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A Piece of Happiness

Lacey went back to the school, fixing her make up in the rear view mirror before heading back inside; she had cried almost the entire way there. Once inside with Andy's box of belongings, she sat down at her desk to look through them. Unfortunately, her next class would be coming in soon so she only got to look through a few pictures. She smiled at the first one she came across, letting it sit out on her desk as she placed the box underneath it while the kindergartners filed inside. It was a picture of her, Andy, and Kelly from Halloween when she was four and they were nine; she was a ballerina and they were, of course, firemen.

"All right guys," she smiled, getting up from her desk as they sat at their work benches, two to a table. "Who's ready for finger painting?"

"Yea!" a bunch of little voices said in unison. While everyone else was excited to start working, she noticed her nephew Sean still seated at the far table alone, not ready to join the other kids in arts and crafts. Things were still really hard at home for the Darden kids and she was doing what she could to help them get back to normal.

That night, with Kelly on shift, Lacey went back over to Heather's to spend the night with her and the boys. Inside the house seemed to reflect what everyone was feeling, somewhat disorganized and in disarray. While Heather had started furiously cleaning day and night to keep her mind off of things, there were still some aspects of the house that were falling into disrepair. The squeaking floorboard by the stairs, the leaky faucet, the broken light on the front porch. These were all things that Andy would have fixed, so Lacey knew why they were let go. For now, the boys were upstairs in bed while Lacey attempted to watch tv but Heather kept dusting and getting in her way.

"Hey," Lacey said, getting her attention. "Come on, come sit."

"Lacey, I-" Heather protested.

"For two minutes," Lacey insisted. "You can sit for two minutes." Heather sighed, going to sit next to her sister in law on the couch, watching re-runs of old sitcoms.

"So, did I tell you who I saw yesterday?" Heather asked, turning to talk to her; Lacey kept her eyes on the tv.

"Who?" Lacey asked absent mindedly. She loved Heather, she was her brother's wife, but sometimes she just couldn't listen to her anymore. Over the last month she learned that it was just better to let her rant sometimes then jump in with her own opinion on things. Tonight felt like it was going to be one of those nights.

"Kelly," Heather said, sounding disgusted at his name. Lacey kept a straight face but shifted a bit uncomfortably as she continued to watch tv.

"Did you talk to him?" Lacey asked, her voice monotone as she tried not to show that this clearly bothered her that Heather would keep acting this way towards Kelly. Even if she wasn't involved with him, she knew what happened to her brother wasn't Kelly's fault, that Kelly loved Andy just as much as them and this hurt him as well.

"Barely," Heather scoffed, turning to watch the tv now too. "Enough so he knew he was the last person I wanted to see."

"He's having a hard time too Heather," Lacey tried to reason; Heather turned to look at her again.

"Have you talked to him?" Heather asked. Lacey felt like it was a little demanding, like Heather thought she was her mother or something.

"He's been my friend my whole life," Lacey said like it was obvious; she hesitated before saying the next part. "And, it's not his fault."

"Andy wouldn't have even been a firefighter if-"

"If my dad hadn't been one, not Kelly," Lacey stopped her, reminding her that both Kelly and Andy had come from a long line of firefighters. Heather seemed hurt by the comment, since Lacey was telling her she was wrong for feeling this way. "Heather, I'm sorry. I just don't think it's helping anyone to just throw the blame around."

"Well, if Kelly had just done his job then..." Heather trailed off as Lacey got up from the couch, preparing to go over towards the steps. "Where are you going?"

"My apartment," Lacey answered, quietly going upstairs to grab her things so she wouldn't wake up the boys. When she came back downstairs with her suitcase, Heather had gotten up from the couch as well to meet her at the bottom.

"This isn't helping me," Lacey told her before she could ask. "If you need me to come by and help with the boys I can, but I can't stay here anymore." Heather didn't say anything to stop her, almost like she didn't want her to stay anymore after their disagreement over the Kelly thing.

Lacey left, placing her suitcase in the back of her car before driving over to her apartment building. Parked outside, she rooted around in her bag for her key but realized that she must have left her keys in her apartment. She had Kelly's spare on a separate key ring in her purse, so she decided to go stay the night in his apartment instead.

