AUTHORS NOTE: I have had a number of questions about Nathan and his backstory and would just like to answer them here. I would like to say that although Nathan comes across as incredibly thick, and Eva calls him thick but he's not. He is just deluded and manipulative and while he believes in his own mind he loves Eva in reality he just wants to own her. In his mind Eva is his property, she belongs to him. He is also incredibly damaged by his upbringing and Eva was the first person who loved him and in his own warped way he doesn't want to lose that. He and his brother were in and out of care and while his brother survived the experience fairly intact he didn't. He assumed that all he had to do was send her a visiting order and say he didn't mean to hit her a few times and she would give him another chance, because that was what she always did. He had nothing when she stood up to him so all he could do was repeat himself. He also honestly believes he did nothing wrong, in his mind it wasn't rape because she was his girlfriend and also in his mind his violence towards her is caused by something she did to upset him and it is her fault he lost his temper.

I would also like to make it clear that he doesn't really give a shit about Maisie, I tried to show that by the fact he didn't know how old she was and there will also be other little instances in upcoming chapters which prove he has no idea and doesn't really give a damn about her. He only sees Maisie as a way to get to Eva and a link to her. I tried to show that in the opening chapter how he showed up at Maisie's school and by what Eva said to him about his previous attempts at being a father. But what he doesn't realise is because his name isn't on the birth certificate (as that is the law in the UK - if the father isn't present his name cannot be registered on the documents) and in the eyes of the law he doesn't have any parental rights to her and therefore has made it easier for Eva to cut him from their lives.

CHAPTER 26

(GIDEON)

I watch Eva walking towards me across the car park and I bring to an end the telephone conversation I am currently having with my solicitor.

"Listen Charles, I have to go now but in your opinion as far as you are concerned it's all pretty cut and dried? I put in my application for adoption and because Nathan isn't named as Maisie's father on the birth certificate he has no say?"

"Technically speaking it is, and I can't foresee any problems, as he isn't legally named as the child's father but if he tries to interfere he won't have a leg to stand on. Unless he tries to apply for parental responsibility, which would mean applying to have his name added to the birth certificate which would need Eva's co-operation as it would be classified as a correction and as she originally registered the birth she would need to add him" he says.

"As she wants me to adopt Maisie I can't see that happening" I say and Charles chuckles.

"Quite, so I really don't think we will face any issues in that respect. I've set the ball rolling with the local authority. I've given them your intention to adopt in writing and laid out who you are and what you are offering the child materially as well as emotionally and I've spoken personally to Eva's social worker. I've not yet seen the files but I have been told that Eva came really close to losing her little girl because of him and the way he was, and I mean really close. It really was touch and go for a while, so having said that, I don't believe that there is a court in the land who wouldn't grant the adoption. You don't have to be married to Eva before you can officially apply to the court, but it does help if you are - you tell me you are planning on marrying her soon, December time is that right?"

"Yes that's right" I confirm.

"Well, that simplifies matters considerably as If you are not married to the child's parent; you need to satisfy the court that you are living as partners in an enduring family relationship. The local authority social worker making their report about your suitability to adopt must have regard to the need for stability and permanence in your relationship with your partner and you need to have been living as a family for at least six months before applying for an adoption order. Which would be an issue for you as you and Eva haven't been together that long, it may still be but if you marry her then that should satisfy any permanency issues which may arise. So to recap everything we have discussed, the application is made either to the Family Proceedings Court, the County Court or the High Court. Fees apply at the time you make your application and this is not refunded if you do not go ahead or the court decides not to make an adoption order. You will also need to formally tell the Local Authority children's department of your intention to adopt at least three months before you issue your application, which as I say has now been done as I have done that on your behalf and so now they must appoint a social worker to do a detailed report for the court about the child. The child's family circumstances and about you and your partner, so they will want to meet with you and the child, in your case they will probably liaise with or even appoint Eva's social worker to simplify things and because she knows Eva and her daughter well and she has already met you and you've given her your details already. So where are we, November… so December, January, February, I suggest put the official paperwork in, in February. The local authority is aware of your intention I sent that in to them in writing as soon as you gave me the go ahead last week, so now I can get everything sorted and the paperwork in place for the courts ready to go for February so there isn't any messing about when the time comes. Be aware that if the father does kick off the court will probably listen to his views if he turns up to the hearing, but he essentially won't legally be able to object as he has no parental rights. Is that all clear?"

