"Ash."

"Yes?"

Misty turned to look at the digital watch. She looked at Ash. "It's four in the morning."

"I know." Ash nodded slowly. "My mind is sleeping but my body is awake."

"Ash."

"Yeah?"

The two parents haven't had any sleep. They were tired, Ash was halfway his bottle of wine and Misty was still trying to get the idea through her head.

"How are you going to tell them?" She asked him. "They're going to be crushed!"

"But this is our life, right?" Ash defended. "We have the right to leave. We need our space and our kids need their space too." He looked at her. "We have our family now, Mist. We need our home."

"Your parents are family too..." Misty trailed off.

"I told you because I knew you'd support me in this, Mist." He spoke. "You had to give up on everything and come live here with me! I know it was hard for you to leave the city and come here-"

"I came for you-"

"I know!" Ash sighed. "But just think about it: we'll be living in Viridian city. I have the wine store there, you have your job there, and we get to pick schools for the kids! We wouldn't have to drive every day for work — it's not like you don't know what the city is like! You grew up in one."

Misty frowned and looked at Ash. "I don't know. It's so out of the blue, so sudden..."

"It's not so sudden! I was just putting money aside." He pulled closer and grabbed Misty's hand. "I've had the idea since the girls were born."

She squeezed his hand. "I see."

"What about when the kids grow up?"

"I get it..."

"Come on, Mist, don't tell me you never thought about moving!" He exclaimed and let a small chuckle. "You weren't thinking we'd live here forever, were you?"

Misty chuckled. "I don't know..." She looked down at her hands. "I like living here."

"What?" Ash blinked. "Are you for real?"

She stared at him.

"Come on, don't do that! Don't say that just to make me happy. Don't be a fake wife."

"I'm not being fake." She spoke calmly. "I like it here. You wouldn't understand because you grew up in this house."

"It's why I'm trying to leave!"

"Well, I didn't grow up in a house like this, Ash." Misty spoke. "I barely saw my father, we never ate together, we never reunited in the living room and laughed — we wouldn't even know if everyone is home. And honestly, I don't even know if my grandparents are alive or not. I don't remember the last time I saw them."

Ash remained silent.

"I mean, at least you know your grandfather passed away!" Misty brushed her hair behind her ear.

"You're getting off topic, Mist." Ash shook his head. "Your father was on tour-"

"Ash." She cut him off. "I have five children who opened their eyes to their grandparents and to this house. They run around and play chase in the yards. They ride their bikes in the vineyards. I can't let you take them to live in a box."

"It's a duplex."

"Both end with an x."

Ash chuckled. "You should see it. It's got enough space."

Misty glanced over at him.

"I even thought about the extra bed in Elliot's bedroom for when grandma comes."

"Oh my God. What are you going to do with Elliot?" Misty put her hand over her mouth. "He's going to be so sad about leaving her."

"He'll grow up."

"I really don't know what to say to you..." Misty sighed heavily.

"Come on! All you have to do is say yes." Ash gabbed her hand and kissed it. "Ryan gets to be near that girl of his."

"That's another reason for us not to move! After the baseball game, he was talking to her and checking out her boobs!"

"She comes here anyway so he will always be looking at her boobs." Ash kissed Misty's hand again. "Say yes, Mist. Say yes to my devious plan so I can feel good about it."

"At least you know it's devious." She pulled her hand away and pushed him.

"Come on!" Ash pulled closer. "Do you think Ryan could bring a girl someday to this house? How many approvals he'd need?"

Misty let a chuckle. She looked at him again. "Mine, your parents', your grandmother's."

"That's no good deal."

"Okay, Ash, you win. But just so you know; I'm not the one telling your parents about this decision."

"Well, I was hoping you'd be the one telling them." Ash bit his lip. "I'm their son. I can't tell them."

"I can't either. I'm their daughter-in-law." Misty suddenly gasped. "It's even worse! They'd say I'm the one taking you away from them! I'd look so evil!"

"They woooon't!" Ash frowned. "They can't snap at you! They love you. If I tell them, though..."

"They will snap at you but they will get it through their heads if you convince them."

"Can I tell them you want to move?"

"No!" Misty slapped his arm. "Don't!" She lay down and slapped his arm again. "Don't you dare use me as an excuse!"

"What? But I only told you all of this so I can use you as an excuse!"