They were parked behind Doug and Mallory's small, ranch style house. Renne stared straight out the windshield of Swayde's truck at her sister's house. Every time she saw her sister, it got harder and harder for her. Mallory's young body was just deteriorating so quickly, and there was nothing that Renne, someone who saves young kid's lives, could do about it. She felt pain and guilt that she couldn't save her sister's life.

A hand on Renne's knee tore her eyes from the hole they were burning on Swayde's windshield. "Are you ready to go inside?" Swayde asked although he knew the answer.

Renne nodded reluctantly, opening the door of the truck to hop down. Swayde walked to the passenger side, offering Renne his hand. Grabbing it, Renne held on tight; Swayde was practically the only thing that was keeping her from breaking down.

Holding up the bouquet of carnations, Swayde said, "Your sister is goin' to love the snickerdoodles and flowers." Swayde tried to comfort Renne.

"I hope so." Renne replied, following Swayde to the front door. With her free hand, Renne tightly clenched the bin of homemade snickerdoodle cookies.

Swayde stopped walking, turning to Renne. With his free hand, Swayde reached up to caress Renne's cheek. "God's in control, Regg." Placing a kiss on Renne's cheek, Swayde pulled her into a hug. "Lord, please be with Reagan right now. Please give her a sense of peace, help her to feel your presence. Please bless this time we get to share with Mallory, Doug, Taylor, MJ, Hope, and Susan. Please, God, give Reggie peace and joy amidst this rough time. Thank you, Lord, for your blessings. I pray this in your name, Amen." Swayde's prayer was a whisper, but Renne heard every word of it.

Looking up, Renne thanked Swayde. After a kiss on Renne's forehead, Swayde pulled back from their hug to knock on the screen door. A voice someone inside of the house told Swyade and Renne to come inside. Holding the door open for Renne, Swayde motioned for her to walk inside.

The house smelled like a fresh mountain breeze; every window in the house was open- just the way Mallory loved it. Walking through the house, Renne took in everything, just like she did every time she came over. Decorations, pictures, canvasses and plaques painted the wall; every room had it's own special pieces, but the house had one theme: rustic and ranchy.

Stopping about halfway down the hallway, Renne spun around to face Swayde. "I don't know if I can do this." Renne whispered, tears rising in her eyes.

Placing his hands on her shoulders, Swayde comforted Renne, "Yes, you can, Reggie. Your sister needs you. She lights up when you walk into the room." Taking a deep breath, rubbing his hands up and down Renne's arms, Swayde whispered, "It gives her something to look forward to. Don't do it for yourself, do it for your sister."

"It's just so hard." Renne said, pulling herself into Swayde's embrace. Resting her head on his chest, Renne felt a tear fall to her cheek. She quickly wiped it away; Swayde was right, she needed to be strong right now, she needed to be there for her sister.

"I know it is. It's hard for me, too, but we are doin' the right thing." Swayde pulled back from their hug. "Come on. Let's go give your sister her flowers and cookies." Swayde smiled, taking Renne's hand in his own, leading her down the hallway to the doorway of the master bedroom.

Swayde stopped walking to let Renne in first. "Hey, Mal." Renne pasted on a smile, making her way to her sister's bedside.

"Rebel." Mallory breathed out, smiling a weak smile.

"Swayde and I brought you some carnations and your favorite cookies." Renne smiled, showing Mallory their gifts. "I'll put these in a vase for you." Taking the flowers from Swayde, Renne took off the plastic wrapper, placing the stems in to the vase. "Would you like a snickerdoodle?" Renne asked her sister, turning back to the bed. She sat down in the seat that Swayde had brought over to her.

"Sure." Mallory said, reaching for the box. Taking off the lid, Mallory grabbed one of the golden cookies, taking a bite. "Delicious, as always. Thanks, Rebel."

"You're welcome." Renne smiled, watching her sister. Her face was an eerie white color, her eyes seemed to be sunken into her head, her hair thinning, and her skeleton thin. Every time Renne saw her, it was evident that Mallory's health was decreasing rapidly.

Mallory's request was that she wanted to physically be here as long as she could. Having four young children, Mallory wanted to be around as long as she could to watch her children grow up. Essentially, Mallory had explained to Renne that she wanted to die on her own, at her home, not in a hospital away from the comforts of her family.

Seeing Mallory today, Renne knew for sure that Mallory had less than a week on earth before she meets her Savior. It had already been a week since the doctors gave her two weeks. That being said, Renne was glad that she was here, spending as much time with her sister as she could.

