After Raelyn was born, it took some time for Ib to get her strength back. Garry turned out to be an amazing father and adapted rather quickly. As part of the maternal instinct, Ib easily picked up on being a mother. She sang the song she had written and composed for Garry years ago as a lullaby to her daughter. Roy and Mary stayed with the family for a short time, and both were happy to see that for once, things were going well for Ib and Garry. At times, due to his bummed knee, Garry would have to relax for a moment due to the pain, but he did not mind at all. He thoroughly enjoyed being a father. To him, Ib was even more radiant as a new mother.

A month passed, and Roy decided it was time to take Mary back home. He was not sure whether or not to stay with her and continue with the promise he had made with his Mary or to remain here with Ib and Garry. He could find a new apartment or another place to stay; there were too many memories where he used to live. One thing he had realized, however, was that he had become slightly fond of Mary and valued her friendship. She always had a smile on her face and did everything she could to help out Ib and Garry. Raelyn gave her joy as well, and she loved holding and playing with her. Roy was no longer bitter towards her, and this permitted them to repair their friendship. There were many times that they shared a laugh or a moment of joy, and both were thankful for those. Yet, it still felt as if something was missing.

The day before they were to leave, as Ib was helping Mary pack while Raelyn was asleep, Garry and Roy stood outside to watch the snow fall and talk. All around, the land was white, and the snow continued to fall heavily, adding onto the inches that were already accumulated. The wind blew steadily; despite the layers they wore, it was nonetheless cold. After all the time they had spent together recently, Garry could not tell if Roy was fully ready to take Mary back.

"Are you certain about this?" he asked.

"Certain about what?"

"Taking her back."

Roy stared quietly at the snow for a moment before he answered. "Yeah. It's for the best."

Garry looked at Roy for a moment then back at the snow, a gentle smile on his face. "Things sure have changed, wouldn't you say?" he questioned.

Roy made a faint chuckle. "That's for sure."

"You've changed, too."

Roy looked down and his hands that were on the banister. "…Perhaps. But so have you."

Garry laughed softly. "Well, I'm a father now. Change comes with it."

Roy smiled at Garry. The cold, winter breeze passed nearly through him, giving him a slight chill. "…Think… think I could ever find happiness again, Garry?" He heard a quiet sigh exit Garry's lips.

"I think so, but the problem is, you have to allow yourself to find it."

The next day, Mary said her good-byes to Garry, Ib, and Raelyn while Roy loaded her belongings in the car. Tears were shed, and embraces were shared. Garry could vividly see that she was not ready to leave; she had made friends for once, and now that she had, she had to give it all up and return to her life of solitude and loneliness. Once they all said their farewells, Roy and Mary departed for her home. At first, the car ride was silent, since Mary was undoubtedly sad to leave, but in time, Roy managed to get her smiling and talking again. Sometimes, Mary would turn on the radio, and she would sing at the top of her lungs, much to Roy's amusement. He liked seeing her this way- seeing her happy. Once or twice, she dozed off for maybe ten minutes or so, and at one time, she slumped over on his arm. An odd emotion filled him when this happened, but he shrugged it off and simply kept his course.

Finally, they arrived at her home. Roy got out and opened her car door for her, and they carried her luggage inside. He had planned on helping her unpack, but she insisted that she was all right and that she would do it herself. They stood in front of her door for the longest time, nothing said. Awkwardness enveloped the room, and both had so many things that they wanted to say… Just as Roy opened his mouth to speak, she decided to as well.

"I want to thank you, Roy."

"Huh? For what?"

She looked down at the ground. "For giving our friendship a chance… for letting me meet Garry and Ib… for everything." Roy felt his heart twinge at her gratitude. What did he do to honestly deserve it? He had been so mean to her… "For once, I was able to see what it truly meant to live and to have family and friends. I had been searching for it for a long time, and you gave it to me." She smiled at him, sadness in her eyes. Then, she wrapped her arms around him in a tender embrace. "Thank you."

Frozen. He could say or do nothing. Why? This was the right thing to do... right? Leaving her? His whole body seemed to stop functioning. Arms to his side, eyes locked to the wall… He wanted to hug her back, but his arms would not move. She let go and stepped back, her smile still on her face.

"Farewell."

Roy nodded, nearly robotically. "Bye, Mary."

And just like that, Roy returned home without her.

He had kept his rent on his apartment room while he was away, and now that he was back, he resumed his life in the same room. Astonishingly, Ib and Garry had kept the place nice (he had given them the key) while he was gone for so long; he was so grateful for them, and he knew he would never be able to repay their kindness. Next, he went back to his job at the restaurant; the manager there was glad to take Roy back since he was such a great cook and a hard worker. School would have to wait until the next year.

Life returned to somewhat normal. A month passed.

