I walked into my office and closed the door.

Stubborn. Frustrating. Damn pain in the ass. Sexy.  Incredibly beautiful, woman!

I should be given an award for the kind of self-control I demonstrated just now.

"I want to kiss you so fucking bad," I admitted.

"Why don't you?" She had whispered back.

I shook my head. The hellion just keeps surprising me at every turn.

What was it that she said?

"just kiss me, Damien," she whispered.

"God I want to. You have no idea how much I want to...." was what I responded with.

What a fucking idiot!

I could have kissed her.

I should have kissed her.

I ran my hand through my hair.

"You've completely lost it, Damien," I muttered to myself. "Damn frustrating woman is going to drive me insane, not that the minx haven't already."

Hallie

A knock on the door sounded, just as I was smoothing down the dress I decided to wear to his parent's place.

"Hallie?"

"Just a second," I returned.

"I've got the kids. We'll meet you downstairs," Damien called back through the door.

"Okay. I'll be there in a minute."

I took a deep breath and looked at my reflection in the mirror.

I'm so damn nervous, my palm's sweating.

"You're being silly," I told myself. "There is nothing to feel nervous about."

I took one last deep breath then turned to leave the safety of my room.

I headed to meet Damien downstairs nervously. As I headed downstairs I could hear the sound of pure joy from my babies.

I smiled. Damien truly was wonderful. He would make a wonderful father to his own kids one day. Then suddenly the image of Damien and a pregnant woman filled my head. The pregnant woman being me. Warmth filled my heart at the thought of carrying Damien's kids.

I shook my head.

"Hallie? Hallie, are you okay?"

I shook my head again, Damien's voice bringing me back.

"Ye-yes," I croaked.

"You look beautiful," he said, as he met me at the bottom of the stairs.

"Thank you," I replied.

"Shall we?" He asked, holding his hand out to me.

I nodded wordlessly.

"No need to be nervous. You already met my mom and I'm sure my dad will love you and the kiddos too," he assured me. "The rest of my family's excited to meet you and the little ones as well."

"I'm just worried. Worried that I'm bringing danger to you and your family. And Damien, how can they like someone who's bringing that to not only their son, but their entire family?"

"Hallie... the only thing you've brought to me is happiness. I come home to an empty house every day before you. It makes for many lonely nights. With you, Ty, and Michy here, this house has become my home. I look forward to coming home because I knew laughter will greet me and not a deafening silence. And my family has been through hell and back many times over, it's become a tradition," he joked.

"Not funny," I said.

He sobered. "Okay. Bad joke, but seriously, Hallie. Stop worrying okay? My family will protect you. I will protect you."

"Damien..."

"Trust me," he said, squeezing my hand.

"Dada?" Michy squealed as she raised her hand wanting to be lifted.

My throat closed up and tears welled in my eyes. I looked back at Damien and he had the widest grin and I think his eyes were misty too.

He bent to lift her up. "Hi sweetheart, will you help me tell your moms to stop worrying?"

"I can hep you," Ty said.

Damien chuckled. "You can hep me?"

Ty nodded. "Mommy?"

I bent to lift him up. "Yes, baby?"

"What's... what's," he frowned. "What's wowwy mean?"

I chuckled. "I'm just thinking too much about things."

Ty frowned. "You don't have to wowwy. Dayan is here. He can be me and Michy's daddy and he'll take care of us cause that's what daddy's do."

"Dada,"Michy said again.

"Yes, princess?"

"Damien!" I gasped.

"What?"

"Don't. You're not, they shouldn't," she babbled.

"Don't. I'm not, I shouldn't what?"

I glared at him.

He laughed. "Come on, let's go before you get any more ideas."

I frowned at him. "You're impossible, you know that?"

He simply shrugged.

Damien

"Hey," I said giving her hand a squeeze.

She looks up at me.

"I love you," I said, not being able to help myself.

Her eyes rounded.

Michy clapped as she squealed happily, as if she fully understands the importance of the words I just said to her mom.

"I don't expect you to say anything or to understand how quickly I've fallen in love with you and your kids, but I want you to know I mean it. I'm a patient man, Hallie. I can wait as long as you need me to. I'm not going anywhere. So you see, no matter what happens in there, you've got me for the rest of your life whether you want me or not."

Then, forgetting what I've said about waiting to kiss her, I bent forward and captured her lips in a searing kiss.

I pulled away when I felt someone tugging at my pants.

I looked down and found Ty grinning up at me.

"Yes, buddy?"

"You my daddy nows?"

"Nothing would make me happier," I said.

