the night sky

#15 a princess and forgiveness

" happy birthday princess!" Connor and Alexis came in together to wake her up. " today is your birthday!" it took only one day for Connor to move them both in. he had a crew there bringing everything they would need to be there and even spent the day painting her room pink and decorating it like a princess room.

" you definitely went all out on the princess theme in here. " she smiled at him. he went to the crib and scooped up Skylar in his arms.

" daddy just made sure his princess knew she was one." he leaned down kissing Alexis on the lips. " now daddy is going to make his birthday princess some chocolate chip pancakes and if mommy plays her cards right after our princess goes for a nap he can eat some pancakes off of mommy." he slapped her butt as she giggled walking out of the room.

" nothing is happening with out coffee!" They walked down the hall entering into the kitchen. he sat Skylar in her high chair kissing the top of her head.

bringing Alexis a cup of coffee. " as you wish my queen. " he was smirking as he handed her the cup. she watched him make pancakes and move around the kitchen. " what time do we need to be at your moms?"

" we need to leave here in the next hour since it's about an hour to my mom's then this weekend is the wedding so we will be there to stay in the old house for the entire weekend unless you want to just stay tonight on through so we can help?"

" well played. very well played! " he brought a heaping plate of pancakes over to the table. " breakfast for my queen and princess." he went back to the stove picking up a plate of bacon and his coffee cup. " let's get our bags together and we can definitely stay there for the rest of the week. as long as I get to wake up next to you and with my two favorite girls then I don't care where we stay." they spent the rest of the morning packing and getting ready.

" let's go. we are all packed for the rest of the week." Alexis kissed Skylar on the head and snatched her up off the ground. Connor grabbed the bags packing then down to his truck. as he placed the last bag in his truck a car pulled up behind him. Alexis looked confused to who it was.

Connor walked to the car and immediately turned angry. " dad you need to leave. we aren't doing this today of all days." his father stepped out of the car looking at the truck and then to Connor.

" please, I know what I did was wrong I will do anything to take it back. " Robert looked nervous. dark circles were under his eyes and his suit shirt was untucked. Alexis stepped out of the truck walking over to both men. she came up beside Connor placing a hand on his arm. " I'm begging you please hear me out." Connor looked at her as she nods her head.

" Robert, " she takes a deep breath closing her eyes. " we are having a birthday party for sky today..." she doesn't take her eyes off of Connor as she paused briefly in her sentence. " maybe you could freshen up and come. maybe we can start there." she shrugs her shoulder at him. he looked at her his mouth falling open. she was extending an olive branch as best as she knew how.

" I can come?" Roberts face showed genuine shock as he questioned her. she shook her head at him in acknowledgement.

" let's try to build something here. staying angry isn't going to help us moving forward and it won't help that little girl either. we all need to start somewhere and frankly I don't have the energy to hate you."

" I'll go get cleaned up right now... if your sure." Robert looked between Connor and Alexis.

" we are sure dad. we've got to get going but we'll see you out at the farm?" He shook his head and left in his car. Connor turned to Alexis. wrapping his arms around her. " are you sure about this? you say the word and he is gone."

" listen it takes too much energy to hate him. it would be healthier for all of us if we try to forgive and move forward. " she nodded her head towards the truck and they both climbed in ready to head towards her mother's farm.

once there they park their truck at the main house looking to see her mother already had everything set up and ready to go. Connor grabbed Skylar out of her seat and let her lose as her pink dress moved around her. people were already starting to show up. " momma, I needed to tell you that we invited Connors dad to the birthday party."

" did he accept? hopefully that man tries harder to be less of an ass."

" well listen to the cuss words out of your mouth momma! yes he accepted. I'm hoping that we can start over maybe forgive the past and move forward. "

" well I hope for her sake he takes this opportunity he is being given. come on let's go check on that beautiful little girl. her grandma misses her."

Alexis laughed as her mother said this. " you saw her last night and we are staying here with you until after the wedding momma!"

" I know baby. it's just when you leave it will be so long and so far away."

" I know. I ran pretty far didn't I?" they both stopped watching a curly haired Skylar twirling with her princess dress and tiara on as Connor spun her some more. " I feel bad that he missed out on so much."

" guilt will eat you alive. let it go. he is here now and an amazing dad. he doesn't hold it against you so you shouldn't either." they both joined the party and played along with the kids. soon Alexis watched as Robert pulled up in his car. he stepped out looking cleaned up and pulled together. she watched as Connor scooped up Skylar and walked over to Robert to introduce them. Alexis stayed back watching them as they interacted.

Connor looked up and around until his eyes met hers as he nodded his head for her to come. she slowly started walking hoping this was a good thing. as she got closer Connor wrapped his free arm around her. he pulled her in kissing her forehead. she felt the rush as his soft lips touched her and she closed her eyes as it coursed through her. his love warmed her and kept her feeling safe. " I'm glad you could come Robert. you got here just in time to see sky jump into her cake."

he cleared his throat. " thank you for a second chance. I know after everything you didn't have do this."

" Come on. Connor hand Skylar to your father so he can put her in her high chair. mom will you get the cake?" Connor looked at his father transferring Skylar to his arms. Alexis watched as Robert tried to hide tears starting to come out of his eyes. he held her close for a few seconds before moving towards the high chair and setting her down in it. soon Skylar was covered in cake from head to toe. Alexis came over to grab her to go clean her up but Robert stepped in picking her up letting her gooey hands and face make him a mess too. Alexis and Connor looked at each other and Alexis smiled at him. " Come on Robert bring her in the house to the kitchen and I will wash that hurricane up in the sink."

Skylar was splashing in the sink making a big mess as Robert wiped cake off his shoulder and face. Alexis smiled at him and reached for a towel. " Alexis I was a horrible person and I know apologizing doesn't take it all away but I am truly sorry. what I did to you and Connor and Skylar is unforgivable. I will spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to you... to all of you."

Alexis finished getting Skylar dressed and released her to run outside to finish her party. " Robert I actually appreciate that you are trying. it's not going to be easy for me but that little girl deserves family and love and if I'm being honest so does Connor. he needs love from you. he needs to know he can trust you and that you love him..." she paused taking a deep breath. " really love him unconditionally. he didn't get a lot of that from you. it's time you start giving that to him and who am I to stand in that way? but let me make it clear to you. if you ever hurt any of my family ever again I won't be as nice." there was a clear warning in her voice as she spoke to him. neither of them saw Connor at the door watching them.

as the birthday ended and people started going home Alexis had Connor and Robert take Skylar home to sleep while she helped her mom clean up the mess. sweeping the kitchen her mother stopped and looked over at her. " lexi, I am very proud of you today and I know your dad is up in heaven absolutely loving the woman you have become. "

she finished up the dishes and kissed her mom on the cheek to walk back to the house. she walked up onto the porch as she saw Connor sitting there on the porch swing. he motioned for her to come over and sit next to him. he wrapped his arms around her swinging them back and forth. " thank you."

" for what Connor?"

" for today. for this family . for the home you have made for me. for everything. you are so amazing. " he tightened his grip around her as he spoke. " you have given me everything. today you even gave me my dad." she reached up wiping a tear from his cheek that fell down.

" Connor?" He looked down at her still holding her close as he swung back and forth. " I think I want to stay and live close to my mom."