Chapter 26: Chapter 26

“Happy birthday baby, daddy got a special gift for you.”

“What is it, what is it, daddy.” The little girl, squeals, jumping up down, in front of him.

“A special gift.”

“Won’t you give it to me already.”

He chuckled, taking her into his arms, she was still on her small pinky pajamas.

“No yet baby, momma got to give her first.”

“Really, but I want to see yours first.” She pouted. He drew her cheeks lightly. The smart daughter of his, he was always ready to do anything for her, she was the heiress of everything he had. His future.

Maeve Cartel.

“Close your eyes.”

“Do I have to do that.”

“It’s a surprise, if you don’t do it, you’ll ruined it.”

“Alright fine.” She roll her eyes.

“Stop acting all grown up, you just clocked four today.”

“At least I ain’t three anymore.”

He smiled and stroke her beautiful hair.

“I can’t wait for you to grow up, so I can see how You’ll look. I bet you’ll look just as perfect as your mother.”

“No!” She shook her head.

“I want to be as handsome as you’re. You’re more perfect to me.”

He laughed and hugged her.

“My baby girl.”

She smiled and hugged him tight.

“Love you daddy.”

“Love you more.”

He kissed her forehead, and her both cheeks. Tucking her hairs behind her ears neatly.

••••

Maeve jerk up from the bed. All soaked in perspiration and blood, the blood stream down her face, she wipe them off. And sniffed. Did she cry, in her sleep. It felt so real, Like it was happening right that instant, when she was four. And she was seeing herself being four. The door opened, the panicked Dixon came in, running towards the bed. Without hesitating, he pulled her into a hug. Pressing her body towards his. She wrapped her hands around him. Sniffing.

He might have seen her cloth stain with blood, he’d asked her yet. Though she knew he would do so , once she was more relaxed.

“It’s okay..” he cooed, caressing her back.

“You’ll be fine.”

She pulled away, staring at his face. He caress her cheeks. Looking down at her stain shirt.

“Are you hurt? Are you okay?”

“It nothing, I’m fine.”

“Blood.”

“You should know, it’s tears.” She looked away, so she doesn’t get to see the bewildering look he held. Guess, he was staring deep down at her. He took the spot next to her on the bed.

“It’s isn’t something to be embarrassed about. We’re in this together, I want to help you Maeve, if only you would let me.”

“You don’t even know what that is. I shed blood, not tears, you guys shed. It’s different. My changes of being human again is very slim.”

“It’s okay, you don’t have to get worked up by it.”

He bracketed her shoulders.

“We’ll find a way.”

“And if you can’t?”

“We could make one.” She looked at him. And scoffed. Placing her head on his shoulders. It was still quite late and, she doesn’t think she could sleep anymore till the morning.

“Wanna talk about the dream you had, that made you cry this much. It could help.”

“Help, how?”

“Make you feel better.”

Her eyes were full of curiosity. And he smiled tenderly at her, with a reassuring gaze.

“Go on, I’m listening.”

“There was a girl, in there, she was four. And a man, he was tall, dark skin. And she calls him daddy. What does that means.”

“A father and daughter, the girl is the man’s child. That’s what it means.”

She was looking ahead of them.

“It was her birthday, he woke her up with a song, a birthday song. She was happy...” she exhaled.

“She laughed, and hugged, he said he got a surprise for her. A special gift, he was gonna give her. And wished she grew up very quickly so he get to see how she looks.” She smiled as she said it. And couldn’t help the blood gathering at the corner of her eyes, about to pour.

“What happened next..”

“She said, she wanted to grew up and be just like him, that she loved him. And he said he loved her more.”

She cried now. The blood dripping down from her eyes.

“He never got to see her, he never got to see how she grew. You said telling you would made me feel better, but it didn’t. It made me feel worse.”

“I’m sorry, I couldn’t help.”

He hugged her.

“I don’t even want to think about it.”

“I hope this makes you feel better. Your dad loves you, and I’m sure if he would to be here he would say the same thing, as I’m.”

“What’s that?”

“You shouldn’t cry, Maeve. It’s hurting..”

He began Humming a tone the song he wrote for her.

She cried more.

“This was supposed to make you cry less, not more.” He whispered.

She Gripped his pajamas shirt.

The girl in the dream was her, he couldn’t say it was a dream, but one of her returning memories, she was getting to know more of herself, who she was. The life she had, where she came from, Her parents and everyone who had been in her past.

Just a little more while and she would remember everything. As long as she’s out of Lucas basement and no longer addicted to his syringes and drugs.

His alien was gonna recover.

And be human.

you’re so beautiful

He sang in her ear.

“Even with my white hair, do I still look beautiful.”

“Even if you go bald. You’re still pretty.”

She smiled. “Why didn’t you tell me, about your hair. You couldn’t possibly hide it from me.”

“I didn’t know how I was gonna say it to you, I didn’t know how you were gonna react to it, having my hair growing hair. You won’t take me out to again.”

“That’s reminds me of our date, I’m taking you out in the evening, to a place. You would love”

“To see the sunset.”

“No, somewhere different. But you need to go back to sleep first.”

“I don’t think I could sleep anymore.” She said looking at his shirt already stain with blood. He followed her gaze.

“I made a mess of it. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

“Why is everything always okay with you, don’t you get mad at me, yelled at me or cuss me. You don’t do that anymore, you used to do it a lot.”

He itched his head.

“Why would I do that. I won’t do that to you anymore.”He held her close.

