A/N: Double Chapter Day—woo hoo! I thought that since it was Friday, and we haven't gotten to post new stuff in a few days it was necessary. Enjoy! Until next time—ya'll are the best—PCGirl.
"Hey," smiled Jasmine as she opened the door and let Alison come in. "How is everything? Is Rafe behaving himself?" she laughed.
"Yeah, he is—though I'm not sure what he's up to right at this moment. I guess you heard mine and Livvie's little ultimatum we gave them, huh?"
"Livvie told me yesterday when she came by—said that Caleb was getting antsy and she was about to just to give up. You two aren't actually thinking of going after Myra yourselves, are you?"
"Oh no, we aren't—at least I'm not. It was just they were going at each others throats that day, and then it rubbed off on me and Livvie. It was just the thing I think Myra wants—us four at each others throats again, so a few weeks off from each other is a good thing, right?"
"Definitely. You know there are few people I've seen stand up against Caleb and live to tell about it. So what is it that Rafe has gone off to do?"
"I'm not sure, he just told me to dress comfortably, but being pregnant that's hard to do. He said he would call me and give me the next set of instructions later. So where are you off to tonight?"
"Me, oh nowhere special," she said looking around as if she'd lost something and then found the earrings she had set down on the coffee table and began to put them on.
"Then why do you seem to be getting dressed up nice?"
Jasmine laughed, "I'm a bad liar—can you tell?"
"Yeah, I can. So who is he?"
"Oh geez this is so embarrassing," she said blushing. "It's Jack."
"Ramsey? Wow, I try to avoid the Trinity for a few days and miss a whole lot of something, didn't I? When did this happen—how?"
"Well, Imani's been trying to set me up with him."
"I had thought that was what she'd been up to. So?"
"Frank got in on it, and was trying to get Jack to ask me out. I walked in, and then Frank left—I then, well teased him and kissed him before leaving."
"You left him?"
"He came after me and kissed me back, and then Livvie walked around the corner and caught us."
"How perfect!" she laughed as she heard her cell phone ring. "Hello?"
"Hey gorgeous. I need you to meet me somewhere, ok?" said Rafe
"Where are you at?"
"The house. I'll see you in a bit. Love you, bye," he said hanging up quickly.
"Was that Rafe?" asked Jasmine as she grabbed her coat.
"Yeah, said to meet me at the house. Are you leaving too?"
"I'm going to go pick up something for dessert. What does Jack like foodwise?" asked Jasmine as they went out to the hallway and over to Alison's so she could grab her purse.
"Foodwise? Try anything—I've never seen him turn his nose up to anything," she laughed. "Have a good time though—and I want a full report tomorrow."
"I'm not sure if it'll be a full report, but I'll let you know if it went good or not. Enjoy Rafe's surprise also."
"I'm sure I will."
"I was thinking about going to Mario's for dinner—how does that sound?" asked Lucy as she walked in the living room to where Ian was.
"I'm going to have to say no."
"Really? Well, what do you have in mind instead? You know—I think there was a thing going on at the theatre tonight," she said going over and picking up the newspaper.
"No on that also."
"Well, what would you like to do? We could go rent a movie—or go up to the cabin—your choice, Mr. Thornhart."
"I don't know!" he yelled.
"What's wrong with you lately Ian? You are starting to worry me, I mean you don't want to go out to eat, you've said no theatre or renting a movie—what do you want to do?"
"I—I don't know."
"You want me though, right?" asked Lucy as she froze in the middle of the room.
"I—I don't know," he said again, his voice waivering.
"What do you mean you don't know if you want me? Ian—you still love me right?"
"I--."
"Don't you dare say those words again! Ian, I love you—but if you say those words one more time to me tonight I think I'm going to begin to cry. Nevermind, I think I might no matter what," she said as she walked over and sat down on one of the steps and began to cry.
Ian got up and took a look at her and then walked past and onto the bedroom. Lucy sat there for a good minute before getting up and following him.
She stood there watching him quietly as he placed clothes into the bag, finally getting the nerve to ask what it was she already feared he was doing,"What—what are you doing?"
"I've decided Danny and I—we need some alone time, you know just the two of us."
"You're leaving me?"
"Yeah, I guess so. Things are going crazy in my head Lucy, I don't know what I want, but I've got to figure it out for myself."
"Do you still love me?"
"That's one of the questions I have to answer. I'm sorry."
"If this is what you think you need, then I'm not going to stop you Ian—but we can't keep doing this, not to ourselves or to the children."
"I agree," he said as he walked to the bathroom.
"You be good for your dad, ok?" she said giving him a kiss on the head.
"He will be, he's always good," said Ian as he walked back into the house and took a look at her. "I'm sorry Lucy, I wish I didn't hurt you like I did tonight. I want to take it back so bad, but you know this was coming for awhile."
She just nodded and walked up to him, "I hope you find the happiness you deserve Ian," she said giving him a kiss on the lips and then pulling out of it.
"Thank you," he said looking at her, now having his son in his arms. "Goodbye, Lucy," he said as he walked out and closed the door behind him.
"Goodbye Ian," she said biting her lip and sitting down on the step and running her hands through her hair before putting them out in front of her and across her lap, looking around to try find something normal to hold onto in her life before giving up and beginning to cry again.
