December;

"Danny we are going to be late!" Jessica says as she straps on her heels by the door

"Coming, coming. Sorry honey." He says

Danny rushes down the stairs and gives his tie to Jessica.

Jessica quickly tied it around his neck then patted his shoulder.

Tonight they were going to a fundraiser for Danny's the college that Danny taught at. He was a professor at NYU and works in the Bachelors of Fine Arts.

"How do I look?" He asks

"Very handsome, what about me?" She asks

Danny looks at her and gives her a soft smile. "You look very nice." He says as he rushes out the door.

Jessica stood there for a quick moment... she rarely got compliments from her husband unless she forced it out of him.

She then followed him out the door and met him at the taxi. He was already inside, sitting down and checking his phone like he always does.

//-//

By eight they arrive at the venue. Danny gets out of the car and next to him is Jessica.

"Are you excited to see some old friends?" He asks

"Not quite." She whispers

Before their children were born, Jessica was active in films. Once her children were born she stopped acting and became a full time mother. Soon after Danny followed and retired to become a professor.

Many people that Jessica knew throughout her career would be at this fundraiser. As well as the whole BFA department and some students.

Jessica was nervous. She tried as much as possible to stay out of the spotlight. She loved her privacy and living a normal life. Now, she feels intimidated by some of her old friends who continued acting and became even more successful than before. Jessica believed in her head that she had changed so much. Her appearance wasn't like it was. She felt even more embarrassed around Danny thinking that she wasn't good enough or as pretty as his female colleges.

As soon as they walk inside Jessica could name half of the people in the room. Not long after they had arrived was Danny swept away by coworkers.

Jessica wondered around by herself until she saw an old friend.

"Jessica Lange! Or should I say Huston now?" A man smiles as he comes up behind her.

Jessica smiles at the sight of her dear friend Sam who she costarred with in some of her movies.

"I've been Huston a decade and a half, but how are you?" She says giving him a hug

"Oh, I'm great. The family and I moved back up here last fall. I have a few projects I'm working on. More importantly, how are you?" He asks

"Running around non stop and being a mom." Jessica laughs

"That's what you've always wanted." He says

"It is... I wouldn't trade it for the world. How is your wife?"

"Great! She couldn't make it tonight, we just welcomed our little guy into the world a month ago."

"Not ready to leave the baby yet?" Jessica giggles

"Yes, that's exactly it. Quite frankly, it's my first time out since he's been born. I'm itching to get back. Do you mind if I run off and call her real fast?"

"No problem, go ahead!"

Jessica sighs since she is now alone again. For a while she tried to search for Danny but he was no where to be seen.

//-//

"Professor Huston... it's nice to see you." A girl says walking up to him

"You know you can call me Danny." He says as he takes her away from the from.

He looks around then looks back to the girl.

"I'm glad to see you here. You look amazing." He smiles

"Thank you... so do you, I love the tie." She giggles

"I wore it for you."

//-//

From a distance Jessica sees Danny holding a drink talking to a girl. She was in a red cocktail dress. Her beautiful brunette hair that was curled bounced on her shoulders.

She could see Danny reaching for her hand and smiling. The way he looked at her gave Jessica the chills. He used to look at her the same way. But she hasn't seen that sparkle in his eyes for a while.

Jessica tried to look away but she couldn't stop staring at their body language as they stood very close to each other.

Thankfully, a distraction. Danny's office assistant and old manager comes to speak to Jessica.

"Oh it's been to long! You have to come to more of these fundraisers!" Margret says to Jessica

"I'm starting to wish I didn't." She mumbles as she keeps her eyes on Danny

"Miss the kids?"

"I hate leaving them.... Especially our youngest, she hates when I'm away. Thankfully I was able to get her down before we left."

"I'm so sorry... if it makes you feel better, you look stunning tonight." Margret says with a soft smile

She could sense that Jessica was distracted. She looked through her line of sight and saw Danny with a young student of his.

"Why don't we go get some drinks and you tell me more about how you've been." Margret says walking off with Jessica.

The two grab more drinks then sit down at a table.

"I don't really like these either, if I'm being honest." Margret laughs

Jessica smiles "Oh really?"

"Yes, because I have to help plan! I'd rather be at home with my husband watching jeopardy."

"I don't blame you..." she sighs

"Are the kids excited for Christmas?" Margret asks

Jessica nods "Oh of course. We have a Christmas count down in our living room. Each day they fight over who gets to move the blocks." Jessica chuckles

//-//

2 am;

Finally, the fundraiser was over. Their taxi arrived right outside the venue. It was chilly. They were both wearing their heaviest jackets.

Jessica didn't say much to Danny. She was embarrassed that he had been talking to one of his students for so long. Everyone seemed to have noticed because he had went the whole night without talking to Jessica.

"Did you have fun?" He asks softly

Jessica looked out the window to avoid eye contact with Danny.

"Yeah." She mumbles

Danny sighs and the rest of the car ride home was silent.

//-//

"Sorry we got back so late, Amy. Thanks again for watching them." Jessica says as she pays their baby sitter.

"Of course, any time. The boys are on their best behavior."

Jessica and Danny say goodbye to the sitter. As Danny closes the door after coming in from walking her out, Jessica was no where to be seen. She had turned off all of the lights for bed.

He heads upstairs to an empty room.

Jessica peaked into the boys room and saw them peacefully sleeping. She quietly makes it down the hallway and checks on the baby who was sound asleep.

She gave her a soft kiss then made it back to her bedroom.

As she walks in she saw Danny from the corner of her eye getting changed. She walks into the bathroom and slams the door.

She looks at herself in the mirror as she undresses. She hated what she saw. She closed her eyes and pictured that girl Danny spent the night with. She felt so self conscious and worried that something was going on that she didn't know about. It gave her such an uneasy feeling.

Jessica realized shortly after their daughter was born two years ago that her and Danny were breaking away from each other. He seemed less interested in Jessica.

She holds back her tears as she gets ready for the night.

After a couple of minutes she heads into bed. Danny was sitting there waiting for her.

"What is wrong? You haven't talked to me at all." He says as she climbs in with him.

"I'm just tired. I have a busy morning." She says as she turns off the light.

"We never go to bed angry and you're angry."

Jessica was becoming quite frustrated. The more he spoke the more angry she was.

She aggressively sits up and turns back on the light.

"What would you do if you were me?" She asks

"What do you mean?"

"What if you saw me talking to the same man all night? Younger and better looking than you? Would you ask me about him or would you not give a shit because you're too distracted talking to one of your students for three hours!" She snaps

"You're out of your mind. I don't know who you're talking about."

"The skinny brunette girl in the red cocktail dress. You know exactly who I'm talking about."

He shakes her head and lays back down. "She is just a student in the department. She was curious in my work so I talked to her. I'm sorry for having a social life." He snaps

"You just don't get it... do you?"

"Get what?"

"How much you push me aside and avoid me. It's like you can barley look at me anymore. I'm sorry my body isn't the same... I'm sorry I'm not as social as you'd want me to be. I spend everyday taking care of the kids. It's my job and my life. I just didn't know it would go unrecognized... the same goes for how much I love you."

//-//