~ Madison's POV ~

"Uh..."

"Well? Can I come in?"

"Crap."

I frowned at Arturo who reluctantly stepped aside to let me into Santiago's house after a few moments of just staring at me.

"What's wrong?" All he did was let out a sigh as he shook his head, heading to the kitchen with me following behind him.

I didn't know what to say so instead I just followed him into the kitchen and he went to stand to the side when I walked in.

The first thing I noticed was the fact that there were a lot more people in the room than I expected.

My eyes landed on the twins who were sitting at the table smiling at me when they saw me from their place next to Santiago who was refusing to look at me, instead keeping his eyes down.

Next to Santiago was a petite brunette who was pretty much glaring at me and next to her was a blonde woman just staring at me with curious eyes.

Of all the people though, my eyes were mostly drawn to the two guys standing to the side, expressions of shock covering their faces.

They were two people I hadn't seen for seven years. The last time was at the hospital when they came to visit me after I took the pills, and I never saw them again after that.

There was no doubt then that Santiago did hear about my suicide attempt. I thought maybe he hadn't, if he hadn't spoken to anyone from highschool after he left but clearly, he decided to keep some of his friendships and not others.

He knew I tried to kill myself, because of him, and he never came back to see me.

"Madison?"

It felt like everyone was just staring at me, apart from Santiago, and now I knew exactly why.

Before anyone could say anything else, the sound of two chairs scraping against the floor broke the silence and soon the pattering of feet against the tiled kitchen floor could be heard.

"Mama!"

I just about managed to force a smile onto my face as the twins ran over to me, completely oblivious to the tension in the room.

I wish I could be that young again, when you have no idea about what's going on. You have no idea how cruel people can be, how much they can hurt you without even batting an eye.

As they stopped in front of me, I knelt down to their height, wrapping my arms around them in a hug which they instantly returned.

I spoke to them quietly for a few moments, listening to them tell me all about their night with Santiago and what they got up to. I could feel everyone's eyes on us until eventually I stood back up, my eyes landing on Santiago again who was still not looking my way.

"Hi...I'm Sienna." The blonde woman stood up from her place next to the glaring brunette at the table, coming over to where I was standing with the twins. When I just smiled in response, unsure of what to say, she spoke again.

"Your children are really beautiful." She had a thick Spanish accent similar to Santiago's and Arturo's. I could tell everyone in the room, apart from me of course, had a Latino heritage. They were all tanned, from what I knew they all had Spanish accents, the only one who hasn't spoken to me was the angry woman next to Santiago.

It felt like school all over again. I was the odd one out, just Madison Clarke, nothing exotic or fancy.

Even the twins had a Latino heritage, you could tell just by looking at them. They looked so much like Santiago.

Every time I looked at them I saw his eyes staring back at me.

"Thank you." She smiled again stepping to the side before the brunette also stood up from her place next to Santiago.

"So your name is Madison? Santi hasn't told us anything about you." From the way she spoke, I could instantly tell she had a problem with me. Even if she was smiling, it was a fake smile, anyone could see that.

"I can't imagine why." When these words left my mouth, for the first time, Santiago looked at me with cold, emotionless eyes.

In that moment, I knew in my heart that he wasn't the man who was my bestfriend. Not anymore. Something had changed about him, but I couldn't tell what it was.

"Well, I'm Katia, Santi's bestfriend." Instead of coming over to me like Sienna did, she went and stood behind Santiago, placing her hands on his shoulders possessively.

So he replaced me with her?

And the blows just keep on coming.

"That's nice."

I tried to keep my voice steady as I spoke, I wasn't going to let anyone see how this affected me. She nodded her head with a smug smile on her face while Santiago just looked away again, not even bothering to move her hands or correct her.

It must have been true then.

"Maddie...it's good to see you again." I managed to force a small smile in Noah's direction when he spoke but before he could try to start a conversation with me, I focused my attention back on the twins.

"Are you guys ready to go home?"

They both nodded excitedly and Santiago took this as his cue to get up, taking them upstairs to help them pack their things.

For a moment the rest of his friends just stood there watching me until I eventually left the kitchen too.

"Madison, wait."

Just as I was walking to the front door, deciding it was better to wait outside in the car than to stay here any longer, I turned around when someone called my name.

Surprisingly, it was Sienna who was trying to catch up with me.

"Yeah?"

