Takes place at the beginning of senior year for Craig and Ellie. Contains spoilers for Season 4 up until and including Voices Carry.

Ellie's emotions were all over the place. She was nervous, excited, eager, terrified, anxious, and relieved all at the same time.

I suppose confused sums it up best, she thought as she struggled to zipper her over-flowing suitcase.

Ellie's mother was home from rehab for good. Ellie was going to see her for the first time in months and was most likely going to move back home. Which was the reason for the tangle of emotions she was feeling at the moment. Her mother sounded happy and adjusted on the phone whenever she had spoken to her, but Ellie still wasn't entirely convinced that she was cured. Still it was her mother's big homecoming and Ellie had to go.

As she trudged down the street wheeling her suitcase behind herself, she thought about his father. They hadn't heard from in almost two weeks. He usually managed a brief call to them or at least a letter once a week. To say Ellie was worried was an understatement. Even now as she was walking to the bus stop, she had to pause and snap the rubberband on her wrist several times.

The bus ride home went rather quickly and before she knew it, she was standing outside her familiar house. It looked different somehow. Bigger. Smaller. Ellie wasn't sure. She felt a bit relieved that perhaps she wouldn't have to worry about juggling her job, school and expenses all by herself. Ever since Sean left, she had barely had time to enjoy having her own apartment. The worries seemed to outweigh the benefits.

Ellie walked up to the front door then paused, unsure if she should knock or just walk in. After a minute's debate, she knocked loudly then twisted the doorknob, pushing open the door. "Hello? Mom?"

She walked into the kitchen. She was shocked to see how different it looked. Not only had all the damage been fixed but it looked ten times better than it had before. The walls had been painted a cheery yellow, flowered curtains covered the brand-new window, and the table cloth was clearly just out of the package.

"Ellie."

Ellie turned to see her mother standing in the doorway. Ellie couldn't help but gasp in surprise. Her mother looked—well, she looked like Ellie believed a mother should. She had no bags under her eyes, her hair fell in curls around her shoulders, her clothes were neat and ironed, and best of all, she wore a huge smile, her arms extended. "Ellie, dear."

Ellie let go of her suitcase and hurried into her mother's arms. She had missed her. Even when she was drunk and made scenes, she was still her mother. Ellie hadn't realized just how much she needed her until this moment.

"Mom," she murmured into the woman's shoulder. "I'm so glad you're home. So glad."

"So am I," her mother whispered back. "Things are going to be different now, sweetheart. I promise."

For the first time in months, standing there in her mother's arms, Ellie felt like she was home.

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Craig had been waiting all his life. At least that was the way it felt. He sat in the airport jiggling his leg, clutching a bouquet of white roses in his hands.

Ashley had been away on an internship in Italy for nearly the entire summer and she was finally returning today. Craig had never been so eager to see someone before in his life. He had missed her more than anything but the thought of this moment kept him going. They talked on the phone and sent letters and email but it still wasn't the same. Their conversations were always brief and hurried as Ashley was constantly busy.

Craig heard the announcement that her plane had arrived and eagerly jumped to his feet. He pushed his way through the crowd of people waiting, standing on his tiptoes desperate to get his first glimpse of Ashley as soon as she entered through the door. He wanted to see the expression on her face when she saw him. He had managed to convince her parents to let him pick her up at the airport in order to surprise her. Ever since they had found out about his illness, being bi-polar, they had been extremely understanding and kind to him. He almost found it hard to believe that at one point they hated him.

People began walking through the doorway, off the plane. Craig strained his neck until she finally appeared. Ashley paused, framed in the doorway and Craig felt his heart take a leap into his mouth. He tried to get closer but was blocked by a tall man in front of him. After a frustrating minute, the man moved and Craig was able to see her again.

She wasn't alone.

Don't forget to R&R!!