Tales of Scars, Visible and Unseen

"Evening Coop," the young bartender greeted Cooper as he sat on the stool.

"Whatta ya say, Ethan," Cooper said to him.

"Not much," he grinned, "stay outta trouble that way."

"Heard that," Cooper chuckled.

"Getcha beer?"

"Yessir," he said as he sat down at the bar.

Ethan walked back with the frosty mug and threw down a coaster and sat the glass down.

"Thank ya. Getting the hang of everything so far." Cooper inquired.

Ethan couldn't have been more than 21 or 22 at most. He had started a month or so ago after Glen, the man who owns the bar, Willow Creek Inn, finally decided he wasn't getting any younger and Saturday nights weren't getting any easier. Cooper had to say the lad was taking to it like a duck to water.

"Oh yeah," he shrugged with a smile, "Keep the drinks full and the bar clean. Nothing to it."

"There you go," Cooper raised a glass to him.

"Just the one or are you here for a bit?" Ethan asked.

"I'll probably stay a while," he said.

"All right," Ethan smiled, "I'll get your tab started. Menu?"

"Maybe in a little bit," Cooper held up his hand.

"Sounds good," the young man smiled, "holler if you need anything."

Cooper watched as he made his way down the bar to the patrons who had just walked up. Cooper stood up and turned to face the tables and dance floor. There weren't too many folks here yet, but he knew it was early. In an hour or so the place would be filled. While he wouldn't say the town was super small, weekend nightlife options were still pretty slim. The Willow Creek Inn was far and away the nicest option and the one least likely to break out in drunken brawls.

As more people came in Cooper began to greet old friends and acquaintances. Everybody basically knew everyone else. Upon arriving, it seemed every patron had to run the gauntlet of stopping every few steps to touch base and share a laugh with everyone who had already arrived. Cooper almost found it tiring as hell and was glad he arrived earlier so at least he was already in his spot and they came to him.

Ethan had just brought him another beer when Cooper felt a sharp smack on his butt that made him jump.

"What's shaking hot stuff?" the voice inquired.

"Hey Soph," he laughed and gave her a quick hug.

"I didn't know you were coming out tonight," she said.

"Game time decision." he shrugged.

"Get you something to drink ma'am?" Ethan asked in the pause.

"You uh," Cooper interjected, "had a chance to meet Ethan yet? Ethan, Sophie Bennett.."

"Nice to meet you Miss Sophie," Ethan nodded politely.

"You as well, Ethan," Sophie smiled, "and I would love a Whiskey Sour."

"Coming right up," Ethan said and got to work.

"Game time decision, huh?" Sophie smiled.

"Yup," he chuckled and sipped his beer.

"Kids bail on you?" she smirked.

"Yup," he sighed and laughed, "Sam had some cheer squad birthday party thing and Colton was 'hanging with the boys'"

Sophie laughed loudly and patted him on the shoulder.

"Don't feel bad Coop, I'm in the same boat," she said kindly, "they're just at that age."

Ethan sat the drink down in front of her.

"Thank you Ethan," she said and sipped the drink. "Ooh he's good," Sophie said to Cooper.

Ethan beamed with pride.

"Put it on mine, Ethan," Cooper said.

"Yessir," he replied and walked back to the register.

"Well thank you," Sophie smiled and quickly kissed his cheek.

"Of course," Cooper smiled, "so what's got you out this evening?"

"Girls night," she said, throwing a look over to a table full of ladies, "Connie Newsome's 40th"

Cooper looked over to the table and saw them all looking towards the bar. He raised a glass to them.

"Happy Birthday Connie!" he shouted over the din.

"Thanks Coop," she shouted, "big four oh baby, woohoo."

Cooper turned back with a laugh to Sophie, who was laughing and shaking her head.

"Think she got a head start on the rest of us," she said.

"Looks like it," he smiled.

"I'm gonna head on back," Sophie said.

Cooper stood up and gave her a quick hug.

"Y'all have fun and be safe," he said.

"You too," she said and turned to walk back to her table.

Cooper gave a firm but playful smack to her butt as she walked away. She jumped slightly and turned back to him with a grin and a giggle.

"Yeah," she chuckled, "guess I had that coming."

They both smiled as they returned to their evenings. Cooper raised a hand and Ethan made his way down the bar.

"Yes sir."

"Whose got their table tonight?" Cooper asked.

"Umm," Ethan looked out at the table full of ladies, "should be Carly."

"Tell Carly, next rounds on me," Cooper said.

"Will do," Ethan nodded, "I, uhh, noticed that um, Sophie has the same last name as you."

"That she does," he confirmed.

"Is she your wife?'

"Once upon a time she was," Cooper said simply.

"Oh," Ethan said, taken aback.

"Oh, don't sweat it Ethan," Cooper tried to set his mind at ease, "we're friends, it's cool."

"Oh ok," he said, slightly relieved, "sorry again though."

"No problem," Cooper smiled and took a sip of his beer.

The relationship between Cooper and Sophie Bennett was indeed a very peculiar case study for anyone so inclined to delve into it. Married at 18. First kid at 19. Second kid at 20. By the time they could legally drink, they were divorced single parents of two small children.

They also hated each other with the fire of a thousand suns. There was no getting along for the kids. No behaving like the adults they barely were. Every interaction between them was vindictive, spiteful and bitter.

Eventually, it appeared they were able to set aside most of their problems and have a civil relationship as committed co-parents to son, Colton and daughter, Samantha. As the years passed, they seemed to evolve into true friends who actually liked each other for reasons other than just their shared children.

For reasons they probably couldn't articulate very well anyway, neither of them had ever been remarried or in a serious relationship for that matter. Cooper would probably say it was because he wasn't willing to threaten the fragile peace they had made for their children. Sophie, most likely, would joke that guys weren't exactly lining up to date a woman with two young kids on her hip. She'd also admit that, while not always perfect, the relationship they had built and sustained for their children's well being had exceeded beyond expectations. She also had no desire to do anything that might change that. What neither was likely to ever admit was there were other reasons at play as well.

Cooper finally got a menu and figured he might as well eat something since he was here. He'd been in a discussion with Larry Kogler about the upcoming deer season and next Saturday's football game. Eventually his wife came up, yelling for him to come back to the damn table.

"Sorry, Pam," Cooper said through his laughter as she led Larry away.

"Aww hell, it ain't your fault Coop," she said angrily in her husband's direction but gave him a smirk as well.

"Ethan, I'll be back," Cooper said to him.

Ethan gave him a nod as he got up and made his way towards the restrooms. Cooper figured he'd go ahead and break the seal. Of course, the walk to the restroom was filled with handshakes and back slaps. He made his way down the hall to the restrooms. The line for the woman's room was fairly long as the restroom only had two toilet stalls, which was still better than the one toilet in the guys restroom. Folks had been hollering for years at Glen to get more toilets in there. Glen kept saying he was "working on it."

Cooper was almost to the door when he saw Sophie in the women's line.

