So relieved, for now anyway!

MIL called me when I got home from picking Em up from Moms' Morning Out, and she was nice as could be and acted like everything was fine. Neither one of us broached the subject of BIL.
DH just called me and said he had called and talked to his mom, and explained that WE (he and I) were in this together, and that he supported my decision to help the ex GF 100%, and that we were really scared for the ex GF and that she was also very scared of BIL, and so I did what I did to try to protect her from BIL and the kids from BIL and BIL from himself. MIL said she understood and that she knew we had to do what we thought was right, and that she knew that BIL always makes a mess of his life, etc. DH also told her that the things that BIL has said to me and the ex and the threats he has made are not things that normal people say or do, and MIL kinda blew that off and just said that BIL was going to have to realize that "his words can come back to hurt him," and that he runs off at the mouth a lot, and DH tried to emphasize to her that it was more than that, but she didn't want to get that, you know? DH also told her that I was scared to death that she was going to hate me now because of all this and she assured him that this was not going to affect our relationship.
Of course, BIL hasn't gotten there with the emails yet. She may change her mind after she sees how many times I called him an @sshole and hateful, immature, parasitic, and selfish. I hope not. I am pretty sure I have told her that I think that about him many times!

Well, actually, last night I asked him to call his mom today and to stick up for me. He would not have taken the initiative and done it on his own. Part of our therapy is better communication of our needs, and I told him that I needed him to do that for me, and at first he got defensive, and when I explained it to him, he said he would do it, and he did. I am glad he did.

Lenora, I am sorry you have to deal with that on your end. It amazes me that Kyle can be so different from his brother, but I am glad he is. Kyle has his own issues, but I know for sure he would never, ever hurt Emily or me or even threaten to.
And you are right, it doesn't bother me that I asked him. We all have different needs and he can't read my mind. I am just so glad he called her and talked to her on my behalf and let her know that we are a team. She puts a lot of stock in what Kyle thinks and says, so having him say he was with me on this most likely made a big difference in her mind and heart.

That's a nice way to put it!