It's late, but you do

You manage to get through the rest of the day, putting on a happy front for your boys even though you're still upset. Oliver and Vincent don't notice, taking the smile on your face as confirmation of your happiness, but Maxwell has always been more in tuned with people around him. Even at his young age, he notices your **** smiles and keeps close to you, sharing his toys and snacks in an attempt to cheer you up for real.

When you put the boys to bed and you're finally alone, you let the smile drop. It's exhausting to keep on an emotional mask, but you do it for your family. You start to clean up the mess, starting in the kitchen and ending up in the portion of the living room dedicated to the boys' toys.

You're just putting the last of the toys away when you see Nico pull up into the driveway. Robert exits the limo a moment later. You give an honest smile at the sight of him and finish putting a few stuffed animals in the toy box before going to greet him.

Nico walks in first, as he always does. He smiles and gives the same greeting of "Good evening Mr. Kane" and you, once again, remind him to call you Lexus. He won't listen though and the process will repeat tomorrow.

Robert comes in next and you kiss him like you normally do. It isn't as enthusiastic as normal though and Robert gives you a look that means he knows something is wrong.

You sigh and lead him to the couch, cuddling up to him once he's sitting. He wraps his arms around you and waits for you to speak, silently encouraging you to do so.

"I was thinking about my father again." you admit softly, "About how the boys don't know him and how little family they have... And about what would happen to them if something happened to us. I doubt my father would take them in and most of your family is distant and neither of us have many friends we could trust to take care of them... I'm probably worked up about nothing, but I can't help but worry."

Robert lends down to place a small kiss on your forehead. "It will be alright love." he says, gently rocking you in his arms, "If anything happens to us, Nico will take on the boys. If not him, I have a few more ideas in mind. And your father decided to leave your life and hasn't taken any of the chances you've given him to come back into it or enter the lives of our children. He doesn't deserve to be here, nor does he have the right to keep you questioning yourself and your decisions."

You smile up at him, a bit teary eyed. You trust that he has everything handled and you know he's right about what he said. "It doesn't stop me from missing him though." you say.

"And that is your right." Robert says, kissing you again before lifting you into his arms, "Let me take you to bed darling. Let me take care of you like a good husband should."

You nod and let him do as he pleases. You don't think of your father for the rest of the night.