"Um...I just wanted to say that it was nice to finally meet you, and your twins. I know something just went down between you all although I have no clue what, but I hope you're okay."

For some reason, her words managed to bring a small smile to my face and I nodded my head. Maybe her smile was infectious, I don't know.

At least she seemed nice.

"It was nice to meet you too and thank you."

<<<<<<< >>>>>> <<<<<<<

2 weeks later

"Madison, you're needed in room 33."

I nodded my head tiredly as I moved onto the next patient that I needed to take care of.

This was one was a sponge bath.

As you can probably tell, I was ecstatic.

It may have been hard, but I loved my job. I loved the feeling of being there to help someone when they need you the most, it was so rewarding.

I was currently doing my first night shift at the hospital although I'd already done quite a few day shifts now that the twins were at preschool for three days a week and then with Santiago one day during the week too.

Surprisingly, although we hadn't spoken in person since that day, he's been extremely helpful with them ever since I went back to work. Whenever I've needed him to take them, he's done it, without question.

From what I could tell in their behaviour at home, the twins were definitely starting to bond with him a lot more now that they'd spent some nights with him. They told me about what they did, how much they missed him when they weren't with him and how excited they were to see him.

As much as I may have hated him, I was glad about that.

Every child deserves to have their father.

"Madison you're needed in the emergency room."

It was always orders.

Madison go here, Madison go there. Madison someone threw up, Madison you need to check someone's blood pressure. Madison, get yourself some coffee, you look like hell.

"Madison?"

Making my way through the main waiting area of the emergency room, I let out a sigh when someone called my name.

It was 3am man, don't they have any chill?

"Yes?" As I turned around, I expected to see a senior nurse or even a doctor behind me but when I saw a patient, I frowned.

He was familiar to me.

Extremely familiar, and yet I couldn't quite place him.

"Yes? Can I help you?" His deep blue eyes took me in as I stood there in my blue scrubs, my hair up in a bun and I probably had bags under my eyes.

"You don't recognise me?" His eyes shone with amusement as I stared at him with a blank expression before shaking my head. "No, sorry. Do I know you?"

My words caused him to let out a velvety laugh. You would think I would remember that laugh, but my memory wasn't the best, especially during a night shift.

"Asher...Asher Hill...from highschool?" When I still didn't reply he let out a sigh and stepped closer to me.

"Your friend hated me, what was his name?" He bit his lip as he tried to remember the name, but I beat him to it.

"Santiago." As soon as I said it, he nodded his head letting out a laugh.

"Oh, yeah, that's it."

"Now I remember you. He didn't like you very much." I gave him a smile as I started walking to the front desk while he followed closely behind.

Asher was close friends with Santiago for quite a while before they suddenly hated each other after a party which I didn't go to. Santiago said that some words had been said that he wasn't happy with but, as we got older, I began to learn that sometimes his temper was a little too short.

Whatever Asher said probably wasn't even that bad.

When I got to the front desk, I put down the chart I was holding and it was only when I turned to face him, leaning against the counter, when I noticed his bloody hand.

"You hurt your hand?" He glanced down at his when I said this before laughing again.

"Yeah...it wasn't a fight if that's what you're thinking. I punched a wall. but I'm not here for this, I'm actually here for my friend. He's just getting some stitches done right now."

"Oh...well if you're waiting, come with me and I'll clean that up for you."

He rose an eyebrow at me before nodding his head.

"Thank you."

I took him to an empty bed in the emergency room, closing the curtain before I started cleaning the wounds on his knuckles.

"So, how have you been?"

"Good, how about you?" He smiled at my short answer but didn't push me on it, thankfully.

"Good." I glanced up at him, letting out a small laugh when he copied my answer.

It fell silent between us for a moment before he spoke again.

"It's been seven years since we left highschool, right?" I nodded my head, holding in a smile when I dabbed his cut with the alcohol wipe causing him to flinch.

"So, what have you been up to? Apart from being a nurse, of course."

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." Asher laughed at this before flashing me a smile.

"Try me." I stared at him for a moment before I nodded my head as I opened up another alcohol wipe to continue cleaning his busted knuckles.

"Well, after school finished I tried to commit suicide, but then when that didn't work I went to college. I graduated and got a job, only to quit a year later when I got pregnant with twins, by the one person I hate the most in this world."

