Emma sat stunned as Sarah's dove shaped eyes filled with sad tears and Sammy blinked rapidly in an attempt to hide the moistness in his eyes.

"If daddy comes to see us now... and hates us again, what will we do, mommy?" Sammy's question was innocent but Emma's stunned silence was agonizing. After a few long seconds of speechlessness Emma spoke, her voice came out choking. "Now, listen carefully what I say. Okay?"

She began rocking both of them in her arms back and forth slowly, the twins nodded their heads up and down - their expressions still remorseful. "Yesh, mommy."

"Daddy never hated you. Never ever. In fact, no one, and I mean, no one can hate you in this world, you two are my such adorable little darlings." Emma said as she dropped loud kisses on top of their heads. "Your daddy never came to see you because he didn't know that God had sent you to earth already. I... we...," She said after a pause - her voice low, "We got lost and he couldn't find us."

Now the twins looked curious.

Sarah had her brows furrowed cutely. "Really mommy! We got lost... in a summer fair?"

Emma couldn't help but chuckle a little. "Yeah, something like that."

"Then, mommy..., then," Sammy urged wanting to know more.

"And then," Rubbing her thumb on Sammy's cheek, Emma continued, "He found us now and saw that how beautiful and good children you two are."

"He saw us!" Sarah squealed.

Sammy too had his eyes wide in anticipation. "What did he say?"

They perked up in excitement.

Emma smiled affectionately at them. "He said that you two are the sweetest," she kissed on Sarah's chubby cheek making her giggle. "Cutest and the most adorable...," she smacked a kiss on Sammy's cheek too but he immediately started wiping his cheek but was smiling anyway. "Kids in the whole world and he loves you so so so much, just as how mommy loves you."

The massive grins that now plastered on both of their faces made Emma want to sob in happiness, she bit her bottom lip to suppress her emotions.

Sarah rocked her feet enthusiastically and tilted her head. "Promise, mommy?"

"Pinky promise." Emma grinned.

They clung to Emma ferociously in excitement and delight. After a few minutes of comfortable silence Sammy asked, "When will daddy come to meet us, mommy?"

Emma sighed, she still hadn't told them that their daddy was in fact staying in the next house and they had indeed met him already, she thought to reveal the fact that it was in fact Brandan while they were all present in persons. She just hoped everything would go well.

"He's coming to join us for dinner tonight," Emma disclosed.

Both of the kids smiled excitedly, Sarah clapped her hands. And Emma sent a silent prayer heavenwards for the well being of the kids' fragile hearts and emotions.

"Now the only thing left is - dealing with Steeve's mommy." Emma said turning serious.

Satan would be playing with snow in hell when the next time Steeve's mom dared to originate anymore rubbish gossip about Emma and her private life and make Steeve listen to all that bunch of bull and hurt her babies at the end of the day.

Sarah asked in confusion, "Steeve's mommy! Why, mommy, what did she do?"

Emma's lips pressed into a thin line. "She is gossiping way too much, baby, and I can clearly sense where her son is getting all the disgusting ideas from."

The children shrugged and climbed off the bed, they didn't have any idea of what their mommy was talking about but they knew for sure that Steeve's mommy should better run for her life, because mommy seemed so angry and she was surely going to probably whoop her on the behind. Their mommy was undoubtedly the best.

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With his hand full of many toys, some dresses and things he thought children would like, Brandan was walking towards his house in the evening. To say he was a nervous wreck would be an understatement.

Just an hour left and then... then he could finally tell his kids that he was their father. That he loved them so so much and would never ever let them go out of his sight ever again and maybe soon would win their mother back and make themselves a family. Of course, he wouldn't tell the last bit aloud, unless he was sure he had an extra head fixed on his shoulders. Because Emma would surely slice down his only head for that statement.

From the corner of his eye, he saw someone in an overcoat, face covered with the overcoat's humongous collars - near Emma's house. The guy whose face he couldn't see looked extremely suspicious. Might be a thief or... a perverted freak spying on his woman.

