Disclaimer: I don't own it or get paid for it : ) I don't own the characters and therefore have no hope of making any money off this.

CHAPTER 46: Honey, I'm Home

As promised, Terri came home Saturday afternoon. She walked into her house and gasped at the mess; there were toys and little shoes everywhere and an empty pizza box on the living room table.

Terri sighed in irritation, 'I can't believe him. I leave for a few days and the place falls apart again,' then she smiled as she thought about how much the three of them needed her. She came home prepared to give Stiles a chance to explain himself; if he wanted her to stay, he would have to prove it, but she promised herself that she would give him a chance for the kids' sake.

Stiles, Jack and Ava came home a couple of hours later. The kids were whiny and Stiles was cranky and tired. Terri could smell what she thought was fried chicken as they came in.

"Mommy!" Ava screamed as she ran toward Terri.

Terri lifted Ava spinning her around before hugging her tightly and kissing her. "Hi baby, I missed you." Before she could say anything else, Jack ran over yelling, "Do me mommy, do me," letting Terri know he wanted her to swing him around too.

As she put Jack down, she looked up to see Stiles standing in front of her with a blank look on his face. Terri wasn't sure what he was thinking, but she knew she was glad to see him. She was hoping he was as glad to see her.

"Hi."

"Hi."

"So, you've been at a spa for the past two days. Have a nice time?"

Terri didn't like Stiles' tone, but she wasn't surprised by his sarcasm.

"Daddy, I'm hungry. Can we eat?"

"Sorry little guy. Come on, you too Ava."

Stiles didn't say anything to or look at Terri as he headed to the kitchen with the twins. Terri thought about following them, but decided to stay put.

Stiles got the kids settled at the table and rejoined Terri who was sitting on the couch waiting for him.

"How did you know where I was?"

"I called the number you left and the receptionist filled me in. How much did all of that cost?"

"Stiles I . . ."

"Never mind; I'm too tired to argue with you. Do you want out?"

"What?"

"Do you want out of this marriage? When you gave me, no threw your wedding rings at me and then left town, that's the message I got."

Terri looked up at her husband. He was so handsome standing there even with the pained expression on his weary face. She wasn't sure what to say. She finally answered, barely audible. "I don't know what I want right now. Do you have any idea what it was like, seeing you two together? The images that flooded my mind...?"

"I just wish you had given me a chance to explain what happened at the restaurant; it wasn't what you thought. What it looked like..."

Terri smirked at him. "I needed some time to myself, away from," she waved her arm around the room, "This. After all we've been through, I can't believe you would invite her to lunch, at our restaurant." She then added matter-of-factly, "Are you sleeping with her?"

Stiles rolled his eyes in disbelief and mumbled, "I'm not sleeping with anyone." He knew Terri was upset, but he didn't expect that. Although in retrospect, he should have.

"No, why would you think . . ."

He stopped himself before he stuck his foot even further in his mouth. He was annoyed that Terri left without telling him, but he was tired of arguing with her. He took a deep breath before continuing.

"Terri, I love you. I love our kids. I would not jeopardize our relationship like that. I would never, do you hear me, NEVER cheat on you—with anyone."

"Then why were you having lunch with her at our restaurant? I saw you with your hand on her face, holding her hand. The two of you were in a full embrace when I got to the table!"

"She was upset. I'd just told her there was no chance for us—ever."

Stiles sighed again; he still wasn't comfortable talking to Terri about Kara, especially when he was talking about his relationship with her.

"What made her think there was? I thought you made that perfectly clear when she came to the house. How many times have the two of you had 'lunch' since I came home?"

"That was the first time—the only time. Look, she was my friend for a long time; she was there for me when I was alone and depressed. I never even thought about getting married before you—I had no idea I could love someone that much. When I thought you died, my life fell apart. Do you know what I did after your funeral?" Stiles squeezed his eyes tight trying to keep the tears at bay. Terri continued to stand silently watching him shaking her head no.

"I sat on this couch, holding my shirt—the one you borrowed that last night in Montreal. It had your perfume on it." This time, when the tears threatened, Stiles didn't try to stop them, but he looked away from his wife as he tried to control his voice; he had no idea how raw his feelings still were. "I just wanted to be near you, I missed you so much. I have never felt that way about anyone. I haven't missed anyone like that since my mother died.

"If Carl and Jackson hadn't come over and dragged me out of the house to testify against Doreman I probably would have wasted away right here. I met Kara at the trial. She pursued me. It just felt good to have someone care, someone to talk to. When I was ready, she let me talk about you; she saved me from myself. I guess I feel like, in some way, that I owe her. I know it's hard for you to hear this, but I have felt somewhat guilty about the way I ended things with her. I was incredibly angry with her for not telling me about you, but...Terri, I'm sorry you're hurt."

"Would you rather be with her instead of here with us? Is that it, would you rather be with her and you feel guilty about it?"

Terri was doing exactly what she told herself she wouldn't do by baiting him. She knew she was doing it, but she couldn't stop herself.

Stiles walked over to her and grabbed her by her arms to get her attention.

