The next morning I am full of nerves getting us all ready to go meet Eric's mom Sarah, I don't know if David is coming as well but I'm sure not calling back to ask. The boys are each wearing shorts and button up short sleeve shirts. Vivienne is in a little white dress with pink flamingos and a pink bow headband wrapped around her head with little hair wispies sticking out. I'm wearing a blue and white floral wrap dress with easy boob access so she can have lunch as well. I'm actually proud of how well we all cleaned up.

"How long do you think shopping will take you?" I ask Chris again as we get closer to having to load up the car.

"I figured I have enough to give you an hour with them? Is that ok?" he says while rubbing my back.

"I feel so nervous, we had a pretty good relationship before but I don't know what Eric has told her," I said as I raised a finger nail to my teeth but Chris just lowered my hand before I could start to chew. He tucked some loose hair behind my ear.

"I’ll be right down the street, if it gets too rough just call me," he says, kissing my forehead.

Thirty minutes later we pull into the parking lot, I see both Eric's car as well as his parents. I had thought that he may show up too but had hoped he wouldn't.

"Daddy's car!" Noah yelled excitedly from behind me, Chris reached over and squeezed my hand. Taking a deep breath I turned around in my seat and plastered a smile on my face at them both.

"Are you excited?" I asked Noah happily, and he smiled and nodded his head yes. I can do this for him, I think to myself. Getting out of the car I can't help the shaking of my hands as I try to unbuckle the baby. Finally getting her free I shoulder the bag Chris was holding for me and turn to him.

"It'll be ok, just remember that I'm close and it's only an hour unless you need me sooner ok? I love you," Chris tells me. I nod my head and turn to the boys. 

Walking inside it's easy to find them, it's not overly busy. Noah runs to the table while Connor walks with me quietly. As we get closer Sarah jumps up and comes to look at Vivienne. Noah is hugging his grandpa and Eric is staring at me.

Once we sit down Eric is the first to talk. It's all polite, his parents seem colder toward me but it's bearable. After the food comes the baby begins to fuss and I take her back from Sarah to nurse her.

"How's the house?" Eric asks me.

"It's great actually, thanks for asking," I reply, shocked at his attempt to be civil.

"I'm putting my house on the market this week."

"Why? You still need the space for the kids and the boys are all set up there," I ask with confusion all over my face.

"Because now that this is all over I think it's best to call off the divorce. Hope is out of the picture like I told you she would be, the baby is here now and we can start fresh, a new chapter, a new house, a new us.” His parents nod along and look at him approvingly, proud almost. Like he isn't the reason we are in this situation. I stare at him, mouth open. He looks at me and chuckles, mistaking my look of shock for appreciation.

"I'm planning on moving into your new place babe, I don't want to put you through another move so I'll come to you don't worry."

I'm sweating now, what the hell is he talking about?! His mom is asking questions about the new place like she will have a say in how I decorate and asked how close it is to the kids school, they all three start talking to themselves about how exciting it is to set up a new place and Eric is happy to sell the house, all he's thinking about is how much money he can get for it.

"No," I said firmly.

"Excuse me? No, what?” Sarah asks me.

"No you are not moving into MY house, no we are not calling off the divorce, and no we are not back together, nor do we have any plans to be." I said again with as straight a face I could muster given my rising anger.

"Larkin, I know Eric was wrong to look outside of your marriage and we have spoken to him about it." David finally speaks to me directly about Eric's affair.

"But now that she's out of the picture there's no reason you need to continue to separate. Our family doesn't believe in divorce, no one has separated before and we won't let this blemish the family's good name."

"No," was all I could say back.

"Larkin be reasonable," Sarah tried,

"I can't believe you would leave your husband and break up the family, look at your children! They need a father in the home, a man to look up to everyday." She says smugly looking at Eric, the piece de resistance I won't be able to refuse. I actually smirk at that.

"Something funny?" She asks, catching it on my face.

