"So are you guys finally going to tell me where we are going now?" Madison asked with a slight sigh. She wasn't expecting her friends to come by that morning and whisk her away just one day before her wedding.

"Not a chance" Isabella – the driver – answered.

"It's a surprise," Brooklyn said with a slight smirk. They weren't letting anything be known about it. This was their secret.

Madison sighed again "will I be home in time tonight?" she asked thinking about her children.

"Yes you'll be home in the evening so don't worry" Kennedy said.

They were leaving the city now and going towards where the snow was thicker on the ground.

"You're going to love it" Isabelle said. There were only the four younger women in the car but by the time they reached their destination Rebecca and Margaret had joined them.

It was a beautiful rustic oasis and spa. It offered facials and manicures and mud baths. There were whirlpools and saunas to relax in., which is exactly what the bachelorettes were planning on doing.

"A spa?" Madison asked in slight confusion as she climbed out of the car.

"This is technically your first wedding" Rebecca said with a smile as she walked over to join them. "Which means you cant get married without a bachelorette party".

"A party?" Madison asked stunned. She wasn't one to party and she wasn't going to start now.

"Relax" Brooklyn rested an arm around her friends shoulder and lead her inside the building. "I know you don't like big things so this is going to be simple. It will just be us getting our nails done and having massages. Nothing too crazy other than a couple of drinks".

"I didn't bring anything" she insisted trying to back out.

"We brought it all" Isabelle held out a bag "we got you a bikini so don't worry". The friends continued to push her inside.

"Hey we are with the Haywood party," Brooklyn said to the front desk. The lady nodded and signed for them to follow her back to a changing room.

"You've got to be kidding me" Madison called out as she tried on the swimsuit that they brought for her. Her belly was on full view and she was not impressed by it. Its not that she had low self esteem or was ashamed of her baby belly. But she also didn't want to show it off on full view for everyone to see.

"Come on" Kennedy knocked on the door "we all know you're a sexy momma. It's time to show it off".

She sighed a little and looked at the skintight hot pink bikini. Nothing she could do about it now. She grabbed the robe and wrapped it firmly around herself before she stepped out.

"Ah there we are" Brooklyn smiled "just get rid of that frumpy robe and we will be good to go" she said reaching forward to grab it.

Madison glared at her to the point where she thought she might actually let out a low growl. But her friend only laughed it off.

"You can't go swimming with that on" she insisted.

"I can't go in the hot tub anyways" Madison insisted.

"You can still get in the pool" Brooklyn said tugging her out of the safety of the change room and into what Madison would expect to be the public's eyes. But as she looked around she found that there wasn't a single person to be seen. By the judge of Madison's shocked face Brooklyn must have known what she was thinking. "The Haywood's rented out the entire spa for the afternoon".

"Really?" Madison asked stunned. She turned and looked at Rebecca "you shouldn't have spent so much money on little old me. You already have spent so much on the wedding and I'll never be able to pay you guys back – or thank you enough".

Rebecca smiled and walked over to hug the younger woman. She gave her a tight squeeze and a warm embrace. She tugged her as close as the belly would allow and she gently rested her hand on her back. "Madison, you need to stop thinking of yourself as a nobody. Because you are a somebody. You are my daughter in law. I know that when we first met I didn't have the best thoughts regarding you. I thought maybe you had done this all on purpose and you only wanted Brandon for his money.

But over the past six months I've been able to see the changes in Brandon. Yes maybe it has to do with his lack of memory. But I don't think it is. Those memories were fake but emotions aren't. Especially not after all these months. But I have seen Brandon grown more as a human being then I have in fifteen years. He has cut back on work to spend time with his family. He used to stay at that office until close to midnight and was then awake at six in the morning. He was alive but not really living.

"When he would laugh it was only ever half way. Now he has this deep belly laugh that is contagious to anyone who hears it. He hasn't laughed this way since high school. In fact even his smile used to be fake. I mean it was very convincing to everyone else who say it.  It was easy to fool a client or a friend who didn't know him very well. But I know my Brandy, and I know what his true smile looked like. His right side of his mouth would always perk and show a dimple. But I haven't seen that smile until recently. And I don't think I realized how much I truly missed it.

