The next morning Cory is the first to wake and lies there with Tara still resting against his chest with a smile. Before Cory can move to get to his feet, there is a knock on the door, and Lorraine, still in her nightgown, peeks into the bedroom and notices Tara's bra on the floor. Cory barely sees the frown on her face when his mother vanishes without saying anything. Shock settles in when Cory realizes his mother has the wrong idea; he tries to shimmy free from Tara and makes his way out to the living room.

"Mom, before you say anything, it's not what you think."

A look of disappointment settles in deep, accompanied by a long breath, "Then please explain what happened last night, but do leave out the technical details."

"We did start down that road, but we stopped when we agreed that we should take your advice. All we did was fall asleep talking, that's it, I swear!"

Pleased with the tone of his voice, Lorraine senses the high-pitch volume, which has always been Cory's tell-tell sign of telling the truth. The frown evolves into a smirk as Lorraine motions for Cory to sit on the couch.

"That is such a relief, and thank you for being honest about the temptation. I get it, you two want to pick up the pieces, but right now, it needs to be about learning who you are together as adults. Thank you, son, for taking my advice seriously. It's a relief to not only me but also Ms. Rose. We like the idea of more grandkids, but don't rush it like you did with CJ."

"We won't, Mrs. Dubois, we promise. There are still too many things left unsettled to rush into anything serious again," Tara says, walking up with her arms crossed, "We love y'all and ain't ready to lose your respect again," as her southern accent kicks in.

Getting up from her seat, Lorraine makes her way past Cory and Tara before she pauses at the edge of the hallway, "Get cleaned up; we're meeting everyone for breakfast at Trippet's Diner."

The looks of shock tell Lorraine that they had the same idea. However, she continues to smile and returns to her bedroom to get ready as Cory and Tara saunter back to his room, and Tara borrows one of Cory's shirts as she ties her hair in a ponytail.

"I still love this shirt," Tara mentions smoothing out the faded RiverCreek Beavers t-shirt.

"I don't remember you ever 'borrowing' that specific shirt," Cory replies.

"That's because I didn't start taking it until after I had CJ. I was here one night when a bad snowstorm hit; CJ was maybe a year old, and I needed something to sleep in, so I searched your drawers and found this one."

Cory can't help but barely snicker as he slips into a navy blue muscle shirt with an open black dress shirt with bootcut Old Navy jeans. On their way out to the Celica, Tara cannot help but admire Cory's resiliency from the night before. After he rolls down the windows and pops up the sunroof, Tara reaches for Cory's hand when he shifts into fifth gear. There's no resistance as Cory spreads his fingers to allow Tara's to interweave. He takes their hands to his lips, kissing the back of her hand, but they release hands, pulling up into the diner to see everyone else waiting for them.

Once everyone is inside, those from around town, including Joe – Cory's former teammate from high school, stand and clap to welcome Cory home. Stunned at the sight of the warm welcome, Cory is nearly brought to tears as Tara clings to him, "Seems like you're loved and respected more than you ever realized. I know we wanted to escape RiverCreek, but sometimes being here is pretty awesome too," Tara says during the gentle hug.

The booth near the back is large enough for Lorraine, Olivia, Tara, Cory, and CJ. Ms. Trippet comes to take their order, but the surprise of Lloyd, Simon, and Rick creates a holiday style feel that takes Olivia and Lorraine back in time. The chatter among the others eating in the diner dies back to normal while the impromptu get-together fires up.

"Shocked to see us? Ms. Rose texted us this morning, and well, how could we say no," Lloyd says with the biggest smile.

"Exactly! How could I not enjoy a free meal? Unfortunately, the garage has been slow, and it doesn't look good."

Lloyd looks over to Rick to exchange a wink and an elbow nudge, "That's going to change soon. Please leave it to me and drag it out a little longer; city contracts are on the docket, and yours is on my list to negotiate a deal."

Rick nods with a thumbs-up response while everyone decides what they want off the menu. The only sound between everyone is CJ bouncing his seat, excited to see Cory sitting beside him. To help keep him in the seat, Cory puts his arm out with his hand on CJ's shoulder, which works like a charm. Tara's heart flutters, seeing them bonding as chemistry begins to blossom between father and son. CJ is excited to get chocolate milk and blows bubbles that tumble over the top of the glass. Next, Ms. Trippet brings out an assortment of orange juice, tea, coffee with creamers, sugar packets, and milk.

After the order is placed, everyone begins to exchange small talk. The topics of plans for the rest of the weekend come up, but Lorraine takes Cory and Tara by surprise, "You two have time to make up for, so I am taking CJ with me tonight. After we finish here, I will follow you back to Tara's house. Remember what all I said yesterday. This could be the time you need to make amends for sins from the past."

