Chapter One Hundred and One

A/N: These next few chapters will take place five years later and will focus only on one couple per chapter. Any flashbacks mentioned will be in italics.

5 years later – Nick Stokes and Emily Hodges.

Nick and Emily's marriage had its ups and downs, especially when dealing with their adopted children. At the time of their adoption Hayley was 18 months and Douglas was an infant. Douglas was born with severe issues as he was addicted to cocaine because of his biological mother Jessica's drug abuse.

Nick came home from work that day that Emily was fired to find her crying and the kids no where to be seen.

"Emily honey what is wrong?"

"They fired me!"

"What??"

"They fired me and promoted SARA!"

"They had to have a good reason Em… you are good at what you do!"

Emily didn't reply.

"Want me to go talk to Cassandra?"

"Would you? Get my job back?"

"Can't guarantee it , but I'll talk to her."

Nick went to talk to Cassandra who told him why Emily was fired.

Nick went back to Emily and told her nothing could be done.

"What!"

"They told me you were overstepping your bounds Emily. Sara had been covering for you so you could go home early to tend to the kids – but you ordered her to stay late one day when she had told you months in advance she was going away that weekend. This was not the first time apparently you tried to use your supervisor status to try to scare Sara."

"This is the payback I get for what I did for her."

"Emily. You need to relax. You are overwhelmed and I think you just need to cool off" Nick told her.

Big mistake….

Emily raged at Nick and attacked him , sending him flying toward the TV, rendering him unconscious.

"Nick! Oh god Nicky!"

Her cries were heard from neighbours and one of them, Andrea Chase rushed over to see what happened.

"What happened Emily?"

"Uh argument, call 911, he's unconscious!"

Andrea called 911 and they dispatched the cops and the ambulance. Emily was taken into custody that night and the kids were placed with an emergency foster care.

Nick remained in the hospital, but conscious for three days. Emily sat in a jail cell cooling off.

Nick made his decision and he was heartbroken when he did it.

"I can't take this any more Emily. There's no love left." He told her as she sat in the jail cell.

"You're dumping me?"

"Divorcing Emily. You'll get your share as I'm selling the house."

"The kids?"

Nick shook his head. "They deserve a loving two parent home."

"Give me another chance Nick. Please. One more chance. Six months." She begged.

Nick thought about it. "Six months Emily. Six months. We get counselling and if it still is not working we split amicably."

"And the kids?"

"Yes the kids are included in this too. They deserve a happy home."

That was five years ago…

Five years later, things are a little better.

Six and a half year old Hayley ran in to the house one day after school, her brother trailing slowly after him.

Hayley was crying.

"Hey Hayley what is the matter?" asked Nick

"My retarded brother that's what is the matter!" she said angrily.

The addiction to cocaine in utero caused Douglas to be quite delayed. Although he attended kindergarten with his age group, he had an assistant to explain things to him and work with him.

Nick gave his daughter a look. "That is rude

Emily took her daughter by the hands and lead her to her room and spoke to her about her brother's issues. It was not until now that Emily and Nick knew that they must explain to their daughter some of her brother's issues.

Nick and Emily's marriage was rocky, but they realized that they loved each other a lot and that they couldn't give up on the children they adopted or on their marriage. Nick had one little indiscretion one night when he and Emily had a huge fight about her going back to work. Nick had cut down on his hours to spend with the kids and wanted Emily to at least find a part time job. (after getting fired from her job, she didn't even try to look for work for the longest time) Nick had stormed out of the house that night and had a one night stand with Mandy who was just coming off a horrific relationship. Nick never confessed to his cheating and hoped that Mandy would never tell either.