"Yep, crystal, thanks for your help with this Charles" I say gratefully, "and Nathan shouldn't even be an issue as he is currently in prison and probably still will be when this goes to court" I add.

"Well that can only go in your favour as well, what's he in for?" Charles asks.

I snort, "It should have been attempted murder as he tried to kill Eva and he was heard by the police threatening to kill her when they arrived. But I think Eva said the actual charge that he was found guilty of was GBH, but don't quote me on that. Oh and he was also convicted of possession of class A drugs, he only got four years in total for both offences, less the time he'd already served on remand which I think is a bloody travesty. Especially when he had served two and was released on parole, part of his parole conditions were that he wasn't allowed anywhere near Eva or Maisie so what did he do as soon as he was released, he showed up at Maisie's school one morning. Eva went ballistic and called his parole officer but before they could pick him up, he confronted Eva at her flat that night. He was high on something and beat her so severely that she was hospitalised. So, I believe he has had time added to his sentence for that, and he won't be eligible for early release again, at least I hope not" I say.

"Jesus Christ!" Charles gasps, there is a brief silence and he is clearly shocked by what I have just told him.

"Ok, well I really have to go now, thanks again Charles" I say brightly to try and break the awkward silence. Which Charles seems to gratefully accept.

"No problem, you know your dad speaks very highly of Eva and from what I've heard from him and you she seems an incredible young woman for her young age" he says.

"She is" I say, my love for Eva clear in my tone.

"Alright then, I'll let you go. Any questions though don't hesitate to call me".

"Thanks Charles" I reply, I quickly end the call as Eva opens the car door. I push my phone away and focus my attention on Eva. "Angel, how did it go?" I ask as I search her face.

"Predictably, I got the usual raft of excuses and empty promises, I didn't mean it, don't leave me, things will be different, I'll change, you know everything I've heard many times before. He read Maisie's book, and at first he didn't believe she'd wrote it till I told him just how clever she was and I showed him the paperwork I got from the assessment she had, and to his credit he did read it. I told him he knew nothing about her, and I think that actually hurt him, not that he didn't know her but the fact what she wrote was what she really thought of him and it wasn't very positive. He laid a guilt trip on me saying I was all he had as everyone else had disowned him and I told him that wasn't my problem. I told him you were planning on adopting Maisie and he said over his dead body and he got all possessive about her till I pointed out he had no rights because he wasn't on her birth certificate, and that was because he chose to get high with his mates instead of coming with me to register her birth. I told him we were all done with him and that he was dead to me, then I left so basically if he doesn't get the message now then he's clearly thicker than I thought. But considering at one point he still maintained he never raped me because I was his girlfriend, I wouldn't hold my breath on the intelligence part" she says.

I watch her demeanour and she seems calm and almost serene, "And you are ok?" I ask wanting and also needing confirmation of that.

She nods and smiles, "Yep I'm fine" she replies, then she pulls out her phone and glances at the home screen.

"Shall we have some lunch before we head to work?" she asks.

I look at my watch and nod, "excellent idea!" I say. I was going to suggest the same thing but I am pleased Eva did as that tells me she is relaxed enough not to want to head straight to work and lose herself in the distraction of it.

Over lunch I share with her my conversation with Charles about adopting Maisie and Eva nods in understanding.

"So, I guess I'll be getting a phone call to arrange a visit from Tasha" Eva says stiffly.

I reach across the table and grasp her hand.

"Hey, don't be defensive. We have nothing to hide and nothing to fear. I am not like Nathan; I have co-operated with Tasha on a couple of occasions now and it is highly likely she will be appointed by the court to oversee the adoption, so if we play ball and co-operate now it can only work in our favour. You see her fairly regularly anyway so I don't see the issue".

Eva nods, "I know, and I know my scheduled visits have now been reduced unless something happens, but as far as I am concerned social services have always been the enemy. They tried to take Maisie from me, it was a close thing… I nearly lost her Gideon". I see tears welling up in Eva's eyes and I squeeze her hand reassuringly and rub my thumb across her knuckles.

