I thought I'd give this story one more try. If there still isn't any interest in it/feedback, then I have a decision to make. I do feel worried about not hearing from my previous reviewers...I hope you're all okay!

You Found Me by The Fray

My Love Will Never Die by AG and Claire Wyndham

Hide by Red

Far From Home by Sam Tinnesz

No Pain by DJDS ft. Khalid & Charlotte Day Wilson

The Funeral by Band of Horses

2003

Illinois, U.S.

Rita finished counting her tips and tucked them away into an envelope, which she hid under her socks in the drawer. She was doing well saving for school, which sometimes she felt silly for thinking about doing, but she didn't want to give up just because she was having a baby. She had to provide for her child, and she did not want to be stuck working in a bar and being hit on or groped for the rest of her life.

Dave had gone just a bit too far today.

Rita shuddered at the memory of his hand wrapping around her rear and squeezing and massaging while her hands were full so she couldn't hit him or knock his hand away. Jody had seen and grabbed him by the scruff of his shirt and hauled him out of there all by herself with Chuck following and banning him for life. Rita had appreciated how seriously he'd taken it and felt protected, but still...she did not want to keep having those experiences.

She headed for her doctor's appointment and went through the check up and questions. She was almost eight months along now, and she was feeling anxiety start to heighten more and more each day. Was she ready for this? No. Could she do this on her own? She didn't know. Was she insane? Probably.

"Have you gone to the Lamaze class yet?" the doctor asked, and she pursed her lips slightly and tucked her head down.

"Not yet," she confessed.

"You really should, my dear," he said encouragingly. "I also think you should get a midwife or someone to help you."

"I'll be fine," she insisted. He gave her a bit of a scrutiny look before jotting down some notes on his clipboard.

"Well, everything looks good so far. Keep up the good work."

"Thank you."

Rita left before he could start up another conversation. She didn't like how judgy he was, even if he meant it in a good way. Was there every really a good way to be judgy, though? She didn't think so. She was fine, and she wished her doctor and other people would accept that.

She walked to her favorite little diner and sat at her favorite table, which overlooked the small park just off to the side. She enjoyed watching children playing and laughing. It made her long for when she'd get to be the mother watching her child do the same thing.

"The usual?" a voice asked.

Rita looked up and saw the bright smile, hazel eyes, and frazzled dark brown hair, and for a second, she thought it was Luke but remembered that it was not Luke. It was Brian. Her stomach still tumbled, though, in response to the initial thought that it was Luke. She definitely had a type.

"Sure," she answered.

"I can't tempt you to try the blueberry scones?" he asked, lifting a brow. She scoffed lightly and tried to hide her smile.

"Sorry, no."

"What if I told you I made them myself?"

"I wouldn't believe you," she replied, and he gave a gasp of fake outrage, clutching a hand to his chest.

"I...I don't even know what to say to you right now," he said. "That cut me deep, Rose. Real deep."

She twisted her lips in an attempt to hide her bigger smile, but it was hard. Brian had made it his mission to make her smile the first time he'd met her, and after fourteen (he'd counted) attempts with each visit, he'd finally succeeded after telling her the story of how he'd tried to pull himself up onto his horse only to go too far and fall off the other side and then have to chase his horse to get him back and try again. Once he discovered her love of horses, he'd wiggled his way into longer conversations and then got her name (fake name, of course) and then kept trying to make her try something new each time she went in there. Why she kept going in there was a mystery to her.

Well, not entirely...

"Fine. One orange juice and raisin bland muffin coming up," Brian said now, wrinkling his nose. He hated raisins, just like Luke. He teased her about it, just like Luke.

That's really why she kept coming here. He teased her like Luke. He smiled at her like Luke, and he made her feel like everything would be okay.

Just like Luke.

Somehow, she'd found Luke's American twin, and she kept going back because it gave her a half hour each time where she could pretend that he really was Luke and they were still together and nothing had fallen apart and left her heartbroken.

"How is the little one today?" Brian asked, returning with her breakfast. She thanked him and smiled.

"Kicking hard," she answered.

"Ouch," Brian winced. "My sister loved it in the beginning until my niece began getting her ribs."

