A car service picked me up when I landed in Duluth. I chucked to myself and texted Sam.

"See, I'm not crazy!" He texted back, and I knew he felt validated.

Pulling up to Billy's farmhouse was still a sight to see. How close it had been to my vision always stirred something in me. I could see the family roaming the living room through the front windows. Tim and Billy chatted by the turntable. Tess, Mary, and Sarah chatted from their spots on the couch and chair. It was homey and welcoming, but still made me pause. Suddenly, this didn't feel like my life. I didn't belong here. I belonged in Maine with Sam. Instinctively, my hand lifted to my necklace as a small sense of relief calmed me.

"Hey," Billy popped his head out the front door. "Forget how to use a door?" He teased.

"Sorry," I absently said as the last of the thoughts slipped away. "Long day of travel."

"Come in. We'll only hold you hostage in small talk for dinner. Then you can run away to your room," he promised.

"Deal." I smiled.

We stood there for a moment as the chill of the evening invaded the day and gazed at each other. At the moment, I could feel us change more than any declaration had ever enacted. Words weren't needed; life had just taken care of it. I expected a sense of mourning, but there was no loss. Billy was right in front of me, holding his door open.

"I hope this never changes," I murmured as I neared.

As though he had heard my thought, he responded with, "I'll make sure you get a key."

It was deeper than an 'I love you;' it was an 'I'll be there for you.'

"Look who I found lurking around the front," Billy announced as we joined the others in the living room.

"Call the cops. She looks nefarious," Tim teased as he approached for a hug.

"You'd never!" I jested back.

"Yeah, I'm more of the guy sitting next to you in the cell than the rat that put you there," Tim agreed.

"How are you, Timmy?" I asked as we hugged.

"Getting married. Can you believe it?" He squeezed me as he spoke.

"If I didn't know Tess, I'd say no way, but you two make me a believer."

"Okay, okay. You have to share her since you commandeered her for all of life," Tess poked from behind us.

"What?" I asked as Tess and I embraced.

"Oh, you didn't hear the plan? Even though you are my maid of honor, Timmy called dibs on you this week," Tess complained.

"She was my best friend first. Sorry, not sorry." Tim shrugged.

"Um, what does that mean? Because I'm not going to a strip club," I winced.

"Neither am I," Billy announced from his spot on the couch with his arm around Sarah.

"Road trip," Tim announced. "The three amigos and one itty bitty living space." Glee permeated his voice.

"No," I deflected.

"Oh, yes," Billy confirmed. "Sam shitty Winnebago that brought the band together the first time."

"I'm both horrified and jealous," Tess laughed.

"What?" I was still in shock.

"We leave tomorrow. We're going to hit up a Cubs game in Chicago and be back for Friday night's rehearsal dinner." The excitement bubbled in Tim's words.

"Three days, two nights of road-tripping," Billy echoed.

"But wait, what is Tess doing?" I meekly asked.

"Rough week for us girls: champagne dress fitting, a spa day, private chef dinner," Tess teased.

"I'm not sure we'll survive," Sarah agreed.

"And I get to live in a Winnebago with Tweddle Dee and Tweddle Dum," I groaned. "I know why you didn't tell me until I got here."

"You're Dum," Billy shot to Tim.

"It's my wedding week. You're Dum," Tim argued.

"You're going to use that all week, huh?" Billy griped.

"Well, you only get one wedding week," Tim shot back.

"That's right, babe," Tess agreed.

"Well, I guess I should just be happy you haven't been citing your wedding month, like this one and her birthday," Billy nodded to me.

"Um, are you complaining about celebrating my birth?" I indignantly furrowed my brow.

"People celebrate their birthday, not birth month," Billy argued.

"People are doing it wrong," I offered.

"Agreed," Tess nodded. "Change approved!"

"That's not a thing!" Billy countered. "You can't just say change approved and make it a social convention."

"Yes, you can," Tess flatly said.

"Agreed! Change approved!" I laughed.

"Mom, will you tell them this isn't how things work?" Billy whined.

"Really?" I raised an eyebrow at him.

"You are a grown man, dear. Fight your own fights," Mary sagely offered.

"Yeah, you just lost the sound argument by going to your mom," Sarah agreed.

"Et tu, Brute?" Billy challenged.

Billy pouted.

"Aw, you're cute when you're pathetic," Sarah cooed.

"With that, I think we should eat," Mary offered.

We gathered around the table in Billy's formal dining room, which felt far too fancy for the group and topics of discussion. Tim and Billy were both quite nostalgic about our summer in the RV as they told many of that summer's shenanigans.