"I know, but that is in the past now. This is the future and nobody can deny that you are an excellent mum, Tasha knows that and Maisie wants this. So, as far as I can see we have nothing to worry about" I say.

Eva thinks about that and nods, "Ok" she says after a moment and she wipes her face. She looks up at me and gives me a weak but genuine smile. "Thank you" she adds quietly.

I shake my head, "No Eva, don't thank me, you have nothing to thank me for" I say. I pause for a moment and then decide to tell her about what else I was doing while she was visiting Nathan, but she halts my line of thought by what she says next.

"It was weird seeing him again, it was like it wasn't really real. I really can't believe he was my world for so long, because I felt absolutely nothing for him, well… nothing but hate and contempt. He was so sure that I was there because I still loved him and he was totally convinced he could just trot out all the usual lines and I'd fall for them again and he'd win me round, and the look of shock on his face when I made it clear none of that was going to happen was unreal. It also made me realise something else that… I never loved him, not really. I thought I did, but the way I felt about him is nothing compared to how I feel about you". She pauses and looks up at me. I feel a surge of warmth go through me at her words and I nearly miss what she says next.

"I can't believe I was so stupid, and it also made me realise something else" she says.

She reaches across the table to me once more, "It made me realise just how much I love you and at this moment I am fucking shitting myself, that this…" she gestures between us, "…is all going to end, that you are going to decide that I'm not worth your bother and you are going to just go, and if that happens…" she stops and I see a tear roll down her cheek. I immediately stand and walk around to her side of the table and sit beside her, pulling her close.

"Hey come on, never ever think that Eva, because that is not going to happen. I love you, and you know what?" I say lifting her chin up with my finger.

She sniffs, "What?" she asks her voice thick with emotion.

"I have exactly the same fears, I am terrified you are going to see sense and just tell me to go" I whisper, articulating the real fears I have. Eva rears back and stares at me in shock.

"Don't talk fucking stupid" she almost snaps, her demeanour switching from vulnerable to controlled and incredulous that I could even think such a thing.

I grin at her, "Well right back at you, don't you talk so fucking stupid either. You love me and I love you, we are permanent we love each other and what we have only ends when we die" I say fiercely, "Ok?" I ask looking for the confirmation I am seeking.

Eva doesn't hesitate to provide it, as she nods firmly, "Ok" she states.

I nod and decide that now is exactly the right time to tell her what I did in the car while she was inside visiting Nathan.

"Ok good, so with all that in mind, I have something to tell you. While you were inside, as I have told you I spoke to Charles – my solicitor about Maisie's adoption and before that I also called The Grange, and I've booked their full wedding package for a wedding on your birthday, that was the hotel you liked the best isn't it?" I ask watching her reaction carefully. I knew she liked that one the best I could tell when we went through the different places on offer but she was reluctant to say so because that one was significantly the most expensive on offer as well.

I watch as her eyes widen and her mouth drops open, "But…" she argues and I smile and press my finger to her lips.

"No buts, that's not the correct answer. It is a yes or no answer that was your favourite, yes or no?" I say.

"Yes it was…but" she says again and I shake my head and press my finger to her lips again.

"Then that's all the confirmation I needed to know, so… it's booked I have told your family the date, time and venue and they confirmed that they have made a note so they can get time off work as your birthday is on a Friday this year. So all we have to do is make an appointment to go shortly, we will go and you will tell them exactly what you want and then they will take care of it all and all you have to do is turn up looking your very beautiful self and say I do". With that I press a small kiss to her lips. I wait holding my breath for a response.

"I can't believe all this is happening" she murmurs almost to herself.

I pull her close, "It is happening and you deserve it, you deserve the best of everything Eva and I am determined that you and Maisie will get that" I say firmly. I look up and see our lunch arriving and so I move back to my own seat opposite Eva.

oooOOOooo

After lunch I look at my watch as we climb into the car.

"Eva, do you want me to drop you off at home as it's nearly 1pm – you'll be leaving at 2pm to fetch Maisie, it's hardly worth you going in today?" I ask.

