The Aria Within the Rhapsody **ON HIATUS**

Chapter 9: You Will Always Be My Baby

Freddie's POV:

Well, that went well. . . I don't understand what went wrong! Sure, they met him sooner than I wanted, but I thought that they would like him. I mean Ash seems to, but Ria seems more distant. Usually, she is more talkative than that because like I said before, she loves meeting new people and being a social butterfly. This time it's my son doing all the talking. You know what, I know what she's doing. I know EXACTLY what she's doing. She has done it before and she is doing it again. She is trying to scare Jim off. Aria has these weird feelings about people. She loves most people, but there are some instances where she will do anything in her power to make them not want to stay for long. She thinks it's a test to see if my lovers can put up with her. So far the only person who has passed it is Mary. God damnit! I'm going to make sure Jim passes too. I love Mary and I always will, but I love Jim too and I think he is the one! Just. . . Why does Aria resort to this every time I bring home someone new?

My poor baby. She looked absolutely devastated when Ash hugged Jim. I watch as she runs back up the stairs and slams the door. With out a second thought, I go after her because I must know why she reacted like this. I walk up the stairs to the pale pink door and slowly open it to see my baby girl on her bed with her small arms wrapped around her legs with her head pressed to her knees. The sight alone makes me want to cry because she is so upset. "Aria? My love, may I come in?" I ask timid. She nods her head without looking up at me. Oh dear. I sit on her bed wrapping an arm around her shoulders and grabbing her upper arm with my other hand. "My love, what happened?" I ask her placing a kiss to her head. I wait a moment. Silence. "Aria, please talk to me." "I don't know what to say." she says after two minutes of silence. "Alright, answer me this. Why don't you. . . " I start but am quickly cut off by an upset Aria, "Were you ever going to let us meet him? How long have you been seeing him?!" I, myself, had no words. Has she been keeping this in? I look at her with wide eyes. She hastily releases herself from my embrace and stands on the other side of her bed, "You do this every time Papa! Every damn time you bring someone home!" Oh she did not! "Whenever you bring someone home, they think they can just make themselves at home and act like they own the place! Why can't you just be with Auntie Mary and we be a family?!" she finishes with tears in her eyes. I don't quite think she realized what she just said until I say, "You better watch your mouth, young lady, because I will take you to the washroom and wash it out with soap. Just because I say that does not by any means mean that you can said that." Honestly, for not being my blood, she sure does act like it. Her eyes go wide where as mine go soft as I process what my daughter has said. "My love, come here." I wait as she crawls to my arms and we resume the same position as before. "It doesn't matter who comes in and out of this house. None of it. Because no matter what happens, we are a family. You, me, and Ash. And that will never change. Whether or not Jim sticks around and I really do want him to, the three of us will never change." I give her and a big, warm smile and fully embrace her in my arms. She knows I mean every word. That is the kind of bond I have with my children. "Now, why don't we go downstairs and try this introduction again." She nods her head and I take her in my arms and place her on my hip as we make our way back down stairs. "Jim, dear, I have someone I want you to meet." I say with a smile looking at my girl. "Jim, this is my Aria. Aria, this is Jim." "Hello, Aria. I have heard so much about you. Your Papa doesn't stop talking about you and your brother. It is so good to finally meet you." Jim stretches his hand out for Aria to take. She obliges and says sweetly, "Hello. It's nice to meet you as well. I am so sorry for my actions early. I don't know what got into me. Thank you for letting me try again." That's my girl. "I hope down the road we can be friends." Jim says. Aria just couldn't help but smile.

*3 weeks later*

There has been a sudden change in my daughter's behavior. It's not bad, but she's different. It's ironic how all of this started when Jim came around. A sudden out burst coming from my daughter's washroom causes me to sprint up the steps and burst into the area. I swear my heart stopped at what she says with a tear-stained face, "Papa!! Call an ambulance!! I think something is terribly wrong with me!! I think I'm dying!" I know for a fact my child is not dying so I relax a bit. "What on earth are you talking about?" she holds up her undergarments and I see something I was hoping wouldn't happen until the next time Mary came over. Oh joy. I have to have 'the talk' with my little girl. *time skip* So, Aria and I just had our talk about the birds and the bees and she took it rather well. I'm quite pleased with how well that went. I had Mary run to the shop and grab the certain items that Aria needs so I can show her how to use them. "Papa?" Aria asks as I unwrap a liner for her with my back toward her (I know what your thinking. . . Remember I am a single father and for god's sake I changed her diapers! If I can do that, I can do this.) "Yes, lovie." I reply. "Why don't I look like you? " She asks just out of the blue. I look over at her in confusion (for your information she is finished). What on earth? "What brought this on?" I ask. I am extremely curious. "Well, I've been wondering this for quite some time. I mean Ash is your son so he looks like you, but I am your daughter and I don't look like you. Why don't I look like you?" Oh dear. . . I knew this day would come. I just hoped it was a long ways off. Well, here we go. "Your right. Ash is my son and you are my daughter." I begin, "Sometimes mummies and papas don't look like their children." I think I lost her. "Do you remember the story I have told you since you were a baby? The one about the baby and the suitcase?" I ask. She nods her head. "Well, my dear, that's your story. That is the story of how you came to be mine." She has this look like she saw a ghost on her face that is very concerning. "What's wrong, my love?" I ask her. She is silent for a moment. "I - I have been having dreams about a woman putting me as a baby in a suitcase. They scare me. This whole time I thought it was j - just a dream!" at this point she starts crying. I quickly crouch in front of her and take her in my arms. My baby. "I know. I know. It's a lot. I'm terribly sorry, but. . ." I let go and wipe her tears. "But. All that matters is that you are mine. You have no choice in the matter because you and Ash are stuck with me for all of eternity." I giver a big toothy smile to which she smiles right back at me. "So, wait. . . you're trying to tell me that I'm adopted?" she puts two and two together.

"Yes. In a matter of speaking." I say think about my words very carefully. "Can I see the paper?" she asks. "About that. . ." I try to steer away from the subject. "I don't have one." she looks very confused. "I never went to the courts. All I have is the certificate I received which put me as your father." I explain. "Why didn't you make it official?" she looks me dead in the eye. All I say with a smile is, "I don't need a piece of paper to tell me what I already know." "and what's that?" she comes back at me. I take her in my arms again and end our conversation with, "That I am your father and you are my daughter. You and I may not share the same blood, but I love you just the same. And that will never change. Never! You will always be my baby. From now until forever ends."

*Surprise!! I'm still here I promise! my work life has gotten pretty crazy plus I caught writer's block. . . From this point on there will be a lot of emotions and a lot of drama. stay tuned! But um. . . THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THE 1.2K LIKE OH MY GOSH I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!! I LOVER YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!! please Like and Comment you know the drill! Happy Pride, Queenies!! ~Freddies_Misfit*