Page 20

TWENTY

WILLOW

I watch as Rogue sits on the floor with Wren, helping her build an elaborate tower out of blocks. Despite his obvious exhaustion and the bandage on his arm, he's fully engaged with our daughter, laughing at her jokes and praising her engineering skills.

It's moments like these that make my heart ache. Seeing Rogue with Wren, it's clear how much he loves her. How much he wants to be a good father. But the fear and mistrust from our past still lingers, making it hard for me to fully let my guard down.

"Mama, look!" Wren exclaims, drawing my attention back to their creation. "Rogue helped me make a castle!"

I smile, pushing aside my conflicted feelings. "It's beautiful, Little Bird. You two make quite the team."

Rogue looks up at me, his eyes soft. "She's got a real talent for this. Maybe we've got a future architect on our hands."

As Wren begins to explain all the different rooms in her "castle," I can't help but notice how natural Rogue is with her. He listens intently, asking questions and offering suggestions. It's clear that Wren adores him, even if she doesn't know he's her father.

A knock at the door interrupts the moment. Ghost pokes his head in, his expression serious.

"Sorry to interrupt," he says, "but, Rogue, we need you for a meeting."

Rogue's face immediately hardens, all traces of the playful dad disappearing. He turns to Wren, his voice gentle. "I've got to go for a bit, sweetheart. But we'll play more later, okay?"

Wren pouts but nods. "Promise?"

"Promise," Rogue says, ruffling her hair affectionately before standing up.

As he moves to leave, he pauses by me. "Everything okay?" I ask quietly, noting the tension in his shoulders.

He gives me a tight smile. "Don't worry, Little Flower. We've got it under control."

But I can see the worry in his eyes, and it sends a chill down my spine. Whatever's happening out there, it's serious.

After Rogue leaves, I try to distract Wren with a coloring book, but my mind is racing. The sound of raised voices filters through the closed door, adding to my unease.

"Mama?" Wren's voice pulls me from my thoughts. "Why are we really here?"

I look at my daughter, surprised by her perceptiveness. "What do you mean, sweetie?"

Wren puts down her crayon, her little face serious. "This doesn't feel like a vacation. Everyone looks worried. And Rogue got hurt."

I sigh, wondering how much to tell her. I've always tried to be honest with Wren, but I also want to protect her from the pain and the violence.

I take a deep breath, trying to find the right words to explain the situation to Wren without frightening her.

"You're right, Little Bird. This isn't exactly a vacation," I say gently. "Some bad people are causing trouble, so we're staying here to be safe for a little while."

Wren's brow furrows. "Is that why Rogue got hurt? Was he fighting the bad people?"

I nod, marveling at how perceptive my daughter is. "Yes, sweetie. But he's okay, remember? Just a little scratch."

Wren is quiet for a moment, processing this information. Then she looks up at me, her eyes wide. "Are we in danger, Mama?"

My heart clenches at the fear in her voice. I pull her into a tight hug. "No, baby. We're safe here. Rogue and his friends are protecting us. That's why we're staying in this special place."

As I hold my daughter close, I can't help but reflect on how complicated our situation has become. I never wanted Wren exposed to this world of danger and violence. But here we are, relying on the very people I once ran from to keep us safe.

I look toward the closed door, where I can still hear muffled voices discussing whatever happened this evening. Despite everything that's happened between us, I find myself hoping that Rogue will come back soon. His presence, as conflicting as it is for me, seems to bring a sense of security to Wren.

And if I'm being honest with myself, to me as well. Which is something I hadn’t expected.

As Wren finally drifts off to sleep, exhausted from the day's events, I hear a soft knock at the door. My heart skips a beat, knowing it's likely Rogue.

I open the door to find him standing there, looking weary but determined. "Can we talk?" he asks quietly, mindful of Wren sleeping nearby.

I nod, stepping out into the hallway and closing the door softly behind me. "How did the meeting go?"

Rogue runs a hand through his hair, a gesture I recognize from our past as a sign of stress. "It's... complicated," he says carefully. "I can't give you details, but the situation with the Shadow Hawks is escalating."

A chill runs down my spine at his words. "Are we in danger here?"

He shakes his head firmly. "No, Little Flower. I promise you, this is the safest place for you and Wren right now. We've increased security, and there's always someone on watch."

I nod, trying to calm my racing heart. "Rogue... Wren asked me why we're really here. She knows something's wrong."

Rogue's expression softens. "She's a smart kid. Just like her mother."

Despite everything, I feel a small smile tugging at my lips. "She is. But I don't know how much to tell her. I don't want her to be scared."

Rogue steps closer, his voice gentle. "We'll figure it out together, okay? For now, just reassure her that she's safe. That we're both here to protect her."

I look up at him, suddenly aware of how close we're standing. In his eyes, I see the same mixture of emotions I'm feeling—worry, determination, and something deeper that I'm not quite ready to admit to.

"Rogue," I whisper, my voice catching, "I'm scared."

Without hesitation, he pulls me into his arms. I stiffen for a moment, then relax into his embrace, allowing myself to draw comfort from his strength.

"I know, Little Flower," he murmurs into my hair. "But I swear to you, I won't let anything happen to you or Wren. I'll die before I let anyone hurt you again."

I pull back slightly, looking up at him. The intensity in his gaze takes my breath away. Before I can over think it, I stretch up on my toes and press my lips to his.

Rogue freezes for a split second, then responds with a gentle passion that makes my knees weak. His hand comes up to cup my cheek, and as he deepens the kiss, I sink into his embrace. I moan against his mouth. God, I forgot how much I loved how he kisses me.

