"Danny Castellano, we're in a fight!"

"Who's in a fight? You and I?"

"Yes."

"Hmm. That's interesting. What did I do now?"

Mindy held her phone to her ear with her right shoulder as she continued to tidy up her apartment in preparation for her visit from Elliot. She was astounded by the amount of ice cream she had gone through the previous day, as indicated by the number of empty cartons she had tossed into her trash can.

"How could you not tell me that inviting Elliot over was such a bad idea?" she hissed. "It is way too soon to be dealing with all this!"

"Mindy, you're the one that decided that this was a good idea!" he stressed. "All day you've been saying things like 'just rip it off like a band-aid. Get it over with.' That was you, not me."

Mindy rolled her eyes as she picked up yet another ice cream carton. "Every twosome has an erratic one and a level-headed one, depending on the situation. In this instance, you were supposed to be the level-headed one, Danny. You were supposed to tell me to wait a little longer or, better yet, just avoid the whole thing until it blows over or goes away. Where were you, Danny? Where were you the moment I needed saving from myself?"

"You don't feel like you sound the least bit dramatic right now?" he asked her carefully. She could hear him moving around in his kitchen, the telltale sound of pots and pans being placed on his stove reverberating in her ear. "And anyway, I think you had the right idea. I mean, if you were in his shoes, don't you think you'd want to get to the bottom of things as soon as possible instead of sitting around, wondering what happened?"

She tried to think of what she would have wanted had she been in his position, but all she kept imaging was her chasing down her runaway groom and strangling him on the scene. He wouldn't have lived. She got off lucky, as far as she was concerned.

"Just remember," Danny continued. "You're apologizing for the timing, not the reasoning. All you're doing is facing him, like you should, and cluing him in."

Mindy deposited the final empty carton into her garbage, then leaned against her kitchen island in defeat. She was well aware of how right he was, just as she was aware that her attempt to cast blame on him was just a consequence of faulty nerves. She idly traced nonsensical patterns onto the counter and blew a heavy breath through her nose.

"This is the right thing to do," she said with a sigh. "You're right, Danny."

"So, the level-headed one prevailed after all?" She could almost hear his smug half-smile over the receiver.

"Try to sound less pleased with yourself," Mindy fired back just before she heard a buzz at the front door. Her heart leapt into her throat and her mouth suddenly became much drier.

"Danny, that's him. I've gotta go," she breathed quietly.

"You've got this, Mindy," he said encouragingly. "You'll be fine. I'll talk to you later."

"Bye," she mumbled before hanging up the phone. She took a steadying deep breath and walked over to the door. Mindy opened it to find her ex-fiance standing there, holding a plastic crate filled with her discarded belongings.

She's not sure how she could have forgotten how handsome he was in only three days time, but his carefully mussed dark blonde hair and entrancing hazel eyes were a swift reminder. The light stubble along his broad jaw line, obviously once carefully trimmed, was beginning to grow out under his chin and close to his neck – a new look from his usual clean shaven face – and that, along with his tired eyes, made him look utterly sad.

He gave her a tight-lipped expression and a curt nod in lieu of a proper hello. Mindy stepped aside silently and allowed him to brush past her as he entered the apartment. Elliot walked over to the kitchen island and set the crate on top, then turned to face Mindy with his hands in the pockets of his dark khakis. The expression on his face flashed nuances of both hurt and loathing, and it killed her. She didn't know if she wanted to hug him or throw him out of her apartment and just forget the whole thing.

"Do you want to sit?" Mindy offered meekly, gesturing towards the living room furniture.

Elliot shook his head. "No, I'm not staying long." His ability to maintain icy eye contact and an even tone of voice unnerved her. There was no way he was going to make this easy (not that she felt she deserved something easy at the moment).

"Okay, fine," she conceded immediately. "I'll keep it short. I cannot ever properly express to you how sorry I am. I'm so, so sorry Elliot. What I did was…"

As she struggled to find the words, Elliot eagerly supplied, "Loathsome? Selfish? Dickish? Fucking terrible?"

