"You two look so darling" Brandon smiled and clapped his hands as he saw Emma and Ella come down the stairs on Halloween night.

The two little girls gave a twirl, causing their princess dresses to puff out. Both girls had decided to dress as princesses. Emma's dress was hot pink and Ella's was a pale purple with both of them wearing tiaras.

Their mother came down shortly after them also dressed in long flowing gown, but hers was a pale blue color.

"You look beautiful' Brandon smiled ad stepped towards her. He gave a small bow and grabbed onto her hand, giving it a gentle kiss.

"You don't look too bad yourself" Madison giggled a little and looked him up and down. He had on a classic Disney worthy king's outfit, completed with a crown and fake sword.

Noah walked up behind them grumbling a little as he fiddled with his matching prince outfit "I can't believe you tricked me into wearing this".

"Well technically we didn't trick you" Madison said "it was just unfortunate that Anna heard us talking about our costume theme and thought it would be a good idea for you two to dress as a prince and princess to the school dance".

He grumbled a little more and gave a small shrug "well I'm off to go get her".

"Have a good time tonight" Brandon said "be home by eleven".

His son nodded "yeah sure" he grabbed his wallet and then headed out the door to collect Anna.

"Is Kennedy going to be here soon?" Brandon asked "the girls are going to grow restless soon for treats".

Madison checked the clock hanging in the hallway "yeah she'll be here any minute".

The old friends had started to reconnect over the last few days, and had actually talked on several occasions. When Kennedy mentioned that she would have to work on Halloween night Madison agreed to take Caleb and Callum trick or treating with her girls.

"Caleb and Callum are going to be dressed in princess theme right?" Emma said determinedly. Her attitude hadn't warmed much in the recent days but Madison was convinced that it was only a temporary phase.

"I'm not sure baby girl" Madison said calmly " I mentioned it to Kennedy".

Brandon got a bowl of candy read to put out on the front porch "so what are you guys most looking forward to?" he asked with a smile.

"Candy!" both girls called at the same time.

Madison laughed a little "was there really any other answer?" she said with a wink to Brandon. "That must be Kennedy and the boys," she added when the doorbell rang.

Brandon smiled and pulled open the door. He let out a dramatic gasp "oh my!" he held up his hands in defeat "don't hurt me dragon!"

"Dragon?" Madison asked walking up behind Brandon. She couldn't help but giggle a little when she saw small Caleb standing on her porch in a bright orange dragon costume, the head nearly falling in his face and of course standing braiding him in an identical red dragon suit was Callum. "My oh my it's two dragons".

"Roar" Caleb said making a scary face and sticking his hands out as if they were claws.

Kennedy smiled and rested her hand on her son's head "thanks so much for doing this. I tried to switch my shift with someone but the boss wouldn't let me."

"I'm just sorry you have to miss it" Madison said softly. She always loved going out on Halloween night with her children and seeing the excitement on their faces.

"As long as the boys has fun" Kennedy smiled "and I get lots of photos".

Madison laughed a little "I will send you so many photos you'll be sick of me by the end of the night".

Kennedy laughed a little and kneeled down to her son's height "alright you be good for Madison and Brandon okay? Do as they say, stick close and no crossing the street without holding their hands". She smiled and gave her boy a quick hug "thanks again" she said to Madison and Brandon. With one last wave goodbye she left them.

"I thought they were supposed to be princess themed" Emma stood in the living room doorway and crossed her arms over her chest, a frown on her face.

Callum looked down at his costume, his small face looking sad and confused "but..." he trailed off sadly.

"You only had to do one thing Caleb and Callum" Emma said sternly "couldn't you do it right?"

"I thought..." tears formed in the little boys eyes.

"Emma!" Madison gasped kneeling down to the boys height. She wrapped her arms around the little boys and tugged them close to her side. "That was very rude and mean. You need to apologize right now".

When Emma just lifted her chin higher Brandon kneeled down too "well you know every princess needs a dragon to protect her in her castle" he said "just look at Fiona from Shrek. The dragon in her castle ended up as the sweetest thing ever."

Emma thought about it for a moment, her head lowering just a little.

"That's right" Madison agreed, "Every princess needs a dragon to protect her". She smiled down at Caleb and Callum "can you be brave and protect Emma and Ella?"

"Like a superhero?" Callum asked glancing at her.

