One year later:

"What else did you get the twins for their birthday? Besides more toys for them to lay around in their room so we can trip over them?" Adriana asked Jon.

"They're not going to be laying any toys around on the floor. They better put them up or I'm taking them. They know better than that. But I did get them something that they've been wanting for a long time," Jon said.

"What is it?"

"You'll see."

"I bet I will."

"Yes woman. Can you get the children from the backyard?" Jon said. "I'm getting their present from our room."

Jon went to the bedroom and opened the door. Inside of the room was a beautiful brown cat. He was laying on the bed relaxing. Jon went over and picked the cat up.

"Alright, time for you to meet your new owners. They'll small people who will be very excited to be taking care of you," Jon said.

The cat meowed in response.

"I know. Let's go."

Jon went back out of the room and went out to the living room where the kids were waiting.

"Oh, I wonder who's cat this is now," Jon said.

The kids' eyes lit up like city lights.

"For us!?" Maddy said.

"Yes it is," Jon said.

"Why did you put the cat in a box Daddy?" Aiden asked.

"Son, I wanted the cat to be free," Jon said. "Now he's yours. But you have to take good care of him. And no experimenting on him. Don't feed him worms or put makeup on him. If you guys do that, I'm taking him back. Understand?"

"Yes Daddy," all three children said.

"Good. Now, please take this cat. And don't choke him," Jon said.

Aiden took the cat and held it tight. The cat remained calm but had a "I'm very tired please unhand me you little human" look on his face.

"What are you guys going to name him?" Jon said, sitting on the couch next to Adriana.

"Chicken," J.J. said.

"Cow," Aiden said.

"Crazy Toes," Maddy said.

"How does...Marley sound?" Jon said.

"I like Marley! Yeah, let's name him Marley!" Maddy said.

"Good," Jon said.

"Thank you Mommy and Daddy," the kids said.

The three of them then took the cat to their room.

"Isn't that that cat Stacey's? I remember taking care of it for her," Adriana said.

"I talked to her about getting the cat. She gave it to me so I could give the kids what they always wanted," Jon said.

"You're such a sweet father," Adriana said.

"I know I am," Jon said.

"Are you feeling okay?" Adriana asked.

"Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?"

"Well, for starters...nevermind. It's nothing."

"Go ahead and say what you have to say."

"Just forget it, Jonathan."

Adriana reached for the remote on the coffee table and turned on the t.v. But Jon snatched the remote from her and turned it back off. He stared at her.

"Tell me what you were going to say."

"Jonathan, I said forget it."

"I'm not going to forget nothing until you tell me what's going on."

"Jonathan, give me the remote so I can watch t.v. please."

"No."

Adriana got up and walked down the hallway to the room. She laid down on the bed and turned the t.v. back on. Jon came in after her and closed the door. He stood in front of the t.v., blocking Adriana's view.

"Please move out of the way," Adriana said. "You are not made out of glass."

"Why can't you just tell me what you were going to say?" Jon said.

"Please drop it," Adriana said. "Just drop it, Jonathan."

Jon turned around and cut off the television. Adriana sighed and got off of the bed. Jon blocked her from leaving the room. Adriana just stood in front of him and didn't say anything else.

"Don't start acting crazy," Jon said. "I'm just concerned is all. I don't want to fight. You know you can tell me anything and everything. I'm not going to force you but I am concerned."

"It's just...we don't have sex as much as we used to. You always come home tired. I sometimes come home with terrible headaches. I work late then sometimes you work late and I stay up worried about your wellbeing. See, this is why I didn't want to say anything!"

Adriana went to lay back down on the bed. With her back facing Jon, she stared at the wall in front of her. She had a slight headache. Jon joined her on the bed and laid directly behind her, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her closer to him.

"Ever since you bought me that notebook, have you been reading what I write in it?" Jon asked.

"Sometimes."

"What parts have you read?"

"Your therapy sessions, work, the kids. That's about it."

"If you read more, you can tell me."

"That's all."

Jon sighed deeply.

"I hope we don't start fighting again," he said. "That drains me."

"Well it sure doesn't make me feel good either," Adriana said.

"You know, I sometimes have a feeling we got married a little too young. And that's why we were always arguing at first. But then I started to realize that I'm glad we got married young. Taught us some valuable lessons quickly. Wouldn't you agree, Sally?"

"Of course, Jack. And not to mention you did get me pregnant with J.J., so...yup."