Brandan was in alert immediately, his shoulders tensed as he without making a single sound put down all the things in his hands on the front porch of his house and crossed the distance reaching Emma's silently. In the meantime he noticed the man was holding a big basket of some sort. Through the window he could clearly see Elli moving around in the dining room attached kitchen. Her low humming of an unknown song the only noise.

With his one hand closed into a tight fist ready to deliver a bone cracking punch Brandan placed his other hand on the freak's shoulder to feel that shoulder tense under his touch, the guy swung around to face him with a gasp.

Brandan was shocked after seeing the guys face.

"Oliver!"

Oliver motioned him to lower his voice. "Lower your voice! Pheww..." He exhaled a shaky breath placing his free hand over his heart in relief which wasn't busy holding the basket. "You scared me man!"

"I scared you?" Brandan said through his gritted teeth. "I was about to bloody beat you up for sneaking around Emma's house like this. What the f*** are you doing Oliver?"

Oliver hissed. "Shhhh... Brandan! Trust me buddy, you won't want to stay here and find that out."

Then ignoring him Oliver turned around and through the opened window emptied the contains of the basket inside the house carefully when Elli had her back turned towards them.

Brandan had his mouth hanging open, the disgusting smell that reached his nose made him hold his breath. He couldn't believe Oliver had put all that garbage inside the house.

Oliver now turned around to face Brandan with a smirk and ran off leaving Brandan wide eyed. He glanced one last time through the window. Oliver was right. He wouldn't want to stay to see where it goes and get caught right in the middle of it.

Briskly he moved towards his house, when the screaming and yelling began from behind he shook his head in frustration wondering when these two grown ups would stop acting so childish.

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Brandan took deep breaths as he rang the doorbell and when he heard the door opening he forced himself to calm while chanting over and over in his mind that everything would be alright.

Emma closed the door after him.

"Hey." Brandan smiled a little at Emma who seemed as much nervous as he was feeling.

Emma cleared her throat tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, " Ahhh... the kids are watching some cartoon over there."

Brandan looked at the children who were chattering away happily in front of the TV while watching cartoon.

"I'll start serving dinner now." She mumbled slowly.

Keeping all the gifts he bought for the children on a side table Brandan turned to face Emma who was about to go to the kitchen.

"I'm sorry about Oliver's stunt. Where's Elli by the way? She must be mad still." Brandan said making Emma pause in her track and look at him. Apologizing for Oliver was the last thing in his mind, he just didn't want Emma to get out of his sight - not so soon.

Emma smiled shrugging, "She's gone on a date with this french guy she met last week and... you don't have to say sorry, both of them keep pulling such stupid pranks on each other. Elli's not that innocent too you know."

Brandan chuckled, "Well, you're right. Sammy and Sarah are better than them I tell you."

He smirked noticing Emma staring at his lips longingly. It pleasured him knowing that deep down she still wanted him. It might be difficult to win trust - make her fall in love with him but not impossible.

He stared back at her, for the first time since he entered her house he looked at her from head to toe. Only his Emma could look so hot wearing such a simple shirt and tights.

He remembered how she used to get bullied back then, people - even he himself calling her ugly and all those names. She was beautiful back then too but it was him that was a stupid - cruel jerk. In the heat of rebelling his father he had done so many wrongs. In the fear of taking responsibilities of the whole family business and then that marriage talk with his father had lead him making stupid mistakes that had cost him so much and he was still trying make things right but would everything ever be right... he didn't know. He only knew that he couldn't loose hope, because if he God forbid lost this hope of making Emma - their children and him a family that would be the moment of him taking his very last breath.

"Mommy - we're hungry."

And like that, the magical trance they were in was broken as the children screamed for food from the living room.

Wincing at the realization of what she was doing, Emma physically almost stumbled backwards looking anywhere but him.

"Go, wash your hands."

