A/N: Another long chapter.😃

Flashback

We walk into Nick's house after a not so successful business negotiation. It's evening now and i should be getting home, but we decide to discuss the aftermath of our meeting here, seeing as it didn't go as planned and we need a plan B.

"Make yourself comfortable, i will be down in a second" he says, making his way upstairs to change into something comfortable, i presume.

I adjust my tie and collar to give myself room to breath better, this thing is making feel like i am suffocating.

"Fuck!" I mutter, pulling the tie off completely and opening the first few buttons of my shirt in the process.

I know i am taking out my fustration on the poor piece of material. This particular meeting was important, but it went to hell. Now we have to start restrategising and making new contacts, something i don't have the time for right now.

Nick is taking too long to come back, and i feel too restless to sit and wait, so i start walking around the house to kill time.

The door to the library is open and i find myself walking there. I stop at the door when i hear voices and look to where the sound is coming from. The thought comes to mind that i am probably intruding and should turn back and wait for Nick, but for some reason, i start to slowing walk into the room towards the voices.

I find the source of the fervent, but friendly chatter and stop dead in my tracks. Ally has company, and her companion makes my heart stop. Literally.

I grip the tie tighter in my hand as i look as the woman sitting across from her on the table facing me.

She is talking animatedly, chin up and very serious. I don't seem to grasp the content of their discussion yet, as my mind is still coming to terms with how much her look reminds me of Claire. Although their styles clash tremendously. This woman has on a thick blue oversized sweater, with the collar of her dress protruding from the neck line.

It's cold outside, but the room is fairly cool, so i don't understand why she still has that thick sweater that might as well be a blanket on. From under the table, i can see the rest of her dress, ending just over her knees. I can also see that she is wearing flat shoes.

There is nothing flattering about her outfit, and yet, she is still strikingly beautiful, with her blonde streaks tied up in a ponytail.

She finally notices me watching her and stops talking, holding my gaze for a second. That snaps me out of my revere, and i clear my throat.

Ally turns around and looks at me.

"Oh, Angelo...hai" she says with a smile.

"Hello Alaia" I respond, walking towards them, but keeping my eyes intently on her companion, who suddenly looks down at the table and starts to adjust some books.

"Is Nick with you?" Ally asks.

"Yeah, upstairs changing, i think" I saying, briefly looking at Ally, then back at her companion.

She notices me looking, and quickly makes the introduction.

"Oh, this is Mary, Mary Wright, she is my tutor" she murmurs.

"Oh yeah, Nick said something about that." I respond..

Mary looks up at me now and smiles shyly, and this time, our eyes meet directly, eliciting what almost feels like an electric shock in my spine.

They have almost the same blue as Claire's, but these ought to be the deepest blue i have ever seem.

Mary presses her lips together in a somewhat awkward gesture and i realise i did to take her extended hand.

Putting my tie in my left hand, i finally take her hand, squeezing a little harder than i intended. I watch her release her lips and see the colour return to them, giving them a dark rosy shade.

"Mary, this is Angelo Morreli, he is friends with Nick and they work together, sometimes" Ally says and Mary nods, her hand still in mine.

"By the way, it's a good thing you are here Angelo, Mary and i were just discussing the newly appointed high court judge they announced last night, and she thinks it's a wrong move too....Mary, Angelo is a lawyer." Ally says, bringing up the brief little chat we had this morning about this topic.

"You think it's a bad move?" I ask Mary, releasing her hand.

"I know it's a bad move...." She responds confidently, holding my gaze.

Most people don't look at me so fiecely, especially people i am meeting for the first time.

"Why?" I ask, intrigued.

"Well, his appointment is obviously for political reasons and definitely not on merit, because the way he has handled his decisions and actions in his past cases, especially over the prison reform issue was pretty shady and questionable......" She responds.

" According to who? You? Do you have any evidence or facts to base your accusations?"

"It's a simple matter of knowing right from wrong..."

"So you have no evidence...."

" I think........." She starts

" Do you have evidence?" I ask.

" No....."

"That's what i thought.......If his decisions at any point in his career were wrong, he wouldn't be in the position he is in today, obviously. Here is some advice, don't get carried away in the courts of public opinion. It's usually based on gossip and misinformation etc...very misleading."

"Thank you very much, but i am guided by my own morals and judgement, i don't need anyone to convince me that how he handled the prison case was ok, because i know that it was not. That among other things" she says.

" Sure, according to your moral compass and judgement, right? Fortunately, Law doesn't work according to a feeling..it's based on facts, and evidence, information.....not gossip, opinion or feelings." I say.

"Right, well, i wouldn't expect you to think any different, you are a lawyer after all" she replies.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"You tell me...since you seem to know everything" She retorts.

"Hey, there you are, let's go" Nick says, walking into the room and motioning for me to follow him.

I break eye contact with Mary with some hesitation, not wanting to give her the impression that i am backing down. From what exactly? I don't know.

I turn around and follow Nick out of the door but faintly hear her mumble to Ally, 'What is his problem?'

