Veronica sits on the couch and nervously plays with her fingers. Archie, who sits next to her, tries to stop her from chewing the inside of her cheek by laying his hand on her thigh.

"Babe you have to tell them" Archie whispers. His eyes are on the twins who play hide and seek in the living room. "I mean not now but eventually. Just don't wait too long. The earlier you tell them, the better.

"I know" she sighs "I'll do it now. Can you stay here with me?"

"Of course" he smiles and runs his thumb softly over her cheek.

"I found you Benny!" Ella giggles and taps her brothers shoulder. Before they can start a new round Archie calls them. They quickly walk over and sit down between the grownups. They seem so happy and kind of excited about what's going to happen. Veronica smiles but she hates that she'll probably make their happiness disappear in a second.

"I have to tel you something" she says. "Uhm you know you're adopted. Daddy told you what that means right?"

"Yeah" Ella nods. "It means daddy is our daddy but not really. He didn't make us. He took us home from an orphanage and gave us a home because our real mommy and daddy gave us away. Daddy said they couldn't take care of us but I'm happy because daddy is the best daddy in the world. I don't need my real dad"

Veronica nods. She takes a breath before she continues. "That's right. So you know that everyone has a mommy and a daddy and — well—" Veronica doesn't know how to say it. She closes her eyes and tries to think. She feels Archie's hand on her back and how his thumb slowly moves up and down.

"I am your mommy, your real mommy. I'm the one who gave you away"

There is silence for what feels like forever to Veronica. Two sets of eyes stare at her. She knows this information is not easy to process but the silence drives her crazy.

"You're our mommy?" Ella asks. Her voice is quiet and weak.

Veronica nods.

"Why did you give us away? Didn't you love us?"

"No she didn't!" Ben yells. Tears stream down his face. He gets up and runs away, into his room.

"Benny!" Veronica says. She jumps up and wants to follow him but Archie grabs her wrist. "Give him some time Ronnie"

Veronica sighs. Tears roll down her cheeks. She sits back down and reaches for Archie's hand. Her eyes wander back to the little girl between them.

"Didn't you love us?" she asks again.

"Oh sweetheart I loved you more than anything. I was only 16 when you and Benny were born. That's very very young to become a mom. My parents forced me to give you two away. That means they made me. I didn't have any money. I had nothing to keep you safe and happy and care for you. I wasn't able to protect you. So I gave you to people who could do all those things. I prayed every day and night that you and Benny come to nice, loving family and look where you are now. You are here, in this beautiful home and you have the most amazing daddy. I'm sorry I wasn't able to keep you but there was just no way. Do you understand what I mean? Do you believe me?"

"Mhm" Ella mumbles. "Why did your mommy and daddy say you have to give us away?"

"I think that's a little too complicated for you to understand but you have to believe when I say I never wanted to do that. It broke my heart when I had to leave you behind. You were my babies and I loved you so much"

"I believe you mommy"

"Mommy?" Veronica whispers. She wants to make sure Ella actually said what she just heard.

"Yeah, you just said you are my mommy"

"My mistake" Veronica giggles. Her hand is still holding on to Archie's. Her other is placed on her stomach. She feels how the baby inside her kicks around but her focus is Ella right now, her other daughter. She removes her hand from her stomach and places it on Ella's cheek. She softly strokes her cheekbone and smiles at the little girl. "You remind me so much of myself when I was your age. You look just like your father but all your character traits, the way you think and act and talk and argue, that's luckily all me.

"But daddy has red hair, mine is blond"

"Uhm-" Veronica begins but Archie interrupts "well sweetheart" he says as he runs his fingers through the girl's hair. "Ronnie— mommy means you look like your real dad or better birth dad"

Ella stares at him for a second before her eyes move to Veronica. "Was he nice?"

"Yeah— he was" Veronica lies. She doesn't want Ella to feel bad because her father was an asshole.

"Can I go play?"

"Sure honey" Veronica smiles.

Ella jumps up and runs to her room. Veronica sighs. She feels Archie wrap his arms around her. He pulls her closer and places his hands on her stomach. "That went well" he smiles.

"No it did not. Ella may seem fine but Benny—"

"Will be fine too. Don't worry. He just needs some time"

"Are you sure?"

