Across the distance of the sitting room, Sakura silently watched her biological mother being embraced in Ned’s arms as the woman recited her story to her first love. And Sakura had no doubt that she, too, must have played a part of that tale when she had been a baby.
Once again, she still couldn’t believe the fact that she, Sakura, had been by her biological father’s side all along, since she had been seven years old in fact. Could this explain why she had always felt connected to the man deep down? Was that why she’d always felt safe and comforted when he was around? And the fact that he had always been there for her and helping her when she had needed someone like a parent the most reminded her again of how important Ned was in her life.
When Haruka finally finished telling Ned her tale some fifteen minutes later, Sakura saw Ned comforting her, telling her that he didn’t blame her for what had happened and what she’d done. He told her that he understood what she’d gone through and completely sympathized with her situation.
Then Ned called out to Sakura, and the girl eagerly came over to the couple. Ned roughly grabbed her into his arms and hugged her tight.
He said, “I’ll be damned. You were my daughter all along.” When he moved back and looked at her at arm’s length, he continued. “But it doesn’t change a thing since I’ve always loved you as a daughter and consider you mine. Only now, it’s official and you can call me Dad instead of Ned.” His eyes twinkled with amusement. “You know, I’ve always been jealous of you calling James Dad.”
Her heart bursting with happiness, Sakura smiled, tears in her eyes. “Really?” she asked. “You’re jealous of Daddy James just because I call him Dad?”
He nodded, unashamed of his feelings. “Yes.” With a bright grin on his face, he demanded, “Now, call me Dad. No, call me Daddy Ned.”
Sakura laughed, as did Haruka, who found the two’s interaction rather endearing.
Sakura said, “Daddy Ned,” as she threw herself into his opened arms once again.
Ned kissed her forehead. “Sakura,” he said. “My daughter.” He pulled Haruka into his arms as well, and the small family hugged tightly, as they were finally together for the first time in twenty-five years.
Across the room, everyone was watching the little reunion, and Beth, particularly, was crying her eyeballs out. Tristan touched the jolly woman about the shoulder to comfort her. Beth patted his hand as she continued to sob severely.
Logan was chuckling with amusement as he watched her. “Come now, Beth. You shouldn’t be crying when your brother is finally reunited with the woman he loves and his daughter.”
Beth muttered, “These are tears of joy, if you must know, Master Logan.”
Tristan said, “Shouldn’t you be joining them?”
Conrad agreed by nodding his head. “Technically, you’re a family member as well.”
Hayden said, “You’re Sakura’s aunt.”
Sakura’s aunt. That got Beth worked up even more, and she threw herself into Sebastian’s arms, who was standing beside her. “I’m Sakura’s aunt. I can’t believe it. I’m her aunt.”
Sebastian patted her shoulder. “You’re all right, Beth.”
When she finally managed to dry her tears and got herself under control again, Beth came over to her little family.
Sakura looked up and said, “I guess you’re my aunt, then, Beth?”
Her words got Beth all worked up again, and the woman collapsed onto her knees as Sakura hugged her.
Beth stroked Sakura’s hair as she said, “Oh Lord, and here I thought it was going to be the end of the line for the Fabers, you know? Ned and I are the only ones left, and we have no other relatives. But now we have you.” She laughed. “I’m your aunt, Sakura. I can’t believe it. Oh, I’m so happy. I’m just so happy.”
Sakura said, “Me, too, Aunt Beth, me, too.”
Aunt Beth. That got Beth crying again. She looked up at the Princeton family and said, her voice shaky, “Sakura just called me Aunt Beth. I’m an aunt.”
Everyone laughed at her reaction because Beth was obviously smitten with the fact that she was now an aunt.
It was some twenty minutes later when Beth and Ned finally settled down, Ned reluctantly letting go of Haruka and Sakura and Beth quieting.
“Shall we have some dinner?” Tristan asked everyone at large.
Logan said, “I’m starving.”
“Me, too,” Hayden said as everyone started heading back outside.
Dinner was, as usual, delicious and the company cheerful and loud, especially because of the newly reunited Faber family and the news of Darcy’s successful surgery. Then when the meal was over, Ned wasted no time in whisking Haruka back to the hotel where he could spend time alone with her.
Sakura watched the pair go, a smile playing about her lips. Once they disappeared from her view, she shifted her gaze back to Sebastian, who was standing beside her. She moved into his waiting arms and snuggled her face against his chest. “I still can’t believe Ned is my father and Beth is my aunt.”
Sebastian kissed her forehead. “It’s a small world, isn’t it? They have been with you all along. I personally think it’s fate.”
Fate, eh? She had to agree with that. It was fate that she should be left on the doorstep of Queen Mary Orphanage. It was fate also that she was adopted by the Princeton family. And the Princeton brothers? Was it fate, too, that her life was so intertwined with theirs? Especially Sebastian and Darcy.
Suddenly, she chuckled. “Looks like I not only have two mothers, but two fathers as well.”
Sebastian grinned, delighted. And soon you’ll have two boyfriends, too. But of course, he didn’t voice that out loud. “It’s getting late. How about sleep? You want to go see Darcy early tomorrow, don’t you?”
She nodded. “Yes.” She raised her face to look up at him and then gave him a light kiss on the lips. “Good night, Sebastian.”
The man grinned in return and said, “Good night, Sakura.”
A few minutes later, she was in her shared room with Akira. After she had showered and changed into her pajamas, Sakura slipped in between the sheets.
Akira said, “Was that surprising for you? Suddenly finding out who your biological father is?”
Sakura nodded. “Very surprising. I just can’t believe it. I mean, I was already giving up on finding the man, you know, and then there he was, always there beside me since I was seven. It’s just hard to believe.”
Akira giggled. “Things happen for a reason, Sakura. I’m just glad you’ve found your family.”
Sakura nodded. A moment later she called out, “Akira?”
“Hmm?”
“Thanks for always looking after Mom, by the way.”
“No worries, Sakura. It’s my pleasure.”
The two chatted for a while, and when they fell asleep some half an hour later, they each had a grin on their face.