Thanks so much for reading! Sorry it's been so long. College has been so much busier than I ever imagined D:

The past five months flew by before Connie's eyes. It seemed like only yesterday Kimmy had been keeping Connie and Chane awake each night, and now their daughter could sleep regularly and even crawl around the house. Connie even swore she could hear her trying to talk, but she knew that was probably all in her head. Come to think of it, the longer it took Kimmy to talk the better. Bobby came by more frequently since she had been born and Connie felt concerned that Kimmy would one day tell Chane, or really anyone for that matter, about the man that came to visit when "daddy" left for work.

Even with all the worrisome thoughts running through her head Connie couldn't help but smile when she thought of Bobby. After Kimmy was born Connie could hardly get a moment to herself to call him. Minh and Mrs. Wassonasong stayed with Connie up until two weeks after the birth. The only way Connie got to get in touch with Bobby was after she convinced her caretakers that she needed to go out for a walk while they watched over her daughter. During her brisk five minute walk she quickly told Bobby a few details about the delivery and gave him an estimation of what day she thought he could come by to visit.

Two months later, Bobby finally found the time. He'd finished his tour and decided to rent a cheap apartment a few hours out for several weeks. When he arrived Connie greeted him at the door with Kimmy in her arms. When she opened the door Bobby looked around momentarily before spotting his daughter. He stood frozen in the doorway. Connie waited patiently as she watched him process everything. After what felt like an eternity Bobby silently extended his arms and Connie placed Kimmy in them. The two never said a word the entire visit. Connie just watched Bobby and Kimmy together. The second time Bobby came over the two left town to get Kimmy christened.

Since then, nothing too eventful happened. Connie's parents and the Wassonasongs visited a few times. That month Chane's job had him scheduled to go on a couple of three day business trips, allowing Bobby to stay with Connie and Kim for days in a row. During Chane's first trip Bobby came over early and eagerly helped Connie with everything around the house for the entirety of his stay. This surprised Connie, who just as eagerly waited for the next time Chane would go out of town. The day of the beginning of Chane's second trip Connie waited patiently for Bobby to show up.

Hours eventually passed, but Bobby still didn't show. Connie could feel a pit starting to form in her stomach, but quickly mustered up the courage to call Bobby and see what the matter could be. After several rings the phone went to voicemail. Connie scoffed impatiently and immediately redialed. This time Bobby picked up before the first ring could finish.

"Yeah?" he sounded sleepy and agitated.

"Bobby, are you still coming?" Connie asked. She made sure to put a little edge in her voice so that she could express her dissatisfaction without instigating a fight. "It's already four."

"I know," Bobby answered flatly. "I needed to catch up on some sleep, but I'm driving there now. I'll be about ten minutes."

Bobby showed up nearly ten minutes later, as promised, and headed straight for the couch when Connie let him in. He let his body fall and landed face-first on the couch pillows. Connie walked over to him and patted him on his calf. "Um, Kimmy's sleeping...it looks like you're tired. Did you...want to join me in my room again? The couch is pretty uncomfortable." Bobby lifted his face out of the pillow and looked at Connie.

"I'm fine." he grumbled. His rejection was an unexpected surprise. Connie stood next to him for a moment before walking into her room, alone.

The next morning Connie woke up to Bobby sitting in the kitchen with Kimmy sitting in her high chair, slapping her hand on its tray. Bobby gave Connie a short nod when he saw her enter, but said nothing. How long had they been sitting in there? The TV was on in the living room and Bobby had changed clothes, but he couldn't have been sitting there not doing anything for too long, right? Connie felt a little annoyed that he hadn't started on breakfast. She walked over to the refrigerator and grabbed some bacon and eggs before turning on the stove. She could feel Bobby's eyes on her. He was making her uncomfortable.

"What kept you so long last night?" She made sure to make her tone as neutral as possible, but Bobby still seemed annoyed by her question.

"I'm not close to Dallas right now. It was a long drive."

Connie gave him a silent nod. "If you had to change Kimmy's diaper I hope you washed your hands. Breakfast won't take too long.

