She opened up the first photo album and slowly flipped through it, touching every picture with a loving memory resurfacing. The first pictures were of Ally and Larry together in various vacationing spots. Then followed some of them with their children in places like Disneyland and the beach for example.

Ally turned a page and came to pictures of one time when Sam came home from college with his girlfriend Katie. At that particular point in time, her and Larry weren’t getting along, hadn’t been for a while. See, Ally thought Larry was having an affair with his secretary and this just happened to happen around the time Sam was bringing his long-time girlfriend Katie home to ‘meet the parents.’ Things got very festive after that.

“Why are you being so unreasonable Larry??” Ally shouted at Larry as there was a honking horn heard.

“They’re here!!!” Faith squealed as she appeared from her room and ran out the door.

Larry sighed and walked towards the door.

“Oh yeah, walk away Larry, that’s what you always do!” Ally yelled as she brushed past him heading upstairs for their bedroom, which was at the top of the staircase, slamming the door behind her.

Just then, Nathaniel appeared and tugged at Larry’s leg. Larry looked down at him. “Sam’s here!” Nathaniel cried out happily.

Larry smiled. “That he is Nathan!” Larry swooped Nathan up in his arms and headed out the door.

“Sammie!” Nathan was trying to wiggle out of Larry’s arms and Larry let him down. He ran towards Sam who then swooped him up.

“Hey! How’s my lil’ Nate dog doing?” Sam joked, tickling Nathan in his stomach who was giggling and wiggling out of his grasp. It was a joke between them that had stayed constant. Sam and Nathaniel were quite close. In fact, Faith was close to Sam too. Sam had really matured from his days of despising Ally for the situation with his late mother and his dad.

Sam put Nathan down in which Faith began to chase Nathan around the yard in a playful manner. Sam then looked at Larry and moved towards him ready to hug him.

Larry returned the hug wholeheartedly. “Hey buddy. It’s good to see you.”

“You too dad,” Sam smiled. They parted and he felt a hand on his arm. Looking back, he smiled wider. “Dad,” Sam turned around looking at Larry, “This is my girlfriend Katie,” Sam wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close.

Katie smiled timidly looking at Larry. “It’s nice to meet you Mr. Paul,” she offered her hand.

Larry reached out to hug her, “It’s nice to meet you too, and please,” he pulled back, “call me Larry,” he smiled warmly at her.

Sam noticed someone was missing. “Dad, where’s,” he was cut off.

“Here I am!” Ally appeared from the porch and reached out to hug Sam. “Hey you! It’s so good to see you!” She pulled back and looked at Katie. “And who might this be? Is this Katie?” Ally smiled.

“Yes, Katie, this is Ally, Ally, this is Katie.”

Ally engulfed Katie in a hug before she could put out a hand to shake, “It’s so nice to finally meet you,” Ally pulled back. “Sam’s told us so much about you,” Ally smiled, making Katie feel more at home than she had originally anticipated. Katie figured hugging was a family tradition of some sort and laughed slightly inside.

“Please, come inside,” Larry motioned. “We’ll get your bags,” Larry eyed Ally with one of those looks as Ally ignored him, still smiling at Sam and Katie.

“Yes, please, go inside, make yourselves comfortable. Sam, you know where everything is,” Ally turned to see Nathan on one of her legs and Faith wrapped around Larry’s waist. “Okay Nathan, go inside with Sammie,” she untangled him from her leg and then looked at Faith. “Faith honey, you too.”

“I bet I’ll beat you!” Faith challenged Nathan in which they both took off running.

Ally laughed and looked up at Larry. Her happy smile soon faded when she looked at Larry. Larry rolled his eyes and leaned down against the hood of Sam’s car.

“We should solve this before we go inside, Larry,” Ally started.

Larry looked at Ally outrageously. “Oh, so now we can just stop fighting and put on a happy face for the kids?” Larry retorted back angrily. “Who’s being unreasonable now??!!” Larry yelled, rather than questioned.

