It had been a week since Lucy had cried for Forrest in the arms of his brother and Lucy had not seen head or tail of Howard. For the first time in his absence, Lucy understood.

She breastfed Emmy while rocking back and forth, watching Jack and his new car load up with Cricket to go on their own run as the sun began to set. The light was coming back in both Emmy and Lucy. It was just in time for the war over moonshining that was waging against the boys & all of Franklin County.

Lucy hadn't told Forrest what happened with Howard, and Forrest didn't ask.

"You could sneak up on just about anybody, you know that?" Lucy's eyes didn't leave the window, but she could feel that Forrest was in the room.

"Uhm…Howard's staying up at the Still…" Forrest explained, as if she couldn't have guessed.

"That's just fine…it's my fault anyway…" Lucy continued to rock back and forth, but the rocker encountered a resistance and Lucy found Forrest standing beside her, his hand on the top of the chair. He knelt down to her level, "Now Lu….that night," he said but he didn't have to specify- she knew, "those men…you were still here…did they come back in here?" he looked deep into her eyes.

Lucy shook her head, "No, they just left." her words held strong but it was her eyes that betrayed her. His eyes fell down to Emmy's form, suckling to Lucy's chest. His eyes traced over the thin scar. "They hurt you?" he looked back into her eyes.

Her eyes glistened but she shook her head, "No….they just left…" she said, steading her breath. She felt that Emmy had fallen asleep. She removed the girl from her breast, covered herself back up and laid the baby down to sleep. "Why do you ask?" she took a deep breath, trying to change the subject.

"Uhm…just…things coming back to me…'s all…" he said but his heavy gaze never left her. Lucy placed her hands on her hips, "Well we should let her sleep," she whispered. She took Forrest's hand and lead him from the room and she shut the door. "Where's Jack going?"

"His own business…" Forrest replied blandly. It was obvious Jack had his brother's permission, but Forrest wasn't completely behind the decision.

But Lucy lead him to his bedroom and shut the door behind them, "Forrest…what do you think of me and Howard?" she asked sincerely, "Together…I mean…" she cast her eyes down to the floor.

"Uhm…not entirely sure what you mean," Forrest admitted, his eyes tracing the fine features of her face for a clue. She shifted her weight, her fingers tangling within each other, but he remained perfectly still.

"I mean…I love him," she said exasperatedly, "I do…but…he won't connect with me…he doesn't feel…" she rambled, trying to find the right explanation, "Like…he never thought I was good enough…especially after what happened to our first baby…" her eyes welled with tears again, but she would not let herself cry.

Forrest's hand reached out and awkwardly turned her face to look at him. His hands were rough but tender and she reached up and touched his hand as it rested on her face.

"I need you here, Forrest…" she whispered. She'd finally said it aloud- a heavy weight lifted from her chest, "Don't you go no where…"

Forrest nodded slowly. "Howard don't know what he's doing…after the war…" he shook his head. "Uhm…Lu…he's a good man…"

"I know," her cheeks glistened with tears, "I know…" Lucy just wanted him to take her into his arms and hold her. But she knew he'd never make a move. He'd never consider it- even if he wanted to. "Thank-you, Forrest," she whispered. She leaned forward and gave him a gentle kiss on the lips. She leaned back down and left the room without another word.

Lucy spent the next five nights alone in bed, only her baby girl to keep her company. And every one of those nights, just before the hall light was killed, she knew Forrest watched her. And every single one of those nights, she wanted to invite him into her bed.

And every lonely night she spent awake.

On the sixth night, she climbed out of her bed after the hallway light went off. She crept down the hall and stood in his doorway. Her body draped in moonlight she hesitated. What was she doing? This was insanity…

"Lu?" he questioned in his low, scratchy voice. But she didn't speak. She just walked forward, her feet doing the thinking. She knelt down to the floor next to his bed that sat atop the floorboards. She slipped under the blanket with him and pressed her body against his. Her hand rested on his firm chest, her head against his arm. She leaned up and planted a soft kiss at the end of his scar.

He didn't say anything. His hand reached up to cover hers on his chest. He closed his eyes.