Eva thinks a moment and I can tell her ingrained concern regarding the financial implications of not going are popping into her head, even though she has nothing to be concerned about anymore. I don't say anything and allow her to work through it herself and I see the moment that registers with her and the tension leaves her face.

"Ok, but I'm not making a habit of this. I don't like taking advantage of my relationship with you" she states firmly.

I smile at her, "I wouldn't expect you to and you are not taking advantage" I reply.

We both climb into the car and I head towards our home, on the way Eva turns to look at me.

"Thank you for today" she whispers.

"Stop thanking me, it is my honour and my job to take care of you" I state decisively.

I watch Eva thinking about that then she turns towards me once more, "I've applied for a provisional driving licence, I got the form from the post office" she says.

I nod my head, I am pleased she is finally accepting that she can do these things.

"So… when it comes I'll be looking for a driving instructor" she adds nervously.

I nod again wondering where this is going.

"As well as my lessons with my driving instructor, I was wondering… how much would it cost for you to put me on your insurance and give me extra lessons?" she asks.

I was actually planning on doing that anyway and offering her that when she decided that she wanted to start lessons so I simply tell her that I will look into it, as I don't want to scare her by telling her I was planning on doing that anyway. I am also considering buying her, her own car, nothing flash, just a little runabout for her.

"Ok, thanks" she says and then goes red when she realises what she said. "Also, I got confirmation from the college for me to start after Christmas to re-sit my GCSE's" she adds quickly.

"Ok, so when will that be, in the evenings?" I ask.

Eva nods, "Yeah I got the details it will be on a Tuesday evening" she says.

I nod again, "Ok just so I know to keep Tuesdays free for the foreseeable future, I don't want to arrange anything so I will be away in the day on Tuesdays just in case I don't get back in time at the end of the day" I explain.

Eva smiles at me and just manages to stop herself from saying thank you once more.

"It does scare me" she says quietly.

"What scares you?" I ask.

"How rich you are, when you put that money in my name and opened that savings account for me, those were sums of money that under normal circumstances I could only wish to have had and you just handed it over as if you were giving me a fiver, that really scares me" she says.

I nod, "I get that Eva, and I'm sorry I really should have talked it over with you before I did it. But I just wanted you to have the freedom to know that whatever you wanted to do the money was there for you to do it and you never would have to deny yourself again because you can't afford to do something. I'm not trying to buy you or keep you, that is the furthest thought from my mind. I am just giving you the resources to make your dreams come true and help you reach your full potential".

"I had difficulty in getting my head around that kind of money" she says.

I smile, "And that is why I have never told you just how much I have as I knew that would freak you out completely" I say.

Eva laughs, "Well you have just bought a house and you are paying for a flash wedding so my guess is a fair bit!" she says.

I laugh, "Yes Eva a fair bit and if you want to know I am happy to tell you" I say.

"Maybe later!" she says.

"Eva, there is something else I want to discuss with you" I say carefully.

"Ok?" she says giving me her full attention once more.

"I want us to go out – just us. Date nights just some grown up time, me and you. Now don't get me wrong, we will be going out regularly as a family with Maisie but we need to concentrate on just us as a couple, some time set aside for just us. Now I need to ask you this because it would mean relying on your grandmother or mum to take care of Maisie for us, and I would like us to do something together reasonably regularly" I say.

I watch Eva think about that and she nods, "I'd like that" she says, "I don't want to take advantage of gran but as we now share the school run duties and we don't need to rely on gran for that now I think she'd be ok with it".

"Good" I reply. I glance at her and grin "It's a date!" I add giving her a wink. My heart lurches once more as I hear her giggle. I love making her laugh, seeing her happy fills me with so much joy it almost overwhelms me.

We pull up outside the house and I see Eva frowning at the gate, I am on alert at her abrupt change of demeanour.

"What is it?" I ask following her gaze.

"The gate is unlatched" she states pointing and sure enough I can see it is open rather than completely closed.

"I'll have to get the latch changed and a bolt put on the back to secure it. I noticed it was a bit dodgy when we moved in, it is on my list of things to do and if it is coming undone I will put it at the top as it has obvious security implications" I say. I am unconcerned but Eva still remains worried, she turns to look at me.

