Helena Walton's POV

I narrowed my eyes as Adam got up and started pacing back and forth. He had been talking to Amanda for an hour now, and as the curious cat I am, I just wanted to know what was going on. Adam has always been very protective of his family. I can remember when we were just kids and I was the meanest to him but he always protected me and scared off the other kids bullying me. He was the same with everyone, including his close friends.

I couldn't imagine how he was feeling now that Amanda wanted her daughter back. At first, it was okay, Amanda and Emily had a healthy relationship and Adam would see her whenever he wanted to. But after what Amanda put Emily through, I knew he would be reluctant to give her back. To be honest, I didn't want him to give her back. Emily was a part of me now, and I couldn't bear seeing her hurt or sad.

"Not bored of spying yet?" I looked up at Serena who sat next to me on the swing and watched Adam and Amanda. "You think she'll agree to leave without her?"

"I don't know Rena, I mean, after trying so hard to have a baby I wouldn't give up on my kid no matter what. So I can't imagine how he'll be able to reason with her." I ran a hand through my hair and stood up "I'm going to see what they are talking about".

Before I could go anywhere I felt a strong hand wrap around my wrist and pull me back. I turned around and gasped when I saw the tall and broad Zachary Walton standing before me with a raised eyebrow. I bit my lip and looked down. My dad wasn't the type of parent who meddles in his children's lives but he also had a way of telling us what to do without barking orders just because he can. He always found a way to reason with us. And by the look he was giving me, I knew he didn't approve.

"Look at me Helena," He said softly to me.

I looked up and even though he was concerned he gave me a reassuring smile. "You need to let him handle this on his own. Emily is their daughter, they'll have to decide what to do, and you'll be there for him no matter what."

I nodded and sat back down "I know that dad, but I don't want him to hurt. Or Emily for that matter." I pointed at her playing tag with mom and Mason "she's happy here. We are her family and I don't want anyone to take that away from her."

"No one will take that away from her but Amanda is her mother, she's her family too." He sighed "Look even if they decide that she'll live with Amanda, Emily will always be part of this family and she'll always be welcomed here. Now stop worrying yourself and have some faith in Adam." He joined Emily and started playing with them.

"You know, seeing your dad playing like that with Emily always reminds me how good of an uncle he is. Even though my own dad wouldn't acknowledge me, your dad was always there for me since the minute I was born." Serena smiled looking at me "I know he'll never change towards Emily, and he'll always love her. And I also know that Adam would never give up on her."

We both looked at Adam and Amanda and saw them coming our way. I got up immediately trying to study Adam's expression. Is he mad? I couldn't tell as he was still so far. I just hoped they worked it out without having to go to court. Emily shouldn't be put through this.

"Helena" Amanda smiled at me and extended her hand which I hesitantly shook. "I wanted to thank you for everything you did for Emily. She's lucky to have someone like you in her life. And I wanted to tell you that... even though I'm back, I won't try and change the relationship you two have. She loves you. It's clear she trusts you, so I'm willing to put everything aside and trust you as well."

Is she for real? I can't believe this! She's the one who should ask us to trust her not the other way around.

"All I did for Emily came straight from the heart. I love her more than anyone could ever imagine, so you don't need to thank me. I'm happy that you're clean and hopefully won't put her through anything like that again."

I looked at Adam who just smirked and looked at me with pride. I smiled at him and joined his side giving him a small hug. Still not knowing what they had decided, I took a step back and crossed my arms.

"So what's the verdict? Who is Emily staying with?"

Adam cleared his throat and shoved his hands in his pockets, relaxing a bit "Well, we need to talk to Emily and see if she's okay with the plan."

"You're letting her go?" I asked him my voice breaking a little.

"No baby of course not. She'll stay with Amanda this week while we're busy with the wedding preparations, and then we have to go on our honeymoon so instead of staying here with your parents, she'll stay with her mom. Once we're back, she'll come back and live with us. She'll visit Amanda on the weekends."

I let out a sigh of relief and hugged him tight "Thank you babe thank you so much, I couldn't live without her."

"Don't be a bitch Helena, I can't live without her either and it's hard enough she doesn't want to come back and live with me so don't rub it in my face like that! You think hearing her calling you mommy doesn't hurt?"

"Amanda I'm... sorry I didn't mean to. I know it's hard on you but we all know it's the best thing to do for her, at least until she grows up a little."

"If it wasn't I wouldn't be standing here discussing terms with you because as much as you love her, she's my daughter, not yours. You can't worry about her more than I do." She spat out and left us standing there alone. She took Emily in her arms and hugged her tightly while she cried.

"Do you think we should let her take her?"

"At this point, I don't know what to think. It was really hard convincing her it was for Emily's best. But we also have to take into consideration Emily's feelings. At the end of the day, she'll be the one to choose who she wants to stay with."

I nodded in agreement. Even though Amanda called me a bitch I wasn't mad at her. She was a mother who made a mistake and put her daughter in danger and I knew she regretted every second of it. But when I think back to when we met Emily, she was really happy with her mom, which could only mean Amanda was doing a great job until she met my uncle Asher.