"Just like a superhero" Brandon agreed.

Caleb thought about it for a moment and then nodded his head yes "I can do it!"

Madison smiled "alright you three we have some trick or treating to do!" she made some finishing touches with the girls hair and then they were ready to go. "Emma, Ella, you two needs to take care of Caleb okay? Hold his hand at all times".

Ella nodded and followed the instructions right away but Emma took a moment – and a stern look from her father – before she grabbed the young boy's hand.

The three children started to walk ahead, heading up to the doors as their parents followed close behind.

"What has gotten into Emma lately?" Brandon asked confused as he kept a close eye on his daughters.

"I don't know' Madison sighed "I was hoping she would be over this by now but it only seems to have gotten worse. I mean I can understand having one or two bad days but this has been a week now".

"I know" Brandon sighed "at times she seems to be back to our little Emma but then she just snaps".

"I wish I knew what had gotten into her" Madison sighed a little too. She hooked her arm in with Brandon's and watched the children run up to the next house longingly.

"Maybe it's something with school?" he asked looking down at his wife. "I mean we did transfer schools. Ella seems to have reacted well, but maybe it isn't working out as well for Emma".

"It's a possibility" Madison said "but when we went on the class trip she seemed to have so many friends".

"I don't know baby" Brandon kissed the top of her head "I wish I knew, but for now the best we can do is try talking to her and her teacher. Maybe they've noticed a change in her too since the start of the year".

"I can start volunteering more in the classroom. Maybe that'll help. Sometimes students act differently on a class trip then they do in a classroom".

"That's true" Brandon nodded in agreement "I guess if we find that it is school causing the issue then we can always consider transferring her back to her old school".

"Yeah but the problem in that is that Ella is doing so well at this new school" Madison said "much better then she has been at the other one. She's not as shy and actually has friends now. How can we take her away from that? And we will never make it to both schools on time. It's too much travel time".

Brandon sighed and nodded in agreement. His wife was right. It would be nearly impossible to get to the two different schools across the city from each other on time. "But we can't pick between our children. One either sinks or swims. And we can't decide which one".

"I know that" Madison leaned against him "we need to help Emma swim again".

"We can always consider her coming to visit Dr. Gallagher. Maybe talking to a professional will help".

Madison gasped and looked at him like he was crazy "she's only seven. She doesn't need therapy".

"I don't want it to be true but you can have a mental illness at any time" he argued.

"My daughter isn't mentally ill" Madison said sternly.

"Baby" Brandon stopped walking and turned to face her. His hands rested calmly on her arms "I'm only suggesting. First step is to talk to her and her teacher okay? Then we will go from there".

Madison sighed a little and nodded "yeah you're right".

"Now lets not worry about this. The kids are having so much fun," he pointed over her shoulder at their twin girls and boys who were coming down from the walkway.

"Mommy, daddy" Ella said excitedly "they gave us a can of coca cola!" she held out her bag for them to take a look inside.

Brandon laughed a little and ruffled her hair "that is amazing! You guys can have it when we get home for pizza and a movie okay?'

The kids all nodded and smiled heading on to the next house.

"I never got to say how beautiful you are tonight," Brandon said softly as he began to walk with Madison again. "You look like a true princess tonight".

A small blush appeared on Madison's cheek. She would never get used to having a man as handsome as Brandon complimenting her. In her mind he was crafted from an ancient Greek god, but here he was saying she was beautiful.

"And you look like a real king" she answered back.

"As long as you're my queen" he leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on the cheek.

Madison giggled and turned towards him "you missed" she said softly.

Brandon laughed a little "oh I did?" he asked playfully. Slowly he rested his hand on the side of her face and leaned down to kiss her. His lips were warm and firm against hers. When she first kissed him months ago the kisses were awkward and nerve wrecking. But now she had gotten used to them, in fact she longed for them. They were the kind of kisses that made your insides turn upside down.

"Gross" Emma said sticking her tongue out.

"Double gross" Ella agreed. They must have gotten done with the nearby house and came back for their parents.

The couple chuckled and pulled apart. "All done already?" Brandon said looking at the girls. When they nodded he took hold of Caleb's hand and Madison grabbed Callum's "okay lets cross the road guys".

