A few months had passed since Simplicity had last seen her parents. She worried for them, the long hours at the factory that never paid enough. She watched them her whole life growing up barely affording enough food for all of them. She hated their struggle, but loved them. She despised the corruption, but chose a life some would say is as corrupt. Yet, to her she had more freedom than her parents ever could with them playing by the rules. She just tip toed over and under the line you shouldn't cross.

"Can I get yah something darlin'?" The waitress asked as she snapped her gum and smiled. Simplicity nodded and asked for a nice big cup of hot chocolate, today was quite cold out and she was now also worrying how warm her parents were on their way to the diner.

The diner sat off the beaten path, close to her apartment and where most of her new family resided. She wanted to treat them to a nice dinner, warm food, warm coffee, and a warm place to enjoy the night. The diner was a place most frequented around these parts. The food was good and the price even better. The gossip was always enjoyable too. You could sit there for hours and learn more than you could from any newspaper.

The door ringed as it opened and her parents walked in. Simplicity's face warmed and her smile glowed as their eyes met. She stood up to hug her mother and kissed her papa's cheeks before they all sat down in the booth. They warmed their hands and clapped their coat a few times before saying anything. The waitress greeted them and they both ordered a hot coffee with two creams and two sugars. They knew not to fret over the bill at this point and knew trying to would prove futile, as Simplicity wouldn't take no for an answer.

"It is so good to see you!" Exclaimed her mother and she finally took her coat off and settled in. Her father soon joined her in doing so and they smiled at each other.

"I hope you and pa are well? You're not still working long hours at Walter's factory are you?"

Her parents looked at each other and sighed a little. She knew they still were and she knew they weren't going to let her worry about them. One day Simplicity planned to make a visit to see Walter, but that day would be a good bit into the future. She held very little sway, even if she was starting to live a bit more comfortably.

"The work is the same, but they are giving out bonuses now! The less mishaps, mistakes, injuries, and tardiness you have means an extra five dollars on your paycheck! We've spoiled ourselves a bit! A slice of pie once a month!"

Her parents faces lit up like they had hit the lottery all over a slice of pie that they shared together. Simplicity smiled at their triumph even though it infuriated her that they had to live like this. Then thinking of Walter sitting in his gorgeous estate where he could have pie every night if he wanted just added fuel to the fire.

The waitress returned with their coffees and her hot chocolate. They ordered their usual and this time instead of feeling bad about it, she could tell how much they were looking forward to it. She felt another warm sensation in her heart and she listened to them as they caught her up on everything going on in her home turf. The Russo's had another girl, making that three now, Mr. Russo was still praying for a boy, but loved his girls all the same. The Moretti's were starting to see some success with their new sauce, one grocery store had finally agreed to sell it on its shelves. 

Her mother could never birth another child, after Simplicity was born there were too many complications that she now could never conceive again. Sometimes, she could catch her mother fondly watching a newborn and the mother. She knew that her mom wanted more than one child, but her mother and father both knew that more would have probably made staying alive impossible. 

Their food came and all three of them enjoyed every last bite. When the waitress came to take their plates Simplicity then asked what the pie special of the day was. 

"You tried and true favorite, girl! Apple pie, but we still have some Whoopie Pies too if you'd like to take a couple home."

Simplicity's parents looked at her shaking their head no. She waved their expressions off and thanked the waitress.

"We'll take an apple pie for here and two Whoopie Pies to go please."

Her parents gasped and quickly scolded her, exclaiming how expensive the bill was going to be and that was when Simplicity handed her mom a new overcoat and her father one too. Both of them looked at her stunned and started shoving the coats back towards her informing her they couldn't take them.

"You can and you will. If there is one thing I'm going to do then that is gonna be giving you both what you deserve. Your hard work, your sacrifices, and the love you always showed me has paid for the things I will give you tenfold. So please, take them."

Her mother started to tear up and her father swelled a bit with pride, a new coat to call his own. Simplicity made sure not to get ones that looked too expensive, otherwise she knew her parents would lose them before they even made it home. Yet, the amount of warmth they would provide during these harsh winters would surpass anything they owned. Little did they know in the pockets was some cash to help buy them a few more pies a month.

After they finished their apple pie and thanked her again for the whoopie pies, they started to get ready to leave and head back home. It was a bit of a walk for them from here, but they paused and turned back to their daughter. They both looked quite upset with themselves and then smiled.

"How silly of us, how ungrateful of us! My dear, how are you?"

They had got so lost in telling her how everything was going back home that they completely forgot to ask how she had been holding up. Simplicity paused for a moment to think about how she really was, for her personally things were a bit interesting recently, but overall her answer to their question was on par for how things normally went.

"I'm just simply stayin' alive." Simplicity gave them a big smile before hugging them goodbye and thanking the waitress. She watched as they left wearing their new coats.