Sara sat there looking at the frog. She wasn't sleeping, and no amount of trying could make her fall asleep. She wanted Arthur. She had missed him like crazy for too long, and after talking to him today, she knew what she wanted. She just wanted him. She knew he meant what he said because she did know him. She needed him to know that. Without really thinking about what she was doing, she moved and pushed down on the frog. She went to stand by the door, and within moments she heard quick footsteps inside the house. They were moving up the stairs and then he was flinging the door open and scanning for the intruder, gun in front of him. She shut the door and grabbed his arms.

"What's wrong?" Arthur asked. She shook her head and kissed him hard in response. He was tense from adrenaline but soon relaxed as he set down his gun and wrapped his arms around her tightly in return.

"I do know you," she whispered after pausing. "My self-doubt just takes over and then I panic and..."

"Stop," he instructed, cupping her face with his hands. "We're here now, aren't we?"

She nodded.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't really hurt, but all I ever wanted was for you to come back. I was never angry at you, like I said before. I just miss you and will do whatever it takes to make sure you know that I'm in this for life. I won't abandon you. Just please don't abandon me ever again," he finished.

"I won't," she promised. "I swear. I love you. I did from the start."

"So did I," he replied. He kissed her again, reveling in her touch. It had been too long.

"There's something else," she started as he moved her towards the bed.

"Tell me after," he cut her off.

"I really think..."

"Please," he said, looking at her. "I'm not going anywhere. You can tell me after."

"Okay," she agreed. He fell down with her, kissing her again. Years of aching and yearning and missing her was pouring out of him. Maybe he was crazy for being so forgiving, but he didn't care. You only got to live once, and he wasn't going to waste it.

...

Arthur opened his eyes to see Sara sitting up and playing with an unlit cigarette.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"Nothing," she answered. "I quit a while ago. I just like holding it."

"You're a strange one," he chuckled, echoing Joe.

"So are you," she pointed out.

"I'm not denying it," he said back.

"I missed you," she murmured, setting the cigarette on the nightstand and moving to burrow into him. He pulled her close and kissed her head.

"So did I," he replied. He relished the feel of her against him. He traced her skin with his fingers with his one hand and rested his other on her heart, feeling it pulse under his palm. She reached to rest one of her hands on that one, closing her eyes and enjoying his touch. He moved to kiss her neck slowly.

"There was no one else," she said suddenly. "No relationships. Just work stuff."

"I don't really want to hear about the work stuff," he said next to her ear.

"Then I'll stop talking," she reasoned, turning to face him. Looking at him made her realize what a fool she had been, but that was the past. This was now, and she wasn't letting him go ever again. She moved to kiss him, working her fingers on his shoulders and down his back.

"What did you want to tell me?" he asked when she paused. She felt momentary panic then. This could ruin it all right here, but if they were starting over, she had to come clean.

"It's about Cid," she said, propping herself onto her elbow.

"I figured out he has anger issues," Arthur nodded.

"No, it's not that."

"What then?"

Sara inhaled and exhaled, trying to calm herself.

"Promise you won't hate me," she started.

Arthur was looking at her and then sat up slowly. Sara felt more anxious. He had a wary look on his face.

"Why would I hate you?" he asked.

"I just fear you might."

"He's your son, isn't he?" Arthur pressed, figuring it out. She licked her lips nervously.

"Yes, he is."

"Who's the father? Some john?" Arthur demanded. He felt angry. The idea that Cid's father was someone who used Sara made his blood boil.

"No," she shook her head quickly. "No. It's you. You're his father, Arthur."

For a moment, the world tilted, and Arthur felt like he was going to fall over despite already being seated. He was suddenly horrified. He looked at Sara, who had tears in her eyes now.

"I'm so sorry," she said again.

"All this time," he cut her off. "All this time he was my son, and no one told me?!"

"I'm sorry!" she cried.

"Why the hell didn't Leslie say something?!" he shouted. "I supported her for years! I spent time with him. He was my son all along..." He trailed off, feeling sick.

"I asked her not to say anything, but I didn't think she'd invite you into his life!" Sara exclaimed.

"And that's supposed to make me feel better?" he asked sarcastically.

"No! I didn't know how to tell you, and I didn't know if you'd even want to be a father. I thought I was doing you a favor," she said.

"You weren't," he stopped her abruptly. "You sure as hell weren't."

"I'm sorry," she said again.

"What happened to her, Sara?" he demanded. "What happened to Leslie? Tell me."

"It was an accident," Sara whispered. "That's all."

He stared at her, not understanding. His anger got the best of him, though, and he got out of the bed.

"Arthur, wait," Sara tried, going to stop him.

"Don't," he warned, removing her hands from him.

"I knew you'd hate me," she said.

"I feel betrayed, Sara," he told her, throwing his clothes on. "You kept this from me for almost six years. I could have been...we could have..." He stopped talking, unable to form anymore words.

Sara blocked the door, and he felt frustrated.

"Don't go," she begged.

"I need to breathe," he said. "And I need to just be away from you for a moment."

"Arthur..."

He easily picked her up and moved her aside before he stormed out. He had to get out before he lost it completely. He went outside and disappeared into the cane, needing to hide and get his bearings back.

...

Joe heard the yelling and heard Arthur go into the cane, and he made the decision to go after him. He knew Arthur needed someone to talk to about whatever had happened, and that was what he was there for.

Arthur swung to face him with an angry expression until he saw it was him.

