Disclaimer: So….I do not own any of the cast or crew of DC, nor do I own the show. This is purely fictional and for entertainment purposes. However, I do own McKenzie and her story.

McKenzie pulled up at Jake's house and turned off the lights. She had some many memories here and it caused her to sigh. She would always love Jake; he was the father of her daughter. If it wasn't for him, Aubree wouldn't be here. She got out and walked up the steps to the front door and knocked. Jake answered a few seconds later.

"Come in." He said. "Aubree's been out for about 30 minutes."

"Well we won't bother her." She said coming in. "She's cranky if you wake her, which she gets from YOU."

Jake chuckled and closed the door.

"Do you want anything to eat or drink?" He asked.

"No, thanks." She said with a smile and looked around. "Where's Aubree?"

"She's asleep in her crib in her room."

"I'm surprised you kept everything." She said.

"Just because I haven't been in her life doesn't mean I would remove everything that reminded me of her."

Mac just nodded and petted Duke on the head.

"I've missed you, Duke." She said hugging the dog.

She remembered when she was pregnant and moved in with Jake. They went to an animal shelter and adopted the German Sheppard puppy, who was only 8 weeks old.

The dog went back into Aubree's room.

"He's been in there since she's been asleep." Jake told his ex. "He's gotten very protective over her."

Mac smiled.

"So, I take if your boyfriend went back to Colorado."

"He did." She told him. "He left about 2 hours ago."

Jake nodded but didn't say anything else about it. He didn't want to talk about her boyfriend.

"What's the plan for the boat?" She asked.

"You'll just have to watch the show and find out." He said with a smile.

She gave him a look.

"I don't know." He admitted. "It's so much harder than what Josh and I thought it would be."

"Well you're an owner now." She said. "So, step up to the plate and get your captain's license. I know you can do it, Jake. This is what you've always wanted to do, so do it."

He nodded. She was right, fishing is what he always wanted to do and was damn good at it if you asked him. He wanted to get his captain's license, he just didn't know when.

"Do you wish you could go back and change everything?" She asked.

"Everything? No." He said. "I would change a lot of it though. Like the past couple of years. Like the part of me being a complete dumbass."

They walked out of the front porch to smoke.

"I didn't start smoking until I came back here." She said looking at the cigarette.

"Yeah, I tend to stress people out and make them smoke." He chuckled. "That's why pops was a chain smoker."

Mac chuckled.

"McKenzie, I want to apologize." Jake said. "For everything I've ever put you though. You didn't deserve any of it."

"Jake, it's all in the past."

"I know but I just wanted you to know how sorry I am and if I could turn back time, I would."

"I know…me too."

"Did you ever think about me when you moved away?"

"Every day." She admitted. "I wondered how you were doing and how the fishing trips were going."

"Why didn't you call?"

"I couldn't." She told him looking out at the star filled sky. "I knew if I did, I would come back. Why didn't you come to Colorado or try to get in contact with me?"

She looked at him wanting to know the answer.

"I wanted to every minute of every day." He said. "I lost my girlfriend and my daughter. I just wanted to give you your space."

She nodded satisfied with that answer.

"But I haven't stopped loving you, McKenzie." He said finally. "I still love you."

"I…I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything." He said finishing his smoke. "I just thought you should know that."

"I knew you loved me, Jake but the bottle and pills replaced me."

"You wasn't replaced, Mac."

"Were you not happy?" She asked. "With me?"

"Of course I was happy with you." He said. "You were my life besides fishing. I couldn't wait until the seasons were over. The work hard, play hardier mentality just became a blur."

Before McKenzie had time to think about what he just said, Jake's lips were on hers. At first she was tense but relaxed and went with it. He picked her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist and he pushed her up against the house. The kiss was hot and steamy.

Jake put all his emotions into that kiss when McKenzie suddenly pulled away. Jake let go of her legs and she slid down him.

"What the hell am I doing?" She asked herself and then looked at him. "I can't….I'm sorry."

She pushed past him and went into the house. Jake stood there for a minute, replaying what just happened in his head when she came out holding a sleeping Aubree in her arms with her diaper bag in hand.

"We're going to go." She told him not looking at him. "Um, you can come by tomorrow and see her if you want.

"Let me get the car seat out of my car." He said.

He took the seat out of his and put it into the back of McKenzie's SUV. She strapped her daughter in and closed the door.

They didn't say anything to each other and he walked back on the porch and watched them drive away.

"Damnit, that was not how I imagined that going inside my head." He said shaking his head.

He walked back into the house and Duke was back on the couch. The dog raised his head when he came in and closed the door.

"Well, Duke….it's just me and you again."

The dog just laid his head back on the cushion.

"Yeah, that's how I feel too."