“They're asleep,” Nate said as he walked into Ella’s parent’s kitchen. When they left Nick Stevenson’s apartment, Pete suggested that they spent the night in a hotel in case Nina turned up at the house. Ella knew the last thing the girls needed was to be dragged to some hotel. They needed somewhere comfortable and safe to stay, and there was nowhere safer than her parent’s place.

When she rang Nora, and told her what had happened, Nora insisted that they came straight there.

“Those poor babies,” Nora sighed as Nate sat down at the kitchen table. “They have been through so much, but they are safe now.”

“I can’t help but think this is all my fault,” Nate said as he looked over at Ella. “I should have handled things so differently.”

“How were you to know that their mother would do what she did?” Henry asked Nate as he gave him a sympathetic look. “Nothing that happened between you two should affect your children. The kids should always come first, but she used them to get back at you, and that was wrong. Then to let some man put his hands on them, it’s unforgivable.”

“I still feel responsible,” Nate sighed. “I’m their dad; I should have protected them.”

“And you did,” Ella said, as she reached over and took his hand. “You found them, and you brought them somewhere safe. I think that makes you a pretty awesome dad in my book.”

“Thanks,” Nate replied and gave Ella a grateful smile. “Did you check on Max? The commotion of getting the girls to bed didn’t wake him, did it?”

“Max is fine,” Ella replied and gave him a reassuring smile, as she tried to stifle a yawn.

“You two must be exhausted,” Nora said as she looked at her daughter with concern. “It’s been a long few days for you both, and tomorrow, you have to go to court. Why don’t you call it a night?”

“I think that’s a great idea,” Ella said as she stood up and kissed her mom on the top of the head. Then she walked to her father and hugged him tightly. “Thank you for everything you did, Dad. Without you asking Pete for help, I don’t know what would have happened tonight.”

“Family takes care of family, Sweetheart,” Henry replied as Ella released him from her embrace. “Nate and the girls are family now, and the Cassidy’s always take care of their own.”

“Thanks, Daddy,” Ella said as she hugged him once again.

“Was my pleasure, Sweetheart,” Henry replied before he turned and looked at Nate. “I’m just glad that you are all home and safe. I want you to remember that this is your home for as long as you need it to be. Same goes for the girls.”

“Thank you, Henry,” Nate said offering him his hand and Henry shook it, then gave Nate a nod. “I’m so grateful.”

Ella said goodnight to her folks before she led Nate up the stairs to her old bedroom.

“So, this was where you grew up,” Nate said as he stood in the middle of the room, taking in his surroundings with a big grin on his face.

“Yep,” Ella said as she sat down on the edge of the bed and watched him. She smiled to herself at the look of relief that filled his face. “This is where all the magic happened.”

“I can just picture an innocent, teenaged Ella, here in this room,” Nate laughed as he walked over and sat down next to her on the bed. “Talking endlessly to your friends for hours about boys.”

“I think you’ve watched too many chick flicks,” Ella laughed, but then her smile faded a little. “Are you okay, really?”

“I think I am,” Nate said as he gave Ella a smile. “I will be happier when I am finished in court tomorrow, but yes, I think I’m okay. I’m happy. You make me happy.”

“I’m glad I do,” Ella replied as she rested her head against his shoulder. “All I want is for you to be happy. Seeing you so lost these last few days, it was so hard.”

“Ella, I don’t know what the future holds,” Nate sighed as he kissed the top if her head. “I know that taking on me and two young girls is probably the last thing you ever imagined you would do, but I want us to be a family. I want the girls and Max to grow up together, and I will do whatever it takes to make this work.”

“I want that too,” Ella said as she looked up at Nate and smiled. “I think we still have a lot to talk about, but we have all the time in the world to get this right. We just need to get through these next few days.”

“You know that I do love you,” Nate said as he pressed his head to Ella’s. “So fucking much, it scares me.”

“I love you too, Nate,” she smiled up into his eyes.