"And, we will do nothing but talk. I promise I won't disappoint you, Momma Lorry," Tara says, reaching out for Lorraine's hand.

There's a sense of comfort around them, and Cory feels a wave of peace over his body. Something about being there with everyone brings him to a more centered state of mind. The smell of grease and the chatter of the usual patrons send the meal back in time. It's an element Cory has secretly missed since leaving RiverCreek. One of the other things he's missed is the feel of the chill of the ice in the hockey arena.

The sensation continues to flow through his veins once his plate consists of Belgium Waffles covered in syrup and strawberries. Next, there's maple-flavored bacon, sausage links, and scrambled eggs with hot sauce on top. The mixes of spice and sweetness swirl over Cory's tastebuds, and once the final bite is done, he pushes the plate away. CJ mimics his father, but shortly after he's finished, there's a noticeable belch that leaves all the adults laughing while CJ hunches in his seat, feeling slightly embarrassed.

Mrs. Trippet comes to get a quick chat with everyone while the diner is slow, "This was a wonderful surprise how I've missed shifts like these; seeing all of you together or in your small groups. Cory, welcome home sweetie. Simon, it's lovely to see you this morning too. Come by after I close up tonight. I'd love to have some time with you since my son stays so busy at City Hall. The meal is on the house, and I want to see you all in here again soon. Have a good day and stay safe; I love you all."

Everyone drops twenty dollars apiece and tidies up the table before shoving off. CJ runs to Cory's car, leaving Tara to ride with her mother. Along the way back to the house, Tara and her mother reminisce about their first few days in RiverCreek. Even Olivia has kept the same kind of car with a Honda Accord sedan.

"This brings back memories. You're riding in my car back home after a special day, and I know it's been special because of one thing. The smile that's been missing for years tells me that things may keep looking up. If your father were here, this would have been the perfect morning."

Tara hides her mouth with her hand, "It would have been great if daddy was here. It sounds corny, but it felt like we were a family while we were there. Rick and Lloyd have stuck by my side like the big brothers I never had, and Cory with CJ was perfect. Is that how it feels to be part of something like that?"

"It gets better the longer and deeper love grows in your heart. As CJ gets older, it'll sink in more. If, and only if, things are patched up between you two, and you do get married, it'll be tough even without the military issues. Marriage is the same as a full-time career. There are days you wonder why you got into it in the first place. On other days you'll be filled with so much joy and happiness that you'll want to burst to give it all to the world, so anyone and everyone will understand how you feel. You'll argue and fight some days, and on others, you'll feel like you'll die being apart. Other than the usual things I could keep blabbing about, I need to know one thing; has Cory started looking for a job?" Olivia asks.

"Okay, so yes and no. He wants to get some sessions with his therapist at the VA out of the way. Plus, Cory is going to register to take the state nursing exam, and he'll look into all of his options. I wanted him to move in with me ASAP, but Mrs. Dubois sat us down and explained that we needed to take it slow. I pray that he will find something closer to me and CJ, but I'm not going to hold my breath."

Over in the Celica, CJ is impressed with his father's car. He's observing everything Cory does by shifting and not taking his eyes off the road, "Wow, daddy! You are the goodest driver in the world. That's so cool!"

"I love this car, and it was your papaw who got it for me when I was fifteen. He knew the guy who bought it and knew he couldn't drive anymore after his knee surgery. So, papa bought it and did some work on it for me, and maybe one day it'll be yours. Oh, and CJ, it's best, not goodest, but I'd like to think that I am one of the best drivers ever."

Feeling ashamed, CJ slides down into his seat, "I'm sorry, daddy."

That's when Cory's heart melts, "It's okay, son, that's why I'm here to help you learn. Would you like me to help you learn all the things you want to know?"

"YES!" CJ screams and throws his arms in the air, nearly scaring Cory.

"That works for me, and just between us, are you mad at daddy for being gone for so long?"

At first, CJ is confused, but it doesn't take him long to speak up, "Mommy said you were helping boo-boos for the Army. If people get ouchies and you can help them, why would I be mad at my daddy? You're my hero for helping with big boo-boo's."

Instantly Cory feels his heart light on fire with more love for his son than he ever thought possible. All the years of being angry at Tara to become a jumbled mess of feeling like a fool, he does hold onto one question he has for Tara. He won't accept anything less than the truth when they're alone.

Once they arrive at Lorraine's home, she takes CJ into the living room for cartoons and apple slices with a juice box. Cory leans against the counter in the kitchen with his hands at his side, "He seems like such a sweet kid," Cory mentions with his eyes on CJ.

