Forget Me, Not Chapter 17

Offroad POV

Daou was playing with Chance in the pool. They had grabbed him from daycare after that lunch fiasco. Daou had smiled at him and just informed him they would talk later and that he just wanted to be with his son. Offroad was starving. He hadn’t eaten since breakfast. His hands were shaking. He opened the fridge and nothing that was quick. He grabbed a juice pouch needing something with sugar. He didn’t want to freak Daou out not after that lunch but he needed food.

“Babe!” He called from the kitchen to see if he could run down to the convenience store or a food stand nearby, but immediately heard a knock at the front door. Offroad shuffled over to the door figuring it was Poon, who he had explained in detailed text messages what had happened, or Diamond who he told they were home and if he wanted to come over he could. Offroad opened the door to see Mang standing there, she quickly thrusted a box towards him.

“I’m sorry,” she said, shaking the box at him. Offroad took the box and opened it, the smell of delicious food hitting him in the face. It was his meal from the restaurant.

“Father or Film?” Offroad asked wanting to know which one forced her to come.

“Who do you think?” Mang rolled her eyes.

“Mang?” Offroad heard his stepmother’s voice.

“Mom?” Mang asked wide-eyed.

“Diamond you didn’t tell me she was going to be here as well,” Jo asked her son who was carrying trays of cookies.

“I didn’t know she would be here,” Diamond said, struggling to hold the cookies.

“Why are you here?” Mang asked.

“Diamond told me he was coming over for a visit and made some treats for the boys.” Jo smiled at him. Offroad smiled back he had informed her just after his own mother about the baby and she said she was going to whip him up some treats to help with his stomach if he had issues as well as cookies for Chance and Daou. Jo was a saint and she deserved so much better than his father.

“Do you have room for one more?” A small voice called from behind them. It was Daous’ mother.

“Um sure,” Offroad said, opening the door and inviting them all inside.

“Please do not tell my mother,” Mang pleaded as she stepped quickly into the opened door.

“Baby?” Daous voice called from the kitchen. Offroad pointed for Mang to hold the door open.

“Remain calm,” Offroad said as he rounded the corner, his eyes locking on Mang and his mother.

“Hi Daou, long time no see I brought treats,” Jo said walking up to hug him wetness and all.

“Auntie Jo!” Chance yelled rushing over in his little Dinosaur towel.

“There’s my special boy,” Jo said, bending down to hug Chance. “I brought you some treats!”

“Really?!” Chance asked excitedly. “Oh come see my room and the kittens!” Chance squealed excitedly pulling Jo down the hallway.

“I apologized to Offroad so I guess I’ll apologize to you and be out of your hair.” Mang sighed. “I’m sorry. I was jealous and insecure and I do love you but I don’t think I ever loved you more than I just wanted to keep you away from Offroad and all the other people in the past.” Mang said, wrapping her arms herself. “I’m sorry I was a shit sister and a shit friend.” She sighed. “Please do not tell my mom I’ve had enough lectures.”

“Only because you brought me food and I’m about to pass out from hunger.” Offroad laughed.

“Did I miss something?” Diamond asked, grabbing a cooking and munching on it.

“Hey, those are Offroads!” Jo called from the hallway walking up to her son and smacking the back of his head ripping the cookie from his hand.

“Fuck ma, it was just a cookie,” Diamond groaned.

“Yeah, there for morning sickness idiot.” Jo sighed, putting the cook back on the tray, pulling out a chocolate chip cookie, giving it to her son and handing one to Chance who happily accepted it.

“Morning sickness?!” Diamond said, choking on the cookie.

“Oh shit I’m sorry,” Jo said, apologizing.

“It’s okay, Diamond was next on the list to tell.” Offroad smiled at Jo.

“I’m gonna be an uncle again?!” Diamond yelled, wrapping Offroad up in a hug.

“Put me down!” Offroad hissed.

“I’m going to head out,” Mang said as she turned to leave, looking uncomfortable at the celebration. Offroad while upset with his sister he could understand where she came from to a point. But he didn’t have the energy to hold a grudge. He elbowed Daou and made a face.

“What? No,” Daou said, shaking his head.

“She is still your friend,” Offroad said. “Please?”

“Ugh fine,” Daou sighed. “Mang!” He called up as she paused at the door, turning back to look at him. “Not anytime soon but let’s grab lunch to catch up okay?” Mang smiled at him and nodded before leaving. 

“I’m going to catch up with her, white cookies are peppermint and are Offroads for morning sickness and the others are free for all,” Jo said pointing to the one tray of white cookies. “Bye,” Jo said leaning down to hug Chance and kissing his cheeks before doing the same to Diamond and Offroad. She paused in front of Daou waiting for permission. He smiled at her and she proceeded to hug and kiss his cheek as well before leaving.

