Guys, I think I'm gonna end the story at chapter 100.. just so it's a nice round number. To be honest, I'm running out of things to do in this story, and less people are interested than when I first begun.. so, 6 chapters left now, including the epilogue :)

*13th June, 2009*

"Alex, mommy's just going out for a while to see her friend, ok? You've got daddy to look after you!"

I try to pull a four-year-old Alex from my leg, and lift him up into my arms.

He has the most gorgeous brown eyes, and dark brown hair.

"But daddy always plays with Alexa, not me!" he protests sadly, folding his arms.

"Well, I'll tell him to play with you, too, then!" I smile.

"Ok.." Alex gives in, and I set him down, and he runs into the living room.

I decide to follow, based on the logic that Michael is most likely there with the others.

I'm right.

"Daddy, mommy says you have to play with me and not just Alexa!" Alex scolds Michael.

"Did she now?" Michael looks up at me, and smirks.

Michael's matured a lot since we had Alex and Alexa.

He's decided his curls are the hairstyle he's keeping forever now, and he looks like he's aged, ever-so-slightly.

"Yes, I did," I chuckle, joining him and Alex on the sofa. "Cos I'm going out with Emma, and he wants to play with you."

"I play with him normally!" he defends himself. "I always do!"

"No you don't daddy, you always play with Alexa!" Alex argues.

"Well, I'll play with you more then," Michael decides.

"Yay!" Alex grins, going in for a tight hug with Michael.

"Mom?" I hear Electra's voice.

I turn my head to see my little girl.

2 months away from being an adult, my little girl sure has grown.

"Yes, sweetheart?" I reply.

"Is it cool if I go out and see Kyle?"

Her and that boy are dating, which was fairly obvious was gonna happen.

The way they acted around each other when they were younger kinda indicated it.

"Of course, don't be back too late, though," I say.

"Cheers, mom."

She leaves the room, taking out her phone. "Yeah, Kyle I'm on my way.."

"I can't believe how much she's grown," I sigh.

I then spot Alexa playing with her dolls on the floor.

I'd not noticed her until now.

"Alexa, are you gonna tidy those away before you go play with something else?" I ask.

She turns around and looks at me with her innocent blue eyes.

She's just about the only one of our children that inherited my eyes.

She tucks her dark blonde hair behind her ears, and grins cheekily.

"Yeah," she replies, with a slight lisp, before running from the room.

"Hey! Tidy them up, little miss!" I call, but she's gone.

"I'll do it later," Michael says.

"Alright, thank you," I say, short of breath. "You seen Dex today?"

"Dexter?" Michael asks. "No, no sign of him. Probably out doing what all 16-year-olds do nowadays.."

"Most likely," I reply, sitting back on the sofa. "I better be making a move soon."

"Yeah, you better," Michael says.

"Yeah, cos then daddy can play with me!" Alex intervenes, earning a giggle from me and Michael.

"That's right," Michael clarifies. "Better get mommy outta the house so we can have daddy-son time, right?"

"Yeah!" Alex replies excitedly.

"Well, I better leave then, if you're so bothered," I chuckle, getting up from the sofa.

"Aww, is someone getting jealous?" Michael taunts playfully, setting Alex down and following me into the hallway.

"No, not at all. You need to be a father. You're so perfect at it," I assure him, sliding my jacket on.

"I wouldn't say perfect, but-"

"I would, now shush. C'mere," I peck his lips once and make my way to the door. "I'll see you in a while."

"That you will," Michael replies. "Love you."

"Love you too.. Mikeybear."

I haven't called him that since.. God, it's been years.

It makes him smile though, and he blows me a kiss before I head out the door.

And now, to see my best friend.

*Michael's POV*

"Right, you wanna play, then we'll play!" I smile, as I walk into the living room, where Alex is.

"Finally," he sighs dramatically, standing himself up. "Can we play hide-and-go-seek?"

"Hide-and-go-seek?" I ask. "But you know I won't be able to hide anywhere, Alex. I'm too big!"

"Pwease, daddy?" he gives me the puppy dog eyes.

"Hmph, fine," I give in.

"Yay! You count first!"

"Alright," I sigh, covering my face with my hands. "One, two, miss a few, ninety-nine, a hundred!"

I admit I cheated there, but oh well.

That kid can run fast, so he's most likely hidden already.

"Coming, ready or not!" I call, and start searching the house.

The first room I come to is his room, which is where he normally hides.

I immediately see him, but I'm not gonna tell him I've found him, otherwise he'll get upset.

"Oh, I wonder where Alex is?" I laugh, pretending to search the entire room. "I can't find him anywhere!"

"He's there, dad."

I hear a voice behind me, and see Ryder pointing directly at Alex.

My oldest son has really grown up. He'll be moving out, soon, with Katrice.

He's twenty-two years old, but it still only feels like he was born yesterday.

"I know, duh!" I whisper. "I'm letting him win!"

"Oh, sorry," he apologises bluntly, heading out the room.

"Where, oh where could Alex be?" I ask, walking right up to his hiding spot and turning my back on him.

"Boo!" he suddenly shouts, tapping my back.

I turn around and pretend to jump, acting scared.

"Oh, Alex! You really scared me!" I lie, lifting him up into my arms and kissing his forehead. "Guess now it's my turn to hide."

"I bet I find you easy, daddy," Alex mocks. "Cos you're so big!"

"Yes, thank you Alex. Totally needed that confidence booster."

