Rick passes the eaten piece of apple to his mother before he picks up his truck and tries to look around it, Alana pulls his truck away before handing him the piece of apple for him to finish and he groans before putting it all in his mouth and asking for his truck.

Doggo whines as he puts his head on his jaw and lies down and Rick throws a ball far away for the dog to go pick who just stares as the ball falls down and keeps rolling on the floor but the dog does not get up to take it.

Alana sighs as she stares at the dog and her son knowing well both of them were too bored cooped up inside the house.

"Want to go out?" she asks trying to cheer them up.

The dog jumps up at once on his feet wiggling his tail in excitement while Rick groans.

"What, we can go to the park and have fun, it has been a while we went anywhere" Alana speaks to her son ruffling his hair.

"Will dad join us?" he asks making her sigh.

"What's wrong with just you and me?"

"Dad's more fun" he states as he gets up from the floor.

"I am fun too"

"But you are not dad" he grumbles and his words hurts her more than she wishes to admit.

*******

Alana watches as her son slides down with a scream before the dog follows, she looks around the playground to find few of the children playing around making sand castles and swinging around.

Ricardo runs around the park while doggo follows him happily, she stays in his sight as she notices her son looking around for her before he smiles and does his own things. After playing around he slowly makes his way towards her.

"I am tired" he informs making her smiles as she bends to wipe the dirt from the side of his face.

"Then let's go" she smiles picking up her son.

"Mom, can we not go home" he asks hugging her.

"Of course, we can"

"Not gramps, but ours" he whines and she just rubs his back soothingly.

"I miss dad" he murmurs.

"I miss him too" she sighs as they make their way to the car.

"Can I have double scoop, please?" Rick requests his mother who laughs at her son's request as there is nothing in the word will she ever not give him.

"Only if you stop complaining about going to dad's place" she bargains and he frowns before agreeing with her.

Alana grins as she parks the car on the parking lot and helps her son get out as they make their way to the super market, she grabs a trolley before putting her son in.

He waves his hand at doggo who whines as he is not allowed inside the mall, Alana checks on doggo's chain before asking him to be quiet and good. She walks inside of the market to get some things while Rick keeps on telling her what he wants.

"No, you are not getting any more cars"

"Why not the one have, it's old" he whines wanting a new toy.

"You have more than enough Rick"

"But, mom it's tires are scratched"

"Oh yeah and whose fault is that?"

"Toy Company, who makes bad tires" he argues and she stops to stare at him.

"Well unless you want to be the one to making it stop complaining" she warns pushing the trolley.

"When I grow up I will make my own toy company" he states.

"When you will grow up you will have other important things to worry about" she replies.

"Like what?" he stares at her with a cute little frown.

"I don't know, it can be anything" she shrugs her shoulder.

"I don't want to fight with my wife though" he sighs as he stretches to get a loaf of bread and Alana smiles ruffling his hair.

"Maybe I will not let you get married"

"Why?"

"Because I don't want you to grow up"

"But I will bring princess back home with me" he smiles widely.

"Princesses are not real" she informs him.

"But you keep telling me their story"

"So, you don't marry them"

"You are weird"

"I know, now butter or cheese?" she asks him.

"Ice-cream" he sighs making her laugh.

*******

"Wait, I have it right here" a familiar voice makes Alana step out of the line and watch.

"Lena?" she calls out as she walks to where the girl was.

"Alana" she exclaims.

"What's going on?" Alana asks.

"I forgot my wallet" Lena confesses and Alana stares at the things in front of her.

"Well never mind, I will get it later" she waves her hands but Alana already puts her card out to pay.

"You did not have to" Lena mumbles a bit embarrassed.

"Don't worry, you will pay me back later" she smiles before she pulls her cart next.

"Do you have my brother?" Rick asks as soon as he meets Lena.

"I should bitch slap you for putting those things in my son's head" Alana states they walk out of the market.

"But that is the truth" Lena shrugs her shoulder.

"Did you just forgot I paid for your shit?" she remind Lena who sighs.

"I was in a hurry" Lena grumbles as she pulls out a bar of chocolate and eats it.

"I know, cravings can happen anytime"

"How did you know it was one?" Lena enquiries.

"Peanut butter, bars of chocolates yeah cravings to be exact"

"Richie was not around" she mumbles.

"Good to know" Alana nods as she lets doggo get in the car.

"Why?" Lena questions in confusion.

"At least when I sleep tonight I will have the satisfaction that my husband was not there for you when you had cravings as he was there for me when I had few" she smiles.

Lena shuffles on her feet as Alana gets in the car before she steps and knocks on the window making Alana roll the window down.

