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Introductions

German's head remains fixed on the desk.

"I thought you'd gone out."

I shook my head, but when I realised he wasn't going to look at me, I knew it wouldn't make a difference.

"I didn't. I had to stay to speak to you."

German remained silent so I sat down.

"We have to talk about this German."

He sighed and glanced up at me and the moment he did I could see why he kept his gaze on the desk. His eyes were red as if he had been crying.

I'd only ever seen him cry once and that was the day he found out Maria had died. He cried whilst he screamed at my father. He cried whilst holding his daughter, who'd lost her mum.

German quickly dipped his head again though, trying to hide his emotions.

"German, please, I beg of you don't-"

He cut me off.

"When's her birthday?"

I was confused, but I answered.

"December 6th."

German nodded.

"What's her favourite colour?"

I was baffled. It made no sense to me.

"Yellow or maybe pink." I said considering what she had told me a few days before I left.

"Why does she like them?"

"She says she likes yellow because it's my favouite colour, but everything she owns is pink, so I think she just said that because-"

German cut me off again.

"She wanted to be like you."

I nodded, "Yes, perhaps."

German finally looks up to me.

"I understand."

I was confused, "You understand? What do you understand?"

He sighed, "Why you hid her from me. Why you couldn't return. Why you struggled to tell me. All these things, I'm the root of the problem. I've caused all of your issues. Angie, I'm so, so sorry."

I sighed, "German, you have to forgive yourself. I've forgiven you."

"I don't see how that is possible Angie. I hurt you before you even left, multiple times at that, I betrayed your trust and then you left because of me. You were forced to raise a child alone because you wouldn't come back here and somehow through all of that you can forgive me?"

I nodded, "It's crazy, but sometimes love makes you do crazy things."

German looks at me intently.

"The love I have for Violetta brought me back here, despite everything."

"The love I have for Valeria made me reach out for her father, despite everything."

" And the love I have for you made me believe that it was possible for me to be happy here again."

German looks at me happily, a smile spreading.

"Despite everything?"

I nodded.

"Despite everything."

German looks at me for a moment and I don't know what to expect.

"What's her favouite animal?"

I laugh, "Rabbits, she has this little Rabbit teddy that she adores."

German smiles, "Like your charm?"

I nod, "Exactly like it."

I expected this conversation to continue but the door swung open and everyone piled in. I looked at the clock and realised it had been four hours since they'd left and that I'd wasted most of the day distracting myself from a conversation that I was rather enjoying.

When I saw Valeria, I signalled her to come and sit in my lap. She happily ran into the office and as she did I shut the door so we could have a moment alone.

"Mummy, we had the best time!!" she said as she got comfortable.

I was going to interrupt her and tell her we needed to talk but German looked so engrossed in her little story that I let her continue.

When she was finished, she became aware that German had been watching her so she smiled at him kindly before turning to me. She obviously wanted an explaination.

"Sweetie, do you remember on the phone when I asked if you wanted to meet your dad?"

Valeria's little eyes brighten, "Yes! I do!"

I glanced at German and Valeria followed my gaze, she looked at him a minute before smiling wide.

"Can I have a hug?" she says innocently.

German's eyes went wide.