Thank you so much for all the feedback. I don't really know where this story is going, I'm just having a good time finding out!

Chapter 7

Sylvie yawned as she opened the bedroom door. She leaned on the door frame, watching Antonio pace the living room, agitated. He held his cell phone to his ear but all the conversation was coming from the other end of the line. The look on Antonio's face told Sylvie plainly that he wasn't liking what he was hearing.

"There must be something I can do. She can't just tell me she's taking my kids half way across the country and not expect me to put up a fight." Antonio stopped walking and leaned on the table. His back was to Sylvie, he didn't know she was watching him. "I don't care what it takes, I won't lose my kids."

Antonio hung up the phone and slammed his phone down angrily on the table. Sylvie approached his hunched figure and placed both hands on his back soothingly. He turned around.

"I'm sorry, did I wake you?"

"No, Matty did that at 6am, don't worry about it." Sylvie smiled, trying to coax a smile from Antonio but his brow was furrowed and he had a faraway look in his eyes. "Hey" said Sylvie, rubbing his arm, "talk to me."

Antonio sighed. "I thought this was over" he said. "The court awarded us joint custody, I thought that would be the end of it. But now Laura wants to move to Denver and just expects me to say it's ok for Diego and Eva to go too." Sylvie saw the pain and worry in Antonio's eyes and hated that there was nothing she could do to make it go away. "I can't lose them, Sylvie, I just can't. I don't know what to do."

Ever since Laura had told Antonio a week ago about her new job in Denver, Antonio had not been able to think of anything else. Sylvie was understanding and had tried to show him she was there for him, but he felt guilty that he was so preoccupied and felt in danger of neglecting her and the twins.

"Was that your lawyer on the phone?"

"Yeah, but he wasn't optimistic. I could try and fight for full custody but he didn't like my chances. What do I do Sylvie?"

Sylvie so wanted to be able to give an answer. The helpless look on Antonio's face upset her, but she didn't know any more than he did. She had got off to a bumpy start with Antonio's kids, especially Eva, but in the months since Gabriel and Matteo were born, things had been good. The older kids were great with the twins, and Antonio was happy to have all his children around him, and that in turn made Sylvie happy. She couldn't say she loved them, not really, but she found that she didn't want them to move either. She was scared of what might happen to Antonio if he lost them. If this was how depressed he was at the mere possibility of it happening, what would he be like if it actually did?

"I don't know" Sylvie eventually answered, honestly, and wrapped her arms around Antonio's neck. Antonio returned the hug, holding her close.

"I'm sorry about all this, you don't need the stress. It's my problem, I'll try and keep you out of it."

"I don't want to be out of it" Sylvie said, and Antonio looked at her with astonishment. "We're going to be married" Sylvie explained. "We're a family, and that makes Eva and Diego my family too. I care about them. Let me be here for you, we'll find a solution together."

"You're amazing, do you know that?"

"You've told me once or twice."

Antonio laughed, and for the first time Sylvie saw that he had tears in his eyes. "I'll never stop saying it. I'm the luckiest guy in the world."

Sylvie looked away, embarrassed. "So what happens now?"

"My lawyer set up a mediation with Laura tomorrow at his office, I don't know what it will achieve, but…"

"Can I be there? Not in the room maybe, but at his office? Your Mom can watch the twins, I know she'll love that."

"You don't have to do that" Antonio said. "It's won't be pretty." Antonio was so grateful for Sylvie's support, but he wanted to shield her from his drama with his ex-wife. He wanted to make a fresh start, a new life, with Sylvie and their sons, but every time he thought he was getting there something came up and he was reminded that it would never be that easy.

"I don't care" Sylvie said. "For better or for worse, right? We've not said our vows yet but that doesn't mean we can't live by them now."

"Thank you" Antonio said, giving in. He was glad in this moment that Sylvie could be stubborn when she wanted. But the truth was he wanted her by his side, she made him feel like everything would be okay.

Sylvie kissed him. "You can show your appreciation by getting the boys dressed while I jump in the shower."

Antonio grinned. Life didn't stop just because he was having issues. He had a new family to think about and he didn't want to forget it. "Alright" he said, and was rewarded by another peck on the lips. Sylvie turned and headed back into their bedroom. Antonio watched her go. What had he done to deserve her?

Sylvie sat on a bench by the lake, the double stroller parked beside her, staring out at the water, lost in her thoughts.

