The following weeks were filled with phone calls, from the law and press. Kathy said nothing to the press. Mrs. Wallus had called, Kathy kept it short. There was an apology, followed by the reasons they were innocent. As much as it hurt Kathy she asked them not to contact her anymore. She was cleared from this mess.

Slowly Kathy started looking for another job. The investigators were kind enough to give her letter stating she was clear for any involvement from the ongoing investigation of her former employer. A few seemed interested and some just wanted to wanted to hear the stories first hand. See if they could get any juicy details.

…..

"So you have another interview next week," Jonathan asked while he packed his bag.

"Yeah, it is my second so cross fingers," Kathy answered.

"I am not going to lie I kinda liked you not working," Jonathan wasn't going to lie, it had made things easier. But he knew Kathy would not be the type to sit still waiting for him to come home.

"I am going stir crazy," Kathy laughed.

"But we are still good for this weekend," Jonathan had made plans for Kathy to come see a pay per view. They would be in one city for two days. Hoping it would be less stressful than last time.

"No we are good," Kathy answered, she was hoping this trip went better. She knew it meant a lot to Jonathan.

"One more day," Jonathan said with a sigh.

"One more," Kathy repeated, "I am going to the hotel first." She went over there plans.

"Sounds good," Jonathan agreed, he went quiet for a minute, "oh before I ran, I paid Piper's school bill."

"Jonathan Good," Kathy yelled, after their dinner neither brought it up. Jonathan felt it would be easier to ask for forgiveness than convince her to let him help.

"Babe I gotta go," Jonathan said in a hurry ending there call before she could respond. Kathy was left standing with her mouth open.

…

"Did you know," Kathy asked again.

"Mom, no," Piper answered, "I didn't I just figure you did your dad."

"I swear," Kathy shook her head.

"It was really nice of him," Piper herself was shocked when her mother told her what Jonathan did. "I will definitely thank him."

"He is getting it back," Kathy huffed.

"Mom," Piper spoke quietly, "don't make a big deal. He was just trying to help."

"You are right," Kathy knew she shouldn't have this talk with her daughter. And maybe she should let it go. She certainly did not want to fight with Jonathan over it. It just seemed like such a big thing. "I guess I don't want him to think I am using him."

"He doesn't, I think he really just didn't want to see you stress. You know sometimes people just do nice things."

…

Kathy opened the hotel room door, she found the note on the bed.

"At the gym." She smiled sitting down on the edge of the bed. Her cell vibrated in her hand. "Shit," she muttered as Rachel's name came across her screen. "Hello," she cleared her throat.

"Hi," he sounded surprised she answered, "thought you were out of town."

"I am, everything ok," Kathy stood, they hadn't spoken since Rachel came to her house.

"Yeah, yeah, I just," he stopped, Kathy was taken back by how nervous he sounded. If Rachel was anything it was confident. Right wrong or otherwise. "I wanted to thank your friend."

"Jonathan."

"Yeah," Rachel stopped again, "Piper told me what he did," Kathy's heart ponder. She didn't want him to know, she almost wasn't sure why. "I really think she hates me sometimes." Kathy stopped, for all his faults it hurt to hear him say that. She never wanted that, and had really tried for Piper to feel no ill will toward her father. But Piper was an adult and could figure things out on her own. Kathy wasn't there to make sure Piper saw her father. She wasn't there to keep dates she had made and remind Rachel of them. She wasn't there to shield her daughter from things.

"She doesn't," Kathy said.

"She should," Rachel's voice quivered, "I don't know I have been thinking. Piper said some stuff," Kathy had seen over the last year how Piper had changed toward her father. And she knew at some point it would come to a head. "God when did she get all grown up," he chuckled.

"Beats me," Kathy laughed.

"I have been a coward, I don't know why, I wish I could have done things so different," his voice sounded so heavy.

"Rachel, look that is stuff that happened years ago. And you can work on what you and Piper have now." Kathy did feel for him, for the first in a very long time he sounded sincere. Like he was looking to her for advice.

"I would have nothing if it wasn't for you. You made me part of her life, when I wasn't. I always thought I was the one to sacrifice. Time away from my music my career what I wanted to do. I never wanted kids and," he stopped.

"I get that," Kathy said, "but I couldn't have done anything else." When Kathy first found out she was pregnant she went through every option she could think of. She might have choose the hardest but it was the best for her.

"No I am glad you didn't, Piper is the best thing I ever made. I just wish I showed her that. I wish I saw what it really took to raise her. I just have a lot of regrets." Kathy had wanted to hear this for years. She wanted him to feel hurt, wanted him to realize what she did what she give up. But it wasn't as sweet has she thought it would be. She realized she had worked hard but not lost any thing. She had a great daughter. "This Jonathan guy and you sound serious."

"It is,' Kathy smiled.

"Good," Rachel said, "you deserve that."

"Look just work on Piper, you are her dad," Kathy hoped whatever brought this about would stay.

"Yeah, I just need to act like it," Rachel said. "Well I have been in your ear enough."

"Thank you for calling."

"Tell Jonathan I said thank you. You know," he stopped and Kathy could hear him smile, "I never saw you with someone younger."

"Me neither," she laughed, "I guess age doesn't matter at some point."

"No it doesn't," Rachel agreed. "Well I'll talk with you later." Kathy sat quite going over all that Rachel had said to her. And how maybe going through everything she had with her lead her to Jonathan. That it was ok to start living her life, she didn't have to prove to anyone she was a good mom. That she beat the odds, and wasn't what everyone said about her. It was ok to be happy, and let people in and ever help her if she needed it. Kathy smiled as the door opened. She jumped up running to Jonathan throwing her arm around him.

"Hey," he laughed catching her. She kissed him, "I am all sweaty."

"I don't care," she smiled, "thank you." Jonathan pulled his head back. Thank you was the last thing he expected. He was sure there would be a fight and Kathy demanding to pay him back.

"You are not mad," he almost wished he didn't ask.

"I was," Kathy nodded, "but, someone made me see something a little different. So thank you." Jonathan smiled hugging her.

"I need to thank whoever talked to you," Jonathan laughed. He was sure she was still uneasy about it. But the fact she was just letting it be meant a lot.

"You know something," Kathy pulled back looking up at him. "You are the best birthday present I ever got." Jonathan smiled at her comment.

"You seem different somehow." She was more relaxed.

"Maybe," she kissed him on his cheek, "alright go shower." Jonathan pulled his shirt off walking toward the bathroom. She smiled, this was different, it was new and had been sceary. But it made her happy, Jonathan made her happy. Maybe all her trails, set back and heart breaks had lead her here. She went through it all it see and appreciate what real love was. This was her time to enjoy, and she had found the perfect person to enjoy it with.

The End.

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