Realisations

[Zetti]

Here we go... Roman is in this chapter

Part Eleven

Angelo looked at her once again, she looked beautiful. It had only been a week but he missed her. It was so strange how much of his time over the past month that had been with her.

‘Come and sit’ she said as she sat on the sofa.

Angelo sat next to her, he resisted the temptation to stroke her hair and hug her.

‘Angelo, I have been thinking about everything’

‘Like?’ he asked unsure

‘The kiss’ she said

Angelo looked at her and he knew that she regretted kissing him.

‘I shouldn’t have kissed you, my hormones were acting up I think’

Angelo stood up ‘Okay, if that is how you feel’

She stood up and said ‘I am sorry’

She watched as he walked out of the house, she didn’t see the devastated look on his face.

He waited till he was in the safety of his own room and let all the tears flow.

**

It had been nearly two weeks since Rob had been taken into care; Nicole had finally got the chance to see him.

Susan had kicked up a fuss as she didn’t want to jeopardise the case but Angelo had managed to pull some strings and get her the chance to see him.

However Nicole didn’t know that Angelo had done that and that was how he wanted it to be.

He was struggling to accept that she didn’t want to be with him in a relationship but she had come to the understanding that Angelo didn’t want to be with her.

Roo was with Nicole, she really wanted to knock some sense into Nicole and tell her that the fact that she was getting a chance to see her son was because of Angelo.

Roo wanted to tell Nicole that was the reason but Roman refused. He thought it would be better if she talked to Angelo and let Angelo tell her himself, she had to find out from him.

He knew that Nicole loved him as she admitted it to him along with the fact that she saw Angelo as Rob’s father which made Roman smile. She had grown up so much the past few years when he wasn’t around and he was proud of her.

4 days earlier

‘Why haven’t you spoken to Angelo?’ Roman asked as they sat on her bed.

‘I don’t know, I just don’t think he wants to be with me’

What makes you think that?’

‘He hasn’t spoken to me in days’

Nicole couldn’t really blame him for that but she just wanted her life to go smoothly.

It just seemed to be one drama after another and another and she was sick of it.

Would there ever be a time without drama?

‘You pushed him away’ Roman still couldn’t believe he was defending Angelo but she was being hormonal and so he could understand but enough was enough.

‘I know, I know’

‘Talk to him. I know you love him. I can see it’

Nicole sighed ‘I know I do, but I don’t know if he does’

‘You wont know till you talk, properly this time’ he said locking her eyes on his.

She nodded. She would tell him the truth.

‘Can I ask you one thing?’

‘Sure’ she said confused

‘How do you see Angelo? As your partner or Rob’s father?’

‘Both’ she admitted allowing herself to smile. For the first time, she could see them two together properly with Rob.

‘Penn isn’t his father, he might be biologically but no Angelo has been my rock, I needed him and he was there’

‘Then you have answered your own question, you two should be together’

**

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[Zetti]

Part Twelve

Nicole sat down on the sofa of the house, Hilary was the foster mother and she was in her mid 30’s, she had long blonde hair and a nice smile.

She was holding Rob and looked at Nicole ‘He really is a good baby’

Hilary handed the baby over to Nicole. She kissed his forehead and breathed in his smell. She had missed how he felt in her arms and how she made him feel when she was holding him.

‘Wow’ Roo commented ‘he’s grown in 2 weeks’

Nicole nodded but she was a bit sad that she had missed it, she wanted to be there for every step of his life and she couldn’t all because of Marilyn.

Nicole understood that Marilyn was angry but she was not even in the right frame of mind when she agreed.

She hated making excuses but that was the truth and nothing she did was going to change how she felt back then and how she felt right now.

‘He has’ Nicole said as Susan walked in. ‘I think that is enough for now’

Rob opened his eyes slightly, he had such beautiful blue eyes and he looked directly at her. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from him.

Hilary came over and Nicole handed him over ‘Thanks for letting me hold him’

She looked sad that Nicole had lost her baby; she seemed to have accepted that she had lost him.

Hilary hoped that she would get her son back, she didn’t believe in writing parents off before they had even had a chance to be a parent.