"Hey."

Sylvie blinked, coming back to reality, to see Eva standing over her. "Hey. Thanks for meeting me."

"No problem. I don't need any encouragement to spend time with my brothers." Eva sat down and she and Sylvie hugged. The earlier animosity that Eva had felt for Sylvie when she first started dating her Dad, and then when she found out she was pregnant, had gone. Being there at the birth of her brothers had really affected Eva. She was devoted to them, and saw them whenever she could.

"How are you doing?" Sylvie asked. She knew this situation couldn't be easy on the kids either, and if she could be there for them as well as Antonio she would.

"I'm ok" Eva replied, but looked down at the ground. "But it does suck. Things are good how they are. I like living with Mom but I like staying with you and Dad. Why does Mom need a stupid new job anyway?"

"I like you spending time with us too" Sylvie said. It wasn't ideal, to say the least. Sylvie and Antonio's apartment was not that big, Eva and Diego had to sleep on the couches whenever they came to stay, but somehow it didn't matter. Sylvie had always been close to her own family growing up. She loved having the people she cared for around her and it didn't much matter about the circumstances. They could all be living in a box on the street, but as long as they were together it wouldn't matter. In theory anyway. "Your Dad's so happy when you're around, and Matty and Gabe love it too."

Eva leaned over to look at her baby brothers fast asleep in their stroller. "I don't want to move to Denver" she admitted. "All my friends are here, and my school. If I move I will miss out on so much with these guys. But it will break Mom's heart if I tell her, I don't think I have a choice."

'It will break your Dad's heart if you go' Sylvie wanted to say, but bit her tongue. The last thing Eva needed was a guilt trip.

"Do you want to take a walk?" Sylvie asked, and Eva nodded.

They found themselves at the children's play area. The twins had woken up for a feed and now Eva was sitting on a swing with Gabriel on her lap while Sylvie stood close by burping Matteo. Eva kicked her feet off the ground and the swing moved gently. Gabriel giggled with delight and kicked his legs excitedly. Sylvie smiled at her son, but then looked up to the pensive look on Eva's face and sighed.

Eva caught Sylvie watching her. "Do you think this mess will be resolved tomorrow?"

Sylvie was taken a back. She knew Antonio and Laura both wanted to protect the kids as much as possible from their fighting, but they should have known they couldn't keep their meeting secret. "How do you know about that?"

"I heard Mom on the phone. You know, I'm not a kid any more, I shouldn't have some judge I've never met deciding where I get to live, it's not fair." She paused, chancing her mind about something. "You know what, no. Even if I was a kid, it still wouldn't be fair. Diego's just as upset as me."

Sylvie sat down on the other swing, still rubbing Matteo's back to wind him. Sylvie had to be careful about what she said. She could only imagine how furious Laura would be if she thought she was getting too involved and influencing Eva's decision. But it was impossible not to be. Like Sylvie said to Antonio that morning, Eva and Diego were part of her family too. "None of this is far."

Eva sat up, a thought coming to her. "Do you think I'd be allowed to talk to the judge?"

"It might not come to that, tomorrow is an informal mediation, it might not get that far."

"Have you met my parents?" she asked rhetorically. "Neither of them will back down."

The next day, when the door of the lawyer's office opened and Antonio stormed out, Sylvie knew it had not gone well. Sylvie stood up, and followed Antonio at a distance, knowing he needed a few minutes to cool off but wanting to be there to comfort him when he needed. Antonio turned and saw her, and beckoned Sylvie to him. He wrapped his arms around her.

"This is a nightmare" Antonio said. "You know what Laura springs on me? Her job starts in a week. A week! She is unbelievable."

Sylvie stroked Antonio's hair, physical contact always calmed him down. "What happens now?"

"We'll go before a judge on Friday to decide. What if Laura gets her way? When will I ever see my kids?"

"You'll see them, of course you will. What's important here is what's best for Eva and Diego, and having you in their lives is what's best. The judge saw that before, she'll see it again."

Antonio shook his head, not because he disbelieved Sylvie's words, but because this whole situation was more than he could cope with. "You know, when I was growing up so many of my friends' fathers were not around, I felt so lucky that my Dad was. When I had kids I promised myself that I wouldn't be one of those fathers that only saw their kids every other weekend. What happened?"

Sylvie didn't have an answer, she simply rubbed Antonio's shoulders reassuringly.

