JESSIE: Once Tay and I had placated his parents, Ashley, AND Jake (of all people) and sat down to dinner, things went way too quickly. Tay and the rest of the band finished loading everything they'd need on the buses, as I watched with a lump in my throat. I made the decision then to stay home in the morning, I couldn't bear to watch him leave. I played with the kids and chatted with Watts, Lacey and my mother-in-law as things at the house wrapped up. Finally, they were finished and Taylor and I headed home, kicking our shoes off and heading upstairs without a word. We climbed into bed together, but I don't think we slept more than 20 minutes at a time all night. Knowing that we'd be apart for so long, made us reach for each other over and over. When we weren't sleeping or making love, we talked about everything, as if we were afraid we'd forget something. After the last intense, love-making session, we slept soundly until Tay's alarm invaded our slumber. "Gotta get up baby.." he said softly, shaking me gently. "I can't Tay..." I groaned, snuggling against him. "Why? Are you sore?" I shook my head, unable to speak. "Jess?" he tried to make me look at him. "Jess, what...oh.." he sighed heavily and kissed my forehead. "I'll miss you, too....so much." I hugged him tightly. "Jess are you gonna come down to Mom's with me?" he asked. "Tay," I choked, "I can't. I love you, I can't stand to watch you leave.." He squeezed me so hard I was worried I'd break. "It's alright Jess." he said. "I know exactly how you feel. I need to take a shower. I'll be back in a few minutes." he slowly climbed out of bed and went in to take his shower. I heard him humming to himself and smiled, wishing he could stay. He came out of the bathroom in record time and plopped down on the bed next to me. I threw the covers back and looked up at him. He was fully dressed and looked absolutely beautiful and the lump came back to my throat. "Baby.." he said softly and pulled me into his arms. "I will call you tonight, okay? And as much as I can. If you need me YOU CALL, I don't care what time it is..Jess?" he cupped my face in his hands. "I will Tay, I promise. I love you." I told him, unable to stop the flow of tears that stung my eyes. "Jess.." he groaned and hugged me tightly. "I'm sorry Tay. I know. It's hard enough.." I wiped my cheeks and kissed his sweet lips. "As soon as Jake has my schedule all worked out I'll send it to you...I can't wait until I can join you." I squeezed his waist, hard. "I know baby. I love you. I will talk to you tonight, okay?" He kissed me passionately, and I couldn't help but cling to him. "Shh..Jess I promise..tonight, to sing you to sleep okay?" I nodded and kissed him again. "I love you...Mrs. Hanson." I kissed him passionately one more time and let him tuck me back into bed. He pulled the covers up, kissed my forehead and stoked my hair. "I love you, Taylor." I sighed as the tears rolled down my cheeks. "I know Jess. Be careful baby. Love you." he kissed my cheek again and was gone, closing the door quietly behind him. I pulled the covers over my head and cried myself back to sleep.

TAYLOR: I had to wipe my eyes and take a couple of deep breaths before I met my Dad and brothers at my mom's. I hated to think about Jess laying in our big bed all by herself, probably crying, but trying as hard as she could not to. I had it together by the time I pulled in the driveway, but when I went inisde and my mother asked where she was I almost lost it. "Oh honey.." she said sympathetically and rubbed my back gently. "It's okay Mom. I'm hoping she'll go back to sleep and get some rest. She's probably exhausted, especially after yesterday." I told her. "I'll go over after a while and check on her, Tay." Lacey offered. "I ASSUME neither one of you thought to make her a doctor's appointment for today?" she said, her hand on her hip. "No, at least I didn't. She might have." I said inwardly groaning. She really did need to be checked out. "I'll make sure she goes, Tay. She'll be alright." Lacey tried to comfort me. "She should. But she seemed like her normal self..no pains or anything." I told her. "That's good, but still.." she said and left it at that. "Thank you Lacey." I smiled down at her as Ike moved beside her, putting his arm around her waist and wearing a proud grin. Zac appeared just then and we started checking to make sure we had all we needed on us. "I just need to call Leigh, then we can go." he said. "Oh, Tay...grab your notebook..we can work on that one song we started.." he said over his shoulder as he moved in the direction of the telephone. I looked around, unable to remember where I'd set the thing, then it dawned on me. "Damn! It's on the counter next to the coffepot at home.." I ran my hand through my hair. I definately did NOT want to go back to the house now, only because Jess would get upset again, not to mention me. "We can run in and get it on the way to Chris' office.." Ike offered. "I know, Ike. You know how Jess gets though.." I said, "and I can barely handle it myself." "Yeah. Good point. But we really need to work, man.." he answered. "I know." I sighed, "We'll stop and get it." Zac reappeared, looking a little dejected himself. "Are you guys ready?" he asked. "Yeah, man.." I gripped his shoulder, kissed my mother and younger siblings goodbye and went outside with Zac, to give Ike and Lace a minute alone, and my parents. Finally we were on the road, headed toward my house. I was hoping Jess would still be asleep, that way I could sneak in and out without upsetting her, since I'd already left her a note by the coffepot and set it so all she had to do was turn it on. We had spent way too much time saying our goodbyes at my parents' and it was light out now, so I immediately noticed that the door was wide open when we pulled up. Jake pulled in just behind us and he smiled, "You just leaving? You should have been.." he looked at me closely. "Jake I shut and locked that door behind me 2 hours ago.." I said and ran for the door, "Jess was ASLEEP when I left.." I hollered over my shoulder and suddenly he was on my heels.

JESSIE: I woke again, a while later, painfully aware of the cold, empty space next to me. I looked at the clock and sighed. He hadn't even been gone 2 hours yet. He'd probably JUST left his mother's. I moved my sore aching body from the bed and into the shower slowly. I took my time in there, letting the warm water soothe my abused muscles. Between fighting off Alex and making love with my beautiful husband all afternoon and evening, it was a wonder I could move at all. I smiled, hugging the memory of Taylor still in my arms close to my heart. I finished my shower, dried and dressed quickly, and got my gym bag ready. Watts and I were working and working out together today after I remembered to see Dr. West. I tossed my shoes, socks and bag by the front door, wondering how in the world Tay had forgotten to shut it, but left it open because there was a nice smelling breeze coming from outside. I padded on bare feet to the kitchen to get some coffee and a protien bar, since Tay wasn't here to get on my case about REAL food. I grinned at that thought and noticed the note by the coffee pot.

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