Nicole smiled as she left the house with Roo, she needed to see Angelo and so she made her excuses and went to see him. She got there and he wasn’t around so she decided to make her way over later.

**

‘So what is the plan?’ Julie asked Marilyn as they met up. Julie had finally got out of the prison.

Marilyn told her ‘I am going to take the baby’

‘How?’

‘Well. I need a new identity and you are the only person who can get me one’

‘No, I am not going to do anything that puts me back there’

‘All you have to do is get me the ID, then that’s it. I will not name you’ she promised and for once she actually meant it.

**

Angelo was at a nightclub for the second time in a row. He just wanted to shut everything out; his life was way too complicated the past few weeks.

‘You on your own?’ he heard

He turned, ‘Yes, and you are?’ he asked

‘Stacey’

Angelo smiled.

She looked like someone who wanted no strings attached fun.

‘So’ she said after about an hour of flirting, dancing and drinking.

‘Your place or mine?’

**

Please comment

[Zetti]

As promised

There are not many parts left to this but thanks for sticking with it this far

Warning: Sexual Content

Part Thirteen

Angelo smiled. ‘Let’s go’

Stacey led the way and Angelo wrapped his coat around her, he had a good feeling that it was going to be a good night.

‘So… what is a handsome guy like you doing on your own?’ she asked as they got into his car headed towards Angelo’s place.

‘Wanted some fun, don’t need to pinned down’

She smiled.

Angelo smiled back but inside his heart was breaking, all he wanted was to be in a relationship with Nicole and have a family with her and Rob.

Angelo led her into his house, locking the door; she had a seductive smile on her face.

She quickly undressed him as they kissed towards the bedroom. Angelo had lost

He opened the door to his room and walked in backwards pulling her with him.

The door swung shut with a push of his foot. She smiled at him as he moved his lips from her lips down towards her neck.

She groaned as his kisses gained momentum and moved even further down towards her breast.

He fondled her right breast and licked the nipples of her left breast.

He then put his hands on the arch of her back and lifted her onto the bed, as he was doing that, she put her legs around his waist.

A few moments later, she screamed as Angelo had took began to suck at her left breast violently and she dug her nails into his back, scratching him all over.

Angelo entered inside her and they slowly rocked together as he climaxed inside her.

Unbeknownst to either of them, Nicole had decided to make a late night visit, she really wanted Angelo to hold her and tell her it was all going to be okay and for them both to finally be together.

She heard something and decided to investigate; she opened the door slightly and recoiled in shock.

She gasped and Angelo looked up. ‘Nicole’

She turned and ran. Angelo looked so shocked, he quickly got dressed, ordered Stacey out and ran after Nicole.

**

She ended up on the beach in tears.

‘Nicole!’ Angelo called

She flinched, she still had the image in her head of him with her.

‘Go away’ she said through her tears

‘please?’

‘No, go the hell away’ she said as more tears fell

‘No, please, just listen to me’

‘You shagged another woman, I don’t want you anywhere near me’

Angelo looked at her for a few moments and realised that she wasn’t going to budge

‘I am not giving up’ but he knew she was drained but he loved her and despite it all, he was going to get her back even if he had to wait forever to get there.

**

:ph34r:

[Zetti]

You really don't trust me to give Nic/Ange a happy ending do you?

Enjoy this chapter

Part Fourteen.

A month later

‘He did what?’ Roman said in disbelief, Nicole had kept it to herself for the past month. Roman had to force it out of her

‘Don’t, please don’t, the image in my head is more than enough.’ She said with a grimace on her face.

Roman grimaced ‘I need to knock some sense into him’

‘You will not!’ Miles interrupted

‘He hurt my daughter’

‘I know, but you have just got out of prison, don’t put yourself back there’

Roman growled and sat down on ‘He needs to pay’

‘No, he doesn’t, I need to talk to him properly’ Nicole answered surprising herself as well Miles and Roman.

‘Why?’ Miles asked cautiously whilst Roman looked at her in a state of shock

‘I owe him that, I rejected him, we weren’t even together, and do I have a right to be a cow towards him?’

‘You do’ she heard Angelo say from the doorway.

Miles eased Roman out of the door on the opposite side of the kitchen, ignoring his protests to let him stay.

