Archive of Our Own

“Absolutely not.” She whispered, while rocking the little boy into slumber. Alright, absolutely was an overstatement… But she didn’t feel like being back yet. Their son wasn’t even one… Not a week before he became one. It couldn’t be more unfair than that.

“Absolutely yes. It’s been almost a year, Layla. People are starting to complain, and I can’t think of any more excuses. Come back, perform for a season in Broadway, and return to France. We can replay Salomé or any other one, to make things faster. Won’t hurt you.”

Wouldn’t hurt her? How different would she be from her father if she missed her son’s birthdays because of work? It took her years to realize how heavy his absence had been for her… And she vowed not to do the same to him.

“Why can’t The Phoenix Academy be an excuse? Seems like a pretty good one for me. And we won’t be even lying.” She carefully closed the door to the baby’s nursery. God, he was finally asleep.

“For Kaleido Stage, maybe. Not for Broadway. You are no longer a permanent member of their cast. You can help, alright, but it’s not your current job. And why are you whispering?”

“Yuri is in a meeting in the library, and Aaron is at last napping. I’m wearing headphones, hence why I didn’t shush you before or dropped the call. You have no idea how long it takes for that to happen when his father is busy or in America. Here, now you’re on videocall.”

“Back to business. People are really asking now, I’m sure you’ve probably seen the news. You got to find a way to be back ASAP.”

“Aaron is too young to be without me for so long yet. A season, even if we do a reprise, will last at least three months if not more, and you know it. I’m not leaving him for that long. Period.”

“Well, bring baby boy over, then. We all wanna meet him anyways.” She played with her hair.

Oh, easy-peasy. Travelling with an eleven-month-old would already be hard normally; now, trying to hide their son from the hungry eyes of photographers and such? Virtually impossible.

“Cathy, are you on drugs? If I travel along with him, the whole point of coming to France and keeping us away from media harassment will be pointless.”

“Well, I don’t know! If you don’t come back, someone will eventually find out. They are like hovering beasts. Some of them are even reaching over to your father. Thank God he cares so much about his reputation that he will keep it quiet.”

She was being modest. More like he’d rather die than telling anyone his precious daughter had a child before marriage and against his will. What would people think of his parenting? What would people think of their family?

“She does have a point, princess.” Yuri placed himself beside her on their bed, snuggling her from behind, resting his chin on her head. She hadn’t even realized he’d entered their room. Judging by his sighing, his earlier meeting could have been better. “Hey Taymor.”

“Thank you! See? He understands!”

“Oh, Marvelous! What do you suggest then, since you so promptly agreed?” She almost snarled at him, and he chuckled. How dared he chuckle in such a predicament?

“Calm down, it’s not like I’m taking sides here. But mind you, I’ve just been informed that our ballet teacher was caught on a car accident and will be excused for a whole month recovering.” He rubbed his temples, exhaling tiredly.

“And? I can’t see how that’s supposed to help.”

“That gives me a reason to bring my mom over, after all, she can restart whatever they had planned, courtesy of my psycho grandfather. And Aaron can come along. We just need to manage the flight schedule. The three of you can go together, but not with me tomorrow… It was all booked. I checked.”

“See, that’s why I like working with this guy, you could learn more from him! And don’t roll your eyes. It’s settled, then! See you back soon!”

And she hung up. The blonde sighed. “Do you really think that’s going to work? And, if we do, I shouldn’t be in the same flight as them... There’s no way he’ll be quiet with your mom if I am, as much as he loves her.”

“I thought so. I’m already on it. You can go on the 10am one, and them on the next one. You’ll be only two hours apart.”

“Ha-ha, you are so funny. Twelve, you mean; it’s a ten-hour flight. I’ve never been that long away from him.” She sulked. “And that is… IF she agrees, you can’t just assume she will.”

“Oh, come on, Layla, you’ll survive. I did, and don’t say it’s any different because you know I’d rather be here with you guys, than coming and going to Cape Mary as I’ve been doing for the last eight months.” He officially had lost his temper. Yes, she knew coming back and forth from Cape Mary since Aaron had been three months old hadn’t been easy on him. “And, as for her agreeing… Mother has been wanting to visit my father’s grave for a while, but she won’t simply fly for that. She needs a cue.”

“Still, we can’t just drop that on her before even asking!”

He was about to reply when they were interrupted by his mother, who stood by their doorstep.  “Alright, stop arguing you both. I heard everything, so, don’t worry. Compared to travelling with you and Mikhail when you were two little gremlins, Aaron will be a piece of cake.”

“I keep wondering why it always comes back to how I were a gremlin as a kid. There’s no way it was that bad.” Yuri pinched his nose in annoyance. “Can’t say the same about Misha, though. He had zoomies, just like a cat. It was too much even for me, and I was nine.”

“It’s called ADHD, idiot, and it’s not like I asked to be born this way.” The youngest Killian boy popped up by their room door, loud as always. “Grandma said dinner is ready.”

“Quiet Misha! Aaron is sleeping next door!” Anna interposed, trying to place her hands over his mouth, failing miserably due to his height. “Can I go too? I want to see the Kaleido Stage for real, and I don’t want to miss Aaron’s birthday.” The girl pouted. “Pleeease, mom?”

“Nope, I know you two will be on your exam’s week. Besides, I still don’t know for how long I’ll be staying. You and Misha will stay right here with your grandmother.”

“Whatever! Can we eat now? I’m starving. And that’s what I came here to say anyways, grandma said dinner’s ready, if you didn’t hear before.” Once again, he was louder than needed. And wailing followed. Oh, she wanted to cry.

“Unbelievable. You guys go; I’ll calm him down.” Her husband was already up, making his way to the neighbor room. “And Mikhail…Be sure to enjoy dinner, because it might as well be your last on this earth.”

“Ho-ho, Yuri, if that was you trying to be scary, you might as well give up, I’m far too used to it by now.” He teased.

“Oh, no, I’m not the one you should fear. After all, I wasn’t the one who spent about… three hours putting him to sleep, only for it to last around… Fifteen minutes, give it or take?” The former acrobat patted the teenager’s shoulder. “That being said… I wish you the best of luck, because she was already pissed beforehand, and I will not be saving your ass. You could start by apologizing.”

“Oooh… Come on, you guys know I didn’t mean to wake him up…Ouch, my ear. Okay, I’m sorry, I truly am!”

“I’m very sorry sir; I’ve booked you already on the next available flight to Cape Mary. You depart in two hours. I’m afraid the Premium cabins were no longer available.”

“Thank you, James. Business class is more than enough. It’s merely a ten-hour flight.”

“My pleasure, sir. I’ll be at the airport to escort you to the next meeting. We’ll be fit on schedule, but you’ll make it on time.” He meant, if the flight wasn’t delayed by any means, which wasn’t unusual in France. But Kevin Hamilton needed not to put more gasoline on the arson.

He just hoped the seat next to his was vacant, or at least there weren’t any disturbances, so he could go through the myriads of documents he had to. He should have left hours earlier, but apparently, they couldn’t find a spare part to their private jet, without which flying was unsafe.

He liked to board early. It gave him time to place his hand luggage wherever he pleased. Not like anyone would usually make him change anything. Being wealthy had those privileges.

So, he took his seat and waited until takeoff. Once they were flying, he wouldn’t be interrupted by standard safety procedures and all. That was… until they came along.

“Let’s see… Where is it? Oh, you look at that. Papa put us on a fancy seat.” A young woman, surely no more than forty, with a baby – no more than one year-old, by its looks - on a sling, made her way through. “Alas, he says he won’t spoil you.” She chortled.

