Madeline Leopardi- Ch. 6- On my own.

Madeline (27), her daughter Kayla (10),
ex-husband Aiden Royce (30), William Webster (30)
Narrated by Madeline.


Things have been getting a little better now that we are adjusting to living on our own. Kayla still misses her dad but she sees him on weekends and on summer break.

One thing about living alone is actually having to pay bills on your own. I owe some money due to my college degree but I do not regret getting it.

Once I did get the degree I placed it on the wall and felt so proud of myself. This is what I had struggled for and it will help me advance in my career.

Things with Aiden have been going so so. He tries to be cordial when comes to pick up Kayla. He hates having to drive so far to pick her up. I think he still thinks we are going to make it work. I asked him if he was dating and he said no.

I on the other hand have been dating William for the past year. When Kayla is away William sleeps over and we both get a chance to enjoy ourselves.

It is so different when I make love to William. I feel more experienced and free to say whats on my mind. At first I was so shy to be with William. Now I can not wait to get him to bed.

I am sure Kayla knows that he spends the night sometimes but she does not say anything. She likes William but after being with her dad she gets a little stand offish with him. William says its natural and knows that Kayla is a great kid. I am glad that they get along.

When its just us girls we talk about everything underneath the sun. Kayla asked me if I was going to marry William and I admit I blushed a bit. I quelled her fears by telling her that we had not discussed it yet.

The next night William popped the question. Turns out that Kayla knew all along and wanted to know if I would accept. I still can not believe that I am getting married again. Of course I accepted and we both hugged dearly.

I asked Aiden over to discuss my wedding with William. William and Aiden had met briefly but did not talk to him extensively. It was a little tense but we told Aiden about our plans to marry.

Aiden's reaction surprised all of us. "You are kidding me right? Madeline the ink is not even dry on our divorce and you want to marry him? What about us? WE have a daughter together."

I could not believe his reaction and I stood up because I was so upset that he would not understand. I would never stand in his way of happiness.
"Madeline I still love and we have a daughter that would benefit from us being together! Why would you do this to us?"
He grabbed me and William was about to kill him but I managed to convince William to give us some time to talk.

"Aiden I never have not ONCE ever given you any reason to think we would get back together. Where in the world would you get that idea from?"
"Maddy....I thought this was just to experience being alone. We got married young. Now were older and we can make this work."
"Aide...we can only make parenting work. I love William. I am sorry but I have stopped loving you a long time ago. It is just better this way. I want you to be happy and I know you can if you give yourself the chance. Its over. I am sorry you thought differently".

We kept going back and forth and finally Aiden stomped out of my house. I was just grateful that Kayla did not hear any of our arguing. I knew in my heart that Aiden would find someone. I just want to be happy with William. I just hope all of this works out for everyone involved.

Ethan Leopardi ch 6- Things tend to change rather quickly.

Ethan (31)
Nicole Hogan (28), Noelle Brown (30)
Narrated by Ethan.

Life has been good. I am doing great at my job and I have finally finished my master's degree. I put everything to the side to complete my master's. I am even thinking about getting a doctorate but for now I am OK just with the master's.

Ever since my brother Ivan announce he had Cancer, I have been hanging out with him more than ever. It sometimes seems weird to think that he is sick. He tells me that he is tired all the time but he makes the effort to spend time with us.

Nicole and I are still dating. It was going good for a while. We actually dated more than two years. I do not know when it happened, we can blame our jobs, family life or plain laziness. We ended up doubting the future of our relationship. I can tell she wanted marriage but I was just not feeling it.

I dreaded telling her it was over but it was. She finally came over my house and we both agreed it was best to call it quits. She was not happy. She wanted to know if we could try again but I told her no.

Ivan found it interesting that I would give up on my relationship with Nicole so eagerly. He is still bitter that his ex- left him when his cancer came back. I just wish my brother could get cured and we could all get back to normal.

******

I had not seen Noelle since we broke up. I could not believe when I saw her. I mean literally I did not believe this was the same girl I was going to marry. She told me that she took time off to find herself. I guess she found herself.

We decided to catch up on old times. We actually hit if off since we knew each other for a long time. It was like time had not stopped for us. She told me that she was sorry that our relationship had ended and wanted to try again. I have to admit that I never really got over her. She was always the one for me. I knew that I should not but I said OK.

Ivan came over and when he saw Noelle he thought there was some mistake. He knew that I was happy dating someone but I never intentionally told him her name. I wanted him to come over and give Noelle another chance.

Dating Noelle felt different. I did not have to change myself nor did she. We both acted normal and our relationship progressed rather rapidly. Noelle had decided to go out and work on a farm. She wanted to head back to basics. I always asked her if she would miss her farm life and she said no.

I knew for a long time that she was the one. I did not hesitate asking her to marry me. I was not nervous nor did I have any second thoughts about our marriage.

She said yes. I was the luckiest man alive.

We both agreed that our wedding would happen sooner rather than later. I did not want my brother Ivan to miss my wedding.


Ivan thought it was a great idea for us to get married sooner. He is hardly eating now and it hurts me when I see him. I wish I could find cure for his cancer but he tells me that I should take it easy.

************

On our wedding day it was like Noelle and I saw each other for the first time and She hugged me so hard. She told me that she loved me and was happy to become Mrs. Leopardi.

We took a lot of pictures.


We all decided to take one last picture as a family. Ivan barely could stand for his picture. He was so tired but we were happy to see that he was here to celebrate with us.


We had traditional vows. Noelle started tearing when she said hers. I did too. After all our family was going through, this wedding was much needed happiness.

