Thank you for all the comments on the last chapter – Sunny, Shellie, Panz, Emzzie, JenJenxx, Jools, Mickey, Natalie, Cynthia, don't think about it, ally, reviewer, Mariana, Jen, Sarah, Alyson and Lauren. They're always appreciated! Special thanks to Sunny, Shellie and Lauren for being so supportive.

This one is a little different, I'm not sure about how it's turned out. I added some family time to it. Let me know what you think!

The Blaze of Glory

Kirsten was sat at the kitchen table when Sandy arrived home from work. She lifted her head when she heard him come through the door.

"How was work?" Kirsten asked casually.

"Quiet," Sandy answered, putting his briefcase on the end of the kitchen island.

"Not getting many new clients, huh?"

Sandy shook his head, dejected, and Kirsten smiled sympathetically, seeing his frustration. "I guess it's gonna take time. You wait, they'll all come flocking to you and then you'll wish things were quiet again," Kirsten tried to comfort him.

Sandy smiled gratefully and wandered over to her. "So what are you…? Oh."

He stopped when he reached her, looking down at the table. The table was covered in pictures of Julie. Kirsten nodded.

"I know."

Sandy grimaced playfully. "Honey, what has life come to?"

Kirsten laughed. "It's for the magazine. I'm trying to think of ideas for articles."

"Do they all have to involve Julie?" Sandy teased.

"They would if Julie got her way," Kirsten said.

Sandy leaned down and left a kiss on her forehead, rubbing her back gently.

"You've been busy with the magazine recently," he commented.

"I know, I'm sorry. I didn't realise how much it was going to involve, on top of everything else at work," Kirsten apologised.

Sandy shrugged dismissively and Kirsten felt guilty. She watched him as he went to the fridge and pulled out a drink. Things still weren't back to normal. A tension hung between them, which they both tried to ignore and pretend didn't exist. Kirsten had thought that putting her wedding rings back on would make everything ok; that the gesture would reassure her enough to forgive him. They had grown closer since, but only physically: a kiss here, a hug there, but they weren't enough to make her forget what he had done. Her belief that things would get better over time was starting to fade. She believed him now when he said he was sorry, but she still had trouble trusting him. Whenever he spoke about clients, she always had a niggling feeling that he might be lying to her again. There was still a wall between them, like no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't get back to how they used to be.

She knew Sandy felt it too. She would catch him staring at her and when their eyes met, she would see sadness. He would immediately shake it off and suggest that they spend time together, but she always found an excuse.

"You know, I have tomorrow morning free. I can put off some work and maybe we could spend some time together?" Kirsten suggested.

Sandy looked up, surprised. It felt like Kirsten had been avoiding spending time with him recently and he wasn't going to let this opportunity pass. "Really?"

Kirsten smiled as his face lit up. "Yeah. I'll even let you choose," she offered.

Sandy raised his eyebrows in delight. "Are you ready for that surfing lesson I've been promising?"

Kirsten laughed, shaking her head in amusement. He was as predictable as ever. "No."

"How about golf?"

Sandy saw her hesitate, as if she was actually considering it.

"Come on, it'll be fun," he urged her.

Kirsten wavered. She knew how much it would mean to Sandy if she said yes. She hated golf, but she felt like she owed him to make the effort.

"Sure, why not," Kirsten agreed lightly.

"Really!"

Kirsten couldn't help but laugh at his excitement. "Ask me that again and I might change my mind," she teased.

Sandy walked over to her and kissed the top of her head. "It'll be fun, I promise."

It was crazy, but Sandy felt like he missed his wife. Even when they were in the same room, she felt distant from him. He guessed that she was still upset over Rebecca, but she was gone now and Sandy was back. He didn't know what else he could do to make things right, except give her time.

They were interrupted by Seth and Ryan, who came into the kitchen from the poolhouse. Sandy and Kirsten watched in amusement as they were ignored, as the boys grabbed armfuls of snacks and drinks.

"Evening, fellas," Sandy said, his voice teasing.

"Hey Sandy."

"Hey Dad."

They barely turned their heads towards him as they greeted him.

"How was school?" Sandy asked.

"Fine."

"Good."

They kept moving around the kitchen.

"Done your homework?"

"Yep."

"Uh huh."

"Did you hear about the alien spaceship that landed in the middle of the school field?"

"No."

"Nope."

Kirsten dropped her head as she giggled. Sandy raised his eyebrows, waiting for them to react.

Ryan lifted his head first. "Wait…what?"

"You heard him. Spaceships. School field. Ignore him, Ryan, he's trying to be funny," Seth tilted his head and sent a mocking smile towards his father.

"Well, your mother thinks I'm funny," Sandy defended.

Kirsten grunted next to him.

"So are you boys ok? Life going well?" Sandy asked, hoping to get more of an answer from them this time.

"Uh, yeah, I guess," Ryan answered.

"Well, Summer loves me, I'm beating Ryan at the ninja game and I scored an A on my English test," Seth said enthusiastically. "So I am great!"

"How very narcissistic of you, son," Sandy laughed, the differences between the two boys apparent.

"Have you heard from Lindsey recently?" Ryan asked Kirsten quietly, leaning against one of the chairs.

"I had an email from her a couple of days ago. You?" Kirsten asked cautiously. Lindsey hadn't mentioned Ryan in her email and she wasn't even sure if they were keeping in touch.

"Same," Ryan answered.

He paused and Kirsten could see him thinking. She waited patiently until he was ready to talk again.

"She seems to be happy?"

It was more of a question than a statement and Kirsten smiled sadly. "Yeah, I think she is."

Ryan nodded, knowing he wasn't the only one who wished that things had turned out differently.

"You ok?" Kirsten asked.

Ryan shrugged. "Yeah," he answered unconvincingly.

"Come on, Ryan, man. I have more ass-whooping to do tonight," Seth slapped his hand on Ryan's back.

Ryan offered Kirsten half a smile as Seth dragged him back out to the poolhouse.

"Well, I'm gonna go have a shower," Sandy announced.

Kirsten nodded silently, turning her head towards him.

"So, golf tomorrow?" Sandy asked.

Kirsten smiled and nodded. "Golf. Tomorrow."

She lifted her face up to him and Sandy used the opportunity to drop a kiss on her lips. Kirsten's eyes followed him as he walked down the hallway, watching him disappear around the corner to their bedroom. Maybe golf would be another step towards going back to normal.

Maybe.