Marie thought back to the time in her life when she started shoplifting, really started. Sure, she'd done it a time or two as a teenager,but it wasn't until after her miscarriage that she'd really turned to it. Hank was pulling away- throwing himself into work or his little beer hobby, and at the time she blamed him. If only he'd been more supportive, more understanding, if only he'd been there for her during her time of need.

But what she didn't know- what she couldn't have known, was that Hank was hurting, too, in his own way. It wasn't until Walt and Skyler and little Junior came over for a barbeque that Hank opened up. Marie, concerned that they hadn't had enough potato salad, had Skylar run her to the store. Hank watched Walt play with his son, and it was only after a few minutes that Walt had noticed something was wrong with his brother-in-law.

"You okay? I hope Junior, here, isn't being too much trouble. He's just a kid being a kid, I suppose," Walt smiled supportively as he tried to figure out what was going through his best friend's mind.

"Na, it's all good. He's a good boy. I don't care what any of them doctors say- little Junior's going to grow up and be a little genius, just like his old man."

Walt, picking up his son, smiled. "I'm no genius."

"Are you kidding me? You practically started that company- what's it called, brain matter?"

Walt chuckled in spite of himself. Grey Matter, but what did it matter anymore?

"Listen," Hank continued. "You know what I'd do if I were you? I'd get the best lawyer out there, and sue the pants off those so called friends of yours for ripping you off out of what was yours. They've got the money! Surely they could throw you a few million bucks and call it a day."

"Thanks, Hank, but you know, I don't really do lawyers. They're so sleazy and all. I've got all I need with Skylar and Junior. Really."

Hank shrugged. "It's your loss. But if you ever do decide to purse those bastards, and need a character witness...I'll be happy to tell them how freaking smart you are."

"Thanks, Hank. I appreciate that. I really do." Walt looked at the way Hank was watching Junior, and decided to ask. "I've never really gotten a chance to talk to you, after Marie and the baby and all...how are you both holding up? Feel free to tell me to mind my own business, of course."

Hank sighed. "I don't know. It seems all Marie wants to do is go off on her little shopping sprees. Always leaves a lasagna in the fridge for me. I swear if I have one more bite of that lasagna..." he laughed. "No," he continued. "I don't know what to think. I don't know what she wants from me! I work hard so she can afford to go out and buy everything her little heart desires. I know she wants to talk about what happened, but it's just...not my style, you know?"

"Perfectly understandable."

Hank studied his brother-in-law for a minute.

"What, do I have chip dip on my face?" Walt wiped his face self-consciously.

"You know, I've never told anyone this...but sometimes I wish I could be more like you," Hank confessed.

"What do you mean? I'm just a high school teacher, simple life, simple home..."

"That's just it! I know I could trust you with my life. There are things I can tell you that I couldn't tell my own wife even if I knew how!"

"Like what?"

"Like it's my fault what happened with her and the baby."

"Hank, you can't possibly..."

"Just hear me out. Maybe if I'd gone with her to her doctor's more, maybe if I'd taken some time off of work, maybe if I just listened to her instead of running whenever she started feeling the least bit queasy..."

"Hank, I know you about as well as I know my own wife. I know that you wouldn't be you if you were suddenly Mr. Housewife," Walt chuckled, causing Hank to join in.

Then Hank looked at Junior. "He's getting a little fussy. Mind if I..."

"Of course," Walt smiled then handed his son to his uncle Hank. Just then the women showed up, and Marie and Skylar watched with huge grins on their faces as Hank tried to capture Junior's attention.

"What? What are you ladies looking at? Don't you have some dishes to do or something?"

Marie laughed and then walked up and kissed her husband on the cheek.

"What was that for?" Hank grumbled to no one in particular.

"Women," Walt sighed, then took a sip of Hank's homemade beer. Yes, it was a good day to be alive, a good day for family.

As Walt watched the ending of Mr. Magorium's Magic Emporium for the sixth time, he found his mind wandering. He wondered how Skylar was doing, of course, and then there were the kids. But from time to time he found himself thinking of Marie. Surely she hated him most of all. If only there were some way he could make her see, make her understand that he had tried to save Hank. That he'd given up 70 million dollars, all in vain, just to bargain for Hank's life. He had to make this right, if it was the last thing he did. Judging by the amount of coughing and pain he'd been experiencing due to the lung cancer, he knew that time was working against him. But he would make things right,if it was the last thing he did.

tbc