I'm sorry this took me soooo long to write. I hate to say it but this story is nearly complete! I have an epilogue started and then this story will be finished. I hope you enjoy and thanks to everyone who reviewed.

Walking into the prison was an eerie experience. Belle had chills running up and down her spine, and even though Anthony was right there beside her, keeping a hand at the small of her back, rubbing reassuring circles with his thumb, she was still as nervous as she'd ever been. After signing in, the guard lead them through the halls until they reached the private cell where Anthony requested Belle get to speak to him. At her request, Anthony would be staying out of ear shot. She claimed it was personal and felt like him standing like a watch dog over her, wouldn't compel Gavin to answer any of her questions.

"You'll be right in the next room and there will be guards in the cell with me and he'll have handcuffs on. I couldn't be more safe" Belle had pleaded with.

"I'm not worried about safety, I know you'll be safe" he told her.

"Then what is it?" she asked.

Anthony sighed heavily, "I'm worried about your heart. I can't stand to see it get broken again" he told her lovingly.

Belle leaped into his arms and held him tight. "I love you" she whispered in his ear. "He can't hurt my heart because you won't be in the room with me."

Anthony pulled back, a confused expression his face. "What do you mean, love?"

Belle smiled brightly at him, "You're my heart, so as long as you're away from him it's safe." Anthony swore he had a tear in his eye. "I won't be too long. After all we have to get back, Ava will be hungry soon." She gave him a quick peck on the lips, before finally letting him go so he could go across the hall to wait for her.

Belle was sitting quietly, hands clasped and on the table when the escorted Gavin in. He glared at her as they pushed him into the chair. He was the first to speak. "So, Belle, what the fuck brings you here?" Belle kept a blank expression on her face, not giving away any emotion. "Already tired of that old fucker and his brat?"

"I didn't come here to talk about me" Belle said flatly.

Gavin inclined his head, leaning against the table. "No?" he asked sarcastically. "What did you want to talk about?"

"I have no idea" she admitted with a bitter chuckle. "You almost killed my children and my fiance. You're all locked up now, no way you can get to me, and yet I'm still afraid. I guess I'm here to face my fears." Gavin scoffed, leaning back in the chair, grinning at her. "You are a bloody coward. You are a pathetic excuse of a man, and I feel sorry for you. I have everything I've ever dreamt of, and you have nothing. No love. No kindness. No friendship. I have a man who loves and adores me waiting for me across the hall, so we can go back home to our family. Something you will never get to do. I just wanted to tell you that."

Belle stood gracefully, signaling for the guard to open the door for her. Gavin was throwing a few choice words at her, but she ignored them. She walked across the hall to Anthony who, upon seeing her, lifted her off the ground, clutching her to him as if his life depended on her touch. "I'm fine Anthony."

"I was so worried he'd try something" he admitted. "If you didn't make me love you so much I wouldn't worry as much" he teased her and she giggled into his neck.

"Come on, darling" she said grabbing his hand, pulling him along, "let's go home."

The short drive back to their home was filled with a comfortable silence. Anthony had one hand on the steering wheel, and the other rested on Belle's knee. "So" Anything said, breaking the silence. "What did he have to say?" he asked cautiously.

Belle smiled at his shyness. "A few choice words not worth repeating. Truth is, I didn't have any questions to ask him. I just wanted to finally be able to tell him about everything I have, and everything he's never going to have. It felt nice, to finally have a little bit of power over him" she admitted.

"I'm proud of Belle" Anthony told her, squeezing her hand affectionately.

They pulled into their driveway and were greeted warmly by Ben, who had just learned all sorts of facts from a new show on animal planet that he was watching. Belle ruffled his hair, before going into the living room, to find Nancy playing peek-a-boo with Ava. "Has she been fussy?" Belle asked.

Nancy made another silly face, before picking her up out of the rocker and handing her to Belle. "They were both perfect angels, like always" she praised her grandkids. "How did everything go with you?" she asked in return as Belle snuggled Ava.

"Everything was fine. It feels like a weight's been lifted, honestly" Belle confessed to her. "Now I can start planning the wedding, finally."

Nancy squealed and motioned for Belle to sit down as she started to ask about flowers and locations and dress shopping. Belle was becoming overwhelmed and when Anthony walked in with Ben he noticed. "Mother leave Belle alone for a moment will you" he teased.

She waved him off, "Oh hush you, we're talking about your wedding."

Anthony raised his eyebrows, "Oh are you now? Without me?"

Nancy smiled at him, "Only about the boring things."

He came up to Belle and wrapped his arms around her, kissing her shoulder. "Nothing, about our wedding will be boring." Ben ran up to Belle and jumped into her lap.

