad."

"So…it wasn't because of me or Kathy?"

"Of course not. What made you think that?"

"Just some stuff people say to me…kids in school can be really mean".

"Liam, our divorce has nothing to do with you or Kathy. The two of you are the best thing that happened to me. Whenever anyone says anything else, remember that."

"Got it…can I ask you another question?"

"Of course".
"Don't you love mom anymore?...sometimes, she cries. When she thinks I'm asleep, she cries. And she drinks too. In the morning, I could see the beer bottles she tries to hide. Did she do something that was so bad that you had to leave her?"

I could see the pain in his eyes and I felt like my heart was ripped out of me.

"Liam, I care about your mother and I will be there for her whenever she needs me but as a friend".

"Then as a friend, doesn't it hurt you to hear about her like that?"

Honestly, it does. But it has been over a year since we've divorced. Surely, she has moved on.

"Your mom knows that if she needs me, I'm right here."

Liam smiled weakly and said "I better go upstairs and finish the rest of my homework" before walking away to his room.

I pushed away what Liam said and left his Math book on the kitchen counter to help him dry it out later and turned my attention to Albert, who was waiting for me in the living room.

"Sorry about that, Albert".

"No problem. Having two kids is a handful, I get that".

I was grateful for his understanding and an hour later, I decided on my outfit. I was casually conversing with Albert , who was packing his stuff when I heard a message come in.

I smiled when I saw it was from Buffy telling me that she misses me and asking how my day was. I was texting my reply when Albert asked, "So, you get the kids on weekends?"

"Yeah."

"How long has it been since the divorce?"

"Slightly over a year".

"Your kids seem to be doing okay".

"I guess. I mean, divorce is worse for the kids you know? But I try my best".

"You seem to be doing a better job that most people and the way you handled the fight earlier? Model dad I would say."

"Thanks".

"How are things between Nina and you?"

"Fine."

"Good. Are you guys talking?"

"Of course we are. Why do you ask?"

"Nothing"

"Do you know something?"

"It's just…I think she's having a little trouble moving on. I heard she doesn't really come out of the house anymore. She still does her mom duties you know, but nothing for herself."

"Ohkaaaay", I answered. Liam's words hit me again and so did the pain evident in his eyes.

"That girl's life revolved around you and the kids. She was an upcoming actress at one point of time but then she met you and got married, became a home maker. It's just a little heartbreaking to see her so lost."

"Nothing is stopping her from becoming an actress now and I never stopped her from pursuing her career when we were married. I encouraged it even but she always wanted to wait till the kids were older", I felt like I needed to defend myself.

"Hey, I'm not judging. It's just…granted, I've known you for a long time but in the course of your marriage to her, I became her friend too and I still keep in touch with her from time to time. She just sounds so lost".

"I don't know what to do with this information you're telling me".

"Do you think, maybe, somewhere down the line, you and Nina could…you know…reconcile?"

I was taken aback by his question.

"Albert, you've been my friend for a long time and you've seen how my marriage and Nina had been in the final years. We were like strangers living in one house. I wasn't happy anymore and it was miserable. The divorce was brutal but it wasn't as if we didn't try. We went to a marriage counsellor, I took her to romantic trips and had weekly dates to maintain the romance but it didn't work. Our marriage was over for a long time and we tried to hold on as long as we could."

"I know…I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything. I better go. I will have your outfit flown to New York on Friday".

"Thanks."

As Albert was about to walk out my door, I called out to him,

"Albert!...you don't have anything to be sorry about. If anything, I'm thankful that you're a good friend to Nina as you are to me".

"No problem."

"Say hi to your wife for me".

"I will…oh, which reminds me, you know my wife's sister Lexie has had the hots for you for some time. Should I maybe play cupid?"

"No! No need for that."

"Come on, you're single, she's single. It's just a date".

"Thanks but no. Goodbye Albert."

Albert simply huffed, telling me he'll find some way to convince me to date again and bid goodbye.

As much as I want to ignore what Liam said and now reinforced by what Albert told me, I couldn't.