"Rebel, can I talk to you in private, please?" Mallory's weak voice quietly asked of Renne.

"Of course." Renne smiled at her big sister. Turning to Doug and Swayde, Renne kindly asked, "Do y'all mind if I have a minute alone with Mal?"

"Of course." Swayde said, understanding. Doug, however was the one who needed some convincing to leave the girls alone. With a pat on the back and inaudible words from Swayde, Doug followed Swayde out of the bedroom, closing the door on his way out.

"What's up, Mal?" Renne asked, reaching out her hand to hold her sister's.

"First off, I just want to say that I am so glad that you and Swayde were able to get back together and work thangs out. Y'all have always been the cutest couple." Mallory started. Renne couldn't bring herself to tell her sister that her perceptions on Renne's relationship with Swayde were a little off. Sure, Swayde and her walked into the room holding hands, and had only let go when Renne put the flowers into the vase. But, Swayde holding Renne's hand was less about love and affection, and more about emotional support. They had talked this morning and they weren't getting back together right now; they were just friends...who were deeply in love with each other. "Secondly, I just wanted to apologize...for everything." Mallory's eyes teared up. Looking at Renne, Mallory said, "I was the one who begged Mamaw, Papaw, and Swayde to not tell you that it was Swayde's brother who..." Mallory couldn't finish. Guilt ridden, a tear fell to Mallory's cheek.

Renne didn't need Mallory to finish the sentence; she knew what she was going to say. Swayde's older brother was the one who was driving drunk; he was the one who hit and killed Mallory and Renne's parents in the accident years ago. Renne tried processing what Mallory was telling her. Mallory was telling Renne that it was her who made her family keep the secret? Renne didn't believe her "So, you're sayin' that you asked Mamaw, Papaw, and even Swayde to not tell me about it? Why, Mal?" Renne couldn't be mad at her sister, not in this state.

"Rebel, I just wanted what was best for you. I knew that they would tell you, but I didn't want them tellin' you right away. I can't explain why I did it, but I have regretted it ever since. Every time we were goin' to tell you, something else happened, and before we knew it, years had passed. When the accident happened, you were too young to understand what happened and Swayde was too young to really explain that it was his brother who killed our parents. Rebel, I understand if you are mad at me for askin' them to not tell you, but please don't be mad at Swayde. This wasn't his fault."

Tears swelled in Renne's eyes for many reasons. With every word that Mallory spoke, Renne could tell that Mallory was getting weaker and weaker; it physically made her tired to talk. Renne had spent over five years being furious at her grandparents because she was convinced that they were the ones who told Swayde to keep his mouth shut, but this whole time it was her sister. Man, Renne owed Swayde a major apology. "I understand." Was all Renne could say back to her sister, rubbing a finger over the back of Mallory's hand.

"Also, I have a big favor to ask you...and I have wanted to ask you this for a while..." Mallory started, turning her head to look at Renne better.

Mallory and Renne spent the next ten minutes or so talking. Mallory apologized for everything that had happened between her and her little sister in their lives. When she was younger, Mallory had made many bad decisions, several of them had put a strain on her relationship with Renne. During their time talking, Mallory had told her basically everything that Renne had wondered about her sister. Their conversation had ended with Mallory asking Renne a huge favor to which Renne had agreed to, but it was still hard for her to wrap her mind around.

Renne stood from the chair, walking to the bedroom door, and into the living room where the guys sat on the couch, talking and playing with the kids. "Mal and I are done talkin' now if y'all wanted to come back in." Renne had told them in a quiet voice. Although her conversation with her sister was a good one, it was still saddening for Renne because it was the kind of conversation someone has with their loved ones before they hang up their spurs and ride into heaven.

Swayde stared at Renne, trying to read her face, but Renne kept her head down, turning to walk back to her sister's room.

Because Mallory was so tired, Swayde and Renne didn't stay for much longer. They said their goodbyes, and promised the kids they would spend time with them again soon. Less than an hour later, Swayde was opening the passenger side door of his truck for Renne.

Once inside, Swayde buckled his seat belt and started his truck, driving five minutes down the road before turning to look at Renne. "Is everythin' alright, hon?"

Renne looked over at Swayde, and nodded. Once she got back to Swayde's ranch, Renne would unleash everything on him, telling him all about what she and Mallory had discussed. For the moment, Renne really just needed to gather her thoughts from the overwhelming day. Reaching across the console, Renne grabbed Swayde's hand from the side; Swayde rested his thumb on top of her fingers, softly rubbing her ring finger.

