Madison was lying on the couch one Monday morning with a bowl of ice cream in front of her. For the past few days she hadn't been feeling well and was suspecting that she was coming down with the flu. She had awoken with a sick stomach and hadn't even bothered to change into clothing. Right now she was seated in front of the TV watching Marilyn Denis and eating ice cream.

She had her journal tossed on the coffee table in front of her. Usually she would spend her mornings writing another chapter of her book. But today she seemed to be absent of any inspiration.

She sighed a little to herself and grabbed her journal and started to flip through the pages. Maybe she should get started on the ideas for Noah's birthday next week. It might be good to have a few things written down. When she first decided to take the year of leave from work in order to focus on her writing she wasn't expecting it to be this lonely.

Over the summer she always had the kids around or Brandon had been off work. But now with everyone outside the house she was starting to miss her busy days in a classroom.

She considered volunteering in Emma and Ella's classroom but this early in the year there wasn't much for her to do there. Once the year got going she would have more things to help with.

Some afternoons she had spent with Isabelle who worked from home but she wasn't always as free as Madison was. She did enjoy not having to rush around doing laundry or cooking dinner but the loneliness was starting to get to her.

A small groaned escaped her lips as she heard the doorbell ring. She pushed herself off the couch, causing her blanket to fall to the floor. She trudged over to the door and slowly opened it.

"Hi dear" Rebecca stood on the porch with a smile plastered on her face. She held a small basket in her hand with fresh baked croissants in it. "I brought some fresh baked goods, I was hoping you and I could have some breakfast together".

Madison blushed a little and stepped aside to let her in. "I'm sorry" she said glancing down at her fuzzy pajama pants and one of Brandon's old band shirts "I wasn't expecting company".

Rebecca stepped inside a smile still on her face "that's okay, I can wait for you to change".

She lead her fake mother in law towards the kitchen "I'll be right back" she said and quickly headed upstairs. She grabbed a pair of yoga pants and a checkered long sleeve shirt. She rolled her sleeves up and tugged her hair back into a messy ponytail. She rushed back downstairs to find Rebecca had gotten out some plates and served out the croissants.

"Would you like some tea?" she asked putting the kettle on.

"Thank you dear that would be great" Rebecca said taking a seat.

Madison prepared a mug of tea for Rebecca and some hot chocolate for herself before taking a seat. "What brings you here this morning?" she asked dipping her pastry into her hot chocolate.

"Cant I just visit my daughter in law?" Rebecca asked.

"So Brandon told you I was lonely" Madison noticed the look on Rebecca's fast and nodded her head "yeah that is what I thought".

"He's just worried about you" Rebecca said having some of her tea "he really seems to care a lot about you. You have grown on him".

"I suppose I don't have much choice" Madison said taking a drink "I mean for the last two months he has been under the impression that he and I are married". She didn't say it bitterly like she did when the accident first happened, instead it now sounded almost sad – sad that the marriage wasn't real.

"I know that we hadn't anticipated for this to go on for so long but" Rebecca paused and took a deep breath before continuing "I have seen a change in Brandon. He used to work all the time and never really had a chance to be with his family. How he comes home early and he actually calls his father and I on the weekends to check in. we have seen him more over then summer then the last ten years. And I am sure that he tells you all the time but you really do mean a lot to him. He will take care of you dear".

Madison looked down a little "that's only because he think's I'm his wife".

Rebecca shook her head "he and Madelyn never had a connection like this. I mean he loved her but what they had was always kind of more friendship than romance. He would make time for her but still if h needed to work late then he would. But with you he will make any excuse to come home early".

With a small shrug Madison said, "that's only because he wants to be with the kids".

"He takes you out on dates doesn't he?" Rebecca said "and from my understanding he is the one that plans them. He would only take Madelyn if she insisted or if it was an anniversary. Other than that he never really did much". Rebecca quickly added "but never question that he didn't love her. He loved her with all his heart".

"I would never question that he didn't love her" Madison said "from the way you talk about her you seem to have a lot of admiration for her".

"I do, but I have admiration for you too" Rebecca said softly "you have been given a hard deck of cards to handle but you have certainly made the best out of it" she insisted. When Madison still didn't seem convinced Rebecca added "I know maybe I have seen cold and distant towards you but you need to understand that it's hard for me too. I already lost one daughter in law and eventually I'll lose you too. I didn't want to get attached to you".

Madison sighed in understanding. She had been worried about the same thing too. She hadn't wanted to get close to even Brandon in fear that she would get too attached to him and miss him when he was finally gone. But eventually she seemed to have warmed up to and inch-by-inch she got closer to him.

"I didn't want to get close to you either" Madison admitted "even with Brandon I was worried about getting close to him but he grew on me. He's like my best friend now".

Rebecca eyed her curiously "Madison is there any chance you may have fallen in love with my son?" her words may have been said softly but they felt like daggers. Madison could feel the butterflies return to her stomach, but not in a good way. In fact she felt sick to her stomach. She wrapped her arms around herself as if she was giving herself a hug. "That's what I thought" her fake mother in law said.

