Happy Monday. :) I know it's been a while since I posted. Been a little busy. Anyway, I promise I'll fix this. And your comments and honesty are welcome. I appreciate it so much. I always want to know your thoughts about this story. Share as much as you want. :)

Abbie's upstairs, packing two suitcases: one for her and one for Mel. She needs to think, to cry, and to be bitter like a lemon's pulp. It'll be good for them. She won't have to listen to his tangy words while he won't have to flare red at her motherly absence. They'll be out of each other's way. After she packs, she texts Ash and asks him to cover for her, briefly explains that she needs to focus on her family right now. Her phone would be beside her if he needed anything, and she'd check her e-mail, too. He agrees to help her and wishes her the best in her marriage, though she doesn't quite know how to feel about his comment and her marriage itself. The luggage sits by the door. Crane's in the kitchen, downing iced rum.

"I'm going to Jenny's for a while."

He doesn't look at her. "I'll shall pick up, Mel."

"She's not staying with you, Crane."

That caught his attention. "Is this a so-called punishment?"

"We're not about to do this."

She's too tired to have another fight.

"Who, exactly, will take care of her? Your sister travels half the time and your schedule doesn't leave room for her. Mr. Corbin works long hours during the night as an EMT. He needs his rest in the morning and afternoon. Who will provide for her during the day? What about her homeschooling program? Do you even remember her hours? There's also her treatment. Who will administer her medication if she has an attack? She needs a stable parent, Abbie."

"Go fuck yourself, Ichabod. Don't worry about her."

"These are valid concerns."

"Concerns my ass. You're belittling me and my role as her Mama again. I know how to take care of my goddamned daughter. Are you shitting me?"

"No, I'm not. It doesn't make sense for you to have Melody at Miss Jenny and Joe's when—"

"I'm taking two weeks off work! She'll be with me all day. You don't think I know what she fucking needs?"

"Most days I can't tell."

She leaves him in the kitchen because she isn't about to listen to more of his shit. If he can't even trust her to care for their child, then there's no point in her sticking around. She's not going to make him see her worth as a parent. After the luggage is in the car, she speeds off in a hurry.

Mel questions her like she expects when she walks into the guest bedroom with their bags. She tells her the kiddie version: that her and daddy need some time apart to figure things out, but everything will be okay. Don't worry, baby girl; remember this is not your fault.

"You'll spend lots of time with Auntie Jenny and Uncle Joe. We'll be able to spend time together, too, you know? Mama's taking a little vacation from work. We can do whatever you want, kiddo."

"Yay!" Mel says, and hugs her. "Like watching princess movies and playing games?"

"Exactly." Abbie kisses her cheek. "I love you so much."

"Love you, too, Mama."

"I'm going to go talk to Auntie Jenny for a bit. I'll be back, okay?"

She nods and turns her attention to the cartoons.

Jenny paces in the kitchen. "You want to tell me what the hell is going on between you and Crane? You've got me all worried. Is my niece alright?"

Abbie finds some wine in her fridge and pulls out two glasses. "Mel's fine." She pours them a glass and swallows hers quicker than she likes to admit. Her glass is refilled and then she explains everything.

"I'm going to kick his ass. And I should kick your ass, too. You both stooped too low. This isn't the couple I know. I don't even…" Jenny shakes her head. "I don't even know where to fucking start. Shit, Abbie." She sighs, sits at the table. "Do you want your marriage at this point?"

With her glass in hand, she takes a seat, too, shrugs. "I really need to think about it. I can't forgive him right now. None of this would've started if he wasn't an asshole toward me. He's been like that since Mel first got sick." A lump hurts her throat. "It's not like I intentionally miss her appointments. I always want to be there for her, but he doesn't see it that way. He's thinks I'm an unfit mom. And I think I'm starting to believe it."

Her sister hugs her, kisses her forehead. "Abbie, that's not true. He may be my brother-in-law, but he can really shove his self-righteous attitude up his ass. I'll gladly do it myself. You may not be there for her as often as you want, but if you didn't care, you wouldn't even be having this conversation with me. You wouldn't be involved in her life at all. You're a wonderful mom. Crane can kiss your ass for all I care."

She exhales, rubs her eyes. "It's been a lot."

Marriage exhausts her nowadays. Why can't it be simple like it was before? Abbie doesn't even know if they'll survive this. How do they call a ceasefire?

"I can imagine. Listen, I can't tell you what you should do about your marriage. You know I'll support you in whatever choice you make. But ask yourself this: If you two were to walk away from each other today, would you be at peace with that?"

She can't answer that question right away, though she does feel lighter without Crane's nagging and anger. Much lighter. She sips more of her wine.

"I've never known you to be so wise. Where did this come from?"

"Let's just say you and Crane aren't the only ones with issues. Me and Joe have been married for only a year, but we've had our fights, too. It's because of our jobs. Our work schedules are so opposite that we've missed days, weeks even without connecting, you know? Either I'm boarding a plane for antiquing or he's clocking out of his shift and heading home for bed.

"The communication wasn't there. We'd snip at each other for missed calls and text messages. We were late for anniversaries or planned evenings together. Sometimes one of us didn't show up at all because we forgot or work ran late. It got so bad, that at one point, we turned to other people for emotional and physical intimacy. They were available. They gave us what we didn't have time to give each other." She breathes deep. "I know how you feel. You're betrayed and the betrayer."

This admission shocks her, but Abbie hugs her sister as tight as she can. She didn't know they dealt with infidelity. "Jenny, I'm so sorry you went through this alone. I didn't know things were that bad. Why didn't you tell me?"

"You had a lot on your plate. I didn't want to add stress. Joe and I are good now."

