Jeremiah woke up with a splitting headache like always. He had gotten used to them already. Nothing a little aspirin wouldn't fix. He heard some movements downstairs and sat up only one intruder coming to mind. Robbie. He would have to move out and find some place where his house is only his alone. These days all kinds of people showed up trying to get him to stop drinking or make him eat. It was his house and his body, he could do whatever he wanted. Right then he didn't feel like dealing with anyone so he went downstairs to kick his friend out.

"Robbie I swear to God if you don't leave I'll drag you out....." he faltered. No.

"Hi. Wow you really do look like shit. In your case the cameras don't lie"

"Jennifer"

"So I made breakfast I figured you must be sporting a killer hangover and food makes everything better. Now go back to where you came from, shower, change your clothes then come back." she was saying all that while she took out ingredients and pans from the cupboards.

Jeremiah turned around having lost all brain function. She was in the kitchen making breakfast for him. "And Jeremy?" she called out making him spin around so fast he had to steady himself on the table in the hallway. "Don't forget to shave" he nodded then left.

"Shower, change and shave." he kept repeating because those were the only things his mind could understand at that moment. It took him an hour to really get clean and then another thirty minutes to dress. He kept changing his clothes in search of something better. Finally he decided on a three piece suit that reminded both of them of the man he was. Slick, handsome, powerful.

He came down looking like the man she married. That's better. She thought. He didn't look like a homeless man anymore although his hair was longer. It reached his shoulders, smooth and straight and she liked it. He was still her Jeremy but somehow he wasn't the same. "I made eggs. And I passed by goodies. They have these amazing beignets, I already ate half of them. You have two seconds before I start wrestling you for them" Jenna said placing a cup of coffee in front of him. She sat down next to him and together they ate in silence.

Jeremiah was still in shock. He had looked for her everywhere and now here she was. Making him breakfast and eating with him like this was their daily routine. She looked beautiful like always. Her skin was tanned and her hair shone. She looked at him and smiled and he felt his heart skip a beat. He'd missed that smile especially when it was directed at him. All the pain in her eyes was gone leaving a happy stronger Jennifer. He could see she wasn't the same person she was when she left, she was better now. "Where?" he asked knowing she understood what he wanted to know.

"California"

"Maybe I should have broadened my search" he laughed awkwardly. When they were done, they cleaned up. She washed, he dried. After that they didn't have anything to do so they sat down and turned on the TV. She knew he had questions he wanted to ask. She would answer if he asked but she wasn't going to volunteer any information. That's not why she came back. He flicked through the channels like he was having a hard time finding what he wanted. Truth was he didn't even know he was doing it. The remote was just his way of trying to control his thoughts. She grabbed the remote and turned the TV off. 

"Come on" she took his hand leading him upstairs. "Make love to me" she told him making him freeze. He didn't see that coming.

"Jennifer....."

"Shh. No words. Don't say anything just feel" she stood on her tip toes and kissed him. Winding her hands around his neck she angled her lips swiping her tongue along his lower lip asking for entrance.

Snapping out of it Jeremiah sprung into action. He kissed her, his tongue stroking hers. He was a starving man and she was his last drop of water, or food. Or both. His hands went around her waist pulling her into him. He'd missed her so much sometimes it felt like he could drown in that feeling. The way her soft lips kissed him, Her tongue darting out to wrestle for control with his. The way she moaned and pulled him closer whenever she wanted more. The way her body was soft against his that was all angles and muscles. That was the one thing he had kept constant. He still worked out like always.

Lifting her up, she wrapped her legs around his waist and he carried her to the bed lying on top of her. She was wearing a summer dress with flowers and he pulled it off while she was busy unbuttoning his shirt. His half coat was already gone discarded somewhere on the floor. He wanted to touch her everywhere at once. It occurred to him that she always had on white underwear every time he took her clothes off. It was as if they were a reminder of how pure she was despite the things she had gone through. Because that was what she was, a pure soul with a stroke of bad luck. At that moment he would have willingly sold his soul to the devil to give her a second chance at a happy beginning. She of all people deserved to have a happy and a loving childhood. She should have had a family that loved her and treated her like the precious person she was.