He had a sister, a brother-in-law, a niece, a mother but no father (he'd passed away), and a best friend named Sonny, who was from South Korea and on his way to being a surgeon. She had slowly learned these things about him whether she'd wanted to or not.

"Can't wait," Rita replied. She knew Brian's niece, Molly, was about five months old now.

A smacking noise came from the counter where a woman was standing and frowning at Brian; she moved her hands rapidly, and Rita could see the scolding in them. He smiled widely at the woman and gave a nod while moving his fingers quickly back. He looked back at Rita and smiled again. "Enjoy your old people's food."

"I will, thanks," she retorted. She didn't tell him that raisin bran muffins were her father's favorite and that he joked all the time how he never had to beat anyone to them in an assorted box. Eating it made her think of him, and she enjoyed the time with his memory.

She watched Brian make his way back to where the woman was standing. She was his mother, Callie, and this diner had been in Brian's father's family for a long time. That was another thing Rita liked about this place. It made her think of family and traditions, which she sorely missed. She wished she could have met Brian's father. She felt like he would have been a very nice man to know.

She watched them talking, feeling more and more intrigued. Callie was deaf, as was Brian's sister, Josephine (Jo for short). According to Brian, his father could hear, and apparently Molly could hear too (and Jo's husband, Tony, as well). Rita had never experienced the Deaf community, but as she watched Brian and Callie talk, she suddenly really wanted to learn and know more despite the greater part of herself wanting to stay isolated and mistrusting. She averted her gaze when Brian looked her way so as not to appear as though she was snooping, although she had no clue what they were talking about anyway. She busied herself with listening to/watching the hustle and bustle of the diner picking up for its lunch rush. She had to be at work for three, and the long hours until then seemed daunting.

She watched Brian laugh and talk with patrons as they came and went. He was so comfortable in his own skin, and he just built such easy rapport with everyone that it made her slightly jealous. Again, it reminded her of Luke.

She gave herself a shake. She had to stop thinking about Luke and comparing Brian to him. She had to move forward. But...it was so damn hard.

"Have a great day!" Brian called to her as she pushed open the door to leave.

"You too," she replied with slightly less enthusiasm. That was maybe the one difference between Brian and Luke—he was always so chipper. Luke could get into a mood if he wanted to, but maybe Brian did that in private. It would make sense, really. Who could be in a bad mood while serving people?

Right...she could.

As she made her way to where her car was parked, she hoped that no one would try to molest her during her shift tonight.

New York, U.S.

Luke ran hard, sweat pouring out everywhere. He sidestepped a tree root on the path and kept going, trying to keep his mind blank. It was his day off, and he had nothing to do, so he ran. He tried hard not to picture Rita running next to him, egging him on and trying to beat him in order to avoid losing some crazy bet they'd come up with at the start. He loved watching her run—she was so agile and fast. And sexy as hell.

God, he missed her so much.

He stopped upon reaching the water fountain. He took some breaths and stretched a little. He looked around at other people walking or running. A very fit, busty woman with a dark complexion in a spandex workout attire was eyeing him up as she stretched, and he turned away. He had no interest. The only woman he wanted was Rita, and if he couldn't have her, then he'd rather be alone.

"You run here often?" the woman asked, having snuck up on him somehow. He jerked, startled, and shook his head.

"No," he verbalized when she kept staring at him.

"Oh, that's too bad. I'm looking for a running buddy."

"I run alone," he said. Get the hint, lady, come on...

"Well that's no fun," she advised.

"It is for me."

"I'm Ronaye," she tried. She waited, and he resisted growling his frustration at her.

"I'm nobody," he replied. "Sorry, I have somewhere to be." He started to run again, not caring if he'd hurt her feelings. He wasn't interested, and she wasn't getting the hint.

Satisfied that she wasn't following him, he began to make his way back home, running harder and faster with each step.

...

Wes met Luke in the hallway as he took his trash down to the chute. The young man still didn't seem to recognize him, and he was sweaty and mad looking, so Wes just bobbed his head in acknowledgement and carried on his way. Luke was not doing well, and Wes wished that he or Rosie could find Rita and figure out what the hell went on and get them back together. Wes had never known two people to be perfect for each other the way Luke and Rita were. The fact she'd left still baffled him and made him believe something really bad had happened outside of Luke's awareness.

