The moment her car was pulled in the driveway she hurried out to see Sandra and wasted no time to ask her.

"Is someone here?" Sandra was a little taken aback by her question but answered in a puzzled tone.

"Amber said she is her friend and Maria...she is very good with kids." Sandra had a face as if telling Sydney she was worrying unnecessarily. Huffing Sydney could only spare her a disappointing look before getting her impatient feet to the theatre room where she left her kids.

"Where are the kids?" Sydney still asked Sandra who was following her.

"In the theatre room," Sydney heard and got to the room to only see Gideon and Nick with very loud music.

"Where is Amber?" Sydney asked but saw both boys busy with controllers in their hands.

"Where is Amber?" Sydney asked getting ahead of the screen to finally get the kids' attention.

"She is with Aunt Maria," Gideon said with wide eyes in a hurry as he wanted his mom to take a side and crooked to the left to look at the screen. Sydney didn't waste a single minute to get out of the room.

"What's wrong mom?" Nick asked Sydney who frantically made her way out of the room without giving any reply.

"Go after mom," Nick said snatching the controller out of Gideon's hand.

"What are you doing?" Gideon roared.

"Mrs. Miller, she must be here," Sandra tried to keep her relax while the empty living room and dining area haunts her before she made her way to the rooms on the first floor.

"Let me call the security, they will find her in a minute," Sandra said before hurriedly making her way to the closet intercom.

"Amber!" Sydney finally shouted and heard "Mom?" Listening to Amber's chirpy voice made her a little relax but she turned to her left in the hallway to find it empty with Amber sitting in the large open window with a woman whose face was not evident. Sydney waited for that woman to say something but when she didn't Sydney whispered,

"Who are you?... Amber?" Sydney smiled before adding, "This is not the place to have your guest, honey." Finding the tone of her mother a little worried Amber replied,

"She is Aunt Maria. We were sitting in the window like Rapunzel." Absence of any kind of reply made Sydney hear her heart beating in her throat when she took her steps forward to switch on the lights. But the moment she looked at the face Sydney couldn't help her gasp while tripping a little to her left.

"Amber, come here honey," Sydney said in a frantic tone making Amber fear her mom's reaction.

"Mom, are you alright?" Amber asked tugging Maria's dress and slid more to her.

"I am fine, Amber. Please come here." Sydney said and widened her eyes the moment she saw Mrs. Benz giving her a sinister smile. All Sydney could focus on was that woman's acrylic nail on Amber's throat. And, the moment Mrs. Benz gestured Sydney about how high it is from the window Sydney yelled,

"NO!" Amber jumped more to Maria shivering.

"Hello, Psycho? Long time no see." Maria turned the right corner of her mouth up.

"You can't call my mom psycho." Amber looked at Maria who replied.

"Just look at her. Isn't she weird?" Maria asked Amber. And, the moment Amber slowly turned to look at her back she found her mom right behind her.

Amber got startled and couldn't process anything of what happened. Because in the very next moment, she found herself behind her mom and heard Aunt Maria groaning. Amber gasped looking at Maria's bleeding mouth but was shocked when she noticed a very vile smile on Aunt Maria's face.

"I thought we were going to do it the polite way,"

"You lost that option when you threaten me with my child," Sydney yelled and Amber held Sydney's dress tightly as she witnessed a devilish grin on Aunt Maria's face.

"What? You don't want your kids to know about the issues you got?" Maria narrowed her eyes and all of them heard to some footsteps approaching before they heard,

"Sydney,..." Hearing to Noah's voice Amber ran to her father and hugged him.

"Take her away," Noah told Gideon who had finally come because Nick refused to play with him.

It seemed serious but noticing the tension between the air Gideon avoided asking any questions and left holding shivering Amber.

"What's going on?" Noah asked and did notice Maria's swollen and bleeding lip.

"It's nothing. I forgot about Sydney's temper...and got her surprised...it's my entire fault," this made Sydney shot up and looked at her back to saw Maria in surprise.

"Noah, I want this woman out of our house," Sydney said walking to Noah. All she could think was to look at Amber once more but then stopped to look at her husband who was frozen at his place.

She was still gauging Noah's reaction when she heard him say, "Mrs. Benz, I apologize for what happened here." Sydney realized it was not her Noah anymore and said without wavering.

"Maria...you will leave my place this instant. And, if I ever found you...or your hands anywhere around my kids we will have to call cops," Sydney could feel Noah's eyes drilling into her but she didn't look at him.

Sydney was nerved up when Maria passed Noah a nod before leaving. Not having any trust over Maria's intentions Sydney walked behind her and made sure she left their property.

