Forgive Me- Part 3

Jaime's POV

I stare blankly at the television, waiting for Tony to come back so I could finish kicking his arse. His phone kept ringing so we paused our game so he could answer it but he's been gone for a while now... I lean my head back and let out a deep sigh. Hurry uuuuuppppp!


"Himes! Man I really need a favour!" Tony rushes, making me jump because I didn't realise he had returned and I was in a world of my own.

"Yea man, what's up?"

"That was Jaxin, something's happened at the shop and we both need to head in."

"So what's the favour?"

"Jaxin needs someone to pick up Ruby because he was supposed to pick her up but with all this-"

"Dude, chill. I can pick her up."

"Thanks! I've got to go; Ruby needs to be picked up at five! Jaxin left a booster seat there for her." He rushed out the door as he spoke. Well, I guess I win by default. I think as I shut down the game, not wanting to play it on my own. I look over to the clock hanging on the wall; 3 pm. Cool, I don't have to leave for another hour.

I wander around the house doing random chores; feeding Simba, picking up washing then finally tidying up my home studio. Eventually the hands on the clock edged their way to four and because of how far it was and the fact it was peak hour I would have to leave now if I want to get there on time.

Ruby's teacher might be nice but there's one teacher that gives me a disapproving look whenever I come to pick her up. I think it's maybe the tattoos or something; actually, she's probably just a bitch... In any case, I've found from the few times I've picked up Ruby that the she-devil lets her class out late, so if I get there early hopefully I'll get to avoid her death glare.

The drive is long and irritating, moving at a ridiculously slow pace, almost half the limit because of the vast amount of traffic. Honestly, she couldn't need picking up when the roads basically empty... I am more than grateful when I pull into the parking lot for the pre-school.

As planned, the she-devil hadn't let her class out yet. I briskly walk past, over to Ruby’s class and walk in.

"Jaime?" Tess asked

"Yea, I'm here to pick up Ruby. Her Dad had something come up at work"

"Oh." She seemed a bit disappointed. What the hell? "Come through" I follow her over to where all the kids were gathered around small tables with texta's crayons and pencils were scattered everywhere. I see Ruby in the midst of chatter and laughter and walk over.

"Uncle Jaime!" She calls the second she sees me. She jumps out of her seat and runs into my arms.

"Hey Rubes!"

"Where's daddy?"

"He had to work, so I'm taking you home today. Are you ready?"

"Can I finish my drawing for Mummy?"

"How much more do you have to do?"

"I'm almost done!"

"Okay, I'll go get your stuff but the second I get back we've got to go okay?" She nodded vigorously and ran back over to her drawing. I smile at her before I walk over to where the bags are kept. I find her name take and begin to pack together everything she pulled from her bag.

Just as I was zipping it up I felt a tug on my shirt. I turn my head, expecting it to be Ruby's eyes I would meet. But instead of meeting blue, I met a dark brown, shockingly similar to my own. The boy in front of me was wearing a Snapback on his head, shorts with a ¾ shirt and vans on his feet, but my eyes were caught on the hand grasped so tightly to my shirt while the other clutched what appeared to be a photo frame.

"Cale?" The second his name slipped from my slips a bright smile crossed his face.

"Daddy!" He called before leaping up and wrapping his arms around my neck. I don't do anything at first; I'm too shocked to move. But the thoughts begin to spin. This is my son. This is the child I've been looking for, for four years. He's right here with me... My arms wrap tightly around him, encasing him protectively. I never want to let him go. I have my son, my son... Wait. Is Casey here?

"Cale? Is your sister here?" I ask pulling away from him. He nodded quickly and pointed to the door.

"She has a different teacher. Her teachers mean" he said. I bet it's the she-devil. All the other teachers I've met here have been nice. "I told Mummy that you could come see us!
She said you were busy but you're here!"

Shit. Milly will be here. Even though I've wanted to see her for such a long time and I've missed her so much I'm so nervous about seeing her.