"Hey Coop," she walked up to him, "got a second?"

"Yeah what's up?"

She grabbed him by the shirt and pushed him into the men's bathroom. Closing the door behind them and locking it.

"Sophie, what the hell are you doing?" Cooper said in shock.

"My fucking eyeballs are floating Coop," she said quickly moving to the toilet, "I was gonna piss my pants out there. Come here."

He walked over to her.

"What?" he laughed.

"Hold out your arm," she said, giggling as she pulled down her pants, "need something to hold on to so I ain't gotta put my butt on this nasty ass toilet seat."

He did as he was told.

"Oh thank god," she sighed with relief as she began to go.

She looked up at him as he was laughing to himself.

"Oh shut up," she snapped at him with a chuckle.

Cooper reached over and grabbed the toilet paper and handed it to her. She dried herself and stood up and began pulling her jeans up.

"MInd if I sneak in there?" he said.

"Oh yeah, sorry," she said and waddled over to the side.

He unzipped his jeans and began peeing. Where she stood, he was fairly certain she could see everything as she finished buttoning her pants. He zipped up himself. For a bathroom with only one toilet, it inexplicably had two sinks.

"Get a good look at everything?" she teased as she washed her hands.

"I reckon," he said, washing his own, "how bout you?"

"Yes I did," she chuckled.

It was all harmless teasing. Just sort of how their dealings with the other had evolved over the years. Probably had something to do with seeing the person you made the two greatest things in your life with at their absolute worst.

They dried their hands off.

"Welp," Sophie said, "time to set the tongues wagging."

"Yay," Cooper chuckled.

Sophie opened the door as everyone silently stared at them. The line of women had been joined by a few guys also waiting.

"Oh my god, Cooper," she exclaimed in a dreamy, dramatic voice, "that was soooo good! So quick but so so good."

"Meh," he shrugged, "it was all right I guess."

They held it together for a moment before laughing and pointing at everyone's shocked look. The folks broke into a relieved laughter.

"Jeez, you're terrible," he said as they made their way back across the bar.

"Nah, just having a little fun," she laughed and grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze, "thanks again, Coop."

"No problem," he chuckled and shook his head at her.

She walked back to her table and he walked back to the bar.

He hadn't planned on it, but he wound up watching the rest of the game with a couple of other who realized the game was turning into a pretty good nailbiter. Ethan had even turned down the music and turned up the sound on the game. Pretty soon the whole bar had become invested in the game as they collectively watched the final series. The crowd erupted in cheers as they squeaked out a win with a field goal as time ran out. Everyone cheered and celebrated. Ethan rang the bell behind the bar. Eventually, he turned the music back up.

Cooper stood up to stretch his legs. He grabbed his beer and turned around. He thought to himself it had been a good night. He had been a little down that the kids had reached the age that a fun filled Saturday night with dad didn't have the draw it once did. This had been fun though, getting to see everyone, helluva football game, not a bad evening at all.

He saw Sophie over on the side wall. She was talking to some guy he didn't know. He looked harmless enough though. He appeared to be asking her to dance. Sophie had an amiable smile as she spoke to him. He said something else and she laughed. He reached down and took her hand in his. She looked down at her hand and back up at him. Her smile was still there, but there was a tiny change in body language that only he would probably notice. She gave a chuckle and then shook her head.

Cooper drained his beer and made his way over. He stopped next to him.

"Pardon me, sir," Cooper said with a nod, "I'm afraid I owe the wife a dance."

"Oh," he said, backpedaling, "I didn't realize she was married."

"No worries, partner," Cooper smiled and led her by the hand to the dance floor.

"I didn't need you rescuing me, dickhead," she said, irritated.

She might have been ticked off at his chivalrous actions, but she still put her arms around his neck and pulled herself close.

"Nah, I was rescuing him," he said as he slid his hands down to her waist, "besides, I figured this was the cheaper option rather than having to bail you out of jail."

"Aww," she said sarcastically, "you'd bail me outta jail? You're so sweet."

"What can I say?" he shrugged.

"Thanks though, Coop," she said.

"No prob," he said, "I mean, other than being a little insistent, he mighta been a nice enough guy, Soph."

Sophie laughed.

"Hell Coop," she sighed, "I put myself on the shelf for so long when the opportunity presents itself I get gun shy and freeze up."

"Shit girl," Cooper agreed, "hit the nail on the head there."

They both began to chuckle as the next song began playing. It was "their" song in high school and also their first dance at their wedding.

"Jeez," Cooper groaned, "ain't that some shit."

"Oh my god," she said and laughed into his chest, "Did somebody do that on purpose?"

They both giggled.

"Look," he said, "I think you're in the clear with that guy if you wanna head b..."

"NO!," she said way more emphatically than she wanted to, "I mean, I'd like to finish the dance."

"So would I," he said, looking down at her.

Sophie lifted her head and gently kissed him on the corner of his mouth.

"Thank you," she said and brought her head back to his chest.

The song ended and they pulled apart. He saw her run a finger past her eye as she looked up at him and smiled.

"Thanks for the dance, buddy," she chuckled.

"My pleasure, buddy," he smiled.

"I'm gonna head back," she said, throwing a look back at the party table.

"One sec," he said, pulling her back to him, "afraid I gotta piss you off now."

"Huh?" Sophie said as leaned in closer to him.

Cooper's hand shot down between them and grabbed her car keys out of her front pocket.

"Goddammit Cooper," she said, half angry, half laughing, "give em back."

"Look," he said and smiled, "you all been playing catch up with Connie since you got here."

"I am a grown fucking woman, Cooper Bennett," she tried sounding tough, "I'm perfectly capable of getting myself home, tonight."

"I'm gonna go back with picking the cheaper option than bailing you out of jail tonight," he gave her an infuriating smile.

"Coop," she said firmly but unable to keep a straight face, "gimmie my damn keys back."

Cooper pulled her to him and kissed her lips. It was a simple almost chaste kiss, closed mouth no tongue, but they lingered on it for a moment.

Sophie looked at him. Her eyes wide and her mouth hung open in shock. He leaned down till they were face to face.

"Go," he whispered and smiled, "have fun with the girls. I'll be at the bar when you're ready to leave. Ok?"

She stared at him almost confused. Cooper shook his head with a laugh and kissed her forehead and walked back to the bar.

"Ready for another?" Ethan said as he sat back down.

"Welp Ethan, better go with the water, now," Cooper sighed.

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Sophie sat back down at the table. Lost in her thoughts, she hadn't noticed all the other women at the table staring at her.

"Soph?" she heard her name being said.

"Huh?" Sophie said and appeared to snap out of it.

She looked around the table and noticed the varying degrees of worried and confused faces looking back at her.

"What's wrong?" Sophie asked, worried that she missed something.

"What the fuck was that?" her best friend, Donna Cavanaugh finally said.

"What was what?" Sophie asked, still unsure what they were referring to.

"That," Donna pointed towards the dance floor, "with Cooper, just now."

