(Author's note: This doesn't even really need a note, but there's been one at the beginning of every chapter, so for the sake of keeping things consistant...

Standard disclaimers apply. I own nothing but my own imagination.)

She had been so excited to show him. It was her first front page article in a very long time, and she'd been so proud of it. She burst through the front door of their building, a flurry of excitement, attracting questioning looks and sidelong glances as she rushed up the stairs, paper in hand. His initial reaction was exactly how she'd expected it to be, the expression on his face reflecting precisely what line he was reading, but when he got to the bottom of the page, his eyes darkened, and something resembling disappointment settled in them like dust collecting in the bottom of a fish bowl.

"What is it?" She pried, getting nervous, "What's wrong?"

"K. Plumber." He muttered. Katherine was puzzled. She didn't see a problem; it was just her name. She rose onto her toes and peered over Jack's shoulder.

"My byline? What's the matter with it?"

"I just thought... Well, it still says Plumber, don't it? You're a Kelly now, so I just assumed..." His voice was laced with frustration.

"Jack, it's just my byline." She tried to explain. "It was never my real name, so I didn't even think to change it. Does it matter?" Apparently it did, because Jack didn't reply, just dropped the paper on the kitchen table and sulkily mumbled something about going to see Davey, and stalked out, slamming the door behind him.

Katherine sank into one of the chairs at the table and stared at bottom of her article. "K. Plumber" glared angrily at her. She leaned her chair back onto two legs so that her curls fell back, nearly touching the floor, sighed loudly and melodramatically, and yelled to the empty apartment,

"I don't think I've done anything wrong here!" She never would have even thought about changing the name she published under; she wouldn't have thought it would be a problem. Obviously she was incorrect. Katherine snatched her paper off the table and bolted out the door.

It had taken her the good part of an hour to explain to her editor exactly why she needed to change it, but after talking in circles for a solid fifty minutes, it was done. Her article in the next day's paper would fix everything, she was sure of it, but that just left one problem.

Jack was cold with her the rest of the evening. He returned from Davey's long after dinner, and barely even acknowledged her before delving into his sketchbook. It must have hurt him more than Katherine had originally anticipated; he didn't even seem all that angry, just deeply wounded. She wanted to tell him that it was fixed, and that, yes, she really did love him and was proud to be married to him, but he needed to see it in print. So Katherine endured the painful silence that had settled between them. It was as if he'd forgotten she was there altogether. That stung.

Jack went to bed early that night. He mumbled something about being tired and needing to get some sleep and headed out of the room.

"Jack?" Katherine ventured, stopping him.

"Hmm?"

"I love you." There was a long pause that filled the room with an icy chill. The expression in Jack's eyes made Katherine feel like crying. He just stared at her with a look of complete and utter betrayal, and sighed,

"Love you too Katherine," before leaving. He was angry. She didn't think she'd ever seen him get angry like this, quietly angry. She would have rather he screamed at her, shouted about how upset he was, anything but this bitter silence.

Everything would be better in the morning, she reminded herself. Everything would be fixed in the morning.

She woke up early, wanting to buy a paper to show him as soon as he got up, and it being Saturday, she had a little time. Jack stirred momentarily as she left, and lifted his head wearily, mumbling,

"Where you going?" He seemed, in his morning haze, to have forgotten the events of the past evening.

"Go back to sleep," she hushed, kissing him on the forehead, "I'll be right back."

When she returned to the apartment a while later, Jack was sitting in the kitchen, stirring a cup of coffee monotonously. He didn't even look up from his mug when she walked in; he'd obviously recalled the fact that he wasn't exactly speaking to her. Katherine dropped the paper on the table in front of him, trying hard not to look smug.

"Page three, read it." She instructed, not giving him a choice in the matter. It was just a small article, nothing of great importance, so he got through it quickly.

"You... you changed it... for me." He said incredulously when he reached the bottom of the page. Katherine just nodded, waiting for a sign of approval, or anything to show that she'd done the right thing. Finally, after a series of long, disbelieving breaths, Jack looked up at her, stunned.

"Ace, you really didn't have to-"

"Yes, I did," she interrupted him, sitting in a chair to his left. "Jack, I love you, and I am so proud to be called your wife. I don't want you ever to doubt that." Jack went back to staring at her article, as if he couldn't believe it was real. He'd look down at the page, then up at her, with a sort of admiration shining in his eyes, and then back to the paper.

"It looks good, in print I mean," he stuttered.

"I thought so too."

"K. Kelly." He drew in a deep breath. "Thanks Ace." Katherine didn't think she'd ever been so happy to hear him call her Ace in her whole life.

"Jack, there is nothing in this world that I wouldn't do for you." She kissed him quickly on the mouth and poured herself a cup of coffee. It was true. She would do anything for her husband, because she knew he would do the same for her. He didn't even have to say it out loud, she already knew it.

(And, I say this every time, but please review! You guys are the best, and your reviews make me so happy!

Much love,
PrettyLittleMonster Xxx)