"No way!" Annabelle exclaimed.

David sighed from the other side of the phone call.

"Why are you so stubborn? It's just for a night, woman."

"And I said no." Annabelle insisted stubbornly.

"Tomorrow is Saturday, they do not go to school on Saturday so what else is the problem?" He asked wearily.

"I cannot risk my kids spending a night in your apartment when you have a crazy fiancée." She spat.

"Chanel is not coming to my apartment today. And even if she were, she won't be seeing neither the kids nor I because I intend to take them to our...to my home." He said gently.

Their home. He still kept the house? She thought he must have sold it after their divorce.

She shook her head. He knew he was going to start another family so why not keep the house?

It wasn't as if he kept it because...

"Annabelle?"

She blinked. "N-no. I insist."

David sighed deeply in weariness. "Your stubbornness is out of this world."

"I don't feel comfortable letting my little kids sleep out." She said drily.

"I am their father for F*ck's sake!" He gritted angrily.

"And I am their mother and I have the right to..."

"Sweetheart?"

She halted and turned to face her mother who just entered the room.

"Let me talk to him dear." Ingrid said and let out her hand.

"Mum?"

"Come on." She collected the phone from her and Annabelle just stared at her.

"Hello David, good morning...I am well thank you and how are you?...Oh my stepping down has been really relaxing and my darling daughter has shown me that she's more than capable..." She smiled at Annabelle who smiled back. "Oh that she is. I'm very grateful that we found each other..." She paused, then laughed out loud.

Annabelle shook her head. This wasn't going to end well. He was trying to charm her mother!

"Oh yes! And your father and I still have scores to settle... Hahaha, Of course, will do... So to the issue at hand right now, I couldn't help but overhear your conversation with Anna and I understand that you want to create a physical bond with your children..."

Annabelle waited with bated breath.

"...So the kids will be having a sleepover at your place tonight."

Annabelle's eyes widened. "What?"

"But," Ingrid continued and there was silence. "Their mother will also be sleeping over at your place tonight."

This time, Annabelle's heart stopped. "Mum!"

"Hope you don't have a problem with that David?... Good, it's settled then. Have a good day my boy." Ingrid said with a mischievous smile and hung up then turned to face her daughter. "Darling..."

"What was the meaning of that mum?" Annabelle asked in surprise and confusion.

"My dear, can't you see that he's only trying to make up for lost years?" Ingrid reasoned.

"I don't care," Annabelle replied stubbornly. "I didn't even want him to know they were his."

"But he already knows." Ingrid said gently. "You have to give him a chance to prove what kind of father he can be to his kids. Even the children need him, dear. Do you how many times they've asked me whether I know where their daddy was? And I'm sure they ask you too. Please my dear, just give him a chance and if he proves to not be a good father to them then we'll keep them away from him totally."

Annabelle nodded. "You...you're right."

Deep in her heart, she knew David was going to make a good father.

"But the bit I don't really understand is why I should sleep at his place."

"Well, so you could be close to the kids and, well, look after them." Ingrid replied too quickly.

Annabelle gave her a weird look. "I don't like this."

"What are you talking about?" Ingrid asked with an innocent look.

Annabelle shook her head. "Never mind, it's just that...well..."

"Well nothing Anna," Ingrid interrupted. "The children are having a sleepover at their father's house so you have to go with them to make them more comfortable and at ease."

"You could go with them." Annabelle pointed out.

"I am not their mother, you are." Ingrid said laughingly.

"You are their grandmother and they love you." Annabelle said.

"And I love them more, but I'm sure they'd want you to go with them." Ingrid said with a smile. "Do you have any problem spending a night with your kids at their father's house?"

"Yes! I mean no, it's just that..." She facepalmed. "Oh lord."

Ingrid chuckled. "Just tell me you'll think about it and come to a conclusion before evening."

She shrugged. "Fair enough."

❤️💎❤️

"Your house is sooo big, hewo." Sandra said in awe and admiration.