He made love to her slowly, reacquainting himself with her body again. He reminded himself where every dip and curve was. Every freckle, every dimple, every beauty spot. He kissed them all committing them to his failing memory. He worshiped her body like it was something sacred. He kissed her pouring all the love he felt into that one action. He loved her and with every stroke, he showed her just how much. With every touch he took away all the painful memories replacing them with this sweet feeling. They were together again in that moment. With no bitterness, or pain or even sorrow. Just love. "I love you" he whispered before they both toppled over experiencing an earth shattering climax.

"I love you too." she told him because it was the truth. She would love him for the rest of her life, she knew that. It was the one thing that was clear. He was the love of her life after all. "Jeremy" she said much later when their hearts had gone back to their normal rhythm.

"Mmmm" he was starting to drift off.

"This was goodbye" he stiffened behind her all sleep gone from his eyes.

"Jennifer....."

"No listen to me. I came back because I had to. I realized I couldn't just stay away forever leaving things the way they were. I love you despite everything. I hope you know that. I love you so much that sometimes its stifling."

"I love you too Jennifer. Please we can make this work"

"No we can't. If I stay it means I won't do what I came back to do. Give her a kidney. If I stay, she gets nothing.."

"Then so be it. But stay please" he cut her off. He wouldn't survive if she left again.

"Jeremy you're saying that now. But you'll hate me later when she dies. No listen." she put her fingers on his lips stopping what he was about to say. "It won't be now. But after months maybe years, you'll blame me for her death. Knowing that I could have saved her but didn't, trust me you'll blame me. Because to you, she was your saviour. She was the woman who came to your rescue when you were drowning. It doesn't matter what she is to me. To you she's someone who gave you your life back. So I'll give her the kidney she needs. Not because she's my mother. Not because I feel like I owe her for anything because I don't. She is the one person I don't owe anything to. I'll do it because I love you and I want to see you happy. I'll do it because you asked me to Jeremy.  God knows I'll go to hell and back for you. That's how much I love you."

"Jennifer please. Please don't leave me again, I won't make it without you. I'll do anything but please don't leave me baby" he cried tightening his hands around her.

"You're strong Jeremy. More than you give yourself credit. When she's fine and you don't have to worry about her health, take a step back from it all. I want you to look at everything and be happy. Live your life knowing you did everything in your power. The rest wasn't up to you. I want you to know that I don't blame you for anything. The loss of our child, what you did, I don't blame you anymore Jeremy. I understand why you did what you did. You are always trying to help everyone. So don't blame yourself anymore because I don't"

"I went to the doctor before I came back. He said they needed to do more blood tests, a physical exam and an X-ray. I'll be here for the week while they conduct the follow up tests and during recovery too." he just held on to her. He couldn't believe that after everything this was how it ended.

"I don't have a lawyer because I don't think I need one. I trust you to draw up divorce papers and I'll sign. But I don't want anything Jeremy. I came here with only my clothes and they are the only things I'll take. Okay? Jeremy are you listening to me?"

"No."

"It's fine." she turned in his arms finally facing him. She had been crying too. "You're going to be fine. You'll meet someone who'll make you more happy than I could. Someone you could take to Sunday dinners and family gatherings without worrying if they'll run away. Someone who will give you the children you want. You will have all that and so much more because you deserve it. I hope that in the next life, I cross paths with you and maybe then we could be together." she kissed him wiping away his tears with her thumbs.