On his way back, he saw that Abby's door was open. He poked his head in to see her packing. He was about 13 years older than her, and he couldn't deny that a flutter happened in his chest every time he saw her. Mickey was finally out of the picture. It turned out he'd had another woman on the side, so Abby was divorcing him and moving on with her life. Wes was really going to miss her when she left.

"Need a hand?" he asked after knocking on the door. Abby looked over her shoulder at him. Her daughter was with her mother today to avoid being underfoot.

"Oh, no thanks," she said. "I'm just about finished anyhow."

"Need a break?"

"You're too sweet." Abby smiled. "Rain check, though? I'm in a groove here."

"Sure thing."

She tucked her hair behind her ear and hugged herself with one arm. Wes could see she was broken and trying to put herself back together. He hoped she knew that she deserved a good man and was worth so much.

"Take care," he said with a small wave.

"You too."

He left with a heavy heart, wishing that he wasn't who he was and felt brave enough to have a normal life after all this time.

A Few Days Later

Illinois, U.S.

Rita woke up and expected to find Luke pressed against her from the way she was feeling. She ran a hand over her face, hating her damn hormones and how they made her feel. She wanted Luke so badly, but she was stuck there by herself.

And it was all her fault.

She got up and tried to distract herself with the morning news and breakfast. She imagined him doing a similar routine. She could picture him in that apartment in New York, if he was still there, right down to the mug he'd use, the TV station he'd have on in the background, and the disgruntled expression of morning annoyance on his face (that boy loved his sleep and was grumpy when he didn't get it, even if he was a light sleeper). She wondered if they were watching the same newscast together without knowing it. She sat and pulled a foot up close so she could massage it lightly. Work was getting tougher to do the more pregnant she got. Chuck had a stool for her behind the bar to sit on, but she felt bad and spent more time on her feet than he liked. She didn't want any special favors or treatment. She was pregnant. Lots of pregnant women worked and dealt with the aches and pains among other things. She could too.

"Okay, baby," she said, getting up and putting her dishes in the sink. "Let's start the day, shall we?" A slight kick in response made her smile. She hoped her son wouldn't be annoyed by her chatter. Goodness knows some people hated it back in the day. Luke liked it, though. At least, she thought he had. She didn't know anymore.

She gritted her teeth as the words from that tape played in her head once more for the millionth time. She pissed him off so much he wanted to put a bullet in her? Why hadn't he just said anything to her? Why had he let this fester to the point of wanting to put her out of her misery? She felt like crying again, but she forced it down. She did not have time for emotions today. She went to brush her hair and braid it. Then she grabbed her bag and went out into the world.

...

Wes was straining under the weight of the box he was carrying. Abby directed him to which room she wanted it in, and he went there. She'd let him help with the move, and even though she'd ended up in a small apartment, he was pleased that she was starting over fresh and appearing happy about it.

"Thank you so much," Abby said when he returned after setting the box on the floor. "I honestly don't know what I'd do without you."

It made him blush a little, and he smiled. Abby was so sweet, but he knew she had no interest in him, which he understood. It wasn't a good idea, anyway. People with his past didn't get to have happy endings—he'd long ago accepted that.

"So why here?" he asked after clearing his throat.

"My dad was from here," she replied, dodging her excited daughter as she ran to check out her new room again. "He always had great things to say about it, so I thought I'd check it out."

"That's cool."

"Shoot, I forgot a box in the car. Do you mind?"

"Not at all." Wes bobbed his head and went to get it. He stepped out into the hallway and almost crashed right into a very pregnant woman coming from the opposite direction.

"Oh!" she yelped, and he twisted to avoid hitting her and started apologizing profusely when he suddenly stopped and stared.

Ho-ly shit.

"Sorry," she said, sounding nervous now, which he knew it was because of his staring.

"No, no, that was on me," he managed to say. His heart was pounding. It was all he could do to not to freak out right now.