"I didn't break up my home, he blew it up. I still haven't forgiven him for what he did to me and his children. And the kids have a great example of a man in their home, he's wonderful to all of us every single day." I told them all. Connor looks so uncomfortable, and while Noah doesn't fully understand what this all means, he can feel the shift in mood and quiets down watching us. I pulled my phone out and it was 45 minutes into my hour with them. I texted Chris ‘Done’ and he replied he was on his way.

"Ok well this was great, I'm glad you all got to meet Vivienne but we are gonna head out," I say pulling some cash from my wallet and leaving it on the table for our part of the bill. Sarah looks shocked, David looks annoyed and Eric is pissed.

"Chris moved in? You're letting another man play dad to my children?" Eric spits at me as I gather up her belongings into the bag, Connor is up from his seat helping me, and Noah is looking between all the other adults and me, confusion still evident on his face. He's always known his dad and Chris to get along and his grandparents have never been like this towards me.

"Thank you for the invite," I say as I start to walk away, holding my hand out for Noah to come with me. He stands and follows me and so does everyone else.

"I never thought you could be so selfish!" Sarah yells at me, that started to make me cry. I am happy with Chris but I never wanted any of this to happen. Honestly if I had never known I would still be with him, I had no reason to ever leave. I was completely in love with him until he betrayed me and broke my trust. Once we are outside I see Chris isn't here yet, I close my eyes and breathe when I feel a hand slip into mine. Looking down Connor is there with a smile on his face for me.

"Don't cry mom, it's ok." He says so sweetly to me. Another tear falls but I smile. The next second Chris pulls in and my shoulders sag in relief. When he gets out of the car he has his phone up like he's talking to someone, as he’s helping me get the kids all in the car Eric stomps over and Chris turns to him with a smile.

"Hey there Eric, I've got Detective Summers on the phone, wanna say hi?" He says. Eric stops dead in his tracks and glares at both of us.

Once all the kids are buckled in I turn to all three of them and say as confidently as I can muster with dried tears on my face, "the next time you need to contact me through the lawyers, I don't want to see you until the mediation.” I finish and close the car door. Chris pulls away immediately and puts his phone down.

"What did Summers want?" I asked him.

"He wasn't actually on the phone, I just didn't want a confrontation with our audience," he says, looking at the backseat. Smiling, I lean over and kiss him.

"Thank you."

Later that evening I was flipping through a bridal magazine looking for ideas and seeing what was trending. The more I flipped the more overwhelming it was starting to become, I had already had a big wedding and I know how stressful they are to plan. Chris caught the end of my huff and quirked an eyebrow at me.

"What's wrong, kitten," he says pouting a lip at me, it makes me chuckle and I toss a pillow at him.

"Looking at wedding stuff, I kinda just wish we could be married now, no fuss no muss no messy divorce."

"Well....if you want to elope we can, then we can do it as soon as you sign those papers, less fuss and muss." He's so sweet to offer, this is his first wedding after all, he may want to do some of those things. I don't want the boys to miss out either, it's a celebration they should be part of as well.

"I don't want to skip everything. I want the boys to be part of it as well. It's a whole family coming together, not just you and me." Nodding his head, his face begins to light up.

"Let's get married here, out back, the boys can be part of it and it can be small with just a few friends and our family." That actually sounds amazing

"Chris, that's a great idea!" I sit up a little straighter. "We can still do it quickly too as soon as the divorce is settled." I say beaming at him.

"I can build us a gazebo to do it under, I'll get some guys out here it'll be done in less than a week," he tells me happily.

"That sounds perfect, I love you so much." I say leaning to kiss him. He begins to deepen the kiss and I can feel my body starting to respond to him. Before it can go any further though Vivienne cries from her bassinet. Without pulling away I sigh against his mouth,

"I'll go get her for you," Chris says, pulling away from me. Watching his retreating back I can't help but smile and wonder how I got so lucky after all.