Cassidy woke to the sound of a ringing phone. Her room was pitch black and the clock on the nightstand informed her it was 2:15 am.

"Dr. Kensington," her husband answered as she felt the bed shift. He was on call for the hospital and his rapid dressing indicated some kind of emergency had taken place. "I'm on my way"

Cassidy faked like she was still asleep. Sometimes he woke her just to be miserable but she hoped he was in too much of a hurry to bother.

After hearing the door close, Cassidy fell back into a dreamless sleep.

It was nearly 8 am by the time Cassidy finally forced herself out of the bed. Experience told her if she didn't she'd wake to find a mess.

She groaned loudly as she entered the kitchen. The counter was covered with Fruit Loops and milk and 3 abandoned cereal bowls. In addition, the living room had every toy they owned scattered about. Five-year-old Arabella was reading a book and the twins, Emma and Ella were playing some sort of game with stuffed bears.

"Mama, my tummy hurts," Emma said tottering over to her. Cassidy felt her face for fever, as she pushed back her dark brown curls.

"It's probably because she ate half a bag of marshmallows," Arabella said from the couch.

"If you saw her eat half a bag of marshmallows why didn't you wake me up or at least stop her?" Cassidy asked picking Emma up.

"You don't care what they do, why should I?" Arabella said. Cassidy knew it was a phrase she'd picked up from her father which only pissed her off more.

"Go to your room," Cassidy said taking the book from her.

"But I didn't do anything wrong!" She cried.

"I don't like your attitude, now go to your room," Cassidy ordered.

Arabella stomped off to her room, slamming the door to indicate her frustration.Cassidy was about to begin cleaning the mess when the doorbell rang. She didn't know who it could be. She had to stifle a groan as she opened the door and realized it was her in-laws.Drew must have known they were coming over but neglected to tell her.

"Good morning, " Adele said with a fake smile plastered on her face. Adele had always hated Cassidy. She referred to her as "the little trollop" for at least the first year of their marriage. 

Adele disapproved of everything that Cassidy did.

Adele's comments always hit a nerve because there had been some truth to it once upon a time. When she was a teenager, she had shacked up in a motel with Drew for almost a month. Cassidy had thought he was dangerously sexy, not just plain dangerous. Eventually, her parents dragged her home kicking and screaming. She was given an ultimatum. Either she gets her act together or she'd be shipped off to boarding school.

"Cassidy!" Adele said shaking her from the memory. "This place is disgusting, when is the last time you cleaned?!"

"The girls made a mess while I was sleeping and I hadn't had time to clean it yet," Cassidy said trying to keep the edge out of her voice.

"Why don't you sit down dear" Reginald, her father in law, suggested.

Drew told them all sorts of lies about her. That she had mental problems, drinking and drug problems. It helped him explain away the mysterious injuries she was always getting. She usually took solace in these lies because it meant fewer people she had to explain to.

"I don't need to sit down, I'm fine," Cassidy said not in the mood to be treated like a basket case. After Adele had helped Cassidy clean both the house and the kids, Cassidy decided to make her escape.

"Adele, I actually have a doctors appointment," Cassidy lied "could you watch the kids for a couple hours?"

"Of course," she said though Cassidy knew Adele was silently judging her.

Half an hour later Cassidy was knocking gently on Nathan's door. She immediately felt better when she saw his face light up at the sight of her.

"You didn't bring the girls," he said frowning slightly.

"I couldn't, I'm sorry, Drew's parents are in town" she admitted, I don't have long, but I needed to see you."

He pulled her into his arms carrying her to the bedroom.

"I love you so much," Nathan said against her skin.

"I love you too," she said looking into his beautiful blue eyes. Cassidy loved Nathan more than anything. Well, she loved her kids more than anything but Nathan was a very close second. Nathan was the only thing that kept her sane. Nathan and her girls were the only things that kept her sane.

"I'm pregnant, Nathan" Cassidy whispered in his ear as he covered her neck in kisses.