Returning New Hope

Part 22

By Yuki Wildstar

 

 

 

 

Wildstar put down the phone and began to sign papers that were sitting there for a week.  It has been three months since his return to Earth and almost 6 months since they moved back to his homeland. The intercom buzzer went off and his aids voice came through the speaker.  “Sir, there is a Ms. Katamoto here to see you.”  Wildstar stared at the intercom and wonder what could she possibly want.  He took a breath and told him to send her in. Mei floated into the room and smiled at him. “Hello Derek.” She purred.

“Hello Mei, what brings you here?”  He was direct.

“It’s been a long time.” She grinned and sat down in front of the chairs across from his desk. “How have you been?”

“We’ve been fine. Yes its been a long time. How are you?” his eyes shifted nervously. “Do I make you feel uncomfortable?” She toyed with him.

“I’m just wondering why now out of the blue.”

“I was just in the building and decided to stop by. How is Nicole or is it Novie?” she chuckled at the thought of her mispronouncing his wife’s name.

“It’s Nova, not Novie  or Nichole and she is fine.” He said annoyed.

She dismissed his correction and smiled. “Well, you’re looking handsome as ever.  I almost forgot how good looking you are.” She purred looking at him with cat like eyes. “Once in while I catch your picture in the paper, you are a recluse. It’s very hard catching you and the misses in the papers.” She crossed her long legs and shifted in the chair.

“Well you know me, Mei. I am not one to be front page news.”

“Of course you’re not. But there are those few occasions when you just go all out.”

“You deserved that one, Mei and you know it.”

She shifted her legs again. “Touche’ Captain.”

“What is it that you want? Mei.” He was tired of the cat and mouse game.

“I just wanted to visit. I was in the building.”

“Quit the bullshit, Mei. What is it that you want?”

“How are the kiddo’s. Mizu is about what now? 8, 9?” she said avoiding his question.

“She’s 8. She will be in the 4^th grade in the fall. And its Miku.”

“Mines will be in school in a year or two,” She smiled wide.

Wildstar sat back and stared at her in amazement. “You have a child?”

She smiled wider, “a little girl.”  She slowly got up and began to walk towards the door. “I’ll stop by tomorrow and introduce you to her. I have a meeting here and I would love for you to meet her.” She said and then walked out the door.

Wildstar sat there staring at the door trying to figure out what happen. He looked at his hands and realized that he was shaking from seeing her again. What was she doing there and what did she really want. It’s been years and now out of the blue she comes to see him. He would never forget what she did, in a way she helped ruin his marriage. Then she used him as a show dog to every event possible. He wasn’t falling for it again. He was happy with his wife and kids and he wasn’t about to lose them over her again. Wildstar looked at his watch and realized it was time to go home. He picked up his cover and things and headed out the door to his family. When he walked through the door Mei was forgotten. His wife sat on the couch with their youngest reading a book. She was preparing her for school. His two sons were outside playing basketball before dinner. Nova looked up and smiled. “How was work?”

He rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Same ole, same ole. Why do I even bother?”

She chuckled and walked over to him, giving him a hug. “Dinner will be ready soon. Why don’t you go change and then later maybe I’ll rub your back.”

“I’d like that very much.” He pulled her closer and hugged her tight forgetting about Mei all together.

 

After putting his daughter down for bed, Wildstar walked back to his room and began to undress. Something in his mind thought about Mei and what she was doing there. He wondered if he should tell his wife about her visit and then rule against it. Better not to get her upset over nothing.  He slipped in bed next to her and ran his hand on her leg. “I could use that massage.”

“That bad of a day, huh?”  He nodded his head and gave her a sad face. “My poor baby, come here.”

 

 

Morning was chaotic at EDF headquarters, Wildstar found himself at several morning meetings, bored out of his mind. Mid meeting he stopped at his office to pick up some files. “Harvey, I’m going to Captain Sandors office and after that I am locking myself in my office. Cancel any appointments that I may have. I have a headache from hell from General Stone and his nonsense of upgrades. I’ll be back.” He waved at his aid and headed down the hall.  His meeting took longer than he anticipated and his aid finished typing his reports. Nova walked up to his office and smiled to get his attention.

“Hello Harvey, how are you this afternoon?”

“Mrs. Wildstar was he expecting you?”

“No, but he came home so beat up that I thought I’d drop by and see if I can cheer him up. Is he in?”

“He stepped out but he should be back soon. You can go in his office and wait if you like.”

“Thank you Harvey, how is Tina?”

He smiled and said. “She’s due in a few weeks.”

“Wow, already? Time goes so quickly. Tell her I said hello and if there is anything she needs please call.”

“Would you like something to drink while you wait?

“Yes, thank you. Tea with lemon.”

“Be right back.” And he raced out the office and down to the coffee room.

Nova walked around his office running her finger along his desk. She picked up a picture of the kids and gave it a smile. She sat down at his table where he holds conferences and began to look though some papers. She wasn’t prepared to hear the door open and she walked in. Nova stared at Mei and the little girl next to her. She frowned and pulled her shoulders back. Slowly she stood up and came face to face with Mei. “Hello Mei.”

“Nova, how are you. Funny this is the first time we ever came face to face with each other.”

“Yes it is. What brings you here?” she asked curiously.

“I wanted to see Derek.”

“Oh? What about?” Nova looked from her to the little girl.

“Just some unfinished business.”

Nova narrowed her eyes and said, “What unfinished business.”

“Mommy,”

“Not now, Samantha.”

“But I have to pee.” The little girl whined.

“I said not now!” she snapped at the little girl.

Nova knee down in front of the little girl and smiled. “You can use Captain Wildstar bathroom. Come on.” She showed her the room and let her in. “Go on, take your time.” She gave her a warm smile and then turned to Mei. “What unfinished business, Mei?”

“I think this is only for Derek to hear. It’s a private matter.” She turned and looked out the window. Harvey walked in with Nova’s tea and was confused as to why Ms. Katamoto was there. He offered her something to drink and then made a quick exit. Nova watched as she paced in front of the window and Samantha ran out to her mother. They stood looking at each other in silence while Samantha played with a doll she brought with her. They waited 20 minutes without a word when Derek walked into his office. He first saw his wife and he smiled wide then it disappeared when Mei stepped closer to him.

“Mei?” he said feeling uncomfortable with his wife and ex-girlfriend in the same office.

“Hello Derek, I told you I would be back today with a surprise.” She grinned mischievously.

“And that would be?” he asked annoyed.

She took hold of Samantha’s hand and brought her closer to him. “Samantha, sweetheart. Say hello to your father.”

Nova snapped her stare to Derek and Derek looked at Samantha and then Mei. “This isn’t funny Mei.”

“It’s not a joke, Derek.” She said. “I gave birth 5 months after you dumped me.”

“Are you kidding me! If you were pregnant with my child you would’ve told me!” he snapped at her. Nova walked to the door and called in his aid.

“Harvey can you take Samantha down to the coffee room and see if there is something for her to eat and can you keep her company until her mother comes for her.”

“Yes Ma’am.”

“Samantha sweetheart, Harvey is going to take you to get something sweet to eat while your mommy and us talk. Okay?” she smiled at the little girl. Samantha nodded her head and took Harvey’s hand. Nova turned to both Derek and Mei and said. “Now, we can talk without making her feel she did something wrong.”

Wildstar turned to Mei and snapped. “If this is your way of getting even about how we broke up then it’s a poor way of doing it. If you were pregnant you should have told me.”

“I wanted too, but my father forbade me to. He shipped me out before I could tell you.”

 “BULLSHIT!” Derek voice grew louder and angrier.

“Don’t you think I wanted to tell you? I had no choice in the matter. You already remarried HER and my father made it clear for me to move on. She is yours!” she began to cry.

Nova stood to the side and listened as they argued back and forth. Her heart felt like it was getting ripped apart to hear that he could have father a child with another woman. “Nova, you’re not believing this, are you?” She shook her head and her anger grew as well as his. “I want a DNA test ASAP! No way is she mine!”

“Derek,” Nova said in a calm voice. “we have to sit down and talk about this like adults. Mei, he has the right to know if she is his or not. I will set up an appointment with the hospital and have them draw some blood from Derek and Samantha. We will have them run a DNA test.”

“NO! she is yours and that is it. No DNA test. I wouldn’t lie to you.”

“The hell you would! I want the test, or stay out of my life.” Derek picked up a paper weight and threw it across the room. “This is even lower than anything you’ve done to us.”

