Chapter 15

They ate dinner together, like a family, though it saddened Jasina that it really wasn't the case. She didn't show it though, not wanting to ruin their time together. It wasn't often Jasina got to eat dinner with her daughter and Mark. Especially Mark. God she missed him. Jasina hadn't thought about another man besides him in the span of eleven years, how crazy was that? She finished eating and stood up, walking her plate to the sink and rinsed it before putting it in the dishwasher along with her fork.

"How much longer until my clothes are done, Mark?" She asked softly, really needing some panties right about now.

Mark frowned, making a face and slapped his forehead, walking out of the kitchen and downstairs to the basement.

Arielle shook her head when she heard the dryer going. "About another hour mom." She said, beginning to clear the table and looked at the dishwasher. "We don't use that. Dad unhooked it when I um..."

"Decided to test laundry soap in it."

"Oh good grief." Jasina rolled her eyes and took her dishes back out, beginning to hand wash them, knowing Mark had forgotten to start the dryer. "Thanks." She muttered good-naturedly before walking over to clear the table off. "Uh-uh, you cooked." She stated, shoving her daughter gently away. "We got this. Go sit down and relax." Jasina winked at her before bringing the rest of the dishes to the sink, filling it with water and soap before doing them. She didn't care if she was a guest or not, she wasn't going to just sit around and let everyone cater to her. Jasina didn't deserve that, especially from Mark and Arielle.

Shrugging, Arielle went into the living room, flipping on the television.

"Homework first!" Mark yelled from the basement.

"Dad!" She shrieked, walking over to the door and sighed. "What're you doing?"

"Folding these damn clothes you left in the dryer. Homework, now."

"Aww man."

"Mind your father, Arielle." Jasina stated as she finished the dishes before proceeding to put the food away, knowing Mark had three plates full. He could eat more later if he wanted, but she didn't want the food going to waste. When she was finished, she walked over, seeing her daughter doing math and made a face. "That was never my strong subject either." She whispered before wiping the table down.

"I'm better with history." Arie said, frowning as she scribbled on a piece of blank paper, rechecking her figures with a sigh. "Think it'd be cheating if I used a calculator?"

"Yes." Mark grunted, carrying up a basket filled with clothes and set it down beside the stairs. "Those need taken care of before you go to bed, Arie."

"Sure, sure when I'm done. Hey mom, why don't you spend the night?"

That question caught her off guard as Jasina blinked, seeing Mark had frozen in place as well and cleared her throat, choosing her words carefully. "Sweetheart, I have a lot of work to get done and I'm sure your father would like a little peace and quiet tonight." She said softly, raising an eyebrow down at the homework and showed her the correct process, shrugging. "I know a little math, not a lot though."

"Dad never gets peace and quiet, he doesn't mind, do you daddy?" Arielle shot him a pleading look. "Or I can go stay with you!"

"You have school in the morning, Arie." Mark finally spoke up, snapping out of his daze.

"Then it's settled, I'll go get the extra bedding!" Arielle was up and off in a heartbeat, not giving them time to turn her down.

Mark stared at Jasina. "She's your daughter."

"Oh don't even go there with me. She's OUR daughter." She corrected, pointing to the stairs, raising an eyebrow. "Unless you WANT me to stay the night?"

She smirked when Mark cursed before going after Arielle, hiding her sadness perfectly as she went over to sit down at the table, raking a hand through her hair. Having separate parents was harder on Arielle than Jasina ever thought. Then again, she never had separate parents so she honestly didn't know.

"Honey, she has to work and you have school." Mark said, trying to dissuade his daughter.

"Dad, just this once...I'd like you both under the same roof, then I can pretend that I have both my parents instead of just one." Arielle said, looking up at him, sadness creeping into her green eyes. "Please?"

Mark could only nod, pain eating away at him and headed back downstairs. "You're stayin'."

Her head snapped up when she heard that, teal eyes widened, groaning. "You couldn't convince her?" When Mark shook his head, Jasina knew she was in hell, pure and utter hell. "I'll leave when she goes to sleep. I know you don't want me here."

