Two weeks had passed since Nathan had his break down on that cold november night with Elizabeth. He still felt the trauma, but he was making small steps, the first being overcoming his guilt. He was now comfortable with the idea that he had made a choice and an unavoidable accident had occurred.

He was outside his house when a Mercedes pulled into the drive. Nathan was placing an inflatable reindeer and sleigh with Santa Clause on the lawn, the roof already streamed with lights. A well built man stepped out of the car, but did not move from where he stood.

"Hello, are you Nathan Grant"?

"Who's asking", Nathan replied, his voice monotone.

"I'm Charles Kensington. I'm a friend of Elizabeth's".

"Is there anything I can do for you, Mr. Kensington", Nathan asked, standing more at ease.

"Well, I just wanted to say, thank you. I don't know if you know, but since Jack died she hasn't been happy. But this morning when she came in to see her father, she was humming 'Beautiful Dreamer'".

"I suppose that has meaning for you".

Charles nodded in confirmation and then added, "It was the song Jack and Elizabeth had their first dance to".

Nathan nodded, unsure of what to say, or even if he should at all.

"Look, I'm not trying to say anything, I just wanted to thank you for making a difference in Elizabeth's life".

Nathan nodded and sat down. Then he looked at Charles.

"Charles, you're a lawyer right"?

"Yeah".

"Can i trust you"?

Charles nodded, sensing there was something going on with Nathan that had more than Elizabeth to do with.

"I hate my life", Nathan didn't know why he was telling Charles this. Probably because it was easier to tell a stranger who wouldn't judge you. He didn't need anyone thinking he was suicidal, "I don't want to end things, but I hate ehat I'm experiencing. My daughter needing me hasn't changed, she's the one constant in my life, but I'm sick of seeing how we're treated sfter coming home. Oh sure, they welcome us back with open arms, love us, tell us how thankful they are, and they mean it. These are our friends and family, and we love them. But after two or three weeks life goes onnand we became everyday people again. Were no longer heroes home from war, we're just a bunch of civy wearing non-militants. I just...I just don't know how to go on".

Charles nodded. He asked to sit down by Nathan, and took a seat.

"I had a best friend. We grew up together. We were both military brats, his dad was in the marines and mine was a J.A.G. We both fell in love with this girl, but she only loved one of us. Anyway, when he joined up he was worried about coming home. We'd bkth seen and heard our fair share of horror stories about men and women coming home and not being able to leave the battlefield. All he ever prayed was that Elizabeth would always love him and never abandon him".

Nathan blanched as he suddenly realized who Charles was talking about. Charles continued.

"Elizabeth doesn't have it in her to leave Nathan. She didn't leave Jack when he told her to do better than a soldier who'd probably die, 'take the stupidlawyer' is what i think he said", Charles said, chuckling, "but she said no. Nathan, Elizabeth is not going to leave you. I don't care if you can't leave the battlefield, Elizabeth is going to join you there".

"I don't want her to".

"Then you'd best find a way to come home, for her sake. She needs you".

That's when they heard the gunshot from next door.