*Stevie's POV*

I take a deep breath as I hear the doorbell ring. I walk to the front door and answer it.
Lindsey stands there with a nervous smile on his face.

I can't help but smile back a little. I then tell him to come inside and lead him to the living room. We take a seat and he is the first to speak after a few quiet awkward moments.

"Stevie, first of all, I want to apologize for all I put you and our children through." He says. "I'm sorry for everything. I should have never raised a hand on you. I just, let my anger blind me. I...I've been seeing a therapist for the past two years. I knew I had to get help because...because the same things I was doing to you, I was doing to Kristen. I've hit her, I cheated on her. I realized then that, that it was all me that was the problem. So, please, forgive me Stevie."

I blink back tears and I look into his eyes and I can tell he is being sincere. I clear my throat and say. "Lindsey...I..." I sigh then say. "I forgive you. I'm glad you got help for whatever you were going through."
"Thank you. I was really messed up Steph. I can't explain why I just..." Lindsey said. "I just didn't realize what I had until it was gone. I...I still you Stevie. You and our children were the best things that ever happened to me. I know it's too late for us but, I want to have a chance to make this up to Sara and Ethan. I want a relationship with them again."
"Lindsey...I...I can't speak for Sara and Ethan but, you should know that, they are really hurt. You abandoned them." I said to him.

Lindsey looks at me with tears in his eyes and says. "I didn't mean to. I was a mess and at the time I felt as if they deserved better than a father like me."
"Maybe before you leave, I'll go ask them if they want to see you." I say to him.

After that, we talk about the past, where we are now and how to move forward from here. Also, we talk about the new album. It feels nice to get everything out in the open. I was nervous because I thought things weren't going to go very well. I pictured Lindsey and I losing our tempers but this is nice. He seems like the 16 year old boy I fell in love with. I hope that he and our children will be able to restore their relationship.

However my walls are still up and there is no way I'm bringing them down until I know for sure he has changed.

"Stevie, may I speak with Ethan and Sara? Please." Lindsey asks after a while.
"Lindsey..." I begin then say. "I'll ask if they want to but I won't make any promises."

Lindsey nods and I stand up then walk upstairs to Sara's room. I knock on the door and I hear Sara's voice say. "Come in."

I open the door and smile at my two babies.
I look at Ethan and see the big smile on his face as he looks at his painted nails.

I'm not going to lie, at first I found it to be strange that my son would want to paint his nails. Of course I had to hide my shock from him when he asked. I mean, society tells us it's not normal but then again, what is normal? There's no such thing.

Now seeing the final product, I'm glad I told him he could do it. The smile on his face is what's most important. As long as my children are happy is what I want most in this world.

"Hi Mom. How did it go with...with Dad?" Sara asks as soon as she sees me.
"It went well, actually." I said. "We talk about a lot of things and I feel like we've come to a point where we can work together again."
"That's good, I guess." Sara said.
"Ethan...Sara...you're father is still here. He would like to speak to the both of you." I said as I sit on Sara's bed. "I know how you both feel about your father but, you should hear him out. Then after that if you both don't want to see him anymore then you don't have to speak or see him after today."

My heart aches for my children; I want them to have a relationship with Lindsey but, I know why they feel the way they feel towards Lindsey.

Sara and Ethan look at each other then in their made up twin language, they talk to each other. Of course I have no idea what they are saying so I wait.

Sara nods then so does Ethan; they turn to me and Sara says. "Okay, we will hear him out but that's it. We'll decide what we want after we see him."

I smile a little and nod; we all stand up and walk downstairs.

Lindsey sees us walking into the living room and he stands up. I see tears in his eyes and I can't help but tear up too.

"Ethan, Sara..." Lindsey says as he smiles through his tears. "It's so good to see you both. Can I...can I give you two a hug?"

Sara chews the inside of her cheek thinking while Ethan doesn't show any type of emotion.

Sara steps forward and hugs Lindsey; Sara had always been a daddy's girl; she missed him so much.

Lindsey's tears fall then he pulls away and looks at Ethan expectantly. But Ethan stays away and wears a mask of no emotion.

"I'm alright right here." Ethan says. "What is it that you want to speak to us about?"

Lindsey's smile falters then he accepts that Ethan will not hug him. Lindsey then motions for us to have a seat although I try to give them some privacy but Ethan stops me and asks me to stay.

We all sit and Lindsey tells Sara and Ethan about his inner demons. He tells them everything he had told me.

Ethan and Sara listen intently and by the end, Sara is in tears while Ethan, again is not showing much emotion.

"Sara, Ethan, please forgive me. I do love you both so much and I miss you." Lindsey says. "I've gotten help and I will continue to get that help. Please allow me to try and make this right. I want to be a part of both of your lives. I don't want to miss a single thing anymore."

Once again, Sara looks at Ethan for reassurance then after a few words of their made up language, Ethan leans forward and says to Lindsey. "We are not going to forgive you...yet. Dad...you abandoned us when we needed you the most. It hurt and still hurts. I know you said you were going through a lot but that's still no excuse to abandoned your own children. Then you have this new family with another woman and you leave us behind like we were nothing! In order for us to forgive you, Sara and I need to see that you have changed. We want to see you make the effort to have a relationship with us."

Lindsey sat there in shock but then understanding crossed his features. "I promise I will show the both of you I have changed and that I want nothing more than to have a relationship with the both of you." He said.

Lindsey, Sara and Ethan talk for a few more minutes then they both hug him. Ethan is reluctant but he does anyway. Ethan took Lindsey's abandonment the hardest.

Sara and Ethan rush back upstairs leaving Lindsey and I alone.

"I better get going." Lindsey says with a sigh. "Thank you Steph for letting me come over and talk with you and the kids. I am so happy that they are going to give me a chance to make things right."
"I'm glad for the three of you." I say to him with a smile. "I hope this will be a new beginning for the three of you."
"I'll see you later Stevie. Take care." Lindsey says.
"Thank you. See you later." I say.

Before Lindsey walks out the door, he turns to me and says. "Stevie...was Ethan wearing nail polish?"
"Yes, he was." I reply.
"Stevie, come on, he's a boy! He shouldn't be wearing nail polish." Lindsey said with a hint of annoyance. "You should put a stop to it."

My eyebrows shoot up and my anger rises a bit but I quickly tell myself to calm down.

"Lindsey, you haven't been in Ethan's life for the past five years. You don't know what he likes or what he doesn't like." I say as my anger rises again. "At this moment in his life, he loves wearing nail polish. It's what makes him happy. It's 2003 Lindsey and times have changed. Some boys wear nail polish now. It's no big deal. Oh and another thing, don't come here into my home and tell me what to do as a parent! Again, you've been gone for five years! I've been raising them alone!"

So much for staying calm but how dare he say these things to me. I feel tears in my eyes but I don't let them fall.

I expect Lindsey to get angry at my outburst but he doesn't. He bows his head for a moment, then he looks up at me and says. "I'm sorry Stevie. It's just, well, it's weird for a boy to wear nail polish. I don't want our son to get made fun of. Anyway, I'll just be going."

Lindsey turns and walks to his car then he gets in and drives away.

A close and lock the door; I lean my forehead on the door and let the tears fall.

God, I still love that man, but he hurt me and my children. I hate myself for still loving him.

I take a deep breath and calm myself. A smile then appears on my face as I think of Robert. He should be here soon and I need him. I need his arms around me. I need to vent to him about what went on with Lindsey and I just now. I need for him to assure me that everything is going to be okay.