Note: So, it would be totally rad if my old readers reviewed more. Just so I know you're all still here. But, happy valentine's day to those who are or are not doing something special with the one they love! I know I am. :) I love you Britt. Song belongs to Kelly Clarkson.

Rating; T-M.

Title; Breathe Honesty.

Eleven.

It's around midnight when the youngest Jurgen's girl heads back downstairs. With red, tired eyes she shuffles into the kitchen. Running a hand through her jet black hair, she jumps back at the sight of her mother. She's sitting in front of Ashley, sipping on what seems like a mug of tea.

She bites down hard on her lip as she walks in a little further to the kitchen. Her mother has yet to say anything, which in a way, Ashley Jurgen's is very grateful for. She passes her quietly, grabbing a cup of her own from the cabinet before she fills it with water and joins the red head at the table, sitting directly across from her.

"How are you feeling?" She asks, tone soft and motherly. Shrugging, Ashley sighs and glances down into her cup. Anne stares at her for a few seconds, waiting on her daughter to say something. When she realizes the young girl's gone mute, she speaks again.

"You know, your sister never told us what's going on with you, but I'm beginning to think she should have." The words that fell from the red head's mouth causes Ashley to bite harder on her lip, blinking back tears. "Please Ashley," She mumbles tiredly, voice growing raspy. "Talk to me."

Tears are trickling down both of their faces now, but Ashley does a good job at hiding it. Pushing back the chair, Anne ignores the screeching noise and stands up, ready to walk away when her daughter finally opens her mouth.

"Wait." She whispers, her voice barely audible. "I..." She pauses, sucking in a shaky breath. Anne turns sharply and expectantly, her eyes pleading with her daughter to let her in.

"Yes?" She asks patiently, her voice concerned and full of the worry that filled her insides.

"I...I wanna talk..."

--

It takes her more then twenty minutes to find her words and her voice again, but as she does, her heart sinks in her chest. What she's about to tell her mother, is rough- she knows that, and as much as she'd like to spare the immense amount of pain that's to come, she can't.

She takes in a deep breath and looks away, refusing to meet her mother's eyes. She can't. It hurts too much. "I...The other night..." The door flies open before she can continue and in walks her father, groggy and confused.

Both of the woman's heads turn, and Ashley instantly stops, tensing up. Without warning, she stands to her feet and heads upstairs, leaving the two adults alone. Anne groans in frustration and anger and slams her fist down on the table, ignoring her soon-to-be ex husband as he jumps from surprise.

He sighs unhappily as he walks toward her, watching as she rests her head in her hands and tries not to cry again. But she can't help it, and he knows this. Her shoulders shake as he rests comforting hands on them. He's standing behind her, rubbing her shoulders and trying to ease the tension. They may not be getting back together, but they did sort of work things out.

"Aw Anne, don't cry. She'll come around- she's just...well, she's Ashley." He adds, a dry sense of humor to his voice as he chuckles lightly. He walks around to which he's now standing in front of her and watches as she looks up at him with wet eyes.

"She was so close to talking to me George," She mumbled sadly. "And then you came in." She hissed. Her tone went from sad to bitter quick, and George had to admit he was a little taken back.

"Hey," He snapped, his hands instantly thrown up in defense mode. "Don't blame me."

She sighed, and nodded. "You're right," She cooed. "It's not your fault. It's mine..."

Upon hearing these words, George arched an eyebrow and took the seat where his daughter had been sitting, waiting on Anne to continue, just like she'd done with Ashley a few moments ago. "If I'd stopped pushing her to talk then maybe..." She pauses, voice cracking, and George has come to the conclusion he's heard enough.

"Anne listen to me, alright?" He stops, waiting until she's finally looking at him again. "This, is not your fault in any way. You need to stop blaming yourself for something you cannot control and just deal with the fact that Ashley doesn't and probably will not talk until she's ready. And regardless of me coming in, do you really think she'd have gone through with it? I mean c'mon, it's Ashley." He added knowingly. He waited, listening to his wife's shaky breathing and watched as the light shone in from the window, hitting her directly.

He may not have took the time to notice before, but now that he did he realized just how beautiful his wife was, and how much he'd be giving up if he left her. And before he could even blink or she could even open her mouth to protest, he had leaned forward and captured her lips with his in a breath-taking kiss, one only to be described as something they'd experienced in the early stages of their marriage. When they pulled apart, Anne stared at him blankly, contemplating for awhile just what had happened.

When she'd managed to wrap her head around it, she stood up, and George was sure she'd walk away, but then when she reached out to pull him to his feet as well, he filled with confusion. He was going to ask what she was doing until he noticed where she was taking him.

In silence, they continued their journey until they'd ended up back in the garage, the place they'd previously shared together just a few nights ago. And now, it was happening all over again. He would ask her if this was right, if she was sure about this, but he knew he wouldn't get an answer. So he waited until they'd connected again, mouth on mouth, body to body.

With quickly shed clothes they fell backwards, him- pulling her down on top, the cool bed sheets hitting his bare back as they slid underneath them. As hands tangled in hair, and moans escaped from behind their tongues, the one lyric of a song rang through his head, making it him him full force and confront the one thing he's wanted to hide away from for so long. He was still in love with her.

'You've got a piece of me, and honestly- my life would suck without you.'