Birthday to Remember [Charley]

"Oh no, believe me I'm not worried about that," she sighed, "Marcel, Whatever she did it doesn't change the fact that she is Ari's mother." Her chest filled with apprehension. It wasn't her place to say anything she she didn't know how to explain why she felt the need to without getting into a whole history that was better left buried. "You've met my mom, right? Well she left. When I was a bit younger than Ari she left to come here to New York and left my brother and I with my dad. I grew up without her and I don't want that for Ari."

"No!" She reached up and placed a hand on the side of his face, her hand gently stroking his cheek. "That's not what I want." she whispered, then kissed him lightly before pulling away. "You and Ari mean everything to me, don't you dare even suggest I would back out of this. I love you Marcel. And I love Ari. I'm just..." she glanced away, trying once more to process all the thoughts running through her head. "I'm worried about what happens later on down the line, when she grows up and suddenly wonders what happened to her real mother, why she left."

Charley smiled and nodded, though the expression felt forced. "I suppose." she replied, "You are a wonderful father, you know." She pointed out. She brushed a bit of moisture away from under her eyes. "Your family seems nice," she said, hoping for a positive change of subject.