"Alright!" Josh yelled. "Everyone in the van! Anniversary is a go, people. Children, vacate the premises."

"Bye, Daddy," Amy grinned, throwing her bag over her shoulder.

"I love you, jelly bean," Josh sighed, hugging her close.

"I love you too. Have fun. Don't keep her out too late," Amy giggled, gesturing to her mother.

Josh nodded and shut the door behind Jack and the kids as a strange high pitched ringing filled his ears.

"Hon, are you okay?" Mari chuckled.

Josh didn't answer. Instead, he stumbled forward weakly.

"Josh?!" Mari said frantically.

"M-M-Mari?" Josh said hoarsely as he fell to the ground.

"Oh my god," Mari whimpered.

Josh sat up and grinned at her, laughing until his sides ached. "Gotcha, didn't I?"

"God, I hate you," Mari groaned.

"Let me just finish up that roof patch on the shed and then I'll be back, alright?" Josh smiled, pecking her cheek.

"Come on. Let me just spend some time with you," Mari begged. "Forget the shed."

"Five minutes," Josh said firmly. He kissed her passionately and then gently pulled away. "I will be right back, I swear."

"You play a cruel game, Isaac Taylor," Mari chuckled. "Hurry."

Josh went outside and climbed up to the top of the ladder. He had reached the highest rung when he felt his feet come out from underneath him.

Then the darkness came.

—————

"Goodness, Josh is taking a long time," Mari thought. She decided to go out and check on him. "Josh, I- oh my god! What happened?!"

Josh lay unconscious on the ground.

"Oh my god," Mari gasped, trying frantically to shake him awake.

—————

Josh opened his eyes and gasped for air.

Mari's hands pushed him gently back down. "Don't try to move," she cried softly. "It's okay, Baby. It's all okay."

"What happened?" Josh coughed, his voice barely above a whisper.

"You're sick, Hon," Mari said with as much of a smile that could be managed.

"What?"

"It's..it's a condition...with your nervous system. I need you to stay calm, alright? No panicking."

Josh nodded weakly.

Mari covered her mouth and ran from the room.

Jack entered with a clipboard.

"Ugh. Not you," Josh muttered angrily.

Jack chuckled. "Chin up, soldier."

Josh went to sit up and Jack pushed him back down. "She was supposed to lie to you," he sighed. "But she lost her nerve."

"What, lie to me like you did?" Josh spat.

"Josh, just stay calm," Jack sighed.

"Why won't you let me sit up?" Josh frowned. "Why is my wife crying? Where are my kids?!"

"Josh, you fell off your ladder. You broke your legs and have a concussion."

"What?!" Josh almost yelled.

Mari came back in and bit her tongue to keep from crying audibly.

"Just calm down," Jack said softly. "Josh, the road to recovery isn't going to be easy."

"I should call Cath," Mari stammered awkwardly, leaving the room again.

"No, Jack should leave!" Josh yelled angrily. "Leave and try to find me a way to get the entire year of my life back! Huh, Jack?!"

"Mon dieu," Jack moaned. "Can you shut up so that we can discuss your medical condition?"

"To heck with my medical condition!" Josh yelled, flipping over the small table next to him.

"Don't be an idiot," Jack muttered. "You can get back to loathing me after we discuss how we are going work through this."

"I want my wife," Josh threatened.

Mari peeked her head in the door. "Cath um...didn't pick up. I left a message."

"Come over here," Josh ordered her, his hand twitching in rage.

Mari walked over and gently put a hand on his arm. "Yes, Honey?"

Josh authoritatively grabbed the back of her neck and pulled her down, giving her a firm kiss. "That's for scaring you," he mumbled apologetically.

"It's okay, Sweetheart," Mari smiled softly, touching a hand to his cheek.

"Now," Josh said, closing his eyes, "can you please tell me what's going on?"

"You fell, Hon. You're hurt," Mari sighed.

"How hurt?" Josh's ragged voice asked.

"You broke both legs and you have a concussion," Mari recalled, remembering what Jack had said.

"That bad, huh?" Josh mumbled, his voice cracking slightly.

Mari nodded. "Jack said you'll make a full recovery, though, it won't be easy."

"I- things will go on as normal, though, right?"

"Once you're recovered," Mari nodded.

"How long will that take?"

"Six months at least. Possibly longer."

"I'll be right back," Jack sighed, leaving quickly.

Mari turned her attention back to her husband. "Honey, you've gotta stop being so hard on your brother."

"He's not my brother anymore."

Mari rolled her eyes. "Just don't be so hard on him."

"He took you away from me. For an entire year, Mari. Do you know what kind of torture it is not to-"

"Shh. Just relax," Mari sighed.

"How can I relax, Mari? I just got back, and now they're telling me what, that I have to be on crutches for six months?"

Mari grimaced. "Wheelchair, Hon."

Josh's eyes lost their spark. "What?"

"Babe, you broke both legs. You can't walk."

"Course I can walk," Josh frowned. "What kind of idiot can't walk?" He sat up and winced. "I just need some motivation, that's all."

"Woah," Mari frowned, pushing him back down. "You're not going anywhere."

"You are not the boss of me."

"I'm your wife. Same difference."

