Reunited

-Chapter - 48 - Judgement -

When Gabriella awoke, she turned to face her parents and smiled as she saw them cuddling while they slept. But her joy dimmed as she realized her "friend" Xenia's birthday was tomorrow, and as much as she wanted to attend, she knew she was no longer welcome.

It saddened the little girl knowing the "friends" she made hated her now. They disregarded her and even referred to her as a "monster". Gabriella would miss them, but she knew she didn't need people like them in her life.

Gabriella stared at her father, and the thought that this may be the final time she gets to be with him brought tears to her eyes. She loves her father and feels that it is unfair that after longing for him for a long time, he is being taken away from her after barely having enough time to spend with each other.

She never blamed Nathalie, because she understood that her mother was only trying to protect her from everything that is happening to them now.

After she saw her mom move away from her father, she got up from the bed and squeezed herself in the gap that was created in between them. Gabriella then threw her arms around her father and hugged him tightly, trying not to cry. She closed her eyes to keep the tears from spilling, but then she eventually opened them again and let her tears flow down her cheeks.

The little girl tried to keep her cries quiet not wanting to wake either of her parents, but after a few moments she felt her father move. When she looked at him, he was smiling down at her.

Gabriel instantly hugged his daughter back and suddenly Gabriella cried even more.

"Everything will be fine, Gabriella.... Don't worry about father, my love," her father told her while his hand caressed her back to calm her.

"W-what I-if I do-don't see yo-you again fa-father?!" Gabriella spoke, her voice shaking.

Gabriel looked up and blinked a couple of times to keep the tears threatening to escape his eyes. He looked at his daughter again and showed her a small smile, "You can.... come and visit me once a while, or even write me a letter telling me everything that you want... I will also write back of course, that way we still know what is going on with each other's lives... How does that sound, my love?"

Gabriella stared at her father and her fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. She gave him a nod, "I wi-will also se-send you photos! D-drawings..." her lips quivered, "Father I-I do-don't want you to g-go!" she shook her head.

"I made a mistake, Gabriella. I hurt a lot of people in the process of trying to get what I wanted... What I thought would benefit everyone," he placed a hand on her cheek, and with his thumb he brushed her tears away, "It's only right that I pay for it," he sighed, and this time the tears pooled in his eyes and while he spoke, they quickly rolled down his cheeks, "I am sorry, Gabriella... I am sorry this has to happen, my love.... And I am so, so, sorry your father is like this... I wish things were different.... I wish I was different."

Gabriella shook her head, "Y-your my f-father! And I love you so much, I do-don't want i-it any other wa-way!" she tells him, trying her best to stop her voice from shaking.

Gabriel smiled, his tears still flowing down his cheeks, "I love you so much... I am incredibly lucky.... To have a daughter like you, my Gabriella.... After everything I did... He still gave me the most loving, compassionate, cheerful, understanding, talented, kindest, sweetest, intelligent and gorgeous daughter, just like her mother!.... There is more to that of course!" Gabriella gave him a big smile, and hugged her father tightly.... She had started to calm.

"It's my birthday soon, father... And you won't be there," Gabriella reminded him.

Gabriel sighed and Gabriella turned to him, "I'm so, so, sorry, my love... I was really hoping I would finally be there for you birthday.... I thought this year would be the final year you'd celebrate it without me...."