He exhaled, distraught. They were placed beside him. Great. There went his hope of a calm flight. Courtesy screamed him to help her into settling her luggage on the storage compartment over her seat, which she couldn’t reach.

“Oh… That was really kind. Sometimes I wish I were a little taller.” She flashed him a smile. God, she looked like one of those porcelain dolls collectors have. “But I’m glad nice people are always in our way, right baby boy?” The boy blinked his sky-blue eyes at him, hiding his face on her chest seconds later.

“No problem.” After they’d adjusted for takeoff, he had to ask. “First time flying with a baby?”

“Is it that obvious?” Emerald eyes stared at him enquiringly, adjusting the carrier so she could sit comfortably, giving the boy a teether. Thank God, he wouldn’t have to deal with earache crying, at least. “What gave it away?”

“You can block the seat beside you and ask for a bassinet, for a start, so you won’t have to hold him thorough the whole trip. Also, getting him to chew on something helps with otalgia, but you seemingly knew that already.”

“I see. But anyways, these carriers help a lot, I can keep him close and be hands free.” She kissed the top of the boy’s head, covering his ears to muffle the airplane turbine sound. His little eyes were still glued to him, whatever the reason. “Thanks for the information, mister…?”

Oh, that was unusual… She didn’t know him. “Kevin.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Nadja, and the little guy here is Aaron. I hope we don’t disturb your flight that much.” Did he make it so noticeable he wasn’t pleased with an infant around? He used to be better at it. “You’ll see he’s a good kid.”

“Well… Whatever happens, it can’t be helped, can it? There seems to be no other vacant seat available. For you to put him in a bassinet, I mean.” She once more smiled, followed by a sigh.

“Leave acting to actors, Mr. Kevin. And no one really likes when there are babies on flights, you don’t have to try to hide your unsatisfaction only for the decorum of it.”

No, he really wasn’t a good actor. His late wife loved to point it to him in every single opportunity she could. He missed her. “Right. I’ve been told that before.”

“Great. Now that all is settled… I’ve never seen him so fascinated by someone before. I wonder if it’s your moustache.”

“’Tache, Nanna?” He finally heard the boy’s small voice, as he now stared at her, clearly puzzled.

“Yes, the hair in between his nose and mouth is called a moustache. Like a Walrus.” Less than an hour flying and he is being compared to a sea animal. That was a first. “You like walruses, don’t you? What’s the name from that character from the TV show? Larry, the Walrus!” He nodded gleefully. “Come on, let’s leave him alone, he must have things to do, look at the size of his leather folder and at his frown, just like your dad when he has lots of work to do.” She closed the gap in between the seats.

“Papa?” He still could hear the boy searching for his dad.

“Yes, we’ll be with him soon, sweetie.”

He didn’t believe her at first, but the boy was really a good child. You could barely realize there was a baby on the cabin. He admittedly even peeked once or twice to check what he was up to, or whether he was just asleep.

The first time, he was no longer on his carrier and had been playing with wooden blocks (and was good at that, mind you). The second time, he was scribbling with crayons on a clean napkin.

He was about to peek for a third time when the gap was opened, and a small hand tossed him the said “drawing”. “Pwesent.”

“Oh, why, thank you.” There were multiple-colored lines everywhere. He dared not ask whatever they were. Who knows whether he’d be sad. Layla used to get feisty whenever he could not get what she’d drawn right.

She was about to close the gap again when he intervened. “I only opened because he wanted to give you that, we didn’t mean to bother.”

“You are not. Leave it. It’s fine. I hate to admit it, but he is indeed well-behaved.” He snickered. “So, you said he is going to see his dad?”

“Oh, you heard that.” The child was trying to stand supported on her lap, peeking back at him. “Yes, his father works abroad. It’s his first time travelling to meet him. It’s usually the other way around. Do you have any children?”

“A daughter.” The answer came more pained than he’d wanted. “But we aren’t very close.”

“Hm… Did you have a fight?” He averted his gaze. In general terms, he could say that. Why was he even talking about family with someone he had just met? Even more, a person who was a little more than half his age?

“Something like that.” He sighed. “What about you? Is he an only child?”

“Aaron? Yes, he is. But you got it wrong; he is not my son. I’m taking him to his parents. I’ll be working in America for a while, and they happen to be already there, so I brought him along. He’ll be one in two days… They didn’t want to miss it.” The boy was beginning to fuss – no wonder… It was probably time for his nap. Little children needed those. “But I do have children, two boys and a little girl.” In minutes, he was soundly asleep. She had to be telling the truth.

“I’ll be honest, because apparently, I’m see-through today. You seem too young for that. Three kids?”

“Does that hassle you?” She queried half-heartedly. “Besides, you don’t even know their ages… They could be triplets.”

“It doesn’t.” Except… It obviously did. That’s precisely what drove his only daughter away from him. Or… Was it? He wasn’t sure really. There had been ages since they had truly talked to each other as family. Work had consumed his life after his wife’s death. “Well… Are they triplets?”

“Nah, not really.” She gave a long sigh. “It’s fine… You wouldn’t be the first to judge. Too many children, too young, blah, blah, blah.” Had that eastern European accent always been there?

“I suppose your family helped you, then?” He blurted on sheer impulse.

She shook her head. “My mom died on the very same day I was born. And my father…” She was suddenly hyperventilating, like a trapped dove, clutching to the sleeping child in her arms. “He wasn’t a very good person.” She muttered.

“I’m sorry. Forget about it. I’ll ask them for some water. Do you think you can breathe a little deeper?” She nodded, the boy stirring in his sleep. “Here, let me have him while you drink.” He stretched his arms towards them, but she only held on tighter.

Of course, you idiot. You triggered that, how could she consider you safe now? Way to go.

“He is fine here, thank you.” Once again, a heavy Slavic accent surfaced. “I should follow rule number one from parenthood – sleep while they sleep. And you can get back to your work, isn’t that neat?” Was that… A little hint of wrath in her voice?

Awkward silence followed for quite a while. He moved back onto his documents – he had five hours left to finish up.

“Mama? Papa?” The child’s whimpering caught his attention. He had woken up and was probably not recognizing his surroundings yet.

He should have left it that way… But somehow, that kid had won him more than he had anticipated. Or, maybe, he felt a tad guilty for what had happened before and was trying to amend? He’d never know.

What he did know was that in seconds, the boy was nestled on his lap, playing with his necktie. “Aaron, right? So, you like my moustache and my tie, I see. You do have some good taste.” He whispered, patting the boy’s little back, while he opened a barely toothless smile, his big, cerulean eyes curiously inspecting him. “You should let her rest for a bit.”

“Nana?” He side-eyed the slumbering woman. Right, Nadja was her name, that must have been it. The boy wrapped himself on his neck.

“Yes, she had a nightmare, it seems. You know, a bad dream.” Why was he even trying? Kid was barely one, not like he would understand it. “You do like her, don’t you?” He nodded. He took the boy’s drawing. “So, what do we have here?”

“Mama, Papa, Nanna and Tache!” He explained happily. Kids were so easy. Hours together and he was already being drawn as part of the family.

He could have been part of a family like that if he hadn’t been so stern on those two. His… No, he shouldn’t have the right to call it his grandson; after suggesting they get rid of it. Anyway… That… Child should be about that boy’s age.

“Hi, shining star. I heard you weren’t well these past days.” He had arrived a couple hours earlier from a business trip and one of their eldest maids had been fast to inform him as she had been afraid his daughter might have been displaying the same illness that had taken away her mother. “Fainting spells can be quite serious. You could have told me; I’d have come back a bit earlier.”

