Victory & Glory

It was nine in the morning when Jason's beat-up old suburban pulled up into the parking lot of the The Bridge Bar and Grill. You didn't need to be an alcoholic to come to the place in the morning since the local institution was open practically twenty-four hours a day. Lunches for truck drivers, family meals, and drinking and darts for those who wanted to escape the quiet down town just a few miles down the road. For Jason though it was place to check in with people outside of work and pickup his meals.

Not long after he made it through the door the day manager Kendra greeted him with a warm hug and a smile. The chubby loving woman had been a friend of his family's forever and had babysat him when he was little. The transplant from Canada was the one responsible for getting a southern boy to love hockey. She greeted a few other breakfast customers and then turned her attention back to him with a smile.

"Hi honey how are you doing? You look tired. We got your phone in order. Got you a few days worth of meals for yourself and I'm guessing the girls are coming over considering you ordered that mint brown ice cream pie. You want breakfast? You know we can make them something special if you want to to break them here."

He nodded taking it all in and held up his large travel cup. "I'm find just need a refill and could you get me some breakfast sandwiches for me and the Farmers for the order too. Meeting them to go over a few things then maybe I will get some sleep. Cleaned the place the other day and boxed up anything she left."

Kendra sighed and gesture for him to come with her towards the counter of the restaurant area. "You know honey why don't you cook more you know I taught you and what is with these crazy hours. You aren't the only Sheriff's deputy in this town."

She paused as she got the coffee pot and with her back to him she asked, "I take it this is a visit she's not coming back with the girls is she?"

Jason sat down at the counter and after a few brief greetings he answered her. "The girls have a half day Friday so they're coming to stay a little longer, and considering the missed the last three visits I'm due. Had to move around all kinds of shifts to get off then they can't come. Then people call out sick and I'm the only one available, so I'm there all the time. Three accidents, two fires, and an everything else that can go wrong in a small town. After I talk to the Farmers I plan to get some rest and I look forward to seeing the girls for a little while."

Kendra listened while the food was on the grill and she placed the coffee down in front of him. "So have you even talked to Victory? I mean shouldn't guys at least talk. You share children and you're in love."

The look Kendra got back told her volumes, but Jason still replied back. "We were in love and I love my girls. I'm not the one who walked out took a new job in Atlanta and bought brownstone, so the girls could go to a new school. Our relationship has been phone tag and texts. I should just call in her radio show."

He sided and put his head down on the counter. "Besides it's not like matters. In her email. Her work email she said she had some important paperwork she wanted me to read when I got a chance. Probably wants to sell the farm or whatever. Don't care but she's going to get a fight for the girls."

Kendra rubbed his should supportively. "Honey take it one step at a time okay. I gotcha your breakfast and other stuff. Kenny will put in the truck. Talk to your people then get some sleep okay."

He nodded and collected himself and after a hug and wishing a few people a good day he head back to Little Meadow Farm with boxes of food. The name had been Vic's idea since there was a small grassy meadow between the crop field and the farm buildings. Maybe selling the place was a good idea. There was so much of her in that place from things like art and projects to intangibles like good memories.

The upstairs bathroom with the large old claw foot tub. It was half finished when Victory walked out of it with a pregnancy test in hand giggling and crying. The teddy bears that sat on the hall table. They'd won them in pitching game at a local carnival. The carny didn't think anyone could throw that hard. The tire swing the girls loved playing on was still there, but they used the climbing wall by the barn more now.

He was stuck with all the memories and it served him right. Victory never wanted to stay in town much less own a farm. Sure she was happier then she thought, but she didn't love it. She'd given him the application for the Atlanta police department a few times, and loved visiting the city. South Range was to small of a town for her even if her parents loved it. That was no reason to go though.

He focused more on the road ahead and rather then drive down the main driveway he headed down a few hundred more feet to the driveway that lead to the Farmer's double wide trailer. It was still amusing to many that the people he hired to work his property were actually named Farmer. Joey and Debby were nice people, and Victory told him not to refer to them as white trash.

Well they were just simple hard working people. They met them when they first took over the property and started doing odd jobs. Since they were around all the time it made sense to make their arrangement more formal and they moved on to the property. They setup their home in a clearing the previous owner planned to build a cottage on, but never got around to it. They were good people and their son's Hunter and Bud were a year younger and older then the girls, so they four had played a lot together growing up.

Fortunately they were at school right now. They more then anyone asked when the girls were going to come home. There parents were a little more delicate with the matter, but as he pulled in and waved to Debbie who as hanging out some wash he knew it would come up. Still though there was business to discuss. Some fences were easier to mend.

"Face it ladies and gentlemen, the Falcons still haven't recovered from Vick and a quarterback is the least of their concerns. I could fill an entire show with reasons why you all need to jump ship but alas I have a life outside of this studio and my syndicated audience wouldn't much appreciate me devoting four hours of their day to nonsense. This is Vic Strong, reminding you it's not necessarily a man's world. Have a great weekend folks. Mira a Lunes."

She waited for the hard out before she pulled off her headphones and shoved them in her bag. Her producer was already rushing into the studio with his clipboard, probably full of complaints about her last segment. Usually, she entertained the backlash but today she wasn't in the mood. She still had to rush across town to pick up her girls and get on the road before the awful traffic on 80 slowed to a crawl.

"Not right now Terry. I got better things to do. Send me an email so I can delete them all at once," she said with a smirk as she hoisted her bag onto her shoulder and headed out.

Despite how it appeared in the moment, Victory Smith loved her job. So much that it might have cost her her marriage. And it was a good one too, up until the last year or so when she took her girls and fled the small town she grew up in for the big city. Unlike her husband, Vic never intended to stay there forever but she love made her try. Jason was a good man, good enough for her to set her dreams aside so they could have the life he wanted, the life of his dreams. But it stifled her, suffocated her to the point that she felt that she might die if she stayed.

So she took the job in Atlanta, her own dream, in the hopes that eventually he would see her side of things and follow her. But of course that didn't happen. He loved thier little Podunk town and Vic didn't blame him for it. The big time high school athlete turned deputy/fireman was in his element back home. The big fish in a small pond, why would he give that up.

If she were being honest, that was one of the things she loved about Jason. Even when they were kids, he was the man but he wasn't like the rest of the asshole jocks. Jason was smart, compassionate, always used his influence for good. But of course being the fringe character she was in high school, Vic didn't notice the good in him until after she'd gone off to college.

There was a keger in the woods and against her better judgement, she actually went. Alone of course, but much to her surprise Jason called out to her as soon as she stumbled into the clearing. Put a beer in her hand and threw an arm around her shoulders to pull her into his group. That was the first time he ever really talked to her. Even though they grew up a few doors away from each other, Jason had his friends and Vic had hers and very rarely did the two groups meet. When the sheriff's showed up, he grabbed her hand to lead her away and didn't let it go until the sun was rising the next morning. They'd been in love ever since.

But everything was different now. Life had gotten complicated. There was a time when she couldn't imagine her life without him now Vic found herself wondering what it could have been if he ignored her that night.

It was just after noon when she pulled hybrid SUV into the pick up lane at The Warren School to wait for her girls, Ramona and Lee, the world's most unidentical twins as they liked to call themselves. It was clear from birth that they came from two separate eggs. Aside from athletics, the 12-year-olds didn't have much in common. Ramona was her father's child, though she looked more like Vic with her honey toned skin and curly black hair. She was the family sweetheart and consummate comedian who made friends wherever she went. Lee, on the other hand, was a terror with her father's light eyes and light brown hair. She had two moods, brooding and fury, and raging hormones weren't helping. Both of them were taking the separation hard but Lee missed home the most. Being the most outdoorsy of the two, she spent a lot of her time out in the field mixing it up with the Farmer boys. And as much as Jason hated to talk about it, Vic was almost certain Lee had a bit of a crush on the older boy. She'd overheard the girls talking about him and found Lee's vehement defense of the half hill billy telling enough but she dare not mention it.

It was ten minutes before Vic finally made it to the front of the line and the girls piled in, Ramona in the front seat of course but it was Lee who spoke first. "We're going right? You promised..."

"I did and we are," Vic said with a forced smile as she glanced at her youngest in the rear view mirror and Ramona squealed before she turned on the radio. Lee even cracked a smile as she lean back and pushed her earbuds in. They didn't even like the same music. Lee's tastes were all over the place while Ramona knew the worlds to every song on the top 40 pop charts and she sang them all, loudly, the entire three hour ride. Usually Vic would have turned down the music to quiet her but she didn't want to rain on her daughters parade, not this trip.

This marked the beginning of the end. The manila envelope tucked down deep in her briefcase held the papers that would dissolve the once loving marriage and make her the primary custodian to the girls. At least that's what the attorney from the station told her. Vic hadn't even read them yet, she told her not to. "It'll be easier if you just get him to sign." She wished it didn't have to be this way but what choice did she have. Living apart was not working and Jason wasn't going to budge. Vic had to think of her own happiness for once, how could she raise strong women who took care of themselves if she didn't show them how. It had to be done. Like a band-aid.

"Listen ladies," she said as she pulled into the long dirt driveway, reaching back to tug at the cable attached to Lee's head. She rolled her eyes but sat forward, signalling that she was listening. "I'm just dropping you off, but Papi and Nana want you at their house for dinner...I already cleared it with Daddy so you're going but you'll be back in your old room for bedtime, okay?"

"Fine," they said in unison and Lee gave Ramona a quick shot to the arm.

"Coke me bitch..."

"Don't call your sister a bitch..."

"You're the bitch..."

"Enough! Now get out," Vic shouted and the girls looked at her with wide eyes. Tears brimmed on Ramona's but Lee was too hardcore to cry, simply flopped back against the seat with her arms folded across her chest. "Look girls...I'm sorry...this is really hard for me..."

"Then why are you doing it then." Vic expected that sort of thing from Lee but the fact that it came from Ramona broke her heart. She reached for her but Ramona was out of the car before she could grab her. Lee followed quickly behind her and grabbed her hand as the two went to the back to grab their bags. They didn't even say good bye, didn't even look back as they ran up the porch stairs.

"Daddy," she heard them scream as they barged in the front door.

Vic didn't pull off right away, instead watched the empty porch in her rear view mirror as tears streamed down her face. Why am I doing this, she though as she banged her head against the steering wheel. They promised each other forever, but who knew that would only last 13 years.

Jason had struggle through the morning, but everything got done. The Farmer's had a long to do list, and he'd paid them for the extras they did around the place. Making sure there was a little extra for all the things the boys did though Debbie made it clear that he didn't have too. They'd done the tasks asked of them like feeding the dogs, splitting wood, and a bunch of other jobs. Most of them they'd have been happy to do for free, but with the crazy hours he'd been working they'd been a life saver when it came to the dogs.

The boys had no idea how happy he was to wake up some days and hear kids playing with the family's five dogs. Luke, Peaches, Judy, Sprite, and Cody were all mutts brought home by family members and loved to death. Luke was named after the girls saw the original Star Wars trilogy. Peaches came home with them from the farmer's market the next town over. Judy was named after the girl's favorite babysitter who helped them care for the pup. Sprite got his name from the fairy creatures or the soft drink, the girls kept changing their minds. Cody was his wife's pick after swearing no more dogs would come into the house, but this didn't apply to sad looking hungry dogs that were caught in the rain by a radio station.

For him the dogs were another reminder of good times gone past, but they were also a comfort and made the place a little less empty. It sucked coming home to an empty house, but at least that wouldn't be the case for a few days. He didn't have set plans really, but he just wanted to spend time with them and do whatever. He'd told work and the fire station not to even think of bothering him. It was his time with the girls, and he almost thought of seeing Victory again as spoiling it. Problem was he also wanted to see her badly.

After the breakfast meeting with the Farmers he headed home. He spent some time with the dogs after putting away all the food. He gave the house the once over, and while it was perfectly clean he thought it was best to take the ESPN logo off the dart board. Everything that was Vic's was now boxed up to go out on the porch. No need to come inside if you're not going to be nice was his thinking. Still he could barely do it and paid Debbie to take care of it. She kept asking if he was sure, but he said it was for the best. That being said he told her to leave it all in the hallway.

After a hot shower shower he climbed into bed and soon passed out. He didn't wake up until late in the afternoon. He'd rolled over and went back to sleep a few times because of all the sunlight, but it hadn't taken much effort to go back to sleep. He glanced at the clock on the night stand next to the girls' picture and sat upright in bed in shock. The girls if his soon the be ex-wife could be counted on would be arriving soon. He disturbed the sleeping pack as he headed to the bathroom to finish cleaning up.

After pulling on a fresh flannel shirt jeans and all the rest he head downstairs to wait. Soon he saw Vic's ugly SUV making it's way up the road from the security camera mounted on the porch. He had mixed feelings, but the ones that came out was the excitement of seeing the girls in what they would say would describe as forever. It was a little depressing that Vic didn't even come in to say hi, but he forgot about that quickly.

All Jason heard was. "Daddy Daddy Daddy, " as his teen girls ran in and hugged him. He grabbed them tightly holding back tears and lifted them up with them giggling the whole time.

Lee kissed his cheek and laughed and said, "put us down we're not babies."

"Long as I can pick you up you are, " he said before putting them down.

Ramona smiled at her dad, but sighed and said "we have dinner and grandma and grandpa's but we don't have to go if you don't want too. Mom got us here late."

Lee nodded and added, "we miss them too and stuff but well we want to see you."

Jason just nodded and thought for a moment. He'd have to be the adult here even if he wanted to be selfish. "No that's okay it's just for dinner besides they miss you too, so go have a good time. We can hang out later and watch some movies or something."

Lee nodded eagerly as Ramona wondered down the hallway looking at the boxes and the bare wall space. "You took down all the pictures of you and mommy."

He didn't believe in lying to the girls so he just said, "yeah they were to hard to have on the wall to look at every morning so I took them down. I still have plenty of pictures of you guys on the walls though and that's how like it."

Yeah he was liking things so much he could cry. He smiled at the girls playfully though. "So do you girls like those uniforms that much?"

A pair of giggles followed by a quick simultaneous "no," told him all he needed to know.

"Well go upstairs and change already. You've still got stuff here and then meet me down in the kitchen okay."

The pair nodded and were practically pulling their clothes off as the made it up the stairs. He heard the talking and giggling as he headed into the kitchen and soon they made their way down the backstairs and that came into the kitchen. For Jason they were back to normal.

Ramona had put on her uggs blue jeans, and pink hoodie and he was sure she putt on some makeup. While Lee had dawned a hunting camouflage hoodie, jeans and work boots. Taking them shopping was always hoot. Ramona wanted to look like a backwoods Barbie and Lee wanted to dress like a boy. Despite being the same size they only had sports equipment in common. The pair hopped on the stools at the counter and he smiled at them from the other side.

"So are you to hungry? What are they feeding you these days."

Ramona was first to reply, " it's a well balanced meal plan and everything. Mom cooks a lot though and stuff."

Lee piped in and said, "yeah it's all like super healthy stuff for young athletes and stuff."

"Well how would you two feel like a treat."

They giggled and Ramona said, "we have to be at Grandma and Grandpa's for dinner in like an hour."

"Yeah MOM doesn't want us to spoil our appetite anything."

"Oh we won't do that we'll just do things a little our of order."

When Victory came back she would find both of the girls enjoying slices of their favorite mint brownie ice cream pie. They'd always ordered it at the The Bridge Bar and Grill, and while it was hardly a secret recipe you couldn't beat a homemade treat like that. Add two bottles of cherry cola made with real sugar you had a feast by teenage standards. They'd moved to the kitchen table so they could sit and talk with their father.

Jason just leaned back at the kitchen table and enjoyed his own slice,but with a glass of water as the dogs sniffed around and made every effort to be petted by the girls they adored. Would Victory be mad? Sure but he didn't care they were his girls too, and they deserved to have a treat. Besides what had he done? He gave them dessert before dinner. All he did was change the order. He couldn't make any fight they'd have worse.

Halfway to her parents house, Victory had to pull over. Seeing the house, the sadness in her girls eyes, how easily they left her, it was all too much for her to bare straight faced. She liked to think herself a hard ass, and when it came to dealing with athletes and the chauvinist assholes calling into her show, but this, this was more than she could take. Full on sobs in the break down lane, head in her hands. Make up streaked all down her face.

This was not the life she wanted. Raising children in two house holds that might as well have been in two different words. A divorcee. But the other life wasn't much better as far as she was concerned. Sure playing homemaker was great when the girls were small but once they started school, Victory felt like she lost a little bit of herself everyday she spent in that house they built together. In the town they never left. Where everybody knew everybody's business. It was stifling and as hard a choice it was, Victory couldn't see any other option. She took a moment to gather herself with a few deep breaths and a couple loud profane outbursts before she cleaned up her face and pulled back onto the road.

It was still another 15 minutes to her childhood home and she drove with a white knuckle grip on her steering wheel. She did her best avoiding the main strip and stuck to the back roads until she pulled into the little community of cul-de-sacs behind the high school. Her father was on the porch, as usual, chewing his cigar when Victory pulled into the driveway.

"Get out her Cheryl," he shouted into the house as he stood and made his way down to the walkway. "The city slicker's here..."

"Papi you were born in the Bronx. You not fooling anybody with them scuffed cowboy boots," she said with rolled eyes as she grabbed her suitcase from the back and made her way up the driveway.

"Sure the city's in my blood but the country...es mi corazón Amor. Where's Frick and Frack?" He hugged her then long and hard, his strong arms squeezing her tight to his chest and Victory felt tears welling up again. Her father knew it and gave her back a few strokes before he took her bag and lead her up the stairs tucked under his arm.

"With Jay," she said quietly and her father sucked his teeth. "Don't start with me Papi. I just had to here it from the girls I just need a minute to breath...please."

"You'd breath better in your own house." That was her mother, the General, as she was affectionately known around town. Despite the harshness in her tone, she too gave Victory a long embrace. Ran a thumb across her streak to wipe away a bit of eyeliner that she missed. "I know you don't want to hear it but I'm your mother and I'm going to tell you the truth not what you need to hear," she said with a hard look at her husband. "I ain't raise you to be no quitter..."

"I'm not quitting anything..."

"The hell you think divorce is Victory."

"People get divorced every day Mommy..."

"I'm not claiming that it's not for everybody. I'm just saying it ain't for you. That man ain't done nothing but love you since you're father caught him sneaking out of your bedroom..."

"Mom please you don't understand...I can't...just please..."Victory couldn't even get the words out before she was storming off to her old bedroom, that her parents had converted for the girls to share when they came over for visits. She fell onto on of the twin beds, buried her face in the pillows and screamed. Long and hard until her voice cracked. So loud that she didn't hear the door open, or the light footsteps that approached the bed. Victory didn't realize she wasn't alone anymore until she felt weight on the bed beside her.

"She means well Amor you know that," her father said quietly as he ran a soothing hand over her head. "You guys were always so happy...then you were gone. You're bullheaded babygirl, just like your mother and once you set your mind to something you dive in head first. We don't...I don't want you to rush into something you might regret."