A silent twenty minutes later, and Swayde was back at his ranch, stopping his truck next to Renne's in front of his house. Letting go of Renne's hand to turn off his truck, and walk over to her side, Swayde opened the passenger side door, standing beside the seat, leaning close to Renne.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Swayde asked, caring. He reached up into the cab of the truck to Renne's face, pushing some hair out of the way.

Renne shook her head, jumping down from the truck, making Swayde step back slightly. Pushing her way past him, Renne walked up the porch steps to the front door. With her hand on the screen door latch, Renne took a deep breath, dropping her hand and spinning around to face Swayde. Taking three steps towards him, Renne wrapped her arms around his shoulders, resting one hand on the back of his neck, pulling him down to her. Closing her lips over Swayde's, Renne kissed him once, pulling back after the first one. "Actually, I wanted to say I'm sorry. Mallory told me tonight that she was the one who asked you not to say anythin' about the accident." Her arms were still around Swayde's neck. "It was so wrong of me to not hear your side before I just took off. Swayde, I am so sorry. I hope you can forgive me."

Pulling Renne into a hug, Swayde engulfed her in his arms, breathing in the delicious smell of her hair. "Reggie, of course I forgive you. And I'm the one who should be apologizing." Pulling her back slightly so he could look into her eyes, Swayde said, "Reagan, once everything settles down, I want to sit down and talk to you more about the accident, and everything that followed. But I want us both to be ready for that conversation, and with everything going on right now, I feel this is the wrong time. But for now, please just understand that I never, ever meant to hurt you."

Renne reached a hand up to Swayde's cheek, tracing a line under his ear. "I know, Swayde. I know. And I look forward to that talk once we are both ready. But, for now, what do you say we go inside? It's cold out here." Renne let out a chuckle.

Swayde pulled back from their hug to open the door for Renne. "Good idea." Swayde smiled as Renne walked through the door.

Taking her boots off at the door, Renne shrugged off her light jacket she was wearing over her tight, blue pearl snap. With her jacket in her hand, Renne turned to ask Swayde a question, but found her staring at her. "What?" Renne asked, giving Swayde a look.

"You're so beautiful." Swayde said in a whisper. He knew it wasn't right of himself to allow his emotions to get to him, especially with as delicate of a place that Renne was at right now, but he couldn't help himself.

"Swayde..." Renne started. "We can't..." She wanted so bad to kiss him again, just like she had a minute ago, but their conversation from this morning played back in her mind. They were trying to let each other go; they had to move on.

Swayde removed his cowboy hat and slipped off his boots before answering Renne. "I understand, I just wanted you to know." Walking into his kitchen to get a glass of water, Swayde mummbled, "I know Matt hasn't told you you're beautiful recently. But someone ought to."

"Swayde, why would you say that?" Renne asked, following him into the kitchen.

"Why are you still with him?" Swayde asked, tryin' to be calm. He filled his mason jar up with cold water.

"Because I love him." Renne replied, feeling herself getting agitated. She really did not want to fight with Swayde tonight; especially over Matt.

"Really, do you? Because to me it sounds like you're more in love with the idea of him, and you love what he has done for you, more than actually loving him." Swayde pulled the glass away from his lips to say to Renne.

"Swayde, please do not start with me on this." Renne ran a hand over her forehead, letting it slap her thigh when she dropped it. "Do you not remember our conversation this morning ? We both agreed that we are done. I know that it seems like everything is cool between us now, and it feels a lot like old times, but you and I can be friends, and that's it. We cannot keep doin' this."

That was all it took for Swayde to snap. Slamming his glass down on the counter, Swayde shouted at Renne, "You-you're seriously going to give us up this easy? Are you really ready for that? Give up our entire lives, everything we have worked towards just for your stupid, rich boyfriend you have only known four years? You've known me your entire life. I'm sorry, but he doesn't love you like I do, Reagan. Are you really ready to give us up? After everything we have been through."

Pointing a finger at Swayde, Renne stepped closer to him. Glaring bullets, Renne shouted right back. "Don't you dare pin this back on me, Swayde McAllister! You, you are the reason I left this stupid town! You and my whole family. That secret that you kept from me for so long! Nobody who really loved me would have kept that from me. I understand now that Mallory asked y'all to not say anything to me, but if you truly loved me, you would have told me, regardless of what my family asked you." Shoving her hand into Swayde's shoulder, Renne shouted, "I have gotten over you, Swayde. I have moved on. Now, I think it's time that you do too!" Renne said and stormed outside. The words she said to Swayde were meant more for herself. She had tried moving on, but couldn't.