"Yeah, I washed them," Bobby replied absentmindedly. Kim started pounding her tray even harder, accompanying each slap with a small yelp. Connie hated it when she did that, but had to admit it was one of her cutest habits, no matter how disruptive. Still, she knew she'd have to curb it at some point. Bobby started making funny faces at Kim, who stopped cold and stared at him in what looked like disbelief.

"Huh, no laugh." Bobby sounded a little disappointed. "Ironic, huh?" He directed his comment towards Connie, who simply answered with a small smile. "Has she ever laughed before?"

"Um, one or two times," Connie answered. The amount of tension in the air seemed to lessen a bit. "According to her doctor babies usually don't laugh until a little later." The eggs were done. Connie scraped them off of the frying pan. Dammit, she had forgotten to use the Pam. She went to retrieve some from the pantry before starting on the bacon. She held up its package for Bobby to see. "How many strips do you want?"

"Five, please. Well, if she's done it before I can probably make her do it again...does she laugh at you or Chane?"

"Three," Connie asserted. "And she's only laughed at my dad so far, actually. He can be a funny guy." The bacon fried up pretty quickly. Connie brought it out with the eggs while Bobby got the two of them some fruit and juice.

"What's Kimmy gonna eat?" Bobby asked as he sat down.

"Breast milk, once I'm done eating," Connie answered. Bobby nearly chocked on his bacon slice.

"What? She's almost half a year old, Connie! She's old enough for a bottle by now."

Connie rolled her eyes. "It's really not that weird in this day and age, Bobby. Some women breastfeed until their children are almost two years old."

"Yeah, some kind of women," Bobby mildly interjected.

Connie scowled. "What is it to you?" It's none of your business, anyway." She could feel her blood pressure rising.

"Oh, so now Kimmy's none of my business? Then what am I visiting for?"

"To see your daughter, Bobby, not to raise her," Connie shot back.

"I don't remember that being the plan," Bobby growled. "You think I go out of my way to drive for hours to just to look at her? 'Cause guess what, you're wrong about that!"

"Oh yeah, you're quite the martyr, Bobby," Connie sneered. You're only here because you're not performing right now." If you were on tour right now we'd never see you unless you were doing a stint in Texas or something. Hell, you're only here for another two weeks or something before you have to go back to DC to, what was it, go to parties so you can make shallow connections? Because somehow that really helps with your 'career,' right, Bobby?" Connie's words came out sharp. "You don't get to raise here because you're not here."

Bobby sat silently for a moment. After a brief minute of silence he picked up Kimmy's high chair with her still in it and placed it in the adjacent living room before storming back into the kitchen. Connie watched from her chair, squirming a bit when she saw the furious look in his eyes.

"Connie, I've given you an option. You have given me none. I can't stay here because Chane's here. I asked you to move in with me, you said no. The furthest you've gone is to let me come here and spend time with my daughter, but you and I both know that's not all you want to happen. But I can't put my life and career on hold for something that's never gonna go anywhere!"

Was he just talking about Kim? A shiver went down Connie's back when she remembered the woman's voice she herd on Bobby's phone several months before. She didn't want to think about it, so she threw her hands up dismissively and went back to her breakfast. "Whatever, Bobby."

Connie kept her eyes on her breakfast while Bobby returned Kim and her high chair to the kitchen, then silently retreated to the backyard. She quickly ate everything on her plate then proceeded to feed Kimmy. It'd been about twenty minutes and Bobby still hadn't come back. Once she finished up with Kim's feeding and put her down for a nap she followed Bobby to the backyard. The air outside was thick with cigarette smoke. Bobby had propped himself up against the wall next to the door. Connie rolled her eyes. She hated it when he smokes and he knew it. She was sure Bobby had been purposely leaving his butts in the grass when he was done, but she had no way of really proving it. She gave Bobby a meaningful glare, to which he responded to by extending his box of cigarettes her way. Connie scowled internally. That wasn't what she meant. She angrily pulled out a cigarette and waited for Bobby to light it for her and told herself this would be the last time.

"What's going on, Bobby?" The question sounded innocent enough, but Connie knew it could lead to something pretty hostile. Bobby shifted uncomfortably next to her.

