Sam and Freddie sat in the kitchen one evening, packing up a few dishes.

"You know it's in a week," Sam told Freddie, passing him a large salad bowl to wrap up.

Freddie didn't need her to clarify.

"Theodore told us just the other day that it's looking very good for us," Freddie said.

"I know," Sam said. "But that doesn't keep me from thinking the worst…"

She leaned against the kitchen counter. "You know, the other day, I was thinking…if I just hadn't ever gotten involved with him, none of this would be happening. There would be no court case, I wouldn't be freaking out over every little thing, we would be able to be more excited about this baby like we're supposed to be instead of worrying about what's going to happen with the verdict."

Freddie nodded, but didn't say anything.

"But the I realized if I never met him, I-I wouldn't have had the twins," Sam said softly. She looked up at Freddie. "As much as I hate him…that's the one thing he gave me. And now he's trying to yank it back."

"He won't get to," Freddie told her.

Sam gave him a small smile. "I still wonder how I was ever stupid enough to fall for him, though…"

"He was manipulative," Freddie told her. "It wasn't your fault."

Sam sighed. "I wish he would've just died in jail…"

Freddie gently placed his hand on hers. "He would've deserved it."

Suddenly, Sam's phone began to ring.

"Who is it? It's pretty late," Freddie frowned as Sam fished the phone out of her pocket.

"I don't know, it's a blocked number," Sam shrugged as she pushed the receive button. "Hello?"

"Hi, Samantha," said the cold familiar voice that made her blood freeze. "Just wanted to tell you I'm looking forward to seeing you at the court house next week. Shame we have to keep meeting like that."

Sam looked up at Freddie, her eyes wide with fear.

"Let me be on my way before your tech husband has a chance to track this call," Marshall said. "Have a good night, darling. Tell the girls daddy says hi."

Sam nearly dropped her phone as the line went dead.

"Give me your phone," Freddie said at once.

"He-He said you wouldn't be able to track it," Sam whispered.

"He wasn't on long enough, you need to have someone on the line for a full minute," Freddie confirmed. "But sometimes if the conversation was over 30 seconds the call will still be saved and we can use it to get him back in jail and-No!"

"What?"

"He called from a pay phone," Freddie told her. "We-We still can't prove he contacted you."

Sam lowered herself into one of the kitchen chairs. "Freddie…I don't want the girls to be here for the last court date."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't want them in the state," Sam said firmly. "I don't know what Marshall will try, but I know calling to spook me isn't all he has. Do you think…Could we have them stay with Carly? I-I know she works but maybe-maybe Spencer could look after them during the day since he sculpts from his apartment!"

"You want them to go to Seattle?"

"Yes," Sam said, grabbing her phone from Freddie to dial Carly's number.

Carly answered on the third ring.

"Hey Sam, what's up?"

"Carly, I need a favor," Sam said promptly.

"Is everything okay?"

"I-No," Sam answered honestly. "It's not. I'll tell you about it when everything's done and over with, but-but would it be possible for you to fly out here tomorrow, take the twins and then fly back to Seattle?"

"You-You want them to stay with me?"

"Please, I-I'm desperate," Sam said.

"Did-Did something happen between you and Freddie?"

"No, Freddie's right here, we're fine," Sam said quickly. "It's just…the girls really can't be here right now. I know you work but I was thinking Spencer could maybe look after the girls during the day. They, um, I don't want them left alone."

"I-I'll call Spencer and ask him," Carly said. "Just give me a minute…"

"She's going to check with Spence," Sam said, feeling a little relieved. Hopefully by this time tomorrow the girls would be flying out of Marshall's reach.

"If Spencer can't watch them during the day, we can try my mom next," Freddie said.

"Okay," Sam nodded, and Freddie took the fact that she didn't object to his mother as an option as a sign of how truly scared Sam was for Kira and Leah.

Sam's phone rang again a few moments later and Sam answered right away.

"Did he say yes?"

"He said the twins are more then welcome to stay at his place while I'm at work," Carly said. "Sam, do you need help or something? You sound really shaky."

"I just need to know that the twins will be safe, and that's more likely out of New York right now," Sam said. "I-I promise Carly, I'll explain everything to you later."

"Okay," Carly said slowly. "Um, well I can get a flight out in a few hours, which means I'll be in New York by six in the morning your time. And then there's another flight back to Seattle two hours later."

"Done, I'll get the tickets," Sam said quickly. "Thank you so much, Carly. I really owe you one. Tell Spencer Freddie and I say thank you too."

…

"Okay, the same rules that apply here apply in Seattle," Sam said the next morning as she sat with the twins at the airport. Carly had arrived an hour earlier and the three of them were about to board the flight back to Seattle in a few moments. "You don't go anywhere without Carly or Spencer or even Freddie's mom with you. Got it?"

"How long do we have to stay there?" Leah asked softly.

"Just for the week, until the case finishes," Sam said, giving her a comforting smile.

She could tell both her daughters were very scared. Sam and Freddie had woken them early in the morning telling them to pack a few things and get ready for a plane ride across the country.

"Will you call us when you know what happens?" Kira asked.

"I'll call you the second I know," Sam promised. "You guys will have fun in Seattle. You get a break from school, too! And trust me, spending the days with Spencer will be a blast. His apartment is full of weird art stuff. And you know Carly will spoil you rotten while you stay with her. Think of this as a vacation."

"Only you and Freddie aren't coming with us," Leah pointed out.

"I wish we could," Sam said, wrapping her arms around both the twins as Carly and Freddie came over.

"Here are your tickets," Freddie said, handing each girl a stub of paper. "Now, I want you to call either your mom or me the second you land. And we'll call you at least once a day too. You both have money? Your phones?"

The twins nodded.

"Okay," Freddie said heavily as the twins both hugged him tightly. "Have a safe flight then. I love you girls."

"Love you too, dad," Leah whispered.

"You're still our dad, even if the court doesn't think so yet," Kira told him.

"Thank you again, Carly," Sam said, giving her best friend a quick hug as well.

"We'll have a great time," Carly promised.

"Behave yourselves," Sam said, feeling her eyes getting teary as she gave them each kisses on top of their heads. "I love you."

"Love you too," the twins echoed.

…..

Sam sat on her and Freddie's bed, not doing anything, just thinking.

Tomorrow was the day.

It was the last day of the trial and the day when the verdict about the twins' custody would be decided.

She wanted to believe everyone when they told her there was no way Marshall could win; that she had nothing to worry about.

But her history with Marshall had proven that he had a way of making things work in his favor.

Freddie stepped into the room, not even saying anything as he sat down next to her and wrapped his arms around her.

The second she had been enveloped in his embrace, she felt the tears begin to flow down her face.

Freddie continued to hold her like that through the night.