A few days later//

Over the last few days, things took a big turn. Danny had changed so much, and things slowly went back to the way they were. It made Jessica so much happier, hope for her marriage that she was slowly starting to lose, she was gaining again. But there was something that still didn't seem right to Jessica. It was almost as if it was just a big lie, and Danny was faking it to make her happy.

After the kids left for school Jessica and Danny cleaned up before they both left for work.

"Hey, what should I make for dinner tonight?" Danny says standing beside Jessica.

"Maybe salmon? Whatever you want is fine." Jessica smiles washing her hands.

Jessica walks over to the doorway and puts on her heels and jacket, grabbing her briefcase.

Danny follows along grabbing his things.

"Ready?" Danny says opening the front door.

Jessica nods and walks out to her car.

Jessica gets her things ready then stands by the car door.

Danny leans over and gives her a long passionate kiss. "Have a great day, babe. I love you."

Jessica fixed Danny's tie and kissed him one last time. "I love you too, I'll see you after work."

Danny nods and walks towards his car.

**

During Jessica's lunch break she went out to lunch with her best friend, Sarah.

"How's work? I feel like we haven't talked in forever." Sarah sighs

"It's busy. There's just so much going on, I'm sorry I haven't called. How are you and the kids?"

"We are all good. Delaney starts preschool soon, everything goes by so fast."

"Aww, I remember when Sean and Liv were in preschool. Now they are high schoolers!" Jessica covers her face and shakes her head.

"I know it's not my business, but last time I saw you things weren't good between you and Daniel... I really hope things have gotten better."

Jessica shrugs her shoulders and looks away.

It felt nice for Jessica to finally be working on her marriage. But there was something in the back of Jessica's mind that told her something wasn't right. She tried to keep that little thought locked away. She knew it was bad to act like everything was just perfect, but in reality it wasn't. Jessica shrugged it off, not telling Sarah how she really felt.

"Things are a lot better."

"Good, I'm happy for you." Sarah gives Jessica a big smile.

Jessica smiles back and continues eating.

Should I talk to Sarah about this. I mean things have been okay between Danny and I. Different from what they were last week. I just feel like our marriage needs a lot more attention than this. Sarah wouldn't tell, I know she wouldn't. But is this something I keep to myself?

"Jessica, you there?"

"Huh? Yea! Sorry..."

"What's going on girl, you don't seem like yourself." Sarah tilts her head and quivers her lip.

Jessica shook her head, trying to avoid the conversation.

"Things aren't that much better, I lied." Jessica puts her head down and plays with her bracelets.

"Oh Jess, I'm sorry... Did something bad happen?"

"I don't know what happened. It started this summer, and since then things have just been off. He's so distant, always out with friends, and we just did it for the first time in months. I talked to him briefly about it, but he just thinks sex solves it all. It doesn't, it really doesn't."

"Have you tried couples therapy?"

"No... I really didn't think it would get to that point, but it is.."

"It's not my business, but maybe you can consider it if it gets to that point.

And it's not something to be ashamed of. This happens to couples all the time. There are always bumps in the road, whatever it is, you'll get through it."

"What if I don't? What if this is the end, the end of my marriage?"

"It isn't Jessica. You and Danny have been through so much, for twenty years. Since freshman year. I know you'll be fine."

Jessica couldn't help but think that things might not be fine. She knew how she felt, and so did Danny. But Jessica didn't know how Danny felt. That killed her. What if he really didn't love her anymore or find her attractive? She wasn't the girl she was seventeen years ago. She doesn't have the same body, she had two kids. She isn't the same crazy partier either.

After lunch Jessica went back to work. All day she had couples therapy on her mind. She went through her head thinking of how she would suggest it to Danny. He thought things were great. What if bringing it up ruins all of that.

When Jessica got home, the kitchen was set up for dinner, and Danny was cooking. The kids were setting the table when Jessica walked in.

"It smells good in here." Jessica says setting down her things.

"Hey mom!" Olivia gives Jessica a hug and smiles.

"How was school you two?" Jessica walks over to Danny and peeks over his shoulder as he cooks.

"Hey sweetheart" Danny whispers kissing Jessica.

"Good, I'm glad the first week is over." Sean says sitting down.

"Mom, can I go over Kathy's this weekend? Their going to the lake for the weekend!" Olivia begs

"Yea, I was planning on hanging out with Michael, is that okay?" Sean adds

Jessica puts her hands on her hips and looks at the both of them. "Kids, come on." Jessica pouts

"What?" Olivia asks

"Please mom, you send us to school everyday, at least give us some kind of freedom on the weekends." Sean says

"We send you to school so you can get a good education and do well in life! School isn't the worst."

"Kids, why don't we do something as a family this weekend. We can take the boat out for a bit on Saturday. That would be fun." Danny says as he turns around and looks at them both.

