Hi All, thanks for your patience yesterday when there was a problem with the posting of the chapter. Hopefully everything will be OK today. Also huge thanks for all your support through the reviews and PMs, they are all really much appreciated. This chapter isn't that long but it's leading up to something so I wanted to post. The next one should be longer but it will take me a couple of days to write. Happy reading, please review. Best Wishes Mx

GRACE

'Hush beautiful girl.' I say to Hannah as I hug her.

'You heard him Grace, we're a mistake.' Hannah says through her tears.

'No. He was just frustrated with Christian. He's so excited about the babies and he loves you so much, he told me this morning.' I say. 'He's hurting from what I did and said to him all those months ago and then with what Christian did by leaving him out and then losing his temper. It's only been a couple of days, he's bound to have his ups and downs. Things will be more settled when Carrick and I leave tomorrow and it's just the two of you.'

'He might not want me to stay after his explosion.' Hannah says.

'He'll be devastated if you don't.' I say. 'Hannah forgive me if I talk out of turn but last night, maybe it was too much too soon for you both.'

'No Grace. Whatever happened between us last night was something that had to happen otherwise Matt would never have been able to move forward, with me or anyone else. The morning we lost the baby well we errm you can guess and he blamed himself. He wouldn't touch me, wouldn't come near me. I had to take control for his sake.' Hannah says as she flushes bright red.

'Don't be embarrassed Hannah. I understand. It wouldn't have mattered as I don't think he'll ever look at anyone else.' I say.

'I know. He's lived here three months and his friends this morning were teasing him, they thought he was gay.' Hannah says with the hint of a smile.

'There you go. You have nothing to worry about.' I say. There's a tap at the door and Carrick pops his head in the room. 'Come in Cary.'

'All OK?' Carrick asks.

'Yes thanks.' Hannah says. 'Matt?'

'He will be. He's started to paint one of the rooms downstairs.' Carrick says.

'Oh Cary, at this time. It's getting late.' I say.

'Leave him to it. Let him work out his frustrations in the way he knows best for now.' Carrick says.

'But it could take him hours.' I say.

'It's what he's used to at the moment. I told him I was going to bed and he was happy with that.' Carrick says.

'I think I'll have a shower and go to bed as well.' Hannah says. 'When Matt decides to come to bed it will be his choice then as to where he wants to sleep.'

'OK darling girl. Sleep well.' I say as I give her a final hug.

'Night Hannah.' Carrick says.

'Night.' Hannah says as Carrick and I head to the bedroom at the other side of the landing. Carrick closes the door behind us and then takes me into his arms.

'Everything will be OK Gracie.' Carrick says.

'Oh Cary how can you be so sure?' I ask. 'You heard the poor boy, he doesn't know who to trust, he doesn't think we love him. How can I make this right?'

'Be patient. Just give him time. It will have taken him a lot of courage just to pick that phone up and make the call, his emotions were running high, he probably didn't even realise what he was saying for most of the conversation. He thinks he's messed everything up with us and Hannah, he's been trying so hard all day and I think it's all been a bit much. He'll think things through while he's painting.' Carrick says.

'I want to go to him and hug him and tell him everything will be OK.' I say.

'No let him come to you in his own time.' Carrick says and kisses me to stop anymore conversation.

HANNAH

I've showered and got ready for bed but need a glass of water. I head down the stairs and pause at the open door of the room where Matt is stood, paint brush in hand. He's concentrating as he dips the brush in the paint and then applies even strokes over the walls. He turns and catches sight of me and pauses. I don't know what he's thinking but he looks frightened, what of I don't know.

'Hi.' I say gently.

'Hi.' He replies cautiously.

'I just came to get a glass of water.' I say.

'OK.' He replies and turns to carry on painting. I leave him to it and head to the kitchen to get what I came for. Glass in hand I turn off the light and make my way back down the hallway. I stop once more to watch while he paints, lost in his own world.

'Goodnight Matt.' I say quietly. He pauses, paintbrush mid-air.

'Night baby.' He says and adds quietly. 'Love you always.'