“I didn’t want to disturb your work. Besides, I feel better already.” She answered, while slowly mixing a sugar cube into her teacup. She seemed to have lost weight from when they’d last met.

 “Well, I’m glad.” He took a sip of his own tea. “Macquarie said you needed to talk to me about something important. So?”

“I do… I’m just waiting for someone before we start.” She had her eyes glued to the teapot. His daughter was usually straightforward whenever she wanted something. What on earth could be up?

“Is it about Broadway? You don’t have to keep working there if you don’t want anymore. In fact, I think it is about time you get more into the family business. You’re twenty.”

“It’s not about Broadway… I like it there. I’ll be back once…” They were interrupted by a maid announcing that her previous circus partner had arrived. Was he the ‘someone’ she was waiting for? Did she want to be back at that place again? He thought she had gotten over it after that Japanese girl took the lead officially.

“Good afternoon, sorry I’m late. I had some… issues to address at the Kaleido Stage.” He took a seat on the sofa beside her.

“The Kaleido Stage again, huh? Sweetheart, we’ve been through this before. There’s no safe way for you to act there again with that shoulder of yours. And from what I have heard you have also retired from performing, right, Yuri?”

“That’s… Not why he’s here.” She bit her down lip, fidgeting with her hands, just like when she was a child and was afraid of being disciplined. The lad had his hands over her shoulders, pulling her closer.

It was no secret to him that their relationship had been coming and going over the years they had been partnered with. He even sort of liked that guy; he had a brain, at the very least. A very clever one.

“Oh? You are finally going to tell me you are seeing each other offstage? Spare the suspense, I’d be blind not to have noticed it.” He rubbed his temples. “Just wear condoms and no one gets hurt.”

Silence had never been so deafening. The fainting spells. Her decision to step away from Broadway for a while. It had to be a joke. That was surely not what he had raised her for. He took a long deep breath before asking, feet insistently tapping the wooden floor. “How far along?”

“23 weeks.” Unbelievable. Almost six months. They had met earlier then. How could she have hidden that for so long? There could have been other… Options if she’d told him before 20 weeks. But no… She had to complicate things.

“Six months. ALMOST SIX MONTHS, Layla? I do expect a wonderful explanation as to why you’ve let this get to this point. What were you thinking?”

“I… I sort of denied it for a while…” Her voice was small. “I’m sorry…”

“Denied? What for? You expected things would just magically solve themselves out of the blue? For heaven’s sake!” His fists hit the table, startling the young couple. “And I hope you are not telling me because you are considering keeping it. Open your eyes, the two of you. I don’t care how mature you perceive you are; you are barely adults yourselves.”

“You can’t be serious, father.” She was now shaking in her lover’s embrace, in a mix of anger and indignation. He didn’t really understand why: he was sure he had taught her better.

“Oh, but I am. You expect me to simply allow my only daughter to ruin her life and our family’s image? Layla, this is by far not a suggestion.” He had been adamant. Adoption could still be a thing. “Do you have any idea of how hard it is to take care of a child? Your immature behavior of not dealing with this earlier practically proves to me you two have no idea of what you’re doing. Just leave IT at a foster house or orphanage anonymously once you are done.”

“And if I don’t?” Her eyes challenged him, but her lips quivered, arms protectively folded over her slightly protruding navel.

“What do you mean, if you don’t?” That’s it, he’d lost it. “Bold of you to assume you have a choice when you still live under my roof, both here and in New York.”

“We will find another way.” Her voice was anguished. “I mean… We can’t just… punish a child for existing… It’s not like he asked to be born…”

“Then, you are on your own with that decision.” He rose from his sitting spot, on his way to lighten a cigarette. “I don’t want to hear another word on this matter unless it’s to tell me you got rid of IT, was I clear?”

“He.” She uttered, on the very brink of tears.

“Excuse me?”

“He. Not it, he. Your grandson.” Yuri stated what she no longer could, face buried on his chest, sobbing irrepressibly. “Shh… I’ve got you both.” He ran his fingers through her hair and pulled her closer.

“Oh, you do still have a voice, Prince Charming.” He scorned. “Letting her take on me while you just listen didn’t seem quite like you.”

“You are correct. But she still wanted to try reasoning with you, no matter how difficult it could be.” The Russian pierced him with his violet-blue eyes, as he helped her up to a standing position, gently rubbing her back. “We don’t need your roof, and, frankly, nor your help, sir. I’ve told you once, but you always fail to listen – your daughter’s wings were spread long ago. She doesn’t need to be under yours anymore.”

 “I’ll be here waiting in case you end up tightening up those loose screws on your heads.” He snorted, tauntingly blowing a cloud of smoke at the lad’s face.

“If that’s the case, you might want to find a very comfortable chair to sit, sir.” He replied, ushering her out of the living room. “And don’t bother, we do know our way out.”

The sadness in her eyes as they left would forever haunt him. They hadn’t merely caught a glimpse of one another ever since. He wished he could say the same about her partner… Yet, he was stuck with that brat as long as he kept sponsoring Kaleido Stage.

Maybe he didn’t let go because that place held dear memories of when they were still a family; of when his wife had been with them. Sometimes, he wondered whether she’d have been more condescending with their little girl.

Maybe… He couldn’t just accept she had grown up. A part of him, and a huge one at that, would forever see her as a child.

Even James had pointed that out, repeatedly. The man always hoped they would reconcile. More than his butler, just as Macquarie had been to Layla, he had been his best friend, knowing him since they were merely boys.

“If I may, and I speak now not as a butler, but as friends we are… That was too harsh of you, Kevin. There were other ways.”

“Were there really? You say that because it’s not your daughter…”

“Bold of you to say that… When I basically raised her with the other maids after Laura died and you closed yourself.”

“Why sad?” The boy queried, hands trying to brush the tears on his cheeks, his own cerulean, blue eyes getting moist as well out of frustration. “Bad, bad tears, go away!”

“Seriously, you don’t have to be sad just because I am. Come on, let’s dry those eyes, little guy.” He took his pocket handkerchief, carefully even cleaning the boy’s nose, for good measure.

“Are you two done?” Oh, she was awake. “I can have him back now… Unless you want to keep practicing to when you have grandchildren.” She giggled. “It was very considerate of you, by the way.”

“I know how those feel. You needed a good breath after that.” He handed her the boy, who still clung to his suit. “Come on kiddo, you should go with her. I’m not… grandfather material.”

She shook her head. “I think you did a pretty good job.”

“You wouldn’t understand.” He sighed.

“Try me.” She gave the boy his wooden blocks once more.

“Let’s say I used some dreadful words last time I met my daughter. I don’t think she’d let me anywhere near her or any… Offspring of hers that easy.”

“I see… Well, I assume she isn’t dead… So… you can fix it, if you want.” Her emerald eyes pierced right through him. “Do you want to?”

“I wish it were that simple… But yes… I suppose so.” He just wondered whether she could ever forgive him. “Why are you looking me like that?”

“I was just thinking… You are… Different than what I expected…” She patted his shoulder. Were those eyes always that gentle? “You are a good man… Who made some poor choices in life, aren’t you?”

Was he? He didn’t quite know at that point anymore.

She didn’t expect the commotion on Cape Mary airport upon her arrival. Cathy wasn’t joking, the press was ravenous. Luckily, the redhead herself and Macquarie had come to pick her up and managed a way to disband them after a few comments towards her return to Broadway and everything along.