“I can’t remember the last time you allowed me to do that,” Daou’s mother laughed awkwardly.

“Yeah well, maybe it’s because she didn’t lie to me for 6 years,” Daou growled.

“Okay, hey buddy let’s go see those kittens,” Diamond said, scooping up his son and disappearing down the hallway.

“Can we move this conversation into the kitchen, I’m seriously about to pass out I need to eat.” Offroad gasped feeling dizzy grasping Daou’s arm.

“Shit,” Daou said, scooping him up bridal style and taking him to the couch. “Sit with him,” Daou instructed his mother as he took the box of food from his hands and went to the kitchen to heat it up.

“I’m sorry we have never been introduced. I’m Aggie.” Daous’ mother said. Sitting on the coffee table in front of Offroad. “I wish we could have met under different circumstances,” she added.

“And whose fault is that?” Daou said returning to the living room handing Offroad a plate with his food on it his chicken already cut up.

“Ou, go get changed your tracking water everywhere,” Offroad sighed, taking his first bite groaning in satisfaction.

“I’ll be right back,” Daou said, kissing Offroads head.

“Don’t mind him, he is just upset,” Offroad said to Aggie.

“He has every right to be.” She sighed. “I’m sorry for my husband,”

“You don’t need to apologize for other people’s actions,” Offroad said with a mouthful of food.

“Then let me apologize for mine.” She began. “I knew of your pregnancy. But I let my husband handle it. I should have done something more. Lee is an asshole and a businessman but he does love us more than anything. He came from nothing. Everything we have is because of him. I just think it scared him to think of what could happen if Daou ever ended up like that.” She explained.

“I would be just fine,” Daou said, coming back into the living room.

“It’s the what-ifs that scare the ever-living hell out of parents,” Aggie said looking at her son. “You know this.”

“It’s okay I forgive you,” Offroad said. “I don’t have time to hold grudges, I have bigger things to worry about.” He said, patting his stomach. 

“I do hope I continue to be in grandkids’ lives?” Aggie asked, looking at her son.

“And does my father hope for that?” Daou asked through clenched teeth.

“Yes, he will apologize in due time. And all I will ask is that you please listen to him. You don’t have to forgive him but please listen.” She asked her son. Daou nodded.

“Grandma Aggie, look!” Chance yelled coming into the living room with all 5 kittens in his arms dangling at different angles.

“Oh wow!” Aggie said, reaching for the kittens.

“Shit sorry, I had to pee,” Diamond said, rushing into the living room.

“These are Nous babies,” Chance said proudly. Offroad chuckled he was as fond of the cats as his papa was.

“Oh my, they are beautiful!” Aggie smiled at him.

“You know my daddy has a baby in his tummy?” Chance asked putting the kittens on the coffee table.

“I did, it’s exciting!” Aggie smiled at Chance.

“Buddy, what did we say about trying to carry all the kittens?” Daou asked, kneeling down next to his son.

“Uncle Mond wouldn’t let me come get Grandma Aggie to show her,” Chance pouted.

“How dare Uncle Mond?” Offroad said laughing. “Put this in the sink for me,” Offroad said, handing his brother his empty plate. “Come here you,” Offroad said, snatching his son up, “Next time only one kitten at a time okay?  We don’t want them hurt do we?” Chance nodded no. They could now hear New Year meowing. “Oh, there is mommy callin’. Help Uncle Mond take them back okay?” Chance nodded sliding off of Offroads lap and started handing the kittens to Diamond before disappearing down the hallways yelling to New Year to hold on.

“He is a good boy,” Aggie said.

“Yeah he takes after his papa,” Offroad said, hugging Daous’ head to him. Daou buried his face into his stomach and Offroad knew everything was going to be okay.

——

Daou POV

Daou sat in his office chair staring hard at the paperwork on his desk. The office had been gloomy as rumors of Daous impending departure swirled. He hadn’t 100% made up his mind about what he wanted to do. Offroad had begged him to not be so rash and Daou wanted to laugh as that was coming from the same man who threatened to publicly destroy both of their families via media blackmail. He was exhausted. He had called his lawyer the other day and informed him to pull the court case for custody since Offroad had added his name to the birth certificate there was no longer a need for the case, and the engagement ring he had kept in his pocket for the past few days. His lawyer had grumbled about how he was still billing him for the time and advised his lawyer to send the bill to his father’s secretary since it was technically his fault he needed a lawyer in the first place.