Antonio took a deep breath in an effort to bolster his mood. "I don't want to think about it. At least not for today. Let's go pick up the boys from my mother and have a day out, just the four of us."

Sylvie nodded. "I'd like that."

Antonio's phone buzzed in his pocket and he took it out to read the message. Sylvie watched his face but found it impossible to read his expression. Eventually, he turned to her. "I had a surprise for you" he said, doing his best to brighten. "It wasn't supposed to be until the weekend but…" he stopped, not wanting to say any more in case he ruined it. "Well, you'll see. We can leave the babies with my Mom for a couple of hours longer. Come on."

Antonio took Sylvie's hand and lead her to the elevator. Sylvie smiled, confused, but Antonio seemed excited and less weighed down with worry and that made her happy. She decided to just go with it, whatever 'it' may be.

They hailed a cab, and Antonio made Sylvie wait on the curb while he told the driver where they were going, and close her eyes the whole way there. The drive took 20 minutes at least, Antonio ignoring Sylvie's protests the whole way. The cab parked up and Antonio paid the driver before opening the door and helping Sylvie out. Sylvie was true to her word, she didn't peak even though the suspense was killing her. She heard the cab drive away and felt Antonio take her arms, leading her forward a few steps. He put one arm around her shoulders.

"Open your eyes."

Sylvie obliged. They were standing in front of a beautiful town house, with a large bay window at the front and ivy growing up the porch. Sylvie looked at Antonio, confused, but it all became clear when she saw the 'For Sale' sign on a post in the yard. She was speechless, she opened her mouth to talk but no words came out.

"I've been talking to a realtor for a few weeks" Antonio said. "I wasn't going to let this whole mess with Laura stop me from planning my future with you. Our apartment is tiny, before we know it the twins will be walking around and no way will that tiny apartment contain them."

Sylvie looked back to the house. The wood stained window frames and red brick façade, the slightly unkempt grass in the yard and the steps leading to the front door. "Antonio, I don't know what to say."

"Say you'll come look inside" Antonio said, fishing the keys out of his pocket.

"Can we afford it?"

"Absolutely. I'm making pretty good money now. I've already been to the bank, I wanted to make sure it was realistic before saying anything to you. If we want to put an offer in we have to be quick though, a place like this won't stay on the market for long."

Sylvie let Antonio lead her up the steps and waited as he unlocked the door. The front door led straight into a huge open plan living room, the high ceilings and real fireplace made Sylvie gasp. Antonio saw her reaction and was reassured, he had been nervous the whole ride over that this might backfire, that she would be angry with him somehow for not consulting her, but the look of wonder on her face made him relax.

"There's a big back yard for the kids to run around in" he said. "Four bedrooms. A brand new kitchen. I know it's a little far from work for both of us, but I can really see us really see us living here."

Antonio looked at Sylvie eagerly. Excitement and common sense were fighting a battle in Sylvie's mind and she simply gazed around, unsure what to say. They were in the kitchen now, and Sylvie ran a hand across the marble counter top.

"Go and look around" Antonio said. "I'll wait here." He really wanted her to like the house but at the same time, didn't want his own enthusiasm to bully her into doing something she didn't want to do.

"You're not coming?"

"I've already seen it" Antonio said. He took Sylvie's hand, and brought it to his face, kissing it. "You should make up your own mind" he said, "I want to move forward with you, Sylvie. I want to build a proper home together, but one that we both love."

Thirty minutes later, Sylvie found Antonio sitting on a swing seat on the back porch. He smiled when he saw her.

Sylvie looked across the garden which was sparse but neat, to a willow tree growing at the bottom by the white painted fence. "This is nice" she said.

"Yeah, it is." Antonio pulled Sylvie onto his lap and wrapped his arms around her slender waist. "So, what do you think?"

"It's gorgeous Antonio, I love it. But can we really afford to buy a place like this?"

"Yes. We can. I can show you the paperwork, I worked it all out. Trust me?"

It wasn't a statement, but a question. So much was being asked with that question, far more than whether or not their salaries could cover a mortgage. Sylvie twisted her body around so she could see Antonio's face. She cupped his cheek. "I do trust you."

"Listen, I know we haven't really talked about this properly and I know it's a lot to ask of you, but what if the judge decides that Eva and Diego must stay in Chicago and Laura takes the job anyway?"

