**A/N - Thanks so much for the reviews, everyone. This story has been plaguing me for months, and I knew if I didn't get it out, I would never get anything done. I'll keep it going as long as I can. All reviews welcome! **
As Alex drove her little family down the familiar road on the New England coast, she couldn't help but feel nervous. This was a drive she often took alone, and having Piper and their gurgling two-year-old with her this time did little to quell her nerves.
It wasn't that Alex didn't want them there. In fact, she dreaded any time she had to spend away from them. But visiting her mother's grave always reminded Alex of the deep loss she felt. It made her deeply sad, and she didn't want her wife or her son to see her like that.
"Hey," Piper's voice broke through Alex's thoughts.
The raven-haired woman glanced away from the road to look at her wife. She tried to smile, but Alex felt it come across as more of a grimace.
Piper reached for her hand over the center console and squeezed, causing the muscles in Alex's shoulders to relax.
They rode in silence for the short remainder of the trip.
When Alex parked the car on the narrow gravel path closest to her mother's gravesite, she hesitated. Piper had already climbed out to unbuckle Dane from his car seat, but Alex had to pry herself from behind the wheel.
As she climbed from the car, she was met by Piper coming around the back. The blonde bounced the toddler on her hip a few times, causing him to erupt in a fit of giggles.
"Let's go see Mom, Dane," Piper said before imitating airplane noises and gently tossing the boy into Alex's ready arms.
Dane was wearing a baby-sized black, AC-DC band tee. They had been one of Diane's favorites. He was also clutching a small, foam electric guitar - his favorite toy.
Alex snuggled him closer to her chest, and Piper slipped an arm around her waist. Her family was with her, and it gave Alex the strength she needed for the day.
"Let's go," she said.
They didn't have to walk far before they came upon her mother's plot. Piper replaced the old, dead bouquet in the headstone's vase with the flowers they had brought with them before stepping back to give Alex space.
With Dane still held close, Alex knelt in front of the headstone.
"Hi, Mom," Alex started a little self-consciously. "You know Piper, but there's someone special we wanted you to meet today."
Alex set her son on his wobbly legs in front of the grave.
"This is our son Dane. Now before you start in on how we should have named him Jagger or Axl or something like that, he's named for you, Mom."
Alex sat down fully on the grass.
"Dane, this is my mom. Her name was Diane, and she would have spoiled you rotten, kid."
"Like you don't already do enough of that," Piper teased, sitting on the grass beside her.
The little boy slipped away from his mother's grip, and Alex started to go after him, but Piper held her in place.
They watched as Dane cautiously approached the headstone. He placed a tentative hand on it and stared intently at the inscription he couldn't yet read. After a moment, he dropped his toy guitar on the base and wrapped both arms as best he could around the stone.
Alex felt tears sting her eyes, but she blinked rapidly. She didn't want anything obstructing the sight in front of her. Piper, on the other hand, was sniffling without reserve next to her.
"Mama," Dane said, turning to look at Piper.
"Yeah, baby?"
"I'm hungry."
Alex stood, pulling Piper to her feet.
"He'll be okay for a little while longer, Al. We don't have to go right now."
Alex looked down once more at her mother's grave. The old ache was still there, but seeing Diane's namesake standing in front of it had taken the sharp sting away. She leaned forward and kissed Piper.
"Let's go get something to eat." Pulling back with a smirk, she whispered, "And then maybe I'll have you for dessert."
Alex's grin grew as a flush overtook her wife's face.
"Come on, kiddo," Piper said when she'd recovered.
The blonde bent down and their sandy-headed little boy went running into her arms. They started toward the car before Alex gripped Piper's arm suddenly, halting them.
"Wait, Dane," she said, "You forgot your guitar."
"No, it's for Grandma," he replied matter-of-factly.
The tears were back, and this time, Alex let them fall. She leaned over and kissed her son's forehead.
"I'm sure she loves it, bud" Alex said.
She wrapped her arm around Piper, and the three of them returned to the car. And as they pulled out, Alex didn't feel the usual guilt she felt when she left her mother's grave.
This was the life her mother always wanted for her, and she intended to enjoy every second of it.
It wasn't that Alex didn't want them there. In fact, she dreaded any time she had to spend away from them. But visiting her mother's grave always reminded Alex of the deep loss she felt. It made her deeply sad, and she didn't want her wife or her son to see her like that.
