Max –

"It's okay, Tay," Max promised, pressing her lips to her head. "You're safe. It's you and me."

Taylor snuggled in closer to her and pressed her head to her bulging stomach. "I want to go home, Mommy."

Not until Kenny is caught, she thought, the kidnapper he hired is singing. We are hanging in this hotel until… It's secure, I'm lucky I can afford to do this, even if I had to spill my guts about Kenny, our past, the whole thing to the police. They didn't seem shocked, I know they've heard worse. He can't get far. He's a criminal, parole and restraining order violations…god he knows Taylor is his, paternity or no paternity test. No court in the world, not even Bone, would…not after this. Know her grandparents, maybe. Damn it. "What if we order giant sundaes? Your little brother wants ice cream."

"I want you, Mommy."

Max squeezed her tighter. "I'm not going anywhere. He was a bad man but he's in jail. He won't hurt you, Tay."

"Will he hurt you? And baby Cooper?"

I'll kill him before he hurts you or Cooper. Cooper, she thought, Luc would have liked that. I just couldn't go with Lucas for this kid. Cooper Stewart…Cooper and Taylor. I'll give them the world. "No. We're going to stay here a couple of days, eat some junk food, go for a swim, maybe get our nails painted? What do you think, Kiddo?"

Taylor nodded. "Can it be two scoops?"

"It can be four. With all the toppings we can eat. We need to get Cooper used to ice cream."

Taylor giggled at that. "I love you, Mommy."

"Oh, I love you too, Tay. What kind of ice cream this time around?"

Kenny

Damn it, Max, he thought, looking at her darkened and empty home. There is an unmarked car out front…even if she's not there. Where would she go? We have an injunction, so she can't leave. My daughter…She looked good. Even blonde and pregnant, I wouldn't have recognized her if I didn't know from far away. Blonde, she knows I hate her blonde and she grew it out so long. Her swollen stomach, with some sucker's kid in there. I should have taken Taylor from her bed, Max would have woken up and…she was early to the school. If she was just five minutes later…She's on her toes now. "You're both coming home with me."

Max

Max looked across her hotel penthouse to the closed door where Taylor was playing with her recently delivered toys. "She can't hear us."

Lauren looked at her client. "The police haven't found your ex-husband, but I have my best person looking too, Hannah."

I really don't feel like Hannah right now, she thought, I feel like the whore that Kenny thought I was. "He wasn't always like this…we were really happy together…until I cheated on him. It spiraled, I really hurt him…that lead to the rest."

"He is in violation of his parole."

"I know. I'm sending him to prison for the second time."

"He's sending himself. He killed a man, tried to kidnap Taylor, and violated his parole."

Lucas…I wish he was here with me. I know he would have loved Taylor, even if she isn't his. I know he loved me enough to. If I didn't willingly jump into bed with him…blow off my marriage vows…destroy what was a great marriage. I'm still so screwed up. "I think we're staying here for a while. I feel more secure and…Ow. Damn it."

"Hannah?"

Max looked down and flinched at the water running down her legs. It's too soon…I have six more weeks. "I think my water broke."

Kenny

Come home, Max and Taylor, he thought, looking around his set up under their basement stairs. Taylor's birthday as the alarm code? Really Max? I thought you'd be smarter than that. Come home to me.

Max

Oh, he's perfect, she thought, cuddling Cooper. Early, but everything…Oh, look at him. "Hey there."

"Mommy?"

She looked up from where she was feeding Cooper in the hospital bed. "Hey, Kiddo."

Taylor ran from Lauren to her and looked at her little brother in awe. "Baby Cooper. He's out of your tummy."

"He wanted to come out and meet you, Tay."

Taylor giggled at that as she climbed up in the bed with her. "He's so little, Mommy. Was I that little?"

"You were beautiful, Tay. You still are. You want to hold him?"

She nodded, as Max placed him gently in her arms. I'm going to cry…my kids. Our little family. "I love you, Kiddo."

"Hannah," Lauren said, holding up her phone. "You three look adorable…picture?"

