Oh, Didn't Mean To Run Into You Here.

[Gareth Knight]

Gareth sat on a bench and looked at the children playing. He was here with Avery and they were having a 'brother sister day out'. All that really entailed was spoiling her rotten and making sure she didn't throw up with the amount of junk food he gave her. She was pretty good with junk food though, unlike her sisters she had the ability to resist eating it and could store it away for later. She was an odd child.

Gareth looked up as he saw a flash of blonde hair but shook his head when he realised the child wasn't the girl he wanted it to be. He hadn't let it show but meeting his daughter had really messed him up. He loved looking after his sister, Moriah maybe a bit less but that was understandable, and now he had a baby girl he wasn't even allowed to know. He had regretted his decision ever since he had tried to find her and she had left.

Gareth had tried to avoid thinking about the gorgeous little girl with the big blue eyes and curly blonde locks of hair. She kept creeping up in his mind though. He already loved her and he had only met her once. Perhaps it was an automatic thing, you had to love your family after all, or maybe it was just that he loved the idea of being a family man. He had loved the idea forever, the only reason he had freaked on poor Nina was shock, you couldn't really expect a twenty year old to be calm about his girlfriend being pregnant after all.

Gareth sighed and stood as Avery came over with an interest of leaving, there was no other reason for him to be here. Nina had made it clear that he wouldn't even be seeing Isadora, let alone properly get to know his own child. He had always loved her stubbornness when they were dating but right now is was just annoying. He took his sisters hand and turned to leave, surprised when she stopped and pulled him back "What's wrong Av?" She had been so enthusiastic about leaving a minute a go. "Is that Nina?" Gareths' head moved quickly enough a small pop rang out into the air. She was right, Nina, and his daughter, were walking into the other exit of the park.

Gareth shook the thoughts of walking over from his head, she wouldn't want to see him. He doubted she would ever want to see him again. He tried to keep walking but Avery was having none of it. The small girl yelled across the park, making a lot of children look and parents shake their heads. "Nina! Nina, over here!"

 

[Nina Patrokov]

Nina loved when she had the day off from work, it meant that she and her beautiful baby girl, Isadora, could spend more time together. And instead of staying home, Nina put Isadora's soft curls into pig tails and dressed her in a white top and a knee-length jean skirt, which looked adorable on the tot. Although in Nina's opinion, she would always be adorable. She was her daughter, after all. Unfortunately, Isadora was the daughter of Gareth Knight, a man who Nina refused to become close to Issy unless it was ordered by lawyers because she didn't want him to abandon her daughter the same way she had been. It would be too hard for the little girl to go through, plus what two year old should understand loss? Well certainly not Nina Esme Patrokov's little girl.

This was why Nina apparated directly to the outskirts of the park, certain that it was impossible to run into a man that had no interest where children would be. At least Nina thought that he wouldn't have a reason to be, but just as the blonde mother walked in with her blonde two-year-old she was called by Gareth's little sister. She pursed her lips as she looked down at Avery Knight, the little girl had once looked up to her and thought of her as a sister and although she saw Gareth there, she thought that she should maybe just go and see the little girl, to show that she acknowledged her presence. "Mommy, whose that?" Nina looked down at her daughter as she felt Isadora tugged at the end of her dress as she pointed to Avery and Gareth. She smiled, pleased that Isadora did not remember Gareth.

"Well let's go see," Nina grinned as she picked up her baby girl and walked over to Avery and Gareth. Looking down at Avery once they arrived, she smiled softly and said, "Hello miss Avery Knight!" She put Isadora down before she hugged the little girl tightly. "I've missed you sweetie," she said, before kissing the top of her head softly before pulling away gently and looking up at Gareth. A hidden longing tugged at her heart but she ignored it, reminding herself that she was abandoned by him, that her heart had been broken so savagely by the young man. So she stood up straight and crossed her arms against her chestand said, "So... What are you up to?" There was a long pause between them, her words vibrated in her ears and threatened to make her loose face in front of Gareth. Nina had never been very good at silence, something that Gareth knew, in fact when they had slept beside each other as a couple, she had to talk to him until either of them fell asleep instead of falling into a quiet lull that night offered them. Not much had changed since then, so Nina hoped he would answer her quickly.

 

[Avery Knight]

Avery smiled when Nina walked over to them. She loved Nina, even though it had been two years since she had seen her. Avery had always looked up to Nina, she had just been another sister until she left. The small girl remembered what the house was like after she left, it was awkward. Her parents didn't think she could notice the looks they were giving Gareth, or the way Gareth was suddenly hollow and cold. As though he had lost something.

Avery hugged the woman and looked at the blonde baby. "Who's that?" Avery had never been told why Nina left, she just assumed Gareth was naughty and it went wrong. That's why most people left after all, the random ladies that turned up in the house always called him nasty things after all. Avery looked up at the lady with her toothy grin. "It's family day!" She loved family day, she could do anything she wanted and Gareth would be there with her. Sure, she loved Gerard the superhero, but nothing compared to her big brother. Except maybe her parents but they weren't there any more.