"Will you come in with me?" she asks.

"Of course I will" I say and I climb out of the car and walk around to her. I lock the car and we walk hand in hand to the house. I head to the front door but she pulls me towards the gate I pause and take a photograph of the open gate before we go through and then we go in the back way. I latch the gate and then gasp at the back door, it doesn't look as though it has been forced as there is no damage but it is open and I know it was locked when we left this morning. Immediately I pull out my phone and after photographing the open door I call the police, as I am doing this Eva pushes the door open and listens.

"They are still in here, I can hear them moving around" she whispers. I quickly relay this to the operator and they tell me to stay safe. As she says this I watch as Eva goes inside.

"Eva!" I hiss and I follow her in. I am shocked when a moment or so later I hear shouting and I recognise the voices.

I rush towards them and find Eva's friend Megan lying stark naked on our bed with a smug expression on her face and Eva rapidly losing all self control.

"Oh you finally came back, I was waiting just as you told me to" Megan states coyly looking at me I stare at her not quite believing what I am witnessing.

"What are you talking about?" I spit, fear streaking through me that Eva is going to believe I have cheated on her.

"You left me here all alone" she says, then she looks at Eva, "I'm not normally up for a threesome but if that's what you had in mind" she adds.

I grab Eva as she lunges towards Megan and I whisper in her ear.

"Don't, the police are coming. I photographed the gate and door, she broke in and she's lying" I hiss.

Eva calms, and I see her mind working she looks up at me and then wordlessly pulls herself from my grasp and walks out of the room. My heart lurches in panic for a moment until I feel my phone buzzing I pull it out and see a text from Eva.

Put on your phone's voice recorder and ask her how she got in.

I immediately do as she asks under the guise of replying to the text.

"How did you get in?" I ask Megan coldly as I fiddle with my phone.

"I know how to pick locks and yours was just too easy. Old door, crappy locks it was simple" she states calmly.

A moment later Eva returns "How did you get in?" she asks. I realise she was listening outside and now wants to hear what Megan will say to her.

"Gideon gave me a key, he told me to wait and then he left work and came to me and we have had a wonderful morning together haven't we baby?" she says looking up at me.

I can't believe that this woman is so brazen or deranged for that matter. I shake my head vigorously unable to say anything I am so shocked.

"Oh I see" Eva says calmly, "So what exactly were you doing with my fiancé this morning?" she asks.

"Oh well… you know" Megan giggles and she flicks her hand dismissively.

Eva glares up at me and without a word walks out of the room again. Panic surges through me once more until sense grabs me and I realise what Eva is doing, she is getting the evidence to prove Megan is deluded as she knows she will say something different to me, if I speak to her. I quickly pull myself together.

"Why are you here, why did you break into my home and why are you doing this?" I ask.

Megan laughs, "Because I want you. Eva was always the popular one, always the clever one and always the one who everyone loved. Right from when we were little kids, nobody ever paid any attention to me, so I had to take whatever attention I wanted and I took it from Eva because she got so much, too much she always took more than her fair share. She was always better at everything, everyone loved her it's not fair I wanted what she had, so I took it and now she has really hit the jackpot with you. I mean she doesn't deserve you, so I wanted to take you from her".

"That's sick!" I say, "I have never heard anything so infantile in my life, Eva was loved more than you because she is clearly a much better person than you, and that fact was obvious to everyone she is a beautiful person inside and out while you are obviously rotten to the core" I add derisively.

"She took the first person I ever loved!" Megan screeches defensively, my words have had a direct hit on her and tears are starting to form in her eyes.

I stare at her, Eva bursts into the room unable to contain herself any longer.

"You pathetic bitch" Eva shouts.

"No more than you" Megan retorts and I stare at her, her immaturity just shines from her. I look at Eva questioningly.

Eva shakes her head in disbelief, "It appears this all goes back to when we were about 8 or 9 growing up on the estate and a new family moved in, there was a boy – Andrew. He joined our little group and played with us and Megan became pretty obsessed with him, I remember she wrote his name on all her books and surrounded them with love hearts, you know as kids do. I just looked on him as a friend but Megan was pretty full on and scared the shit out of the poor bugger, she tried to kiss him in front of everyone and totally embarrassed him. I told her to just leave him alone, after that he sort of gravitated towards me and treated Meg as if she didn't exist, as he didn't want to encourage her, we were friends but nothing more. I mean we were little kids for god's sake, eventually his family moved again and he left but it was after that, that everyone I liked Meg tried to take from me and often succeeded, for a while".