“Okay, so let’s figure this out once and for all!” Ally shouted out to him. “What were you and miss, miss, whatever the hell her name is, doing, Lar-ry?”

“We were just talking! Nothing was happening!!! What, would you have preferred me to talk to Helena?” Larry retorted back sarcastically, not caring that what he was saying was extremely crossing the line.

“Oh, oh, lemme guess, you were talking about ME!” Ally shouted back.

“She was a sympathetic ear, I needed that! It was nothing further!!!!”

“You should have talked to ME!!!! We’re married dammit!!!! You’re supposed to talk to ME when you need to talk!”

“You wouldn’t have listened! You NEVER listen to me on a normal basis! Why would I expect you to listen to me when it’s something important??” Larry bellowed back.

“I’m ALL ears Larry! Speak!!!” Ally hollered, breathing heavily by now.

Larry took one last look at her, and headed for the door to go inside the house.

Ally was infuriated. “What IS it with you and walking away from situations?? I sure as hell hope you didn’t pass that trait onto your son!!! God knows Katie wouldn’t know WHAT to do with herself!!!!!” Ally shrieked at him as she rushed past him, pushing him out of her way to make her point.

Everyone was gathered around the dinner table in the dining room, Katie and Sam right next to each other, Faith and Nathan across from them, and then Larry and Ally were on either end of the table, glaring each other down. They had taken turns trying to grab Katie and Sam’s attention, trying to outdo each other in conversation. Katie was flustered, Sam, well he knew EXACTLY what was going on. As for Faith and Nathan, they were busy playing with their food because they knew their parents weren’t really paying attention.

“Dad,” Sam whispered to Larry, “you and Ally need to stop this. I think Katie’s scared to death,” Sam made an attempt to calm Larry down.

Larry looked at him briefly, and then turned to glare back at Ally before switching his facial expression as if he had literal switches inside his mind. “So Katie, what kind of law are you interested in?”

Katie had been focusing on Ally’s stone cold glare when she heard Larry’s voice. She whipped her head around to face Larry, “Oh, uh, um,” Katie stumbled, still flustered by the goings on between him and Ally. “Uh, public defender,” she finally got out, shaking her head in conformity.

“Ah, wouldn’t that be dangerous though?” Larry questioned.

Katie was about to respond when Ally snapped back, “Go with what you want Katie,” she smiled warmly at her and then glared at Larry, adding, “Larry likes to play it safe, hide, run, the typical man thing,” she smiled mockingly.

“Okay Ally, this is enough!!!!” Larry stood up, throwing his napkin down on the table. “What the HELL is your problem!”

Faith and Nathan gasped, covering their ears, “Larry! Do NOT use that language in front of the children!!!”

“Oh what, and YOU’RE so perfect??”

Ally paused, took a breath and then looked at Sam apologetically. “Sam, will you and Katie please take Faith and Nathan up into your room for a moment?”

“Yeah, sure, sure,” Sam mumbled in agreement, standing up, grabbing Katie’s hand and rushing to the other side, picking Nathan up and Katie grabbed Faith’s hand.

“Are you happy now Larry??” Ally began immediately after the kids were out of sight and up the stairs.

“I REFUSE to sit here and listen to you go about like you’re SO damn perfect Ally!!! Guess what!!! You’re NOT!!!!”

“No one IS, Lar-ry, but I have NEVER walked away from you!”

Larry threw his glasses on the table and slumped back down into his chair, totally sick of the same old routine. “And what, talking to Renee about decision making instead of me is a good thing?”

“What the HELL does that have to do with anything??” Ally looked at Larry in bewilderment.

“You’re mad because I wanted to talk to someone else who happened to be a woman. Maybe I wanted and needed a woman’s point of view on things! Maybe I just needed someone, and you weren’t the person at the time!”

Ally slumped back down in her seat, her expression remaining one of mystification.

“Ally,” Larry’s tone softened VERY considerably. “What’s really wrong here? Why are you really mad at me?”

Ally stared in his direction, but just past his head to a bare spot on the wall and then abruptly took her face in her hands and leaned against the table.