"That's not even mentioning the kind of man he's over all become. Yeah he seems happier and spends more time at home but he's grown. He's guided the company with a firmer head on his shoulders. He used be so focused on growing. Getting more clients that he lost a lot of the basics. He lost the joy that Telling Tales originally had. It was a family run business. It was never meant to be a full corporation. And thanks to you that heart has come back".

Madison felt tears form in her eyes. She was never expecting to receive such a loving and proud speech from Rebecca Haywood. And she truly wanted to believe it – she tried very hard to – but there will always be this nagging feeling. Brandon didn't choose her. He chose Madelyn. And she would never be her. "But... but I'm not Madelyn" she said softly.

Rebecca smiled softly "I never expected you to be. I only ever wanted you to be Madison. That is exactly who you are. Brandon and Madelyn were brought together for their own reasons. And to survive university he needed her by his side. They were graduating and having a baby together. Marrying her seemed the right thing for him to do. And I won't lie, Madelyn brought a lot of excellent aspects to the table but you have to realize that you two are not the same. Madelyn did everything over and above. All parts of her life needed to be made to perfection; it could be a tea luncheon or decorations in her house. I remember when she made Brandon travel to a store in Montreal to get a certain crib that she wanted from a hand carver. It didn't matter to her that he had to miss work or be gone for two days or more. She wanted what she wanted.

"Now I don't want it to sound like I am calling her selfish because she wasn't really. She knew what she wanted and she was determined to get it. And I do believe that is something that the two of you have in common. But you have a different mindset. You're determined to get things for other people and do whatever it takes to achieve that. Even at the fall of yourself. Six months ago I walked into your home and gave you an unbeliever choice. You had everything to loose. And I realize that now. We were taking you away from all that you knew and had built for yourself. We single handedly turned your life upside down. And not just yours but also your children's lives. You gave us so much. And you could have sacrificed everything and lost it all. But you still did it for us".

Madison reached up and wiped a tear away. She had never heard someone speak this way about her before – not in her entire life.

"You aren't Madelyn. But you are Madison. You are as sweet as sugar, extremely caring and kind to the point where I believe that you will sacrifice your own life if it meant saving a child. And that is not something to be taken lightly. You are a go-getter and you don't sit back to let others do it. You want in on the action and you want to work towards your goals. You are strong and brave and that is more than I can say for anyone else I know. You have faced and conquered more challenges than I know possible. Form the issues you had with your parents, a young mom with a boyfriend that left in a heartbeat and continuing to raising the children on your own. You're a fighter and a lover and a caregiver. You have so much to offer this world if only you could open your eyes to see it."

Rebecca reached forward and lifted Madison's chin so she could look her in the eyes. She used her thumb to lightly wash away the tears "you are Madison Paige Haywood. And I am so proud and blessed to have you as my daughter in law".

Those words did it. In the end Madison broke down in tears and launched forward to hug Rebecca tightly and lovingly. This woman didn't need to care for her. She didn't need to do or say any of it. For six months she had acted more as a mother than her own mom had. She cared not only about her but also for her children and that was something she wouldn't take lightly. She had guided Madison every step of the way and she felt as though with Rebecca's guidance she had grown not only as a woman but also as a mother and a partner. She was honored to have known and met Rebecca when she did. And she realized that if there came a day when she had to say goodbye to Brandon she would really miss Rebecca too. Hopefully if that day ever came she would still get to have a live involved with the Haywood's.

"Now that all this cute little family time is over" Kennedy walked over with a teasing smile on her face. She wrapped her arms around both Rebecca and Madison's shoulders "lets get our relaxation and spa time on". Everyone laughed but agreed with her. After the busy holiday season is was time for some rest.

Madison enjoyed her morning lying back in the pool with the jets massaging her body. Her friends had flutes of champagne and seemed to be enjoying the water just as much as she was.

