A/N: This chapter is long and i want to know your thoughts about it. :)

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ELLIE's POV

I kissed Rexus and Avellie's foreheads as I tightened each of my arms around them. I was lying between them while they're hugging me like they were afraid that they might be taken away from me again. Both of them were pillowing on my arms.

It's been a week since that incident and our vacation at the resort cut short because of it. I could still remember the time when I saw my children again after they took them away from us.

They cried right away upon seeing me and Rex. While I was hugging them tightly, I could feel their bodies slight trembling from what they've been through.

"M-Mommy, I'm scared. Please don't let those bad guys take us again" Avellie cried and I couldn't help but to cry too. Not just because of happiness of seeing them again but because I felt like I was the one who's feeling what they're feeling right now. I could see the fear in their eyes and I wanted to erase everything that happened to them from their minds if that was possible.

"Let's go home, mommy. The bad guys might come back and take us again" Rexus followed while crying too. It felt so hard watching my children like this. I felt like thousands of needles were piercing my heart.

I've never seen them like this before and it's breaking my heart. As a mother, it's so difficult seeing my children like this.

I let go of them, just enough to stare at them. I wiped their tears and then repeatedly kissed their faces.

"Shhh...It's okay, mes chéris. Mommy and daddy are here. Those bad guys won't ever come near you again so you don't have to be scared anymore" I consoled them. I caressed their cheeks and tried my best to smile at them in order for them to believe that everything's fine now. I didn't want to show my tears to my children.

I want to be strong for them so that they would feel that they're really safe now and everything will be alright.

"Really, mommy?" Avellie asked. I nodded my head.

"Of course, ma chérie. When did I ever lie to the both of you? Don't you believe mommy?" they shook their heads.

"I believe you, mommy" Rexus.

"Me too, mommy" Avellie answered before she threw her arms around my neck. Rexus did the same thing and I hugged them tightly, making sure to let them feel that they're in safe hands now.

I felt a set of strong arms that encircled around the three of us and I didn't need to look to know who it was. Rex.

"You don't need to be scared now, chiquito, chiquita, because daddy will make sure that you will never see those bad guys again. I promise you that" He promised before he kissed Rexus and Avellie's foreheads.

Our children's cries soften upon hearing that. Thankfully, Rex was with us in this situation because I wouldn't know what to do if he wasn't here with us.

Thankfully, it looked like our presence as their parents helped them a lot calm down. Our arms hugging them helped them to relax and believe that those who kidnapped them would never have the chance to touch them again.

I couldn't help but to feel angry upon remembering my children's state upon seeing them that time. They were still wearing their swim wears but my papy and Señor Valiente used their polo shirts to cover them.

Rex and I decided to take them home right away to the ranch while papy and Señor Valiente stayed together at the resort in order to fix things there.

Since that incident happened, my kids wouldn't leave my side. When they hear any loud sound, they would panic and cry right away. They were obviously traumatized that's why Rex and I decided to take them to a child psychologist and we were right. They got traumatized of what happened to them.

Rex paid the child psychologist to just come over at the house to tend to our children. So far, Rexus and Avellie became more at ease now. Maybe because we assured them that those bad guys were already away from them and would never have the chance to take them away again. It helped also that they're at the ranch with us because Rex and I's presence beside them helped a lot with their recovery.

I stared at their sleeping faces. They were sleeping soundly and calm because I stayed by their side until they fell asleep. These past few days, they couldn't sleep without me by their side. Even if Rex was there to keep them company, they would still search for me.

Sometimes, Rex was feeling a little bit bad because even though he was there for them, they still search for me no matter what I was doing. Even when I'm in the bathroom or something. He told me that he felt like the twins doesn't need him but I told him that he shouldn't feel bad about it. Rexus and Avellie were used of having me by their side since they were still babies. They're still in the middle of adjusting to him. Besides, it's normal for children to want their mother's embrace whenever they're not feeling well.

I took a deep breath. I want them to be back to the way they were. They such lively kids that's why it's so hard seeing them like this. They wouldn't even laugh and smile now just like before and it's making my heart ache.