Sylvie took a deep breath, fully aware of the implications of what she was about to say. "Then they can live with us. They're your kids, Antonio. Of course they can." Sylvie stopped, a thought occurring to her. "Is that why you wanted a house?"

Antonio shook his head. "No, I started looking weeks ago, long before Laura told me about Denver." He kissed her shoulder then looked her in the eye, pleadingly. "You have to believe me when I say that you and the twins are my priority, and if you tell me you don't want this..."

Sylvie wouldn't let Antonio finish that sentence, she knew it would break his heart to let his children go and she would never ever make him do that for her. She loved him too much and couldn't live with herself. "Antonio, I told you. If it comes down to it, they can stay with us." Sylvie smiled, hope by that he believed her. "So, are you going to call the realtor, or should I?"

A smile spread over Antonio's face. "You want to make an offer?"

Sylvie jumped up, nodding. She took Antonio's hands and pulled him to his feet. "I want to make an offer."

Antonio lifted her up and swung her around, laughing. Every time Antonio thought he couldn't love this girl more, she proved him wrong. Time and again she proved that she was a better person than he could ever hope to be with such an enormous heart that Antonio thanked God that he was the one lucky enough to have it.

In order to make an informed decision, the judge deciding where Eva and Diego should live requested one on one interviews with everyone involved, the children included. When Sylvie's turn came she entered the judge's chambers and swallowed nervously.

She was more than a little intimidated, but it was not the judge's fault. She had a serious but not unkind expression on her face as she gestured for Sylvie to sit down. Eva's words to her a few days before rang loud in her mind. The fact that the judge had asked to interview the kids too meant something, and if Eva hadn't had a change of heart, there was a very real possibility things might go Antonio's way. And that was scary as hell. She enjoyed spending time with Antonio's kids, but parenting them? That was on another level entirely.

"This is a complicated situation" the judge began. "So I wanted to talk to all parties involved to get a clear picture of the situation. Nothing you say will leave this room, so try not to be nervous." Sylvie took a deep breath. Easier said than done. "Please tell me about your relationship with Mr Dawson."

"We're engaged" she began, her voice a little shaky. "We live together. We just made an offer on a house, actually." Sylvie couldn't help but smile. "And we have 5 month old twin boys." She paused. "I probably should have started with that."

"How long have you been together?"

Sylvie quickly calculated in her head. 'Which time?' she thought, but knew it was unwise to ask that question.

The judge sensed her hesitation. "I understand from Mr Dawson that there was a period of time that you weren't together?"

Sylvie nodded. "We first got together about a year and a half ago. I'm a paramedic, and his sister Gabby was my partner. But the custody battle, the last one, put too much of a strain on our relationship and we broke up. And then I discovered I was pregnant. We didn't get back together right away, but he was there for me from the beginning to take care of me. He's a wonderful father to our sons, to Eva and Diego too."

"Would you say your relationship is stable?"

"Absolutely." That was one question Sylvie did not need to think about the answer to.

"Do you get on with Mr Dawson's other children?"

"Yes. They're round at our place all the time, they both love spending time with their brothers. It was difficult at first between us, I don't think any kid wants to accept when their parents split up, but we've all been through a lot together and I'd say our relationship was good."

"How would you feel if Eva and Diego came to live with you?"

"It would be an adjustment. But I love Antonio and he loves his kids, I would make it work."

An hour later, all testimonies heard, and with Antonio, Laura, Sylvie and the kids present, the judge had ruled with Eva and Diego's wishes to stay in Chicago with their father. Seeing the look of utter relief on Antonio's face made Sylvie happy, but she couldn't enjoy it, not when the decision caused pain to someone else. Laura had been horrible to her on more than one occasion, but Sylvie saw now that it was only fear that had made her act that way. Sylvie saw her own life through Laura's eyes now for the first time and felt a rush of sympathy towards her.

To Laura, it must have looked like Sylvie was snatching away everything in her life. Even though her and Antonio had been over long before Sylvie came on the scene, seeing them together had to hurt.

"Laura, wait. I'm sorry." Sylvie caught up to the woman in the parking lot and called her name.

Laura turned, and Sylvie could see furious tears rolling down her face. "Don't talk to me" she said, her voice hoarse from crying. "You're not sorry. You all got what you wanted, didn't you?"

"No" Sylvie said. "None of us wanted this. But it doesn't have to be this way, you could choose to stay."