"Oh that was nothing," Sophie dismissed it, "some guy had asked me to dance and continued to shoot his shot after I declined. Coop just defused the situation before anything could get bad."

Her explanation seemed to satisfy the rest of the table and they went back to carousing. Donna, however, had more questions. She waited until the others were occupied and leaned in closer to Sophie.

"You wanna try that explanation again?" Donna said softly.

"What?" Sophie snipped at her, "That's what happened. We just danced, Donna."

"Yeah," she retorted, "to your damn wedding song. I was there, remember."

Donna had been her maid of honor.

"Yeah, I remember," Sophie sighed, "look it was a fluke. It just happened to be the next song they played. It's literally not that big a deal."

Donna drained the rest of her drink and sighed.

She had had a front row seat to the Sophie and Cooper show for twenty years. The difficult part of it all was she loved them both dearly and refused to pick sides. Cooper was best friends with her husband, Shane, and in the beginning they were going to be the fearsome foursome. They were gonna be neighbors, kids were gonna grow up together and be forever best friends. Then Sophie and Cooper just disintegrated.

Donna knew there wasn't any one thing or moment that caused it. If she had to guess, they had just gotten married way too damn young. The first few years after the split were horrible. She and Shane's refusal to take sides had put a strain on all of their friendships.

She was so proud of them both for doing the work and rebuilding a wonderful relationship as co-parents to their children. Although what brought them back together, she wouldn't have wished on anyone.

Donna remembered the helplessness in the call she got from Sophie. She was haunted by the fact she almost didn't answer it when she saw it was Sophie's number. Little Samantha was in the hospital. Acute Renal Failure. She drove the forty miles to the ER in the city in what felt like 15 minutes. She ran into the waiting room. They both looked exhausted and scared out of their minds. They weren't speaking or actually interacting but they were both there.

Sophie stood up and broke down as she walked towards Donna.

"My baby.." was all Sophie could get out before collapsing in tears into Donna's arms.

Donna sat Sophie back down and walked over to Cooper who just looked helpless and numb.

"Coop," she said as she grabbed his hands, "what do we know?"

"Donna," his voice was high and frantic, "what are we gonna do? I don't know what to do."

His panic was matched only by Sophie's despair. Donna picked her up and led her to the sofa that Cooper was sitting on. She basically dumped her in his arms.

"Neither of you can handle this by yourselves. You have to learn to lean on each other," Donna said, "that little girl needs you both."

They all soon found out how much so. Samantha needed a kidney transplant, soon. They were both tested, but Cooper was a near identical match. Sophie covered her mouth, afraid of the first flickers of hope she had felt in all of this. Cooper felt energized, he wanted to know why the doctor wasn't scrubbing up right this second.

The surgery was scheduled at the end of the week. Cooper had taken Colton fishing and did his best to explain what was going on and that he and Sam would both be good as new in no time. In pre-op, he had asked to speak to Shane first.

Donna figured he wasn't in there for more than 10 or 15 minutes. He walked out and held it together until Donna walked up to him and held her arms out. He began to weep as she rubbed his back. Years later he would tell her that Coop asked him if something happened to him to be a father to his children. Teach Colton to throw a ball. Walk Sam down the aisle.

"He wanted to see you," Shane said to her as he sat down and tried to collect himself.

Donna walked into the pre-op room. She had decided to be as practical and calm as she could manage.

"Hey Coop," she smiled and sat in the chair by the bed, "how you doing?"

"I'm fucking nervous as shit," he said with a worried laugh.

"Nah," Donna laughed, "they got this down, happens everyday, worked out the kinks a long time ago."

"Hope so," he said with a giggle.

He held out his hand for Donna to hold.

"Thanks again," he said softly, "you always knew we could be better parents than we were."

"You're both wonderful parents," Donna sniffled, "I just prayed you could be better partners."

"I swear to god, Donna," his voice hitched in fear as he looked at the ceiling, "if I get through this. I'm never going to hate Sophie again. She carried and gave birth to the two most important things in my life, I owe her a debt I can never repay."

"I don't know man," Donna giggled through her tears, "this probably goes a long damn way with that."

Cooper gave a genuine laugh and looked over at Donna.

"Love ya Coop," she said and kissed his hand.

"Love ya too Donn," he sighed, "can you ask Soph to come in?'

"Yeah, definitely,"

"Hey Donna," he said quickly and held on to her hand, "if something happens, make sure she knows that I loved her. That I never stopped. That it'll always be her."

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Donna shook off the memory and watched as Cooper stood up and walked towards the bathroom.

"Gotta pee," she said to Sophie, "I'll be back."

She walked quickly to catch up with him.

"Hey Coop," she said.

"Oh hey Donn," he replied.

"Got a sec?" she asked and not waiting for an answer, pulled him around to the little alcove where they kept the beer storage.

"What's wrong?" he asked unsure what was going on.

"You tell me," she said, "what was that on the dance floor?"

"Oh," he said, realizing what this was about, "oh some guy was asking her to dance and..."

"Yeah yeah," she waved him off, "I heard all that. What about that dance to y'all's song? What was with that kiss?"

"You saw that huh?" he asked and sighed, "look we just got caught up in a moment, it's no big deal. We're cool."

Donna sighed and ran her hand through her hair.

"Y'know there is only one secret I've ever kept from Sophie, Coop," Donna said.

"I know," he almost whispered and looked down at the floor.

"Don't do anything that'll mess up what you two have worked so hard to build," she said flatly, "unless you can make it better."

Cooper looked up and nodded. She playfully punched his arm and hugged him.

"Jesus, shit or get off the pot son," she laughed.

"I hear ya," he chuckled.

"Ok seriously, I gotta pee," she said and shuffled over to the restroom hallway.

He laughed and walked back to the bar.

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The crowd was beginning to thin out a little when Cooper felt a tap on his shoulder. He smiled and spun the barstool around to see a slightly wobbly Sophie but she actually wasn't too bad.

"I don't suppose I'm getting my keys back?" she asked pointedly.

"Probably not tonight," he shrugged.

"C'mon Coop," she sighed, "no sense driving all the way to my house to drop me off then all the way back home. I'll be fine."

"Look my place is a mile down the road," he countered, "crash there tonight. I can bring you by in the morning to get your car."

"Cooper," she said worriedly, "the kids are there tonight."

"Soph," he chuckled, "we'll explain the situation, they're both old enough to understand it and not read anything into it. Especially as much as we've harped on them on drinking and driving."

"That's a good point," she conceded.

"Look, if you really wanna go back to your place, we can," he said, "all I'm saying is I can have you snug in bed in ten minutes."

She raised her eyebrows and gave him a mischievous smirk.

"You know what I mean," he said, realizing how it came out.

"Ok fine," she said with a laugh, "we can just explain it to the kids in the morning."

"After you," he said, holding out a hand.