By the time I'd finished he fell silent and when I lifted my head, he was staring at me with an intense gaze.

"Maddie..."

It was only when I saw the sympathy flash in his eyes that I'd realised what I just said.

"Damn, sorry. I shouldn't have said all tha-" His non-injured hand shot out to take mine before he cut me off.

"Hey, it's okay. That...that sounds crazy." I nodded my head, letting out a sigh.

"It is. But, I love my children. I wouldn't trade them for anything."

"How old are they?" I gave him a small smile as I finished cleaning his cuts. "Three, almost four, actually. One boy and one girl."

"They must keep you busy then?" I couldn't but laugh at this as I nodded.

"Oh you have no idea. I've only just come back to work a couple of weeks ago, I've spent the last few years with them."

"It's got to be worth it though, right? I mean, wouldn't you prefer to be there and raise them yourself than to have someone else do it while you're working?"

I nodded my head as he spoke, focusing my attention on his cut.

"Definitely. It was hard putting my whole life on hold for them, but eventually I kind of realised that whatever life I set up for myself before I eventually had children would have been for them anyway. So, doing it the other way round isn't necessarily such a bad thing."

When I lifted my head to look at him, I was surprised to see the soft smile he was giving me.

"I'm sure you're a great mom."

"Thanks." I gave him a smile of my own as I eventually stood up off the stool I was sitting on.

"You're all done." He looked down at his hand, moving his fingers a little before he smiled at me.

"Thank you Madison."

"You're welcome, just, try not to punch anymore walls." My words caused him to laugh and he nodded his head as he stood up too. As soon as he did this, I realised just how close we were in proximity, standing in the small cubicle.

"I'll try, but, I might need your number. You know, just in case I need someone to fix me up again."

I rose an eyebrow at him while he just continue to give me a dazzling smile.

"I just told you I have two children Asher, I'm not really at a place in my life where I can mess around with a guy. I need something..."

"Real? Stable? Loving? I can give you that Madison."

"Asher..." He took a step closer to me, taking my hand in his as he smiled.

"Shall I tell you why Santiago hated me so much? It was because I wanted to ask you out on a date. He wouldn't let me go anywhere near you."

"You didn't forget his name, did you?" My words caused Asher to let out a chuckle as he shook his head.

"No, I didn't. Come on, I've waited seven years for this, just go on one date with me Maddie, just one. If it goes well that's good and if not, you can decide what happens next."

Could I really do it? I hadn't spoken to a guy romantically once I found out I was pregnant over four and a half years ago. I was so focussed on the twins but now they're getting a little older, if I really wanted to I could find the time for a man.

It's not like having children stopped Santiago from living his life. For the first three years he was pretty much doing his usual thing, just leaving some time every few days to visit them.

It shouldn't stop me either. Asher seemed like a really nice guy, and he was okay with me having two children with another man. I'm sure that was something I wouldn't easily find in another man.

Maybe I shouldn't pass up this opportunity so easily.

"Okay. One date."

<<<<<<< >>>>>>> <<<<<<<

Once I gave Asher my number, he quickly went off to search for his friend in the crowded emergency room leaving me to continue with the rest of my shift.

The next few days went by pretty uneventfully, mostly consisting of two crazy three year olds or the gloomy walls of the hospital whenever I was there.

"When is your next night shift?" I glanced over at Santiago who was leaning against my car, watching me try to buckle the twins into their car seats.

It was a lot harder than it sounded.

"Saturday as usual. But, do you mind having them on Friday too?"

"Why?" I turned my head to look at him, noting the frown on his face.

"Because I...I have a date."

Why I decided to tell him the truth was a mystery to me. But I did.

"A date?" I nodded my head, turning my attention back to Mackenzie who was still trying to get out of her car seat.

"Yeah...it's just a first date though, I don't think it will go anywhere."

Why did I feel like I needed to add that bit?

I refused to meet his gaze as I finally managed to secure the buckle around Kenzie causing her to let out a defeated sigh, pouting her lips. I couldn't help but laugh at her reaction before I placed a kiss on her cheek.

Once I closed her door, I turned to look at Santiago who was watching me with a frown on his face like he seemed deep in thought.

"Madison I'm supposed to be in San Francisco on Friday."

"Oh. Well, that's fine then. I'll just call him and-"

Before I could finish his sentence Santiago stood up properly while shaking his head.

