Aria had the worst week of her... well, entire life. She didn't eat anything, barely talked to the kids, and just felt hopeless. Caroline went outside for bit, walking around town alone. She spotted Sage... she thought, and walked over, looking down at him. "Hi Dad." She said. "Mom is sad." She said, kicking dirt around with her shoe. "Can... can I hold your hand?" She asked quietly. The little girl looked down at her dad with her curious, blue eyes. She never had (that she remembered) held his hand before. Maybe when she was a baby, but she didn't remember any of that now.

Sage was startled to see Caroline there by herself and sort of just stared at her for a moment before standing up and limping over to her to hold his hand out to her. "Sure, kiddo," he hummed happily. "where is your mom? Are you here all by yourself," he asked. That wasn't good....she was still too young to be off on her own in town like this. "Why don't we get you back home before she worries," he finally decided. That would be best.

Caroline beamed, and held his hand. She looked up and smiled at her dad with a happy giggle. She listened to him asking all the questions. "Mom is at home. She is ignoring me." Caroline said. "Can I stay here with you? I want to be with both of my parents." Caroline said. She loved Aria, but she wanted Sage to be with her again... As a family.

Sage shook his head gently but smiled down at the girl. "no, I don't have a house or food for you," he told her with a sigh. "but I'll walk you back home, alright," he promised her. He hoped Aria was at least looking for her.

Caroline pulled back. "No! I don't want to go home!" The little girl cried. "I don't want just Mom! My mom wants you back too!" Caroline said sadly. Aria ended up walking around, trying to look for Caroline.

Sage sighed slightly and nodded. "ok, ok," he told her. "If I promise to stay near you and at least stop by will you come home," he asked her. "I can't stay there now...but I can say hi every day," he told her. He was trying..he did want to spend time with her...but he was also busy. And he didn't want them to get hurt because of him.

Caroline thought for a second. She didn't know what to say. Did she want to go home? The little girl looked down and shoved her hands in her pockets. She turned to look back up at Sage. "Do you still love my mom?" She asked curiously. Aria had turned the corner and noticed Caroline with... Sage? She hurried over and grabbed the little girl's hand. "Com'on Caroline. We need to go home." She said quietly. Her long, wavy brown hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail. Caroline shook her head. "Nope." She said with a pout. Aria sighed lightly. She looked over at Sage, her green eyes filled with shame and guilt. "Um..." She started. "If you want to, you can stay with your dad...?" Aria wondered quietly. Caroline nodded and beamed excitedly. "You too!" She exclaimed. Aria looked down. "I'm sorry Caroline. I-.... I just can't." She whispered sadly.

Sage sighed and took his hand back when Caroline put her hands in her pockets. "Of course I do," he told her quietly. "Things just... Got complicated," he sighed, then groaned when he saw Aria come over, and Caroline wanted to stay with him. He shook his head and looked over at Aria before looking down again. "No, she can't stay with me...I don't have shelter or food or ... anything," he told her. He was obviously pained when Aria said she couldn't be by him ....it hurt, but what was he really expecting?

Caroline listened to their conversation. "You know what?! You guys work it out!" She yelled, stomping away back to the house. "Oh and by the way!? Dad still loves you Mom!" Caroline yelled back at them. Aria shook her head and looked over at Sage. "This is all my fault... I never should've left you. All it did was mess things up more." The girl said. She just wanted to be held in his arms, like what it used to be like. But she was hesitant to even hug him...

Sage sighed slightly and slid down the wall so he could slump down, and leaned against the wall so he could close his eyes. He was always so tired now....that was probably the fact that he almost never was able to eat anything anymore. But he shook his head in response to her comment before opening his eyes to look over at her. "no, it was my fault....I made you feel like you had to leave," he murmured. "And I am sorry, believe it or not," he added. He looked longingly in the direction Caroline had stormed off in and sighed again. "Live was so much simpler then," he mused. "better." He wanted to hold her, to be held by her, to feel her gentle touch again....but she'd left. She didn't want him, did she?