"Okay, I wrote two songs over the last two weeks." Hardy exhales loudly as he sits on their plaid couch, surround by their wedding details. He's hurt but puts on a brave face. "Ones called Broke Boy." He adjusts his guitar on his lap, glancing over at Daniella who's leaning against Morgan, messing with his fingers. Some of the lyrics stick in her head, it sounds like the night when they met for the first time at that bar, Susie Q's.

She smiles to herself as she listens. "That's a real good song, Michael." She nods. "What's the other?"

"Uh," he clicks his tongue as he flips through his notebook. "Hate Your Hometown."

"Interesting title." Morgan mumbles. Hardy takes in a sharp breath before playing it. Morgan catches on quickly, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. It's obvious Michael has feelings for Daniella. When he stops strumming, Morgan gets up and walks out of the room.

"Shit." Hardy runs his hand through his hair, placing his hat back on his head. "Was it that obvious?"

"I mean kinda." She sighs, looking to the back porch at Morgan. "I'm gonna go talk to 'em."

"No, I will." Hardy squeezes her shoulder, standing to head outside. "Hey Morgan."

"Do you have feelings for her?" Hardy's silent for a moment before nodding. "Really?"

"I know it's wrong, man." Hardy says, sitting on the bench. "When I saw her at that bar all those years ago, I dunno, I just- she's just-"

Morgan spins and glares down at him. "She's marryin' me."

"Don't you think I know that?" He whispers. "Don't you think I know that you're marryin' her!? I have to sit and watch you two get married and plan your wedding and I have to give her away at your wedding. I have to be her friend when somethin' happens between you guys! I was there for her when you screamed at her for losin' that baby-"

"She told you about that?" His voice is low.

"She tells me everythin', man. I'm her best friend." Morgan groans and runs his hand through his hair. "I'm sorry, I really am."

"Are you? Really? It's so weird for me to sit and watch y'all interact with each other, y'all act like you're together but you're not but you have been-"

"You guys were fightin' and it just happened." Hardy says.

"How many times have you guys hooked up or kissed or whatever?" He holds his breath as he starts counting on his fingers. "Seriously!?"

"You guys are gettin' married and that's all that matters, Morgan!" He shouts back. "That's all that matters! She's marryin' you not me!"

Morgan sighs heavily as he sits on the bench next to him. "I just can't believe..."

"I'm sorry, man, it's all my fault."

"I can't believe that she would do this to me."

"Hey, it's not like you treat her that well either."

Morgan's head snaps up. "Excuse me!?"

"I mean y'all fight 'bout everythin' and I end up with her at my place."

"Give me one fuckin' example."

"For starters, lyin' to her about gettin' into college, screamin' at her for losin' the baby, gettin' arrested in Alabama, gettin' drunk with the guys from FGL and stayin' out until 4 in the mornin' without tellin' her-"

"I said give me one." He murmurs, looking down at his boots.

"And she's always there when you come back and you take advantage of that!"

"No I don't."

"Yeah you do! When you came back to the hotel trashed, she dropped everythin' and took care of you. When you got arrested, she drove six fucking hours, while havin' a miscarriage, to bail your dumbass outta jail."

"She-she lost the baby when she was drivin' to Tuscaloosa?"

"She didn't want to tell you because she didn't want to worry you."

Morgan sighs heavily, blinking tears back. "You're right." He whispers.

Dani sits at the table, watching the two guys talk, mostly shout, but she can't hear them. She grasps her glass of iced tea, chewing her lip nervously. She looks up when the door slides open, "hey." She watches Hardy disappear into the living room.

Morgan says nothing as he walks over her and wraps his arms around her. "I'm sorry." He whispers in her ear. She blinks back tears when they pull away. "I'm sorry I've been treatin' you wrong." He says, holding her face. "I had no idea until I was told." He sighs heavily, pushing his hair back. "Maybe we should put the wedding on hold."

Those words hurt.

"Really?"

"Maybe." He says sadly. "To better myself for you, so I can treat you better."

"Do you need a break from me?" She asks, worried that it's actually about her. "Is it my fault?"

"No. Oh no, darlin, not at all. It's all me." She nods, looking down.

"So I guess I'll move back into my dad's house with Michael, then." Hardy had moved from Knoxville to Sneedville after getting his degree, to be closer with Daniella, also it's her dad's childhood home so she couldn't sell it. Morgan's heart breaks as he nods. "Okay."

"Just- we need to take like a month or two-" He cuts himself off as he follows her to the bedroom where she starts packing some stuff. "Dani." She doesn't look at him. "Daniella." He snaps, she looks up with sad eyes. "I still love you."

"Yeah."

"I have to better myself for you, baby." He wraps his arms around her. "I'll still be here and all." She nods. "Just for a little bit, baby."

