To my cousins in the U.S...Happy Thanksgiving Yall! Eat, drink and REVIEW! I hope you are all having a wonderful day and I wanted to say thank you for reading...your comments give me life! And to all the "Guests" that are leaving reviews...an extra special thank you to you, you're always welcome at the table! Ged Ged Yah!

We've got about 3 chapters left, so I'll let you get to it...

When the envelope came, Sally Ann handed it to him without fanfare.

Hasil stared at it in her hand for a moment, able to see the company logo clearly from where he was standing.

"Is that it?" he asked without taking it.

"Mmm hmm." She stretched her arm out further, but he still didn't take it from her. She rolled her eyes, amused, "Hasil Farrell...take it."

Having just walked in the door, he was covered in sweat and dust from work and clearly unprepared to be confronted with this. Tossing his work gloves on the kitchen table, he rubbed his forehead, letting out a shaky breath. "Ya thank Jace got his today, too?"

"Probably." Sally Ann placed the envelope on the table and went to hug him. A literal puff of dust from his shirt came up between them.

Fanning her hand, she assured him, "Babe, everything's gonna be alright…no matter what that paper says. C'mon, take this off."

Chuckling lightly and shook her head, dusting off the front of her own shirt; while he stepped back, silently peeling off his, leaving just his tank top on. Sally Ann reached for it and handed him the envelope. With raised eyebrows, she left him to sit down at the table while she went to their bathroom to put his dirty shirt in the hamper. Pausing, she took a second to look in the mirror and steady herself with a deep breath. Please, let this be okay. When she came back down the hallway, she could see he wasn't at the table.

"Hasil?" She started toward the kitchen, but his voice came from the front door.

"Come wit' me." Hasil held out his hand to her.

They walked silently out the front door and around to the back gate, into the tall grass behind their unit toward the base of Shay Mountain. Sally Ann thought maybe he had a need to be closer to his family - his birthplace right now, so she didn't question it – wanting to give him whatever support he needed. Going slowly up, he carefully walked Sally Ann into a clearing with a few larger rocks where they could sit down.

"I found this spot on one of my, whaddaya call 'em? Hikes?" Hasil looped his arm around her shoulder, drawing her close. "Pretty ain' it?" She could see wood chips on the ground. His eyes followed hers, "I set up an' did some carvin', too."

Looking around, she smiled, "It is beautiful here. Peaceful." Wanting to put his mind on positive things, she asked, "Think we can bring the baby here sometime when he comes?"

"Yea'." Taking the envelope from his back pocket, he handed it to her. "Here."

"You want me to read it?" Taking it from him, she could see that his hand shook a little. He's just nervous, she told herself.

"Hey," she leaned over and gave him a soft kiss on the cheek. "No matter what…okay?"

Resting his hand on the back of her neck, he pressed his forehead to hers with his eyes closed, centering himself by leaning into her love, knowing that she would always be there for him. "You an' me?" he whispered.

"Me and you," she whispered back.

"Okay." Hasil sat up straight. "G'on an' open it."

Studying his face to be sure, Sally Ann slid her finger under the flap and pulled out the single folded sheet inside. Hasil leaned over to be able to see it, too. Clearing her throat, she read:

"Attention subject #HF49719845-HASIL FARRELL –"

"That's me."

Yes," Sally Ann smiled softly, "that's you." Sally Ann skimmed through to the middle portion printed in bold type and gasped. "Oh my god."

"What?" Hasil stood up, then sat down again. "What is it? Sally Ann!"

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry…look," she drug her finger across the paper so he could follow along exactly where she was reading. "It says: There are enough paternal genetic markers to conclude you are blood-related to subject #JF49714844-JACE FARRELL. We find that you are in the range of six to nine degrees of separation, determining you to be 3rd cousins via a paternal great-great-grandparent."

Slapping the paper down in her lap she turned to face him, eyes wide. Hasil was staring at it in her lap, his face had lost all color. "Does all that mean -?"

Sally Ann picked it up so he could see it, pointing her finger at the most important words. "Hasil, it says - …You. Are. Blood-related. Right here."