"That little boy is a spitting image of you and how you were when you were that age. Your father always called him Cory rather than CJ because of how much he reminded him of you. When you didn't come home, it tore your father apart. It took so much out of your father, but little Cory helped him hang on a bit longer," Lorraine says with a smile.

Lost in the world of cartoons, CJ doesn't notice when Cory gathers a change of clothes and sets his bag down on the couch, "CJ, buddy, daddy is going out for the day. I promise, one day soon, it's only you and me. Are you okay staying here with mamaw?"

"Yes, daddy, I love staying with mamaw. Besides, you promise that you will spend a whole big day with me. I would like that a lot, daddy."

Hearing the term 'daddy' helps Cory focus more on his question for Tara. Once he's loaded his bag into the back hatch of his Celica, Cory hits the road after sending Tara a text that he's on the way.

Tara quickly leaves her mother's house to rush home to meet Cory. Along the way there, she ponders what to do for dinner, but suddenly her memory dives deep into a special day in her life, and she stops at the grocery store close to her house, picking up a few select items. One item she does select that they couldn't enjoy back then is a bottle of wine and some tealight candles to make it more intimate. Tara plans to pull out all the stops to create a new sensation without sex. She plans to figure out this new chapter in her and Cory's lives to go the distance at the best pace she knows.

Bored of listening to music in his car, Cory takes out his cellphone to find anything to entertain himself. It takes Tara almost forty minutes to get through the store and arrive in the driveway. Cory's attention is pulled away from the phone when he hears the brakes squeak. Quickly noticing the paper bags in the backseat, Cory opens the rear passenger door and then scoops the bags in his arms. In their missing time, Tara has forgotten how much of a gentleman Cory can be at times. She takes the lead to unlock and open the door so that Cory can place the bags on the kitchen table. Quickly Tara hurries him away to keep from ruining the surprise for dinner. Tara puts all of the items into the refrigerator and then joins Cory outside on the back porch.

"This place is nice. I can see why you bought it. It's in a safe neighborhood; it's quiet, and the streets are clean. It feels safe here, and I like that. You've done such an amazing job raising CJ so far and providing him with a good home," Cory begins calmly in a seat at the table.

"To be honest, you helped to make this possible. Thanks to you not stopping the child support and other support from the Army, I saved up for the down payment. I never touched or used the garage. It's been saved for you. There are no tools out there, no holiday decorations, absolutely nothing but empty shelves. Your mother came up here with my mom to set up CJ's room. They painted and put the crib together while I was in the hospital with him when he caught RSV."

Old news being brought up on events that Cory missed sinks in on how much he's missed. Tara picks up on the negative vibes and takes Cory's hand, "You would have been here if you could have, I know that. I'm sorry for being the reason why you didn't come home for so long."

"Before we get into our evening and pre-date date, I have something to ask, and all I want is the truth. It's been almost seven years. Out of everything we've been through, why did you send me that letter that CJ had died by miscarriage?"

The question hits Tara hard, and it shows in her expression. Fear over that question has always been in the back of her mind, but no matter how hard she's tried to prepare, it catches her off guard.

"I wish I could find a better excuse. We were young, and I was afraid to leave my mom, especially after my dad died. I wasn't ready to possibly travel around the world with a newborn. It felt like you wanted to leave us behind when you left. I love you, but part of me wasn't ready to leave," Tara says with tears forming in her eyes.

"I can understand being scared. Hell, I was afraid every day after I left home. I had a dream for us, but if you weren't ready, you could have told me, and we could have made arrangements. So I was left crushed when I read that letter. It changed my entire life, Tara; I thought we had lost our child, and when I was forced to come home is when I found out about him. I lost out on some of the most important days of his young life. I missed CJ's first steps, first words, and first elementary school day. Those can't be repeated, and what if we don't work things out?"

The realization slams into Tara like a car hitting a wall at sixty miles per hour. She begins to draw her hand back, but Cory stops her when she continues to talk, "But, we have this amazing little boy, and I won't miss out on anything else. I have been thinking about what my mother said, and tonight we start over. So, hi there, my name's Cory Dubois. I'm a discharged Sergeant from the Army with a wonderful little boy who is the apple of my eye."

How corny Cory comes across is enough to make Tara feel better as she plays along, "Hello Cory, I am Tara Rose. I have this beautiful little boy who is my life, and I love my job of managing an Italian restaurant, and I love my life."

They joke back and forth for a while sharing everything from the missing years. Finally, Cory mentions the guys who disobeyed orders which helped save his life.

"So, while I was lying in a hospital bed, the guy who disobeyed and entered from the back of the building, his name is Jordan, Jordan Mitchell. He's from somewhere down South. I can't remember where since I was still a bit loopy. He could have spent most of his life in a military prison, but they somehow worked out a deal and a slap on the wrist from what I've heard from friends before I was sent home."

