Janie is putting together a playlist on her phone while the song for her next dance competition plays and she does small movements out of habit and trying to be more fluent in it. She's standing next to August who is taking pictures.

"Oh, hey. Is it okay if I use your camera?" August asks his mom when she walks out to the car to load it up.

"Of course. I was hoping you'd pick it up." Emily tells him, putting the stuff in the trunk of the car.

"Well, uh, what should I take a picture of?" August asks. Emily thinks before striking a pose.

"Something to remember me by." Emily says and August takes a picture of her.

"Stella, are you sure about basketball? You're so good at soccer." Emily says to her daughter who is dribbling a basketball while August goes back to taking pictures. Emily kicks the basketball to Stella who kicks it back.

Emily's phone rings and she answers it.

"Hey, baby. You on your way?" Emily asks. After hanging up, she turns back to Stella. "Hit me." They kick the ball back and forth a few times. "See?" She says making Stella chuckle.

Emily goes over to Janie who is copying the video she recorded from dance practice, trying to get the moves down. Emily gets to her and starts disco dancing.

"Oh, God, mom, please don't." Janie laughs.

"Don't worry. You'll do great in your competition next week." Emily assures, brushing some hair behind her younger daughter's ear. "You always crush it. And remember, I'll be the loudest person there."

"You know, you could cheer and support silently too." Janie says.

"Oh, you love it." Emily says and Janie smiles a little, glad that her mom is supportive.

"Yeah, whatever." Janie grumbles, pretending to not accept the affection which makes Emily smile and kiss her on the cheek.

Bonham gets there and Emily walks over to him, talking to him. Janie tunes the conversation out, focusing on her dancing. She hears a shutter and turns to see August took a picture of her.

"Seriously?" Janie asks and August innocently grins.

"Love you!" Emily calls as she gets ready to leave.

"Bye, mom. Love you." August replies.

"Love you." Janie calls, sending her mom a smile.

"Love you." Emily tells her oldest.

"Love you, mom." Stella smiles at her.

Emily gets in the car and start to drive off, her children and parents-in-law waving bye.

+++

They get back to Bonham and Abilene's house after Emily's funeral, all silently making their way inside.

They're all sat in the living room, Janie, August, Cordell, and Stella on one couch. Bret and Liam are on the other couch while Bonham and Abilene are in an armchairs right next to each other. Janie is playing with her rings, the thing she hasn't stopped doing since she woke up this morning.

"You know, your mom would probably tell a joke right now." Cordell says. "lift the tension, make everyone feel more comfortable. I loved that about her. She had this one. Uh, what did the ghost say to the bee? "Boo, bee."" Cordell says making everybody laugh.

"What did the twig say to the windshield wiper? "Leaf me alone."" Stella says and they all laugh again.

"Wait, what was the one about the nurse with one finger?" Liam asks.

"No." Bonham laughs.

"She could never get to the punchline without laughing." August says.

"The setup's all you need." Bonham says.

"You okay?" Liam asks Cordell as he gets up.

"Yeah. Yeah, um... uh, I'll be right back." Cordell says before walking out.

The siblings share a sad look, Janie still messing with her rings.

+++

August and Janie are sitting on the bench outside of the school while Stella paces next to them as they wait for their dad. Janie is resting her head on August's shoulder, playing with her rings. She hasn't talked much the past two months, only speaking when she absolutely has to or feels like it -- the second option being rare.

"Late again." Stella sighs.

"Yeah, I know. And he was doing really good, too." August says.

"For, like, the first week." Stella says. "Then he forgot about us. Twice. And now he's late. Again."

"Just learn how to drive. And get your license. Please." August says. Stella sits on the bench on the other side of her sister.

"Dad needs help. He's working too much and I don't think he's sleeping." Stella says. "He'll show up for breakfast, but it's in last night's clothes."

"How are we supposed to help him? Like, seriously, what are we even supposed to do?" August asks. He doesn't sit up like he planned to, not wanting to make Janie move.

