(Author's Note: Standard disclaimers apply. I won nothing but my own imagination.)

Jack couldn't sleep. Maybe it was because he'd been stressed lately. Maybe he had one too many things on his mind. Maybe he was just having one of those days. Whatever the reason, Jack was wide awake. He moved a little closer to Katherine, who had been asleep for nearly two hours now, and buried his face in her hair, which smelled faintly like tea and ink. Why did she always smell like tea and ink? He just laid there with his eyes closed, willing himself to fall asleep, but it was in vain. Luckily, just as he was about to give up, the bedroom door creaked open. He sat up, and there stood Michael, looming hesitantly in the doorway. The ten year old took one cautious step inside and whispered,

"Papa?"

"Yeah?"

"I can't sleep." Jack got out of bed slowly.

"Me neither kiddo," he chuckled, and took his son by the hand, "But let's not wake your mother," he added, ushering Michael out into the living room and closing the door as quietly as he could.

They sat opposite each other on the couch, looking out the window. Michael peered out into the night sky distractedly, and a thought occurred to Jack.

"Have I ever told you about Santa Fe?" Michael looked at his father sidelong.

"What's that?" He chirped.

"Well, it's a place out west, way far away from New York, where there ain't no big cities, just fields and little houses, and everyone there is friends," Jack whispered, old memories of his dreams to live in the little town resurfacing. "Ya know at night, there's so many stars in the sky-not like here-there's so many you can't count 'em all."

"I wanna go there," Michael said fondly. His eyes were wide and he reminded Jack of another little boy he used to know.

"I did too kiddo," he chuckled, "but plans change, just you wait. You meet some pretty girl, and it turns out she's smart and funny and brave too, and then as bad as you wanted to run off to Santa Fe, you wanna stay right here with her instead. I should know."

Michael smiled that sneaky little smile that meant he thought he knew something he wasn't supposed to know.

"A pretty girl like mama?" He guessed. That little speech must have been more transparent than Jack realized.

"Yes, just like mama," he laughed, and mussed his son's already messy hair. He could tell that Michael's eyes were struggling to stay open, and that he was finally drifting off to sleep.

"Alright kid," he said, practically dragging the tired boy off the couch and into his room, "Time to get some sleep."

And as soon as Michael was passed out in his own bed, Jack started thinking it was about time he did the same.

"You two look exhausted," Katherine noted the next morning at breakfast, shooting Jack a questioning glance. The tone of her voice made it very clear that she knew he and Michael were up to something, but just wasn't sure what yet.

"Ah, don't worry about us, Ace," Jack said, brushing off her suspicious glare.

"Yeah, don't worry mama," his son chimed in. Katherine narrowed her eyes at him, not exactly angry, just suspicious.

"Michael..." She said threateningly, but Jack cut her off.

"He's fine, I told you. Besides, I know two kids who've got to get to school, so we don't have time for no interrogations in this house!"

He stood up and winked-very obviously-at Michael, who winked mischievously back at him. Katherine scowled, but kept her mouth shut. He'd tell her later, when the twins weren't around. Might as well let the kid think he's gotten away with something dangerous and exciting instead of just having stayed up far too late.

He knew Katherine wouldn't mind. She was something of an insomniac herself, whether by choice or by force, so she would understand. What he didn't expect was the look of pure adoration on her face after he told her what he and Michael talked about.

"I'm the reason you stayed in New York instead of going to Santa Fe?" She looked like she might cry.

"Well of course you are Ace. I mean, sure I stayed for the boys, but they would have been fine without me. And I'd have made new friends out west. I never woulda met another girl like you. I stayed in New York because that's where you were." It was true too. There was no one else in the world who could compare to his Ace. He'd always just assumed Katherine knew that she was what kept him here, but apparently he was wrong, because she flung her arms around his neck and practically squeezed all the air out of him. "Woah, I ain't going anywhere, don't you worry."

"I wasn't worried," she assured him, taking his hands in hers. "I just never dreamed..."

"What?"

"I never dreamed anything would stop you from leaving for Santa Fe if you wanted to go, least of all me."

"Katherine Louise Kelly, I'd trade a lifetime in Santa Fe for just one hour with you, any day."

(Okay, this isn't my favorite, but I really loved the concept and couldn't bear to not use it. Please review and let me know if there's anything I need to fix! Thanks guys! This story is coming to a close shortly, and the only reason it's gone this long is because of all of you magnificent readers out there.

Much love,
PrettyLittleMonster Xxx)