Daou had his family and it was now his father’s decision on whether he wanted to be a part of that. Joong had asked him earlier if he was ready to walk away from it all. And Daou didn’t even have to hesitate to answer. He would.

“Sir,” his secretary’s voice called over his intercom. “Your father is here.”

“Send him in,” Daou said, facing forward in his desk chair. He promised his mother he would listen to his father but depending on what his father had to say was going to be the deciding factor on if he was going to be able to keep that promise. Daou watched his office door open as his father, impeccably dressed as always, stepped in shutting it behind him.

“I almost didn’t expect you to be here,” his father said, straightening his jacket.

“I owe it to the people outside that door not to drop everything and walk away because my father is being an asshole,” Daou said, straightening up in his chair.

“You were always more soft-hearted than me, you get it from your mother.” His father chuckled nervously.

“Did you come here today to tell me about what I did and didn’t get from you or mother?” Daou asked no longer wanting to make small talk.

“Your omega is a fierce one,” his father sighed, walking to the small bar and pouring a drink. “He is just like Sam.”

“Let him hear you say that and fierce won’t even begin to describe him,” Daou laughed at that one. His omega hated being told he was anything like his father.

“6 years ago, Sam called me in a fit of rage,” his father began. “I didn’t even know he had an omega son. So when I was told you had knocked him up, part of me didn’t want to believe it. I mean I had heard the stories coming from your college from professors and I figured he was just another person trying to sink their teeth into our family,” his father sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I wasn’t going to force you to marry someone like that only to find out later on the child wasn’t yours. I was never 100% sure, not until I saw him in the elevator.”

“The day Film showed up to threaten you?” Daou asked, remembering the day.

“I heard the boy was working in our office, I thought it was strange a well-devised plan to try and sink his teeth into you. But when I saw that boy and saw him run to him I knew then, I waited for the other shoe to drop for him to ask for money, a better job, something. But it never came,” his father said sitting in the chair in front of him. “He wanted to take his son and run; he didn’t want anything from you or our family. And then you found out and I thought ah this is what he was waiting for a court case for the media to rip us apart. But again nothing.”

“He isn’t like that,” Daou said, defending Offroad.

“I know that now. But as a father and businessman because yes this has to do with our business there are always going to be people who want to take things from you just because of who you are. You have to know that everything I did was to protect you. I won’t ask for forgiveness because I am not sorry that I chose to protect you first. But I will ask forgiveness for how I have acted since you found out. I should have tried to push you to your son, not drive a wedge in deeper.” His father said.

“And Mang?” Daou asked.

“I knew that you did care for the girl on some level so figured an arranged marriage would eventually grow into a deeper love down the line, but when she came back into town she wanted to reconcile and even you have to admit on paper she is the better candidate in terms of lineage but I should have recognized you were completely head over heels in love with the boy.” His father admitted.

“I understand why you wanted to protect me, but it should have been my choice. Not yours, not Sam’s, not Offroads, but mine. I lost out on years that I will never get back with my son. On being a father, a mate, a husband.” Daou said. “You know he was the reason I even went along with the engagement to Mang right? He was the last one-night stand I had. I woke up that morning and watched him sleep for what felt like hours before having to tear myself away from him. I decided I never wanted to feel that pain again.” Daou sighed. “I won’t lose him or my son not again. I won’t let people make choices for me. I chose them. I chose my omega, unborn child, and my son. And I will choose them every day for the rest of my life. And if that means I have to walk away from everything I have helped build I will.”

“I don’t want you to feel like you have to choose between your parents or your family. And I swear on everything to my name I will never make you feel like you have to.” His father said.

“You will apologize to Offroad. Sincerely.” Daou instructed his father. “He is going to forgive you ’cause that’s just who he is. But just know that my relationship with you and Mother will forever be tied to how you treat him. I won’t allow him to feel like this again.”

“I understand.” His father said, reaching into his suit jacket and pulling out the ultrasound picture. “I’m going to give this back to you in hopes it won’t be the last I see of either of my grandchildren.” He placed the photo on his desk.

“Thank you,” Daou said, grabbing the photo. “Offroad was pissed, I let you keep this.” He chuckled.

“He is quite scary, do not tell him I said that.” His father laughed.

“Only if you don’t tell him how equally afraid I am of him.” Daou laughed.

Daou knew that moving forward the relationship with his parents was going to be a bit rocky but he could see that genuinely they both wanted to move forward and Daou did as well. The past was the past and there was absolutely nothing he could do to change that. But he wanted to make sure that there were brighter days ahead of all of them.

….

“Daddy I’m hungry.” Chance whined from the back of the car.