Our honeymoon was scheduled for right after our wedding party. We had a blast but it was time to get some sun!
Extras:
I love the way Noelle is staring at Ethan opening the box ...hilarious.
I also did not remember who Noelle Brown was until I wrote this entry. She dated Francisco otani briefly. Noelle's chemistry with Ethan was rapid. I did not even try hard and they were wanting an engagement within a few minutes of their date starting.

Francisco Otani Leopardi II--Chapter 8- Where there's a will.

Francisco Otani (35) his wife Shelby (35)
Their children (Quads): Angel, Francisco Ismir III, Nevada and Sergio(8)
Narrated by Shelby.

We all have been so busy so we have tried to get together for family dinner more often. It's hard with me managing a company and Otani trying to be media Magnante. I just feel that we are losing precious years of our Quads growing up.

Otani agrees and he and Ismir have decided to play more outside. He tries to get Angel and the boys to go out and play games.

Now that just leaves Otani and myself. We are so busy with Quads and now he has said that he wants to get his masters. I wanted to take this opportunity to tell him that I too wanted to get my bachelors. I said it and Otani thought it would be too much. I admit that it hurt me when he said this to me.

But in the end he said he thought it would be a great idea. I just hope that we are both going to make it through this rough patch that is coming up.

Otani thought that there was no time like the present to get started on our degrees.

He began to study after work and it was hard for him and me.

Some days I would try to lure him away from his studies with food but he said he would eat later. I on the other hand took a more slower approach to my degree.

In the end we both knew that we had to put time aside for the kids. Sure we want our degrees but we also want the kids to know that we are there for them no matter what.

Its so cute seeing Otani bond with Sergio. I think we will be OK.

Juno Leopardi Chapter 8- Theres more to it

Juno (37), Jade (36) Their kids: Phillip and Stewart (10)
Narrated by Jade.

I have been married 11 years and I come home every night thinking, "where did the time go?" Tonight of all nights I feel bad getting home this late. Work has been too hard lately. The police station is going into repairs and we have hired all these new people to work in Viramontes.

I know Juno is working. She has miscarried and is now intent on researching what went wrong with her pregnancy. I look at our family picture and wish we were back there. When did two kids not become enough for us?

At work I have become friends with a new police officer Kim. I have to mentor her. I am a detective and she is looking for a promotion to my department. When I saw her I felt something quiver inside. I felt attracted but placed it to the side. I am married after all.

One day Kim just told me that she liked me a lot and in the hall way at work grabbed me and kissed me. It had been a long time since I felt so hot and in need like today. I responded and before I knew it we had checked into a hotel.

We made passionate love but when it was over the guilt crept in. I felt like trash and felt so wrong. How could I do this to Juno and our kids? Kim understood but she also knew I needed to release both physically and mentally. She offered me the friends with benefits package with no strings attached. I felt so alive and daring that I agreed to her deal.

It began to worry me when Juno asked why we were not making love at home. I wondered if she knew..could she tell? Was Kim's scent still on me as a sign of betrayal? Then Juno said that she wanted to get pregnant again. I was more than shocked. I could not focus enough on Juno to become aroused.

Juno touched my hand like she had done so many times before and asked if I was in the mood for some morning sex. I wanted to but I just didnt feel attracted. It was a god send that I heard my phone and excused my self to get it.

I answered in our study and I was glad because it was Kim on the phone. She started to turn me on and I told her that I would find a way to meet in our regular hotel room

I got there and she asked how I got out of the house. I told her that Juno thought I had a break in a case I was working on. Kim was so hot and heavy we began to make love right away. We had this type of thing going on for a little over a year.

What surprised me was that this time Kim wanted me to stay all night. I told her that I could not let Juno know. Then Kim said she wanted to be my wife. She wanted me forever not just as a fling anymore. I told her that I was married and she knew that going in to this. I would not give up my family for just a quick thrill.
Kim proposed that I think about leaving Juno for her. Did Kim tempt me? Yes but not enough for me to leave my wife and kids. I loved the sex but at point I knew I had to end it with Kim. She did not accept it and said to think about it and to let her know. She wanted to make love again but I told her it wouldn't be right and I left to go home.

*****

Months went by and I did not have sex with Kim again. It was hard working in the same place. Kim would always try to kiss me in the hall way but I told her to stop or I would file a complaint. I emailed her that I did not want to see her. I made sure to delete all evidence that I ever dumped my lover via email. There was no need for my wife to find out. I needed to reinvest myself in my marriage.

I went looking for Juno and she was out in the workout room. God she looked great. I had not seen her like this in over 5 years. I was so turned on by her outfit that I needed...no I wanted to get her in bed. Yes thats my wife and I am so turned on by her.

Juno was shocked at how I made love to her. She mentioned where I had learned my new tricks but I told her that the internet was a great source of information. I also told her that I wanted us to have another baby. We made love several times that day. We did not care who got pregnant we just wanted a baby.

It turned out that I got pregnant. Juno was a little sad but happy that we were able to conceive again. Our family came over to wish us well at our baby shower. Beatrix had a baby herself and she was excited that I was going to have another baby.

Ethan managed to go upstairs and show our son Stewart how he used to play the violin. Its great to see how the kids get along with their uncles. Ethan finds it strange that this used to be his old house.

Lunch turned to dinner and I relished all the old stories between Juno's family. It seemed sad to know that Ivan was sick and we all knew it. We all took to having dinners frequently to cherish the time we had left. Ivan was not classified as terminal but we knew it was nearing the end. I just wanted all of us to spend more time with him.

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I gave birth to Quads. Juno was ecstatic. She could not believe that we would ever have quads. I told her that she had to be joking since she had quad brothers and sisters. Either way I am happy that our family has expanded a little more.