"I'm tired of settling Daddy," she said after she sat up, put her head on her father's shoulder. "Everybody loves it here but there's a whole big world out there and I want to see it. I want my girls to see it and he doesn't get that. You know he's never come to visit...not once. Always claims he's too busy with work like he's the only deputy in this godforsaken place but it's perfectly fine for me to schlep up and down the fucking highway every damn weekend. He's so devoted to this place that he can't see that I was dying here."

Her father, who usually had an answer for everything, didn't have anything for that. Victory had done well keeping the complexity of her marital situation to herself, but she was tired of being labeled a homewrecker. Jason Smith, South Range's favorite son, could do no wrong, even in her own parents eyes, so it had to be her fault. But it wasn't, not completely anyway.

"We're old school Vic," he said after a while and Victory snorted, fixed her mouth to say what her father did next. "Just old I know but hear me out. From where I sit the only problem you two got is distance. Nobody's stepped out right?" She shook her head at that, though she thought about it often, cheating was not something she was willing to do. "Put his hands on you..."

"Please," she said, finally lifting her head to look her father in the eye.

"So work it out then. That's the problem with you young people. Too many damn fairy tales. Marriage is work...hard work. A second job if you do it right, so figure it out. I love you too much to let you be stupid now so get your shit together so we can go get my granddaughters," he said and gave her a kiss on the top of her head before he got up.

"I love you too Papi."

Alone again, Victory took a few moments to gather herself before she flipped open her bag to change clothes. Getting dressed had always been a stress reliever for her and the amount of clothes jammed into the overnight bag was evidence of that. She had more than enough clothes to stay two weeks without repeating an outfit but she was only staying the weekend. After laying out three outfit, she settled on a little sundress and booties. Victory washed her face to get rid of the streaky raccoon eyes and ran a brush through her longs jet black hair before she headed down to meet her parents.

It was a long quiet ride jammed into the front seat of her father's vintage pick up with both her parents. Part of her thought her mother only tagged along so that Victory didn't have a chance to talk her father into agreeing with her decision. All three piled out of the truck once the got to the farm and her heart sunk when she stepped inside to find the boxes that lined the walls. And the various rectangles that framed pictures that were no longer there. Their wedding photo. The picture of the two of them on the porch the day they closed on the farm. The picture of Jason kissing her pregnant belly. And a host of others, all gone. It was like Victory was never there and she bit her lip to keep from saying the first thing that came to her mind.

Her mother noticed it too, but didn't say anything. Just slipped her hand into Victory's and squeezed while her father followed the sounds of giggles to the kitchen.

"It doesn't have to be Vic," her mother said quietly and continued to hold her hand as they walked down the hall.

"There's my girls..."

"Papi!" They shouted in unison and jumped out of their chairs to dive on their grandfather. For two people who seemed uninterested in seeing them, they were awfully excited at the sight of their maternal grandparents. Vic chose not to mention the empty plates smeared the neon green streaks and brownie crumbs, or the floaters of soda on the table. In that moment she decided to be civil, even if she couldn't bring herself to look at him. Her husband, the once love of her life.

"Looks like you already had dessert so I guess you don't have room for that apple pie I made just for you. Or the plate of double chocolate chip cookies."

The girls shot Vic a look and she didn't have the heart to tell them no, simply shrugged her shoulders and turned her back. The universal sign that if she didn't see it, it didn't happen and the girls erupted into squeals. They each kissed their father in turn before they torn out of the house the same way they came in. The in-laws gave Jason a more somber good bye, the father offered a nod as they followed the girls out.

Just like a band aid...Just like a band aid...

She repeated it over and over again in her head to fill the heavy silence that descended on them. It was the first time she'd seen him in weeks. The first time they'd been alone together in months and she'd expected to be angry. But the only thing she felt was hurt. That didn't stop her from pulling the envelope out of her bag and tossing it onto the table in front of him.

"Let's not make this more difficult than it already is Jason."

Having the girls in the house made the place like a home. Sure it was cliche, but for anyone who did a bit of living you knew places were just that. Without the people they just helped you remember the good times, and as of late the house wasn't a place he liked coming home too. Sure there were thoughts of the girls, but Victory was in every corner of the place.

From the throw pillows on the couch they selected to the large teddy bear on the hall table by the girl's room. That was because the bear would prevent any monsters from coming into the room from the scary attic or downstairs. Funny thing was in recent years the girls protested the moving of the bear from his post. Victory had found him at a small toy store during a visit to Atlanta and he rode shotgun the whole way back.

She was always interested in going to the city and looked for whatever excuse she could find. Book groups, church groups, and restaurant tours to name a few. She even looked into being a flight attendant, but being away all the time wasn't the solution. Well now it was, but he guessed Vic didn't see it that way. Looking back it didn't happen all at once, but it seemed that way.

One minute you're enjoying a family meal of local raised and cooked fried chicken and the next you're being told the girls are going to a new school and your wife has a new house. The only warning was she was a little tired and went to bed early. Well looking back that wasn't exactly true. As he looked at the girls they weren't this happy. It wasn't a happy family picture that just ended.

That night the girls were afraid to eat. They were waiting for them to finish fighting, so they could start the meal. He had to go to a rescue class at the community college, and only gotten the confirmation the day before. It wasn't his fault but it changed the family schedule for months, and he just told her that was how it was going to be. It didn't effect her all that much, but he didn't consult her at all. That was understandable, but the holy hell she raised wasn't helpful.

Then saying he should eat and go and that she would be turning in early. Next she said feel free to sleep at the firehouse since it was next to the police station. With that he told the girls goodnight grabbed his bag and headed out with them asking questions and looking worried. He didn't come home or call for two days. He wouldn't give her the satisfaction, and then he came home to a truly empty house.

The next cell phone call which took several tries didn't resolve all that much. Basically she'd been talking about it for months and now was the time. She had to work the girls were fine, and he could come any time he wanted. Just call first. Well if there was a good way to take that news he didn't know what it was, and he made no effort to try. After that it was a ton of phone tag, and text messages.

The girls called fairly often, but he tried not to include them in the dispute especially when he had nothing nice to say. The pair didn't have much to report other then mom worked in the mornings, picked them up from school, and cooked dinner often. She made some games and practices, and seemed to only do work related stuff. There was no mention of a boyfriend or a social life. She'd always complained about a lack of things to do and now that she was in the city all she did was work and take care of the girls. The only comforting part of that was she didn't have someone and didn't seem to be looking.

He tried to put all that out of his mind though and enjoy the girl's silliness and smiles. He'd talk to them and planned to spend as much time with them as possible. He did figure they'd want to see the Farmer boys even if they didn't want to admit it, and of course his parents wanted to spend time with them. Tomorrow he planned to a barbecue and kill two birds with one stone. He'd already gotten all the sides so it was just a matter of making the burgers on the the grill.

He'd inquired if the girls had become vegans or started eating sushi and the replies were priceless.

Ramona giggled and said, "no daddy we don't eat bait."

Lee laughed and snorted and said, "we're not bunnies daddy. We like protein."

"Well good because your my country girls, but if your mother wants to take you to some place that serves weird food or isn't a Hardee's Or Dairy Queen please give it a try for me."

After a brief pause it was, " yes daddy," and they went back to their ice cream treats.

Soon their grandparents arrived with Vic. They didn't say much and while he was aware they'd arrived he was a little surprised that he heard only one vehicle come up the drive way. What was his wife going to do ride in the back? Well that didn't matter he was polite as he could be with everyone there. Her parents hadn't always been the nicest people, but he knew they liked him and a few times let him know they were happy he married their daughter.

He made sure to tell the girls loudly that he'd see them later, and that it was for the whole weekend. He didn't want anyone to think it was off to the grandparent's house and he was an after thought. Vic wasn't in a good mood though, but he didn't care. She couldn't be polite, and she couldn't even get mad over the ice cream. She kept very little soda in the house, and while she could be fun sometimes she tried to make sure everyone ate healthy. Why because she cared about everyone, but not tonight.

He cleared his throat, but before he could utter a word the K9 crew as the girls affectionately called them came bounding into the house from the doggy door. There was an outer security door to keep out pests, but most of the time when someone was home the dogs could come and go as they pleased to the fenced in area in the yard. Now they were thrilled to see Victory, so he doubted event he security door would have stopped them.

Luke, Peaches, Judy, Sprite, and Cody surrounded her and were sniffing, barking and rubbing up against her. Only Luke broke away to go to the front door, but only got to bark at the girls leaving. He was sure the dog would be ecstatic when they returned later in the evening. Cody actually hopped up on his hind legs in a doggy attempt to hug Vic which she lovingly returned. As always since she brought him home he had a bandanna around his neck.

The wonderful moment was derailed by the envelope that landed on the table among the dirty dishes. He just sighed and picked it up, and before he even opened it he knew it wasn't good news. The label from the liar she'd hired said it was sent to Ms. Victory Strong. Well that told him all needed too, and while he didn't intend to he ripped open the envelope and the contents fell out on to the table. He shook his head and picked one sheet and scanned it quickly.

Modified full custody? Once a month visits with holiday preference to former spouse and family? Payment of child support and school fees with a provision that even if the girls got scholarships the money would be placed in a fund. Restrictions on dangerous activities while visiting including but not limited to hunting and fishing. He wasn't sure what kind of look he gave her when he slammed the paper down, but she didn't like it at all.

"Of all the rotten underhanded things you could do Victory! I didn't even know if we were getting divorced, but you show up here with this pile of crap. You think I'd just sign this?"

He picked up another page and took a look at it and said, " you get to choose which of the dogs you get and if we can't come to an agreement we take the remaining dogs to the shelter? You haven't come to see them."

He pulled out another paper and only got more infuriated. Only getting a few paragraphs down he looked up in horror. "You want me to kick the Farmer's off the property and get them to pay for 'restoring the land?' We have agreement with them never mind they're friends, and the girls would never forgive us."

"You know what get out of here now! You walked out and took the girls from me, and you don't want this to be difficult? Victory I haven't even finished reading this and I know we're going to have a hell of a fight. I'm going to see our lawyer tomorrow morning about this."

He thought for a second. Their family attorney was a friend of his father's but he was a general practitioner never mind the fact he was friendly with her parents. "Well I'll find someone else, but just get out right now. I'll ship all your crap to Atlanta. Was being married to me that bad that you came up with this, " he said gesturing to the table.

He shook his hands and let out a deep breath. "You thought I'd just sign this during a visit and be done with it. Just go call your father or whatever, and I want those girls HOME in two hours!"

The awkward silence was broken by a barrage of yelps and pitterpatter of paws on linoleum as the pack came charging into the kitchen. They were all excited to see her but Cody stole all her attention as usually, hopping up on his hind legs to put paws on her chest. Vic smiled despite herself as the big mutt mix knocked her to the floor, cover her with wet doggy kisses. She heard herself giggling, and it sounded it odd on her ears. It had been a while since she laughed so genuinely without the girls being the reason. Once on the ground, she forgot all about the expensive dress she was wearing and allowed the dogs to jump and love on her the way they used to. Just when she was about to admit how much she missed them all hell broke loose.

"Of all the rotten underhanded things you could do Victory! I didn't even know if we were getting divorced, but you show up here with this pile of crap. You think I'd just sign this?"


His voice cracked he shouted so loud and Victory was on her feet in an instant, prepared to defend herself against any hurtful thing he might say. The way he looked a her, his light eyes full of hate and rage, a small part of her was worried that there might be more than words and she steeled herself to possibility as well.

"You get to choose which of the dogs you get and if we can't come to an agreement we take the remaining dogs to the shelter? You haven't come to see them."

"What!? Who said anything about getting rid of the dogs?! I never said anything about the dog..."

Before she could finish, Jason was already onto the next page. His voice booming as he read off another demand so ridiculous that she had to read it herself. "This is bullshit Jason I never said any of this..."

"You know what get out of here now! You walked out and took the girls from me, and you don't want this to be difficult? Victory I haven't even finished reading this and I know we're going to have a hell of a fight. I'm going to see our lawyer tomorrow morning about this...Well I'll find someone else, but just get out right now. I'll ship all your crap to Atlanta. Was being married to me that bad that you came up with this.You thought I'd just sign this during a visit and be done with it. Just go call your father or whatever, and I want those girls HOME in two hours!"

For the first time in a long time, maybe since Jason proposed, Victory was speechless. But unlike the last time, it was heartbreak that stole her ability to make words. She could only imagine what else was in that paperwork that made him react so poorly. Vic expected him to be upset, angry even, but she was not prepared for this. All the dogs ran out of the room when Jason started yell, except Cody who laid at her feet his head tipped up looking up at her with hurt in his eyes. In the end that's what broke her.

"This isn't what I wanted Jason," she shouted back as tears streamed down her face. She reached out and snatched the paper so hard some of the pages tore as she tossed them on the ground. "That stupid bitch didn't listen to a word I told her so here's what's going to happen. The girls are staying here until Monday. I don't want them around when their mother gets arrested for battery," she said with a hard sniff and wiped a string of snot that ran down her lip. "I might be a murder by the time I'm done."

She didn't wait for his reaction, Victory was too angry for that. Probably more angry than Jason. She gave the woman specific instructions. Weekend visits. Split Holidays but every vacation they were to be with their father. He could keep the farm but if he sold then they would split the proceeds. She and Jason would split 80% while the Farmers would get the remaining 20. It was supposed to be an amicable thing, well as amicable as a divorce could be and that know it all twat fucked it all up.

Victory was halfway to the door when she stopped walking. The empty spaces on the walls. The boxes on the floor. Cody whimpering at her heels. It all dragged her down to the floor. "Was being married to me really that bad." His voice repeated in her head over and over again as she plopped down right in the middle of the hallway. Knees drawn up to her chest as she cried, sobbed really, with Cody nuzzling at her hip.

"What happened to us," she whimpered as she put her arms around his fluffy neck, her face buried in his fur. "We used to be best friends...We did everything together...Never so much as had a disagreement now we can't even look at each other without screaming. How did we get here?"

He wanted her to leave and she couldn't blame him but unfortunately Vic didn't have the strength to get up. She thought moving to Atlanta would make her life better but all she got was exhaustion. Between running a radio show and shuttling twins between school and practices, she was burned out and now she'd lost her greatest ally. Her best friend. Her Blue Jay. It had been years since she called him that and the thought of the sickening nickname actually brought a sad smile to her face.

"What happened to us?"

Victory almost never cried even when it came to physical pain she did her best to hold back tears. She was a strong woman, but everyone had their breaking point and he'd just witnessed her's. Part of him wanted to go to her, but the other part of him was mad as hell at her for this. That softened as he processed what she was saying and he went back to the table as she sobbed and looked to Cody for comfort.

The large stack of papers clearly killed a few trees making, but not all of it had scattered. A binder clip had come loose, but the other was intact. He walked over and flipped that one over and it read that it was Victory's copy. He flipped through it, and it looked the same, but the not hand written on it made it clear it was copy for her. Something about taking an aggressive position and then working their way down to half of everything. It also said read at your leisure and I'll handle everything.

While Jason wasn't happy with half of everything being taken much less a divorce period he realized Victory was telling the truth. At least she thought things would go well because they were meant to be fair. Maybe this was at least as painful as it was for him though. The here and now though wasn't good. She was sobbing and finding comfort in what she often referred to as her furry boy child.

He grabbed a box of tissues and walked over to her and with out asked began helping her up and pushed the box into her hands. "Well we need to talk. First this isn't acceptable in any shape or form. I think you know that, but I want to be clear. Second whatever we agree to I want to see the girls as much as possible and talk about schools. They have their friends here and their grandparents. I'm not sure weekends alone will do it, but we'll talk. Third I love you I don't hate you and we can work something out."

He paused and helped her to the kitchen table and moved aside the girls dishes. He rubbed his temples and thought for a minute before saying, "if that's a divorce fine. I'm not thrilled with it but that's what people do right. You want the city not the country I get that, and it's to late for change. You can even take Cody back with you, but if he's not happy I want him back with the girl and and well he can stay with your parents. He speaks Spanish right? Also you know he visits Cupcake on his own."


The joke was her parents did talk to some of the animals in Spanish and they seemed to listen. His father-in-law liked to say they knew more then he did, but the old man wasn't ever cruel about anything. Cupcake was the Farmer's young German Shepard mutt who was Cody's girlfriend according to the girls. He walked over by their meat locker size refrigerator they'd purchased at an action years back. "You hungry? Want something to eat?"

Without waiting for a reply he went back into the fridge and pulled out two cold beers. Then he looked over the food containers and smiled nodding. He scooped up two boxes and carried everything out into the kitchen as he kicked the door closed. The beers went on to the counter and he took the food out of the containers and put the contents on two plates and heated up the food. He opened both bottles on the beer cap remover built into the counter and walked over to the table.

He placed a cold bottle of Crescent Moon Dunkel in front of Victory and then went and sat down across from her. He raised his the bottle to his lips, but put it down and said, " don't read to much into me having your favorite beer. Cardoza's Wine & Spirits ordered an extra pallet so they were having a sale. Carmen says hi by the way. She says since we're not together she'd love for you to send her an email. Her and Danny are expecting their fourth. I said they need to get cable on the farm."

He raised the bottle to his lips and a long drink. "So this is it huh? Atlanta all you hoped and dreamed. The girls seem happy. I mean t hey well they're happy about the new things. How is work? I can't say I've been in the mood to listen to the show, but everyone at the station misses you. The new sports talk show sucks."

The microwave dinged and he hopped up to get the food. Cody had wondered over for support and deal with any food they dropped on the floor. The affectionate creature whimpered below her chair looking for attention. They had a sign by where all the dogs had their bowls that read Spoiled Rotten Dogs live here. Most dog owners had something like that up, but in their case it was true.

Even the earliest baby pictures of the girls had dogs in them. Peaches the eldest who'd been purchased on a whim while a very pregnant Victory craved the fruit had instantly took a liking to her new home. She was thrilled with the arrival of the little humans and slept between the girls' cribs. They didn't need a baby monitor because when one girl would cry out Peaches would feel it was her duty to wake the house. She still slept in their room.

He took out the two plates and walked over to the table and placed one in front of her before sitting down and placing his food. "So you have tissues, food, drink, and a dog. I think you should be comfortable enough to talk to me. Nice dress by the way. How much did that one cost?"

She wasn't surprised when she felt his strong hands pulling her up. Jason wasn't gentle but Victory felt the love in his embrace as he thrust the tissues in her hands and guided her towards the kitchen. Even if she wasn't sobbing anymore, Victory was still at a lose for words, especially with Jason's seemingly easy acceptance of their situation. That is until he said he loved her.

It had been a while since she heard those three words from him. Words he used to say often and for no reason at all. She remembered the first time. In the back of the same beat down pick up that he still drove proudly. They'd gone on a picnic the night before she was to return to school to start her junior year. On a blanket with a citronella candle burning for added ambiance, he whispered it into her ear like some well kept secret. She already knew by then but still it was nice to hear the words. Once it was out he didn't go a day without telling her even if it still showed in his actions. But it all changed recently, even before she took the job in Atlanta. Jason had stopped doing the little things that reminded her that she was still in his heart. On his mind.

