Come Again Baby Daddy

Malia's POV

"WHAT?" I screamed as tears rolled down my face.

The eyes of everyone at the beach were suddenly on me but I didn't care.

"Please arrive at The William mansion within the next two days, have a nice day Ma'am," the voice on the other end of the call said sharply.

"What are you saying right now?" I asked in total confusion as my tears became uncontrollable.

"Wait... hello?" I asked in panic but I quickly realized that the call had ended.

"No....no...no," I repeated in disbelief as I tried to redial the number that had just called me.

It didn't ring and I was redirected to voicemail, my hands were shaking as I looked at the phone with my tear-blinded eyes.

My whole world crashed in an instant, and so many thoughts clouded my mind all at once, was this really happening, had my stubbornness finally gotten the best of me and led to my greatest pain?

"It's a lie... it's a prank," I said bursting out in laughter as the tears rolling down my cheeks didn't stop.

"It's just a sick prank," I shouted trying to convince myself that the news I just heard was fake.

My brain was functioning merely enough to think to call Lisa, the housekeeper, surely she could confirm for me that this news was a lie.

"H....Hello, Lisa," I stammered as she finally picked up the phone but I was met with silence followed by gentle sobs.

"NOOOOOO!!!" I screamed in absolute horror, this was all I needed to confirm that the news was true.

"Pleaseeeeee," I pleaded with Lisa, hoping she would say anything else.

But she ended the call as her sobs got louder and she couldn't contain the tears anymore.

"Why...?" I whispered as I suddenly felt very weak.

I didn't know where I was anymore, It felt like I was sinking into a black hole, I closed my eyes welcoming the darkness as it took over my mind but it did nothing to numb my pain.

"Mummy, mummy, mummy!!!" I heard from a distance, where was it coming from, was Ella somewhere in this darkness?

I suddenly felt someone shake me aggressively and my eyes popped open to the sight of my daughter's tear-stained face.

"Mummy, mummy," she kept crying and I wondered why, I was right there.

"Ella baby, mummy is right here," I said but it came out as a whisper, I might have lost my voice with all that screaming.

"Mummy?" she said as she cleaned her eyes, thankfully she heard my whisper.

"Come here, baby," I said as I hugged her tightly.

"What's going on Lia?" Susan, my best friend finally asked, her face puzzled and worried.

"My father is dead," I said dryly, just then the realization of those words hit me like a moving train.

I started feeling light-headed and the last thing I could hear were Ella and Susan's screams.

"Mummy.... Lia....." they screamed in unison as I felt myself fall back into the darkness.

I opened my eyes to the sight of a fireplace, I was lying on a big fluffy bed and it was raining outside.

I tried to sit up but I felt this sharp headache and immediately laid back down, I couldn't remember anything and I tried to probe my brain for details when it suddenly hit me.

"Attorney Edward on the line, I am calling to inform you that your father has passed away and you are required to be at his mansion in two days for the reading of his will," Those words.... The beginning of my misery and the reason I was wetting my pillow with tears.

I told myself I wasn't going to believe it till I saw it for myself so I got up ignoring the piercing headache, and looked around, I recognized this place to be Susan's room so I walked out, my room was just next door.

"Mummy?" Ella's voice came slicing out immediately I opened the door.

"Shhhhhh, mummy is here now," I silenced her as we hugged.

"Are you okay mummy?" she whispered with a concerned look.

"Yes, mummy, is fine, I was just a little tired," I lied not wanting her to worry about me.

"We are going back home," I said changing the topic and focusing on why I came to our room in the first place.

"Really," she almost screamed but I held her mouth forcing her to keep quiet.

"Go get your box, we are packing our things tonight," I instructed as I turned my face to our wardrobe.

It had been seven long years since I felt that city and planned never to look back till my child was at least sixteen but unexpected circumstances have changed my plans.

"Put it all in," I instructed an eager Ella, ensuring she didn't forget anything.

"Are we going to come back here mummy?" she asked looking up at me.

"Maybe," I replied never really thinking of it until now.

As my father's only child, the weight of his entire business empire was going to be on my shoulders and I may not have the time to travel anymore.

"I need to get back home first, every other thing would sort itself out," I whispered reassuring myself of my decision.

We had finished packing after three long hours and were ready to go, I had buried the broken part of me deep within at this point, I needed to confirm the truth before anything else.

"Let's go, princess," I told her as we carried our bags and moved towards the door.

Coming out of our room, we saw Susan with an already packed bag walk out of her room also.

"You won't have to go through this alone," she said with a smile as we moved towards the exit of the beach house we were at and entered the cab.

"Thank you," I managed to whisper after what felt like hours, she just squeezed my hand in reply.

On getting to the airport, we took a sit waiting for the boarding of our flight.

"WHAT??" I screamed in shock as I looked at the TV screen, if the death of my father didn't destroy me, this definitely would.

