3. Ross.

“Hi.” Marilyn said, walking up to him to pick him up. He was awake and still in a sour mood.

“Leave me alone, I want my mama.” He said kicking and trying to resist her.  

“Okay baby, if you come out for breakfast and take a bath then I might get her back.” She lied. 

“Really?” he said as his eyes widened with excitement. She smiled and nodded. 

“Yay!” he yelled as he jumped up and down, then raised his hand signaling to her to pick him up which she did and closed the door. 

“So what would you like to eat?” She asked. 

“Pancakes and maple syrup please.” He smiled, quite excited. 

“Aye Aye little man!” She said with a mock salute, earning a fit of laughter from him. 

“My name is Ace. What's yours?” he asked. 

“Marilyn.” She said, smiling. 

“Marie.” He grinned cheekily.

“Marie?” She chuckled.

“I'm gonna call you Marie.” He said smiling, as he avoided her eyes. He was shy, Marilyn liked him already. 

“I like it.” She said making a blush creep up his cheek. He was so adorable. He had all of Douglas's features, his dark brown hair, blue eyes and pouty lips. His soft-heart face shape was also unmistakable.

They had pancakes and syrup with orange juice while talking about each other. He spoke to the best he could manage. His mom was probably missing him right now. He was an amazing kid. 

“Come on, let's go run a bath for you.” I said and he nodded. He was feeling sleepy already, still a bit worn out from jetlag.

Marilyn ran him a bubble bath and handed him a rubber ducky to play with. After his bath, she got him dressed and it was time to fulfil her promise.

She took out his backpack and saw a little card with his mom's number and a picture of her. She dialed the number and she picked after the fourth ring. 

“Hello?” She said. 

“Hi.” The receiver shuffled a bit as she answered.

“Am I speaking to Candace?” She asked.

“Yes you are. Who are you if I may ask?” She replied. 

“Marilyn. The maid at the home of Douglas Zimmer. Your son requested to speak to you.” Marilyn said.  

“Oh, thanks. Let me speak to him.” she said and Marilyn handed the phone to Ace.

“Mom?” He was so excited.

“Baby… I miss you so much.” she said as Marilyn heard her suppressing a sob. 

“I want you. I don't want daddy anymore. Come get me, let's go back home. I miss you.”

“I can't come back baby. I'm out of the country already, you have daddy now.”

“No!” He shrieked. Marilyn’s heart broke at the sight.

“I can't come back. You are gonna do mommy a huge favour. Don't let anyone treat you like what you aren't. Stand up for yourself no matter what and make me proud. Right now, you wouldn’t understand these words but eventually you will. I love you so much baby.” She said and the line went dead, signifying that she hung up. 

“Noooooo!” He screamed as he cried.

“Calm down, it's okay, I’m here for you. Okay?” Marilyn said soothingly as she comforted him. 

After a while he calmed down, falling asleep in her arms as he clutched onto her tightly. 

Poor child. 

She put him to bed and covered him up, lowering the power of the air conditioner. She didn't want him catching a cold. 

Marilyn made her vow to herself; as long as she lived, nothing must happen to him. Nothing dare happen to Zimmer heir.

“Marie!” Brittany heard a little voice scream as she sighted a figure running down the stairs. 

She wondered who that was. It was the ‘trash’ Douglas's ex brought into her home yesterday. She’d been referring to Ace as trash, hence her misunderstanding with Douglas this morning.

Douglas even had the audacity to tell her to treat Ace like her son.  

‘But come to think of it, it wouldn't hurt to try.’ She thought.

“Hey? What's your name?” She asked with a suspicious smile. 

“Marie?” he screamed again, totally ignoring her. 

“In here, munchkin.” Marilyn said, replying to him. 

‘What nerve. I guess it was time to show my true self.’ Brittany thought.

“Hey! Didn't your mother teach you not to scream or run down the stairs like that.” She said, as she held onto his forearm, shaking him slightly in an attempt to frighten him. 

“She taught me to brush my teeth every morning before breakfast or did your own mom skip that? Your breath stinks, miss. Besides, she says I’m important and shouldn’t do things or go places where I'm not loved.” He said, making her jaw drop open before he ran into the kitchen. 