Nate leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. Ella closed her eyes and allowed Nate to take her in his arms. She had no idea what the future held, but right at that moment, she didn’t care. She loved Nate, and nothing else mattered.

Ella sat on the back porch and watched Max and Shelby help her dad in the garden. He had spent the morning making them a rope swing on the big oak tree at the back of the garden, and now they were helping him with the gardening. Shelby seemed to have taken to Henry, and he seemed to have a soft spot for her too.

Cassie, on the other hand, had been very quiet all day. Ella had planned on going to the court with Nate that morning, but Cassie was still very upset, so Ella decided that staying with her was more important at that time, and Nate was happier to have her stay with the girls.

Cassie had barely left Ella’s side since Nate had left for the courthouse, and Ella knew she just needed some reassurance.

“Do you think my dad will be home soon,” she asked as she sat next to Ella on the back porch.

“I don’t know sweetie,” Ella replied and gave her a smile. “I don’t think he will be much longer.”

“Do you think he will see my mom?” Cassie asked, and Ella knew that the girl was still very confused about everything that was going on.

“I’m not really sure,” Ella replied honestly. “I would imagine your mom would go to the court too, but I don’t know for sure.”

“Do you think the judge will make us go back to her?” Cassie asked, and Ella’s heart almost broke when she saw the look of fear in the little girl’s eyes.

“I don’t know sweetheart,” Ella replied, deciding it was best not to make Cassie any promise that she might not be able to keep. “I know your dad doesn’t want you to go back. And the Detective will be there, and he will be telling the judge that you should be with your dad.”

“Will my mom be in trouble with the judge?” Cassie asked as she nervously bit her nail.

“I don’t think so,” Ella replied. “The judge is just going to decide where is the best place for you and Shelby to live for now.”

“Will he know that we want to live with Dad?” She asked as the tears danced in her eyes.

“Your dad will tell him what you want,” Ella assured her. “And so will Pete.”

“Do you want us to live with you and Dad?” Cassie asked as she looked up into Ella’s eyes.

“Of course I do,” Ella assured the girl. “I want you and Shelby to stay with us forever, and I know that Max would love it too. I think it would be fun to have more girls around here.”

“Mom’s friend didn’t want us to live with them,” Cassie whispered without looking at Ella. “He shouted at Shelby all the time because she was crying for Dad. He spanked her and Mom said nothing. I don’t ever want to go back to see him. Please don’t let the judge make us go back there.”

“I promise that me and your dad will do whatever it takes to make sure you don’t have to,” Ella said as she slipped her arms around the girl and hugged her tightly. “Everything is going to be okay.”

“Hey,” Nate said as he appeared at the back door.

“Daddy,” Cassie said as she jumped up and wrapped her arms around Nate.

“I’m sorry I was so long,” Nate said and hugged her tightly as he gave Ella a smile. “I just stopped by the house to pick up some bits and pieces. I hope you girls were good for Ella.”

“Of course they were,” Ella replied resisting the urge to ask him what had happened at the court, as she didn’t know if they should discuss it in front of Cassie. “Cassie has been my helper all day.”

“What did the judge say?” Cassie asked as she looked up at her father expectantly.

“He said that you girls should stay with me,” Nate replied, and instantly the look of relief filled the little girl’s face.

“DADDY!” Shelby called out when she spotted Nate standing on the back porch before she ran up the back garden to him. Nate scooped her up in his arms when she reached him.

“Grandpa Henry made us a swing,” Shelby exclaimed excitedly. “He pushed Max and me really high, and then we planted flowers.”

“I hope you don’t mind,” Henry said as he walked back up the garden, followed closely by Max. “She asked if I was going to be her grandpa too like I was Max’s and I said if she wanted me to be, then it would be my honour.”

“I don’t mind at all,” Nate beamed, and Ella could see that he was touched by what her father had said. He dropped his eyes to Max and his smile widened. “Hey buddy did your grandpa build you a new swing.”