I set him down, and he turns to face his bedroom window and starts to count.

I run from the room, and into me and Becky's room to hide.

I hide inside the closet, and keep perfectly still and quiet.

The things I do for this kid, seriously.

"Coming, ready or not!" I hear Alex shout, and I hear his footsteps running around the house, trying to find me.

"The closet, great hiding place."

Who said that?

"Hello?" I whisper.

I turn my head, wondering where the voice came from.

It sounds naggingly familiar.

"Yeah, hey, nice hiding place," the voice repeats.

I open the closet door and run into the main bedroom.

I turn around to look inside the closet, but see nothing.

I sigh, and sit on the bed. I'm not in the mood for playing this as it is.

"You better get back in the closet," the voice says. "Alex'll find you."

"Who's saying that?!" I ask loudly, turning my head frantically to find someone, anyone.

"Me, you div."

I turn my head towards the door, and then I see it.

"Hey, dad."

"Y-You-who are you?" I ask, seeing a girl standing in the doorway. "And who let you in?!"

"Dad, calm down! It's me!"

This girl has brown curly hair, and deep brown eyes, and olive skin.

But why is she calling me "dad"?

"Yeah, "me" tells me nothing," I reply.

She has my eyes.

"Dad.. don't you know who I am?"

"Well, you keep calling me dad-"

"Does the name "Janine MoHickey" mean anything to you, DAD?"

"Oh my-Alexa?" I gasp.

I've waited 21 years for this day!

"Oh, finally!" she smiles, walking my way. "It only took you five million years to guess."

"Yes, alright," I breathe. "You're the girl Janine aborted, aren't you?"

"The very same."

"I don't believe this.." I mutter. "You don't realise how long I've waited to see you."

"Twenty-one years, am I correct?" she asks.

"Yes.. so you're twenty or twenty-one now?"

"Twenty. But, you realise I've always been right here. I was here all along, watching you," Alexa assures me. "Boy, I didn't realise my father would be so wonderful."

I walk forward to give her a hug, but my arms go right through her.

"I'm kinda just a spirit, remember, dad?"

"Yeah, sorry," I say, lowering my arms, tears in my eyes. "Y'know, I was gonna adopt you once you were born."

"I know, mom told me. But then she killed me, and herself. So that ended that," she says.

"I wish I could hug you just once," I frown.

"I wish, too, dad. Mom's been telling me all about you, though, saying such great things about you."

My eyes start to fill with even more tears, and I blink them back to stop myself from crying.

"She's probably lying, sweetheart," I manage to reply.

"No, I doubt that. You seem to be everything she was telling me about."

I smile, and a tear falls down my cheek. "How's your other sister?"

"Oh, she's fine. She's in her thirties now. Did mom ever tell you her name?"

"No, but apparently she was miscarried when your mother was sixteen."

I remember Janine's suicide letter, explaining that.

"Yeah, that's right. My sister's called Rachel."

"What, after your mother's best friend, Rachel Scarlettson?"

"Most likely, but I'm not sure. Scarlettson's up there, too. And Daniel, and Becky's mom, dad, brother and grandmother. They're all really sweet, actually."

"You know Becky's family?" I ask.

"Oh yes! Mom was telling me about them, saying that Becky's parents died when she was real young. And mom's best friend killed Becky's brother with drugs, I believe. Jack, was it? The one Rachel drugged to death with Morphine pills?"

"Yes, that's the one," I reply. "Tell me, is Brandon, my brother, up there?"

"Oh yeah! Uncle Brandon! Uncle Marlon's twin, right?"

"Yes," I look down sadly, tears in my eyes. "That's the one."

"Yeah, he's awesome. Fun to be around," Alexa replies.

"That's nice. So, the closet's a good place to hide?" I ask, referring back to me and Alex's game.

"Sure is, now go be a father to my brothers, dad. I love you."

"I love you more, sweetheart-"

"I can beat that. I love you most, dad. Got you," she winks, knowing that what she just said is my line.

"You're a cheeky one," I chuckle, blowing her a kiss.

"I know, but you love me, I know it."

"I really do, and I always will.." I smile.

"Love you too, dad. Bye for now.. see you soon."

She blows me a final kiss, then she's gone.

"Daddy, where are you?" I hear Alex's voice, and I dash to the closet to hide.

I hear him enter the room, and I hold my breath, tears in my eyes from Alexa's visit.

I waited for 21 years to see her.

And I've finally met her.

"Daddy, you've been hiding for ages!" I hear Alex's voice.

He opens the closet, looks inside, then closes it again.

How come he didn't see me?

Maybe it's cos the closet is so dark inside.

I decide enough's enough, and climb out the closet.

"Alex, I'm here," I say calmly.

He turns around and sees me. "There you are!"

He runs up to me and hugs me tightly.

Then, he sees the tears in my eyes.

"Daddy, what's wrong?"

"Oh, nothing, nothing at all," I lie, blinking rapidly to rid the tears.

"Are you sure? You're crying."

"I'm totally fine, I promise," I say, crossing my fingers so the promise is broken. "I'm ok, I'm telling ya."

"Can we play another game of hide-and-go-seek?" Alex asks.

"Hmm, I don't think so," I reply.

"Please? I'll hide so it's easier, I pwomise."

"You don't want me to hide?" I ask.

"No," Alex says. "Last time I looked everywhere for you."

"But Alex," I say with a light chuckle. "I was right here all along."

Had no idea how to end the chapter.. so yeah, there ya go :p