"You're out here, smoking with me. That's what's going on. I really didn't think you'd want to try again after the last few times, but here you are." Connie could feel her throat dry up as she remembered, with a weird sense of nostalgia, the violent coughing fits that ensued the first few times she'd tried smoking. At least then there had been an incentive to quit. Now it just came much too easy.

"That's not what I'm talking about," Connie said sharply. "I mean, what's going on with you. You've been acting really weird this time around."

Silence.

Connie watched Bobby finish off his cigarette with one long drag.

"I don't know, Connie. This just isn't the way I imagined life was gonna turn out."

"What are you talking about? You've been dreaming about becoming a comedian probably since before I even knew you." Connie was genuinely confused. "Look, I'm sorry if my having Kimmy derailed some of your plans, but if we're holding you back that much you don't have to be here." The last few words got caught in Connie's throat. Did she really mean that?

Bobby seemed to have read her mind. "Don't say something that like that unless you're actually sure," he said. "Besides, I couldn't do that because I don't want to." Bobby slid down the wall until he was sitting on the ground. Connie followed him down, almost instinctively. "I'm happy that my career is where it is, and Kimmy makes me happier than I ever thought I could be." He kept his eyes focused on the far off backyard fence. Connie kept her eyes on her cigarette. "But we both have a big mess on our hands."

Connie snuffed out her cigarette prematurely. "To me, the situation's just fine." You're busy, so it's not like you would have seen Kimmy all the time anyway, and meanwhile I'm here with a stable family life."

"Chane's gotta know at some point, Connie." Bobby turned to face her. "I can't keep coming here like this. Kimmy can't just keep quiet about her secret father, and I-I'm not John Redcorn." Bobby's cheeks reddened with frustration. "That man was a half-assed father. He only really stuck around for Nancy. He never had the courage to actually try and raise Joseph himself."

Connie's eyes widened in alarm. "What are you getting at, Bobby?" She kept her voice flat.

"I'm saying, Connie, that at some point you're going to have to choose. I don't want to stop coming- I can't stop coming. She's my daughter. But if by some miracle Chane's really too stupid to see that Kimmy's not his kid, I might just come and tell him myself."

Stunned, Connie sat and stared at Bobby with wide eyes brimming with tears. Bobby recoiled in shock.

"No!" Connie yelled. "No, Bobby, you're not allowed to do that! I sacrificed so much just to end up here. You are not allowed to take this away from me." She landed a soft blow on Bobby's chest at every other word before crumbling into a heap, letting her muffled sobs fall into her lap. Bobby tried to rest a hand on her shoulder, but she shook him off violently. After nearly a full minute Connie resurfaced. She gave Bobby a pleading look, hoping he would understand where she was coming from. "All your life you knew what you wanted to be," she murmured, "and the same goes for me, but I also knew what my parents wanted me to be." This time Connie didn't resist when she felt Bobby touch her, putting his arm around her and pulling her in closer while she caught her breath. "That always came first. It still comes first. I've done so much, and given up so much more just to be what they expect, and for you to just come in and take it all away from me-"

Bobby stayed silent, but Connie could feel him squeezing her shoulder.

"I know Kimmy's your daughter and you'd do anything for her. I would too...but what about me? Don't I matter anymore?"

Bobby let out a deep sigh. "Of course you do." His voice was uncharacteristically somber. "Dammit, Connie, you're so hard to read! I didn't know this bothered you so much. I can't- I don't know what I'm supposed to do." Connie pulled back a bit and Bobby loosened his embrace in response. "Listen," Bobby said. "Someday, this could all come crashing down, and I think if it does, you should be the one to do it. I spent my whole life disappointing my parents. Am I close with them? Not as much as I'd like to be, but my dad and I have our moments. The point is, one day it'll just be us. No parents to seek approval from, no one to tell us how to live our lives. When that happens what do you think's really gonna be important? The truth is, if we're lucky, we'll grow old enough so that most of our lives are spent without our parents being there. Besides, they had us. We didn't ask to be their kids and we don't owe them anything, so why do we have to live life according to their guidelines?" Bobby reached for another cigarette. "I won't say anything, I swear, but eventually you'll have to make a choice about your future before one's made for you."

