A/N I know some of you probably thought I had given up on this story. Real life has just gotten in the way, but I have every intention of finishing it. Thanks to my amazing betas. Reviews are always appreciated and I hope you all have a lovely week.

"Daddy, how come you are going this way?" Aidan asked as he stared out the window.

John smirked proudly at Aidan's question. For a five year old Aidan was quite observant, or maybe that was the norm; John couldn't be sure.

The boy put a handful of cheerios in his mouth before firing off another question, "And how come Mummy isn't driving her car?"

"Daddy just wanted to give us a ride to work and school today love," Anna answered. It wasn't a complete lie. John had offered out of the goodness of his heart, but the gesture had also been to ensure her safety. "Isn't that nice?"

"Yup!" Aidan replied enthusiastically. "Will he be picking us up too?"

"He certainly will," Anna said.

"Good."

John turned into the parking lot of Aidan's school and instead of taking him to the drop off point, he opted to walk the boy inside to his classroom with Anna. When the car came to a stop John was pulled from his thoughts by the feel of Anna's hand touching his own. "You didn't have to go out of your way."

John shot her a lopsided grin before speaking up. "I didn't consider it going out of my way for either of you. I did it because I love you. The both of you."

"I love you," Anna replied.

There was a brief moment of silence followed by Aidan speaking up. "Mummy. Daddy. I'm going to be late."

"Well we can't have that," John muttered with a wink towards Anna. He exited the car and went to unbuckle Aidan, but was interrupted by a set of tiny hands doing the work for him.

"I can do it, Daddy."

"That you can," John marvelled. It still never failed to amaze him how his breath could be taken away by the simple act of watching Aidan learn something new. "Just promise me you won't try that while the car is moving."

"I promise."

"Upsy daisy then," John said as he lifted Aidan from his seat. He had to laugh, if only his younger self could hear him now. What a softie he had become when it came to Anna and their boy.

Anna smiled softly at the sound of John's words.

Once he was unloaded from the car Aidan ran off ahead of them to greet Sybil at the classroom door. John and Anna's hands were fastened together. "I know I'm only delaying the inevitable. I'll have to face you know who today," John said in a soft voice. "So you'll have to forgive me today if I hover a bit too much or seem overbearing. I can't help it."

"I understand. I did the same thing with Aidan before you came into my life. He's my whole world. Well, you are, too, of course," Anna clarified.

Aidan showed Anna and John around the classroom really quick before they said their 'goodbyes'.

"You be good for Miss Sybil," Anna instructed.

"I will," Aidan replied.

"And we'll pick you up from Uncle Robert's and Aunt Cora's house after school. Sybil is going to take you there to look at the horses," John explained.

"Can I ride them? Please Mummy, please," Aidan nearly begged.

"Not yet. Your arm is still healing. I don't want you to make it worse," she responded.

"But I've already been waiting," Aidan protested.

"Listen son, it won't kill you to wait a few weeks more. Once the cast is off you can ride as much as you want," John reasoned. "Okay?"

"Okay," Aidan responded with a tinge of exasperation in his voice.

Sybil pulled Anna aside, "Dad mentioned the wedding date got moved up. What brought that on?"

"It's a long story. I'll tell you some other time."

"You're not…" Sybil raised her eyebrow curiously.

"What?" Anna responded cluelessly.

"Pregnant?" Sybil filled in with a hopeful tone.

"No. Nothing like that."

"That's a shame," Sybil responded while fighting the urge to say something more.

Anna's arm reached arm for Sybil's to comfort her. "What is it?"

"I was rather excited at the prospect of us possibly being pregnant at the same time." Her teeth gently bit down on her lower lip nervously.

If took Anna a moment for the words to process properly, but eventually the penny dropped. "You're not serious are you?" Her eyes were as wide as saucers, and her excitement was nearly bubbling over for her friend.

"We were going to tell everyone after your wedding but I couldn't help myself." Sybil's exhilaration was palpable. "You're around my age and you've always been such a wonderful mother and friend."

"That means so much to me," Anna said feeling truly touched. "I'm far from perfect, but if you need any help I'm always here for you." She reached out to give the younger girl a hug, both were smiling from ear to ear. "How are you feeling so far?"

"I'm beyond thrilled and after watching everyone else's little ones for the past few years as a teacher I'm more than ready for one of my own."

Anna nodded her head in agreement, she had no doubts that Sybil had all the makings of a great mother. "How's Tom taking the news?"

