Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait. I've been thinking about some things for the story. I decided to redo this chapter and add a few more... Tell me what you think.

Disclaimer: I own none of these characters.

Summary: This is a different take on Confrontation II. I was thinking that I didn't stage the argument too well, so I redid it and added another chapter as well. I really hope you like it and if you have any suggestions, bring 'em on.

Time Apart

(bribri14)

Week 3

Confrontation II

Gordon Cahill's

Alex found it especially hard to get out of bed these days. She continued to sulk and feel bad for herself. But the talk she had with Angela a week before motivated her... She wanted to do something to take her mind off all her worries and troubles but she still had a dinner to attend with her husband. She was determined to get down to the bottom of all their problems. Her mind then went to her sweet Cheyenne. She wanted so bad to hold her but she knew Cheyenne wouldn't hear of it. It was all too fresh for her and Alex knew to step back and give it some time. She wanted things to be better for her kids, but sometimes you have to do things for you, and that was just what she was doing. She hoped that Walker understood or at least try.

"Good morning." Alex yawned sitting next to him at the kitchen table.

"Good morning?"

"Yes, dad. I want this day to be painless. I want to forget about all my problems today. Although this may not be the best day to do that because I'm having dinner with Walker."

"You're having dinner with Walker?"

"Yes, I am."

"And who suggested this?"

"Actually... I did. I decided that Walker and I need to resolve this before it gets any worse than it already is... if that's possible."

"Well I hope it turns out well for you, honey... Why aren't you dressed for work?"

"I'm not going today." She said, Gordon almost choking on his bagel.

"You took off?"

"Yes I took off."

"What do you plan on doing today?"

"Well, I thought maybe I'd spend a little time with Corey and Riley. I haven't really seen them since... Since I left. I feel guilty for that."

"Well you have a good time with them."

"I will."

Walker Ranch

Walker was having a horrible time getting out of the bed. He still smelled her everywhere. All around the house, her scent would dwell. It was taking its toll on Walker. He was lonely. Sure, his kids kept him busy, especially Angela. His little Angel. She was the one that worried about his wellbeing. She helped out the most too. She did the things Alex would normally do and she was good at it too.

"Dad." Angela knocked on the door.

"Come in, Angela."

"Aren't you going to work today?"

"Yea, I just need a minute honey."

"All right. I'm gonna take Riley and Corey to grandpa's... Dad... I'm really worried about Chey, she hasn't said anything since she and mom had that argument."

"Do you know where she is?"

"She went to ride Shy."

"I'll go check on her."

"Okay... And dad?"

"Yea?"

"I love you."

"I love you too Angel." He said as she smiled that smile that reminded him so much of his wife.

zzzzzzzz

Cheyenne sat down under a tree and watched as Shy walked around nibbling on the grass. She remembered those days when she and her mother would just go out there to relax. That was their own personal spot. She only shared it with Alex, this would be the first time she went alone without her mother's company. They'd go out there and talk, for Cheyenne to vent or just to relax and let go. They would take in the heavenly air and let the wind blow in their identical blond locks. Cheyenne sighed at the memory. Letting her head rest on the tree's trunk she drifted off to sleep.

Cheyenne opened her bright glue eyes. She looked around noticing that she wasn't under the tree anymore but laying in snow. She got up and breathed in the cold, fresh air. She was in a pasture, a snow cover pasture. It was breathtakingly beautiful and so peaceful and tranquil. She saw two bright figures walking towards her, she back up. It came closer and she noticed that she had seen these people in pictures before. Then it came to her: Elizabeth Firewalker and Charlotte Cahill, her father's mother and her mother's mother. She stood in shock as she watch them come closer to her. With each step they took a shiver went up her spine.

"Don't be afraid, Cheyenne." Elizabeth said reaching out to the frightened teenager.

"It's okay." Charlotte assured her taking Cheyenne's hand.

"Wh...What am I doing here?"

"We wanted to talk to you is all." Elizabeth smiled. "You don't have to be afraid, Cheyenne. We won't harm you." She led them to a bench and sat down.

"Does any of this have to do with my mother and father?" Cheyenne asked hanging her head.

"Yes." Charlotte said lifting up her chin. "We know you're hurting, honey, and so are Angela, Corey, and Riley."

"But excluding yourself from the rest of the family is not going to help how you feel, honey, I assure you." Elizabeth concluded.

"What family grandma? What family do I have?"

"Look sweetheart, I know that your parents are separated, but that doesn't mean you don't have a family. You have other people to talk to. You can't shut down and close up your heart, you can't keep your feelings bottled up inside. Your father did the same thing, kept his feelings bottled up. Which is why it took him so long to commit to your mother and marry her. He continued to push her away, but she stayed."

"Alex was never one to give up." Charlotte smiled with pride.

"Well he committed to her for no good reason at all. She left him, she gave up."

"No, Cheyenne, she did not give up, she needs time, and nothing is wrong with that. She needs time."

