"How did that happen?" Helen questioned.
"All we know is that he was killed by gunshot. We got some information from Washington, D.C. a few days ago. It mentioned a fugitive loose in the Atlantic Coast area. They didn't give us a description or even a name. How does that help?"
"You think it's him?" Helen inquired.
"Things have been slow lately. It's a reasonable answer, but I don't know."
Helen then realizes why her husband came to her. "So, the vacation's off?" Helen asks disappointedly.
"I can't do that to you."
"Will, if you're telling me to take the kids and you're staying here, no. I don't want to go if you're not coming. Believe it or not, I think you need this vacation, too."
"I'll try to work things out."
Helen is slightly depressed now. Will realizes this, but being in the mood he is, he does nothing about it.
"Bye." Will states.
"Bye." Helen replies.
Helen is in the kitchen finishing up dinner. Joan walks in followed by Luke and Kevin.
"Hey, Mom." Joan stated.
"Hey, honey." Helen replied.
"Anything we can do to help?" Kevin asked.
"You can set the table. Thank you." Helen said.
Luke and Kevin head to the table and start setting.
"I'm tired." Joan complained.
"Well, it's your fault you were up late last night." Helen stated.
"I couldn't sleep!"
Joan remembers her father's emotions last night.
"Mom?" Joan asked.
"What?" Helen replied.
"Are you and Dad getting along?"
"Joan, you don't need to worry about us."
"I'm not. Well… I guess I am. What's wrong with him?"
"I told you. I don't know. Let us handle this, okay?
"I'm sorry. I was just trying to help."
"I know." Helen states. She stands for a while, then breaks out into tears.
"I'm fine." Helen states.
Joan gives her mother a hug, then heads in to help Luke and Kevin.
Will walks through the front door.
Helen hears this and quickly tries to pull it together and wipe away her tears.
"Everything's ready." Helen states.
Everyone goes into the dining room and sits down at the table. They begin eating, in silence.
"Have you told them, yet?" Will asks.
"I'm sorry, what." Helen asks in return.
"I got the time off."
"Oh, Will." Helen states, almost beaming with happiness.
"What is this about?" Kevin questions.
"Your father and I have decided to go on a Christmas vacation." Helen replies.
"Wow! That's fantastic! When do we leave?"
"Thursday." Helen stated.
"You already booked something?" Will questions.
"Wait!" Kevin exclaims.
Everyone falls silent.
"Are you telling me we have two days to pack?" Kevin finishes.
The three teens each panic and get up from the table.
"Hey!" Helen exclaims. "You don't have to pack right now. You have plenty of time."
The three of them return to their seats.
"So, what did you book?" Will asked curiously. He is still surprised that his wife had already planned everything.
"It's a small cabin. Two bedrooms, two baths, a kitchen, and a living area. It's basically, in the middle of nowhere, except for a small church up the road and a few other cabins."
"That sounds interesting." Luke states.
"Where did this come from? We never go on Christmas vacations. I mean we haven't been on any in the past five years."
"Well, your father was offered some vacation time." Helen stated.
"Sweet." Joan replied.
It's Wednesday. Will and Helen are in their bedrooms packing.
"You said this place had only two bedrooms…" Will inquired.
Helen realizes where her husband is going. "There's two sleepover sofas."
"Oh."
Will and Helen continue packing in silence.
"I feel bad about leaving, you know with what happened." Will states.
"Will, if you going to ruin it for the rest of us, then stay here! I just thought that we could maybe, just possibly, have a normal family vacation and be with each other. I don't know about the kids, but it's pretty clear that you don't want to be spending time with your wife."
Helen storms out of the bedroom. Will is left there to think.
"What did I say?" Will asked himself.
Luke walks by Joan's bedroom.
"What should I pack? Is it going to be cold?" Luke asked.
"I don't know, geek. Just be prepared for anything." Joan replies.
Kevin rolls by. "She's right. Who knows it might be summer in Virginia." Kevin stated.
"Summer in Virginia?" Luke questions.
"Just go pack." Joan tells Luke. "We're leaving tomorrow."
"Right." Luke says.
The next day, Will and Luke are loading everything into the car. Kevin rolls out.
"It's a little nippy out here." Kevin states.
"Hope you packed your long underwear." Will joked.
"Long underwear?" Luke pondered. "That's what I forgot!"
"Chill, Luke. He's kidding." Kevin says.
Will and Kevin laugh. Helen walks outside in a long winter's coat. She notices Will laughing. She smiles. Will looks up at her. His face changes from laughter to sorrow. It appears as if he's trying to Helen he's sorry with his facial expression. Helen thinks to herself, "Maybe, this was a good idea." She goes down and greets Kevin and Luke. Will just looks at her, then smiles. She walks and gets in the passenger's seat. Joan walks out. Her hair hasn't been combed. It's obvious she's not a morning person.
"Hey, sweetheart." Will greets her.
"I'm still sleepy." Joan states.
"You can sleep on the way. Maybe it'll be quiet." Will laughs.
"Hey!" Joan exclaims, giving her father a friendly push.
Will puts his arm around his daughter and leads her to the car. He helps her in. Will gets in the car as well.
"Is everyone ready?" He asks.
There is mixed replies.
Later on down the road. 'Up Where We Belong' is softly playing in the background.
"How much longer?" Joan complains.
"At least we're out of Washington." Will states.
Will reaches to the radio and turns it up.
/ Love lift us up where we belong,
Where the eagles cry,
On a mountain high.
Love lift us up where we belong…/
Helen cracks a smile. Will smiles.
"What kind of music is this?" Kevin asks.
"Sorry." Will replies.
He changes the channel. 'Alone' by Heart is playing.
"Here we are." Helen states.
"This is where we're staying?" Joan questions.
"Yeah." Helen regards.
"Well, let's start unpacking." Will says.
Helen goes to grab her bag, but Will picks it up.
"I'll carry it for you." He states.
"Thank you." Helen replies.
"Hey, Mom?" Kevin asks.
"Yes?" She answers.
"Do you want us to help with the groceries?" Kevin offers to help.
"I forgot all about that. That would be wonderful." She states, grabbing a few bags herself.
Inside the cabin, everyone is settling in and putting groceries away.
"I'm going for a walk." Will states as he walks out the door.
"Wait!" Joan exclaims. "Let me go with you."
Will walks out the door and down the sidewalk. Joan rushes after him and grabs and hand. Will is taken by surprise.
"You're never to old to hold your father's hand." Joan laughs.
Will kisses her on the forehead, and they walk on hand in hand.
Helen stands at the front door. She thinks to herself, "He'll hold his daughter's hand, when he won't even talk to his wife." She shuts the door and goes back inside.