"It's a bit of an adjustment. I think he would have preferred it happened after the wedding to avoid confrontation with my father. But, honestly he's just as over the moon as I am."

"That's wonderful. I'm so happy for you, and I'm sure John will be, too."

"Thank you. Don't say anything to him yet, though," Sybil warned. "It truly wasn't our intention to steal your thunder. We'll announce it to the group after you've officially tied the knot. You'll have to promise to keep it a secret for a little while."

"I promise," Anna replied with a smile.

"What are we discussing so intently over here?" John enquired as he slipped his hands around Anna's waist.

"Nothing," Sybil said quickly hoping she didn't give herself away.

He looked back and forth between the two girls trying to decipher if there was some deeper, hidden meaning in their unspoken glance. He shot Anna a warning look as if to check that nothing was wrong.

"It's nothing bad. I promise," she confirmed.

"Alright then, we best be off. I still have to take you to the restaurant before I can head into work myself."

"Right. Call me later?" Anna directed her question to Sybil.

"Absolutely," Sybil said.

"Bye, Aidan. Have a good day." Anna hugged him tightly against her chest, still being mindful to not squish his injured arm. She pressed a kiss to his cheek and smoothed his hair into place one last time.

"Listen to Miss Sybil and be a good boy," John reminded. "We love you."

"I will," Aidan replied as he kissed Anna on the cheek. "I love you too."

"He's in good hands. I'll see you both later tonight at my parents' home," Sybil responded as she led Aidan to his seat and prepared to start class.

For a brief moment Anna and John stood frozen in place, not quite prepared to leave Aidan. It wasn't that they were worried about leaving Aidan there. It was more the fact that they knew things were going to be extremely different for them now with Henry in their lives. There was a chance that if things didn't go their way Aidan's father would be dropping him off here in the future. The very thought shook them both to their core. Neither wanted to consider the possibility of sharing custody of Aidan with Henry or think about what it would mean to have their son missing certain days out the week in the hands of a monster.

As they made their way back to the car John tried to ease Anna's worries, "He'll be fine."

"I know. He's resilient," she answered with a small grin.

"He gets that from you." John quipped as he gave her hand a squeeze.

Their steps began to match pace and eventually Anna said what had been bothering her all morning. "I'm more worried about you than Aidan right now."

John's eyebrows knit together in response. "Me?"

"I know you still have to work with him. I don't want you doing or saying anything that we'll regret." They stopped in front of John's car and took a quick glance around to make sure no one was listening in on their conversation. She smoothed the lapels of his suit and dusted off some barely perceptible piece of lint that had clung to the fabric. "It's just...I know you think you have to say something to defend my honor or to stake your claim. He knows how to push people's buttons..." Anna bit down on her lower lip nervously. "Ever since you told me about what happened before with you and that man in the bar…"

"You think my temper will get the best of me?"

Anna nodded in agreement.

"I won't lie. Sometimes I want to punch him square in the jaw and knock out his perfect teeth," John let out an aggravated sigh. "Even before I knew the truth about his past and what his relationship was to you, something about him never sat right with me."

A part of her was glad he was being this open and honest with her, but another part of her was worried that he already had a pent-up rage towards Henry.

"I'm going to talk to Robert today, see if I can get him to reassign me to some new clients or maybe just find some new clients. It won't exactly prevent me from running into him entirely, but it's the best I can do for now."

"Do you think Robert will deny your request?" Anna asked.

"No. But I can't see the company letting go of Mr. Green entirely, not with a new book in the series on the horizon. And I may have to grin and bear it until someone else is available to take him on." Anna frowned at that piece of information, though she could understand Robert's reluctance to release a client that was an up and coming author. "He might think differently if I told him everything."

"I don't want to play that card unless we have to."

He wished she would reconsider, but he understood. It was her secret to tell. "I'd do anything you ask, you know? I'd find another job, I'd pay him off, I'd even pick up and move if you wanted to."

"You're too kind. Right now all I want is for us to be a family."

He smiled broadly at the sound of her words. "You've got it." John kissed her forehead and threw a wink her way. "Friday afternoon. Your wish is my command."