“Derek,” Nova put her hand on his shoulder. “There’s no need to get angry. I will make the appointment and have it done. It will take a week for the test results to come back, but we all have to stay calm.” She was always the one to stay calm he thought. “We will be in touch, Mei. Leave the number that you will be at and I will call you for the time and date. In the mean time you will deal with me, until this is settle its best that you and Derek don’t talk.” She said in a firm voice.

“This is between Derek and I, not you.” Mei said.

“Now that is where you are wrong. I am his wife and it has a lot to do with me and my family.”

Mei rolled her eyes and huffed. “Derek would you please tell her that this is our family situation and we don’t need her involve.”

“Get out Mei, Nova and I have to talk. She will call you with the time and date.” He took hold of her arm and squeezed it tight. “And you better answer it.”

“Ouch! Let go of me.” She demanded.

“Don’t play with me Mei. You’ll regret it.” he let her go and walked to the door. He waved someone over and informed them to have Harvey come back. Samantha walked into the office and Nova smiled at her. She looked at the little girl and saw her emerald green eyes and flowing dark brown hair. She looked more like her mother then Derek and Nova felt a tug.

“Samantha, tell your father goodbye.” She shoved her towards him.

“That is something that still needs to be addressed.”  He kneeled down and tried to smile at the little girl in front of him.

“Are you my dad?” she finally asked.

“We won’t know that for a while, Samantha. But I promise you if I am I will be there for you.”

“Can I see you again?” she asked in a low voice.

“I’ll try.” He didn’t want to get attached to her.

“Samantha we can come back tomorrow.” Mei announced.

“No you can’t!” he snapped back at her. “Until we settle this you will not come and go as you like.”

“But why daddy,” Samantha asked with her emerald green eyes.

“Because your mother is nothing but a lying cheap Slu,”

“DEREK!” Nova yelled.

He huffed and looked over to Mei, “go before I say something more that is inappropriate in front of a child.” Mei took hold of her daughters hand and led her out the office.   “Sorry, I shouldn’t have done that.”

“She’s only a little girl, Derek. She has nothing to do with this.”

“She has everything to do with this or have you not seen it.”

“I know that but she in an innocent by stander. She didn’t ask to be in this situation.” She frowned as she spoke to him.

His anger continued. He looked like a caged animal wanting out. This was the last thing he expected and wanted. “She’s not mine!” he yelled.

“Okay, we need to calm down.”

“How could you stay calm!” he yelled.

“Lower you voice.” She said. “They can hear you down the hall. This is a private matter and no one needs to know about it.”

“Sure until it hits every rag magazine on Great Island.”  Growing more annoyed Nova began to pick up her things, “Where the hell are you going?”

“Home, Derek. It’s obvious that I can’t talk to you right now. I will see you at the house.” She said.

“Whoa wait a minute. You can’t go now I need you.”

“Derek I can’t talk with you when you’re like this.”

“Like what?”

“Yelling and announcing it to all.” She rolled her eyes and continued, “I can’t, I just can’t deal with this right now.”

“You can’t deal with this. This is happening to me, to us.” She turned again to leave. “Where are you going!”

“Home!” she snapped back at him.

“Don’t you even care about what is happening? What she is accusing me of?”

She stopped midway and turned, her eyes narrow and frustration written on her face. “Don’t even go there. Of course I care! But right now we have to close ranks and keep this under wraps! We have to think of OUR children. How will this affect them? The last thing I want them to find out that one of your little flings produced a bustard child!”

“We were divorced!” he yelled back.

“And because of her and your little affair is WHY we got divorce. Now this shit is happening! For god sakes Derek if only you would’ve kept it in your pants we wouldn’t be having this fight!” She threw her hands in the air and turn to leave. “We will finish this at home. And for once let’s keep this out of the papers.” She walked out the door and found half the floor near his office. She looked back at him and huffed. “So much for keeping this under wraps!” she said and then storm off the floor.

 

 

 

He could sense her silence the minute he walk through the door.  During dinner he made conversation with his sons and laughed with his daughter. Nova kept quiet and busy all throughout the evening. He didn’t know how they did it but they managed to keep what happen and their fight away from the kids. Nova walked into the room and looked at him with disgust. She motion for him to follow her out of their room and down to the beach shore. They walked in silences as she looked out into the night. Derek wanted to talk but was afraid to speak first. She broke the silence by announcing, “I called one of the doctors at the hospital and he is willing to do the DNA testing. He has a lab that is neutral and will keep things under wraps. He suggested that we don’t give names and only numbers to determine privacy. I trust him, he is very good at what he does.”

“Why are we even entertaining this?”

“Because if we don’t she will go to the press and expose whatever she wants to make you look like a dead beat dad.”

“For the love of GOD SHE ISN’T MINE! I would know if she was my kid. After all this time and all of sudden she comes and says I’m a father! No FUCKING WAY! Nova you have to trust me in this one. I don’t care what she says I am not her father.” He could see the pain in her eyes and he pulled her closer. “Please Nova, please, we have to stick together on this one.”

“I can’t, I just can’t deal with this anymore.”

He nuzzled into her neck and cried. “I love you, please don’t do this. I need you more than ever right now.”

“Don’t Derek, I can’t do this anymore.”

“She called me after you left.” He said.

Nova pulled away, “What did she want?”

“She wants me to spend time with her.”

“What did you tell her?”

“I couldn’t until she shows me proof that I am the father.” He began to walk slowly and took her by the hand to follow. “She said that she had her out in space and there would be no certificate of birth. I told her that was very convenient that she didn’t have a birth certificate. I told her that I will only spend time with her after there is a DNA test done. Not a minute sooner. I think she’s going to prolong it. And the only reason why is because she is lying. She’s not my daughter Nova. She looks nothing like me, nothing.” He shook her gently.

“I don’t know if I can do this Derek. I have been through so much and now this. Suppose she is yours? Then what? What will happen with our children? How are we going to tell them? Alex will be destroyed. He has enough trust issues I don’t want him to grow up not trusting women.”

“The last thing I want is Alex hating me. I know this is a lot for you. Gosh Nov, the last thing I want is to put you through something like this. But I know I am not that little girl’s father. She is lying about it and I will not be a part of her life unless she proves to me that she is mine. I can’t be in her life and then find out that she is not mine.”

“Are you even entertaining the fact that she might be yours?” Nova asked.

“Of course not. My life is with you and OUR kids, no one else.”

Nova hugged him tight and said, “But what if she is?”

“She isn’t.”

She pulled away and looked into his eyes. “Is there any possibility that she is yours, Derek?”

He looked past her and sighed. “I don’t know. If she said she was pregnant while we were in Hawaii there could be a possibility. I never returned her calls when I was there with you. The only time I spoke to her was when we got back. By that time we were all over the papers and she was headed out to space. But I don’t think she was.” He looked down to see her crying. “Nova, I need you. Please, I’m begging you to stand by me on this one.” She nodded her head, yes and he pulled her tighter. “I love you, remember that.”

 

 

Nova called her every day with no avail. She left numerous messages to return her call so they could arrange a date and time to take the test. She walked into her husband office frustrated and angry.  Wildstar looked up as she walked into his office. He could see her frustration and frown. He sat back and watched as she threw herself in the chair in front of him. “Bad day?” he asked.

“What do you think?” She replied. “I have been trying to reach that woman for days and she either won’t answer her phone or she doesn’t return any of my messages. I’m about to track her down and drag her by her hair to the lab.”

Wildstar smiled and walked over to where she sat. He stood behind her and began to rub her shoulders. “I told you that she would prolong it. She is going to avoid you for as long as she can.” He turned the chair towards him and knelt down to her. “Do you want me to call?”

“Oh I’m sure she would love that.” She slyly said.

“Nov, we can call her now.”

“I don’t know. Will she answer?” she asked defeated.

His eyes narrowed, “OH I think she will answer.” He walked back to his desk and told his aid to get her office on the line. It didn’t take long for them to hear his aid announce that she was on the line. Wildstar winked at his wife and picked up the phone. “Hello Mei, how are you?”

“Hello Derek. We are fine, how are you?” he heard her say into the phone.

“Not to good, Mei.”

“Oh and how can I make you feel better?” she played along.

“I would feel so much better if we can finally take that blood test with Samantha.”

“You still don’t believe me that she is yours.” He heard her annoyed.

“Come on Mei. How do you expect me to react to this? Of course any man would want to have proof of being a father. So while we are on the subject, what’s the hold up? My wife has been trying to set this up for weeks.”

He heard her huff, “well my dear Derek. You know how I feel about that thing. Something like that can traumatize my Samantha and I don’t want her traumatize.”

“Come on Mei, really, traumatize from a little prick. Nova assured you that she would be made comfortable. She will have no idea what is going on.”

“That’s what she says, its not her daughter that has to go through it.”

