Chapter 9

Gracey smiled as she stared at the ceiling as she lay on the bed. She could not forget Rock's hug with her and the insane smack on the lips it gave her with a sweet goodnight... She bit her lip so hard. The intensity of Rock's simple kiss hit her hard. She touched her lip and trembled as she was stunned by the accent. She covered her mouth. She can't make noise, it's embarrassing.

"Rock, don't be like that... I'm hitting on you." She said.

She breathed a few times to calm the flirtation of her heart. She shook her head.

"This is not the right time to flirt. My heart is still in pain. It's hard and I might die again. Forget the thrill first... You just pay your arrears..." she reminded herself.

She let out a very deep sigh. She closed her eyes to go to sleep. It's just that she stubbornly sees in her brain Rock's handsome face.

"I guess your lip has potion, Rock! I can’t forget you and I am addicted to you. Are you witchcraft me?" She exclaimed.

This one looks even worse than she felt for Ashton. She was saddened by the thought, his going to marry her cousin. Tracey invited her but... She decided not to go. She will only look miserable. Somehow, she still has pride left even though her heart is unfortunate. She lost her thought when she heard a faint knock on the door of her room. She immediately got up and opened the door, she was a little surprised to see Angela carrying her rabbit stuff toy.

"Baby, you woke up. Is there a problem?"

Angela looked at her and smiled.

"Is it okay if I sleep here with you?" excited this question.

"Sure, baby. Come. "

She picked up the child and closed the door. She did not know what she was doing here and she immediately missed everything. She gently laid it on the bed and then leaned over it. She smiled when she saw it staring at her. Then it pulled her hand away and played with her fingers.

"Aren't you sleepy yet, baby?"

"Is this what is like to have a Mom?" its a sudden question.

She was a little shocked by the child's question. But a large part of her heart was touched. She could not blame it, it was only natural for her to look for a mother. She stroked her hair.

"Hmm... Yeah. You know, I was like this when I was a kid. I used to sleep next to Mommy and Daddy, especially when I was having nightmares. Did you have nightmares?"

"No, I just want to be with you. Please, don't leave me. I want you to be my Mom... Can I call you, Mama Gracey?"Angela asked innocently.

She thought for a moment. It seems that its request is awkward. But she can't stand the cute and bright kid. Especially that Angela said, she was pretty. Isn't it? You will immediately fall in love with a child like her.

"All right. But when your Dad is there, don't call me Mama, huh?"

"Why? I thought you were his girlfriend?"

She smiled awkwardly at the child.

"No, baby. I'm not your dad's girlfriend. I just wish. But anyway, you can't call me Mama when he's there because he might be mad at me. He might say, what I plant in your brain. Maybe he will drive me out in no time..." she explained.

"I don't get it. Why would he do that?"

She scratched her neck very hard. Angela seems to be an investigator if she asks. After all, this is Rock's daughter.

"Just do what I say, baby. Please, don't ask because it's hard for me to explain. Let's just say it's complicated. There are things I can't tell you because you still don't understand. So please...?" She plead.

"Okay!"

The girl hugged her and leaned on her shoulder. It closed its eyes and in a few moments, she heard its gentle breathing. She seems to love this girl very much. Maybe Rock will allow her to visit Angela when her sentence is over...

The next day Rock woke up early. He did not know how many days he would be gone because they would embark on an operation to retrieve the cadavers of the soldiers with Siege who were taken by Dr. Keston. The island to which they were taken has already been traced. He immediately prepared for departure. When he left his room he immediately went to his daughter’s room. But to his great surprise when he saw that it was not there in its bed. He felt a little nervous but that disappeared when he remembered Gracey. He is not sure but... He went to its room and he slowly opened the door. The feeling he felt was completely gone. He smiled at what he saw. His daughter was hugging the Gracey in front of him and the two were sound asleep. It looks like Angela really likes Gracey.

He walked slowly towards them. He approached his daughter and kissed her cheek.

"Honey, wake up..." he called softly.

"Um..."

Angela tilted and faced him.

"Honey..." he called.

Moments later it opened its eyes. It blinked a few times but after that it smiled broadly at him.

