Come Back To Me

Olivia

I was bouncing Aj on my hip when his eyes widened and he kept staring at someone or something over my shoulder. I turned to look at who or what had caught his attention. When I saw who he was looking at and the world stopped spinning. My heart began to hammer in my chest and my eyes widened. It can’t be…

“Daddy?” I choked out.

This person who looked like my father looked directly in my eyes and tears began to form. “Dot?” he said. It’s him. It’s my dad. Only a few people call me that ridiculous nickname. I didn’t realize I'd begun walking towards him until a figure rested their hand on my dad’s shoulder. Beside my dad stood my godfather and one of the people I'd really dreaded seeing again, Alpha Robin. “Papa Rob?” I asked. I knew the man in front of me was my godfather just as well as I knew that the man beside him was my father. It’s weird seeing him in this light though, both of them. I can see the affect of the years I've been away. They’ve both got more gray hair, more wrinkles, and look like they’ve endured an over abundance of stress in those years. “Yeah sweetie, it’s me,” A tear slid down his cheek. Aj started calling out for me and pulling on my shirt. “Mama! Mama!” I bounced him a little on my hip but he wasn’t satisfied with that. He used his little hand to gently turn my face towards him. “Mama!”

I broke eye contact with my father and gave Aj my undivided attention. “Yes baby?” I asked.

“You look just like that man.” He pointed right at my father and a new stream of tears flowed down his face. Since I was a little girl, people have always told me that I look like my father. It’s crazy to hear my son confirming it. Even at his young age he can tell that this man and I share a special connection, like the one I share with him.

“Yes baby.. I do,” I smiled in my dad's direction and he smiled back. Aj wiggled in my arms letting me know that he wanted me to put him down. I held on a little tighter, he’s the only thing that’s keeping me from falling to the ground. He fought harder and I reluctantly put him on the ground. He walked over to my dad, his grandpa, and smiled up at him. I’ve been very diligent about teaching him not to go near strangers so this surprised me. He walked up to my dad as if he’s known him his whole life. My father bent down and looked into Aj’s eyes. “Hi.. I’m Aleksi. What’s your name?” my father asked him.

Aj turned around excitedly and smiled wide. “Mommy! He has my name!” My heart soared with how excited he was and shot right into space when I looked at the expression on my dad's face. He was still trying to process the little boy standing in front of him- hearing they have the same name seems to have knocked back the process a bit. A familiar face broke through the crowd before I could answer my son.

“Dad? What are you doing?” came the voice breaking through the crowd. I’d recognize that voice anywhere. It’s been years since I've heard it and even though it’s changed a bit I still recognize it. Looking up at the men walking up to us, my thought was confirmed. There was Raj. It was a blow to my solar plexus to see him after so long. The last time I saw him he was bursting through the treeline outside of Northern Ridge trying to find me. Everything about him is so different now. His voice is coarse and deep- as if he’s carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. When I left he was muscular and attractive but this man is on a different level completely. He is 6 '8 `` and there wasn't one part of him that looked like it's ever seen fat a day in his life. His blonde hair was buzzed on the sides and gelled back on the top. His light brown eyes were wide and stared at me as if he'd seen a ghost. Robin turned to face his son and wiped his tears away. He was speaking to him but I couldn't hear a word he said. From the looks of it, Raj couldn't hear him either. We just stood there staring at each other. I wanted to say something and a ton of things came to mind but my mouth wouldn't move- it was bone dry. Completely ignoring his father, Raj was the first to break our silence. "Livvy?" He asked breathlessly. Not believing that it was me- he looked at his father than mine. He needed someone to assure him that it was me.

"Hey Raj," I smiled at him. "Or should I say Alpha Rajesh?" I teased and curtsied to him."You look good, Raj." He stood staring at me again- his eyes never left mine and at this point I don't think he's breathing. Times like this make me miss my heightened hearing. Slowly he walked over to me and wrapped me up in a huge bear hug. He didn't give me time to lift my arms to embrace him so they were plastered to my side. He held on and I could feel his body relax as if it was letting off years of stress. As much as I needed and wanted this hug- he's squeezing the life out of me. Using one of my free hands I tapped his side. "Raj. Having trouble breathing here," I squeaked out. Immediately he loosened his grip and held me at arms length to look at me. "I don't understand how you're here right now," he said. "My goddess. I-we thought we'd never see you again. You don't understand how much I-we've missed you." A tear slid down my cheek and he wiped it away. I stood on my tippy toes and wrapped my arms around him and snuggled my head into his neck. "I think I have some sort of idea,” I said, muffled by our embrace.