"Has Tim ever told you why Lil won't allow us to have rubber balls?" Billy asked Tess.

"Um, no, and why would a grown man even want rubber balls?" Tess responded.

"These two would always pick up rubber balls from those machines at gas stations. Then they would pull them out when we were in elevators and whip them around," I explained.

"Oh my, it's a wonder no one lost an eye," Sarah mused.

"Thank you!" I said with relief that someone finally saw my side.

"This from the woman that bought Billy that damn cane!" Tim grumbled.

"It's not for that," Mary and I said in unison.

Billy dipped his head and dutifully responded with a "sorry, ma'am," despite not having the cane in hand.

"I can't believe you would sully my gift for such a childish use," I condemned.

For a moment, actual sorrow crossed Billy's face, but then he mustered, "but it's Tim."

"That's not what it's for," Mary and I scolded again.

"Yes. I heard you the first time," Billy grumbled before downing the rest of his wine in one large gulp.

"Well, I'm sorry to put a damper on the fun, but I traveled most of the day and am about to turn into a pumpkin," I announced.

"Me too!" Mary echoed.

"It was so great to see everyone, and apparently, I'll see you all again on Friday," I added as I stood.

There were the obligatory exiting hugs before I could slip away to my room. I packed very little since I knew Billy had my room well stocked. Within minutes, I had set up my phone charger and was headed to the shower to wash away the airport. My hand glided over my ring as I showered, sending a sense of peace through me.

I had just gotten my pajamas on and was about to settle into bed when a soft knock on the door came.

"Hey," I whispered as I opened the door to Billy, holding a tray with two cups of tea on it.

"Awake enough for a visit?" He asked.

"Always." I smiled as I stepped aside to let him in.

He set the tray down on the coffee table and flicked on the fireplace before settling in one of the overstuffed leather chairs. I settled in the other, as we silently busied ourselves with our cups of tea.

I broke the silence with, "I love this room."

"Mmhmm," Billy said as he glanced out the window. "The master has a similar setup."

"You did a wonderful job with this place," I continued.

"Well, someone had a great vision."

I smiled before sipping my tea.

"You seem good, Lil. Relaxed," he noted.

"Yeah, I feel good. Things seem to be falling into place."

"Yeah, things feel almost right," he agreed.

"Almost?" I questioned.

"Yeah." Billy's shy eyes met mine, and instantly I was taken back to the shy boy in my doorway, ashamed that he hadn't stayed in better touch. "You know you can tell me anything, right?" He asked.

"Of course, I tell you everything." My mind was scrambling at what had hurt him.

"Not everything," he murmured as he set his tea down. But he didn't straighten back into his seat. He stayed crouched over with his arms on his thighs and head in his hands.

I knew then what he was referring to, and my hand instinctually when to my necklace.

"You were holding it on the porch. I probably wouldn't have noticed otherwise," Billy noted.

"I wasn't hiding it from you. I just didn't want to steal the spotlight from Tim and Tess," I explained.

"I figured, but..."

"It still feels like I kept it from you," I apologetically said. "I'm sorry, Billy."

"Are you happy, Lil?" Billy's hazel eyes flickered to mine.

"Yes. Sam gives me comfort and peace," I acknowledged.

Billy dropped his gaze to the floor as he silently nodded to himself. "I thought it'd hurt; another man making you happy."

"But?" I prodded.

"But I'm happy and a bit relieved. Maybe a little worried about how I fit," he admitted.

"You give me safety and security," I offered. "I know no matter what, you'll be there. At least, I hope you will be there."

"I can't imagine anything that would tear me away from you," Billy agreed.

"Nor I you," I echoed. "I truly don't know what I would do without you. Be lonely, I'm sure," I admitted.

"You have Sam." Billy sat back now, more relaxed now that the air was cleared.

"Yes, but..." I paused, trying to collect the right words.

"You trust him, right?" Billy pressed.

"Of course, but he's left me before. There are limited to Sam and me. We have no limits, Billy. I can't imagine anything worse than what we've already been through."

"I get that," Billy agreed.

"You do?" I was surprised.

"Of course, Sarah left me once, too," he reminded.

"Are you happy, Billy?" I asked.

He picked up his teacup as he thought for at least a minute. "I am. This all feels oddly right. I'm surprised at where we ended up, but I am happy."

"Great, then can we please discuss how on earth you let Tim talk you into this road trip?" I poked.

Billy let out his throaty laugh that filled the room as we dissolved into our familiar cadence.