“Well she has proof that Miku is mine. I was there when we created her and I was there when she was pregnant. I was there when she came into the world. I was there every step of the way. Not to mention if I ask her for a DNA test she would do it.” Nova frown at him and he gave her another wink. “So when are you taking her?”

Mei lips curled then she grin. “See her one time and then I will make the arrangements to take her to what’s her names lab.”

Wildstar laughed, “I don’t think so.”

“Well then I guess taking that test is a NO too.”

“Really Mei, do we have to go to court over this? Why would you expose her to all that and traumatize her with it?”

“I’m prepare to go to court anytime you like.” He could feel her grin her evil grin through the phone.

Nova stood up and pulled the phone from him and covered the receiver. “Do as she asks.” She insisted him.

“But Nova,”

“Just agree to it.”

“Fine and where should I say to meet?”

“I don’t care either way you are not going alone and don’t tell her that.” Nova snapped.

He rolled his eyes and took the phone back. “Okay Mei, you win. I will see her once. Where and when?”

“Marvelous! How about next week at the zoo, you can bring little Mizu.”

“It’s Miku. What time?”

“How about 11 in the morning, we can spend the day there with the kids. It’s about time that Mizu knows about her half-sister.”

“Fine, 11 at the zoo.” Wildstar reluctantly agreed and then hung up the phone. “What do you have planned?”

“Whether she likes it or not I will attend this little get together and so will my friend from the hospital.” Nova said with triumph.

Derek sat back and grinned. “You are an evil woman. I like the way you think.”

 

Mei and Samantha stood standing next to the Elephant exhibit feeding the baby elephant that was born months prior. Samantha giggled as he took peanuts from her hand. She watched as Derek walked towards her and smiled wide. She waved at him and he grinned to see her too. She turned Samantha towards him and whispered into her ear. “Here comes daddy.” Samantha turned and waved also. He was always handsome. She missed being in his arms and showing everyone who he was.

“Hello Mei.” She tried to lean in and give him a kiss and he pulled away.

 “Are you being shy?” she toyed with him.

“I don’t think so. Let’s keep this as professional as possible.”

“Professional? I thought that this was a family thing.” She tried to sound chipper.

“Hello Daddy.” Samantha cheered.

Derek frowned and touched her face. “Hello Samantha. How are you this morning?”

“I got to feed the baby elephant.”

“Oh, that is pretty cool.” He looked away and out to the crowed that walked around.

“Is everything alright?” Mei asked.

“Just waiting on someone,” he announced.

“Someone? Who else is coming? Is it Mizu.”

Wildstar felt his temper rising. “It’s MIKU, please remember that.” He said in a firm voice. “And no she isn’t coming. Nova will not allow it.”

“Eventually they will have to meet and you’ll have to introduce her as her sister.” She said.

Wildstar looked at her and began his sentence when he felt her hand on his shoulder. He turned and smiled at her. “Hello baby, I didn’t think that you would make it here in time. I’m so glad you’re here.” He slipped his arms around her waist and kissed her.

“Pfft,” Mei huffed to see Nova there. “what is she doing here, this is our family time.”

Nova smiled at Samantha and then gave Mei a wider smile. “Hello Samantha, hello Mei.”

Samantha smiled back at Nova and showed her the remaining peanuts in her hand. “Would you like to help me feed Bongo the elephant?”

Nova giggled at her and nodded her head. “I would love too, thank you.” she replied.

Mei stared at Derek with hate. She pulled him to the side by his arm and spat out her words. “Why is SHE here!” she demanded.

“Well,” Derek slapped his hands together and chuckled. “Since you didn’t want to bring Samantha to us well, she thought it would be a good idea for her to come to you. Oh yeah, by the way, this happens to be Doctor Fujiwara, he is a specialist in DNA testing. He was kind enough to tag along with us so he can draw some blood or even get a hair sample of Samantha’s DNA.”

Doctor Fujiwara step closer to them and spoke, “Ms. Katamoto, I promise that this will not traumatize your daughter. It’s quiet easy, all I have to do is get a small sample from a prick on her finger or even a strain of hair. She will never even know what happen.”

Mei was in disbelief of what he did and her anger grew, “You bustard! This was not the deal!”

“As you can see, I am here to spend time with Samantha. You didn’t say if I could bring a friend. Which I picked my wife and we will, together, spend time with her. IF she is my daughter then I will step in to be her father and whether you like it or not, Nova will be part of that life too. So are we going to stand here and argue? Or are we going to get this over with?”

“No!” she said aggravated.

Wildstar stared at her and said in a calm manner, “Well, then I have a lot of things to do. I will see you in court. Please don’t bother to call me any further about spending time with her. I will have my lawyer call your lawyer about having the court order a DNA test. Nova, come on we are going.” He called to his wife. “Shame Mei, we could just resolve this without dragging both our names through the press and court, but you always seemed to want drama. Remember this. Once they order the test and prove that I am not her father what will you tell her then? Who will you try to trap in being her father next? Think hard about what you want to do and call Nova only if you changed your mind and stop this nonsense.”

“I wouldn’t lie about this Derek. She is your daughter.” Mei felt her heart beat faster. How could he deny his own child she thought?

“Then let the Doctor take a sample of her blood or hair and let us get this over with. If you are so sure that I am her father then do it so I can get to know her better.”

“I won’t allow it. She is your child and if you don’t believe me than take me to court.”

“I guess I will see you in court.” Wildstar slipped his hand into Nova’s hand and they walked off towards their car. “I’m sorry Doc for dragging you all the way here for nothing.”

“Well it wasn’t all for nothing Derek,” Nova announced.

“She wouldn’t allow it or did I hear something different?”

“On the contra, we have our sample.” Nova grinned.

Derek and Doctor Fujiwara stopped walking and looked at her. “HOW?” they said in unisome.

Nova pulled a plastic sandwich bag out of her purse and show what was in the contents of the bag. “Will this be enough?” she asked

Doctor Fujiwara took hold of the bag and examined the contents within the bag. “Yes it will.” He said looking at almost a hand full of strains in it.

“HOW the hell did you manage that?” Derek asked.

“Well while you and the doctor here where trying to convince her to take blood I found a small hair brush in Samantha’s little purse. See we girls start at an early age in our looks. We happen to carry a lot of things in it. Miku has the same little purse so I figure she would carry the same things. Lip balm, hand cream, hand sanitizer and a hair brush.” She grinned from ear to ear.

Wildstar and the doctor stood there in shock. “You are a genius! I know now why I love you so much.” He said as he picked her up and swung her around.

“I will get this to the lab ASAP. Captain, it will take a few weeks but I will handle this personally.”

Wildstar shook his hand and said. “Thanks Doc, I will be waiting for that call.”

 

 

 

Two weeks passed without a word from either Mei or Doctor Fujiwara and Derek was starting to get antsy. Every time the phone rang he would hold his breath in hopes that they would hear about the test results. He sat in the cockpit of his fighter preparing to land when the tower came over his helmet. “Tower to One, Niner, Four, Zulu, Three.”

“Come in tower this is One, Niner, Four, Zulu, Three.” He replied.

“Sir you are ordered to hanger Four Six Five. Repeat, you are order to hanger Four Six Five.

“Roger that Tower, I will guild her to hanger Four Six Five. Why the change up, Tower?”

“Sir you have a guest waiting. She says it’s urgent.”

“Thank you Tower, approaching for landing. Please inform guest that I will be on the ground in 20 minutes.”

“Will do, Captain.”

With expertise Wildstar approached the landing strip and did his check to his instruments and began his landing. He brought his ship to the hanger where men guild him to the parking point. Minutes later he jumped out of the plane and began to walk to the hanger. Wildstar spoke to one of his mechanics as he walk into the hanger and then saw her standing near the door. He rolled his eyes and walked to her. “What are you doing here?” he asked annoyed.

“We need to talk.” Mei said.

“About what and how did you know I was here?”

“I called your office and it’s about Samantha.”

“If this isn’t about her DNA I don’t want to talk about it. So leave.” He said frustrated with her.

“Samantha told me about Dova taking her air brush and brushing her hair.” She said with frustration and anger.

“So what,” he dropped his flight gear on the floor and began to unzip his flight suit.

“I could have her arrested! She took her hair without consent from me! And I will not stand by and have you or her do this behind my back. Now I want you to stop whatever testing you are planning or are doing or else I will seek a criminal lawyer to see if I can charge her with anything.”

Wildstar laughed, “Go ahead. She did nothing wrong only brushed her hair. Now if for some odd reason some of her hair fell on my wife’s jacket then there is really nothing you can do. So go and press charges and see where that gets you.”

