Sorry I've been AWOL for a little bit. I've been reading these great books again, you may have heard of them. They're called LEFT BEHIND: THE KIDS. So addicting. Anyway, I've been rereading them for a) my own entertainment and b) to come up with more ideas for this story as I hit a bit of a writers block lately. So I'm plotting some things and whatnot, so enjoy this overdue update!

Vicki couldn't believe that her husband's ex-girlfriend was in her shower at this very moment. She had been doing the dishes when the knock on the door came and now she was back at the sink scouring them so vigorously that Judd thought she might just scrub the pattern right off. She was annoyed. There was no other way to say it. She had played it cool, and she did trust Judd, she really did. She wasn't annoyed at Judd, she was annoyed at her. Why was she really here? Did she really just want to meet Judd's friends and see America? Or had she come still with feelings for Judd and hopes that maybe her assumption that he had someone else was incorrect? Why does she have to be so pretty? Vicki thought before catching herself.

Nada came out of the hall, in fresh clothes and with clean hair. Vicki forced the most friendly smile she could muster.

"Do you want to come and meet the girls?" Vicki asked, "I was headed over that way this morning anyway."

"Sure," Nada smiled, "I'd love to."

"Awesome," Vicki replied. She shot a look at Judd, "Honey, we're going to the girls place."

Judd looked up from his book, "Ok. Have fun."

She could tell Judd was studying this interaction between wife and ex-girlfriend and he looked so confused.

Poor guy, she thought, he doesn't deserve this.

Shelly was expecting a visit from Vicki this morning, as they were going to be talking about the upcoming wedding, but when the doorbell rang, she didn't expect Vicki to have company. When she answered the door Vicki had a somewhat pained look on her otherwise smiling face, the girl with her looked a little older and completely unfamiliar.

"Hey Vick." Shelly greeted.

"Shelly," Vicki said, "I'd like you to meet Nada."

Shelly's eyes widened and she put a hand out to greet her guest.

"Um, hello." She said shaking Nada's hand.

"Hello." Nada replied, "It's nice to meet you."

"Likewise."

Shelly was confused, she recognised the name. No. This couldn't be the same person.

"Come in girls." Shelly said, "I'll introduce you to the others."

Shelly led Vicki and Nada inside and introduced Nada to Darrion, Chaya, Melinda and Janie before pulling Vicki aside.

"Um. What the heck is going on?" Shelly demanded in a hushed tone.

"Beats me." Vicki said, clearly annoyed, "I was just doing the dishes and then my husbands ex-girlfriend who died is standing on my doorstep looking for him."

"So it is the same Nada."

"Of course it's the same Nada." Vicki snapped, "Who else would it be?"

"I can't believe this." Shelly said, "What nerve has she got to turn up looking for Judd?"

"She didn't know he was married." Vicki sighed.

"Yeah but she's been dead for over two years and from what you said, she suspected he had feelings for someone else when she was alive, so wouldn't she assume that maybe he's moved on?" Shelly asked.

"I don't know what to do Shel." Vicki scratched her head, "She's come all the way from Israel. I don't know if she expects us to put her up while she's here, or if she's going to a hotel…"

"You can't put her up at your place." Shelly said.

"I don't want to at least. I could." Vicki replied.

"No." Shelly argued, "You can't have her staying at your house. That's way too awkward. What did Judd say?"

Vicki sighed, "He was as shocked as I was. I told him I was worried she might still have feelings for him and he just assured me that it didn't matter because he didn't have feelings for her and that he loves me."

Shelly smiled, "He's right, Vick. Judd's a good guy and he does love you. He probably feels completely awkward about her being here, but her having feelings for him, if she still does, doesn't matter because he doesn't reciprocate them."

Vicki still looked stressed but Shelly's words seemed to reassure her.

"It's gonna be okay." Shelly squeezed her friends arm.

"I know." Vicki smiled weakly.

When John got back from his run, he found that Mark had finally freed himself from his bedroom and was reading his bible and writing in his journal.

John didn't want to open up another can of worms with his cousin, but he was dying to know if his hunch about Vicki was true. He decided to hold his tongue, but Mark spoke first.

"I'm a terrible person." Mark said matter-of-factly, without looking up from his book.

"Go on."

Mark looked up at him, "As my cousin, that was your cue to say, 'no you're not'".

John smiled, "But I want to know why you think you're such a terrible person."

Mark shook his head back into his book, "I just am."

"Mark, you can't say that and not follow through with your reasoning."

Mark closed his bible, "I'm a terrible person because I still have feelings for someone I can't ever be with."

John lowered his head, "Vicki?"

"What?" Mark said, surprised, "How did you-"

"I figured it out." John said. "How long?"

"A while." Mark said, "Since before she was married. I thought I would get over it when she married Judd. I thought I was over it, but I guess not quite."

John sighed, "You know you can't do anything about this right?"

"Of course!" Mark snapped, "What do you think I'm gonna do? Sweep into her house and steal her in the night?"

"Of course not." John laughed. "I just want to help you get through this."

"You can't tell anyone okay." Mark said, "Not a soul. Especially not her or Judd."

"No way I would tell them." John said. "But what are you going to do?"

"I don't know." Mark scratched his head. "I guess pray about it. Ask God to help me move past it."

"Sounds like a good plan." John said. "You know what else we can do?"

"What?"

"Get you a girl." John smirked.

"Shut up." Mark socked him on the arm.

"Come on, man." John said, "There's got to be somebody else that you'd be interested in. There's a lot of great girls in our group."

Mark scratched his head. There had been one girl that he'd thought he'd had feelings for before he fell for Vicki, and then started thinking about her more after Vicki got married.

Mark sighed, "Maybe…"

Come on Mark! Get over the married lady and find another great girl! I've always loved Mark and rereading the books made me love him again. He's so awesome, and he needs to find love!

Review if you please!

Peace x