They did their absolute best to be quiet as they walked into the house. They were giggling as they tiptoed through the living room and he pointed to the bedroom and made a detour to the kitchen where he grabbed a couple of waters and the bottle of ibuprofen. He walked into the bedroom and sat the bottles on the nightstand. She was sitting on the bed, trying to extract her feet from her boots.

He laughed as he knelt down and began pulling her boots off. She smiled and looked at him as he did.

He stood back up and opened a drawer on his dresser. He grabbed a couple of T-shirts out and handed one to her. He pulled his boots off and took them into the bathroom closet. He took off his shirt and threw it in the hamper. He realized he left the T-shirt on the dresser. He walked back in the bedroom to find her swaying back and forth in his t-shirt that almost swallowed her.

"You good?" he laughed.

"Huh?" she looked up with a smile.

"Sorry forgot my shirt," he apologized and grabbed.

He heard her gasp and sit down on the bed hard. He turned, thinking she had fallen down.

"You all right?" he said as he saw her staring at him, "what's wrong?"

"I just haven't seen you scar in a long time," she said as her voice broke.

"Oh," he said looking down, "yep there it is."

"Can I?" she asked, bringing her hand up.

He looked down at the teary relief she still had all these years later.

"Be my guest," he said with a nod.

Of course, she had seen it before. When it was fresh, a few times swimming probably, here and there over the years, but never this close and he could never remember her touching it.

Her finger lightly ran across the scar. He could hear her almost laughing and crying at the same time. He blinked a few tears of his own away.

"Cooper," she giggled through a sob, "have I ever thanked you for saving our daughter's life?"

"Yes, Sophie," he smiled and brushed a hair back from her face, "more times than I could ever count."

She squeezed her eyes shut tightly and sighed. He felt her breath across his stomach and shivered. He felt her hands on his hips as her lips began to kiss along the length of his scar.

He looked up as he tried to keep from breaking down in tears and regret, but he didn't want to take this away from her. He knew the scar meant everything to Sophie.

She pulled away and put her face in her hands and cried. He quickly knelt down and pulled her into an embrace.

"Coo," she cried, "I don't know what I would have done, if we had lost her. "

"Sophie," he said, "baby, we didn't lose her though."

"Cause you saved her," she said.

"We saved her, Soph," he closed his eyes and placed his forehead on yours, "I never could've done it without you."

She squeezed him tightly one last time and sat back on the bed and began wiping her eyes. She laughed a little.

"Sorry," she chuckled.

"You're good," he smiled and kissed her forehead, "look, you take the bed. I'll go crash on the couch, ok?"

She smiled and nodded.

"Need anything?" he smiled.

She shook her head. He stood up and turned the overhead light off and walked to the bedroom and opened it.

"Cooper, wait," she said, running around the bed towards him.

He paused with his hand on the door and waited with a kind smile. She looked at him for a moment. She reached out and pulled his hand off the door knob.

"What I need is you," she said and closed the bedroom door.

They just stood there, holding each other's hand and watching. Not in an uncomfortable way. More than either would likely admit, they had both thought about this moment for a very long time. Now that it had arrived, they both seemed to want to take in the moment.

The years they had shared raced through their minds. The good times, the bad times. The joy and the heartbreak, the cruelness and the forgiveness. They had seen despair and they had seen miracles. Their bond and connection had evolved and changed many times but it had never been broken. They both knew this would just be its next step. Whether it brought them full circle was of no concern to them here and now.

"I want this," she smiled softly and wrapped her arms around him, "I've wanted to find my way back here for so long, I just didn't know how. I hope that makes sense."

"It's you Soph," he whispered and squeezed her tightly, "it'll always be you."

"Really?" Sophie looked up at him through her welling eyes.

"You're the mother of my children and the only girl I've ever loved," he shrugged quietly with a smile.

She just nodded.

"I love you, Coo," she said, "I don't know what that means or how that looks come the morning."

"I love you too, Soph," he pulled her close, "I can't say either, but I can promise I'll still be here when it comes."

She reached up and put her arms around his neck. He reached down and lifted her up to him and they kissed deeply. She wrapped her legs around his waist. The kiss tasted of passion and forgiveness. Beneath the fire and feeling of renewal laid a remembrance of everything that had come before, the good and the bad, and an acceptance for it all.

Cooper carried her over and gently laid her on the bed. She pulled her shirt off and reached for him to come to her. He took a moment to take in the woman she had become. It almost took his breath away. He pulled off his shorts and slid in next to her in the bed.

Sophie watched as he did. Her mind flashed back to their first time, awkward and clumsy, to the times their love conceived their children and the other times, too many to count. Few times were truly perfect but she always felt safe with him. Here and now it was no different. She reached up and brought his lips to hers. Her lips sprang open in a gasp as he gently entered her.

She opened her eyes to see him looking at her. She gave him a trembling smile and reached up and touched his face. He turned and gently kissed her hand. Even in the worst of their times, his eyes always betrayed him. Their words and actions might have been fueled by vindictiveness, heartbreak and anger, but the love for her in his eyes had never once dimmed. It was often the only sliver of hope at some points.

They both quickly remembered how their bodies moved together, falling into a rhythm they had never forgotten. The lines that separated their minds and souls began to blur like they always had before.

Sophie pulled his head beside her and kissed his earlobe.

"Yes baby, yes," she moaned in a ragged whisper, "I love you, Coo. Tell me I haven't lost you. Please," she pleaded.

Cooper kissed his way from her ear to her neck to her mouth with an almost desperate abandon. He held her face in his hand.

"You never lost me, Soph," he said breathlessly, "you never will."

Sophie craned her neck back as her mouth opened with a soft cry and her breath quickened. Her body tensed completely as she felt a rumbling squeal release from deep within her. She heard Cooper make a low pulsating growl she could feel in her body. She pulled him close and held him as tight as she could as her head swam from her climax.

She gently kissed his neck as he quietly groaned his way to his finish.

"My god, I love you Sophie," he said softly in her ear.

He rolled on his side and quickly pulled her back to him. He pulled the covers up and wrapped his arms around her. She laced her fingers with his and smiled as sleep came for them both.

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Sophie tapped on the door and walked in the pre-op room where Cooper laid in bed.

"Hey Coop," she almost mumbled.

"Hey Soph," he said as he stared at the ceiling.

Sophie shuffled to the chair by his gurney.

"Thank you again, Cooper," she said, "for doing this."

"She's my daughter, Soph," Cooper snapped at her, "why are you thanking me? Like I wouldn't give her both of them if they'd let me."

"I just meant," she began.

"I know what you meant," he almost shouted, "you thank a friend or a stranger. A father doesn't do it for thanks. If they told me there was a 100% chance she'd be fine but I wouldn't make it, I'd still wanna be exactly where I am right now."

"Coop, please don't talk like that," Sophie sobbed.

"Don't fucking tell me what to do, Sophie," he turned his head and snarled.

"I should probably leave," she stood up.

Cooper stared back at the ceiling but said nothing else.

She turned and began walking to the door.

"Sophie, please wait," he said.

