"I can't do this" Madison ran her hands down the burgundy knee length dress. It was loose fitting and wouldn't give her round belly away.

Isabelle clipped the light brown belt into place "oh honey don't worry, everything will go amazing. Robin Roberts is a close family friend of the Haywood's. She will be warm and welcoming. Plus it's a bonus you get to have me come long to help you get ready"

"The Haywood's is friends with Robin Roberts?" Madison asked in confusion. What were the chances that they were friends with a famous talk show host?

"Of course, she is a wonderful cook" Isabelle clipped on a thin gold chain necklace and helped Madison into knee high brown boots. "Now listen its going to be very simple. You'll go on stage with Brandon and you guys will sit down at the table with Robin. She'll have some kind of food ready that you guys will sample and then you'll just talk for about ten minutes, just getting to know each other. This is a way for the public to get to know you and Brandon as a couple. And it's a chance to announce your baby to everyone". Isabella finished off the final touches before taking a step back to look her over "today the focus is on family. So Brandon is going to talk about some family friendly activities and you are going to enter the kitchen with Robin to make a nice little treat".

"Sounds easy enough" Madison said taking a deep breath. She would be able to do this. It was only an hour of her time. And Brandon would be with her the whole time. So why was she so nervous?

"You look very nice today Madison" Rebecca said walking into the room. She had escorted the two of them to the show taping even though she wasn't going to be on it herself. She glanced at Isabelle; a smile on her face "would you mind giving us a few moments alone? Nothing to worry about, just hair and nails, those kind of things."

Isabelle smiled and stepped out of the room to leave the other two women alone.

Madison turned to face Rebecca "any last minute tips?" she asked hopefully but Rebecca just waved her off.

"Don't worry about that dear. You're going to do great in the interview," Rebecca said. "Besides I'm not here to talk to you about this interview".

"What is it?" Madison asked confused.

"We have gotten in touch with the blackmailer" Rebecca lowered her voice "he has agreed to meet with us for lunch this week. But he demands that you be there too".

Madison felt as though all the air was sucked out of her lungs "me? I have to be there?"

"That's what he said. If your not there then there is no deal". Rebecca reached forward and rested a hand gently on Madison's shoulder "we tried to talk him out of it but he is insistent. But dear you have nothing to be concerned about. John and I will be with you the whole time and we will do all the talking".

She slowly nodded and started to fidget with her dress trying to smooth it out a little more "yeah okay. I'll be there".

Rebecca smiled "everything will be alright dear. And you look lovely today".

"She sure does" Brandon said walking into the room. "You certainly look beautiful," he said with a low whistle and a small wink.

"Oh stop it" Madison blushed and looked away in embarrassment.

Rebecca laughed a little "I'll leave you two alone. I'll be in the front row watching you both. Good luck".

"Are you ready babe?" Brandon asked when he mother was out the door.

Madison took one final deep breath and nodded "as I'll ever be" she said locking arms with him.

"You'll do amazing" Brandon smiled and walked her out on stage. The audience cheered and clapped for the couple as they walked out together.

"Welcome!" Robin Roberts stood in the center of the stage with a large bright smile on her face. She took a couple steps forward and shook Madison's and Brandon's hands She led them over to the table set up with three chairs and a tray of brownies.

Brandon pulled the chair out for Madison and then sat next to her. He grabbed a brownie and started to nibble on it.

"It is such a pleasure to have you both join us here today" Robin said with a warm welcoming smile.

"We are the one's that are happy to be here" Brandon said.

"Business first then we will get nice and personal" Robin said kindly "first you've started the share a book foundation haven't you?"

Madison nodded and squeezed Brandon's hand under the table "we did. The first class got their books just yesterday. They seemed so very happy about it".

Brandon nodded in agreement "the kids really enjoyed the new picture books. We are hopeful that once it becomes more well known it can spread to other cities and more authors will be willing to get involved".

"That sounds wonderful" Robin said "books and literacy are so important for the youth of today. Everyone is so distracted by technology they have forgotten things like reading books before bed".

"That's how Brandon and I feel too," Madison said with a small smile 'and that is why we always put the children to bed with a story every night".

"Now isn't that lovely. That's how I always got my kids to bed too," Robin said smiling. "How about you tell me a little more about the kids?"