'I love you too.' I reply and he turns to look at me. His eyes searching mine. A sob catches in my throat as I add 'Please believe me.' He puts the paint brush down and within a few strides he's taken the glass from me and placed it on the floor and then enveloped me in his arms. I cry into his chest and he just holds me.

'Please baby, don't cry.' He says gently as he kisses the top of my head.

'The babies. A mistake.' I mutter and he's hugs me tighter.

'No. Not for me.' He says. 'I'm sorry you heard that conversation with Christian.'

'They do love you, all of them, like I do.' I say. I feel him freeze. 'Matt, they do. I've spent the last three months with them all. They've been going out of their minds worrying about you. Every time there was a family meal there was always an empty chair in case you turned up, Thanksgiving was tough especially for your mom, she thought you might call. I know it wasn't easy for you but it hasn't been easy for me or your parents either.'

'I'm sorry.' He says again quietly.

'And if they didn't love you they certainly wouldn't have looked after and cared for me when I had nowhere to go. My mom didn't want to know, she left me to fend for myself. Your whole family has been so good to me. Your parents gave me the option to live with them or I could have stayed in the apartment with Mia. If I didn't want either they were going to rent me something that was suitable until I found a house I liked and then they would have bought it for me. They loved you enough to do that for me and our babies.' I say.

'They love you too.' Matt says.

'I know.' I say. 'So you know they love you'

'I know mom and dad do.' He says quietly.

'And both your brothers and sister.' I say. He nods slowly and unsurely. 'They do. All the years I was at school with you and you'd come in on a Monday morning and one of them would have done something for you or given you something at the weekend. I thought you were so spoilt you were always going someplace with them, even if it was just to the cinema, bowling or ice skating, my brothers never did anything like that for me. When I came to your house they all fell over themselves to make sure you were OK and having a good time. When you were ill in the summer they argued who was going to spend the nights in hospital with you so that you were never left on your own, your brothers flew to Hawaii for one night just to make sure you were ok. Shall I go on?'

'Elliot always took me bowling. Mia was ice skating.' Matt says.

'And Christian?' I ask.

'Swimming, sailing, gliding, helicopter rides. Weekends skiing. He taught me to play the piano and how to drive.' Matt says.

'He loves you.' I say.

'He wanted to see me to sort everything out but I said no.' Matt says. 'I've made such a mess of everything.'

'No you haven't. Call him back.' I say gently.

'Now.' Matt mutters.

'Yes now.' I say. 'I'll be with you.' I take his hand and lead him to the study while the going is good.

'You really think this is the right thing to do?' Matt asks quietly.

'Yes. Trust me.' I say and hand him the phone. I watch as he hits redial.

'Matt.' I hear Christian say after the first ring. I smile at Matt encouragingly.

'Christian. I need your help. I need to see you to sort everything out.' Matt says.

'Now? Do you want me to drive and see you now?' Christian asks.

'No it's late. Tomorrow. Can you come tomorrow?' Matt says.

'Of course. I will be there first thing.' Christian says. 'Elliot as well.'

'If he wants to come and Ana and Kate but I need to see you on your own first.' Matt says.

'I understand.' Christian says gently. 'Matt, everything will be OK. We will sort everything out. I will help you.'

'Do you know my address?' Matt asks.

'I found it out about ten minutes ago.' Christian says.

'It took you that long.' Matt says cheekily.

'I didn't know whether to. I did it just in case.' Christian says warily. I hug Matt and he kisses the top of my head.

'Bed.' I mouth to Matt. He smiles and nods.

'Christian, I need to go and sleep. I'll see you tomorrow.' Matt says.

'OK. Thanks for phoning back. Laters Matt.' Christian says.

'Laters.' Matt mutters and hangs up. He pulls me close and then his lips find mine. 'What have I done?' he asks as he pulls away.

'Don't think about it now. Let's go to bed.' I say as I kiss him once more. 'I want you to make love to me.'

'Hmmm. I think I can manage that.' Matt says as his lips find mine. His hands move to my breast and I moan.

'In the privacy of your bedroom. I don't want your parents walking in on us.' I say.

'Our bedroom and tomorrow it won't matter, we'll have the house to ourselves.' Matt says as he takes my hand and leads me up the stairs.