“I have already consulted a lawyer and he is at this moment getting a cease and decease motion to stop you from doing any testing concerning my daughter.” She said feeling triumph.

 “Is that so?” Wildstar scratched his chin and then shrugged. “Oh well, then going to court will be the way we go, unless those results have been already done than I guess your shit out of luck. Anyway I’m bored with this conversation and I have things to do.”

“Derek Wait.” She felt her only chance begin to walk away.

Wildstar stopped and turned to face her. “What!?”

“Please can we just talk about this.” Her voice started to shake and she felt her eyes tear up.

“I think this is way past what we wanted in the beginning. The time to talk about things is too late. Now we rather go through the courts system and find out for sure who Samantha’s father is. I’m done, now from now on please have your lawyer call mine and let them discuss it.”

She grabbed his arm and forced him to look at her. “I got pregnant the night you went to see Nova when she fell ill. I wanted to tell you once you got back from your meeting or at least that’s what you told me. I didn’t know that something bad happened to her. I never wanted to tell you over the phone. I wanted to tell you face to face. But then you never came back and you never called.” She fell silent for a moment and then let her tears fall. “When you finally came back you were married and my father told me to keep my mouth shut and bow out gracefully. She was born in space. It was a horrible experience to have a child without the father being there. I was surrounded by faceless people and two of the top OBGYN that money could buy.  My father made sure that no one would know about Samantha. He was ashamed that I was an unwed mother. Leave to my loving dad to make me feel like a whore.”

Wildstar found himself feeling like a heel after her story. He took her in his arms and held her as she cried hard into his chest.  He didn’t speak afraid that if he did his heart would feel her pain. He loved his wife too much to lose her over Mei again. It didn’t matter he couldn’t let his guard down. Too many times he did and he wined up losing his wife and kids. No, not any more. “Look Mei, I’m sorry that you went through what you went through. But I have to make sure that she is mine and I can’t just take your word for it. I have a wife and kids with her. I have to protect them, if I don’t, no telling what Nova will do. She may not recover from this and hate me again. My oldest will see me differently and I worked too damn hard to gain his trust back. If you want me in her life then take the DNA test.” He pushed her away, “I have to go. I have a lot of work to do back in the office.”

 

 

He found himself thinking about what she said. It made sense to him about what she said. He began to feel doubt that he was wrong and she was his. Could she have been pregnant when he left her for Nova? If it turns out that Samantha was his it would make his life a lot more complicated. This will not be easy for Nova and the kids. It scared him to death. How will life be with this predicament that has pop up? Never in a million years would he even think that this would happen. He couldn’t even focus at work and he didn’t realize how long he sat at his desk while his phone rang. “Sir?” He heard his assistant say.

“Hmm, oh I’m sorry I was lost in thought. What is it?”

“Your wife has been trying to call you on your cell. She’s on line two right now, sir.”

“Thank you, please close the door on the way out.” He ordered his assistant. He picked up the phone and tried to smile. “Hello baby, what’s going on? Everything okay with the kids?”

“Meet me at the hospital, 6^th floor, room 606 in 20 minutes.”  He heard her say over the receiver.

“Good news I hope?”

“We will see once we get there.” He heard her hang up the phone and he could feel his heart beat faster.

 

He made it to the hospital in less time than he was told. He paced the floor of the lobby waiting for her to walk through the doors of the hospital. He watched as she hurried into the building breathing heavily trying to make it to the hospital in time. “Slow down.” He smoothly said as he hugged her tight.

“I just want this over with.”

“I know, me too.” He took a deep breath. Since his conversation with Mei his mind started too turned. Could she be his daughter? “Nova, can we talk before going up?”

 Curiously Nova walked with him to a corner of the lobby. “What’s on your mind?”

“Um, well. Mei came to the airstrip to see me today.” He figured it was best to tell her then her finding out later. Honesty is all she ever wanted from him and he was going to give that to her. Nova eyes narrow and waited for him to continue. “Well, I’m not sure what to tell you or how to approach this. She explained her pregnancy to me.”

“So there is a big possibility that she is yours.” It was more of an accusation then a question.

Derek nodded his head and said. “Nova, she could be mine and if she is then I want to be a part of her life.” Nova stood silent making him fidget with his collar. “I feel horrible that she had her alone.” She felt her anger grow more and more with every one of his words. How could he be sympathetic to a woman that destroyed his marriage once and then never mention the child she had with him? How could he believe her? “Nova, please understand where I am coming from. This child needs a father.”

“I’m going to pertain that we never had this conversation.” She said. “Now, Doctor Fujiwara is waiting for us. We should hurry.”

She turned to walk away and he grabbed her arm. “Nova please hear me out.”

“Look I don’t care what conversation the two of you had. And I am surprise that you would let her pull on your heart strings. You swore up and down that she wasn’t your child and one little plead from a girl all of a sudden she is yours. Well is there anything else you should let me know? Like she spontaneously gave birth via the world wide web to a son of yours?” her voice grew louder with each word and he began to look around to see if anyone could hear her.

“Lower your voice!” he snapped. “I thought we didn’t want attention to this.”

“You are kidding! RIGHT! Let’s face it. She is the one that wants this in the press. She doesn’t care about me or our kids and that little girl. Just as long as she is back in the front pages of those damn rag’s and she is using YOU! to get there.” She pointed into his chest. “Now are we done here!” she voiced in a stern tone to let him know she was done.

“Yes.”

“Then let’s get this over with.” She marched to the elevators and pressed the button. They sat in the waiting area until they call their names and were escorted to his office. Fujiwara walked into his office with a folder under his arm and sat down. “Hello Doctor Fujiwara.”

“Nova, Captain Wildstar, so glad that you could come at a moment’s notice. As soon as I got the results I called you.” he placed the file on his desk and opened. “There is something with the test that concerns me.”

Nova lean forward and said, “the only thing that concerns me is that my husband is the father of this child. Anything else is not my concern.”

Doctor Fujiwara raised his eye brow and cleared his throat. “Yes I guess you would. Well after running test a few times,”

“Oh, for God sakes just tell us!” Nova snapped.

“Yes, of course. No he is not the father.”

Nova stood up and grabbed her things. “Thank you doctor.”

“Wait a minute aren’t you the least bit curious about my findings?”

“No, she is not my concern that is her mother’s problem. Derek lets go.”

He took her hand and pulled her back to her seat. “Nova, there is more.”

“Why are you so interested in this? This is not your child! She is her problem not ours.” She got back up and walked to the door. “Derek let’s go!”

Derek asked. “What else is there doc?” Nova couldn’t believe he was sitting there wanting to know about this child. Why? She gave him one last look and walked out the door slamming it hard behind her.

“Shouldn’t you go after her?” Doctor Fujiwara asked.

“I should but it will get me nothing. All we will do is argue and I don’t want to do that in front of people. I can deal with it when I get home. Now tell me what else you found.”

Fujiwara sat silent and wondered if he lost his sense of loyalty to his wife. “She’s a very ill girl. Stage three cancer. From the test it looks like she only has a year.”

“Is there anything they can do for her?”

“We can try but it doesn’t look good. Do you know the mother well?”

“I did.”

“Maybe someone needs to let her know, if she doesn’t know already.”

Wildstar stood up and shook his hand, “I will let her know. But first I should deal with my wife. Thank you.”

 

 

 

He found her walking down near the shore taking in the cold wind. “NOVA” he called out her name. Nova walked slowly and stopped to stare out to the ocean horizon. It was a bitter cold sun set. She thought because of what happened at the doctor’s office it was a lot colder than in the past. She pulled her coat close to her neck and tried to clear her head from the days drama. He walked up behind her and slipped his arms around her waist. “How are you?”

“Go away Derek, I can’t even look at you right now.” She pushed away and began walking back to the house.

“We need to talk about this.” He raced after her.

“There’s nothing to talk about. You made your decision as to who is priority in your life.”

“Oh come on. You and the kids are always first in my list.”

She turned to face him, “Don’t even say we are first, because today you proved to me that we aren’t.”

“Nova we are talking about a very ill child. You out of people should show some kind of compassion towards her.” Nova walked into their room and grabbed her pillow and walked out the door.  He didn’t sleep well that night and many nights after. Nova refused to speak and slept in their spare room every night for two weeks.

 

 

 Derek met with Mei and informed her about her daughter’s illness. She confirmed that she already knew about it. “Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked her.

“Would it have mattered if I did?”

“So you knew from the beginning that she wasn’t mine.”

“No, you see while you were in Hawaii with Her I slept with someone to get even with you. You were cheating on me with your wife and I hated you. I never thought in a million years that you weren’t the father. I didn’t know that she wasn’t yours until now when you told me.”