"Erm, excuse me," she said, gesturing. "I need to get by."

"Of course!" He stepped out of the way, and she went past and shot a look at him over her shoulder before disappearing around the corner. He frantically dug for his phone and moved somewhere private to make the call.

"Wes?" Rosie's voice answered. "What's wrong? Where are you? I'm standing outside your door and you're not answering."

"I'm in Illinois," he answered. "Pittsfield, to be exact."

"Why the hell are you over there?!"

"Abby moved here."

"Who?"

"The woman who was being abused by her husband."

"Oh. You helped her move?"

"Yes, yes, but that's not why I'm calling," Wes said impatiently.

"Spit it out then!" She sounded annoyed.

"I found her," Wes blurted, checking to make sure he was still alone.

"Found her," Rosie repeated. "You found her? Wes, don't you dare be messing with me right now..."

"I found Rita, Rosie," he said urgently. "She's here. In this building."

"Oh my God." His sister started to cry, and he felt a bit emotional as well. What were the bloody odds? Something like this would not normally happen in a million years.

"Go on, then," he urged. "What do we do?"

"Is she okay?"

"She's fine. Rosie, she's pregnant."

"WHAT?!"

Wes pulled back from the receiver as the sound of Rosie's phone hitting the floor followed by scuffling and cursing took place.

"Hello?" she said again, finally picking it back up. "Wes? You still there?!"

"I'm here," he confirmed.

"She's pregnant?!"

"Yes!"

Rosie started muttering to herself, which Wes knew was her way of trying to process the news and make sense of it. He, too, wondered if the baby was Luke's or if something had happened. He didn't think so. He had never met his niece face to face before today, but he knew she was not like that based on what he'd heard about her.

"I'm coming over there," Rosie declared finally.

"You think that's wise?"

"I need to see her."

"Are you gonna reveal yourself?" he challenged. There was a pause.

"No."

"Why not?"

"You know bloody well why not," she retorted irritably.

"Alright."

"Don't say it like that," she growled.

"I'm not."

"Your tone says otherwise."

"What do you want me to do?" Wes asked, changing the subject. They could bicker for hours.

"Have a snoop."

"Really?"

"Yes!"

"I can't right now. I'm helping Abby."

"Later then. And tell me your address. I'll find you."

"Rosie..."

"Tell me!"

He told her, and she hung up on him. He sighed and passed a hand over his head. Rita was here. Of all places, she was here. He was trying to process it all when Abby found him.

"There you are," she said. "You okay?"

"Yea, sorry. I had to take a call. I'm on my way to get that box now," he said with a smile. She smiled back and looked reassured. He couldn't stop thinking about how far along Rita was in her pregnancy. He'd only had a glimpse, but he could see she was a bit scared and not because of him.

He had no idea what was going to happen now.

New York, U.S.

Luke looked over his shoulder as he went into his apartment. He could have sworn he saw someone duck out of sight just before he saw them fully, and his heart jumped. Was it Rita? Had she come back and was too afraid to see him? He set down the bag of groceries on his kitchen table and nudged Remi back inside before going out into the hallway again. He crept around to where the person had disappeared and found a woman looking over her shoulder as she walked towards him.

"Argh!" she exclaimed when she turned and saw him right there. He held up his hands to stop her from plowing him over, which barely succeeded.

"Amelia?" Luke asked, stunned. "What are you doing lurking about here?"

"I'm not lurking," Amelia answered, adjusting her clothes a bit tersely. She held her head up high.

"Then why are you here?" He was still stunned. He hadn't seen her since the farm. She'd aged a bit but was still pretty. She still had that tight jaw and businesslike demeanor, though.

"Checking in on you, aren't I?" she replied.

"Why?"

"Because your mother asked me to," Amelia countered. "Before she died. Tragic that was."

Luke's throat grew very tight suddenly. After finding his mother had died, he had experienced intense grief but then shoved it down. He regretted not finding her sooner.

"Well, I'm fine," he lied.

"Clearly not," Amelia replied with a snort. "Sorry, boy. You're a terrible liar."

"Whatever. It's none of your business," he shot at her, annoyed.