"So" Brooklyn swam over to her "lets get the gossip going. What do you love about Brandon the most"?

She raised an eyebrow at Brooklyn "you do realize all of this is fake right? I'm not expected to actually be in love with him"

Brooklyn only smiled at that as she leaned back against the wall to be next to Madison. "You aren't expected to be. But I think you are. In fact I know you are," she answered.

Madison sighed a little and looked down at the water. "I don't know how it happened," she said softly. "I never planned for it to. But it kind of just happened".

"That's how love often happens," she answered. "It can come at you in the least expected time. Even when you don't want it to".

"I don't know what to do" Madison said softly.

"Do about what? Madison I think everything has already been done" Brooklyn said turning to face her. "You are constantly living here in fear. Fear that one day Brandon is going to learn the truth. And yeah maybe he will. But that doesn't mean you two won't still have a future together. You are going to have a baby together and you will both have history together. But that entire aside the main thing is you are scared. You wake up every day terrified of him knowing the truth, of you losing him. But with that fear you are missing out on the now. For whatever reason the lord has blessed the two of you with this time together and he wont get his memory back until the time is right. So take this time you have together now as a blessing and enjoy it. Allow yourself to feel like a wife and loved".

Madison nodded slowly taking in all the words that Brooklyn had said. It was true. She did live in fear that Brandon would remember. She knew that one day no matter what it was bond to happen and as a result she was always waiting for the bomb to go off. There was always the thoughts in the back of her mind whenever a happy moment accord. Christmas all she could think about was how this was her one and only Christmas with a big family and with Brandon by her side. She acted like she could see the future. As if she knew exactly how the book was written.

But there was still one thing she couldn't let go from her mind. And it wasn't about Brandon getting his memory back. Even if he did she wanted to believe that he would stay... but still.

"Brandon isn't Alexander" Kennedy lowered herself down on the side of the pool and dangled her feet in the water. It was as if she was able to read Madison's mind. That was exactly what she had been thinking.

"I never said..." Madison trailed off.

"You didn't have to" Kennedy said softly "I already know that's what you're thinking. But I'm telling you that it isn't true. I know that in the past you were hurt. You thought you had your life all sorted out when Alex walked in. he seemed like a dream come true right? A real tall dark and handsome prince. He walked in and gave you a life you thought you'd lead for the rest of your life being his wife and the mother to his children. You had been happy with him. But now you feel like it was a false sense of security. Alex left you. And it didn't take him a lot to leave. You were having his baby and he was willing to cheat and walk out on you. So now I think you feel as thought he was only ever with you out of obligation because of Noah".

"He didn't love me. I had his son so he was forced to stay" Madison said weakly "but then when I went to have another baby he thought that was enough and he left me".

"So now you have Brandon. And you feel as though history is repeating itself. You're on this large hamster wheel that you can't get off of. Here you are pregnant with Brandon's child and you're scared that if he gets his memory back he will only stay with you out of obligation. That he doesn't actually love you but thinks he needs to stay with you because you had his baby. Just like Alex did. Am I right?"

Madison couldn't say anything. She wasn't willing to say anything about it. It was all true. She didn't want to repeat what happened between her and Alex. She didn't want Brandon to grow to resent her.

"Brandon isn't Alex" Brooklyn said softly as she rested her hand on Madison's shoulder. "If you continue to always walk around comparing every man to Alexander – worrying that each one is going to hurt you – then you'll never be able to find happiness in another human being".

"Not only would you lose Brandon, but you would any chance you have at finding your soul mate – which I do believe you already found" Kennedy said. "You can't keep allowing this past to stop you from moving forward with your life".

Madison wasn't sure what she was going to say following that statement – and it seems she might never know because she was cut off.

"Ah so glad I could catch up with you ladies" Ava Sweeney walked into the spa with her head held high.  "The mail must have lost my invite or my cell didn't get the message". She had a smile on her face that you could tell was very fake and not very impressed by everything. She knew very well that her invited hadn't been lost. She just wasn't invited.