He asked if she was hungry but all she could do was shrug, unable to remember the last time she'd eaten, let alone felt the urge. The week leading up to today had been a stressful one. The start of training camp for baseball marked the beginning of the worst part of her career. Of all the sports she covered, baseball was the worst. Arguing with old-timers and closet racist about the bat flip was tiresome and it had already begun. Then their little hell-raiser got into a shoving match with a boy in gym class who'd called her a mutt because of her mixed raced heritage. While Lee was in the head mistress's office, Ramona stood up on a table at lunch to announce the boy was only mad because he neither girl would go out with him because his breath smelled like he eats shit sandwiches all day. Given the boy's record of bullying the girls got off with a weeks detention but Vic still had to come in and answer questions about "trouble at home." Of course there was trouble at home but that had nothing to do with their behavior, which she saw as a small victory.

"Don't read to much into me having your favorite beer. Cardoza's Wine & Spirits ordered an extra pallet so they were having a sale. Carmen says hi by the way. She says since we're not together she'd love for you to send her an email. Her and Danny are expecting their fourth. I said they need to get cable on the farm."

That finally got a laugh out of her and Victory raised her eyes to look at him. The only man she ever truly loved. The ice was broken and she let out a long shuddered breath as she wiped away the last of her tears and took a long drag off the ice cold beer. But still she didn't speak.

It occurred to her then that she actually missed the sound of his voice. The subtle twang of his smooth baritone, like a sophisticated good ole' boy. It had been months since they actually had a conversation. The easy way they communicated had been a cornerstone of their relationship. Hours spent on the phone while she was away at Georgia Tech turned into hours talking when the moved into their first shitty apartment as soon as she graduated. Even after they were married he'd call into the station during his shift just to say hello. And that he loved her.

"So you have tissues, food, drink, and a dog. I think you should be comfortable enough to talk to me. Nice dress by the way. How much did that one cost?"

"More than it should," she said with a smirk as she dug into the plate he placed in front of her. It was full of things Victory had sworn off but she wouldn't deny him he opportunity to take care of her like he used to, or the fact that she missed the brisket from The Bridge. A little contented moan escaped her at that first bite and the next before she switched over to the baked beans. And again she moaned, eyes rolled back into her head happy at the spicy sweet delicious that filled her mouth. "Thank you," she said with a genuine smile, the first in a while, as she looked at him. "The dress, the food...the beer. I needed that...this. I miss you Jay," she admitted before she could stop herself but quickly dropped her eyes back to her plate and shoveled in more food before anything else came tumbling out of her mouth.

Once her belly was full, Victory felt that much more comfortable being in the house, sitting across the table from her soon-to-be ex-husband. "So I think I need to clear some things up," she said as she pushed away from the table to grab them another round. Victory grabbed the dishes on the way without a thought, rinsed them, and loaded them into the dishwasher as she would have if she still lived there before she grabbed the beers. When she returned to the table, Victory took the seat beside him and pushed the new bottle in front of him. "I never want you to be away from them but that is a great school and they only have a year left so I want them to finish. We can revisit the education situation when they go into high school but until then I want them to be with you as often as possible...even if that means you coming to visit us in Atlanta when they have games on the weekends. They can be here for the holiday breaks so long as you let me be here for Christmas morning. Summer and spring break are yours. You're a wonderful father Jason and I don't want you to ever question that. I know it's killing you being away from them but you gotta meet me halfway. If you showed up on a Wednesday afternoon, I wouldn't stop you from taking them out or even just hanging out to do homework. Those are your babies as much as they are mine and I want you in their lives as much as they do. That's what I told that piece of shit lawyer but she didn't listen so I'm telling you. And I don't want you to sell the farm or get rid of the dogs...or the Farmers for that matter. But I will take Cody if you're serious about giving him up," she said and the dog perked up at the sound of his name to put his head in her lap. Victory gave his ears a scratch and smiled, feeling like he liked the sound of that.

"I remember when I brought him home," she said absently as she leaned over to run a hand over his shaggy brown fur. "What happened to no more mutts Vic," she said in a poor mimic of Jason's voice. "How can you say no to this handsome face?" The girls were five then and all four of them helped give him a bath to welcome him into the family. It was a rite of passage for all the dogs, but Cody was the only one who was allowed to sleep in the master bedroom. "The yard is nothing like this but there's an awesome dog park and we could go for runs again like we used to. And don't worry I'll bring you back to see your girl every now and then. Long distance relationship suck but sometimes it's worth it," she said with a glance up at Jason as she gave Cody's side a rough rub. Sensing her calm, he hopped up on all fours and trotted off outside. There was a round of barks and she heard him take off from the porch. "Guess he's going to break the news," she said with a chuckle as she took up her beer again, draining it in one long gulp before she took up the empty bottles to deposit into the recycling bin.

"And I was serious about Monday," she said from the fridge, this time for water. "They deserve a little break with them both making the honor roll last trimester. I still have to do my show Monday morning so you'll have to bring them back...maybe stay for dinner?"

Give a woman and meal and a drink and she'll talk to you, and even after over a decade of marriage that didn't change much. Even if things were crashing and burning around him. As his father a long time Navy veteran taught him when you were surrounded by chaos there is no point in being over emotional about the situation. You can cry and carry one later, but for the time being you just needed to handle business.

What was refreshing though was while Victory didn't seem like the wife he loved she was still the woman he married. She cared and while he wouldn't push it there was still love. The little things like when she went to get more beer they clinked the two beer bottle necks when they sat next to each other without thinking. That little ritual dated back to the first time they bough beer at the bar to celebrate two pay checks in the same week.

She was at least making sense when it came to the divorce and the kids and everything else. Well he just listened to her feeling a little sad about the whole thing. It was like being laid off from a long term job. Everyone was being nice, it wasn't personnel, and the package was generous. Problem was you didn't want any of it and just wanted to go back to the job you loved and forget the whole thing. She was trying to be fair with everything and the girls belonged with their mother.

He wanted to say hell with that , but he knew as they were growing up they needed Vic. He couldn't raise them like boys any more, and they had a future to think about as well. He had to do the right thing, but he wouldn't give up just yet. Over glasses of water he blurted out, "that would be fine. I mean well Christmas can be divided between the grand partners with us being with our respective sides."

This was going to be harder then he thought. He went on to say, "I want the girls here. I really do but uprooting them again even to come home isn't the best. I mean their friends are here their sports teams. They seem kind of happy. They don't like the uniforms and well they kind of like the city. Ramona likes it more then Lee. We can't split them up."

He sighed and reached down to pet Cody. "I want you to take your dog. Just if you know he's not happy let him come home okay? He can protect the house and I know the girls will like playing with him. It's not like your asking to take Peaches. This is her home until well...."

Peaches was six months old when the girls arrived and she grew with them, but now that the girls were twelve and their beloved dog was a senior citizen. She still came out to greet him every day, but more and more the trips upstairs to the girl's room at the end of the day were a struggle. Doctor Patrick as the country veterinarian was fondly called said she was just old and not suffering.

The other dogs were very loving to their patron. She might have been the last to the food bowls, but they always waited for her. They still tried to get her to play even though more times then not she laid down to rest in the soft grass. She also had a loving relationship with the barn cats. When litter appeared among the feral cats with out a mother to nurse them Peaches adopted the little ones. The girls had watched in wonder, and while it wasn't the first time had happened it made the town's paper.

He got a little choked up and got up and went to the fridge and pulled out two more beers for whenever. He did open them though and he walked back over and sat down. This was getting to be a little to much. She was leaving, the girls were leaving, and one good dog would die and the other was going to be gone too. It all motivated him to ask, "do you really want this way?"

"I mean we can be parents still and act friendly, and you'll meet someone and I'll meet someone and well. You'll have a life there and I'll have one here. We'll see each other and be polite and the girls will be off to college or whatever in no time and we'll visit on separate weekends."

Beer in hand he got up and stared out into the darkness for a long instant. Long enough to know she was concerned. So he broke the silence and said, "look can you call your parents and bring the girls over and go home. You're not saying anything that doesn't make sense. I mean it wasn't working right? So this is what people do. Just I really love you and this sucks, so could you please write up what you really want and I will sign it. Maybe it will be easier to take when it's actually happening."

"As to Monday the girls really shouldn't miss any school, so why don't you take them back Sunday night. I should get used to normal visits, and us being just friends. Don't worry about your stuff it's here any time you have time to do it. Debbie said she would haul it down for you. She wants to go dress shopping in Atlanta. She's to polite and sweet, so go with her so nobody is rude to her alright."

With that he put his hands down on the window sill and and kept looking out into the darkness. Looking for answers that weren't going to come. You could fix a tractor, or a roof, but relationships with other people were complicated. Sometimes even if you did all the right things which he had to admit he didn't it still wouldn't work. Sometimes it was easier to accept being alone.

Victory listened to him a moment, tears flowing silently down her face as he described the future of their relationship. It was not what she wanted.

Years before, they sat on the back porch of their new home. Looking out over their land, she remembered mumbling, "I could stay like this forever." Sitting on the step below him. Her head on his lap. He leaned down, closing his arms around her, squeezing her tight in his embrace. "Forever," he said. Grabbed her chin with a grin on his face before he kissed her gently. How naive of them to think that, to believe they could live in that bliss for eternity. He'd just been deputized, she'd just started as a sidekick on the local sports talk show. As far as they were concerned nothing could be greater than that moment. Being under 25 and owning your first home with the love of your life tends to cloud all rational thought, but still they held onto that bliss as they turned the once dilapidated farmhouse into a home worthy of raising a family. Together they repair rotted floorboards, rebuilt walls, and replaced old plumbing. A few of his high school buddies did the electrical work but that did little to damper their triumph. They'd done it together. Even the windows that Jason leaned against, staring out into the darkness, they'd replaced together in one spring afternoon.

"How could you think this is at all what I want Jason," she said quietly, almost a whisper, as she came up behind him. Victory raised her hand to put it to his back, but dropped it before she made contact and let out a long sigh as she moved to sit beside him. "I don't want us to just act friendly. We were friends once...best friends. For more than a decade the highlight of my day was coming home to share with you...to talk to you. About nothing and everything...We were friends Jason and for the life of me I can't figure when that stopped...why did we stop..."

She was crying again, ugly tears but Victory didn't run away from it this time, simply allowing them to flow. And she allowed herself to touch him, to feel his hurt as she felt her own. It was a tentative touch, fingertips to his corded forearm that grazed over his tattoo for the girls in their route to his broad shoulder. His hand brushed her bare thigh as she leaned to cup his face, turning his eyes to her.

"This isn't easy for me either. Your crazy if you think all this is because I don't love you anymore but I have to be happy Jason...for me and for those girls. I can't raise them to be strong women when I don't feel strong myself. What kind of example would that set for them if I didn't take this job simply because a man didn't want me to, no matter if that man is their father. A man that I still love very much...and it sucks that you couldn't just be happy for me like you used to be. And that you couldn't see that I was drowning here because you were so busy saving everybody else. And it sucks that I didn't tell you...that we didn't talk about it. I keep thinking that if you wouldn't have left that night, if maybe we talked the next day, that we could have fixed whatever broke between us. But you didn't call and I didn't call so now here we are...both of us too stubborn for our own good," she said finally with a sad chuckle and rest her head on his shoulder as she ran her hand down his back.

Victory took a long deep breath and let it out slowly as she continued to stroke Jason, loving on him in a way she hadn't allowed herself in a long time. It had been months since she felt the tactile expression of his presence in her life and she missed that too. It wasn't about the amazing sex, or the tandem body rubs. It was the simply touches. A hand to the small of her back as he passed her in the kitchen. Her feet tucked under his thighs when they watched the late game on Sunday nights. Quick good bye kisses and fist bumps as they watched the girls games.

"I'll go see Carmen tomorrow," she said as she reluctantly pulled away from him, though Victory didn't leave her perch in the window. She could still feel his callused fingers on her thigh as she lean back and look out the window. "I haven't been doing a good job of keeping in touch with her lately. I'm sure she might enjoy a girls' weekend in the city. I've got more than enough space with the guest room and the pullout in the finished basement," she said, the last as more of a hint to him than anything else.

Victory was serious about Jason being more of a presence in Atlanta, whether they went through with the divorce or not. It was an odd thought to have, especially after serving him with divorce papers but she didn't shove it away. This moment was more than they had shared in a long time and no matter the tears, Victory felt good about it. She found herself reaching out to him again as she got to her feet, running her hand up his arm again to grasp his shoulder. What brought her lips to his jaw, she couldn't explain but did she stop herself either. Just a gentle pressing of her lips to spot just beneath his ear. Then to his cheek before she said, "I'll go call for the girls." With that Victory stepped away from him, her hand lingering on his back.

As she stepped away from him for a moment after being so affectionate to him he did something he wouldn't dare do with any other woman accept the one he knew intimately. His one arm slid along the one she left and the other reached out to her and pulled her close to him and his lips touched her's and it was like magic. Both familiar and amazing as he passionately kissed the woman he loved and couldn't be with.

His hand slid up her arms and over her dress and cradled the sides of her face as he pushed back kissing her. With her neck slightly bent her let one hand go to her shoulder and the other caressed her hair as she looked into her eyes. He wouldn't be sorry for this even if she was enraged, and while he didn't know how she would react it wouldn't be one of anger.

"Don't tell me I was holding you back because I couldn't stand the idea of you being gone and make it sound like it's a bad thing. I didn't want to leave our home just because you said it would be good and we'd be happy. I know we were happy and I thought you were for a long time. I thought we had everything here. Friends, family, jobs, and a real home."

He hugged her tight and caress down the back of her dress feeling her warm body against his torso. He'd miss this feeling for warmth and welcoming. It wasn't the same but it would do for the moment. He wasn't much taller then her so as he looked out over his shoulder he spoke again.

"I'll be the weekend dad. I'll come see you and the kids. Just don't ask me to be happy you're not here. Maybe we won't share any love in time, but don't ask me to think it's a good thing. I might look up one day and find myself smiling, but that day is a long way off and I don't know hot to get there."

He broke off from her finally and walked to the other end of the kitchen and looked back. "You call your mom. I'm sure the girls have had their fill of chicken and rice. Even your mom will stop feeding them at some point. I wish I'd been smarter or more sensitive or whatever probably would have made things better or at least I wouldn't have been surprised when you did go. Also all the rescue and cop stuff. I wanted you to have a better world. I didn't think I'd lose mine along the way."

He turned around and leaned against the wall lifting one leg up so the bottom of his boot was against the wood paneling. Forever the cowboy she'd probably think. "So things will be better tomorrow. BBQ around 12:30 I think. Probably just do burgers and sausages. My parents, the Farmers, and I told the girls they could invite some friends. We'll see who's around. Victory if you want to stop by or whatever and get your stuff that's fine. We'll have plenty. Doors always open and I'm sure the girls wouldn't mind."

He kissed her.

She wanted to be angry, to punch him in the chest for assuming she would welcome such a thing. But Victory couldn't deny how good it felt to be in Jason's arms again. To have his strong body pressed against hers as he pressed his tongue into her mouth. She didn't even pause, parting her lips to further accept his embrace. It took her breath away and all thoughts of their fighting went away for the briefest of moments. He could have taken her to bed for all she cared but just as she was getting into the kiss, a subtle moan escaped her lips, Jason was pulling away. Reminding her of what had transpired in the last few hours.

The divorce paper.

Him kicking her out.

Her breaking down.

It all came back in a rush and there were tears in her eyes again, but still he held her. And she didn't pull away, putting her arms around his broad shoulders and her head on his chest. Victory simply listened to the sound of his voice, the words he said barely registered until he let her go and walked away. It was like a fog had been lifted but the feelings Jason stirred up in that kiss remained. Her body tingled where he touched her and Victory found herself blushing as he looked at her. It was like their first kiss all over again and try as she might, she couldn't shake the feeling. That had to mean something.

But still she did as she asked, finding her purse where she left it in the hall and called her Dad to bring back the girls before she joined Jason in the kitchen to hear about the barbecue. "I think I'll pass," she said with a snort. "I don't want to intrude on your weekend and I'm sure your mother would love nothing more than to get me too close to an open flame. Me and Brian are supposed to go for a run anyway and I should go see Carmen so I'll make myself scarce if you don't mind."

Victory hopped up on the counter, her feet swinging, as she finished off the last beer he brought. She found herself stealing glances at him in his cowboy pose, the silly grin unchanged on her face. Part of her wanted to ask him what it meant but she was too afraid of what his answer might be. A kiss good bye kept floating around her head and she couldn't reconcile the idea of it with the feelings brought on by that kiss. Her stomach was in knots. Her palms sweaty and there was a distinct dampness in her panties that she Victory wanted to chalk up to general lack of intimacy but she knew that wasn't it. It was Jason and now she was more confused than had been when this whole mess began.

The rage she felt at him had cooled to a simmer and allowed her to fully understand the scope of what divorce would mean. The end of them and Victory wasn't as prepared for that as she wanted to believe. And it seemed he wasn't either, but what did they do now.

Luckily, the girls were coming in before she could think too much about it and she put on a brave face as they made their way into the kitchen. She could hear them whispering as they tip-toed down the hall but not what they said until they got just outside the living room.

"...but it's so quiet," Ramona said.

"That don't mean nothing Mo..."

"Means they aren't fighting and Papi kinda smiled when he got off the phone..."

"Don't get your hopes up Mo...that's all I'm saying," Lee said as they came around the corner to see their mother and father in the same room together. Both their eyes were red but something had happened, they could feel it, but neither would ask.

"Nana said if you don't wanna walk then you better get your ass in the car," Lee informed Victory with a grin and she shook her head, knowing her mother had said exactly that.

"Just because Nana said it doesn't mean you should repeat it Lee..."

"That's exactly why I should," Lee said with a smirk and Ramona shook her head.

"Alright kiddos be good for Daddy," Victory said, choosing to let the bit of vulgarity slide for the moment. She'd deal with her mother on her own time, for now she grabbed both girls in a big bear hug and kissed them both on the head. "So I've got some good news and some bad news...which do you want first?"

Ramona's immediately began to water and Lee took her hand, her nostrils flared as she narrowed her eyes at her mother. "Good," said the light eyed twin and Victory put a hand on both their shoulders.

"Your father and I discussed and we think it might be a good idea for you guys to spend a little more time together so I'm going to head back tomorrow night and Daddy's going to bring you back Monday night."

"So what's the bad new," Ramona sniffled and Lee gave her a playful shove, a wide grin on her face.

"We get to miss school on Monday don't you listen," Lee said but it still took Ramona a minute before she broke into squeals.

"I'll be back tomorrow night before I head out. Don't stay up too late okay. I love you so very much," Victory said giving them both a personal squeeze before she gave Jason a wink and headed out before he could say anything else.

