My Love Journey's
The Come Back Home.

"Are you nervous, Bianka?" Paul came up to me after I closed the car door. I felt my body begin to tremble at this moment, almost distraught over my own feet.

I took a deep breath. "Yes, very." Our gazes clashed as Paul stood before me.

"I'm here for you" he said, trying to calm me down. Putting a pinch of my hair behind my ear. "The only thing you need to worry about is whether or not your father will like the gifts we bring."

I nodded, a small laugh escaped my mouth. "He must have liked it. He's a big football fan, and he loves chocolate a lot."

"really? Then, it means there's nothing we need to worry about."

His way of saying 'we' made me a little calmer. It really explains that he's here for me, and supports me. The feeling he gave me, mentally and physically, almost made me come to the conclusion that it was a feeling of love.

The way he looked at me, touched me, always seemed as if he could read my mind without needing to tell me. He's too good at it.

I have some kind of little fear something bad will happen later. It might be because I never felt something this good, or it could be because of something else. At this point, I really believe in Paul. He made me feel safe, comfortable, and cared for, but at the same time I was also pounding because his charm was so awesome. I would lose a lot of things if something bad happened after this, and it was not impossible that my life would be messed up in the future.

I pressed the doorbell of my father's house that looked warm and quiet, the kind of house that was perfect if viewed from its location far from the city, surrounded by field and forest as far as the eye could see. I could hear a slow murmur from inside the house, then the sound of footsteps approaching that instantly made my heart beat faster. It felt so long that the door was completely open.

Louis's face appeared in the doorway. "Bianka," She looks thinner than ever, eyes are thicker and blacker than I've ever remembered, but her smile still remains the same.

I returned his smile. "Louis, meet my girlfriend, Pa..."

"I know who you are" He turned his gaze toward Paul. "Ah, it's great to see you."

Paul nodded as he waited for a faint smile, then nodded as they shook hands. "It's nice to see you too."

The next thing I knew happened, Louis took a step forward and pulled me into his arms. With hesitation, I hugged her back. The memory of him yelling at me and approaching me while holding a knife just popped into my mind, as much as I could get rid of all those shadows. "I miss you, Bee." he muttered, hugging.

With everything that has happened between us before today, Louis is still my brother, and I still love him. "I miss you too." I replied, withdrawing. I gave her a sincere smile while looking at her whole face for a moment.

Then, Louis cleared his throat. "Let's go in" he told us. "Lucy's at the supermarket, he'll be back in a minute, and dad's watching."

Paul and I followed him inside. My father moved into this house when Louis and I decided to live alone. I only visited him a few times, and most of the memories of that time were filled with Louis who always threatened us to give him money to buy drugs. That's why I'm a little scared to be here.

"Who's Lucy?" I asked while giving a glance.

"My love." Louis turned around with a cheerful smile adorning his face. "I met him at the rehab center. She's a fun girl."

"Oh, that sounds good." I don't know what else to say. I felt as if the strong bond about our brotherhood had been broken, and now he felt like a stranger to me.

I felt Paul rubbing my back while hearing my father's voice from the living room. "Bianka, is that you?"

I turned my gaze inward, smiling at her voice that I missed so much. "Hey, dad! Miss you. It's been a long time." I stepped forward towards him while opening my arms wide while he also approached.

"My beloved daughter has come apparently" he said, hugging me. "You've been looking a lot brighter since the last time we met. How are you, baby?"

I nodded my head after our embrace came off. "I'm fine." I saw my father a little fatter, his gray hair looked dazzling, opposite to his beer eyes. "What about you, dad?"

"Always amazing, my dear." he said, then turned his head to look at Paul. "Ah, Paul Klug! Our football legend."

My smile widened when I saw my father pulling Paul in his arms and Paul doing the same. "It's nice to meet you, sir. I've heard a lot about you" Paul said in a relaxed tone. I'm sure it'll be that quiet if I meet his parents.

"Oh, please, just call Danny. I'm sorry, Paul, but I have to say that I'm a little disappointed that you're not in Russia right now."

I snatched before Paul could make a sound. "It wasn't her fault, dad." I said, still smiling. My father was just trying to tease Paul. Intending to strengthen her, I hugged Paul, letting him embrace my shoulder.

I knew he himself was still angry at not being able to help his friends in Russia, so I was afraid that my father's words might be somewhat offensive to him even though he did not show any change in expression that said so.

"Blame my leg, sir." murmured Paul slightly jokingly. "If everything goes according to plan, I'll fly to Russia on Sunday."

"I never doubted you, Paul. You must have brought Germany out as the winner at this year's World Cup." said my father, sounding earnest.

For the umpteenth time, I was thinking how much pressure Paul was under when everyone was saying the same thing as my father. The whole German population had high hopes for him.

We sat in the family room. My dad, Louis, and Paul talked about football while I just he listened. My heart was filled with deep serenity to watch me so comforted by Paul's presence. He laughed until a single tear appeared in the corner of his eye. Louis was mostly silent, only occasionally responding with brief comments.

"I'm going out to get our stuff." I offered when my father was about to move into the kitchen to grab a snack.

"Let me," said Paul, kissing my forehead at a glance.

