T/W: Mentions cheating and infidelity.

***
Lex

It's nearly nine o'clock and Steve still isn't home. I'm starting to get a little worried.  I mean, with his job, he is occasionally late, but these days, not so much.

I'm in the process of giving Timmy a bath, while Aria entertains him.

"Bah!" Timmy squeals happily and I laugh. I realize how much I missed my babies.

As I lift Timmy out of the bath, wrapping him in a towel, I hear the front door open and close.

"Hell-oo!" Steve calls out.

"It's about damn time," I mutter. I head for Timmy's room, while Ari races downstairs to greet Steve. He appears a few minutes later, grinning like an idiot.

"Hey, baby," he murmurs.

"Hey. I was getting worried," I tell him as I begin to dress Timmy.

"Sorry," Steve apologizes. "Finishing up with some work shit."

"Gotcha." I lift Timmy up. "Do you want to tell Timmy good night?" I ask. Steve comes closer and I catch a whiff of..something.

Perfume.

Instantly, my stomach clenches up.

So that's it, you bastard. You're..cheating on me.

Steve kisses Timmy on the cheek. "Goodnight, buddy." Timmy gives his father a grin. I go sit down in the rocking chair, with Timmy and his bottle.

"Do you think you could help Aria get ready for bed?" I ask. My voice must sound weird, because Steve frowns.

"Of course." He leaves the nursery and immediately, I'm crying.

***

"All right, you worthless piece of shit," I fire at Steve when the kids are asleep. "Who is she?"

Steve is staring, open-mouthed at me, eyes wide.

"What is this?" He asks.

"Shut the hell up, unless you're willing to admit to cheating on me!"

"Lexie, I'm not cheating on you,"  Steve says.

"You have perfume on you," I say furiously. "I'm not an idiot! Tell me!"

"Lexie, baby," Steve begins, stepping closer to me. I step back.

"Tell me now." Steve sighs.

"There's a..woman I knew, years ago. She works at the book store where I was designing a new website."

"Who is she?" I demand.

"I just told you."

"No," I say coldly. "You didn't."

"Kris Erickson," Steve says.

"Are you..screwing her?" I can't hardly get the words out.

"No!" Steve takes my hand. I have to hold myself still, so I won't hit him.

"Baby, I'd never cheat on you."

"Why is her perfume on you?"

"I accidentally bumped into her."

"I don't believe you." I yank my hand free.

"Of course you don't." Steve's tone has gone as cold as mine. I move to the bed, snatching up my pillows and a blanket.

"Wait! What are you doing?" Steve asks, bewildered.

"Sleeping in the nursery." I turn, marching out of the bedroom.

"I don't believe you!" Steve calls after me. "This is so stupid!" I don't answer him. I just go into the nursery, close the door and collapse against as the tears fall.

***
Steve

I hardly get any sleep that night. I don't think Lex and I have ever spent a night apart since we've been married. All kinds of emotions war within me.

Anger, resentment, loneliness, hurt. But most of all: guilt. Even though I didn't technically cheat on Lex, I'd certainly been wanting to.

I toss and turn, unable to get comfortable. I wonder if Lex is asleep or if she's struggling as much as I am. I climb out of the bed, padding across the bedroom floor, open the door and quietly move to the nursery.

I open the door, peering in. The light from the little lamp sitting on Timmy's dresser casts a faint sliver of light upon Lex's sleeping form.

I sigh, closing the door. I was wrong. I guess Lex doesn't need me as much as I need her.

***
I must fall asleep because I'm rudely awakened by a human torpedo named Ari. She's pouncing on me, yelling in my ear, "Where's Mommy" and "I'm hungry!"

I groan loudly as I roll over, coming face-to-face with Ari. She punches me in the gut.

"Ugh! Ari, no!" I snap, sitting up.

"Oops. Sorry, Daddy. I didn't mean to do it so hard."

"Nevermind," I grunt, swinging my legs to the floor and standing up.

"Where's Mommy?"

"With Timmy," I reply, but in my head, I think: I honestly don't know anymore. I hurry to the nursery and knock on the door. Lex opens it.

"Mommy!" Ari throws her little body against Lex's legs.

"Hey, baby. Why don't you go get dressed?"

"Then breakfast?" Ari asks.

"Yes. Then how about I take you to visit Knox?" Ari's whole face lights up.

"Really, really, really?"

"Yup."

"Yay!" Ari rushes off.

"Lexie, can we talk?" I ask softly. She just ignores me, not answering.

"You're just going to ignore me?" I growl. Nothing. Damn. Guess I really screwed up this time. Lex moves to brush past me. I feel her tense up and my heart nearly breaks.

"I'm sure you have far more important crap to attend to than talking with me." Lex hurries down the stairs, leaving me breathless and frozen.

***
Lex

The kids love going to visit Knox. He's pleased to see them as well. He also instantly picks up on my mood. I ache to be alone with him, even if just for a few minutes so we can talk, uninterrupted.

Luckily, one of the staff asks if Ari, at least, can go pick a snack from the kitchen. I quickly agree. As soon as Ari is safely out of the room, Knox asks what's wrong. Immediately I break down, crying and telling him I suspected that Steve cheated on me.

"You don't know for certain," Knox soothes. I lean over, grabbing his hand. He tenderly holds it, occasionally patting it.

"N..No," I say, sniffling.

"You have to talk Steve about this," Knox murmurs. I nod. He's right. I do.

"You're the best, you know that?" I tell Knox, who grins bashfully.

"It's just in my nature to try and calm people down when they're upset," he says, shrugging. I smile, leaning over to hug him. Knox gives me a gentle squeeze. I cling to him for a few seconds longer, drawing comfort from him. I finally release my grip on Knox, who smiles warmly at me.

"Now I see why you're an E.M.T.," I say. "You just have this knack for soothing hysterical people." Knox chuckles.

"That I do."

****

I feel much more like discussing things with Steve by the time I leave Knox. When we arrive back home, Steve is still here, which surprises me some. He warily glances over at me as we all come inside.

I set Timmy down and he hurries after his big sister  squealing. I go sit down across from Steve.

"Okay," I tell him. "I'm ready to listen." Steve nods, closing his laptop.

"I..didn't exactly just..bump into..Kris," he says. My stomach drops, but I manage to remain calm.

"How then?"

"I was standing close to her," Steve replies. "She brushed past me." I nod mechanically.

"But," Steve adds. "I didn't cross any lines."

"You didn't..kiss her?" Steve shakes his head, looking so earnest. He gestures for me come sit beside him. I do. He takes my hand and..automatically my other hand goes to his beard. I see relief flash across Steve's face as I tenderly caress his cheek.

It soothes me the longer I rub Steve's beard. He smiles softly at me, leaning in to gently kiss me. I melt into Steve's kiss.

"You know I'd never want to cause you any pain, Lexie," Steve murmurs. I nod.

"I do know that." Steve smiles a little hesitantly.

"You're my entire world," he murmurs.

"As you're mine."