Title: It's all about living life
Chapter 6: Moving and moving on
Author: Ann (Chrystalsandsnowflakes)
Rating: (G to NC-17): G
Spoilers/Warnings: Songfic, but part of longer series. Takes place in the future, so after EOT
Summary: Stephanie thinks about moving and moving on
Disclaimer: None of these characters are mine, I just play with them

Moving and moving on

I took a couple of deep breaths when I stood outside the bonds office again. I had never expected to see Ranger there, I had never expected the feelings that I felt. In a way it felt so good to see him again. To feel the tingle going through my body, to see his eyes, to watch him move. Mental sigh. He seemed very surprised to see me there, so I deducted from that, that he hadn't heard about the breakup between me and Joe yet. I had wanted to tell him, but then had decided against it. I really didn't know what to say, and I was sure that he would hear everything (and a whole lot more) from his own sources very soon.

Tuesday

I had been wrong about the amount of time it took for the news to travel around the Burg. By Monday night everybody had heard something about it. I suppose the "for sale" sign outside the house had something to do with it… And maybe me telling Connie Monday morning when I came into the office…

The sign went up one rainy morning just a couple of hours after dawn
Mrs. Hanley peeked out through her curtains, wondering what was going on
The neighbors said over coffee cups, that nice young couple is breaking up

Morelli and I had decided to sell the house. Too many memories for both of us to stay there. I had also packed a bag and stayed at my parents place last night. We simply had said all we wanted to say and needed some distance to come to terms with it. I had explained my parents what Morelli and I had decided and my mother has been ironing ever since. She didn't understand our decision, and blamed me for breaking up the marriage. She would get over it, but it would take a bit of time. It would probably be a while until I got pineapple upside-down cake.

In the living room the crystal and the linen sit all packed and set to goI tell myself once more
I won't be here this spring to see my roses grow
And all the things you tried to fix, the roof still leaks, the door still sticks

Morelli had called me to tell that he had informed his boss about our divorce, and had taken a few days off to start packing. I had promised him that I would come by too, to help. It would be really awkward, but an important part of the closure that we needed. I had always thought that I would grow old in this house, that we would sit on the porch sixty years down the road and looking at the traffic going by, talking about the "good old times" or something like that. But now that dream would never happen, and it took some getting used to. Shit, I would have to start looking for an apartment myself, I didn't want to live with my parents any longer than absolutely necessary.

House for SaleYou can read it on the sign
House for SaleIt was yours and it was mine
And tomorrow some strangers will be climbing up the stairs
To the bedroom filled with memories
The one we used to share

I wondered who the new owners would be. What they would be like, what they would experience in their lives while living in the house. 'Jeez Steph', I thought, 'don't tell me you now also have feelings for the house!' I smiled at myself. I just liked that house, I guess I couldn't really blame myself for it. We had wonderful times there… wonderful love making… You could say a lot about our relationship, but the sex was always good. I felt something warm up deep inside me. Damn Hungarian hormones!

I know you always loved that painting
From that funny little shop in Spain
Remember how we found it
When we ducked in from that sudden summer rain
But I think I'll keep the silver tray
My mother gave us on our wedding day

Suddenly I realized that we would have to divide the furniture and stuff. Some of the things had been from one of us, his cd's, my cd's, his couch, my coffee table. But then over the years we had also invested in some things together. The new tv, the dining room table and chairs. How to do this? Sigh. Deep sigh again. We would work it out. Hopefully without too much discussion.

Song: House for Sale by Lucifer