"Come, I'll show you where the guest room is." My dad asked me to follow him when Paul walked out.

I followed my father to the second floor until he stopped in front of one of the bedroom doors. "You sleep here" he opened the door for me. The room is too dark, so I can't see the details yet. Meanwhile my father spoke again. "And Paul will sleep on.." he said as he walked somewhat to the end.

"We slept apart?" I cut his words.

My father turned to face me. "Yes. I hope you don't have a problem with that..."

"Dad, we're not eighteen!" I know it's inappropriate, but I need Paul to take care of my mental health in this house.

"But Kai is still my little daughter, Bianka. It's a mandatory rule that you must follow every time you are..."

"She did the same to me and Lucy, so don't worry." I flinched as Louis suddenly stood beside me.

My father shrugged, smiling meaningfully at himself. "One day you'll understand, kids."

I frowned just before I heard the sound of a step behind Louis and I, I turned my head over my shoulder and saw Paul carrying our bag. Quite a lot because he also brought all his needs during his time in Russia.

"Understand what?" ask Paul.

"It's not until half an hour that you've entered this house and I've been talking about his grandchildren" Louis said, chuckling and playfully pushing my father. "It happened to me and Lucy."

My father just smiled warmly. "Make yourself comfortable, Paul and Bianka. Louis you're coming with me to the kitchen to prepare dinner."

***

"I can't believe we slept apart. Sorry, you must think this is weird." I muttered to Paul.

"No, I get it. If I had a daughter, I wouldn't even let her date until she's thirty."

I laughed at his strange comment. "She must have hated you all her life."

"I hope not. Control is the best way not to misstep" Paul said, grinning at the closet door as I lay on the bed.

"Maybe it's appropriate for other scenarios, but not for children. I studied developmental psychology at school, and..."

"Okay," Paul breathed in dramatically. "Maybe I'm not fit to be a father yet."

"You're a perfect fit." I said flirtatiously teasing him, then laughed as Paul suddenly charged towards me.

For a moment I forgot my father and Louis who were now downstairs when Paul slapped his lips against the recess of my neck. Just as I gave up and resigned to her treatment, she withdrew and rolled beside me. "Why?" many wonder.

He turned his head to look at me while raising both eyebrows, and I nodded in understanding. Paul did not want to do anything that was risky and threatened his safety. Well, I'll be threatened too. No need to doubt.

I'm throats. "Are your feet safe?" I moved the tip of the fingers on his chest. Pretending to act like we're not going to make love or do something like that for a while doesn't bother me too much.

"It's better." he said. "It doesn't hurt anymore. I'm ready to go back to the field."

I smile. "Good then."

"That's all thanks to you, Rapunzel. If you don't consistently compress it with ice..."

"No, Paul." I'm afraid.

"Yes, Bianka. You've helped me a lot. I have to admit that your ability to work as a nurse is really good. I just found out that ice can heal injuries so fast, let alone do it so lovingly." she explained, pulling me closer to her shoulder.

"I'm glad I could help."

"You're helping me more than you know, love."

We were silent for a moment. I enjoyed every second that went by with her, listening to her regular heartbeat. We were supposed to be down for dinner soon, but I was too comfortable to be by her side.

"You must be working out a plan to sneak into my room tonight when everyone's asleep, right?" paul said mischievously rubbing my back. His little touch managed to make my stomach churn to the point that the part of my body that was down there was pulsating.

I laughed softly. "I really didn't expect my dad to still do that, even when I was an adult he didn't change at all..."

"That's the best thing a father ever did. Did you ever bring another man here?" Paul called me flirty.

I chuckled, shaking my head at her seduction. "You're not the only man in my life, Paul. There were a few before you came. Don't be surprised as if you've never been in contact with a woman before I got into your life."

Now he's smiling. "Then, how many men have seduced you?"

"Three." I said, and his eyebrows shot high. "Include you."

Paul looked shocked with glaring eyes. "Only three?" He choked for a moment before continuing to speak. "Oh, I'm sorry. Not to underestimate, yes, at least there are men who bend their knees to you. Especially me, if I may add."

"Hm. turns out you're very good at seducing, yeah." I grinned. "You know, I don't have time to be in a relationship, all my attention is focused on studies and work."

"In that case, why did you accept me?"

"Because it's a little hard to avoid you." I muttered cuefully raising my shoulders and he chuckled.

I just wanted to kiss her, but I stopped immediately when I heard a knock on the door. I looked back and found my sister had stuck out her face. "Evening is ready."

Half-heartedly, we were forced to delay the calm for a moment and followed Louis downstairs, where the smell of food my father had prepared spread throughout the room.

"Come, sit down" said my father, pointing with his chin to the empty chair.

Louis cleared his throat. "Paul, Bianka."

"It's good to see you." I said with a friendly smile. Then I looked at Paul because he didn't say a word. I frowned while my smile faded.

Suddenly he looks like uncomfortable and the attitude that has been seen from him now seems to evaporate just like that. I'm a little slow in thinking, but that doesn't mean I'm stupid. I know there must be something going on between Paul and Lucy because the change in attitude is so obvious even though Lucy looks indifferent. Whatever it is, I'll find out later.