"Will there be cake!?" he asked excitedly.

Belle ruffled his hair and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Of course! I was thinking something chocolaty!" Ben nodded his head, his eyes wide with delight. "I'll need your help making a final decision with it though" she told him seriously which only made the child even more excited.

"What about me?" Anthony pouted. "Don't I get any say, it is my wedding too" he pointed out.

Nancy smirked at him, "Dear, when your little Ava is getting married, you'll realize that it's not the couple's wedding, it's the bride's." Belle laughed whole-heartedly at her comment, but Anthony was not amused in the slightest.

At that moment Ava started to wail, and Belle took that as her cue to move into the nursery to feed her daughter. Anthony took her seat and Ben took a seat on the floor, playing with one of his toy cars. "You know I'm only teasing you Anthony. I know you want to have your hands on everything all the time." Anthony gave his mother a shy look. "I'm very proud of you, son."

"Mom don't start with that rubbish" he laughed, getting uncomfortable. Nancy frowned at him. "What!?" he exclaimed. "It's not like I've done anything any other man hasn't done before me. I'm nothing special."

Nancy rose from her seat and sat down on the coffee table in front of him, gripping his shoulders. "I disagree. And I think the woman upstairs disagrees, along with your children. You are a good man Anthony. You work hard and your heart is full to the brim with love. That's something a mother can be proud of." Anthony looked up to her and smiled. "So just accept it and stop being such a baby when I give you a compliment" she said as she playfully shoved him back.

"Daddy come play wif me!" Ben called from the floor by the pile of his blocks he was assembling. Anthony slid off of the couch and crawled over to Ben. Nancy watched happily as they began to build a castle. Belle came down at that moment, and smiled at her boys. "Mama! Mama! Come be the pwincess!" Ben shouted. Belle handed her now well-fed baby girl to Nancy and joined them on the floor. Ben played the part of the prince and Anthony was the evil dragon. Anthony carried Belle all around the house until Ben finally caught them and "slayed the beast".

Before they knew it the day had passed. "Are you sure you don't want to stay for dinner?" Belle asked Nancy as she walked her to the door.

"I'd love to, but I promised a girlfriend of mine we'd catch up over dinner tonight" Nancy told her. "Maybe I'll come for dinner sometime this week."

Belle leaned in to hug her goodbye, "That would be lovely."

After dinner, Ben had asked if they could watch a movie together. He had chosen How to Train Your Dragon, one of his favorites. The little family squished together on the couch. Anthony had Ava tucked against his chest and Ben had settled in on Belle's lap. As soon as the movie started Ben was lost to the world, captivated by the pictures on screen. Belle leaned her head on Anthony's shoulder and he kissed her temple. By the time the movie was over, Ben was half asleep and Belle had to carry him up to bed. She slipped on his pajamas and tucked the blankets in, gave him a kiss on the forehead and closed his door halfway.

She found Anthony in their bedroom, blowing raspberries on their daughter stomach. She admired the sight from the doorway. Smiling at her love. "She's going to be a daddy's girl isn't she?" Belle asked him approaching the bed.

"God I hope so" he admitted and Belle laughed. "You have Ben wrapped around your finger, so Ava's going to be wrapped around mine. It's only fair."

Belle changed into her nightgown before crawling onto the bed and resting against the pillows propped against the headboard. "So I wanted to talk about the wedding" she started. Anthony scooted back to be next to her, Ava in his arms. "I think it's time we finally planned it."

"Well what are your ideas?" Anthony asked.

Belle pulled back to the covers to stick her legs under. "Well, I know I want roses. I know I want it to be small, but other than that, I haven't got a clue where to start."

Anthony laughed, and Ava started to fuss. It was her feeding time. Belle reached out her arms for her baby girl, and pulling down the strap on her nightgown exposing her breast, let her daughter latch on. Anthony watched, mesmerized by the sight of Belle feeding his child. "I wish you wouldn't stare like that" she scolded him.

"I love watching you breast feed" he admitted. "It's beautiful. You're beautiful" he told her adamantly. Belle blushed and turned her gaze to Ava. "How about, we have the wedding in our backyard?" Belle looked up, pondering the thought. "We could string up lights and roses everywhere. I'm assuming only my mother, your father, and perhaps Ruby will be attending if you want something intimate. We could have an arch built, where we would stand. All we'd have to do is get some sort of officiate and then find a caterer."

He looked up to find Belle smiling. "I love it" she whispered. "We could make all the decorations and Ben would just love helping set everything up. It's perfect" she gushed.

"Perfect" Anthony repeated. Perfect like his family. Perfect like their love. After all the pain, all of the obstacles they had to overcome to get to this place, everything was finally perfect.