AN: Going forward, as this story progresses, I'll be showing their lives outside of treatment, in addition to joint and individual therapy sessions. Just giving a heads-up to anyone who may be confused by the subtle change and to also provide everyone with a more full-circled viewpoint on how exploring the nuts and bolts of their marriage not only affects them while in sessions, but also in their day-to-day lives. So, again, I hope I don't confuse anyone with the shifts, but that it flows and allows you all to appreciate the bigger, end picture :)

Dedicating this chap to my Kokes (Kikidevil17). I hope you're happy darn it! :)

A Crumb

"Mommmm! Dad's here!"

Closing the door, Peter held a finger to his ear as he opened and closed his mouth, amazed that he still had the ability to hear from the loud voice of his daughter. Even though she was now much older, she still yet possessed those infamous pair of lungs she blessed everyone with in the delivery room the first moment she entered the world via her mother's womb.

"How's my baby girl?" he asked, hugging her to his side.

Grace beamed up at him as she linked her arm around his waist. "Good. Though, this weekend, I need you to help me with my science project."

"Volcano again?"

They casually walked towards the kitchen.

"No. We need to think of something better. I want to have the best one in the class."

Grinning, he held her closer and enjoyed this small moment, thinking of how their children was the perfect combination of he and Alicia. He knew she had probably gotten her competitive nature from them both.

"Alright. We'll brainstorm on Friday, then knockout it out on Saturday."

"Cool. Because Zach said he wouldn't help."

"Oh, he will." His tone left no opening for a debate. "Where is your Mom and brother?" he asked once they slowed to a stop in the kitchen.

"Mom's in the dining room working and Zach's in his room studying for a chemistry test tomorrow."

Tiptoeing towards the entry way, she peeked around the corner at Alicia, whose head was buried deep in paperwork, oblivious to them just feet away.

"Are you staying for dinner?" she asked, standing in front of him again, her arms folded across her chest in a manner that warned if he planned to say no, he better have a damned good excuse as to why.

Peter gazed down into her hopeful brown eyes, hating to break her heart.

"Not tonight. But maybe we can all have dinner at our favorite Italian place one night this week, alright?"

"Promise?"

He leaned down and planted a kiss to her forehead. "I promise."

Just as Grace had done, he too looked around the corner at Alicia, whom was still heavily focused on her work. If there was one thing he could attest to about his wife, it was that she had always been a dedicated and thorough lawyer. She never tackled any case half-ass.

"Did you tell Mom you were sorry for hanging up on her earlier?"

She avoided his gaze and kicked her sock covered feet against his polished dress shoes. "Yes. I won't do it again."

"See that you don't," he said sternly. She nodded eagerly. "Why don't you go to your room and give your Mom and I a minute alone, alright?"

Nodding, she hugged him tightly before scampering off to her room.

Removing his black pea coat, he draped it along the back of a barstool at the island as he pivoted to his right, instantly greeted with an unobstructed view of his causally dressed wife—in a cardigan and yoga pants—seated at the dining table. He ingested the sight, memories floating through his mind of when she was just a law student, and was preparing for a mock trial on the night before. She would find the most secluded area of the library, pick a table and disguise it under stacks of books and papers, intent on cramming as much information as possible into her head. The worst part? He usually pulled these all nighters with her. The thought made him smile sadly, especially as he observed the déjà vu scene before him—a mass of papers nearly covered every wooden square inch of the table while she studiously sat with a glass of wine in one hand and a yellow highlighter in the other, marking along a document.

Where did we go wrong?

"New case?" he asked knowingly.

Swallowing a mouthful of wine, she glanced up at him and offered a welcoming smile. She had heard Grace announce his arrival a few minutes ago but quickly lost herself back in the pile of research.

"Yep. The deposition is tomorrow."

"Ouch." He pulled out a chair and sat.

Depositing her goblet on the table, she neatly stacked the papers and pushed them to the side before giving him her undivided attention.

"Would you like a glass?"

He shook his head. "No. I'm fine. So, what's up?"

Leaning back in the chair, she folded her arms across her chest, and inhaled a deep breath. "Your mother." He arched his brow in surprise. "She called me at work today, to tell me she feels she should spend more time with the kids while we're in therapy. She thinks the hour and a half that we're there, should be her time."

Chuckling, Peter sighed and scratched his brow. "I'll talk to her."

She eyed him knowingly. "Will you?"

"Yes, Alicia. I'll talk to my mother."

He watched her watching him, her relaxed eyes difficult to read. She didn't just call him over here to tell him about Jackie. He knew better. That could have been taken care of in a phone call. No, he got the feeling that what she had wanted to say, they needed to be face-to-face when she did, or she would find a million excuses as to why she couldn't.

"Is there something else? The kids?" he asked.

"No." She exhaled a slow breath and reached for her glass again. "I actually…wanted to thank you."

He leaned his head to the side and sat up straighter in the seat. "Oh? For what?"

She hesitantly met his eyes. "For supporting me during our session today."

Oh, that's what this is about.

When they left Dr. Lewis' office earlier, she lost it in the elevator. He was caught off guard when she all but collapsed into his arms. Instinctively, he held her fiercely against his chest and ran his hands up and down her back as he soothed her cries. Her pain vibrated his soul, nearly making him shed a tear. He never once suspected after all this time that she was still hurting like this. That she was still so torn up inside. Then again, Alicia was infamous for bottling up her emotions and usually never dealt with them until it was too late.

