"I need to stop by at the diner and the coffee shop to pick up my last check and to tell them I quit."

"You won't need the money," I said.

She glared at me. "It's my money. Money I earned and I will get it."

"Why? You won't want for anything. I'll take care of you and the twins..."

"Lucas, I worked hard for that money. And how many times do I need to tell you that I want nothing from you. What you want to give for the twins is fine with me. When we get back to the city, I'm going to look for a job and earn my own money..."

"And how about the twins? How are you going to take care of them?"

"I... I..."

"You expect the nanny to take care of them?"

"Of course not!"

"Then there you go. You don't need to look for a job. You obviously want to take care of the twins yourself."

"I still want to get my checks and tell them I quit. They deserve that courtesy."

"Fine," I said and told the driver to head to the coffee shop and then the diner where Livie works.

The first stop was the coffee shop.

"I'll be quick," Livie said, then she stepped out of the car.

I walked into the diner and found Vera at the cashier.

"Hey," I said.

"Hey," she said back.

"Is Frank here?" I asked.

She nodded as she shifted uncomfortably. "Olivia, he's really pissed..."

"What in the hell are you doing here?" Frank growled as he came out of the kitchen.

"I... I came to tell you that I was leaving... And I quit."

"You can't quit because you're fired."

I cringed. "Fine. Can I have my check now, please."

"I knew you'd ask that, you money hungry bitch," he said as he threw the check at me. He then grabbed me by the arm and shoved me. "Now get the hell out of here!" He growled.

I cringed at how hard he grabbed me and before I could say anything... "You son of a bitch," I heard Lucas growl from behind me.

"Lucas!" I exclaimed in surprise.

He ignored me and walked towards us, while looking at Frank menacingly.

I flinched at the look of fury on his face.

"Who the hell are you?" Frank snarled, then his mouth twisted in a sardonic grin. "Now I get it. Found yourself a rich man, didn't you?"

"If I were you, I'll shut the fuck up," Lucas grounded out.

"Lucas..." I started to say, but he silenced me with one look.

"You can't tell me what to do!" Frank growled back.

"You'll do what I say if you want to keep your business. And how dare you touch her like that?"

"I just wanted her to get the hell out of here."

"By grabbing and shoving her?"

"Lucas, don't. It's okay. I'm fine. Let's just go," I said, as I stopped him from taking a step towards him.

Lucas looked back at me and his eyes soften. "Are you okay? Did he hurt you?" He asked as he gently held my arm to check if I was okay.

I nodded. "I'm okay," I said.

He looked at me, then pulled me close in a protective gesture.

"Has he ever done this before?" He asked.

I shook my head.

"Don't lie to me, Livie."

I shook my head. "Lucas, he's never touched me like that before. I promise."

He looked at me for a few moments then nodded.

He looked back at Frank. "Today's your lucky day. Trust me. You won't want to mess with me."

"Who are you to threaten me?" He snapped.

"I know all about your business, and I think your customers will want to hear about what I know. You, on the other hand, I doubt will want me to open my mouth and tell them what it is exactly that I know about you, and about your business... Oh wait. Should I say businesses?"

I frowned.

What the hell is Lucas talking about?

Whatever it is, it would have been something serious, judging by the look on Frank's face.

The blood drained on his face "What do you want?" He asked.

"Apologize to my fiancé and hand her, her check back nicely."

"I'm sorry," he gritted out, then he bent down to pick up the check and handed it to me nicely.

"Thank you," I said.

"Let's go," Lucas said as he held out his hand to me.

I placed my hand in his and followed him out of the coffee shop.

"What was that about?" I asked.

"Nothing," he said. "How can you work for that bastard?"

I shrugged. "I needed the money," I said.

"The diner, please," Lucas said once we were inside his car. "If I find out that he's hurt you before, I swear to god, Livie..."

"He hasn't Lucas. I swear it."

He looked at me for a moment, then he said, "I believe you."

Pain sliced me. "I believe you," he said.

Those were the words I wanted to hear from him two years ago.

Tears pricked my eyes, and I blinked them away, and looked out the window.

Thankfully, Lucas didn't notice the tears that threatened to fall from my eyes.

I kept my gaze out the window the whole drive to the diner.

"Will I need to run interference again?" He asked when we reached the diner.