He hadn't said it very loud. Sophie had thought about acting as if she hadn't heard him and continue out the door. She sighed and stopped.

"I'm so scared," he said in a small trembling voice.

She quickly walked back and sat down and grabbed his hand.

"This is all a routine procedure, Coop, they happen everyday," she forced a smile through her tears.

"I'm not scared of the surgery, baby," he said and wiped his eyes of tears that wouldn't stop.

Hearing him call her baby, jolted her. She was sure he probably hadn't even realized he had said it, but it sent cracks ruining through all the walls she had worked so hard to build.

"I'm scared if something happens to me," his voice hitched, "not to me, I mean, what I would leave behind."

"I know it'll be all right, Coo," she said calmly, trying to keep him from panicking.

She felt him squeeze her hand tightly as he took a deep breath to calm him down.

"Can I ask a couple favors of you?" he asked, slightly calmer.

"Yes," she squeezed his hand back and tried to smile.

"I'm so very sorry for the past couple of years," he said quietly, "All we created, all we still share, we never should have let it become as horrible and hurtful as we did. Our time together might be done, but I never wanted you to not be in my life. Please forgive me, Sophie."

"Coop," she said softly, "don't worry with all that right now. We can work on all of it after this, I promise we will."

"No Soph," he pleaded, "I'm begging you. Please don't let me go in there with any enemies."

She watched the tears stream down his face. She realized he wasn't scared of dying. He was scared he might die with them having anything other than love in their hearts. She grabbed his hand in both of hers and brought it to her lips as she shook from her tears.

"I forgive you, baby," she said in a shaky voice.

Cooper loudly exhaled like he had been holding his breath. He gave a quick laugh of relief.

"Thank you, Soph," he said and squeezed her hand tightly, "I forgive you."

They sat in silence for a bit. Not uncomfortable, just letting everything settle.

"What was the other thing, Coop?" Sophie wiped her eyes and kissed his hand gently.

"I know this is all pretty routine," he chuckled, "and there's seriously not much to worry about but, I don't know, from my view you start having a lot of wild thoughts zip through your head."

"I can imagine," she laughed softly.

"Not that I think it will, but," he turned to her, "if something happens, make sure Colton and Samantha know how much I love them and how much they mean to me. Please Sophie, promise me they'll always remember me."

Sophie sniffled and gave a small cough to collect her voice. She took a deep breath.

"Not that I think it will either," she said as they gave a teary smirk to each other, "but they know Coop, I will remind them everyday though. They'll remember you, because I'll always remember and I would never let them forget, ever."

"Thanks Soph," he said with a sigh of relief.

"I'm sorry folks," a nurse said softly as she popped her head in the door, "we're going to be getting started here in about five minutes or so."

"Thank you," Sophie said with a smile as the nurse closed the door back.

"Ok," she said, standing up but continuing to hold his hand, "I'll see you again in no time at all."

She smiled brightly, wanting to be nothing but positive for him.

"Definitely," he said, returning her smile, "hey look, I'll be fine afterwards, just stay with Sam, ok?"

"Ok," she nodded.

Cooper closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.

"I do love you, Sophie," he said and opened his eyes to her.

She reached down and placed her hand on his face and smiled.

"I know,"

She leaned over and brought her lips to his. She didn't mean for the passion of the kiss to spillout between them. Perhaps it was the moment and the weight of it all. Maybe it was the realization that everything that had passed between them, the best and the worst, were all part of a story still unwritten.

They both gasped slightly and caught their breaths for a moment.

"I love you too, Cooper."

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Cooper woke up with a start. He scanned the room while everything was still blurry. He could just make out the first light in the twilight before dawn. Something had roused him suddenly. He looked down to the bed and found Sophie curled into a ball sobbing uncontrollably.

"Sophie," he touched her bare back, "what's wrong?"

She gave no sign she had heard him. He realized she must still be sleeping.

"Soph, honey, it's ok," he said, bringing his voice closer to her, "hey, hey, it's ok."

Sophie brought herself awake lifting up on her hands. She glanced around frantically in confusion, breathing heavily while she wiped the tears from her eyes. Cooper held her by the shoulders trying to calm her down.

"It's ok. It's ok, baby. It's ok." he said quickly.

Her eyes finally found him. She brought a hand to her mouth.

"You're here," she said in a panicked voice.

"I'm here," he nodded with a concerned look, "I'm here."

"I..." she whispered desperately, "I mean... it was... you were..."

She broke down in tears and reached for him before she was able to finish what she was saying. He was confused and didn't know what was going on, but held her tightly all the same. He laid back down, still holding her close, bringing the covers with him. Her tears slowly faded as they both slipped back into a fitful sleep.

Sophie opened her eyes and quickly tried to get her bearings. She sat up and remembered where she was. She sighed and pushed her hair out of the way, before reaching for the bottle of water on the bedside table. She picked up the note beside it.

Hey

Everything is all right

I'm still here

Stay in bed as long as you like.

Love you,

Coop

Sophie took a drink of water and smiled. She gave a small chuckle to herself. Last night was wonderful and amazing, even if it did complicate the absolute shit out of everything. She looked out the window at the morning sun. She knew things were probably going to get much harder now, but she was certain she had zero regrets. She flopped back down on the pillow and gave a short giggle.

She got up and threw the shirt Coop had given her last night back on. She noticed he had put a pair of Sam's sweatpants on the bed and slipped them on. She walked out of the bedroom and tiptoed to the kitchen.

She saw them sitting down as Cooper brought breakfast over from the counter. The sight of them together brought a quick lump to her throat. She saw the plate sitting at the empty chair and smiled. She didn't know how this was going to go, but she did know she was hungry as hell.

She walked towards the breakfast area, they all looked up at once. Cooper gave her a sweet contented smile. Colton and Samantha, however, looked shocked as if they couldn't understand what they were seeing. They slowly turned their heads in unison back towards Cooper. It was so comical, Sophie's lips crinkled up trying to hold back a laugh.

Cooper noticed their children staring back at him and looked at them both.

"C'mon guys," he chuckled, "tell your mom good morning."

They quickly shook off their surprise.

"Hey mom," Colton smiled.

"Morning mama," Samantha said, still looking confused.

"Morning kiddos," Sophie kissed them both on the head and sat down.

"Sooooo," Colton said, apparently loving every second of this, "how was everybody's evening?"

Cooper and Sophie both snorted.

"Ok look you two," Cooper said to them, "It was Connie Nelson's birthday party last night and your mom didn't want to chance driving home,"

"Like we've always told you guys not to do," Sophie added pointedly.

"Right," he continued, "up at Willow Creek, so we just came back here and I'll take your mom to get her car in a bit. Nobody had a wreck. Nobody's in jail. Successful Saturday night."

"Oh my god," Samantha said, "Jess said earlier Ms. Connie was asleep on the living room floor this morning."

Sophie almost snorted her coffee and Cooper coughed on his eggs trying not to laugh.