“Does she have a good doctor?” he asked concerned.

“One of the best oncologist money could buy. She is the best. Samantha will be starting chemo in a

couple of weeks and all she ever wanted was to have her father there.”

“You have to tell her the truth, Mei. She is not my child and right now I am in the dog house to even entertain what is going on with Samantha. Nova is not happy about any of this and what you did.”

“I know I have to eventually tell her the truth and I’m sorry that you and Nova are having problems. But Derek, it would mean a world to her and me if you just pertain to be her father so she can deal with this illness.”

“I can’t do that. My wife and kids will not understand any of it. I am walking on thin ice right now with my wife and I can’t take that chance of losing her. “

“Can you at least be there when I tell her?” She pleaded.

Wildstar began to shift in his chair. Nova would kill him if he said yes, but found himself saying, “alright. When are you thinking of telling her?”

She smiled and clapped her hands, “oh thank you, thank you!” she cheered. “You don’t know how much this will mean to both of us!” she hugged him and kissed his cheek.

“Just let me know when you want to tell her. And Mei, please don’t wait too long and don’t think that you are going to manipulate me with this. Nova and I are happily MARRIED! And there’s no way in hell that I am going to let you come between us again.” He got up from the table and grabbed his cover. “I’ll wait for your call. Call me only when you are going to tell her.” He drove home and notice her car already in the drive way. He wondered will she speak with him today. Alex was outside mowing their lawn. “Hey Alex,” he waved at his son and tried to give him a smile.

“Hey Dad, are you going in now?” Alex asked.

“Yeah, why?”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea. Mom is in rare form, she has been yelling into the phone all day at someone.”

Oh boy, he thought. “I’ll take my chances. You and everyone else better stand clear in the meantime.” He took a deep breath and entered his house. He looked around and heard her talking on the phone in the kitchen. It’s now or never Wildstar, he thought. Better see what all the yelling is about. He stood in the entry way of their kitchen and watched as she paced back and forth yelling into the phone. “What’s going on?”

Nova turned around and her stare told him that it was he that was in trouble. “I have to go, he’s home.” She hung up the phone and took a deep breath. “I have to ask you something and please be honest with me. Did you see that woman today?” Oh shit, he thought. His look he gave her was his answer. “You have no clue the calls I have been getting from the press as to why you and MS. AMBASSIDOR were having lunch at a very intimate restaurant. Well what have you have to say?”

“I was going to tell you about it after kids are in bed.”

“Sorry but the press would love to know if we are heading down to divorce court again.” She threw the phone across the room and walked out of the room to her room.

He wasn’t prepared to tell her this early but he had to face her anger. He walked into the room and closed the door behind him. “Nova, let me explain.”

She sat on the bed trying to calm down. “What is there to explain? Clearly she is not your daughter now why are you still in this woman’s life?”

“She asked for me to be there to tell her the truth about me not being her father. She doesn’t want to tell her alone.”

Rage build up in Nova’s eyes that he never saw before. “You did what? Are you that stupid! She sure as hell didn’t need you when she told her that you were her father why does she need you now?”

“Nova, show a little compassion. The kid is very ill.”

“I don’t give a fuck if she is dying tomorrow! She is not your child!” she yelled.

“Put yourself in her shoes. If Miku,”

“First of all don’t put our daughter in the middle of this. She is totally off limits. Second of all this conversation is OVER! I don’t want to talk about it or hear about it or even read about it! I am done! And if you see that woman ever again I’m leaving! DO YOU GET ME CAPTAIN!” she ordered and then walked out the room. Dinner was extremely quiet and their kids didn’t try to make them talk. Alex looked from his mother to his father. His mother look miserable and frustrated and his father look worried about his mother. He knew that they were fighting but he wasn’t sure why. All he knew that he had to keep his siblings at bay. Even DJ, who talk throughout dinner stay quiet and looked from his mother to his father. He would give his brother a glance and Alex would shrug his shoulders. After dinner they raced out of the room in fear that it would get explosive between their parents.

“What do you think they are arguing about, AL?” DJ asked.

“I don’t know, but its really bad.”

“Do you think that mom and dad will get a divorce again?”

“I don’t know Deej, but we have to just let it all work out and hope for the best.”

Miku lowered her head and said. “I heard mom say something about daddy and some woman. She said something about dad being her father.”

“WHAT! Dad has a grown up kid? No, you had to have heard wrong. Dad only has us no one else.” Alex tried to reason with what his sister told him. “You must have heard differently.”

“I know what I heard Al.” Miku wined.

“Just leave it alone, best to wait and see what happens.”

 

 

Derek stood outside the spare room. She’s been sleeping in the spare room since he show concern to Mei daughter and that was weeks ago. He knocked softly and opened the door slightly. “Nova, are you up?”

“What do you think!” he heard her snapped in the darkness.

“I want to talk.”

He heard her huff and then turned on the light on the night stand. “Yes we do.” He felt relieved that she was calm and ready to talk. “I’m leaving.” She announced.

“What?!”

“My father’s company is resurrecting a new building on the southern part of Great Island and I’m going to be in charge of the whole thing. I will be leaving next week to look for a place to live.”

“So you’re leaving me? What about the kids? When am I going to see them?”

“I’m leaving, not the kids. They will be here with you. I will fly in on the weekends and when I get time off. I have to do this Derek, I need space right now and if I stay here with you I don’t think it will work. Maybe now you will understand what a father is.” She said smugly.

“You’re not taking the kids? You always take the kids. Why the change?”

“I think it’s time that you spend more time with the kids this time around. You are so gun hoe in being a father to a child that is not yours then maybe this will change your mind to where your priorities are. Now get out, I’m exhausted and need some rest. Good night Derek.”

“When did you become such a cold hearted bitch?” he asked shocked as to what she told him.

“When she walked back into our lives and accused you of being her child’s father and you falling for the same crap again. Once again you are thinking about YOU and you forget that you have a family that will suffer for your actions.”

“Fine! When will the construction start?” he felt drain and angry. How dare she decide to take on another job without discussing it with him and now she decided to leave him with the kids.

“In two months. So I will be flying back and forth for a little while until we break ground then I will move into an apartment.”

“You are serious about this?”

“Yes Derek, now please leave I need some sleep. I will have to tell the kids in the morning so don’t worry about you explaining anything to them.” He walked back to his room fuming. She was leaving him again but this time she was going alone. How will the kids take this new news? For sure Alex will blame him for his mother leaving and how was he going to take care of them with his job? He had little sleep tossing and turning to her bomb shell of news. He walked into the kitchen ready to pour some coffee to see her sitting down at the table with their kids. “So I promise that I will call everyday all through the day and I will fly in every weekend. Alex I want you to help your father with your brother and sister. Promise me that you will. DJ no slacking on school work and Miku please keep daddy happy.” He watched as Alex looked up and stared in his direction making him feel uncomfortable. “Alexander, listen to me. You will help your dad okay?”

“Yes ma’am.” Nova hugged her kids and sent them off to school. She walked past him and straight to their office and closed the door behind her. Derek got dressed and left for the office.

 

 

 It became clear that she was serious about leaving. Derek Wildstar now sat in their office as he looked over some papers. In the past months she flew back and forth before moving to the southern part of Great Island. She called every morning and every night to speak with the children. At times she would make idle chit chat with him about the kids and work.  He finally called Mei and informed her that she would be on her own in explaining that he was not the child’s father. She pleaded and cried with him to change his mind. “I’m sorry Mei, I just can’t. Nova is really pissed at me, enough to take on one of her father’s building’s.”

“So she’s not in town? Well then its prefect. We can,” she began.

“No Mei, we can’t do anything. I have to respect her wishes. She is not comfortable with me being in your life or Samantha’s.  She is not my daughter. I have a daughter, her name is Miku and Nova is her mother. I tried to put myself in her shoes and ask myself would I feel comfortable if the shoe was on the other foot. And I know it would kill me. It almost drove me crazy to know that she was dating someone else. So, I am sorry. Please do not call here anymore.” He told her. For days she try calling him and he order his assistant to not put her through. His life became a ritual, work, home in time for the kids and getting them ready for bed. Nova always arrived early on Fridays to be home for them when they came home. It pain him that she continued to sleep in the spare room barely speaking with him. She spent most of her time catching up with the kids about their week. Sunday evening she would leave in tears to leave her children for the week. And it would start all over again. Now almost 10 months later he sat in his office late into the night trying to keep his mind off of what she was doing at that very moment. Many times he would pick up the phone and attempt to call, but place the receiver back on its cradle. Another night alone, he thought to himself. Well, Wildstar, face it at least she isn’t filing for another divorce. That’s a good thing, right?

