The grass is damp, damp enough to soak through the right knee of my 501's, my hat perches on my other and the all too familiar knot in my throat is back with vengeance.

I know I'm supposed to be here it's part of the process, that's what Bob says, but I want to be here. It's necessary.

"I never had a chance to tell you that I am sorry. Sorry for so many things; recognizing the signs but not intervening, believing in you, but not supporting you, and the worst crime of giving you just enough rope to hang yourself."

My head hangs a little lower than usual.

"I let you down. I've done a lot of that the past few years."

The back of my right sleeve serves its purpose as I wipe away the dampness from my nose in one long stroke.

"When I left you outside I knew you would be back in the fold I just didn't know how or when. It's important you know that I always cared more about the man than I ever did about the deputy but it will always pain me that I failed both."

I reach down and separate the flowers, arranging them just a little better in the copper in ground vase.

I think of what it says about our culture that the only time a man brings another man flowers is when he is dead.

I brush off the pebbles of dirt that have somehow landed on top of the tombstone and wipe my fingers clean on the side of my jeans as I stand.

The words flow from my lips as I stand, almost like they were bottled up until I stood, and I tell him about his father, about his uncle, about Nighthorse, and oddly about me and Vic. Finally, I concede that my interference with him and Cady bled over from my insult as sheriff when he ran against me. The relentless pursuit of age took me by surprise. My lips pursing in recognition of my words as I reframe my O'Farrell on my dome and amble to the Bronco.

When I make it back to town, I stop by Cady's office just to say hello. It's a new habit I'm trying to form. Letting my daughter know I'm here. I'm engaged in her life, in living, and making her a part of it. To say it's easy is a lie but I enjoy seeing her and spending time with her even if it's for a few minutes.

This is our last day with Cumberland County covering our jurisdiction so I meet Vic, Ruby, and Ferg for our last group session with Bob. All in all, it goes well, and we are ready to move on and get back into our routine but with more clarity this time around.

We say our goodbyes and I catch up with Vic in the parking lot.

"Hey, ah, Vic." My fingertips land just inside her elbow.

"I probably should have asked you sooner but would you like to spend the rest of the day with me?"

She smiles and looks away. I can't tell if she is humored or pissed off and for no reason that I can think of I lean forward and kiss her on the lips. It's quick. It's light.

Her brown eyes grow larger and she looks up at me but I don't see anything except surprise.

"ok"

The corner of my mouth curls up, "Follow me."

She parks her truck behind the Bronco in front of my cabin.

We take my truck and I feel like I'm back in high school as I stretch my arm over the back of the bench seat as a non-verbal invitation for her to sit next to me. I see her turn, staring at me, out of the corner of my eye and on queue she moves over pressing her body into mine. My arm comes down across her back, my hand relaxes on her shoulder, and I turn and kiss the top of her head.

"You smell good."

"Thank you." She presses her head up, just a little, and takes me in, "You smell so good all of the time."

"It's not me it's Irish Spring." We both laugh and relax just a bit more.

"Where are you taking me?"

"Nowhere in particular. I just want to spend some time with you, Vic."

"This is nice."

And that's what we do, we drive, and we talk. Well, she does most of the talking but you knew that already.

I tell her about my visit at the cemetery, something I would ordinarily keep close and hidden but I don't want any secrets from her, ever. She asks if she can come with me next time and the idea of it is an unexpected welcome.

We park at Lookout Mountain and stay in the warmth of the cab of the truck. Vic slides back over to her side and a move closer to her, keeping my arm around her shoulders. She allows my hand to rest on the buckle of her belt.

"I feel like I'm 16 in high school."

"Me, too. I'm just as nervous but its for different reasons."

"What kind of reasons? Can you tell me." Her chestnut eyes are sparkling as she inquires.

"I'm fairly confident of what to do and how to do unlike when I was in high school." I smile and look down but back up to make sure she can see me, "I never expected to feel like this again, and it is getting more and more difficult to contain it because I want you and I have for such a long time. "

I move just a little closer and her hand comes up to my face, caressing my cheek as her thumb passes down my nose, our lips meet and its soft and gentle and when our tongues press together it's like that electric jolt you weren't expecting. That shock from the carpet or the door knob.

I squeeze her t-shirt just above her belt buckle and hear myself groan, another unexpected reaction, but she responds to it by opening wider and letting me further in and our kiss becomes a little bit sloppy and a whole lot wet.

She pulls back, keeping her hand in place, but this time she is staring into my eyes searching for my truth and this time I have the answers she needs.

"There's so much I need to know, Walt."

"There are no more secrets, Vic. Only those we make together."

Have a Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. The next update for both fics (Vacation and Here and Now) will be this weekend at the soonest. We have two more things to be thankful for this year; season 4 and Netflix :) Thank you for your reviews and taking the time to read my fics. Enjoy.