A/N – I know it's been awhile…but I think there's real potential for this story, so I decided to post it! We're on Christmas Break now, so I'll have way more time on my hands. I really liked writing this, it's always fun when it comes so easily to you. So I hope that whoever reads this enjoys, and please review to let me know what you think. If enough people like it, I'll write another chapter, and another, and another…if not, enjoy this little piece of what it might have been like if Ephram's mum hadn't died, and his dad has found out about her affair differently…enjoy everyone!

Disclaimer – I own none of the Everwood characters, WB owns them all! I wish I owned Bright and Ephram though…maybe some day…

            The breaking of glass awakened Ephram from his deep slumber. He sat up in bed and rubbed his eyes. As soon as he heard the loud voices, he knew what was going on. His mother and father were arguing again. He had to give them credit, they went at it a couple times a month, but in the morning, everything was moderately alright again. Even though his father hadn't been home lately, he hadn't ever really chosen sides in the arguments. Come to think of it, his mother hadn't been home either, said she had errands to do. At least his father's excuse was semi-legitimate; it was certain that he was at the hospital. No doubt about it, his father was a work-aholic.

            As he strained to hear what they were arguing about, he noticed that something was significantly different this time. His mother was crying. He furrowed his brow, this had never occurred before. Ephram got out of bed as quietly as he could and made his way over to his shut door. He put his ear up against the door.

            "Andy, I'm sorry!" he heard her cry.

            Ephram opened his door a crack to hear better. What in the world was she talking about?

            "I can't believe this," his father shouted in anguish, "I would have never thought you, of all people, would ever do this!"
            Ephram's eyes widened as ideas began to form in his mind.

            "Can you blame me? I can't stand this! We never, ever talk anymore. You're not home for the kids, or for me! I didn't plan it, it just happened. But now it's over, I promise!" she started to sob, and stopped herself to continue, "You have to promise me something, Andy."

            He didn't hear his father answer, so he assumed he had motioned for her to continue. Ephram creeped out of his room, and sat down crosslegged at the top of the stairs to hear beter, this seemed really important. He needed to know, not just for curiousity's sake, but also so that he could protect his little sister from ever finding out.

            "Cut your hours at the hospital." his mother said quietly.

            "Julia – "

            "No, Andy. Cut your hours at the hospital, or I'm taking the kids and we're going away for awhile." his mother replied, her voice confident, yet shaking.

            Ephram's heart stopped. Going away? Where would they go? This couldn't be happening…

            "You know I can't do that." Ephram's father said sadly, "Please, don't go away!"

            The house was completely silent. Ephram waited for answer.

            "I'm sorry, Andy." his mother sobbed, "I'm going to bed, we'll be gone in the morning."

            Ephram quickly got up and went back into his room quietly. He predicted that tomorrow was going to be the beginning of a whole new life.

*                                  *                                  *

            Ephram awoke the next morning to silence, and he smiled. Maybe it was all a dream, the house seemed so calm and tranquil, it couldn't possibly have happened. As he got out of bed though, he heard a knock on his door. He closed his eyes, and braced himself before telling the person to come in.

            "Hi sweetie," his mother came into the room. He noticed that her eyes were puffy and red, he assumed from crying. His heart broke; it hadn't been a dream.

            "Mom," he said, walking over to her, trying to act surprised, "What's wrong?"

            His mother took a deep breath, "Ephram, I have to tell you something and I don't think you're going to like it."

            "O-kay…well, go on." Ephram prayed that it wouldn't be what he knew it was going to be…there was some chance that she had changed her mind, wasn't there?

            "Your dad and I had a fight last night, and I'm afraid that things didn't turn out well." she started. She paused for a moment to carefully plan the wording of the next thing she was going to say. "And…honey, you, me and your sister are going to go away for a little while."

            Mrs. Brown searched her son's face for any emotions, and found anger and sadness. She was upset and disappointed in herself to think that she had caused most of this.

            "What do you mean, Mom? Where are we going?" Ephram sighed inwardly; at least for this part he wasn't lying. Where would they go? His grandparents would have been an option, but they didn't have a big enough house for them all to live in, and he knew that his mother wouldn't go there in this situation. They didn't like the man their daughter had married already, this would only add to their displeasure.

            "It'll kind of be like a vacation…but you'd still have to go to school and everything." she reminded him cautiously.

            "What kind of vacation is that, then?" Ephram joked, trying to lighten the mood a little.

            His mother smiled but didn't respond.

             "But where are we going?" Ephram asked again.

            His mother's eyes glimmered a little at the question, and she ran her hand through her disshevled hair before responding.

            "Everwood, Colorado."