Sofia left the kitchen and Jessica sighed.

"Poor kid.. have we fucked our kids up, Jess?"

"No, Danny!"

"Well think about it, we separate and get back together, we have a second wedding and have all these kids, then we separate again! I find out I have a son, then his mom dies so he's stuck with me.. a screw up for a father!"

"You're not a screw up, Danny."

"I am.. I've screwed up the most wonderful thing in my life and now I'll hate myself for it every single day until I leave this earth."

Jessica sighs.
"Danny, yes we had a rough marriage and at times it could be very toxic, that's why us separating is the best thing for not only us but for the kids as well. Sofia doesn't understand that but one day she will and she'll see how it was the best thing we could do for them. I love you, Danny. You know that I do.. but this is for the best and you know that."

"I know.. You're right.
I-I should get going.. thanks for letting me stay."

"Thanks for dinner."

"Anytime."

Danny pasts her and Jessica quickly stops him.
"Danny wait!"

He turns to her and she runs over to hand him his cookies.

"Here! Don't forget your special cookies."

"Heh.. thanks, Jess."

Jessica smiled very softly and looked down.

Danny went to the living room and said goodbye to the kids before leaving.

Jessica cried silently in the kitchen while Danny left with Coltan trying his best to hold back his tears.
Even though they knew this was the right thing, it didn't make it any easier. They've loved each other for so long and being apart was torture for the both of them.

***

Moving day is coming fast and Jessica wanted some time with Sam. She was planning on spending the whole weekend with him.

"Momma, maybe you can come to daddy's for dinner." Sofia smiles sweetly.

"No, I don't want to take away from your father's time."

"But it was fun the other day.."

"Sofia, I know out of all the kids you're taking it the hardest, but please believe me when I say this is for the best.  I know change is hard, baby, I do.. but it'll be okay."

"What will you be doing alone?  I mean at least daddy has Coltan when we're not with him.  You're just all alone."

"I won't be alone, I'm gonna have dinner with a friend."

Sofia sighs and looks down.

"What, I can't have friends?" Jessica chuckles.

"Well is it Sam?"

Jessica didn't know what to say.  She didn't want to lie to her daughter.

"We're just friends, baby."

"I know you were having lunch with him that day you saw us having lunch with daddy."

"What?"

"I've never met Sam before but the look on daddy's face said it all.."

"Oh.."

"It's fine, I'm not trying to make you feel bad, I just don't want to be lied to."

"I'm not lying to you.  We really are just just friends."

"Alright." Sofia didn't really believe Jessica but she kept her mouth shut.

**

The kids left with Danny and Sam came over to pick Jessica up.

"This is a nice restaurant." Jessica smiles softly as she looks around at her surroundings.

"Isn't it?  It's one of my favorites."

"... Sam?"

"Yeah?"

"I've been thinking and.. I think I'm ready.... You know, to try us."

"Really?" A smile spread across Sam's face.

"Yeah." Jessica nods.

"Awe Jess, I'm so happy!  So like.. I can call you my girlfriend?"

"Hah!  Yeah, I guess so!" Jessica chuckles.

"Awesome!" Sam smiles.

"It's weird because technically I'm still married, but I have a boyfriend!  Oh Jesus, am I crazy?"

"Yes."

"Ah!" Jessica widens her eyes.

"But that's why I love you." He smiles softly.

Jessica crinkles her nose and leans closer to kiss his lips softly.

**

Sam took her back to his place.  Things started to get a little hot on the couch so Sam suggested the bedroom.
Jessica smiles and nods her head before making her way to his room.

"You know I'm a married woman, Samuel." Jessica smirks.

"Eh, it wouldn't be the first time I fucked a married woman." He says making Jessica laugh.

**

"That was amazing." Sam says as Jessica lays on him and softly circles her fingers on his chest.

"It sure was.."

"So I was thinking tomorrow we could take a trip to the park.. I know it may be dorky but I love walking around and just talking. I love being with you."

"That's sweet, Sam. I'd love to!" Jessica smiles holds him tight.

The next day Jessica and Sam walked through the park holding hands, and took advantage of the beautiful day.

"Gorgeous weather today, huh?" Jessica says.

"It certainly is.. Ready to go back to heat stroke weather?" Sam chuckles.

Jessica smiles softly.
"I actually am relieved to be going home and getting back to normal life.. Whatever normal may be these days."

" I'm gonna miss you, Jess."

"I'll miss you too.  But we'll see each other soon!"

"Definitely!  I can't stay away from you too long."

Jessica smiles and grabs his arm.

"It'll be fun.  Hopefully by then the kids will know about us and will be okay with everything.. Wishful thinking but.."

"Heh right.."

"Sofia is trying her little heart out to get Danny and I back together."

"She is?"

"Yeah.. it's not gonna happen but she believes it will."

"Hm.."

"What?"