‘That was one sassy four year old. How disrespectful. This might sound childish using it on a four year old but the battle line has been drawn.’ She sported a devilish smirk.

Marilyn smiled at Ace as he ran into the kitchen. She heard what he’d said to Brittany. It was rude but it put her in her place. 

“That was disrespectful, young man.” She reprimanded.

“Good morning Marie.” He said smiling cheekily avoiding the question. It warmed her heart, a smile on her face as she pulled him into a bear hug.

“Good morning munchkin.” She said with a smile. “Are you hungry?” 

“Yes.” He said.

“Want some eggs and bacon?” She asked. 

“Yes!” He said as he jumped up with his hands in the air doing a fist bump.

She laughed and served him along with a juice box. His dad got some supplies this morning, relating to his hygiene, clothing and overall diet. 

She watched as he ate and was about to get him his colouring set but was stopped midway as she heard Brittany scream in pain. Marilyn thought it was one of Brittany’s complications but she was proven wrong as she saw a wet patch on her sundress. 

Instincts kicked in as she dashed to get her license, slipped on a pair of jeans and a top as she took off her apron, sliding the fabric over her head before she grabbed car keys and Ace as she and the butler assisted Brittany to the car to drive her to the hospital. 

On getting there, she was placed on a stretcher and wheeled to a room to begin the procedure. She called Mr Douglas to let him know the recent occurrences and almost immediately, he was on his way to the hospital.

“Push.” She heard the doctor say for the umpteenth time.

She’d been in there for an hour and still, no progress. She pushed with her last strength before she felt a painful stretch and a tear, gripping the sheets as she screamed in pain, as the baby's head popped out. 

“Once more.” The doctor said and she pushed it out fully, hearing it cry as she did too, his shoulders tearing her apart.

“It's a boy!” The doctor informed her as he handed her little bundle of joy to her. She stared at her son with love and affection as warmth spread through her. 

“He looks so handsome.” She grinned, tears in her eyes as her lips stretched into the prettiest smile ever.

“Ross.” She said and the doctor understood immediately as they took him away to clean him up. 

• Four Years Later

“Marilyn, could you tell Ross I’d rather not share my toys with him. I don't like him.” Ace said to Marilyn. 

“Learn to share your toys Ace, he is your brother.” She urged. 

“Nope, he is Brittany's son, not her son.” He said, making Marilyn’s jaw drop. She knew what his biological mother did was cruel but he had no right to refer to her that way. That was the height of it all. 

“Ace Cyan Zimmer! Up to your room now, no toys for you until you learn some manners.” She scolded. He stomped his way up the stairs as he mumbled incoherent words out of anger. 

 “This kid wouldn’t be the death of me.” Marilyn massaged her temples.

 “I don't know why he hates me so much.” Ross said, talking to no one in particular.

“It's okay. He is gonna come around real soon. He doesn’t hate you.” She said, consoling the poor lad. 

“I wasn't talking to you, Marilyn.” He spat and ran off to his mother. 

“Dumbo.” She rolled her eyes. 

“Marilyn!” She heard Brittany yell as she stormed down the stairs with Ross, who had a bleeding nose. 

“How did this happen!?” Brittany exclaimed, sounding furious. To say Marie was surprised was an understatement, she was beyond shocked. 

“I - I - I...” She stuttered, still in shock. 

“You what!?” Brittany yelled, exasperated. “Get me the first aid box!” She exclaimed and Marilyn quickened her steps to the utility room. She had no idea how the accident happened but was bound to find out real soon. 

“Here it is.” She handed it to Brittany. 

“Get lost.” She kissed her teeth. 

Marilyn walked up the stairs to Ace’s room. Sighing, she strolled in, only to be met by a pair of teary eyes staring back at her. 

“What's wrong baby?” She asked, concerned. 

“H-He told me I don't belong here, he said I didn't have a mom.” He revealed making Marilyn furious but she still managed to maintain a straight face. 

“And what did you do?” She asked, still trying to keep her cool. 

“I pushed him out of my room.” He said. 

Almost immediately, Marilyn connected the obvious dots, eventually realizing Ross fell on his face due to the push and broke his nose causing it to bleed. 

“Did you know he fell on his face and broke his nose?” She inquired. 