Malia's POV

"The William Group, announces Shane Williams as successor? I thought you were an only child?" Susan asked me in shock, as she turned around to see me equally surprised.

"Did your father..." Susan was too scared to ask the question because she knew how I would react but if I didn't know better I would be asking the same question.

"No... no he didn't, Shane is my cousin, he is orphaned so my parents thought to give him our name and let him stay with us," I explained, clearing her doubts but confirming mine.

"Okay but why is he the successor and not you?" She asked, her face turning away from the TV and towards me.

"I don't know," I whispered with my head bowed, truthfully I knew but didn't think it was true.

"That's not fair," She said with a fierce voice, ready to fight for me.

"This might be a bluff, I can't confirm anything yet, till after the reading of the will," I finally said putting myself together.

This battle might be tougher than I envisaged, and I had to prepare for it.

"That's our flight," Susan said, bringing me from my thoughts.

Ella was already fast asleep so I carried her, Susan carried our bags and we went towards the pre-boarding area to check and confirm our luggage and papers.

We had already gotten close to the checkpoint when we heard this announcement.

Attention all passengers, this is an announcement from the airport authorities. Due to adverse weather conditions, American Airlines Flight AA5622, originally scheduled to depart at 8:00 PM, has been delayed...

"We need twelve hours to get back home in time for the reading, what do we do," I asked Susan in frustration, I was almost in tears at this point.

"Let's just wait, hope, and pray for a miracle," she replied as we went to sit back down.

I was anything but calm this whole time and I wondered why everything seemed to be upside down for me.

"I just have horrible luck," I whispered as yet another hour passed and there was no follow-up announcement.

Susan had slept by this time and I couldn't help but smile as she and Ella held themselves firmly and slept soundly.

"What would I do without them," I thought as I recalled the earlier happenings of the day, if they had not been there who knew what would have happened to me after I heard the news?

I started to feel sleepy too and adjusted myself in my seat to join them when someone ran by and grabbed one of our bags.

"Wait, hey, you, stop!!" I screamed as I ran after him, the sleep leaving my eyes and my attention focused on catching the thief.

"Help, please, stop him," I pleaded but nobody paid any attention, they just watched as I ran after him, some even taking out their phones to make a video of the incident.

"Thank you," I said breathlessly as I stopped running, a good Samaritan had helped me catch the thief, retrieve my bag, and was handing him over to the airport security.

I crouched down to catch my breath and continued to speak to the stranger.

"I don't know what I would have done if I lost that bag," I said as my breathing slowed and evened out.

At this point the man had turned towards me but wasn't saying anything, thinking that was strange, I lifted up my face to thank him properly.

"Thank you very much, Sir, I really..." I was stopped dead in my tracks, I couldn't complete the words.

"Hello Princess," He said, his deep voice sending chills down my spine.

Just like that all the memories, I had struggled to forget came rushing back and hitting me like a tornado.

Closing the gap between us till I could feel his breath, he whispered, "Long time no see Princess."

There I stood covered in goosebumps and almost in tears, I couldn't move nor could I speak.

"Why...why are you here?" I asked when I finally found my voice.

"That doesn't matter, what matters is that I get to see you after all this time," he replied before wrapping me in a tight hug, a soft moan escaped my lips as I melted into his arms.

It had been so long, too long and only he had this effect on me.

"I missed you so much princess, he confessed before taking my lips in a sweet kiss.

As his lips devoured mine, I returned the kiss with the same urgency, all my worries and problems had melted away and I felt so safe.

Attention, attention, American Airlines Flight AA5622, now boarding at Gate C35. Please proceed to the departure gate for boarding...

"That's my flight," I whispered breaking the kiss and dashing in the opposite direction.

My heart was in my throat, I was trying not to think of what just happened, of who I had just seen.

"They've called our flight, let's go," I said breathlessly when I got back to the chair we were sitting on but I didn't see Ella or Susan nor did I see our bags.

"Wait, hold on," I muttered as I looked around to confirm if I was in the right place.

"Susan!!! Ella!!!" I screamed, calling my best friend and daughter, as I ran around the airport aimlessly.

"Princess," His voice came from behind and I stopped.

"What's wrong princess," he asked with a concerned tone.

"Ella...Susan...Our bags..." I stammered as I turned to look at him.

"Let's ask if they have boarded first," he said, leading me towards the airport personnel.

"Why didn't I think of that?" I thought, still very frustrated.

After about ten minutes and no luck, because they claimed they couldn't give out that information, I finally decided to board the airplane in hopes that they did too.

"Your passport please," the lady asked, giving her my passport, I suddenly remembered my bag, the one I had run to retrieve, it wasn't with me.

"My bag...My bag," I repeated thinking of where I dropped it.

"Here," he handed me my bag, and our eyes locked and it felt like time stood still.

"We cannot confirm your identity Ma, please come with me," the lady said, breaking the tension.

"What does that even mean?" I asked, refusing to go with her

"Security!!!" She called, alerting the airport security and they rushed towards us.