"You should be at the barn," he said gruffly.

"Figured you'd need a brother," Joe countered. "What happened?"

"Cid's my son," Arthur blurted. He started to pace angrily. "She didn't tell me about him until just now. I'm just...so...pissed."

"I can see it," Joe nodded. "He has your eyes."

"This isn't funny, Joe," Arthur snapped.

"I'm not being funny," Joe argued. "Look, man, you got to know him, right? You were there when he was growing up. You missed out on a year cos you thought he was dead, but you got the rest. You told me you felt like his father anyway, right? Now it's official. He's your son."

"She didn't tell me," Arthur started, jabbing his finger in the air.

"Out of fear, right?" Joe finished. "What have you learned about her since you met her, huh? She gets scared and she runs. She probably thought you'd abandon her and Cid, so she left first. It's a self-protective thing. It's not the best thing to do, but people do it."

"She's ashamed," Arthur said, getting it now. He was putting it all together.

"Of what?"

"Because she told me she was protected and couldn't get pregnant, and this happened."

"There you go," Joe nodded. "She's ashamed. That's why she didn't say anything. Can you blame her? Have you seen you pissed off? It's scary."

"I wouldn't have been angry," Arthur shook his head. "Shocked, yes. Frustrated, maybe. I trusted her, and she must have thought this would have broken it."

They stood quiet for a moment, and sobs could be heard from a distance. Joe knew it was Sara.

"What are you gonna do?" Joe asked softly.

Arthur inhaled slowly and exhaled slowly. He was thinking.

"I don't know," he admitted.

"You wanna spend what little time we have left being angry at her?" Joe asked. "Cos like you said, there are no guarantees we're getting out of this alive."

"She should have told me," Arthur said again.

"Yes, she should have, but she told you now, right? She could have just let that lie stay in place forever, but she didn't. She chose to tell you and risk you being angry and walking away from her."

"All right, all right," Arthur said. "You made your point."

"I just don't want to see you throw away something you love over this," Joe pointed out. "I've watched you spend almost six years in agony waiting for this woman. Don't scrap it because of a mistake she made. We all make mistakes, remember? It's like what I did to Seth, and if I am to stop feeling guilty for that, then you have to let this go."

"Are you giving me an ultimatum?" Arthur asked.

"Sort of," Joe nodded.

"All right. I'll go talk to her."

"Good," Joe said. He followed Arthur out of the cane and headed back to the barn while Arthur went to the porch where Sara was sitting on the steps. He watched as Sara looked up at him and Arthur reached to pull her up in his arms. If this was what Old Joe was trying to save, this kind of love, then Joe could understand. Love was powerful. He was witnessing it firsthand. He smiled to himself as he went into the barn.

He really wanted them to come out of this alive.

...

Arthur listened as Sara explained why she did what she did. She admitted she had felt ashamed and guilty for not being protected. She admitted she was scared he would be angry and leave her but also terrified to be a mother and a wife, so she had run.

"There is no excuse," she finished. "For what I've done. I know that. Then I left him with my sister."

"You left him?" Arthur asked. "Why?"

"I don't know," she said sadly. "I guess I just felt if I didn't deserve you, then I didn't deserve him. Cid definitely deserved better than me."

"You have to stop saying that about yourself," Arthur said. "You weren't responsible for your parents' deaths. You weren't. You do deserve things. You do deserve to be happy. They would want you to be happy, Sara."

"I know," she nodded. "You're right, but still...I abandoned him..."

He took her hands in his and held them tightly.

"You made a mistake, but you're correcting it now. I'm not happy about what you did, but I understand why," he said. "Leslie made sure I got to see him, so I did watch him grow up until she died. I didn't miss out. I'm just hurt that we missed out on doing it together."

"I'm sorry," she whispered. He reached to hold the side of her face for a moment.

"We're starting over," he said. "You and me. Okay?"

"Okay."

She hugged him tightly, and he held onto her. Then she pulled back and took his face in her hands, smoothing it with her thumbs while searching his eyes. He closed his eyes as she kissed him gently.

"We can tell him, if you want," she said quietly after. "Tomorrow."

"When this is over, we can tell him," Arthur promised.

"He already calls you his father, you know."

"Then it will make him happy to know I really am," Arthur reasoned. Sara nodded and smiled.

"Do you want to stay here?" she asked.

"No. I should go back out so as not to confuse Cid right now."

"Okay."

"I'll see you in the morning."

"All right," she nodded. He kissed her cheek softly before getting up and walking out. Sara went back up to her room and crawled into bed. She felt lighter. She felt free. No more secrets. She hoped this would all be over soon so they could start being a family.

...

Joe looked up when Arthur came into the barn. He was sitting with his blunderbuss across his knees.

"Well?" he asked.

"It's been worked out," Arthur answered.

"Good," Joe nodded. "I'd hate to be stuck with you for years after this and hearing you moan about the bad choice you made to walk away from her."

"I do not moan," Arthur retorted.

"You do. You moan and groan a lot," Joe smirked. "This whole time she's been gone...moan, moan, moan."

"Shut up," Arthur ordered.

Joe obeyed, but he was still laughing. Eventually, Arthur cracked a smile. He leaned back against the piece of machinery and yawned.

"I'll take the first shift," Joe offered.

"All right," Arthur agreed. He was too tired to argue. He fell asleep thinking about Sara and Cid and how he finally had a family with them.

He hoped nothing would destroy it.