"Good morning, Papa!" its lively language.

It quickly got up and hugged him.

"Good morning too, honey." Rock's soft language to his daughter.

He reciprocated with a hug.

"Your in uniform... Are you off to work? It's too early..." Angela asked.

"Honey, I have to save the world. I'm on a mission and I'm gone for a couple of days... For now, Aunt Graciana is the one to look after you while I'm away."

Her daughter's hug tightened.

"Be careful, Papa. Please, take good care of yourself..."

"I will, baby... For you, I will."

Angela is the only reason why in each of his missions... He needs to stay alive. He glanced at Gracey who was fast asleep. He thought a prank. He simply squeezed the bridge of its nose. It moved slightly and moaned softly. He laughed softly and looked at his daughter. She smiled loosely and staring intently at his face.

"What?" he asked.

"Don't do that, Papa. She's asleep. You might disturb her."

"Oh really?"

He repeated the simple squeezing of Gracey's nose several times. Just a moment and...

"Haaaaching!"

Gracey finally woke up because someone was tripping over her nose. She opened her eyes and squeezed her nose. She heard laughter and she saw Rock carrying Angela and eherm! Rock wear his Men in Action uniform. It looked at her and smiled.

"Good morning, sleepy head! Did I wake you up?"

She wants to get used to it. It turned out to be the one who did some activity on her nose. She want to get mad but Rock looked so handsome and cool with a sweet smile... She doesn't know if she should be angry?!

"G-Good morning..." that's all she said.

She suddenly felt disgusted when she saw it staring at her intently. Then she remembered that she was wearing a black spaghetti strap shirt and she was not wearing a brassier, plus... She was only wearing black underwear below. She quickly took the blanket to cover herself. Her cheeks warmed. This morning she had an awkward moment!

"A-Angela knocked me last night so she slept here... I guess your too early?" she casts her voice casual.

She tried to cover up her feelings. Rock smiled mischievously at her and looked her up and down.

"What a nice view, huh?" its language is still naughty.

She would have liked to react pompously if she had not just worried about Angela.

"Rock..." she said.

But it gave her a foolish wink. She wanted to be angry but her heart was tickled by what he did.

"By the way Graciana..."

"Gracey!" she scolded.

"Graciana..." he emphasized her name more.

In the morning, she was really annoyed by this shiver. Her frustrations stopped when she saw Angela laugh.

"So sweet!" she said laughing.

She smirked. What's so sweet about it, she's about to get hypertension from what her father is doing? She looked at Rock and saw that he kissed the child tenderly on the forehead. It turned to her and she simply looked the other way.

"Graciana... I am going on a mission and I do not know how many days I will be lost. You take care of Angela first, huh?"

She looked at Rock in amazement. She swallowed because she suddenly seemed worried about it. Rock lowered Angela to the bed. He kept staring at her.

"While I'm away, you'll be the one in charge here at home. Please, take care of Angela."

"Be careful." that's all she said.

"Thanks for the concern. I will."

After that a smack on the lips was awarded to her. Her eyes widened because he pressed his lips slightly to hers. Angela jumped on the bed and was overjoyed.

"Papa, I want a kiss too!" its fun language.

Rock turned to the child and several times he kissed the child on the face and slightly hugged him with a grin.

"Be a good girl..." he ordered.

"Yes, Papa."

Rock let go of Angela's embrace. He turned around and left. Gracey did nothing but look at it until the door finally closed.

"Papa likes you, Mama." Angela said suddenly.

She looked at it. She simply smiled at it and then she took a deep breath. Very deep. Her cheeks warmed as she remembered the morning kiss that Rock had given her. Its sweet to charge her arrears... Seems like she wants to pay for life.

"I hope so, baby. I just hope your Dad doesn't make fun of me. Because, honestly... I'm about to fall in love with him..." she said confused.

"What is in love?" Angela asked innocently.

There Gracey realized what she had said. She messed up the child's hair.

"Nothing baby... Just forget what I said." she just said.

She got up and went straight to the bathroom to fix herself. After that, she and Angela went to its room to fix it too.