End of flashback

I stare at the Tv, only looking away briefly to study my surroundings again, before looking back to the large TV screen that is fixed on top of the wall in the small waiting room at the detention center.

It's that same Judge we talked about that first day Marianne and i met on the news, again. Another one of his decisions is being appealed.

She was right about him. His appointment was a wrong move.

She and i still don't usually agree when it comes to our politics, but she was right on this one.

I find it ironic that this is showing today and right now of all times. It reminds me of that day we first met, and solidifies what i am just about to do now.

That day, from the moment i woke up, everything went wrong, one thing after the other, all up to the point Nick and i lost that business contract we were chasing. But one thing turned out right after all. I met Marianne that day, and i think deep down from the moment i laid eyes on her, i knew she wouldn't be another one of my illicit affairs. This was the real deal.

But i was having a really bad day, and then she reminded of Claire the moment i saw her, so i was rude and unbearable, but i went to bed thinking of her that night anyway. And to this day, not a day has gone by, that Marianne has not occupied my mind.

"Mr Morreli... you can come through now" Someone says and i stand up.

Hunter stands with me, and together we follow the man in uniform.

I asked Hunter to accompany me, because i need someone neutral i can trust to witness this meeting.

"Angelo," Claire's father utters, standing up as Hunter and i approach him, Claire and their lawyer.

"Richmond" I respond, taking his extended hand.

I know he is hoping for a positive outcome and has been pushing the whole rehab and psychological help thing concerning Claire everyday.

"Thanks for meeting with us under such short notice" Their lawyer says.

"I actually wanted to meet with you anyway." I say.

After things blew up with Marianne two nights ago, this is the earliest i could have this meeting.

"So have you considered our proposal" Rickmond asks impatiently.

"I have. And i have thought about it critically and thoroughly" I say, staring at Claire.

"And?"

"I will not oppose the charges or interfere in any way with the prosecutor's case."

" Angelo....."

"She will be charged and it's up to you to argue and defend her case according to the law. I will not help you" I say.

"C'mon....She made a mistake" Richmond utters.

" Stop. When are you going to stop making excuses for her. Do you understand the gravity of what they did?"

" I know... And i am not asking for anything for Max, he is always fucking up, but he is in too deep this time..but this is Claire Angelo, your Claire...help her" he pleads.

" I have...you and i both know what lengths i have always gone to to protect you....but not anymore, not when it's affecting the people i care about" I respond, addressing her directly.

" You can't do this to her" Richmond argues.

" She did it to herself. And more importantly. You did this..." I say to Richmond, who is a poor excuse for a father.

"Don't talk to me like that!"

"For once take responsibility for your failures....Maybe this time you can change and pick up whatever pieces that are lift to fix your family, and more importantly you're relationship with your children." I advise him.

I turn to Claire again who has been silent the whole time and find her teary eyed.

"I am so sorry Angelo, I just love you so much and...."

That's not love, what you did to me, i don't know what that is, but it's not love....and it's dangerous. "

" I am sorry" she whispers.

"I know you are...but it's not enough..not this time...all the times you did stupid shit and i covered for you, i protected you, and you did this knowing i won't try to hurt you back.... But you crossed a line this time. This wasn't just about me, but about the people i love."

"Is this about her, i didn't even do anything to her" she whispers.

"You caused her as lot of hurt. The kind of pain the kind of pain no one is allowed to inflict on her, not even me and for that, i can never forgive you. I hate to imagine what else you are capable of doing.

"Look Angelo...."Richmond interrupts.

"I am done taking responsibility for you. That's not my job. Goodbye Claire, Richmond." I say and stand up.

"She will go to jail Angelo, is that what you want." Richmond mutters, standing up too.

"You are being lazy as always......expecting others to fix your problems while you sit back and wait for results. You have a lawyer, if he is any good, let him do his job. You may have some grounds to push for a light sentence and a fine, provided she spends her probation getting psychiatric help, but that's your problem to solve. I draw my line here and will respect whatever judgement will arise from this case"

I walk out with Hunter.

I have known the Dennings most of my life. But my relationship with Claire happened and only lasted four years. I was always trying to protect her from herself, from her family who failed her miserably, but i will nolonger let that part of my life interfere with my future.

I draw the line here.

I have my own life and family to takecare of now and won't allow anything to overshadow that.

*

Everyday with Luna and Leevi, i find myself falling more and more hopelessly in love with them...they are exhausting, but the minute they fall asleep, they look like the most perfect angels, and i just want to kiss them all over.

Equally, everyday i find myself feeling less and less angry at Angelo. It's these little moments with the twins that i wish we were sharing together. We already lost so many precious moments together that we will never be able to get back, and that's why we need to take advantage of every moment now. And yet, everyday he calls, and everyday i refuse to talk to him.

Honestly, i don't don't understand myself sometimes. I miss him, i do, very much, but i don't want him to take for granted everything that happened and how it affected me.

I have had some very shitty things happened to me in the past, but the last six months makes it pretty up there with the trauma of losing my dad. And yet he was out there worrying about someone else and their wellfare, when they were the cause of all of this to begin with.