On here way out, she stopped to rifle through on of the boxes labeled "pictures" and flipped through the various framed mementos to find one in particular. It was nothing special, just a candid shot of Jason kissing her swollen belly when he thought no one was looking. He'd called it their first family portrait and it sat in a frame on the wall right by the door, so one saw it every time they left the house. A tear came to her eye as she pulled it out the frame and tucked it into her purse as she walked out the door.

It was a long quiet ride back to the house with her mother in the driver's seat and Victory trying her best not to cry again. Her mother reaching across the bench seat to take her hand didn't help. She didn't say anything but the contact was enough for Victory to know that she would be there for her no matter what happened. But just before they got out of the truck, she gave her hand a squeeze as she cut the engine.

"Listen Vic, I know you want me to mind my business but a mother knows things about her child that don't need to be told. Something happened in that house tonight didn't it?" she asked and Victory couldn't hold her grin. She didn't say anything, but then again she didn't have to. It was just as her mother said. "Mmmhmm I knew it, soon as she came flouncing down them stairs. I know it's not fixed but it damn sure ain't over so hold onto it Victory. You and Jay had something good. Don't throw it away because you're both too stubborn to realize it. Just hold onto it baby. That's all I'm saying. You hear?"

"I hear you Ma..."

"So what happened," Cheryl asked quickly and Victory snorted, wiping her tears.

"He kissed me..."

"And you remembered you loved each other once."

"I never forgot Ma."

"Well that's half the battle," her mother said and finally let her hand go before she got out of the car.

Victory thought long and hard about that exchange. Cheryl Fuerte was not a feelings type of woman, that's why everybody called her the General. Growing up, Manny Fuerte was the hug giver, the boo-boo kisser, the one who coddled the only child. Victory knew her mother loved her, but the retired Army Nurse was more concerned with raising a strong Black woman than a princess. All her life her mother had told it like it was, without sugar-coating. When her and Jason first started dating, while happy her daughter had found someone to love, Cheryl was quick to remind her of the trials their interracial relationship would face. She knew from experience, being married to a proudly Hispanic man had given the mahogany skinned woman an level of stress that almost saw the end of their relationship in New York. Moving to the south hadn't help things much but it offered the two an opportunity to be away from their disapproving families and live the life they wanted to live without the added pressure of familial discord. It just so happened that the town they settled in was so tight knit that residents were more concerned with what one could bring to their community than the color of their skin. Cheryl taking a job at the local clinic and becoming a nurse practitioner who made house calls endeared them to the people of South Range. Manny taking over the hardware store only bolstered their position as welcomed new commoners to the oddly inclusive southern oasis.

As Victory settled down to bed, she contemplated the course of her relationship with Jason in an attempt to find where it all went wrong. The feelings stirred up by that kiss proved that it wasn't as wrong as she believed but still the trigger had been pulled and as intelligent a woman as she considered herself, Victory couldn't figure where they were supposed to go from here. Did they jump back into the marriage with both feet? Did they do the counseling song and dance? The level of uncertainty made all the more confusing by the steady throb between her thighs.

She found herself reliving their firsts. First kiss. First time they made love. The christening of every room in their first apartment that took all of an evening. Their wedding night in Myrtle Beach, where they didn't even make it to the hotel room and pulled over on the side of the road near some deserted beach to make love in the back of his flatbed. The christening of the home they built together that took a few months because they decided to wait until each room was finished before the deed was done. The montage brought a smile to her face but it was the remembrance of the time they shared in the rain that brought a hand to tentatively stroke her wet opening.

Not long after they moved into their home, Victory and Jason decided to have dinner on a blanket in the backyard. It was shortly after the fourth of July and the lack of central air in their new home had become unbearable so they barbecued and ate with their bare hands under the stars. Half a thirty rack later they found themselves snuggling as they mused on what they wanted out of life, which quickly led to a little playful grappling in the grass. By the time the carton was empty they were both naked from the waist down. That's when the rain came and Jason tried to be chivalrous but Victory wasn't having any of that, pulling him back down on top of her.

"No better lube than rain," she told him, her eyes at slits as she wrestled her way on top of him. Jason couldn't say no to her back then, gripped her hips and pushed her down his shaft. She rode him long and slow as thunder cracked above them, but as far as Victory was concerned it was them who made the Earth move that night.

Just the thought of that night moved her again and before she could think twice about it, Victory had two fingers knuckles deep inside her pussy. Her eyes slammed shut, head back against the pillows, she remembered every detail using them to push herself over the edge. The way his big hands slid up her back to pull her down on top of him. His rain soaked undershirt clinging to every ripple of his tight young body. Even the smell of the grass he'd just cut, Victory remembered it all, and found his name on her lips as she climaxed.

Mildly sated and thoroughly exhausted, Victory settled down for a fitful night of sleep. Vivid dreams of their wedding day ending in disaster, the sheriff showing up to her door late at night with a somber look in her eyes, and a whole host of other terrible imaginings had her waking up groggy before sunrise the next morning. Lack of sleep wasn't anything new so she did what she normally did, pulled on a pair of stretch pants and a tank top. Plugged her earbuds into her phone and headed out for a long hard run with no real destination in mind.

Her first lap around town brought her to the semi-rural neighborhood on the other side of the elementary school. It was a neighborhood she knew well. Aside from the clinic, her best friend and first love lived on a four acre plot off the main county road. Sure it was basically puppy love but Brian Hanover had been her first everything. First kiss. First date. First boyfriend, but of course it didn't last. Nothing tumultuous, it just turned out he preferred men and Victory couldn't fault him for breaking things off, but they remained friends. When Victory graduated, she joined him at Georgia Tech where he was a rising star on the gridiron but that didn't last either. His Junior year saw his hip broken on a late hit, ending his career before it even really started. And still they remained close, even after Brian left school and Victory started dating Jason. The fact that the guys never got along didn't much bother her, she loved them both and Brian was happy for her. Even if he didn't like him, he couldn't deny that Jason was a good guy. And handsome too.

Victory wasn't surprised to see the tall, chocolate skinned man already up and working shirtless in his garden as she rounded the corner to his road. His own pack of dogs announced her arrival and Brian dropped his tools to meet her on the driveway.

"Nice of you to let me know you were in town," he shouted, a snarky smile on his bearded face and Victory couldn't help but laugh as she made her way to him. She jumped into his open arms and he gave her a quick spin before he set her down, throwing an arm around her shoulders to guide her towards the house.

"It's not exactly a pleasure trip B," she said and he let out a "humph".

"So I hear," he said with a shake of his head as they made their way into his house. "Shitty situation you got yourself in Vic Strong," he said, teasingly using her "on-air" name and she rolled her eyes. "What, that's not what you calling yourself now?"

"So you telling me you listen to my show," she said quickly, changing to the subject to something she was more willing to discuss. And Brian took the hint with a shrug as he dug into his fridge and tossed her a bottle of water.

"Every day...and the pod cast too. Never miss it and not just because you're the only woman I've ever been slept with. It's good Vic...really good. Much better than that half of show you did hear. I'm proud of you."

"Well I'm glad someone is..."

"Ehhh, stop it with that nonsense. People might be shitty about what's going on with Sheriff Do Right but they still listen. Still play it over the loud speakers at The Bridge..."

"They do not?!"

"Every day Vic. We might not always agree with your liberal feminist take on sports but that don't make us less proud."

"Did the openly gay black man just call me a liberal like it was a cuss," she asked with a raised eyebrow and Brian shrugged his shoulders.

"I'm not that open..."

"Only cause you hate parades."

"Whatever Vic," he said with a smirk and gave her a squirt with his water bottle.

It was just like old times, teasing as they filled each other in on what life had become. Brian did well not digging too deep into her marital relations but still they ended up talking about it. And unlike the rest of her family, Brian offered no advice, simply listened to her. Held her when she cried and gave her something to laugh about when he knew she'd had enough, which was exactly what she needed. But he wasn't a yes man. When she was wrong he told her so and she trusted his judgement more than anyone else's. They talked about the kiss over breakfast and he agreed that it was more than just a kiss.

"You still love him Vic. It's all over your face. I'm not saying that you shouldn't go through with the divorce, but maybe hold off on it for a while until your sure that's what you want. Time heals all wounds right, so give it some time. He deserves that much, so do you and the girls. Just give it some time."

That was an intense moment and part of him wished it bothered her a little. The physical end of their relationship was never a problem. When it started it was great and it kept being good, and while he was sure Victory remembered making love on the beach or outside in the rain it was the other times to that mattered. When you're in a long term relationship it wasn't about just the great ones it was what your average good moments were too.

The times they went running and got home covered in sweat and still made love where ever in the house and then showering together. Times when they did it in the car at the radio station when she was on overnights. Hikes in the woods where they would skinny dip to clean off afterwards. On bails of hey in the barn. Then figuring out the joys of pregnant sex throw the nine months. Even tired she still liked it when he made her smile and when she felt lousy hearing she was beautiful. Even when the girls came along they found time. Not as often but still wonderful.

There was a time she'd be sitting on the counter and the only think she'd have on were sandals. Day time sex while the girls were at school had to be timed right and more then a few times when they were out in the yard playing. You got good a dressing quickly if you wanted to have fun in their house. In public it was fun to make the girls blush when he kissed his wife. Nothing wrong with letting them know their parents loved each other.

Then they started not having time for anything and while he knew she liked to think it was always him she wasn't sitting around alone either. She'd go into whatever shift the radio station needed. Sometimes they'd call her at 11 PM for the grave yard shift and she'd hop up and leave. Once she was station manager it was even worse. She was always the go to team mom even if others were willing. He remembered plenty of nights alone and meals by himself. Yeah it wasn't perfect he got that, but he wasn't the only one to blame.

The arrival of the little heathens broke up anything more that would be said tonight. They weren't going to go at it in front of the kids and by no means would makeup sex be happening with them in the house. Even without them he wasn't sure that was a good idea. If this really was over and couldn't be fixed having more sex wouldn't make it any easier. It would be fun, but well divorced people weren't supposed to do that.

The wink made him smile but once she was gone he dropped down to one knee and hugged the girls. Arms wrapped around him and he smiled. They were so tall now. He remembered coming home and the twins would come running up to him in their little Atlanta Falcons sweat suits and were barely passed his knee. Now they were big girls, but not so big to not need a hug from their daddy.

That was an intense moment and part of him wished it bothered her a little. The physical end of their relationship was never a problem. When it started it was great and it kept being good, and while he was sure Victory remembered making love on the beach or outside in the rain it was the other times to that mattered. When you're in a long term relationship it wasn't about just the great ones it was what your average good moments were like too.

The times they went running and got home covered in sweat and still made love where ever in the house and then showering together. Times when they did it in the car at the radio station when she was on overnights. Hikes in the woods where they would skinny dip to clean off afterwards. On bails of hay in the barn. Then figuring out the joys of pregnant sex over the nine months. Even tired she still liked it when he made her smile and when she felt lousy hearing she was beautiful. Even when the girls came along they found time. Not as often but still wonderful.

There was a time she'd be sitting on the counter and the only think she'd have on were sandals. Day time sex while the girls were at school had to be timed right and more then a few times when they were out in the yard playing. You got good a dressing quickly if you wanted to have fun in their house. In public it was fun to make the girls blush when he kissed his wife. Nothing wrong with letting them know their parents loved each other.

Then they started not having time for anything and while he knew she liked to think it was always him she wasn't sitting around alone either. She'd go into whatever shift the radio station needed. Sometimes they'd call her at 11 PM for the grave yard shift and she'd hop up and leave. Once she was station manager it was even worse. She was always the go to team mom even if others were willing to help out. He remembered plenty of nights alone and meals by himself. Yeah it wasn't perfect he got that, but he wasn't the only one to blame.

The arrival of the little heathens broke up anything more that would be said or done that night. They weren't going to go at it in front of the kids and by no means would makeup sex be happening with them in the house. Even without them he wasn't sure that was a good idea. If this really was over and couldn't be fixed having more sex wouldn't make it any easier. It would be fun, but well divorced people weren't supposed to do that.

The wink made him smile but once she was gone he dropped down to one knee and hugged the girls. Arms wrapped around them and he smiled. They were so tall now. He remembered coming home and the twins would come running up to him in their little Atlanta Falcons sweat suits and were barely passed his knee. Now they were big girls, but not so big to not need a hug from their daddy.

"So let me guess the old woman filled you with rice and chicken until you burst."

Ramona piped in first and said, "daddy Nana makes it all the time. We like it and there were beans too."

"Oh sorry I forgot that main stay."

Lee walked over to the table and began collecting their plates from before. She noticed her mom and dad ate together. Well it couldn't have been all bad. She did inform her father of one important thing though when she said, "Nana asked about you and stuff. She wanted to know if we talked and if you talked to mommy."

"I see and what did the old....What did you tell Nana?"

"Just we can call you any time and you love us and and..."

Ramona by then was picking up the other dishes broke in and said "we liked Atlanta but miss being here with you and mom."

Lee who was at the sink now yelled out, "did you say sorry to mom that you were being stupid and acting like a boy. Girls like that."

Jason almost laughed as he walked over and petted the dogs who were now wondering around the kitchen curious about the humans. "Your mother knew I was a stupid boy when she married me. I'm not sure saying sorry now would help things, but I'm still your dad and I still love your mom so be nice to her, and not just because I say so."

Ramona came over and nodded and whispered, "we know daddy we miss you and she took us away though."

"Yeah can't we just live with you daddy. We'll do all the cleaning and stuff we promise and take care of the dogs. And..."

He cut Lee off and shook his head no. "Girls belong with their mother and besides. I work all kinds of crazy hours. Your mother didn't like it when she lived here she's not going to agree to it when she's not."

He rubbed his forehead from stress. Every female in his family was driving him crazy. "Girls we will work something out. You like Atlanta and you like it here. We'll find a balance and I will be visiting, but nothing will be decided tonight. So have you been texting your friends about the barbecue?"

"Yes daddy," they both replied and then they went on to say half a dozen friends were coming and others would be in and out. The got tired of disappointing people so they waited until the last second when they knew they'd be coming. So he promised to through on some extra burgers and with his parents and long time employee/friends they'd have a full house.

"So let's call it a night and we'll enjoy a full day of being together."

With that they all finished cleaning up and then he lovingly watched the girls take care of Peaches. She'd been with them forever and they hadn't forgotten her. They gently helped her up the stairs even though she seemed to have some new found vigor with her young friends back in the house. Once in their room they pulled out her special body pad for her so she could lay down in comfort.

The girls had gotten it special when they saw the ad advertising it to help older people feel more comfortable in bed. They'd written the owner of the company asking if he'd planned to make beds for dogs. A few months later the man sent the them a package with a pad made special for Peaches. The man wrote back he had no plans yet to make beds for dogs, but being a dog lover himself he was moved by their letter and had made one special for Peaches. He thought it was just one of the things that made his kids special.

That night in bed he tossed and turned trying to get to sleep. At least twice he frantically reached for Vic only to realize she wasn't there. It had been awhile since she'd been there, but some how in his dreams it seemed like she should be there with him. The last dream of the night was filled with soft whispers from Victory saying not to wake the girls. But then he woke up to reality and nearly fell out of bed which caused Cody to jump up and howl. He'd taken up position on Vic's side of the bed so he didn't expect her mate to come crashing down on him.

He knelt down to pet the dog who lovingly licked his face. Well wasn't the best start of the day and from the sound of the music blaring downstairs he figured the girls were up doing their thing. He cracked his neck and pulled on sweat pants and t-shirt and went into the bathroom and threw some water on his face and used some mouth wash. With Cody following he headed down the front stairs and found the girls working out on their yoga mats.

https://youtu.be/CDM1FPFxbVk

The girls had there own all purpose workout which included everything from martial arts moves, yoga, and workouts more akin to what a boxer might do. All the dogs were laying around watching as the two moved around in yoga pants and sports bra. Jason just shook his head and walked into the room.

"Who wants breakfast girls? Oh and could we put some clothes on please."

His respectful fatherly questions were replied back with tongues being stuck out. Lee did say, "we had corn muffins and juice dad but your breakfast is ready to go we still have a run to do unless you want to come old man?"

"Old man really now, "he turned to Ramona and said, "your sister is out of the will so what do you plan to do this morning."

Ramona giggled and smiled then said "put on some hoodies after we finish our workout, clean up and serve our wonderful father breakfast."

"Now doesn't that sound so much better? What do you think Lee?"

"I love you so much daddy.."

"Ah huh well we'll see about that let's all have breakfast after we run then."


After taking the girls on a three mile run Jason was in the mood for a lot of water and breakfast. Someone once said kids kept you young, and that was probably true assuming they didn't kill you in the process. He and Victory had had a lot of fun teaching the girls all about sports, coaching, and being in the crowd cheering together. That was over now, but to be someone what optimistic it was just changing. The girl's school which Victory's new employer arranged to send them had a great program.

The down side was it wasn't around the corner any more. No driving by the practice field, no socializing with all the other parents in town, and no cuddling up with Victory. Well maybe maybe not. She wasn't sure on divorce it seemed, but living apart. How the hell was that going to work, and while he wasn't interested in anyone. Well there were candidates out there for sure, but he loved Victory. He'd had a lot of fun before he met her, but when he did he couldn't see his life without that woman's company.

Now though he had to look at that as a distinct possibility. Well the weekend was even over yet, but he knew getting Victory to come home wouldn't be that simple. Also he wouldn't punk out and use the kids to do his dirty work. She's see what she was missing and wouldn't be so eager to be gone. It had to be better this time and like running or anything else it was just a matter of pushing yourself to be faster and better.

For now though it was time to refuel, clean up, and get ready for the barbecue. He had a feeling Victory would be over before it was time to say goodbye. With any luck she'd miss his parents though. He loved them, but they could be pushy at times. He'd enjoy his time with the girls though.

After spending a few hours reminiscing with her oldest friend, Victory left feeling just a little better about life. Spending time with Brian usually had that effect on her. Even if he disagreed with the choices she made, Victory always left feeling supported. They made plans for him to visit in the coming weeks, maybe one of the weekends the girls would be with Jason so they could go out to a club. Brian teased that if Jason found out he was there without the girls he'd think the worst of them and Victory agreed but that didn't change the fact that she needed a little slice of home in the city.

The truth was, things weren't as great for her as she anticipated. Victory always had trouble making friends with women and it was mostly her own doing. She shunned the catty gossipy nature of teenage girls in favor of the no nonsense camaraderie of boys. Now that she was an adult she had no idea how to form bonds with even the like-minded women at the station. There were no shortage of well-dressed, intelligent, sports fans at the sports talk radio headquarters but she had yet to connect with any of them. With the exception of her sometimes co-host Tammi Townes, Victory was friendless in Atlanta. She just didn't the time to go out to wine bars after the show and she was so busy that lunchtime meant scarfing down whatever leftovers she could scrounge together while she planned her next show.
Sure she could have struck up relationships with the other parents at the girls school but their seemed to be only two breeds, the functioning alcoholic socialite who drank wine from travel mugs at soccer games or the overzealous team mom whose life revolved around their overly obligated children. Victory was neither of those. She tried hanging with the Dad's but once it got around that she was separated from her husband that pack thinned. The wives didn't want their husbands chopping up on the sidelines with the hot, honey skinned, sports show host and Victory wasn't interested in the advances of the single Dads. That left her mostly alone in the bleacher while she cheered for her girls. Even the self-professed loner had to admit the solitary lifestyle was starting to grate on her a little bit.