‘I was a jerk. I just wanted to shut out the fact that you didn’t want me’

‘It’s not that I didn’t want you’

‘I know, you were struggling with not having Rob in your life’

She nodded unable to say anything else.

‘Have you seen him?’

‘Yep, that’s why I came over; I wanted to reminisce with you’

Angelo looked at her eyes, she was so defeated, and he felt like even more of jerk for having cheated on her. He wasn’t even with her and yet he felt like had cheated her.

**

Marilyn was sitting on the beach when Roman approached her.

‘So you are the one who decided to hurt my daughter’ he said with contempt

‘She didn’t honour her deal, she promised me’

‘She is 18 and she wants to be a mother’ he said sensing that Marilyn was actually hurting more than angry.

‘I know, but she promised, a promise is a promise’

‘Did you or did you not devise the contract’ he asked

Marilyn frowned ‘I wrote one yes I did, I never denied that’

‘So why say it was Nicole?’

‘Because she wanted to give Rob to me and now she decided she doesn’t? I don’t think so!’ she said getting angry.

‘You need to be careful, you are slipping up and I can promise you this, I will not let you have Rob, over my dead body and I can be pretty damn scary when I want to be’

Marilyn stood up and stared at him ‘you don’t scare me, no one does, I have nothing left so I have nothing to lose’

‘Be careful’ he warned as she walked away from him.

**

[Zetti]

Part Fifteen

Angelo decided to try to talk to Nicole again, their previous conversation didn’t go very far, Romeo walked in and then Nicole decided she needed more time.

She was walking along the beach, it was quiet and hardly anyone was around. He decided that this had to be ‘the’ conversation that they needed to have.

He walked up to her and she looked at him, she wanted to kiss him. She wanted him to hold her, despite everything; he was the one she loved.

She walked and sat on the beach, Angelo joined her.

‘We have to talk and we can’t dodge the issue anymore. I can’t keep doing the ‘what if’ in my head anymore, it’s just too hard’

Nicole sighed ‘I can’t get that image out of my head, I want to, I want to be with you but…’

‘I was a jerk’

‘You slept with her, but I can be angry about that because we weren’t together’

‘So what?’

‘I forgive you for sleeping with her, I just cant forget yet, you have to give me time’

For a few moments they just looked at each other and then Nicole kissed him.

She wasn’t thinking about anything else apart from kissing him. He kissed her back and she lay back on the beach bringing him on top of her. They kissed for what seemed to be hours

Angelo and Nicole ended up on the secluded end of the beach. They had fought, cried and made out.

Everyone made mistakes but they both accepted that despite it all, they wanted to be together along with Rob, they were a family.

Nicole had her head on his shoulders and he had his hands around her waist.

‘I am sorry about…’

‘Don’t, I don’t want to hear about it, it is not something I want to dwell on’ she said honestly

‘So what it’s forgotten?’

‘No, but I will get over it eventually, just remember from now on, if you hurt me or Rob, there will be hell to pay’

‘Rob. How are you going to get him back?’

She sighed ‘I don’t know but I will. I have to, he’s mine. I will not let Marilyn win. I have you and I will get Rob, that’s all that matters’ he hugged her and she loved the feeling that he gave her.

Nicole smiled and hugged him closer to her, she knew that finally she had Angelo in her life, it had been a tough journey to get here but she wasn’t alone.

She was ready to live her life with him. She was falling in love with him and she knew that she couldn’t say the words yet but that one day soon she hoped that she would.

What’s more, she really wanted Angelo to feel the same. She wasn’t going to push the situation to one side but she didn’t want to forget that they were only just starting out, she didn’t want to ask too much of him too soon, it wasn’t fair on him or anyone else for that matter

She knew that Marilyn hadn’t let it go and that it wasn’t going to be over until she had Rob and she was a hell of a long way away from Marilyn but at that moment, she wanted to be with Angelo and the rest would happen when it did, she hadn’t give up yet though not by a long shot.

‘I have already won’ she heard Marilyn say.

Angelo shot up ‘Go away.’