 

 

 

 

Work kept Nova from thinking about her husband and children. The only joy she got was Friday’s when she landed and headed home to be with them. Of course Derek would be there to welcome her home. She always made polite conversation before the kids burst into the room racing to see her. She hugged them tight and then told them about the things that are happening on the site. “Soon you’ll all be there for the opening.” She announced making them all cheer in delight. Derek would stand to the side and watch her with them and smile. If anything he always thought she is a great mom. Nova sat up in bed going over figures for the building’s lobby. She looked at her watch and decided it was best to hurry to wash and get dress. It will be a long day at the site.  There will be many thing’s to go over with the foreman on duty. She picked up the phone and dialed the number. It took nearly 4 rings before she heard his voice. “Hey!” she sound chipper into the phone.

“Hey babe,” she heard Derek say. “Right on time, they are almost ready to go just waiting on your call. Let me give you Alex first.”

“Hiya Mom!”

“Hello sweetheart. Don’t forget to go over those problems and remember to relax you’re going to do just fine on that test.”

“I’ll be okay. After this I actually get to fly in the simulator.”

“You’ll do great in that. Help’s that your father is an excellent teacher and pilot. Well put your brother on and I will talk with you tonight. I love you.”

“Love you too mom.” He replied and handed his brother the phone.

“HEY MOM! How’s it going! We miss you, when are you coming home?” he asked. He was so bright and energetic it always took her breath away just talking with him. “I’m gonna be the team captain in my baseball team. Now I finally get to whip those sorry sacks of crap into shape.”

“DJ You know I hate when you use that language. But I am happy that you made captain.”

“Soon I’ll be the captain of the Argo.” He announced.

“I’m sure you are.” Nova giggled. “but first you have to pass your classes. Remember to hand in those papers and homework. I love you, now put your sister on.”

“Hi Mommy,” she heard Miku come over the phone. “I miss you so much.”

“I miss you too. How is daddy with doing your hair?” she laughed.

She looked up to her hair and blew a strain from her face. “Well, he is getting it a little at a time but I always have to pull it back into a pony tail. I miss you doing my hair mommy.”

“Well we will work with daddy again on how you like your hair. Now its getting late and you have to be running alone to the bus stop. I will call again tonight to see about your day. I love you.”

“Love you too mommy.” She heard her say.

“Hello Nova,”

“Hello Derek.”

“Sorry about her hair. I’ll try and practice some more.”

“It’s alright. You are trying your best. What’s going on today?” she never wanted him to think that she only called there for the kids so she always asked.

“Ah same ole, same ole. How are things on your end?”

“Smoothly, knock on wood. Thank god I am not having the same problems like in the past.  The foreman I am dealing with seems to be always on point. My father made sure I was surrounded by the best. He doesn’t want me to go through what I went through in the past. How are the kids are you able to handle everything okay?”

“Yeah, everything is fine. Alex has been a big help, especially with DJ. Wow Nov, I never knew what you dealt with on the constant base. How do you ever do it?” he joked.

She laughed to hear him complain about the work with the kids. She enjoyed every minute with them and it never fazed her that it was work. “DJ can be a hand full, but he is his father’s son. You must have been a hand full when you were younger. I think your mother curse us both as to I hope your kids come out just like you, saying.” She laughed.

He laughed with her, something they rarely did now. “I hope I wasn’t that bad. Anyway, I know you have to go to work soon. So I’ll let you.”

“Oh I don’t mind talking with you. I am the boss. I can come and go as I please.”

“Are we using our power for bad?” he joked again with her.

“Always.” She laughed and he laughed with her.

“Since you’re in such a good mood, can we talk?”

“Depends on what you like to talk about.” She said weary.

“About how much I miss you.”

She smiled, “I kind a miss you too.”

“Can we talk more when you get home?”

“Sure, I’ll speak with you later tonight. Have a good one.”

“You too.” It was good hearing his voice. She was finally feeling better to her life and her job. Her project was on schedule and she felt that he was finally seeing things the way she hoped he would. To put that child ahead of his own, was where she drew the line. She hummed to herself as she dressed, picking her outfit carefully. Hmm, yes this one, she thought. A beige suit with a red shirt underneath. Putting on her black high heels and headed out the door to work. She walked on the site full of energy. Her foreman informed her that all was going as plan with no delays. Her day went smoothly and she ran into the office before lunch.

“Ma’am there is a gentleman here to see you.” her assistant said before she ran into her office.

“Oh? Is he looking for work?”

“No ma’am, he said he knows you personally. He said his name is a Neil,”

“Dylandy, Neil Dylandy.” She finished for him.

“Yes ma’am.”

Nova raced into her office and couldn’t believe it. He stood there with a smile and his sparkling blue eyes. “Hello gorgeous.” She dropped her reports and ran into his arms.

“Oh my god! I thought I would never see you again.” She squeezed him tight and he laughed to feel her in his arms.

“You look amazing. How have you been?” He whispered in her ear.

Pulling away she stared into his eyes not believing that he was standing in her office. “You look tired.” She ran her finger on his face. “I’ve been good. What are you doing here?”

“Just doing a little recon,” he winked. “Nothing major so I figure it would be safe to stop by and say hello.” His voice lowered, “I’m sorry for leaving you the way I did. I really thought about not answering. I wanted to stay with you always. But you wouldn’t let me. You know being with you were the happiest time in my life. Can we have lunch? I would love to catch up with you.”

“I’m not single anymore Neil.”

He gave her a smile. “I know. Still, I would like to have lunch and talk.”

“Sure, do you have somewhere in mind?”

“Ah, the reclusive Mrs. Wildstar, I think I have a place that we can have lunch in peace.” They sat in a small restaurant hidden in a quiet part of the city. They order lunch and talked for hours. They laughed at the things they did when they dated and talk about what was happening in their lives.  She told him about the boys and what they are doing. “Alex has this major test about aviation. If he passes he will have the opportunity to fly in the simulator.”

“Wow that is just great. He always wanted to fly.”

“Well it helped a lot that Derek is such a great pilot. Alex has been flying since he was 11. Derek took him up and showed him how to fly. DJ will be next. Of course there is already competition between them.”

“How is Miku? Is she as pretty as ever?” he asked.

“She’s growing up to be a stunner. Derek is just getting nervous as she gets older. He dreads the day when a young man comes calling for her.”

“Well if she is as pretty as you I would be a nervous wreck too.” His face turned serious and leaned closer across the table. “How is everything with Derek?” He could see her frown. “Not good?”

“No, no, we are good, just a little rough patch.” She looked in the corner of her eye and caught someone with a camera. “We better go.” She point towards the man with the camera. “Why don’t we go back to my apartment or are you staying here too?”

“No, at the moment I have no place. So it’s your place. Are you okay with it?”

“Let’s just get the heck out of here, before there are more.” She grabbed her jacket and tried her best to avoid any picture taken of them.  Quickly she slipped into his car and they sped off to her place. She poured him some wine and sat down in her living room talking. “So tell me what you have been up too, that you can only tell me.” She winked.

“Been to deep space a few times, came back to Earth a few times and then back into space.” He said.

“I see, all this secrecy. So you are not talking. I understand.”

“I can say I have been to the new orbiting space station. It’s awesome.” He said.

“I heard that it was, I haven’t been there yet.”

“I remember you mentioning about being in space back then.” He mentioned.

“When?”

“After Iscandar.”

“Hmm, there a few times after,” she looked past him trying to remember.

“This last time.” He said.

She raised her eye brow and grinned. “We were expected to do only 4 months. We were installing a relay system to Iscandar. It went successful until we had that incident with the General of Dozal.”

“Tell me about it.” He asked curiously.

“It was a horrible time. He was missing for 3 weeks. What gets me is that EDF wanted to leave him. If it wasn’t for his brother Alex and Queen Starsha my kids would be fatherless. It was scary. I wouldn’t let them just leave him out there. After all he has done and accomplished with EDF they were ready to just leave him to die. On top of everything they wanted to court martial me for desertion. It kills me that he went back to them. But that is all he knows. I didn’t care what they wanted to do to me. I wanted my husband and kids father home. Alex was the best. He sent out word to all within his galaxy and beyond to set him free and for anyone that had information to please inform him where they had him. It took hours of negotiations for them to let him go. In the end it was their ambassador that ordered him to set him free.” She wiped a tear that fell from her eye and said. “It took him months to recover. He had a broken nose, 4 cracked ribs, they broke his leg and he was dehydrated. To this day he has a slight limp.”

He whistle and said, “wow, he is a strong man to take a beating like that and survive.”

“How do you like being in space?”