"No one wants me here. You heard the kids, they want to play happy families with you and Antonio and their brothers. They made that perfectly clear. I can't offer them that, it's just me." Laura seemed to calm down. Her tears still fell but there was no longer anger in them, just quiet realisation of what she had lost, or was about to lose.

"I'm a mother too" Sylvie said. "If I think about someone trying to take my kids away from me I feel sick to my stomach. I'd give up my whole world to stay with them, that's the truth." Sylvie took a gamble and began to walk closer to Laura. She could have bolted, but she was rooted to the spot, seemingly lacking the energy to fight any longer.

"You could stay" Sylvie said, when she was only a metre away. "You should stay."

Twenty difference emotions fought for dominance on Laura's face but she didn't respond.

"At least see Eva and Diego before you leave here, they're distraught at the thought they hurt you." Sylvie sighed, seeing that Laura was not ready to face Antonio or her children just yet. "Just think about it" Sylvie said, and turned to walk back into the building.

"The food's here."

Antonio opened the door to the bedroom expecting to find Sylvie sleeping, but instead she way sat cross legged on the bed, Matteo and Gabriel lying in front of her surrounded by pillows to stop them falling. She was gazing down at them, stroking their little pink hands with her finger tips.

"Hey" Antonio said quietly, sitting on the edge of the bed behind Sylvie. "They should be napping."

"I know" Sylvie said, but offered no explanation. She would pay for this later, when they were both screaming in the middle of the night, but right now all she wanted was to be here with her sons. "You have to talk to Laura" Sylvie said, and she felt Antonio bristle. "Please, Antonio, hear me out. I know you're angry with her and I know she hurt you, but this animosity between you isn't healthy. I care about you and I can see how stressed out you are, and it is only going to get worse."

Antonio took a deep breath, trying to keep his emotions at bay. "She's the one who's changing everything."

Throughout this whole conversation, Sylvie continued to watch the twins but now she tore her eyes away from the babies and twisted to see Antonio's face. "Ask her to stay. It would be better for everyone, you know that. Make a show of peace and I think everyone would be happier."

Antonio watched Gabriel and Matteo now, drinking in every inch of their tiny bodies. Sylvie was right and he hated to admit it. But he had loved Laura once, they had had a great life together until it all fell apart. Hhe had been so preoccupied in moving towards the future that he had forgotten the past. But a thought niggled at the back of Antonio's mind. "Is this about you not wanting the kids to live with us?"

"No" Sylvie said, sternly. "I told the judge I'd make it work, and I meant it. But honestly, I'm not sure we're ready. The twins take up so much time, and there's your job to think about." Sylvie felt Antonio's muscles tense. "I don't want to fight, I'm just trying to be honest. Please try."

Antonio put his hand on Sylvie's shoulder, and she put her hand on top of his. He leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. Her perfume filled his nostrils and he was intoxicated by it, but it wasn't only the scent, it was everything about this wonderful woman who was prepared to make this huge commitment to him and his kids, he owed it to her to listen to what she had to say and to try and make things right, no matter how hard it was on himself. "I'll try" Antonio said finally.

Sylvie smiled, she had said her piece and the conversation was at an end. She uncrossed her legs and swung them over the edge of the bed. "I'm starving" she said, bending down and gathering up Gabriel in his blanket. "Let's put the boys down and have dinner." Sylvie bent down to kiss Antonio, showing she had no hard feelings. Antonio watched her retreating back for a second before standing up himself and lifting Matteo from the bed.

"What a mess eh?" he said to his son, holding him so his face was level with Antonio's. The baby just stared back blankly. "You never want to be an adult, trust me" he said, kissing Matteo's cheek. "It's just too complicated."

Later on, Sylvie lay on the sofa with her head in Antonio's lap while he stroked her hair. The TV was on but the sound was down and neither of them were really watching it, they were both lost in their thoughts.

Antonio was the first to speak. "I love you so much" he said, brushing a lock of hair out of Sylvie's eyes. "I'm sorry about earlier, I'm sorry if you felt like I was being selfish."

"Antonio, the last word I'd use to describe you is selfish. You have a big heart and you care for your family, I don't ever want you to change that. Watching you with Diego and Eva makes me so happy, because I see how much you care for them and what wonderful people they're turning out to be and I know that Gabriel and Matteo will turn out just as well because they have you as a role model."

Sylvie sat up, taking Antonio's face in her hands. "Whatever happens, everything will be ok."