When did Bobby get so...philosophical? Connie shivered. He was making a lot of sense.

"That's something to think about." Her voice came out shakier than she meant for it to. "...Can you watch Kimmy inside for a second? I need to shower this smoky smell off me before I feed her."

"Don't forget to scrub under your nails. That nicotine smell gets everywhere." Bobby sounded as disgusted as Connie felt. She let out a small cough and couldn't help but grimace in disgust. This needed to be the last time.

"Maybe you and I should both quit," she offered. "Just something to think about." She watched Bobby pick up the cigarette butts. Once inside, he washed his hands thoroughly before handling Kimmy while Connie left the two of them alone.

In the shower, Connie was already thinking back on Bobby's words. She had to admit, he had a point. In the end, if she did live long enough to die of old age, she wouldn't have her parents' approval to keep herself from regretting giving up so much. What stung the most, though, was what Bobby had said about parents choosing to have kids. Her parents, a lot of parents, actually, had children and just heaped a bunch of expectations on them, forgetting or simply disregarding the fact that their kids might have their own dreams. Connie's thoughts immediately shifted towards Kimmy. What did she need to do so that the same thing didn't happen to her daughter? Connie could already see the plans for Kimmy floating around in her head. She wanted Kimmy to be more than she had ever been. She wanted Kimmy to be freer, to wait to get married, to focus on her career and so whatever it was she wanted.

But those were expectations too, weren't they? Connie couldn't base Kimmy's future on what she wanted hers to be. Her future was now. This would be the only time she had to really live the life she wanted. Connie knew she'd keep projecting all her own issues onto Kimmy unless she did something soon. It wasn't fair to her. Connie had decided to have her. None of this had been Kimmy's fault and she hadn't done anything wrong. Connie couldn't make her Chane's child, more legitimate, more Asian, more of a lie to fit into the story that she wanted to create about her conception. Something had to change.

The bathroom door swung open, causing Connie to cry out in surprise. She relaxed when she saw Bobby's fuzzy figure through her frosted shower window.

"Kimmy's sleeping," he announced. "Did you know you've been in here for almost an hour? She would've starved or something if you didn't already have those bottles in your fridge." Bobby walked closer to the shower. Connie kept quiet. Silence engulfed the room.

Connie slowly opened the shower door and stood in its frame while the water kept running. She and Bobby stared intensely into each other's eyes, both of them trying desperately to read each other's thoughts. Connie laid a wet hand on Bobby's t-shirt. Almost instantly, he started to eagerly take off his clothes and join her.

The dynamic in the house had changed so much in such a short time. Since Connie had Kimmy, Chane would come home and help out with his daughter and would even help Connie with dinner from time to time. They kissed more, they talked more, and there seemed to be more love in the house overall. Chane was infatuated with Kim, who had grown to be more than a year old. He would often check on her while she slept to make sure she was still breathing. During the weekends he would spend time with her, bathing her and playing baby games with her. Connie laughed more, and could sometimes even be found dancing and singing to her daughter in the morning while she made breakfast. Home life had relaxed immensely, and Bobby's occasional visits helped a lot too. He'd even delayed going back to DC to stay for Kimmy's birthday. Sure, he wasn't able to actually be there for her actual birthday party, but Connie was able to sneak out with Kimmy for a quick half hour to see him afterwards under the guise of a diaper run.

Even with the lessened tension in her life, Connie could feel a pit forming in her stomach. She was still lying to Chane, she still had Bobby over to visit for more than just time with Kimmy, and when she wasn't taking care of her daughter Connie could only spend time thinking of what could have been. The career she could have had. The places she could have seen. Her life still wasn't where she wanted it to be.

Connie spent the night following Kimmy's birthday party in her bedroom trying to sort out all the presents, most of which had been mailed in by distant relatives from both sides of the family that hadn't been heard from in years. A few of the women from the neighborhood attended, most of them empty-handed, but Connie didn't engage with them too much after one woman, Donna, commented on how light Kim's hair looked. The entire party she held her breath, waiting for someone to ask about the "contractor" who came by often, or whatever they might have suspected Bobby of being, if they had in fact seen him at some point. Luckily, the women mostly congregated in a corner of the living room while Connie sat on the couch and talked with Mrs. Wassonasong. Connie didn't know any of them. Her fear of someone finding out too much had really kept her mostly isolated. The party was over in under an hour. The neighborhood women all left together and no plans for a future get together were made. Connie tightly gripped a stuffed animal she'd been holding.