Tara maintains eye contact with Cory when she replies, "I'm glad he did; otherwise, you might not be here. If you had died, I don't know what I would have done or how I would have told CJ. I lost my dad and your dad too. Losing you soon after just ain't what I have in mind."

Trying to comfort her, Cory gets to his feet and takes Tara by the hand to lead her inside, where he finds a song on YouTube for a slow dance. However, the gesture leaves Tara's heart skipping a beat when she cozzies up to Cory's body with her ear against his chest, listening to his heartbeat. After the song ends, Tara takes Cory over to the couch, where they sit and kiss for several minutes.

"That was wonderful, thank you, Cory," Tara whispers with her head against his shoulder.

"Anything for you to make up for lost time. I want this to last forever, Tara."

Their time is spent listening to music while continuing to cuddle until the evening sun begins to shift in the sky. Before Tara heads for the kitchen, she texts Lorraine to check on CJ, and when a photo comes back that they're enjoying pizza and a movie, Tara heads into the kitchen, where she takes out the pork chops and collects the seasonings and spices

Cory relaxes on the couch, but after he catches a whiff of the food, something inside him latches to a familiar memory, but he can't put his finger on which one. Moved by the smells from the kitchen, Cory is stopped before he spoils the surprise, "Don't go any further! Dinner tonight is a surprise, and you will not ruin it. Consider it one of my specialties. CJ even has a soft spot for what I'm making, which I guess he got from you."

"Okay, I'll back off, but it does smell good. It reminds me of one time you cooked, but I can't remember when. There's something familiar about all of this, but I can't put my finger on it yet."

"You'll see in a bit. Now scoot! I'll holler for you when it's done," Tara says without looking back at Cory.

Cory is stuck sitting on the couch for another fifteen minutes but forced to be left alone on the couch; Cory texts Rick until he hears, "Dinner's done!"

Over at the table, Cory sees two plates with lit tea candles and two glasses of white wine. The sight matches the smell of pork chops, mashed potatoes, and assorted veggies with yeast rolls. The memory pops back in Cory's mind of the first time Tara made dinner for her parents and him the game after his opening hockey game.

"Now I remember! The day I met your dad after the game when Frankie was all busted up," Cory nearly shouts.

"Yes! That day returned to my mind, but we can enjoy some wine instead of sweet tea this time. It was a magical date at home, and I had everyone I loved under one roof, but that was before I realized that I was falling in love with you. All of that feels like a lifetime ago, but the images are still sharp in my mind. I hope this is okay."

Cory smiles and goes over to Tara for a kiss, "It's perfect. There is no better way to rekindle things than to revisit what put us on the road in the first place."

Still the gentleman, Cory pulls out Tara's chair and helps her scoot close to the table. After Cory takes his place, Tara puts her hands together to say a quick prayer, and Cory bows his head with his hands on the table.

Every bite sends Cory's tastebuds into another dimension. It's the first time he's experienced Tara's cooking prior to leaving for Basic Combat Training. Tara sees how well he's enjoying the smells and tastes with every bite with a look of delight, "I take it that I still have a half-decent touch at cooking."

Cory tries to hurry with the food in his mouth, "Oh God, yes. I haven't eaten this good in years. I've missed how good your food tastes, and don't get me wrong, my mom has always been good at cooking, but you have special skills."

The compliment leaves goosebumps all over Tara's body. She finishes dinner, but Cory takes their plates and glasses to wash them and place them in the dish strainer. He also washes the pots and pans before drying his hands to join Tara on the couch to watch a movie until they both feel tired.

Tara leads the way to her bedroom up the steps and to the last door on the left. Cory's blown away at the sight of the queen-size bed with every piece of furniture comprising oak, including the bed frame. Next, he's led over to one of the softest pillow top mattresses he's ever laid on. Tara disappears to her ensuite and comes out wearing a double XL t-shirt with nothing on underneath it. Cory excuses himself to get his bag and returns to strip down to slip into a pair of basketball shorts and a muscle shirt. Once they're under the covers, they pick up where they left off in the living room, making out. They try not to push each other's buttons, but when Cory slips his hand up her shirt and feels her naked breasts, Tara nearly gives in to Cory's touch.

"We need to stop! Otherwise, I'm going to make you drop those shorts and show you how much I've missed you," Tara says between deep breaths.

"Okay! Okay! Let's stop and try to relax," Cory suggests and begins to stare at the ceiling.

When their hormones drop, Tara falls asleep rolled over on her side while Cory lies there staring at the ceiling. It takes Cory nearly two hours to finally fall asleep, and when he's fast asleep, his body and mind relax so he can remain asleep for the first time in a long time.