They had left, like Nina. Avery suddenly realised that Gareth had said that Nina and her parents weren't coming back. Nina was back, so maybe they would be too. Avery pulled on Gareth's trousers and gestured for him to kneel down so she could whisper. She loved Nina but Avery didn't like talking to anyone about her mummy and daddy except Gareth.

 

[Gareth Knight]

Gareth cringed as his ex walked over but he couldn't help but smile as he saw the little blonde girl in her arms. "That's Nina's little girl." He explained to his sister. "Her name's Isadora." He couldn't help but stare at her, she was gorgeous after all. He watched as Nina was affectionate with Avery but cold towards himself. He knew he deserved it, but he hated it none the less. He had to laugh at the enthusiasm on his sisters face as she told Nina what they were doing.

Gareth made this family day happen at least once a month but this one was especially amazing. Last week had been the anniversary of their parents death and he could tell that the small girl next to him remembered. Unlike most people, he never underestimated how much she knew. They had sat together and had a cry and she had been down most of the week so today they were having an extra awesome day out. He just hoped she didn't invite Nina along.

Gareth was confused as his sister tried to pull him down to her height. The only time she whispered was when she didn't trust people with what she was talking about. He hoped she wasn't about to bring up their parents. He loved Nina and trusted her with a lot of things but this really wasn't the right moment to tell her that the two people she had gotten along with so well had died just after they broke up. Gareth shook his head at Avery and rubbed her back, their own little signal for ask/tell me later. He turned to Nina, the smiled returning to his face as he caught a glimpse of his daughter. "Basically I'm spoiling her rotten for the day." He let out a small chuckle, feeling awkwardness descend over them. "You?"

 

[Nina Patrokov]

Nina looked at Avery as she said it was family day. If it was family day for the Knights, where were the rest of them? Especially Isadora's lovely grandparents that Nina adored and looked up to just as Avery looked up to her. "Where's the rest of the family then? I know Lilith and Moriah must be in school still but I'm sure that your parents must be here too? Oh I'd love to see them!" she said, almost excitedly. Nina and Gareth's parents were the parents of a boyfriend that a girl could only wish for, they were approving of her and sweet and caring. At one point she remembered talking to Gareth's mom, late at night and without Gareth ever knowing, about possibly becoming in-laws. Both of them had been so excited about the idea that maybe, if she and Gareth were lucky, they would get married but now as she looked into the crisp blue eyes that matched their daughter's she felt only sorrow that she had ever squealed so joyfully at something that was never meant to be.

"Well I'm off work today and Issy wanted to go on the swings. They're her favorite," Nina answered Gareth, looking down at her blonde daughter who was now hugging her legs and shyly looking at the blonde girl she didn't recognize. Nina smiled adoringly at her before she leaned over and picked the young child up and suggested, "Why don't you say 'hi', Dora?" Isadora was shy in front of new people and Nina was forever grateful of this because this meant that she wouldn't become attached to Gareth only to loose him. As Nina waited for Issy to say something, she heard nothing but silence before the young girl put a hand on her cheek and whispered into her ear, "But Mommy... they're strangers." If there was one rule that Nina had not made more clear, it was that Dora did not talk to strangers and by god did she abide by it. "Oh you're right, sweetie," she apologized. "This is Gareth Knight," Nina said as she indicated to each person, "And his little sister, Avery." Once Avery and Gareth had been introduced, Isadora promptly said, in her adorably proud way, "I'm Isadora Paaah-trooo-kov and I'm this many!" This was when the small child fumbled with her fingers to put up two of them, to show her age. In amusement at Isadora's introduction, Nina kissed her cheek and grinned.

 

[Gareth Knight]

When Nina started her sentence Gareth could tell what was coming and immediately clamped his hands over Avery's ears, a serious look on his face that screamed Shut Up! as he shook his head. He didn't want to remind Avery of their loss just after he had cheered her up. He looked down at his sister and, luckily for him, she looked confused. That meant she hadn't heard anything. "Nina used some grown up language that wasn't for little ears." He knew he shouldn't lie to her but what else could he say? He didn't want her reminded that her parents were dead.

Gareth smiled as his daughter spoke to him. "Lovely to meet you Isadora." It stung slightly that the small girl hadn't remembered him but he let is slide. He waited for Avery to say hello back before kneeling down to her level. "Hun, how about you go and have a longer play? I think I'm going to stay here and talk with Nina." He grinned as she ran off, back to the monkey bars, before turning back to his ex with a serious face, his eyes were empty.

"Please don't mention them around Avery again. Please." Gareth knew she hadn't known about them so he was able to let it slide, he had to explain it now though, to prevent further questions or mentioning of them. "Last week was the anniversary of their deaths." He looked at Isadora before turning back to Nina. "A year ago they were caught up in a mugging. You know how dad is, too proud to let anything go. The robber killed them to get their stuff." His voice hitched in his throat as he spoke. He couldn't cry, not here, not now. "I've been the legal guardian of Moriah, Lily and Avery since then." He waited for Nina's reaction. He hoped that this wouldn't affect Isadora in any way. She was a sweet little girl. He didn't want to bring her down.