"What was that?" Noah finally asked looking at Sydney who started breathing heavily after Maria left. When Sydney didn't answer Noah held her shivering hand and asked,

"Sydney, who is she? How...How are you two related?" Sydney did hear to what Noah said but her mind was occupied to the moment before and recalling Amber she started walking to her kid's room.

"Amber?" Sydney said getting into her kids' room and got Amber stirred. "How are you, honey?" Sydney lean in to kiss Amber but heard her say,

"Why did you hurt her mom..." This made Sydney still and look at Amber but before she could say anything Amber asked, "Will you hurt us too?" Sydney looked at Amber in shock and then turn to look at Gideon who was standing beside her.

"Of course, not honey, I will never hurt you,...I,...I hurt her because she was a villain as in...Rapunzel. She,...she was a witch. And, I can't let anyone hurt you two. Do,...do you believe me?" Sydney asked and Gideon came forward to hug his mom while Amber blinked with a pout on her face.

"But she always came with gifts..." Amber said and Gideon added, "...and chocolates,"

"Have you heard about Hansel and Gretel?" Sydney asked and both kids nodded,

"Witch offered them...what?" Sydney asked,

"Chocolates?" Both answered,

"Pasteries and many good things," Amber kept on adding.

"What if she came into my room?" Amber asked in a frantic tone when she got the meaning behind her mother's words.

"No, honey, no one can come. Remember, I am the fairy. I have put the spell around you two. She will never set her foot in our house." Sydney saw both kids getting relaxed now. She hated how she had to lie to her kids. But Maria had a very good impression over them, leaving Sydney with no option but to lie.

"You two have to promise me that you will never ever talk to Maria. And, will run to me if she ever reaches you," Sydney said and both kids stared at each other before Amber said, "I promise."

"I promise too," Gideon's voice came.

"Thank you so much," Sydney gratefully looked at her kids. She knew she had no right to barge into their lives and tell them who they can talk to and who to not but she had made her decision. So, she let the talk pending for the morning and put them to sleep.

She came out to see Noah holding Nick in his arms. She tried to talk to Noah but he ignored her and get to Nick's room. Sydney had to follow him to Nick's room. Looking at Noah's face all tensed up she knew he was in a bad mood.

"Are you two good?" Nick asked,

"Yea, honey" Sydney smiled from the doorframe.

"I thought parties were meant for fun," Nick commented and made Noah let out a sarcastic laugh.

"It was very much fun, Nick," Noah said getting his hand in Nick's hair before whispering. "Have a good night," Tucking Nick into his bed Noah made his way to the kitchen.

"Noah,...we need to talk," Sydney followed him and saw him having a beer.

"There is nothing left to talk about," Noah replied.

"Why are you saying this?" Sydney asked in disbelief.

"Why you would do that? I...I never saw you...being this violent. What I am supposed to,..." Noah went silent for a few seconds before coming, "You should see some doctor." His words made Sydney drop her mouth before she retaliated,

"No...you should see someone. Noah...you knew her. She is Maria Blake. She hit on you. Framed you for stealing and..." For a split second, she wanted to tell him that she is the reason behind her sufferings but refrained knowing it will weaken her, "...You let that vile woman around our kids, Noah. You need to work on this,"

"Why she would do that?" Noah was surprised.

"She doesn't need any reason." Noah heard Sydney say and felt weak. He felt responsible for his negligence.

"I,...I didn't know. I thought I was allowing a part of their mother around them. And,...I knew my friend and I thought she is his wife and can be trusted,..." Noah pulled his hair back in frustration before adding, "But you could have told me. You hit her and nothing justifies your act. You should have cared about Amber around you,...she is scared." Sydney gasped at how unaware he was from the gravity of the situation.

"She took advantage of your condition Noah! You tell me what to do with the person who was indicating me to kill MY CHILD. I,...I lost it. So, stop judging me when you don't know anything," Sydney was heaving badly with anger when Noah's eyes widen taking this piece of information. But soon Sydney saw him lowering his eyes and left to his room.

Sydney knew she could have said this some other way and felt bad instantly for getting off at him. She followed him to their room drowned in darkness. He looked lost and deep in thoughts staring out of the window. Sydney knew she had made him guilty about something he doesn't have any control of.

Walking to him she hugged his back before whispering, "I am sorry. I should have not said this."

Silence prevailed and all Sydney focused was to listen to his heartbeats. "I am tired." She heard him say and decided to give him space.

In the morning, Sydney got to know that Noah left for his office. And, the fact that it was Saturday made Sydney even more guilty. She got to her kids and served them breakfast. Telling kids that Noah went to his office for some emergency welcomed an outburst of continuous whining from Amber but Gideon was helpful in making her fine. Kids waited for the weekend all week and they were disappointed now.