But she left Brian's place feeling socially renewed and sped home in the hopes of catching up with the only other person in town who might welcome the sight of her. She ran the direct route back to her parents place and found it thankfully empty. Her father still ran the hardware store and her mother, though retired, still put in a few shifts a week at the elementary and middle schools to keep herself busy. After a quick shower Victory dressed casually in a pair of dark denim skinny jeans and t-shirt before she headed off to the liquor store to catch up with Carmen.

Even though they went to school together their entire lives, Victory and Carmen Howell-Delaney didn't become friends until her and Jason started dating. They had always been in separate groups with Carmen being the head cheerleader/prom queen/homecoming queen and Victory, well, being Victory. But Jason and Carmen's now husband, Danny, had been two peas in a pod all their lives the women didn't have a choice but spend time together. The occasional double date, turned into weekend camping trips and week long family outings as the two families grew almost simultaneously. It helped that Carmen wasn't actually the ditsy bimbo Victory believed her to be in high school. They actually got along great from the start. When Victory graduated college and moved into Jason's, it was Carmen who helped her add a woman's touch to the dingy bachelor pad. Carmen was the first person Victory told about the job offer in Atlanta and the woman told her to take it. She might have had an unshakable sense of community but Carmen understood her friend well enough to know that Victory needed more than their 5 traffic light hometown. She pushed her to go, so long as she promised to keep in touch. Victory admitted she had done a terrible job of it but told herself that she would do better.

She was nervous as she pulled into the empty lot behind the family package store. What if she's mad at me, she kept thinking but that went out the window when she stepped into the shop.

"Victory Smith aren't you a sight," Carmen squealed as she waddled her way around the counter with her arms spread wide. "Jason told me you were coming, I admit I didn't believe him but I'm so glad to see you."

"Look at you," Victory said with a grin as she hugged her friend. When they separated, her hands went immediately to Carmen's belly. "What's this 12 or 13? I lost count..."

"Stop it Vic. She is number five..."

"She," Victory squealed and gave Carmen another squeeze before she squatted down to talk to the baby growing in Carmen's belly. "Hello in there Missy. This is your Auntie Vic. I'm so glad you're gonna come and help your Mommy wrangle all those boys, but I'll tell you like I tell my girls. Princesses can save the world too."

"Damn right," was Carmen's enthusiastic response to that, bringing them both to giggles as they hugged again.

The conversation between them was rapid fire after that. They sat on a couple stools, filling each other in on their lives thus far. Victory apologized profusely for not keeping her promise but Carmen swatted it away every time. "Your life is different now Vic. I know your busy and I still love you so don't worry about it." She inquired about the girls and Victory filled her in on all the details she left out in her talk with Brian. Both had started their cycles the month before and she was sure Ramona might have her first boyfriend, but neither would admit it. She asked about Jason and Victory was honest, telling her all about the awful divorce papers she tore up the night before. The kiss and the personal activities that followed.

"So now what are you gonna do?"

"I honestly have no idea Car," Victory said with her head in her hands but she couldn't hide the silly grin that came to her face when she thought about the feel of his hands on her back. "I mean...I don't know..."

"Sounds like divorce might be a little premature."

"I think so too but where do we go from here?"

"I'm gonna be honest with you Vic. You might not like what I have to say but I couldn't call myself your friend if I didn't..."

"Spit it out Car," Victory said with rolled eyes and Carmen let out a snort, gave her a little shove and took a deep breath.

"Neither of you handled the whole Atlanta thing well. You shouldn't have just up and left and he should have been more willing to meet you in the middle. It's like y'all forgot how much in love you used to be...forgot that you was friends first before all of the love started. So maybe you work on finding that friendship again 'cause clearly the love is still there. And maybe you don't end up back together but you have to at least give it a shot. For real this time...and you need to talk to each other more. Not through the girls. You and him. All this new technology ain't no reason you should go a day without hearing each other's voice. I remember when you were in school, back before everybody had a cell phone. The world stopped for Jay when you called...that pick-up come flying through town everyday at 5:30 so he wouldn't miss you. Everyday Victory," she said and Victory laughed through the tears that streamed down her face. Carmen ran a consoling hand down her back and pulled her into a side hug, just in time to feel the baby kick. "See even she agrees with me."

"So what's are name going to be," Victory asked with a sniff and Carmen put her hands to her belly.

"I don't know yet. Danny's stuck on Dakota but I feel like that's asking for her to become a stripper with a name like Dakota Delaney." They both laughed at that and fell silent as they enjoyed the feeling of the baby moving around.

"I want it to be something strong, you know?" Carmen said after a time and Victory nodded, marveling at the love in her friend's eyes for her unborn child. "Mama wants me to pick something Irish to honor her side of the family for a change...and cool it with the c's," she added with a laugh.

"Yeah well Cassius, Caedan, Chase, and Chance is a bit of a mouthful. You could always screw with her and pick an Irish s," Victory offered with a grin and Carmen raised an a finger and smiled.

"That's exactly what I'll do. So last question?"

"What's that?"

"You going to the barbecue?"

Victory had been mulling that over since she woke up this morning and she still hadn't decided. She was leaning more towards not attending but Carmen had a way of swaying her to the other side of an argument so she shrugged her shoulders.

"I'm heading out tonight anyway," she said instead as she got to her feet. "The girls are going to stay until Monday..."

"Forcing Jay to get his ass on the highway. Smart girl," Carmen said with a grin and Victory rolled her eyes. "Like that wasn't your plan."

"It wasn't but that's an added bonus..."

"Mmmhmm, you ain't fooling me Vic. You going to stop by before you head out though right?"

"Yeah, gotta say bye to the girls."

"The girls...riiiight," Carmen said with a smirk but Victory didn't dignify it with a response, leaving Carmen laughing behind the counter.

After the morning run and a clean up Jason let the girls go about their business of getting ready. He'd done some of the prep, but there was always more to do before a party. He'd had to tell Joey and Debbie Farmer several times not to come over early and help. They were guests today and they just had to have a good time, and bring their kids and their dog. He swore Cody kept looking out the back window for Cupcake. She got her name after the girls fed the then young pup two cupcakes when she wondered over. Of course the girls said she looked hungry.

Today was slightly different then barbecues of the past for several reasons. He'd overheard the girls talking and Lee agreed without much prodding to let Ramona do her nails since she was going to see Hunter. He'd heard it all because Ramona got loud saying she didn't have time to do hunting camouflage nails, but she could do sky blue like his eyes. There was also talk about someone named Brandon, a Northeast transplant who liked surfing, skateboarding, and was on the school's hockey team. He and Victory would be having a talk about that if nothing else.

He couldn't keep them little girls and he knew that, and that meant boys, thong underwear, and not listening to daddy all the time. He wished he could go back to those days when he came home to two playful girls and a happy wife. Yeah change sucked, but you couldn't prevent it as much as you tried. Victory had been preparing for the change for awhile. He was sure the job wasn't the first interview, the money for the brownstone didn't come from nowhere, and the Warren school wasn't picked at random.

As he setup for the party these questions kept coming to mind. Why could she do all that and not talk to him about it. She'd mentioned long weekends, she mentioned wanting to do something new, but nothing that would let him know that this was the route that needed to be taken. The girls would be gone in a few years, but at least he knew that was coming. Being a divorced dad wasn't something that was on the agenda, and he wasn't even sure about that.

It was all a lot to think about, but if you'd asked him what happen to the last two hours he couldn't tell you. The dogs were all out playing and enjoying treats, the barbecue was ready to go with fresh meats nearby, and the picnic tables were set. The girls were in the kitchen helping out, but it was all a blur to him. Still though he'd get ready and have a good time.

In the next few hours a collection of friends and family arrived. His parents Michael and Pamela came around the same time the Farmers driving up on their ATV's. He had to laugh because while they lived in a trailer on someone else's property no less they had top of the line pickup's ATV's and hunting equipment. The sight of the boys brought other girls out who ran over to meet them. As they bolted passed he wasn't sure if they were wearing short dresses with jeans or long blouses. Flip flops instead of boots, and he knew they were both wearing makeup. Yeah he and Vic were going to talk.

Still though he didn't make a big deal about it when Lee hugged Hunter and they walked back to the house holding hands. Ramona hugged Bud but that shortly turned into wrestling with a lot of giggling. He started cooking and the Farmers politely began helping themselves. His parents were anything, but polite.

His father was the first to say, "we can get a lawyer for all this. We'll help we can have the girls leaving here. We can even let her people see the kids."

His mother did a little better. "You hush we want her to come back even if she ran off and treated our boy like she did! She can move back so he spend time with his children."

He flipped a few burgers and sighed. "Mom Dad we're working it out, but when we come with something I'll let you know. I'm not happy about things, and she feels shitty. We only have the girls for a few days, so please be grandparents."

The both of them went off and talked. Plotting whatever he had no idea, but his father went and got two cakes that his mom had prepared and Nana went off to get her hugs and kisses. She playfully teased Hunter as well, and was happy to play with her "furry grandchildren." She and Victory didn't get along, but he knew she was happy he married her. She was also about as frustrated as he was at the situation. Both sets of grandparents were used to having family time on a whim. That could be changing though.

Half a dozen girls arrived who'd all been teammates or close friends of the girls arrived as well. They drank lemonade, took selfies and asked all about Atlanta. None were hick girls, well maybe Candace who's parents were the stereotype. Her mom waitressed at the Waffle Barn, and her dad ran ever backwoods scam from making moonshine to poaching. They'd met on a professional as well as personnel level. He was always good for information on the more serious criminals so he stayed out of jail. Otherwise everyone was having a good time though.

His special burgers with the cheese on the inside were always a big hit, and he'd gotten fresh sausage from the butcher in town. One late arrival was Carmen who was heavily pregnant with her four boys following after her.

The girls ran over yelling, "Auntie Carmen, " and hugged her and helped to a chair on the deck with extra pillows. They talked for a bit before going to greet the boys.

Jason came over to her with a bottle of water and after a hug sat down. "So where is Danny? He didn't leave you alone all weekend did he?"

"Oh yeah he did and he's going to pay. Wasn't even his unit's weekend to drill, but Mr. Reliable had to cover for someone else. Not that it wasn't a good reason. Someone is having a baby this weekend. I've got a good man, but he's busy all the time unlike."

She looked at him and then looked down. "Look I'm sorry you don't need me to get into it with you."

"It's fine. You're already into it with me, and I can't even get mad. Just don't know what to do. Seriously though no help with the boys?"

"Oh no I found someone to help, she's very reasonable too, and came highly recommended."

"Really anyone we know?"

Jason got his answer in a few seconds when he heard the girls scream together, "Judy!"

Once again the pair ran over to greet the next guest who put down a bag of supplies a bag of wine bottles to embrace both girls wholeheartedly. As she hugged them she looked over to Jason and nodded mouthed the words I'm sorry. He nodded back and whisper they'd talk later as the girls dragged her off to see her name sake the mutt Judy.

He turned back to Carmen who smiled and said "she's been a life saver. Had her at the house for a few days. Let's me get some work done and rest more. Of course she wants to see Victory before she goes back to the city."

"I bet she does. Her and her sisters are like family thanks to Victory."

Jason's father had taken over the barbecue to let him mingle a bit, and while he said his hello's and socialized with the adults and children he thought back to when he'd first met Judy and her sisters Madison and Amber. Victory's childhood friend Ethan was a sweet guy who worked hard, but he married the first girl he had sex with. Not necessarily a bad thing, but Samantha was a skank and a train wreck. She smoked, she drank, and was a lousy mother.

When Ethan took a job working on the oil rigs off the Southern Coast he made good money, but wasn't home for months at a time. He grew concern one week when he couldn't get a hold of Samantha after sending her a large amount of of money. He contacted Victory and asked her and him her then boyfriend to check on the girls. They were happy to look in on the girls, but what they found as shocking.

The girls were living in an almost empty house with no food. They immediately took the three little girls, Judy the eldest was only 10, to get fast food. The girls ate like wolves and explained that mom went to get implants and go to rehab and to leave the house until daddy came home. That would have been three weeks more though. They next took the girls to be looked at by Victory's mother who was enraged, but not wanting Ethan to lose his kids Victory insisted on taking care of the kids in the mean time.

For three weeks in their cramped town apartment he watched "Mama V," care for the three innocents. She fed them, read them stories, and put her life on hold until they were well and could be back with their grateful father. When they did get a call from Samantha he barely got in two words before Victory screamed into the phone that she didn't deserve such wonderful children. She'd be mom if Samantha couldn't get it together she'd better not come near the girls until then.

He looked at Judy now who was in nursing school and taking care of her father's house. Madison worked at the local animal shelter, and was the one who asked Judy to watch the puppy the girls fell in love with. Amber danced at a Go-Go bar, but while she wasn't perfect she had a boyfriend and unlike her mother never used drugs or alcohol. Still even 12 years later Victory cried when she got a mother's day card from the girls. After that ordeal though he knew then Victory was someone he could have children with.

Now he had to begin getting used to the idea that that strong compassion woman wouldn't be part of his life full time. They shared children so at the very least they'd keep in contact for the girls. Maybe there would be more though and after last night who said there would be a divorce, but at least with a separation there was hope. He couldn't go through life like parts of today. Good moments then blanking on everything else when he thought about his relationship.

As the sun went down people began going home. Those who did stay huddled around the fire put and made s'more. Judy took out her guitar and played a few counties songs to the applause of the small crowd. There were a bunch of awes when Cody seemed to have put his arm around Cupcake. He figured the dog was just playing around with his paw, but it looked cute. It was a pretty good day all things considered.

It was well after dark by the time Victory finished packing up her suitcase. Despite how turmoil of the day before, she was in surprisingly good spirits thanks to a home cooked meal courtesy of her mother. Even Brian dropped by with his own mother and the six of them shared a quiet meal out on the back deck. There was no talk of what was going on between her and Jason, only laughter and reminiscence. Dottie, Brian's mother, immediately enlisted the help of the other two women in an attempt to get her son to find a nice man and settle down.

"You can marry now so ain't no excuse for you to be out gallivanting." Victory steered clear of that subject for fear that Brian might spill the beans on all they'd discussed in that morning. It felt good not to have her love life be the center of attention for a change and being the best friend that he was, Brian kept his mouth shut and took the prodding like a man.

It wasn't long before her father got out the rum and turned on the salsa music, signalling a retreat from their guests, their daughter included. Despite nearing their 70s, the Fuertes enjoyed a very active love life that Manny chalked up to fresh air and good cooking. Her mother was more practical about such things and informed Victory years ago that she had been sneaking her husband cialis for the past few years. As much as the thought of her parents have sex disturbed her, it was comforting to know that it was possible to still be hot for each other after so many years together. It had always given her hope, and she wasn't so stubborn not to realize she needed that now more than ever.

Together they walked Victory out to her truck to say their good byes. She promised to make more of an effort to get back home, as she had been promising all day. As she had before she left, only now she believed it too. Things weren't as bad as she thought they would be. Between her and Jason. Between her and her family and friends It was nothing of the shunning she expected and Victory felt bad about being so hard on her people the last few months. Not bad enough to come home, just enough to make an effort. Spring break was fast approaching and Victory had been planning to take them all on a much needed girl's vacation but sending them home to their father seemed like a much better idea. And could spend a couple days with her parents again.

Victory was all smiles as headed over to the farm to say good bye to the girls. She thought she might be sad about it but she found she was more excited to have some time to herself. Even if only for a couple days. A lot had happened in the last 36 hours and the consensus was she needed to get her shit together. A couple days alone would help see that through.

All hope was dashed as she pulled up to the house to see that old pick up. It was in much better condition than her husband's but that was only because the owner hadn't used it for actual work in years. Why she thought they might already be gone was beyond her. Victory knew she couldn't hide from them forever, but still she texted Lee to gauge the mood. If anybody would tell her the truth of the situation it would be her.

How's it going lady?

You mean is Nana Pam and Papaw saying bad stuff about you...

No lol I mean how's the party?

Why don't you come and find out...I saw you pull in. Nobody else noticed. Maybe you should have turned off your headlights first

Why so I can look like some kind of stalker

What do you think you look like now mom
Victory rolled her eyes at that and started to text back that she didn't want to intrude before she received another message from Lee.Plus Judy's here and misses you almost as much as dad

The mention of Judy got her moving and Victory fixed a smile on her face as she headed over to the fire pit. Cody was the first to notice her approach, aside from Lee, and bound over to her with his tail wagging high in the air. Ramona came next, squealing with Judy following closely behind. Lee brought up the rear, still tangled up with the older Farmer boy.

"Who is this woman," she teased, giving Cody a nudge to allow Judy room to hug her. Victory squeezed the young woman tight, amazed at how well she'd grown up. Her mother kept her abreast of Judy's progress in nursing school since she served as the girls tutor, but it was nice to finally set eyes on her.

"Oh stop it Vic," Judy said with tears in her eyes as she stepped back. "It's so good to see you."

"You have to come visit one of these days when you aren't so busy with school..."

"Really!"

"Of course..."

"That would be soooo awesome," Ramona squealed.

"Maybe for the whole weekend," was Lee's addition and Victory gave a nod at Judy.

"I'd love to have you. Give you something else to do besides school and taking care of that father of yours."

The group headed back over to the fire then with Victory in tow. She noticed Jason's parents on the porch and gave them a wave but didn't stop to see if they returned it. She wasn't here for them and if they didn't say anything to her, she would consider herself blessed. She took a seat next to Judy and Carmen, exchanged pleasantries with the Farmers and help their little guy with his s'mores. As occupied as she was, Victory still found herself looking for him.

"He just went in to get me a sweatshirt," Carmen whispered with a raised eyebrow and Victory rolled her eyes.

"I just came to say bye to the girls."

"Sure you did," she said with a snort.

To further her point, Victory got up to do just that. After giving them both a squeeze, Victory went around the fire giving hugs and kisses to everyone before she settled beside Judy again and exchanged contact info.

"Aww you just got here," she said with a pout and Victory gave her shoulder a pat.

"Sorry honey but Mama V's got a long ride ahead of her and I'd like to make it home before the truckers clog up the highways. I'll be back in a couple weeks and now you have my number so you can call me any time you want...and you too," she said, the last directed at Carmen.

"Yeah, yeah I'll call you."

"Lee...Mo, be good okay. Don't give dad a hard time okay. I'll see you Monday. Maybe go see Nana and Papi before you come back. Oh and Uncle Brian says to tell you he missed you guys in flag this year. I told him you might be back next summer."

"What?!" Both girls shouted in unison and she noticed Hunter perk up at that.

"We'll see. Be good okay."

