**Note** I apologize for the length of the first chapter. I didn't realize how short it was typed up. I'm starting to get used to the way FanFiction works. I now know that I can save and edit later before posting. Thank you for your patience. I know I haven't posted in a couple of days. it's so much easier to read all the stories and continue writing knew stuff for this story than it is to revisit all of this older material and edit and revise it. I'll try to get better at posting and get you all caught up to where I'm currently at. I got a review asking for me to write each chapter like an episode. I have some chapters that are written like an episode or a part to an episode. More of those will show up when I introduce the other plot lines as well. I really appreciate the reviews. They keep me enthusiastic about writing and posting. I would appreciate seeing more reviews with the chapters. Thnk you for reviewing and following. It means a lot to me.

**Disclaimer** I do not own this amazing show. I only own my own ideas.

"Oh my gosh," she set the paintbrush down on the table and moved away from the easel. "Does Mary Beth know?"

"I don't know. What happened between you guys anyways? You never talk about him and I'm pretty sure you never kept in contact with him like you did last time," Daphne prodded.

Bay hesitated but then decided that it was time to tell her the truth. "He slept with a medic from his unit. Left the evidence right there in his room," she tried to sound indifferent.

"Ty cheated?" Daphne sounded skeptical.

"Typically that is the term used when one is currently in a relationship and yet they sleep with someone else," Bay's voice held a sarcastic tone.

"I don't believe it. I've known Ty for a long time and he would never cheat."

"You've known Emmett for a long time too and you would never believe that he would do something like that."

A strange silence settled between them.

"Sorry," Bay apologized. "I have to go see Mary Beth."

She grabbed her keys and started out to the parking lot. She turned around at the sound of a motorcycle. Emmett parked near her and hopped off. He moved swiftly toward her, concerned by the tears on her face.

"Are you OK?" He asked, signing.

"No," she swallowed a sob.

"What's wrong?"

"They found Ty's body. He died in combat."

She sobbed into the gentle, loving arms that circled around her.

When she calmed down, Emmett offered his condolences, "I'm sorry. Is there anything I can do?"

Be here. She wanted to say but held back; she'd just lost her first. Now wasn't the time to be jumping into the arms of her ex-boyfriend.

"Could you take me to Mary Beth's?" She asked instead. "She needs to know."

"Of course."

He escorted her to his motorcycle, an arm around her shoulder, pained by her angst.

They pulled up in front of Mary Beth's home. Bay rang the doorbell and stepped back, smearing her tears with clammy hands. Emmett kept his arm around her shoulders, drawing her close, protecting her. She was eternally grateful for her presence.

Mary Beth came to the door and ushered them inside the well furnished home. She immediately asked what was wrong.

"Have you heard the news about Ty?" Bay asked.

"No. What happened?"

"They found his body. Dead. He died protecting his country," sobs racked her body, punctuating the sentence with unnecessary breaks. "I thought he was only supposed to be over there for a few months! It's been four and a half! He was supposed to be in Germany by now!" The words spilled from her lips.

"Things changed," Mary Beth put simply.

"You knew about this!"

"You haven't talked to him since . . . . that night, have you?" Mary Beth asked, even though she already knew the answer.

"No. There hasn't been any reason to."

"That's what I though," Mary Beth's eyes became unfocused, staring at an empty spot on the wall.

"Mary Beth, what is going on?"

She took a moment to answer. "You told me that he 'cheated' on you, right?" She put finger quotations around the word 'cheated.'

"No, I told you he cheated on me. No quotation marks necessary. The evidence was right there in his room," she swept her arm around the living room for emphasis.

In the background, Emmett was struggling to follow along for they had both long ago abandoned signing.

"He lied to you, Bay," Mary Beth continued. "He wanted to protect you because he found out he was going to be in a war zone the entire time. Not part of it and then Germany. All of it."

"So what, he thought he'd make me hate him so it wouldn't hurt as much when he didn't come back?" Bay cried.

The silence in the room was answer enough.

She ran a hand through her loose hair and spun around, groaning in frustration. She spun back to Mary Beth. "You knew about this?"

"I knew him so well that I caught him in his lie. He had no intention of telling me. But when I confronted him he gave up," Mary Beth started to beg, " You have to understand, Bay. I didn't want to keep this from you. But he forced me too. It was his last wish."

Bay stood still, shaking her head in disbelief. Refusing to believe this was happening.

"No," her voice hardly sounded like it belonged to her. She turned around and stalked out the door.

Emmett wavered, unsure whether he should follow her or give her her space.

"You should probably go after her," Mary Beth signed slowly and deliberately.

He turned the door nob and turned back around to face her.

"Thank you. She deserves to know the truth."

With that he exited the room and eased the door closed.