"Yeah," Colton said snarkily, "Logan had to leave early to go pick up Ms Donna."

"Well," Cooper teased him, "Logan is a good son."

"Hey, I'm a good son," he snapped back with a laugh.

"Yes you are, baby," Sophie said with a giggle.

They finished breakfast and Sophie quickly stood up and began collecting the dishes from the table.

"C'mon Soph," Cooper said, "you don't have to do that, I mean we did have children for a reason."

Colton and Samantha gave their dad identical looks showing their thoughts on his humor.

"Least I can do," she giggled at the kids, "although I could use a hand, Samigirl."

"Yes ma'am," Samantha sighed and huffed.

"C'mon good son, you can help me get the trash down to the road," Cooper clapped Colton on the shoulder.

Cooper rolled his eyes as a silent commentary on chores this early on a Sunday morning. He went off to empty the trash cans around the house and then followed his dad outside.

"Did you have a good time at the party last night?" Sophie asked as she rinsed dishes.

"Yeah, it was fun," she said, "and how was your evening?"

Sophie heard the pointed tone of her inquiry. She and Cooper had decided long ago to be as honest as they could with their children. Of course, there were always exceptions, but this particular morning might put them to their biggest test.

"It was a lot of fun," Sophie said, "I think I might be a little too old to party that hard very often."

"Good thing Dad happened to be there too," Samantha said nonchalantly but knowing exactly how it would land.

"Yeah I was surprised to see him there, last night," Sophie said, impressed with her daughter's gambit.

"Were you?" Samantha raised an eyebrow at her.

Sophie turned off the water and turned to face her.

"Samantha," she said in her mom voice, "we can talk about this ok? It's only fair to you. We're gonna do it like adults though."

"Yes ma'am," Samantha said and quit smirking.

"Ok."

"Are you and Dad all right?" Samantha asked nervously.

"Yes, baby," Sophie said and pulled Samantha's forehead in for a kiss, "I promise."

"You sure?" Samantha asked.

"Sam," she reassured her,"me and your daddy have been through too much shit and worked way too hard to not be ok."

"Then what is all this, mama?" Samantha gestured to the kitchen table.

"I'm sorry honey, I don't know yet," she said softly and held her hands, "me and your dad will have to sit down and discuss it."

"Mom," Samantha said abruptly, standing straight, "did you and dad... y'know... last night?"

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Hey Dad?" Colton said as they pulled the trashcans the quarter mile down the driveway to the road.

"Yeah bud," he answered.

"What the hell are you doing?" Colton looked at him.

Cooper sighed and thought about getting on to him about his language but figured in this particular case he might have earned the right to sling a few bad words towards dad.

"It's nothing bad, Colton," Cooper began.

"Do you still love her?" Colton interrupted.

"What?" Cooper stopped and turned to him.

"Mom?" he clarified, "do you still love her?"

"Colton, what do you mean," he said, "I'll always have love for your mom."

"Good," he snapped at him, "cause she still loves you, a lot."

"I think she would have said something by now, Colton," Cooper dismissed.

"No she wouldn't have," Colton said incredulously, "for the same damn reason you never did.'

"And what's that?" Cooper shot back gruffly.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There it was, Sophie thought. The big question. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"Yes, baby," she said calmly, "we did."

Samantha crossed her arms and leaned back against the island counter. Sophie wasn't sure how to take her daughter's response.

"I realize you were ahem... 'busy'," Samantha said and rolled her eyes, "but did you notice the pictures on the wall in dad's bedroom?"

"The ones of you and your brother?" Sophie asked.

"No," Samantha looked at her, "on the other wall."

"I don't guess I did, sweetie," she said and shook her head.

"It's all pictures of you and dad and us," Samantha chuckled and shrugged, "when we would ask him why he would always say, 'no matter how it looks, that will always be your family', we eventually figured out it was because he still loved you."

Sophie watched her daughter as she sighed and paused to keep her composure.

"I once asked daddy why he never tried to find somebody new," Samantha continued, "he just smiled and hugged me. Said 'he didn't need any other girl but me'."

Samantha's eyes welled and she laughed at the memory.

"But I wouldn't take that for an answer, though," Samantha smiled at her, "I kept asking him. Then one day he told me that, 'sometimes people can find a new person, but he had already found the only person he would ever love, there wasn't anyone else'. I just remember feeling so sad for both of you, because I knew you felt the same way, but I also knew why you guys stayed apart."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"All I knew when I was five years old," Colton said softly, staring softly out across a field, "was my mama loved me and Sam, my daddy loved me and Sam and they absolutely hated each other. I remember at dropoffs the only thing I was thinking was 'please don't start yelling," because I wouldn't be able to get Sam away from it quick enough."

Cooper swallowed hard at the lump in his throat.

"You guys always started fast, remember?" Colton chuckled, "but I could always see them coming, and I'd grab Sam and go anywhere that wasn't where you guys were.

"Then one day I knew something else. I knew Sam was really bad sick. I knew my baby sister might die and there was nowhere I could run to hide her from that. That was okay though, because I also knew my daddy was gonna save her. Mama told me, and she was so proud of you, Dad."

Cooper looked out over the field as the tears streamed down his face.

"Then one day you took me fishing and I found out exactly how my daddy was gonna save my baby sister," Colton squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head at the memory. "That's the most scared I've ever been in my life, Dad. Not just cause you and Sam were in surgery. Mama would look at me and what I'd see in her eyes wasn't fear, it was terror. Not just for Samantha but for you. I watched her beg, plead and pray to any god that would listen not to take her baby and not to take her love."

"Colton..." Cooper began softly but didn't know what to say.

"I still fucking hate fishing," he chuckled and wiped his eyes.

Cooper smiled in spite of his tears.

"You guys were fine of course," Colton said, "and now all of a sudden mama and daddy found a way to love each other. Maybe they couldn't be together, but I finally knew they didn't hate each other anymore. All this time later, everybody's good and our family might be unconventional but it's happy and it's whole."

"Colton," Cooper said softly, "me and mom are going to figure this out, I promise.

"I hope so, Dad," Colton sighed, "I swear, I really do. I want you and mom to be happy. I'm just saying the hell we all went through to have what we got today will always be in the back of my mind."

Colton began to walk towards the road again as Cooper joined him.

"I love you Colton."

"Love you too, Dad."

----------------------------------------------

"How would you feel about something like that," Sophie asked tentatively.

"I don't know," Samantha shrugged, "I don't really remember it any other way. Mom. I mean yall explained how it was before you guys figured it out and it got better, that's all after the fact for me. I do know Colton really doesn't like talking about it. He would always tell me that it was over and not to worry about it."

Samantha closed her eyes and exhaled slowly and sort of rocked on her feet.

"I don't remember much from when I had the surgery," she said.

Sophie took a couple of steps forward to stand beside Samantha. She knew her daughter wasn't fond of discussing it. Samantha had once said it was like a blurry memory that belonged to somebody else.