I looked at the clock and it's already 10:10 pm. I suddenly felt thirsty. I slowly let go of my children and pillowed them on their respective pillows. They stirred a little bit but they didn't wake up. I was about to get out of bed to go downstairs to drink water when Avellie suddenly woke up and cried. She was panicking as she reached for.

"Mommy! Mommy! The bad guys are chasing after me!" she said while crying. I quickly hugged her and comforted her. Yes, she has been like this after that incident. She would wake up in the middle of the night and cry while screaming.

Rexus was the same but his condition became better after a couple of sessions with the psychologist.

"Shhh...It's alright, ma chérie. Mommy is here with you" I cooed as I rubbed her back gently to calm her down while showering kisses on her head and forehead. I could feel her body trembling but when she realized that she was with me, her cries softened.

"Mommy...I'm scared" she sobbed.

"Look at mommy, ma chérie" I said tenderly and she obliged right away. Tears already drenched her long eyelashes and cheeks.

"You don't have to be afraid because we're here now at the ranch. Those guys who took you can't come here to get you because daddy, papy and abuelito chased them away. Mommy already told you that, right? Don't you believe mommy?" she buried her face on my bosom while still hugging me.

"I-I believe you, mommy" she answered in a voice above whisper. I couldn't help but smile. I cupped her face and then made her look at me. I wiped her tears and then kissed her forehead once again.

"Then you should be strong. You're a brave girl, right?" she nodded her head.

"That's my baby girl. You don't need to be scared because you and Rexus are already safe. Mommy and daddy are always here for the both of you. We will do anything to protect you so don't be scare anymore, okay?"

"Yes, mommy"

"Very good, ma chérie. Mommy loves you so much so stop crying now, is that possible?" she nodded her head.

"I love you too, mommy" I was about to answer when somebody spoke.

"What about daddy, chiquita?" he asked as he walked towards us. I didn't even hear him coming inside the room. He carefully sat next to us in order to not wake up Rexus.

"I love you, daddy" Rex smiled fondly at our daughter and then kissed her forehead affectionately.

"Daddy loves you too, chiquita" he said to our daughter and then took her from me. He hugged her as Avellie hugged him back and burrowed her face between his shoulder and neck.

"Mommy...Daddy" our attention went to Rexus. He still looked so sleepy yet he sat up.

"I'm sorry, mon chéri. Did we wake you up?" he shook his head and instead of answering, he scooted closer to me and then sat on my lap. He burrowed his face on the crook of my neck as he hugged me.

Rex and I stared into each other. He took my hand as he gazed at me lovingly. He was gently patting Avellie's back while lulling her to sleep while I on the other hand, did the same to Rexus.

We stayed in that position as we waited for our children to fall asleep. I sang them a lullaby until they finally fell asleep. We carefully put them down on the bed when we finally made sure that they're already in their dreamland. Thankfully, they didn't wake up. We put the blanket over them.

After that, we decided to go to the veranda because we weren't sleepy yet.

"Are you okay, querida?" Rex asked me. He was sitting on the single sofa while staring at me. I was leaning against the railing of the terrace. I heaved a sigh.

"Everything is okay now, right?" he held my hand and then pulled me closer to him, guiding me to sit on his lap, sideways. He caressed my cheek.

"Carlos is already dead. Mason and their remaining men are now in jail. They're going to spend the rest of their lives there because of all the crimes that they've done. They managed to run away from the law for a couple of years but now, they finally got caught and got sentenced to spend their remaining years in prison. They will no longer have the chance to do us any harm because I'll make sure to cut off their connections in the outside world. They'll pay of what they did to us especially to our children" rage passed through his eyes upon saying the last sentence.

I could still remember when he saw the men who took our kids. He was so furious and livid that he threw punches at them. If the policemen didn't stop him, he might've killed them because of so much anger.

"Thank you, querido" I said emotionally.

"For what?"

"For doing everything to protect us from them" a faint smile broke across his lips.

"You don't have to thank me, querida. It's my responsibility to protect you and our kids. I'll die first before they get the chance to harm you. Besides, your papy and my abuelito helped me too".

Three days after what happened, I asked Rex how my they rescued our children. I didn't have the chance to ask him about it because he was so busy with the case. Aside from that , we were both busy trying our hardest to help our children overcome their trauma by being together with them all the time.