Jasina didn't give him a chance to say another word before walking out and upstairs to talk to her daughter. She knew she had to explain to Arielle that her mother and father were not together and probably would never be again. The thought broke her heart, but it was the harsh reality Jasina had to live with.

Mark raked a hand through his hair, glancing at the stairs then back to the couch. He had a guest room, but it was currently storing a bunch of old clothes, toys, stuff Arielle had outgrown during the years. Not to mention everything of Jasina's that she hadn't taken when she had left him. He'd always meant to go through and throw it all out, but somehow never seemed to find the time, or the willpower.

"Arielle, I don't think this is a good idea sweetheart." Jasina was being turned down no matter what she said, sighing heavily. "Look, I know you wish your father and I were together, but that's not the case. He tolerates me being around because it makes you happy. That doesn't make him a bad person, you know what I did, sweetheart." She sighed as Arielle sat down beside her, running her fingers through her hair. "I can't begin imagining how confusing this must be for you. We'll work this out alright, but I really can't stay the night. I have that article I have to finish for Trish and your father doesn't need me staying under his roof. Do you understand?" She was speaking softly and quietly, staring into those green eyes of her daughter's.

"So you two are just pretending to get along for me? Well forget it! If you guys are just faking it then I don't need either of you!" Arielle shouted angrily, tears rapidly welling in her eyes. "Just forget it. I don't need you guys lying just to make me feel better!"

He stood in the hallway, listening, his head hanging as his daughter's words pierced his heart.

"Damn it Arielle listen to me!" Jasina shouted, her own temper up, and grabbed her arms firmly in her grasp. "I hurt your father when I ran away! I don't blame him one bit for not liking me, Arielle! I made a terrible mistake, I told you what happened, do you honestly blame him? Because I don't. This is my fault entirely and I'm paying for it! Look at me..." Her voice lowered a little, knowing Arielle's hormones were going crazy since she started her period. "We both love you unconditionally and we'll get along for your sake. I have nothing against your father, I love him. I told you that. But he doesn't love me, not anymore, and I don't blame him for that. What I did is unforgivable and I'm lucky...no, I'm BLESSED...that he gave me the opportunity to be in your life."

"He only did it to make me happy, so it really doesn't count." Arielle whispered, closing her eyes, a few fat tears rolling down her face. "If I hadn't gone to Austin he wouldn't of ever looked you up and you never would've come back."

Arielle was just as big a heartbreaker as her mother was; Mark had to walk away before he started crying as well.

"I know, I know that." She whispered, her own heart breaking and pulled her daughter into her arms, holding her tightly against her. "That doesn't make him a bad person, Arielle. It doesn't. He was only doing what he felt right to protect you. He loves you so much sweetheart." She slowly lifted her chin up as their eyes met. "One thing you need to understand about life, Arielle, is that everything happens for a reason. I left to clean myself up, though it took me a long time to do it, and a life alternating experience, which I told you about." She sighed as she wiped her tears away along with her daughter's. "He just wants you to be happy sweetheart and if you being with your biological mother does that, then he's willing to...do it." She was going to say suffer, but thought best not too.

Mark figured now would be a good time to come in and start settling things down. He knew his daughter. After all, he'd been the one to mop up those tears for years now. Sighing, he settled on the other side of the bed, reaching out to gently run his fingers through Arielle's hair, hair that was so much like her mother's.

"Lil darlin', not everythin' works out the way we want them too."

"Why not?"

"Because that's the way life is, sweetheart." Jasina quietly replied, not moving from her spot on the bed, wiping her own tears away as she continued holding Arielle. "Life deals you the cards and it's your decision on what you do with that hand." That was the best metaphor she could come up with and pressed her forehead to the side of Arielle's head. "Your mother wasn't dealt the best hand and that was my own stupidity and choices. Don't ever follow in my footsteps Arielle. Follow your own path." She stated almost forcefully, choked up with emotion and squeezed her a little tighter. "I'm so sorry..." She whispered heartbrokenly and pressed a kiss to her forehead, closing her eyes.