"Let me go," I screamed as they dragged me away.

Malia's POV

"What is going on?" I asked as they practically dragged me to a waiting area, nothing was said to me, and they only talked outside as I was locked in a room.

"We apologize for any inconvenience Ma, but this name was reported missing and the documents stolen, aside from that, our systems show that you have already boarded the airplane with your child," someone finally explained after about an hour.

I sat there in confusion, fighting back tears, the plane I was supposed to be on, had already taken off.

Just then, he walked in and it felt like time stopped. The one person I had successfully avoided all these years, Zach my ex, and the man who had helped me so much today.

"What seems to be the problem?" he demanded, looking angrily at the airport head of security.

"We apologize Sir, but her identity cannot be verified," he responded quickly, looking fearful.

"Let me see the documents," he demanded again and to my surprise, they were handed to him.

All through our three-year relationship, I didn't know much about his status or anything, just that he was doing well for himself but the reaction of these people made me start questioning a lot of things.

"Daughter?" he asked in surprise, shooting me a puzzled look.

"Yes Sir, she is ..." I stopped the man before he could speak any further.

"Yes, the person she boarded with is my best friend, Susan Clark, please look her up, you will see," I said quickly, I was willing to give out any other information but that of my child, and definitely not in front of Zach.

"I see, the mix-up now but, you would have to describe your daughter, just to be doubly sure," The airport head of security said after confirming the information I gave.

"Okay, she is three feet tall, a brunette, with a birthmark on the side of her left cheek," I responded hesitantly, knowing this was the only way to get out of this mess.

"How old is she Ma'am," the man questioned, still trying to straighten his facts.

No, I couldn't respond to that, even though I heard him, I pretended like I didn't and kept quiet.

"Ma'am?" he called, trying to get my attention but I wasn't responding.

"Hello, hold on a minute," Zach said as he picked up a call and walked out of the room.

"She is six years old, with brown eyes," I said quickly before Zach could return.

"Day and month of birth," he asked further, while Zach was still out.

"4th of December," I responded, grateful Zach didn't hear all this information about my child.

"She is mine!!!" I repeated, convincing myself I was making the right decision.

Just then, Zach had returned to the room we were in.

"So, what is left," He asked, getting impatient with the many procedures.

"We need someone who has known her to re-confirm her identity," the airport head of security said, running his hand through his hair, he was clearly also exhausted by the procedures.

"What? Why? Isn't that too much?" Zach asked in anger, puzzled by the unnecessary request.

"I apologize, Sir, but based on the report we got, we have to go through all these tiring procedures," he responded apologetically with a hint of fear, just trying to do his job.

"I can confirm her identity, I have known her for twelve years," Zach said looking straight into my eyes. A familiar feeling washed over me and my throat was suddenly dry, this was the effect only Zach could have on me

"Okay, thank you, Sir, you can go, Ma'am, we apologize for the delay and any other inconvenience," the airport chief of security said as he led me out of the room but Zach stayed back discussing with the other security personnel.

Now that this was over, I needed to find the next available flight. Ella was always safe with Susan so my heart was at rest, now I just needed to meet up with them.

"When is the next available flight?" I asked the lady at the reception who was in charge of bookings.

"In the next five days Ma'am," she replied, looking up from her system.

"Oh come on," I shouted in frustration as tears rolled down my cheeks.

It had been one of the worst days of my life and this was the last straw, I couldn't take it anymore and cried uncontrollably as I sat on a nearby chair.

After about twenty minutes, I felt a tap on my shoulder, it was the lady from the reception.

"There is a flight leaving now, would you like to go with it Ma'am?" she asked, looking at my tear-stained face and swollen eyes.

"Yes, yes, please, what do I need to do, I could pay for..." she stopped me mid-sentence as I rambled on excitedly.

"You don't need to pay any extra charges, Ma'am, we take full responsibility for delaying you and making you miss your flight, please accept this as our apology for the inconvenience.

"Thank you so much," I said as my eyes teared up in gratitude, it was a silver lining to this awful chain of events.

"Please come with me Ma'am," she said and I rose to follow her.

We walked to another part of the airport, it was quieter and more beautiful than the rest of the place.

This flight wasn't a usual one.

We finally came to a private hangar and on the plane were the initials ZW.

"Please come this way, Ma'am," she said as a man took my bag.

The lady led me into the plane and made me sit.

"Please enjoy and have a safe trip, Ma'am," she said with a smile as she stepped down from the plane.

This plane was one of the most beautiful I had ever seen, it was all black from the furniture to the utensils, and they all had the very peculiar initials ZW.

"Who is the person that owns this plane and why is he helping me," I wondered as I buckled in for the takeoff.

I was served and treated like royalty and I seemed to be the only one on the plane too.

"Things will only get better from here," I told myself as I settled into the luxurious seat.

"Is she my child?" a voice asked, startling me, it was a voice I knew too well, asking the one question I dreaded the most.