He gave me the biggest smile making my heart full.

"Are you not going to say anything?" I asked Hallie.

She simply shook her head.

I nodded. "Good. Let's go meet the rest of my crazy family," I said and led them all inside my parents house.

Hallie

"I love you," he said. Three words that should have me running. Three words that should have me scared, but instead, left me speechless and unexpectedly happy.

He loves me. This incredible man loves me.

What the hell have I don't to deserve his love?

He not only loves me, but loves my kids as well. He wants to be their father.

I closed my eyes.

"Are you not going to say anything?" He asked.

I simply shook my head. What can I say?

As much as I loved hearing those words from him, I can't. I can't let him love me. More than that, I can't let myself love him.

Then it hit me. The reason hearing him say those words filled me with joy is because I do. I do love him. How could I not? In the short time that we've spent together, he's shown me how a man treats a woman. He has shown me that not all men are cruel and viscous.

I looked back at him as we walked up the steps to his parents home.

He gave me a smile that I've grown to love and it was my undoing. But I held onto what little strength I have left. He deserves someone who won't bring but pure happiness in his life. Not someone like me who has a past that would taint his life. So right there and then, I promised that I would do everything I can to make sure that we're out of his life as soon as possible.

I can't let him or his family be dragged into the danger that's waiting for me.

Damien

I could tell that Hallie has a million thoughts running through her head and I recognized that one of them is telling her to run. She's crazy if she thinks I'll ever let that happen.

I meant it when I said that she's got me for the rest of her life.

"Good evening sir," Warren greeted me.

"Evening."

"They're all in the garden," he said.

I nodded. "Thanks. Everyone's here?"

Warren nodded. "Yes, sir. Even your brother, Dylan with Ms. Katherine."

I chuckled. "Dylan is always the last one to arrive so it's always been a running joke whenever he arrives on time or earlier than one of us," I told Hallie.

She smiled. A forced smile.

I led her inside to the garden where everyone is. Right as we walked in we could hear the loud chatter and laughter and giggles from all of the kids.

I smiled.

"You're parents have a beautiful home," Hallie said.

"Thanks. I always love coming here. This will always be home to me," I said.

"Look who finally decided to show up," my brother Dylan said, causing everyone to laugh.

"Hi, honey," my mom said as she went over to us.

"Hi, mom," I said giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"Hallie, it's good to see you again, sweetheart," she said, wrapping Hallie in her embrace, before cooing over Ty and Michy.

"Hi, dad," I greeted who always isn't far from my mom.

We hugged before introducing her to Hallie.

"Dad, this is Hallie Scott.  Hallie, this is my dad, Massimo."

"It's very nice to meet you, Mr. Anastasia," Hallie.

My dad smiled at her warmly. "Please, call me Massimo. It's good to meet you too. I've heart a lot about you and your beautiful children."

Hallie smiled.

"Please come and don't let this big bunch intimidate you.  Make yourself at home," my dad said, as he led us to meet the rest of our family. My dad immediately became Ty and Michy's fans can and two adored him right back.

After finishing the longest introductions, we were finally able to sit down and eat. I could tell Hallie was a bit overwhelmed, but I could tell that the tension has eased off.

"Okay?" I asked her.

She nodded. "You have an incredible family, Damien. I didn't expect, I mean... I just...
This," she said looking around.

"This is us, Hallie. I mean outside of our suits and tie, we are just like everyone else who enjoys being together."

"I can really see that."

"And as soon as you accept that you're mine, this will be your family too. Hell, they already  are. Look at Ty and Michy," I said nodding towards our kids. Yes. I said ours, because they are mine. As soon as possible, if she'll let me, I would like to adopt her kids.

She looked towards them and watcher as tears filled her eyes. "They don't deserve the life they had, Damien. They really don't," she whispered quietly.

"It's all in the past. From now on, this is what they'll have. They'll always be surrounded by love and family," I said, hugging her to me, before dropping a kiss to the top of her head.

"Dada!" Michy called out to me, suddenly, making Hallie stiffen against me.

My family reacted and accepted it like it has always been this way.

"Here you go. Michy wants her dad," Bella said, handing me Michy, reluctantly as I might add. I can't blame her. Who could resist this beautiful baby girl? I thought proudly.

I didn't hesitate and took her. "Hi, princess."

"Dada," she said again.

I looked over and saw my mom and dad smile happily. My mom wiping the corners of her eyes.

I smiled back at them.

"See?" I said to Hallie, quietly, so she's the only one who could hear. "Everyone else is on the same page," I winked.