"Yes!" she was quick to interject. "All of that! I never meant to hurt you and trust me, I wouldn't have taken it that far had I realized what I wanted…or didn't want…earlier. It was never my intention to humiliate you. I really, really hope you believe me when I say that."

Elliot didn't respond immediately. He pulled his hands out of his pockets and crossed his arms over his chest. The move made his biceps bulge against his long sleeve knitted shirt and his shoulders look a little broader. As he stood eight inches taller than her, the stance was quite intimidating. He kept that position for a few silent moments while maintaining his stare.

"El…" she called to him cautiously.

"You could have come to me at any time and told me that you didn't want to get married," Elliot finally spoke in a low, seething tone. "You could have told me, literally, just before I stood next to the priest and waited for you and that, while still dickish, would have been a lot better than what you did to me."

"I know," Mindy replied pathetically.

"Oh, you do?" Elliot began to raise his voice. "Then why on Earth would you choose to bolt as you're walking down the aisle, Mindy? Why would you choose to humiliate me in front of everyone we know?"

Mindy shut her eyes and attempted to calmly defend herself against his accusations. "I didn't…choose to humiliate you, okay? I just accepted certain realizations much later than I should have and I'm truly, truly sorry for that. If I could take it back –"

"What realizations?"

The question caught Mindy off-guard. "Huh?"

Elliot stood a little straighter and took half a step forward with a look of intense interest. "What realizations did you suddenly have to accept?"

It was something that she should have been prepared to answer, considering that she had rehearsed this conversation in her head over and over again since lunchtime. Standing in front of him now, though, as he looked so angry and wounded, made her previous explanations of 'I realized that we were too different' or 'Your family didn't care for me' seem flimsy, even if they were a part of the overall issue. She wished she had more time to brainstorm something more satisfying, but he was expecting an answer in that moment and after everything that had happened, he'd more than deserved one.

On the spot, Mindy opted to voice the things she didn't dare tell anyone else, the things she intentionally kept to herself to avoid the obligatory concern and questioning of her choice to get married. There really wasn't a point to holding back any longer.

"As I walked towards you," Mindy spoke in a low, but steady voice, "I realized that I wasn't about to build a life with you, I was about to be molded and fitted into the life you've already established for yourself."

The admission caused the Elliot to snap his head back in surprise and narrow his eyes in confusion. It also took Mindy by surprise, actually hearing herself say it out loud for the first time, but finally saying it also bolstered her resolve regarding the ordeal. She continued a little more confidently.

"You know, I'm used to people – men in particular – not necessarily enjoying the same music and movies that I do or having the same political views or priorities. Having differing outlooks never bothered me, but with you…I always felt like you were grooming me to be something entirely different, and considering how much I talked to you about Casey," she emphasized, referencing the boyfriend prior to Elliot, "and how much he tried to do that to me, I would have expected you to be a little more considerate and accepting. Instead I felt like you were always trying to redirect me, or stop me from being myself. For instance, the time you went through my phone and deleted all of the alerts I had set up for myself to let me know when the Miley Cyrus tickets were going on sale."

At that, Elliot released his hands and ran one through his hair with exasperation while the other grabbed the edge of the counter behind him. This incident lead to one of the biggest fights they had ever had and he still wasn't totally convinced that he was in the wrong. "I did that so that you wouldn't be a grown woman in her thirties at a damn Miley Cyrus concert!"

"And that's it, right there!" Mindy shouted while pointing at him. "That judgment! You applied that kind of judgment to almost everything I did! I mean, make fun of my love for Miley, fine! I'm a grown woman, like you kindly pointed out, and I can dish it just as good as I can take it. But don't block me from the things I love in hopes that it will turn me into a different kind of person! And the crappy thing is that you were never just outright with it, you were never overtly an asshole about it. At least then I would have been able to defend myself against it. No, it was these little comments or suggestions that you would make that wouldn't even offend me until I sat down and really thought about it. You never like the first thing I put on whenever we would go out on dates-"

"Oh, you mean those tight, low-cut dresses you always wanted to wear?" Elliot challenged.

"The same dresses that happened to catch your attention?" Mindy fired back with eyes reduced to narrow slits. "Yeah, honey, those. And don't get me started on how much I had to be coached before going to visit your family! Don't wear these colors, don't give your opinion on that issue, 'Oh here, Mindy, just pretend that you're really into classical music and Bill O'Reilly!'"