"You need help" I state derisively at the woman who is now crying bitterly.

"You don't understand, I was never wanted. Nobody wants me, my mum never wanted me she has told me all my life I was a mistake, my dad – I don't even know who he is. I thought Eva was my friend and she took away the first person I loved".

"Loved?! You were a child" I exclaim.

"I LOVED HIM!" Megan yells.

Eva snorts "you were 8 fucking years old Meg! It was hardly your life partner, get a fucking grip, Gideon is right you need help, and just for the record you can't use that as your motivation as you have done this before to other people, you have tried to split up any couple who are happy and settled, what did they do to you?" she asks and I immediately remember the story of one of the other mums and how Megan had tried to split her and her partner up.

"They all deserved it" is all Megan says, but I can see she is now regretting her actions as they haven't gone how she planned.

"You just don't like seeing anyone happy do you Meg, you see people happy and you want to destroy it. You're pathetic, you need to grow up and focus on your own life" Eva says. I am surprised at just how calm she is now.

The doorbell rings and I glance out of the window. "I also suggest you put some clothes on, as the police are here, unless you want to add indecent exposure to the list of offences you have committed today" I say and I move to go and let them in.

I stop the recording and go downstairs and let them in.

"Good afternoon officers" I say politely.

I lead them upstairs and outline what we found when we arrived and I show them the photographs of the gate and door, and then I play the recording, Megan looks horrified as she hears herself and her eyes dart around the room frantically.

"She has been harassing me and my fiancée for a considerable time now and whilst annoying, we managed to ignore her for the most part, and we just dismissed her as immature and deluded until this incident today" I say and I see my words have a direct hit on Megan.

"But it seems that doing that has just made her escalate her desperate attempts at attention seeking and causing trouble. As you heard on the recording she broke into our home and exposed herself to us on our return and it was a blatant attempt at trying to make my fiancée believe I had been with her this morning, but the worst thing about this is under normal circumstances my four year old step daughter would probably have witnessed this as well as that was clearly her intention for Eva to return home from collecting our daughter from school and find her here, which I find totally unacceptable especially as she is a mother herself, and to deliberately set out to cause a young child such unnecessary stress crosses a line". I pause as I think about that.

"Who would be collecting your children from school today Megan?" I ask.

"They were both at an after school club, that's why I chose today" she mutters quietly, her head is down and she is refusing to make eye contact with anyone.

I see one of the arresting officers making notes, and then they arrest Megan and take her away. As soon as they are gone I return to our bedroom to find Eva stripping the bed. I immediately help her and between us we soon have the bed changed.

"Here, give those to me and I'll take them down and put them in the washing machine" I say gently.

Eva passes the discarded duvet cover and sheets over and I quickly take the bundle away. When I have set the washing machine going I return to Eva and find her in Maisie's room returning Maisie's diary. She looks up at me as I walk in.

"Are you ok?" I ask.

"I feel… violated, she broke into our home and she tried to break us up. But what upsets me most is that for just a second I doubted… it was only a second, until I realised she was lying because you were trapped in that car park at the prison all morning" she pauses and looks directly at me, "I am so, so sorry Gideon, I am so sorry I doubted. I should never have even considered it for a moment" she says. She is almost pleading with me to forgive her and I don't hesitate to cross the room and pull her into my arms.

"Eva, stop, stop this right now. It was a shock, you weren't expecting to come home and find her here naked on our bed. That was so far from what would be considered normal behaviour it just threw you. We are solid, I would never ever cheat on you don't let Megan and her deluded behaviour make you doubt what we have" I say.

I feel her squeeze me tighter as I say that, she doesn't say anything she just holds me. Eventually I pull away and look at my watch, "It is soon time to go and fetch Maisie, I'm not going back to work today. Do you want me to fetch her?" I ask.

Eva shakes her head, "No, let's go together" she says.