A.N. I AM SO SORRY I HAVENT UPDATED!

Cammie slammed a cup of tea on the table in front of Zach. Steaming drops splattered the oak table.

"Talk." She growled, sitting in the chair across from him, grabbing Noah as he ran past.

"Look, Cammie, I left Afghanistan a year ago." He sighed.

"Wait. So you've been out a year? You've been away a year? YOU HID FROM ME FOR A YEAR?" she said, shaking her head and heaving Millie up on her lap along with Noah.

"Cam, I was scared. The things I saw while I was there…they changed me. And I just didn't know if I could be the father they deserve. Or the husband you needed. It's- it's like when you wake up from a nightmare, and everything you do reminds you of it. I just couldn't deal. I kept telling myself that I'd come back the next month. And I just…never could."

"Mhmm." Cammie said. She nodded her head, but the look in her eyes spelled fury. "You know, I still wear my ring. Everywhere I go, I wear it."

"Cam…"

"I can't sleep at night. I stay up when I know that Noah and Millie can't hear, and I cry. I never got over you. While you were hiding out somewhere, I was working two jobs and trying to coordinate every pre-school performance, every daycare pick-up, every sleaze-bag who tried to flirt and touch me."

"I'm so sorry, Cam-"

"SOME NIGHTS, I HAVE TO STAY UP WITH A GODDANG BASEBALL BAT SO ME AND MY CHILDREN DON'T GET ATTACKED, BECAUSE I HAVE NOBODY TO SCARE THE CREEPERS AWAY." She yelled.

"Cam…"

"I thought you were dead. A man came and told me you got captured, and I thought you were dead." She whispered brokenly. "You were my only exception. I loved you. I still do. But you left."

"I love you too," He said, leaning forward.

"Why were you at the mall today, Zach?" She said, shaking her head. She didn't want to let him in again, to let herself live a lie any longer.

"I…I heard that you still lived here. I was…trying to get back to you." Zach said.

Cammie's heart melted, and she almost forgave him.

But then he, ever so slightly, squirmed.

And his pupils dilated just a little bit.

And she knew, she knew that he was lying to her.

Again.

A knock came on the door.

"I'll get it," She growled, hoisting herself, Noah, and Millie up.

"I can take the twins-" He started.

"No. I…I don't want you touching them. " She said, shaking her head so that the smell of her shampoo wafted over him.

"Cam, they're mine, too," He said, standing up.

"Really? Then where were you the past three years?" She stared at him. Shaking her head again, she stalked towards the door.

Opening it, she smiled. "Hey, Josh."

"Hey, Cammie," Josh smiled. "I'm ready to work on the roof, if you are."

"Yeah, now's fine. Did you bring Bella with you?" She said, leaning against the doorframe.

A somber little girl with ebony hair and shockingly pale skin, lit by her practically luminescent brown eyes peeked out from behind Josh's legs.

"Who the hell is this?" Zach said, raising an eyebrow and appearing at the door.

"That's Bella Abrahms. And this is her father, Josh. He comes over and helps me with the housework. Fixes my roof, mows my lawn, all the stuff I don't have a man to do." She glared. "Josh, this is Zach."

Josh's blue eyes widened. "Zach? I thought he was dead?"

"Yeah," Cammie sighed, running her hands through her hair. "So did I."

"Where's her mother?" Zach said bluntly, crossing his arms.

"Zach!" Cammie cried. Turning to Josh, she blushed. "I am so sorry, Josh-"

"It's okay, Cam." Zach's other eyebrow lifted. Cam? Cam was his nickname. His.

Josh turned to Zach. "She died. About three weeks after Bella was born."

"Oh."

"Don't be sorry. I help Cam with the yard work, she helps me with the whole 'mothering thing'." Josh grinned.

"Oh, I dunno, Josh," Cammie smiled. "You do pretty good on your own,"

She glanced at Zach, and then, as if she was making a decision, leaned forward and kissed Josh's cheek. "C'mon, I'll show you where it's leaking."

Zach felt his initial dislike of Josh curdle and turn to hate as he stumbled after her.

His cheeks were candy apple red, and his hair curled just a little bit more as Cammie pointed out the leaky spots, complete with smiles and hip swaying.

Well, Zach thought. Earning her back is going to be harder than I thought.