"Don't worry, it's fine. What time do you want me to come and pick them up?"

My eyes widened at his response and I rose an eyebrow at him.

I definitely didn't expect him to be okay with it, honestly I wasn't sure what his reaction would be but it definitely wasn't this.

"Really? You don't have to if you're busy Santiago."

"It's okay, really." I felt his eyes on me as I went around my car to the other back door, opening it so that I could buckle Cameron in.

"Is 5pm okay?" He nodded his head and I mumbled a 'thank you' before I bent down and started buckling Cameron in.

"Mama no, I don't like it."

"Too bad, if you want to go home you have to buckle up." Similar to his sister, he pouted at me as I buckled him in but thankfully he wasn't making it ten times harder by trying to get out.

"Sorry baby." I gave him a smile as I kissed his cheek before I stood up and closed the door. Once again when I looked at him, Santiago was staring at me with an intense gaze.

He was probably just thinking about this date. Neither of us had ever mentioned anything about ever seeing other people who might eventually become part of the twins lives. Santiago never liked to share anything when we were younger so I'm sure the thought of having to let another man into the twins lives was hard for him to accept.

As I walked past Santiago again, this time to the drivers seat, he spoke again.

"Their birthday is coming up soon in a few weeks. I was thinking, we should take them to Florida."

"Woah, Florida?" He nodded his head, clearly amused by the shock on my face.

I knew he'd go big for their fourth birthday now that they could understand what it actually was, but I didn't think he'd want to take them on vacation.

"Yeah, Disney World. They're obsessed with Disney." I nodded my head as I thought about all the Disney related items which have taken over my apartment. My very small apartment.

"You should, they'll love it."

"Not just me Madison. It'll be their birthday, you need to be there too." As soon as he said this I began to shake my head but he spoke again before I could argue with him.

"It'll only be a couple of days. We can get on for a few days, can't we? Plus, I was going to ask Arturo to come, you can bring Stevie if you want. But I'd prefer if you didn't."

I could tell he was trying really hard to get me to agree and as much as I I really didn't want to go anywhere with him I didn't want to disappoint the twins.

I sacrificed my whole life for them, I could sacrifice a few days for them.

Right?

"Okay, fine. But the same rules apply, we don't talk about anything apart from them. We don't mention anything about the past."

Santiago nodded his head in agreement as I turned around to open my car door.

Is it weird that the fact he was agreeing with me hurt me? I had a reason to be mad at him, but he didn't.

He was the one who left me and yet ever since I found him again he's always acted like he hates me too.

"Wait, take this first." As I opened the car door I turned to see him holding an envelope out to me. Taking it from him, I looked inside to see another wad of cash as I expected. "It's five thousand."

"Santiago you really don't need to keep giving me so much, they're not that expensive to look after."

He nodded his head as he took a step away from me and towards his house.

"I know, but I'm their father, anything of theirs should come from me."

I couldn't help but feel that was his way of marking his territory.

Without waiting to see my reaction, he waved goodbye to the twins who waved back excitedly from the car before he went inside his house.

Before I knew it, Friday had come around and I was busy getting ready while the twins were sitting on my bed watching me.

The last time this happened, the twins didn't exist yet and it was Stevie sitting on my bed watching me get ready to go to the club.

Four and a half years ago.

If that night hadn't happened, I probably would have just continued working, going out with Stevie every few weeks and who knows what else. My life was so incomplete before they came along, I had nothing to work towards.

I glanced over at my babies who were watching me put my make up on in awe and I couldn't help but smile.

They really were the best thing that ever happened to me.

"Mama you look pretty, I want to look like you too." I gave Kenzie a smile as I got up and went over to her, holding a tube of light pink lip gloss in my hand.

"Come here then baby." I opened the tube, taking off a little bit off the excess lipgloss onto the edge of the tube.

"Mama no, Kenzie is not a big girl." I couldn't help but laugh when Cameron frowned, looking over at Kenzie protectively.

"I am!" Mackenzie pouted her lips at me, waiting for me to put the gloss on her.

"It's okay Cameron, it's just a little bit." All he did was shake his head while I put a little bit of lipgloss on her lips. As soon as I did she smacked her lips together with a smile. "Do I look pretty?"

"Of course you do my baby."
"No."

I turned to look at Cameron who was still frowning at Mackenzie but she just ignored her brother. Just as Mackenzie got off the bed, running over to the full length mirror in my room, there was a knock at the door.

