No Letting Go [Completed]

Thirty-One

"Daddy, do I have to go?" Riley asks. The past few days that I've had her have been the best few days I've had in a while.

"Yes you do. Legally, you belong to mommy."

"I don't wanna belong to just mommy."

"I know...but hopefully, in the future, things will change."

"You promise?"

"I wish I could...but I don't wanna make a promise and it gets broken. I never wanna break promises I make to you." She nods. "Come on...lets get you to mommy."

We pull up to the hotel, and before getting out, we take a couple selfies. One of us smiling and the other of us doing silly faces. We get out, and get up to Aaliyah's hotel room.

"Mommyyyyy!!!"

"Hey baby! Did you have fun with daddy?"

"Yeah. We had a lot of fun. Right daddy?"

"Yeah, we did. I wish it didn't have to end." I say then look over at Aaliyah."

"Me too." Riley whines.

"Sweetie, I'm gonna go talk to daddy in the bathroom for a second okay."

"Okay."

"Colin..." She says and I follow her to the bathroom, hoping this conversation we're about to have is a good one.

"So I've been giving this a lot of thought. I care about you. I care about you so much.."

"...but" I interrupt her.

"But, I'm not willing to bet a relationship with a guy that knows what he wants on it. I get that you want to be apart of her life in every possible way...but I gotta do what's best for us."

"What's best for you and Riley, is to be back here with me. I can take care of you both."

"I never doubted that you could."

"I want you. I want there to be an us. I wanna be a family. I want marriage...I want more kids."

"You're saying this now, but how do I know that you're being truthful."

"Just give me a chance. Come on Aaliyah. I need you."

"You have Lori."

"Man, I'll drop her for you."

"Don't be silly Colin. You deserve to be happy. She does that for you. I know it."

"Yeah, but you make me happier." I step closer to her. "You make me happier." I whisper in her ear. She puts her hand on my abs and slowly pushes me back.

"We have to leave. Before we miss our flight." She walks out the restroom, and I'm follow right behind her.

"Is daddy taking us to the plane place?"

"Yeah, I'm taking you."

We get to the airport and I park in the garage so that I can walk them in. I get out and open the trunk and grab their bags. I also grab a purple, custom made, Nike back pack I got, that's filled with school supplies, and a special gift for Riley. If Aaliyah doesn't come back, I know for sure that I'm gonna miss my baby girl's first day of elementary school, and that's gonna kill me.

I walk with them inside and they get checked in and head to the security line. I go through security and everything with them and walk them to their gate. Riley sits on my lap while we wait. She takes my phone and takes all these selfies of us.

They start announcing that passengers can board. "Give me a hug." I say and she tightly wraps her arms around my neck. I can tell she didn't wanna let go.