Legal Question in Family Law in Florida

Child Visitation Rights

I have a male friend whom has been in a relationship with a woman for 9 years, they have never gotten married and she is very abusive towards him. There are two children involved here, the girl 13 years old and the boy is 15 years old. He has been like there father since the children were 4 and 6 and to them they see him that way as well. Their biological father lives in another state and has little if anything to do with them at all. My friend has tried to separate from her several times but each time she uses the kids against him, not allowing him to see them. Therefore he stays in this relationship for them. He desperately wants out of the relationship but without being their biological father, is afraid he will lose them forever and he can't live with that. To him they are his children. The children have also made it apparent that if they were to ever split up that they would like to stay with him and not their mother. Does he have any rights in this situation? Surely, 9 years and the only father they have really known should count for something!! Can he go to court and fight for visitation? He won't make a move unless he thinks he will still be able to see the children. He's not asking for custody, just visitation.

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