Madison sighed a little "so is there anything else you needed today?" she asked trying to change the subject.

"Ah yes" Rebecca said "but first I was hoping you might join me for a little trip".

It took her a moment to consider it, she assumed that Rebecca would want to take her to a store or something and she wasn't usually one to go to the mall but since the other choice was being home alone she decided to go along with her. It wasn't until they were both settled in the car did Rebecca mention the other topic. "My parents will be coming over for thanksgiving and they are anxious to meet the kids".

"Your parents?" Madison questioned. She had never really thought that this lie would go further than Brandon's parents but now his grandparents were getting involved?

"Yeah and we are going to have a large family dinner together. So we would like for you to join us for dinner. My parents live up North and we only see them around the holiday seasons. But they really love kids. When Brandon was born they always used to dote on him. And I am sure they will enjoy the time with your kids, especially your little girls".

"What about Jonathan's side of the family?" Madison asked.

"It'll only be us, the other Haywood's won't be joining us".

Madison glanced over at her "Brandon has never actually mentioned any other Haywood's but you and your husband. I wasn't aware there was anyone else".

"Brandon doesn't talk much about that side of our family" she said "in fact none of us really talk much to or about them. Many years ago John and his brother had a falling out and wont talk anymore". She gave a little shrug "I hold hope that maybe one day they will reconnect but it won't be happening anytime soon".

"Yeah I understand" Madison said, "I'm not really close to my family either". She sighed a little and explained to the older woman more about it "when I got pregnant with Noah they wanted me to give him up, in fact they wanted me to have an abortion. But when I refused they said that I wont see any support from them and in the long run they ended up disowning me".

Rebecca reached over and gently took hold of Madison's hand and gave it a little squeeze.

"My boyfriend gave me a place to stay with him. And after that we made a home for ourselves – or at least I thought it was home. I finished my last year of college just before Noah was born and Alexander worked odd jobs here and there. I went to work and things seemed to just fall into place," Madison said softly "until he cheated on me".

Rebecca sighed softly and sadly "I'm sorry to hear you went through all of that dear. But you know what? Your parents missed out on having to experience three wonderful grandchildren. It is their loss. Noah, Emma and Ella are three of the most wonderful children I have ever met. You have raised them so well. And as for your ex he isn't worth it. He missed out on being a dad, and being a dad to those kids – well there wouldn't have been anything like it".

Madison smiles over at her "thank you so much" she said softly. She turned towards the window and looked outside "but there is one thing about my ex, he doesn't deserve to be a father to my kids. Brandon deserves that title a lot more then Alex ever will. Brandon over two months has shown my children more love than they ever got form their bio dad. Especially with Brandon, he has gone from being the shy guy with no friends to the boy that goes out and plays ball with a group of guys. And he actually opened up to Brandon about things that he would never willingly tell me".

The woman next to her smiled wide "Brandon always deserved the chance to be a dad. I still remember how proud and excited he was to have a baby on the way. The minute he found out he called us and told us all about it. He always wanted a big family with Madelyn".

"So did I" Madison said "I mean ever since I was little I wanted a big family. In fact I used to dream about having five kids". Her mind drifted to Brandon and what it would be like to have a child with him. A little baby with her blue eyes but his chocolate brown hair. She believed they could have the cutest little baby. She shook her head to try and get that silly thought out of her mind.

"Here we are" Rebecca turned into a graveyard parking lot. Madison glanced at her confused. What were they doing there of all places? "I know I don't mention much about Madison but I thought it was about time we at least told you the story".

The two women stepped out of the car and walked through the wide-open space. "Madelyn and Brandon met their first year of college. They became fast friends and after that they did everything together. I was stunned, they would go to clubs together and have some crazy wild fun but she would always come over to our house and they would do homework together".

"And they fell in love" Madison said softly as they approached the spot where the young woman and her child was laid to rest.

"They did. They dated for two years before Brandon popped the question, but they were married right away and it felt like that next day that Brandon came in telling us he was going to be a dad. At first they have a small apartment in the heart of downtown but we got them the house as a congrats on the baby. They had been so happy there. It was their home. Madelyn loved setting up the nursery and she loved being a housewife.

"But all good things have to come to an end I guess" Rebecca said sadly.

"How did she die?" Madison asked glancing over at her.

"They had gone out on a double date with Brandon's best friend Matt. The night started off fun, it was one of Madelyn's first fun nights out since she got pregnant," Rebecca said looking down at the headstone. "They were on their way home and there was a drunk driver. They were driven off the road and came head on with a tree".

"Oh no" Madison gasped.

"They rushed them to the hospital, Brandon walked away with nothing more than a bump on his head but Madelyn was in critical condition. They tried to save her, but it was no good. They got the baby out just in time. But he was too small. He didn't live for more than a day".

"Oh Brandon" Madison said softly. It must have been so hard for him to go through something like that. To have lost his wife and his baby in less then forty-eight hours – she couldn't imagine that kind of strength he had to face it.

