Michael's POV

I go upstairs with Princess and Ocean is in the bedroom finishing off getting ready. "she's all fed and changed" I say softly coming into the room and she walks over taking her from me. "you don't have to do everything. You don't have to prove anything" she mumbles taking her from me and holds her close. "yes I do. I didn't keep any of you safe and I blamed our daughter for what happened to you" I croak. "you weren't in your right mind and everybody knows that. Including me" she says softly "I know how much you love her. I see it in your eyes everytime you look at her. You have that same look you do when you look at DJ and Vaeh" she smiles through pursed lips and hands her back to me and I hold her close to my chest. "are you ok about today? Because if you don't feel up to it. You don't have to go. Robert would understand" I say softly and she sighs sitting on the bed beside me. "this is my only chance to say goodbye" she sniffles. "I wish I'd been there for him at the end"

"I don't think Robert would have wanted you to be the one to find him" I shake my head. "at least it was peaceful and he wasn't in pain" she smiles through pursed lips trying to fight her tears. I know I promised Ocean I'd never keep anything from her, but I told her Robert died from his illness and it was peacefully in his sleep and he wouldn't have felt any pain. This is the only promise I've ever broken to her and even though I feel guilty about it, I know I broke a promise for a good reason. Ray told me what happened and that Robert died from a heart attack after overdosing on heroin and Ocean's been through too much pain already which is why I lied about what happend to him. It won't bring her brother back, but it gives her some kind of comfort believing that it was painless and in his sleep.

there's a knock on the door and LaToya walks in. "the car will be here Soon" she mumbles and I nod. "I um.. I made some calls and cancelled everything for the wedding and called all the guests to let them know what's happened" she says softly and I frown shaking my head hinting to her not to talk about it and she quickly takes the hint. "I'll give you both a minute" she mumbles and leaves and Ocean breaks down in tears once again. "this has to be the worst birthday ever"

"don't worry about any of that today" I shake my head and pull her in close to me. "that's not what I'm worried about. What if... She's there?"

"I'll be there. And so will the rest of our family. If she is ,it doesn't matter because nobody's gonna let her anywhere near you or the children. They'll have doctors and stuff all around her" I reassure her and she holds on to me tighter. Not saying anything.

There's another soft knock on the door and this time it's my dad. "the cars here" he says softly and we both nod getting up from the bed. "are you sure both sure you want to take the children? Because one of us doesn't mind staying behind and..."

"we're sure" Ocean cuts him off nervously. "we do trust you. It's just..."

"I understand" he cuts me off. "your mother and I would be the same if we had been through what you two have been through" he smiles at us both through pursed lips "we'll all wait downstairs for you"

**********

Jessica's POV

"I am truly sorry for everything I've put you both through. Especially you Ocean. I never meant to hurt you or any of your family and I understand now that blaming you for what happened to your sister was never your fault and I'm so sorry I blamed you. God didn't put you on this earth to save her, but to save your beautiful daughter Princess. You both have three amazing and beautiful children, just like I once did and I hope that one day you could find it in yours hearts to forgive me and understand that, I never took Duncan or Princess away to hurt you two or any of your children. I'm getting alot of help in the hospital and am now starting the grieving process for both Marissa and Robert. I've already lost two children and as parents I'm sure you could both understand the pain I'm suffering and how much I don't want to lose you too Ocean. I hope one day you'll forgive me. Especially you Ocean. I know I've treated you badly in the past and I was never there to keep you safe and for that I'm truly sorry"

after finishing my letter, the doctor places it in an envelope. "I could have written it myself" I say to him and he sighs. "Jessica, you know I can't do that"

"this letter is very personal and came from my heart and I'm hardly going to stab you with a pen" I frown "it happens more often than you may think, which is why we have these safety precautions in place" he shrugs. "can I go now?" I ask changing the subject and he nods. "you'll have to be handcuffed and will be immediately brought back her after the funeral. You know that right?" He says soft yet sternly and I nod. "what about my letter. "someone will send it to Michael and Ocean today" he smiles at me through pursed lips.

**********

Ocean's POV

we get to the church and Ray is standing outside and he runs over and hugs both me and Michael. "are you ok?" He asks softly and I nod about to speak and I see my mother being taken out of a car and Michael and I begin to tremble picking up Princess and Vaeh and pulling DJ close to us. "it's ok. They won't let her near any of you" Kathrine says reassuringly leading us towards the front of the church. "just don't look at her and pretend she's not here" Joseph say and Ray turns to him. "I'm sorry. I did try and stop her from be allowed to come but..."