Victory blew them both a kiss as she headed towards the house. It wouldn't be right if she left without saying anything to Jason. What little headway they'd made would have been lost and she didn't want to go backwards. But she also didn't want to go looking for him either. She could hear him moving around upstairs and headed to the front hallway were her boxes had been left. Victory plopped down on the floor in front of the picture box again and waited for him to come downstairs. Cody joined her after a while and together they flipped through picture after picture. A complete photo journal of their life together. She occasionally showed commented on a particular one, telling Cody the story surrounding it, forgetting how well voices carried throughout the old house.

When you have parties with ages ranging to preteen to senior citizens the part will breakup for a variety of reasons. Some have responsibilities while others are getting close to their bed times. The close friends were still there like Judy and the Farmers and his parents were always happy to visit and stay late. His father was a retired mechanic with a host of hobbies and his mother only did book keeping for a select group of friends. They said now they had the time for what was important.

With the girls not around for several weeks they spent plenty of time with them, but both had retreated to the deck to rest for a bit. Peaches had laid down between the pair and his mother leaned over to pet the other senior in the group. Peaches from time to time would bang her tail against the deck to let everyone know petting was appreciated. Otherwise everyone else was around the fire pit enjoying the comfort of the fire and friendship.

He was a little surprised Carmen had come considering her friendship was with Victory, but she was a friend of the family too and the girls had always been friends of the boys. Seemed his girls had always had more guy friends like Victory, but now he had to reexamine those relationships. Lee and Hunter had been holding hands most of the night, and while Ramona didn't have a boy with her at the moment she seemed to like flirting and the attention the boys gave her.

Still everything kept the vibe of most gatherings even if there was a little tension. When Judy came back from the truck to say she could find all the sweat shirt but Carmen's he headed inside to get one. While he'd packed up all of Vic's stuff he still had plenty of other hoodies which would fit the bill. Between sports, organizations, and every other cause or trip he had plenty.

In the bedroom he went into the walk in closet of the master bedroom. Well his half anyway. When they renovated the house this side as badly damaged and as they worked on it they couldn't think for a use for the room at that end of the house. It was actually the space above an added on workshop, so with a large bathroom already in place rather then tear it down they made a walk in closet. Doors on their respective sides of the bed with a wall in between and a pair of windows at the end. It was different, but they'd like it.

He found a good unused sweat shirt in one of the bins. It was meant for him, but it was too big. Probably from the time when they bought bunch for Victory during her pregnancy. She kept fit as best she could while not risking the girl's health, but carrying twins made her large no matter what. She hated most maternity clothes though, so the compromise were sweats. He'd just tell Carmen to keep it and put it to good use.

Next to it was another bin, but he knew he wasn't going to share that with anyone tonight accept for maybe one person. Well that was in doubt, but he wouldn't be getting rid of the contents either. It was a sex swing they'd bought during an adventure in Atlanta. One of the convention centers hosted an Adult Novelties convention. They'd been in the city for other fun, but when they saw people protesting outside that was enough motivation to go in an buy something.

They'd actually picked up a few things during their first post twins trip including lube, silk sheets, and the swing along with a few other items. It was safe to say Victory's last over time check was well spent. Granted it took awhile to enjoy it all, but eventually the girls began sleeping through the night. They'd joked their sex life at the time had been reduced down to passing each other in the hallway on the way to the nursery. Not completely true, but they'd gotten through the hard part.

As he walked out of the bedroom he noticed the large bolt he'd put into one of the beams above the bed to hang the swing from. Wasn't something he'd ever want to explain to one of his relatives, but it sure had been a lot of fun. Most of their bedroom stuff he'd packed up and gave to Victory. Well that was after a blushing Debbie came downstairs and said he'd better finish it. He laughed afterwards, and while he was sure the country girl was no prude finding someone else's secret stash was something completely different.

So he found some pink boxes from some breast cancer fundraiser and put in all of Victory's lingerie, wigs, sex toys,and broke down her stripper pole. She might not have been happy with him at the end, but she couldn't say they didn't have fun for awhile. So the fuck me heels, trashy novels, and leopard print blanket and everything else went into boxes he sealed with heavy duty tape. He figured that would only make the girls curious, so he'd make sure to let Vic know nobody else should open them but her.

After using the bathroom he looked at the clock and two things came to mind. Carmen was probably still cold, and where the hell was Victory. She still had a two hour drive back to the city if all went well. He knew she might blow him off and just send a text, but she told the girls she'd come by, and she didn't lie to them. He wonder who she got them to leave with her, but she probably just said she was mom and that was it. Well he'd figure that at some point.

https://youtu.be/b2ff8qXa248


As he head downstairs he heard a familiar voice that took away any bad feelings even if so briefly go away. Victory was going through her boxes, and couldn't have been there long. Cody noticed him first and while he seemed to be listening to Victory he turned about wagging his tail at his second favorite human. As he got closer he got a view of the photo album she was looking through. In the days before digital they took tons of pictures. Some they couldn't share with others, so those had been concealed as well. Now though she was going over the happy memories, and wasn't keeping it to herself.

https://youtu.be/DohRa9lsx0Q

She was looking at some of his favorite pictures. Birthday parties were always a big deal and with twins it was double on everything. That was the only thing that saved the two grandmothers from fighting every year. They alternated between who would make the cake for who and the girl's third birthday was the first year they had the double cakes. The last picture on the page had Judy and Amber holding the girls up to their respective cakes and "helping" them blow out the candles. Yeah good times. Yeah it was good times that wouldn't come again.

He placed the sweat shirt on the end of the banister, and walked over and gave Victory and bear hug and gently kissed her neck and squeezed. "Well we made two amazing children and helped three other girls together. That's something right Victory?"

He didn't feel her fight him, but he relaxed a little just the same and kept holding her. "We have them and we need to talk a lot. Seems Mo had a boyfriend? Skater boy? He does anything wrong I'm going to shove his hockey stick where the sun don't shine. As for Hunter I'm going to have a talk with him. I'm sure his dad will too. They had their boys young and they'll let them know it was hard until they moved here. Well they still work hard. Oh and Cadence will be mailing Cody a bandanna since he's going away. Be good enough to have the girls take a picture of him wearing it. How do you want to handle that?"

Her body felt so good against him. Her scent a mix of body wash and sweat was one he was so familiar with. That hour glass frame he caressed. Looking back even as things were falling apart they seemed to still connect as far as sex. Couldn't always stand each other, but they could always love each other. There was always something more then just sex, and knew that from the first time to the last time.

Still though he broke his hold and walked over to the stairs and go to sweat shirt. "This is for Carmen she's cold. Granted the woman wear's tank tops rear round, but we won't miss this one. Hey make sure to take the pink boxes. You don't want the girls around when you're unpacking those. You could hang out if you wanted and make an early start tomorrow. You do what you want Vic seems like that's what you want."

With that he headed down the hall to join everyone. Yeah they were working it out alright. How to make the awkward normal, and except things the way they were. Getting her to stay and hang out wouldn't change the fact she didn't want to be here. Having sex with her would be wonderful, but he didn't want to wake up to find her leaving. This mess was far from being straightened out in his head. Still though he lingered a little bit in the hallway. Her attention love or hate was something he still wanted.

Victory heard his heavy footfalls down the stairs so she expected Jason to at least acknowledge her presence in the house. She didn't anticipate the butterflies that fluttered in her stomach as he approach, or the feeling of his arms around her. Her breath caught as he pressed his lips to her neck and a little moan tumbled up from her chest. And at no point did she think to push him away.

"Well we made two amazing children and helped three other girls together. That's something right Victory?"

"That we did babe," she said and reached to touch run her hand along his forearm around her shoulders. The action was completely mindless. He'd held her like this countless times before, sure they were usually happy times but the instinct to put her head on his chest was so ingrained in her that she didn't think twice about it. "I'm so proud of Ethan's girls. And ours are growing up so fast...I just...I can't believe it." She stopped her first thought, that she hoped this situation between her and Jason wasn't ruining them. Luckily he didn't seem to notice, nor did he let her go as he moved onto the topic of the girls and their budding love lives.

"I know, I know I should have told you," she said with a chuckle, her hand traveling up to the back of his neck to run consoling fingers along his hairline. "But I didn't want you to get all over-protective Dad when they got here. I wanted them to still be your little girls for just a little while longer...And the skater boy's name is Tony. But don't you worry, even if I pretend to be oblivious of their little puppy loves I gave them both talks about respecting themselves and demanding respect from boys, which may or may not have backfired a little but we can talk about that Monday night at dinner. They need to know that even if we aren't together that we're a united front. I've been hearing too many stories of kids of divorce giving their parents the run around and I don't want them to even think they have an opportunity to run game on us."

Just when she was getting comfortable in his embrace, Jason was moving away. Victory didn't miss the sound of the deep breath he took before he went and it lifted the corners of her mouth a bit. And the color rise in her cheeks. The mention of "pink boxes" only made it worse. Victory imagined it was full of the toys she didn't think to take when she left. She had no use for them in Atlanta, not without him anyway.

"We had some fun didn't we Jay," she said absently, as her mind wandered to the time she dressed up for their anniversary.

Jay had just been deputized a few months before so couldn't get out of doing the tour scheduled for the weekend of the big day. It was back when Victory still loved the hero in him and figured the sacrifices they made as a family were worth it. That didn't mean she wouldn't distract her husband from his duty for a few hours. She rented a flashy little hot rod and sped around town dressed in only a blonde wig, a short tench coat, and stiletto thigh high boots, waiting for the lone deputy on duty to pull her over. When he finally did, after Victory led him on a short chase on back roads to the little place in the woods they used to go for alone time before they moved in together, Jason was irate and announced over his loud speaker for her to step out of the car. He claimed later to have recognized her immediately but still Jason went through the motions of the traffic stop, making her walk backwards to the rear of the rented car to put her hands on the trunk and "spread 'em". That was the first time they discovered the joy of handcuffs, and role-play, and it opened the door for more exploration between them.

"Nah, I better go," she said with a little grin as she stood up, eyes on the two overly taped boxes. "This is your weekend Jay, and if this is what it's going to be from now on, we need to get used to it. Granted it would be nice to get some rest but it'll be easier this way...for the girls I mean...I don't know...it's late I better get going," she said in a rush as she bent to lift the boxes, including the one labeled picture, that were heavier than she anticipated. "I'll be back for the rest of this later. Having the girls out of the house is the perfect opportunity to hide all this," she added with a grin as she headed for the door.

Of course Cody tried to follow but she blocked him from making it out the door with a well placed leg. "Daddy's gonna bring you with the girls so you can spend a couple more days with your boo," she said with a frown at his whimpers. "You just make sure Daddy gets the girls back before dinner Monday," she added with a wink at Jason before she headed back to her truck.

Victory didn't look back at the party still going on around the bonfire, allowing Judy and her guitar to play her off the property as she replayed the most recent exchange between her and her maybe ex-husband. She couldn't rightly call him "soon-to-be" anymore, the tag didn't seem to fit with the amount of affection that passed between them in the last 48 hours. And as much as she would miss her girls, Victory relished the idea of being home alone to sort out the mess that had become her life.

She had a lot to think about now with so much gray surfacing in a situation she kept trying to tell herself was black and white. They were together or they weren't. Married couples could not remain happy living apart. He obviously didn't love her anymore so why bother. But none of that was true, especially that last part. And as much as she tried to pretend that she wasn't hurting over their separation, Victory couldn't deny the hole his absence left in heart. In her soul. It wasn't just the sex she missed, it was his companionship. The moments between the passion. When they would share a beer and giggle in the afterglow. Just sitting on the back porch with her feet in his lap after the girls had gone to bed and the dogs were out doing whatever the dogs did. Those were the moments she truly missed.

And those were the moments that she relived in her head as she sped down I-80. She made it back to her place in Atlanta well after midnight and she should have been exhausted. But the thrill of having the house to herself sent a jolt of energy through her that saw Victory doing loads of laundry, dusting, and planning meals for the week. There was that bottle of champagne the station gave her when she started almost a year ago that had yet to be opened and she thought what better time than tonight. She didn't even use a glass, just popped one of the girl's crazy long crazy straws into the bottle and sipped. Victory even had the energy to plop herself down in her office to answer e-mails and plot out upcoming shows while she waited for the laundry. It was a terribly productive night that didn't end when the bottle was empty.

At some point she thought it would be a good idea to lug in those boxes from her truck and go through them. The pink ones she hid in the back of the closet in her office, but the pictures she spread out on the coffee table in the living room. Most of them were already in frames but they didn't much match the modern decor of her city home so she drug the craft bin out of the hall closet and got to work. She called it a craft bin but really it was 30 gallon capacity clear storage bin full of knick knacks she'd picked up from yard sales and thrift stores. Victory hated crafting but she had a knack for repurposing items she found for cheap and making them look like the cost top dollar. The "S" she had mounted at the top of the stairs was part of an old wooden sign that she painted and strung lights through to look like a vintage marquee. The dining room table was actually an old barn door and the mismatched chairs were picked up all over the city.

It was all in an effort to make this house a home for her family, and that had always included Jason. Even now, with them in the midst of turmoil, Victory still maintained the efforts she made when she first moved in to include his likes in the decor. There was the overstuffed easy chair in the family room that was an upgraded version of the tattered leather recliner he had at his first apartment. This one one came complete with cup holders, massaging features, and a built in pouch for remotes and magazines. But without Jay to christen it as his own, the chair had become the source of battles between the girls that had gotten so bad at one point that Victory banned them both from sitting in it. There was also the state of the art outdoor kitchen in the yard complete with smoker that she still wasn't quite sure of how to use. She even kept a beer fridge in the garage. This was supposed to be their place, not hers, but he'd yet to see it and she doubted the girls told him of the simple touches Victory had added to remind them of their father. She didn't fault them for it, nor did she press them to mention it. She doubted they even noticed since Victory had made it a point not to try to warp their good memories of home with her own disdain.

There were pictures all over the house of the four of them, and each girl had a personal photo of them and Jason by their bed. Victory wanted to make sure that even if they couldn't be with them everyday that Jason was the first person they saw every morning and the last person they saw every night. Their were no photos of the parents alone together, Victory left all those but that was all about to change. She started with the one of her and Jay while she was pregnant, adding it to the center of the photo mural she'd dedicated to the girls on the wall behind the big microfiber sectional that dominated the living room. She set it up in a double spiral and Victory thought there was no better starting point than that one snapshot. Next she found a photo of her and Jason when they were younger, that include Danny and Carmen. It was from some trip or another, each held up a fish they'd caught and the girls fish were significantly larger than their partners. They were all smiles in the flick and it brought a tear to Victory's eye to see how happy they were and know where they had ended up. But she didn't wallow in it, instead pushing through the sadness to find more happy memories to fill the empty spaces on the walls. And there was no shortage of options. There first family portrait when the girls were three went up on the mantle along side a picture of the four of them with the girls and their first MVP trophies.

By the time she was done, the sun was rising and most of the photos from the box had found a place somewhere in the house. After she cleaned up the mess she made, Victory did a tour of the new additions and went to bed pleased with herself. Even if he didn't come to stay, Jason would not be able to ignore the fact that she had intended this to be a home for all of them, not just her and the girls.

And of course she spent the night tossing and turning with dreams filled with Jason. Fortunately they weren't of the tragic variety like before. She dreamt of happier times, both real and imagined and woke up with a smile on her face. And damp sheets. With the girls gone, Victory didn't see a reason not to fill up the jacuzzi bath, open a bottle of wine, and enjoy herself in solitude. She caught up on all the sports news she missed being away from her laptop and made notes for things to discuss on the show come Monday morning. When that was done, she couldn't find a reason not to take care of the steady throb that originated from her core. All the while fantasizing about happier times between her and her husband as she maneuvered the shower head expertly to edge herself until she couldn't take it anymore and gave herself a loud, explosive orgasm, which was followed promptly by a naked nap.

Needless to say, when Monday morning came Victory Smith was thoroughly rejuvenated and ready to power through her show. She didn't go on air until 10 but still she usually rolled in around 8:30 to run through things with her producer. Not this particular Monday morning. It was a little past 7 when Vic Strong made her way into her office and was surprised to see she was the first of her crew to arrive. That was almost unheard of and she basked in the quiet of the empty war room. Victory was lucky enough to have dedicated space for her show. It was one of the things she fought hardest for in the negotiations. She wanted to be comfortable at work and have the freedom to run her office the way she saw fit. Lucky for her she was a hot commodity and had already earned quite a following from her podcast. Her reputation alone forced the network to bend to her demands. The studio itself was nothing special, a few mics around a table with the typical pane of sound proof glass separated it from the control room. It was her bullpen that was different. Granted she enjoyed her own office with a door but the rest of the area was open and light. Floor to ceiling windows looked out over the Atlanta downtown and bathed the area in so much natural light that she and her staff often worked without the harsh fluorescent overhead. They had a comfy little seating area they used for breaks and to entertain in studio guests complete with 50 inch flat screen and a wide variety of gaming equipment. The offices of the Vic Strong Show had become a sort of hang out for the younger studio techs and she didn't mind the oft frat house atmosphere. It was a far cry from the sleepy country radio station where she got her start and Victory had never been one to take for granted the blessing it was to run her own show.

There was a knock on her door around 8, but she didn't hear it with her head phones firmly in her ears as she went over the perspective guest schedule for the week. Alone in the office, Vic took the opportunity to sing along loudly to her 90's RB mix on Spotify. Just as she was belting of the long notes on Jodeci's Feenin', she caught movement out of the corner of her eye and broke into giggles at the bewildered look on Matty, her producers, face.

"Good weekend eh Vic," he said with a smirk and she shrugged at the 30something hipster in his black square framed glasses and thift store threads. "I don't think I've ever seen you in this early."

"Yeah the girls are with their dad this weekend so I actually go to sleep in for a change," she said without even thinking. Victory had done a pretty good job of keeping tight lipped about her private life, but everybody noticed how tense she had become over the past few months. She hadn't been herself lately and Matty relief at her open demeanor was palpable.

"Well nice to see you in good spirits considering...well...just considering. I'll be at my desk if you need. Oh yeah the execs want a basketball insider on this week for the playoff lead in..."

"Did you call Tammi," Victory asked with a smile and Matty gave her a look.

"What kind of producer would I be if I didn't call your favorite co-host. She's already here. Just ran into her in the cafe."

"Awesome. What would I do without you Matty?"

"I don't know...a show in your garage maybe," he said with a wink and Victory flipped him the bird. "Love you too Vic."

With Matty in, Victory shut off her music and settled in to wait for the rest of her crews' arrival. It didn't take long. Tammi was the last to arrive a few minutes before they went on air. She liked to do the show cold, she said so her reactions to topics were more real, but Victory knew it was just because she was lazy. And since it didn't diminish her charm or all around sports knowledge, Victory didn't mind. Shows with Tammi were always more fun and lively with the buxom blonde southern belle baiting dressing down callers about any variety of topics from inequalities in the Title IX era to her belief that NCAA needed to make a definitive decision on whether student-athletes were in fact students or employees and treat them accordingly. They barely talked about basketball and between segments, Tammi made sure to do a little digging about Vic's weekend with her ex.