She walked over to Madison, Brooklyn and Kennedy. "Ah well I assume it was you who lost the invite" she said looking at Kennedy. "You never could do anything right could you? If I remember correctly you couldn't even read until you were in the third grade".

Of course Ava would remember Kennedy from when Madison was a kid. The two girls had been best friends and they spent years together at each other's sides. They would have sleepovers every weekend and would do homework together after school.

Kennedy's face turned bright red as she looked down at the water. She didn't try to say otherwise and she didn't try to defend herself.

Ava looked down at Madison and raised an eyebrow "you're wearing a swim suit? With the weight you've put on? It doesn't look very good on you". In fact her face looked disgusted at the sight of her daughter in the water.

Madison was taken back for a moment "what... what did you just say?"

"If you're going to have a body like that you should at least cover it up," Ava said.

"My..."

"I mean really Madison? You can at least try to look a little attractive for that man of yours. Honestly I am surprised her hasn't left you for a much hotter and younger woman by now. God knows he should. He's got the body and the money." She smirked a little "speaking of his money, maybe that's what he does. To get himself hot and heavy with you. Maybe he pays for some nights with another woman before he can stomach you". 

Now she had gone too far. There were many things you could say about Madison but she wasn't about to take listening to somebody talk badly about her husband. She climbed out of the water and stood on the deck in front of her mother.

Kennedy and Brooklyn eyed each other. Both of them stood and got slightly behind Madison, as if to show whose side they took.

"My body is this way because I gave birth to three wonderful children. My body is this way because I am proudly carrying my fourth child right now" Madison said. Her arms rested stiffly against her sides and her hands clasped into a fist. "And you have no right to talk about me that way".

"I'm you're mother I have all the right" Ava argued.

"Actually, no you don't" Madison said, "Blood doesn't give the right to ridicule or belittle somebody. Blood doesn't give you the free right to become a bully".

"I am not-"

"Yes you are" Madison said "all my life you only ever told me the negative things about myself that it got to the point where I believed there wasn't anything positive about me. I hated that you kicked me out. I found that in the moment it was cruel and heartless. But I realize now that it is what I truly needed. I needed to be away from you. I needed to know that there was good in me, I just was never allowed to see it when I lived with you. I'm not the scared little girl I was when I was a teen. I'm not the lost puppy you can kick around anymore. You can't tell me how I need to lose weight, you can't make those comments when I reach for a second helping asking 'are you sure you want that?' I'm always sure what I want now. You're done telling me how that dress makes my hips look big or that my hair would be better to the side. You can't tell me who to be friends with and what to say to make people like me. I have been doing really well for myself since I got free from you. And I refuse to take that step back".

Ava's jaw was dropped and her eyes were wide as dinner plates. Her daughter had never talked to her that way before.

"Furthermore Carter will not be walking me down the aisle. That is reserved for somebody who deserves it. Someone who always loved me no matter how many times I screwed up. Noah is going to be giving me away," Madison said sternly. She always knew if she were to get married she would want her son to be the one to give her away. "You and Carter are still welcome to come to the wedding. But after that I want you gone from my life for good. When I get back from my honeymoon I expect you to be gone and I never want to see you again".

"Why of all the ungrateful things I have ever heard in my life" Ava huffed.

"No" Madison said shaking her head "you are not going to make yourself the victim. Its done Ava. This thing you and I have is over. You are not my mother". She said exactly what Ava told her when Madison came home fifteen years ago and told her mother that she was having a baby.

Ava's face was burning bright red. It looked as though she was going to try and say something, but by now Isabelle, Maggie and Rebecca had made their way out of the water and was standing with Madison too. There was strength in numbers.

Rebecca must have called for security because two officers walked through the door to escort Ava out. "It is time for you to go" Madison said simply. And with that the officers lead Ava out of the spa.

Madison took a deep breath and turned towards her friends. She had a warm smile on her face "lets go get those facials you promised me". She then turned and walked away without waiting for a single response. That day something changed in her. She wasn't the kind to let you walk all over her anymore. She had grown into a strong young woman.