Allison Quets, sentenced to five years of probation for kidnapping her twins from their adoptive parents, walked slowly from Raleigh's federal courthouse Tuesday afternoon. She had her freedom, but not Holly and Tyler.

Despite her conviction a year after fleeing to Canada with the children, now 2 1/2, Quets hasn't abandoned her hope of regaining them.

"It's important to have a relationship with my children," she said.

Last month, she sued Kevin and Denise Needham, the twins' adoptive parents, in Wake District Court, after she ran out of legal challenges in Florida, where she gave the children up. The legal bills for the custody challenge are punishing, but the Needhams still have to defend themselves.

"We can only imagine that we will continue to be harassed and forced to accumulate more legal bills as we address the multiple frivolous actions that Ms. Quets has filed since her release," the Needhams said in a statement posted on a supporter's Web site.

Quets, 50, has been in a bitter custody dispute with the Needhams since just after the children were born in Orlando, Fla.

Emotionally and physically exhausted by a difficult pregnancy, she signed papers giving custody to the Needhams, but hours later changed her mind. The Needhams refused to return the children, but Quets was allowed visitation.

A year ago, Quets was on a weekend visit with the children, then 17 months old, when she took them to Canada. When she did not return the toddlers as agreed on Dec. 24, the Needhams reported the children missing, and an international investigation was launched.

Quets was arrested in Canada on Dec. 29, and Holly and Tyler were returned to the Needhams. Quets was brought to North Carolina and spent eight months in jail. She pleaded guilty in September to two counts of international kidnapping.

In court Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge James Dever III frequently referred to Quets in court as "the kidnapper." He ordered her to stay away from the children and the Needhams and fined her $15,000.

In court, Assistant U.S. Attorney John Bowler said that all Quets' legal challenges in Florida to the adoption have been closed and that her new case in North Carolina is harassment. Bowler told the judge that Quets has no shame.

"When she entered her plea, we hoped that she would show remorse and respect to the suffering of the parents. It seems specious to be suing for custody of the children you've just abducted," he said.

Quets' attorney, Jim Craven III, praised Quets for not taking matters into her own hands and instead using the legal system.

Keeping to themselves

The Needhams have been quiet throughout the ordeal, keeping the private proceedings of the custody dispute to themselves. They were not at the hearing Tuesday.

A Web site, www.needhamfriends.com, launched Tuesday by a Raleigh couple who knows the Needhams, includes a statement from the Needhams about how the experience has changed their lives.

"Our lives will always feel less secure now that we know Ms. Quets will do something as extreme as kidnapping Holly and Tyler. ... In the end, our job is to make sure that Holly and Tyler have wonderful lives -- that they grow up confident in the fact that they are wanted and loved unconditionally, that they know their story as they are old enough to understand it, and that they don't pay the price of Ms. Quets' actions."

Quets has publicly vowed to reunite with Holly and Tyler, and according to a federal agent's testimony Tuesday, has said the Needhams could be out hundreds of thousands before this is over.

During a break in the hearing, Quets, who hasn't seen the twins since her arrest, said a mother's love is her only motivation.

"I hope a spirit of cooperation will prevail and the worst is over," she said. "This is criminal court. It's in civil court now."

Kat Moncol, who runs the Needham Web site with her husband, said it's time for the adoptive couple to have a voice.

"She plans to fight this to the end, and to me, that appears to be very threatening," said Moncol, who lives in Raleigh. "It appears she will keep badgering them and cause them serious financial problems. It's such a huge emotional drain on a family."