"He's not my ex yet," she said absently and Tammi furrowed her brow as she sipped her fourth cup of coffee. "Those papers that trifling lawyer of yours drew up were a joke..."

"What do you mean? Amber's the best. Handled my last two divorces," Tammi said with a shrug and Victory laughed.

"Well not all of us are as cut throat as you Tam. Plus Jay's a good dad. He deserves for than partial weekends."

Before Tammi could comment further they were back on air and being forced to talk about the NBA for the last half hour of the show. Without Tammi the segment might have been boring to Victory but she did a great job weaving scandal into the talk of x's and o's and before either of them knew it Matty was signalling the hard network out.

"What you say me and you get a couple drinks to night, since your a free woman and all," Tammi asked, following Vic into her office. "I've been dying to hit that new martini bar."

"I'm gonna have to take a rain check on that," Victory said and Tammi rolled her eyes. "I can't tonight, really. Jason's bringing the girls back and I don't think it'll look good if I'm half in the bag when they get here. I'm probably going to have a lot more free weekend coming up so I swear Tammi we'll go out I promise."

"Forgive me if I don't hold my breath," she said with a smirk and Victory sucked her teeth. "All I'm saying is you need a change of scenery that's all Vic but I get it. I was madly in love with my first husband too. It's hard to let that go no matter how shitty it got towards the end."

"Yeah well I'm finding that things aren't as shitty as I thought..."

"That's what all first wives say before the hammer comes down and they end of with nothing for trying to be friendly. Why do you think I sent you to Amber?"

"Well excuse me if I actually want to stay friends with the father of my children so we don't have to do custody exchanges with police on stand by...I'm sorry Tammi. I didn't mean..."

"Yeah you did and that's why I love you Vic. You say what you mean...no matter how terrible it sounds. See tomorrow," she said with a tight smile and was gone before Victory could say anything further.

That exchange weighed on her for the rest of the afternoon but it wasn't about Tammi's reaction. It had more to do with how defensive she became regarding her relationship. It had been a long time since she felt, what Jason called her inner "Mama Bear", rear up inside her. And Victory thought that had to mean something more than just not wanting to trash talk her husband in mixed company. Tammi had talked to her at length about the crumbling of her first marriage to her high school sweetheart and at first, Victory found similarities in their situation. Now though, she couldn't help but think she had sold her marriage, and her husband, short. Jason wasn't some cheating alcoholic emotionally abusive good ole boy. He was a good man and they were good together, more often than not. Sure the past year had been hard but no marriage is perfect and if they could keep things going when she was away at Tech for two years then they could get through this. They just had to want it. For a long time she wasn't sure if he did anymore. This weekend proved that the embers between them still burned, they just needed to blow on them a little bit. It would be hard work but worth it as far as she was concerned.

Resigning herself to that hard is what led Victory to the market to round up all the things she need to make the girl's favorite meatloaf. It just so happened that it was Jason's favorite too, she even bought a case of his favorite beer to fill the fridge in the garage when she got home. As soon as she got in the door, she texted the girls to let them know what was for dinner in the hopes that the menu of meatloaf, potatoes au gratin, corn on the cob, and collard greens. The red velvet cake she brought from the bakery they went to after the girl's games on Saturday mornings was a surprise she was sure they would enjoy. With the double ovens working overtime and the pots going on the stove she sat back to wait for their arrival.

Like any good party it had to come to an end. Friends were tired, there was another day ahead, and there was only so much you could do even with people you loved. His parents were among the last giving the girls big hugs. The Farmers family insisted on helping out even though they were guests. Hunter had given Lee A pressed wildflower book mark. It was one of the many that grew around the property, and while it was a small gesture it made her smile. He was sure they ended the night with a kiss.

If he wasn't the giggle and whispering later when he walked by their room told him volumes. Across the hall was the nursery where they girls had slept in their cribs that his father had made by hand. Identical as one could make something by hand with stars and the moon carved into each end along with other loving details like names carved into the crossbar.

Victory's father wasn't as skilled with wood working, but in the months before the twin's arrival he insisted on helping. His mother said it was series of disagreements and loud discussions in the home workshop as they polished off gallons of sweet tea. Strange thing was a the end of the day they wished each other well and planned to get together again each time. He couldn't understand the insanity, and at the time he was home dealing with a heavily pregnant wife.

Now the girl were becoming little women. The cribs were off in one corner with a large collection of stuffed animals piled on. When family friend offered to buy the pair of cribs and use a power sander on the names Victory was horrified. Sure they weren't in use, but how could you give them away. As he looked into the nursery now store room he figured it was a lot like their relationship.

Great once but now put to the side only to be glanced on with fond memories. Why did it have to end like this? He thought they'd grow old together on the farm. The girls would bring grandchildren to visit until the sun finally set. Now he felt lost even though so much else was clear. Career, friends, home all the important things but love.

That night he didn't rest well at all. He tossed and turned and alternated between dreams of love and sex with Victory only have her fade off. He woke from the nightmare and wasn't put at ease by not finding her by his side like so many times before. As a couple they liked sleeping together and eating together. They didn't always get to do those things during their courtship and hectic marriage, but when you slept together it meant you had a special level of intimacy. If you ate together you talked and shared and communicated. Well at least they were talking he thought.

After repeating the cycle of hot lustful dreams and the let down by waking and not finding Victory there he got out of bed and pulled on an old t-shirt and a pair of sweat pants and headed downstairs. The dogs stirred, but he got out a double orange ice pop out of the fridge and headed back upstairs and walked around. He of course checked on the girls. Peaches woke and wagged her tail before going back to sleep. He sighed and went back to his room.

He sat on the edge of the bed and glanced at the clock reading 4:00 AM. He'd been working so much it was actually a good thing he'd gotten the sleep he did. Then he heard something and out of the corner of his eye he saw something coming. He was turning to go for the handgun in the nightstand when the image registered. It was Ramona.

He sighed and looked over. "Hey baby girl can't sleep honey?

She shook her head and walked over and plopped down next to him. "You can't sleep dad. Peaches woke me up. What's wrong? I mean yeah."

She sighed and reached out to hold his hand. "Well there was a time when I'd just get the copy of Wind in the Willowsand read it until you fell asleep. This is adult stuff honey, and I hate to break this to you I don't have all the answers."

She kept holding his hand but lay her head on her shoulder. "I'm not going to ask for you to say it's okay. We don't hate in Atlanta, but we don't like you and mom fighting. Things are okay but they're not you know what I mean."

"Yes honey I know that all to well. How is Lee doing?"

"She is okay I guess. She cries sometimes and stuff."

"I think we all do." He talked to his daughter for a little while longer and to show he was still the big and strong dad he picked her up and carried her to bed. She giggled and hugged him and he put her back to bed. He kissed Lee in her sleep and pet the dog. He slept a little better content that he had their love, and the world could go on without him but there was still an empty slot.

The next morning they enjoyed waffles, a walk, and packing up everything for Cody. While the girls knew the dogs like the farm they were sure Cody would enjoy Atlanta with all the parks and friendly people. They told him all about the yard and how they were sure Cody would run up from the kitchen to the top floor to wake mom. They went over that he'd like the guest room, but mom had plenty of room on her level too.

So the day was spent spending time together enjoying each other's company. The did lunch at his parent's house and then wondered around town until the early evening. As he cooked the girls loaded boxes and Cody's crate on the large vehicle he had besides the pickup truck. He'd help Victory out a little bit he thought. Supper was good even if he was sorry to go, but they all enjoyed their grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup.

After desert and clean up they all hung around and watched the sport's show together. Jason saw the girls wanted to talk and text with friends before it go to late so he and two of the dogs headed upstairs nice and early. Let them share and he'd talk with them on the ride back. That night he slept better even if he knew the weekend wasn't enough time.


The next day he did have to make an appearance at the Sheriff's department so after a morning run, breakfast, he and the twins headed into the office after cleaning up. Everyone was happy to see them and more then a few officers came over to say hello, and even the Sheriff came out to give them hugs and t-shirts. He did leave them in the trusted hands of Ruth the head dispatcher and long time friend of his mother. She'd fill them with donuts and coco while sharing all the latest gossip while he took in a short meeting.

After they went over the mundane but important items like schedules, vacation, repairs and what not the chief brought up his domestic situation.

"So the wife's left now what is the plan? Keeping the house? I know the girls aren't in school any more. Granddaughter told me that. I'm think your better off she only complained."

"Thanks Sheriff but she didn't only complain. Victory has an opinion about everything and she doesn't keep quiet about it. She just wishes I was around more. That will be hard with custody so might have to be less the go to guy."

"Well long as you pull your weight we can work with you. Oh this might interest you though. Heather Conner was asking after you last time she was through. Gave her card with her cell phone on the back."

Jason reluctantly took the card and put it in his jacket pocket. Heather was a woman with a lot of guy friends like Victory, and could put up with the flack and the jokes. They'd grown up together and had some fun together, but she joked the service and went away and he met Vic. Since meeting again not long ago she let her intentions be known. She always offered her place to stay over during training sessions. When she met the girls at a parade and she said something along the lines of she had no problem being a step mom. His mother referred her a camouflage wearing home wrecker. Thankfully his mother was polite at all times.

"Well I'll give her call or something. I'm sure she just wants to say hi and catch-up."

Sure it was a lie, but while hooking up with Heather had some appeal to it there was also the feeling that he'd have to be out of his mind. He was married and while things weren't good he was pretty sure sleeping with someone else wouldn't help. Never mind it would be around town in no time. If the talked to the woman he was going to make it clear. They should be friends again, but anything else wasn't on the agenda. At least hoped it wouldn't be.


The rest of the day was spent visiting people including their old school. The girls saw more friends and teachers, but by late afternoon he wanted to hit the road. So with everything loaded into the truck including a crated Cody they headed out to the highway. While the girls chatted with him for a bit soon headphones went in and they were in their own little worlds. Eventually they both drifted off in the car like they did when they were babies.

As usual the Farmers would take care of the animals and the farm. That was another one of Victory's gripes about farm life. When you had animals and fields and equipment on your farm there was always something to do. Feeding, repairs, and a host of other things that were part of farm life. It prevented vacations and while they had their built in helpers you still needed to put in your own effort more times then not.

If they all went to the city they'd hardly see the property. While Victory said she didn't know what the lawyer came up with she had to have went over everything. Their whole lives broken down into manageable pieces to be sold off or split or both. What they came up with was anyone's guess and he was sure any legal representation he got would want to talk about her property and everything she bought. It would be a mess. If it wasn't for the kids it would just be you go your way I go mine.

Just before rush hour Monday they rolled up on the townhouse. The girls had given him tips the last few blocks that the GPS wouldn't have own unless it had been a local. They pointed out where school was, the grocery store, and their favorite park to run with mommy before pulling up in front of the house.

His first thought was people were so tightly packed together. Sure there were trees and dogs, and the air wasn't smog but why would people live like this. He didn't feel comfortable as he helped the girls offload everything and run it into the house. Maybe this place was alright to visit, but even with the love of his life here he wouldn't call it home.

Victory was in her office when her family arrived, again singing along to music that blared through her head phones. She was so used to the girls being in the house that she seldom played her uncensored music for them to hear. Sure she had overheard Lee's potty mouth on more than one occasion but she didn't condone it. Not all the time anyway.

"I told you she was making meatloaf," Ramona announced as soon as they got into the door, a box under one arm and she almost dropped as Cody came barreling in between her legs.

"Smells awesome," was Lee's uncharacteristically enthusiastic response a she tossed Cody's dog bed in the corner of the living room and dropped her bag by the door. She was the first to notice the new pictures and gave her sister a nudge as she hug the leash on the row of hooks by the door before she headed into the kitchen.

"Mom'll kill you if you don't wash you hands."

"I'm washing...I'm washing," Lee said with sucked teeth, already at the faucet then headed immediately to the double ovens to gaze at the glory of her mother's famous meatloaf. Just as she was about to ask where she was, there was a scream from the back of the house. "Sounds like Cody found Mom," she said with a giggle and closed the oven before she could get caught.

One minute Victory was grooving along as she skimmed through the schedule for the next day's show, the next there was a nose against her toes that sent her scrambling out of her chair. The cable that connected her headphones to the laptop came away and music blared through the speakers...
I haven't gone as far as asking if I could get with her
I just play it by ear and hope she gets the picture
I'm shootin for her heart, got my finger on the trigger
She could be my broad, and I could be her...Victory hit the pause button just in time.

She was all of a sudden nervous, even as Cody jumped up to put paws on her chest with his tail wagging furiously behind him. "I'm glad to see you too buddy," she said with a grin as she scratched behind his ears a moment before she pushed him down so she could greet her human family.

"I know you were in that oven Lee Rochelle Smith," she shouted on her way down the hall with Cody hot on her heels. Usually all three names meant trouble but the smile on Victory's face and the hug she gave told Lee her mother was just teasing. "I missed you guys," she said as she gave Ramona a squeeze. "I wish you guys would have told me you were on your way. I would have had the table set. How was the ride," she said with her eyes on Jason, then the boxes he brought. It was like a shot to her heart bu Victory did well not letting it dampen her good mood.

Regardless of the signal those boxes sent, Victory was excited to have Jason around. In the home she made for them and she hoped he noticed the touches she added that had his name written all over it. And the pictures.

"Why don't you guys take those bags up to your room and put Cody's bed in the loft? I know he probably won't sleep there but that's the best place for it," she said as she grabbed the few boxes the girls left in the middle of the floor and moved them to the living room so they were out of the way. "Give me some time to get dinner on the table and have a little chat with Daddy."

"K Mom...come on Cody," the girls said in unison as they trotted up the stairs, with Cody chasing behind them.

"Did you guys have a good weekend," she asked as she donned an apron over her yoga pants and tank top. She was barefoot as usual, her long brown hair pulled into a messy bun on the top of her head. Victory shift her eyes at Jason before she grabbed one of his beers out of the fridge to set on the counter then pulled the meatloaf out of the oven. "I'm sure the girls behaved themselves but we have to talk about something that happened at school last week," she said as she eased the meatloaf out of the pan and onto a cooling rack where she brushed on another layer of her secret sauce. "Nothing too crazy. Things were already tense enough, and I didn't want to add to it informing you that Lee decked a kid and Ramona furthered his embarrassment making disparaging remarks about his anatomy," she said, unable to keep the pride out of her tone. "Apparently the kid has...probably had now...a crush on our little hell raiser and didn't take kindly to being rejected, so he thought it was a good idea to tell our biracial daughter that he...and I quote...didn't like mutts anyway. According to the gym teacher, who witnessed the whole thing and was headed over to address the little asshole, Lee didn't even pause. Boy said mutt and then was promptly on the ground, but he got to Lee before she could give the kid more than a bloody nose. Now that was third period, by lunch, the story had already circulated back to the good twin who took it upon herself to stand on her lunch table and announce that...and again I qoute...Jeremy Seville has a baby dick. Don't worry neither of them has seen an actual human penis, except maybe yours when they thought it was fun to barge in on you in the bathroom when they were little, but still I think we need to have a talk with them about appropriate conflict resolution. Luckily this Jeremy Seville has a history of bullying, so the school and his parents settled for an apology from both girls. It still goes on their records though, but the Dean assured me that the entire incident would be recorded."

All the while she spoke, Victory moved around the kitchen. The mashed potatoes and greens went into serving dishes before she cut the meatloaf and arranged it on a platter. The corn on the cob was last and she gave each roasted ear a good slathering of butted before she arranged them on what the girls called the corn rack. It was a plate with ridges wide enough to keep the ears from rolling around when you moved it around. Once she had everything plated and set on the dining room table, Victory grabbed the stack of plates, silverware and napkins she set out earlier.

"I know their hurting Jay...shit I'm hurting...but I don't think this was them acting out. I mean let's face it this isn't the first time Lee's thrown a punch," she said with a smirk as she set the table, then grabbed the pitcher of sweet tea and a few glasses. "And I don't want you to think that school is some kind of awful place full of closet racists. It's actually pretty diverse, teachers and students, or else they wouldn't be there. This was about them defending themselves the best way they know how. They might wish they were 20 but their still only 12, we just need to give them better tools is all. I figured this was something we needed to discuss as a unit. I want them to know and understand that...even if we aren't together that we still make decisions about them as a unit. And I know that should shitty coming from the one who uprooted them in the first place but I thinks it's important for them...and for us."

The sound of giggling and rumbling down the stairs cut the conversation short and Victory slipped off her apron. They's changed out of their jeans into stretch pants and t-shirts and Lee surprised Victory with a bear hug as she made her way into the dinning room.

"Dinner smells great Mom...doesn't it Daddy," she said with a grin as she slid into her seat.

"Yeah Mom it looks awesome," Ramona chimed in and Victory reached to give them both a little head rub.

"Sounds like somebody missed me..."

"So what," Lee said with smirk.

"Of course we did," came from Ramona at the same time and all three of them laughed.

"Definitely separate eggs," Victory said shaking her head. "Well let's not let it get cold."

The drive in wasn't to bad at all and once there the girls were at home and so was Cody for that matter. He ran in pasted the girls probably looking for Victory though he was sure the smell of the meatloaf had something to do with it. When things were lean in the house meatloaf was strictly people food, but when they were a little more flush. Well as flush as people with two children who needed everything at the same time could be there were two meatloaves. One for the humans and the other for hungry dogs, but both were made with the same love.

When he was walked in he was ready to deal with a place that was void of any connection to him and very little of her past. So it was a pleasant surprise when he began looking around and found family photographs were on display along side of ones with him and Victory together. Wedding pictures, "date night" shots, and ones taken by others. Well she wasn't trying to forget anyway. She was out of the house, but not out of his life. Could be that would all change, but for now though this place seemed like a family home.

He looked her over and nodded, but before talking about the weekend he said, "barefoot and in the kitchen. You're not pregnant are you?"

She knew he was teasing and the dish towel thrown in his direction let him know this wasn't going to be one of those angry hurtful fights. She knew he liked her no matter what she wore, but he loved the Victory nobody else saw. The one shaking her ass to music as she mopped in the kitchen in only a sports bra, yoga pants with her hair in a messy bun. The tension ruined all that fun. There was a time when he was happy to be late because it meant seeing her undress more then a few times.

"About as normal of a fun weekend we could have. Still trying to figure out how to spend time with them in only two days. I know we're working this shit out but you take for granted having them at the table every day or driving by school and seeing them practice. Place seems empty without them, but then they're home and the place seems alive. The dogs help a little though."


He listened intently about what happen with the girls in school. He wanted to just blurt out well they're coming home with me and going back to school with their friends. He knew that wouldn't fly for a number of good reasons, and a few he'd fight tooth and nail about. He did smile a little and thought those self defense classes from Johnny and Miranda seemed to have paid off. Though his two friends who were police officers and teachers at the academy had taught the girls discipline as well.