Hasil stood up again. "They sure?"

"Yes, babe." She nodded, standing up with him; not able to read his expression. "They're sure."

Hasil took a step toward her, slowly squatting down, extending his hand until he could touch her stomach. Gently, he caressed her high full belly with both hands, laying his head on her. Unable to even imagine what he was feeling, Sally Ann stayed quiet, stroking his hair and let him sort things out within himself. When he stood he slid his hands up her arms, pulling her to him, hugging her.

Sally Ann grinned, happily hugging him back, grateful for finally getting this news; until she heard him make a low sound. As he squeezed her tighter, she could hear his breathing getting labored. Frowning, she knew something was wrong, "Hasil?" Sally Ann tried to pull away enough to see his face, but he just clutched her tighter. "Babe…Talk to me…Are you okay? Hasil!" Now she was struggling to separate them but he was holding her so tight she couldn't get loose.

Then, without a word, Hasil tore away from her and started walking farther up the mountain at a fast clip, practically running.

"Babe? Wait!" Sally Ann spun around, trying to follow him, but her balance was too unsteady to keep up. She felt confused and a little scared, "Hasil, where are you going?!"

She knew she couldn't watch where he was going and where her feet were landing at the same time, so following him on this rough terrain was impossible. She lost sight of him when he disappeared behind a cluster of trees.

"Hasil!" Sally Ann was starting to shake. "Hasil, please!"

.

.

He felt like he would explode. He knew that this should be a joyous moment in his life. He'd found actual family – blood relations. He wanted to be happy, but it was ruined by the reality of the permanent separation from his kin on the mountain.

For months, he'd been fighting this anger. Ever since he stood at the edge of town, forced to choose between walking back up to be with his people or walking down into the street to be with Sally Ann and his child, he'd set it aside. Even when Big Foster had the nerve to come calling on him, insisting that they needed him once again, he controlled it. He tried to hang on to forgiveness. He'd pushed it all down, needing to be in control of himself so he could learn and adjust to his new life. But now it was coming in huge waves, crushing him; and he had to let it happen. His heart was beating so fast he could only respond by releasing its energy through movement. Pacing, his thoughts were swirling around his head, agitating him even more. Anger was burning so hot in his chest, he didn't even connect to the fact that he was crying.

I almost died. I almost died for THEM an' they won't even accept my woman and my chile! Shaking his head in frustration, he ground his teeth; clenching and unclenching his fists. They say Big Foster is the worst of us but they need to look at themselves!

Spinning, he struck out, punching at the air viciously, growling out a sound from his core. Damn you Bren'in! We're suppose' ta be a family! You were supposed ta show them how ta be! Family ain' supposed ta turn their backs on ya…toss ya aside when ya ain't no use to em! They don' leave ya alone! They HELP ya and they LOVE ya! Ya talk all tha' talk bout loyalty…well where are ya!? Hell, I don' even trust ya enough ta tell ya I'm alive! Hasil's arm shot out and he punched the closest tree to him, not even feeling the shock of pain in his hand and wrist. I'm alive! He struck it again.

The third time he punched the dense tree trunk, he cried out; from the physical pain and as an emotional release. Shaking his hand, he paced back and forth letting the poison pour out of him.

.

.

She stood there in silence, trying to hear past her own pounding heartbeat. The trees surrounding her that seemed so beautiful a moment ago were crowding her now. Sally Ann closed her eyes to push away the panic rising up in her. She leaned into the breeze swirling around her, trying to hear his footsteps or anything that would tell her where he was. And then she heard it…soft at first, then louder. Crying. She could hear him crying. It sounded excruciating and raw, like it was coming from some place of torment deep, deep inside of him. Instantly, her own eyes filled with tears. She heard a dull thud, then another and another. Oh God, is he hitting a tree? She wanted to go to him, but she had to consider that he put this space between them for a reason. She could hear him yelling but couldn't make out everything he was saying. Torn, she rubbed her stomach and walked a circle in the little clearing, every inch of her wanting to race up there and wrap her arms around him. Hearing another keening sound from above her, Sally Ann held her hand over her mouth, her eyes spilling tears of compassion for him. She had seen tears in his eyes, even held him when he quietly cried that one time when he shared the pain of Asa's death, but never ever had she seen or heard him do anything like this. Listening to him process whatever was going on inside of him was ripping her heart apart.