"Very sure" he smiles and cups her face. "I know him well. He'll be fine"

"Okay" Veronica whispers. Archie pulls her face closer to him and kisses her lips softly. His thumb wipes a tear out of her face before both of his hands wander to her bump. He rests them there for a second and enjoys the feeling of his unborn daughter's tiny feet kicking against his hands.

"I'll talk to Benny" he smiles and kisses her forehead before he gets up and walks to his son's room.

As he approaches the door he can hear him cry.

He sighs before he knocks against the door.

"Go away!" the little boy yells.

"It's me Benny"

"Daddy?" the boy sniffs "you can come in"

Archie slowly opens the door. It breaks his heart when he sees his little boy sitting on his bed with a bunch of stuffed animal in his arms and tear stains all over his face. As Archie walks closer Ben drops all his stuffed animal and reaches his arms out to him.

Archie picks him up and holds him close to his chest. Ben wraps his arms around his neck and rests his head on his shoulder.

"Shhh, it's okay Benny"

"She didn't love us" he sniffs.

"Honey you didn't let her explain" Archie says as he sits down on his son's bed. Ben sits in his lap and holds on to Archie's ring finger. "She was only 16 when she gave birth to you. That's very young to become a mom and still she never wanted to give you away. Her parents made her do it"

"She didn't want to?" Ben repeats with a quiet voice.

"No she didn't buddy. She loved you and your sister so so much but the house she grew up in wasn't safe for you two. So even though it broke her heart and she cried for a very long time she gave you away, to me kinda, because I was able to take good care of you and love you and give you all the things she couldn't"

"Oh" the little boy mumbles.

"But what about now Benny? Wasn't she super nice to you and Ella? She takes good care of you, she plays with you, she buys you candy and toys, she comforts you two when you're upset and most importantly she loves you and I know you love her too"

"I do. Ronnie is the best nanny ever"

"Well now she's not only your nanny, she's your mommy"

"Yeah" Ben smiles "my mommy"

It's quiet for a few seconds before Ben turns around and looks up at Archie. "Where's Ronnie?"

"She's still in the living room honey. You can go talk to her. Ella is in her room and I'll make sure she stays there so you can talk to Veronica alone"

"I don't want to talk to her. She's probably mad at me now"

"No Benny, she's not mad. She's just a little upset that you left. I want you to go talk to her"

"Okay" he says. He jumps out of his father's lap and grabs his favorite teddy bear before he slowly walks into the living room. He feels horrible when he sees Veronica on the couch. Her hands are on her stomach, tears slowly run down her cheeks. A little smile forms on her lips when she sees Ben. "Benny"

The little boy walks over to her and climbs next to her on the couch. "I'm sorry"

"No it's okay. I know it's a lot but you need to let me explain honey"

"Daddy already told me"

"So you're not mad at me anymore?" she asks.

Ben shakes his head and looks up to her. "But do you promise to never never leave me and Ella again?"

"Of course, of course, never ever again"

"Good" he smiles and snuggles into her side. "Now that you're my mommy can I call you mommy?"

"I would love that" Veronica smiles. She removes her hand from her stomach and begins to run her fingers through Ben's soft blond hair. "And I love you Benny, so so much"

"I love you too and I love baby sissy" he giggles as he lightly taps his hand on Veronica's baby bump. Suddenly he squeals and pulls his hand away. "What did she do?"

"She kicked" Veronica giggles. "She does that all the time"

"Why?"

"Uhm to be honest I don't know why babies kick. We can ask that the doctor next time. Maybe she just wants your attention"

Ben giggles. He places his hand back on Veronica's stomach and then his other hand too. "Hello baby sissy. Do you want some attention? You're like Ella. Ella always wants attention too but she's annoying sometimes and you're a cute little baby. I love you baby sissy" he smiles. He leans down and places a soft little kiss on Veronica's bump.

"That was very sweet Benny" Veronica smiles while she still runs her fingers through his hair.

"Well I'm her big brother mommy. I need to protect her"

The fact that the twins call her mommy already, makes her heart beat faster. She used to spent a lot of sleepless nights thinking about what her kids look like and imagining what it would feel like when their little baby voices call for her. She imagined their little hands holding on to hers and early morning snuggles before breakfast. Now she has all of that and she's so happy about it.