My Officer

Chapter 24: Family Issues

Dany's POV

I stared at Nathaniel after he finished telling me what had happened. We sat on my couch facing each other.

"Say something please" his tone was begging for me to speak.

I smiled and took his hand in mine, "I love you." I leaned in and placed my other hand on his cheek. He closed his eyes and leaned into my hand. Moving his head lightly he kissed the palm of my hand that was resting on his cheek. As his other hand caressed the hand that was in his.

Suddenly I found myself with my back again his chest and his arms wrapped around my body. He rested his head between my neck and shoulder. "Please let me stay like this for a moment."

I nodded unable to find my voice. This was the most intimate we have ever been. Nathaniel had been really respectful towards me. We held hands and hugged occasionally but we had never had our bodies be this close to eachother.

After a few minutes Nathaniel loosened his hold on me. I took the chance to get a good look at his face.

"Can you tell me who she is exactly?" I asked.

A part of me was worried about his answer but a part of me also trusted his feelings for me. I trusted him.

Nathaniel smiled grazing his fingertips against my cheekbone. He gave a soft nod, "I met Camelia when I was 18. At that time she was 20. We dated for 3 years. I had just graduated college when things with my family got worse. I was tired of everything so I left. I came here and threw away my career. I decided I wanted to help people and make a difference. I wanted to somehow make up for the damage my family was doing. I became a police officer and gave up my luxurious life. Well kind of, I still am a minority shareholder in my dads company."

I remembered him opening up to me about his family a month ago. He had told me how he hated seen how much money and power had changed his parents. They were no longer the kind hearted people who wanted to help others. They were now vile people who only seeked more power.

I placed my hand on his encouraging him to go on.

"It was pretty convenient for Camelia and I that I decided to move here. She had landed her fist job as a weather reporter here. It was a great way to start off her career. When we moved here I proposed to her. She agreed and we started to plan everything. The wedding was only two months away when she told me she didn't want to marry me. She told me she had thought things over and she didn't want to get married and have kids. She wanted to see the world and expand her career. I let her go. I wasn't going to hold her back from achieving her dream. I loved her and because I loved her I wanted her to be happy. After a while I managed to move on, not with another girl but just simply move on from her not being with me. Then a year later she comes back saying she misses me and is ready to take the next step."

Nathaniel let out a bitter laugh, "I of course believed her. We started dating again. This time she proposed to me and I agreed. Three months into planning the wedding she told me she changed her mind. That she wasn't sure if she wanted to marry me anymore. She ended everything with me and left again. After that I never heard from her in 3 years till now that she decided to contact me."

I pulled my hand away looking away from him, "do you still have feelings for her?"

I felt his hand on my chin. He lightly turned my face towards him.

With so much sincerity in his voice he said, "no. The only person in my heart is you. Daenerys, you are the only one I love and who I wish to be with."

I felt a great relief wash over me and I smiled. He smiled and leaned in. I found myself leaning in too. I could feel his breathe close to my face and his heat radiating from his body.

We were so close. So close to kissing for the first time but of course it had to be interrupted.

"I think it's a bit too late for visitors" Lotus smirked.

Nathaniel pulled away quickly with a light blush on his cheeks. He stood up helping me stand up too.

He cleared his throat, "you're right. My apologies, I'll be leaving now."

"Goodnight, brother-in-law!" She called out waving bye to him.

"Goodnight"

I walked him to the door and said our goodbyes. As soon as I faced my sister I glared at her, "you're evil."

"I'm just watching over my baby sister." She teased.

I rolled my eyes, "no you're not."

**********
The next morning Lotus and I woke up to two unexpected figures.

"Father"

"Mother"

Lotus and I stared wide eyed at our parents. My father gave Lotus a disapproving look as his eyes landed on her pregnant belly.

After some awkward conversation followed by a long awkward silence we were able to make it past breakfast. I went to my room talking to Nathaniel letting him know of my day.

"How do you feel?" He asked.

I shrugged even though I knew he couldn't see me, "I missed them. But it hurts that they treat us as strangers."

We talked a bit more and before I could hang up Nathaniel asked, "do you think I can meet your parents? After all I am dating their daughter. The appropriate thing is for me to introduce myself."

"I'll get it settled and let you know."
********
The tension could be felt. My father, mother, sister, and boyfriend all sat at the dinner table.

"How old did you say you were again?" My father asked.

"25" Nathaniel replied.

My father visibly shook his head disapprovingly, "it seems I haven't been able to teach any of my daughters self respect."

I saw as Nathaniel clenched his fist but before he could say anything Lotus spoke, "to teach us you actually have to be present in our lives."

My father seem to be ready to flip the table over when Nathaniel spoke, "with all due respect sir, Daenerys and I have a very respectful relationship. I would never touch her without her consent and Daenerys is a wonderful lady who knows her worth. She would never allow for things to go further."

"She is a mere child. What could she possibly know. I come back and I find my eldest daughter pregnant and single. I wouldn't be surprised if Daenerys suddenly became pregnant and you left her." My father hissed.

"You have everything wrong. Lotus has her own personal situation that if you would allow her to open up to you about. You would not say such things. I have never touched Daenerys in such way as you seem to be suggesting. Her and I have come to an agreement of waiting to marriage-"

Nathaniel was cut off by my father, "as if you would marry her. You just want to play with her and then leave her just how my eldest daughter was left."

"The reason I wanted to meet you is because I have the intention of marrying your daughter. I wanted you to know me so I could ask for your blessing."

Lotus and I both had our mouths hanging at Nathaniels confession. I wasn't entirely sure if he had just said it out of anger for my fathers words or if it's because he truly meant it. We had discussed marriage recently. He had asked me my opinion on it and if I saw a future with him. I had said I did and that I saw us being together and having kids but I never gave it much thought after that.

My father stood up slamming his fist on the table, "as if I'm stupid enough to believe you! My daughter may be dumb enough to fall for those words but I'm not!"

"Enough!" Lotus yelled standing up suddenly making her chair fall backwards. "You don't know anything about us! You don't know anything about Daenerys! You! And you! You both left! So don't come here acting like loving caring parents when everyone here knows you aren't!" Tears streamed down Lotus face as she pointed at mother and father.

I looked at Nathaniel worriedly. He took my hand in his giving it a tight squeeze. He leaned towards my ear, "you should calm your sister down. I'll take my leave but if you or your sister need anything call me. I'll talk to your parents on another ocassion."

I nodded giving him a grateful look as I took Lotus out of the room.