"So much pink!" Chane stepped out of the master bedroom and scanned the toys that had been scattered across the bed. "Hopefully next time it'll be a sea of blue, right?" he teased. Connie cringed, but managed to force a laugh.

"Yeah. Hopefully Kimmy will be old enough to help me organize by the time that happens." She tried to sound as lighthearted as possible, but she made sure to give Chane a knowing look.

"Yeah," he repeated. "Maybe. I'm gonna go check on her. You okay in here?"

"Yep!" Connie chirped. "I think I'll do the rest tomorrow."

Several minutes later the two were lying together in the dark. Chane moved closer to Connie. He rested his lips against her neck, making Connie shudder quietly with slight pleasure. "You know," Chane murmured, "part of me really didn't think we'd get this far, but I think we did it." He kissed Connie softly. "We're stable, we're happy...I think we're right where we need to be." Chane made his way up to Connie's lips and held her in fierce kiss. Connie responded just as passionately.

"But what's next?" Connie gasped after breaking the kiss. "This can't be it, right?" She shifted to make room for Chane as he wedged himself between her legs and stared for her pajama top.

"We can travel," Chane answered, casually throwing Connie's top somewhere else in the room. "I'll need to save up a little more and we'll have to wait for Kimmy to get a little older before we go anywhere really interesting..." Chane paused a minute to amuse Connie's upper half. Connie gleefully contorted before letting out a small laugh. "But I mean what else is there?" Chane added before getting back to work

Connie's face darkened. She lay silent in the bed, concentrating as best as she could in her current situation, of all the answers that were floating in her head. Chane wasn't making it easy. Once Chane reemerged from between her legs she had her answer. "Well, if I got back into my music or actually do something with my degree-"

"Alight, well, can we talk about it tomorrow?" Chane's "tactful" way of saying no. Connie shrugged indignantly before switching positions.

Connie and Chane woke up to a sleepy Sunday morning. Kimmy had been in a good mood for the past few days and it didn't seem to be stopping any time soon. Chane sat in the living room watching something on TV while Connie played on the floor with Kim.

Today was different.

Connie knew it. She could feel it.

This day would be a milestone, the marking of the beginning of the "rest of her life." Chane's words began to sink in. They did it. They were stable. This was it and all it would ever be. Connie swallowed as she felt her throat dry up. There wouldn't be anything else to look forward to. She'd met her parents' expectations and now there wouldn't be anything left to do but keep living the same way.

This was it and all it would ever be.

"Chane." His name came quickly out of her mouth, but Connie was slow to rise to her feet. "We can't do this. I can't- we're done, alright?"

Chane sat still on the couch. Eventually he sat himself up, blinking confusedly a few times. "Hey, playing with babies can be boring, but it's not that bad. Are you alright? She's being great today." Connie held back her tears. How could he not see what was happening? Why did he have to be so considerate now? Connie still had time. She could chalk the whole thing down to exhaustion and carry on as usual, but that wouldn't fix anything and she knew it.

"That's not what I mean. Chane, I want a divorce." Connie's voice waivered as Chane lifted himself off of the couch. He leaned down and picked up Kim who latched onto him eagerly. Connie could feel a lump forming in her throat. "You..." She took a shaky breath before continuing. "You're a good father, but we're not working. Chane paced the room silently. He wouldn't meet Connie's eyes. Connie gestured towards Kimmy. "Give her to me, Chane," she demanded softly. Chane stopped abruptly and looked Connie dead in the eyes.

"You're trying to break up our family, Connie. Why should I give her to you?"

