To the teller down at the bank
You're just another checking account
To the plumber that came today
You're just another house
At the airport ticket counter
You're just another fare

At the beauty shop at the mall
Well you're just another head of hair
Well that's alright, that's ok
If you don't feel important, honey
All I've got to say is

To the world
You may be just another girl
But to me
Baby, you are the world

-The World, Brad Paisley

If hate was as tangible a thing as a tropical storm, Ricky would've been able to see the veritable tsunami brewing in the Bed & Breakfast. Sticking out like a sore thumb in his ironed almost to a fault stark white button down and pleated jeans with his dress shoes, whip thin tie, and calculated expression, the male clearly was on a mission, a mission everyone in the bar was too familiar with.

Not deeming the customers around him as important Ricky took a seat, snapping up a menu to peruse, his nose wrinkling at the down home cuisine. An impatiently cleared throat alerted him to the presence of a waitress, which made Ricky look up and take a second look, a little bit shocked. He'd never seen that much barely concealed disinterest and animosity on a woman whom he'd never met before. 'Mika', as her nametag identified her as, was standing ramrod straight, jaw set, happy light blue uniform and apron paired with a stormy expression. Ricky had been expecting those down in this hicktown to be sunny, in the least. Wasn't that a part of their charm? They had to have something to cancel out the stupidity, after all.

"What can'I getcha?" Mika said clearly, despite the Southern burr affecting her speech. There were no easy pet names like she usually uttered, and the words shot out like a bullet in the atmosphere. The diner was eerily silent, punctuated only by the clinking of silverware and brief, sparsely uttered words. The sound of someone entering, announced with the twinkling of a bell, heralded someone who came in and sat beside him.

"An omelet with onions, and peppers please. And an orange juice, if you can manage." Ricky's voice was beguiling but somehow almost sounded like the sound a knife would make while it was being polished – if it were a sound. Mika took the menu from him and took her time going back to where she came, the chef and fellow waitresses sharing barely discernible glances. The other waitresses were still doing their jobs, but were operating mostly on how well they knew the customers – everyone wanted to watch the show, and if possible, fight in it.

The man sitting to the right of Ricky was lank and skinny, with straight ginger hair that stuck up a bit in the front and clear grey eyes, wearing a worn flannel shirt with slim fitting jeans and no-nonsense loafers that had obviously seen a bit of wear. He, on the other hand, got a much more warm welcome from Mika, her asking of his order sprinkled with 'hun', even a few 'sugah's', and after she took his order she touched him gently on the arm, giving him a broad smile.

"So do I have to be a local to get good service?" Ricky half confides to the man next to him, a crooked smile on his face that was in no way endearing in the way Milton's was.

"Nope." Milton gave Ricky an assuaging gaze, a deceivingly easy smile on his face. "It's a character thing. And Mika, well, she just doesn't know you yet. Don't worry. Stay in this long town enough your reputation will precede you. Unless it already has?"

Ricky's brows furrowed in the slighest. "Do you know who I am?"

"What?" Milton scoffed under his breath. "Not in the slighest. If you're the leader of some big city food chain store, you can't really blame me. I'm just saying - reputation goes a long way in this town. Every action has a consequence. Just you remember that."

Kim had retreated to the very back of the restaurant after Ricky's appearance, hanging out in the corner of the kitchen with the chefs, Jerry's yellings as head chef faded to her.

Ricky. The man brought up so many memories she hadn't had to remember. There had been no reason for her to return to the city, having already contacted the people that mattered – her parents – and informed them of her change in dwelling. When they had discovered why they had been very supportive and wished her the best, only with a request to visit in a few months to meet the Jack that had so captured their Kimmy. Kim had agreed, and her cousin whom she'd been living with in the big city arranged to have all her stuff sent down to Landford. If it hadn't been for that damned picture, which Kim was still aware of, she would never have been put into a position to see Ricky Weaver again. This had just been a crapbucket of bad luck thrown her way, and her heart was still beating fat from it.

"Kimmay? Lil' lady, you okay?"

A happy smile appeared almost instantly on Kim's face when she refocused on Jack squatting in front of her on the bar stool, warm fingers on her chin, deep hazel eyes concerned and loving. There was an anger lurking in his eyes that she suspected had appeared the instant the name "Ricky Weaver" had fallen from her lips and through the receiver, but he was more concerned about her. She came first to him, and he wanted to be sure that she knew it.