"Can you drop me off?" she requests.

"I would rather watch my husband dropping you off for good" she replies and Lena groans.

"Come on" she pleads.

"Walk" Alana shoos the girl before she starts the car and drives off.

******

Rick puts the phone away as he watches his mother pace around the room, he breaths before calling for her.

"What?" Alana asks as she turns to face her son.

"Why are you pacing it is making me dizzy?"

"Stop watching me pace"

"But you are talking loudly"

"Sleep"

"I can call dad if you want me to" he offers and Alana narrows her eyes at him.

"Don't you dare...wait how you know his number?" she asks.

"Dad made me memorize your and his number and what do to if none of you picked it"

"Why?"

"Because I am important to him, I can get taken away anytime" he just shrugs his shoulder before picking up the phone.

"No one is taking you anywhere" she frowns.

"They will not, he has Uncle Marc with us all the time to make sure we don't"

"Uncle who?" she asks and Rick drops the phone.

"Oops" he giggles as he tries to run off.

"Wait, Rick" she calls before running behind her son.

"Who is Uncle Marc?" she shouts at him.

"No one"

"Ricardo Russo, you stop right there" she shouts at him.

"Uh-oh, I am in trouble" he mutters stopping to face her.

"Who is Uncle Marc?" she questions holding her son.

"Dad's friend"

"What kind of?"

"The one who follows and protects us" he informs and she stares at her son in disbelief.

*******

A loud bang on the door startles Lena who jumps with a yelp and turns to find Alana walking inside with rage. She makes a direct bee line towards her husband's office. Lena keeps quiet seeing the expression on Alana's face withholding the fact that Richie was not in his office.

But she does not have to wait long before Alana walks back and looks around, both of them stare at each other for a while and without any exchange of words Alana walks out of the house.

Rick's laughter is the one that greets Alana back home shaking off few of the tension in her, she smiles wanting to know the reason for her son's laughter. She walks to his room to find him playing with Richie and the anger she had felt before returns.

"Mommy" Rick screams as he runs away from his father's hold towards her.

"When did you arrive?" Alana questions her husband.

"After you left" he smiles and it irks her.

"Maybe you should leave, you mistress is back home all alone"

"You went home?" he asks tilting his head to a side.

"Come on Rick, time for dinner" Alana ignores his enquiry.

"Mom, can dad join us?" Rick questions.

"Dad is getting late going back home to mama, he wants to leave" she glares at Richie.

"Yeah, I want to leave and go back home, so you two coming?" he asks and Rick cheers a yes.

"No, you are not taking my son anywhere. Not until you have this whole mama shit going" she snaps.

"Rick don't call Lena, mama" Richie sighs.

"But she is giving me a brother" he argues.

"You cannot call her that" Richie narrows his eyes at his son who hides his face in Alana's neck.

"But I want a brother" he whines.

"This is all your fault" Alana mouths as she steps out of the door.

*******

"Dad, dad can I get a new car?" Rick asks as he eats his food.

"No" both her parents speak at the same time shutting his demands.

"Why are you still here?" she questions.

"Alana, I came to spend some time with my son" he sighs.

"Well good thing soon you will have another son to spend your time with" she smiles tightly wiping Rick's mouth.

"That will be so cool. Then we will have more cars to play and..."

"And you will have to share your things with him" Alana comments knowing how much her son hates sharing his things.

"Do I have to?" the boy frowns.

"Yes, because that's what big brothers do, they look after their brothers" Richie smiles as he ruffles Rick's hair.

"He is no one's big brother" Alana hisses.

"Don't fight" Rick mumbles stopping his parents.

"We are not fighting champ, now come on, let' go watch some movies" Richie picks up his son who cheers happily.

"You are not staying the night in here" Alana shouts.

"Oh, you don't want to go there" Richie grins making her want to throw the bowl on his head.

*******

Alana watches as her son holds onto Richie's hands and fighting his sleep worried his father will leave and it breaks her heart watching it.

She walks in and tucks him in his bed before kissing on his forehead, he asks Richie to stay before falling asleep. Silence fills in as both of them just stare at their son sleeping form, Richie clears his throat as he gets up from the bed and makes his way out of the room.

"Why is there a bodyguard I know nothing about following us?" Alana questions.

"You would not be asking me about the same if you did not know" he replies.

"You cannot just control my life like this, pull your dogs out" she argues following him.

"No"

"Why the hell not?" she asks and he turns to face her.

"Because you are careless"

"Excuse me"

"You are not excused, you left Rick all alone in the house Alana"

"I was..."

"In a hurry, I know. I got the news, what was so important that you did not even think about our son for a second?" he questions and her anger flares.

