Hey, guys! I hope you love this chapter! I enjoyed writing this part and I have no idea why...
Anyway, do tell me what you think of it. This story will come to and end soon... - (9/12/2016)

Chapter 17

"Is everyone here?" Aunt Cass asked.

"Hmm...Our very important person isn't here yet," Gogo said, smiling.

The woman groaned and rushed back up to get Hiro. They were at the cafe's entrance. Aunt Cass, Gogo, Honey, Wasabi and Fred. They were waiting for Asch and Kate. That day was the fateful day: Alicia's return. When the aunt got to his room, she stopped at the entrance. Hiro was staring at himself in the mirror. He was wearing a t-shirt with a robot picture on it and a pair of tracksuits. His hair was gelled but he kept it in his own style. He was still wearing sneakers. He spun around, facing his aunt.

"Is this okay?" he asked her about his attire.

The woman smiled and nodded. "She'll love you no matter what."

Hiro nodded, scratching his head. "I just...want to impress her. It's been two years. Did you see the last picture Hans sent us?"

"Yes. She's become a fine young lady," Aunt Cass remarked.

"I'm a little nervous..." Hiro sighed.

Aunt Cass gazed at her nephew's figure. Over the years, Hiro had gotten two heads taller than her, his biceps and triceps were showing muscles and his face was mature enough for an eighteen-year-old. Every girl around their block would squeal like crazy fans when they saw him. A lot of admirers would send him letters and invitations to their birthdays. On Valentine's Day, for the past two years, he had been hiding inside his room. All girls would be visiting the café in hope to see him there.

"You'll be fine. Alicia will like you," she reassured him.

Cars honking and Kate's voice could be heard. Aunt Cass patted Hiro's back a few times. The young man flashed a smile. He looked over at the photo of an eighteen-year-old Alicia. In the photo, she was comforting a crying child. She has a gentle expression. She looked like a very kind and loving mother.

Alicia was pacing around her cabin in the ferry. Hans had gone off to find her some light snacks. A child, about one year old, sat on the bed, watching her. He had ruffled brown hair and round black eyes. His skin was a bit tanned, just like Alicia's. The young lady sat on the chair, taking out her compact powder. She started to fix her long hair, touched pink lipstick and check her eyes. She was nervous and excited at the same time. She tied her hair to her left. The boy kept on staring at her, blinking his eyes in confusion. She flashed a quick smile to him.

"I've got you some cookies!" Hans announced, barging in.

"Wargh!" Alicia exclaimed, startled.

Hans laughed. The boy giggled when he saw him. Hans flashed a smiled at him, pinching his cheek gently. Alicia shook her head. She took the packet of cookies. Hans handed her an orange juice in a box. She opened it and gave it to the boy. He took it, starting to sip on it happily. Alicia munched on a cookie. Hans handed her his phone.

"What is it?" she asked.

"A photo of them waiting for you. Asch sent it," Hans explained.

Alicia took it and stared. She caught sight of Hiro and smiled. She abruptly felt embarrassed because she had only grown an inch or two taller over the two years they were apart. She didn't look any different in her opinion, but Hiro did. He looked more grown up and more mature than her. The little boy hopped into her lap, surprising her. She hugged him dearly.

"He's going to love you," Hans said, rubbing the boy's head.

"Thank you for everything, Mr. Hans," Alicia said.

Hans nodded to her. "You've turned out to be finer than ever."

She nodded and thanked him again for his kind words. Hans left the two alone. Alicia hugged the boy tighter. He looked up at her and cooed. She flashed a smile.

"We're going to meet someone important today..." she whispered.

The boy giggled and smiled. Alicia gazed into his innocent eyes. She wondered what people would think of her.

The ferry came to a stop. They had arrived. Alicia stood up. Hans picked the boy up. They walked out of the cabin and onto the deck. Once they were there, they checked around for the people who were expecting them. Alicia caught sight of her brother and little sister. Kate pulled Asch, pointing towards Alicia. The eighteen-year-old stepped down to the harbour. Kate rushed in to hug her. Alicia returned the hug, smiling at her brother. Asch nodded to her. The gang and Aunt Cass ran up to her as well. Hiro dragged himself to where she was.

"You didn't grow any taller," Asch joked.

"I know, right?" Alicia sighed.

"How was it?" Kate asked.

"It was nice. I had a lot of fun...and I think I will be fine from now on," Alicia replied.

