Why was it that the more you wanted an event to be over, the longer it took? Rod could for the life of him not remember where he had been tonight. Sure, Nora had told him over and over again, but did she really expect him to remember whether he was talking to "The Society for the Preservation of the Bison" or the "National Rose Convention"? Come on!

He hadn't enjoyed the evening at all, not even the food. Had just rattled through his speech (Nora had shown him a list of the mistakes he'd made afterwards. It had been pretty long, considering he had talked for only five minutes.), grinned while unimportant and, what was worse, boring people made one-sided small-talk, and thought about his conversation with Jim.

Was it really the argument Mac had been upset about? He had refused to believe it at first – Mac was a strong, grown-up woman! She would not sulk because of some stupid fight.

But she had already been bothered in the first place – and instead of holding her and telling her that it would be alright, he had just made it worse. And for what? For nothing except for his stupid pride. But he was determined to make up for it tonight.

xoxoxox

She was already asleep when came home. Rod grinned. This wake-up call was bound to be more pleasant than the one Jim had described.

He undid his tie and crawled into bed.
She did not look her usual self at all. Usually, her face relaxed when she was asleep – even when it was only then. But tonight, her features were grim, tense. Rod felt another twinge of guilt.

He leaned forwards and kissed her neck, the way she usually loved it. She flinched and tensed. Had he really hurt her that much?

"Shhh, it's ok, kiddo. It's ok. Time to make up."

He continued to bite her neck, but suddenly she shot up, hit him 'round the head with her pillow and jumped, jumped out of bed and as far away from him as she could.

She was trembling.

"Mac, what's up? I said I was sorry. See? I'm not mad at you."

He came towards he with his arms spread as though he were approaching a scared, wounded animal. She stepped back as far as she could until she finally hit the wall.

"Don't you come near me. Don't you dare touch me again."

He stopped, completely puzzled.

"I only wanted …"

For some reason, this comment made Mac lose it completely.

"Shut up! SHUT UP!"

She was screaming. Mackenzie Allen never ever raised her voice. Something was very, very wrong. Rod took another step towards her and was only narrowly missed by a shoe that came flying his way.

"Keep the hell away from me or I'll have you arrested!"

He stopped again.

"Mackenzie, are you insane?"

She didn't reply, and the frantic way in which her eyes were darting to and fro made him think that that might very well be the case.

"Seriously, Mac. There's no point running away any more. What's wrong?"

He had thought that she had gotten completely hysterical when she had started shouting at him. What he saw now could only be described as the total breakdown.
She sank to the ground, her whole body shaken with heart wrenching sobs.

"You know! You know what's wrong, Rod! Isn't that why you can't stand looking at me?"

"Now wait a minute, Mrs Allen! If there is someone who won't look the other in the eye, it's you!"

This was not at all going as planned. Instead of moaning in pleasure, his wife was nearly suffocating from her tears. And he was losing his temper. Again.

"Stop it already, Rod! I know that you know! Why don't you just tell me how much you hate me and how disgusted you are?"

Rod decided to make one last attempt at consoling his wife. He carefully came closer and knelt down next to her. She didn't even notice until he put his hand on her shoulder.

After tensing for a few moments, she reluctantly relaxed, and he seized his chance and pulled her into an embrace, all the while making soothing noises, just as though she were Amy awaking from a nightmare.

He kissed her forehead and whispered into her hair.

"It's ok, kiddo. I don't hate you. I never could."

xoxoxoxoxoxox

And while she sobbed into her husbands arms, still completely shaken by the momentary thought that Keaton had come back for her, and slowly realising that Rod did indeed not know anything, she could not help but to whisper "You will once you find out."

She felt him shaking his head, and it was in her head rather than with her ears that she heard him reply.

"Never!"