‘I need to talk to Nicole’

Nicole placed her hand on Angelo’s arm. ‘It’s okay; I want to talk to her’

Angelo looked at her ‘You don’t have to’

‘I know. Just wait for me over there. It won’t take long’

He glared at Marilyn ‘If you hurt her’ he warned

He walked a few metres away and kept his eyes on them both, he was not going to let Nicole get hurt not when he had finally got her in his life.

‘What do you want?’ Nicole broke the silence

‘You took the one thing I wanted’

‘He was never yours to have’ Nicole replied

‘All I wanted’ she said ignoring the last comment ‘was for you to honour your end of the deal’

Nicole didn’t say anything.

Marilyn continued ‘I love Rob even now when I barely got the chance to hold him’

‘He is not yours’ Nicole said

‘So that means you shouldn’t have honoured your deal’

‘Okay, I get that you are angry and annoyed and I should have honoured my end of the deal but I wanted my son’

‘Mine’ Nicole said with emphasis

‘I will never let this go, for as long as you refuse to give him to me, I will never let it go, I will get him’ she said before she spun around and walked away.

Angelo approached her ‘Are you okay?’

‘She’s unhinged’ Nicole said sniffing.

Angelo drew her in towards him ‘Don’t worry, she won’t touch you babe, I won’t let her’

Nicole smiled and hugged him closer to her, she knew that finally she had Angelo in her life, it had been a tough journey to get here but she wasn’t alone.

She knew that Marilyn hadn’t let it go and that it wasn’t going to be over until she had Rob and she was a hell of a long way away from Marilyn but at that moment, she wanted nothing to do with Marilyn, she just wanted Angelo to hold her and take her somewhere away from the pain that she constantly felt burdened with.

**

Satisfied

[Zetti]

Thanks Loz, Sarah and Carina: dont worry about forgetting, I do that all the time

Here we go. The drama returns

Part Sixteen

Marilyn smiled; it was time for her to initiate her plan. She had her badge and the address as to where Rob was staying with his 'temporary' foster mum.

She thought to herself. Rob only wants his mum, I am his mother. She had to make sure this plan worked otherwise she would never get her hands on Rob.

'Are you sure?' Julie asked as she handed the ID over.

'All you have to is answer the phone'

'Fine. I will but that's it. I won't do anything else'

'You won't need to, I will be far away from here as humanly possible' she said with a chuckle.

Marilyn straightened herself up and knocked on the door.

'Hello' Hilary said

'Hi, I am Mrs Helen Sands from Child Social Services'

'I wasn't aware that I was going to get a visit'

'I have just been directed here, I have been told to take Robert Franklin back to his mother'

Hilary frowned 'Have you got any ID?' she asked warily.

'Of course' she put her hand in her blazer pocket and handed it to her.

Hilary carefully analysed it but couldn't see an issue with it.

She smiled at Helen (Marilyn) 'I will have to ring them to confirm'

'That's fine, can I come in?'

'I can phone my superior for you if you want?'

Hilary smiled 'Thanks'

Marilyn phoned her boss 'Julie' and handed the phone over. 'I will just be in the other room'

'Of course'

She moved and gestured to the lounge room. 'Wait in there and I will make the phone call'

She smiled. She had managed to get in. She crept into the room where Rob was, he was fast asleep. She leant in and picked him up, he didn't stir.

She picked some clothes and shoved it into a bag.

Hilary was still on the phone when Marilyn crept out and eased herself out of the door. Julie was waiting. 'Here' she gave her keys to a new car with forged plates.

She placed Rob in the car seat and then got into the car herself, she drove off calmly not even looking back. In a matter of a few moments, she knew that Hilary would be calling the police and she needed to be a long away from there'

**

Nicole was in a state of shock 'What?' she asked breathless as she leant into Angelo's arms. He held her.

'About half an hour ago' Charlie said 'We have all the officers out there looking'

'Do you even know how she got away?' Roman asked

'She had an accomplice'

'Who?'

'Her cellmate who got out not long ago'

Nicole was struggling to take in; she was just intensely grateful that Angelo was holding her. She knew that she had him and she wasn't going to lose him to anyone ever.

