Visitation Rights.

[heartofcourage]

Chelsea was over the moon with the compliment from her father. She always tried her hardest to make him proud in whatever she did. It took some extra work sometimes, but in the end she always found a way to get things done.

Jessica for her part simply smiled towards him as he called her dear. He hadn't used a term of endearment like that in a long time. It felt good to hear from his own lips that he was alright with this, that he wanted to be a part of their lives again. She had wanted that moment so badly for so long that she could hardly believe that it was finally there.

"Before you leave tonight, let me get you the list of cooking classes. That way you guys can decide which ones you want to go to." Jessica commented as Chelsea launched into a long list of things that she wanted to do with her father in the meantime.

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

Mark Prentiss

"That does sound rather nice. Thank you, Jess. I could use a review and brush-up on my admittedly rusty culinary skills. I've gotten lazy in the recent past. It's been TV dinners, takeout, and canned goods, as Chelsea knows full well. Time to change that. Eat fresh, home-cooked meals for a change," Mark admitted, also thinking of work and the leftovers that he could bring there, making his colleagues green with envy.

But most of all, it would be time with his beloved daughter and a chance to improve his skills so that when or if Jessica and he reconciled....or perhaps even before, he could surprise her with a meal cooked with her in mind.

If Chelsea noticed Mark calling her mother "Jess" in the same loving way that he did when they were married.....that might raise questions, but he couldn't help himself. After all, he had already called Jessica "dear". Besides, Chelsea would probably be relieved that they weren't being cold to each other, not focused on what all they said....or would she?

 

[heartofcourage]

Jessica laughed as Mark talked about all that he could cook and Chelsea nodded her agreement to her father's statement. "You know, Chel, when your dad and I first lived together he was actually a decent cook. Back when you were tiny, he would cook dinner almost every single night."

Chelsea looked at her dad with a raised eyebrow. Of course, he had made her breakfast every once in a while since he had been divorced from her mom, but their dinners were mostly takeout or something from a can. She never complained because she simply liked spending time with her dad and that was what mattered most to her.

"He can cook a mean piece of french toast." Chelsea said and Jessica laughed again, pushing away from the table to get the schedule of the classes, leaving father and daughter alone.

"Daddy, I'm so happy that you're making an effort to be nice to Mom." Chelsea said as she looked over at her father. "She's been so sad lately."

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

Mark Prentiss

Mark couldn't help but blush as Jessica told Chelsea told the truth, and then chuckled a bit when Chelsea made her comment about the French toast. It was true that he had done more breakfasts in the recent past, but that was a way to admittedly motivate himself to get up early on days off and spend time with Chelsea, not that he needed much motivation to spend time with her, as she was his pride and joy.

When Chelsea said that bit about her mother, Mark was a little stunned at her remark about Jess being sad. He turned quite serious, of course, and asked Chelsea, "You're welcome. But just how down has your mother been? We might have to work together on getting her in a better mood, you know. Can I count on you there, baby?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"Of course you can, daddy." Chelsea said, taking his hand and squeezing it tightly. "She's just been really down since Richard left. She use to cry almost every night but of course, she won't talk to anyone about it. You know her."

Chelsea had been really concerned about her mother, but she never would have guessed that her mother had been secretly pining for her father. "I know it's none of your business, daddy, but I mean, you guys were married for 10 years. That has to mean something, right?"

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

Mark Prentiss

"Yes, my dear, it means more than you might know. We built a life together. That is part of why it crushed me so much when I lost her. I had invested so much time, energy, passion, so much of my life in building a home, family, etc. together with your mother. I loved her dearly, you know. I haven't fully recovered from that blow, even now. Still, I do not wish her pain and sorrow. I love her too much. As bitter and angry as I was with her over the divorce, I still love her, in fact. I want her happy, not sad," Mark assured his daughter as he gave her a butterfly kiss and a very warm hug.

"You made me proud, you know. You still do. It is high time that we bury the past. She is your mother and I am glad that you show that you still love and care about her, of course. I wouldn't want you to feel otherwise about her. She loves you very much, after all, just as I do. Any questions?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"No, sir." Chelsea said with a secret smile in your direction as Jessica came back into the dining room with the cooking class schedule in her hands.

"Here you two go. Since soccer hasn't started yet, Chelsea has most nights open." She said, placing the schedule down on the table before taking her seat again, looking between the two of them.