Automatically Kim slings her hands around his neck, leaning forward to connect their foreheads, eyes closed. Jack waits, silent like he knows she needs it to be, as she lets out a little sigh and simply enjoys the comfort of his presence. After a moment she opens her eyes and smiles at him once more. "I'm fine, Jackson Brewer. I promise."

"He shouldna' come here." His thumb brushes her cheek softly and his voice is husky with urgency and emotion. "He's notta part of yer life anymore. How did he even find ya here, babe? What does 'e want?"

The blonde girl lets out another breath, this one more resigned than the first. "Me."

She had dated the man, after all. Kim knew his ways, and what he always wanted from people. Ricky liked to analyze people for their usefulness and be as sweet as he could, doing anything he had to to ensure that that particular person would serve out whatever they could do for him. Once they had – he dropped them like they were worth no more than the dirt on his ridiculously expensive shoes. Despite this, he always had the bad tendency of still feeling like he owned that person. And whatever he felt like belonged to him, he took. Often by force, if that was what it took.

Jack's face, on the other hand, was growing darker the longer the seconds passed after Kim's answer. Her? Her? Did that shit on'a stick really think his Kimmy really belonged to him? Even after all that time and all the crap he made her go through? When his golden angel had come down from the city, she had been broken. This town, and him, had put her back together. Even though it didn't look like his lil' lady was going to be broken by one fugly looking Ricky Weaver the very idea that he might try to drag her back made Jack's blood boil, and not in a good way.

Trying to keep his cool for Kim, respecting her wishes, Jack leaned up and kissed her softly, once, twice, his worn cowboy boots making no noise on Mika and Jerry's spotless kitchen floor.

"Whatdya want me to do, babe? Just tell me what to do,'n I'll do it."

Kim flicked her curl of an overgrown bang over her shoulder, a smug and please smile spreading over her features. "You know you're really hot when you're jealous?" She responded simply, leaning forward to nip at his ear.

Familiar warmth started to curl in the pit of Jack's stomach, as helpless as ever to Kim's charms, but he fought to pay attention to her, hands sliding down her waist, one tucking in one of the back pockets of her jeans, the other grasping tight to the curve of your hip. "Kimmay. Be serious here."

"Hmmm." Kim tugged gently on the lapels of his forest green shirt, pulling him close and up with her as she stood, kissing him with enough tongue to tease him and drive him mad like she knew it would, one of her hands playing with the large, country-required buckle on his belt. "Howza bout we go show Ricky what he's missing?"

A slow smile curled onto Jack's face at her words and he ducked his head down, the hand not in her backpocket coming up to cup her jaw, kissing her back just as delicately arousing as hers had been. "I think I'm likin' that idea."

"Oh really?" Kim stands on her tiptoes and grins, loose and happy at him, hands stretching so the tips of her fingers brush the strong muscles of his back.

"Yes really, woman. Don't make me sayit again."

Cue more kissing before the two have to duck the plastic spoon Jerry tossed at them, yelling at them in Spanish to get their kissing cooties out of his kitchen so that he can cook.

Kim's not worried, not in the least, as the two exit out the back so they can enter in the front for a grand entrance. She cares for this man. Loves him deeply, trusts him with all that she is, and with him by her side she is strong. And if she can't be, Jack will be that for her.

So fuck you, Ricky Weaver. Fuck you, and all your kind.

You cant hurt Kim Crawford anymore.

I'd really like to thank the lovely, adorable, gorgeous anon who posted a review on March 6th. It was the kick in the pants I'd needed to get up this next chapter.

Seriously, though – all of you who stick with my sorry non-uploading ass deserve cookies. And gold. And prince charmings, or princesses. Or a chair, I care not a whit what your sexuality is I want to give you everything.

This was never supposed to be super long so there's probably about four chapters left, if that? So you wont have to yell at me for too much longer, I promise.

I hope your 2015's have been great so far? Personally, Age of Ultron getting closer and closer is killing me...I'm looking forward to that, Pitch Perfect 2, The Longest Ride, and Cinderella. At least for whats left of the school year.

I'm going to graduate you guys, oh my god. No more high school.

I'm scared shitless.

Not trying to bribe y'all or anything, but if in your comments a few of you put your favorite moments of the fanfic so far? It would help me update faster (maybe even next week) and helps my muse.

ALSO. THIS WEEKS KICKIN IT IS ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT 7:30 PM AND KIM'S IN IT. ONE MORE EPISODE AFTER THIS GUYS OH MY GOD.

Love,

Lil