The ride up to his office in the elevator had never been longer. He did his best to calm his nerves, John knew that if they were going to have a leg up on Green, he would need to keep his wild side on a leash. John mentally walked himself through every possible scenario he could encounter with Mr. Green, he tried to prepare himself for how to respond to any questions or quips he might come across. All the while he was thinking of Anna's comment about Henry knowing how to push people's buttons. Now John wasn't one to wear his emotions on his sleeves, but he was sure that Mr. Green had already pegged his weaknesses, Anna and Aidan. He'd have to keep a sharp wit about him and learn patience; in order to defeat one's opponent timing was everything. Sometimes the tactics he learned in the military were hard to let go of. One of the main points being to know your enemy. And right now John felt very unprepared. He had just found out who his enemy was and John was fairly certain that Mr. Green was a good three steps ahead of him.

His heart was nearly beating out of his chest, and he could feel his blood pressure rising as the elevator door dinged to indicate he'd reached his floor. He was thankful to not see Mr. Green anywhere in sight when he walked into the lobby. Daisy was the first face to greet him, and she was cheerful as always as she confirmed his usual request of tea and biscuits. She ran through his list of appointments and messages for the morning so far. It was shaping up to be a busy day, but he was happy for it. John didn't want to dwell on Mr. Green, and he certainly didn't feel like running into him. Before Daisy left John put in a request for her to set up a lunch meeting with Robert. Some changes in the day-to-day office structure were going to be in order if John was going to continue working in the same office as Mr. Green.

"Is there anything else I can get for you?" Daisy asked.

"Hmmm?" He was clearly distracted. John hadn't even heard the last few names that Daisy listed for the call backs he had to make. Daisy hoped he didn't ask her to go through the list again, and he'd save them both the time by just asking her to leave the list on his desk.

"I'm sorry, I'm a bit preoccupied today. You can leave the list there. That will be all," John said with a smile.

She let out a small sigh of relief. "I'll go grab your tea then."

"Thank you, Daisy."

John barely began to read through his first few emails when a knock rapped on the door. "Come in," John responded with his eyes still fixed to the screen.

"You look busy, should I leave?" Matthew asked before fully stepping through the door.

"Absolutely not. In fact you are one of the most important meetings I've been looking forward to today," John said. He moved around his desk to shake Matthew's hand and offer the younger man a seat. "How was your weekend?" John asked in an attempt to make small talk. He actually liked Matthew a lot and felt the young man was a good match for Mary, and any other time he probably would have talked to him about something more. But right now his thoughts were focused elsewhere.

"It was good, and then I got your message," Matthew said.

John shut the door to ensure their privacy.

Matthew eyed John seriously and waited for him to take a seat back behind his desk. There really was no point in beating around the bush. "John, I want to help you...and Anna too of course. She is Mary's best friend after all."

"It's not completely hopeless is it?" John asked anxiously. He was almost dreading the answer that would follow, but he had to know what they were up against.

"Not entirely, but you are looking at an uphill battle. I don't specialize in family law, but I did call a few colleagues from university."

"And?"

"It doesn't look good that Anna never told the father about Aidan," Matthew said bluntly. "One could argue that she never even gave the man a chance to prove himself or make the choice to be in this child's life."

"But she made that choice to keep Aidan safe," John argued.

"Even still, it's going to be hard to prove that she was acting in Aidan's best interest. You said she never went to the police or filed a report. It's going to be Anna's word against the his."

John removed his glasses and pinched at the spot where they had been resting on his nose. "I see."

"Mary said you were moving the wedding date up, that will give you a bit more of a leg to stand on. And from what I hear and have seen you've proven yourself to be a very involved father figure."

"Glad to hear we have that going for us then. What about the adoption paperwork? Any luck?"

Matthew shook his head in a no motion. "Not yet. I have a friend in that department who is trying to move your paperwork along, but these things take time." The young man let his hands clasp on his knee as he let his latest bit of information sink in.

"I don't have time!" John nearly burst out of his chair. He took a breath and smoothed his hair back into place. Matthew's eyes widened in surprise. "I'm sorry, I know you are doing your best. It's just that boy is everything to Anna...he's everything to me. We can't lose him. I'd never forgive myself for reintroducing that man into either of their lives."

Matthew allowed John a second to recompose himself. "John, I don't have enough experience with family law. But after speaking to my friend I should warn you, this is not ironclad. Without the signature of the birth father waving his rights you and Anna would be taking a big risk. If at any point the father comes forward to challenge the adoption you and Anna could be facing bigger problems than you are now. Are you sure you don't know where or who the father is so we can get his cooperation on this?"