"What is time? Time for what? To find another man to replace my dad?"

"No, Cheyenne, your mother would never try to replace your father, she loves him way too much. She would die for him, she's go to hell and back for that man..." Charlotte explained in her daughter's defense.

"Then can you tell me why she needs time if she loves him so much?"

"I got this on, Charlotte... Let me explain Cordell to you, Cheyenne. My son, like every other man on that earth you live on, has a hard time expressing his self. He's the kind of person who is used to being alone. True, he's been married to your mother for almost 19 years, but he's felt alone for almost all his life, and it's natural to him. Do you understand?"

"Yes, but what does this have to do with the reason for them needing time?"

"It brings me to my point that your mother, my daughter, feels that she can't take the late nights, the loneliness, and all that other stress and hurt that comes with being married to a Texas Ranger."

"She could handle it before, why not now?"

"She's fed up with it. She thought that once your father became captain, he would be able to spend more time with their family, but that wasn't the case..." Charlotte explained. "But believe me, it won't take long for her to realize that she's worried more now that they're separated then she was when they were together."

"Listen, kiddo, don't go blaming people for this and don't take your hurt out on the people you love, it ain't worth it. Sometimes people need a break from each other, even if it's for a day, they need they're time, especially with a couple like your parents, it's common. But it's not your fault, or Angela's, or Riley's, or Corey's, it's because they just need their space." Elizabeth put her arm around her shoulders.

"Why couldn't she just take a vacation?" Cheyenne laughed through her tears, her grandmothers joining her.

"Just give them time, time is the key. Just wait." Charlotte said as she and Elizabeth got up to walk away.

"Don't give up, kid."

"I won't." She whispered closing her eyes.

zzzzzzzz

Walker stood over Cheyenne and watched her flutter her eyes open. He saw tears flow freely from her eyes and then sat next to her taking her in his arms.

"It's okay, Cheyenne." Walker assured her, rubbing her long, blond hair.

"...I know." She cried.

Pizza Hut

Riley played with her pizza and Alex immediately noticed. She was also fidgety and easily annoyed. She didn't want to push her or force her to express her feelings, but she wanted to know what was going on in the thirteen year old''s mind.

"Riley, aren't you gonna eat your food?"

"I'm not very hungry." Riley lied sticking a pepperoni into her mouth.

"...You know, Riley, I don't think I like your attitude today."

"Sorry." Riley said rolling her eyes.

"I know you're upset about your dad and me..."

"What makes you think this is about you and dad? This is about you not even calling me and Corey and telling us about this."

"Riley, every parent is entitled to make a mistakes, I made a few okay and I'm sorry. I'm sorry and that is what I wanted you two here for, so that I could make it up to you but I see you won't have that so I'll take you guys home as soon as I'm done eating."

"Mom, don't." Corey said giving his sister an evil look.

"I know how you feel, believe me, I do. I went through this before and I swore that I wouldn't put my own kids through it."

"Which is what you're doing now." Riley spoke up.

"Riley, I'm not going to apologize for leaving your father. I won't do it. If you want to blame someone blame it on the both of us for not communicating with one another."

"Why should I blame it on dad? He sure didn't leave."

"I'm not gonna sit here and explain this to you, Riley, because frankly I don't think you'd understand."

"Why do you guys treat me like I'm some kind of an idiot? I'm not a kid, I'm not a child..."

"Yes... yes you are, Riley Jade Walker, and that's what you have to understand. You are a child, a young and naive child so trust me when I tell you, you won't understand..." She said, tears clearly making their ways down her face. "You'll understand when you fall in love with a Texas Ranger, you'll understand when you wait almost 8 years for that same ranger, you'll understand when you marry that ranger, you'll definitely will understand when you worry every single time that ranger walks out of the door and risks his life for people he doesn't even know when you're 9 months pregnant, you'll understand when you have to cry day in and day out because you're so damn tired of it, and damn it, you'll understand when you wait up for that same, stubborn, mule-headed, egotistical ranger to come home so you can tell him that you're fed up!" She exclaimed gathering her things and moving out of the booth crying. "Here's the money for the pizza and the tip, I'll be in the car waiting." And with that said, she walked furiously out of the restaurant.

"Why'd you do that Riley?"

"Shut up, Corey." Riley said crying.

"You know how she gets when she's upset with dad."

"I don't really care, I said what I had to say."

Restaurant: Around Dinner Time

Alex walked into the restaurant. She wasn't really feeling up to facing her husband. She had debated whether or not to cancel or not show up at all. In the end she decided that it needed to be done so she dressed in the red dress that she had bought earlier that day and headed out of the door.

Walker waited by the door for his wife. He knew she would be a little late, so he wasn't surprised when her car pulled up not 5 minutes late, or 10, but 20 minutes later. It took his breath away when she stepped out of the car with that red dress. He thought she was simply beautiful. It was perfect on her, it looked simply beautiful. Her hair was straight down her back and he loved it. He had encouraged her to let it grow long, just to experiment and she did. The dress was elegant, not too flaunty, and it didn't hide too much, it was simply...simple.

