This story is the first in a series of short conversations between Charlotte and other mothers. I'm planning a story with Cooper's mother, Charlotte's mother, and Amelia. If you have other requests or ideas, let me know.

This vignette picks up at the end of "The Letting Go."

"I'm not looking forward to the rest of my life," Erica tells Charlotte, who pats Erica's leg gently, trying to comfort this woman facing the unimaginable.

"Is there someone you want me to call? An aunt, or a cousin, or a friend? I'm happy to make arrangements for anyone who—"

"I don't have anyone."

"That's just not true," Charlotte tells Erica, squeezing her hand. Charlotte lets the silence surround them for a moment before reassuring Erica, "I will be here Erica. Whatever you need."

"Thank you." Erica says, surprisingly comforted by Charlotte's presence.

"Can I stay with you tonight?" Charlotte asks.

"You don't need to do that."

"I'd like to. I just need to go home first. I promised Mason."

"Is he…ok?" Erica knows Mason isn't ok, but he hadn't shed a tear earlier, he'd been so calm and composed.

"He wanted to be strong for you." Charlotte tells Erica. Erica's heart breaks for her son. She wants to go to him, to hold him, to comfort him. But she'd decided not to see him again, and soon it won't be an option for Erica to take care of her son. She can feel the tears burning her eyes, and before she can get lost in her thoughts Erica feels Charlotte's hand squeeze her own.

When Erica looks up, she sees that Charlotte's eyes are glassy too. "I promise you," Charlotte starts, a lump already in her throat, "Coop and I will take care of Mason. We will help him through this." Charlotte doesn't know how she'll get Mason through losing his mother, but she does know that she will do everything in her power to help him. Charlotte is fighting back tears at the memory of Mason breaking down after saying goodbye to his mom.

Erica had been right, Charlotte knows now; Mason will need her. He already does. She feels the fear gripping her chest. From the moment Amelia had told her Erica's prognosis, Charlotte had acted on instinct. She'd been taking care of everyone around her the best she could: trying to be a comfort, trying to get them through each moment. But now, sitting down for the first time today, Charlotte is overwhelmed by the weight of what she's about to take on. She doesn't know how she will get Mason through this, doesn't know how she will ever be the mother Mason needs her to be.

"I know that look," Erica comments. Charlotte smiles at Erica questionly. "You look terrified. I'm sure I had that same expression on my face when I found out I was pregnant."

Charlotte doesn't want Erica to worry for a minute that Mason won't be cared for and loved. "Erica—"

"It's a frightening thing being a mother. I didn't think I could do it, but the first time I held Mason, I fell in love." Erica gets lost in the memory for a moment.

Charlotte's phone rings: it's Cooper. "I'm sorry," Charlotte apologizes, answering her phone, wanting to make sure everything is ok.

"Hey Coop." Charlotte stands up.

The voice that greets Charlotte isn't Cooper's, however. "Hi Charlotte. It's Mason."

"I know who you are sweetie." She tells him. "Are you ok?"

"I just wanted to see when you're coming home." His voice has the faint hint of tears beginning again.

"I'll be there soon," Charlotte tells him warmly. Erica can just make out her son's voice on the other end of the phone. It's a strange feeling, watching another woman become her son's mother, hearing Mason look to Charlotte for comfort.

Charlotte turns to Erica, extending the phone slightly in her direction. Charlotte's pretty sure that Erica won't want to talk to Mason, but she wants to make sure. It takes all Erica's strength to shake her head, but she does. Charlotte hears Mason's voice on the other end, "How soon?"

"I'm leaving in a few minutes, ok?"

"Ok."

"Hang in there, honey. I love you." Charlotte hangs up the phone and sits back on the side of the hospital bed.

"Go. Mason needs you," Erica tells Charlotte.

Erica's crying, and Charlotte worries that maybe Erica thinks that Charlotte is trying to replace her, is too close to Mason too soon. "I know I'm not his momma," Charlotte reassures Erica, "but I promise you I will always love Mason just the same as if he were mine."

"He is yours," Erica tells Charlotte. "You already promised me, you'd be his living mom."

"I will be," Charlotte tells Erica, and Erica can see the fear creeping in again.

"I'm so happy Mason has you Charlotte. I really thought you were a bitch at first." Charlotte laughs, completely caught off guard by Erica's comment. "But there isn't anyone I'd trust more to raise Mason."

Charlotte squeezes Erica's hand. "I'm going to go home and spend some time with Mase, tuck him into bed, and then I'll come back here, ok?"

"If Mason wants you to stay with him, then you'll do that though, right?"

"Of course. Is it ok for me to tell him that I'm going to be at the hospital with you?" Erica thinks a moment. "He's worried about you Erica; he doesn't want you to be scared and alone."

"Ok."

Charlotte stands to leave, "I'll see you later. If you need anything, you just call."

"Thank you Charlotte."

"You don't need to thank me."

Charlotte spends the drive home repeating Erica's words in her head. She trusts me to raise her son, Charlotte thinks incredulously. Then Charlotte mentally corrects herself, our son. He's both of ours now.