Angel

Chapter 11

Marc

"Hey Marc, this is Violet," Axel said as he came in with a very giggly little girl. I had just finished plating the burgers and turned to look at her. I paused for a moment, focusing on her eyes.

She gasped and then yelled, "Mama, Mama, he has eyes like mine!" I couldn't look away from this child until I heard a small gasp. Like the world was in slow motion I looked up and saw her.

"Angel?" I asked.

"Nova? she gasped.

"Hey, that's my middle name," Violet announced, "Violet Nova Theriot." Then Angel's eyes rolled back in her head and she dropped to the floor. "Mama!" Violet screamed in fear trying to get to her. Raven quickly scooped her up and carried her to the couch.

Axel was trying to comfort Violet and I felt paralyzed. Snapping out of it, I ran to get a washcloth for Angel. I put it on her forehead and whispered, "Come on, Angel, open those eyes for me."

She gave a little groan and pushed my face back, then her eyes flew open as she remembered where she was. "Nova? How, I, I don't understand."

"Mama," Violet said in a tear-filled voice. "Are you okay?"

"Oh, Bebe, I'm fine. I think I just need to drink some water," she smiled at Corey as he handed her a cup. I put my hand under her shoulders to help her sit up. I can't lie, it hurt when she flinched at my touch.

"Hey, precious, can you come help me with your toys? Maybe you can show Axie what you brought," Brandon asked, trying to distract Violet. I shot him a thankful look as the little girl willingly walked away with the two of them.

"Do you want us to stay or go?" Corey asked. I looked at Angel, letting her make the decision.

"Um, could we have a couple of moments alone?" she asked. They nodded and left the room, then turned to me. "Where, why did you leave?"

I ran my hands over my face. "Angel, I'm so sorry. I tried to come back for you, but your parents wouldn't tell me where you were."

"You came back?" Her eyes were wide, "They never told me." I saw the tears starting to form in her eyes.

"I had a chance to get out of the gangs, Angel, to get us both out and I took it. I didn't know they were going to make me leave without you though. And like I said, when I came back you were gone. Your folks had a giant moving truck in front of the house and said you had gone ahead, but wouldn't tell me where. I know you have no reason to forgive me, but I really hope you will."

She didn't speak.

"Is...is Violet mine, Angel?" She nodded and I felt my heart explode and break all at once. I was a father. But I'd already lost six years of her life.

"I...I don't expect you to..." she started to say, but I cut her off.

"Don't you dare finish that sentence, baby. You have the right to expect everything from me and by gods you're going to have it. If I had known Angel, I wouldn't have gone. I'd have found another way out," I told her.

"You're not mad?" She looked so vulnerable, so frightened.

I cupped her face in my hands, slowly moving toward her lips. "I'm not mad at you, Angel. I'm mad at myself, for not finding you sooner, for missing so much of her life, but never at you. May I kiss you?" She nodded, her eyes full of doubt. I softly pressed my lips to hers. Fuck, I'd missed her.

She quickly began to respond, her hands coming around my neck to tug on my hair as I pulled her closer to me. "Nova," she moaned as I nibbled at her bottom lip.

My hand moved down her neck and I froze when I felt the necklace. She gave me an odd look when I pulled away then realized what I was staring at. "You kept it," I whispered.

"I never take it off," she grinned. "I never hated you, Nova. We were kids. When my folks sent me away, I knew you wouldn't find me, I just never understood why you left, but now I do and I can't blame you for getting out of the gangs. You had to take the opportunity when it happened, we both know that. In a way, my getting pregnant was my way out as well. Don't you see, even without knowing it you saved me, Nova."

Now I was swiping away my own tears. "I've missed you, and I love you, Angel. I always have. Can I, um, can I meet our daughter now?"

She nodded vigorously, "Yeah, I think it's long overdue." Holding hands we walked into the other room and instantly busted up laughing. Violet had brought beauty shop items with her and was giving Axel and Brandon makeovers.

"Look, Mama, now Axie and BB are pretty princesses too," she chirped. I was so busy laughing that I didn't notice Angel snap a photo until I heard the click.

"What? I'm not passing that moment up. You never know when you'll need leverage," she said innocently. "Um, Violet Bebe, can you come here? Mama wants you to meet someone." The guys all gave us supportive looks and nods having already put the pieces together. Angel and I knelt down as Violet walked up. She was the perfect mix of both of us. "Violet, do you remember when I told you about your Daddy Nova? I told you he had to move away and he and Mommy got lost from each other?"

"Uh, huh, I member, Mama. You said it made you sad that he left, but that no matter what he loved us," Violet's little rosy cheeks crinkled with her grin.

"That's right, Bebe. Well, life is funny sometimes and we found him first. Violet hun, this is your Daddy Nova," she told her and put her hands in mine.

Her little eyes went wide and she screamed as she jumped up and down, then grabbed my neck and squeezed with all her might. "MawMaw said if I prayed every night we would find each other. She was right, Daddy."

I began to sob as I wrapped my arms around her tiny body, "Yes she was right, little flower, and I promise to never get lost from you or mommy ever again, okay?"

Author's Notes:  I'm not crying...your crying!  Oh, screw it, we're all crying happy tears!

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