Ella stood in front of the dresser mirror as she placed one of the two hangers, which had two different outfits, in front of her body. She loved both dresses equally, since William got both for her one her birthday earlier this year, and she never had the time to try on either ones.

Arabella had decided that they should all visit Annie together, since they hadn't been to see her after she woke up from her tired state. No one knew how she would be after all that happened.

Ella wanted to look her best. Dressing anyhow would make Annie worried that something wasn't right, not that it was anyway, but worrying Annie was the last thing the whole family wanted to do.

The first dress was red with capped sleeves and high turtle neck with stud bathing the front. The hemline stopped above her knees. The other dress was a blue one with shot lace sleeves and little stones covered the upper bodice, while the skirt was arranged into a neat pleating. She loved both dresses equally.

"Choose the blue one. It compliments your skin."

Ella's hand paused in mid-air when her eyes locked with hazel ones in the mirror. Her heart thumped away with happiness at that voice. Those hazel eyes she loved so much and the man they belonged to. William stood in the doorway looking so damned fine in a grey Ralph Lauren polo shirt, beige cargo pants and white sneakers. His hair fell messily to his forehead and the shaved sides were starting to grow out again.

"You need a haircut." Was her reply. Ella knew that that was the lamest thing to have said, but that was what came to her mind first.

William hadn't actively spoken to her ever since they had that verbal fight that day, In fact he went out of his way to avoid her entirely. The children were the only reason he spoke to her once in a while. Ella had resigned to her fate by the time the first week ran out and resorted to avoiding him too. So it was a surprise that he spoke to her first.

He sighed as he combed his fingers through his hair. "I'm sorry."

Ella dropped both dresses on the dresser, then turned to face him trying to ignore the fact that she was still in her panties and bra. Her stomach was still slightly swollen from her pregnancy, and the doctor had assured her that it would go back to the way it was with time.

"What are you apologizing for, William?" She saw his wince at the use of his full name. "The fact that you weren't there for me when I needed you the most? Or the fact that you ignored me, your wife, because of some unknown reason when I confronted you about your son?"

"Everything." He moved further into the room and stopped only when they were few feet apart. "I'm sorry for everything."

"I need a better explanation than sorry. Just because you say 'sorry' do not mean we'll be chummy-chummy with each other again. I need to know that you won't pull this type of stunt again because if you do. . ." She let the rest trail off.

"I was stupid. I let my insecurities get in the way of making you happy." He took a deep breath and exhaled heavily. "I was a coward. I was scared when I learned that you were pregnant again, because all I could think of was that someone would swoop down and take you away from me again, like Ace did with the twins. If that had happened, I would have died. I couldn't bear the thought of loosing you again. It'll kill me."

Ella let her hands drop to her sides. "And you couldn't have told me about it? Is that not we promised each other when we took our wedding vows? You were supposed to share everything with me the same way I did with you. You were supposed to trust me enough to share your fears and insecurities with you." Tears filled her eyes. "Did you even trust me to begin with? Did you. . . did you ever love me?"

William let out a sound that sounded between a choke and a sob. "No. No. Don't ever say that again, Raffy. I loved you back then and I still love you now. I'm sorry that I made you doubt my love for you. Oh God." He buried his face in his palm. "Please forgive me, Raffy. I love you so much. I loved our son. I'm sorry." His words ended on a sob.

By the time Ella crossed the room to wrap her hands around him, she was crying too. They both sank onto the carpeted floor, wrapped around each other like vines as they let the even of the past moths wash over them. It had been scary and draining, but they still managed to hold on. They stayed together- although they didn't speak to each other. They had the hope that one day all will be well.

"I'm so sorry, Raffy." William cried into her neck as she ran a soothing hand down his back. "I was so scared about Annie dying that I took it out on you. I treated you like shit and yet. . . yet you still stayed with me. I don't deserve you."

"Shh. It's okay, William. I forgive you. I love you too. I know it hasn't been easy; for me, for you. For the whole family, but everything would be fine."

"I miss our son too. I miss him so much. When Kaden told me what happened, it felt as if my whole world crumbled into nothing. We lost our son because of me. I almost lost you too."

Ella pulled back so she could see his face, hold his gaze. "It's not your fault, okay? Everything happened for a reason. While I'm not happy about our son dying, it helped us discover each other again. I won't get pregnant again if it'll ease your mind. I don't want us to fight anymore."

"I don't deserve you." William buried his face in her neck again. "I love you so much. I can't imagine a life without you in it."

"Yeah?" At his nod she grinned. "Good, because I'm not going anywhere. If you ever go off the gird again, I'll kick your ass seven ways to Sunday."

William laughed as he pulled back to stare at her again. "I love you so much."

"I love you too."

William cradled her face between his hands and closed his lips over hers in a gentle soul searching kiss. Ella kissed him back as gently as she got, afraid that the moment would shatter if she tried to make it into something more. It felt like the piece that was missing in her life finally fell into place after so long.
It felt good. It felt soul filling. It was everything.