“Well?” Larry was getting slightly annoyed.

Ally looked up at him, slightly raging a bit more. “Maybe I’m jealous! Okay? Maybe I’m used to being the one you always talk to! Maybe I don’t want you to talk to anyone else! Maybe I’m just a horrible awful person!!!” Ally rushed up and out of the room. Larry heard Ally rush up the stairs, followed by a door slam.

Ally sat on the bed in her and Larry’s bedroom, sobbing uncontrollably. **He just wants to talk to someone else! I’m not important anymore!** Ally was so frustrated she could scream. She stood up and walked towards the bathroom for a tissue. She blew her nose and sat on the toilet, images flashing in her head.

She saw Larry in his office with his secretary rubbing his back with one hand, her other hand on top of his, while he was talking. She had walked in with a smile on her face, carrying some take-out Chinese because Larry had told her he would be working late on this hard case he had. Larry and that woman had looked up at Ally, blinking feverishly. Ally had ended up throwing the take-out at Larry, called him a lying bastard, and stormed out.

Her first stop after she left was to Renee’s, her old roommate and long-time best friend, who was also watching Faith and Nathan. Renee of course had been reasonable about things, but all Ally could do was point, judge, and compare. She inevitably had Renee thinking along her same guidelines and of course this only made the situation worse. She felt more like crap than she did before.

Larry leaned on the table, holding his head in his hands, his eyes closed. He was seeing similar visions. He was upset because he felt that he and Ally were just drifting further and further apart and he didn’t know what to do. His secretary was very comforting, trying to provide reasonable explanations for what could be wrong. She was an affectionate person to begin with, so logically she was trying to comfort him by rubbing his back.

Larry thought absolutely nothing of it, and when Ally walked in, he froze. She threw the food she had, which went everywhere, ruining many a documents and then stormed out. **What the hell is it with women? Do they think it’s ALWAYS cheating??** Larry couldn’t help wondering if he could just NEVER talk to women because of how Ally has and would react.

Larry pulled back from his hands and looked up and around, leaning back in his chair. He saw a very warm loving house, his and Ally’s place. The things around him belonged to them, the happily married Paul’s. **Where did I go wrong?** Larry thought. It dawned on him; he needed to go back to basics with Ally. Maybe they needed to try and start over. **Oh but she’ll never go for that! She’s too damn stubborn!** Larry got discouraged all over again. **Well, maybe if I at least TRY,** Larry stood up and walked slowly up the stairs to their bedroom. He knocked on the door gently.

“What?” he heard a crying voice answer, sniffling in the process.

Larry slowly opened the door and didn’t see Ally. He came inside and closed the door behind him. He then looked around and saw Ally in the bathroom, sitting on the toilet, holding a tissue, eyes red and blotchy. “Can we talk?”

“What don’t you go talk to your girlfriend!” Ally retorted back at him, twisting around, her face out of his vision.

“Goddammit Ally!” Larry couldn’t stand it anymore.

“I come in here to fix things once and for all and you can’t fuckin’ let go of this!!! Can you ever let go of ANYTHING???” Larry questioned heatedly.

“Maybe if she wasn’t hanging all over you, Larry!” Ally replied, not turning to face him.

Larry took a deep breath and counted to ten before approaching the bathroom and leaning against the doorframe.

Ally sensed his presence and turned slightly, her eyes piercing his like daggers. “What?” she questioned.

“I love you Ally,” Larry said simply. “We don’t need to do this. I know what happened, I told you what was going on, it’s up to you now to stop being so damn stubborn and just believe me,” he proceeded to explain in a calm voice.

“And why should I do all that?” Ally didn’t budge.

“Because you love me too. That’s why,” and with that, Larry left the room, looking back at her only once, and very briefly.

Ally sat there, sobs not subsiding in the least. She did love him; she loved him more than words could say. But it was just easier to believe what her eyes told her to. Stubbornness was something that time hadn’t quite fixed. It was A LOT less strong, but still there, nonetheless.