'Can't you make her talk?' Angelo asked stroking Nicole's arm as she started to cry

'I can but she wants a deal, no jail time'

'Give it to her then' Roman said

'It's not that easy, she wants to talk to Nicole first'

Nicole's head shot up and she stood up. 'Me? Why?'

'She wants to find out your motives for giving Marilyn the baby, I wouldn't take any notice of her but I would as a cop advise you to talk to her because without her we don't have any leads, viable ones anyways'

'Fine, it gets me Rob back, and then fine I will'

Angelo stood up and took her hands in his 'I am gonna be there, you are not doing this alone'

Nicole smiled and hugged him 'Thanks, I can't do it alone anyways'

Roman smiled for a moment. Roo walked to him 'They can do this'

'I know, I have to admit, there were times when me and Angelo hated each other, but he makes my baby girl happy and I can accept that, I want them to be happy, he might be a hell of lot older than her but it doesn't matter, just look at them, you can see how much they want each other and despite their failings, they are strong'

'Wow, you are getting all soppy'

'I know but she's my baby, I have to'

Roo smiled and he smiled back at her. Nicole had turned and she saw the longing eyes between them and she smiled despite the pain she was going through, she really wanted her father to be happy, she was sure that Roo would keep him in line anyways.

**

[Zetti]

:ph34r:

Part Seventeen

‘Please, I love my son’ Nicole begged Julie.

Julie looked at her ‘She told me that you cruelly took the baby’ but then Julie thought to herself, she also said that she was a scrounger who lived off benefits. She had absolutely no idea that Nicole was a uni student who wasn’t anything like how Marilyn claimed

‘I never took him, he was never hers, there was no legal paperwork’ she said which was the truth.

Charlie interjected ‘If you want no jail time, then you tell us otherwise we will find her ourselves and you will end up back inside’

‘Fine, she is getting a plane to London.’

Nicole gasped and nearly fell back. Angelo caught her as she stumbled ‘Whoa’

‘What time?’ Charlie said

‘3pm’

Charlie looked at Nicole ‘Okay, its half 1 now, we need to get going’ she signalled to a police offer ‘Keep her here until the lead checks out’

Nicole looked at Julie. ‘Thank you’

‘I really do hope you get your baby, I cant imagine life without mine’

Angelo eased her out of the interview ‘You two are best off here’ Charlie said

‘Oh no, I am coming, she has my baby’

‘I agree with Nicole, Rob is the main priority right now, we need to concentrate on getting him’

‘Fine but don’t get in the way, its already a sensitive issue

**

Sid was in shock when he heard that Marilyn had taken the baby ‘Let me come. She is only doing this because she has nothing left, if she thinks that there is hope, then she might be more willing to give Rob back’

‘It’s worth a try’ Angelo added

Watson looked at Charlie ‘It’s your call but he has a point

Charlie sighed ‘Fine but only talk to her when it’s clear’

‘Understood’

All of them walked to their cars and got in.

Nicole was holding onto him. She picked her phone up as it rang.

‘Hello?’

‘Its Marilyn’

‘How is Rob?’ she didn’t actually care aobut Marilyn at that point, she just wanted to know if Rob was okay.

‘What do you take me for? I love him. I would never hurt him.’

Angelo looked at her and gestured for her to give him the phone. He hated seeing her in so much pain. ‘Nic?’

Roman frowned ‘What is she doing?’

Angelo whispered ‘Its Marilyn’

Roman’s eyes went steely. ‘Nic?’

‘Where are you?’ she was trying to stall

‘Far enough away from you, you wont get him’

Nicole’s eyes steamed ‘Please, don’t take him.’

She began to shake and her hands went clammy, she could barely hold onto the phone. ‘You wont see him again’ as Marilyn hung up

‘What did she say?’ Angelo said as he forced her to look him ‘Nic?’

‘She said’ she struggled to get the words ‘I will never see him again’ she shook as she put her head into Angelo’s chest and cried. He held her, he didn’t even know what to say, and he only hoped that she did get Rob. He didn’t think that she would be able to cope if she didn’t.

**

Marilyn was at the airport; she had managed to get through the security checks and was waiting to board the plane.