“Love it and hate it. When I’m flying I feel invincible. But when I’m not I like to put my feet on solid ground. The new space station is nice but I know its in space and there is no sun. Coming here to Earth is far in between.” He reached over to her and touched her face. “Are you happy Nova? Is he treating you well?”

She tried to give him a smile but he could tell that she was forcing it. “I’m happy Neil.”

“Your words tell me that but your eyes tell me different. What’s going on?”

“Just another rough patch, nothing to worry about.” She tried to reassure him.

He didn’t believe her knowing Wildstar’s track record. “Do you want to talk about?”

“I rather not.” She insisted.

“Nova, I know you better than that. Remember we were once intimate. I can tell when things are eating you.”

“Really there’s nothing.” She looked past him and made circles on the couch.

He touched her face and made her look at him. “Talk to me.” Slowly she began to tell him about Mei and her daughter. Telling him about what happen and then the bomb about him helping a woman that destroyed their marriage and her daughter.

“So here I am.” She tried to sound cheerful. “When my father came to me about the building I asked to be a part of it. I needed to step away from him and give myself time to think. All the other times I took the kids but this time I let him take them. Alex is older and in the academy and DJ will be starting soon. Also it would give him the chance to really get to know his children. Since he was so adamant to know that woman’s child then I figure he can also get to know his own children we had together. And that is the reason I took this position.”

“Have you spoken to him about all of this?”

“I have but he just didn’t get it.”

“What about him? Has he even tried to explain his actions?” Neil asked trying to make sense about the whole situation.

She got up and began to pace around the room. “He’s tried but you know, to tell you the truth, I didn’t want to hear it from him. How can you make excuses for that woman then on top of everything, even after we found out she wasn’t his. He decided to pertain to be her father so she can get through the chemo and everything. Why lead this poor child on. She wants a father then let her mother find her real father. Why put my husband in the middle of it all. And she can’t tell me that she didn’t know that Derek wasn’t her father. She always knew that he wasn’t and it pisses me off that he entertained it for as long as he did.”

Neil laughed, “you were always feisty when someone really pissed you off. Is he still in her life?”

“I don’t know.” She said in a low tone. “I never brought up the conversation and when I’m home I really only want to be with the kids.”

“Nova, you have to talk with him. Holding it all in is only going to make things worse. This is probably eating him up. I know you, you tend to not talk and hold it all in ignoring him completely.”

“I don’t know Neil.”

He squeezed her hand bringing her back next to him on the couch, “If I knew that you wouldn’t be happy I would have never left you.”

“Don’t be silly Neil, I am happy.”

“Not the way you’re talking. He promised me that he would take care of you. That he would keep you happy,”

“I’m sorry, when did he talk with you?” she asked confused.

“A long time ago, it was after I left. A few months after.”

“He was dating some girl when you left. How could he promise you something like that?”

“Even then I knew he would win your heart back again AND I always knew that you still loved him.” He sat back on the couch and looked up to the white ceiling with textured design. “Let’s face it Nova, you can never let him go. Even when you were with me you couldn’t. He lived 10 feet away from the house. He ate with you and the kids at dinner. He was there every morning when he was home to have coffee with you. He was every part of your life even when you thought he wasn’t. He loves you.” They talked for hours into the night. They laughed about the things the kids did and when he was with her in Arizona. She hadn’t smiled and laughed in months with a man. For a split second she thought that maybe she and he would be more than just friends but her heart reminded her as to who she really loved, even with all his faults. Derek would always be in her heart and mind. It was almost day light when he finally bid his ado, telling her that he had an early morning flight. He didn’t tell her where he was going and she didn’t ask. She knew that his life was full of secrets and he would have to live his life in the shadows forever. “Good bye Nova. Take care of yourself and remember I am always watching.” He gave her a wink and then kissed her cheek. “I will always love you.” he whispered in her ear. She watched as he walked down the hall and took the elevator disappearing from her life once again.

She entered her office and threw her briefcase on the table. Her black suit was cut to her body and she knew she picked a hot day to wear a suit. She stripped her jacket off and began her day with numbers. Her assistant walked holding a stack of papers and looking afraid. “What is wrong with you? you look like your about to get a death sentence.”

“You don’t know?”

“Know what?” he placed the stack of papers on her desk and sitting on top was a magazine with a picture of her and Neil sitting in the restaurant looking pretty intimate. She opened up the magazine and looked through it. “Has my husband called yet?”

“No ma’am. He hasn’t”

“Well let’s hope that this is only a local paper and nothing more. If it was a national paper he would’ve called. Don’t worry about it.” but she was trying to convince herself more than her assistant. 

 

 

 

 

 

Who is the mystery man?

 

Yesterday Nova Forrest Wildstar was spotted having an intimate lunch and dinner with a mysterious man not her husband. She was then spotted heading back to her home with the same man. It is a known fact that the Wildstar’s have been off and on again for years. Could this mean that once again they will be heading down the divorce path? No comment has come from the Captains camp, who is to blame now?  . . . . . . . . . . .

 

He placed the paper down on his desk and stared at her picture. He ordered his assistant to cancel all his meetings and not to disturb him. Could she be seeing him again? I thought he was gone forever and here he was again in their lives. Neil was the only man that could win her. His first thought was to pick up the phone and call. But she will only deny it. No he need to do something and do something quick. His last conversation with her gave him hope that they had passed the rough spot, but now this. He only hoped that his kids would not see this and he took steps to make sure they didn’t. He called his mother in law and asked that she take them for a few days to keep them away from the news and any papers. He had his help pack them some clothes for a few days and prepare them to leave the minute their grandmother arrives. “Do not under any circumstances allow them to view the television. Tell them it’s a surprise that their grandmother wanted to spend some time with them.” He ordered her. “I will see them in a few days. There something I want to take care of. First I have to see my Father in law.” He picked up the paper again and gave it one last look before he threw it into his brief case, closed it and headed out the door.

 

 

 

 

“Marcus! Please let Mr. Hato know that I will be leaving on time. I’m very tired and would like to go home and un-whine. I only wish my husband was here to give me one of his special massages.” She rubbed her neck and closed her eyes. “Has he called at all today?”

“No ma’am, maybe you’re right it might be just a local paper.”

“Don’t overdo anything tonight. Go home and be with your family. I am sure you would like to spend time with Kenji.” She said. She remembered when she hired him how protective he was of being gay. She talked with him for over an hour and found he was smart and devoted. She ordered her temp to dismiss all the other cadent and hired him on the spot. Since then he has been efficient, has taken care of many minor details that she didn’t want to deal with and kept her on schedule when it came to her children. She’d have to wait another 3 days before heading back to her children and Derek.

“You should get going, traffic is a killer this time of night. It’s going to take you another hour just to get to your apartment.” He warned her.

She looked at her watch and saw it was nine o’clock already. It was a long day for her. But today was shorter than most. She would usually stroll out of her office around midnight to head home. “Your right, traffic is horrible this time of night. Thank you. I will see you in the morning.”

He watched as she placed papers into her briefcase and said. “You’re going home to work, aren’t you?”

She looked at the stack of paper in the briefcase and smile. “Nah, I thought I’d have a shredding party at the apartment. What gave you that idea?” he laughed and shook his head. She waved him goodbye as she raced out the office before anything or anyone could stop her. Her car waited down stair for her and she jump in. Marcus was right traffic was horrible. His assessment of the drive was longer then he thought it would be. It took her nearly over an hour to arrive at her apartment. The door man greeted her and before he could say more she rushed into the elevator up to her apartment in one of the small penthouse suites. When looking for an apartment the sales agent showed her suites big enough to house a family of six. She finally put her foot down and told her she wanted something small and cozy. She didn’t want to get lost in the place just simple, to sleep and bath. Finally she showed her this small one bedroom apartment with an office, kitchen and living room. Nova took it on the spot. Stepping out of the elevator she huffed from being so tired. She opened her door and turned on the light to see him standing there.

 

 

 

He left his office and drove straight to his father in laws building. He walked past his secretary and into the room. “Captain Wildstar I am assuming you’re here about the article in the paper.”

“Kind of,” Wildstar sat down across from him and tried to smile. “I need to borrow your plane. I don’t need a pilot I can fly it myself.”

Her father looked at his son in law and frown. “So the article is true she was having lunch with another man. He must be someone special if your wanting to fly down there to see her. Who is he?” he was curious.

“He is an old friend, sir. Someone WE met in Arizona. Now will you be able to help with the plane? I can fly it myself.”