I shook my head. "No. Linda is nice. There won't be any trouble."

He nodded. "Alright. I'm coming in if you're not back in ten minutes."

"But..."

"Ten minutes Livie. Then I'm coming in to make sure you're okay," he said sternly.

I sighed. "Okay."

I was in and out of the diner in less than five minutes.

Linda wished me all the best and hugged me goodbye.

"That was quick," Lucas said, as I settled beside him.

I nodded. "I'm going to miss every one at the diner. They have all been so nice to me," I said.

"I'm glad they treated you kindly."

I nodded.

"Anywhere else you want to stop by?" He asked.

I shook my head. "No. Everything is settled."

"Alright," he said to me. "The hotel please," he said to the driver.

"Here, why don't you rest for a bit and I'll take care of the twins," I said to Livie when we got to our hotel room.

"I'm fine."

"You are not fine. You're not eating nor sleeping well. Jesus! Look at you. You look exhausted and you look like you're about to fall over any second now," I scolded her. "You haven't been taking care of yourself, Livie. I'm here now, so let me help you."

"I don't need you," she said stubbornly.

"Not this again," I exclaimed in exasperation, as I threw my hands in the air. "Didn't we just call a truce?"

"Fine," she said grudgingly.

"Look, I want you to get some rest so you can regain your energy and take care of the twins. I know you're tired, Livie. Get some rest, I promise I'll take care of them. I'll order some room service as well, so you can get something to eat. If you want you can freshen up first, then eat, and then sleep. Up to you," I said.

"I'll freshen up first, then eat, and then sleep," she grumbled.

I smiled at her response. "Great. The food should be here after you freshen up, then you can take a nap."

"I have to breastfeed the twins," she said.

"I didn't know you still breastfeed them."

"I do. Not as often as I did the first year though. I enjoy that time with the twins," she explained. "Now that they're a year old and can eat solid food, I only breastfeed them during this time of day and in the evenings before I go to work at the diner," she explained.

I nodded in understanding. "How did you take care of them if you were working before?" I found myself asking.

"I didn't work for the first few months after their birth. The money I got from selling the studio really helped. I saved a lot too, while I was working at the cafe and the diner before I gave birth. It helps to have cheap rent, oh and Claire and her son helped me out too," she said. "Her son, Henry owns the apartment complex we stay at. Henry waved my rent during the last two months before I gave birth. Claire also paid me to do some simple house chores for her during the first four months after I gave birth to the boys. I wanted to stay with the twins during the first few months. When they were over four months old, I went back to work," Livie said.

After hearing everything that Livie went through I canny help but feel guilty for the things I said to her before. "You're a good mom, Livie. I'm sorry if I said some things that made you think otherwise."

She looked at me with her mouth agape. "Thanks. Thank you for saying that."

"I'm glad that you had some people who cared and helped you."

"Me too."

I nodded and smiled. "Go on. Take some time to freshen up and I'll order us something to eat."

She nodded and turned around to head to the bathroom.

I turned around to call for room service, when I heard her call out my name.

I turned back around to face her.

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry too. I'm sorry for keeping the twins from you. It was wrong, and I know that I can't take back the time you have lost because of it, but I promise that you won't lose another second with them."

"I'm sorry too. But we're moving forward from the past. I'm just glad I'm a part of their lives now."

"Thank you. Thank you for believing me... For believing when I said that they are yours."

I smiled. "They look exactly like me," I said smugly.

She laughed. "Yes they do. They have the colour of my hair, though. And my smile," she said.

I look over at the twins playing on the floor. They looked up at me and smiled.

I looked back at Livie and nodded. "They do have your smile," I said.

I didn't need a paternity test to confirm what I already know deep inside of me. One look at them and no one would doubt that they are mine.

They are my children. I felt it. The connection ran so deep, it took less than a mere second for me to realize that they were my children.

She smiled at me before turning back around to head to the bathroom.

Her smile hit me in the gut.

She was still the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.

I was left staring after her. Desire flared inside of me.

Damn it!

She's going in there to shower. Naked.

Frowning at my train of thought, I shook my head and headed to the telephone by the bed to order room service.

After placing my order, I placed the phone back in the receiver, just in time to hear the shower go on.

My heart jumped at the memory of Livie's naked body. The way she felt under my touch. Her warmth.