Still on shift, Kelly sat outside that night trying to clear his head. It wasn't bad enough that he had lost someone in a building collapse earlier, it always drove him crazy when he couldn't save someone, but they also had a whiteboard meeting that day about what happened to Andy. They didn't name names, but they did say that if there was a vent in the back the fire wouldn't have killed Andy. Guilt was a hard pill to swallow.

Pulling his phone from his pocket, he opened up his contacts, his thumb hesitating over Lacey's name. He wanted to call her, but if she was finally sleeping he didn't want to disturb her. He decided against it, replacing his phone in his pocket. Instead, he got up to go inside to the bathroom where he would use more the medication from Shay to deal with his shoulder.

The next morning after their shift was over, both Shay and Kelly returned home, a little surprised to see Lacey's car parked out front. Inside, they found her asleep on the couch, her suitcase by the bottom of the stairs. She must have fallen asleep watching tv since it was still turned on. Kelly crept over and turned off the tv while Shay nodded her head at the stairs, letting her know she would leave them alone.

"Lace," Kelly said gently, shaking her shoulder to wake her up as he sat on the coffee table next to the couch. "Babe."

"Mmm?" Lacey mumbled, blinking her eyes open slowly; she smiled a little when she saw him. "Hi."

"Hey," he smiled back. "Why'd you sleep down here?"

"Couldn't sleep," she shook her head, sitting up to stretch. "Came down to watch some tv. I, um, locked myself out of my apartment so I thought I'd crash here."

"That's fine," Kelly promised her, never being bothered that she would decide to stay there. "Why didn't you stay at Heather's though?"

"Ah," Lacey hesitated, reaching for her phone on the table to check the time. "We kind of had a disagreement." Before Kelly could ask, Lacey bolted up from the couch. "God, I'm late."

"Hey," Kelly said as she went over to her suitcase, pulling out clothes to change. "Did you want to go to the barbecue tomorrow?"

"Um, yeah," Lacey nodded, finally deciding as she swapped one top for another, pulling on her skirt quickly. "Heather was going to take the boys, I wanted to make sure they did ok." She ran her fingers through her messy hair, fluffing it a little to fix it. "They're still having a hard time with this kind of stuff."

"Right," Kelly nodded in understanding. "Are you going to go with them?"

"Well, I was," Lacey said, going over to a nearby mirror to put on some make up. "But, since I'm not staying there anymore, I'll probably just meet them there."

"Do you want to go with me?" Kelly asked, broaching the subject cautiously. Since the accident they hadn't really discussed revealing their relationship to everybody.

"I mean, I'll see you there?" Lacey said in confusion, not getting what he was hinting at.

"I meant with me with me," Kelly clarified, studying her expression carefully.

"Oh," Lacey said like she didn't know how to answer. "I just, um...don't know if it's the right time for it. You know?"

"Do you ever think it's going to be the right time?" Kelly asked her.

"Babe, I'm really late," Lacey told him, kissing him on the cheek. "I'll be back later tonight, ok?"

"Mhmm," Kelly nodded, watching her go. The longer they kept the secret, the more it wore at him. He wanted to be her boyfriend, he didn't think that there was anything wrong with them. But did she? The fact that she still didn't want to share with anyone worried him.

That night, Shay went out with her friends, saying she didn't know when she would be back. Kelly waited at the apartment for Lacey, watching tv and having a beer on his own. When she came back, she had brought back take out for dinner. She was trying to avoid the topic of the barbecue the next day, Kelly could tell. He obliged her at first, not wanting to argue with her as soon as she walked through the door. As they finished with dinner though and started watching a movie, he couldn't keep it bottled up anymore.

"I want you to come with me to the barbecue tomorrow," Kelly admitted to her. "As my date. My girlfriend," he clarified.

"Kelly," Lacey complained, not wanting to do this right now. She grabbed their plates from the coffee table, going to put them in the sink. Being confronted always made it impossible for her to sit still. Kelly got up to follow her, standing at the counter.

"What is so wrong with telling people?" Kelly asked curiously.

"I just don't think the barbecue is the best place to do it," Lacey reasoned.

"Why not?" Kelly continued. "They're going to find out anyway, they might as well all find out at once."

"Is what we have not good enough for you?" Lacey asked.

"Don't make this into that," Kelly protested. "Look, Lace, after what happened to Andy-"

"God, don't," Lacey stopped him. "Don't go there."

