Not Even Once//PT2 of Just Once Series

Chapter 41// Leaving

As Emilia grew, we all saw the change in her face. From happy to a little confused, although she was still positive. She'd always ask Alice where her father was and if she could see him, and Ali would say someday. Well, that day was today. Emilia was finally eight, and deserved to know where her father was.

"Don't worry," Simon kissed her forehead, "nothing's going to go wrong."

"I know... I'm just worried that she won't understand when we take her to the gravesite."

"Alice, she's eight. I'm pretty sure she'll understand that her father has passed away." Simon grabbed her hand softly, smiling down at her.

"I hope so."

"Mommy!" Emilia called from Josh's car. He'd taken her out to dinner before they went anywhere, giving Alice sometime with Simon to talk.

"Hi Emi!" Alice bent down and gave her child a hug, smiling.

"She was super good today... You're raising her well, Ali." Josh placed his keys in his pocket.

"It's always nice to hear that." Alice picked her child up. She looked to Simon, and he looked almost upset. He too helped raise her from when she was a baby.

"Right well, I'll let you guys on your way... Also, don't forget about the convention next week with the pack, for the SidePack six year." Josh smiled, walking back to his car.

"I won't forget."

After the loss of Vik, the Sidemen and the Pack decided to combine forces. Still both very much their own entities, just more together than ever before. All because they wanted to watch Emi grow up.

"Okay. Let's go then, Emi. Are you ready to meet your father?"

"Of course!"

They all climbed in the car and left the parking garage. Simon and Alice had moved back into the apartment when Lachlan, Mitch, and Jerome left.

"She'll be fine." Simon must have noticed the worry that spread across Alice's face just then, but he seemed to calm her down.

"Mommy? What's daddy like?"

"He's the sweetest man, kind, generous. He'd do anything for you, if he was still around."

"Why did he leave?"

"Oh, you'll see..." A pang of sadness hit her chest again, and she felt nothing. She was stuck in her mind again, memories flowing through her head.

"Ali, are you okay?" Simon looked away from the road.

"Fine. I'm okay." She dropped her head into her hands, taking a very deep breath.

"Mommy? What's wrong?"

"Nothing, baby. Nothing..." Alice found it hard to keep this secret from her child...

"We're here." Simon spoke, pulling up to the graveyard that was so familiar.

"Mommy?" Emilia's voice broke as Alice's heart did, too.

"Cmon Emi. Let's go meet your father." Alice climbed out of the car and proceeded to help her child out of her car seat.

"She'll be okay." Simon smiled, gripping Alice's hand to stop her from shaking.

"Here." Alice chocked on her breath as she looked at Vikram's grave.

"Hi, daddy." Emi began, sitting down on the ground in front of his headstone. "Mommy told me a little bit about you... It sucks I can't meet you, you seemed lovely. Thank you for keeping mommy happy and safe, and thank you for creating me. I miss you. Everyday a little more... When all my friends tell me about how they are going to hang out with their dads, and when I have to do a family project... I wish you hadn't left us so early. I love you..." Emilia rubbed her bracelet.

"I love her." Vik again, in her head. He was always there. Telling her how to smile or enjoy the day, making her go insane.

"I know." She sighed, looking at her rings. "I really, really know."

"Alice? Who are you talking to?" Simon placed his hand on her shoulder and turned her towards him.

"No one. It's no one."

"Don't. Ali you know I'm not 'no one'."

"Stop!" She shoved her hands over her ears, falling to her knees.

"I'm not going away, ever."

"STOP!!! GOD PLEASE, please stop."

"Alice?! Let's go. We don't need to stay here..."

"Simon. Simon. Simon." In between, each breath was stressed. She was falling into a panic attack.

"Alice I'm here." Simon wrapped his arms around her shoulders, crouching behind her.

"Alice Emily I will never be no one."

"Why are you doing this?!" She screamed at his grave, as if he was standing there.

"Doing what?! You're scaring Emilia."

"Mommy?" Emilia had tears in her eyes but she wasn't crying.

"No!" She screamed, pushing Simon off of her. "No I can't do this."

"I'm calling Josh." Simon pulled his phone out of his pocket and left his other hand on her stomach, keeping her from running away.

"Good. Call him. Call everyone. Tell them I'm leaving." She pulled his hand away from her stomach and ran. Despite her child and Simon calling for her she did not turn around until she reached the harbor. She took her phone out of her back pocket and chucked it as far as she could.

Even then she didn't stop running. She got in a cab and had the man take her to the airport, booking the next flight to America. No one knew she was coming, no one knew she was leaving. It was time to start a new life.

When she got of the plane in Florida, she headed straight to Jess.

"I need you to dye my hair, and make me look different. I don't want to be Alice Zerker anymore..."