Hayley parked her car in front of a house that she knew too well since she lived there five years ago. She picked up the yellow envelope and got out of her car. She knew he was home because Brian said he was. She walked up to the door and ran the doorbell. She turned and looked at the neighborhood. She heard the door open.

        “Hi, can I help you?” Nick asked. She turned and looked at him. His eyes widened.

        “Hi, Nick, it’s been a long time,” Hayley said. He leaned against the door frame.

        “Five years,” Nick said.

        “I know, may I come in,” Hayley said.

        “Sure,” Nick said. She went in and looked around.

        “Nothing’s changed,” Hayley said.

        “So what are you here for?” Nick asked.

        “Nick, we are still married, the divorce never went through, apparently the lawyers lost the divorce papers,” Hayley said.

        “So divorce papers is what you have in that envelope,” Nick said grabbing it. He pulled them out and looked at them.

        “Yes,” Hayley said. Nick looked at her and ripped them up.

        “No deal,” Nick said.

        “Nick, it was the same thing as before, and you signed them,” Hayley said.

        “Like I had a choice, Hayley, now I do, I’m not giving you a divorce, I don’t want one, I never did, but I was forced by you to sign them, but I will not do that again,” Nick said.

        “Nick, it’s for the best,” Hayley said.

        “Best for you, maybe, you said you didn’t love me anymore, who gives a crap about my feelings, it’s always about what YOU want!” Nick said. The front door opened and closed.

        “Hey Kaos, where ya at?” AJ called.

        “In here,” Nick said. AJ came in and saw Hayley.

        “Well, look what the cat dragged in,” AJ said.

        “Hi AJ,” Hayley said.

        “What brings you back?” AJ asked.

        “The lawyers lost the divorce papers, we are still married, she wants me to sign new ones but I ripped them up,” Nick said. He went upstairs.

        “So you came back to destroy him once again,” AJ said.

        “AJ,” Hayley said.

        “No, Hayley, when you left him and filed for divorce, you destroyed him, he wouldn’t leave the house for days, weeks, the guys and I did everything we could to cheer him up but nothing helped, he loved you more than anything and you just walked out like you never loved him in the first place, you hurt him, Hayley, you broke his heart, I know you left because he wasn’t there when Laura died, she was his daughter, too, and you left like he didn’t care about her, well, he did, he was just as upset as you were, you thought he didn’t care when he was trying to comfort you, he was only being strong for you, he was breaking down inside, after you cried yourself to sleep, he went out on the beach and got on his knees and cried and asked God why he took his baby girl away from you two, he broke down when you weren’t around because he didn’t want you to see him weak, he wanted to be strong, he was mad at God for taking your baby girl away, he was just as upset as you were, you knew Nick, how he hides his feelings from everyone, all he wanted was to comfort you, he knew you were devastated,” AJ said. Hayley looked at him with tears in her eyes. Nick came downstairs.

        “I better go,” Hayley said. She ran out the door. Nick ran after her and caught up with her at her car and turned her around.

        “AJ told you everything, didn’t he,” Nick said.

        “Yes,” Hayley said.

        “You weren’t the only one who lost her, Hayley, she was my daughter, too, we could have gotten through it together,” Nick said.

        “You acted like you didn’t care!” Hayley said.

        “I was being strong for you because I knew you were devastated, so was I!” Nick said.

        “You didn’t show it!” Hayley said.

        “I didn’t want you to feel worse and blame yourself for her dying when it wasn’t your fault or mine,” Nick said. Hayley looked up at him. She collapsed against Nick and cried.

        “Oh god, Nick, I’m so sorry!” Hayley cried. Nick held her close.

        “We are still married, Hayley,” Nick said.

        “I know, can we start over?” Hayley asked. Nick nodded and kissed her deeply.

        “Promise you won’t leave me again?” Nick asked.

        “Never,” Hayley said. AJ came outside.

        “Are you two back together?” AJ asked.

        “Yes, we are, and this time, it’s forever,” Nick said. Hayley rested her head on his chest.

        “I’m never leaving him again,” Hayley said hugging Nick.

        “Good,” AJ said. He left. Nick and Hayley went inside. She sat down on the couch. Nick sat down beside her.

        “Nick, I want you to know that I haven’t been with anyone else since you,” Hayley said.

        “Same here, I just threw myself into music and stayed away from the dating scene, I just couldn’t look at another girl without thinking of what we had,” Nick said.

        “I feel stupid, Nick, I know Laura dying wasn’t your fault or mine, I felt like my life was over, and at the time I thought you didn’t care as much as I did but I did, I just didn’t open my eyes and realize it until now,” Hayley said.

        “Let’s start over, Hayley, a new start for the both of us, just don’t walk away again, I couldn’t bear it,” Nick said. Hayley looked at him and nodded.

        “I promise never to walk away from our marriage again,” Hayley said. Nick smiled and kissed her and they held each other and they knew they never would be apart again.

The End!