"Nothing.. I just.. well I worry about that.  You know?
.... You'll be over there with him and I'll be.. all the way over here."

"Do you not trust me?" Jessica suddenly gets a little attitude with him.

"Well look at how we started, Jess."

"Samuel!  How dare you say that!  You know that us being together wasn't like that!  We loved each other!"

"I know, I'm not saying that and I don't want you getting upset, I just.. I hate him, Jess! I hate him so much!" Sam shakes his fists with anger.

"And you're gonna be over there with him, and it's not that I don't trust you, cause I do!  It's him I don't trust!"

"Sam, he's not gonna do anything."

"How do you know that?"

"Well for one I wouldn't let him, and second he knows this is the right thing for us.  Danny and I are over, Sam."

"... I'm sorry, Jess.  I didn't mean to upset you.. I'm just.. well I'm a little jealous I guess."

"Heh.. Well I think it's very cute that you're jealous, sweetie." Jessica holds his cheeks in her hands and smiles softly.

Sam smiles back and bends down to kiss her lips.

Jessica pulls away slowly then hugs him tight and lays her head on his chest.

"Since this is our last couple days together, for a few weeks at least.. why don't we ditch the park and have some fun at your place." Jessica smirks.

"Mmm." Sam chuckles.

"You wanna?" She says with a giggle.

"Does a bear shit in the woods?"

Jessica huffs and nods her head while she rolls her eyes.

She throws her forehead forward on him and shouts, "Sam that's so gross!"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!  Yes.  My answer is yes!  Please let me do you, Jessica Lange!" He shouts.

"Samuel Shepard!" Jessica yells as she grabs his collar and pulls him down.

***

Moving day.

"Mommy, I am so happy to go back down to New Orleans!" Arabella says with a bit of a southern accent.

"Heh! Well don't you sound cute, my little southern belle!" Jessica mimics her voice and messes with her hair.

"Yes I am cute!" She smiles.

Jessica laughs.
"Alright well everything is packed.. Let's hit the road, y'all!"

Jessica and Sam said their goodbyes a few days prior and had already planned his first visit to New Orleans.
Danny and Coltan were heading back as well. They split up the kids to hopefully make things a little easier.
Danny had Coltan and Joshua while Jessica had Arabella and Joseph.  Sofia and Jackson sat in front of Jessica and behaved well, as expected.

After landing Jessica headed home.

"I just realized that we have absolutely no where to go." Danny says with a blank face.

"Why didn't you take care of that, Danny?"

"I don't know!  What do I do, Jess?!"

"Stay with your parents."

"My family is pissed at me!"

Danny's mother has known about the affair since he and Jessica separated the first time, but hearing about Coltan and all the other things he's done, they've kept their distance.  They were so disappointed in him for doing this to his family.

"Danny just call your mother, I'm sure she'll let you stay there.  Plus it's good for Coltan to meet your family."

"I guess you're right.... Alright.. come on, Cole.. let's go see grandma.. she'll probably beat the hell out of daddy.."

Jessica laughs.
"I'm sure it'll be fine, Danny."

"Yeah.. Cole, say bye to your brother's and sister's."

"Oh nooo!  I wanna stay with them!"

"They have to go home and get ready for school, bud."

"Dad don't mention school!  It's still summer!" Jackson covers his ears.

Jessica chuckles and taps the back of his head.
"One week, mister!"

"Mooooom!" He groans.

"Oh stop it!"

"Dada you go home and I stay with Jessica!" Coltan says moving right beside her.

"Everybody wants to stay with Jessica!" She chuckles.

"I stay with you?" He looks up with her with his big sweet innocent eyes.

"You're not staying with her." Danny says.

"You meany!" Coltan kicks Danny in the shin.

"Ah!" Jessica couldn't help but laugh.

"High five, little guy!"

Coltan laughs and high fives Jessica.

"I stay with you?"

"Sweetie, I think your daddy wants you to stay with him."

"But no want him." Coltan nods and lifts his little hands.

"Me wanna stay with you!"

"Awe you're a sweetheart."

Jessica felt for Coltan.  His life has changed so quickly, now here he is moving once again.  Despite everything he's only three years old, and obviously Jessica would never treat him badly.  Plus he was the sweetest little thing, you couldn't help but have a soft spot for him.  He just loved Jessica which is strange because he wasn't around her much, but he did.

"Why don't you wanna stay with me?" Danny asks him.

"Cause Jessica so so pwetty!  And she so nice to me too!"

"Oh my goodness."

Jessica laughs.
"Thank you!  Hah!  I can definitely see the resemblance."

"Ha-Ha, come on, Coltan.  We have to go."

Coltan fusses as he throws himself on the ground and refuses to leave.

Danny sighs and picks him up.

"I'll see you guys later."

"Bye!" Jessica laughs.

"I want her!  I wanna go with her, daddy!" He cries.

"... So do I, son.." Danny spoke in a low voice as he walked away from his family.