Madison smiled softly and glanced over at Brandon. She knew how much he liked to brag about the kids like a proud papa.

"Well Noah is the oldest, he just turned fourteen in September. He is a really into sports and video games at the moment" he laughed a little "I mean what teen boy isn't? He actually won the gym around for middle school. He can be a little silent and it looks like he might not be paying attention but let me tell you that boy is so focused and if he wants to know it then he will. Just the other day I was trying to help him with homework but he ended up helping me instead". The audience let out a laugh and small applause at that.

Madison watched Brandon as a proud smile formed on his lips. He was nearly shining with how excited he was to talk about his son.

"Then there is our daughter Emma. She is as sweet as apple pie I swear. She loves having tea parties with her stuffed animals" Brandon said.

"Yeah and daddy here has no trouble playing princess tea parties with her" Madison said. This caused the audience to laugh and clap again.

Brandon blushed a little but still smiled "hey I said she was a sweetheart. No one can resist her charm, not even me. Anyways she has really taken a shine to dance and we are thinking about signing her up for some classes in the New Year. She can barely ever sit still and always wants to be doing something new and different".

"The very opposite of her twin sister Ella" Madison cut in with a smile.

"That is very true" Brandon said, "Ella is more laid back. She likes to read and play silently with her dolls or a board game. She actually really likes to bake and I've noticed she might be interested in gymnastics."

"They might be identical twins but they are nothing alike" Madison said "aside from their looks".

"If they're identical how can you tell them apart?" Robin asked.

"Well" Brandon and Madison looked at each other with a playful smile "parents just know these things".

"Is that everyone in your family then?" Robin asked nicely.

Brandon glanced at Madison for permission and with a small nod of his head he continued. "Well that's everyone in our family for now". He reached for Madison's hand, a large smile coming to his face. "We have some really exciting news to share".

Robin gasped at the surprise already seeming to know where this was going.

"Madison and I are expecting a baby" Brandon beamed with true excitement as he announced it to everyone. The room filled with awes and loud applause. Madison gave Brandon's hand a squeeze as she watched his excitement play out. "The due date is in May so we got a while to go still but it is going to be amazing".

"Have you got anything planned yet?" Robin asked leaned forward a little.

"Well I know that we will change my upstairs office into the nursery for the baby and we've got a few color themes in mind but that's about all" Brandon said.

"And the kids reacted well to this news?" she asked.

"They did. I was very surprised actually" Madison said, "The girls seemed excited to have a new playmate. I mean maybe it hasn't truly sunk in yet what that means for them but so far so good".

"Yeah a baby will certainly be a new experience for the girls. They've been the baby for so long now" Brandon added "but they always had to share us between each other so hopefully it isn't too hard".

"Well since we are discussing family and kids, maybe now is a good time to bring your kids out?" Robin said.

"Yes it took some convincing, but the kids finally agreed to the fashion show you wanted" Madison said standing with the others and walking away from the table.

"As you know" Robin addressed the audience "today our show is focused on family and children. So we wanted to showcase a little of the latest fashion for children these days". She glanced at Brandon and Madison, "and lucky for us they got their children to agree to be the models".

Brandon nodded "wasn't easy but we did it" he laughed.

"So first we have Noah" Robin announced. Music started to play and Noah walked out of the back stage with a small shrug. He looked confident but a little reserved. He stopped next to his parents.

Madison smiled at him "this is my son Noah and as we said he is fourteen. I find that this is a hard age to shop for when it comes to clothes. They want to look cool but they are still gaining their style and are starting to have their own opinions. They're no longer your little babies that you can dress however you want." She ran her hand in front of Noah's clothing "so here we got just some basic boot cut jeans from Walmart, and that's the thing guys you don't need big brand names. Walmart is just as good as any Guess pair. And to be honest no jeans last forever. They will outgrow them soon or rip them. So honestly Walmart is just as good".

Noah shuffled from foot to foot awkwardly, clearly he was very nervous about it all. Brandon reached forward and rested a hand on his shoulder.

"Next a basic shirt is always good, something that they really enjoy. As you see this shirt Noah has on is a solid black one with his favorite superhero logo on it. These you can also get from Walmart but this one I got from hottopic" Madison was doing a lot better then she thought as she watched the audience closely. "Finally a classic choice is always the checkered long sleeve shirt. It's nice and keeps you warm. It can act as a sweater and honestly just adds a little colour".

