Joey's POV

Somehow I managed to avoid Hudson. I guess that means he really doesn't want to see me either. On the inside, I'm screaming for him, but I know I have to keep my distance, he will never forgive me.

I told him in that letter that I wanted to come back to him someday, but that's not why I'm here. I'm here to bury the skeletons in my closet. I'm here to bury the man I once loved and adored, but grew to hate. He gave me that taste of freedom, just to watch me suffer when it was taken away.

Seeing Hudson last night, made me feel so weak.

Serenity is giving me the cold shoulder, and Mason is his usual quiet self. He won't even open up to me, and my life is out of my control as usual.

I don't want to go back to London, and it doesn't matter that Jackson has been so good to me over the past decade. I can't say those three words, because they're not the three I want to say. I hate you. Those are the words I want to say to him when he takes his last breath. I've buried my hatred for years, but being home and seeing Hudson, only proves how much I hate Jackson.

His death would only hurt, because no mother wants to see her children in pain. No mother can look at her children and tell them their fathers dead without feeling the torment of their grief. If it were possible, I would have slit his throat while he slept years ago. The beating and rapes don't just go away, they've been with me for years now.

The twins are having a fit about going to Joel and Ambers, but it would do them some good to meet some kids their own age. They could go have some good American teen fun, and tip some cows or something. As long as Serenity isn't climbing into boys windows, I'm happy.

It should be a quiet night with old friends that happen to be married, no drama, just like old times.

"Serenity, are you ready?" I asked.

"I guess if I have to go, mother." She acts so snotty.

"Riley is your age, maybe he will introduce you to his friends. That has to be better than sitting around an empty ranch." I said.

"Why, so we can go cow tipping?" She said in some funny mixture of an English accent and southern drawl.

"Is that how I sound to you?" I laughed.

"You sound like an inbred... What do they say? Hillbilly?"

"Well, then your father does too, come on, let's have some fun tonight."

I walked down the hall. "Mason, let's go."

We piled into Vincent's car, and he took us to Joel and Ambers house. I handed Mason the flowers for Amber, and I carried the wine.

"Joey! I'm so glad to see you made it. Everyone else will be here in a bit.'" Amber said.

"Everyone else?" I asked.

"Yeah, I managed to reach out to the whole gang. Even Tiffany is coming with her high priced attorney boyfriend. Do you remember how Hudson thought she was a transvestite?" She laughed.

She invited the entire gang? Shit!

"Joey!" Joel walked in with a beer in one hand, and baby in the other.

"Who is this little darling?"

Amber had to run and check something on the stove.

"This is Abigail, there's another one running around here somewhere. Gage!" He called for someone.

"Well anyway, Gage is 8 and a handful, but Abigail is a delight." He said.

"How old?" I'm already in love.

"She's four months, or as my wife would say, sixteen weeks." He chuckled.

"Can I hold her?" I asked.

"Sure, have at it. Maybe I can get things ready outside to grill." I handed Mason the wine and reached for the baby.

"I'm guessing these are yours?" He looked at the twins.

He handed me the baby. "Yes, this is Mason and Serenity. Guys this is my good friend Joel."

"It's nice to meet you kids. Damn, they both look like you. Hey Riley, get down here!" He turned back to the kids. "I've got one your age, too." He looked at the twins.

He takes a swig of beer and I hear footsteps. An adorable teenage boy appears and looks at Serenity. "Holy shit." He muttered, and I caught Joel smirking.

"As I said, they look like their mother." He laughed.

"Riley, this is Serenity and Mason. This is their mother, Joey. They're in town from London, why don't you entertain them for a while?" Joel asked.

"Absolutely, I can take the wine." He said.

"No! I'll take that, but you can take the flowers to your mother." Joel said.

"Damn kid wants to hog all the good stuff." He laughed. "You can follow me to the kitchen."

I followed him into where Amber was cooking.

"The little one doesn't mind." She took a drink, then laughed. "She's on formula."

"Oh, okay." I laughed, but I guess I've been in Europe a while and need to get used to the personalities back home again.

I sat in a chair and loved on baby Abigail. "When is number four coming?" I joked.

"I figured I've carried these kids, so it was Joel's turn, he got a vasectomy at my insistence. I can't imagine having four." She said.

Baby Abigail squeezed my finger. "I would love more." I said.

The doorbell rang, and Joel walked by.

"Why don't you then?" She asked.

"I love being a mother, but I vowed never to give him... I mean, I don't want anymore growing up in Europe, the culture difference." Well, that was a total lie.

"I can't imagine twins, did you breastfeed?" Wow, personal she is tonight.

"Yes, I breastfed and I loved it. I miss my babies being so small." I said, as I played with Abigail.

I heard a throat clear, and I almost dropped the baby.

"Hudson, I'm so glad you made it. Where's Jake?" Amber asked.

"Gage already grabbed him up." He said.

I didn't even turn to face him. Little Abigail yawned, so I cradled her and smelled her tiny little head. I love the way babies smell.

Either way, I'm about to lose my shit, and the baby isn't enough distraction, he's right behind me.