"At some point, they wheeled dad beside me before they started. I remember telling him that he had a funny hat on," Samantha giggled at the memory, "he told me I had a funny hat on too."

Sophie smiled at her memory and held her hand.

"I asked him if he was scared," Samantha said quietly, "I remember he grabbed my hand between the beds. He said he was a little scared but was glad we were getting me better. Then he asked me if I was scared. I said 'Nooo silly, cause you're here'."

Sophie listened to her daughter, biting her lip to keep the tears at bay.

"I remember telling him I wanted to see Mama and Coco," Samantha's voice caught on her tears, "he said, 'me too baby, but we'll see them when we wake up.' "

Sophie leaned her head on Samantha's shoulder and wrapped an arm around her waist.

"I guess he was trying to keep me calm," Samantha continued and chuckled, "and he asked me what I'd like most of all when we left the hospital. I told him I'd like a great big house where me and Coco and Mama and Daddy could all stay together."

Samantha chuckled.

"I guess I thought a big house was all it took to fix everything. I remember looking over and seeing Dad crying and I'm worried because I've never seen him cry before. So I say. 'What's wrong daddy, why you sad?' He said, "I'm not baby, it's just I think I would really like that too."

Samantha turned and looked Sophie in the eye.

"So," Samantha asked her, "what would you like most of all, Mama?" Samantha asked her.

Sophie's bottom lip began to tremble as she wringed her hands together. Samantha pulled her mother to her and held her as she broke down in her arms.

----------------------------------------------

Everybody had managed to pull themselves together when the boys made it back from the trash run. They all smiled at each other unsure of what to say. Not in an uncomfortable way, just taking stock of everything weighing heavy on their minds.

Samantha glanced between her parents for a moment and noticed her brother doing the same.

"Coco," she said, "take me for a drive?"

"Yeah," he nodded slowly, "whenever you're ready."

"Ok," she said.

"You guys be careful." Cooper said, still looking at Sophie.

"Both of you, grab a jacket," Sophie said, returning his gaze.

Colton and Samantha said quick byes and walked out the door.

Sophie and Cooper looked around and realized they were alone for essentially the first time since this had all begun. Neither was sure where it started, but they both began giggling, which soon became uncontrollable laughter. They both walked into the living room and sat down on the couch together.

Their laughter finally subsided and she reached for his hand.

"Well I guess we better talk this out," she said.

"Yeah," he smiled and pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her, "guess so."

Sophie chuckled and rested her arms on the ones wrapped around her. Cooper kissed the top of her head.

"Can I just start off by saying, we raised a couple of whip smart little shits," Sophie laughed in wonder.

"Man you ain't kidding baby, damn," Cooper said a bit in awe.

"Hey, before anything else," Cooper sighed, "l love you. All the ways there are to. Know that first."

She turned her head and sweetly kissed him. She looked him right in the eyes and smiled.

"And I love you too," she said, "no matter what."

"That's good," he said softly.

"It is, "

"So how are you feeling on all of this?" Cooper bit the bullet and asked.

"Honestly?" Sophie said, "I'm so fucking tired Coop."

He just held her and listened.

"I'm tired of feeling like you and I are bound by things that happened when we were 21. Yeah we managed to turn a really bad situation back around, but I'm literally exhausted from ignoring emotions and desires for fear of us going back to being two people that we just aren't anymore.

Yeah, I'll admit it. When we split up, it might have been the only thing we could do. We were 21, and had to come to terms with the fact we just couldn't be together. We were kids with zero emotional maturity who were sad and disappointed that their love couldn't save them. So we got angry at the only other person we could."

Sophie turned around in his arms to face him and look him in the eyes.

"But you know what I realized, Coop?" Sophie said.

Cooper just looked at her, mesmerized by her words.

"We ain't fucking 21 anymore," she said pointedly, "and we aren't those kids anymore. We are 36, Cooper and I'm tired of having to convince myself everyday that I'm not in love with you."

Sophie finished and turned around, leaning back into his chest and forcefully wrapping his arms back around herself.

Cooper bit his lip and smirked, grateful she was facing away from him in his lap. He was giggling on the inside though.

Her intensity and focus was an indicator of the seriousness in her words. That tone was reserved almost exclusively in defense or support of her family. Usually for the kids, occasionally for him and maybe four, well now five, times for herself.

Sophie gave an audible huff, indicating that it was Cooper's turn to start talking. She tried to wriggle further back into his embrace in an irritated sort of way that he thought was terribly adorable.

"I know it's stupid," Cooper began, "but I used to think Sam getting sick was like a cruel twist of fate punishment for how we were treating each other. That I needed to learn what really mattered in life. Then I thought maybe donating the kidney was, so I could realize what sacrifice was.

"I thought for sure that would make things right, and life could go back the way it was. Then for the longest time, I was certain the punishment was us having everything we ever wanted right in front of us but just out of reach. All the things we loved were there but we just couldn't grab hold."

"Coo," Sophie's voice hurt for him, "you can't believe life would be that cruel."

"For a while I did," he nodded, "then one day I realized any penance we owed, we had paid that debt a long time ago. Everything we loved was still right there waiting. Still connected and maybe even healed."

Cooper sighed and kissed her head.

"You're the only girl I ever loved, Sofie Anne," he chuckled and then his voice caught, "you're all I'll ever want, however that might happen to look."

Sophie stood up from his embrace and turned to him, wiping her eyes. She held out her hand to him.

"Come with me," she said.

He got up and followed her back to the bedroom. She walked over to the wall with the pictures of both of them together. She looked at them. It was the visual history of them.

The very first picture taken of them together, working on something in 10th grade biology lab. The homecoming dance, prom, graduation. Their first trip to the beach. Their wedding. Their first pictures with Colton and then Samantha.

A picture in the hospital room of them all in Samantha's room after their surgeries.

The picture of the trip to Disney World that Cooper got the kids for Christmas one year. He insisted that Sophie come because he couldn't imagine her not seeing the kids go for the first time.

There were pictures from various holidays that they always celebrated together. Thanksgiving at Sophie's house. Christmas at Cooper's.

Sophie turned around to find him watching her look at all of them.

"No matter what it looks like, that's our family," Sophie said, pointing at the pictures, "right?"

He smirked at hearing his own words said to him.

"Yeah," he chuckled and nodded.

She walked up to him and grabbed his hands.

"Well I want our family to look whole again, Cooper," she said softly.

Cooper exhaled loudly and laughed.

"So do I," he said with relief.

"Baby, I got no idea how we even begin to do this," Sophie said with a nervous chuckle.

"Me either," he pulled her into a hug, "but there's no rush, we got time, we'll figure it out together."

"We've made it this far," she giggled, "a little while longer won't kill us."

Cooper laughed loudly, kissed her and then held her tight.

"So," Sophie said with a sly smirk, "feel like doing something while we wait?"

"Sure," he cocked an eyebrow at her, "whatcha feeling like doing?"

"Well you of course," she stated the obvious.