Her voice came out trembling and high pitched, Brandan couldn't help but smile leaning against the side table as she briskly almost ran in to the kitchen finally.

The dinner went well with children bickering excitedly about their new school.

Emma was acting civil with Brandan but it was too much formal. To his disappointment she avoided by any cost looking at him but he let it go paying all his concentration on the kids. Brandan thanked all his lucky stars that the kids liked his gifts, the excitement and smiles on their faces filling him instantly with immense joy.

Sarah.. Sammy were making a mess of foods around their plates.. earning a few glares from Emma. The whole scene seemed so cute to him.

However... Brandan seemed to notice that Sammy was a little off towards him, he caught Sammy scowling at him a few times and glancing longingly at the door.

Yes.. they were still calling him mr. stranger, as the revealation of him being their dad was yet to unfold. Brandan was really nervous, he tried to read Emma's expressions but so far she remained or pretended to remain unworried the whole time they ate.

Emma placed all the plates and cutlery in the sink to wash them later, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The whole evening her nerves were on the edge, she was weary about how kids would react about Brandan being their father. She was tensed if Brandan would mess it all up in the future, and where would that leave her kids.

But she knew this step she was about to take was necessary.

Emma looked at Brandan and motioned to him silently - that it was time.

And everything was as if began moving in slow motion. Brandan's heart thudded violently in his chest, was it anxiety - anticipation or panic - or desperation, he didn't know for sure. There were just too emotions spinning around that it was too hard to grab a hold of one and decipher.

"Sammy, Sarah. Wait. Come here for a second."

Emma called back the children who were going to run towards the living room. They halted on their steps a few feet away from Brandan whose eyes were only fixed on the children.

Emma saw Sarah glancing at the door again, so had Sammy been doing the whole evening. Emma knew who the kids were waiting for to show up - their father. It was yet to be revealed that he was already here, right in front of them.

She just wanted to let the dinner pass without any event and now she was suddenly perplexed about how to start. How do you tell someone that the father they never knew - had all of sudden came back into their lives.

She knelt down while the kids stood before her confused.

"Mommy, you told us that daddy wanted to meet us." Sammy said glancing once again at the door as if he was waiting for someone to barge in any moment.

Sarah added, "Yes, mommy. Daddy not come now? He not want to see us anymore?"

Emma understood their growing fear, in spite of her ensuring them of their father not hating them, the children were still a little afraid. She looked up at Brandan for a second. His expression was a mixture of thousands of different emotions as he stood stiff in anticipation. He kept quite intending to give the children and Emma a little space and she appreciated that.

He was waiting for her to say it, say the thing that would change everything in their lives. He was waiting for her to say the words that would bind him to her in an invisible way through their children, the bond Brandan was sure that Emma was still not aware of - would surely take place.

"He's here, honey," Emma said softly. "Your dad's already here."

Both of the kids furrowed their brows in confusion. Sarah cutely touched Emma's cheek, as if she was trying to make Emma see some much needed sense.

"No, mommy, daddy not here." With sadness Sarah said.

Emma grabbed both the sullen looking children's hands squeezing them tightly in hers. She said as softly... as calmly as possible.

"It's your Mr. Stranger babies, he's your dad... Brandan Rozario."

There was silence, a couple of seconds passed which strangely felt like hours.

Brandan held his breath, it was an unconscious action of his lungs. His gaze was fixed on those two dark haired angels who had managed to captured his heart the moment he first met them in the street. He could clearly remember their panicked faces, screaming with round wide eyes crouched down in front of his car hugging that life-size dog.

His heart was literally stuck in his throat as he watched Sarah and Sammy's expressions changed in to utter shock. They both turned their heads and looked at him wide eyed. Sammy's mouth was slightly hanging open.

It was like Brandan was stood on the judgement day waiting for his sentence to hell or a golden key to heaven. He knew there would be an end to this painfully stretched wait, an end which will either make him or break him.