Max smiled at her lawyer and friend. I'm a mess, but oh, I want to remember this. "Yeah. Smile, Tay."

"Max?"

She froze at that, squeezing her kids tight. "What do you think you're doing here?"

"You're the lady that came to our house," Taylor said. "Mommy, you're holding me too tight."

I'm never letting go of them, she thought, we had a good thing going here. We were happy here. Taylor was oblivious to my past, her past. Loosening her grip on her. "Sorry, Kiddo."

"Oh, Max," Jill said, looking at Taylor and the newborn. "Congratulations."

She looked at Lauren. "They know him."

She looked at her client and friend. "They do? I'm Lauren Collins, Hannah's attorney. I would like to have a word with you both."

"Hannah?" Jimmy asked, looking at her. "What is going on?"

"I'm using my middle name," she said. "Kenny tried to kidnap Taylor and you're here too? Stay away from me and my kids."

"Are they going to try to take me and Cooper?" Taylor asked pressing into her. "Don't let them take me, Mommy."

"Cooper?"

"His name is Cooper."

Oh, Max, Jill thought, of course she named him Cooper…for Lucas. I saw how he looked at her. He would have loved Taylor like his own for her. He loved her, and I think Max loved him. "He's adorable."

She gulped, as Taylor burrowed next to her side and she shifted a drowsy Cooper in arms. The Brocks, Kenny…him trying to take Tay. Who else? I can't run… "Lauren, can we get security if they won't leave?"

"Max, really?"

"I just had a baby. I want to spend time with my kids."

The Brocks

"She thinks we're part of Kenny trying to take Taylor. It was all over her face. She had a baby last night…On her own. Kenny just tried to have Taylor kidnapped…I don't think he's in his right mind. Her kids are adorable."

Lauren looked at the older couple. "I'm Hannah's lawyer and friend. I'm well versed on her relationship with her ex-husband."

"I can't call her Hannah," Jimmy admitted. Even curled up in bed with her kids, blonde and glaring at us, she's still Max to us. Wounded, concerned about Taylor and elated over her new son. Redhead and pregnant Maxine Lacos with her story and face splashed all over the news…not a blonde Hannah Stewart…I think she likes being Hannah. "We hadn't seen her and…We didn't know what Kenny was going to do."

Lauren looked at them. "Taylor is a wonderful child. Hannah is a fantastic mother. Cooper is a lucky little boy to be getting them both. Kenneth Lacos is a violent murderer who should still be locked away in prison."

"He wasn't always like that."

"Yes, her affair pushed him over the edge. It doesn't excuse his actions."

Max

Security, money has its perks. Just until Kenny is caught, then I can relax. Looking at a sleeping Cooper in his sling, she smiled at her sleeping two-day old. All that strawberry blonde hair, she thought, oh I love him.

"Ms. Stewart?"

She looked up, smiling slightly at Andy. "Hannah, please."

"I did a sweep, we're perfectly safe here."

He nodded. "We have someone both front and back, and I'll here all night. You won't even see us when you're out and neither will your daughter."

"I really appreciate it."

He nodded and looked at Cooper. "He is adorable. Congratulations."

She smiled at that. "Yeah, he is. A few weeks early, but…he's pretty great."

Kenny

She's reeling another one in with this Andy. Security, the best money can buy? He didn't find me here. Oh, Honey, he isn't coming between us. Of course, she named her bastard Cooper…that's going to change. We aren't having Lucas Cooper in our life.

3 Months Later

Kenny

He smiled as he watched Max, Taylor and Cooper through the grates. My very lovely wife, he thought, she needs to ditch the blonde again. She is a very good mother, she does love Taylor and Cooper. Like I thought she loved me…nothing but a whore. Smiling to himself, she sent the security team away…just us, Honey. Time to pay.

Max

"Diaper, Kiddo," Max said, handing Taylor back her homework. "Let me take care of Cooper and then we can work on these."

"Cooper is stinky."

Max wrinkled her nose. "I know."

"It's all the boob milk," Taylor said, giggling at the word boob. "Boob."

