You're Mine

chapter 33

"But I will miss you a lot.", he shyly smiled, receiving a kiss to his lips.

"I think I love you, Owen.", Amelia whispered into his ear, not totally ready to say it out loud in front of everyone but wanting him to know. "I'll miss you, too."

Saturday, 6th September:

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"Happy birthday, Layla!", Owen greeted his now four-year-old daughter and kissed her forehead, expecting her to be excited about her birthday. She opened her eyes and whined as she turned away from him and pouted. By now, she knew about the fact that her mom had been kidnapped, which hurt her a lot.

"There's our birthday girl!", Evelyn tried to cheer up the toddler as she cried in her dad's arms. Everyone's heart broke at the sight. "Sweetheart, let's do something fun today, before you'll go to pre-school for the first time on Monday, huh?"

"Mom, please leave her alone.", her son begged. "She's not going to cheer up just because it's her birthday and honestly, she doesn't have to.", he softly reminded his mother. "Do you want to have a piece of cake, angel?", he asked the toddler, who just shrugged.

"You can sit with me and we can share mine.", Logan offered, reaching for his sister, and letting her sit in his lap. He was sad too, but he had stopped crying a few days ago. Still, the sight of Layla being so heartbroken almost made him cry. Leo had been very whiny the first few days but seemed to have forgotten about his mother by now.

"Do you want to open some presents, love?", Megan wondered after breakfast as she helped the little brunette brush her teeth, but she just shook her head. "So, you want to be left alone?", she figured, and the child nodded. "Did anyone ever ask Layla what happened to her parents? Because I get the feeling that this isn't the first parent she has lost in a brutal way.", she addressed her family.

"She hasn't lost Amelia!", her brother raised his voice in defense. "She will see her mama again very soon.", he informed everybody, still hopeful that his friend would be found alive. "And yes, Layla's parents died when she was only two."

"That's how she knew how to call 911.", Teddy realized. "I've always wondered how a three-year-old could handle such a situation that well.", she shared. "We have to do something though! Seeing her like this is breaking my heart."

"Mine is already broken.", Owen mumbled, walking around with Leo in his arms and not noticing the worried glances his family members threw each other. He was so grateful for them and that they were here for him and his kids whenever they could be, especially for Teddy, who hadn't left at all ever since Amelia had been kidnapped, but none of it helped him get over the self-blame.

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Monday, 8th September:

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"Bye, buddy!", Owen smiled at his son on the passenger seat next to him. "I'll pick you up once school is over and then we can choose a sport and a club for you to attend if you still want to. Have a wonderful day, I love you!", he said, kissing his temple.

"Bye, dad!", Logan replied, turning around to his sister in the backseat. "Bye, Layls.", he addressed her too, receiving a small wave with a slight smile. For the boy, school was a great distraction from the fact that his mom was gone.

"Now it's your turn, little one.", the redhead announced and watched his daughter sink deeper into her car seat. "Baby, do you think you should talk to someone who can try to make you less sad?", he asked, referring to a therapist.

"You mean mama?", the four-year-old wondered, the hope in her voice evident. When she heard her father sigh, she realized: "Not mama...then I don't want to speak to anybody. And I also don't want to go to pre-school."

"Sweetie, you will have to.", the trauma surgeon contradicted, his heart breaking at the sad look on her face. "I can even carry you inside, if you want me to.", he offered, and the toddler nodded quietly.

"You must be Layla!", a nice woman beamed at them, touching the child's arm to stroke it. The little brunette moved to hide her face in her dad's shoulder. Her teacher had been informed about the circumstances at home and therefore wasn't surprised but rather prepared, at least that's what she thought.

"Yep, that's her.", the girl's father confirmed, stroking his child's back and kissing her head, hoping she'd let go of him anytime soon, although it didn't really look like she was going to.

"I am so happy to meet you.", the blonde told the small kid, who still didn't react but started to cry instead. "I know school can be intimidating at first, but I promise you it will be a lot of fun. And your daddy will be back to pick you up, right Mr. Hunt?"

"Definitely, you know that, sweetheart.", Owen answered, talking to his toddler who just screamed "No!" and hugged his neck as tightly as she could. "You have been so excited for this and you love your foxy backpack."

"Do you have any plans for today until lunch?", the teacher asked the redhead, who shook his head. "Then I think it would be best if you stayed for Layla's first day. She is obviously scared of more than just pre-school and I think we both know that."

"Yeah, let me just text a friend who's watching my infant son.", the trauma surgeon said, quickly messaging Teddy before he walked into the classroom with his daughter, who was still clinging to him for dear life.