Connie's breath quickened and her hands shook. She feared for her daughter's life even though she knew Chane would never hurt her. "Just give her to me," she repeated weakly. She looked down at Kim resting her head on Chane's chest. "Chane. I know you love her, but, you have to give her to me, okay?" Connie pleaded. Chane's eyes softened despite his anger and confusion. He held Kim for a minute longer before handing her over to Connie. Connie walked into the kitchen and placed the now sleepy toddler into her high chair. Kim slumped tiredly to the side. Connie watched her for a quick second before returning to the living room.

"What's going on, Connie?" Chane sounded more worried than anything. "There's no reason for this to be happening." Chane sat back down onto the couch and Connie sat in the armchair across from him.

"We're not working, Chane. I don't care if we're stable, I don't care if we're safe. I'm not happy. If this is what the rest of our life together is going to look like, then I can't do it."

Chane closed his eyes tightly. "It's about you wanting to work again, isn't it? Connie, get over it." Connie refused to flinch when Chane raised his voice at her. "Honestly! What are you saying? That I'm not enough? That I haven't sacrificed enough for you?"

"Sacrificed?" Connie nearly jumped out of her seat. "I'm sorry, Chane. Please, tell me, what exactly have you sacrificed? Here, I'll make a list of mine and you'll go next so we can compare," Connie's words reeked of biting sarcasm. "It turns out all that education that I wanted to pursue meant nothing, so I've just been sitting around with a dead degree, I gave up my old friends when we moved to this city, I gave up about nine months of comfort-" she stopped short. "Nine months for Kimmy." Chane looked at her expectedly. Connie had to take a moment to regain her composure. "The point is that I'm dying here. There's no growth. You get to go and have a career and develop as a person while I'm stuck here."

Chane scoffed. "You think I like my job, Connie?" Chane all but leaped from his seat and walked over to the fireplace. He leaned against the mantle, facing his wife. "You think I didn't have dreams too?" His voice sounded a bit softer. "I work there to provide for the family I thought we were building. I work there because that's what I'm supposed to do."

"Supposed to- Chane, do you hear that? Supposed to." Connie interjected. She walked hurriedly over to Chane's side with her arms reaching up, begging him to understand."We're not in love. This isn't some match made in heaven. What we have here is an obligation and I don't want to do it anymore. If you have dreams, then go chase them. Don't let yourself get stuck here. I have spent most of my life living up to other people's expectations- my parents' expectations- and it's suffocating me. You're suffocating me." Chane shot Connie an angry glare. "There could have been a chance. We could have helped each other, grown into the people we actually wanted to be together, but you-" Connie couldn't keep the tears away this time. "You are just as bad as them, Chane. You know you're not happy, but you're not doing anything about it, because either you don't want to or you don't care, but either way you want to drag me down with you."

"That's bullshit!" Chane roared. "I do what I do for you. And by the way, you are an ungrateful woman who can't appreciate what others do for you. You just sit and mope and never try to do anything to improve yourself."

"I would if you would let me. I sit here and I just feel like I'm rotting away, Chane." Connie's angry sobbing made her difficult to understand, but she kept going. "It's like I'm telling you, every day, that I'm dying here, and you just refuse to listen. You won't help me." Chane rested the back of his head against the wall. He kept his eyes shut and his arms crossed, breathing heavily while his face pointed towards the ceiling and stayed that way for so long Connie considered walking over to him and shaking him. "Say something!"

"My life is work Connie." Chane sniffed sharply. Connie raised her eyebrows in alarm. Was he crying? "I've come too far and worked too hard to have this all be wasted. You wasted such a good portion of my life."

Connie nodded. "I can say the exact same thing about you."

Silence.

"I'm going to go book a hotel in the city. We can talk about moving everything later." Connie started for the kitchen, but Chane ran ahead of her. She sped up and found Chane standing in front of Kim's high chair. Her daughter bounced energetically in his arms.

"You're not taking her to some grubby hotel."

"Chane." Connie's heart almost broke watching Chane kiss Kim on the cheek. "Please, don't make this harder than it needs to be."

"I'm not reckless, Connie. I know how to take care of her."

"Chane," Connie pleaded one more time.

"She'll be fine."

"She needs to be with me, Chane. I'm her mother."