Are you still mad? Sydney texted Noah but got no reply.

After an hour she was sitting on the lawn chair and looking at her kids running or cycling. Nick made the bubbles and bragged about his awards, he got in a relay race. Clicking their picture Sydney sent it to Noah with a caption that read,

Aren't they cute? She waited for a reply but nothing came.

We need to talk, Sydney wrote but got nothing and after a few minutes she typed,

It is about our kids' safety.

This time she got the call. She picked up to ask, "How are you?" But when nothing came Sydney added,

"I don't think we should allow our kids their cellphones. They have Maria's contact information. And, I can't stop thinking about the possibility of the people in their contact who can hurt them." Sydney shared the matter she couldn't stop thinking about since last night but never got the chance to share it with Noah.

"They won't like it," Noah informed her,

"I know. This is why I am asking you. Do you have any suggestions?" Sydney asked and Noah said without wasting a single second.

"I can send you the list of people they are in contact with. You can mark the people and send the file back to me. I will block them."

"It seems like a good plan...Did you have your lunch?" Sydney asked but found nothing for a few seconds before she heard,

"Sydney, I am busy."

Sydney knew she can do a lot better than this. And, there was no way she could let her Noah suffer alone in those silent walls of his office. So, she ordered her staff to prepare a full course meal and got her kids ready. Kids were excited knowing they are going to see dad.

Getting into the building Sydney was more confident about her decision. Though there were some staff it was very silent from the usual days.

Noah was coming out of his office to receive them all. He was informed by the security about their arrival, "What are you doing here?" Noah asked Sydney who pretend not to notice his edgy voice,

"Well, Nick wanted to see your office too. Gideon and Amber couldn't stop bragging about it,...And, look what we have got you." Sydney showed him lunch boxes.

Noah received the box from Gideon's hand before whispering, "Thank you,"

"Daddy? Are you surprised?" Amber asked who was looking cute with a big red flower pin in her hair.

"Hey,...Of course, I am happy, hon," Noah said picking her up.

"This is cool," Nick said as he let his wheelchair to look at the view.

"I told you it was cool," Gideon replied and looked at the view too while Sydney and Noah served the food on the table.

Kids couldn't stop talking about the plans they had for the night as their dad had promised them a night out. Gideon and Amber took Nick to show him the adjacent bedroom when Sydney asked,

"Can we talk?"

"Sure," Noah said,

Sydney made him walk to the huge glass window in the corner. He had his eyes on her and waited for what she had to share but what she did was unexpected. Sydney held his hand before getting close to him. She could see how tense he was when she said,

"Don't be hard on you. You didn't know."

Silence prevailed before Noah asked, "You know me well. Don't you?" Sydney didn't reply and looked at the sky before asking,

"Do you recall our moment standing here?" When he didn't reply she held his hand tighter before saying,

"Why you never tried taking the therapies for restoration of our time?" Sydney couldn't help asking. Was she not worth it?

"I didn't have any reason. And,...I had my friends and kids...Knowing I lost two but not one woman in my life was unsettling." She heard him say and looked deep in his eyes. When he didn't hear anything from her he added, "I thought only if I could avoid recalling that I fell for you. I won't be hurt more." A pained smile appeared on Sydney's face when she said,

"I see,...and I agree it is a great decision." Leaning to the glass behind her she corrected his tie before adding, "But we can't trust anyone Noah. If the times you don't want to recall are full of despair there is us too." She came closer and looked up. Right into his eyes. "And, believe me, I am not asking it for me. I am asking it for your sake. You deserve to know what you learned in all these years." And, when she felt his heartbeat quickened she came closer to whisper with her misty eyes and cracked voice, "I want you to know how strong you were facing what others can never live past. And, believe me,...you did great."

Coming down Noah kissed her hard and found Sydney to kiss her back with the same passion. Pulling away Noah whispered over her mouth.

"I hate how easy it is for you to know me and,...and talk to me." He was breathless,

Holding his shoulders Sydney heard him and exhaled before whispering to him breathlessly, "You can talk to me about anything,"

"No, Sydney. I can't. I can't talk to you about anything. I...Something in me kept telling me to keep my distance from you. And, that...I don't know you. But I can't stop touching you Sydney." Noah added as if it wasn't a good thing.

"But whenever I touch you...and hold you or I...taste you. I feel home..." She saw him blinking and hated seeing her man breaking in front of her. She inhaled deeply when she found his hands on her waist, "...a home that I never had. A home where I want to stay forever and it's...it's frightening," This made Sydney blink and shed a tear that had filled her right eye as she comes up to kiss him again. Noah kissed her harder but she wanted him to relax. She wanted anything for him but to scare off her.

Love you all, 

xoxo

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