‘Marilyn?’ she heard

‘Yes?’ she said to the guard

‘Your flight has been called several times

‘Sorry, children. Makes me dopey’

‘No problem’ he said sweetly.

She walked to the check in and they checked her ticket.

‘Go ahead’ the assistant smiled at her and she walked into the plane.

**

:ph34r:

[Zetti]

Thanks all for the awesome comments. This chapter is especially for Amy. I have a feeling you will like this chapter.

Miranda: Unfortunately there's none of Roman going all SAS; maybe in another fic

Just to let you know, there is only two more parts left.

Part Eighteen

She could hardly believe that was she was going to get away with. She walked towards the plane door when Rob started to grizzle.

‘Shh… Rob, we are going on an adventure’

‘Like hell you are’ Roman said from behind her.

She groaned inwardly ‘He’s mine, you are not getting anywhere near him.

‘Dad, let me talk to her alone’

‘No, she isn’t in her right mind’

‘Dad’ she said again moving away from Angelo and Roman ‘I am not arguing, go’ she said to the other two men in her life.

‘Now’ she repeated as they glared at Marilyn but reluctantly moved away.

‘I am not giving him to you’

‘I know, you do not think I am a good mother’

That hit home with Marilyn ‘it’s not that’

‘Then what? I know I broke my promise, but you of all people know how hard it is to lose a baby and not being able to hold them in your arms, to look after then , to give your life to them every time’

Marilyn looked at Rob who was crying now. She held him closer to her arms and looked at him properly. She had a knife in her hand but Nicole didn’t think she was going to use it.

She looked at Marilyn again but didn’t say anything, she was too wary of what

‘I know it’s hard but please do not make me lose my baby boy’

‘Are the police going to take me?’

Sid interjected ‘Whatever happens, you are not alone’ he gently said as Marilyn started to retreat slightly. She didn’t like this confrontation.

She rose the knife ‘Don’t come near me’

**

It seemed like a whole lifetime had passed when Nicole finally spoke. She knew that Marilyn was hurting as well as angry

‘You did kidnap a baby from its foster home’ Nicole said gently.

It was just beginning to dawn on her, how much her actions had affected Marilyn, she had never meant to hurt her but she just needed t make sure that Rob was safe, he was her main priority.

Marilyn hung her head ‘I know, I don’t know why I did it’ she said as she moved slowly towards Nicole.

Angelo and Roman tensed but Charlie held them back with the support of Watson ‘Don’t’ she hissed

‘I am sorry for hurting you’ she said as she handed Rob over and dropped the knife as she did.

Angelo sighed with relief as Charlie approached Marilyn.

‘Hold on, Charlie, are the handcuffs really necessary? She is already being punished’ Nicole said knowing how much it was hurting her to not have Rob.

Charlie sighed ‘Sorry but I have to’

Marilyn held out her hands and Charlie cuffed them.

**

Nicole couldn’t take her eyes of Rob ‘I can hardly believe it but her joy was short-lived as Susan walked into the small room in the airport

Roman tensed ‘You are not taking him’

‘Sorry, but she is still under DOCS investigation’

‘Hold on. I don’t think so, the woman who made the claim tried to kidnap him’

‘I know but the claim still stands till it is taken back, that’s the way it works’

Charlie walked in. ‘Marilyn wants to talk to you Susan’

‘Fine, you can have a bit longer’ she said to Nicole who was holding to Rob so tightly, she didn’t want to let go.

‘It will be okay’ Angelo said ‘I will not let her take him’

Nicole nodded, she hoped it would be, she had finally got him back, and she didn’t want to lose him again.

Susan walked in ‘I have spoken to my superior’

‘Not the fake one I hope’ Roman added

‘There’s no need for that’ Charlie added giving Roman a look that said back off.

‘Sorry’

‘Marilyn will plead guilty if all charges and investigations are dropped’

‘So?’

‘You can take him home, after some paperwork is sighed, but yes you can take him’

Nicole grinned ‘Thank you’

‘No problem. I will have the paperwork for you soon’ she said

Nicole had barely heard her ‘I have my son’ she said just loud enough for Angelo to hear who kissed her on the cheek.

**

Please comment

[Zetti]

Thanks for the fantastic comments!