It took everything Stiles had not to say something nasty. "Terri, I went to the courthouse Wednesday morning. Quinn surprised everyone by taking a plea. Kara caught me in the hall and asked if we could talk for a minute. I said yes thinking she meant there in the hallway. When she suggested lunch I was going to say no, but I was starving and realized I never cancelled our reservation. I took her there so we could talk and I could stop my stomach from growling. That's it, no conspiracy, no affair, just lunch."

"Does she think it's really over? What did she want to talk about?"

Stiles first instinct was to tell her it didn't matter, but he thought better of it. He let go of her and backed away a few steps.

"She wanted to apologize for not telling me about you when she figured out you were alive. She wanted to know if I could forgive her, if she and I would have had a chance if she'd come clean."

Terri was afraid to hear the answer to her next question, but just as afraid of not asking it.

"What did you say?"

"I told her that I belong here, with my family."

Terri glanced up at him and asked quietly, "You belong with your family. That's what you told her?"

"Yes, and I meant it. I have a responsibility to you and to our children."

That, apparently, was the wrong answer. Terri reacted by raising her voice and stepping closer to Stiles. "So, you're just with me because of the kids? If that's the case, you needn't be. I can't believe you think so little of me that you would stay with me because of them." She moved away from him, but was screaming before she finished. "Don't worry, you can have her! I have more class than to keep my children away from their father out of spite."

Stiles pinched the bridge of his nose, in a weak attempt to stave off a headache.

"Terri, that's not what I meant!" Despite meaning well, Stiles was so frustrated with Terri's insecurity that he screamed the rest of what he told Kara. "You aren't listening to me. I told her that I love my wife; that I knew I was a mess without you, but that I still didn't realize how much I needed you until you were back in my life!"

Stiles had forgotten about the kids until Jack burst in the room, "Stop it daddy!" Ever the protector of his mom, he ran to her, tears streaming down his freckled little face. Terri picked him up and tried to calm him. Stiles had a flashback to the first time he saw the two of them together.

When he walked to Jack and tried to reassure him and take him from his mother's arms Jack held onto Terri's neck tightly and screamed at his father. "No!"

Stiles sighed then stepped back with his hands up in defeat as Terri comforted their little son.

Rocking him Terri pulled him away from her enough to see his face. "Mommy's okay sweetie; did you finish your dinner?"

Jack nodded yes. "Okay. You need to tell daddy you're sorry for yelling at him. You know better.'

Jack looked over at his dad and mumbled. "I'm sorry."

"Me too."

"How about a Popsicle, would that make you feel better?" Jack nodded, jumped from Terri's grasp and ran into the kitchen as Stiles watched in awe of his wife.

When Terri came back, Stiles started over in a calm voice. "Terri, for better or for worse, we belong together—kids or no kids. I don't want anyone else."

Terri stared at him blinking, not sure what to believe. She wanted to believe he loved her, but with the way things were going, she wasn't so sure. Rather than argue about it any more and risk upsetting Jack again, they called a temporary truce and agreed to try talking again later after the kids were asleep. It wasn't until later that Terri realized that Stiles had said, "Quinn took a plea." She wouldn't have to testify.

After Stiles got the kids in bed, he and Terri talked. They talked the rest of the night and into the wee hours of the morning.

Terri knew her insecurity was affecting her marriage. Stiles knew his resentment about losing four years with his wife and children had made him bitter.

"Terri, this thing with Quinn is about to be behind us. We need to let all of that go and put our lives back together. You never answered my question—do you want out of our marriage?"

Terri shook her head as she answered. "No."

Stiles leaned over and took her hands in his. "Neither do I. I can't keep apologizing for Kara. If I'd known you were alive things would have been different. I know it feels like it, but I wasn't trying to replace you. I just wanted to live again; I ...The situation is weird. She was my friend, just my friend for a long time and that friendship has to end...I don't..."

"You miss her." Stiles didn't answer. How could he? He had missed Kara and under other circumstances would have continued being a friend.

"I'll take that as a yes."

"Terri..."

"I hate that you move on with your life. I hate that you fell in love with a pretty, successful woman. I know that I'm not the first person you fell in love with, but you weren't still in love with them when you met me. I'd like not to think about her, but I just can't."

Stiles sighed, tired but happy they were finally having a truly honest conversation about Kara. "And I don't know what else to do to make you trust me. I think we need to find time to talk to someone. I thought we could handle things ourselves, but clearly we can't. I can't take the arguing anymore. Will you at least think about it, please?"

To Stiles' surprise, Terri answered quickly. "Okay."

"Okay you'll think about it or Okay, you'll go?"

"I think we should go. I don't want our kids to live in a war zone anymore; Jack was really upset tonight. All of the fighting can't be good for either of them, and it certainly isn't good for me. If there's any chance seeing a counselor will help I think we should try."

For the first time that evening, Terri smiled. Stiles took her hand, brought it to his lips and gently kissed it.

By the time they finally went to bed Terri and Stiles had agreed on two very important things: They still loved each other and they wanted to raise their kids together.