"Mari? How are we gonna do this?" Josh mumbled, putting a hand to his head.

Mari held his hand tightly. "Together."

Josh closed his eyes. "How are we going to tell Amy?"

"Like I said. Together," Mari smiled softly, kissing his cheek. "It'll be okay."

"I have to cancel our trip," Josh mumbled, his heart breaking.

"That's alright," Mari shrugged. "We can go another time."

"I promised her...after all I missed, Mari-"

"Shh. It's okay. She won't care. She'll want you to get better."

"And William. How am I supposed to take care of William?" Josh moaned. "I'm useless now. To you, and to them."

"Hey," Mari said softly, "you are never useless. You hear?"

"Yes, I am, Mari. Useless and stupid and a let down."

"Isaac Taylor, that is not true by any means," Mari said firmly.

"It is. You have to say it isn't because you're my wife. But I know where I stand. What was your father even thinking?! That I could protect you somehow? I can't even walk up a stupid ladder."

"Then we'll hire someone to walk up a ladder for you," Mari chuckled. "Babe, I love you. You will never be useless in my eyes."

"How could you possibly love me after everything we've been through?" Josh marveled.

"I was a jerk to you for about eight years. How could you love me?"

"Because I knew a secret."

"Which is?"

Josh leaned over, and spoke softly into her ear, "Some people we never touch, not because we don't want to...but because we want to so much that it scares us. Think about, Mari. In all our years together, did I ever hug you like I did the others? Ever shake your hand? You always made an extra effort to stay as far away from me as possible. Conscious or not, that's how I knew."

Mari grinned triumphantly. "I told you that you weren't stupid."

—————

"Oh my goodness," Catherine gasped as she listened to the voicemail on her phone. "Josh fell off a ladder."

Matt spit his water out and choked, laughing. "What?"

"Josh fell off his ladder and broke both his legs," Catherine sighed. "He's in the hospital."

Matt's smile disappeared. "When?"

"About an hour and half ago."

"Is he okay?" Matt exclaimed, springing to his feet.

"Well, he can't walk, so define okay," Catherine chuckled.

"This'll break him," Matt said softly.

"I think Mari and the kids will help him to pull through," Catherine nodded thoughtfully.

"Still," Matt sighed. "Prepare for late night crying phone calls."

"Will do."

"Poor Mari."

"Mhm...Now, for some good news," Catherine smiled. "Ashley and Scarlett are coming to visit us. I think the last time was when Lizzy was a year old. So it'll be nice to see them."

"Who?"

"My half sisters," Catherine laughed. "Have you really forgotten them already?"

"Sorry...I'm just tired. I think I should go visit Josh."

"Okay. I have an appointment later. Are you coming or should I have Char go?"

"I can go," Matt frowned.

"Alright," Catherine grinned. "Tell Josh I said hi."

—————

"Mari? Can I talk to you?" Jack asked.

"Sure."

"I just wanted to see when Amy was coming in for her annual appointment."

"Next week," Mari nodded.

Jack looked at his shoes. "And she's been acting....fine?"

"Yeah, she's okay," Mari chuckled. "Jack, I'm not mad at you. Don't worry. I understand that you were put in a difficult situation."

"No, I just- last time she was in here, there were some results...nothing you need to worry. Time will heal all wounds, when it comes to Josh."

"What results?" Mari asked slowly.

"Nothing, Mari. We're all good. Go back to Josh. I just want to make sure she has that appointment."

"What's wrong with my daughter?" Mari asked fiercely.

"She answered a few things wrong on her hearing test last time. It's nothing major. I just want to make sure it hasn't changed at all. At her age, it's common. Don't worry."

Mari nodded. "Okay. I'll go see Josh now."
"Great. And Mari...I really hope he's okay."

"I know, Jack."

—————

Amy sat on the doctor's table and swung her feet.

"Hey, kid," Jack grinned.

"Hey, Uncle Jack," Amy smiled softly. "How are you?"

"I'm good," he laughed. "And yourself?"

"Tired. Bored."

"Are you ready to get started?"

"I guess," Amy sighed

"Alright," Jack smiled softly, there was worry in his eyes.

"What's with the look on your face?" Amy frowned.

"I had tuna for lunch," Jack chuckled, wrinkling his nose. "Yuck. Headphones on, please. Just like usual."

"Okay," Amy nodded.

"Which ear do you hear the beep in?"

"Right."

"And now?"

"Still right."

Jack finished the rest of the appointment and then smiled weakly. "Perfect behavior as always, Amy. Bit of squirming, but none more than expected."

Amy grinned.

"Get out of here, kid," Jack chuckled.

"Okay."

Jack peeked out his head at Mari, who scooped up Amy in her arms.

"Everything's fine," Jack lied.

"Perfect," Mari smiled. "Ready to go see Daddy?"

"What?" Amy frowned. "I didn't hear you. Say it again."

Mari's brow creased. "Jack, I thought you said everything was fine."

"I just wasn't paying attention, Mommy. Let's go home to Daddy," Amy smiled.

"Okay," Mari shrugged.

"Bye, Uncle-" Amy started, but Jack was already back in his office. "Oh, well."

Mari chuckled. "Good ol' Jack. Never sticks around long enough to say goodbye."