They hadn't heard from Chester or Glynda in almost a month and had been lulled into a sense of false security. It was mid-October when Isaac told her that it was time to call in her army because he had been served with a custody lawsuit.

They hadn't told the children because they didn't want to worry them, so they sent them on a camping trip with Boyd while she and Isaac headed to Kent to meet up with her family. Breaking the news that she was married, had two children, and was now in a custody battle was something that she felt needed to be dealt with in person.

When they arrived at the estate in Kent, it was after dark. It had been over a nine-hour drive, and they were both exhausted, but the hard part was just beginning. If there was a way she could sneak into the house and meet them all in the morning, she would have gladly done it.

Isaac offered to stay in a hotel for the night and drive to the house in the morning, but Poppy knew she wouldn't sleep and would stay up and worry.

At their last stop, they had traded places, and Poppy was driving since she knew the way. As they crested the drive, the massive house came into view, and Poppy stopped, gathering her nerves. The stone mansion was lit up, with most of the windows burning bright, and even though she was nervous, it was a welcoming site.

"This is where you grew up?" Isaac asked with a shake of his head.

"Says the man who grew up in a castle," Poppy snorted.

"This is much more spectacular than the castle," he admitted.

"I feel the opposite. I think the castle has an atmosphere that this house doesn't. The castle feels more like home." Poppy smiled as she thought of the castle's drafty rooms and fun hiding places. "I'm not afraid of ruining or breaking anything there; here, I feel as if everything has to stay in its place."

Poppy stepped on the accelerator and pulled into the house's driveway. Immediately, Jackson, the family butler, came out to greet them and take the keys.

"Jackson, this is my husband, Isaac Harrison. Isaac, this is Jackson. He keeps us all in line." Poppy introduced Reva, the housekeeper, as she joined them.

"We'll put you in your old room, Miss Poppy, since the house is full right now, but first, I think you will want to see your family."

Reva led the way up the front steps into the great hall, which was a massive three-stories with stairs at one end. Two of the four stories had galleries running the length of the building.

"A housekeeper and butler?" Isaac hissed.

"As I said, it's not very homey," Poppy hissed back.

Reva knocked on the door, and Uncle Bryce called for whomever it was to enter. His stern voice made Poppy reach for Isaac's hand, and she felt better when he didn't pull away. Whatever awaited them they would weather together.

"Poppy!" Grace greeted her as she stood to give Poppy a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Reva, will you go and find Mason and Cassie? I think they would like to know that their daughter has come to visit."

Poppy's eyes grew large as she looked at Grace. "Mom and Dad are here?" Poppy asked nervously. She guessed they might be there with everyone, but sometimes plans changed, and she hoped this was one of those times.

"Isn't that why you came?" Bryce asked as he eyed the man behind Poppy, and to his credit, Isaac eyed him right back.

"No, I wanted to talk with Uncle Bryce and Alistair about a few things. It's business."

An awkward silence descended as they all looked at each other. Poppy knew she was handling this all wrong, but it wasn't every day that she introduced a husband.

"Poppy, will you introduce me to your friend?" Alistair asked, holding out his hand in greeting. His warm smile, like his mother's, lightened the atmosphere in the room.

Isaac's handshake was firm. 

"Umm," Poppy tucked a stray piece of strawberry red hair behind her ear and licked her lips, her brown eyes darting nervously to Isaac behind her. He didn't seem nervous at all, and Poppy wished that she felt the same.

"Isaac Harrison, this is my Aunt Grace and Uncle Bryce Stevens, and this is their son Alistair." She took a breath. "Isaac is my husband."

There was a stunned silence, and Grace was the one to break it first. "Congratulations!" she said, hugging Poppy again and then Isaac in his turn. Isaac accepted the hug and then shook Bryce's extended hand.

"I wish I could say a surprise spouse was a new event for this family, but it's not. It's happened several times over the years." Grace smiled, attempting to put everyone at ease.

"Several times?" Poppy asked. She knew about Beth and Wyatt, but who else?

"Yes, your Uncle Caleb and Aunt Norah were married for three years before he broke the news to us, and that was only because your Aunt Lizzy forced his hand." As Grace finished her statement, Cassie and Mason swept into the rooms all smiles, not allowing Poppy to absorb this new piece of information. How did she know about that?