"it's fine" Joseph cuts him off. "she was his mother. We can't deny a mother the chance to say goodbye to he child... No matter what they've done"

*********

Ray's POV

After the funeral. Jessica is quickly taken back to the hospital and I see Ocean and Michael crying with their kids and their family is comforting them. I'm about to go over and Joesph stops me. "I'd like to speak to you in private" he says calmly leading us both away from everybody. "first off i wanna say thank you and tell you that my family and I will always be truly greatfull for what you did with Jessica and for helping Princess be back safe with her parents... but you know that doesn't change the fact that it was you that introduced those drugs to Michael and Ocean" He says and I nod "I know and I'm truly sorry for what I've done. If I could turn back time to the day I gave Michael that coke I would and..."

"but you can't" he cuts me off. "Michael and Ocean were good kids. They weren't perfect by any means, but they were good kids and the day you gave Michael that cocaine was the start of their downfall which almost ruined their lives"

"and I'm so sorry" I croak. "and so you should be. But I also have a feeling that you and Robert were good kid at some point too and just like Michael and Ocean someone must have gave that stuff to you and Robert too. Which is why I'm going to help you"

"what do you mean?" I frown confused. "I helped Michael and Ocean when they needed me and look at them now. Their slowly getting their lives back and if they can have a second chance, I think you deserve a chance too. Which is why I've called a rehab centre. It's the best one around and their willing to take you in today and don't worry about the money. It's all paid for"

"why would you do that?" I croak. "enough people's lives have been ruined already and a man has died because of this and that's one too many and I don't want to see another life taken because of the same thing" I don't say anything and begin sobbing. Ever since I was a kid everybody I've ever met has always written me off as a lost cause and this is the first time anybody has looked at me and seen hope. "you go over and say your goodbyes to Ocean and Michael and the next time I see you I don't want to be looking at the man I'm looking at right now"

"you won't. And you won't regret this I swear!... Thank you so much. Nobody's ever done this for me and I swear I won't let you down" I sniffle and he smiles at me through pursed lips and I smile back the same way and rush over to say my goodbyes to Ocean and Michael.

**********

Michael's POV

After the funeral. Randy and Latoya went to work and Janet went back to school and my parents had some errands to run. We're not mad about them leaving straight after the funeral, because we understand they have other things to do and they only came to be there for me and Ocean. Well everybody but my dad. After the funeral Ray came over to us and told us what my dad had done and the tears were streaming down his face. Even though things haven't always been great for Ocean and I when Ray has been around, we're still gonna miss him. Dispite what alot of people may think, Ray has always been their for us and if it wasn't for him we wouldn't have Princess back safe with us.

"how your mother managed this with nine of you I'll never know" Ocean giggles slightly after we get all three kids into the house and settled. "because she's perfect... Just like you" I smile pecking her lips and she sighs "how are you feeling?" I ask softly and she shrugs. "I don't know. I thought I'd feel better after the funeral and I said goodbye to Robert, but I don't" she mumbles and I pull her in close to me. "he was your brother and you loved each other. Your not gonna get over it in just one day. it's gonna take time. And you take all the time you need ok?" I smile at her through pursed lips and she smiles back the same way. "how about I make us some lunch?"

"I'm not hungry" she shakes her head "baby, you haven't eaten all day and you need to eat and stay strong. You've had a baby and surgery not to long ago remember? Now you sit down and l'll fix us both up some sandwiches" I smile and head to the kitchen.

I come back a few moments later and Ocean so shaking staring down at a piece of paper. "what's that?" I ask and she doesn't say anything and hands it to me.

"we're did you get this?" I ask nervously after reading a letter that was sent from Jessica. "it was posted through the door. It must have been sent it while we were all out. How did she know where we are?" Ocean asks shakily "I don't know" I shake my head, just as scared about this as her.

**********

Joseph's POV

After Kathrine and I finish running some errands, we get home and the house is silent. "they must all be asleep" I whisper. "it's been a hard day for them. Best let them rest" Kathrine mutters and I nod heading to the kitchen "I'll go make us some coffee"

I'm in the kitchen for barely a minute and Kathrine shouts me back "what's wrong?" I ask walking over and she's reading something. "what's that?"

"it's a letter to Michael and Ocean from Ocean's mother" she says handing it to me and I read it. "I'll go check their ok" I say heading for the stairs.

I go to their room and their not here and all the drawers and dressers out open and emptied and I rush into the spare room and the children's things are all gone too.