Something had happened while she was out of the room but she didn't really want to ask. They were always good about keeping secrets and they were always paired together against her. Sometimes it worked out for the best and sometimes she would get angry and frustrated when they wouldn't include her in their plans.

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

Mark Prentiss

"That is very good to know. Thank you, Jess. Maybe someday Chelsea and I can make a special meal, just for you," Mark suggested.

He hoped that he wasn't giving too much away to Chelsea...he just wanted to put a smile on Jessica's face. He was already thinking of what it would be like to surprise Jess with breakfast in bed, for instance....other things that could well happen if they reconciled. He missed doing things to spoil Jess. He still got to pamper Chelsea, of course, but a chance to do something nice for Jess...no longer barred from doing so by a bitter divorce from which the anger was now fading.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I think I would like that." Jessica said as Chelsea gave both of her parents a curious look before she stood to start clearing the table.

After dessert, Chelsea retreated to her room to finish an essay for her history class as Jessica escorted Mark out to his car. She didn't want him to leave because the night had gone so well, but she knew that it wasn't the time to rush things.

"So, how does 7 on Saturday sound for a burger and drinks?" Jessica asked him as they stood out in the dim light. "I'll even let you pick up the tab."

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

Mark Prentiss

Mark chuckled at that last remark of Jessica's....indeed, "Works for me. So, 7 on Saturday night. Burger and drinks. Do we need a designated driver?"

He was half-serious. He wanted a reconciliation, not a trip to the slammer or a suspended license. Then again, he remembered Sam's Place....it was a very special place for them. Good thinking on her part.

Mark was doing his best not to be obvious in his enjoyment of the idea of a date with his ex. And to think that earlier today, he had still so much pent-up resentment and bitterness that had faded that easily, once Jessica showed her true colors. They would have to restore trust and rekindle their love, if possible, but they had a good start to it already. Letting go of the past was the best way to go for sure.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, unless you plan on getting me sloppy drunk then I don't think we need a DD." Jessica said with a laugh.

She could count on one hand the number of times that she had been so drunk that she couldn't function. One had been their wedding night. She barely even remembered making it back to the honeymoon suite at the hotel before they both drank the left over champagne and hit the sheets. The second had been shortly after Chelsea's first birthday. He had taken her on a surprise getaway to the beach, leaving Chelsea at her parent's house for a long and wonderful weekend. The third had been the night that the divorce was final. She had sworn to never drink that much again after that.

"Thank you for giving me a second chance, Mark." She said softly, wanting to hug him so badly right then but keeping her distance. "It means a lot to me."

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

Mark Prentiss

"Touche," Mark said about the sloppy drunk part, "I am just very nervous about this. It's our first date since, well.....you know."

He noticed Jess getting a bit nostalgic and while she was that way, he admired her, remembered how lovely a bride she had been, how much she glowed when pregnant with Chelsea, how eager she had been to see her newborn daughter, the times that they were going to try to have another child and it somehow slipped by, and how disappointed she had been....well, perhaps there was still time.....he smiled at that prospect...but only if she wanted it.

He heard Jess speaking again, which broke him out of his little fantasy...Mark smiled and answered, "You're welcome, but I think that we both need this. We need to know for sure if there is another chance for us. We owe it to ourselves to try and find out. I could never rest easy until I knew for certain, for my part."

 

[heartofcourage]

Jessica stepped forward at his words, wrapping her arms tightly around him as she hugged him closely. She hadn't hugged him like this in so long that she had almost forgotten how good it felt. He was her safety and her security and she still believed that. He was the only man in the world who had succeeded at making her happy and she had thrown it all away for some dumb impulse.

"I know for certain, Mark. I made mistakes and I'll spend the rest of our lives trying to make up for them." She murmured as she tucked her cheek against his own, letting out a little satisfied sigh. "I never wanted to hate you. I should have realized that a long time ago."

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

Mark Prentiss

Mark was incapable of refusing a hug like that from Jess. She felt so good to hold, in fact. It was impossible to deny that he still loved her, much as he always had. When she confessed her feelings, his instant impulse was to stroke her hair.

"I know, Jess. We have both made mistakes in the past. I let bitterness consume me for a while, too. That was a mistake as well. Let's put that behind us. We need to give this reconciliation a fair shake. So, Sam's Place, Saturday at 7...."

Try as he did, though, Mark couldn't bring himself to break the embrace. Not yet, anyway.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Saturday at 7." Jess said as she slowly pulled away from him. "Chelsea has plans with her friends, so there's no rush to get back home. It should give us lots of time to talk."

