What Fate has in store

Part 4

Malia

   Driving up to mom and Astrid's house I was glad to see their lights still on in their livingroom. Knocking lightly I wasn't surprised to have my mom answer the door in her night clothes with the Tv on in the back ground.
   "Hi. Where are the kids?" My mom asked surprised to see me.
   "Dana's. It was May's birthday party today. Mom we need to talk" I told her as I sat on the couch. Astrid's car wasn't there which I was happy about.
   "This doesn't sound good. Should I be worried?" She asked nervously but sitting next to me none the less.
   "Have you heard about Monk, Dana and Ruiz's friend from the Marines living with them?" I asked my mom not sure where to start this conversation.
   "Yes the twins and Astrid were quite taken with him" my mom chuckled.
   "His real name is Raphael Molino. I knew him as Rafe in New York. He lived directly behind us. His bedroom was about ten feet from mine seperated by a couple feet and fire escapes" I confessed.
   "I know who Raphael is Lia. But how do you?" She asked confused.
   "I used to see and hear his father hitting him. Hearing him cry after it since we were little kids. We became friends over the years. It started with me anonymously leaving him pictures and little gifts on his fire escape to make him feel better after his dad hurt him. And he caught me one day. We started a real friendship that day. I left him presents for about three years before he knew it was me. We were friends for about 6 months before Micah became sick after we finally met. Then we became best friends. You guys left me alone a lot. Rafe was there for me. I even snuck him in to meet Micah when I turned 14. We walked home everyday from school for years. As I pulled away from the kids at school, Rafe let me pull him closer." I said taking a minute to collect my thoughts.
   "There was no Robbie was there?" She asked quietly. I just looked down and shook my head no.
   "I'm sorry I lied. I found out I was pregnant at the worst time. It was during the nightmare of his trial and everything. It happened like I told you. The day Micah died. He tried to stop me but I was persistent. We never meant to be irresponsible. And now he's here" I said with tears in my eyes.
   "Does he remember you?" She asked me.
   "Of course Mom. I meant as much to him as he did to me back then." I said rolling my eyes.
   "Does he realize he's the twins father?" She asked.
   "Yeah. He figured it out. But he understood the circumstances. He just wants a chance to be in their lives now" I said simply.
   "Is that what you want?" Mom asked me.
   "Yes. It was never my intention for them not to have a father. Are you mad?"
   "Disappointed but I get it. This isn't going to be easy. Especially for Frankie. What about you and Frankie where does this leave you?" My mom asked. I looked up at her confused.
   "Geez mom. I have never been interested in Frankie no matter what you, Astrid or he wants!" I said exasperated.
   "Okay okay. I never could figure out why you had the kids call him uncle Frankie when I never taught you to do that. Even to Astrid. I guess you were letting us know the truth in other ways" chuckled my mom.
   "Do you hate him for what he did? Like Frankie does?" I asked.
   "No. None of us do. Your dad, Astrid, me, we all understand how and why it happened. We are just sorry a kid was put in that position in the first place. We felt horrible for him. We wont judge him for that" my mom said pulling me to her for a hug.
   "Frankie will. They are on the force together now. This is going to be really bad mom. Once Frankie finds out he's here and he's the twins dad there's no telling what he'll do. I'm worried" I told my mom frowning.
   "Astrid and I will talk to Frankie. I'll make a call and have the case files sent here for him to read. He needs the truth for them to co exist." Kirsten Harris told her daughter taking her hand in hers.
   "How do you feel about Rafe being around again?" My mom asked me lifting her brow.
   "God mom! I don't know. It was like the last ten years didn't happen. Seeing him. Talking to him. Just being next to him or being able to look across the room and have him there. It brought every feeling I had for him in my childhood back full force. I was in love with him. I haven't even come close to even looking at another man since." I told my mom honestly.
   "And how has he lived his last ten years? He went to jail sweetheart. Then the marines. How has his memory of you been all these years?" My mom asked me simply. She wasn't judging. She sounded curious.
   A large smile took over my face before I could stop myself.
   "They call him Monk because no one has ever seen him with a girl the entire time in the Marines. Ever. And Ruiz was shocked to hear my real name is Malia and not just Lia or Lee. He knew who Malia was to Rafe. He was lecturing him to move on because he was never going to find that girl again. For once Ruiz was speechless. " I said chuckling.
   "Seems you were just as important to him too. So where does this leave you?" My mom asks me and I bite my lip when I look at her.
   "Don't know. I don't have all the answers yet. I guess we get to know one another again. He wants to spend time with the twins even if I choose not to tell them right away who he is to them. Mom you should of seen him with them today. They love him already. He played ball with them. Chased them around the yard. Picked them up and swung them around. And he wasn't just doing it to them. May gets that treatment all the time from him. He loves kids. He wants to know his. He even offered me nine years in back child support." I said shaking my head smiling.
   "I hope you turned him down." My mom said surprised.
   "I did. I'm just glad to have found him and he wants to be a part of their lives" I said wistfully.
   "I think this is going to be good for them" my mom said with a small smile on her pretty face. "And you too" she said when her smile changed to a smirking one.
   My visit with my mom didn't last too much longer. I realized when I drove home I really didn't want to be there alone tonight so I drove back to Ruiz and Dana's house.