"Well, it's true," Kelly went on. "Life's too short to just let the things you want go by." Lacey didn't say anything. "Aren't you sick of only being able to see me in this apartment? Because I want to be able to take you to barbecues, to dinner, stuff like that."

"Kelly," Lacey said again. "It just doesn't seem right, the first thing after my brother's accident and we start telling people about us?"

"It's been a month," Kelly argued. "And what do you care what other people think about us?"

"It's not that," Lacey protested, though it certainly looked that way.

"Then what is it?" Kelly asked; she didn't answer again. "Look, I don't think it's wrong. I'm so tired of people making comments-"

"What kind of comments?" she interrupted.

"The other day people thought you were with Casey," he explained. "And they kept saying there was no way because who goes for their best friend's sister. Well, I did." He laughed a little at himself as he thought about it. "I went for my best friend's sister. And you know what Lace?" He got her to look at him. "I don't even care, because I don't think that there's anything wrong with it. I went for my best friend's sister and..." He took a breath. "And I fell in love with her."

Lacey didn't say anything at first.

This wasn't the Kelly she knew her whole life, the one she grew up with. The Kelly she knew was a bit of a ladies man, one that didn't make many commitments. She remembered in high school he had two dates to prom, one at his high school and one he kept sneaking off to at another high school down the road; Andy was amazed he got away with it. He always had various girlfriends, ones that were only around for a few weeks before they were replaced by someone else. Lacey recalled making the comment that she had cartons of milk that lasted longer. They were just messing around, having fun that summer. At least, that was what she thought. Even though they had planned to tell Andy about them, she still had never thought that Kelly had been that serious about her.

"You...what?" she finally asked.

"Um," Kelly said, trying not to let on, but Lacey could tell that her response stung; he had been hoping she would say it back. "You know what, forget I said anything."

"Kelly, I-"

"I'll just see you tomorrow," he stopped her. "Ok?"

Lacey was a little surprised. Was he kicking her out? As she thought about it though, it would be too awkward for her to stay there after that. She grabbed her bag, intending to go back to her apartment with the spare set of keys she had picked up from her landlord earlier. As she was driving though, she almost found herself involuntarily taking turns to go someplace else entirely. Eventually, she found herself sitting outside her parents' house.

"Lacey?" her mom asked when she opened the door, seeing her daughter on the stoop outside the brick house.

"I, um, didn't have my key," Lacey said as her mom let her in. Her mother, Sarah, could see that she was clearly shaken and upset about something.

"Ok," Sarah nodded, leading her into the living room to sit with her.

"Where's dad?" Lacey asked about Mark, not ready to start talking about what happened yet.

"He's upstairs," her mother explained. "Says he wasn't feeling well." She sighed a little. "I think this barbecue tomorrow has him more upset than he'll let on."

"And you?" Lacey asked curiously.

"We'll be all right honey," Sarah promised, resting a hand on hers. "Day by day, right?" Lacey was amazed by her mother's warmth and comfort when she herself had lost her own son. She figured that was part of being a mother though, helping your kids before yourself.

"I guess," Lacey nodded.

"So," Sarah said, since Lacey clearly wasn't going to bring it up on her own. "What's on your mind honey?"

"I might have," Lacey said hesitantly. "...hurt someone really important to me."

"Mmmm," Sarah nodded along.

"And I don't know what to do," Lacey went on.

"Saying sorry won't just fix it?" Sarah asked; Lacey shook her head.

"It's really complicated," Lacey tried to explain; Sarah nodded, waiting for her to continue. "I've, um, sort of been seeing this person...secretly. And now he wants to tell people...but I don't know that we should."

"Ah," Sarah nodded. "And, by he, you mean Kelly right?" Lacey was surprised by what her mom said.

"What?" Lacey asked curiously.

"Honey," Sarah smiled at her. "Who did you two think you were fooling?" She laughed a little. "It certainly wasn't Andy."

"Andy knew?" Lacey asked, raising her eye brows.

"Sweetheart," Sarah continued to smile at her. "Andy's known and loved you both for as long as I can remember." She laughed, recalling the events from earlier that summer. "When you two started acting so jumpy around him he knew that something was up."

"So, Andy knew?" Lacey repeated; Sarah nodded. "Why didn't he say anything?"