It would be a long wait until Saturday, she thought to herself as she stared at Mark in the darkness. So much time for self doubt and questions to float in her head. She just needed to remember that she loved this man and nothing bad could happen that hadn't already happened.

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

Mark Prentiss

Mark smiled and nodded, "Yes, that will be good for us. We have a lot to talk about, don't we?"

Mark turned and got into his car, waving as he pulled away. He tried not to think too much about it, but he swore he could still smell her perfume from when he embraced her. Sweet, just like her....he forgot how she could be during that temporary insanity that both of them suffered during and after the divorce.

Mark drove toward home, stopped on the way at a florist, and bought some carnations. He figured that he would surprise Jess with them tomorrow night. Then he got a carton of cigarettes from the convenience store. He had quit while married to Jess, but the divorce had started him smoking again. He wondered if he did it because he just had so much anxiety or what it is. He had avoided smoking around Chelsea, however, and if he got back with Jess, he would quit again. He couldn't promise that he would quit without her, though.

He got home, stored the carnations, opened a bottle of Sam Adams, and lit up a Camel, settling in to watch reruns of Deep Space Nine. Major Kira was no Jess, but her constant sexual tension with Constable Odo was entertaining in its own way. He was out like a lamp within half an hour, the first beer gone and the second cigarette never lit.

 

[heartofcourage]

The next evening Jessica was a bundle of nerves. She had dropped Chelsea off at her friend's house and knew that she would be there all night. She promised to pick her up after breakfast in the morning. Then she had headed back home to get dressed before she met Mark. What did someone wear when going on a date with their ex-husband?

She had tried on dresses, slacks, nearly everything in her closet. Sam's Place wasn't classy by any means, but she at least wanted to look nice for Mark. Finally she decided on a pair of dark jeans and a navy blue button up blouse. She debated on wearing her wedding ring, but thought that might be too presumptuous of her. She left it in the bottom of her jewelry box, safely tucked away with the engagement ring he had given her in high school and his class ring which she had never gotten rid of.

A quick brush of her hair, a little makeup, and a spritz of perfume on her neck and wrists and she finally felt ready to go. Soon enough, she was heading that way, her nerves making her heart hammer hard in her chest.

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

Mark Prentiss

Mark had slept in a little that morning, before waking up, hard-boiling some eggs and making some toast for breakfast. He hated soft-boiled eggs. Hard-boiled was the only way to go. He smeared real butter on the toast instead of margarine, put on some marmalade, and sat down with a Camel and some French Roast with a little cream.

After wolfing down his breakfast, Mark drank even more coffee, went to the range, popped off some rounds with his .357 magnum, and then went home, put his revolver in a secure hiding place that only he could find quickly, shaved, showered, and put on some aftershave before dressing in a polo shirt and a nice pair of khakis. He brushed his teeth, used mouthwash to hide all traces of the cigarette, and grabbed the carnation on the way out.

Driving to Sam's Place, he was there at 6:51 pm. He waited a bit before even trying to let her know, feeling more than a little nervous. This wasn't just any date. It was one with his ex. Jess, whom he still loved, in spite of all the grief and pain.....she had such a heart. Impossible to hate her, even when he had hurt so much. It was a mistake, but now they had to move past, and he was nervous over possibly fucking this up. He wanted it to go well....

 

[heartofcourage]

Sam's Place was just like she remembered it. SHe hadn't been there in what seemed like forever. The diner had a long central counter with tall seats where you could settle for a quick bite. Instead, she found her favorite booth that overlooked the parking lot and took a seat. It brought back a lot of memories sitting there, she thought to herself as she waited for Mark to show up.

This had been their spot in high school. Through all the good spots of their marriage. For perhaps a few bad spots in their marriage too. Jessica really wanted this to be a good spot for them and she had high hopes as the waitress appeared. She took the menu and ordered herself a bottle of beer, glancing at the food that hadn't changed in years.

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

Mark Prentiss

At 6:56 PM, Mark walked in to Sam's Place, found Jess, and slid right in next to her.

"How about some company, beautiful?" Mark smiled as he laid the carnations down on the table in front of her.

He felt such a rush of desire and passion right then....such an impulse to grab her and make out like they did when they were first together.....such wonderful memories this place brought back of their first heated years of love and what it led to, the life that they built together before it all fell apart. Could they really piece it back together with a touch of the old magical spark?