Rex made sure that Mason and his colleagues would go to jail. He was the one who filed the case against them.

He told me that our children were saved by the man that he, Señor Valiente and my papy, hired. He didn't tell me the real name of that man aside from his alias. Hawke.

He said that they hired that guy because he was one of the best agents that the government has in the underworld. He even told me that he has quite a reputation that even the president of the USA was impressed by him because he once saved his life from his assailants.

When Rex's grandfather and my papy finally heard about the plan of Carlos to get our kids from one of Carlos' men whom they captured, they immediately called Hawke to ask for his service. Thankfully, Hawke wasn't that far from the resort because Rex instructed him to just wait for his call and stay unnoticed because everything was under control back then.

That was when I realized whom Rex called that day when Rexus and Avellie got taken away. He told Hawke what happened and he did his thing in the shadows.

When the police cornered the men who took our kids, they took our children inside the abandoned building and held them hostage. But when the police entered the building, they were surprised to see that the three men who were holding our kids hostage were already severely injured and out cold while Rexus and Avellie were crying while sitting at the corner. Then my papy and Senor Valiente arrived at the scene and the rest was history.

I wanted to thank Hawke personally of saving Rexus and Avellie but Rex told me that he already went back to the USA because his mission was already finished.

"Querido, how did you know about Hawke? I mean, where did you hear about him?"

"Your brother and your sister's husband recommended him to us. I think they know him personally" I nodded my head. I should thank Hunter and Regan as well because they recommended a very capable agent.

Then all of a sudden, I suddenly felt emotional. He made me look at him by lifting my face by putting his fingers under my chin.

"Why the tears, querida?" he asked worriedly.

"Just the thought that we almost lost our children made me emotional. Thank God because He didn't let that happen" he wiped my tears and then kissed my lips gently.

"Forget about what happened, querida. The important thing is they're fine now and safe here together with us" I nodded my head and then cupped his face with my hands.

"I love you so much, querido. Thank you for coming back to us because if you weren't here with us, I wouldn't know what to do" his eyes lit up with happiness. His deep blue eyes were staring at me and the love that I was seeing in his eyes was so overwhelming that my heart drowned with so much joy.

"I love you so much too, querida. You mean the world to me and I'm glad that I came back here because my happiness and my life are here. You and our children are my life and I'll do anything to protect you"

Our lips met for a passionate kiss when he finished his sentence. I clung my arms around his neck as I returned his kisses.

"From now on, let's forget about what happened and move on. Let's concentrate with our twins and their total recovery. I want us to be happy again without any worry and fear especially our children. I want them to be normal children again; happy and carefree while playing and laughing without any worries"

"Yes, querido. Let's work together on that" he smiled and then kissed me once more.

Now, all the doubts and fear in my heart were totally gone because Rex assured me that everything's already fine. This is the beginning of our road to happiness. At last, nothing could take that away from us.

Well, that was what I was thinking but the morning after that, we had a visitor. The guards initially didn't let her inside the ranch but when they informed me about her presence through the telephone, I instructed them to let her in because I wanted to clear things up with her too.

Rex and I faced her together.

"What are you doing here, Serena?" Rex asked without any emotion in his eyes.

"I'm here to make you choose, Rex" Rex's eyebrows creased.

"What do you mean by that?" Serena raised her chin defiantly.

"I want you to come back to me if you want me to keep our baby. Call me desperate but I'm willing to do everything to have you back. Yes, you have children with Ellie but we're going to have a baby soon too and I don't want to raise my child without a father" my whole body went still because of what she said.

I looked at Rex and was expecting for him to be shocked as well but his face was void with any emotion.

"Do what you want, Serena. That's your life. Please don't involve me in it because I don't want to be part of it. Stop playing all this games because you're just making yourself look like a fool. You know that there's no 'us' from the beginning especially now that I have my family with me. Enough, Serena. This is tiring me out already. We have a lot of things to think about and dealing with you is least of my concern right now" I was surprised of his response.

Serena's eyes squinted in anger.

"Are you saying that you don't care whatever I do with our baby?" She asked angrily.