It stings that she says that. She can't even make time for her sister because of her job.

"You're not a bother. Whatever it is, I want to know. I'm actually not going into work for a bit, so we can catch up."

"We'll do that." Jenny smiles.

"How did you and Joe work it out? What happened?"

"Our jobs are important to us, but at what cost? We had to ask ourselves that, too. It wasn't worth missing out on each other. Work had to take a back seat. I want him around, even if he does hog all the covers and snores. He's my Joe."

"I'm glad you two are okay. Do you think Crane and I will be alright? Honestly?"

"I can't answer that, Abbie. Anything is possible, but it's up to you two. It doesn't much matter what I think. You're the one who has to live with the man. The most I can say is acknowledge each other's truth. Really listen. Without arguing and pointing fingers. That's the best thing, for starters. Just listen."

Abbie hugs her sister once more. "I love you. Thank you for the advice."

"I hope it helps."

"It does."

They finish half the bottle of wine.

Abbie's back upstairs. All she wants to do is cuddle with her baby girl and watch movies. Maybe they'll paint their nails a little later and make an eccentric dish with Jenny. It'll be a girl's day the rest of the weekend. She can't believe it's still only Saturday, which feels long and enduring.

"Hey, kiddo. You doing okay?" Abbie sits on the bed, and Mel crawls into her lap. She lays her head on her chest.

"I miss you, Mama."

Abbie kisses her forehead. "I miss you, too, Mel. I always want to spend time with you. Sometimes I get really sad that I can't."

She doesn't get the in-betweens, like hearing her repeat her times tables or watching her pout at having to eat spinach. At times, it overwhelms her so much that she cries in her office when she's alone and on her lunch break. Crane refuses to bring her for lunch like she wants him to. He wouldn't have to bring her for lunch if she didn't work so much, he said. It pissed her off, and she just stopped asking to avoid a long fight.

Mel's quiet and then she begins to cry as she clings to Abbie, who rubs her back. It hurts seeing her like this, and she wishes her and Crane were on good terms, that they were the happy family they once were. There's nothing worse than witnessing your child's heartbreak and realizing it's because of you.

"How are you feeling, Mel? Talk to me, baby."

She tries to speak but only cries harder. Abbie soothingly reminds her to relax and to take a breath. It doesn't work. And suddenly Mel's breathing accelerates; she struggles for air, puts her hand on her chest. Abbie quickly searches for her inhaler in her suitcase. Mel inhales four puffs. The medication doesn't ease her attack. Her lips begin to blue. Abbie doesn't waste time dialing 911, so she sets Mel on her hip, snatches her keys and phone, and darts downstairs.

"Jenny!"

Her sister hurries from the kitchen.

She speaks fast as she swings open the door and rushes outside to her car. "I need you to drive. Call Crane. She's having an attack. Her inhaler isn't working."

Jenny takes the keys from her while she gets in the back with Mel. They speed off.

Crane drives 80 in a 45. He doesn't care. All he's trying to do is arrive at the hospital to check on his child, to ensure her health. Everything else be damned. In 15 minutes, he's at the children's hospital, where he rushes toward the emergency room. He spots Abbie and Jenny.

"Abbie."

As she hurries to him, her words bump together, but he hears her clearly all the same. It's their fault. It's because of them that she's in the hospital.

"Mel will be okay, won't she?" Abbie crumbles, and he pulls her to him. She's crying in his chest. And he tries not to fall apart himself. The last thing he wanted was for their issues to affect their daughter's health.

"She is strong," he says into her neck, though he isn't sure himself. "Melody is a fighter."

Then beneath his tears, worry, and the knobs of guilt brewing beneath his skin, Crane softly says, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Abigail."

Abbie sits in a cold chair in the waiting room. Crane's holding her hand; his thumb circles her knuckles. The doctor said once they get her breathing under control, they'd be able to take her home. Jenny went for some air and a snack to give them privacy. Abbie feels funny about his apology. She releases her hand from his. He stares at her.

"Did you mean it, Ichabod?"

She can't imagine him turning his anger around so quickly. He's held onto it for a while and all of sudden she has his undying love and support. It's bullshit to her.

He kneels in front of her. "I meant it. I owe you more than the words themselves."

"It took Mel having an asthma attack for you to own up to your shit, for you to realize how wrong and unfair you've been towards me?"

His silence is expected. What can he say?

"We shouldn't have never even gotten to this point in the first place, Crane. The first time I couldn't be there for her, you completely held it against me. You've even purposely withheld her from me, as if I don't deserve access to her, as if I'm the worst person she's ever encountered. I'm not accepting your half-assed apology. You're not absolved from anything, Crane. If you're truly sorry, you're going to have to show me that you are."

He nods and looks at her like she broke him in half. She doesn't care because she's just as broken herself.

They're finally able to take Mel home. She's asleep when they buckle her in Abbie's car. Abbie gave the doctor a summary of what happened. Her and Crane have been having some marital issues. Her and Melody talked about it a little today, and it really overwhelmed her. The doctor said she shouldn't be in a stressful environment, that fighting parents isn't good for her asthma. It's an emotional trigger. Whatever problems they had, they needed to sort them out for Mel's sake. Quickly. They agreed they'd work on it.

Abbie's in Mel's room, monitoring her while Crane went to Jenny's to get their luggage. She hears the front door open after a short while. He walks up the stairs.

Crane sits on the opposite side of the bed. His eyes are stuck on Mel, too. Her breathing sounds the way it's supposed to: calm.

"I don't where we go from here, Ichabod, but we have to try to get to a better place, whatever that means. She deserves our best."

"I couldn't agree more."

They continue to watch their daughter sleep.