God, he hoped so. Mark still craved Jessica and wanted badly to spend the rest of his life with her. He had found Ms. Right when he was very young and never looked back. Any women during his time as a divorced man were just fillers, just killing time for what he somewhere deep hoped would be this time....the reconciliation.

 

[heartofcourage]

Jessica smile as Mark slid into the booth beside her and placed carnations down on the table. He had brought her carnations when Chelsea was born. He had given her carnations on every anniversary that they had shared. She was touched that he still remembered and had gone out of his way to get them for her.

"Thank you for the flowers, Mark." Jessica said, passing him her menu and picking up the flowers off the table to bring them to her nose. "And thanks for coming here tonight. I'm happy that you didn't decide to bail."

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

Mark Prentiss

Mark loved the way that Jess had sniffed the carnations and then passed him the menu.

"You're very welcome on both counts, Jess. I'm also glad that I didn't stand you up. Then again, this night matters. Not to put any pressure on either of us. Just saying that it is important to me. A chance to see if we have enough of that old spark left for us to make it work."

Mark took only a few seconds to pick his choice. Since he was paying, he had no compunctions about getting the Grilled Onions and Bacon Special, a double cheeseburger that would probably earn a major frown from the American Heart Association or something. It had grilled onions, bacon, and two slices of Swiss with a pub-style chop sauce on two patties and a Kaiser Roll. He also ordered a Killian's and when it arrived, he tapped it against Jess's bottle in a sort of toast.

"For good luck," he winked.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Oh, I think that spark is still there, Mark." She said softly as she gave her ex-husband a grin.

When the waitress came back and Mark put in his order for the heart attack special, she had to laugh. He always got the most greasiest, disgusting hamburgers on the menu. They made him happy and she never said anything about it. She ordered a double chili cheese dog with waffle fries and a pickle. They had jokingly called it the 'Chelsea special' because she had eaten it the night that she had gone into labor and it was one of her daughter's favorite foods.

She picked up her amber ale and tapped it against Mark's glass, laughing softly as he winked at her and told her that it was for luck. Of course it was. She was feeling very lucky in that moment. Things were suddenly right in her life.

"So, what's been happening in your life? Chel doesn't tell me a whole lot." She said, wanting to know what had been going on in the life of the man that she had once known so intimately.

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

Mark Prentiss

Mark chuckled as Jess ordered the "Chelsea Special".....he had often teased Jess that the reason that Chelsea loved it was due to it being the last thing she ate in the womb. He loved that grin from Jess, too....so like her....so playful at times.

When Jess asked about himself, he smiled shyly, "Well, work every weekday, the same as before. Time at the range on Saturdays. Good for ridding myself of the stress. Sometimes, I get a beer or two or a shot of whiskey on Saturdays after I get back at the bar. Sometimes, I bowl instead or spend time at the batting cage. When Chelsea's around, of course, everything not work-related plays second fiddle to what she wants. That's just how it is. She matters more than my usual R and R.

"Often, I watch reruns of my favorite sci-fi shows and, believe it or not, the cooking shows. Or the History networks...when I'm in that mood. As for women, well, it's hit or miss, never anything serious. Never could be. They aren't you. I tried here or there, but my heart wasn't in it, to be perfectly frank. My buddies think that I should move on and find a new girlfriend, but I have never really wanted one."

"How about you?" he asked Jess, just as curious about her.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I quit my job about a year ago. I hated it anyway, so it wasn't a major loss." Jessica said with a shrug, knowing that even when they were married, Mark had always encouraged her to get away from the place that mistreated her. "And I opened up my own store. It's a small clothing store. Chel works for me two afternoons a week. I have another part time worker, but it's nice being my own boss."

"And then there's all of Chelsea's activities. Soccer, the summer musical, cooking...it takes up a lot of my time and we haven't even had time to go and get her driver's license yet. She keeps bugging me about it, but I guess we'll find time one of these days. Or maybe you could take her one day after school. I'm sure she'd be over the moon."

Jess took a sip from her beer as she thought about all of the failed relationships she'd had since she left Mark. She had been in long term relationship after long term relationship and the last one had ended when he accused her of not being honest with him. She loved her ex-husband. There was nothing to be ashamed about that.

"I haven't had anyone in my life for six months. None of them felt very right for me or Chelsea." She said with a shrug of her shoulders.