"Ah, you," Max sighed. "Just wait. Homework, Tay."

"I love you, Mommy," Taylor said, hugging her and kissing Cooper's cheek. "And Coop."

Coop, she thought, I like that. "I love you too…and you are the best big sister."

I'm lucky, Max thought, I'm not sure how I lucked out into these great kids. Swiftly changing Cooper's diaper, she kissed his forehead. "There you go, Cooper."

Scooping her baby back in her arms, she snuggled him close to her. I'd have a dozen babies…I love being a mom, albeit a single one. It wasn't my plan…but I like my life. I'm fortunate enough to have a trust fund…I can take are of them. Freezing she clutched Cooper closer to her, as she stared at a sobbing Taylor with Kenny's arm around her. No…

"Hi, Honey," Kenny smiled. "Put Cooper in his seat."

She clutched her son tighter. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see my wife and daughter."

"Mommy?" Taylor whimpered, twisting in Kenny's arms. "I want my mommy."

"It's okay, Tay," Max said softly. "He's not going to hurt you."

"Your mommy," Kenny scoffed. "Your mom is nothing but a lying whore. You're not going to end up like her."

"Mommy!" Taylor cried, biting his arm and running to him. "Mommy!"

A gun, she thought, pointed right at me. Pushing Taylor behind her, she stared at her ex-husband. "You're scaring her. You don't need that. We can sit. Talk. You don't want to hurt the kids."

"We're a family, Max."

"Of course, we are," she said softly. "I missed you."

"Put that bastard down."

She pressed her lips to a sleepy Cooper's forehead again. My baby. Nodding, she knelt down and handed Taylor her brother. "Can you do me a big girl favor?"

"How stupid do you think I am, Max? Put him in his seat and send Taylor back here."

"No, Mommy."

She settled Cooper in his seat, and hugged Taylor tightly. "He won't hurt you. He's not mad at you. He wants to get to know you. Okay? Can you do that for me?"

She shook her head, clinging to her. "No, Mommy. He's scary."

Max looked back at her ex. "Kenny."

"You did this."

She gulped. All this time, he…he waited until I sent security away. Until I felt safe and…No. "She needs to get used to you first."

"You need to pack."

"What?"

"We're going away, Max. We're going to put that money of yours to good use. You, me and Taylor."

"I'm not abandoning my baby."

"Like you abandoned me."

Murderer, she thought, he's out of his mind. Taylor and Cooper…keep them safe. "I didn't want to."

"And fix you," he continued, poking her in the chest with his gun. "I'm glad you lost your baby weight, but this hair, Honey."

She shook, as he unbraided her honey blonde hair and ran his fingers through it. I like my blonde hair, she thought, ow…he's pulling it. "I can dye it."

"You will," he continued. "You're all I thought about, Honey. Coming home to you."

You killed Luc. You bruised me…I'm not a whore. I need to protect my kids. "I wanted that too."

"We need to rename…Cooper if he's coming with us."

Never, she thought, just agree with him. Protect my kids. "Where are we going?"

He smiled at her, combing through her hair before kissing her. "You don't need to worry about that."

She stood still and tried not to burst into tears at his rough touch. "Okay."

"Come here, Taylor," Kenny said, as she hugged Max's leg. "Max, pick up your son. We're going upstairs."

Kenny – 5 Years Ago

"You were the cop."

He looked up from his beige lunch. "So?"

"Who killed a man," he continued. "Cops don't do good here."

"I don't want any trouble."

"You found it."

Max & Kenny – Present

"I need to pack Taylor's things," Max said. "And Cooper is going to need a diaper change and feeding."

"They can wait," Kenny said, staring at her in her leggings and sweater. "Undress."

For them, she thought, locked safely in their rooms. "We should get on the road."

"Honey," he smiled, combing through her hair. "I missed you so much."

"Kenny," she whimpered, as he slipped his fingers in her leggings. "Please, don't."

"You're my wife."

No, she thought, no, as he pushed her back on the bed. I can't take his hands on me. Oh, he smells…unshaven…how did he get in? I had security and…before? "Kenny, wait."