They woke up the next day, Jenna smiling and Jeremiah trying his best to curve his lips into something that resembled a smile. He was dying inside, feeling like his heart was being ripped from his chest. And it was because that's how Jennifer leaving made him feel. She was his heart and without her he was just a shell of a body with a big gaping hole where his heart was. She wanted him to find someone else like that was even possible. When he'd told her she was it for him, he had been serious. He would never feel like that towards any woman again. That all consuming feeling he felt when he was with her was meant for her and her alone. He wouldn't even try to find someone else. He wouldn't.

The day for the surgery arrived and Jenna refused to see her. She didn't need to see her. Donating her kidney was enough, no words were required. Jeremiah paced the hospital for hours that felt like centuries. Not even his father could calm him down. When the doctor told them the surgery was a success he asked if he could see Jennifer. His time with her was limited and he would stay beside her until she left. He didn't want to waste a minute without her. She looked so pale lying there with tubes everywhere. He kicked himself for not thinking about her first. He shouldn't have requested those tests be done on her. He should have waited and given her time. She would have agreed. All he had to do was wait but his impatience had cost him. Now all he had was a few days maybe weeks before she left.

He had called his lawyer despite not wanting to. He respected her decision to leave but she wouldn't go empty handed. Half of his wealth belonged to her and she would take it whether she wanted to or not. He wouldn't let her go without knowing she would be okay. His money alone wouldn't make her happy but it could keep her comfortable while she found her happiness. Deep down he knew he would never let her go completely. Even if it took him years, he would get her back. She was his better half. She was the only one meant for him. So if it meant he would spend his last day on earth with her then so be it. However long it took.

Jennifer woke up surrounded by Jeremiah and the twins. Zoe was sad and understood that she had to leave but Chloe ignored her. She could see the hurt in her eyes and wished she could do something about it. They were her sisters too. Half sisters but still they shared blood. She promised to send postcards and call them often. When everyone had left Chloe snuck back in. "Jenna" she opened her eyes surprised to see there. "Please don't go. I promise I won't pressure you to have another wedding but please don't leave"

"Chloe am sorry but it's for the best."

"Then leave Jere if you want to. I can help you find a nice house and even decorate it. Please stay"

"I can't. It would destroy me if I had to see him everywhere I went. Chloe please understand where am coming from" Jenna begged. She realized Chloe used her attitude to hide who she really was. A sweet child who loved too much for her own good.

"Okay" she said wiping her tears and snort with the back of her hand. "You're leaving us and it'll take me a while to get over it. A month, One year maybe ten. But eventually I'll get over it. So until then don't expect me to return your phone calls" she ran out the door bumping into Jeremiah at the hallway. "She won't stay. I tried but she wouldn't stay"

"I know. Am sorry Chloe" he said hugging her.

Seven weeks later Jeremiah had insisted on packing Jenna's bags. The doctors had said her recovery would take four to Six weeks but Jeremiah had insisted she stay an extra week just to be sure. He had been like her own personal nurse, cooking, feeding her even when she could eat by herself, skipping work just to keep her company. When he couldn't stay he made sure someone was there with her. Sometimes it was Zoe or Robert. Chloe had kept her distance claiming she didn't want to get attached more than she had. "What is that?" Jenna asked when she saw Jeremiah sneak something in her bag.

"Nothing. What are you talking about?"

"Jeremy I saw you sneaking something. Move" pushing him aside she found a jewelry box. "What did I say about this?"

"Come on Jennifer what am I going to do with all that jewelry? You know I can't wear them."

"So give them to the twins or sell them. I don't need any of them"

"Fine." he huffed taking the box and placing on the bed. They continued packing and at the end of it Jennifer was surprised with how many suitcases she had acquired since she married Jeremiah. "So did you decide on a destination?"

"Jeremy if I tell you where am going then you'll find an excuse to show up. I don't want you to live like that" she said sitting down next to him.

"Could you at least stay a week longer?"

"You know I can't. It's time to let me go Jeremy"

"Never." he meant it. He would never let her go. She would always be his wife and no one was going to replace her.

*************************************************

The end.

Kidding. One more soppy chapter and then it'll be the end for real.