Unable to stay away, she started slowly – carefully, up in the direction of his cries.

.

.

Hasil didn't even realize that he had started saying his thoughts out loud. After trying unsuccessfully to steady his convulsive gasps he let out another short, high pitched sound of lament. "Why didn' ya help me?"

His tears mixing in with the dust from his day left muddy streaks when he wiped at his eyes with heels of his hands. Leaning against a tree, with his face in the crook of his arm; his voice got louder and louder. "Why cain't ya jus' love my goddamn chile? He's Farrell ain' he? AIN' HE?! Ya caint choose ta take in the chile but not the mother…It ain' righ' ta separate 'em. It ain't righ'!"

Hasil spun around, openly sobbing; looking directly up the mountain. "Damnit, I loved ya! No matter what I loved ya and no matta what I did it wasn't good enough! Ya stood by while Big Foster cut me. Wha' am I gonna tell my chile bout wha' he done? Wha' ya let him do!"

Ripping off the glove he wore to hide his missing fingers, he looked at his stubs and angrily thrust his hand into the air. "How'm I gonna tell my chile that yer kinda love did this?! How'm I gonna tell my SON?!"

Thump! He swung for the tree trunk one more time before dropping to the ground holding his injured hand, spent – his anger finally winding down.

"Wha' 'm I gonna tell my son?" he whispered to himself.

Wiped out, he slumped against a tree, his breathing shaky. Using his shirt, he wiped his tear-soaked face again, sniffling loudly. He ached all over; his throat, his eyes, his chest, his hand. He felt like a husk, dried out and empty.

Sally Ann came out from where she had been standing out of view, approaching him slowly. She was so relieved to be near him that she started crying all over again. Hasil looked up when he heard her quietly sniff.

"Sally Ann," he said rising to his feet, wiping his nose with his shirt again, "Darlin', you shouldn'ta walked all the way up here."

Embarrassed and too tired to try to pretend he was okay, he ran out of words and just stood there, uncertain of what to do next. Bending slowly she picked up his glove and held it out to him. Hasil looked down at it then at her face, noting her eyes were puffy from crying, before opening his arms to her. Without hesitation she stepped into them, wrapping her arms around him, breathing him in. He buried his face in her hair, exhausted but not wanting to let go of this woman he loved…this woman who loved him so completely. Sally Ann nestled her face into his chest, feeling his heartbeat against her cheek, still rocked by the magnitude of his emotional episode.

She knew he hadn't intended on her hearing those private words. He'd covered it up so well, but now some of his behaviors made sense; the bouts of silence, the nightmares, the times she'd wake up alone and find him outside, looking up at the mountain as if it was speaking to him.

Until now, she had no real concept of just how much his separation from his family had been hurting him or how much anger he was holding in. She had seen his healed body as an indicator of a healed heart, when he was far from it. She decided at that moment that she could never ask him to leave here. Her desire to move to a bigger city evaporated with every word she'd heard him say. There was so much unfinished business between them all and it wouldn't go away by itself. She and Hasil would have to make a life here somehow, near Shay Mountain so that if there was ever a way for him to heal his relationship with his family, he could. She also decided within herself that she would never speak ill of his family again. She wouldn't lie to their child about them - no romanticizing, but she wouldn't criticize their ways anymore. This was Hasil's family and he needed her to grow up, be forgiving, despite everything that had happened. He needed her to be more understanding of their differences despite her objections to some of the ways they handled things.

In the dusk of early evening, standing on the mountain where he was born, she silently vowed that she would make it work, for him. Hasil had sacrificed all he knew - the good and the bad of it - and from now on she had to show him that it was worth it.

"Me and you," she murmured into his chest.

"Me an' you," he echoed.

Oh, the SASIL of it all! Love is so messy and beautiful and hopeful and demanding! Hope you enjoyed it! See you next week Cousins!