"I missed you."

She tried to wince as he kissed her again. "Stop."

"Undress," he said, shoving her back on the bed. "You spread your legs for everyone else."

Cooper, she thought, hearing him crying…loud enough to wake the dead. "Wait. He's wet and…the neighbors will hear him. If I don't change him."

"His name isn't Cooper."

"We can call him whatever you want," Max lied. I'll kill you before you hurt my kids. "But he's really loud when he's wet and…you can come with me and…then back to this."

He yanked her up, kissing her again and not letting go. "Let's go shut him up."

Don't cry. Don't scream. Cooper needs me. Bide my time. Kenny's iron grip on me. Tay has her tablet…maybe…she's five. I need to save her and not the other way around. "Hey, Kiddo. You have to let go of me."

"Who knocked you up?"

She bit her lip as she hovered over as her as she picked him up. "I need to feed him too."

"Who is his dad?"

"I don't know. He was tourist."

"You really are a whore. My whore of a wife."

"Hey," she said, bouncing him a bit. "How is my best boy?"

He kissed her neck, letting his fingers drift to her stomach. "Take care of him."

She settled down with Cooper, letting him latch onto her, as Kenny watched her carefully. It could have been us. If I…we would have been happy. Instead…oh I screwed up. I did this to him. "Kenny?"

Beautiful, he thought, she looks like an angel…even if she is a whore. A blonde whore. Even smiling as she feeds him… "How long does it take?"

Max stroked his soft hair. "Awhile…he's a good eater. I lose track of time with it…I did the same with Taylor."

"My daughter."

"You're sterile."

"That's not his kid, Max. She isn't black. You screw someone else five years ago?"

"No."

"Say it. Tell me she's mine."

She snuggled Cooper closer to her. She's mine…she won't know you. She won't know that violence. "Oh, Kiddo, gross."

"Max?"

"Can you pass me a rag?" she asked. "He threw up all over me…Oh, don't cry…I'm here. Hey, you don't have to cry. Ah, that's the smile I love."

"Max?" he pressed, as he watched her kiss his tears away as she wiped herself off. "Is he okay?"

She nodded. "Yeah. You done? Ah, that's my big boy."

"Max?" Kenny continued, as she burped Cooper. Effortless, he thought, she loves this baby. "Is he done?"

She glanced at him. "Yeah. I'm going to change him and…are we leaving tonight? I should pack him a bag. Lots of diapers and…He grows out of stuff so fast."

"Max," he breathed, wrapping his arms around her from behind as she changed Cooper. My wife and children…we're a family now. Me and Max…she's home with me now. "Put him in his crib."

His hot breath on my neck and gentle hands…he killed Luc and pulled a gun on me in front of my kids. I think he was going to force himself on me earlier and I think he still is. No, be who he wants me to be. Be the person he married. "Okay."

He nuzzled her neck and slipped his hands into her leggings. "Max…"

He killed Luc…tried to kidnap Taylor. I need to get away. "Not in here. Let me put him down."

He kissed her cheek. "I've been waiting for them to leave."

"Who?"

"That security team you hired…they can't keep me from you."

She gulped, as she laid Cooper down. Watching me for that long…Three months? I should have moved them in forever…instead…no. "I suppose not. Where were you?"

He smiled and hugged her to him. "I watched you sleep."

Inside…they searched the house. Where…no…it doesn't matter. Get away from him now. "What do you want to do with me now?"

"Back to your bedroom."

She nodded, gulping back her tears at that. He went on and on about Luc raping me and he's going to…maybe it'll distract him, and I can…no. Keep him happy for right now. Taylor and Cooper. "Okay."

"Walk, Honey."

I hate you, she thought, I really do. "Kenny?"

"You're not getting out of this, Max."

"Just…don't hurt the kids. You can do whatever you want with me, but they never hurt anyone."

"They're our kids, Max."

She bit her lip, as his hands roamed lowered in her leggings. No… "Okay."

"I'll do what I see fit with you."

TBC