"How's your wife?"

Luke stared at her. There was something in Amelia's tone in asking this question that felt off to him, but he couldn't figure out why.

"She left," he answered. Amelia's eyes conveyed compassion suddenly.

"I'm sorry to hear that," she said, the edge out of her tone now. "What happened?"

"Nosy, aren't you?" Luke glared slightly, and Amelia cleared her throat and looked away briefly before gazing at him again.

"Well, here's hoping she comes back."

Luke said nothing. He was feeling strange about this conversation, about how she was looking at him. He hadn't said that Rita had left him as in disappeared, but Amelia was talking as if she knew Rita had left him and not just left to do something in town.

"Well, I've done my part. All checked out—you're alive," Amelia said now, moving to leave. "Take care, Luke."

He watched her go, still not saying anything. When she was gone, he went back to his apartment. That's when he saw Remi had gone through his grocery bag.

"REMI!" he roared, and the cat scuttled out from the bag, leaped off the table, and beat it for his bedroom. He chased after her. "You little shit! What did I tell you about things on the table?! To leave them alone!"

He got to his room to find the cat gone. He knew she was hiding under his bed. He took a moment to breathe, reflecting on why he was really pissed off. It was because he'd thought Amelia had been Rita, and finding out it wasn't her had upset him.

"Remi," he said, calmer now. "I'm not mad. I'm just annoyed." He could hear the cat under his bed make a sound as if to say, "Ya, right."

He got down onto his stomach and saw Remi curled up tight by the wall in the middle. He made some sounds and tapped his fingers on the floor, but she simply stared at him, unmoving.

"Come on, girl," he said. "I didn't mean to get mad. I'll give you some salmon." Remi yawned. Luke waited her out. After a moment, she uncurled and crept towards him.

"That's a good kitty," he said, reaching for her. "Come on, I'll even let you sleep with me tonight." He rarely let her; it was when he was really lonely that he did it. Remi got closer, and then her head twisted as though something had caught her attention. He swore the cat had ADHD sometimes. He huffed in impatience, and Remi swatted at something with her paw. It came skidding out, and Luke snagged it before Remi could get even more distracted by it. He moved to kneel on his knees, lifting the object to look at it better. Remi pressed against his legs before scampering off to the kitchen again to wait for her salmon. Luke stared at the piece of paper in his hands, trying to comprehend what he was even looking at.

"Oh my God," he said, finally getting it. He was looking at a sonogram! It had Rita's name on it, and the date said March of this year. His heart almost stopped. Rita was pregnant? Rita was pregnant?!

He fell back onto his rear on the floor, almost losing his balance and sprawling. He was breathing hard. His hand holding the photo was shaking. Rita was having a baby. Rita was...he peered at the photo closer...close to her due date by now. It felt like all the air was sucked out of the room, and his heart was pounding.

Was it his baby? Had she slept with someone else and it was their baby? Had she left to be with that guy? Was that why she'd disappeared without a word? Had she lost the baby and been scared to tell him? Had she simply not wanted him to be a father to their child? His head hurt with so many questions, and he had answers for none of it.

Remi returned, purring as she leaned against him as if to show how good she was being and how deserving she was of her salmon that he'd promised. He barely registered her there. Rita was pregnant possibly. Rita was about to have a baby, and he had no idea where she was. His heart broke all over again. If the baby was his, and she left him, he didn't know how to forgive that. What on Earth could possibly make her leave him when she was pregnant?!

"I...I gotta sit down," Luke said out loud, and Remi gave him a look that said, "You're already sitting, dumbass." He felt like an idiot suddenly. He got to his feet and grabbed a pillow. He needed to let this out...right now. He buried his face into the pillow and screamed.

And screamed and screamed and screamed.

Illinois, U.S.

Three Days Later

Rosie watched her daughter enter the diner, and she saw how a young man in his 20s approached her all cheerful like and friendly. She wondered what the hell her daughter was doing.

"So, you've seen her," Wes said from the seat next to her. "What now?"

"I don't know," Rosie said truthfully. She twisted to look at him properly. "Did I do this?"

"Do what?"

