A mum has told how her baby 's dad left her for a man - but now they are "one big happy family" and she's even best mates with her ex's boyfriend.
Maddie Ross rekindled with high school sweetheart Dion Negrea when they were both 18 in 2015.
They had a son, Braxton, now six, but Maddie always had a nagging feeling her partner was actually gay.
Her suspicions grew when she found flirty texts with men on his phone.
They split up, and Dion, 26, said hiding his sexuality caused him to develop a meth amphetamine addiction he has now overcome.
He came out to Maddie, 25, before anyone else and she totally supported him - and they even laughed and joked about having the same taste in men.
Now clean, concrete worker Dion is happily coupled with Leigh Fox, 30, a construction worker, and Maddie says the trio are a "family" who all help to parent Braxton.
Maddie, a therapist from Melbourne in Australia, said: "I've always been in love with Dion. We have a really strong connection. I believe we are twin flames.
"I always forgave him and saw the good in him but I believe the reason he turned to drugs was because he suppressed his true self.
"Dion is still learning to be a parent and it's amazing to watch Leigh help Dion with how to parent Braxton.
"He has all three of us wrapped around his little finger - we're all family and best friends."
Braxton was born in December 2016 but Maddie suspected Dion was suppressing his true sexuality.
Dion struggled with addiction but Maddie stuck by him through the years and they had a turbulent on-and-off relationship.
The concreter's addiction to meth amphetamine spiralled and Maddie and Dion broke up in August 2020 as Maddie needed to "put herself and Braxton first".
After getting into trouble with the law, Dion checked into rehab for 15 months.
He turned his life around, got clean and met his new beau, Leigh, who he met in rehab.
Then he came out to Maddie in September 2020, and while he was apprehensive he was looking forward to "finally living his truth".
Dion said: "I was a little bit excited to get it off my chest. She sort of knew as she'd asked me a few times.
"I finally decided to tell her and it was a relief. We've always been so close."
Maddie added: "The first time he told me, he came to my house and said he slept with another guy.
"The guy he slept with was someone I always thought was hot, so I was laughing because I couldn't believe it.
"I think if it was a girl I wouldn't have been so happy."
Maddie encouraged other women to support their closeted exes to come out, and added: "They are so scared. Dion was scared Braxton wouldn't want him to be his dad anymore."
Dion added: "I fell hard into drugs because I was hiding my sexuality. It was really difficult.
"I thought there was such a stigma around it but it's not the case anymore.
"I'm a concreter and a 'real bloke' so people didn't expect it - but all my friends and family have been so supportive."
Dion and Leigh made their relationship official in July 2022.
The mum-of-one now lives six hours away from Dion who lives in Melbourne, but during school holidays the family-of-four spend quality time together.
"This is the best we've ever been," she said.
"There were times I completely cut contact but he shows me every time he wants to change.
"Now he's come out, it's so much easier to communicate."
Maddie said people come to her and say "Your baby daddy turned gay on you - are you OK?"
She added: "When I first saw the messages it was hurtful.
"I thought 'is there something wrong with me? Am I unattractive? Did I turn him gay?'
"I do still suffer from insecurities, but I have Dion as my best friend and if I'm feeling ugly or down I can go to him and he tells me I'm amazing."
Now Leigh and Maddie have formed a solid friendship and Leigh gets on with Braxton too.
"Braxton and me speak every day and he actually wants me around and he relies on me a lot more," Dion said.
"It makes me really proud he wants to see me and spend time with me.
"I never would've imagined it would've been like this. I thought it would be weird and awkward.
"I finally feel good in my own skin and happy with who I am."
Maddie added: "Everyone should be open, honest and accepting - it's so important for the child."
Leigh added: "I was so nervous to meet Maddie and she was nervous to meet me but when we met we realised we were so similar in so many ways.
"Maddie comes to stay with me and we get on so well, we are all so happy.
"It's such a unique family dynamic but we decided all have this relationship for Braxton.