"Come on mom!" Olivia tugs on Jessica's blazer.

"I'll think about it. Why are you two so against spending time with us?"

Olivia and Sean both look at each other than avoid the question.

Jessica looks at them both and raises her eyebrows.

"What?" Jessica says sternly

"Nothing, is dinner ready yet dad?" Sean says quickly

"Olivia..." Jessica turns to her

"Nothing mom. We just-"

"We just like being with our friends." Sean interrupts Olivia quickly.

Danny turns off the stove and walks over to the table to see what was going on.

"Are we that bad?" Danny says with a chuckle

"Things are just strange. That's all." Olivia says

Sean let's out a huff and glared at Olivia.

"Oh please Sean." Olivia crosses her arms and turns away.

Danny and Jessica look at each other and both sit down, across from Olivia and Sean.

"Kids, what's going on..." Jessica says softly, calming herself down.

"You and dad. That's what's wrong. All summer you guys were just so strange and never talked. All of a sudden you guys are all clingy. It just seems like you guys are pissed your something." Sean says

Jessica held her head as her eyes become watery.

"I'm sorry if you guys think we are pissed. It's just been a rough summer. Do you think we are angry or something?" Danny says looking at the children, desperately.

"Are you guys even happy?" Sean says

"Sean, what kind of question is that? Of course we are happy." Danny continues

Jessica was still quite... Not only did Jessica notice a change, but the kids did too. That killed her. The last thing she wanted was raising her children in an unhappy house.

"Mom?" Olivia turns to Jessica and sees that she's on the verge of tears.

"We're happy" Jessica nods putting a fake smile on her face.

"I think it's important that this weekend we spend time together as a family. I would really appreciate it if you guys stayed home this weekend with your mother and I."

The look at each other than nod.

"I'll cancel with Kathy..." Olivia says, discouraged.

"I guess I can go to the gym another day." Sean mentions

"Thanks, guys." Danny smiles taking Jessica's hand.

Dinner was very quite. Danny tried to keep conversations going, but everyone knew that Jessica was keeping to herself and something was wrong.

**

"Thanks for dinner dad." Olivia says putting her plate in the sink.

"Yea, it was good." Sean looks at his mother who was still sitting at the table. He walked over and gave her a hug and kissed the top of her head. She put her arm around him and smiled.

"I'm sorry" Jessica whispers

"It's okay mom... I just want you happy."

Jessica nods as Sean detaches from her.

"Why don't you two go finish your homework so you don't have to do it Sunday." Jessica says softly, standing up.

"Okay!" Olivia and Sean run up the stairs.

It was just Danny and Jessica in the kitchen.

Jessica dropped her dishes into the sink and sighed. She held onto the countertop and let her head hang low.

"Jess... what's wrong?" Danny whispers

"Everything is wrong. You can't seriously think that things are okay?" Jessica says sternly, not looking at Danny.

"I thought things were going well this week. I thought we were making a change."

"Having sex every night isn't my version of fixing things. Sex is the least of my worries."

"But, we had a family dinner every night this week. We aren't being distant." Danny moves closer to Jessica and puts his hand on her hip. Jessica moves away and looks at him with red puffy eyes.

"That's not enough, Daniel. Can't you see, our marriage is failing. It's failing so quickly that even our kids are starting to notice!" Jessica raises her voice.

Danny was quite. He turned around and ran his fingers through his hair. Seconds later he bangs his fist on the counter top startling Jessica.

"Shit!" Danny says

"Shit is right."

"I don't know what to do. I don't know how we got to this point that you think our marriage is failing."

"Daniel! This week is the first week in months that you actually payed attention to me, made conversation with me, and showed affection. Don't get me wrong, it's great. But, things still aren't being fixed. I need to know why you avoided me. Why things still don't feel right. I need to know how you actually feel.

I get it, I'm not the same girl you fell in love with twenty years ago freshman year. I had two kids, my body isn't the same. We've grown up, we don't party anymore, we have responsibilities, we have a family. But I'm still your wife. This isn't what a marriage is suppose to be like. You know that, and I know that."

"What do we do then?"

**
Kids POV-

Olivia and Sean overheard their parents arguing. At the same moment they both slowly peeked their heads out of their rooms.

Olivia and Sean looked at each other.

"If you kept your mouth shut, this wouldn't have happened!" Sean clenches his teeth and whispers to Olivia.

"This isn't my fault!"

"You made mom upset."

"I didn't mean to. Think of it this way, if we didn't say anything, they would never come to senses, and things would stay the same." Olivia looks down and gives Sean a stern look.

"I guess your right. I just hate seeing mom unhappy. Dad is such an ass to her."

"Do you think they'll get a divorce?"

Sean was quite for a moment. He let out a sigh and turned to Olivia, shrugging his shoulders.

"I don't know. I don't want to think about it."