"Is that gramps' truck?" Stella asks and the twins follow her gaze, finding the parked vehicle. They get their stuff and walk over to it, finding their dad passed out in the driver's seat.

"Well, he isn't late." Janie says. The other two look at her and she shrugs.

"Should we wake him up?" August asks.

"Yeah. But what if he passes out behind the wheel?" Stella asks. "Help me out." Janie gets in the backseat as August gets in the passenger seat. They manage to get Cordell in between the front two seats and Stella gets in the driver's seat.

Stella drives them home and once they get there, she turns the car off and the twins get out.

"Do you think he knows how bad it is?" August asks. "Uh, whenever you have that look in your eye, something crazy happens."

"Yeah, usually never a good crazy either." Janie says.

"He needs a wake up call. Before we lose him, too. Augie, Jane, back up." Stella tells them.

Stella starts the car as the twins back away a safe distance. They watch as Stella turns the car, crashing into the post. August drops his stuff out of shock as Janie's mouth falls open. Stella gets out and runs over to her siblings, the three standing a little bit away from the car since the twins raced forward a bit.

Cordell woke up and gets out of the car, looking at the damage.

"Oh, my God!" They hear Abilene exclaim. "What happened? Are you all right?" She asks her grandchildren.

"Cordell." Bonham calls, getting his son's attention. "You fall asleep at the wheel? Are you out of your mind?!"

"Come on, kids." Abilene starts to lead them inside.

"Mom, mom, wait. I-I..." Cordell tries to talk, but Abilene makes the kids go inside.

"Damn, son." Bonham says, following them inside.

+++

The kids, Abilene, Liam, Captain James, and Stan are gathered in the living room. Abilene, Stella, Janie, and August are on the couch. Liam is in a yellow armchair while Stan and Larry are on a different couch.

Bonham and Cordell walk in.

"Liam. When did you get here?" Cordell asks.

"I, uh, I took the redeye." Liam informs.

"What's going on?" Cordell asks as Bonham stands behind the couch his wife and grandkids occupy.

"Have a seat, honey." Abilene tells him.

"Yeah. Yeah." Cordell nods, sitting on the stool that faces everyone.

"We're all worried, Cordell." Abilene says. "And we just want to help. All of us. We know how hard it's been, and that you're trying. But you've been burning it at both ends, and after what happened yesterday, well that can't happen again."

Janie gives her sister a pointed look, but Stella only gives her a look back making Janie roll her eyes.

"Frankly, I'm still a little fuzzy about what exactly did happen." Cordell says.

"Dad, you fell asleep behind the wheel and crashed the truck outside. We were all really scared." Stella says. Cordell looks between his children and Janie only looks down, not wanting to make eye contact, so she focuses on her rings that she's messing with.

"I must've, uh... I'm so sorry." Cordell says.

"Listen, partner, maybe it wasn't the best thing to rush back to work." Larry says.

"We need you at your best, Cordell." Stan says.

"Yeah, okay, uh, I get it. You know, you both know how many open investigations I have going on right now." Cordell says.

"Does that include Emily?" Larry asks.

"What?" Cordell asks.

"I know you've been looking into what happened that night." Larry says.

"We heard you've been calling in favors on a case that's closed. My office what stand for that." Stan says.

"Is that what this is? You're taking my badge?" Cordell asks.

"Didn't say that. Now, listen to me. This is about more than just a badge, all right? This is about your life. About this family. About doing what's right. Cordell, this cannot go on." Stan states.

"Uh, you're right. You're right." Cordell says after a few moments. "You're all right. Maybe it's best if I, uh, get out of here for a while."

"I don't think anybody's saying that." Liam says.

"Look-look what I did. I can't be putting all of you in danger. And... the look on all of your faces right now. I gotta get my head screwed on straight." Cordell says. "Uh, hit reset. Um... you mentioned a job out of town. Uh, I can go where I'm needed."

