Burt was sitting up in a chair by the window. It was around three in the morning and moonlight streamed into the room and onto the bed where Heather and Gracie slept.

Gracie was tossing and turning a lot and he repeatedly went to her side to check on her Heather was sleeping soundly and as badly as he wanted to climb into the bed and pull her into his arms he didn't it was time he let go.

He stood and stretched wincing at the pain in his shoulder. The Graboid that had burst through his basement had gotten him good and it ached with almost every movement now but he ignored it. Heather hadn't noticed yet either that is was aching or so he thought.

"Is your shoulder hurting?" She asked and he saw she was now sitting up.

"It's fine"

"No, It's not fine I'm not stupid" She slid out of bed. She had on the camouflage pajama pants and black t-shirt he had gotten her. Her long red hair was in a braid.

"I'm fine...go back to sleep" She shook her head making her way to where he stood inches away she stood looking up at him.

"It's not fine. Let me help you" He shook his head and moved away from her not at all comfortable with the closeness.

"Can I ask you something?" He asked and she shrugged.

"Did you ever even come close to coming back to me?"

"Yes, I did there were times I'd make it almost to my car"

"So why didn't you? were you that afraid of me?"

"No, If it had been me alone I would have came back to you I swear but I had a baby everything I do had to be for her. She depended on me...I couldn't stand it if you rejected her...I'm an adult she's a baby"

He was about to comment when the phone beside the bed rang and he jumped to grab it before Grace woke up. He was relieved when she didn't Heather smiled shaking her head and listened to him speak to whoever was on the other end of the line.

"This is Burt Gummer...NO...I really can't I'm sorry...I have a daughter now I can't...how much money? How many are there? I understand...I'll be there"

He hung up and turned to face her a little reluctant to do so.

"Who would be calling at this hour?" She asked and he sighed.

"They want me to go back to perfection...and kill the graboids...the pay is amazing but I really don't need money...They said I'm the only chance they have"

"And you're going?" He didn't answer and she shook her head

"Heather, Those people need me"

"Grace and I need you too. I'm sorry but they can call someone else you can't just run off on her like this"

"I'll only be gone a few days when I come back I don't know maybe...we can see where this is all going"

"No" She turned her back to him

"Heather, Please"

"What if you don't come back? You can't win every fight Burt and you can't fight every battle...One of these times you won't come back and when you don't I'll be left alone to raise Grace again...I have to think about what's best for her"

"I am...I'll do this one thing and then maybe... I don't know...I'm trying to think about her"

"No, You're thinking about you...You can't have a family and always be leaving them Burt"She turned to face him

"I'm going...I'll be back in a few days"

"We won't be here" She told him and he sighed with a nod reminding himself again to let go.

"I guess that's up to you"

"Before you go...Isn't there something you should tell Gracie?" He looked at the little girl sleeping soundly and nodded.

"I'll tell her before I leave"

"And you can be the one to tell her your leaving...Not me"

"I'll be back"

"Don't you dare make any promises to that little girl you can't keep Burt...You tell her the truth about everything...and you'll do it alone" She turned and went into the bathroom he shook his head and began loading his guns.

It was eight in the morning when Burt, Gracie and Heather walked out of the diner from getting breakfast and headed to the hotel room. Grace was happily telling them all about the movie she had watched at the daycare but Burt wasn't paying attention. He was about to tell her the truth and it killed him.

They went into the room and Gracie began bouncing on the bed Heather turned her back on them to look out the window and he took that as his sign.

"Gracie...sit down a second baby I need to tell you something" She plopped into the sitting position and he knelt down infront of her.

"Why are your bags all packed up Mr. Burt? Are you going somewhere?"

"Yeah, Listen to me Gracie...I'm you daddy"

She blinked and stared at him for a little bit but didn't say anything Heather turned to look at him but didn't say anything.

"I'm your daddy...Gracie and I have to go away for awhile"

"No...don't go away again..." She slid off the bed wrapping her tiny arms tightly around his neck.

"I have to Grace"

"No...no..." she was going to cry and he looked at Heather for help and she shrugged her shoulders

"Grace...listen to me...I have something I have to do" He pushed her away a little and she was crying.

"Are you coming back?"

"I don't know Gracie...I'm so sorry baby" She shoved at him.

"Just go...go away..."She wasn't very strong and he didn't let go.

"Gracie...baby...please"

"Just go away I hate you!"She screamed and he let go she ran into the bathroom and slammed the door.

He stood and looked at Heather she just shook her head but she looked near tears too and he didn't want to know if they were for him or Gracie.

"You don't have to go" She told him and he nodded.

"Yeah I do...do you think...maybe you can tell her that I love her...when she comes out"

"You can tell her..." Heather started for the door and he followed.

He stopped and knocked on the bathroom door.

"Gracie?"

"GO AWAY!" She screamed and Heather winced.

"I'm sorry...Gracie...I promise though I'm going to try my best to come back to you and your mommy...I love you so much Gracie"

Nothing she didn't say a word he waited a few minutes before opening the door and Heather grabbed his arm at the last second. He turned to look at her but she didn't say anything. She didn't have to. He grabbed her waist pulled her against him and kissed her.

Yeah, He still had to leave, Yeah he promised himself he was going to let her go but right now he wanted to hold her and kiss he even for just a minute because he was slowly realizing there was a good possibility he wouldn't come back.

He pulled away from her and then turned and left walking down the hall way of the hotel. Gracie opened the door and ran out into the hallway but he was too far ahead of her. Heather walked out and lifted the tiny and near hysterical girl into her arms and Gracie let her.