"I don't want to sound harsh but that's your decision, Serena. It's your baby and you can do whatever you want" I gasped. I held his hand.

"Querido, you shouldn't say it like that. What if she's telling the truth? What if you're really the father of her baby?" I asked. Yes, I hate Serena but the baby inside her is innocent.

"I already told you, querida. I'm not the father of her baby" Serena suddenly lost it upon hearing it.

"Damn you! After making me pregnant, you'll going to act as if you don't care?! F*ck you!" she attacked Rex with her fists but Rex didn't move and let her hit him. I couldn't react right away but when I managed to pull myself together, I was about to stop her when a person spoke.

"That's enough, Serena. Just accept defeat. Stop being a desperate woman going after a man who was never yours" Serena stopped and looked at the person who spoke at the doorway. Rex and I did the same. All of us were shock seeing him. Maxime.

"What did you say?" Serena faced him with an evident anger in her eyes.

"You heard what I've sad, Serena. Stop all of this drama because you know that you can't succeed. You will never get Rex because he already know the truth" Serena's eyes were almost blazing with fire.

"You told him?" Maxime shrugged his shoulders.

"Not really. He's just not stupid that's all" he answered before he looked passed Serena and then stared at me and Rex.

"Sorry for coming unannounced but I just want to talk to the two off you; especially to you, Ells"

"Why are you here? What do you want?" Rex asked through gritted teeth. I could feel the tension in the air. Maxime heaved a sigh and then stared at me.

"I...I came to apologize" Rex and I got surprised.

"I'm sorry that I acted like like a fool. I'm sorry for all the things that I've said and done especially to you, Ells. Now, I realized my mistakes and I am so embarrassed to show myself here but I really needed to come" He sighed once again and then smiled faintly.

"I didn't know what happened to me these past few months. I acted like an as*hole and loser because I couldn't accept the fact that you chose him over me, Ells. But then, I realized that from the very beginning, I already knew that you never became mine because you never loved me. You loved Rex then and you still love him until now. I tried to replace him in your heart but I didn't succeed because you couldn't even look at me the same way you looked at him. I never had any space in your heart and it hurts but it's my fault too. I forced myself into you and even used our friendship and our company to get what I want. I even teamed up with Serena to try separating the both of you and that's the worst part. I let her use my bitterness and anger towards the two of you to make me work with her.

"But when I saw what happened at the resort, I finally woke up with my crazy dream because I saw how much you love each other. No matter what stunt we pulled back there to break the two of you, your trust to one another didn't waver because you really love each other" he chuckled humorlessly. I could see the regret in his eyes.

"I'm so sorry again. I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me" I didn't know what to feel upon hearing him say those things. I could see the sincerity in his eyes. He turned his back and was about to walk out of the house when I finally found my voice.

"Max..." I called. He slowly turned around and looked at me.

"I-I'm sorry too because I hurt you. Believe me, I tried to love you back but I just couldn't teach my heart to love another man because my heart only belongs to one man and that's Avis. It's not true that you never had a space in my heart because you did. You're my friend and you were always there for me when I needed someone to talk to. Thank you for all those times that you spent with me" he smiled and then nodded his head.

"That made me feel better, Ells. Thank you because you're still kind enough to say those things after what I did to you. I'm really really sorry, Ells" he slowly walked towards the door and then opened it. He was about to step out of the house when he looked like he remembered something.

"One more thing. Serena is not really pregnant. She's just faking it to use against you both" he said and then left. Serena suddenly looked trapped. She shook her head vigorously as she looked at Rex.

"He's lying, Rex! I'm really pregnant and you're the father!" she insisted. I wanted to feel mad but all I could feel was pity towards her. She was about to approach Rex but I stopped her by blocking her way.

"Cut it out, Serena. You should go home" I said without any trace of emotion on my face. She glared at me.

"Get out of my way! Rex, you shouldn't listen to Maxime! He's nothing but a liar and---"

"Enough!" Serena looked shocked because of the thunderous voice of Rex. He dialed on his phone.

"Come in here. I want you to assist our visitor out of the ranch" he instructed one of the guards.

"N-No! You can't do this to me! I'm telling the truth!" She yelled desperately that it hurt to even watch her.

