About a week after I'd started my maternity leave, and I'd spent most of my days in the pool. Instead of lounging in bed, I preferred to lounge out on a floatie, sunglasses and tanning lotion on, dipping into the water every so often to stay cool, and sometimes swimming laps. I was already bored. I knew the twins were likely to make their appearance at 36 weeks, though, and I was already at 33 weeks, so I was basically just hanging around waiting for them to get here.

Everything was nearly ready for their arrival. The guys had helped Juan with painting the nursery last month because they knew the next few weeks would be busy making sure everything went smoothly. I'd had them paint the walls sea green and on one side, I'd had them paint Michael's name in baby blue paint, above his crib, and the other wall had Evelyn painted in lavender above her crib. I'd had them paint quotes in various colors on the walls and ceilings. Until they had their own rooms and were able to pick the decorations themselves, I thought being surrounded by positive words would be nice.

Against the wall opposite the door, between the two cribs, sat two rocking chairs, with the changing table in between them. That was the only furniture we had for now, though. We had asked everyone coming to the baby shower-which would be the weekend after next-to bring a package of diapers in addition to a gift. Diapers were expensive. Any extras we could get now would be great. We had registered at Babies R Us, but anything we didn't get at the baby shower, we'd be able to pick up before the babies got here.

Suddenly, the music I had been playing shut off, and I opened my eyes, turning my head until I found my husband standing by the edge of the pool. He wasn't alone, however. David was with him, which was to be expected. The two had been over at Scoops together. I was more surprised by the woman standing slightly behind and to the left of my husband, dressed like she was a lawyer or social worker, or something like that. I was leaning toward social worker and meeting my husband's gaze confirmed it without either of us having to say a word: Elizabeth had followed through with her threat.

As quickly as I could, I got off my floatie and got out of the pool, grabbing a towel. "Jeannie Foster, this is my wife, Krystal Ortiz. Angel, this is Jeannie, from CPS," Juan made the introductions and I dried my hand before shaking hers, as he went on. "David and I were just getting home when her car pulled up. Do you want us to stay out here, or should we go inside?" he addressed me first, letting me know how she'd come to be in our backyard, and then directed his question at the tall brunette.

Taking in my still wet bathing suit, she gestured to the house. "Actually, Krystal can go change if she likes. I do need to talk to her alone, since the complaint is directly against her, and I need to speak to David alone after, but perhaps while she's changing, you can take me on a walk-through of the house? I need to see David's room in particular," she suggested, and my husband nodded, so we all went inside, me heading for our bedroom while Juan began to give her a tour.

Closing the door behind me, I stripped, grabbing panties and a bra, a pair of shorts and a tee-shirt of Juan's, but once I put them on, I sank onto the bed. I was trying very hard not to freak out, but I needed a moment to compose myself before talking to this woman. I couldn't keep doing this. I was going to have to come to some kind of agreement with Elizabeth if today went okay for me. I couldn't have her complain again and CPS come to the house again. It was too much stress, and that was the last thing I needed. I'd almost convinced myself that nothing was going to happen, since it'd been a month since I'd spoken to her, but apparently it just took that long for CPS to get to the complaint. I really hoped Jeannie was a good person and would see the truth.

After five minutes, I realized I needed to face the music and stood, heading out of the room. I found them in the living room. David was playing a video game, and Jeannie and Juan were sitting on the couch. She stood when she saw me, gesturing toward the back of the house. "I saw a very nice patio set back there. How about we go out there for privacy, and David and Juan can stay in here. Then when you and I are done talking, I'll come in here to talk to David. Okay?" she asked, and I nodded, leading the way outside. Juan caught my hand and squeezed it as I passed him, and I sent him a grateful smile for the support. We didn't need to say anything to understand each other.

When we passed through the kitchen, I asked if she wanted anything to drink. She declined, but handed me a small cup and I realized I would need to give her a urine sample. I snorted and shook my head. "She really mentioned drugs? She must be desperate. I am going to be honest with you. I have a cannabis card, and I do smoke sometimes, but I don't do anything other than that," I told her and she nodded, telling me she'd need to see the card, so I went inside to use the bathroom, and when I was on my way back outside, I grabbed my wallet, so I could show her my card. "I smoke for my depression and my anxiety. I tried so many different meds for them, but nothing worked. This does," I explained, handing her the cup and the card.