His mouth was agape as he carefully considered how to answer Matthew's question. When John had first filed Anna hadn't told him about Aidan's father, he wouldn't have even known how to look him up or where he was located. Little did he know the man was interacting with him on a daily basis. Anna hadn't wanted anyone to know, with the exception of Robert. But if John had learned anything in all this it was that sometimes keeping secrets did not serve to get them any further ahead. To have the best possible chance at protecting his family he would have to be able to weigh out the pros and cons. "Let's say I were to find out who the father was. What would happen?"

"From my understanding, the agency would have to make a reasonable effort to notify him and gain permission to go through with this process."

"Define a reasonable effort."

"Well even without a name they will place an ad in the paper to notify the public that an adoption will take place, this would occur in an area where the father is believed to be living. The ad would run for several weeks. And if he doesn't step forward to challenge it, in the eyes of the law he has given up his rights to the child."

"Damn." He stared at the photo on his desk of Anna and Aidan. There would be no avoiding Green.

"John, I mean to help."

"I suppose you'll find out sooner or later, what with Robert being your future father-in-law and all. And of course Mary is so close with Anna, she's bound to find out soon too, that is if she hasn't already figured things out."

"I'm not sure I follow," Matthew replied.

"Things have changed," John admitted with a heavy heart. "I wish I could say I hadn't found before the paperwork was finalized. My intentions were always honorable. I still want that boy to be mine with all my heart. Still, a part of me is now motivated by the simple fact that I need to keep him away from his biological father." Matthew had a feeling he knew where this was going, but he needed to hear it from John's lips first. "Aidan's father has recently made himself known," John confessed.

"I can't see Anna as being the type to keep a child from it's father. He must not have been a good man," Matthew surmised.

"He was the furthest thing from a good man. I hate to say it but I don't think much has improved in the last six years."

"I take it he won't be cooperative then?"

"Far from it. Anna is worried if he finds out about Aidan he'll fight for custody just so he can continue to be in her life."

"My word. I'm so sorry you both are going through this."

"Thanks, Matthew."

"I should be going. I'm supposed to meet up with Mary for a meeting with a client. I'll keep you posted."

The two men shook hands before Matthew exited the room.

John was about to head to Robert's office to speak with him when curiosity got the better of him. The fishbowl conference room that Mr. Green had been occupying as of late was completely empty. Could he be so lucky that today of all days his nemesis was nowhere to be found? Normally John could pinpoint Mr. Green's phony laugh from a mile away, but it seemed that silence had settled over the office today and it was quite unsettling.

"Daisy?" John asked when she was spared a free moment between phone calls. "Have you seen Mr. Green today?"

"I meant to send out a memo, but the phone rang and I hadn't gotten the chance." Her big doe eyes stared back at him innocently. She rummaged through her notes from the morning call log. Her finger scanning down the list. "Here it is. He said he was attending to a personal matter and wouldn't be in today. I'm ever so sorry."

"Quite alright. We all get busy. I'll just be in Robert's office if you need me." As he walked away from Daisy's desk he couldn't help but feel like something wasn't right. One would have thought he'd be relieved to not have Mr. Green lurking around every corner at work. But not showing up to work was very unlike him and John didn't like facing off against someone who was acting unpredictably.

It had been a slow day at the café. Anna had already refilled the salt and pepper shakers, restocked the napkins, and wiped down all the tables. The inventory had been done and the morning drop offs had already been processed. She had even managed to complete the schedule for the staff over the next two weeks since she would be starting her photography courses soon. Anna pulled the course catalog from beneath the counter and skimmed through it to see if it were possible to fit in an extra course. Maybe she shouldn't try to take on so much her first semester and ease herself into it. After all, aside from student and mother, she'd be trying out her new role as a wife and Anna didn't want John to feel like she had lost interest in him. She giggled to herself, considering what they had been doing the night before she very much doubted John thought that way. Her neck turned flush at the thought of his bare form standing before her. Just then, Anna's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the bell ringing to indicate someone had walked in. "Pick any seat you want. I'll be right there with a menu," Anna called out as she tucked the course catalog back underneath the countertop.

She grabbed a menu, a set of utensils, and a coffee cup. Anna was humming to herself as she considered that in just four short days she would be marrying the man of her dreams. Mrs. John Bates. Finally. Despite the reappearance of Henry in their lives, nothing could remove the smile from her face or alter the small skip in her step.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. Shall I give you a moment to go over the menu?" Anna asked as she set everything out on the table and placed the menu in front of the patron staring out the window.