“Why?”

“Because...” he paused.

“..I’ve got to understand you better. And know you more. Close your eyes now. And go to sleep.”

He sang quietly to her, cuddle her up close on the bed, her head lying on his chest. She shut her eyes. And slowly drifted to sleep.

He watched her sleep for a while and lower his face and kissed her.

She was woken up, to the sound of Dixon hitting a spoon on the door. He continued hitting them. Till she gawp at him.

The windows were wide opened.

“Were you planning on sleeping from now to tomorrow. You slept the whole day!” He exclaimed.

“W-What.” She yawned.

“I slept the whole day.”

“0f course you do. I left you in the morning, made you breakfast, wake up woke, but you didn’t move or made any attempt to get up. And the breakfast I made was untouched. Why didn’t you eat them? Even the last time, Green ate the breakfast not you.”

“How did you know?”

“I know how you eat.”!

“Yeah right, it’s different from how you humans eat.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

“Like there’s any difference.”

“Fine, I’m sorry.”

She looked hurt for a second, and then smiled faintly, she couldn’t seems to stay made at him for long.

“What’s the time?”

“Six in the evening.”

He crossed his hands. Approaching her on the bed.

“And we would be late if we don’t go now.”

“Go, where, another picnic?”

“Kinda, but no really.”

“But you’re making dessert.”

“Definitely.” He laughs.

She folded her hands.

“What’s it is then?”

“A whole different place, it’s far from here.”

“What’re you saying, it’s a whole different thing.”

“Just get ready. And be quick. I’ll be done in a sec.”

she nodded, while he help her up from the bed. The bubble hat fell from her hair. Dixon took it, holding it, she twirl around. Stopping an inch from him.

“You don’t have to hide it when you’re home. It just us, there shouldn’t be any secret between us.”

He touched her hair.

“it’s pretty.”

She smiled, a sad one.

He doesn’t know what the sign was.

“You like it?”

“I do. So stop covering them. Except we’ve got visitors.”

“Visitor, is someone coming over.”

“Yeah, my friend actually, the one I told you about.”

“Eamon.”

“Yeah, he’s getting Released soon. And my mother, she could come anytime soon. Oh, I almost forgot.”

“What’s is it?”

He doesn’t know how to say it, if he was going he doesn’t know yet. He was still thinking about it. If he was gonna go, he would have to go with her, he couldn’t leave her alone, cause he doesn’t know when he was gonna come back, it might be quite late, or he might decide to go somewhere else. He was still contemplating.

“My mom, is having a birthday party, with her family. That’s us. And her husband.”

“Ain’t you going?”

“I don’t know yet, if I’ve to go, I’ll have to take you with me.”

“Your man is scary.”

He laughs.

“She scares me too. Sometimes.”

They laughed. He watched her walked into the bathroom, while he left the room, to get ready. This was their first date. He wanted to make it, special. Somewhere nice and lovely. But it was a long drive from here to that part of the town. He mostly preferred cool evening dates.

He sat on the driver seat. Waiting for her to come join him. He’d asked how she had been able to eat. She hadn’t eaten anything since he could remember, except the little dessert he forces her to take.

Did she perhaps, still kills.

How come he hadn’t heard about it. If she did, it would have been on the media already.

What’s she been doing then?

He should find out.

Or just let it pass, she would tell him anyway or won’t she?

He doesn’t know anymore, she was getting more distance from him anything he took a step closer, she pushed him away.

She came out of the house, on a black hoodie. Covering her hair. Her steps were quick and smart. And very fast. Before he could blink she was already in the car.

“Let’s go.”

He nodded and ignite the car, while flashing a look her way. She was indeed changing.

“What’s wrong, why are you staring at me like that.”

“You look pretty.”

“I’m not stupid. Dixon.”

“I like it when you call my name, but could you at least, change it to ugh, honey, sweet, babe.” He winked.

“What are you saying.”

She squeeze her face.

“You’re changing it.”

“No I’m not.”

“Just drive.”

“That’s what I’m doing.”

“And don’t say anything else. I’m warning you.”

He laughed.

“Else what?”

“You’ll kiss me..”

His smiled broaden.

“You’ll get us killed.” He reached out to her, placing his hands on hers and gave it a gentle squeezed, while an eye on the road, and the other on her. His hands left her hands down to her bare thighs and run his hands up and down her thighs. The gown she wore was short. The hood was almost the same, with the gown. He kept on caressing her thighs for a while, and leaned closer, taking her lips in embrace she was already opened up to him. He kissed her. She held his collar. Pulling him close to herself. He kissed down to her neck. His other hand was still on the wheel.

Driving. She left his collar, driving her hands into his dark hair. She loves his hair. So soft and sweet.

The blaring horn from cars behind was deafening, but Dixon wasn’t getting it, as he had stopped the car right in the middle.

“Get out of the way, you moron!”

A driver yelled. From the car window. Dixon’s car was tinted, he couldn’t see what was going on. In there.

“Get out!”

Dixon pulled back. From her. Smiling at her lips. She bite them.

“Moron!”

They laughed at the voices.

He gave her a quick kiss on the lips.

Returning to the driver position, he couldn’t get enough of her. She keep driving him crazy every time he kissed her. He exhaled and run his hand through his hair. This was crazy.

He began driving. Still couldn’t get the smile of his face.

He was completely in love with her. He couldn’t hide it anymore, and he wanted to stay every seconds with her. And love her, the strange girl he found in his kitchen.

His Alien.