Larry left the room, leaving the door open a small crack. He sat down on the top stair, leaning down on his knees, his eyes wandering to the pictures on the walls. Such a happy, happy family they once had. He would give anything to have that back again. He slowly stood up and wandered down the stairs. He went into the family room, and looking at the sofa, he remembered many nights of cuddling with Ally there. He sighed and walked around making his way into the living room. He sat down at the piano touching the keys lightly, not making a sound. Larry spaced into a memory of when he had cheated on Ally with Jamie. He wrote her a song. Maybe…

Ally got another tissue, blew her nose again, and then went into the actual bedroom and sat on the bed. **Okay, so maybe he DIDN”T do anything, maybe I really AM being stupid, but still,** Ally couldn’t leave it alone, the visions she had of Larry and that woman. It reminded her of the couple of times she’s seen him with Jamie.

Suddenly, she heard a soft tune. It was the piano she realized, and it was a personal song that no one knew except her and a certain person…

Chances are you’ll find me, somewhere on your road tonight

Seems I always end up driving by

Ever since I’ve known you, it just seems you’re on my way

All the rules of logic don’t apply

Larry sang softly, feeling his heart being crushed by the pain of his and Ally’s bickering.

I long to see you in the night

Be with you till the morning light

Ally stood up and walked over to the door. She leaned against the doorframe, peaking through the crack in the door, sniffling as she listened to the lyrics of her song; the song Larry wrote for HER.

I remember clearly how you looked the night we met

I recall your laughter and your smile

I remember how you made me feel, so at ease

I remember all your grace and your style

Ally pulled the door open slowly. It creaked a little. She went to the top of the stairs and put a hand on top of the post.

And now you’re all I wanna see

You’ve come to mean so much to me

Ally walked down the stairs into the living room. When she saw Larry playing the piano, his eyes closed and singing her song, she stopped dead in her tracks, tears free flowing.

Chances are I’ll see you, somewhere in my dreams tonight

You’ll be smiling like the night we met

Chances are I’ll hold you and I’ll offer all I can

You’re the only one I can’t forget

Baby you’re the best I’ve ever met

Larry opened his eyes and much to his surprise saw Ally standing right there in front of him, fresh tears brimming in her eyes and he made eye contact with her. He began singing a new bridge to the song, words that just came to him.

And I’ll be dreaming of the future

And hoping you’ll be by my side

And in the morning, I’ll be longing

For the night, for the night

Ally walked over towards the piano and leaned slightly on the edge of it, looking at Larry.

Chances are you’ll find me, somewhere in your dreams tonight

You’ll be smiling like the night we met

Chances are I’ll hold you and I’ll offer all I have

You’re the only one I can’t forget

Larry stopped playing the piano and stood up, moving towards Ally until he was directly in front of her and then he whispered the last line of the song.

Baby you’re the best, I’ve ever met

Larry put his hand on top of Ally’s, which was lightly laid on the top of the piano. Ally loosened her grip on the piano, giving Larry the opportunity to intertwine his fingers with hers. Ally stifled another breakdown by convulsing slightly. Larry pushed himself closer to Ally as he pulled her towards him; Ally allowed him to do so.

Larry grasped onto Ally and engulfed her in a huge hug. Ally collapsed in his arms, strong, yet gentle, firm, yet kind and all in all, the supreme loving being. The love that they held for each other, it hadn’t changed; the fight they had been so immersed in hadn’t altered it a single bit.

Larry and Ally pulled back from each other, simultaneously, making slow, gradual eye contact. In a swift move, Larry dipped into Ally and kissed her, reaching for her face with both his hands and cupping it while gently running his fingers across her cheeks. Ally just stood there, reciprocating the passion and love in Larry’s kiss, her hands eventually making their way to his back, holding him close.

They broke from the kiss and made their way up the stairs, hand in hand, Ally had her head on Larry’s shoulder. They went into their bedroom and just lay wrapped up in each other’s arms until they fell asleep, confident that things were on the way to being better.