"Daddy?" I nodded my head as I stood up, tying my robe a little tighter around my body. I'd finished my hair and make up, but I still hadn't chosen anything to wear so for now I was just wearing a thin black robe over my underwear.

"Let's show daddy my lips!" I let out a laugh as Mackenzie ran out of my room and down the hallway to the front door. Of course, at the mention of the lipgloss Cameron was frowning again.

"Come on baby." I held his hand in mine as we went over to the front door where Mackenzie was waiting for me to open it.

When I opened the door, Santiago looked up from his phone, his eyes travelling up my bare legs and over my body before his eyes locked with mine. For those few moments I just stared into his brown eyes.

I felt completely captivated.

And I had no reason why.

Eventually Santiago looked away, clearing his throat before he turned his attention to the twins who were standing next to me.

"Daddy, look! I'm pretty." Santiago rose an eyebrow at Mackenzie as he bent down, lifting her up into his arms, stepping into my apartment, closing the door behind himself.

"Of course Kenzie, you're the most beautiful girl in the world."

"But she has make up." I couldn't help but laugh when Cameron shook his head in disapproval.

"You're wearing make up?" Kenzie nodded her head and pursed her lips to show off the lipgloss. She was completely oblivious at the way his tone suddenly changed when he asked her the question.

I for one, wasn't. I guess I knew him well enough to know when something didn't sit well with him.

"You're too young for make up Mackenzie." Santiago shook his head as he put Mackenzie down while I just rolled my eyes.

"It's just a bit of lip gloss, both of you are overreacting."

While Kenzie nodded in agreement with me, both Cameron and Santiago just shook their heads.

"Well I like it and I think you look beautiful baby." I smiled at Mackenzie who smiled back before coming over to me, leaving Cameron and Santiago a few feet away. It fell silent while we just stood there until I rolled my eyes letting out a laugh.

"Okay, well both of you go and get your things."

As soon as they'd both gone down the hallway Santiago turned to look at me with a glare.

"She's too young for you to start putting make up on her Madison."

"Okay, you need to relax, it was a bit of lipgloss. They were watching me get ready so I put a bit on her, that's all."

When I said this he just rose an eyebrow at me before he let out a scoff, gesturing at the make up on my face.

"She's three years old, she doesn't need to see you acting like a slut by putting all that on your face for a man."

My eyes widened at his harsh tone and as if he'd physically hit me, I took a step back from him as a frown formed on my face. He didn't even seem to regret what he just said, all I could see was anger blazing in his eyes.

Why did I ever think he would be okay with me going on a date?

He obviously tried to do the calm approach first and clearly that didn't work out for him.

"Mama! We're ready!" The glare on Santiago's face quickly disappeared, turning into a smile as he faced the twins who came running back to the front door with their bags.

I, on the other hand, took a little longer to recover from what he'd just said.

"Shall we go then? I have so much fun planned for today and tomorrow by the time I'm done with you two you'll be absolutely exhausted."

The twins laughed at Santiago's words, nodding excitedly before coming to give me a hug goodbye. Santiago didn't say another word to me, or even look in my direction as he left with the twins.

Somehow I managed to end up just standing there, replaying his words in my head for some asking of time and before I knew it, there was another knock at my door.

I quickly blinked away the tears that had formed in my eyes before I opened the door again.

"You're early." Asher nodded his head wordlessly as he stared at my bare legs before he cleared his throat, handing me a bouquet of flowers.

"I know, sorry." I managed to give him a smile as I took the flowers, allowing him to come into my apartment.

My very messy apartment.

"Sorry, I thought we'd be heading straight out so I didn't clean up and the twins, they were playing and-"

"Maddie, relax, it's okay. Go and get changed, I'll just wait for you here." I felt a blush rise on my cheeks when he cut me off with a laugh and I quickly nodded my head, rushing to my bedroom before I could say anything else to embarrass myself.

In the end once I'd got changed, we left my apartment and he took me to some Italian restaurant that I'd never been to before. We pretty much just talked about anything that wouldn't trigger me and I could tell he stayed away from the topic of highschool and particularly Santiago which was good.

I hadn't actually told him that Santiago was the father of my children until after our fifth date and, well, I kind of wish I hadn't.

That one conversation with someone who at that point had very little to do with me, changed my life forever.

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