All she could think of, honestly, was her son, who was still flying. Had he eaten anything? He should have by then, her milk-filled breasts reminded her of that each passing hour. He didn’t like formula, and they were having a hard time introducing him new flavors. Speaking of which, she hadn’t been able to pump through the whole flight and had already changed her shirt once. That couldn’t happen again, otherwise… People could stare.

Yet… She was a disaster using the thing. It should be easy… But somehow, it wasn’t. She had help in France… But she wasn’t in France anymore. The wearable ones felt too big and weren’t discreet at all.

Which had led them to the current moment where Cathy was watching the bathroom doors while Macquarie helped her.

“Why don’t you just go home for a while and come back when their plane lands? Would save us a lot of trouble.”

“Once we get there, we’ll just have to head straight back. It’s pointless. I wonder if they are already close.”

“According to Flight Radar, they should be arriving in about an hour, Miss.” Thank God, it wouldn’t take long now.

“How are we going to do this? I mean… From what we have seen before, waiting for them at the gate won’t be a good choice.” Cathy argued. Yes, she couldn’t have him throwing himself straight to her like he usually did whenever they were apart for ‘too long’. “Yuri will probably send someone from Kaleido Stage to pick them up, since she’s coming to be a part of their crew.”

Her mobile phone chimed. Hey princess, where are you? I’ll be at the café close to the arrival gate. Well, sometimes even he slipped.

“He is here himself, apparently.”

“What? The kid wants to get him through the screen whenever you two video-call. He’ll want to jump into Papa’s arms first thing when he spots him.” The scriptwriter ran a hand over her face, dumbfounded. “It’s unbelievable. The guy schemed a coup-d-état, but fails to think about that? Are you done?”

“Almost… Oops.” There went another shirt, she knew she should have brought a black one. “Leaked again… And I don’t have a second spare shirt.”

Please tell me you are wearing the black suit today. She texted him fast. He should be. Even the white one would suffice.

I do. What for?

Can you come by the bathroom on the second floor? Macquarie will get it for me… Pump accident.

Figures. And a facepalm gif. She could almost see him chortling.

He was perceived everywhere as a gentleman. No-one would judge if she was wearing his suit because she “felt cold”. After freshening up as cleaning everything, they headed out to the café he had mentioned before.

“Feeling warmer now?” He used the cue to dismiss some nosy heads around them. “You should carry adequate clothes when you travel, Ms. Hamilton. You can’t just expect me to always save you.” That was unrequested.

“Oh, I’m sorry, some habits apparently linger on. I can return it to you, if you want, though, Mr. Killian.” Two could play that game.

“Nah, merely taunting.”  He approached, using an excuse to adjust the suit to embrace her from behind. “Here, button it up, it will fit better.”

“Alright, that’s enough.” Cathy broke in between them. “By the way, isn’t that your father’s personal assistant? What was his name again? James, wasn’t it? I thought your private plane usually landed elsewhere.”

“It does. Probably they had an issue.” Being seen by James or anybody close to her father was the last thing she wanted. “I suppose we will have to wait in the car.”

“We?” Oh, right, his penny had yet to drop.

“Do you think you can avoid a ‘Papa’ at the arrival gate?” She whispered, while pretending to adjust his shirt’s collar. “If your answer is no, we better get going.”

“Never thought I could; that’s why those two are here.” He pointed to Kalos and their oldest sponsor, Mr. Kenneth, who were heading towards their table. “They happen to be acquainted with my mom, so there shouldn’t be any trouble. Moreover, I just learned that old fox had been trying to convince her into working there for ages… But she always refused.”

“Really?”

“Yes, she brushed it off because she had to take care of her sick son… Hemophilia, right? She did help us with Alice in Wonderland, though.” The old man stated. “I was genuinely surprised when Kalos told me that was you. Pretty reckless, I’d say.”

“Wait? Hemophilia? And I thought she was crazy because of the whole shoulder thing.”

“Yes, say it louder please. I don’t think anyone on the other tables could hear you.” He rolled his eyes. “You never told her, Layla?”

“It wasn’t my place to.” She shook her head, tapping insistently at the table. “It’s about time they landed, right?”

“Easy princess, they are just fine, you’ll see.”

He looked like everything they had told her about at first glance. Preposterous, cold, stern… and clearly like someone who valued his work higher than his family. How could he be just sitting there so nonchalantly while his daughter was raising his grandson miles away?

Not like her own father would have been much different. No, he would have been way worse if they hadn’t put that restraint order up. None of her children would be here in the first place. It hadn’t been easy, but she wouldn’t change a thing, even if she had been given the chance to.

Hence why, she would make that man regret it, or least, rethink his actions, if he did have a heart beating under that expensive suit and strong cologne.

The way Aaron had been mesmerized towards him surprised her. It was as if he knew - who knows? Kids can be perceptive. Maybe he did. Or maybe his moustache just resembled Larry the Walruses’ and he had liked it. He even made the guy a drawing himself without her suggestion, clearly not realizing how much the man was bothered to have a baby beside him. Because babies do inconvenience work, of course.

Him being a good child even prompted the guy into peeking onto their seat and talking to her. Yes, that’s right, take a close look at what you are missing, she wanted to brush that feeling straight into his face.

 “So, you said he is going to see his dad?”

“Oh, you heard that.” She pretended to be nonchalant about it. “Yes, his father works abroad. It’s his first time travelling to meet him. It’s usually the other way around.” That was her cue. “Do you have any children?”

“A daughter.” His voice stung. “But we aren’t very close.”

“Hm… Did you have a fight?” He averted his gaze. Maybe… He cared. Not the impression those two had given, but probably they had been too hurt to realize it. Or time had made him see it.

“Something like that.” He sighed. “What about you? Is he an only child?”

“Aaron? Yes, he is. But you got it wrong; he is not my son.” Why was she saying that? She could just let him believe that at first. No, she wanted him to know, in a way. “I’m taking him to his parents. I’ll be working in America for a while, and they happen to be already there, so I brought him along. He’ll be one in two days… They didn’t want to miss it.” Unlike you, who missed so many of her birthdays. Aaron scrubbed his eyes tiredly… It was past time for his nap. “But I do have children, two boys and a girl.” She answered him, easily cradling the child asleep. Layla envied her at that.

“I’ll be honest, because apparently, I’m see-through today. You seem too young for that. Three kids?” His tone was harsh, and full of bigotry. Yes, there he was.

“Does that hassle you?” She queried, unenthusiastically – or so she meant to sound. She was cross. “Besides, you don’t even know their ages… They could be triplets.”

“It doesn’t.” Hah, that was evidently a lie, a kid could see it. “Well… Are they triplets?”

“Nah, not really.” She gave a long sigh. “It’s fine… You wouldn’t be the first to judge. Too many children, too young, blah, blah, blah.”

No, it wasn’t fine. It wasn’t at all. But she was a good actress. She had learned to be, since childhood. Otherwise, everyone would have realized what her sad excuse of a psycho father did to her.

“I suppose your family helped you, then?” He blurted. Guilty now, are we? Or maybe, he was just curious.

Either way, she had to measure her words. “My mom died on the very same day I was born. And my father…” Each phrase weighted a thousand kilograms. Each breath weighted a thousand kilograms. She hated how it all always came back to her the moment she mentioned him at all.

They had her hooked into two IVs. A doctor had mumbled something about severe malnourishment, anemia, multiple badly healed fractures and wounds. They had even been surprised she had managed to survive after delivering a child at that form and age.

Right. That had really happened. It hadn’t been a bad dream. That child was real, their child, on his grandmother’s arms. Ms. Maryann watched her in a mix of pity and worry. Yes, she was pitiful. How could she not have noticed?