Just the thought of it makes me burn up inside all over again, and makes me glad i came here after all.

"Arie, phone!" Mom shouts and shows up in the room.

"It's Angelo" she whispers, looking at me and pointing the phone in my direction.

I give her the same expression i have been giving her each time he calls and asks to speak with me.

She sighs and walks out, murmuring something to him on the phone.

Like clockwork, he video calls three times a day to check on the twins, and once, he asks to speak to me.

Mom walks back into the room.

"Don't you think it's about time you spoke to each other. It been two weeks now" she utters.

One week more than the time he 'allowed' me to be mad at him.

"Arie? Answer me when i am talking to you"

"If you are going to talk his side again, then i have nothing to say to you" I reply.

"Side? There are no sides. This is ridiculous...You are not fixing anything by refusing to talk. I get that you are mad and i understand why.....but don't you think it's enough now? The only thing you are achieving is wasting more time that you should have been enjoying together as a family." She says.

"I am not mad anymore, i am hurt" I argue.

"Honey......." Mom murmurs softly.

"I am going for a walk" I say, putting on some boots.

"Outside? it may look peaceful and quiet right now, but the moment you step out there, you can forget about that." She warns.

"I know, and it's ok....I won't be alone anyway" i say, knowing Sam and Tamara will be with me.

I walk over to where the twins are sleeping, and give each a kiss, feeling bad about leaving them, even if it's only for a few minutes.

"Keeping them away from their father just because you two have a problem, is not being fair to them. It's not fair to him either." She says.

"That's not what i am trying to do" I say defensively.

"I know, but that's what you are doing...."

".....Sometimes we do things without realising how it affects those we care about the most. It happens, because we are all human and we error. The best one can do is right our mistakes as soon as we realise our actions are wrong." She says.

I look at her sulkily, feeling guilty about keeping the twins and Angelo away from each other now.

"Enjoy your walk honey" she says, walking to the kitchen, leaving me in my guilt.

With her words still lingering in my head, i walk outside.

Now that Angelo is back, i want to be able to enjoy being outside without feeling like people are looking at me funny or judging or accusing me of anything. Not that it matters anyway. But i just want to start enjoying some of the little things about my old life i used to take for granted, like just being outside in public unbothered.

*

I am trying to think of the best way to go about things with Marianne. That day at the dentetion center, watching the news reminded me of our first meeting, and what a bad first impression i made. She was smart, confident, and had strong opinions, qualities i found very attractive.

I should have been nicer, instead, i let my past dictate how i reacted to her, and i really regret that. She deserves better, and now i am just looking for a way to be a better partner to her.

Which is why i decided to respect the fact that she hasn't come home yet. I miss the twins and i know i am missing out on them when i already missed so much, but i don't know what to do without making things worse.

"I don't understand why you won't go and get them" Dad says, looking out the window of the study at their house.

"I want to respect her choices. She will come home when she is ready..." I respond, as i lie comfortably on the office sofa, my feet on the armrest.

"Son, you are really clueless" Dad holds his hand over his face in fustration at my seemingly dumb state right now.

"What?" I sit up.

"Clearly, you don't understand women....." Ben says, raising a glass of brandy to his lips.

"Huh! and you do? And isn't it too early to be drinking?" I ask.

"It's 5 o'clock somewhere....Listen and learn, little brother, let me impart you on some worldly knowledge. This is my area of expertise after all....." He says corkily.

I look at dad and frowns in return.

".......When a woman says don't call me, it means call her. Because if you don't, she will get even more upset for not giving her a chance to ignore her, thereby undermining her control and importance in the relationship...." He says.

I frown.

"I call her everyday and she refuses to speak to me..."

"That's not the point. You just have to keep doing it. And clearly, you need to do more, go all out, embarrass yourself. Otherwise she will feel as if you are not sorry enough, or even worse, don't care enough, then you are really in trouble." He adds.

"You are getting a divorce and your wife is facing jail time, i think you are the last person to be dishing out relationship advice." I retort.

"He is right though" Dad chuckles.

"Look, i know my woman...and i want to respect her decision and give her space" I say.

"You are making things worse by staying here. You should be groveling and begging for mercy" Ben snickers.

" Shut up!" i mutter, standing up and walking out of the door.

"Where are you going?"

"None of your fucking business" I shout over my shoulder.

"You are welcome" I hear him laugh.

*

I can barely contain my joy at seeing the twins again later that day.

"They look so big already, their cheeks are filling out" I chuckle picking up Leevi from his crib.

God, i missed them so much.

I sit down and Natalie places Luna in my other arm. They are both awake.

"Where's Mary?" I ask after a while.

"She went out for a walk?" She says.

"A walk?" I look up at her surprised.

"Yep. A walk" she responds.

Outside? Great. Just want i needed.

A few minutes later i text Sam to find out where exactly they are.

*

I don't know this town very well, so i walk around abit, and almost think i lost my way, but then i finally find the park. I see what looks to be market fair going on, it's not overly crowded, but there are still enough people around.