“I was high,” Max replied without looking at Nate, but then he walked towards Nate and took his hand. “High again.”

“You want to go high on the swing again?” Nate said as he let Max lead him back down the garden, with Shelby still in his arms and Cassie close behind him. When they reached the swing, he set Shelby down and lifted Max onto the swing.

“Are you ready to go high?” Nate asked as he pulled Max back on the swing.

“High, Daddy,” Max said as he held the rope tightly and Nate let him go. As he swung into the air, he held his head back and closed his eyes, as a laugh came from deep inside him.

“That boy loves his Dad,” Henry said as he stood next to Ella and watched Nate and Shelby push Max higher and higher.

“He really does,” Ella agreed as she smiled to herself. “And Nate loves him.”

“He is a good man, Ella,” Henry agreed as he took a seat on the back porch. “Did he say how it went in the courthouse?”

“Only that the judge said the girls were to stay with him,” Ella sighed as she walked to the swing her father was sitting on, and took a seat next to him. “But I don’t know what else happened.”

“I guess he will tell you later when the girls aren’t about,” Henry offered.

“Yeah,” Ella sighed.

“Don’t you want the girls with you?” Henry asked, surprising Ella with his question.

“Of course I do,” Ella replied. “I’m just worried I guess. You didn’t see Nina last night. She was a mess. I almost didn’t recognise her as the same lady I met the first day we moved into the house.”

“Then I guess it’s a good thing the judge did the right thing,” Henry said as he watched his daughter closely. “But something else is bothering you.”

“I guess I’m just scared,” Ella whispered, not wanting Nate or the girls to hear her. “As we left the apartment, she told Nate she would not let him do this, that they belonged to her.”

“People say things when their upset…” Henry began to say, but Ella cut him off mid-sentence.

“Yes, but it was more than that,” Ella explained. “She said she would never let him win, and I think she meant it. Something in the way she looked at Nate. I don’t think it matters what the courts said today, Nina is not going to take this lying down.”

“Do you think she will try to snatch the girls again?” Henry asked, and now Ella could hear the worry in his voice too.

“I don’t know,” Ella shrugged and released a deep sigh. “I think Nina is capable of just about anything, and I don’t know what she will do if she is pushed far enough.”

“Then with that in mind,” Henry asked. “Do you think it’s safe to go home?”

“I don’t know,” Ella admitted as she looked at her father. “I’m scared, Dad. I don’t know what it is she will do, but I know that she is a woman who is hurt and beyond angry right now. She is ready to implode completely and when she does, I don’t know that anyone in her path is really safe.”

“Then stay here,” Henry offered. “I know that it isn’t a long-term solution, but at least I know when you’re here, you and Max are safe, and so is Nate and the girls.”

“Thanks, Dad,” Ella said as she gave her father a hug. “I don’t know what I would do without you and Mom.

“Well,” Henry smiled as he reached out and took his daughter's hand. “Thankfully you will never have to find out.”

“Thanks, Dad,” she repeated as she turned her attention back to Nate and the girls.

“He seems happy,” Henry said as he too watched Nate with the kids. “He looks relieved.”

“He does,” Ella nodded.

“Oh, I forgot to mention,” Henry said as he looked at Ella once more. “Ben called, he said he wants everyone here tonight, that he and Jules are dropping by. I called Bran, and he said he would be here.”

“Why, what’s going on?” Ella asked, her curiosity piqued.

“I don’t know,” Henry replied. “But Mom is insisting on cooking up a storm. That’s why she has headed to the store, because God knows there isn’t enough food in the two freezer chests she has down in the basement.”

Ella laughed. She loved that no matter how crazy or complicated things got, she could always count on her mother to be exactly the same person she always was.

“Hey, Mommy,” Nate called from the bottom of the garden. “We all think that it’s your turn on the swing, so get your butt down here.”

“Duty calls,” Ella said as she stood up and kissed the top of her father’s head before she hurried down the back garden.