This is the penultimate chapter Cant believe in the space of 2 weeks, that its nearly over!

Warning: Mild Sexual Content

Part Nineteen

Rob had been sleeping for the past few hours but neither Nicole nor Angelo would take their eyes off him.

Roman walked in and picked him up ‘Right, am gonna take this little fella for a walk, you two need some sleep’ he said

‘Thanks Dad’ she said as she sat back on the bed. She snuggled up to Angelo, for the past few days since the kidnapping, they had been inseparable.

‘I need to say something to you’ Angelo said as he sat up bringing her with him.

‘Sounds ominous’

‘I haven’t been able to say it for a while because I was scared of how you would take it; I have no idea if you even feel the same’

Nicole frowned as Angelo looked at her face ‘I love you’

‘Same, I love you too; I think I’ve known that for a while now, I just didn’t say it’

Angelo kissed her pushing her back onto the bed; the kisses slowly became more passionate.

‘Hold on’ Nicole said as she pushed him away.

‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to get so heavy’ he said moving away and sitting on the bed

She put her hands on his chest and pulled herself up. ‘It just doesn’t feel right yet, let’s just take it slowly, I mean, we are together and in love, let’s just enjoy it and take it slowly’

He nodded and she placed her head on his shoulder and hugged him. He stroked her hair and smiled. He had her in his life and that was enough, the rest would come in time.

**

‘Do you think they will stay together?’ she asked Angelo as she lay on the bed in his arms

‘Roo and Roman you mean?’

‘Yes, I mean it’s obvious they like each other’

‘Are they even dating?

‘I don’t know but they will’ she said with a grin

‘Uhoh. Do I detect some matchmaking?’

‘Well… Dad got us together finally so I can repay the favour’

Angelo looked at her and shook his head ‘Oh, I sense trouble’

‘Trust me. It will work out’ she said with a grin on her face as Angelo lowered his lips onto hers and matchmaking was all but forgotten for a few moments.

‘Ahem’ Roo said a few moments later and they sprang apart ‘I think mister wants his mum’

Roo handed Rob over. ‘I will get you a drink Nic’ Angelo said but not before he kissed Rob on the forehead, he couldn’t believe just how attached he had got to Rob, he loved them both.

‘Thanks’ as she cradled Rob in her arms. He looked so content and happy, he closed his eyes and within a few moments, he was fast asleep.

‘Aww bless, he is too adorable’ Roo commented as Rob had his finger in his mouth.

Nicole smiled. ‘I need a picture of this’

Roo grabbed the digital camera and took one of Rob and then one of Nicole with Rob.

**

[Zetti]

Sooo.. here we are, the very last chapter of this fic. I just want to thank every single person who reads and comments. It honestly means the world to me. Also I never realised so many people want to read more. Who knows maybe I will write a sequel. Only time will tell

Again I dedicate this chapter to 3 people, Amy; because I would never have written it otherwise, Carina; for always commenting and making me smile and last but not least Miranda for just being there when I rant about this fic

So without further ado, here we go

Part Twenty

Back in the lounge:

‘So, how are you and Nicole?’ Roman asked as he opened a beer

‘It’s good’

‘You better not hurt again, because I promise, your life won’t be worth living’ he warned

‘I won’t, her and Rob are my world. I won’t do anything that hurts them in any way’

‘Make sure it stays like that’

Roo smiled. ‘Is the father chat done?

‘Yep’

‘Nicole wants you Angelo’

‘Sure’ he smiled at Roo and whispered to Roman ‘I think you are in there’ he patted him on the back and dodged the pillow that Roman threw. He started laughing and walking back into the bedroom where Nicole was putting Rob in the crib.

‘Has he fallen asleep?

‘Yes, he’s tired’

‘Well he has had a long day’

‘He has’

‘Come and sit, I need to tell you something’

‘Okay…’

‘I have been thinking about this for a while now; please say if you feel uncomfortable’

‘What is it?’ he said taking her hands in hers.

‘Well, I haven’t actually registered Rob yet and I really want to name you as the father’

Angelo looked at her ‘Wow. Really?’

‘Yes, what do you think?’

