Charlie carefully began to remove the pieces of tape from his fingers. The words had slowly begun to fade and he felt them no longer necessary. One by one, he unraveled them from around his finger and watched it fall to the ground. He removed them all, except one.

"Why did you do that?"

Charlie jumped, startled at the sound of Claire's voice. "I didn't know you were awake." Charlie had made himself comfortable beside her, keeping an eye on her to make sure nothing happened to her as he had promised. "I'm sorry, did you ask me something?"

She nodded. "Why didn't you peel off that one?" She pointed to the piece of white tape on his ring finger. "Does it mean something?"

He smirked slightly. "It's a reminder of something good I once had."

"Like what?" Charlie was hesitant at first to answer. "Come on Charlie, you can tell me anything."

"I was married once. In fact I still am technically speaking." Just thinking of Kellie made Charlie's heart sink. How could he have screwed up something so perfect"But, you know even though we were married we both knew it was pretty much over. She didn't mention it, but I knew once we got back to London she was going to file for a divorce. I mean why wouldn't she?"

Claire shrugged. "I don't know, why?"

He chuckled. "You're being extremely nosey tonight. I think I liked it better when you were asleep."

"Was it always as bad as you make it out to be?"

He shook his head yes. "I think I'm starting to realise now, why I'm so attached to you..." Charlie was beginning to choke up just talking about his past. "...because I could never attach myself to my own wife and child. I guess I figure maybe I can have a second chance."

Claire scooted closer and put her arm around him. "I'm so sorry Charlie."

"Me too." Charlie looked down at his trouser pocket and reached into it. He pulled out a crumbled up picture and unfolded it. "That's her. My daughter, Claire." He handed it to her.

"Great choice of name."

He smiled. "Kellie named her." He wiped the remaining tears off his cheeks. "It was her favourite name."

"Well your wife was a smart woman." Claire turned the picture and read the writing on the back. "You don't have a more recent picture?"

He shook his head no. "I haven't seen her since she was one. Her mother and I had a huge falling out..."

"Charlie!" Kellie angrily shook her husband awake. "CHARLIE!" He slowly opened his eyes. "How long have you been sleeping"

"I don't know."

"Do you even know where our child is?"

"She's right..." Charlie glanced at the spot where he had last left her. "Claire?"

"You're absolutely useless Charlie."

"You married me."

Kellie gagged. "Don't remind me." She frantically raced through-out the house and found her daughter sleeping on the bathroom floor. "I can't believe you" She gently picked Claire off of the cold hard floor and cradled her.

"She's o.k." Kellie just walked right past him and headed upstairs with Charlie right behind her. "Look I'm sorry alright."

Kellie placed Claire in her crib and covered her up with a blanket. "Sorry? You're sorry? Well I hate to tell you this, but sorry doesn't cut it."

"WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME KELLIE!"

"I want you to start being a father."

"I AM BEING A FATHER!"

"Falling asleep and letting your child wander around the house unsupervised is not being a father. Do you even care Charlie?"

"Of course I do! I've been busy, I'm tired, you don't work so what would you know about it?"

"Busy? Busy doing what? I'll tell you what you've been busy doing. You've been busy getting high and having sex with women you don't even know."

A sudden surge of anger filled Charlie. He raised his hand and struck her across the face. After a few seconds Charlie had realised what he had done and tried desperately to apologise. "Kellie...I'm...I'm sorry."

"I can't take this anymore Charlie." There was a moment of silence. "I'm leaving you and I'm taking Claire with me."

She walked into their bedroom, Charlie frantically trying to keep her from leaving. "Kellie I'm sorry. Let me make it up to you. I'll take you out one night, just you and me."

"You're so pathetic." She grabbed her bag, which had been packed in advance, and headed for the doorway only to have it blocked by Charlie. "Move, Charlie."

"I'm not letting you leave." She tired again to pass him only to have him grabbed her by her wrist.

"LET ME GO YOU BASTARD!" She finally broke free and ran to fetch Claire. She removed her sleeping child from her bed and rushed out the front door.

Charlie followed her the entire way. Yelling as he tried to keep up with her quickening strides. "Kellie, please Don't leave me!"

"...Kellie came back a year later, but Claire wasn't with her. She had left her with her mother so the two of us could try to work things out, but by then everything we had was destroyed beyond repair."

Claire smiled gently and handed him back the picture. "Kellie was on the plane with you, have you gone to look for her?"

"Of course I have, but sometimes you just know, when someone's not coming back." Charlie dropped his head and closed his eyes.

"Don't give up. I know you'll find her."