"And I'm her father." Connie gazed apologetically at Chane. He inhaled sharply and looked back at Kim with an almost fearful look. Kim smiled at him, but he shoved her into Connie's arms without warning. Connie cried out in alarm while Chane ran over to the kitchen sink and started retching violently. Connie's eyes brimmed with more tears while one hand clasped over her mouth.

"I'm sorry!" she blurted. "I'm so sorry!" She wasn't even sure if Chane could hear her, but she knew she needed to say it. "Oh my God, Chane, I'm so sorry." Chane slumped over the sink but turned to face Connie. His eyes burned red with a fresh set of tears. This time he couldn't hide it.

"Connie, this stress is crushing me. I had enough to deal with already. Why'd you have to tell me?"

"You'd have found out eventually," Connie said flatly. Chane wiped his eyes and took a closer look at the baby in Connie's arms. His eyes bulged temporarily. Even though he'd spent hours with her, playing and watching her grow, for whatever reason Chane never really noticed anything "different" about Kim until that moment. "I have to take her, Chane. Kimmy's mine."

"But I love her," Chane protested weakly. Connie's knees nearly buckled at the words. The former couple dissolved into tears while Kimmy sat silently in Connie's arms.

Connie packed several suitcases worth of clothes and other important items. Chane let her take the second car. He didn't care.

"What are we going to do about our parents?" Connie really didn't want to cry again, but she could feel herself breaking down.

Chane shrugged. "I don't want to think about that right now. Just," he gestured towards Kim who was squirming restlessly in her car seat. "Keep her safe, please? No seedy motels."

Connie nodded stiffly. Minutes later she pulled out of the driveway and headed for the city.

Moving on proved to be harder than Connie thought it would be. She never expected she'd be heartbroken over leaving Chane, actually crying over it, but once she'd checked herself and Kimmy into their hotel room the emotions quickly washed over her. She'd lost so much in so little time and it was just too much. In a way though, the shock of it all really did help her. Nothing really phased Connie for the longest time. Kimmy seemed to pick up on her anxiety and had been crying more often, but Connie did her best to ignore the headaches all the crying gave her and comforted Kimmy whenever she could.

She didn't bother to tell Bobby anything about her situation until two months after everything had happened. She just sent a text: "I've left Chane." And he replied simply that he'd try to make it down as soon as he could. In that time she'd gotten a temporary job tutoring at a local university while she looked for something more permanent. She and Kim moved into an apartment only an hour out from their old home, but if things went as planned the two would be headed back up to DC in a matter of time. Chane had always given Connie a weekly allowance, which allowed her to rent the hotel room she stayed in when she first left. When she first started her job it was almost completely empty, but soon after another deposit had been made. Connie emailed Chane to let him know that his money was still being automatically transferred to her account and that she would pay him back interest since she had a job. He never replied, but the money kept coming in smaller increments until it finally stopped.

Connie waited for her parents to contact her first. They called, but said nothing while Connie tried to explain herself. "I haven't been happy in a long time...I had to get away, this can't be my life." A while later they actually came by to visit. They held Kim and played with her, eyeing her disapprovingly, but still acting just as lovingly with her as before. Connie stayed in her room the entire time. The next time Minh called and chewed Connie out. Just because she was unhappy didn't mean she was allowed to be so reckless and cruel. What about Chane's feelings? And the Wassonasongs hadn't said a word to either of them once Chane told them what happened. They were ruined! Connie said nothing. The next call was a full on argument. Connie had told Minh about how unhappy she felt and she'd ignored her. Her parents were baffled at the idea that she would want to give up such a good life for something so uncertain. Now she was a single mother with an illegitimate child. Who would hire her? Who would marry her? Connie let her parents know that she didn't care because for the first time she had her own say. She already had job offers lined up anyway, and marriage was the last thing on her mind. Even still, she apologized to Kahn and Minh because she knew this all must have been so disappointing and embarrassing for them. They spent so much of their lives providing for her and that was a sacrifice she'd be willing to make for Kimmy as well, but unlike them, she wouldn't base her level of success on her daughter's accomplishments. "She's her own person. I appreciate all you've done for me. I really do. But my life doesn't have to revolve around what you want. I'm sorry."

