***Chris’s POV***

                I threw open my front door and stormed up the stairs to my room. I slid down against the door and tried to get a handle on my anger. I had anger issues, but they were nothing compared to Ben’s.

                I could hear my parents outside of my room. God they pissed me off. They had been silent the whole way home, meaning I was probably getting a lecture or something.

                “It’s my fault. I swear in front of him all the time,” my dad was saying miserably. I shook my head and stood up, walking over to my bed. Ben was in the hospital because of me.

                No.

                It wasn’t my fault. It was that bitch Ali’s. I had tried to tell Ben to just ditch her but he wouldn’t do it. He stayed with her through the pregnancy and stayed to help raise the kids. I had nothing against the twins. I loved them. But I hated the stress their bitch of a mother but Ben under.

                It was all relief to him. He needed it because she wouldn’t give him a break for once. Ben worked his ass off to support her and the twins and all she did was sit on her ass and whine to everyone.

                And I was determined to get Ben away from that bitch.

                                                                                                ***Ali’s POV***

                The next day, JJ and I went to the hospital to visit Ben. We left the twins and Jeydyn with Claire at the house. I had to have a serious talk with Ben, one I’d already had with JJ and Claire, and I didn’t want the twins there in case Ben lost his temper.

                We entered his hospital room and he looked up at us weakly. JJ sprinted over to him and wrapped his arms around Ben. JJ really did love Ben and he was a great father to him. If he had been there during those 5 years of Ben’s life, Ben would be a completely different person.

                His eyes slid to me and I sighed. “JJ, do you want time with him?” I asked. JJ bit his lip but shook his head. “No Ali. You need to talk to him about it.” He walked over and looked deep into my eyes. “You’re doing the right thing Ali, and I’m behind you for this,” he said softly before leaving the room.

                “What’s he talking about?” Ben demanded as the door shut. I walked over to Ben slowly and took his hand in mine. “I’m so disappointed in you Ben. How could you gamble with your life like that? You have people who need you and love you,” I whispered.

                “Ali, what’s going on?” he asked, suspicion exploding in his beautiful eyes. I took a deep breath and squeezed his hand lovingly. “I love you so much Benjamin Robert Jarvis. You know I do,” I said quietly.

                “Ali!” he cried. “What’s going on? Are you breaking up with me? I was just angry and stressed!” He sounded so desperate. I wish it was just me breaking up with him. But I loved Ben too much to do that. What I was doing was more painful than simply breaking up with him.

                “Ben, you’re anger issues and the way you deal with stress isn’t good for the boys. It’s hurting them and I need to protect them. For the next month, or for as long as it takes for you to really come clean and get control of yourself, I’m taking the boys to come live at my parents’ house without you.”

                “You can’t do that!” he screamed, struggling to sit up. “Look at yourself Ben! You can’t even sit up!” I cried, gesturing at him as he laid pathetically in the hospital bed. “It’s not healthy for the boys to be around you like this!”

                “Ali you can’t take my kids away from me,” he cried desperately. “Ben, do you think I want to take Shane and Shawn away from you? I’m just doing what I have to and your dad agrees with me!” I cried.

                Pain exploded in his eyes. “Ali, please,” he whispered shakily. “I won’t ever touch another drug or drink again if you don’t do this! Please!”

                I shook my head. “You need to prove it Ben. You have one month to get clean. After that, well, we’ll see how long it takes. I love you Ben. But I also love our kids and I want them to grow up right,” I said softly.

                He was shaking badly. Not the way he shook when he was angry. No, this was the way he shook when he was scared or hurt. It wasn’t very often. Ben used to have such a good grip on his emotions. Sure, the pain would show through his eyes, but other than that, you would never guess just how much Benjamin Jarvis constantly hurt.

                I leaned down and pressed my lips to his lovingly, willing him to understand. I pulled away and stroked his cheek as he tried to push the broken look out of his eyes. He was failing at it though. It showed through so clearly I nearly burst into tears and screamed never mind.

                But I held tough. “One month,” I reminded him. “I love you Ben and I know you can do it.” I turned and left the room. I left the hospital and went to pick up my sons and take them away from their father for a month or, maybe, longer.