Father would kill her. Them both.

“Nadja, dear… You need to tell us who did this you. This can’t keep going on.” She gently put a hand over her forehead. So warm. Her father’s hands weren’t warm. They should have been, shouldn’t them? “We need to know, for you to be safe. That’s not safe, sweetheart. And you know it, deep down. That’s why you came to us, isn’t it?”

 Safe… She wasn’t safe, then? But parents were supposed to make you safe, weren’t they? They were supposed to know best.

Nah, she had just done something wrong again, and that’s why she wasn’t safe. It wasn’t his fault. He was raising her to be a good child and the best ballerina.

The room had no windows. What time was it? He was probably awake by now, and the breakfast wasn’t ready. Nor were his clothes, and her room wasn’t clean as it should be. She had spent far too long cleaning the basement. She had to get home before he realized. She shouldn’t be in a hospital. Father said they couldn’t trust hospitals. She should never have left their house.

She tried to move, but it all hurt too much, and her vision became fuzzy. “You shouldn’t get up now; you are far too weak for that.” The woman doctor warned her. “Once your father gets here, we can discuss the next steps.”

The monitors around her beeped insistently. He can’t know she is in the hospital. She shouldn’t be in a hospital. This shouldn’t be happening.

The sound of quiet wailing and Ms. Maryann’s gentle squeezes to her shoulder brought her back to reality. “You know… Babies are very sensible; someone is not happy to feel his mom suffering.”

She transferred the little boy to her arms. God, he felt so light. She wondered if he was even healthy. She hadn’t taken any special care… She had surely hurt him. What a terrible mother she was, right from the start.

He would be better with someone else, not her.

He could stay with Aaron’s family if they’d accept him.

At least, he had a good dad and grandparents who cared.

He could have a way out. Unlike her.

“Honey, I’m going to ask this once, because he might get here anytime, and unless we know, and by know, I mean hearing it from you… there’s nothing that can be done to keep you both away from him. So… Is your father the one who hurt you?”

Outside the hospital room, she could overhear his heavy Russian accent. She could almost smell his alcoholic scent. He was furious. She could nearly feel the metal tip of his whip on her skin. It would HURT SO MUCH.

Hurt…

And at that moment, it all finally came to her.

She knew it, deep inside. Her friends’ fathers didn’t do what hers did.  She wasn’t a bad child. In fact, as everyone praised, she was the perfect child. She had always done everything to please him, and yet… It meant nothing. All she had ever known was pain. Yes, he was the one who had hurt her. Hurt them.

She could only nod, clutching her newborn son close, tears flooding her eyes as Ms. Maryann embraced her protectively, when he burst through the door, swearing in every possible language he had been fluent on.

“Nadja, let’s go home.” His breath nauseated her.

“She can’t go. She’s still recovering.” Ms. Maryann intervened, never letting go of them.

“Stay out of my way, woman. You have nothing to do with us. She can recover home.” He approached, finally noticing the baby in her arms. “Huh? You don’t have time for that. Stop playing house and let’s go.”

“No.” For once, she had answered him.

“Excuse me?” He was about to jump onto them and drag her away when Aaron stormed in, punching him straight on the face, preventing him from approaching the trio.

“She said no. Are you deaf, old man?” The teenager placed himself shielding them. He shouldn’t have done that. She wanted to scream for help, but her voice wouldn’t come out.

“Hey, this is a hospital, not a bar!” The doctor tried to reason with them, to no avail.

“I should have known… You’re the reason this all happened. First, you make her weak, and next, you knock her up?” Then, he lost it. It had taken about three grown policemen and two male nurses to break the two of them apart.

 Now they had evidence of how violent her father was. Apart from a black eye, a couple stitches on his forehead and a broken rib, Aaron had been relatively unscathed. He had been lucky.

“Ty dolzhen byl umeret', a ne tvoya mama. Nadeyus, vam ponravitsya igrat v dom so slabakami. Ty dlya menya teper mertv. (You should have died, not your mom. I hope you have fun playing house with the weaklings. You are dead to me now.).” He uttered, being dragged away by the police crew.

They would be alright, wouldn’t they? It had been the right thing to do, wasn’t it?

Wasn’t it?

 “He wasn’t a very good person.” Did she even say that?

“I’m sorry. Forget about it. I’ll ask them for some water. Do you think you can breathe a little deeper?” He was concerned. He seemed… Human, unlike her progenitor. “Here, let me have him while you drink.” He stretched his arms towards them, but she couldn’t let go. She would protect that boy from any menace, even if the menace was his own grandfather.

“He is fine here, thank you.” Her heavy Slavic accent surfaced. Yuri had pointed out once that it happened whenever she was stressed out. “I should follow rule number one from parenthood – sleep while they sleep. And you can get back to your work, isn’t that neat?” And right now… She was furious. Furious at him for making her remember, and at herself, for being so weak despite how long that had happened.

Once she was awake, the first thing she noticed was that her grandson’s weight was nowhere to be felt. Had he slipped from her lap while they dozed? She would have noticed if he fell, he would have cried, and there is no way she wouldn’t have heard it.

Unless… He had been scooped up whilst she slumbered, so he wouldn’t wake her up. But that man wouldn’t do that, would he?

She peeked onto the neighboring seat. Yes, there he was, alright, nestled against his chest, his little hands trying to brush away tears as the old entrepreneur quietly sobbed. From his spaced-out look, she bet he didn’t even process his own tears.

“Why sad?” Aaron asked, his own cerulean, blue eyes (which he had inherited from the same said man) getting moist as well out of frustration. “Bad, bad tears, go away!”

“Seriously, you don’t have to be sad just because I am. Come on, let’s dry those eyes, little guy.” He took his pocket handkerchief, gently cleaning his little eyes and sneezing his nose, for good measure.

She could imagine why he had been like that. If he was human, and by the looks of it, he pretty much was… Reality had deeply sunk in.

“Are you two done? I can have him back now… Unless you want to keep practicing to when you have grandchildren.” She giggled. “It was very considerate of you, by the way.”

“I know how those feel. You needed a good breath after that.” Aaron didn’t want to come to her. That was unusual. But again, he was a very sensitive child, just like Yuri had been, he wouldn’t let go until he was sure everything was okay. “Come on kiddo, you should go with her. I’m not… grandfather material.”

“I think you did a pretty good job.” Was she praising him now? Well, at least that time he deserved it.

“You wouldn’t understand.” He tried to avoid the subject.

“Try me.” She taunted.

“Let’s say I used some dreadful words last time I met my daughter. I don’t think she’d let me anywhere near her or any… Offspring of hers that easy.”

‘Offspring of hers’, her ass. He wanted desperately to say, ‘his grandchildren’.

“I see… Well, I assume she isn’t dead… So… you can fix it, if you want. Do you want to?”

“I wish it were that simple… But yes… I suppose so.” She couldn’t believe she was sympathizing with that man. “Why are you looking me like that?”

“I was just thinking… You are… Different than what I expected… I guess…” There could have been a better word choice but screw it. “You are a good man… Who made some poor choices in life, aren’t you?” He looked at her somewhat quizzically.

“I don’t know about that. What I do realize is what a horrible father I was.” His expression was beyond gloomy. Was she feeling sorry for him now?

“I wouldn’t say you were horrible. Maybe just bad?” She tried to cheer him up. “I’ve had a horrible father, and you are nothing like him.”

“That’s… Reassuring?” He giggled, somewhat sadly still.

“Tache better now?” Aaron asked, stretching an arm to pat the man’s head, to which he bowed slightly, so that the boy could reach.