"No, I don't think..." Larry starts.

"Wait, no, dad. We're fine. We need you here." Stella states, but Cordell puts his hand up, signaling her to stop.

"I don't care what job is out of town, Cordell. This is your family." Abilene states.

"Yeah. And I got to protect them. Right now, they're better off with you, mama." Cordell says, standing up. "This is what's best."

"Dad, come on." August says, standing in front of his dad, stopping him from leaving. "Just-just please, just-just stay with us." August pleads.

"Yeah, no, we can start coping together or something. Go to family therapy or something. You don't need to leave. You can stay here. Please." Janie tells him, standing next to her brother, tears stinging at her eyes.

Everybody's hearts break a little as these are the most words Janie has said since Emily died and they're used to beg her dad to stay.

"Hey, I'll be back, all right. It's gonna be quick. Couple of weeks. I promise." Cordell states. He puts August on the shoulder before leaving.

Janie doesn't feel that she'll be able to push the tears back so she races out, going to the bedroom she sleeps in.

+++

It's a few days after Cordell left and they're all still coping. Liam is staying for a few more days until he goes back to New York and the kids have officially moved in with their grandparents. Janie hasn't spoken a word since her dad left.

Bonham and Abilene are currently running errands, Stella is out with her friends, and Liam and August are outside by the horses.

Janie goes into her room after she finished the dishes and she shuts the door behind her. She stops, looking around her room, spotting all the pictures and things her family have gotten her throughout the years.

Janie's eyes land on the baseball bat she keeps between her bed and her nightstand. Janie suddenly feels rage overcome her and she storms over, grabbing the bat and hitting it repeatedly on her bed. After a few minutes of doing that, her mind decides it isn't enough so she hits the lamp on her nightstand. Janie swings the bat down onto the nightstand after that and creates a few splits in it, denting it a tiny bit.

Janie goes to her dresser and swings the bat, knocking all the stuff off of it, sending it all flying across the room.

Janie is oblivious to the tears streaming down her face until she feels one land on her wrist. She looks down, seeing the water droplet on her skin and that both makes her sob yet fuels her anger.

Janie lets out a yell, hitting the dresser repeatedly, not caring how much damage she causes to it. Janie sees the jewelry box that her father gifted to her for her 5th birthday that she's always loved so much, mostly because of the ballerina that spins to music when you open the box.

It lies with the lid ajar, it not open enough for the ballerina and music to be playing. Janie drops the bat, picks the jewelry box up, and launches it at the wall. The box breaks into pieces, all crashing to the floor.

Janie grabs a framed picture of her and her parents, throwing it at the wall too. She lets out a small angered scream, throwing whatever she can find at the wall.

She's angry.

She's angry at her mom being gone forever. She's angry that it had to be her mom. She's angry at the person who took Emily away. She's angry at her dad not sticking around and being with them when they need him most. She's angry that she's in so much pain. She's hurt. She's angry that she's hurt.

Liam and August had heard some of the noises and went inside to find out what it was. Once they realized it was coming from Janie's room, they immediately rushed to her room, opening the door while the girl is throwing stuff at the wall.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Liam rushes to her and grabs her wrists, gently but firmly, getting her to drop the stuffed animal in her hands that she was going to throw at the wall. "Hey, it's okay."

"No, it's not!" Janie yells. "It's not!" She sobs. "She's gone! He's gone! He left! We need him and he left! We need her and she's gone! We lost both of them!"

"It's okay. Hey, you'll get him back. It'll be okay." Liam tries to comfort.

"I want her back, too." Janie cries.

"I know, sweetheart." Liam says, pulling his niece into a hug. Janie begins to hysterically sob, the sadness catching up with all her anger. She loses the strength in her legs, relying on Liam to hold her up. Liam slowly gets them to sit on the floor, keeping her in a tight, comforting grip. She clings onto his shirt like a lifeline while sobbing into his shoulder.

"I just want them back." She says through her sobs.