"Okay, that's not fair, Mindy! Every person adjusts themselves a little when they're around their significant other's family!" Elliot pushed himself off of the counter and prepared to argue back. "Besides, it's not like your family really cared for me, either!"

Mindy couldn't help but laugh at him while her blood boiled. "You're absolutely right," she replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "My family didn't really warm up to you the one time you met them before the wedding and that was mainly because you were so distant and on your phone a good portion of the day that they didn't really get the chance to know you better. And that one time versus the countless times I've seen your family and hung out with your friends and ate dinners with your co-workers proves my fucking point: you never seemed to take any sort of invested interest in me or the things I love! It was always about making you comfortable and doing the things that you liked, no matter how much I pleaded with you to loosen up and try new things with me or at least try something that I enjoyed! And God, if you ever broke down and actually did something that meant something to me, like going to my office's Christmas party – which I can't even count now because you obviously had an ulterior motive there – then you would hold it over my head like some huge favor that I would have to pay you back for, instead of an opportunity to just make me happy!"

The ceasing of Mindy's shouting left a thick silence between them. Elliot's mouth was clamped shut and his expression was reflective, like he was trying to decide whether to be insulted or ashamed. When he didn't reply with any sort of defense, Mindy walked past him to the counter and placed her hands on the crate.

"Do you know what's really sad, Elliot?" Mindy asked softly. Her voice was already beginning to feel sore from all the prior yelling. She waited for him to turn towards her. "Look at all this stuff that you had to get from your place – and, by the way, I know there's more than this, but still – look at it. Do you know how much of your stuff is here?"

Elliot didn't answer, but she knew that he knew exactly how to answer that. She answered for him.

"Not a thing," she added. "You've only ever been here twice and both times you were gone before sunrise. How ridiculous is that? Why did you ask me to marry you if you felt like there was so much you had to change?"

Elliot gave a careless shrug. "I loved you, Mindy. I thought finding the person that you love meant helping each other change for the better."

"You influence change in someone out of love and benevolence, Elliot, not convenience," she responded tiredly. "And you do understand that you just implied that I needed to change the things that essentially make me the person I am in order to change 'for the better,' don't you? That doesn't ring as offensive at all?"

She was unsure as to whether or not anything she was saying was actually sinking in. Elliot was such a stubborn man and while she was used to going up against stubborn men, this was altogether different.

"I want someone who challenges me, but also stands beside me and has my back," Mindy said, her voice shakier than she had anticipated. "I want someone who genuinely likes the person I am, even if that includes poking fun at some of the things that I enjoy. I deserve someone who's going to get that I am a person that exists outside of 'So-and-so's Fiancé.' Getting married to you meant that I would become 'Elliot Mjeckwindowski's Wife' and that's it. I would have been fine – even proud- to be that some of the time, but I don't want to lose Mindy in the process."

Mindy felt like there was nothing more to say. She didn't know what to expect from Elliot, but she waited patiently as he stared at a spot on the floor. After what felt like an eternity, Elliot finally uttered. "Wow." He shifted around a little more before eventually patting the crate with a certain finality. "Yeah, um…I better get going."

"That's it?!" Mindy cried, realizing that while she didn't quite know what she wanted him to say, an apology would have been an acceptable start.

"I don't know, Mindy," Elliot admitted with frustration. "That's a lot to process! Look, I'm sorry that you felt that way, I really am, but I'm also having to work through a lot of anger towards you right now. I just need time, okay?"

Mindy let out a laugh that mingled with a sob that threatened to escape her. The disappointment she felt after having none of what she revealed tonight acknowledged at all sat heavy on her chest. She suddenly wanted him gone so that she could be left alone to cry and scream and search for more ice cream, and she wasn't about to do any of that in front of him. "Yeah, Elliot, whatever."

He stared at her for a moment and with a slow, reluctant nod he turned towards the front door. He had made it a couple steps when Mindy noticed a blue folder sitting on top of her things.