“Yes kiddo. Your ‘Nanna’ knows how to cheer people up.” He air signed the quote at her title. Of course, he wouldn’t believe it even if she said it was true. It would break the poor man’s narrow mind. “So, I never asked where you are going to work at.”

“Oh, I’m a ballet teacher, so I’ll be covering up for another dancer who got hurt in an accident.” In the circus your daughter worked and loves, and which you sponsor, but you shouldn’t know that yet. It would be too much.

“I see. You do seem like someone fit for a stage.” He responded as they were prompted to prepare for landing.

At the airport, he kindly helped her with the luggage that was inside the plane and waited until all their bags had been successfully retrieved -even though he had mentioned at some point he was fit on his schedule.

“That’s… a lot of baggage. Would you like me to carry any of them… Or him?” He… Blushed? “I mean… He did like me.” She didn’t have much to choose, as Aaron was already happily throwing himself onto his arms.

“I don’t know… You seem like a famous guy… Don’t you worry about what people will think if they see you holding him?”

“I can’t see any problem on helping a friend with her gear and a child. I’ll just see you to whoever is there to meet you at the airport and then I’ll take my leave. Who knows how long they’ll take?” Oh, if only he knew how anxious those two should be down there waiting for their son. “Besides… I should praise his parents for raising such a well-behaved little guy.”

She almost choked on her own saliva. Letting him carry the boy suddenly seemed like a bad idea, considering she didn’t know who would be waiting for her over there. Someone could have an unasked reaction. She wondered how he would react if he found out.

“Nanna, okay?” Aaron asked worriedly, patting her back, as they went through the arrival gates. She scanned the crowd, looking for anyone who she knew from Kaleido Stage, until she spotted Kalos and “the old fox”, as her husband would have said, Mr. Kenneth.

“So, you’ve finally decided to grant us your skills. Took only fifteen years? If we consider Alice in Wonderland.” The old American laughed, pouncing his cane on the floor. “Hello, Kevin.”

“Kenneth, Kalos.” He greeted the duo, as the boy hid his face onto his suit. “So, the Kaleido Stage, huh?”

“Oh, you know them?” She faked astonishment. “My husband used to be an acrobat, and as you heard, those two have been pestering me for years.”

“I see. Come on buddy, it’s time for me to go.” He tried to transfer the boy to her, yet he refused, holding tightly onto the man’s neck, sulking. Another man approached, probably a butler or such, taking his luggage. “See this guy over here? He’s my friend James, and he is going to take me to work.” But he shook his head, now beginning to sob, just like he used to do whenever Yuri had to leave France.

“Sir, I’m sorry to interrupt, but you’ll be more than thirty minutes late for your appointment if we don’t leave now.”

“I’m aware, James, thank you.” He scowled; then, he shifted, gazing lovingly at the boy, nuzzling his cheek, earning giggles, probably from how ticklish his moustache felt. “Mama and Papa are waiting for you, right?” He whispered, winning the boy’s full attention. “To meet them, you’ll have to go with Ms. Nadja and those two, not me.”

That seemed to suffice, as he finally reached out for her, rubbing his eyes and embracing her somewhat unhappily, waving the blond goodbye. “Bye bye, ‘tache.”

“Bye bye, squirt. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” He went away, adjusting his tie. “Oh, and tell his parents they are doing a great job.”

“He hasn’t got a clue.” Kalos prompted her, as soon as it was safe for another soul apart from them not to hear it.

“Nope.” She cradled the weeping boy against her body.

“Yet, I am the one they call an old fox.” Kenneth laughed. “You sly woman.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Sir, if I may.” The butler began, while helping him dispose of his suit.

“Yes?” He answered idly. He couldn’t get his head out of the way the boy reacted once they were parting. No, that wasn’t it, babies do naturally get clingy. What he really couldn’t get his head away was of how he had reacted himself.

“I thought I caught a glimpse of Ms. Layla in the airport earlier today.” He mentioned.

“Is that so?” He replied. Figures. With the media pressuring her, she had no choice whatsoever. “Did you talk to her?”

“No, sir. I merely watched. She was with Ms. Taymor and Macquarie. And they joined Mr. Killian and those two other gentlemen, a while after.”

“I see. How… Did she look?” He contemplated the boy’s drawing once more, before pinning it on the wall of his home office.

“She seemed well, sir.” He folded the suit away, emptying its pockets. “Sir… If I once more may?”

“What’s with you today, huh, James? We’ve known each other since we were children, you can skip formality when it’s just us.”

“Seems like your little friend there left you more than a drawing.” He handed him a wooden block. Had he put it in one of his pockets during the flight? “Should I send someone over to the Kaleido Stage for it, or book a period in your schedule for you to return it yourself?”

He could just send an envoy, like he always had. There was no need for himself to go. “In between the afternoon meetings.”

What was he doing just now? Why did he long so much to see that child again? It was not like…

“Sure…” The old butler smiled while scribbling something on his organizer. “One last thing, Mr. Hamilton.”

“Yes, Mr. Gainsborough?”

He began, and he could see he was measuring every single word. “His eyes are just like your daughter’s. And there is a lot of… him in there too. I suppose you have fathomed it by now.”

The wooden piece slipped straight onto the marbled floor. “You are dismissed, James. Thank you.”

“Sure, sir.” He bowed, closing the door. “Good night.”

“Can’t sleep, Ms. Nadja?” Her son asked, laying his head onto her lap, as she finished a chapter of the book she had been going through the past couple days.

“I could ask you the same. It’s past one in the morning. You should be with them, not here, in my room.”  She ran her fingers through his flaxen hair. “You missed your dear mom that much?”

“I was trying to find a piece of his wooden blocks set before he realizes it. You probably lost It in the flight. I brushed it away when we were playing earlier. You know how he likes them.” He explained. She knew his violet-blue eyes were pinned at her, even though the book obscured them.

“I bet you didn’t search properly. I put them away myself before we landed. And they were all there.” He was now laying beside her. “Don’t sweat it. You’ll find it eventually. Would that be all?”

“Not really.” He sighed. There he went. “I was here pondering why was my son scented like the enemy when you two arrived. You wouldn’t know a thing about it, now, would you?”

And she had wondered why he had sported that obnoxious scowl ever since he had gotten a hold of the boy. Sure, her father’s cologne was strong, but many people wore that same perfume.

“The enemy, Yuri? What are we on, World War two?” She joked. But his gaze was impenetrable.

“More like the Cold War, I’d say.” He exhaled. “Mama, you know I don’t want her father anywhere near them, don’t you? He had a chance to make things right… But he just spoiled it. Terribly, if I may add.”

“She misses him, you know? I can see it every time she spots a child with their grandfather at the park near our house.” She put her book away. “And he regrets it as well. He just doesn’t know how to apologize properly. Pride does that to people.”

“Arghh, I knew it. From the moment I took him from you, but I shook it off.” He rolled his eyes, burying his face on his knees.

“Yuri, she’s his only daughter. Try to put yourself on his shoes. I bet you wouldn’t differ much.” His gaze held frustration and anger. Maybe her words could have been better. But at least he was listening.

“You offend me. I’d never abandon them or suggest what he did.” His hands were balled into fists. “You and father found a way, and you were even younger. How could we not?”

“I’m sorry, you’re right. Let me rephrase it: both of you want what’s best for your children. It wasn’t just about their image as a family. It was his little girl over there.” She took his hands on hers. “And you are wounded now because you think your little boy needs protection. That man… He is not like your grandfather. You have had your share of bad choices, and they forgave you. Why can’t you forgive him?”

“Do you think he knows?”

