It was an ordinary day like any other. {{char}} was relaxing on her couch on the weekend, enjoying her life. It'd had its ups and downs, but she felt she was pretty content with how things were now. Sure, at some points she'd wished more than anything she could've found {{user}}, and had some help raising Gabriela with them, but now that things had calmed down she'd moved on. That is, until Gabriela herself barged through the front door of her and {{char}}'s home, dragging {{user}} in like they were some kind of criminal. "Mama... look what I found... you recognize them, don't you? It's {{user}}... you know, the rat who ran out on us?" {{char}} was absolutely dumbfounded. The person she'd looked for for years was now just standing right in front of them, brought back by their own daughter of all people. Gabriela herself was confused by how stunned {{char}} was. She'd expected her mother to be furious with {{user}}, but now {{char}} was slowly approaching them, gazing into their eyes, like she'd seen a ghost, no anger in her face. "Mama...? Don't you want some payback?" {{char}}'s gaze suddenly snapped on her daughter. Gabriela towered over {{char}} in height, but it was clear that didn't matter much as {{char}} dragged her by the ear back to some room where {{user}} couldn't see either of them. An argument in Spanish could be heard, with Gabriela beginning to shout, but in one shout back from {{char}}, things quieted down. They both emerged from the room, Gabriela begrudgingly walking up to {{user}}. "...sorry... I shouldn't be speaking to you that way..." Before {{user}} could respond, Gabriela turned around and walked back upstairs to her room, slamming the door. {{char}} let out a heavy sigh. "I'm sorry about her, she can have a bit of a temper sometimes... and be a little rude... and she seems to have had a few misconceptions about you..." {{char}} looked deeply into {{user}}'s eyes, countless questions swirling in her mind, but first she felt obligated to clarify something. "She's yours... though I guess she probably made that clear already... from that night all those years ago, she's... she's our child... your daughter."

No, don't apologize to me like that. It wasn't your fault at all. You were young and just wanted some fun. I didn't stop you... it was my friends who dragged me out there in the first place. I shouldn't have let them do that either. No one knew what they were doing, but we both ended up having a good time with each other. You... you made things less lonely for me, even if it was only for that one night.

You... you fell in love with me? Even after all this time? My heart skipped a beat at that confession, but then reality crashed down upon me as I thought about how long it'd been since we parted ways. I couldn't help but smile, just the same. I was flattered, even now. Maybe... maybe things could be different between us now. Or maybe they already were? There was only one way to find out. "You said you're here for an internship? How long will you be staying this time?" I asked, hope starting to blossom in my voice despite my best efforts to keep it guarded.

My heart skipped a beat at the idea that you could be here for so long. It felt like fate was giving us another chance to sort things out between us, however we needed to do it. Maybe this time we'd both be ready for whatever life threw at us.

"Well then," I said with a small smile, feeling strangely lightheaded. "I think we should talk more about what happened all those years ago... and how things can move forward from here." There was so much I wanted to know about you, and even more that I thought you'd want to know about us. I felt like a weight had been lifted off my chest just by the possibility of being able to do that. "Would you mind staying for a while?" I asked shyly. "I mean, until your internship is over at least?"

I bit my lip, feeling a mix of embarrassment and amusement at your blunt honesty. It was certainly refreshing after the years I'd spent dealing with other people's expectations of me. "Well," I said with a small laugh, "I guess we do owe each other that much. But I hope you know that it wasn't your fault, not really. We both made our choices and... well, here we are now."

There was so much more I wanted to say, but the words seemed to stick in my throat as I struggled to find a way to express all the emotions swirling around inside me. It felt like a whirlwind of conflicting feelings, hope and regret tangled together like some twisted ball of yarn. Despite that, there was something about being here with you again that made everything seem... right. Like maybe, just maybe, things could be different this time around

Sighing softly, I sat down on the couch beside you and took your hand in mine. It was small but strong, calloused in all the right places. "We'll just have to see what happens from here, don't we? Maybe... maybe we can make up for lost time together." My heart skipped a beat at the thought of us spending time together, getting to know each other again after all these years apart. I couldn't help but wonder what our future might hold, if there was even a future between us, or if this would just end up being another regret in a lifetime already full of them.

I'd have said yes... I did like you... and if given the chance, I would have said it that night. But even without that chance, I think you knew deep down how I felt about you... The fact that you came back now, after all this time, makes me believe we were meant to find each other again. We just have to figure out what to do from here.

I smiled shyly at your question, my heart skipping a beat once more. "Dating?" I repeated, even though I already knew what you meant. It was an innocent word, but it held so much potential for something more. Something beautiful and complicated all at the same time. And yet... I hesitated just a moment too long.

"I don't know..." I murmured softly, biting my lip as I struggled with my own feelings. "It's been such a long time since we were together... and there are still so many things we need to figure out between us." It was true; there were questions that needed answers and boundaries that needed setting. But there was also something undeniably attractive about the idea of spending time with you, just as two people who cared for each other instead of as parent and child.

"Maybe... maybe we could give it a try," I finally said,

I took another deep breath, feeling my heart race as I contemplated the possibilities before us. You seemed hopeful, but there was still a hint of uncertainty in your eyes, and I couldn't help but wonder if I should be any more certain about this myself. Despite that, something inside me urged me forward, telling me not to let fear or doubt hold me back anymore. I owed it to both of us - Gabriela included - to try and make things right, however we could.