"Now that is very nice," Robin said.

Noah finally being released from having to model took a step back nearly hiding behind his father now.

"Next we have Emma and Ella" Brandon said with a beaming smile. The two girls walked out with their hands held together.

Madison smiled as the two girls stood in front of her "Emma here is wearing just a dark pair of tights, grey and black is always nice so it doesn't show the stains as badly. And I like tights more because our children are very active. She has a neutral brown dress, but cream is always nice too. A cloth jacket is nice in the fall and spring; this one is an olive green. As you see we are sticking with the natural earthy tones for this outfit and I think that's really good for the fall season. A nice scarf of greys or greens is nice too and as you see her hair is basic but classy in a French braid down her back".

"Now I'm not as good at fashion as my wife is but I can give it a try" Brandon said "for the record I have cue cards for this" he said with a wink. Resting his hand on Ella's shoulder he continued "Ella here is wearing a pair of black jeans and a cream button up shirt that can or cannot be tucked in, that depends on how the child feels about that". He was following the cards perfectly and was doing a lot better then Madison thought he would. "She has a brown and green puffy vest that just adds a little color and is an alternative to a jacket in the fall season".

"And all of this was got at Walmart too right?" Robin asked.

"Yes it was" Brandon said "and the black or grey tights and the cream shirts are very basic and can go with any outfit".

"He certainly knows his stuff" Robin said to Madison in a slight joking matter.

"After dressing little girls for nearly eight years I hope so," Madison joked with her. It was starting to come natural for her now. The comfort had increased and her nerves slowly slipped away. She watched as her children gave a final bow before heading off stage giggling to them.

"Having twins can't be easy" Robin said moving the conversation along.

"It's difficult but it's very special. Your twins always have a best friend and playmate and I personally love dressing them up in matching clothing" she said trying to keep it light. "But I mean there of course were hard times especially when they were just born. Trying to balance them both together can be a challenge. One might be crying cause she's hungry but at the same time the other one is upset and in need of a change. Add in a hyper seven year old just heightened all that stress. You want to care for both of them equally and you worry that maybe the one fussier one is getting more attention. You constantly worry that you're doing something wrong just as any parent does but now that's times two".

Robin looked at her sympathetically "but it must have helped to have Brandon around. He's a very hands on kind of dad".

No. That was Madison's first thought. He wasn't around to help her back then because he was never in the picture. She had done all that alone. Being a single mom was hard enough but being a single mom to newborn twins was nearly impossible. "Yes" she finally forced out "that was a great assistance. I can't imagine raising them without him".

Brandon smiled and wrapped a loving arm around her.

"So we've talked about clothing but what about a little fun" Robin said leading them over to a new table "what kind of toys do you suggest for the kids?"

"Well we like to keep the kids outside as much as possible" Brandon said "but with this time of year it can be kind of difficult. If you want to take them out to a playground or somewhere to go sledding or skating then you need to be sure they are bundled up really well'.

"Those are some of our favorite activities" Madison intervened "especially skating. An outdoor or inside rink doesn't matter as long as the ice is thick enough and the kids are bundled".

"But sometimes you have to stay inside. So we like to encourage imagination play for the girls. Barbie's are always a classic but you don't need the most expensive choices. You can get the dolls for as low as $7-10. The doll houses on the other hand can really add up". Brandon reached to the table and removed one of the white clothes to reveal a dollhouse "this is something that my son Noah and I have been working on for the girls birthday in a month. Its not done yet, and don't worry the girls can't see this backstage so we are safe".

"They found this old book shelf at the side of the road one day and they brought it home. With a little left over paint from the garage they were able to make an exterior brick look on the back and with colored paints they made different rooms inside" Madison pointed out to each colored room.

"We used some left over wood to cut extra walls to divide the rooms" Brandon added "and then we got Madison to cut up some old shirts or towels to make carpets on the floor and curtains over the windows Noah and I cut out".

"This is wonderful" Robin cheered "and it wasn't too difficult was it?"

"Not at all. The hardest part was cutting new walls to divide rooms but you really don't need to do that. Painting works just fine" Brandon said "but you see something like this is a fun project for the whole family and it encourages your children to make up their own stories and really just enjoy some imaginary play".