When we finally break apart, we're both breathing heavily. Rogue rests his forehead against mine, his eyes closed.

"Willow," he breathes, his voice rough with emotion. "I've missed you so much."

I swallow hard, not wanting to admit that I have too. I take a deep breath, trying to sort through my conflicted emotions. "Rogue, I..."

He pulls back slightly, his eyes searching mine. "It's okay, Little Flower. We don't have to figure everything out right now."

I nod gratefully, relieved that he understands. "Thank you for being so patient with me. With us."

Rogue gives me a soft smile. "Always. You and Wren are the most important things in my life. I'll wait as long as it takes."

We stand there for a moment longer, neither wanting to break the connection. Finally, I step back reluctantly.

"I should get back to Wren," I say softly. "In case she wakes up."

Rogue nods. "Of course. Try to get some rest, okay? I'll check on you both in the morning."

As I watch him walk away, I'm struck by how much has changed between us in such a short time. The walls I've built up over the years are starting to crumble, but I'm not sure if I'm ready to let them fall completely.

With a sigh, I close the door, my mind whirling with thoughts of danger, protection, and the taste of Rogue's kiss still lingering on my lips.

What the hell am I going to do now? He’s gotten under my skin, and all the feelings from our past are resurfacing.

I'm sitting on the bed, watching Wren color, when there's a soft knock at the door. My heart skips at the thought of it being Rogue, but when I open it, I'm surprised to see Natalia standing there.

"Nat?" I say, pulling her into a hug. "What are you doing here?"

She gives me a wry smile. "Apparently, I'm part of the lockdown now too. Ghost insisted it wasn't safe for me to be alone, especially in my condition."

I nod, understanding. With her pregnancy, Natalia is vulnerable. "Come in," I say, ushering her inside.

Wren looks up from her coloring book. "Aunt Natalia!" she exclaims, running to hug her.

After we get Natalia settled and Wren returns to her coloring, my friend turns to me with a knowing look. "Okay, spill. How are you holding up?"

I sigh, running a hand through my hair. "Honestly? I'm a mess, Nat. Being here, seeing Rogue with Wren... it's stirring up all these feelings I thought I'd buried."

Natalia nods sympathetically. "I can imagine. It can't be easy, being thrust back into this world."

"That's just it," I say, lowering my voice so Wren can't hear. "Part of me is terrified, remembering everything that happened before. But another part... God, Nat, I kissed him last night."

Natalia's eyes widen. "You what?"

I groan, burying my face in my hands. "I know, I know. It just happened. And the worst part is, I wanted it to happen again."

"Oh, Will," Natalia says softly, putting an arm around me. "It's okay to have conflicted feelings. You and Rogue have a lot of history, not to mention a child together."

I lean into her embrace, grateful for her understanding. "I feel like I'm losing all the resolve I've built up over the years. Seeing him with Wren, how good he is with her... it's making me question everything."

Natalia is quiet for a moment, then asks gently, "Have you thought about telling Wren the truth? About who Rogue really is?"

I look over at my daughter happily coloring away, oblivious to the turmoil in my heart. "I've been thinking about it," I admit. "She's already figured out something's not right about this 'vacation'. Maybe it's time."

Natalia squeezes my hand encouragingly. "Whatever you decide, I'm here for you."

I take a deep breath, making my decision. "Wren, sweetie? Can you come here for a minute? Mama needs to talk to you about something important."

Wren looks up from her coloring book, curiosity in her eyes as she comes over to join us on the bed. I pull her into my lap, taking a deep breath to steady myself.

"Wren, sweetie, remember how you asked me why we're really here?" I start gently.

She nods, her little face serious. "Because of the bad people?"

"That's right," I say. "But there's something else I need to tell you. It's about Rogue."

Wren perks up at the mention of his name. "What about him, Mama?"

I stroke her hair, gathering my courage. "Well, honey, Rogue isn't just my friend. He's... he's your daddy."

Wren's eyes go wide. "My daddy? Really?"

I nod, watching her face carefully for her reaction. "Yes, sweetheart. I'm sorry I didn't tell you before. It's complicated, but Rogue is your father."

Wren is quiet for a moment, processing this information. Then she looks up at me, her eyes shining. "Is that why he plays with me so much? Because he's my daddy?"

I feel tears pricking at my eyes. "Yes, baby. He loves you very much."

"Can I call him Daddy now?" Wren asks eagerly.

I hesitate, glancing at Natalia, who gives me an encouraging nod. "If you want to, sweetie. But maybe talk to him about it first, okay?"

Wren nods solemnly then throws her arms around me in a tight hug. "I'm glad Rogue is my daddy," she whispers.

As I hold my daughter close, I feel a weight lift off my shoulders. It feels right, finally having the truth out in the open.

Natalia squeezes my hand. "You did the right thing, Will," she says softly.

I nod, wiping away a stray tear. "I just hope Rogue agrees."

As if on cue, there's a knock at the door. Natalia goes to answer it, and I hear Rogue's voice in the hallway.

"Rogue!" Wren calls out excitedly. "Mama told me you're my daddy!"

I freeze, watching as Rogue steps into the room, his eyes wide with surprise. He looks at me questioningly, and I give him a small nod.

Rogue kneels down, opening his arms to Wren. "That's right, sweetheart," he says, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm your daddy. And I love you very, very much."

As Wren throws herself into Rogue's embrace, I feel my heart swell. Despite all the danger and uncertainty surrounding us, at this moment, everything feels right.

Rogue looks up at me over Wren's head, his eyes shining with gratitude.

I just pray that I’ve made the right decision. The last thing I want is for Wren to be hurt.