"Did you have any difficulties? Did people bash you?" Honey asked out of concerns.

Shaking her head, she replied, "No. Some of the people there have bigger problems than me and some are very kind and welcoming."

She looked at everyone in circling her. Her eyes caught sight of Hiro who was not looking at her at all. He was blushing, though. The gang smiled as Alicia went up to him. Kate elbowed Asch with a smirk. Asch nodded to her. Hiro took a glimpse of his girlfriend before looking away again. Alicia clenched her hands together in front of her. It was embarrassing to be hugging him after so long of not seeing each other. Because of the heights, she looked more of a little sister than his girlfriend.

"I missed you," she whispered.

The young man didn't react. Hans made an appearance with the boy. Kate cooed at how cute he was, wanting to cuddle him. The boy stuck his tongue out. Asch laughed when Kate fumed up. The little boy's eyes welled up in tears, scared of all the strangers staring at him. Aunt Cass widened her eyes in surprise. To her, the boy looked almost exactly like Hiro when he was that age. Hiro blinked in confusion when his aunt turned to look at him. The boy broke away from Hans' hold. Hans let him go. He started to toddle up to Alicia. He pulled at her skirt, staring at the man talking to her with his right thumb in his mouth. Hiro kept his eyes on the boy.

"This is..." Alicia gulped, gazing at the boy, "Our son..."

"I have a son?" Hiro asked her, still keeping his gaze on the boy.

The boy hid behind Alicia, scared. Hiro slapped his forehead, delighted and happy. The boy was about to cry. Alicia squatted down beside him.

"Jake, honey, this is your father..." she said softly to him.

The boy shook his head when Hiro extended his right hand to him. He started to wail. Alicia smiled apologetically at Hiro. She picked him up to calm him. He kept on crying.

"I think he's hungry..." she muttered.

Hiro nodded. They decided to head to the Koizumi's house. Mrs. Koizumi and her husband were waiting for them all. Joey was there as well. The wife brightened up when she saw two cars and Asch's motorbike coming up to their lawn. She rushed to welcome their daughter but froze when she saw her holding a child. Mr. Koizumi's expression changed. Alicia flashed a smile to them. Hans whispered to the two that he would explain everything.

"I have to put him to sleep..." Alicia said.

"Right. I'll go get a futon for him," her mother said.

The others scrambled into the living room to listen to Hans' reports and explanation. Hans was about to start but Mr. Koizumi cut him off with a question.

"How did my daughter have a child?"

"That's..." Hans said, glancing up at Hiro, "We found out after two months we arrived at the centre. The doctor advised her to forget about the baby and focus on the rehabilitation."

"The doctor asked her to abort the baby?!" Aunt Cass exclaimed.

"Yes...but she couldn't bare doing so..." Hans said, sighing, "She kept on telling me that Jake is Hiro's and her child, the symbol of their love for each other."

Alicia's father nodded and told him to proceed with his reports. Hans obliged. He showed them a few pictures and written reports about Alicia's progress. Basically, the rehab did a lot of things to occupy her from thinking about murdering. She did a lot of charity works around the town to gain some clarity. They even sent her off in the jungles to teach her survival skills. Hans helped her where necessary such as contacting her family and friends and sending them progress like the pictures they would always obtain from him. He told them that after giving birth to Jake, Alicia was a bit weak but she kept her rehab going. She worked as a PR for a while but it was too stressful and weak. She became a caretaker at an orphanage instead, to give her baby a nurturing environment to live in. Jake grew up under Alicia and the orphanage's watch. He was not registered at any hospital as a legal child yet.

"He doesn't have a father, so it was difficult. Alicia didn't want me to help. She wanted her child to have his real surname," Hans explained.

Hiro looked down. Alicia came downstairs with a happy face. She knew that they were discussing her so she didn't bother them. Hans had gone through with her what he was going to tell everyone. She had already taken out the details that they do not need to know. She went to the kitchen to make some drinks for all of them. Asch saw her, so he went to the kitchen too.

"That child..." he started.

"I'm keeping him no matter what anyone says. He's my son...and Hiro's," Alicia spoke up.

She was trembling. Asch pulled her into his arms, soothing her. She hid her face in his hug. She was scared of her own decision. Hiro came into the kitchen. Asch snatched the tray that Alicia had readied and rushed back to the living room, leaving the two alone. She smiled weakly at Hiro. Hiro smiled too.