Two things happened together, as the children finally realized what Emma said to them - Sarah's shocked features turned reserved or shy, it might be something in between. But Sammy was a whole new different story here, Brandan saw his little boy's face redden - not with shyness or anything, it was anger.

"No!" Sammy screamed.

At that moment, Brandan felt like his heart dropped down on the cold floor and broke into millions of tiny pieces.

Stomping a foot Sammy yelled rigidly, "YOU ARE NOT MY DAD. You can't be!"

Emma's eyes found Brandan's, hurt evidently written on them. Hurt of denial, pain of rejection.

Brandan gasped. What could be more perishing than this... what? His own blood didn't want him. The turns his brain was taking was involuntary, his eyes moved to Emma on their own accord.

Hadn't something similar like this happened before! History was repeating itself. Tables were turned now. Fate had it's own ways of paying back, it worked in it's own cruel ways.

When he heard Emma saying something to Sammy it felt like the voices were coming from afar. He was standing so very far from them and he feared that if he even moved a single muscle... Emma, Sarah, Sammy - everyone would vanish in thin air and... and he would never be able to find them again. Just how it happens in a frustrating nightmare, when at the terrible end of it you find yourself waking up with sweat covering you body, screaming in mental pain.

Emma held Sammy's shoulders. "Sammy, he is your father, honey. remember when I told you about him this morning. You've been waiting for him."

But Sammy was uncontrollable. "He's not my dad, he's a bad man... very very bad man."

At the end of his sentence Sammy's tone lowered, desperately trying to make Emma see the point.

Before Emma could say anything Sarah interrupted. "Sammy is right, mommy. Mr. stranger made you cry."

She almost whisper yelled, this time making both Brandan and Emma gasp. Emma couldn't understand what went wrong and from when it started going this much wrong. "What are you talking about, Sarah? You must have mistaken, honey. Daddy never made me cry."

She tried to calm them down but it was like everything was bound to go the other way this night.

"You are trying to save him, mommy." Sammy accused angrily, he didn't know why his mommy was suddenly trying to save this bad man.

"Sammy...," Emma was about to now scold Sammy for his rude behavior but before she could he cut in.

"That day, he shout at you soooo loud outside our home, mommy, and he made you cry." Sammy said hoping to remind Emma.

Now, Emma remembered. Ohh God, no! The kids might have watched them shouting at each other outside the house that day. Later they saw her crying in her bedroom.

Emma dared a glance at Brandan and the sight froze her. There was no hurt, no pain, only absolute nothingness showing on his face. His face was as blank as the universe would have been before all the creations took place.

Emma felt like reaching out to this man standing in this numb state before her, she wanted to touch him, shake him awake hoping that some of his liveliness would come back.

"See," Sammy's voice snapped her out of the trance, this time his voice renewed with anger again. "See..., what has he done again! He made you cry again, mommy."

Raising her fingers Emma touched her cheeks and was surprised that truly there were tears rolling down from her eyes. When the hell did this happen?

"Go away," Sammy screamed at Brandan, "Go away!"

Now Sammy's voice made Sarah to even flinch. The very next second, whirling around Sammy ran upstairs.

The three people present were now frozen and in loss of words, it seemed forbidden to break the silence.

Sarah did the task anyway, but her weary voice so unsure didn't make things any good. For the first time after knowing about Brandan's real identity in their lives, Sarah spoke directly to him. "Does this mean, I have to call you da... daddy from now on?"

Finally, Brandan snapped out of the frozen state he was in. Looking at Sarah's innocent face now, he watched in wonder - the innocence of a child which never knew how to hide - how to properly lie - how to discern the complications of this world.

He forced a smile on his face, a terrible attempt of a terrible smile as he took a couple of short steps towards Sarah and knelt down before her. He found his voice while holding everything inside him together balanced by a weak, loose thread. "You don't have to. Not when you aren't ready, my princess."

He watched Sarah lit up hearing him calling her princess and he wanted nothing more than to say - yes I want you to... yes call me daddy from now on and forever. But he couldn't.