"Hi." Walker greeted her as she walked towards him.

"Hi." She smiled nervously.

"Ready to go in?"

"... Yea." She breathed, Walker leading her into the restaurant.

After taking a seat there was a long, awkward silence between the two. Neither knew what to say, after all, they had never been in this particular situation before. The waitress walked over and took their orders and walked away. Neither had said a word to the other.

"How have you been?" Alex finally broke the awkward silence.

"Fine and you?"

"I've been okay." She said nodding her head. "How's everything at the house?"

"Every thing's fine, Alex." He said slightly annoyed.

"Why don't we just go about this like mature adults, Walker? Like we're not separated?" Alex asked knowing that her husband was agitated.

"Okay, Alex... Um... When I woke up this morning you weren't there, where were you? When I went downstairs to eat breakfast you weren't there, where were you? When I went to work today you weren't there, where were you?"

"Okay Walker, that's very funny."

"Alex, how do you expect me to act? I haven't seen you in almost three weeks and you expect me to act like we're not separated... We're separated." He laughed at the thought.

"What's so funny Walker?" She asked annoyed.

"What ever happened to our vows Alex? Remember, 'til death do us part, with this ring I thee wed, through thick and thin? Any of that ring a bell?"

"Yes, it does. But what about that promise you made me on our wedding night? Do you remember that? You promised that you would never put your job as a ranger, or anything else for that matter, ahead of your family..."

"And I didn't, Alex..."

"How can you say that? How can you look me in the eyes and say that. That's all you do. You're always putting your job ahead of us, the people that love you. And you made another promise too. You promised me that you would always tell me what was on your mind and that you would never push me away... what happened to that?"

"...I don't know." He knew she was right. He knew she was right on point with that.

"That's what I thought. I feel as if you've been putting up a brick wall around your heart, Walker, trying to find some way to block me out. I feel like you've betrayed me with your job. And I feel like you've been keeping something from me, not telling me something."

"Alex..."

"Is it something you can't tell me? You feel like I'll get mad at you or you'll disappoint me?"

"What do you care now, Alex?"

"What do you mean what do I care? We're still married you know and even though I left it doesn't meant that my feelings for you have changed. I can't believe that you would event think that I didn't care."

"Well with the way you left, you sure as hell could've fooled me." He said getting angrier with every agonizing second. "You know, Alex, it's like you're teasing me. You're sitting there with that red dress on, making it hard for me to breathe. Then to top it off, we're separated... What did you want me here for?" He asked.

"I wanted you here because I thought maybe we could fix this."

"What if we can't?"

"We can."

"But what if we can't?"

"I'm getting real tired of your negative attitude. It sounds to me like you don't want to save our marriage."

"It didn't seem like you were too enthused either when you left me three weeks ago... You gave up, that's how I felt, like you just abandoned me somewhere, Alex. Do you know how that feels?"

"Yes, I do. I've felt the very same way when my father left... and when you ignored me after that rafting trip."

"What does that have to do with right now?"

"It has everything to do with right now. I still feel that cold feeling I felt after you didn't acknowledge that we were finally lovers. That plays a big part in that first decline of our relationship."

"Okay... since we're dwelling in the past... what about that Dalton thing?"

"We promised each other that we would never bring up past relationships."

"Well since we're so damn used to breaking promises and vows, I don't see why we can't take a trip down memory lane."

"Dalton has nothing to do with us."

"He has everything to do with us. You slept with him, Alex."

"I didn't sleep with him, Walker. I couldn't... I wouldn't because I was so damn sure that you and me had a chance, that you would finally open up to me or fight for me when I came out of his trailer which brings me back to the same point of opening up to me and not blocking your wife out."

"I sure don't feel like you're my wife anymore."

"And it's been a long time since I felt like you were my husband."

"...I think I see things clearer now, Alex."

"What do you mean?"

"You see, you haven't felt like my wife for a while now, and I haven't felt like a husband for a while now..."

"What are you getting at?"

"Why don't we just end this thing?"

"What do you mean 'end this thing'?"

"I mean why don't we just forget about this completely. Let's not try and fix it. What's the use anyway, we don't live together anymore, we don't act like a married couple, and hell, we're separated, so let's just put an end to all this madness."

"...Are you suggesting divorce?" She asked as her eyes moistened.

"You said it, I didn't."

"What has gotten into you Cordell Walker? You act like you don't even care anymore."

"Why should I, you don't."

"You know that's not true."

"It is Alex. It's true."

"Why in the hell do I always fall for the most egotistical, mule-headed..."

"So we're back to that again."

"I can't believe you, Walker." She exclaimed, everyone in the restaurant turning to look at the 'couple'.

"I believe this dinner is over."

"You... you..." She stormed out before she could finish her statement.

To Be Continued...