They'd lived with the couple for a few months while their house was being renovated after a fire. Grateful to not go back in with his parents they babysat, cleaned, and taught all of them self defense in the barn. They knew several martial arts and even taught the girls stick fighting. With full pads on those two went at each other hard and fast. He credited them with getting them interesting in mixed martial arts.

Telling the girls that what they did wasn't okay though. He couldn't have them settle things like that even with bully's. "Well we do need to talk to them and this whatever it is has to include us parenting together. I mean we did agree a lot when it comes to them. But let me make this clear. If they're ever not happy and have a good reason they can come home and go to school. They can't change their minds just because they're mad at one of us though. Living apart doesn't allow for a place to escape too."


The girls arrival cut short any serious discussion about the girls or anything else. He didn't like when they saw them fight, and what's more it gave the wrong impression. They were trying to work things out still, and whatever way they went with their relationship they didn't want them messed up any more then would happen. He lived in a small community and while that didn't mean everyone worked it out for the most part there was some degree of civility. Sometimes people took sides, but when both parties stayed in town there was more of a chance for the kids to share both parents. Wasn't always the case and there was tension, but at least they weren't in different worlds.

Before they sat down to eat he did go over by Victory's chair once she'd finished putting everything out. He leaned in and was tempted to lick her earlobe, but settled for a soft kiss on the cheek. "Thanks for the wonderful meal babe."

He whispered into her ear though. "I'm not planning to stay the night, but we do need to talk before I hit the road without the little ones around."

He walked down to the other end and sat down. "Well this all looks good. You girls take care of Cody?"

The girls were barefoot and wearing leggings and t-shirts. Yeah that were their mother's girls.

She was glad she didn't say anything about the boxes. Judging by his demeanor, they were more a sign of her husband's helpful nature than him being done with her. Victory could tell he was tense when he stepped inside but that all changed as his eyes scanned the living room. Clearly he hadn't expected to see himself featured so prominently and Victory knew that was mostly her fault. She never consulted him while she was decorating and she damn sure hadn't sent him any pictures so how would he know the warmth she tried to put in these walls. Warmth that she always intended to include him. But it was no matter. He was here now and Victory wanted nothing more than to focus on that, which was made all the more easy by his gentle teasing and soft kisses.

By the time they sat down to dinner no one would know this was a family on the brink of falling apart. The girls giggled constantly as they relayed the events of their weekend. Victory even got in a little teasing of her own, informing the girls that their father never beat her in a footrace. Jason vehemently denied it at first then quickly began making excuses. "Your mother was an all-state track star in high school and college, plus I outweigh her by at least a hundred pounds," he said to which all the women at the table laughed harder.

There wasn't much laughter once Victory steered the conversation towards school. The girls knew immediately where things were headed and worked in tandem to keep things on the light side, for fear that any tension would turn their parents back to fighting. Lucky for them, Victory and Jason always common ground when it came to dealing with the girls and the message they sent was clear. While proud of them for standing up for themselves, they both agreed the girls needed to find better solutions for how they dealt with conflict. "Even if that conflict is with a racist little shit...excuse my language," she said at one point, her eyes on Jason at the last and he offered her a nod. "You can't go around beating people up for saying things you don't like..."

"But Mom..." came from both of them and Victory held up her hand.

"No butts ladies. Unfortunately we live in a world where you're going to be judged. By the color of your skin. The kink in your hair. The fact that you're girls. That's life and that's not the last time some narrow minded jerk is going to insult you for who you are. You can't control what comes at you ladies, but you can control your reaction. Don't let somebody else knock you out of being the bright beautiful young women you are, if you do you give them power over you. I know that's a hard pill to swallow but if I cussed out or clubbed every asshole that called in my show I'd be out of a job."

Both girls were quiet after that. Eyes on their empty plates. Ramona had tears in hers but Lee was boiling, her nostrils flared and arms tight across her chest. Victory reached to run a hand over her wild hair and was surprised when she didn't pull away.

"So what do you do," she said quietly and Victory laughed a little.

"Mental battery," she said very slowly and both girls swung their heads to look at her. "Not everybody, just the ones who really get under my skin. I can't get fired, arrested, or tried for crimes I only contemplate committing...and laughter. Bullies hate that, no matter how old they are, because they don't grow out of it. They just get to be able to deal with it. And because neither one of you handled this well, you're father and I need to discuss your punishment..."

"But we got detention at school," Ramona explained and Lee kicked her under the table.

"Keyword there was school Ramona. This is home...and so is the farm," Victory said with a raised eyebrow and both girls turned their attention back to their plates. With the matter settled and the girls thinking their lives were over, Victory surprised them all with the cake from the bakery and all was right with the world again. The girls filled Jason in on their studies, making sure to remind him that they both made the honor roll last quarter in the hopes that might lighten whatever punishment came their way. Of course it didn't work but he was still proud of them, so they moved on to other happenings at school. Ramona gossiped a little while Lee pretending not to care about all the middle school drama, though she seemed surprisingly well informed. By the time the plates were empty, Ramona and Lee had shown there father that despite missing their friends from South Range and the little incident the bully, they liked their school and were thriving in the accelerated environment.

"Alright ladies it's getting late," Victory said and received a chorus of groans, even though both girls had been yawning through desserts. "I don't want to hear it. Clear your plates...and why don't you show Dad around the house?"

That got them smiling again and they quickly got up from the table to collect all the plates before they each grabbed one of Jason's hands to drag him out of his chair. Victory listened as the girls continued dragging him around, showing him every nook and cranny of the ground floor while she put away the leftovers and loaded the dishwasher.

"This is Mom's office and it's always a mess," she heard Ramona say from down the hall, smirked at Jason's answering grunt. From there, they showed him the half bathroom, garage, and the back yard before they came tearing back into the house and up the stairs. It was weird to have heavy footfalls moving around above her, but it was good weird and she could wipe the grin off her face as she listened to the girls excited voices.

"This is Mom's room..."

"And the guest room right across the hall...

"And both have their own bathroom," Ramona said as she pulled Jason inside to show him the small but complete bathroom, while Lee bounced on the queen sized bed.

"It's super soft Dad...waaay better than you and mom's old bed at home."

"Waaaay better. Mom says they have the same mattresses at the Hilton downtown," Ramona informed him before she pointed out the door that lead out to the deck. "Mom has the balcony in her room though. It's pretty awesome. She reads the sports pages and has her coffee in the morning just like at the farm..."

"Only high up," Lee added with a giggle as she bound up the stairs to the top level. "But the best part is this," she said with her arms spread out wide as she did a little spin in the middle of their loft. "It's like we have our own living room..."

"It's almost like our own apartment," Ramona squealed as the two separated to go into their respective rooms. "Mom let us pick out all our own stuff. Lee got to paint one of her walls black so she can draw on it and I don't have to worry about her messing with my animals."

"We're 12 Mo not two it's time to get rid of 'em," Lee shouted from the bathroom that joined the two rooms, already brushing her teeth at the double sinks. "As much as I miss our old room it's great not to share anymore."

The decor of the girls' bedroom was a contrary as their personalities. While Ramona's room was painted a soft lilac, Lee had chosen a bright green to go with her lone black wall. And while they both had the same daybed set, Lee's had a deep cherry finish with Ramona choosing white. She even had a princess canopy over her bed full of stuffed animals and little throw pillows she'd hand sown on her own. There was on of those in Lee's room as well but that was the only decoration on her bed. Her walls were covered with posters of Marvel movies and the artist she listened to, there wasn't much that said "girl" in Lee's room except for the clothes that littered the carpet. Ramona's room on the other hand was very well organized, neat and tidy always.

"You're preaching to the choir honey," Ramona said with a nod at her father to go take a look in her sister's room. "I like seeing the floor."

"Ahhh so the land mines are working," was Lee's maniacal response before she gave her sister a shove. That was their way of saying good night to each other these days and she grabbed Jason's hand to lead him into her room. "You gotta sign my wall Dad," she said with a grin as she handed him a silver marker. "Don't put anything embarrassing I have a reputation to consider."

https://youtu.be/Kq4OtRsdXls

Jason's mind rushed as he took it all in as the girls move from room to room. Rather then be annoyed he found it an interesting incite to who Victory was and what she would do if she didn't have to compromise with someone else. He never felt he pushed hard with the farm. After all it was their home town, they were surrounded by friends and other good people, and they had their own space of the world to call their own. Here he saw what she had to do if she didn't need to share.

It was hardly a place he wouldn't enjoy to stay at, and he saw things he knew she wish they had. A tall house with a lovely view of a city skyline, a balcony to welcome the day, and a space for the girls. He never thought of them not liking sharing a room. There was a time when they couldn't be apart despite being different people, but now they were growing up and wanted their own space. He'd been an only child so he never had to share, but it made sense.

So he took the marker from Lee and began drawing on her wall blocking her view of what he was putting. She was getting nervous and didn't want something embarrassing from her father. When he moved away he revealed a picture of a big old bear holding up a heart.

"Dad! Oh well he is cute and sweet. MMMMM....Thank you daddy. " Lee hugged her father and said, "you draw bear like Judy does."

"Well who do you think taught Judy. She practiced a lot and learned fast," he said still hugging her before he stood back up. Judy love the little illustrations he left for Vic and was determined to learn, so in on one rainy afternoon she drew until she got it. Now Judy put them everywhere.

"Also you're right Lee your to big for stuffed animals, so I'm going to take all your animals back at the farm and give them to Nana Cheryl. She'll get them cleaned and take them to the children's hospital. I guess we can take the big bear in the hallway too."

They both cried out like an ax murdered walked in and said, "not Mr. Bear!"

Jason was running his ears when Lee tugged on him. "It's okay daddy could you keep them at the house. I mean they're still special and stuff."

Ramona began laughing in the hall and sister shot dagger eyes at her before saying "unlike some people I'm going to have little girls to give them too."

"Oh right well I'm going to have twins like mom and I'm not calling either of them Lee."

"Whatever Mo at least daddy likes my boyfriend."

There was a dead silence in the room for a moment. Ramona had no response, Lee knew she over did it and Jason was just trying to process it all. After a long moment he said, "well that's it for tonight girls. You have school tomorrow and you have to makeup for a lost day. I have to head home so let's get to bed and I can tuck you in."

There were few sighs of disappointment and pouting, but the girls finished getting ready for bed. Each gave their father a long hug before he tucked them in. Despite so much protest both of the little heathens drifted off in no time. As he hugged them though he looked at a picture of him with each on on their respective night stands. There were family pictures, and several pictures of Vic with them. He knew he'd shot more then a few of them.

In with their choice of sleeping attire they were different Jason found. Well since the girls could express any opinion on their attire they made it clear twins didn't and shouldn't have to dress alike. Both sets of grandparents had tried, but even they gave up. So he watched Lee sleep in a pink Marine Corp tank top and white running shorts and her sister in pink nightie and panties. He just shook his head and smiled.

"Love you angels," he said softly from the hallway as he wiped a tear.

So with the girls at peace for the night he headed downstairs. Victory mentioned to him ever so briefly the basement provided a level of privacy. A door at the top of the steps and at the bottom of the stairs several floors below the girls provide a degree of security from little ears listening in on the adults. While all the utilities were tucked away in one corner the rest of the basement was finished, and was made clearly for adults.

https://youtu.be/19WUwZYM7bM

With the utility room walled off and behind a door it was clear that Victory's inner party animal lived in this room. Large couches lined the walls in an "L" direction with several islands with snack trays. A massive plasma screen with speakers was mounted on the wall and opposite the couch there was the bar area. Not just any bar though, but a Tiki bar complete with lights, palm trees, and pictures of mermaids hanging. There was some sports memorabilia hanging of course making think this was what a sports bar on the coast must be like.

He sighed and walked around behind the bar. Victory loved the ocean. Only asked to go like a million times, but he almost came up with a reason why not. It's not like money or work weren't issues, but he should have just said sure. Last time was with the girls five years back and they had tons of fun. Tanning, boogie boarding, sand castles, and cooking out by the water. He and Vic even made love on the beach one night. A few weeks later it lead to a nervous moment when Victory was late.

Turned out she had a light period her friend from the clinic in the next town over told her. Victory went to keep her noisy mother out of her business. They were relieved but at the same time a little sad. They'd hugged each other and watched the girls play with the dogs outside. It was a nice trip down memory lane, but he was here to check out the bar.

She had a good setup that was clear. All the bottles were in locked cabinets, a secure beer fridge with a glass front, and several sets of bar glasses with "V" labelled on them. Well it was nice to know things were secure so the girls wouldn't be partying down here with friends, but if he knew Victory he'd find a way. A quick search revealed a hidey-hole with a set of keys. There was also a small ice machine and sink, so Jason made two rums and cokes and sat down behind the bar.

He could hear Victory making her way down the stairs. Even if he hadn't heard the door he knew what her bare feet sounded like on carpet. You didn't spend over a decade with someone and miss things. Victory thought he didn't know her ex-boyfriend was gay. He just thought Vic could change his mind back. She thought he didn't like her parents. Well not 100% they were good people who made an amazing daughter. While mind not have known all the details of the girl's lives he knew enough. When it came to his marriage well he'd just hoped things would work out on their own. Having information and not acting on it wasn't the best move he realized.


"Hey Vic pull up stool. I think I can do one for the road. We need to talk about the girls and well everything else though. This is nice and they're happy aside from the usual bumps in the road. I'm not going to be happy about going back to a quite place I love. Without you and the girls it isn't home it's just farm. Whatever though you're gone and we're going to have to make it work right? Have a drink with me it will seem less negative then drinking alone in someone else's house."



https://youtu.be/dO8PA7ZnHf0

"But I'm not gone," she wanted to say but instead all she did was give her husband a sort of sad smile as she slid into one of the stools across from him.

She hadn't expected him to admit that he like the house, even though she already knew. Victory knew her husband and he was not one to hide his displeasure for anything, so when he made no comment when the girls left them the first time Victory knew she had succeeded. Well sort of. He wasn't moving in and made it pretty clear that he intended to go home for the night. That didn't mean she would press the issue. She promised herself she'd work on it and that's what she intended to do.

"That's number two," she said with after her first sip. "You had a beer before dinner. And this is a pretty hefty pour Deputy. Gonna take a couple hours and a half gallon of water to flush it out," she added with a smirk and took another sip. Sure it wasn't exactly an invitation but talking to him was getting easier. It had been so long since they had a civilized conversation that Victory was starting to think it wasn't even possible anymore. In this instance, she didn't mind being proven wrong.

"Seriously though you don't have to go back tonight. I'm sure they showed you the guest room but didn't tell the couch pulls out, or that the station pays for the premium sports package," she added with a wink then down her drink, motioning for another. "It's not like I came here to be rid of you Jay...this was supposed to be ours. I know I didn't make that real clear but I assumed that you would stop being so stubborn at some point...I know, I know...pot," she said pointing at herself, then pointed at him to finish. "Kettle."

They were quiet for a while after that, both sipping their drinks while Victory stole glances at the man she'd loved her entire adult life. It was like she was 19 all over again, sitting on the back porch with the most popular in high school. The butterflies. The sweaty palms. You would think they hadn't been together for 20 years, and married for most of it. But still Victory was nervous. She blew it the first time and now she wanted to make it right. She just hoped it wasn't too late.

"Remember your shitty apartment at the commons," she said with a grin after she sucked down the last of her second drink. He immediately began making her another and Victory raised an eyebrow before she continues. "We used to set up the breakfast counter like a bar when we had parties...40 people cramped into that tiny one-bedroom. You and Danny working the door. Me and Carmen working the bar. Covered everybody's rent in a weekend," she said with a smile as she glanced at him over her glass. "When's the last time we had a drink together Jay...before the other night I mean...before I came to Atlanta. That used to be the highlight of my day. That beer at the end of your shift...I'd be exhausted from dealing with girls all day but I wouldn't miss it for the world Jay...I do miss it. Have been for a long time."

They had become two ships passing in the night, sometimes not at all. With Jason at the fire department and Victory practically running the local station, the went days without seeing each other, even before the move. Taking the job in Atlanta was Victory's attempt at giving them both less responsibility and more time together. Having her own show would be less work than running the station. There would be no phone calls that dragged her away in the middle of the night and Jason could be apart of a larger department which would mean he wouldn't feel obligated to be the go to guy. Sure there would be late nights and the risk of him getting hurt was higher but still they could have that beer again. And that was really all she wanted. It occurred to her then that she never actually let him in on that line of thinking. Too angry at his denial and too stubborn to push, she blew that too.

"I never went to see that lawyer either," she said with her eyes on her empty glass as she took a long, deep breath. "I don't want to be one of those couples who split up because shit got hard. I mean, we took those vows for a reason. So we're smackdab in the "for worse" part but does that have to mean it's over. I mean they put that in there for a reason right? It can't always be rainbows and butterflies right? That's just life. I think we owe it to those girls, and ourselves, to at least try to figure this out. I mean if you already decided your done I have to accept that and we'll find an attorney together to do it the way we want it done. But there's even a little part of you that wants to fight for us...the old us...then I'm willing to do that too. It's going to be a lot of work, long hours on the highway but we're worth it Jay. You're worth it. I wouldn't have married you in the first place if I didn't."

She took his hand then, ran her thumb across his fingers, and looked him in the eye, hoping for a glimpse of what he might be thinking. But Jason was known for his impenetrable poker face and it didn't fail him now. All Victory could do was wait, and hope.

They were a few cocktails in when he realized she was right. Beers with dinner now these drinks. He forgot how often they could pass the time together. A lot of couples would say they had that special moment when they stayed up all night talking and sharing. They used to do that often even after the girls came. The twins more then a few times found them cuddled up on the couch. Ramona was always happy to put a blanket over them as Lee started breakfast. He figured her Nana Pamela had taught her how to do grits and eggs.

Here and now though they were talking and it was registering. She didn't feel bad about leaving so much as making it seem like it was over when it didn't have to be. He didn't have and solutions but move his arm back and took his hand in her's and nodded. Fingers quickly interlaced. He put forth his thoughts simply, "I don't want to fight tonight okay. I love you Victory. This was never supposed to be easy."


He let go of her hand and left his drink and walked around the bar. Before she could hop of the bar stool to meet him he just hugged her and lifted her up. She seem surprised but she wrapped her young pants covered legs around his torso like so many times before. He nuzzled with her and whisper, "let's not fight let's just talk. This place isn't' home to me but a big part of home is the people there. I know you have life here, but I have a life there too and you're in it."

I almost like a primitive savage he held her up and pawed at her hair, lips moving up and down her head almost kissing, and leaning in to her earlobe and licking gently. "We can make it work though. Not just visits for the girls and fucking for us. A marriage the whole deal."

He had no trouble carrying Victory, but it felt good to put her down on the large couch. As she sat up he pulled her head back by her hair and kissed her passionately and reached down and cupped her breast. His tongue went into her mouth and he taste the cocktails they'd been sharing. After a long kiss only ended by panting he moved down and kissed her neck and kept kissing as he said, "I've missed you Victory. I don't want this to be the last time and I'm not doing this to buy more time with you."

He caressed her face and looked in her eyes. "Let's make it better honey."