"I don’t care how your mom thinks about me."

"I don’t care what you care about, not good enough. And, you’re the only thing keeping me sane right now, so, she should acknowledge that."

The phone rang, breaking the tender glance they were sharing. Annabelle picked it up.

"That was Colins."

"And?"

"My mom is still downstairs. She just wanted us to know."

"And?"

"And I’ve waited eighteen years for her to care about me. So, she can wait a few weeks. Or days. Well, we’ll see."Cuddling up against Simone, making herself comfortable in her reassuring embrace, Annabelle saw the birthday card."Do you think my dad will accept it? Us I mean. Me."

"There’s only one way for you to find out," Simone said, praying she wouldn’t see Annabelle hurt again.

Sighing, Annabelle felt her stomach rumble "Mph, hungry."

"Ok, I’ll go make dinner. Can you feed the cats?"

——

Annabelle finally contacted her dad. And a week later, he was expected at the loft. Annabelle hadn’t talked to him yet; she had just written him a short and nervous letter, letting him know where she lived and that she was doing fine. Her father had instantly replied he really wanted to meet her. And so, he was on his way.

As they heard the doorbell buzz, Simone was as stressed and nervous as Annabelle. Annabelle had asked her to stay with her, saying she needed her more than ever and that she couldn’t do it without her. Swallowing her fears, Simone had accepted with a reassuring grin. But oh God, was she nervous.

"Wish me luck."

"You don’t need luck," Simone replied tenderly.

"Tell me you love me."

Holding her tight, Simone whispered endless I love you’s in her ear before telling her the man could only wait for so long on the doorstep.

——–

"Yes. Two. Amy’s sixteen and Jim’s twelve." Opening his wallet, Brian Tillman showed Annabelle the pictures of his other children. "And that’s your step mom. Very nice woman," He added, smiling softly.

"Who is that?" Annabelle asked, looking at an old baby picture.

Blushing lightly, the man simply said, "That would be the eldest, you."

Annabelle held Simone’s hand tight under the table. The atmosphere had been tense when the man first stepped into the apartment. She had felt the urge to run and hide again. After all, the man had been married to and had loved the senator, he must be someone to fear. But he turned out to be quite the opposite of the dragon lady. He had warmth, an ease to relax even the tensest situation that Simone had never seen in anyone but Annabelle. The man hadn’t asked once who Simone was or why she was living with his long lost daughter. Instead, Brian Tillman had made them both feel comfortable and at ease. He hadn’t gone with a long lost dad speech, just a simple statement when Annabelle had opened the door "I have been waiting for this for eighteen years." Simone had felt a warm wave traverse her; happy to see the relief on Annabelle’s face who was secretly saying the same with her eyes.