It was a Sunday when they had their first big fight as a couple.

Being Jack and Merida, they have shared more than a hundred arguments before they were even friends. And shared perhaps even more once they were. Their stubbornness always got in the way of things. But ultimately, they fought for the fun of it. Life tended to be tedious without the occasional banter.

But on one particularly humid Sunday evening, the shouting from either side of the room were not of the petty sort. One was angry, the other desperate. Jack had come over to Merida's apartment to question where she was the day before. She was caught off guard by his sudden outburst.

Merida had been working vigorously on a new case over the weekend and was surprised to hear loud urgent knocks rapping on her door. Then she heard a voice.

"Merida! Open up!" It was Jack. And he was unmistakably in a foul mood.

Merida made her way to the door, all the while thinking of reasons why Jack was possibly fuming and what she would do to him for interrupting her work.

"Stop shouting like a madman already," she said as she opened the door. "You're causing such a racket, it's a wonder the neighbors haven't come out yet."

"Let them hear me, then!" Jack muttered, walking past her to get inside. His thick brown brows were knotted in irritation.

In a quieter voice, he spoke again. "Do you have any idea what happened yesterday?"

At the door, Merida turned around to face him, blinking, as if allowing the question to register in her mind. Her eyes widened when she remembered. "The trial. What happened?" she asked in anticipation.

Jack smiled, but it was not without acid. "You would have known if you were there."

Her face fell. "I was working, Jack. I have my own case to take care of as you can see," she said, pointing at her desk cluttered with all sorts of papers.

"Well, Merida, in case you forgot. That case was the make or break of my career. It's the most important one yet. I'm sorry if I'm not yet as accomplished as you are, but you should have known how big of a deal this was for me. And you weren't there," Jack cried, his voice growing louder with each sentence.

"Of course I knew. And I have supported you through and through. Don't pin the blame on me just because I failed to come yesterday."

"You're the one who kept telling me that there is not a more important event in a lawyer's career than his first trial. I've always been there for you, Merida, even when I had to focus on my own work. You know that."

"Well, I didn't ask for you to be there."

"The point is that I was. And you couldn't be there for me. You're so caught up with your job that you start forgetting everything else that matters."

Jack had not touched her, and yet his words made Merida feel as if she was just slapped hard in the face. "I thought you knew what you signed up for when you decided that you wanted to be in this relationship? You know my job always comes first."

"Of course I know. And I respect that. But is it so selfish of me to ask for even a small piece of your time?"

"What do you want me to do, Jack?"

Jack took a deep breath and looked directly at Merida. Her azure eyes seemed as depthless as an ocean. "I just want you to be there. When I need you. Can you do that?"

Merida dropped her gaze, her voice quiet. "I can't always be there, Jack. You have to understand."

Jack felt himself nodding. His chest was tightening, his vision slowly blurring because of the tears forming in his eyes. He had to get out before he lost control of himself. He didn't know what he would do if he broke down in front of her.

Jack crossed the room to the door. But before he could leave, he looked over his shoulder to the equally grief-stricken woman behind him. He had to turn his eyes away because when he saw the way she looked, his anger almost dissipated.

"I won, by the way," were his last words before he twisted the knob and left.

Merida was left crumpled on the floor, feeling as pathetic as she probably appeared. Her head shot up again when she heard a knock on the door after a few minutes. The sound was softer this time. Was it Jack coming up to apologize? Or did he want to quarrel some more?

"Come in," she said, straining her voice so it was loud enough to be heard.

When the door opened, however, it was not Jack who stood at the other side. It was someone far worse. Merida tried to compose herself, but before she knew it, she found herself being cradled in her mother's arms.

"My dear lass," Elinor said as she ran a hand down her daughter's back in circular motions. "What happened?"

Merida pulled away from her mother, but when she opened her mouth to speak, she found no words. Instead, the tears started pouring and Elinor had to hold her close again. In spite of her desire to remain strong in front of her mother, Merida's energy was drained. All of a sudden, she was three again, afraid of the raging storm, and her mother was there to keep her safe.

When she had calmed down after what seemed like an eternity, Merida tried to speak again. This time, the words came out easily and she was able to tell Elinor what had happened—Jack's unannounced visit, his accusations, and most importantly, the frustration she felt over herself.

"I don't know what to do, Mum. I can't be in this relationship if I want to focus on my work. I'm not ready for the commitment. I thought I was, but I'm not so sure anymore," she said, ending her speech.

For the past ten minutes, Elinor remained silent, soaking in the details of Merida's story like a sponge. So when the time had come when it was her turn to speak, she had already chosen the right path to take with the conversation. She cleared her throat. "Then why did you agree to be in a relationship with him?"

"Because I thought Jack would understand. We've been friends long enough for him to know me," she answered.

"Merida," Elinor said. There was always an authoritative tone in her measured voice. Respect easily came from those who listened to her. More often than not, it was only Merida who dared oppose her because of their very different views. Nonetheless, she knew she had to aid her daughter. It would take but a small push to get her where she needs to be.

"You always want Jack to understand. But do you understand him? It takes two people to make a relationship work. Certain sacrifices must be made. Don't make yourselves suffer if you're not ready," Elinor finished.

Merida's eyes widened. What did her mother want her to do? "You want me to let him go?"

"I can't tell you what to do, Merida. You have to make the decision for yourself."

There was a pause. Then suddenly, Merida stood up, thanked her mother, and hurried out of the apartment. She had only two things in mind—her destination and what she would do when she got there.

Merida was panting when she reached the third floor of a dingy apartment. She came face to face with the familiar pale yellow door and knocked. She was going over her readied speech in her head when the door was answered by a young girl. Merida was ready to speak, but the girl beat her to it.

"He's at the roof," Emma said and Merida wasted no time to get there.

The roof, as always, was cluttered with old broken furniture. A sofa with its rusty springs sticking out in random places. An upturned chair with two broken legs. There was even an old television set with its screen shattered into tiny shards of glass. Merida found Jack standing by the edge, overlooking the view of the Manhattan skyline. She walked to where he was then flung her arms around him.

Jack let out a small whimper of surprise when he felt someone hugging him from behind. He didn't have to turn around to know that it was Merida. Instinctively, his fingers laced through hers as he held her hands tightly.

"I'm sorry," Merida said, barely a whisper, but Jack had heard it.

And it was all it took for him to know that they would be okay.