"You don't want to see Mummy...?" Cale's demeanour suddenly changed and he backed away from me. "Mummy misses you but you don't want to see her."

"What?" He just hands me the photo he held in his hand. I look at it to find that it was of me and Milly. I had always wondered where this was, I loved this photo and was terrified that I lost it but she had it the whole time...

"Mummy said be careful because it's her favourite. She cries. She misses you." He said looking almost betrayed.

"Cale-" I reach for him.

"No! You hurt my Mummy!"

"What's going on here?" I hear Tess ask, coming around the corner. "Oh." She said automatically when she saw us. "Jaime. Ruby's ready to leave" she said sternly.

"Tess please, he's my son"

"You haven't been there for him his entire life and he doesn't want to be with you. Leave."

"I haven't been there for him because his mother ran out on me. Not saying she was pregnant, not giving me anyway to find her. What was I supposed to do?"

"Amelia wouldn't do that!" Tess defended.

"Oh really?" I pull my wallet out of my back pocket and took out the photos. "I had to go all the way to Australia just to get these and the only thing I found out then was that she was still somewhere in San Diego"

"No. She wouldn't do that!"

"Yea well, I didn't think she would either." I said softly. I looked down at Cale to see him looking at me with tears in his eyes. "Oh, Cale. I'm sorry; I didn't mean to upset you."

"It was Mummy's fault?" He asked, voice quivering. "She wouldn't let me see you?"

"Awe Cale, it's not like that. Mummy and Daddy got into a fight..."

"But I always wanted to see you." His whole body was shaking as he attempted to hold in his tears. My paternal instinct kicked in and I pulled him into my arms and rubbed his back soothingly.

"Shh, it's okay" I said as he cried into my neck with his arms wound tightly around my neck.

"Uncle Jaime?" I heard Ruby call.

"Over here Rubes" I call to her.

"Why are you hugging Cale?" She asked bluntly, almost sounding jealous.

"Ruby, Jaime is Cale's Daddy." Tess explained

"But Cale doesn't have a Daddy."

"He was just away for a while..."

"Touring with uncle Mike, Vic and Tony?" She asked and I nodded, not wanting to explain everything to her.

In my arms Cale had stopped crying but her still clung to me, as if he would never let go and I never wanted him to. I had finally found my child, and I never want to lose him again.

"Could I go see Casey?" I ask Tess.

"Umm, sure. I'm not sure if Lydia will be too happy but I'm sure of you explain the situation..." Great, Casey has the she-devil for a teacher. Screw it. I want to see my daughter.

"How do I get there?" I as Tess, though I'd seen the teacher several times I've never actually been to her class room.

"I know the way!" Cale interjected immediately.

"Can you take me over then?" I ask, smiling down at him. He nodded enthusiastically before jumping off me and grabbing my hand. "Hey rubes, I'm just going to see Casey, do you want to come or would you like to colour some more before we go?"

"I can colour!" She had the biggest smile on her face before she turned and ran back into the main room.

"Umm, what if Milly shows up?" Tess asks

"I won't take the kids, just tell her Jaime had gone to see Casey" I say before letting Cale pull me from the class room.

I am dragged half way across the school and Cale pulls me to a door like every other one. I knock, wanting to start off on a good note with her but there is no answer. I think I hear shouting on the other side...? I open the door cautiously and peek around the corner. It's a parent I think. Her hair is a beautiful blue with a tiny tinge of green but the first thing I think is that Lydia probably gives her hell for it.

"Mummy!" Cale calls, tearing his hand from mine before running over to the woman. Wait. Mummy? Milly?!

"Your child is extremely miss behaved and refuses to sit still in class and listen. She isn't learning what I want her to and-" Lydia was yelling.

"Did you ever consider that it was your teaching skills? Not all kids are the same! You can't teach them like they're robots!" Amelia argued

"Maybe if she had a better role model she would be better. Maybe the stress if being a single mother is too much for you and you should have your children."

"What?"