"Look both ways" Madison reminded them as she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. Once they were across to safety she tugged her phone out and checked quickly – expecting to see a message from Kennedy. However it was the unknown number. There was no message. Only a photo.

A photo of Brandon and Madison kissing in the street.

Madison gasped a little and quickly looked over her shoulders. She checked behind her and in front of her. There were dozen's of neighbors with her kids but with such a busy street she had no idea if someone was watching her.

"Babe?" Madison jumped a little when she heard the voice behind her. She sighed in relief a little when she saw it was Brandon. "Are you okay babe? You look like you saw a ghost?"

"I'm fine baby" Madison forced a smile and turned away to watch the kids. She couldn't make eye contact with him. If she did he would know she was lying.

This was getting to be all too much now. Somebody wasn't only blackmailing her, they were stalking her too. Now they had photos of her and if it was so easy to get a shot of her than maybe they had ones of her children too. Her mind flashed back to the book that was left on the doorstep on Noah's birthday. They knew where she lived. They knew everything. The one thing that could tare her down and ruin it all.

"They had such an amazing time tonight" Brandon said placing the fresh pizza box on the table. Madison got out the plastic plates out and put a slice of cheese pizza on each of the plates.

"And it isn't even over yet" Madison said. However she already felt like she could fall asleep now. It had been such a long and tiring day in her eyes. Both emotionally and physically.

"Can we have our cola now?" Ella asked walking into the kitchen. Her eyes were hopeful and excited.

Brandon chuckled and ruffled her hair. All three of the kids had gotten dressed in their nightclothes and were settled in the living room ready for a late dinner. With Brandon's help they had laid out an old quilt to act as a picnic blanket. He handed her the plastic cups "here you take those to the living room and we will have the drinks".

Madison shook her head a little and glanced over at him "you spoil them too much" she said softly.

He shrugged and smiled "yeah I know. But they're my little girls".

"Our little girls" Madison found herself correcting him. Together they took the food and drinks out the living room floor. Brandon on his way in paused to turn on the Halloween town movie.

"Slow down little man" Brandon chuckled when he watched Caleb shove the slice into his mouth.

"It's so good" Caleb grumbled and he took another big bite.

Madison shook her head a little as she started to eat. Emma and Ella were too distracted with each other talking about all the treats they had collected that night to notice anything going on in the movie. Callum on the other hand was so focused on the movie he pointed every little thing out to Brandon.

Madison's mind and eyes lingered on Brandon and the little boys. Without thinking her hand rested on her belly. She could see how good he was with the little boy and he really did deserve to experience that.

Even though the memories he has with Noah, Emma and Ella were fake he should have the chance to develop real ones with the new baby.

She had already done it once. She realized that over the last few days. She had run away from Alex and taken her children with her. She avoids all possibilities of him having contact with any of them. But it didn't hurt her back then. She was able to leave without much hesitation. She knew what she needed to do.

But now when she even thinks about the possibility of Brandon not having a chance to get to know his child he heart starts to break. He deserves to be a father to this baby that was growing.

How was she going to be able to tell him? And the truth is there was always the chance she was digging herself a deeper hole.

She felt as though she was being surrounded from every direction. On one hand she had the Haywood's that expected so much from her. They demanded she be this picture perfect wife and mother. This high society woman that was classy and elegant

But then she also had Kennedy who knew her past. Who knew everything about her and with one accident could spill the whole truth. Not to mention the fact that she had a son whom was her children's half brother.

Then of course there was this blackmailer, whose demands went up every week price. Who knew where she lived and now even had photographs of her? She was constantly looking over her shoulder waiting and expecting for this blackmailer – who she was convinced was Alex – to come out of no where and tell Brandon everything.

Everything was closing in on her. It was like a fire that slow came closer and closer to you. You know what the flames mean. You can see the orange glow and you feel the heat starting to burn but you don't move. You stay there and take the pain because you don't know what to do. You want to run but you cant because then you'll be running through the flames. So you stand there. Stuck.

Madison wanted to tell Brandon about the baby. Rationally she knew she should. No matter the history or circumstances this was his baby too and he deserved to know about it. But she was scared. She was terrified of what would happen once he learnt the truth.

There were so many possibilities. He could walk away from her, leaving her alone to raise four children. Or he could fight for custody and take her baby with him. He could even choose to stay with her.

And truth is told she didn't know what possibility scared her the most.