William broke the kiss first. He pulled back and rested his forehead against hers with his eyes closed. "I love you."

"I love you too." Ella took a deep breath. "I love you so much."

"Let's not fight again."

Ella laughed. "Never."

Some may think that she was a fool for forgiving him so easily after he'd hurt her so much. But Ella knew that as long as you're alive, you have to make every minute, every moment count. Anything could happen tomorrow. She didn't want to spend the rest of her life living in regret of what could have been.

He had apologized and finally opened up to her which was all that mattered. With time they could learn to live with their past and make new memories. She would always mourn her child, of course, but she knew that where ever he was, he would be happy like they were.

He smiled at her before kissing her again. Ella felt her toes curl into the carpet with the heat and longing that came with the touch of their lips.

She was finally home.

*                         *                         *

"Ana, hold your sister." Cassie placed a sleepy Cani in her older daughter's waiting arms. "Bell, Shane, stop jumping around and sit still."

The two boys settled down immediately, but the mischievous looks exchanged between them told her they would get right back at it after she left the nursery.

It was one of those times that Cassie asked herself why she let Kaden talked her into having so much children when she had made up her mind to have two. But one look at her bundles of joys had her thinking that the pain she went through when she was in the labour room was worth it.

Despite the hard times in the family, the children were her anchor through it all. The thought of seeing them every waking and sleeping moment was enough to get her through the hard times.
It helped her forget the fact that she and her husband had drifted apart.

"Ma." Her eleven month old daughter whined and made grabby hands towards her. "No!" She slapped her sister's hand away from her hair. "Ma."

Cassie rolled her eyes and made her way out of the nursery, ignoring cries of 'ma's as she went. Her youngest daughter was the clingy one amongst her children and even after she had her fill of breast milk, she liked to lay in Cassie's arm while staring up at her or kicking her chubby legs.

She came to a stop outside the bedroom she shared with Kaden, hesitating briefly when Cani began to shriek louder than before that she feared the girl would rip her poor lungs. Then Ana's soothing voice filled the air with a soft lullaby, and the baby's cries lowered into hiccups.

Cassie smiled. Although she was the second child, Anastasia had that power to soothe her siblings when needed. She was going to be a great mother and sister one day.

Cassie turned the knob and stepped into the room. She shut the door and turned around but came up short at the sight of her husband emerging from the bathroom naked except for the towel around his waist. He was still as fit and mouth-watering as ever. His hair was flying in every direction, probably from him running a towel through it- but it was still damp from his shower.

Kaden came up short, too, when he saw her. His hands, which was about to unknot the towel around his waist, fell limply to his side.

Cassie dropped her gaze as she crossed the room to get into the bathroom before he saw the tears in her eyes. Just as she brushed past him, he caught her arm and pulled her back in front of him.

"Cass." He breathed.

"Don't." She tried to pry his hand away from his. "Please, don't." Her words ended shakily.

"God." He pulled her into his wet chest as he buried his nose in her hair and took a deep sniff. "I'm so sorry, my love."

Cassie didn't fight the tears that spilled out of her eyes. She wrapped her arms around him and breathed deeply.

"I let our family problems affect our relationship without realising that I was hurting you in the process." He kissed her forehead. "Please forgive me baby."

Cassie hugged him tighter, but remained quiet. She was content with him holding her like this after so long. They'd barely touched each other except for when he comforted her during the time of Annie's abduction. Even so, it was not a couple touch or comfort.

"Say something, my love." Kaden rasped. "Say you forgive me."

Cassie kissed his chest. "I forgive you, Kade. I understand that we were all grieving. But you ignoring me hurt me real bad. I thought you had stopped loving me."

Kaden pulled back so he could meet her teary gaze. "Don't ever say that again. I'll never stop loving you till the day I take my last breath. I'm sorry that I ever gave you a reason to doubt my love for you."

She shrugged. "And I also thought that you don't find me that sexy again." She laughed self-depreciatingly. "I mean, who would want someone with a pudgy tummy. I would be repulsed by it too."

The scowl Kaden gave her made her breath hitch. "Don't ever say that again." His grip on her arm tightened. "Do you hear me?"

She gulped. "Okay."

"Not just okay. I want you to promise me you would never speak of yourself like that again."

"I promise. But it's the truth."

"What's wrong with you? The fact that you carried our babies is enough to tell you you're beautiful. Look at the beautiful children you gave me." He urged her. "They're the evidence of our love,of how strong and beautiful you are. Every inch of you is perfect from the bottom to the top."

"Really?"

"Really." He kissed the tip of her nose. "But if you have any lingering doubts, then I will have to show you."

He gripped the hem of her nightie and pulled it over her head. Then he dropped it to the floor. He reached for his towel at the same time she did, which made her slap his hands away with a giggle.

