Winning Her Heart (Completed)

16. Phillip

As we listen to our daughter explain everything that had happened to her and why she hadn't reported it or asked for our help.  I was torn between pride for the strong independent young woman she was and fear for my baby girl.  I could feel Tara's grip on my hand as she too, battled to control her emotions, her other hand tight in Matt's.

"I'm sorry, I wonder now if I should have said something, if I, by being strong I was actually letting them win" Millie said quietly and I heard the sob catch in Tara's throat, before Matt pulled her into his arms and I reach for Millie.

"Baby Girl, we are so proud of you, but as parents we want to make those that hurt you pay and now we know, we will do everything to make sure it doesn't happen again" I told her hugging her in my arms as if she was once again a child.

"Papa, its stopped, I promise, with Natalie and Jonah gone, no-one is bullying me now" she explains and I pull back to look down at her.

"And the others, those who helped them or stood by and let it happen, who punishes them, why should they get away with it" I growl and she looks up at me wide eyed.

"Papa! I've forgiven them, I just want to let it go, please Papa" she pleaded and I raise my eyes to Matt and Tara who nod gently at me.

"No more chances, if they screw up, they are done" I tell her and she nods again.

"Tell me about that boy" I demand and watch as she blushes, damn, if Matt was right and the boy was interested in her, did the blush mean she liked him too.

"Millie!"

"What?" she ducked her head and looked up at me through long lashes, so like her mother that I knew I would give in and let her do what she wanted.  "Papa, I like him, I have done for years and now he is trying to make up for what he did, he... and Aiden and Tim have been helping me get my confidence back and join in with normal school stuff that I haven't done because of what happened" she finished and looks back at Tara.  "Mom, please, I just want a chance to see what happens next"

I watch as Tara slides off Matt's lap and holds her arms out to Millie. "Baby, just make sure, it's what you want, and... we trust you, to do the right thing, but... I would still like to meet his parents and talk to them about what's happened, can you let them know we will be here in the library" she tells Millie and I watch the flick of fear on her face before she nods.

"Do I have to be there, do we?" she mutters and for the first time since we entered the room, I felt a smile start to form.

"No, you can go if you want to, just don't disappear, we will talk to you later at Dinner" I tell her and watch as again she looks nervous.  "Millie?" I prompt.

"Kristian's parents already invited us to join them for dinner but, that was before all this" she whispered.

"We will talk to them and let you know, what the arrangements are" Matt tells her and she nods, rising and hugging us all before leaving the room.

I slump back in the chair and welcome Tara's body sliding down beside me. "I love you" I whisper to her and am rewarded with a kiss.

"I love you too, both of you" she tells us, settling into silence beside me and I know she, like Matt and I, will be going over everything Millie said.

Knock Knock, we turned towards the door and watched it open to reveal the Kingstons, the manager showing them in and offering refreshments, which we ordered before sitting down opposite them.

"Mrs Kingston" I started but Tara's hand on my arm stopped me and I turned to her.

"I think we are past formalities, we are Millie's parents, I am Tara, this is Matt and Philip" she waves her hand at each of us and I watch as Mrs Kingston leans forward with a brief smile on her face.

"Thank you, I'm Alphie and my husbands Theo and Xavier, we are Kristians parents" I watch as they lean forward and shake hands over the table.

I see Tara's eyes narrow as she observes Alphie "Rochester?" Tara mutters and I see their eyes widen.

"Yes" Alphie nods "How did you know?"

"I recognise you from some pictures I saw years ago, Matt's PA Ian, his brother... Colin attended your wedding, he had a picture of the family grouping at the wedding on his desk for a while". Tara said and I remembered the picture, I could remember Ian saying the bride had no family present. When Tara mentioned the Rochester name I had remembered the ruckus in the media over the aunts ruthlessness.

Sitting back we let Tara and Alphie lead the conversation till the refreshments were delivered and the staff had again left.

"Do you know what happened?" I asked as the chat lulled and I watched the expressions change.

"Yes, Kristin told us everything, once you left with Camilla, and both Aiden and Tim explained how they and the rest of the school behaved.  I'm sorry and so disappointed in the way he behaved but I know he is doing everything he can to make it up to her" Theo said.

"Did you know the two who led it all, Jonah and Natalie?" Matt asked and they exchanged glances.

"We met Jonah, we didn't like him but he was Kris's friend, we never met Natalie but heard about her, she was Jonah's girlfriend." Alphie said.

"Why?" I asked looking between them.

"He always made us feel, like he was watching us to twist the situation to his advantage, he would pour on the charm but it never felt real, we were always glad when he left and to find out what he led Kristian into and then what they did at the school" Xavier lifted his eyes to ours and I could see the pain in them, they had had their belief in their son shaken in a harsh way and like our family, we were all trying to find a reason for what had happened.

"What do we do now?" Alphie asked and I shared a look with Matt and Tara before replying.

"We watch and let our children work it out between themselves" I say.

 Theo laughs.  "Then I had better warn you, our son, likes your daughter... a lot"

"We are aware and as long as he doesn't hurt her, we are letting Millie choose her path" I reply.

Matt clears his throat "I understand you have invited them all, including Millie to dinner here tonight"

Xav nods "Yes and we would be very happy if you would join us too, perhaps we can see how the boys behave around your daughter to put all ours minds at rest.  We are happy to pick them all up together, unless you want to collect Millie yourself" he offers.

"I agree, please join us" Alphie asked Tara and I could see her nod.

"I think she would like to come with the boys and We would be delighted to join you" I reply for us all, before excusing us from the room.

Back in our suite, I pull Tara into my arms as Matt pulls out his phone to text Millie an update about dinner tonight and I work on taking Tara's mind off the days events and keeping her occupied till dinner.