"Don't you dare turn this around me, if it was not for your own cheating self we would not even be in this situation" she shouts in anger.

"Fine, I cheated, now what? Do you want to go cheat on me too?" he asks and she takes a step back.

"I am not you"

"Exactly, you are not. All your anger, go on take it out on me, shout, scream, call me names just take it all out" he pleads as he palms her face in his hands.

"I want your anger on me, Alana. I know I hurt you, but this is something even if I want I cannot change it...

I will not let you leave me and you will not let me take you back, so we are stuck in this cat and mouse game...

Where we are hurting but it's not just us, our son is hurting too. I cannot show my back to Lena, if that child she has is mine"

"Then why are you here, go be with her" she speaks pushing his hands away from her.

"Even if she is having my child, the woman I want my children calling mother is here" he replies back and she shakes her head.

"Don't, don't use your sneaky words on me" she warns.

"I am not" he dares to grin cheekily.

"You have a way with words, always the trickster" she points making him chuckle.

"You know me well" he smiles.

"No, I don't. Maybe once I did but no, I do not know you Richie, I never have" she states soberly before walks away from him.

*******

Alana glares at her husband who casually walks inside of her room and starts to pull his clothes off, she stays quiet to see what he is up to and when he starts to unbutton his shirt she puts her foot in.

"What the hell do you think you are doing?" she asks.

"Going to take a shower, want to join?" he asks and she scoffs.

"As if I will let you have one in here, get out of my room and the house"

"I am staying in"

"Why?"

"Because I am a caring husband who is worried about the safety of you and our son"

"As if"

"Your parents will not be back for few days"

"No way in hell are you staying in this house" she argues.

"What is this?" he ignores her outburst and looks through her clothes.

"Don't touch it" she snaps taking her clothes away.

"It's sad, you do not even have one shirt of my tucked or hidden, damn" he pouts.

"Get out"

"Guess I will have to put one of your nightie then" he sighs and she blinks.

"Sorry"

"I know, well its fine if you can sometimes wear my shirts I am sure I can wear yours too" he hums as he puts out a shorts of her.

"You are insane" she grumbles taking it away from his hands.

"Just kidding, I like it better when you wear them" he flicks her nose before he starts to unzip his bag one she did not see before.

"Where did that came from?" she questions but he does not reply and makes his way to the bathroom.

*******

"You are not staying" Alana states as her husband walks out of the bathroom freshly showered and only in his towel.

"Are we still on that?" he states.

"You should go back to Lena"

"Aww, you worry too much about her" he teases and she kicks his leg.

"You are not sleeping here"

"I am sleeping with you" he winks and she rolls her eyes.

"Ignoring your eye roll and meaning behind it, why did you went back home?" he asks curiously.

"To shout at you"

"For?" he raises a brow.

"Take the bodyguard off"

"Anything else?" he teases and she sighs.

"What are you trying to prove?" she asks folding her arms.

"That I want you back home, both of you and whatever it is with Lena I will solve it"

"There is nothing to solve, you cannot make her just disappear from our lives, oh wait of course you can but what about the distance she put between us"

"It's not her but us who is putting the distance, I swear not once have I ever watched her in any other way than that of a sister...

I know, her pregnancy has complicated things but I don't care, I want my kids to have you as their mother"

"But I care, I will never be Flora who silently raises the kids her husband presents to her. I am not calling one of your bastards mine" she replies.

"But does not that make Ricardo a bastard too"

"Richie" Alana shouts in anger.

"If the kid that comes out of Lena is mine, then he is not a bastard. And if you want to call him one, then just remember without a father even Ricardo is" he states eyes full with anger.

"Get out" Alana grits through her teeth.

"I am not here to upset or anger you"

"And you are doing a very poor work on it, don't you dare stand there and call my son a bastard"

"I cannot go back to time and change and if there is one thing that I have ever regretted in my life is hurting you this way...

And I have nothing else to say except tell you how sorry I am for everything, so please Alana come back home"

"So, I can take care of your mistress?"

"The only woman I ever want as one is standing right in front of me"

"You really have a way with words" she shakes her head.

*******

"I love you, I have never loved anything or anyone as much as I love you and our son, Alana. I don't know how to fix things between us, because you are not giving me any loophole to pass through" he sighs as he steps towards her.

"Loophole, you are asking for a loophole in this relation when all there are is nothing but holes? I don't know why you or my parents take this whole thing so lightly...

Cheating in a relation is not normal, it's not okay. And if I do give you a chance Richie, what about the child that will always be there for me to remind me what you did...

I cannot pretend it's okay, I cannot just let you in again. You slipped once, what are the chances you will not again?" she questions him.

