Jessica smiled as she watched Jack play in the snow. She had taken him to her favorite ski lodge for the week, since his school had scheduled an extra-long break over the holiday season. Her phone buzzed, alerting her to a new text, and she picked up the device, smiling to see the message from Aaron.

It was good to know that he as coming home, but she was loathe to give up this time with Jack. Making her decision, she tapped back a quick reply. I'm glad you're coming home safe and sound once more. We'll be staying here through Sunday afternoon, giving you a little alone time. Go up and see Beth, it's just a short train ride away.

His reply bothered her a little, and she frowned when she read it. That is not an option at the moment. We're dealing with some issues. But it will be nice to relax and find some peace.

Jessica sighed deeply. She knew that peace was something that he lacked most days, the ghosts of Haley and Erin gnawing at his heart and mind. There had been nothing he could have done differently, the outcome would have always been the same, and yet she knew that he believed he should have been faster, better, smarter.

A few wayward tears slipped down her cheeks as she tapped out a reply. I won't disturb you then, the rest of the weekend. Love you.

Love you, too, Jess.

She smiled a little before setting the phone aside. She knew that most of her friends didn't understand the strange relationship she had with Aaron. And she was certain that one or two of them assumed that she was sleeping with him. Which was the furthest thing from the truth. They were truly like brother and sister, and she relished having some sort of connection with him, as he was her closest link to Haley. The tiny crush that she had had on him, back when they had gotten married, had morphed into an intense love, something she cherished as the years grew from when they had lost Haley.

Jack came running over to the door, stamping his boots before slipping inside. "Did you hear from Dad yet?" he asked breathlessly as he struggled out of his snow clothes.

"Yes. He'll be home Sunday night when we get there." Jack gave her a wide smile as he nodded eagerly. Coming over to her side, he gave her a tight hug. "Do you want some hot chocolate? I can feel the cold coming off you in waves!"

"That would be nice, Aunt Jessica." He followed her into the kitchen and hoisted himself up on the counter to watch her putter around. "Did everything turn out all right with the case?"

She nodded as she pulled out two mugs, setting them next to him before handing him the tin of cocoa powder. "Yeah. He sounded tired, but he always does after long cases like this. I'm glad it was only five days this time."

"Me, too," Jack replied as he poured the powder into the mugs. Jessica had to bite her tongue to keep from commenting on just how much he was adding to their cups, and she forced herself to go over to the fridge and pull out the milk. Then she rummaged around in the cupboard next to the stove and pulled out a medium sized pan. Pouring in the milk, she set it on the front burner and turned it on before looking for a wooden spoon to stir the milk with. "I think that he and Beth are going to break up."

The sudden statement caught her off guard and she stopped stirring to look at him. "What makes you say that, Jackers?"

"They don't talk the way they used to. She's starting to sound a little like Mom did."

Jessica was astounded that he could remember the fights that Haley and Aaron had had, since he had just been a toddler. Or maybe he was referring to the strained, harsh, phone calls that they had had. Haley had never been real careful when she got very angry, and some of the cases that Aaron went out on were enough to elicit that response from her. "I'm sorry to hear that. I thought that your father was happy with her."

"So did I." He let out a sigh beyond his years, and in that moment, he looked so much like his father that she just had to drop the spoon and close the distance between them, opening her arms and hugging him tightly. "Why do all the special women always leave us? Am I doing something to scare them away?"

The plaintive cry to his voice broke her heart and she rubbed his back softly as he started to cry. "Was there someone else who left you?"

He nodded against her shoulder. "Miss Erin. Dad wouldn't let me go to her funeral, but she was always so kind, Aunt Jessica. She sent me cards on my birthday, without fail. And on, and on…"

His voice stopped, and Jessica knew what he was going to say. She had received cards from the woman as well, telling her how sorry she was, trying to excise some burden of guilt that ate at her soul. When Aaron had told her about the woman's death, she had been devastated, and now she knew that it had touched Jack as well. "Sometimes, the very best people are the ones that this world destroys. Sometimes, the ones who care too much, who try to hide behind a mask, are the ones who need our love the most. I miss Erin, too, Jack."

She kissed his cheek before stepping away from him, stirring the milk and then turning the burner off and dividing it between their mugs. "When we get home, can we visit their graves? They need flowers."

"That would be lovely, Jack, of course we can do that." She mixed the milk and powder, watching the liquid darken. She only wondered how Aaron would take this turn of events. He thought that he was so good at protecting his son from the grey of his world. But just like his father, he seemed to seek the grey out. And then Jack smiled at her, and Jessica knew that somehow, this year was going to be better than the last.