A massive thank you for the amazing response and all I can say about this chapter is that we're just touching the surface. Wait till you see the creamy center…..

Happy New Year :)

Another voicemail. It's the only thing she got from him now, yet at the same time she knew deep down that she probably deserved it after what she'd done.

Within the two hardest weeks of her life, he'd managed to wipe his entire existence from the apartment they used to share. His excuse blatant and though she was forced to support his wishes in the end, it didn't stop her from trying to fight her case.

(2 weeks ago)

"So this is it?" Kathy guessed, standing at the doorway to their bedroom watching Jack pack the last of his things. "I make one mistake and you're leaving me."

She knew she was skating on thin ice, but it was also a deliberate move to remind him of what he did to her. Much to her dismay Jack failed to catch on and instead chose to berate her on her use of the word "mistake".

"That's what it was Jack and none of this would have happened if you'd been more honest with me in the first place." Kathy argued, achieving Jack's full attention with the last part.

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm not stupid. I know what happened between you two that night and you know what Jack? I was pathetic enough to want to give you another chance at the time." Kathy revealed.

He knew there was no way to defend or deny the accusation cause it was the truth. At the time he could have perhaps questioned any feeling that came along with it as well, but he couldn't now.

"Kathy, I….."

"Please don't do this Jack." Kathy begged, shocking Jack completely, especially when she added saying, "don't leave."

He remained silent in light of her plea, for the obvious reason, and Kathy took it as an opportunity to convince and explain her spontaneous change of mind.

"Every couple fights, but it's through those moments that they come out stronger and I believe we can get past this."

"I can't." Jack replied. "I wish I could, but I can't. I'm sorry." he added, unwilling to look her right in the eye whilst saying it.

With that said he zipped up his bag and slung it over his shoulder. Casting a brief glance at an emotionally distraught Kathy and then vacating the room.

(End of Flashback)

Despite what happened that day, she refused to accept defeat or the end of a relationship she was still invested in.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and for the first time in her life Kathy knew what that felt like.

Now all she had to do was find a way to get it all back.

"You want to what?" he questioned, despite feeling he'd proved his adequacy in taking care of Kate over the past two weeks.

"I want to take my daughter home." Diane simply explained.

"Her home is here, with…." Jack argued, almost slipping up with revealing his renewed feelings.

"With who? You?" Diane guessed anyway. "I don't mean to be harsh Jack but the last time I checked she was no longer your responsibility." She elaborated, reminding him of the harsh reality.

She wasn't wrong, in the legal sense as he was still engaged to Kathy or whatever they were now, but never the less all he had was an emotional hold on Kate. And even then to that wouldn't seem significant to Diane in light of his actions up until the night he and Kate unexpectedly slept together. A night no one but Kathy and assumedly Jimmy knew about.

"Besides the best thing she needs right now is her family and if you really love her Jack you'll understand." Diane finished, leaving Jack to ponder with this decision.

There was no doubt in his mind that he loved Kate, more so now, but did he love her enough to let her go?

She was ashamed. Not just at her actions, but mainly at herself.

"How could I let this happen? How could I have been so stupid", she mentally scolded herself and momentarily froze when she heard a knock on the door to her room.

"Morning honey." Diane chimed with a smile, securely locking the door behind her and setting down the basket of treats she'd brought along with her on the bedside table.

"Hey" Kate half heartedly replied, concerning Diane.

"What's wrong?"

She looked to her Mother at that moment. Unable to restrain the vulnerability in her eyes and tempted by the mix of worry and assurance she saw in her Mother's, but there was no way Diane would understand if she told her.

"Nothing." Kate lied with a tight lipped smile and much to her luck Diane accepted it.

"No longer enjoying the Hospital atmosphere?" Diane asked.

"I just wanna get out of here." Kate answered with a prolonged sigh, finally sympathizing with all those times she had to practically force patients to extend their stay for the benefit of their health.

"Well I might have a solution for that." Diane suggested, perking Kate's attention straight away.

Seeing this, she continued with getting straight to the point, "How would you like to come back with me?"

Her offer was tempting, not to mention the smile of encouragement that came along with it, but Kate also felt she had a few things to settle before any life decisions could be made.

"Katie? Are you alright?" Diane checked in a tone of concern.

