Note: This chapter contains some strong language and sexual references. But isn't that what makes up most of the SOA one-liners?

Disclaimer: Again, I own nothing.

When Opie returned from the garage, it was two hours later and the downstairs was dark. Being in prison for so long, hours dragged by without any meaning, so it was almost too easy for him to lose track of time. He knew without any doubt it was going to take him a while to grasp the concept of time all over again, almost like a child who had spent the best part of an hour attempting to tell the time in class, only to go home and realize that they have forgotten everything they have learnt while attempting their homework.

He climbed the stairs as quietly as he could. He had forgotten where all the creaks and groans were in the floorboards, so his plan of being silent had come to nought. The house seemed to snooze along with the sleepy atmosphere. Kenny's light snoring could be heard through his open door, so Opie closed it. He didn't want any interruptions tonight. Ellie had school in the morning, so she would be fast asleep by now. Whether Donna was or wasn't, he was yet to discover.

She was sat up in bed. The lamp on her bedside table was switched on. She was awake, reading. Opie gave her a nod as he entered the room, a substitute for a smile that he so wanted to force. But he couldn't. He wasn't much of a smiler to begin with, and with the intensity of the way Donna was looking at him made him think he was in trouble for staying out so long.

Old habits never die hard.

Donna's heart had given a painful jump as Opie opened the door. It was a shock to see him walk in, after all this time. She watched him with unintentionally wider eyes than usual, which watched him as he stripped down to his briefs. He had bulked up while in prison, Donna mentally noted. Then again, what else could anyone do while locked away, other than play cards and work out? Chillingly, the critical voice in her mind added: And beat the crap outta people.

"What're you looking at?" Opie asked, now managing a grin. She was staring at his body. Thank fuck I'm not in trouble…

A small jerk of her head snapped her out of the mental images of Opie's fists pounding in to some battered and bleeding man. At the realization she was staring at him, she quickly looked down at her book, but she knew it was too late.

"Sorry," she apologized, then admitted, "I was thinking about something."

This sparked his interest. He sat himself down at the end of the bed and placed his big hand on her quilted leg. His thumb stroked back and forth along a small patch where it rested, so heavy that Donna could feel it as though there were no quilt there.

"What were you thinking about?" Opie asked amusedly, expecting her to say something provocative. Your dick…He imagined her whisper while licking her lips. I was thinking about your dick deep inside of me…

Donna set her book down on the beside table after slipping a bookmark into it, unaware of the profanities her husband was imagining in his deprived mind. With a sigh, she asked, "Did you hurt anyone while in prison?"

He blinked, taken aback. He had not expected her to ask that. "No. 'Course not. I kept myself to myself. That's why I got let out early."

His wife nodded, looking down at the wedding band she had taken to fiddling with. "I'm sorry," she apologized again. "It's hard for me to-"

"Get your head around everything?" He finished for her. "Yeah, I know. It's weird for me to be back. Bet it's more weird having me back."

Donna looked up at him. She seemed grateful, and nodded. "I thought I was ready to have you back, but…" She couldn't find the right words without hurting him. "You're right. It's weird."

"But we'll work through it, Donna. Won't we?"

"Rome wasn't built in a day. We'll get there, eventually."

Opie knew then he would not be getting any sex that night. Or maybe any night any time soon. He got up and climbed under the sheets beside his wife. The mattress was still comfy and the springs were still in tact. He could tell his back would be more than grateful for it in the morning.

Donna settled down, resting her head against her pillow. She turned on her side to face her husband. "I have work tomorrow. You'll be ok here alone?"

"Baby, I've been on my own for five years," Opie reminded her, arms behind his head.

She nodded. "Sure. The kids won't be back until half five, so you have until then to do…whatever."

"Why half five?" He frowned.

"That's when I pick them up from daycare."

"Why don't I start picking them up from school instead? Ya know, until I get a job."

She looked at him, surprised. This is new. "Sure. If you want."

And so it would be.

Sorry about the chapters being so short. I don't like to write really long chapters, mainly because I don't like to read really long chapters. Just wanted to thank those who have reviewed - and if any of you want to see anything in particular or want me to include anything in particular, go ahead and post your ideas. I'd love to hear them.