"I told him that you two would tell him when you were ready," Sarah explained.

"You?" Lacey asked curiously.

"Mhmm," Sarah nodded.

"Andy was just ok with it?" Lacey asked in confusion. This wasn't like the brother she had grown up with at all, the one who waited for her to come home from her first date on the front porch. This same brother had threatened her prom date, interrogated her boyfriends she brought home from college. Just letting her and Kelly get away with it didn't seem like Andy at all.

"Oh, well that's another story," Sarah chuckled, remembering how her son was about Lacey. "Andy was ready to wring Kelly's neck when he figured it out. Your dad wasn't too far behind him."

"Why...didn't he?" Lacey asked hesitantly, figuring her brother would pretty much react like that. He was one of the most caring people she knew, but when it came to protecting her he didn't mess around.

"Do you remember the Fourth of July?" Sarah asked. "We had Andy, Heather, and the kids? And some of the others from the station for the pool party?"

"I remember," Lacey answered.

"Well, your brother was ready to confront Kelly that night," Sarah explained. "But, Kelly wasn't watching the fireworks that night. He was watching you." She smiled. "Andy could tell there was something different, so then he was ok about it." She shrugged her shoulders. "He knew you two would come out with it when you were ready."

"We were going to," Lacey quickly said, trying to justify things. "We were, but then he had his accident and-"

"It's ok Lacey," Sarah promised her, taking both her hands. "Really, sweetheart, it's ok. Andy wasn't angry or upset. He was just happy that you two were happy." She squeezed her hands. "You both deserve that."

Kelly wasn't really in any mood to be at this barbecue today, not after what happened last night with Lacey. There were several picnic tables, the firefighters from the station spread out among two of them, coming back and forth with food and drinks. Heather had just gotten there with the boys, not even looking over in Kelly's direction. He noticed Lacey wasn't with them and wondered if she planned to come at all now. He got up from the table, heading over to grab another beer. Not seeing her come over at first, Kelly was a little surprised when he felt someone touching his arm.

"Hey," Lacey said, getting him to turn towards her.

"Um, hey," Kelly said, tossing the cap from his beer in the nearby trash. "Didn't know if you were going to decide to show or not."

"I got invited by this guy I like to be his date," Lacey said lightly. "This, um, guy I love actually." A smile spread across his face as he heard her say it. Things were hard right now and their relationship was confusing, he knew that so he tried to understand how she must have felt. Now, he was just happy to have her say it back.

"I hope that's still ok."

"Yeah. Of course," Kelly smiled, holding his free hand out for her to take. Lacey took his hand, intertwining her fingers with his; it felt right. He lead her back over to the tables were everyone else was sitting. She felt everyone looking at them, seeing the surprised looks on their faces as her and Kelly walked hand in hand, but she didn't care.

"Hey guys, over here," Shay waved them over, happy that they finally decided to let the secret out. Kelly was her best friend, she saw how the secret was eating at him. She really liked Lacey too and wanted them both to be happy.

"I'm so happy you came!" Shay said to Lacey, getting up to hug her. Since Lacey had started coming over more, rather than sneaking over, the two had gotten to be pretty close. Lacey hugged her with one arm, still holding Kelly's hand with the other. "Corrine," Shay was saying to the girl she brought with her. "You already met my roommate Kelly, right?"

"Yeah," Corrine smiled at him. "How are you Kelly?"

"Good," Kelly nodded at her. "Corrine, this is my girlfriend Lacey." It felt so good to say, to introduce her this way. There were a few I knew its coming from nearby tables, making Lacey blush a little. Apparently, more people knew than she thought.

"Well, it's nice to meet you Lacey," Corrine grinned. "Come on, sit!" Lacey sat down first as the others scooted over to make room for her and Kelly. "Kelly, you could at least get your girl a beer."

"Right, what was I thinking," Kelly joked, handing Lacey the beer that he had. "I'll be right back."

"K," she nodded as he kissed her head before leaving.

Most of the looks she was getting didn't make her feel uneasy. People were a bit surprised but seemed generally indifferent or, really, just happy for them. There were a few glances she was getting though that made her feel somewhat uncomfortable, the main one coming from Heather a few tables over. Right now though, she didn't care. All Lacey wanted was to be happy with Kelly. Her mom was right, they did deserve to be happy.

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