Sunlight poured in through the windows of the old farmhouse as they sat at the kitchen table. she slowly sipped at her coffee, letting out a quiet sigh as she stared across the table at him. She pulled her leg up to rest on the chair, wrapping her arms around her leg, resting her chin on her knee, a few strands of brown hair falling from her loose bun.

"Kay, you should've told me. You know that right? I would've been been there to help out..." he said with a sigh, his fingers combing back his dark hair as he looked down at the photo on the tabletop. His thumb gently running over the picture, the girl in the picture staring back at him. Her familiar bright eyes, wide smile, and curly hair, a reminder of what could have, and should have been. Her cheeks puffed as she blew out the candle on the cake, prominently displaying the number four on top of it, her party hat slightly off-center, the expression on her face that of a child who was having the best time of her life. A small smirk appeared on his face as he looked over the photo again, slowly raising his eyes up to meet hers, pausing for a moment, enjoying the silence.

"I know I should've, but what good would that have done either of us? We still would've ended up in the same situation.... except the consequences probably would've been a lot worse on her, even though she didn't do a thing wrong" she said, gesturing down to the photo. She drew her eyes away from his for a moment, staring down at the ground, unsure of what exactly to say, as they both knew how surreal the entire situation truly was. Raising her coffee mug to her lips, she slowly sipped from it. The silence was comfortable between them, though they both knew what the other was thinking, while neither wanted to be the one to come out and say it.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice him leaning across the table, the loud clap of his hands near her ear startling her back to reality. "KB did you hear me? I said I think you should go get her. She needs you," he said with a brief, yet affirmative nod, as he shot her that familiar smile, returning to his seat. "Besides, you know that between the two of us, she's gotta have more than a little crazy in her. Can't let that charming quality go underdeveloped" he said before letting out a laugh.

She couldn't help herself, as she started to laugh, she knew he was right. Just looking at the twinkle in the child's eyes in the photo, she could tell that the girl held the same love for life and certain amount of insanity that would certainly come from their shared genes. "Alright, alright, I'll think about it, alright? That good enough for ya?" she chuckled, brushing the loose hair from her face. That was the best answer she could give him, she couldn't make any promises, as they both knew how complicated the situation was to begin with.

A grin still playing on his face, he raised his eyebrow, his dark brown eyes darting around the farmhouse for a moment, before again settling on her. "Oh c'mon, I'm not sure what you're waiting on. The kid needs her mother, and it's not like ya got a whole hell of a lot else goin' on, if you know what I mean" he said, before glancing down at his watch and raising to his feet, the wooden chair thudding against the old floor as he pushed it neatly back into place. "My time's up, I've got to be getting back, but think about what I said. I'll be back to bug the hell out of you if you don't listen." he said with another hearty laugh, making his way around the table to give her a friendly kiss on the forehead, "I miss you K, I'll talk to you soon..." he said as he slowly made his way to the door.

With a loud thud, the alarm clock fell off the nightstand, hitting the floor and startling her awake. Her eyes squinting as they adjusted to the sunlight, she thought over the night's dream, she glanced to the opposite side of the bed, the sheets still untouched, as they hadn't been slept in in weeks. She'd heard rumors around town in the last few weeks, though at this point in her life, she didn't know what was fact and what was fiction anymore. Her head hanging, she slowly shook it from side to side, at a total loss for what to do anymore, as she knew she'd never get an honest answer. She pulled her knees back up to her chest as she glanced back to the empty side of the bed, settling her mind on what she should do.

Three hours later, bags were strewn about the bedroom as she continued her packing. Folding each shirt neatly, she placed them one by one into one of the bags. As it was nearly full, she paused for a moment, making her way out into the dining room, her eyes scanning over the picture frames set neatly on the sideboard, each photo in a silver picture frame, each lined up with the next. Making her way down the line of photos, she carefully picked and chose the ones to take with her. A photo of herself and Lissa, laughing wildly in their jail cell, police badge stickers prominently displayed on their shirts. Another shot of her and Cal each sopping wet, a fire helmet on her head, as they each gave a cheesy smile and thumbs up, after yet another water fight in the fire department. A photo of herself and Epic in the laundromat, sloppy hair, tank tops and panties, holding the camera in the air above them as they took an off center photo of themselves. One of her and Snatch, her beagle, when she was just a puppy. Her eyes held tightly shut, a wide smile on her face as she was laughing, the small brown and white puppy licking her face. Choosing a few more photos, she carried them back into the bedroom, placing them between the layers of clothing in the bag to keep the frames safe.