"No actually. I think everything I want is standing right in front of me," came the familiar voice that Anna had come to hate. The hairs on the back of her neck stood at attention. Thank god she hadn't brought the coffee pot over or she might have dropped it. Like a snake in the grass he had managed to slink in there undetected. "You...w-what are you doing here?" Anna asked. She wasn't exactly fearful of him, months of therapy had helped her regain some of her courage. Still. She hadn't expected him to arrive here of all places.

"To speak to you of course. It's amazing what you can find out with a little help of the internet and some patience," he said with a devilish grin.

"So you planned this?"

"I'm not really in the mood for answering so many questions this early in the day. And you haven't even poured me my cup of coffee," Henry said as she swayed the empty cup back and forth in front of Anna as a not-so-subtle reminder.

She pursed her lips together and narrowed her eyes at him. "I'll be right back. Don't move," Anna said cooly.

"Wouldn't dream of it," he responded back.

Before Anna could walk off, Henry turned and said, "Play nice, Anna. I'd like to keep things civil between you and I."

She rolled her eyes at that remark. he hadn't been civil with her since the first few months they were dating. She doubted he even knew what the word meant. The thought crossed her mind to text John while she went to fill Henry's cup with coffee.

"Don't do it, Anna," Henry said.

"I wasn't doing anything," she replied.

"Oh I know exactly what you were thinking," he said without flinching. Then his tone changed ever so slightly, becoming a bit more sinister than before. "Don't involve, John," he warned.

Anna bit nervously at her lip as she went back behind the counter to grab a pot of coffee off the warmer.

"Oh Anna, I was just wondering," Mrs. Patmore began to say as she rounded the corner.

"Not now, Mrs. Patmore. I'll be right there, just give me a few minutes."

The cook looked a bit bewildered at how quickly Anna had responded and made her way back out to the seating area. "Is everything alright? Can I help with anything?" Mrs. Patmore offered.

"I've got it all under control," Anna insisted as she shut the door that separated the kitchen from the serving area. Inside she had never felt so unsure of herself. The idea of making any decisions without getting John's input did not sit right with her. But involving John would only further serve to agitate Henry and perhaps she could persuade her ex to go away on her own.

She returned to the table and filled Henry's cup with coffee before setting the pot down on the end of the table. Anna stood across from him and eyed him seriously, refusing to wilt or crumble under his gaze.

"Won't you join me?" Henry asked as he added the sugar and cream to his cup.

Anna refrained from crossing her arms at the suggestion. Her stomach twisted at the tone of his voice. How easy it was for him to turn on the charm when he wanted to, she thought to herself. "I'm afraid I don't have time for that. I'm covering the front and I have an order I have to receive soon. You and I both know you don't want to be friends. So what is it you want?"

"My, my, my. Where was this commanding, authoritative Anna when I knew you?"

Anna stared back daggers at him, refusing to play his game.

"I've come to discuss your boy," he said simply.

Her face drained free of color. She couldn't help herself. There was a voice repeating over and over to stay strong for Aidan. If it hadn't been for that Anna was sure her knees would have buckled. "What about him?"

Henry took a long slow drink of his coffee. Anna was half tempted to smack it and knock it into his lap. "I'm assuming he's mine given the age and the similarities in appearance."

For a fleeting moment Anna considered denying it, but she knew if she did and Henry wasn't satisfied he would only push for a paternity test. It wouldn't look good if they went to court that she had lied to him when confronted about it. "Only biologically," she admitted.

Those words didn't sit well with Henry.

"You had no interest in me. When things went wrong with you and your studies you took it out on me and I have the scars to prove it. Let's not pretend that knowing of Aidan's existence would have somehow changed all that."

"Maybe not, but he is my son and I do have a legacy to uphold. I'm the boy's father and he should be calling me 'daddy,' not that excuse for a man."

Anna could feel her ears and cheeks turning flush with anger at the accusation. "That 'excuse' for a man has been more of a father than you could ever hope to be to my son. I don't care what any DNA test says."

"Watch yourself, Anna or I will take away everything you hold dear. You've kept me from knowing my son. No judge will look favorably on that note."

"I kept him away from a monster. He nearly didn't survive thanks to your mistreatment of me."

"I may be a monster, but we'll see what the court thinks about your precious Mr. Bates and your skills as a mother when I'm through with you."

"So that's what you came for then? To threaten me? I will fight you til my dying breath to keep him from you and so will John."

Henry's fists banged on the table abruptly. Finally she had pushed his buttons. "Is that so?" He rose from his seat and tossed out cash onto the table. "You want a fight Anna? You haven't seen anything yet."