"Elliot, what's this?" she asked, picking up the folder. She hoped that it wasn't bills for the various wedding expenses because she had absolutely no strength to deal with that.

"Oh, yeah, that's the, uh…"

She opened the folder and immediately saw two plane tickets and a colorful brochure for a cozy bed and breakfast. There were printed receipts and a stack of vouchers, the topmost voucher appearing to be for something called the Ghost Tours of Key West. Even though Elliot never answered her, Mindy immediately understood.

"Why are you giving this to me?" she asked in awe.

With another shrug he replied, "It's Key West. I've been more times than I can count, a lot of that stuff isn't transferable, and I can't seem to unload it on anyone with the short notice."

"Okay, then why don't you go with your brother or something?"

"Mindy, I'm not about to go make some weird vacation out of what was supposed to be my honeymoon, alright?" he answered defiantly. "I'm not nearly that callous!"

"Oh, and I am?!" How, Mindy thought, could someone lack so much forethought when it came to the things they say? She despised the feeling of being repeatedly offended in her own home.

Elliot took a deep breath and exhaled. "That's not what I meant," he continued, returning to the even voice he had at the top of the visit. "I'm just eager to get it out of my apartment. Whether you go-"

"There's no way I'm going on that damn trip," Mindy quickly shot down.

"- or give it away," he continued without acknowledgment, "I don't care. I just can't have it at my place anymore."

Running a finger over the glossy brochure in the back of the folder, she almost missed Elliot making his exit. She suddenly remembered one final thing.

"Elliot, wait!" She put down the folder and rushed to follow him, sticking her hand in her skirt pocket. When he turned around, she was holding up the ornate engagement ring. He looked as if he was about to shatter for a moment, but quickly shook it off, took the ring, and exited the apartment without saying goodbye. Feeling completely drained, she closed the door and slid against it, finally letting the tears cascade down her cheek. Whether they were tears of relief or sorrow, she wasn't too sure.

After he put the finishing touches on his stir fry, Danny placed the large lid over his wok and allowed the vegetables to simmer a little longer. He yanked the kitchen towel that was slung over his shoulder and wiped his hands as he turned to look at the clock on the stove. 7:42. His mind involuntarily wandered to thoughts of Mindy as he wondered how the meeting with her ex was going. Were they yelling? Was he making her feel awful? Maybe they were reconciling? He hoped not, but it was still a possibility.

He pulled a beer from the fridge and quickly divested it of its cap, taking a slow sip as he cleaned up any leftover mess. Peering into the clear lid, he glanced at the abundance of simmering chicken and vegetables. He really had a bad habit of making too much food at once, something that he always attributed to his Italian roots. Plenty of leftovers, I guess, he thought to himself. He placed the beer down in order to give the food a quick stir when he heard his phone beep with an incoming message. Danny quickly located the phone and saw a text from Mindy.

From: Mindy

Can you please drive me to the nearest bridge?

Apr 15, 7:48 p.m.

Though he didn't enjoy her anguish, he couldn't help but smirk at her flair for the dramatics. He assumed that this was her way of saying that the visit hadn't gone well.

He decided to call her rather than text her back, feeling like she may have needed to talk to someone. He quickly pushed the call button twice and waited for her ringback tone. The wait music didn't last long, for she answered her phone quickly.

"Hey," she muttered unenthusiastically. He could hear her sniffling over the receiver.

"So it didn't go well?" he asked gently, diving right into the heart of the matter.

She sniffled again. "It was pretty heavy. Worst of all, I feel like he didn't get any of it. At least I feel a little better about not marrying the guy; I can forgive myself much quicker now."

Danny sighed, not knowing what to say. He turned towards he stove. "Hey, Min, I made that chicken stir fry you like. Why don't you come over and have some dinner with me? Then you can tell me all about it."

The sound of Mindy blowing her nose rang in his ear. He found it to be a combination of gross and cute.

"That's sweet of you, Danny," she replied, her voice still thick. "I'll bring the wines."

"Mindy, did you say wines, as in plural?"

"Uh, huh," she answered plainly. "It's been a tough night, my friend."

Danny chuckled warmly. "Alright, bring your wines. I'll be waiting."