Forever & Always

15. Love and Pride

Isla POV

Joe's eyes had never left my small bump from the second I had revealed it. The expression on his face was a mixture of shocked, joy and pride. He was like a kid a Christmas that got everything he wanted and it warmed my heart to watch him delicately run his large hand over my stomach.

"You can look away you know, they're not going anywhere" I chuckle and he smiles

"I'm sorry butterfly I just can't believe this is happening" he says "this was always my dream and now it's real"

"Having children or having twins?" I ask

"Not just having children" he says looking up at me "having children with you, you were always what I wanted and I wish I had said something sooner because you wouldn't be going through any of this"

"And I wouldn't have Maddie" I smile "and she is one of two things in this life I don't regret"

"And what's the other one?" He asks as I move his hair out of his face

"Meeting you of course" I smile "I will never regret letting you be a  part of my life"

"Have I ever told you how deeply in love with you I am" he smiles before gently kissing my lips "Your the oxygen in my lungs, the blood in my veins, the beat of my heart, I'd die without you"

"Well then it's a good job I'm not going anywhere" I smile "because I feel the same way about you"

"It's been a long day and it will be just as long tomorrow" he says settling beside me "how about the four of us get some sleep"

"That sounds like a good idea" I say, I turn myself onto my side and  instantly his arm snakes around me and his hand rests on my stomach, I smile to myself as I snuggle back into him.

"Good night butterfly" he says kissing the back of my shoulder

"Goodnight superstar" I say placing my arm over his before closing my eyes

The next day

Watching our lawyer pace up and down in front of us I had no idea what was going on, just that he wanted to speak to us before we went in front of a judge.

"Ok Miss Winters I'm going to ask you something and I know the answer I'm hoping for" he says "did you go to see Mr Franklin last night?"

"I did yes" I say "I knew he wanted something and I wanted to find out what"

"He is claiming that you propositioned him, that you offered him money and even offered to sleep with to make this go away" he says "is that true?"

"What! No! It was the other way around" I gasp "I would never do something like that"

"Can you prove it?" He asks "becuase he claims he can prove his claims"

"I was hoping I wouldn't have to but yes I can" I say taking out my phone "I recorded the whole thing"

"Excellent" he smiles as he listens to the recording "let's get this to the judge and end this"

We follow him in to the room where the judge is waiting and our lawyer approaches him. Callum and his lawyer are also in the room and when he sees me Callum smirks at me.

"Alright Mr Anoa'i and Miss Winter's lawyer has presented new evidence" the judge says "evidence that proves that everything Mr Frankin has said is nothing more than an act, please play the recording if you would" he says

Our lawyer starts the recording and as we listen Callum's face falls, I hear a soft chuckle from Joe when he hears me say a pig would have looked good that night.

When it gets to the part when I explain why I can't do what he's asking Joe grips my hand tightly and smiles at me, both of us knowing the other reason why I couldn't.

"Ok Mr Frankin since you clearly have no interest in your child to the point that you don't even know her name I can't see that you would have a problem granting consent for Mr Anoa'i to adopt her" the judge says "That little girl deserves to have a father that loves her and will raise her in the best possible way, that I'd exactly what Mr Anoa'i is, unfortunately I can't change her dna but I can do this for her, it the order of this court that you sign the consent to adopt and then I suggest you stay away from that family"

Callum says nothing just nods as our lawyer passes the paper work to his. He silently signs it and then it's passed to the judge who witness it.

"Congratulations Mr Anoa'i Madison is your daughter now" he says "show her the love she would never have gotten from him"

"I will your honour" Joe says "I love her as if she were my own, and I promise to be the best father I can be to her"

The judge nods before taking his leave and Joe wraps me up in his arms gently kissing my cheek. "I told you he wouldn't win" he whispers "I'm so proud of you recording him, Maddie and the twins have the best mother they could ask for, because you'll do what you need to do to keep them safe"

"I just hope he does what he's told and stays away" I sigh "I just want to focus on us and our family now"

"If he's smart he will" he says "come on let's go get our daughter and enjoy the rest of the day" he says wrapping an arm around me as we walk out of the court and towards our car.