"I know, Jane. I know." Liam whispers, stroking her hair. He looks over to August who is watching them with tears running down his face that he wipes away, trying to stop, but tears still fall. August looks around at the mess from her throwing and destroying everything. He spots the broken jewelry box.

After a while, Janie's sobs manage to calm and she's only sniffling. She seems to realize the amount of emotional turmoil she just went through and looks around her room.

"Oh, my God. What did I do?" She asks.

"You let your emotions out. That's a good thing." Liam tells her. "We just gotta find a less destructive way to do it." Liam says and Janie nods, still looking around. Her eyes land on the pieces of the jewelry box.

"I broke the jewelry box." She gasps. More tears well up in her eyes and she begins to sob again. "I broke the jewelry box!" She cries.

"Hey, hey, we can fix it, all right? We'll get it fixed. I promise." Liam tells her and she nods. Liam pulls her into another hug and she hugs him back as tight as possible. Liam beckons August over and the boy walks over, sitting down, and joining the hug, one arm around his uncle, the other around his sister.

+++

August helped Janie clean up her room while Liam collected all the broken items and took them out to the barn to see if he could fix them or get his dad's help.

The twins finish cleaning the room and Janie sits at her bed, looking at her dented nightstand before looking at her broken dresser.

"Gramps and mawline will probably buy you a new dresser and nightstand." August says, sitting next to her.

"Yeah, if they don't send me to a psych ward first." Janie scoffs.

"You went on a little rampage. And you're a person who never yells and tries to show very small amounts, if any amount, of anger. I'm sure they'll understand." August tells her. "Although, maybe we should keep this in a different room." August smiles a little, picking the bat up.

"Ha-ha." Janie fake laughs making August laugh. The laughs die down, leaving the two in silence.

"I wish he didn't leave." August mumbles.

"I know. So do I." Janie agrees. She leans her head on August's shoulder and he rests his head on top of hers. "You think he's ever coming back?" She asks.

"We're his kids. Of course he will." August says.

"Yeah." Janie mumbles, but she doesn't think she fully believes it.

+++

5 months ago

Janie follows August into the living room where Liam, Stella, and their grandparents are. August is carrying a green container box and wearing Christmas slippers that have jingle bells on them. Janie is wearing a pair, but only because she lost rock paper scissors to August. She also has a Santa hat on and some Christmas themed jewelry, including Gingerbread man earrings.

"What's up, Uncle Liam?" August greets. "Home for the holidays?"

"Yeah, looks that way." Liam says.

"Hey, twins. Star or angel this year?" Stella asks.

The twins look at each other while debating.

"Star." They speak in unison.

"The fact that you don't do it often, somehow makes it creepier when you do that." Liam says making everybody chuckle.

"The star reminds me of dad." August says.

"Star it is." Bonham says.

They put the ladder by the tree and August gets up, pretending not sure where to put it until he finally puts the star at the top.

+++

It's Christmas Eve and Janie is lying in her bed, messing with her rings, while staring at the ceiling. She can't believe she's having her first Christmas without both of her parents. She knew she would've expected it without her mom after she died, but she figured that her dad would still be here.

Janie's door opens a little and she immediately pretends to be asleep, assuming it's one of her grandparents.

"Tot." She hears August whisper. Janie opens her eyes, looking over at him. "Wanna have a sleepover?" Janie smiles and nods. August shuts the door behind him and walks over to her bed, putting his pillow and blanket down, laying down.

"It's too different this year." August says.

"Yeah, I know." Janie sighs. "Would've been nice if he at least made it home for Christmas somehow."

August holds his hand out and Janie holds it.

"Mawline and gramps will make up for it, though. And Uncle Liam." August says.

"Yeah... just not the same." Janie says.

"It wouldn't be the same even if he was here." August says.

"You know what I meant, dude." Janie says, slightly rolling her eyes.

"Yeah." August mutters. "Well, goodnight." He whispers.

"Night." Janie whispers back.