A/N: I thought about skipping this episode, but then I watched the final scene of the ep and I knew I couldn't. Enjoy xx Mariah

He hit the bag repeatedly, sudden movements that were stopped by the leather bag that swung. he moved around the bag, shoving his fists into the leather sharply, feeling his muscles ached after twenty minutes. His focus was to take his anger out. To make himself feel better able this whole Kyle situation.

How was he going to tell Riley that Kyle was in Mexico? That he'd crossed the border and didn't know if he'd ever be back. Would she finally tell the kids? Would she finally realize he was the better brother?

He used his entire body strength with his next punch when he realized she was watching him, her arms crossed and brow furrowed.

"I used to find Kyle out here," she said, breaking the tension and he stopped, turning to look at her. "More often than not last year. I wish he'd shared his frustration with me instead of that damn bag. Might've saved us all a lot of heartbreak." She looked away from him and her fingers traced over the stone patio table. "I really wanted this dinner to be perfect. You know, for the kids to just make everything okay. But I guess I should've know that wasn't going to happen, because, well, everything is not okay."

He didn't know what to say to her. Or how to soothe the pain he knew she hid from everybody.

"Maybe it's time to tell the kids the truth," he said simply, hoping it would soothe something.

"I want to be honest with them," she nodded. "I really do, but what if he comes back? You know? I mean that would just make it confusing for all of us. You know... the truth is I don't know what I would do right now if he walked through that door."

"I know what I would do," he interrupted and sat down beside her, using his tank top to wipe the sweat of his face.

"Evan," she sighed and looked at him.

"Kyle coming back isn't really going to be an issue," he breathed. He caught her gaze and knew that he couldn't just stop there and tried his best to avoid watching her eyes when he told her. "Riley, Kyle left the country last week."

"What? How do you know that?" She asked, shaking her head.

He couldn't be right. He wouldn't do that, would he?

"My buddy Tim ran his information thought he system last week as a favor to me." He explained, pausing there and looking at her before deciding to continue. "He got a hit. On Kyle's passport. He used it to fly to Mexico."

"Maybe it was stolen," she lied to herself and he knew it wouldn't last very long, but all he could do was look at her and she looked right back at him and he watched her eyes avert from his soon after. She knew now that he wasn't coming back an time soon, let alone ever. The tears threatened to fall, but she focused on trying not to cry. She couldn't let Kyle have that power over her anymore. Not if he left the country. "That's what you've been wantin' to tell me."

"Just been tryin' to find the right time Riley," he sighed.

"He's really gone?" She said and deep inside even she wondered if that was a question or a statement as Evan looked at her, trying to study her.

Did she still love him after all of this? How could she?

He heartbreak came in waves, grueling, stealing appetite and sleep alike. It was a shard in her stomach that never left, though perhaps in time the edges had dulled. It wasn't as heart wrenching each secret and lie she unraveled of his. But smiling each day hurt a little more. Trying to pretend for the kids that everything was okay or acting like she didn't wish Kyle would walk through that door so she could forgive him.

Her eyes dripped with tears. Perhaps these tears would help wash the wounds out. When would she stop crying over him?

"Riley are you okay?" He asked.

"I wish everybody would stop askin' me that," she muttered and stood. "Because no matter how many times people ask they never want to know the truth."

"Riley, wait." he said, standing up to follow her.

"Please, Evan, just go home." She simply said and walked to her room, closing the door behind her.

She'd left her mother out there too and hadn't said anything to her, but knew they'd shut the lights off and see themselves out. She needed to be alone because brick by brick, her walls came tumbling down. She just broke down. The sobs punched through, ripping through her muscles, bones, and guts. She fell to the floor against the bedroom door and pressed her head against the door and began to let her heart yank in and out of her chest. She stained the floor with her love. It ran from her mouth and she choked on the air. Her head hung low, heavy with thoughts of him.

Her nights had turned to this and lying in bed staring at the ceiling and her days? Filled with lying to everyone about where Kyle was and how he was doing.

"Riley?" Her mom was at the door. "Evan told me what happened. Let me in?" She couldn't reply. The tears wouldn't stop and she could breathe between quiet sobs. "Riley Ann... please let me in." She stood slowly, her legs could barely hold her up right now and she opened the door for her mother. "Sweetheart... I'm so sorry."

He made her feel on fire and she wanted to make it stop.

"What am I gonna do?" She whispered. "I can't tell the kids... they'll be devastated."

"They're devastated already, baby." Linette whispered and hugged her daughter.

Her mother wasn't an affectionate person when it came down to it. Hugs were rare, but when her daughter was in pain there was nothing more she wanted to do then comfort her in anyway possible. And in some way it healed her enough to hug her back. She couldn't let this get the best of her. She had to move on.