"Yea, really big and beautiful." Samuel agreed.

David chuckled. "I'm really glad you both like it."

"We love it!" They both chorused and even Annabelle had to laugh at that.

She had been quiet since they came in to the house, relieving old memories.

She sighed. Why did she agree to come here? In a few weeks, this house that she was once a mistress of would belong to another woman.

He would have his family here with her.

She noticed there'd been some changes in the house. Like some renovations, new touches and new stuffs.

The house screamed money and luxury but with a homely feel.

"Mum!" Sandra screamed and she snapped out of her thoughts.

"What is it baby?"

"Hewo said we should go upstairs, that it's cozier there for a movie while we wait for dinner."

Annabelle smiled. "Oh of course."

She sneaked a glance at him and saw him smirking at her.

Bastard. He knew she loved cozying up with him to see movies in the living room all those years ago.

***

Annabelle let loose and enjoyed herself that night with the kids and their father. They ate, drank, saw different movies while snacking on popcorn and chatted loudly - most of the talking were done by the kids though.

Hours later, just before midnight, the twins finally fell asleep. Sandra fell asleep in her father's arms while Samuel dozed off on his mother's laps.

She really enjoyed tonight. It was like a real family bonding and she found herself wishing they'd do that again soon. The children had been so happy and content that it brought tears to her eyes.

She felt him staring at her wordlessly. Again.

Why did he keep doing that?

He kept staring with slightly sleepy eyes and she suddenly found it difficult to breathe.

"Erm, I need to put the kids to sleep." She said standing up sharply and wincing slightly at Samuel's weight.

"Here." He carried Sandra in one arm and stretched out his other arm for Samuel.

"No thanks, I'm perfectly capable of carrying my son." She said stubbornly.

"Don't be stubborn Annabelle, hand him over. You look tired." He said firmly.

She rolled her eyes. "Fine, only because I'm not too strong at the moment."

They both went into the large room that has been beautifully prepared for the twins and David laid them one after the other on the large bed.

She excused herself to go get some water incase they woke up thirsty and something made her turn just in time to see him kiss the twins' forehead and whispered 'goodnight.'

She couldn't help the smile that broke out on her lips. He didn't even know she was there.

She quickly padded to the upstair living room to get water from the kitchenette and brought it back to the room where she saw him staring at the kids in awe. Almost like he felt the children were a dream come true.

Well they were for her.

She also kissed the kids goodnight and they both quietly left the room and closed the door.

She straightened outside the door.

"Well, goodnight." She said and made to go her room when he stopped her.

"We need to talk." He said. "It would only take a few minutes."

***

They went back to the living room and Annabelle sat and looked at him expectantly.

He was quiet for a moment then spoke.

"When do you intend telling them?"

She was lost for a moment then it dawned on her.

"I don't want to rush this."

"But isn't it wise to do so now than later so we could all move to the next stage of our lives?"

He asked gently.

"If they accept you." She pointed out.

He sighed. "If they accept me."

"I don't like this but I'll think about it." She said reluctantly.

"Can I get an answer by tomorrow morning?" He asked.

"Why the heck are you this eager to..."

"It's because I can't wait to have them look into my eyes and call me dad." He whispered.

She became speechless then nodded once. "Tomorrow morning then, you'll get an answer."

He smiled his thanks. "Let me see you to your room."

As they walked to her room, her imagination couldn't help but run wild.

They were alone. The kids were asleep. And she was acting like a sex starved teenager! Get your mind off the gutter Annabelle!

Why did she always have such thoughts whenever she was alone with him?

He opened the door for her and stood aside to let her pass and she reluctantly went in, torn between giving in to her desires and listening to reason.

"Sleep well. See you in the morning." He said and closed the door after she nodded.

She knew sleep wouldn't come easily especially as his room was only a door away.

He probably didn't even want her.

She thought about what answer to give to him in the morning and sighed.

Sleeping tonight seemed like a difficult feat.

❤️