Chapter 2.70

We miss him," Archer whispered before crying again, "I'm sorry Momma!"

"We love you Momma! We do!" Ashley wailed as she clung on to me.

I wracked my brain to try to understand what they meant. Him? I felt a chill as I realized who they were talking about. "You miss your Dad?"

They both hesitate before nodding, "I'm sorry...sorry, Momma...I..."

I pulled the twins into me completely, "stop, please." I insisted with slight sternness as they both froze. I didn't say anything when I let them go slightly and smiled to them sadly again. "You have nothing to apologize for. You haven't done anything wrong." My lip began trembling, "I need to apologize. I was selfish and took you from him. You should've gotten to choose. I should've tried to make things work. I..."

Ashley hugged my neck and cried more, "no, Momma! I don't want you to get hurt! Dad did wrong and hurt you! I hate him for it! But...but..." she shook in my embrace, "but we miss him. We don't get to see him anymore."

My lungs felt strained as I tried not to panic from guilt. "I can let you live with Elijah so you can see your dad. Then we can see each other every few weeks. Then I can try to move back..."

"NO!" Archer yelled and I stopped, holding my breath in shock. He shook from being so emotional, but had a determined look on his face. "We want to live with Momma! JUST Momma!"

Ashley nodded, "we want Momma!"

I tried not to cry, but my eyes welled with tears. "You want to move near him?"

Archer looked to the floor and took a moment to think, "I like living with everyone here. I want to stay and don't want to leave."

Ashley leaned onto me again, "can we talk to him? On the phone? We..." she gulped hard. "We never got to talk to him before we left."

"I wanna say goodbye."

I sighed, "you don't have to say goodbye. You can still know your dad and talk to him. You don't have to stop your relationship and say goodbye forever." I smiled slightly, "I know he would like that. He misses you." I kissed each of them on the head, "I can call his lawyer and see if he can call, okay?" They both nodded and hugged me, "we should get you to school."

They both clung to me again "I wanna stay with Momma today."

Ashley nodded in agreement with Archer, "can we stay with you today?"

I scoffed slightly; for once, they were acting more like their age. But just barely as they were asking if they could do something that was slightly selfish. But really, it wasn't, rather they were finally telling me their true feeling entirely.

"Alex," I called and he walked into the living room. He looked to us with slight surprise on his stoic face that nearly made me laugh. "can the kids come with us today."

He looked to me as his face changed back to normal, "I don't think it will be a problem."

I smiled to them, "sounds like you three are playing hookie today."

"Addie too?!" Archer asked in excitement and I nodded. Both wiped off their faces and smiled broadly before rushing to ger Addie.

I got everything together for the kids and I before we left for the day with Alex. They twins began playing with Addie in the back row as I kept glancing to Alex.

"Can dreams change with these meds?"

He looked directly to me for a second before turning back to watch the road, "possibly. I believe Lauryn had some vivid dreams after beginning the medication." He kept looking at me in short side glances, "you have one, I'm guessing."

I chuckled, "look at you, actually reading a social situation."

His jaw tightened, "I don't appreciate insults."

I smirked, "it was a compliment, sorry if it didn't come off that way." We were silent the rest of the trip and the kids were amazed as they saw the college campus. I helped the twins out before I got Addie into her carrier and we followed Alex to the lab.

When we came in, Lynn and Lauryn looked to us with surprise. They both smiled, but the twins moved back slightly so they were directly next to me and Addie.

"These must be your kids!" Lauryn gasped happily before rushing over to them. She crouched slightly, "I'm Lauryn! It's nice to meet you!"

"Hello," Archer replied quietly.

"These are my twins, my daughter Ashley and my son Archer. And this is Addie."

Lauryn smiled, "well I need to get some blood from your Mom. Could you two big kids take care of your sister for a bit?" They nodded before I followed her to the blood drawing area and I sat down. "They're even more beautiful in person."

I nodded, "thank you." I watched as she began drawing some of my blood. "Alex said you had vivid dreams while talking this medication."

She nodded, "what was yours about? Mine were always nightmares."

I chuckled slightly, "it definitely wasn't a nightmare."

Her eyes glistened and a wicked smile came to her face, "who was it? Your mate? Or the one you want?"

I sighed, "I don't know if I want him, but yes."

She snickered, "if your having dreams like that, you do."

I glanced to her, "I can't worry about him right now."

"Something with the kids? They look worried."

"They want to get in contact with their dad after I took them away."

"I'm sure it'll be alright. You've made it this far in what seems to be a difficult life, you'll make it now. They're strong."

I gulped and fought tears, "but I have run out of strength. I can't take seeing him after what he did and I know they'll need my support."