“Well, considering he asked me to praise Aaron’s parents for how well-behaved he is, and that they were doing a very good job, I believe not. I doubt his pride would allow those words to come out that easily.”

His flabbergasted expression was priceless; she should have taken a snapshot. “Wait…He praised us?”

“Yes, he did.” She yawned, kissing his cheek. “Now, to your room you go. We both could use some sleep.”

“Your prince charming face will get all wrinkly if you keep frowning like that, Yuri.” His wife teased, placing a kiss in between his eyebrows, while his son gripped onto the sleeve of his suit. “I’m serious though, what’s gotten into you? Is it work?”

He couldn’t tell her, not yet. He had to know whether his mom wasn’t illuded somehow. He had to see it for himself. Only then he would be at peace. He could feel his mother’s emerald stare at him from the breakfast table even without looking back. She just had to meddle, hadn’t she?

“It’s nothing concerning, really.” He played with the boy’s hair, scooping him and placing him over his shoulders.

“If you say so… Goodness me, be careful with his head when you rise, he might hit it on the lamps. The ceiling here is shorter than the one in France.” Who would have imagined the fearless Layla Hamilton would become an overprotective mother. It was sort of… cute to see.

“All right, worrywart.” He baited. “Can’t believe he’ll be one tomorrow.”

“I know, right?” She took a sip of coffee, combing the boy’s hair.

“Careful, you two. Blink too hard and he will be a rebel teenager when you least expect it.” His mother remarked.

“Spare us from the rebel part. There’s no way he’ll be like that. Right, baby boy?” He nodded his little head, even though he probably didn’t understand a thing. “By the way, buddy, I’m sorry that I couldn’t find your toy yet. I look for it later today; here, go with your mom, nanna and I have places to be. Are you sure you want to have lunch at the Kaleido Stage, Layla?”

“It’ll be okay. It’s a safe spot. And besides, everyone wants to meet him.” She answered, kissing him goodbye.

The morning went by faster than he had foreseen. Having them close really boosted him up, Kalos had said once. He could be right.

“So, what are you planning for tomorrow?” Mr. Kenneth asked, after one of their meetings. “You don’t expect me to believe you have nothing, right, boy?” He had been so worried about them getting to Cape Mary, that he hadn’t thought it through. “So?”

“Not really. Just having him here is more than enough. Besides, there is no point in doing anything flashy, it’s not like he will remember anything when he’s older.”

“How can you be so boring?” Sarah intruded. “At least get a cake and blow some candles at the dormitories then! We can take some pictures. You know, leave it to me, just bring them over.” Saying that, she left the office.

“Sarah is more excited than you.” Kenneth chortled, changing right after to a more serious expression. “Something’s bothering you.”

“It’s nothing. Just my mom being nosy.” There he went, ranting to the wind.

“Oh, you hate him that much?” The man laughed once again. “You would be surprised if you had seen what we have, right, Kalos?”

The Greek nodded. “Even though he didn’t realize, he was already acting like a grandfather should. I truly never thought I’d see that side of him.”

“You two saw it?” He narrowed his eyes. “And pretended nothing had happened?”

“Yuri, he was the friend we said Aaron didn’t want to let go, hence why we took so long to get to where you were.” The man grinned. “What did you want us to do? Drop the bomb and leave? Besides, like you or not, he is his grandfather.”

“I’m aware, regrettably as it is.” He bit his down lip. “Since you were there… Did he really praise us, or was my mom trying to earn him extra points?” Both man side-eyed each other, nodding in synchrony.

“Who praised us?” Argh, perfect, Layla and her eavesdropping habit. “Say hi to daddy and his friends, Aaron! You know those two already, no need to be shy. I’m sorry, he’ll get used to you with time. He has trouble connecting with people outside family.” She ushered him, as he hid onto her chest. She probably didn’t get their devious smirks, but he did, all too well. “I was looking for everyone else, but I couldn’t find them on the practicing areas, they are probably at your mom’s class, I guess. So? Who praised us?”

“Some random guy at their flight, saying that Aaron was very well behaved. Not like he knew who we were.” She probably had missed the earlier bits of their conversation. “Let’s find them, shall we?”

The acrobats had been excited to know his mother would be taking over the ballet instruction, even if it was temporary. Apparently (and he had learned that just recently), she had been the one to choreograph all the ballet of his father’s routines, and most of Alice in Wonderland. So, them being curious about her classes wasn’t that unexpected.

Then why on earth were Sora, May, Marion, Cathy, Mia, Sarah and even Leon Oswald outside of the ballet court, sitting by the door? And why wasn’t the music on? Had she given them a water break or anything?

“There you a...” Before she could finish, Layla was shushed by Cathy and Sarah.

“Didn’t your parents teach you bunch that snooping is not polite?” Layla rolled her eyes at him. “You included princess. Even you, Oswald? I perceived you as better than that.”

“I suppose even you’ll be interested this time, Killian.” He smirked. “Both of you.”

He sighed, approaching a little further. Of course, he could recognize his mother’s voice. What astonished them the most was the second party on the matter, leaving his wife speechless.

“My… father is here?”

A while earlier…

“Okay guys, time for a water break. Ten minutes and we return. There is no time to lose.” The ballerina clapped her hands.

Teaching the acrobats was different than actual ballet dancers. She didn’t have to be too strict but had to envision how every step would look not only on the floor, but also up on the circus apparels.

In a way, it made it lighter than on the ballet school. And certainly, much lighter than how she had learned it.

“Hm, Ms. Nadja?” One of the Young acrobats called for her. “There is someone here to talk to you.”

To her? She couldn’t imagine anyone who would come for her at that place. Not like they had announced she’d be there. Maybe someone from the old times, when Aaron had been around? Kalos could have told a person or two.

“Hello, Nadja.” But no, it was something entirely out of the expected indeed. “I hope I am not interrupting anything.”

“No, not really.” She replied, inviting the man in. “What do I owe you the pleasure? Did Kalos and Kenneth brag that much that you had to come and see my teaching with your own eyes?” He had bags under his eyes, probably he didn’t get much sleep the last night either.

“Actually, no, not them. More like… My late wife.” He gazed at his feet. “Laura loved ballet. She even did dance for a while but had to stop due to her poor health. I remembered what Kenneth had said about Alice in Wonderland, and something she had told me at that time – That whoever had set up their choreography had to be a professional.” He smiled. “Especially the Mad Hatter routine.”

“Did she say that, now?” She felt her cheeks going warm. They had been struggling to find a ballet instructor at that time… So, for that once, she had agreed to help. They even placed her name at the program, although she asked them not to.

“Alice in Wonderland was very especial to my family: it was the last play we watched before my wife passed away. Naturally, she kept the program, and I couldn’t manage to throw it away.” He took the old piece out of his pocket. “Nadja Brass. That would be you, right?”

“Yes… That would be me. Although I didn’t want them to put it there. Guess nobody heard me. That brought you here?”

“I found it unusual at first. Because there is no way Brass is a Slavic last name.” He exhaled. “So, I checked once again and noticed that there was another Brass on their cast. Aaron, the one who died in an accident years ago? Who also happened to be Yuri Killian’s father, right?”

She had lowballed him.

“It still bothered me, because Killian is not, by any means, Slavic either. I always found it strange whenever he mentioned his mother was Russian.” He continued. “Then I recalled a ballet ‘urban legend’ my wife used to talk about: an abusive instructor who had been expelled from Russia and simply vanished, along with his only daughter. Except, in the grown-up world, people don’t simply vanish now, do they? Kiryanov, right? That sounded Russian enough to me.”

