As Angela walked in the house, she could hear Jack singing along with the radio and she assumed making dinner in the kitchen. Leah climbed down from her spot at the table where she had been coloring and took off in her mother's direction.

"Mommy!" Leah cried, running at her. Angela caught her lifted her into her arms.

"Did you have fun at your…" She began only to see the hurt look on her daughter's face. "Sweetie what's wrong?" She wondered. Leah just dropped her head to her mother's shoulder. Just then Angela noticed Jack in the corner of the kitchen. Something was off. His body was ridged and he flicked the rubber band on his wrist a few times. Her eyes jetted between her daughter and her fiancé. "Jack?" she asked, hoping to get some answers. He glanced up with a masked expression then looked down at his feet. The room was uncomfortably silent, even with the radio playing softly in the background. "Seriously, someone needs to tell me what's going on," Angela demanded.

"You love Daddy, right?" Leah asked. Initially, Angela thought Leah was joking, of course she loved Jack, but she could tell by the look in her eyes the child was dead serious.

"Of course, Leah," She confirmed. Jack approached her and took Leah from her.

"Go change out of your leotard and wash up for dinner," He instructed. Leah leaned up and whispered something in her father's ear. "You know I do baby, now go wash up," He answered and sent her on her way.

"Jack, what's going on? What was that about?" Angela needed answers.

"There were some moms talking and Leah overheard some of the things they said," Jack supplied, vaguely.

"That doesn't tell me a whole lot, what were they saying?" Angela pressed on.

"That Melissa Ward was explaining to the other lady the "sad" situation Leah is in," Jack said using air quotes. "basically she said because we are not married and I have money and am a geek and you're a hippie artist that you are out of my league and are only in it for the money and Leah was born so I would take care of you and we are only had Kit so I'll stick around even longer" He rattled off. Angela looked horrified, she didn't know whether to cry or scream.

"Leah heard all that, and understood it?" Angela inquired before she settled on an emotion.

"No, all Leah heard was Jack Hodgins and Angela Montenegro are not in love." Jack explained. Angela's eyes widened. Of course Leah understood that statement, her father has three doctorates and her mother, well she's intelligent in her own right. Angela also knew no matter what had been said on the contrary, a four year old was a four year old and a four year old was very impressionable, anything spoken can have an effect on them.

"What did she do, what did you say?" Angela begged for more.

"She started crying and I picked her up and told her it wasn't true, but as you can tell she's still a little bit unsure. I told the woman off though. Told her it's not about the money and the only thing that makes us different from a married couple is our names on paper." Jack informed, he eyed Angela carefully, gauging her reaction. Her expression suddenly softened and she took a few steps in his direction.

"Jack," she breathed, reaching out to run her hand through his hair. She could tell something about this situation was really bothering him. He almost immediately pulled away, as if bothered by her affection. Angela sent him a bewildered look.

"We can talk later, dinner is ready," he responded, fully brushing her off. The tension during dinner could have been a cut with a knife. Each parent focused on Leah and how her day went. However, they avoided each other's gaze and only spoke to each other when they needed something passed to them. After the meal, Angela went to work on her nightly project with Leah, while Jack put Kit to bed. As soon as he finished, he went to his office. He was hoping to finally have a chance to sort out his thoughts. He needed a few minutes to set Daddy aside and be Jack for a change. He needed to pinpoint what bothered him so much.

Angela just finished reading Leah her bedtime story and was tucking her in.

"Mommy, is Daddy mad at me?" Leah wondered.

"Not at all sweetie, why do you ask?" Angela replied, pushing one of Leah's errant curls out of her face.

"He didn't talk to me at all after we left gymnastics, did I do something wrong?" Leah was very confused. It pained Angela.

"Honey, you didn't do anything. Daddy is not mad at you, he's just trying to understand those mean things that lady said today," Angela assured her. The truth was she wasn't really sure what was going on with Jack, but that was her best guess.

"You love him, right?" she checked again.

"Of course, I will always love your dad," Angela smiled.

"And he loves you?" Leah pressed on.

"Yes and this is not something you need to be worried about, ok? You just get some sleep, you have school in the morning," Angela finished, kissing Leah on the forehead.

"Can you send Daddy in?" Leah asked as Angela reached the door.

"Sure," Angela replied.

Angela noticed the glow of the light from under the door of Jack's office; she approached the door and knocked softly.

"It's open," he muffled voice said. She pushed the door open and saw him sitting in his desk chair, staring off into space.

"Leah wants you, she thinks you're mad at her" Angela announced softly. Jack finally made eye contact with her. She could see the torment in his normally bright orbs. He pushed himself up from the chair and pushed past her into the hallway. Each word he didn't say and each action that brushed her off more than the last, hurt, but she wasn't mad, she just wanted to know what was wrong.

"Hey beautiful," Jack whispered with a forced smiled as he entered his daughter's room.

"Hi Daddy," Leah replied.

"Mommy told me you thought I was mad at you," he started. Leah nodded. "Honey, I want you to know that's not true, I don't think I could ever be mad at you," he explained. Leah flew into his arms, tightly hugging his neck. Naturally, his arms wound tightly around her. Angela watched from the doorway as tears filled Jack's eyes. She couldn't help but smile. He was such an excellent father. "I love you, Leah," he whispered.

"I love you too," Leah replied, settling back into her bed.

Angela grabbed Jack's arms as he left Leah's room.

"What's going on with you?" She asked.

"I don't know," Jack shrugged.

"Well, are you angry, sad, confused? Can you give me something?" she all but begged.

"Ange, I said I don't know, I don't have it all figured out, ok?" Jack spit out.

"Ok," Angela squeaked. She released him and left for their bedroom. Jack sighed; he knew he wasn't very nice, but that was the only way he knew how to deal with things.

"Angie, I'm sorry," he mentioned as he entered the room.

"Don't worry about it," she mumbled. An awkward silence hung between them, something they hadn't experienced in years. "I just want you to know, that little girl is watching our every move. She needs us to prove that we love each other. We can't afford to be fighting right now," Angela spoke finally.

"I know," he replied, simply kissing her and getting into bed.