“I didn't mean for it to happen.” He said in an apologetic tone. “It’ll never happen again.” A few teardrops slipped down his adorable face.

“Okay, I forgive you.” She pulled him into a loving hug in response.

“Let's go get ice cream.” She suggested and realised what the gesture was worth as he smiled up at her.

“Okay.” He said, running to get his shoes while she did the same.

She slipped on a pair of skinny jeans and a black leather jacket and so did Ace. They looked cute together. She got them helmets from her room and they trudged out the door for a ride on her motorcycle.

She didn’t have a car and she had the permit to drive with a child. She was just twenty four and had a motorcycle, there was nothing inept about that.

She drove straight to the park and parked at a suitable spot. They alighted and went straight to the ticket stand.

“Marilyn, there’s a new Ferris wheel!” He exclaimed, almost dying from excitement.

“Yes baby, there is.” She chuckled.

“Marie! There. Is. A. New. Ferris. Wheel!” His heart almost burst from all the excitement as he burst into a fit of laughter, almost unable to keep standing on his feet. His laughter was so contagious, it made Marilyn chuckle too.

“Who knew it took a new ride to get you this way?” She said as she paid for the tickets.

They went on rides, ate cotton candy and had ice creams.  As soon as she parked her motorcycle in the garage, she walked in and Ace said the most unexpected thing.

He pulled her into a hug “Thank you mom, I had fun.”

“You're welcome baby.” She replied as she got him out of his clothes into something more comfortable. 

He’d finally warmed up to her and started calling her 'mom'. He still called Brittany by her name. He was one heck of a kid but she loved him just the way he was.

“I love you Mom.” He blew her a kiss in his sleepy state and Marilyn blew one back.

“I love you too baby.”

“Marilyn!” She heard Brittany’s scream immediately she shut Ace’s bedroom door. 

“Coming!” She yelled back as she walked down the stairs. 

“Your trash of a son broke my son's nose and you did nothing about it.” She referred to Ace as Marilyn’s son. Jealousy. 

“I reprimanded him.” She said just to get her off her tail. 

“I don't care. I want to find out what Douglas will say about this. I am gonna find all means to throw that nuisance out.” She fumed. 

This woman was a psycho. Who could have so much hatred for a child? He was a little rude but he was just a child. She was so impossible. 

“Just don't let him anywhere near my Ross or else, I’ll kick him to the curb.” she said.

“Okay.” She said, bored. 

Marilyn wasn’t the least scared of Brittany, not an iota. She was just a month older than Brittany and had a few circumstances leading to her working as a support staff in the Zimmer family.

“It’s too late to start chemo.”

“I want to risk it.”

“It’s a twenty percent chance.”

“For my son, I’ll take the risks. At least I’d know I died trying to live.”

“When do you want the procedure to start?”

“Next week after I drop him off.”

“I and Berry could alternate caring for him.” He suggested.

“No doc, I don’t want to be too much of a bother and besides, he needs family.”

“That, I understand.” He smiled up at her.

“Thanks doc.” She pulled him into a hug.

“Don’t mention Candace.” He dropped a kiss on her forehead.

A tear rolled down Candace’s cheek as her mind drifted to her son.

“Hey bud.” 

“Hey dad.” Ace grinned at his dad as the older man walked into the kitchen.

“How’s my little man doing?” He crouched in front of Ace.

“Good.” The little guy blushed.

“Would you like a trip to the carnival?” He grinned.

“Yes!” Ace jumped in excitement.

“With Brittany and Ross.” He said the latter part of the initial question.

“No!” He maintained the same exciting energy, causing his dad and Marilyn; who stood a few meters away, to burst into laughter.

“What if Marilyn comes along?” He raised a hopeful brow, a small smile on his face.

“Hmm…” Ace had a finger on his chin as he thought about the proposal.

“What do you say?”

“Yes! You, Marie and I would have to wear matching outfits though. It’s our thing.” He informed his dad.

“Wow… then that’s… done?”

“Great, go get ready dad.” He shooed his dad off.

“Come on.” Marilyn beckoned on him to come get ready too.

“We’re going to have so much fun Mom.”

“I can’t wait, darling.” She kissed his cheek, a grateful smile on her face as he giggled in response.