single dad: v.h

chapter two

"Who is this?" Maria asked.

"I'll explain in a minute mom okay? Just give me the baby. Please take Bear up to my room." Vinnie said, taking Kaiser from his mom.

Aaliyah followed the two up the stairs. She walked into Vinnie's bedroom and admired how clean and neat his things looked. She could tell just by the way his house looked that he was a well put together man.

"Let's go back down stairs so I can explain." Vinnie said, covering Kaiser up and giving him his bottle that he had learned to hold himself.

The three of the walked down the stairs, all of them sitting in a circle.

"Mom this is Aaliyah, Aaliyah this is my mom." Vinnie said.

They greeted each other but Aaliyah could tell that Maria was being cautious and observing every thing she did.

"Now please tell me what has you all worked up Vinnie." Maria folded her hands on her lap.

"I was talking to Aaliyah at the thing and B went to find seats for us. When I went over after talking to Aaliyah, Emily was sitting next to her. From what I can understand Emily didn't say anything, which is good because I would've literally become Klaus Mikaelson level angry and whooped her ass. Anyway, Bear and I had fun and she got tired so we left. I was carrying her out to the car and when I got outside Miss Dusty was leaning against my car. Bear fell asleep at the point but Emily was trying to convince me to leave the kids with you and leave with her so we could be together or some shit. Aaliyah came out and pretended to be my girlfriend and we took off and now we're here." Vinnie explained.

Maria sat there dumbfounded but quickly enough a disappointed look crossed her face. She hesitated at first but built up the courage to tell him how she really felt.

"I told you that you shouldn't have snuck behind your daughters back and done this. You know she would do this, she did it the first time." Maria expressed.

"And then I wouldn't have the son I've always wanted mom. So yeah, I shouldn't have lied to Bear but I also wouldn't have my baby." Vinnie said.

"I'm very happy you have Kaiser honey, but Emily is just going to keep coming back. She's been twisting your life around since you were 14. If she comes back in 6 years are you gonna do this again? Are you going to have a third kid and let her leave?" Maria asked.

"No mom, I'm not." Vinnie answered, rubbing his face.

He was angry. This was his mother. How could she be against him when his mind was so screwed up right now. Tears made there way to his eyes. He inhaled and wiped his eyes before making eye contact with his mom.

"Honey I didn't mea-"

"It's fine. I need to be with my kids. Aaliyah when you're ready for bed just come up to my room. I'll lay some clothes out for you to sleep in." Vinnie answered.

"Vinnie ple-"

"Just.... Not right now okay? All I wanted to do was have fun with my girl and this shit happens and it's all suddenly my fault that Emily has come back to screw with my life again. I know I'm stupid for seeing her again but I don't regret it because that would mean I regret my son and I don't. Just go home tonight mom. I'll see you tomorrow before work." Vinnie walked up the stairs before his mom could even speak.

——
Vinnie lay awake on his bed, Bear on his chest fast asleep and Kaiser asleep in his crib. He looked into the doorway of his bedroom to see Aaliyah walking in.

"Can I change in your restroom?" She whispered, careful not to wake Vinnie's babies.

He nodded and pointed to the bathroom. She smiled and walked in to change.

He looked down at his sleeping daughter and all he could think about was how she'd never live the life that he lived. She only had one parent in her life and he couldn't imagine how hard it could be from a child's standpoint because he never experienced it.

"I'm sorry I failed you Bear. I'm sorry I wasn't good enough for her to stay with. I'm sorry I went behind your back and did what I did." Vinnie whispered, tears leaving his eyes as he rubbed her back.

"No matter what you did daddy, I still love you and you were good enough for her to stay with, her mom just made her dumb." Bear whispered back sleepily.

Vinnie chuckled softly at her snarky remark about her. Bear always knew how to lighten up someone's mood in the most painful of times.

"Her mom was pretty dumb herself." Vinnie answered.

"Dumb equals dumb." Bear mumbled, falling back to sleep rather quickly on her fathers chest.

"I'm back." Aaliyah said softly as she crawled into the bed next to Vinnie.

Vinnie smiled at her before looking away. It was silent as both of them tried to fall asleep. Aaliyah was almost asleep but Vinnie couldn't.

"Thank you for staying with me." Vinnie whispered.

"You're welcome."

"Goodnight Aaliyah."

"Goodnight Vinnie."