‘Wow, I just never expected that, I would love it’ he said with the biggest grin on his face.

She smiled and moved to the cot. Angelo placed his arms around her waist and his head on her shoulders.

‘Our family’ she said

‘Yes, our family’ he said agreeing.

**

5 months later

Marilyn was in court, the trial had lasted several weeks with both sides debating whether or not Marilyn was of sound mind when she had kidnapped Rob.

The judge had asked the jury to deliberate on the facts and return either a verdict of guilty or not guilty. That time had finally arrived for the verdict to be passed but the judge had been notified that Nicole wanted to address the court first irrespective of the verdict.

‘Miss Franklin?’

‘Thank you for allowing me to do this Your Honour’ she said as she acknowledged the judge and then she turned to Marilyn and the jury. ‘When I found out that I was pregnant, so many different emotions were rushing through me and I had no idea at first what I was supposed to do, Marilyn helped me and at first I decided that I couldn’t have this baby because I thought I wouldn’t be a good mother’ she looked at the jury but their expression were not easy to read so she breathed and carried on.

‘I realised once I had given birth and held my son, that I couldn’t give him up, you all know the rest but I don’t want Marilyn to be forever tarnished with the name of being a kidnapper, all she wanted was for me to honour my deal, I should have but then I should have never agreed to do it in the first place, I don’t know why I didn’t, it was my own fault, and I hope that whatever happens, one day you will forgive me because I was wrong to hurt you like that, I hope you can one day’ she said looking at Marilyn who had been focused on her face all the way through her heartfelt speech

‘Can I respond?’ she asked the judge

‘Go on, but tread carefully’

‘Thanks Your Honour’

‘I do forgive you, all I did was cause you was hurt and misery and looking back on it, it was the worst thing I could have done because all you wanted was to be a mother. Through it all, I never thought about you or Rob and I have to admit, that I still love Rob, I don’t think that will ever change, but I have accepted that I will go to prison and hopefully one day.’ She paused and then carried on.

‘I will get out and we can all find a way to get past this, I never wanted it to end up like this, I just hope as well that I can be a part of Rob’s life somehow but I know, I need to do my time first, I deserve to go down and you need to know, that you are and always be a fantastic mother, he loves you and he will as he grows up’

The judge ‘If that is all?’ he asked and got nods from both Nicole and Marilyn.

‘The verdict please’

The foreperson stood up.

‘How do you find the defendant guilty or not guilty of kidnapping?’

‘Guilty’

‘And this is a verdict that you are all agreed on?’

‘Yes’

‘Thank you’

‘I have been pondering the sentencing long and hard and it is clear that there is remorse from you, this is the reason that I am giving you a 4 year sentence with possibility of parole in 2 years 6 months with good behaviour’

She looked at Nicole who had a sympathetic look on her face, Angelo’s face was unreadable but Marilyn didn’t care, she had earned Nicole’s forgiveness and that is all she cared about.

**

Roo and Roman were sitting down in Roman’s new apartment, ‘We need to tell them you know’ Roo said as she stood up and pulled her jacket on.

‘I know, but Nicole has just managed to get her life back on track after everything, her and Angelo are still going strong, I just want her to be okay with it’

‘She will, why wouldn’t she?’

‘Let’s hope so’

**

‘Oh? Really?’ Nicole said before grinning

‘What?’ Roo looked at Roman who looked as confused as she felt.

‘We knew!’ Angelo added as he held Rob ‘you didn’t do a very good job of hiding it’

All four of them smiled as Rob gurgled reaching out toward Roman who picked him up ‘So you are happy with it?’

‘Yes I am, I am happy, you love her and I couldn’t be happier for you both’ and it was the first time in a hell of a long time where she actually felt like she had a future to be happy with Angelo and her family.

She pulled Angelo to one side ‘I need to tell you something’

He frowned as she whispered into his ears.

‘Really?’

‘Yes’ she nodded

‘Are you 100% sure?’

‘Yep’

Both of them looked at Roo and Roman who was playing with Rob, Angelo hugged Nicole. ‘We have the perfect family’

‘Which is set to get bigger’ she said quietly to a grinning Angelo who put his hand on her stomach ‘Our perfect family’

**

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