"Can I….." Kate stuttered breaking off to allow a sudden light headed feeling to subside.

Once recovered, somewhat, she continued, "Can I have some time to think this through?"

As much as Diane wanted to argue over that, she didn't want to stress Kate out in the process.

So she relented with an, "Okay". Then assuring Kate that she would be right outside if she needed anything, and at that moment Kate decided to indulge in the offer.

"Mom, is Jack here?" Kate inquired, mentally preparing herself for the possibility that he wouldn't be. Not that she could blame him anyway.

"He went home sweetie." Diane lied. "Something about handling some wedding arrangements." She added, discretely reminding her daughter of the way things still were. Or what Diane presumably thought.

"Oh." Kate replied, trying her best to keep the disappointment out of her voice. Granted what happened between them was logically wrong yet her heart couldn't help but feel otherwise.

Diane felt horrible for lying to her daughter, but at the same time felt it was necessary in order for Kate to be able to finally let go and move on.

For Kate it was a fairly straight forward decision to make then.

In a bid to clear his head, he went for a drive. No destination in mind initially yet somehow he found himself parking alongside the local Cemetery a half hour later.

Walking three graves down from the entrance and stopping at the fourth:

Lily Diane Shepard.

Little Angel, gone too soon.

September 24 – 2008

There wasn't a day gone when he wondered, "what if?"

What if Lily survived?

Would his and Kate's relationship have?

Only fate knew the answers to those questions and what mattered was the opportunity it was presenting now. One with a limited amount of time to seize and unfortunately the circumstances weren't as easy to overcome in being able to do so.

"Were they?"

Yes Diane was only looking out for Kate, but so was he and that had to matter on some level. Besides there was one thing Diane couldn't offer that he could, a future. One built on nothing but love and commitment instead of doubt and uncertainty like with Kathy.

He knew that now and though Kate's accident was tragic it also enforced a reality check upon him.

"I have to tell her" he mentally confirmed, having finally gained a sense of clarity with his feelings.

With agreed monthly visits monitoring her health confirmed with the Doctors, she was free to go.

In regards to her job, they assured her that she would still have one if she ever decided to return, and with that everything was taken care of. Aside from the one thing or person she was hoping to avoid before leaving.

The odds of that happening were of course limited due to the fact that she was in her apartment now, packing her stuff. However if there was one person who could find her it was Jack.

"You ready?" Diane asked, standing at the doorway and Kate simply nodded in agreement. Backing it up with a smile that was short lived due to the tears that could no longer be held in.

Diane was at her daughter's side within seconds.

"It's okay." Diane assured, gently rocking Kate from side to side. "Everything's gonna be okay."

"I love him Mom." Kate sobbed. "I love him so much."

Diane, or more her conscience, admittedly struggled with that confession. Feeling like perhaps she was forcing Kate to do this yet on second thought it's what needed to be done with taking the predicament of the situation into account.

"It'll be fine." Diane continued to assure instead of encouraging her daughter's feelings. "You'll see." She firmly stated, pulling away and placing her hands on the sides of Kate's face, wiping away the tears with her thumbs.

Still consumed by her emotions, Diane hugged her again. Allowing Kate to simply let it all out, but everything came to a standstill when a honking could be heard.

"That's our taxi sweetheart." Diane informed, failing to achieve any kind of reaction from Kate. So Diane took hold of her bag and keeping her other arm wrapped around an emotionally distraught Kate, she walked her out.

His jeep came to a skidding halt in the Hospital car park. Not even bothering to shut the door behind him, he ran as fast as he could. Making the clearly memorized journey to Kate's room only to then find it empty.

"She was released a half hour ago." A voice behind Jack revealed. "We didn't want to but you know once her mind's made up, there's no changing it. Plus I think the elderly woman with her had some part to play with the decision." Marc added judging by what he witnessed.

Without having to query Marc on his assumptions any further, Jack guessed the next place Diane would probably take Kate to; home to pack.

Wasting no more time he bolted out of there and into his jeep. Hoping on the way that he wasn't too late, but unawares to him a taxi then passed his jeep, heading in the opposite direction.

A taxi holding the woman he loved and her Mother.

Next Chapter: An unlikely welcome and Kathy sees an opportunity…..