Seconds later, two of the guards came in.

"I don't want to see you again. Do me a favor and just go"

"No! You can't do this to me!----Rex!" she was shouting as the guards almost dragged her out of the house. I couldn't help but to feel sorry for her.

"Are you alright? You look bothered?' Rex asked me after a minute or so.

"A-Are you sure about your decision?" his eyebrows creased.

"What decision are you talking about?"

"Of staying with me and our chidlren" he looked at me with disbelief.

"Are you kidding me? I never believed in what she's saying from the beginning. I knew that she's just lying"

"But what if she's really pregnant?" he sighed and then cupped my face.

"No. She's not really pregnant. I know because she can't bear a child even if she wanted to"

"What do you mean?" I asked confusedly.

"Her father called me yesterday and told me that Serena is having a crazy fantasy that she's pregnant. He's worried about her because she looks like she's losing it. According to him, Serena informed them about her so called pregnancy and they were shocked because they knew that she can't bear a child. The doctors needed to remove her ovaries because of cysts three years ago and she couldn't accept that fact. I didn't know about it until yesterday" my heart reached out for her and I didn't know want to say.

"Her father said that they might bring her to a mental facility because she's showing signs of mental disorder"

"Oh, my God" my hands covered my mouth because of shock. I didn't know that Serena was already suffering like that and I couldn't help but to feel bad for her. I felt Rex enveloped me in his arms and then kissed my forehead.

"You don't have to feel bad. She did that to herself. Let's just hope that she will overcome this and get better" I slowly nodded my head and then buried my face on his hard chest.

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The next days that followed after that became better for us. Our children are now finally okay and went back to the way they were. They easily overcame there trauma because we never left them and stayed by their side. They went back to the cheerful and active kids they were before.

Our family became happy again because we were finally free from all the problems and danger that we once encountered.

"Are you ready, querida?" Rex asked playfully as he climbed onto the bed. He was looking at me full of desire. I could see the need and desire in his eyes. It's been a while since the last time we made love and the anticipation that we're feeling was so strong.

This is the first time that we finally get to sleep alone togather again in our room after that incident almost two months ago at the resort because we've been sleeping in our children's room. Now, they're finally okay sleeping alone.

"You're so sexy and beautiful, querida. Just staring at you is making me crazy already" he placed his hand on my nape and pulled me for a rough kiss. We kissed hungrily as if we've been separated for years. I could feel his hands beginning to undress me when we heard a series of knocks at the door.

"Mommy, daddy!" we abruptly stopped kissing.

"Is that---" I nodded my head.

"Yes, my querido. Looks like our children are going to sleep with us tonight too" I couldn't help but to laugh because of the expression on his face. I squeezed his cheeks.

"Tomorrow" I winked at him and then got off the bed.

"Promise?"

"Promise" I assured him. He smiled finally. I opened the door and let our naughty little ones in.

"Can we sleep here tonight, mommy, daddy?" they asked.

"Of course" Rex answered.

"Yehey!" they excitedly hopped in the bed. I shook my head and then followed them. Just when we thought that we could finally be alone. Well, there's always another day. I smiled inwardly.

After I finished reading them a story, I sang them a lullaby until they fell asleep.

"Tomorrow, querida. Remember that" I laughed and then pinched his side.

"Goodnight, querido" he smiled.

"Goodnight". We slept soundly that night.

When I woke up the next morning, I sat up right away when I noticed that Rex and the children weren't in the bed anymore. My eyebrows creased. I went out of the bed and then took a quick shower. After getting dressed, I went downstairs just to feel worried when I couldn't find my kids and Rex there.

"Avis...Av...Rexus! Where are you?" I called but no one answered. Even the household helpers were nowhere to be found. Even papy wasn't around! The worry in my heart was escalating as minutes go by without seeing them. The house was so quiet.

When I couldn't find them inside the house, I decided to go out. I just closed the door when I noticed something outside. My lips parted in shock. What the---What's happening here?!

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Next chapter is the ending then the epilogue!

What do you think of this chapter?

What do you think was happening outside the house at the end of this chapter?

Did you believe that Serena is really pregnant?

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