When it was time for Amanda to leave, I gave them some privacy to speak with Emily. I didn't want my presence to affect her decision.

"You're doing the right thing, Helena." I turned my attention to my mom and smiled.

"I just don't want her to feel like she has to stay because of me. You know how she hates to upset me."

"Yes I do and I'm happy you know when to make yourself present and when to pull back."

Emily came running to us and gave me a bone-crushing hug "I'll miss you, mommy".

"Oh my little princess, I'll miss you even more! But you can come to see me whenever you want okay?"

"Okay" she gave me the sweetest kiss and hugged my mom as well. After saying goodbye to everyone, Amanda held her hand and helped her in the car.

Emily was going to be away from us for a couple of weeks, but to me, it felt like an eternity. I was grateful I had to plan the wedding in just one week, which meant a lot of work and busy days. I'll still miss her, but at least I'll have a lot of things on my mind. I looked up at Adam who was standing by my side resting his forearm on my shoulder. He looked composed and calm, but I sensed that he was suppressing his real feelings.

The wedding preparations took most of my time. I had a mom and her friend Aria helping me out. They had picked the perfect venue for a winter land wedding. Actually, they didn't really need me there since they didn't even ask my opinion on anything. I didn't mind though because I liked everything they picked from the flowers to the chairs and tables and chandeliers and even the lighting. Everything felt magical. The only thing they let me pick was my dress thankfully! And even with that my aunt Amelia had to give me her opinion since she was the family's stylist and she would be the one designing it.

I spoke to Emily on a daily basis, she seemed happy to be spending time with her mom. She missed me as much as I missed her but couldn't come to see me. Apparently, Amanda took her on a trip to the lake. She booked a cabin at Martin's lodges, Adam's grandpa. Upon knowing it, Adam immediately called Martin and asked him to keep an eye on Emily and let me tell you he was happy to do so.

Adam went back to the office and got some work done keeping a flexible schedule knowing I could call any time and ask him to rescue me from the claws of my mom and Aria, or even Aunt Amelia's. Thankfully he was very supportive as always and did his best to relieve me of any stress.

"How are you feeling?"

I looked at my mom and gave her a nervous smile. I was trying hard not to cry. Even though I haven't been living with them for a while, I still felt very emotional. We still hadn't told them we were having a baby, or should I say, babies. When we got back from Turkey, Adam and I went to see my doctor. Everything was fine but we could hear two heartbeats. We are having twins! It was a surprise and I was even more nervous than I was before, but with Adam by my side, I knew we would be okay.

"Nervous" I chuckled looking at myself in the mirror running my hand on the material of my dress. I was in love with it; Aunt Amelia sure did a hell of a job in just a few days. My dress was just beyond beautiful. It was an off-shoulder long-sleeved princess dress with a fitted bodice beaded with small diamond crusts. The skirt was wide and consisted of glittery layered tulle emphasizing my small waist. All in all, I looked like I was coming out of a fairy tale with my hair falling on my shoulder in soft waves, and the white floral crown that held the veil over my head added to the magical effect.

I heard a soft knock on the door and could see my dad enter the room through the mirror.

"Wow, you look beautiful" he gasped closing the distance between us and wasting no time in hugging making sure he wasn't ruining anything. "Do you want me to cover your face with the veil before we go?"

"No, I want it like that flowing with my hair" I smiled and adjusted the veil so it would cover my shoulders. That was my Aunt Amelia's only condition. Just so I matched the theme of the venue.

Holding onto my dad with one hand while holding my white flower bouquet in the other, I took a deep breath waiting for the doors to open. The venue was breathtaking with white tree branches decorated with white flowers and crystal garlands ending with a small lit candle. The crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling were sparkling and wonderful. It felt like I stepped into one of those fairy tales my mom used to read me, but this time I was the princess.

The guest tables were decorated with baby's breath flowers, white roses, small candles, high candles, and small white tree branches as well as crystals. My mom and Aria did a great job by creating a mystical lighting mood. They used hues of ice blue, light purple, and glitters everywhere. I was amazed. They gave me my dream wedding.

Taking a deep breath, I looked behind me at Emily who was my flower girl, and gave her a wink before I walked down the aisle with my dad focusing on Adam's face. He was as amazed as I was and looked as nervous as I did which made me smile a little.

"You took my breath away" he whispered as soon as my dad handed me to him making me blush and looked down. Everything after that was a blur, I wasn't even listening to the pastor, if I could I would just skip it all to the 'yes' part, but of course, I couldn't. We said our vows, and by the end were both tearing up. It was all so emotional and moving and I just wanted to be in his arms, feel his love for me, feel at home and safe.

"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you Husband and Wife, you may kiss the bride." The guests cheered whistling and applauding.

I was pulled gently by Adam so we were nose to nose, so close to each other that I could feel his breath fanning my face. He cupped my face and kissed me hard like there was no tomorrow.

Out of breath, I looked up into his eyes as he spoke "Helena Walton, you are the sun in my universe and my only star. I will always cherish you and love you."