How they went from apologizing to undressing each other was beyond Cassie, but she wasn't complaining.

"I still have to take a bath." She moaned against his lips. "Everyone's almost ready."

"Who says we can't improvise in the shower." He disentangled his lips from her before sweeping her off her feet and carried her bridal-style towards the bathroom. "You still haven't told me you forgive me."

Cassie wrapped her arms around his neck with a smile dancing on her lips. "I forgive you and I love you."

"I love you too."

And if they spent twice of the amount of time needed to do naughty things in the shower, well, no one needed to know.

*                             *                           *

"What do you mean you still love me?"

Jovon twisted his hands in his laps as he gazed at a furious Annie from where he sat by the bed. He was beginning to think he made a mistake mentioning anything that had to do with the feelings he harboured for her.

He'd early arrived this morning, like he did everyday before she woke up yesterday, and he found her eating breakfast while staring off into the distance. It had taken his willpower not to sweep her off the hospital bed and kiss her right there.
She still looked pale and the bruises on her face were changing into a dark purplish colour.

The hospital gown she wore didn't make her look so sexy or attractive, seeing as her belly took the most space from the clothing. And her hair still looked jagged and greasy.
She was anything but beautiful, yet he found himself drawn to her in ways he could not explain. She had barely acknowledged him when he sat down and when he opened his mouth to speak the first thing that came out was: 'I love you', which- if the angry look she wore on her dace was any indication- was a wrong thing to say at the moment.

"Uh. . ."

"You love me?" She threw her head back and laughed as if that was the funniest thing she'd ever heard.

Jovon clenched his fist in his lap. "It's not funny."

Annie wiped the tears of her mirth from the corner of her eyes. "Of course it is. Let me guess, you think that after I wake up you would profess your love to me and I would fall into your arms like some damsel in distress?"

"No. It just came out i-"

She shook her head. "You hurt me in the worst way possible. You broke my heart along with any respect I had left for you. I almost died because of you. If you hadn't left me in the first place, your cousin wouldn't have almost killed my baby and I."

"Why did you fall in bed with him that night?"

"He was trying to comfort me, or that was what he had me believe, after you offered the most ridiculous proposition I've ever heard in my entire life. And what did you do? You kicked me out of your life, physically and figuratively."

Jovon narrowed his eyes at her. "If you had waited a second then you would have gotten what you wanted. Why did you think my whole family came with me to our room? They were about to plead with you on my behalf to stay, to marry me and share the rest of my life with me and what did we see? You frolicking around with my cousin on my bed!"

"You jumped into that conclusion on your own!" She yelled right back. "It shows how much you distrust me. What is a relationship without trust? I trusted you with my whole life and you. . . you couldn't even give me the benefit of a doubt. And what's that crap about you loving me?"

"I love you. It wasn't until I saw you looking so broken and defeated did I realize what was staring at me in the face all along. I was stupid to have not believe you, I also realized that after Alix sent me the messages of the Kit you used and the doctor's report. I know it would take a long period of time before you forgive me but I am willing to wait. You and my baby are my life."

"Oh, yeah?" She raised an eyebrow in mockery. "You suddenly got tired of your dead wife when you learned she'd been cheating on you all along? What's the assurance that you wouldn't get tired of me too after you've had your fill fucking me? What's to say that anytime you see me holding a guy's hand you won't react the same way?"

"I'm trying to make peace with you and you're not giving me the chance."

"I didn't ask you to!" A lone tear rolled down her cheek. "I saw you with another woman having fun. You looked happy for someone who's baby mama went missing. The girl was pregnant with your baby, wasn't she? You even attended a wedding all dressed up like the groom himself. My family held that stupid party too, all of them looking so happy. You all would be glad if I had died."

"Don't say that." Arabella said from the doorway as she and the rest of the family entered the room looking sad. "We're happy to have you back. Those months without you were pure hell."

"Lies! Look at everyone of you all dolled up in your best. You sure look like someone who's daughter just escaped death."

"An-" Cassie started but got off by the glare Annie threw her way.

"I don't need anyone of you. I survived in those maniac's hands and I can survive again. I want nothing to do with any of you." She picked the bowl that held her oatmela and tossed it across the room. It missed Kaden by a landslide and crashed into the wall behind him. "Get out! Get out! Liars! Get out!"

The heart monitor began to beep like crazy and two doctors and three nurses rushed in as Annie began to thrash around on the bed. The IV needle in her wrist ripped away and blood spilled on the bed sheets.

"Please leave." One of the nurses told them. "We can't stabilize her if you're here."

Annie saw them usher her family and Jovon out of the room and it only made her thrash around the more. But after she was strapped to the bed with Velcro around her wrists and the anaesthesia began to settle deep in her bones, Annie noticed that she missed one little detail when her family entered the room and left.

Her father wasn't with them.