Mason was understanding and calm, maybe he is more like Hudson than I thought. He paced then sat down next to me.

"Dad will kill him." He said.

I tilted my head. "Dad is in custody."

"That man in custody is not my dad, my dad is in there being what a father should be to my sister." He said.

I wanted to cry. "You're ready to just dive in with Hudson?"

"He has always been my dad. You don't think Serenity and I didn't hear all about him when you would talk in your sleep?" He asked.

Oh shit. "What..exactly did you hear?"

"You don't want to know." He kind of smirked.

I turned away from him.

"It's okay Mom. I'm no longer a child and you know that, but Serenity is still innocent in that way. If Dad doesn't kill him, my grandfather will make sure he's dead by the end of the day." He said.

"How does that make you feel?" I asked.

"Free." Is all he said.

"I'm sorry you had to grow up that way." I said.

"It's not your fault, but we need to have Serenity talk to someone." He said, but I looked up and saw Hudson with his arm around Serenity while they walked toward us, and she is actually smiling.

"I think she has already started," I said, and Mason turned his head and smiled.

"Like I said Mom, he is already being a dad."

"Mom, look what the old man gave me. It's a father-daughter Celtic knot. Isn't it the prettiest necklace ever?" She asked.

"It is but, umm, did you just call him old man?" I asked.

"Yeah" she shrugged.

"He's 35, I think you two forget we were just children ourselves when you were born," I said, and Hudson was smiling.

"I kind of like it, actually." He said.

"Mason, would you like to go for a ride? If it's okay with your mom you can drive the truck, we won't leave the ranch." Hudson asked.

"Sure, but keep an eye out for old Frank. Most of the livestock is gone, but a few horses and a bull has gone awol on us. If you see him ring the house, tell Victor." I said.

"Okay, we will be back in a bit." Hudson said, just before he and Mason walked away.

"Hudson?"

"Yeah?" He turned toward me.

"There's no reason to worry about security is there? I'd like to take Serenity over to Ambers for some baby therapy." I asked.

"Well, can you ask one of Rob's men to drive you?" He asked.

"Sure, we won't be long. Is it okay for the kids to refer to you as their father? I don't want word to get back to Chloe and your mom if they're not prepared, and Serenity has a necklace to show off." I asked.

"Just tell Amber in confidence. Mom will know very soon, so you all should expect Mom to freak you all out with way too much attention, then there will be the shitstorm of my sister soon after. Joey, you better prepare our daughter." He said.

I laughed. "Oh sweetie, you'll soon find out who gave you the most DNA."

The guys left, and I called Amber to see if we could stop in to see them. I can't wait to get my hands on Abigail.

Rob's very silent security was fine with driving us, and it wasn't long until my daughter disappeared with Riley, and it was just Amber and me in the kitchen with Abigail.

"You should have another." She said, as she set a cold soda in front of me.

"I can't have a baby without a daddy." I teased, like I was talking to Abigail.

"Are you leaving your husband?"

I sighed. "That's one big long story."

"I've got time."

"Do I have your confidence?" I asked.

"Always."

I told her everything, but left out that Jason and Rob are CIA agents and that Jackson is in custody. I also didn't tell her what happened to Serenity.

"We still have to tell his family, so please give us a few days."

She sat there with tears flowing from her eyes.

"They're Hudsons? I just can't even begin to tell you how happy that makes me. That awful man doesn't deserve them, Joey."

I laughed. "Serenity calls him her old man, and Mason already calls him dad."

"Does this mean you and Hudson have a chance?"

"I don't think so, Amber. His wife wants him to come back home and raise Jake as a family. He didn't tell her no, and I think he is considering that move. I can't blame him, really. He already missed out on our kid's lives, and I can't see him missing a moment of Jakes. By the way, can I please babysit this angel?"

She smiled. "You better watch out what you ask for, Joey. I'll take advantage."

"Please do, I am always happy with babies."

"Does this mean you're staying at the ranch?"

"I think I will for the time being. I'm not sure what the kids want, to be honest. Mason wants to be with Hudson, and Serenity misses London."

"You do know she and Riley are getting close, so her mind might change. I know he would be heartbroken if she left."

"You think so?" I asked.

"I know so. He has painted at least five portraits of her, and he has always done landscapes."

"Serenity told me he is very talented."

"Joel could never understand why his son was never interested in sports, but even he is impressed."

"Mason loves sports, and is obsessed with American culture and law enforcement. I never knew where that came from, but I understand now. He knew who his father was, and wanted to know him more than anything."

"He looks like Jason." She laughed.

"Serenity acts like Chloe," I said.

"Oh my God, I can see it now that you said it, that's so funny."

"Have you talked to Julie? She's never going to forgive me, is she?"

"She will, but she just needs time to understand what happened. She saw Hudson that night, and she just fell apart."

"What night?" I asked.

"You don't know?"

"Know what?"

"Honey, Hudson has a severe case of PTSD. He's just seen and been through too much. The night at the lounge before our party, he got a glimpse of you and lost it. I followed him outside and he could barely breathe. Losing you was the worst trauma of his life. He loves you so deeply, that he's such a broken man."

Maybe it's not just me that needs to be fixed.