"With older kids technology has really taken a shine to them. You don't want them to sit in front of the TV with a remote all day" Madison said "but removing it completely can be difficult too. You'll face some very grumpy teenagers".

"So we like to encourage interactive technology" Brandon removed another cloth to show the Xbox connect with several sports and dance games. "So here we have games like golf and baseball. For our son he really enjoys baseball so this has two benefits. It keeps them physically active during the months they can't get out to play in the fields. It's great even for younger kids. They will enjoy games like that too. Just be sure to limit the times and the types of games".

"Brandon tells me you are a wonderful cook Madison" Robin had leaded the couple into her kitchen set a moment later. There were trays and food set up ready to be cooked.

"Oh I wouldn't say wonderful" Madison blushed a little.

"Oh she is being humble" Brandon wrapped his arm around her "Madison is a great cook. She is truly amazing".

With a smile Robin began to explain what they would be cooking today "well since Halloween just passed I was thinking of doing healthy foods. It can be so hard for children at this time of year. They want to eat all the treats but we know that isn't healthy for them".

Madison smiled and nodded, she couldn't agree more about it.

"So Madison with three kids what do you do?" Robin turned to her.

Madison looked at all the items that were laid before her, she knew she would be cooking today and she was prepared for it but she was still nervous. "Well personally I like to give them food that that tastes like a treat but is secretly healthy for them. I really enjoy the treat ants on a log, so you slice the celery" Madison spoke and demonstrated at the same time. "Spread on peanut butter, I prefer low sodium, then across the top you add the raisins to look like the ants. You see everything in this snack is healthy, the celery, peanut butter and raisins all have vitamins growing kids need, and they taste wonderful".

Robin smiled "yes that is a wonderful snack".

"I also enjoy sending them with sliced fruit. One of my favorites is apple slices with a light coating of cinnamon. Some parents will add sugar but that takes away the health benefits. So I stick to cinnamon only". Robin grabbed the cinnamon as Madison started to thinly slice the apples. She then tossed them into a bowl and mixed in the cinnamon. "Now don't completely coat the apples. We just want a nice dusting".

Madison moved on to the next station "we have veggies and fruit. Next I would suggest some kind of dairy product. I like to add either baby bells, because they are very yummy and also the kids like to play with the wax and make little figures. If not the cheese then I would suggest a tube of yogurt, either one would be a great choice".

"What about the main meal?" Robin asked with a smile.

"Usually I like to send a sandwich or a wrap. Chicken, turkey and ham are all great choices. Today I am going make a ham and cheese wrap". Madison took out fresh slices of ham and cheddar cheese. She laid the meat and cheese out on the flat large wrap. She slowly and tightly started to wrap it. She took a knife and sliced it into thin circular chunks. "So bite sized and easy to grab".

"Anything else?" Robin asked.

"I like a side of cold pasta salad too" Madison said "everyone enjoys pasta and adding a little something extra too it can make it even healthier. So I take any kind of pasta and cook it the night before" she grabbed the cold precooked pasta in a nearby bowl. "Now you don't just want the noodles. So add a dash of Italian dressing as a seasoning. Take some mini tomatoes and slice them in half and a cucumber works well too" she grabs the cucumber. Starting to cut slices she then took those and sliced them into quarters. "Toss both of them in with the pasta and add some chunks of feta cheese".

"The wrap, pasta salad and ants on the log seem like a very healthy choice" Robin said.

"Yes but children do still deserve a chance at having a little sugar so I like to add one or two pieces of their candy as an extra treat" Madison said with a smile. "To finish it up you send them with a chocolate milk to drink and just like that you have a quick, easy and healthy lunch for the kids" Madison smiled out at all the people looking at her.

"Wonderful" Robin smiled "thank you for coming today, it was a pleasure. Form winter clothing, the newest toys and healthy lunches Andrew and Sarah Haywood certainly have everything all figured out! Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to join is here today and once again congrats on the new baby on the way".

Brandon wrapped his arm around his wife's waist and pulled her closer to his chest "we had a wonderful time. Thank you for inviting us to be here today. It was an honor".

Robin beamed out to the crowd "there you have it! Brandon and Madison Haywood!"