A/N: Huge thanks to Jen (Shopping-Luva91) for beta-ing this chapter (and putting up with my neuroses) Thank you, thank you for your help!!

-------Eric-------

You wake up to an utterly silent apartment with an all-too-familiar tightness in your stomach. This has become routine for you…too routine, and though you hate to admit it, you can pinpoint exactly when you started this routine.

At her request, you left her bed, her apartment and returned to your own, but when you wake up the next morning, you're surprised at how alone you are. You feel almost physically sick, and there are so many reasons for that feeling that you can't name just one. You turn over and reach for your cell phone, but your hand stops halfway as you realize that you can't call; you have to wait for her.

Sliding out of bed, you pad into the bathroom and turn the shower on full blast. The water is initially cold, and the icy pricks shock your body before the hot water finally kicks in.

Calleigh never did call, and when you saw her at work the next day, she was friendly but bashful and very professional. You stopped her on her way to her car after work, but she brushed you off saying she needs more time.

And you gave it to her.

You continue your morning routine, carefully shaving the morning stubble from your face before wiping your face down with a washcloth so you can brush your teeth

It wasn't entirely Calleigh.

You worked a case together not long ago. A serial, and before you could get to the bottom of it, the killer brutally murdered seven children. Catching the killer was no respite for the horror scenes you endured leading up to the capture, and at the end of the day, you managed to get yourself into your car, but that was it.

"Hey," she leaned down, knocking gently on the driver's side window. You roll it down (somewhat unwillingly).

"Are you okay?" she asked quietly, and you saw the concern written all over her face, but you're too angry to care.

"I'm fine."

"Eric, can we talk?"

"Talk?" you ask, surprisingly calm as bitterness washes over you. "You're kidding, right? So we can talk when you're ready to talk, but never mind that I wanted to do it weeks ago. The time for talking is gone."

And you rolled up your window and left.

These last three months have served to highlight everything your relationship with Calleigh is not. If you both took time to look back, neither of you would be proud of your behavior. It wasn't just Calleigh; it wasn't just you. As you head out the door, you pull the cell phone out of your pocket and hit the speed dial for Calleigh.

------- Calleigh -------

You wake up to noises in the hallway, and you're baffled that you managed to sleep this late because for the past week, one or both of the kids have come into your room early in the morning. You don't know why, but they're enamored with you. It's already 8:30 and Sarah is getting her kids ready to go to school which means they either didn't come this morning, or you slept through it.

As you get up and make yourself presentable, you remember waking up the first morning.

"I know you're excited to meet Calleigh, but I swear, if you wake her up…" comes from the hallway, muffled through the door.

You swing the bedroom door open to find Sarah and the kids standing in the hallway. Caleb, her eight-year-old, is carefully pealing and eating a banana, and Avery, the five-year-old is already staring expectantly at you. Upon finally seeing you, she smiles shyly and turns to her mother.

"Good morning," you say, stifling a yawn. You kneel down so you're close to their heights and introduce yourself.

"You sound like Hannah Montana," Avery says softly, and you can only offer a small smile as you have no idea who Hannah Montana is.

But Caleb steps right up to you and holds out a hand. "I'm Caleb. I met you when I was a baby, but I don't remember it."

Both kids have Sarah's dark brown, curly hair and hazel eyes, but you can see features of their father too.

"Well it's nice to meet you again, Caleb," you respond with a laugh

Suddenly, the little girl grabs your hand, drawing your attention directly to her. "I just started Kindergarten, but I don't have school on the weekends. You could come see my class."

"Perhaps, sweetie." And you don't know why, but this makes you feel slightly uncomfortable. It's strange how quickly they've taken to you, and you can't help but think they should find someone else to trust, someone more stable.

This time, as you open the door, you become witness to absolute chaos as they rush to get everything ready so they can sit down for a quick breakfast before they head off to school

"Calleigh!" Avery yells, jumping up and down.

"Hey you."

"Ready for pancakes?" Sarah asks, not even stopping as she lifts the little girl up on her way down the stairs.

Breakfast, as it has been for the last week, is a bigger affair than you're used to, but it's a welcome distraction with Caleb and Avery telling story after story. This morning, however, your head spins as they inhale breakfast and Sarah ushers them out the door.

You finish your own breakfast, and even though you don't have to hurry, you do. You quickly take care of your dishes, pull on a sweatshirt and shoes, and head outside. Despite having no destination, you begin walking, certain you'll be able to make your way back. And if not, you have your cell phone.

They live in a nice neighborhood. Many of the houses are newer, and you realize that this is probably suburbia at its best. The wind picks up, causing the colorful leaves to dance around your feet. It's almost dizzying, so you focus on what's in front of you.

Does wanting to cry make you weak?

There was a time in your life when you wanted it all. You were young, maybe elementary school, maybe middle school, but you were already the mother you rarely had. You had to get up early to get ready so you could get the boys taken care of and off to school. You may have been young, but the weight of your responsibility was always heavy on you, and you wondered if your parents ever felt it. Many things had been decided by then: you would never drink, you'd marry for love rather than convenience, you would be a better parent than either of them, you wouldn't make stupid, rash decisions.

Unfortunately, you are your parents' daughter.