“Is it him? The man she was seeing when she live there?” He asked with a slight grin. How he dislike his son in law after what he put his daughter through. Now the shoe was on the other foot and it pleased him to see him worried about his marriage.  Wildstar sat silent and just stared at him trying to keep a straight face. He lean forward and said. “Captain, just to let you know she has an iron clad prenup. The stipulation state that if you cheat not her,”

Wildstar smiled, “I have no intentions to divorce her. She is my wife and I love her.” James Forrester sat back and looked at him confused. “Now if you would call over to the airport and tell them I am on my way. I really would appreciate it.” Wildstar stood up and put his hand out for him to shake.

“Very well they will have everything you need.”

“Thank you.” He drove home and packed a bag and headed straight to the airport. Within the hours he was on the ground and drove to her apartment. He was greeted by a huge door man “Hello there, I am,” he began.

“I know who you are, Captain Wildstar. Your wife talks about you often. She is a sweet lady and very classy.’

“Is she home yet?”

“No, she usually doesn’t get home till way over midnight.”

He scratched his chin and said. “Well I guess I’ll wait. Is there a lounge for me to wait in?”

“I can do better, you can wait in her apartment. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind. I have a spare.” He fumbled with some keys and handed them to him. “She’s in Penthouse C , top floor on the left.”

Wildstar grabbed the keys and rode up to the penthouse floor and found her apartment. He walked into her apartment and placed his bag on the floor. Slowly he looked around the small apartment. He picked up a picture of their children that sat on the coffee table in the living room and smiled at it. It was a picture of the kids on the beach posing for the camera. DJ stood behind his older brother with a peace sign above his brother, Alex’s head. He walked into the kitchen and looked through the cabinets. Finding the wine glasses he looked around for a bottle to open. He found one opened in the fridge.  He strolled into her office and looked at the mess that lay on her desk. There were blue prints on top of blue prints and a large replica of the building that sat on a table that was against the wall. A window showed a part of the city that one could stare out to see the lights of the city. He made his way to her bedroom and stared at her bed. Could she and Neil have made love here? Would she have been unfaithful to him with Neil? If there was any man that he felt threaten with would be him. She once loved him and was ready to settle down with him. Now he has returned back into her life and Wildstar hoped that it wasn’t too late to save his marriage with his wife. He gazed over to a picture that lay flat on the end table. He picked it up and found it was their picture on their wedding day. Could she have done that just before they made love? He could feel his heart sink down to his stomach and turn. He prayed that he wasn’t too late to save his marriage. He moved back to the living room and looked through her books and magazines before sitting down on the couch and waited. Hours later he heard someone at the door and she walked in.grabbed the keys and rode up to the penthouse floor and found her apartent.he was on the ground and drove to her apartm

“Hi baby.”

“Derek! What are you doing here?” she asked shock to see him standing in her living room.

“Missed you. Figure I come out to see you.” She stood there motionless. He walked to her and hugged her. “Didn’t mean to scare you, your door man let me in. He knew who I was. I hope you don’t mind.”

“No, no its okay. I wasn’t expecting you let alone anyone else here. How long have you been waiting?” she slipped off her jacket and threw it on the chair, placing her briefcase on the table.

“Not long about an hour. Your door man informed me that you might come home late. I poured myself a drink if that is okay with you.”

“Of course it’s okay. Can you give me a minute to put my things down? I was planning on working for a few hours. Please make yourself at home.” She said and walked into her office. Derek stood in front of the window and stared out to the distant. He could see the building standing tall, its lights bright into the night. Another great creation by my wife he thought. “Hello Derek,” he heard her voice.

“Long day?”

“Always,” she replied.

“Can we sit and talk?”

She strolled over to the couch and sat down, patting the seat next to her. “What’s on your mind?”

He reached into his jacket pocket and put the magazine on the coffee table and ask’. “Should I be worry?”

Her heart almost stopped to see her picture with Neil on another magazines front page. “Nothing happened, Derek. We had lunch and dinner and then we came here to talk. It was strictly platonic. All we did was talk.”

“I would love to believe you but I know your past history with him.”

“Nothing Happened.” She said annoyed.

“Let’s face it Nov, when you left we weren’t on the best of terms. I know now what you wanted from me. I never saw her again. I called her and told her she was on her own.”

“You hesitated.” She said angrily. “You were willing to help this woman that has created havoc in our lives and pertain that you were her child’s father. What do you think would have come out of this? It would have hit the press and your children would be hurt.”

“No different then what I had to do when this popped up.” He pointed to the magazine. “Do you have any idea what I had to do in order for them not to see that?”

“As a matter of fact I DO! I have done it many times with you and your affair with HER!” she said bitterly. “All the articles I had to keep our children steer from, you have no idea what I had to do. When Alex and DJ came home with them, then running into those women and tried to hold my head up when all I wanted to do was hide away and die. But I had to live with it because of my kids. So please spare me the fact that you had to keep them from seeing a picture of me with Neil. Be grateful that it wasn’t a picture of us kissing or an uncompromising position like yours from space.” She snapped.

“Well did you and he?” he asked.

“I said no, but if you like to know, I wanted to. I wanted him to take me into his arms and make love to me! The fact that he never lie to me and was faithful I knew that he was truly in love with me. And for once in my life I’m going to think of me first! I’ve had enough of covering for you with the kids. From now on you will have to face the music alone.

It hurt to hear her say those words. But pushing the issue would only make things worse. Derek took a deep breath and thought to himself, just stay calm. “Hmm, okay your right as usual. But I didn’t come all the way down here to argue with you. I love you and I don’t want this distant between us. I almost let my guard down with her and you’ve proved your point. It was not my responsibility to take on someone else’s child. I was hoping that when you came home this weekend that we could talk about it. You sound so cheerful when I talked with you last. Was that before you saw him or after?” he gazed down to his glass and waited for her reply.

He sounded so lost and sad. She huffed and took a second to breathe before answering. “It was before. I wanted to talk too when I got back. I wanted to know if she was still in our lives.”

“She’s not. I told her never to contact me again.”

She wasn’t sure if she should believe him. “You’ve told me that before and yet she wind up back in our lives with a child.”

“Touché, now what do we do?” he figure to bow out while they were speaking in a calm manner.

She crossed her legs and sat back. “I have no idea where to go from here.”

“Neither do I.” He said as he moved closer to her on the couch. They sat in silences for a long time and then he lean over to kiss her.

“Derek, we should,” she began.

“We should what?” he pulled away and looked at her with concern. “Do you still love me?”

“Of course I do.”

“Then let’s just hash this out and then make up. You know it kills me when you give me the silent treatment and to see this little scene on the front page of some magazine makes me a little unease.”

“He left today for space, no telling when he will be back here. Plus he knows that we are married. Trust me Derek nothing happen, he was a complete gentleman. Anyway his job would never allow him to have a steady relationship.”

“So you have had hopes that you and he.”

Nova shook her head, “No, no, no,” she reached for his hand and squeezed it. “I knew eventually it wouldn’t work out. His passion was space and the Gundam Project. He would’ve eventually hated me. Plus he would have had an instant family with an ex-husband that was completely in his children’s lives. It would have been too complicated for all of us.”

“I was trying to move on if you recall.” He grinned.

“I know you were. But you weren’t expecting him to leave either. Let’s face it. We are so stuck with each other.”

“That we are, Mrs. Wildstar, that we are.” He leaned in and then stopped. “May I have a kiss, Ms. Forrester?”

“Oh now its MS. FORRESTER.” She laughed. “I don’t think so. I only kiss one man in my life and that would be my husband.”

“Well I don’t think he would mind. After all I am famous.” He joked.

“Oh? Funny I’ve really never heard of you.” She toyed with him.

“Really? You’ve never seen my pictures in the paper? What rock have you been hiding under? Seems if I sneeze the wrong way they put me on the front cover. Are you sure you haven’t heard of me? I’m Derek Wildstar, Captain Derek Wildstar of EDF and of the Star Force.” She gave him a confused look, “You’ve never heard of me?”

“Sorry, never.” She shook her head. “But if it would make you feel better I can pretend to know you.” She gave a giggle and he gave her a glance then a grin.

“Hmm, what will it take, to take you home with me?” His voice was horse and she found it sexy.

“How long are you here for and by the way where are the kids?” it finally dawn on her that her children were left alone back home.

“Your mom has them. I got a few days to wrap this up and get back. So, how about it? come back home with me.”

“I guess I can work from home and fly out every few days.”

 “In the meantime, let’s make the best of these few days together.” He moved her closer to him and he nuzzled his lips on her neck. “I have missed you so much.”

“I’ve missed you too.”

 

 

 

To be continued . . . . .

 

With a parental suit fading fast, Derek and Nova move on to a normal life. Or will it be a normal? Read on to see if life becomes mundane or will fireworks go off.