Around 8 o'clock that night

BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! The door at Gotz's house thudded against the doorframe. Gotz flicked on a lamp nearby and looked at the clock.

"8:15! Christ! Who ever is at my door, this has to be important." Gotz climbed out of bed, threw on a shirt and walked to the door grumbling. "If it ain't, I'm gunna hurt somebody!"

He threw open the door and looked at the wet figure before him. The girl's green eyes looked up at him bloodshot; she parted her hair out of her face, and tugged at the hem of her purple shirt. He stood out of her way and led her inside. She walked to his kitchen sink and rung out her hair. He shut the door and watched her intently. I wonder what happened this time… He sighed quietly getting her a towel. He handed to her.

Taking it from him, she shivered and watched him. Why do I always go to him… I guess it's because he is the only one who seems to understand…

"No more ring I see." Gotz said flatly, as he began a pot of coffee. Karen stood beside the table looking at the woodwork playing with her ring finger. He eyed her suspiciously.

"Nope. No ring." She said almost inaudibly as she pulled out a chair, sat down, and wrapped the towel around her tighter.

Gotz gave her a cup of coffee and sat down across from her on the other side of the table sipping his own cup. She stirred it slightly and drank from it while closing her eyes.

"Good coffee." Her eyes flicked to the older man sitting in front of her as he drank from his own cup. He can't be 40…45 oldest…Brawny from head to toe and tan as an Indian…a rough handsome…I don't see why he hasn't remarried yet… She sighed and used an edge of the towel to dry out her hair some more.

"So…What did the loser do this time?" Gotz asked setting down his cup. 24 and still not married…Rick is such a dick… If I were younger… before I met Natasha…maybe…I would have dated her…To bad that I'm older than her own father…

"I found him in the chicken barn with Mary." Karen stirred her coffee some more and looked at him nervously. The woodcutter raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "They were basically doing it. He had one hand up her skirt and the other on her boob, while she had both of her's in his pants." Karen took a sip of her coffee and looked out of the window. The rain was coming down hard. Gotz eyed her again and looked out the window as well.

"I really have nothing to say to you that will help." Gotz said still looking at the window.

"Yeah, I know… But you know that is not why I come here." Karen said looking at the older man with a placid gaze.

Around the same time that night…

Victoria stepped into her humble abode soaking head to foot in rain, mud, and other grime followed by Cliff. He was breathing heavy looking glum. Victoria looked at him with a sparkle in her blue eyes.

"What are you doing back here? I thought you were going to keep company with Grey?" He looked at her and sat down at the door. She walked over to him, sat down before him and placed a hand on his shoulder. She tilted his head up and looked into his eyes, no longer warm like this morning, but dull and full of pain. "What happened?"

Cliff told her about what had occurred that morning and then what he heard from Duke about the situation at the poultry farm. Victoria was shocked to the bone and hadn't moved an inch during the whole narration. She stood up slowly and started to walk around her house. Rick cheating on Karen? How could this happen… and with Mary? She wouldn't hurt or want to cause harm to a fly…Grey drinking? He said he hated liquor… What happened to this town? Everything was peaceful…everything was good… Cliff watched her walk around with anxious eyes.

Victoria finally stopped pacing and stood behind a chair with her hands wrapped around the top. She watched the clock tick for a minute and looked at Cliff who was still slumped against the door watching her. They just looked at each other in silence. There must be something he is not telling me…

"You are awfully quiet." She said in a matter of fact way. Cliff got up slowly and walked up to her. He took her hands in his and looked at the floor.

"Ann's pregnant." He said flatly.

Victoria stiffened. NO! She started shaking. This can't be! They…They have been over for months…When?! Where?! How?! Well duh I know how but… She just looked at him with no emotion.

"H-ha-how did you find out?" She asked keeping her hands in his and staying still as stone. He looked at her sympathetically.

"I don't think it is mine." He said speaking quietly, "But she says it is."

Victoria looked at the floor. "How could it not be yours?" She said quietly not wanting to be his but then knowing it had to be.

He let go of her hands, walked toward the window, and looked out into the storm. "She cheated on me with the Doctor when I was sick and we never had sex after that." Crossing his arms, he leaned against the wall on his side still watching the rain. "That was about 2 months ago. She could have gone to the clinic to find out sooner, but I don't think she wants the Doctor to know. I think she wants to hurt me because I have found someone else and he isn't as reliable as she thought he would be." He looked back in Vic's direction and seeing she hadn't moved. "Vic say something." His eyes softened, "Please."

She walked over to him and looked out the window and back at him. "We could find out with a paternity test." His chest fell.

"So you don't believe me?" He said running his hand through his hair.

"I don't know what to believe. I have been hit with a lot of information tonight and I am still trying to process it. I want to believe you I truly do. That is what my heart is telling me." She looked out the window again and let a few minutes pass by, "And I always follow my heart." She looked back at Cliff and smiled slightly.

He drew her into a very ardent hug and a passionate kiss. They just held each other for a long time watching the rain. "Whatever happens I will be with you as long as you want me to be." She said quietly. She looked up into those warm brown eyes that she is falling in love with and smiled.

"I couldn't ask for a better woman to walk into my life. Or as I should say hoe?" Cliff laughed while Victoria socked him in the arm playfully. "Then again you did dance your way into my life too." Still laughing he kissed her on her forehead.

Victoria looked at the clock. "It's 9:00. You need to check on Grey." She slipped out of his arms, but kept his hand, and started walking to the door.

Cliff pouted playfully. "Are you kicking me out?" He batted his eyes babyishly. Victoria smiled.

"Yes I am." She giggled.

"Well fine then, but do I get a kiss good night?" Running a hand through her hair, Cliff cradled her head and tipped it up to begin to kiss her. Before his lips touched hers, the door slammed open and Grey stumbled into the house.

"Well..." Slurring his speech, "Did I disturb anything important?"

The Next Morning

(Getting the picture of the place)

(Farmer's house)

Three bodies are on a double bed intertwined with their clothes from the night before still on. Two chairs are over turned and a cabinet is broken. The bookshelf is missing books, which are strewn all over the house. A bottle of wild wine is empty on the table with three dirty glasses next to it and half eaten cake. The girl on the bed sits up and looks at her house. "Well, Shitake mushrooms." She rubs her eyes and slides out of the bed.

After taking a quick bath, she writes the two boys a note.

Ya'll,

When I get back in and you are not asleep, I ask that I walk into a clean or somewhat clean house

Thanks.

She heads out and shuts the door behind her softly. Thinking to herself, today is going to be a long day…

(Woodcutter's house)

Coffee is brewing on the stove again and an older man is making breakfast shirtless. A girl is still asleep in the bed snoring very softly. A sizzle of a cracked egg wakes her up. She slowly opens her eyes and sees the streaming sunlight coming through the window. She climbs out of the bed and throws on a t-shirt that was lying on the floor. It is too big and makes her look like she is wearing a dress.

She walks up behind the man, wraps her arms around his waste, and kisses his shoulder. She moves to the table as he does and accepts the plate handed to her. They eat in silence.

A little while later she leaves the house dressed and bathed thinking; Today is going to be a long day…

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