"I swear on our son..." Alana covers his mouth with her hand.

"No, don't swear on him" she pleads not wanting his fake promises.

"Ricardo is the only thing pure between us, he is the only one that connects us and he is the only good enough thing I can think of when I think of us...

So, if not him then I don't know what. There is nothing and no one in this world I would promise on when it comes to you" he explains as he holds her hand.

"You say so this now..."

"And I will say this for the rest of my life proving you, you never made a mistake by putting your faith on me again" he grips tightly on her hands as he stares in her eyes.

"You are still not sleeping with me" she states after a while and Richie grins.

*******

"Good morning" Rick mumbles as he yawns and walks towards his mother's room before he yelps as he gets picked up.

"Good morning" Richie kisses on his forehead and Rick's sleepiness goes away.

"You stayed" he exclaims happily.

"I did promised" he smiles.

"Mom" he grins staring at his mother who yawns stretching on the bed.

"Will he stay with us now?" Rick asks.

"Who said anything about going anywhere?" Richie smiles as he walks out of the room with his son.

"Did mom make you take the couch?" Rick asks as they pass the living area to find doggo lying on top of the blanket.

"Pancakes?" he asks his son to distract him from asking more questions.

"Will we always stay in here?" he asks again.

"We will not if you don't want to" he grins.

"Cool, I want to go see mama" he smiles and Richie puts the boy on table and bends to his eye level.

"Man to man talk, don't call Lena mama"

"But, she is going to give me a brother"

"Still"

"But if I call Lena mama then, then my brother can call mommy, mommy" he states making Richie smile at the innocence his son had.

"We don't know if it's a boy yet and..."

"I will call her mama when mom is not around" he grins.

"Rick, you are hurting your mother by calling Lena that so you need to stop"

"But my brother will not be my brother if I don't call her my mama, that way he can call mom his mom and we will be equal" he pouts as he folds his arms and stares at the floor.

"You two will be death of me" he sighs as he kisses on top of his son's head.

*******

Richie passes the ball to Rick who shouts at doggo as he jumps and catches the ball before licking, Richie lets his son scold the dog as his eyes seeks his wife.

Getting up he makes his way towards her side and starts to passes her the things to help her pack it all.

"All done?" he asks as he starts to collect his son's toys.

"No, I am keeping few of his things here"

"Why?"

"Just in case" she shrugs her shoulder and Richie holds her arm stopping her from moving.

"Pack it all" he commands.

"Richie..."

"Pack it all, Alana" he states once again unzipping the bag and she sighs before she starts to put all of her son's toys.

Richie smiles as he kisses the side of her head and calls for his son who stops wrestling with the dog and stares at his father.

"Finally" Rick cheers he gets in the car making his father chuckle.

"Seems like he is team daddy" he teases his wife who scoffs.

"Team daddy better be good" Alana warns as he starts the car and Alana takes a deep breath putting all of her faith on working out the relation that right on is at the ruins.

*******

"Hey, where you have been?" Lena asks as she jumps off the couch when she finds Richie walking in.

"Hey" Richie just nods as he puts the bags down and Lena frowns before her eyes lands on Alana and Rick.

"How are you?" Alana asks the girl who stares at her before her questioning gaze meets Richie.

"Why don't you go unpack?" he asks his wife who nods as she walks towards their room.

"Unpack? Is she moving back?" Lena asks as she stares at the back of Alana.

"Yeah"

"Why?"

"What do you mean by why?" he raises a brow and she shrugs her shoulder.

"I thought you two were done and going to get a divorce" she states.

"Well then I will have to say you know nothing, now pick up those plates" he orders her and Lean frowns.

"But..."

"I have told you again and again you create mess and you clean the mess" he orders as he points at the things lying around.

"Ugh"

"Hurry up" he commands making her groan as she starts to put the cushion on its place before picking up the plates.

*******

"So, how will this work?" Lena asks as she dries her hands.

"How will what work?" Richie asks as he stops cutting the salad.

"This whole thing, I mean it is not really a pretty sight to see me in here every day unless you plan to shift me away as your wife is here now" she points and Richie goes back to cut the vegetables.

"Just try to think about happy thoughts and stay healthy" he advises.

"But, it's weird"

"Nothing is weird, you two have lived in same house before"

"Well I was not pregnant before" she argues and he puts the knife down to face her.

"Lena, you are here because you are pregnant and even if this whole mess is my fault let's just try to ignore the big elephant in the house and just go on with our lives...

I am not throwing you out so chill" he speaks and she shuffles in her feet.

"So what happens when the baby is out?"