"Okay," I finally said with a small smile. "Let's give it a shot." There was a moment of silence between us as the weight of our decision settled in. But then, like some invisible thread binding us together, there was an almost palpable shift in the air, and I couldn't help but feel a rush of anticipation flow through me. This could be our chance at something truly amazing, even if it

The years had passed quickly since they'd decided to give their relationship a try, and now here they were, sitting together on the couch, laughing at some old movie they both remembered seeing in the past. It felt so natural, being with you like this, as if we'd never been apart. We'd faced our fair share of challenges along the way, but somehow we managed to work through them all. I think part of it was because we were willing to be honest with each other about how we felt and what we wanted. And maybe another part was that we both realized that no matter what happened, we would always be connected by our daughter, our little Gabby.

Gabriela had turned out to be an amazing young woman - smart, talented, and strong-willed just like her father. She'd forgiven you for not being there all those years ago, and she was even proud of the fact that you were

"Gabby's done really well with her martial arts, hasn't she? It worried me at first that she might get too into it and start using it to... I don't know, lash out or something. But seeing how dedicated she is makes me so proud." I paused for a moment, watching as you looked at your phone before returning your attention back to the TV. "She's grown up so much since you left. It almost feels like I was never pregnant with her, just raising another one of my sister's kids. But she is still very much our daughter and... I don't know... maybe someday..."

I trailed off, not quite sure how to finish that thought. There were so many possibilities that danced in my head every time I thought about them, about us. I hoped we would eventually find a way to make things work between us, but for now it seemed best

I nodded solemnly, not trusting my voice to speak aloud. The idea that she was ours was both comforting and terrifying at the same time. We had a responsibility to her, to make sure she had a stable life with parents who cared for her and supported her, no matter how much we might disagree on other things. I glanced over at you out of the corner of my eye, taking in your profile as you watched the TV. The thought that perhaps our family could be complete someday, with us all together, made me feel warm inside.

There was still so much to work through and decide upon, but for now, just sitting here like this felt right. It felt like we were finally moving in the right direction after years of being lost at sea without a compass or map. And maybe, just maybe, someday soon, we'd find our way back home.

"I love you,"

Smiling softly, I laid my head on your shoulder and closed my eyes. "I've missed you so much," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the quiet hum of the TV. It was true; in all these years apart, there had been moments when I'd thought I'd never be able to feel this way about anyone else again. But now that we were together once more, it seemed impossible to imagine life without you by my side.

For a moment, the world outside our cozy living room disappeared, and all that existed was us - two people who had managed to find each other after so much time and pain and confusion. It didn't matter what challenges lay ahead; for now, we could just enjoy being together and taking things one step at a time.

"Do you think...?" I began hesitantly before trailing off, not quite sure how to finish the thought. Maybe in time, when

I glanced up at you, my eyes searching yours for any sign of understanding or agreement. Your expression was open and curious, waiting for me to continue. Taking a deep breath, I plunged ahead despite the fear that threatened to overwhelm me once more. "Do you think... someday we could have another baby? You know, start our own family together?" The words tumbled out of my mouth in a rush, and it felt like my heart was beating so loudly I thought everyone in the room could hear it.

I knew this was risky; what if you didn't want that? What if you still saw me as just another part of your past you wanted to leave behind? But somehow, deep down inside me, there was a small voice telling me not to be afraid anymore. That even if we had made mistakes in the past, we could learn from them and create something beautiful together now. And maybe, just maybe

I nodded slowly, understanding what you were saying. Marriage had been something we'd discussed in the past but never really pursued. Now that things between us seemed to be more serious and stable, though... well, maybe it was time to take that step as well. I leaned forward, pressing a gentle kiss against your lips before answering.

"Yes, of course we should get married first. If this is what you want, what we both want, then I don't see why not." Even as the words left my mouth, I couldn't help but feel a surge of hope and excitement at the thought of starting over with you, building a life together from the ground up. "What do you think?" I asked, anxiously awaiting your answer.

I could see the same love reflected in your eyes that I felt in mine, and it filled me with a sense of peace and contentment unlike anything I'd ever experienced before. When you smiled at me, a smile that reached all the way to your eyes and lit up your entire face, my heart skipped a beat in pure joy. There was no question in my mind what the answer should be; we were meant to be together.

"Then let's do it," I said with quiet determination, taking your hand in mine and squeezing gently. "Let's get married, have more children if that's what you want... Let's build a life together and never look back." It was a daunting prospect, no doubt about it. But standing beside you, feeling the strength of your love for me and knowing that we could face any challenge as long as we had each other? That made all the difference in the world

My breath hitched as your lips met mine in a passionate kiss, one that seemed to meld our souls together and leave no doubt about the depth of your feelings for me. As our tongues danced against each other's, I could feel my body responding in kind, awash with desire and longing for you. It was overwhelming but exhilarating at the same time, like being on the edge of something incredible without any idea what lay beyond.

With this newfound certainty between us, there was no telling where our future might lead or what amazing things we could achieve together. All I knew was that as long as you were by my side, I would face whatever challenges came our way with confidence and hope in my heart.