Fuck! Snap out of it, Henderson.

Then the twins babbled something, causing me to look over at them.

A smile formed in my lips, and headed towards them.

I sat on the floor next to them and caressed the top of their heads.

They were both so beautiful, small, and fragile. An ache formed in my gut.

I should have been here from the very beginning, damn it!

Anger flared inside me again at the lost time.

We're moving forward, remember? I reminded myself.

I exhaled a big breath.

"I'm here now, and I'm not going anywhere," I promised.

After a quick shower, I realized I forgot to grab some change of clothes.

I found a robe and slid it on.

After tying the robe tightly, I quickly walk to unlock the door and head back inside the room to grab my things.

I opened the door to the bathroom and stopped on my tracks.

I heard and recognized, Lucas' deep voice. His voice was low, gentle, and tender.

I stopped and listened quietly.

The twins were placed in the high chairs - which I'm guessing he asked for, and they were slapping their hands on the tray in front of them. Lucas say in front of them, feeding them, while talking to them animatedly.

My heart aches and throbbed inside of me. I often thought about this moment. About having Lucas around. I imagined many times, Lucas feeding them, playing with them. I never thought it would become a reality.

Suddenly, Jarred threw, what seemed to be, mashed potatoes at Lucas, and it him square in the face.

Jarred looked pretty proud of himself, so as his twin, and they laughed gleefully, including Lucas, as he wiped his face. The sight caused me to laugh as well. I covered my mouth with my hand, but it was too late.

They all turned to me.

Busted.

"Hey, how long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough," I said

"Your son is evil," he teased, as he tickled Jarred on his belly, eliciting a laugh from the little boy.

I chuckled. "Yup. He's wicked, that one," I said, as I walked over to them and kissed them on the top or their heads.

"Food's here," Lucas said to me.

I nodded. "Let me get dressed and then we'll eat?"

"Yeah. Sure."

"Alright. Give me a few minutes."

"Take your time," he called after me.

I quickly grabbed a change of clothes and headed back to the bathroom.

After dressing myself, I walk back inside the room.

"All done?"

I nodded.

"Come on, let's eat," he said.

The twins were now on the floor playing with their toys.

"Listen. About the wedding," Lucas started.

"Can we wait?" I asked interrupting him.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, can we take some time to you know, get reacquainted with each other. This is all happening so fast, and we haven't seen each other in two years, and suddenly we're getting married," I said.

He frowned.

"Look, I will marry you, like I said. I'm just asking for some time to get used to the idea."

"How long are we talking about?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. A month or two?"

He looked at me for a few moments. "then we'll get married?" He asked.

I nodded. "Yes."

He sighed and nodded. "Alright. A month it is. No more than that!"

"Oh and how long do you plan on staying married for?" I asked.

He looked at me as if I've lost my mind. "What kind of question is that?"

"You don't expect us to be married forever do you? I mean you're marrying me to legitimize the twins..."

"That's not the only reason and I thought we both understand that."

"What other reason is there?"

"Livie, the twins will grow up with both parents. You and I both know how it feels to grow up without our parents. I'm sure you won't want our kids to grow up that way, do you?"

"But we don't even like each other?"

"I respect you because you are the mother of my kids. We'll learn to grow back to liking each other eventually."

"But..."

"Look. There are a lot of things we need to settle between us. I'm willing to put the past behind us; but I'm warning you. You will not make a fool out of me the second time around. If you cheat, we are done, and I'll make damn sure that I get custody of the twins."

I pushed my chair back and got on my feet in outrage.

"Sit down!" Lucas ordered.

"You arrogant son of a bitch! Don't you dare threaten me, again! I've had it with your threats!" I hissed as quietly as I could.

"It is not a threat! I'm telling you the facts. Don't cheat and we'll have no problems!"

"I am not a cheater!"

He snorted. "Let's not do this right now. You're going to upset the twins," he said, throwing back my own words at me.

I was trembling with fury. Damn him!

"I just lost my appetite," I snapped.

"Suit yourself. Get some rest, and I'll take care of the twins," he said.

"You think you're the bigger person by saying all these things to me. By saying that you're willing to put the past behind us? You're wrong Lucas, and one day, you'll realize that." And with that, I turned around and left him there at the table.

When you finally find out the truth, you'll be the one begging for my forgiveness, I vowed.