***The Littrell's***
"Shawn what a pleasant surprise to see you here." Brian said getting up from the couch to meet Shawn by the door. "I'm really sorry about last time you were here."
"No I came to apologize to you. I had no right to say the things that I said. I'm sorry. I just hope you'll forgive me." Shawn said apologetically.
"Don't worry about it...its all right now," he said understandingly.
"I should have listened to you and maybe things could have been resolved sooner." he said regretfully.
"Yeah but they are working themselves out just fine. I talked to Marie today and she was telling me how much she misses you."
"She did??"
"Yeah you sound surprised. She just left a little before you came actually."
"No I didn't. She was out side when I pulled up."
"Really? Did you two get back together?"
"No... We actually ended up fighting," he said sadly.
"What happened?"
Shawn looked at Brian carefully pondering if he should really tell Brian all the problems he was currently having with his love life or not. "I was jealous because she replaced me so quick."
"Oh she told me she was planning on talking to and hoped y'all would get back together. And she doesn't have a new boyfriend."
"I think I kind of ruined any chances of getting back together with her..."
"Well maybe you should talking to her about it. Forgive her and let her forgive you."
"But wouldn't that seem too desperate?"
"Not if you love her. Love often makes us look like fools but isn't it worth it? I mean what's better, keeping your pride intact but being lonely or being the fool in love? Which guy do you think ends happier?"
"I guess your right...thanks Brian." he smiled as he quickly hugged Brian and ran out the door.
***Shoesmith Household***
"But that doesn't sound like Alex honey. Are you sure he wasn't just having a bad day?" her mother asked cautiously.
"It isn't Alex. I lost Alex a long time back. It's just AJ now," she said sadly.
"Well you better at least call and talk to Denise."
"I can't do that right now."
"Andrea honey she is your daughter still. You need to talk to her. All she is hearing is AJ's side. So you know you have to talk to her."
"What if HE answers?" she asked refusing to even say his name. What upset her most was that if she did call she hoped he was the one to pick up. She already missed hearing his voice. 'But this is better for both of us. He can go do whatever he wants and not worry about me being in the way of that. He'll be better with out Me.' she thought making herself even more depressed.
"Well I'll let you be alone for now. But you do need to call some time." her mother said as she walked out of the room. Slowly Andrea got up and closed the door to her room. She plopped on to the bed and pulled of her suitcase. Quickly she looked around the room as if there was some one there to see her. 'What am I doing, of course there isn't anybody here. Who would be in my bedroom at my Parents house?' she thought to herself. Carefully she extracted a shirt from the suitcase and put it up to her face, breathing in the smell. It was one of her favorite shirts to see AJ wear. 'He always looks so gorgeous in it. It smells just like him too.' she thought wishing he were there with her at that moment.
***Dorough Residence***
"Howie? Howie? Howard??" Jessica called peeking into each of the rooms as she passed. Finally she saw at the end of the hall that the red light outside of Howie's studio was on to indicate he was inside working. 'oh well' she thought 'This is important.' Slowly she opened the door to find her youngest son standing in front of a microphone singing "All I Have To Give".
"Hey baby what do ya need?" Howie asked as he got up and wrapped his arm around her waist and gently placed a kiss on her cheek. By this time James had stopped singing and was looking at his parents curiously.
"James, honey, You were singing ...and you were doing a great job....." she said amazed that he had as much talent as he did. "But I think I need to speak with your Papa real quick so could you please go to your room?"
"Ok Mama." he said smiling as he walked out of the room.
"Howie..."
"Yes?" he asked looking into her eyes.
"I don't want to breed little singers... You know how messed up that business is."
"Honey I am not grooming him for the spot light. But I'm not going to deny him of what he wants."
"But then I'd lose both of you if he were to start a career."
"Babe let's worry about things as they happen alright? He just wanted to learn what his papa does. For all we know it could be a phase that lasts a week. Don't worry yet ok?" he said kissing her forehead and gently smoothing her hair with his hand.
"Ok, ok. I know you're right but I just worry."
"I know, just calm down and let things flow. Life has a way of working out. I mean look life worked out so we ended up together, just proof things always turn out for the best." he smiled.
***The McLean's***
"Hey are you ok?" Denise asked shaking AJ to wake him up.
"Huh?" he asked sitting up and flopping back down when the light hit his eyes. 'No I do not have a head ache, the light isn't that bright, and the room is not spinning because I am really asleep and when I wake and when I wake up my wife will be with me and last night didn't take place.' he told himself silently.
"Want some coffee dad?" Denise's voice asked.
"Huh?" he mumbled uncomprehendingly.
"It's called a hang over Dad. Here sit up and take there." she said handing him a glass of water and couple aspirin.
"Thanks." he said hoarsely.
"So what caused you to actually ever touch this stuff? I mean you're so against It." she asked pointing to the near empty bottles of alcohol on the table.
"Your mother left." he said numbly.
"She wants a divorce. 15 years sober...gone."
"Sober, what do you mean?"
"I am a recovering Alcoholic Denny. Why else do you think I lost it when I found you drinking?" he asked still not looking at her.
"I thought you were just being a dad."
"No, I don't want you to go through everything I did. Plus I am your father and you are too young for all of that mess."
"Well what happened to make mom leave?" Denise asked changing the subject.
"We got into a fight..." he said drawing in a deep breath to help fight back his tears.
"It's ok to cry dad." she said simply. She felt bad for him. She had always been a daddy's girl since before she could remember. So she and AJ were closer usually. Up until she'd started drinking and doing things he didn't approve up, although now she understood why he didn't approve. Yet in all of her life she had never seen him this upset. She'd never seen him cry. He was always the strong one that helped her. This time she felt responsible to be the strong one.
"What?" he asked attempting to swallow the huge lump in his throat.
"I said 'It's ok to cry dad.' I promise I won't tell a soul." she said softly as she leaned in towards him.
"No, I'm ok Denny."
"Listen it-is-ok-to-cry. I won't think any less of you daddy." He almost smiled at the fact she had called him Daddy again. She hadn't done that in a long time but it was what she had called him when she was younger, when they were closer.
"Denny..." he said pausing to look up into her dark bluish green eyes. "I miss her Denny..." he whispered as the tears rolled down his cheeks.
"Things will be ok. Remember Daddy you always told me that there's always a light at the end of every tunnel. So it will be ok in the end." she said hugging him.
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