"C'mon Jen.. Give this a chance. Give us a chance. I don't want to lose you or Ronnie. I love you both too much." The words flowed from his lips as she held her hands in his, pleading with her to just give him the chance to show her how much he loved her. She shook her head. She couldn't do it. She wouldn't take the risk of going through the pain again. "Please, baby girl, just please give me a chance..." He caressed her cheek, kissing her lips lightly as he pulled her closer to him.

"John I don't think I can."

He sighed. Running his hands over his face he wiped away any evidence of the hurt that he was feeling inside. Pulling away from her, he walked towards the front door. "Fine. I don't know what you want me to do Jen. I don't know what I have to do to make you see that we can make this work. But if you don't want to make it work then that's fine." Shaking his head he closed the door behind him as he walked out of her home. Continuing to stare at the door, she couldn't believe she had let him walk out. Should she go after him?

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Jen sighed. She had really screwed up this time. She knew that they could work it out, but she was afraid. She was afraid of what would happen if she let him back into her life permanently. Of course she loved him, she always had. But was she willing to take the risk of that hurt again? And now she had another person to think about. She had their daughter. What if John decided that he really didn't want to be apart of their lives? How would she be able to tell her daughter that? No.

Sam handed her best friend a cold bottle of beer. Jen caught the next flight to St. Louis as soon as Ronnie had arrived home from daycare. She needed someone to talk to. She needed someone to vent to and someone who would tell her she was wrong even if she didn't think so. She needed Sam. Her best friend who wasn't afraid to tell Jen the truth no matter how much it would hurt her. They watched as their daughters played in the backyard of Sam and Randy's home. Jen took a long drink of the beer, taking in a deep breath waiting for Sam to begin her lecture.

"Why didn't you just give him a chance?"

Jen shrugged taking another drink.

"Are you afraid? There's nothing to be afraid of Jen. You know he loves you. You love him. He knows about Ronnie now. There is nothing keeping you back. He loves you both so much."

"How do you know?"

"Hello, I'm married to his best friend."

"The look on his face when I wouldn't say yes... It killed me Sam. It really did. But I just couldn't say yes."

"Ask yourself. Do you really want him to be with anyone else? Do you really want Ronnie to grow up like you did? Only seeing her dad every once in a while and not really getting to know him? Or do you want to actually try and have a real relationship with him and give Ronnie a dad?" Swallowing the lump in her throat, Jen watched as her daughter chased Alanna around the backyard. She didn't want her to grow up like she had. She wanted Ronnie to know John. She wanted them to get to know one another and have a relationship. And no, she didn't want to see him with anyone else. She wanted to be with him. But once again it all came back to the fear she felt. She was afraid of what would happen if she let him back into her life and see her vulnerable side.

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Opening the front door she smiled a little towards the man on the other side of the door. He didn't return the gesture, instead he walked in and made his way towards the living room. She let out a small sigh before closing the door and following him. She found him sitting on the edge of the couch, hands glued together, eyes glued to the floor as he tried to think of what she could have asked him over for. Sitting next to him, she placed her hand on his knee smiled once again when he finally looked up at her.

"I'm sorry John." Her words came out more like a whisper. Pressing her lips to his lightly, she felt him relax a little and smile against her lips. Pulling her body closer to his, he wrapped his arm around her waist and laid her back on the couch.

"I love you, Jen." Pulling away from him, she caressed the side of his face. "I'm sorry I pushed you."

She shook her head and kissed him again. "I love you too Johnny. I'm sorry."

I'm sorry for such the long delay. I've been super busy and things have been really hectic. But I finally got the next chapter written. Hopefully, y'all haven't left me. Anyway I'm working on another story for DivaliviousDooL so that should be out soon. But forgive, my grandpa just had major open heart surgery and I've been really busy spending time with him. Anyway. R&R.

Love, A