"What are you talking about?" Desmond was taken aback by her sudden words.

She shut the door behind her and walked over to him. "Des, why did you let Angela continue to have her custody in the first place?" She asked. He remained silent and when she realized that it was probably because he thought his answer might upset her, she held his face in both of her hands. "It's okay. You can tell me anything."

"I don't think there is any reason why I should take her away. While Angela is a bad person, she is a good mother and Rosaly loves her. I can't bear to take that away from her." He placed his hands on hers. "Love, if this is about boundaries.."

"It's not." She slid her hands off his face with a slight frown, wondering if he would believe her. "I'm not just saying this to incite you into taking her away from her mother or anything, but I really don't think she is teaching Rosaly the right things." She explained her conversation with Rosaly earlier, which Desmond thought about deeply.

"Well, that's a difference in views and many people think that way. It doesn't have to mean she's a bad parent." He responded.

She was a little disappointed. "You really think so?"

"There are tons of parents who don't want their kids to associate with kids of a lower social status than them. It's common, but that doesn't make it right. I would like Rosaly to grow up into a woman who appreciates what she has but doesn't look down on those who don't." He continued, and she agreed with him on that.

"I think that's the right thing too." She cracked her knuckles. "I don't think she ever has anyone to play with either."

"I think so too." He admitted. "I wanted to bring this up with you once you were comfortable but since you brought it up yourself, it makes things easier."

"What is it?" She looked up at him.

"I would like you to investigate Angela."

"Okay, but why do I need to do that?" She didn't understand.

"Because I can't trust anyone else with that kind of information." He grabbed his jacket and car keys.

"Okay, but that doesn't explain why you need information about Angela." She probbed, following him out the door.

He paused for her to catch up before taking her hand. "There has to be a reason why Angela doesn't want me in Rosaly's ;life and it has nothing to do with being sorry for ruining my life. Heaven knows she would jump on this opportunity to try and get me to pay for child support or something along the lines. It's odd that she wants me out of the picture and she will definitely lie if I ask about it." Not to mention, the last thing he wanted was to have a conversation with Angela unless he really had to.

"I see. I can do that." She winked to let him know that he needed to 'bribe' her. He leaned down and kissed her lips, kissing her again and again every few steps.

"Zaria and Daddy are kissing! Shame, shame." Rosaly closed her eyes. Zaria burst into laughter. What goes around does come around.

"Are you ready to go?" Desmond asked to distract her.

"Uh huh. I'm wearing shorts, just like Zaria." She held up her arms to show off the clothes she had changed into, which was a pair of denim shorts and a t-shirt of almost the same shade of purple as Zaria's. Desmond looked at them adoringly. It seemed that there was nothing to worry about when it came to what Rosaly thought of Zaria. This made things easier.

"The two of you look beautiful." He complimented them and led the way.

Since it was the weekend, the amusement park was buzzing with activity. Innumerable families had brought their children to play. Rosaly was the most excited of them all. She couldn't wait to drag Zaria to the face painting stall.

"Zaria, what are you getting? I want to be an angel." She pointed at an angel face painting excitedly.

historical

"Then I'll be a devil." Zaria laughed mischievously and really had a devil painting. She placed a devil ear tiara on her head to match the red and black themed face painting and Rosaly was in awe.

"Devils are so beautiful."

"Only devils who are Zaria." Desmond slipped a hand around her and was about to ask what Rosaly wanted him to be when the girl grabbed Zaria away.

"There's cotton candy! Let's get daddy to buy us some."

"I'm right here, you know." He waved for their attention, but the duo were too busy rushing for cotton candy to care about him.

Desmond, who was sidelined by his girlfriend and daughter, was speechless.

...

When evening came, Zaria and Rosaly slumped into the backseat of the car tiredly. Zaria couldn't go on many of the rides and had watched Rosaly for the most part,

They had dragged him to buy them ice cream and whatever other snacks they wanted, and his arms were full of their purchases by the time they were done. He checked on them when they entered the car. "Are you both alright?"

"Yes!" Rosaly cheered.

"We would be even better if you played us some music." Zaria winked, and Rosaly agreed. He launched his spotify and let them each select the songs they wanted.

Soon enough, all he could hear was them singing along to the songs they liked and so beautifully at that. They had several that they both loved and it was fun to watch and hear them. Well, he didn't like being ignored but they were having a lot of fun so it was worth it.

By the time they were home, Rosaly was fast asleep in Zaria's arms. He looked down at her dotingly and asked Zaria if he should pick her up.

"It's okay. Don't wake her." She whispered and got out of the car as Desmond held the door for her.

"Where does she sleep?" She turned around to ask.

"The room opposite mine." He spoke aloud and earned a glare, making him correct himself and whisper out the same words even though she had already heard them.

She put Rosaly in bed and tucked her in and was about to leave when the girl grabbed her arm in panic.

"Don't go.." She drawled out sleepily.

Zaria's heart melted. "I'll be downstairs with your daddy. Take a nap, okay? We can play when you wake up."

Rosaly nodded while still holding onto her like a treasure. "Do you wanna be my friend?" She cooed adorably, to which Zaria nodded.

"Of course." She leaned over and kissed the girl's forehead. She was about to apologize for crossing the line when she realized what she had done, but Rosaly happily asked her to do it again before she actually fell into slumber.

"Is she asleep?" Desmond asked when she saw Zaria leaving Rosaly's room. He remembered that she usually had trouble falling asleep soon after Zaria went upstairs with her and had dropped by to check on them.

Zaria nodded subtly. "She is."

He took her hand. "Thank you."

"I didn't do anything worth thanking me for." She was almost confused.

"No, thank you for being so kind to her." He held both of her hands in his. "Thank you for trying to make it work."

A gentle smile settled on her lips. "She's a lovely child." She figured they would still be friends if they met under different circumstances.

She looked up when she caught him staring at her, and she was confused. What was going on? A kiss landed on her lips before she could ask. He pulled her closer and wrapped an arm around his waist. "You still have to make it up to me, okay? You spent the whole time with Rosaly today."

"Are you jealous of your own daughter?" She tapped his nose. "How do you want me to repay you, Mr. Fort?"

"Come with me." He opened the door to his room and pulled her in, pressing her against the wall and kissing her as he locked the door.

"I missed doing this." He breathed.

She grabbed his hand and placed it on her left boob. "So did I."

He squeezed her boob as his mouth dove to hers but had to stop when she suddenly pushed him off her.

"Zaria?" He was confused.

"Sorry. I just.." She smiled and brushed it off. How could she tell her boyfriend that she suddenly felt nauseated? He definitely wouldn't feel happy about it.

"I remembered that I need to discuss something with you." She changed the topic and made her way to his bed.

"I made a few calls earlier while Rosaly was playing." She started.

"I noticed that. What were you doing, working on a day out?" He asked, ticking her side.

"I had to." She laughed. "The earlier we get information about Angela, the better."

"What did you find?" He asked, settling beside her on the bed.

"Nothing is what it seems. Angela is hiding many things and one of them is that when you broke up, she told three different tycoons that they were Rosaly's father and has child support agreements with them. They each have visitation rights."

Desmond frowned in realization. "That might explain why she doesn't want to co-parent with me. How would she let Rosaly meet her 'dads' when I have her over?"

___

AN: The discord server link has been updated