"Yeah okay." She continues to pack after pulling away from him. Morgan heads back down to the kitchen and grabs a beer, tossing the cap in the sink. "Oh, I made a casserole and stuck it in the freezer."

"Thank god." He chuckles weakly. "I'd starve without your cookin'."

She returns to the kitchen with a duffel around her shoulder and a couple suitcases in her hands. "Walk me out?" Morgan sets his beer down on the counter and opens the front door for her, taking a suitcase before they walk to her car. He puts her bags in the backend and closes it, opening her car door for her as well. "Thanks."

She climbs in and closes the door, buckling up. "Hey, let me know when you get there and settled, okay?" He says, reaching in to grab her hand. "You drive safe." She smiles. "I love you, baby." She grabs the front of his shirt and pulls him in for a kiss, probably not the smartest thing to do because they're on a break but she still loves him. "See ya soon." Morgan starts to walk back to his house.

"I love you." She calls after him.

"I love you too, darlin'." He gives her a sad smile as he waves to her, letting a tear slip down his cheek as she drives away, sure she's only a few streets over but it feels like a couple states away.

+++

There's a sudden slam of the door making Hardy jump. "Hello?" He calls from the master bedroom.

"Hey, it's me." She responds, starting up the steps to her old room. She drops the bags on the floor with a heavy thud.

Hardy stands in her door way. "You okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine." Her voice is hollow. "We're taking a break from the engagement so he can 'better himself'." She turns to her closet and pulls out the bed clothes, setting them on the bare mattress. "It's weird being back home."

"I bet." Michael puts a hand on her shoulder. "Let me know if ya need help." She nods and sits on the wood barstool in the corner of her room as Michael walks away.

She takes a deep breath, looking around her old bedroom before she starts putting her things away and makes the bed. "Welcome home, Daniella."

+++

Dani's been moved back in for a few hours but hasn't left her bedroom. Michael takes matters into his own hands and makes her some dinner, sets it on two plates, then carries it up to her room. "Hey, I brought you some supper."

She opens the door and smiles slightly at him. "Thanks." She sits on her bed, he sits on the bar stool tucked away under her desk. "Thanks for lettin' me live here."

"It's your house." He says back. "So thank you for lettin' me live here." He nudges her shoulder playfully.

"I'm glad to be back." She sets her now empty plate on her desk. "It's weird to be back here without dad." Dani sighs as she lays back, her feet hanging over the edge.

"I bet." Hardy says, laying back with her. "But it's nice to have you here. Now I don't feel like I'm squattin'." She chuckles. "You just need to relax, darlin'." He puts his hand on her thigh. "Take a deep breath and relax."

"You're right." She says, looking up at her ceiling. "I've just got a lot on my mind."

"Anythin' I can help with?"

"What did you say to him?" She leans on her elbows. "What did he say to you?" He tells her everything. "Wow."

"Yeah." He sighs. "He just needed to know." She nods and turns to him. "I love both of y'all." Dani sighs and scoots toward him, putting her head on her chest, relaxing when she feels his hand through her hair. She starts to doze off, Hardy stays in the same position as she does.

+++

"Can you play that one song again?" Dani asks quietly as she and Hardy sit in the den. She's against the arm of the couch with her knees pulled against her chest. "I can't remember the name."

Hardy pulls his guitar onto his lap after shutting off the TV. "The newest one?" She nods. "Broke Boy or Hate Your Hometown?"

"Either." She mumbles back, pulling her sweatshirt sleeves over her hands. "Whatever." Michael sighs as he starts playing Broke Boy. She smiles to herself as he sings, her cheeks going pink. "That's a good song, Michael."

"Thanks. It's 'bout the night we met at that bar off campus."

She nods. "Kinda guessed that. That was a fun night. I totally kicked your ass in pool."

"Nah, I let ya win."

"Yeah sure." She smiles before sighing heavily. "Thanks for talkin' to him."

"He just needed to know what I was seein', y'know, third party and shit." He sets his guitar in the stand before moving to sit next to her. "So what does this mean for you guys?"

"I guess I'm single for the time bein'." She shrugs. "I don't really know what the 'rules' are for bein' on a break. I kinda feel like that tall guy from Friends, what's his name, Ross with Rachel." She chuckles. "I mean a break means not together, so I guess I am single." Her eyes flicker to Michael who's looking back at her. "I don't know if that's a good idea."

"What?"

"Us." She runs her hand through her hair. "For your sake." He rolls his eyes. "Seriously, I don't want to hurt you anymore than I already have."

Hardy nods and sighs. "Well thanks."

"Maybe we can go back down to Susie Q's for a little pool and drinks? It can be like, y'know, those good ole days."

"Oh hell yeah." Hardy stands and heads up to the guest room he's taken over. "Go get dressed, baby!" She laughs and goes up to her room to change as well before the two head back to Knoxville.