Alistair took the moment to slip out, and Poppy watched him go with dread. At least he would have been supportive.

"Mom, Dad," she said, hugging and kissing them each in turn. Mason looked at Isaac, doing his best to look intimidating, and Cassie rolled her eyes and pinched him. "This is Isaac Harrison, my husband," Poppy said softly, and the silence in the room was deafening until Mason exploded.

"Neither one of my girls could be bothered to show their parents a little respect and bring the boy home to meet us before they got serious! Why, Poppy? Don't you care about us or trust us..." Mason was off on a rant that everyone stopped paying attention to after the first few sentences. Grace ordered coffee while Cassie led Poppy and Isaac to the couch and shook Isaac's hand. Bryce settled into his chair, watching Mason with a bored expression.

"Let him get it out, then he'll be fine," Cassie said with a smile.

After a few minutes, when Mason showed no signs of slowing down, Cassie reached up and pinched him again.

"Owww! Stop doing that!" he scowled at his wife.

"That's enough. You're making your daughter and son-in-law feel bad about falling in love!" Cassie shot him a look that told him she had had enough.

"How recent is this?" Cassie asked, taking Poppy's hands in hers while Mason slunk into a chair, watching Isaac with a killer glare.

"Almost three months," Poppy said, licking her lips and tears springing to her eyes at the twin looks of disappointment in her parent's eyes.

"That long?" she asked weakly.

"Yes, it's just-"

"No, you don't need to explain." Cassie shook her head. "It's your life and your choices."

"It's a life we gave her!" Mason exploded from his chair, but everyone ignored him.

"Isaac owns Castle Alfhemir. That's how we met." Poppy explained. "We are raising his niece, Mary, who is twelve, and his nephew, Peter, who is six, but there is a bit of a snag, and we need Uncle Bryce, Alistair, and Wyatt's help."

"What's the snag?" Bryce asked, getting to the heart of the matter.

"Their paternal grandparents are suing for custody," Isaac explained, and the room immediately stilled. Whether it was his deep Scottish brogue or the fact that he had spoken, Poppy couldn't be sure.

"These are your sister's children?" Mason asked, showing that he was now willing to listen.

"Yes, we were raised by my uncle. Our parents died when we were very young, and, unfortunately, history had repeated itself for Mary and Peter."

"So, it was just the two of you and your uncle when you were growing up?" Grace asked.

"Yes, he never married." Isaac shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He wasn't usually forced to share so much about himself so quickly.

"Lucky you found Poppy," Mason said as if he knew how things had really gone down.

Isaac met his eyes squarely, "We're all very lucky. Poppy has brought life back into our lives; the children are laughing again, and the castle is full of light and energy that it never had before."

"You're art?" Cassie asked, concerned.

"I'm almost finished with a new story. Isaac has given me a massive studio to work from." Poppy watched her father open his mouth and knew him well enough to know that he was about to go off again, so Poppy stood.

"Look, we're really tired. It was a long drive, and we would like to rest." She cut her father off before he could start again.

"Of course." Grace rose. I'll have Reva send up a tray.

When her father looked like he wouldn't let it go, she had to do something. Hopefully all would be forgiven in the end.

"Uncle Eli and Aunt Sunny spent a few days with us so that he can share a little bit more with you."

Mason was out of his chair in a shot.

"Don't be mad at him!" Poppy yelled at her father. "I told him not to tell you, and he promised he wouldn't while he was on tour!"

Mason rushed toward her, grabbed her arms, and shook her slightly. "I want to kill you and hug you all at the same time." Then he pulled her tight into his arms. "My little girl is all grown up!" Then, just as quickly, he cast her aside, and Isaac was forced to catch her as Mason reached for Cassie. "We're grandparents!"

"You were going to be grandparents anyway. Aggie's due any day," Bryce reminded his brother drily.

"Yes, babies are fine, but older kids are more fun," Mason said gleefully.

Poppy guessed that meant they would have a visit from them sooner rather than later.

"Bed!" Grace ordered, leading Poppy and Isaac out of the room. "We'll see you in the morning," she promised as she kissed them both.

Poppy looked at Isaac and shook her head without saying a word as she led the way to her room on the fourth floor.