He could not stop thinking about her. She was part of his dreams, and when he was awake, she was in his thoughts: how she was, what she was doing, if she was happy, if she had made friends… if she was still painting. All this time of avoiding her, he found that she was always on his mind. But, what could he do? He had taken her back… had said good-bye. She had tried so hard to be his friend, and even though they had become so, he was still backwards with her. Jaded- she had to feel that way. Finally, after letting someone in, she had been shut out and cast aside so easily.

One day, at Garry's apartment, Roy decided to speak to him about how he felt. Attentively, Garry listened as Roy told him of his feelings. Even after all these years, Garry was still an amazing friend. Once Roy was through, Ib walked into the room with Raelyn in her arms and sat down beside her husband. Undoubtedly, she had heard every word and was there to offer support and advice as well. Garry looked at her and his daughter, and held his arms out so he could hold her. Ib placed Raelyn in his arms, and he held her tenderly. That was one thing that amazed Roy; Garry's and Ib's love for their daughter was so immense and beautiful, it sort of made Roy want a child of his own.

Roy waited to hear Garry's reply, but what was said was not something he expected.

"Do you really need my input on this one, Roy?"

Roy blinked, confused by Garry's statement. "What?"

Ib smiled and gently held on Raelyn's tiny hand. "The answer is obvious, you know."

"I-it is?"

Ib giggled. "Of course it is."

Garry looked up from Raelyn and to Roy. "Go after her."

"And no giving up this time, okay?" Ib said with a wink.

The next day, Roy was on his way back to Mary's. The answer had been so obvious, but he had been blind to it. The answer… was also daunting and full of uncertainty. Everything could all be in vain, but he had to try. Traveling to her house seemed to take forever, but once when he was in front of her house, he found himself unprepared for what he was about to do. Nothing made sense anymore to him anymore. As he opened the door to his car, he felt his heart flutter. This was it; no turning back. He walked up to the door and knocked on it. Within moments, she answered the door. When she saw it was Roy, she made a slight gasp, and her eyes were wide in shock. Roy smiled nervously at her.

"H-hello, Mary."

"Roy! What are you doing here?" she breathed, her hand up to her mouth.

"Um… can I come inside, please?" he asked. She lowered her hand and moved to the side to let him in. Once he was inside, she shut the door behind them and turned to face him. "I guess you're wondering why I'm here."

"Can't say that I'm not," she apprehensively giggled. "It's been, what, a month?"

Roy nodded. "Yeah… Mary, listen… I have a lot to say, but I'm… I'm not sure how to say it."

Mary nodded as well. "Okay. I'm all ears. I'm just excited to see you, let alone talk to you."

Roy exhaled. He had not written, called, texted, or nothing to her in a month. Of course, this would come as a shock to her. Guilt washed over him, but he had to let it go, or otherwise, he could not say what needed to be said. "So… in the past month, I've done a lot of thinking."

"Oh? What about?"

"…Everything. Mary, I know that… when we were together, I was cold and harsh towards you… and for that, I'm so sorry."

Mary laughed warmly. "You've apologized for that already, silly. I've moved on from it. No harm, no foul."

Roy bit his lip. That was so like her. "It's not just that. You are amazing at everything you do. You're so full of life and happiness, despite everything that's happened to you. While you were with me, I grew fond of you… and when I left you here, I thought it was for the best. I was wrong. Mary, for the past month, I haven't stopped thinking about you. I've missed you, and I…" He inhaled and exhaled. "I want you to come back with me… not as a friend, but as more."

Mary took a step back, visibly hesitant by Roy's confession. "Roy, you can't be serious."

Ouch. He shook his head. "I am. I know I was wrong… and that I never should have brought you back, but-"

Mary took another step back. "I… I'm not the Mary you loved."

So, this was what was keeping her away. He smiled affectionately at her. "No, you most certainly aren't. You two are different in so many ways." He closed the distance between them and took her hand into his. It startled him to feel that she was shaking so hard. "I wasn't expecting this, but I found myself falling for you."

"Roy!" she gasped.

Hands intertwined, he held them up to his face. "All I ever wanted was happiness. When I lost Mary, I thought I could never find it again." He looked into her eyes. "Please… give me a chance to find it with you."

Expecting her to run away, he prepared himself for rejection. He felt her hand slip out of his… this was it… He had messed up, and now he was paying for it. Just as he started to walk away, he felt her arms wrap around him and pull him to her. Stunned, he kept his hands to his sides again. She leaned her head on his chest, a smile on her face.

"Yeah… let's find this happiness together."

A tear fell from his eye almost immediately. She felt it hit her arm, but she did not react from it. More tears began to fall as he wrapped his arms around her as well. Unable to stop the tears, he held her tightly, undeniably elated that she had not turned away. They stood there in a silent embrace as Roy released tears that had been locked away for so long. Mary knew that she could never take the place of his "Mary", nor was she going to try. That "Mary" forever had a special place in his heart as the first woman he loved and lost. Yet, this was a new chapter, a new beginning… and they would go forward, one page at a time, together.