"It was hard on him. Harder than I ever thought it would be" Rebecca said softly "he isolated himself for years. He would only work and then go home. That was all he ever really did. It wasn't until he met you that things changed. He's alive again. I actually get to hear his laugh now and see a smile on his face. He goes out back and plays ball with his son instead of being stuck in his office all day. He does things like make jam with you and the girls and doesn't only have takeout".

"I am glad to see that he is finally living again" Madison said, "He deserves to have everything that life can offer him".

Rebecca glanced at her phone as it started to ring "I'm sorry but I have to take this, I'll be right back" she said walking away with her cell in hand.

Madison looked down at the tombstone and sighed a little. Slowly she lowered herself to the ground in front of it. "I'm Madison" she glanced around to be sure that no body was around to hear her talk to a tombstone. She didn't want to come across as weird to anyone who saw her – or at least not as weird as she normally is.

"You never met me but I feel as though we have known each other for many years" she sat cross-legged on the grass. "I suppose it's because I have been living your live for the last couple months. Your husband and I met two months ago and well he kind of lost his memory". She sighed softly "I know how strange it sounds but he seems to think that I'm you. And ever since then my children and I have been living with him and pretending to be his family.

"But don't think we are replacing you because it's impossible to replace you. You're his wife. And I know that's what you'll always be in his heart. But sometimes I wonder if it's possible that he has room for someone else – someone like me. Of course I never want to replace you in his heart but maybe there is enough room to share it".

Madison reached down and started to play with one of the flowers that were planted against the stone. She thought about it for a minute, if there were flowers there then somebody must have taken the time to plant them. Had Brandon planted them there years ago?

"I know it's hard to believe" Madison said softly "considering our situation it doesn't make any sense. I mean who's to say what's real and isn't but I can't help the growing feelings I have for him. I've been hurt in the past and I used to think I could never find somebody. Somebody who could be a father to my children and love them nearly as much as I do, but I cant shake the feeling that Brandon does. He truly treats the kids like they're his. And can't stop falling for him."

She looked down to the ground, almost as if she was ashamed to say the next sentence "I can stop falling in love with him".

"There's nothing wrong with loving him" a voice answered.

Madison jumped a little "Madelyn?" she asked concerned, maybe she was hearing things.

"No dear" Rebecca laughed and took a seat next to her "it's only me".

She sighed in relief "oh thank goodness". She glanced over at her "you heard me?" she asked softly.

"Only the last part" she answered, "you don't have to feel guilty about loving Brandon. It's natural. You and him have been extremely close the last few months. I can understand that you feel as though you love him".

"Feel as though I love him?" Madison asked softly. So it was wrong to love him.

"Well now Madison you might have done so much for him but you aren't really married" Rebecca said "and I am very thankful for the way you have brought him out of his shell. But darling at the end of the day the feelings he has for you have only been created in his mind. They are based off of memories that shared with his real wife". She reached over and held onto Madison's hand "now that doesn't change how I feel about you. Like I said you are a very sweet girl and I am thankful for the way that you have helped him".

"But I shouldn't love him" Madison sighed a little.

"No, I'm not saying not to love him" Rebecca said "but you have to be sure that the love he has for you is for you. And not for a woman used to love. I agree that maybe he could fall in love with you. But right now I'm not sure if it is you he loves or just the idea of you.

"You have given him everything he ever wanted in life. Children and a home, it's natural that he might start to develop feelings for you, or at least for the family you offer him".

Madison looked down sadly and ashamed of herself. How could she ever have these thoughts? Rebecca was right. Brandon would never be in love with her. He only longed for the feelings he had missed out on for the last fourteen years. It didn't matter who it was with, it could have been or some other woman. It was his heart longing for a family, no wanting her.

"Look I just want you to be careful" Rebecca said "my son doesn't need any more damage in his life".

Now Madison understood, it was like what they talked about earlier. Just as Rebecca was scared about herself being hurt by getting close with Madison she also feared it for her son.

Madison smiled softly and gave her hand a squeeze. When it came to her own parents she had a hard time standing up for herself, but now she needed to try it with Rebecca.

"Look Rebecca, I can see where you're coming from now. You don't want Brandon to get attached to me and the kid's cause he might lose us like he did with Madelyn. And I can understand that it's easy to say he won't understand the feelings he has towards me because he has different memories". Her mind flashed back to her talk several weeks ago with Brooklyn and Isabelle. They encouraged her to go for it because although the past might be paved the future still hasn't been set.

"But that's the past. He could have spent the last two months with me and found that we no longer connected. He could have home one day and said that the way we talk to each other no longer works for him, or how his heart no long beats for me. He could have asked for a divorce, nothing was stopping from that other then himself. Our past might be written but our future is however he and I decide to make it".

Madison smiled softly "I know he has feelings for me. And that's his feelings. And each day he continues to wake up loving me. There is nothing wrong with that. And there is nothing wrong with me loving him in return."