Bobby came soon after. Connie had a job offer in DC as planned and had a few weeks to move. She'd begun packing almost immediately after receiving the news. Connie and Bobby lay on the living room surrounded by looming towers of boxes. The soft glow of the TV lit the room. Bobby was the first to break the timid silence between the two of them. "How did he take it?"

"Fucking hard." Connie shifted uncomfortably. "I honestly thought he was going to die. He was heartbroken and I felt like a monster."

"Really? He didn't seem like the kinda guy to get all emotional."

"He can be when he wants to." Connie's voice sounded distant. "I honestly can't believe I did that to him. If only you could've seen his face, you'd know how guilty I feel."

"Hey, I'm not exactly blameless here either," Bobby countered. "Honestly, when you messaged me I panicked a little. I kind of feel like I put the idea in your head."

"Even if you did, I was the one who decided to do it in the end. Just like you said I could." Connie sat up slowly and Bobby soon followed suit. "And that really is all that matters." Bobby nodded understandingly before speaking again.

"Connie," he said hesitantly. She looked at him expectantly. "What happens now?"

Connie thought for a moment. "Well, I wanted to tell my parents about you. About how you're Kimmy's dad I mean," Connie said, correcting herself and laughing a bit. "It would be great if you were here with me when I did."

"Of course."

Connie felt her face warm. Bobby was such a good man. "What about your parents?"

Bobby looked away while a sheepish grin crept across his face. "I told them as soon as you messaged me, actually." Connie cried out in surprise and lightly punched him in the arm.

"Bobby Hill, tell me you didn't!" She couldn't help but laugh. How could she be mad? It was rather sweet, really. Besides, it wasn't as if the Hills would go and reveal anything to her parents. If they couldn't tell Dale about John Redcorn after all those years there was no way they had said a thing to Connie's parents before she had.

"I couldn't help it!" Bobby sounded just as happy. "I really wanted them to know."

"How'd they take it?" Connie eyed Bobby questioningly.

"They're pissed," Bobby's tone got a bit more serious. "But they wanna see her...eventually."

"They better keep any comments to themselves," Connie warned even more seriously. "Even my parents were decent enough not to say anything around her. I don't care how young Kimmy is, I don't want anyone saying anything negative around her."

"Of course. And if they do they're on their way out, no matter what it is they say." Connie felt her heart swell.

"Good. Thank you." She cleared her throat. "I was also thinking...about us." Connie felt Bobby stiffen beside her.

"Yeah?"

Connie turned to better face Bobby. He did the same. If it weren't for the light from the TV the room would be completely dark, but even still Connie could see him, his eyes filled with anticipation and a hint of fear. "I've been denying it for a long time, but the truth is, I love you, Bobby. I really do."

"I love you too," Bobby breathed, and quickly leaned in for a kiss.

"But," Connie interrupted. "I was being serious when I said I needed to grow as a person. I haven't been on my own in such a long time, and being a mom and a wife has already buried my identity so deep into obscurity. I need to remember who I used to be and find out who I want to become." Connie looked on pleadingly. "So I'm asking you to please understand that we can't see each other for a while. You can see Kimmy whenever you want, but you and I need to be through.

Bobby looked confused. "Why? I'm the guy you wanted to be with this whole time. I'll treat you better than Chane ever did. I'll let you be yourself."

Connie shook her head. "It's not about what you'll let me do. It's about what I want and how I want to do them. Look at all you've accomplished on your own and how much more difficult it's been for you now that Kimmy's here. I don't have enough energy to give that much love. I need to focus on what I really want my life to be right now." Bobby sulked but Connie caught his bead in her hands and looked him deep in his eyes. "Bobby Hill, I want to grow old with you," she said as sincerely as possible. "But not for a while."

"When?"

"I wish I could answer," she said truthfully. "It's what I want, but it doesn't have to be what you want. Go out there and live, and if you're tired of waiting for me, just move on."

Bobby smiled warmly, pulled Connie towards him and held her in a tight hug. "I've waited this long, haven't I?"

Connie chuckled and wrapped herself tighter around Bobby, resting her head on his shoulder. "We're both pretty patient people," she muttered. "Thank God for that."

The End.