"Can I...see our child?" he asked.

"S-Sure, but don't make too much noises or he'll wake up..." Alicia said.

Hiro nodded. He followed her to her room. Jake was sleeping on the futon right next to Alicia's bed. Hiro sat beside Alicia. They watched their son sleeping.

"He has your hair and eyes," Alicia remarked. "Really reminds me of you."

"Yeah, but his hair is your colour and his eyes are as innocent as yours," Hiro replied.

He pulled her closer to him, kissing her forehead. She rested her head on his chest. He smiled at her. Jake suddenly stirred in his sleep. He made soft grunting before going back to sleep. Hiro caressed the boy's head. Asch and Kate came in with their parents.

"The others had gone back... Asch will send Hiro back after dinner," Mr. Koizumi said.

Mrs. Koizumi sat beside the couple. Alicia had pushed away from Hiro, blushing madly. Hiro glanced up at Mr. Koizumi. He was nervous that he had been holding on to Alicia in front of her father. No matter what, the man scared him the most.

"Hiro, I would like to speak to you," the man suddenly said.

Hiro stood up. "Y-Yes sir!" he stuttered.

Alicia looked at him worriedly. He winked at her to show that he would be fine. He followed her father out of the room. Jake stirred again and started to cry. Alicia picked him up and started singing him a lullaby.

"M-May I?" Mrs. Koizumi asked, extending her hands.

Alicia nodded. She placed Jake into her arms. Mrs. Koizumi kept her gaze on the boy. She was touched that her daughter now has a son. She would never care what society would think of her. Certain people could never accept an illegitimate child, a single mother with no husband or a young girl having a child at such an age. Alicia smiled at her mother's expression. She was glad that Jade was accepted.

Meanwhile, Hiro and Mr. Koizumi were out on the small balcony in his reading room. The young man was nervous, or course. He was facing his girlfriend's father after all. Mr. Koizumi had his back facing him, staring at the sky. For a few minutes, they just stood there in silence. Hiro decided to tell him his plan.

"S-Sir," he started.

Mr. Koizumi interrupted him, "Do you really love my daughter, Hiro?"

"W-What?" Hiro stuttered.

"Do you love my daughter?" the man turned to look at him.

Hiro nodded and said, "Yes. I would never do such things if I do not love her. Being with Alicia makes me feel like I should be a better boyfriend. I have never felt so overprotective like when I'm around her."

"Hmm?" the father raised a brow.

Smiling, he continued, "Alicia is very kind, sweet, gentle and of course, a cry baby…but if it weren't for her, I don't think I'll ever turn out like this. So, Sir…from the bottom of my heart, I really love Alicia Koizumi."

Mr. Koizumi smiled at the young man. He stepped closer to him. Hiro was smiling too. The man patted his shoulder.

"You have my blessing. Please protect Jake as well," he muttered.

"Sir?" Hiro said.

"I already knew. You really are the right man for her," Mr. Koizumi explained.

Hiro nodded. They went back to Alicia's room. Jake was playing with Kate and Joey. The five-year-old boy pointed towards the stairs to show where Alicia and her mother had gone to. Mr. Koizumi patted the young man's back before proceeding to his study room again. He wanted to do some light reading before dinner. Alicia suddenly came up the stairs.

"Would you like to stay for dinner?" she asked her boyfriend.

"Uh…sure," Hiro replied with a smile.

Alicia nodded. She went inside her room to get her baby. Jake cooed happily when he saw her mother.

"He's really sweet, unlike Joey when he was this age," Kate said, teasing her little brother.

Joey looked angrily at her. "I heard from Mom that you're such a handful too when you were Jake's age."

"What did you say?!" Kate shouted angrily.

"Now, now, you'll scare Jake," Alicia stopped them.

Joey went to his room to play some video games. Kate went to her room as well to start on a new project. Alicia was left with Hiro and Jake. The baby kept his stare on Hiro who nervously smiled. Hiro was worried that Jake would start crying again. The baby giggled, extending his hands to Hiro. The man blinked in confusion.

"I think he wants you to hold him," Alicia said.

"I've never held a baby before!" Hiro replied, scratching his temple.

"Here, I'll teach you," Alicia said.