“Very astute, Mr. Hamilton. I may have underestimated you.” She gazed upon her pointe shoes. “Should we continue this conversation as the parents we are, now that everything is clear?”

“You knew who I was from the beginning.” He began, hands resting onto his knees.

“Yes, I did.”

“Why did you introduce him to me, then? I doubt they would have wanted that. Mostly your son. He despises me, and I can’t even say hes wrong for that.” He took the missing wooden piece Yuri had mentioned from his other pocket. So that’s where it had gone.

“Out of spite, at first, I admit. I thought you deserved to get a glimpse of what you were losing, and of what could have been, hadn’t you driven them away. I might have projected my father onto you, in a way.” She adjusted her hairpins. “But then, I realized you were just as broken as I. And that you resented your actions. And in the end, all I could see was a father that wanted what he thought was best for his daughter, even though he could have used better words to it.”

The man sighed. “I guess I never thought that could happen in our house. I blamed myself too. If I had been more present. If I had raised her better, rather than leaving her mostly to James and the other maids. Not that they did a bad job either.”

 “Never say never. And, for the record, I think you bunch did a wonderful job raising her, all things considered. I mean… You did what you could. I can relate. I was a mess when Aaron died. Fortunately, his mother was around… Although I suppose I could have relied more on her. You see… A part of me wanted to be able to deal with it on my own, since they were my children, not hers. My duty, not hers… Then I failed to see my own son going astray, blinded by revenge on what happened to his father.” She held back the tears. No, she couldn’t weep now. Time to change the subject. “That aside, I didn’t anticipate how much baby boy would be fascinated by you.” She completed. “I hardly believe it was all due to your moustache. Little kids can be quite insightful.”

“He is not even one; I doubt he can see malice in anyone. Taking that into account sounds quite naïve, don’t you think?” He scoffed.

“I beg to differ. Take that toy, for instance. You must be assuming I was the one who put it in your things.” She took the toy from his hands. “Well, it wasn’t me.”

“You don’t seriously believe…”

“So skeptical! Coincidence or not, you’re here, aren’t you?” She handed him back the piece, chuckling. “You should be the one to return it to them. His father searched the whole house for it both yesterday and early today. I may have rented a triplex on his poor mind by implying he didn’t search enough.”

“I hate to admit, but your son keeps defeating me over and over again.” The old Yankee snickered.

“Ahem.” They were interrupted by the same butler from the day before; what was his name again? Oh, right, James. “You have a meeting in thirty minutes, sir.”

“Oh, right. What would I do without you? Besides, I took more of her practice break than intended.” He was about to hand her the toy when the butler cleared his throat loudly once again. “What now, James?”

“I am afraid the little rat that used to inhabit the walls of Hamilton Manor is here now… And it has friends.” He pointed towards the door. It was probably a code. “You can come out now, Ms. Layla. Your father has left his fangs at home this time.” The British man baited.

She did appear, eyes swollen, the little boy on her arms trying to brush off her tears. No wonder: Nadja knew how much she had longed to see her father again and try to fix things. They were both alike on that matter. Pride glazed their judgement ever so often.

“Funny today, aren’t we, James?” The man became red as a pepper. “Hello, shining star; it’s been a while.”

He approached them, pulling them into an embrace. “I won’t ask for forgiveness, and I can understand if you never do… But I was wrong. There were other ways, you have taught me that.” He wiped out her newly formed tears with his thumbs and handed the boy his wooden plaything. “I believe this is yours.”

“Mama, look, look! ‘Tache founds!” Aaron stated excitedly. But his mother just stared somewhat quizzically at the toy.

“You can join them if you’d like, Prince Charming.” The butler once again stated nonchalantly, shoving her son inside. “You probably have a thing or two to say.”

“Paapa! Look, look!” He once more waved the wooden block happily.

“I can see it, Aaron, thank you. I guess grandpa wins that one.” Yuri answered, rolling his eyes. “While I can’t forgive you, sir, I also kind of understand your point. Hurt them, though, and you may as well never hear from us again.” He stated huskily. “There will be a birthday party for him here tomorrow. If you really repent, you better make time for it in your crowded agenda.”

“Consider that done, sir.” The butler stated. She could see a hint of happiness in his tone.

 Before heading out, the American turned his head once more. “You know…A part of me had always been curious to meet whoever raised this guy.” He patted Yuri’s shoulder.

“Oh please, I have way more flaws than qualities.”

“My turn to differ. Only a strong woman would have raised a boy as such. I imagine it wasn’t easy. But now I see why he was adamant things could work out for the two of them. You should be proud.”

Coming from him… That meant a lot, she knew it.

“Ah, and one last thing… for I really must go, otherwise James here will slither my throat: the two of you are doing a wonderful job. I’m glad I did find myself a comfortable chair to wait… If you know what I mean. I was the one who had the screws loose.”

“And we now have only 10 minutes before your meeting, sir.” The butler seemed annoyed. “Chop chop, off we go. As you said yourself, you are prolonging her class.” He grabbed his boss by the arm.

“Wait… James!” Layla jolted, grabbing the sleeve of the man’s suit. “Thank you.”

“I don’t know what you mean, young lady. I’m merely a butler doing his job.”

And with that, they both left.

“She looks happy. I said it would be for the best. You should trust your mother more often.” She teased smugly. “By the way, what did you thank him for?”

“You see… I used to have a wooden toy collection just as his when I was a child… And mine was chipped. Just as this one. James tried to fix it… But the other bit would never glue.” She showed them the damaged wooden block. “I found that missing piece of his a little after you two went out for work, while doing the laundry. It was on the pocket of your black suit that I wore yesterday.”

“I knew you didn’t search properly, Yuri.” The Russian woman toyed with her son’s hair.

Years later...

“May I be of assistance, young master Aaron? It’s unlike you to invade your grandfather’s office while he is away.” The boy was startled by his voice. “Almost makes it seem like you are up to no good.”

“It’s nothing, James.” The fourteen-year-old hid a piece of paper  into his pocket. “Actually, there is something: why does grandpa keep that scribbled airplane napkin next to the family pictures? He could just throw that away.”

“You should ask him yourself once he returns from his business trip. I’m sure he’d want to tell you that himself.”

“If you say so.” He shrugged his shoulders. “Thanks, James.”

“Young master Aaron?” He blocked the exit, holding the boy back. “One thing, If I may…?”

“Yes, James?”

“You should just ask your parents if you want to be part of the Kaleido Stage. I’m sure they would be overjoyed… Rather than trying to emulate your mother’s signature.”

“Wait, how did you know?”

“I happen to know a whole bunch of things, young master Aaron.” He laughed. “You’ll understand when you reach our age.”

“And that’s going to take a lot of time.” The old entrepreneur barged into his office. “Seeing you here is unusual." The teenager froze at the sight of his grandfather. He was pretty sure the man would be working somewhere else at that time. "You could get in trouble by trying to reproduce your mother's signature. I found a piece of paper with it in my paper bin, a while ago. What are you up to?" He gazed at him sternly.

"I… Wanted to give it a try at the auditions this year… But I don't want them to know." He flushed, looking down. "What if I mess up? I don't want them to be ashamed."

"You would never." The man sighed, patting the teenager's shoulders. "I was shocked once you said you would stop performing. No matter how much you deny, you obviously love it. You'd never be happy just here. You belong at the stage, just like them. Now, where is that application form?"

"Huh?" His grandfather demanded the document he had been trying to hide away.

"I can get away with it. I know you'll feel guilty for the rest of your life if you do that. Besides, Layla's signature is very similar to my own. Here you go."