"That's for me to worry"

"Hey this affects me too" she argues and he picks up the knife and plays with it making her shut.

"I want to have cereal for dinner" she grumbles walking out.

*******

"Hey" Richie whispers as he wraps his arms around Alana's waist pulling her closer and leaving a kiss behind her ear.

"You smell good" she points out making him chuckle.

"I made your favorite"

"You do remember it?" she teases turning her head to stare at him.

"Everything" he smiles as he steps away and lies on the bed.

"Where is Rick?" she questions as she thought her son would stick by her husband's side the way he was missing him before.

"Wandering around the house"

"Alone or" she leaves not wanting to say Lena's name.

"Doggo is with him"

"But..."

"Don't worry" he smiles is assurance.

"Must be Uncle Marc" she sighs.

"He is safe here" he smiles before pulling out a piece of cloth from her bag.

"I never saw you wearing these before" he states and Alana laughs as she tries to take it away from him hands.

"Must have gotten mixed with my new clothes"

"Oh, are you saying these are old" he asks.

"Yes, very. I used to wear it when I was in high school"

"Any one I need to haunt down for getting the chance to see you in these" he asks as he checks the material.

"Even if someone did I am not taking names"

"You don't have to, I can pull out the list of men that were in your school"

"Oh do shut up, you know you were the only one for me" she rolls her eyes.

"I know" he smirks and she hits on his leg for being smug.

"You won't make me take couch tonight will you?" he asks getting up.

"No, you can sleep in Rick's bed. It's big enough" she states making him sigh.

"I will go search the boy" he sighs before walking out of the room.

*******

Rick stares at Lena who silently eats cereal and milk while all of them have spaghetti and meatballs, he stares at his mother next who cuts small pieces of meat for him to eat.

"Is she sick?" he asks his father who raises her brow at his question.

"Because only sick people do not eat meat" the boy clarifies and Alana chuckles.

"Yeah she is sick" his mother replies and Rick wipes his mouth with the back of his hands smudging the sauce all over his face and clothes.

"I am not sick, I just felt like not eating meat"

"Poor soul" Alana mutters and Richie clears his throat as he stares at her pointedly.

"What so you are back and now you are the queen of the house?" Lena cannot help but jab back.

"No, mommy is queen of the castle" Rick corrects Lena who blinks few times in confusion.

"That's enough, Alana clean him and Lena finish your dinner. There is spaghetti too if you want it"

"Well I just lost my appetite" she pushes the plate away and gets up from the table but before she can take a step away Richie stops her.

"Finish your dinner" he orders as he withholds the girl.

"I said I am not hungry" she argues.

"And I said finish your dinner, pick up your plate and be a good girl by putting it in the sink" he commands as both of the glare at each other.

"It's soggy" she grumbles getting back on the table and eating it.

"I don't want any arguments on the dinner table nor..."

"Why is she even here?" Lena cannot stop but ask.

"Because she is my wife and because you made her son call you mother, she will be the mother to the child inside of you as well...

She is not leaving this house and the sooner you get you shit together the better" he defends his wife.

"Whatever" she grumbles focusing on the food.

Richie stops mid-bite as his phone rings so he excuses to take the call, getting up and walking away.

"Will love to see your expression when my son will call you mother" Lena jabs in as soon as Richie walks out.

"Oh trust me it will be one of victory" Alana smiles sweetly at the girl.

"You really are desperate to be back in here" Lena states and Alana loses her smiles as she cleans her son and puts him down asking him to go feed the dog handing him a bowl.

*******

"Now, that both of them are gone. Let's stop the pretense, I hate you, you hate me. I may look desperate but I am not as desperate and shameless as you...

This, this is my house and just as my son said I am the queen of the castle. I may tolerate your presence in this house but I will not tolerate you little poking jabs...

You are here for few months, months you better be grateful about, because the child growing in your womb is innocent I will try to forget how it was created but not what you did...

Let me set some rules for you.

Rule no. 1 stay away from my husband because the next time I hold a gun it will be targeted between your eyes....

Rule no. 2 I see you trying to touch Richie in any way I find it sexual you will be cursing the day you stepped in our lives...

Rule no. 3 if that child inside of you by any chance gets hurt I will hurt you ten folds...

Rule no. 4 whatever lies you told my son before hope that never increases again and Rule no. 5, you better start to believe you are nothing but a surrogate to the child that will have me as his mother not you...

Because, I don't take shit and threats quietly, if I do not take shit from my own husband what makes you think I will take from you?

Bitch please, you are like all the other girls my husband once bedded but never gave his surname to" she winks at Lena who stares at Alana dumbfounded who picks up the plates and walks towards the sink to wash it off.