"Did I somehow make her run away and start over somewhere new?"

"How? You've never met her."

"No, but my leaving...did it make her think it was okay to do so?"

"That's not even remotely the same. She thinks you're dead," Wes retorted.

"But maybe somehow it subconsciously made her think it was okay to leave?"

"Rosie, you can't blame yourself," Wes said almost wearily. He'd been listening to her berating of herself for the last two days, so no wonder he was exhausted with her. "Obviously there is a reason."

"There has to be," Rosie agreed, looking through her binoculars again. "Unless this bloke is the baby's father and she's come here to start a new life with him."

"Pfft," Wes scoffed, shaking his head. "Not Rita."

"You don't know that."

"I think he's just a friendly waiter."

Rosie scowled and watched her daughter smile at this guy. She didn't like it. She looked at Wes once more.

"You need to stay here and keep an eye on her," she ordered.

"Erm, now how do you propose that I be in two places at once?" Wes inquired. "Since you also want me to keep an eye on Luke?"

"Spend half the time here and the other half there."

"Rosie, come on! That's a bit much."

"Well, I can't stay here, now can I?" she challenged. "And Luke made me at the apartments; I barely squeaked out of there without him finding out too much."

"I imagine he'll be pretty pissed one day to know we knew where Rita was and didn't tell him."

"Then don't tell him, jerkwad."

"Alright," Wes said, taking the binoculars away from her. "You get snippy and irrational when you're worked up. I'm gonna ignore that."

"Just figure something out. Please." Rosie gave him a pleading look, and he sighed again. He knew she was aware of the mess they'd be in later if they were found out. He guessed they'd just deal with it then. He felt bad for Luke, though, knowing he could end the man's pain by telling him where his wife was. Then again, maybe there was a reason she'd run away, and Wes didn't want her to be in danger. It was all so conflicting.

"Fine. I'll do it."

"Thank you."

"Where are you gonna go?" Wes asked, curious. Rosie cracked her knuckles. Now that she was at ease knowing where her daughter was again, she could get to the root of why it happened.

"I'm gonna go find out what the bloody hell happened that broke them up and try to fix it," she answered.

"Ambitious of you."

"It's the least I can do," she insisted, looking at Rita again without the binoculars. "After what I did, it's the least I can do for her."

"You could go say hi," he suggested. She gave him a look.

"I can't, Wes. I'm sorry, I just can't. I'm better behind the scenes...you know that."

Wes said nothing, just reached to pat her on the arm fondly. He knew his sister lived with guilt and fear every day. He didn't know how to help her with it. They eventually drove away, and he was dreading living in two places but knew it had to be done.

He guessed at some point he was going to have to help Rosie clean up whatever mess she got herself into while doing her sleuthing. He just hoped it wasn't anything too deadly.

"Be careful, eh?" he said now, and she nodded.

"I will be, brother. I will be. Just promise me you'll keep her safe...keep them both safe. And my grandchild."

He was going to be a great-uncle; a flicker of happiness hit him then as he realized he'd get to watch the little one grow up. He realized that was probably another reason Rosie wanted to stay away, to avoid feeling pain of missing out on her grandchild's life. He wished she would just be brave enough to reveal herself, but he knew she probably never would. He looked at her now as she waited for his response, and he meant it with all his heart.

"I promise."

New York, U.S.

Simon was gleeful as he watched Luke simmer and mope at his desk. It hadn't gone unnoticed with the rest of the team, and he waited for someone to approach Luke and get punched in the face in return. Luke still did his job, though, which was impressive. He was bigger than his emotions apparently.

"Got a job," he said to Luke on his way by. He dropped a piece of paper down in front of him. Luke tucked it away without a word. Simon could see that something extra was bothering Luke today, and he wondered what it could be.

"Six o'clock. Our spot," he added, and Luke gave a grunt of confirmation. Simon went to his desk and picked up his stress ball to squeeze and torment with his fingers. He worked to hide his smile at Luke's misery. He had to admit, it had been the best decision in the end. He mentally high fived himself and turned his head to keep hiding his continued smile.

Maybe one day, when he was done torturing them both, he'd put them out of their misery.