“Okay, baby we will stop and get something after your papa finishes okay?” Offroad said, looking back into the seat at their son. Offroad had one hand resting on his now apparent bump and the other was encased in Daous hand.

“Papa, where are we going?” Chance asked.

“It’s a surprise,” Daou smiled at his son through the rearview mirror.

“I thought you had to meet with Geler?” Offroad asked.

“I do, just later,” Daou said, smiling at his omega.

“Is it a surprise for me or the baby?” Chance asked.

“It’s for all of you including Daddy,” Daou answered his son.

“Papa, can I name the baby once it gets here?” Chance asked, causing Offroad to scoff and turn to look into the backseat.

“We are not naming your brother Nou 2.” Daou couldn’t help but laugh. Ever since they had found out they were having another boy Chance had been obsessed with wanting to help name him.

“Grandma said it was cute!” Chance argued back.

“Well, I guess I’m having a talk with grandma when we get home,” Offroad said, turning back around in his seat. Once they had moved Offroad into his condo they were able to convince his mother to move up for the time being from Hat Yai. When Daou met her he could immediately tell where Offroad got his soft heart from. The woman loved her son more than anything. If Offroad even remotely mentioned a craving for something there it was on his kitchen counter within hours. She came over to help Offroad when Daou was always at work. She was a godsend never one getting annoyed with his million calls and messages. She had brought with her tons of photos of Offroad pregnant with Chance and had handed them to Daou telling him she took them for him. He knew at that moment he would go to the ends of the world for that woman just as he would her son.

“What if instead of naming him we help you decorate his new room?” Daou said, turning into a driveway.

“New room?” Offroad asked and then noticed they had pulled up to a house. “Please tell me you didn’t.”

“Do I get a new room?!” Chance squealed, unbuckling himself from his car seat.

“Don’t be mad yet, at least take a look,” Daou said as he opened his car door and proceeded to let Chance out of the back seat before running over and helping Offroad out of his.

“The condo is just fine,” Offroad sighed looking up at the house.

“We both know there is no room for the baby.” Daou sighed grabbing Offroads hand and pulling him to the front door as he pulled Chance. “6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, an office, a pool, back yard, an amazing kitchen,” Daou said hoping he would win over his omega with the kitchen part as he had learned the cooking skill was definitely something passed down to him and he looked to cook.

“Why do we need 6 bedrooms?” Offroad asked slipping his shoes off at the door and helping Chance with his.

“One for us, one for Chance, one for the baby, one for the cats, a guest room and we will have an extra one just in case we decide to do this all over again for a third time,” Daou said smiling at Offroad. “Go on, take a look, meet me in the kitchen,” Daou said, allowing Offroad and Chance to explore the house. Daou waited at the kitchen island, his nerves now setting in. If Offroad hated the house it was going to ruin the whole plan.

“Have you already purchased it?” Offroad asked, walking into the kitchen and taking it all in.

“Not yet, depends on you,” Daou said, clearing his throat.

“On if I like it?” Offroad asked, joining him at the island and looking at the paperwork.

“If you do all it will take is your signature right there,” Daou pointed to the line. While he was buying the house in his name Offroad’s name would be on the deed.

“There isn’t some crazy clause in it saying you’ll have to pay the mortgage to me or something crazy like that, is there?” Offroad smirked picking up the pen.

“No,” Daou laughed. “But there is one thing you have to agree on if you sign.”

“Oh and what’s that?” Offroad asked as he read over the closing documents. Daou reached into his pocket for the velvet box, opened it and sat it on the counter in front of Offroad.

“You have to marry me,” Daou said. Offroad’s head immediately snapped to him and then he set down the paperwork and picked up the box.

“How long have you had this?” Offroad asked

“About 4 months now.” Daou chuckled.

“So what if I don’t like the house?” Offroad asked.

“Then you still have to marry me and we will keep looking,” Daou said, swallowing hard. Daou watched Offroad grab the pen and sign his name on the document while holding up his left hand. Daou squealed with excitement, placing the ring on his finger, picking him up and spinning him.

“Me next!” Chance yelled joining them in the kitchen. Daou laughed, picking his son up and spinning him with Offroad.

“Daddy, are we moving here?” Chance asked.

“Would you like to?” Offroad asked. Chance nodded eagerly, hugging Daou tightly.

“Then that settles it, we both say yes,” Offroad said, smiling at Daou. He kissed Offroad hard.

“Ew,” Chance groaned, causing them both to laugh and proceed to pepper Chance’s face with kisses. Daou wouldn’t never not choose this over anything in the world. Cause right here in their new kitchen holding his son and the love of his life is right where he belonged.