"Hey" Cooper said in mock surprise, "would you look at that? A bed. I'll be damned."

"Well," she giggled and pulled off her shirt, "how bout that?"

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For obvious reasons, neither Sophie nor Cooper were super crazy about hospitals.

Sophie sat there, antsy and irritated, mostly with herself, with her ankle elevated in the emergency room. Cooper was holding her hand and nervously bouncing his foot trying to be calm and supportive, but really not enjoying being back at the same hospital where he'd been a decade before.

"Calm down, Coop," Sophie said.

"I'm calm," he said, "just worried about you."

"I'm fine," she smiled, "probably just sprained the crap out of it."

"I know," he said nonchalantly and resumed bouncing his foot.

"Ok," she sighed and rolled her eyes.

In spite of them both agreeing there was no rush on their timeline, they had sat down and had the necessary discussions to begin rebuilding their life together.

They told the kids, who made them promise to work through any problems and disagreements like grownups this time. Samantha and Colton were happy for them though, and cautiously excited about their parents being together again.

They had decided as a family to keep the news under wraps for the time being. They knew when the news got out and became common knowledge it would be the talk of the town. None of them were particularly in a hurry for that inevitability.

Sophie had decided to sell her place and move into Cooper's. While he was completely excited with her choice, he felt the need to at least inquire.

"You sure?" Cooper asked at the kitchen table one morning when she mentioned it, "I always thought you loved your place."

"I do," she said, "but you bought my dream home, goofball."

"I did?" Cooper asked, confused.

"It was like our second or third date," Sophie explained, "we drove by and I got all excited, saying, 'That's it!!! That's my dream home!!! I'm gonna get it one day!!!'"

Sophie could see he was almost straining, wracking his brain trying to remember.

"Nothing?" she smirked and just looked at him.

"Soph," he looked apologetic, "I am sure you did and I'm just not remembering it. I mean obviously, some part of me remembered it, seeing as I bought it. Maybe it was a subconscious th..."

"Cooper," Sophie interrupted.

"Yes baby," he smiled very tentatively.

"It's fine," Sophie kissed him, "just telling you why."

The spent the next few weekends getting her place ready to go on the market. Painting, minor repairs and giving everything a deep cleaning. Sophie observed that selling a house you didn't have to live in was gonna be a hundred times less stressful. While Cooper loved the fact they could just leave each time and go to a home that wasn't in some state of disrepair.

Unfortunately, these DIY weekends are what currently had Sophie in the emergency room. She had been cutting in the corners before she began painting Colton's old room. She was coming down from the ladder to make her way to the next section when she mistook the second to last step for the last one.

She felt her foot turn sideways on itself and the can of paint in her hand fly out and splatter across the wall and the window. She hit the drop cloth covered carpet and screamed out a very loud "FUCK!!"

It was more in frustration and embarrassment, as she didn't feel much pain anywhere yet. She was still lying on the floor pissed off at the world, when Cooper came sprinting around the corner.

"Sophie?" He yelled as he came down the hallway.

"I'm fine Cooper," shouted back, "don't freak out."

He still knelt down next to her.

"Misstepped off the damn ladder," she complained.

Cooper unbuckled his tool belt and threw his hat down on the floor. He was covered in sweat and sawdust and Sophie could kick herself for her first thought being how gorgeous he was.

He quickly looked her over.

"Welp no blood. No bones sticking out. Do you think you hit your head?" Cooper asked.

"No," she gave an irritated sigh.

"If you wanted the day off Soph," he chuckled, "you coulda just said so."

Sophie grinned and flipped him the bird.

"Hey lookie there," he laughed, "movement in your extremities."

She laughed in spite of herself.

"Wanna try to stand up?" He inquired.

"Yeah I reckon," she said as he helped her sit up.

She seemed to do good until she put the first tentative bit of weight on her foot. Her leg almost reflexively buckled as Cooper caught her and looked down to see her ankle well on its way to swelling up a troubling amount.

Cooper quickly picked her up and carried her out to the truck. He put her in the backseat and peeled out to the hospital.

He called Donna

"Sup Coop," she answered.

"You working today?"

"Yup," she said.

"Sophie just took a spill off the ladder," he explained, "she seems fine other than twisting the hell out of her ankle. I don't think it's broken but what do I know."

"She awake and alert?" Donna asked.

"Cooper, I swear to god, are you hitting every damn bump on purpose?" Sophie growled from the back seat.

"That's a yes," Donna said, holding back a giggle, "ok be safe, I'll see you when you get here."

"Thanks Donn," Cooper hung up.

Cooper pulled up to the emergency room entrance.

Donna opened the door to the back seat.

"Afternoon sexy," she smiled at Sophie.

Sophie gave an obviously fake smile.

"Hi," she said impatiently through gritted teeth.

They wheeled her into a room as Donna and Cooper followed her in.

Donna was an Emergency Nurse Practitioner. Knowing their overall dislike of hospitals and this one in particular, she generally handled most of the Bennett family's medical needs at home. Other than Sam's annual checkups, which she always accompanied them to, this is the first time since the surgeries they've had a need to come here.

Donna had gotten off the phone with an orthopaedic consult, who was going to be by in about an hour. She grabbed Sophie's file and walked in to try to calm these two down a little.

"How are we doing gang?" Donna said cheerfully as she walked in.

"Peachy, Donna Rae, how are you?" Sophie said sarcastically.

"I'm walking around on two legs so, better than you," Donna said sweetly, "Coop you gotta knock that foot tapping shit off."

"Sorry Donn," he said, stopping as directed.

Donna opened her chart and began looking over it.

"Now I know you wanna get out of here, but the ortho consult will be here in about an hour," she began before stopping abruptly.

She read it twice before looking up at both of them in surprise.

Sophie and Cooper glanced at each other then back at her.

"Can you guys think of any reason why you might be pregnant?" Donna said with a giggle as her eyes welled up.

"Nuh uh," Cooper whispered in disbelief.

"Shut up," Sophie looked at her best friend since the fourth grade and knew it wasn't a joke.

"Swear to god, Soph," she stood and brought the chart over to them, pointing to the result.

"Whoa," Sophie said softly.

"I'm gonna hug you now, bitch," Donna said with tears streaming down her face.

Sophie squeezed her tightly and glanced over at Cooper. He gave her a helpless and confused smile, which she returned.

Donna ran around to the side Cooper was on. He stood up and hugged her.

Donna wiped her eyes and laughed.

"Ok," she said, "this changes things up a little. I have to go get some things together but I'll be back."

Cooper leaned over and gently but as tightly as he could, hugged Sophie.

"I love you, Coo," she managed to say before beginning to sob into his shoulder.

"I love you too, Sophie," he said as the tears streamed down his face.

"Can we for once come to this place and not have our lives change," Sophie giggled through her tears.

"It doesn't look like it," Cooper laughed at her observation.

Between the kids births, the surgeries, and now this, they always left this place better than they arrived. A place where scars heal.