Once the elevator doors opened and he pulled them into a nearby vacated conference room, her cries continued on and didn't cease until employees tried to enter the room, to which he politely closed the door in their faces. That moment eased the teeniest bit of hurt flooding her heart. Just a teeny bit. And he felt it. For regardless of what was said in the privacy of the office they visited once a week, he still respected her as his wife and as a mother to their children. And he was still her husband and was committed to being her husband in every sense of the word, no matter how hard she fought his attempts.

Nodding slowly, he leaned forward and rested his folded hands on the table. Looking at her, his voice dropped to a whisper as he focused only on her.

"That was a difficult time for us. I know, even harder on you."

"It was…still is at times."

She looked away from him and bit her lower lip, willing herself not to breakdown for the second time today.

He saw the heart-wrenching emotion threatening to fall over the brim of her eyes and reached out to grab her hand. "I'm here. I know sometimes you may not want me to be or feel that I'm not. But I'm here for you, Alicia."

It was at his words did she almost lose it. Again. Tears instantly lodged within her throat as she gripped his hand tighter.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"Was that it?"

"Basically, yes."

He laughed lightly and leaned back in the chair, keeping one arm on the table. His finger tips tapped lightly along the wood. "So, what do you think of therapy so far?"

Unlinking their hands, she tucked her hair behind her ears as she thought for a moment.

"It has us talking."

"By some miraculous force."

She smiled. "I think we can call that, Dr. Lewis. How did you find him anyway?"

"A recommendation."

She stared at him for a second, remembering that though they had a tender moment, they didn't fail to have another verbal smack down today. As much as she convinced herself she didn't care, she did; she hated fighting with him. She usually left their sessions having a bad mood for the rest of the day. He got under her skin like no other.

"Are we okay?"

He considered her simple but loaded question, and nodded. "Yeah. We're okay." An awkward silence passed between them as he checked his watch. "Well, I guess I'll get going. It's getting late."

"Yes it is."

He rose from the chair. "I'll just go say goodbye to the kids and will be on my way."

She watched him go, until he disappeared around the corner, then downed the rest of her glass in two gulps. Staring back at the chair he sat in moments ago, she rested her head in her palm and dreamily envisioned him there. The way he took on that natural role of protector this afternoon caused her to remember how much she loved that side of him. Although somewhat unhealthy, she loved how he leaped into GI Joe mode when it came to her or their children. He would do anything to protect them.

Still.

Hearing him bidding the kids goodbye, she was brought out of her momentary daze as she rose from the chair. Trotting towards the kitchen to quickly check on the lasagna in the oven, she passed a hand over her face, realizing she probably shouldn't have had that second hefty glass. That familiar warm and relaxing feeling was settling in too soon. She had a a lot more studying to do.

Cranking up the kitchen timer for an additional fifteen minutes, she wiped her hands on a dish towel and made her way towards the door. Reaching for the gold brushed door knob, she smiled when she saw him finally walking her way. He was still clothed in his black suit with a complimenting crisp, snowy white shirt beneath and maroon silk tie around the neck, as his pea coat was casually flung over an arm. She always loved him in suits. He was so handsome and debonair. There were times that she would pinch herself to be reminded that he was hers and that she could freely enjoy ogling him as much as she wanted. And then there were the other times she had to remind herself that this same man, freely passed around what was hers, what was theirs, without a second thought. Her head dropped to her chest at the notion for a matter of seconds as a pool of hurt filled her heart. That sedated feeling of them taking a step forward, diminished in the blink of an eye as it felt like they had taken a hundred back when his infidelities flooded her mind.

Choosing not to dwell on that, she opened the door and looked up at him once he turned in the doorway.

"I'll still pick them up here on Friday?"

"Yes. They should be ready about 6ish."

"Sounds good. See you then."

Everything seemed to happen in slow motion for her. The scent of his cologne swarmed her senses, evoking a feeling of comfort and peace once he leaned down to her petite frame and slipped an arm around her waist, slightly drawing her in as he planted a brief, but soft kiss on her cheek. His utterance of 'goodnight' in her ear nearly made her swoon.

What the hell is wrong with me?

"Goodnight," she heard herself say when he pulled back and turned around, finally leaving. Shutting the door, she rested a hand over her heart as she leaned against the sturdy entrance and closed her eyes.

What was this feeling washing over her? Could it be influenced from the wine? She was still hurt, and grieving. She thought she had pushed that remaining, singular ounce of love she had for him aside to allow her to heal without feeling…something. To completely explore her emotions and their complex union without being swayed by the sentiments of her heart and soul. Her targeted goal now seemed like a joke.

Opening her eyes, she was met with those familiar orbs of her incessant daughter, standing to the right in the entryway of the family room with her arms folded, a questioning look on her face.

"What?" Alicia asked.

"Are you and Dad okay again? Is counseling helping?"

Walking towards her, Alicia cocked her head to the side. "Why would you ask that?"

"Because of how you two said goodbye just now." She smiled softly. "It was sweet."

Alicia rolled her eyes. "You're reading too much into things, little girl." Patting her cheeks, she bypassed her and walked towards the dining room.

"I know what I saw," Grace yelled after her.

"You saw what your eyes wanted to see. Now go get the outfit you've picked out for school tomorrow and show me. You're not walking out of here in another short skirt and too tight of a top. I don't care what Shannon's mother let's her wear." Grace huffed and slyly rolled her eyes. "And tell your brother dinner will be ready in ten minutes!"

Trudging past the dining room, she stopped and stared at her mother who was busy refilling her wine glass.

"I know what I saw," she said quickly before scurrying to her room to avoid the yelling she knew was behind her mother's steely gaze.

Bringing the crystal blown glass to her lips, Alicia stared back at where Peter sat breaths ago, wondering, just what had she seen herself.