Harry's P.O.V

I stared at the door for a couple seconds before I shook my head, shaking myself back to reality. I headed into the kitchen, where Faith was waiting.

"Where's mommy?" she asked accusingly.

I don't know where this kid got so smart, but it scared me sometimes. "She had to go to work."

"Without saying goodbye?" Faith's lip started to quiver.

"She said to tell you that she'll see you later," I lied, heading towards the fridge. "So what do you want to eat?"

"I want mommy," Faith said stubbornly.

Here was the five year little girl that I knew. It warmed my heart that she cared so much about her mother. "She's working, Faith. She can't come see you."

"Yes she can!" Faith yelled.

"No she can't, Faith, she can just leave work," I snapped, and Faith shrunk back in her seat. "Sorry, Faith, I'm just stressed."

"You and mommy were fighting," she whispered, looking at me knowingly.

I sighed. "Yeah, we were."

"About what?"

"About whether or not I should give you ice cream for dinner," I said, bopping her on the nose. "So do you want ice cream, or a sandwich?"

"Ice cream!" Faith squealed. It was a no-brainer. Any kid in their right mind would choose ice cream over anything.

I laughed at her excitement. "Okay, then, go get your shoes."

Faith jumped off her stool and I cleaned up the remnants of the breakfast I'd made for us earlier, waiting for Faith to return. When she did, I grabbed my coat and led her out the door, grabbing her small hand as we neared the street. Carefully, I led us to the nearest ice cream shop I knew, making sure I had enough cash on me to buy two ice cream cones.

"Can I get a waffle cone, daddy?" Faith asked, clutching at my arm.

I smiled down at her. "Of course, get whatever you want."

I already knew what I was getting- a double scoop of cookie dough in a waffle cone. Faith stared at the many different bowls of ice cream. I almost laughed at the concentrated expression on her face.

"You want chocolate and cookie dough?" I asked her.

Faith nodded, her thumb finding its way to her mouth where she sucked on it slightly. She really shouldn't have that habit, but I couldn't seem to break her of it. I walked up to the cashier, an older looking man.

"I'll have a double scoop of cookie dough in a waffle cone please," I gave him my order and looked down at Faith. "Faith, you want to tell the nice man your order?" Faith shook her head, rapidly sucking her thumb now, clutching my arm rather tightly. I chuckled. "Okay, she'll have a double scoop of chocolate and cookie dough," I told the man.

After I paid, we went outside and ate our ice cream, Faith's cone so big she almost couldn't lick it.

"You have a lovely daughter," the man who had helped us earlier stopped in front of us.

His shift must be over. "Thank you," I replied, smiling down at Faith.

"She's very cute," the man noted. "Where's mommy?"

"She's working," Faith said bluntly, all shyness forgotten. "She was fighting with Daddy about giving me ice cream."

The man looked at me almost apologetically. "That's what you were fighting about?"

I sighed. "No, she doesn't love me very much, I'm afraid. And she's angry at me for leaving her, but it was for work, and I'm about to leave again and I don't know how to tell her."

The man nodded knowingly. "Ah, yes, wives tend to get mad about that. I should know," he added, tapping the wedding band on his ring finger. "Been married almost fifty years."

"Congratulations," I replied, meaning it. "How'd you do it?"

The man chuckled. "I just kept sweeping her off her feet. Surprises, things like that." I nodded thoughtfully, wheels turning in my head as the man spoke again. "Well, it was nice meeting you, good luck with your wife, and your job."

The man nodded respectfully and walked towards his car, leaving me alone with Faith.

"He was nice," Faith said, most of her ice cream all over her face.

I laughed at the sight of her. "Yeah, cutie pie, he was really nice. Now let's get you cleaned up."

...

I bit my lip nervously as I stood outside the CD shop, seeing CJ inside, smiling half-heartedly at customers as she did her job.

"Daddy, look its Mommy, let's go see her!" Faith tugged at my arm but I didn't budge.

"Remember what we talked about?" I asked her, crouching down at her level. "You go inside without me, and give Mommy that note, okay?"

"Okay!" Faith nodded. "Bye Daddy!"

I felt an overwhelming surge of sadness engulf me as I realized I wouldn't be seeing my daughter for two weeks. "Wait, Faith," I called and she turned around. I grabbed her in a tight hug and buried my nose in her shoulder. "I love you, cutie pie," I whispered.

Faith giggled. "Love you too Daddy, now stop blowing on me!"

I released her and stood up, smiling slightly as she waved and headed into the shop. Then I sighed and started trudging home, getting ready to pack to leave my family.

CJ's P.O.V

I saw Harry saying good-bye to Faith outside the shop and smiled in spite of myself. He was just so good with kids it made me smile. He hugged her and watched her go into the shop with a wistful expression before walking away.

"Hi Mommy!" Faith skipped to the front of the line, successfully cutting off about three people in her haste to meet me.

"Hi, baby-girl, but I've got customers," I guided her to my stool as I turned back to the customer with a smile. "Sorry, what was that?"

"Mommy, Daddy gave me a note to give to you!" Faith said, waving a piece of paper in my face.

I grabbed it and shoved it in my pocket. "Thanks Faith, but please be quiet, I'm working," I turned to the customer. "Sorry about that."

"No problem," she said, smiling widely. "You have an adorable daughter, and if I were you I'd be pretty anxious to read that note from that man of yours."

It's funny how most people assume that I have a husband just because I have a daughter, but I just smiled and helped her. As I worked, I wondered about the note. What if it was an apology? Love letter? Declaration of hate? I shook the letter from my mind as I worked.

It wasn't until much later, when I was at home with Faith in bed until I read it.

CJ,

Look, I'm really sorry about leaving you behind. I didn't mean to, I had to for my work. Speaking of that, I'm leaving tomorrow. Sorry to not tell you, but I have to go. I'll be gone for two weeks. I'm sorry, but I have to. I actually really like you when we're not at each other's throats, so if you aren't mad at me, here's my phone number if you want to talk to me- xxx-xxx-xxxx. Sorry again. Tell Faith I love her.

-Harry