In two minutes, Jake was hugging Hiro. The mother smiled at the two. Hiro grinned tensely. It was his first time holding a baby, not to mention Jake is his baby. Kate called out that dinner was ready. The two went downstairs. While they ate, Jake was playing in the living room. They would take a glance at him once in a while in case he caught hold of anything dangerous.

Hiro helped Aunt Cass to open the café like always. Some girls were already waiting by the entrance. They knew that every Friday and Monday, Hiro would be the one unlocking the door. There still 10 minutes before work hour. Hiro was busy wiping a table.

"Your fans are already here," Aunt Cass said.

Sighing, he replied, "I'm happy that they didn't come here just to watch me all day, but still…I don't want to give them false hope."

"It's hard being so popular, huh?" a familiar voice said.

Hiro turned around to see Alicia at the counter with Jake in her arms. She flashed a smile at him. All the girls outside gasped and growled angrily, wondering who the young lady was.

"What are you doing here?" Hiro asked her.

"She came to get her old job back," Aunt Cass answered for her.

"Well, that…and someone misses his Daddy," she said, glancing up at Jake.

"Dadda…" Jake muttered, holding his hands out to Hiro.

Hiro gave out a small grin. He took the boy into his arms and cuddled him lovingly. Aunt Cass gestured Alicia into the kitchen to take more donuts out to the display. She followed the woman. Hiro went to unlock the entrance. They kept their glare on Jake as they saw them.

"Dadda," the baby gripped onto his shirt, scared.

"Who's this baby?" a girl asked.

"Yeah, whose baby is this?" another one asked.

Hiro smiled and replied calmly, "Mine. His name is Jake."

"What?!" his fans exclaimed, shocked.

Alicia came by to take Jake off his hands so that he could help Aunt Cass. The girls glared at the young lady.

"Are you the one who has seduced Hiro?" one of them shouted to her.

"Hey! You're that girl who he protected two years ago, right?!" another one pointed an accusing finger towards her.

"You shouldn't be here!"

"You should just die and let us have Hiro!"

"Yeah! Why did he even protect you?!"

Alicia turned to Hiro and shook her head. She was fine with whatever insults they were throwing at her. As long as she could be with Hiro and Jake, she would be fine.

"I'll be helping in the kitchen," she whispered to Hiro before going back inside.

Hiro sighed. He turned to the angry girls. Then, he went back inside to mind the cash register. Arietta and Meredith made an appearance. They were excited to hear that their best friend was back with a baby. They stepped into the café to see so many girls.

"Hiro has his hands full…" Meredith muttered.

"I guess so. Come on, let's go see if we can help," Arietta replied, walking up to the counter.

"Hey, girls," Hiro greeted them.

"Hey, Hiro. Where's Alicia?" Arietta asked.

"Where's her baby? I heard he's cute," Meredith said, poking her head here and there.

Hiro pointed to the kitchen. The two nodded. They went to see their friend. Jake was in the baby seat, playing with some toys Hiro had specially made for him. They hugged Alicia who was delighted to see them. Arietta and Meredith stayed there, playing with Jake.

"So, are you anywhere closer to marrying him?" Meredith teased.

Alicia furiously blushed. "I d-don't know if he's going to ask…" she muttered a reply.

"Awww! Of course, he is! He loves you," Arietta said.

The young lady smiled sweetly. She kept on doing her work. Aunt Cass was there, listening to them. She giggled when Alicia blushed. She went back to the café to help entertain the customers. Some of them were already asking about Alicia and saying that they shouldn't be mingling with her even after her rehab. Hiro shook it off because Alicia was perfectly fine. She didn't leave the kitchen so that the customers would not be scared and leave.

"There's not much customer today," Hiro muttered, sighing.

"It's still early. Besides, I think your fans are already spreading rumours about Alicia," Aunt Cass spoke her thoughts out.

"I'm really sorry. I never thought people would still remember her," he sighed sadly.

His aunt smiled and shook her head. "It's alright. Anyway, when are you going to ask her?"

"Ask her what?" Hiro asked absentmindedly.

The aunt giggled and said, "You know what I mean. Don't wait until some else takes her away from you."

"Who would…?" Hiro asked.

Aunt Cass pointed towards the window. Some boys about his age were peering and talking. Hiro sighed, looking at his aunt annoyingly. His aunt laughed at her own joke and walked away. Hiro glanced up at Alicia who was busy feeding Jake at the time. He smiled at the girl whom he has feelings too.