"We are going to have one hell of a life together."

"Yes we will."

Adriana turned over to her other side to face Jon. He looked sleepy. Poor thing seemed to have gained more bags under his eyes from not sleeping much.

"You look tired," Adriana said.

Jon gave her a small smile.

"I'll survive," he said.

"I know both of us do not like it when one of us worries about something, but I'm still a little concerned about you. I mean, you've come a long way but..."

"You're afraid I'm going to slip into my bad habits again? Aren't you?"

"Jonathan, I-"

"Shut up."

"What?"

"You heard me. I'm not going to slip into my bad habits again, alright? I thought you fucking trusted me!"

"Jonathan, I do!"

"Like hell you do! Get away from me!"

Jon pushed Adriana away from him and got up. Adriana quickly got up as well and went to block Jon from leaving the room like he did her earlier.

"Move," Jon said.

Adriana just stood there, staring at her husband.

"Don't you start acting crazy on me, Jonathan," she said quietly. "Don't you dare."

"Move!" Jon repeated again. He grabbed ahold of Adriana and tried pulling her out of his way. But she snatched away from him.

"Adriana, you-"

Jon was cut off when Adriana slapped him in the face.

Adriana was ready to face any type of punishment that Jon was about to deliver to her.

"I'm sorry," was all she could say.

Jon looked at Adriana for a second.

Then he wrapped his hands around her throat and started choking her.

"S...stop!" Adriana choked out.

Jon's hands were hurting her neck. Adriana started kicking at him but this didn't stop Jon from continuing his attack.

He got close to her face and said: "Don't you ever slap me again."

Letting go of his wife, Adriana fell down and was coughing hard.

It finally hit Jon that he had put his hands on Adriana again after promising not to.

"No...no no no no no! Goddammit!" he said. "Not again..."

He sat down on bed and put his hands on his head.

"No no no," he repeated. "I fucked up. I fucked up again..."

Adriana got up and went to sit next to her husband.

"You need to stay away from me. You need to listen. I've had nightmares about killing myself," Jon said. "I'm not...I'm not..."

Jon couldn't finish his sentence, let alone complete his thoughts.

"You've had nightmares about killing yourself?" Adriana asked.

"Yes. I don't know why. Maybe it's because I don't know how to control my anger or maybe it's just...I don't know. Maybe...I don't know. I just really don't," Jon said. "I want it to stop."

"How long have you been having these thoughts?"

"They started a few days ago. Please, just leave me be."

"I'm not."

"I said leave me alone, Adriana!"

"No. I'm worried about ."

"Please, just let me lay down."

Jon crawled onto the bed and layed in the middle.

"Can you get me some Advil? My head hurts."

"How's he doing at therapy?" Adriana asked Jill over the phone.

"He's doing okay. I honestly think that some stuff is getting to him again. I told him countless times to turn the negatives into positives. For a long time he was getting better than he just started to go back to his old self a little," Jill said. "Is his taking his medication?"

"I'm honestly not sure. I never thought to ask him. He's asleep now."

"He does need rest. He's been working so much."

"I can tell the job is stressing him out in a way but he doesn't want to tell me."

"He just doesn't want you to worry about him. Is everything okay at home?"

Adriana rubbed her neck. It was slightly bruised from Jon choking her.

"Yeah. Everything's fine."

"You sure?"

"Yup. Everything's good."

"Alright. If you need anything else, just call."

"Will do. Have a nice night, Jill."

"You too. Night."

Adriana got up from the couch and was startled to find Jon was standing behind her.

"You scared me," she said.

"Who were you on the phone with?" Jon asked.

"Jill."

"Why?"

"I was just asking her questions is all. Calm down."

Jon didn't say another word and went to the kitchen. He went into the cabinet and pulled at a glass cup. He then went to the fridge and pulled out some apple juice. Adriana came in and sat at the table.

"What? I can't get a fucking glass of apple juice?" Jon snapped.

"Yes you can. You can also get it without cussing at me," Adriana said.

Jon slammed the gallon of juice on the table and set the glass next to it.

"Jonathan, have you been taking your medicine?" Adriana asked.

"What's it to you?"

"Jonathan, I love you. That's why I do what I do. If I didn't love you, I wouldn't care if you were dead in the gutter. But I love and care about you."

Before she knew it, Jon had picked her up and slung her over his shoulder.

He carried her straight to their room.

Author's Note: Oh!