Packing the last of her things into the bag, she slowly zipped it closed, taking one last look around the room, as she picked up the rest of her bags, and began loading them into her car one by one. Stuffing the last of her bags into her trunk, she struggled to shut it, shoving down on the trunk repeatedly, before finally hearing it click shut with one final, hard push. She let out a heavy sigh, nodding her head in satisfaction as she headed back through the gate and up the steps, into the farmhouse, the boards creaking under her feet as she walked. Grabbing her crimson red sweatshirt from the back of the dining room chair as she walked passed, she slowly slipped it on, zipping it halfway, before coming to a stop in front of the sink. She stared out the window above it for a few moments, enjoying the view, and the fresh air blowing in through the window, gently tossling her hair.

Her eyes moved down to her hands, resting on the kitchen counter, focusing on the ring on her finger, the diamond sparkling as brilliantly and brightly as the day he'd given it to her, a sad reminder of days when times were easier, happier, and filled with the love that had kept them together through thick and thin. Things were much different now, they barely spoke, and she doubted he'd even know she was gone. Slowly slipping the ring off her finger, the sunlight hit the diamond just right, causing a few more brilliant sparkles. Butterflies in her stomach she paused for a moment, realizing the weight of her decision, but what was there left for her to do? She'd come to accept that she was no longer what he wanted anymore. Closing her eyes tightly, her fingers loosened their grip on the ring, as it fell into the sink, the sound of metal hitting metal, clanging as it went down the drain. Without pause, she flipped the switch on the garbage disposal, flinshing as she listened to the ring she loved so much hit against the blades repeatedly.

Flipping the switch back off, silence filled the air. She stood quietly for a few moments, taking in the weight of all that had happened, her arms hanging loosely at her sides, her mind playing over happier times in her life, as this one truly one of the lowest points she could ever remember being at. For a moment, tears began to well in her eyes, a side of her that she very rarely let anyone see. A few tears slowly trickled down her face, her heart aching for the way things used to be. Slowly composing herself, she made her way to the door, about to leave the house she'd loved so dearly for the last time. Stopping, she stared at a picture of the two of them together when they'd first moved in, their eyes weary and tired, though their smiles showing how happy they truly were.

A momentairy fit of rage overcoming her, she picks up the picture, the thought that every moment of their relationship having been for nothing filling her as she hurled the photo across the room, the frame slamming into the wall, glass shattering all over the floor and couch. The quick act of aggression relieving some of her tension. Slamming the front door shut, she looked out at the future in front of her, taking in a deep breath and slowly letting it out. "Snatch, c'mon! We're going for a ride" she called out to the dog in the yard, who all too happily went bounding towards the car, the word, 'ride' enough to get her tail wagging wildly. Smirking, she opened the car door, letting the dog jump inside, before following suit.

With a low growl, the car roared to life, the radio blaring on along with it. It was one of those moments when the radio seemed to know how you're feeling, the song one that she knew well and that described the moment to a tee. She listened to it, taking in the moment, as she sang quietly along with it, before throwing the car into drive, and slowly pulling out onto the street. Making her way into town, she was glad to see it was quieter than usual for once, the streets all but bare, the exception being a few familiar faces outside The Grind, laughing and chatting with each other. She didn't stop, simply raising her hand to offer a quick wave as she drove by. She had one more stop to make, and she was determined to let that be her only stop.

Rounding the corner, she slowed the car to a stop in front of the cemetary. "Stay here and watch the car, I'll only be a minute," she told the dog, as if it understood. Cracking the door open, she slid out of the car, shutting the door as the thick Louisiana air hit her. Pulling her hair up into a sloppy ponytail, she makes her way into the cemetary, knowing it's layout like the back of her hand as she moved towards the familiar headstone. She slowly sat down on the lush, green grass, facing the headstone. Pursing her lips for a moment, she sucked in a deep breath of air. "So I did it... though I'm sure you already know that, right?" she questioned, her fingertips slowly tracing over the letters etched deeply in the stone. "It's one of those times I could use you around to talk me through this one and remind me that I'm making the right decision." In her mind she knew it was the right decision, as everyone she knew seemed to know this was coming except for her. She'd preferred to live in the ignorance that perhaps if she'd just held onto things long enough, that they'd finally work themselves out, while coming to the harsh realization that they'd never be the same, was still something she struggled with.

"I wanted to stop by one more time, cause I'm going to be gone for a few days, but I'll be back, I promise. I just have to get my head straight. Do me a favor and take care of everyone for me, will ya?" she says, as she slowly raises to her feet. She gently kisses her fingertips, placing them on the headstone, before reaching into the pocket of her hoodie, setting something on the stone. She makes her way back to her car, sliding back inside, and pulling the heavy door shut. The engine roaring back to life, she gives the sleeping dog in the passenger seat a quick pat on the head, "Alright, time for a few days vacation" she says before putting the car into gear and heading down the street and out of town. On the headstone laid the photo of the little girl, a note on the back scribbled in her own handwriting. "I'm taking your advice, I'm going to get her and bring her back. I hope you're right that she needs me..."