When they got home, Dixie gave abs a quick pet before going on the sofa and hugging her legs, resting her head on her knees. Jeff sighed to himself, as he heard her continuing to cry; Dixie was always the strong one but this had really gotten to her. This was meant to be a happy time they had only just got married, although people could argue it wasn't a real marriage, it was real to him even if it was to his best friend. Nobody expected it to end like this, her dad seeing her kiss another woman. He now knew why Dixie didn't want him knowing, he did get angry discarded her pushing her away in the last few days he had left. Dixie only had a few minutes with him, before his death this was the only time he wasn't annoyed at her. Then Dixie watched him die, Jeff was annoyed he wasn't with her and that he waited outside maybe that wasn't the best decision, he should have stayed with her. It was only when he saw her crying, that he went in to comfort her. He knew himself he was thirsty after not having a drink for a while, he called to Dixie hoping she would accepted his offer but he doubted it highly.

"Dix do you want a drink?"

"No, I don't want anything" She replied in a whisper, burying her head in her knees wanting it all to go away. She felt numb; like it wasn't her this was happening to, like she was watching it on TV. She laid down, all the emotion was making her feel worn out. She only wanted to make her dad proud, but she had done the complete opposite. She closed her eyes; trying to find happier times she spent with her dad. The one that came to her was when her dad had to take her to school when it was a school trip, they were already late but he said he was gasping for a smoke. Dixie started to feel more tears build up, remembering the day out she had with her dad as when they got to the school the coach left without them, that day was better than the school trip anyway.

"Come on princess, you can't sleep here" Jeff sat next to her still lying form on the sofa, stroking her hair softly.

"Why not" She opened her sore red eyes, looking to Jeff

"You'll do your neck in, come on let's take you upstairs" He continued to stroke her hair, noticing how tired she looked.

"I don't care; I don't want to go upstairs" She was starting to get stubborn; this was something she inherited from her dad too.

"Please Dix," Jeff was pleading with her, hoping she wasn't stubborn enough to start an argument about this. She didn't reply, so he put his hand in hers helping her stand up then going up the stairs. Dixie let go off his hand, going into her own room and closing the door behind her. He could hear her rummage around the draws, looking for her night clothes. He left to his room, lying on the bed fiddling with his ring. He was reluctant to marry Dixie, but he did agree he would do anything for her. He got out of his clothes, putting on something more comfortable to sleep in. When he got dressed, he stopped to listen he could her something from Dixie's room. He stopped dead, listening to the sniffing and muffled noises.

"Oh Dixie, what am I going to do with you?" He said to himself, knowing she was crying again. He couldn't leave her to cry herself to sleep, he knew it was her room and she forbade him from it but surely this situation would be different. He pushed open her door a little, seeing her under the covers rubbing her eyes.

"Dixie?"

"What is it Jeffrey?" She didn't even look up to him, there was nothing in her voice except sadness and grief.

"Can I come in?" He asked, still standing in the doorway knowing if she said no he would go in anyway. After her no response, he walked in sitting on the bed next to her. Feeling her shaking even under the covers from crying so much. She stayed still until she spoke.

"I knew I should have stopped him smoking"

"Aye?" Jeff asked softly, turning her so he saw her tearstained face in the moonlight, he rubbed the new tears away with his thumb.

"It was my fault, I'm a paramedic I know what smoking does to you I should have stopped him"

"Princess, he was an Adult he knew what he was doing"

"I still should have stopped him Jeff, then he wouldn't have got lung cancer" She turned back, avoiding his look.

"Dix…" Jeff didn't know how to respond, she was starting to feel guilty for her dads death.

"Just go Jeffrey" She mumbled, drowning in heavy emotion.