"I'm just thinking that a call to social services may be needed" I could sense the fear that was rolling of Amelia and it immediately kicked my protectiveness into gear.

"Amelia is a wonderful mother! She has done an amazing job at raising these two on her own and anyone could see that! What the hell is your problem?" I ask Amelia looks over and freezes the second she sees me.

"What are you doing in my class room?"

"I'm here to see my daughter."

"I know all the parents of my students, you child is not in my class"

"Yes she is. You were just insulting her"

"You're Casey's father?" She asked shocked. "Well that explains a lot."

"Excuse me?"

"I'm not surprised she turned out the way she has when she has the two of you for parents. Dyed hair, tattoos. She was doomed"

"She's only four years old! Her life hasn't even begun yet, don't you dare say she's doomed. And how can you be so discriminative? Both Amelia and I have careers that will provide each of us, individually more than you'll make in five years! TATTOOS AND HAIR DYE DONT CHANGE YOUR MENTAL CAPABILITIES, AND MENTAL CAPABILITIES AREN’T ONLY ABOUT BEING ABLE TO SOLVE PORBLEMS. You're supposed to be a teacher. You job is to teach these children, not just intellectual things but moral things. But considering how much of a bigoted narrow minded human being you are I'm not surprised that your students aren't learning." I near yelled at her. Lydia was shocked to say the least. She just stared at me dumbfounded, completely lost for words. I turn away from her to find that Amelia was still staring at me shocked. It wasn't until that moment that I saw the small child in a pretty blue dress hiding behind her leg, tears running down her face. I crouch down so that I'm eye level with her and smile softly at her.

"You must be Casey?" I ask her softly and he nods.

"Casey! It's Daddy!" Cale said excitedly making Casey look from me to him then back to me. I nod at her reassuringly and she runs out from behind Amelia and hugs me.

"Mummy said we couldn't see you. She wanted to but"

"Did she now?" I look at Amelia who looks incredibly uncomfortable, like she didn't really want to be there.

"She loves you" Casey whispered to me. "She gets sad when she thinks about you"

I'm shocked by her words. She sounds like she's thirty and has lived through a world of love and loss a thousand times over. How could that teacher say such things about her?

"Hey Cale, why don't you and Casey get your things and head back over to your class. I think I need to talk to your mum for a minute."

"Okay!" He held her hand and took her bag and led her to his class.

"Maybe we should talk outside..." Amelia said softly. I nod and walk out the door. As I look over at her, she looks absolutely terrified. Her chest was rising and falling rapidly, hands shaking. Shit.

"Milly? Mil, look at me" I grab her and force her to face me. Shit, she's on the verge of a panic attack. I brush her hair out of her face and force her to look me in the eye. "Hey, shh. You're okay, you're fine. I'm right here okay? I'm right here. Listen to my breathing okay? Copy my breathing"

I emphasise my breaths, my eyes focusing on hers, making sure she was trying; and she was, shakily, her breaths mimic mine and her breathing begins to even out. I let out a sigh of relief and without thinking I pull her to my chest, rest my head against hers and stroke her hair. Thank god she's okay. We stay like that for a while as she gets her breathing completely back to normal. I had forgotten how good it felt to hold her in my arms. How protective I felt over her still. I forgot how much I needed her. I was relishing in the fact that after for long tears of wanting her back, of wanting to be able to hold her again she was right here, in my arms, just like she was supposed to be.

It wasn't long until those thoughts were shattered. I felt her shake her head before she rested her palms flat on my chest and shoved me away. Her gaze once again met mine, but this time it was filled with anger and betrayal.

"Milly-" I start

"Don't. Don't even think about it."

"But Milly-"

"No! You told me to leave. I needed you and you made me leave!"

"I'm sorry!"

"Your sorry doesn't mean anything. Not anymore..."

Notes

I AM SO SORRY FOR HOW LONG THIS TOOK!! I had it written a while ago but i was too lazy to upload it. i am so sorry guys, please don't hate me :(

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