This was getting to be a little much. There was only so much in one night that Mark could take. First his daughter starting her period, then the awkward dinner and now this. Just listening to Jasina made him both angry and sad, his heart aching for her as well as himself.

"Look...it's gettin' late and everyone is tired." And emotional. "Jasina, you can stay here, I'd feel a lot better if you did, I don't want you driving in this condition."

She knew that's not what he really wanted, but nodded anyway, tapping her daughter's nose gently. "Now go on and take a bath or whatever you do before bed. I'm staying." She smiled as Arielle threw her arms around her neck, hugging her tightly and kissed the top of her head, wiping her tears away.

She let Mark have a minute alone with Arielle while she went downstairs, trying to get her own emotions in check. She paced back and forth, taking deep breaths, and had the sudden urge to call Andy. Jasina would do that when she was home tomorrow after she got off of work. Sighing, Jasina just walked over to stare out the sliding glass door, overlooking the huge land Mark lived on, and sighed almost wistfully. It was beautiful out here, always had been.

After Arielle had told him off for being too clingy, Mark made his way downstairs, shaking his head. Too clingy? Shaking his head, he looked around, spotting Jasina by the glass doors that led to the backyard, walking over to stand behind her.

"You alright?" He asked softly.

"Yes, I am." She softly replied, slowly turning around to face him, staring into his green eyes. "She's overly emotional because of the hormones." She explained and smiled when he grimaced. "Are my clothes done?" She asked, not feeling comfortable in just his shirt with no garments underneath. The man made heat spread throughout her body, even after all this time, but Jasina hid it to perfection. Mark didn't want her and Jasina accepted that, she was trying to move on the best she could, even though no man would ever compare to him.

"Probably." Mark shrugged, making his way across the room and to the basement door, glancing back at her. Smiling somewhat he disappeared down the steps. He returned a few minutes later with her clothes, passing them to her. "I didn't fold them on account you'll probably be puttin' them back on." This was more than awkward. "You can sleep in my room, Jasi."

"Nope, you were stubborn about sleeping in my room at my old apartment in Austin, so I'm going to say the same thing to you that you did to me. I'm not kicking you out of your room, Mark." She smiled back at him and took her clothes gently. "Thank you for washing them for me." She added as an afterthought before going to the bathroom to change, closing the door behind her.

Her back pressed against it as she inhaled the scent, wishing she could keep it, but knew that wasn't possible. Sighing sadly, Jasina pulled the shirt over her head and slipped her panties and bra back on along with her tank top and shorts. Her socks were tucked in her shoes so she didn't have to worry about finding them in the morning. When she was finished, Jasina walked out with Mark's shirt in hand, wondering where he'd gone off to.

He was in his bedroom, the door shut except for a crack, peeling his shirt off over his head. Grunting, he kicked off his boots and socks, nudging them aside with his foot before tossing the shirt into a clothes hamper, stretching his arms over his head to crack his back. Loosening the tail he had his hair pulled back in, he shook out his long hair with a groan. He knew his couch wasn't the most comfortable to sleep on, if anything he needed to get around and replace it. Making up his mind, he stood up and headed for the door.

Jasina was standing there when he opened it, her hand up ready to knock on it, and had to learn how to breathe again. His body was so muscular, she remembered running her nails down his chest and felt the muscles ripple beneath her touch. "Here." She said, handing him the shirt he borrowed her with a hesitant smile. "Thanks again for letting me wear it." She said before turning and walking down the hallway, heading for the stairs. She needed to breathe and took deep breaths, still wondering how the hell she had managed to walk out on him. Then again, she hadn't been in the right frame of mind.

Mark shook his head, following her in just his skintight jeans. He watched her walk down the stairs, mentally wondering if it was wrong to be admiring your ex-wife's curvy hips or the way her ass swayed from side to side. Not to mention them beautiful legs, she must have taken up running or something. Clearing his throat, he headed down the steps after her.