Waiting on the results, she looked at my card, confirmed it was legit, and handed it back. "I get that. Honestly, I really do. Do you mind if I ask you something, though?" I gave a nod to indicate that she could feel free. "The complaint mentioned a messy house, and you being irresponsible, but I've done my research already. I interviewed a few of your colleagues at the hospital. I spoke to your boss. You're never late. You just got married. You have one speeding ticket on your record, and your house is one of the cleaner I've seen. I can't tell you who filed the complaint, but do you know someone with a grudge? Because I honestly see no reason why this complaint will go any further than today's visit. Everything is checking out. You seem like you're taking good care of David," she told me.

Sighing, I ran a hand through my hair, trying to decide what to tell her, but she did seem like a genuinely good person, so I lifted a shoulder. "My family has never had faith in me. They're pissed because I'm next of kin and I want nothing to do with them, so it's likely I won't let him near them either, but I can't keep doing things like this. Even if this does check out, it's still on my record that you've had to come out here. I don't want to keep having to do this. I'm grateful that you're so nice, but I'm going to have to come to some kind of agreement with them. This kind of stress isn't good for my babies, or David, or even Juan. He worries about me stressing out," I said, placing a protective hand on my stomach.

Smiling, she saw that the test had the results so she wrote them down. Then she went through the routine questions, just to get them over with, even though she had interviewed people at the hospital, she had to hear the answers from me, such as where I worked, how long I'd worked there, how long I'd been married, etc. Basically, all the basics about my life right now. She asked questions about David, how I thought he was adjusting, and even about Juan, and his reaction to us having to raise my little brother. I was honest about everything, and she smiled as she stood, shaking my hand. "I have to talk to David now, but I don't think I'll have to be out here again. I hope you get things settled with your family. I'll send your husband out here so I can talk to David alone," she said before she went inside.

A few minutes later, Juan came out, handing me a bottle of ice water he'd pulled out of the freezer. I smiled at him, thanked him for thinking of me, and then let him pull my feet up in his lap and start to rub them once he'd sat down. They were so swollen, even though I usually preferred for them not to be touched, I wouldn't mind having someone constantly rubbing my feet right now. "She said the case is probably going to be closed. She's already interviewed people from the hospital. She didn't understand why someone had filed a complaint against me at all," I told him, my head leaned back and my eyes closed as my husband's amazing hands worked my feet.

Once Jeannie was gone, I left the guys playing video games in the living room and then went to the bedroom to call Elizabeth. I had been serious about trying to come to an agreement with her. Juan had said he didn't like it, but he would support whatever I decided to do. "Here's the deal," I said when she answered, without saying hello. "I'm pregnant. I can not keep dealing with stress like this. The investigation checked out. CPS agent said she's closing the case. I still want nothing to do with you, but if David wants to see you, I might agree to take him to stay out there for a weekend every once in a while, if you stop with your threats, okay?" I proposed.

There was silence for a few minutes as my cousin thought this over. I could tell she didn't like it, but I was waiting for her to agree. I knew she would eventually. She finally did, and I told her she could call me when she wanted to take him for a weekend. I made it clear that I didn't want to hear from her except to do with David, and I didn't really want to hear from anyone else at all. I sounded like a bitch, I'm sure, but I have a habit of letting people treat me like shit when I love them, and even though my family had pulled some shady shit with me, I did still love them. I just didn't want to get back on that train of being hurt by them. It was better for me to cut the negative out of my life completely. She wouldn't understand that. No one in my family ever did, the same way they never thought that my feelings were valid.

After hanging up the phone, I went back downstairs, sitting in between my husband and my little brother on the couch. I played the video game for a little while, as we took turns, but I had to get up to make dinner. Once we'd eaten, we went back to the living room and I read a book while they went back to the video games. I had to smile as I looked up at them every once in a while. They got along really well, and I was grateful for that. David knew we weren't trying to replace his parents, but we were his guardians now. We acted more like friends to him, but he did listen when we disciplined. It was a slow transition, but we were all easing into it. I thought we were doing really well, and I was glad someone on the outside thought so, too.

A/N: Hope you like it. Please read and review. Thanks. Next chapter is the baby shower.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.