"Christopher, are we going to live here when we get married?" Jessica asked as they lay in bed one night, about three weeks after Stephanie's show.

"Well, yeah, this is my home, and I like it here."

"But it's so not...us."

"What do you mean?"

"Christopher, this isn't the kind of place for us. Don't you think somewhere nice and in the suburbs is where we belong?"

"Well, I don't know, I mean this place is nice, and it has my horses, and everything."

"Will you at least think about it?"

"Of course, anything for you."

"Thank you Christopher," she said kissing him.

They fell asleep, and in the middle of the night, Jessica was moving around, and kicked him in the shin. Chris woke up, and decided to go downstairs and make himself some hot chocolate.

He padded his way downstairs being as quiet as possible. He saw a light on in the living room, and went in there to investigate. He saw Stephanie sitting on the couch, watching some late-night infomercial. He walked into the room.

"What are you doing up?" he asked.

"Eh, couldn't sleep, what about you?"

"Jessi kicked me, and I woke up, came to make some hot chocolate."

"There's some leftover in the pot, I made some myself," she said.

"Great." He walked into the kitchen and poured himself a cup before walking back and sitting next to her.

"Stephanie, can I talk to you?"

"Sure, what is it Chris?"

"I don't know, I just don't know what's going on between Jessica and I."

"How so?"

"I don't know, it just feels different this time around. Like we're so different from each other."

"Of course it's going to feel that way. You've haven't been together for two years."

"Yeah, but I don't remember us being this different when we were together before."

"How are you different?"

"Well, like, she doesn't like it here, she's really prissy, and she doesn't like dirt or anything. Me, I like to be rugged and dirty, and stuff like that."

"Well, that can just be the environment you're in. If you were in say like in Florida, some place she enjoyed, she'd be different."

"You think so?"

"I know so."

"Sometimes she gets on my nerves."

"That happens with everyone."

"You never get on my nerves," he commented.

"Yeah, but we're just friends."

"But we weren't for a while, and you still never bugged me."

"Because we were still friends first and foremost."

"I guess."

"Chris, I'm going to say something and I want you to listen."

"Ok."

"It's gonna be different. You're both different, and it's been a while since you two have been together. Give it some time, I'm sure that you'll be fine. You're getting married! This is an exciting time in your life. You should be ecstatic. Don't dwell on the differences, dwell on the things that you both love....each other front and center."

Chris found himself a little disappointed by her response, but pushed it away, "You're so right. Thank you so much Stephanie."

"You're welcome, I'll always be here to knock some sense into you."

Chris hugged Stephanie tightly, so thankful that she was in his life. How had he ever lived without her? He pulled away and smiled at her. He felt the urge to kiss her, but ignored the feeling. He and Stephanie were just friends. They watched television for a little while before they headed up to their rooms.

"Night Steph."

"Nighty night Chris."

Chris walked into his room, and saw that Jessica was up and sitting up in bed. She had her arms crossed in front of her, and she didn't look all that happy. Chris went over to his side and sat next to her.

"What's the matter sweetie?"

"What were you doing just now?"

"Watching television with Stephanie."

"She's not going to live here when we're married is she?"

"Well, I don't know, I mean, this is her house too."

"But Christopher, we're going to be together, and she'll always be around, how wrong is that?"

"But she's my best friend, I can't throw her out."

"Oh, I'm not asking you to do that sweetie, just ask her to move or something."

"Jessi, I'm not going to do that, she's my friend, end of discussion."

"Fine!"

Unbeknownst to them was the fact that Stephanie had passed by their door on the way to the linen closet and heard the entire conversation. She frowned as she realized she was putting a strain on their relationship. It looked like she would have to do something about that.

Chris woke up the next morning, and went downstairs, careful not to wake up Jessica. Last night they had fought about Stephanie living here. Chris was willing to do a lot, but kicking Stephanie out was not one of them. They had been through too much for him to do that.

He found Stephanie was already in the kitchen, and she was on the phone. He smiled at her, and went to get some coffee, and make some toast. He listened to the tail end of her conversation.

"Yes....the day after tomorrow...that's right....thanks Daddy...I'll see you then.....Bye, love you too."

"Talking to your Dad?" Chris asked as she hung up the phone.

"Yeah, just telling him my plans."

"What plans? You going home for a while?"

"Chris, I'm moving out."

"WHAT?" he asked, dumbfounded.

"Yeah, I'm going back to Connecticut."

"Congratulations," a voice came from behind them.

"It's time for me to go."

"But-"

"It's time Chris."

"Christopher, be happy for her, if she wants to move out, we shouldn't stop her."

"But Stephanie, why are you moving out, I don't get it, don't you like it here?" Chris said, ignoring Jessica for the moment.

"Chris, that's not the point, I just think that Connecticut is the right place for me right now," Stephanie said, not letting on that she was actually leaving to help Chris. He would never let her leave if he knew her real motives.

"And there's no way I can get you to stay?" Chris pleaded.

"No, there isn't."