Departure

Jeanne woke slowly on Sunday. It was her last day with her boys. Her boys, she smiled as the accuracy of her waking thought hit her.

This weekend had been eye opening on a number of levels. Every lingering doubt, even the tiny ones at the back of her mind she hadn't named, had been vanquished.

They were a family. They would all make this work. Zach was right, it would take time but it would work. She knew it.

She dressed and peeked in Cody's room. He was sleeping with that innocent goofy smile on his face. She watched him for a minute, feeling sadness and joy well up inside her almost simultaneously.

She walked back to the guest room, carefully checking for her belongings. She tidied up the room as she walked around. She sat down on the carefully made bed. Before she had a chance to do more than look around, Jeanne saw Zach at the door.

They looked at each other. A weekend couldn't erase all the awkwardness between them, and Zach wasn't sure anything could.

"Um, when's your flight?"

Probably the worst thing to say, he thought.

Jeanne double-checked her ticket before answering.

"Two."

It was eleven now.

Zach went to go wake up Cody while Jeanne walked into the kitchen. Shaun had made eggs and picked up doughnuts and coffee.

He offered her some while they both struggled with conversation. Cody saved them by running into the room.

"Mom!"

Jeanne gave him a giant hug before picking him up lovingly.

"Are you leaving again, Mommy?"

His melancholy tone made her wish she could answer differently. However, she knew she couldn't. She kissed the top of his head softly and spoke.

"I am leaving, Cody. You know I can't stay here, this is Shaun and Zach's house. But I'm going to stay in touch, ok?"

She looked up at Shaun and Zach, meeting their eyes. She spoke to them as much as to Cody.

"I'll call you when I get back to Oregon. I'll call you a couple times a week. You can call me too, ok?"

Zach distantly heard Cody murmur "ok," and saw Jeanne's eyes fill with tears for the briefest second.

She put him down and Shaun gave him a plate for his brunch. Jeanne and Zach stared at each other for a moment before sitting down at the table.

Zach couldn't tell if she she was being sincere about staying in touch with them. HE found himself surprisingly wanting her to be. He hoped she had truly changed.

As usual, Cody interrupted his thoughts.

"What are we gonna do today?"

"After we drop your Mom off, you're going to study for your math quiz tomorrow."

"Humph."

Cody made a disgruntled noise so similar to one of Zach's that Jeanne and Shaun laughed. Zach looked at them nonplussed.

"Don't feel bad, buddy. Your Uncle Zach has a lot of work to do too," Shaun added, the grin lingering on his face.

Soon, it was noon and they had to leave for the airport.

As they arrived, Zach helped Jeanne out of the car.

"I'll just uh walk you to the gate then?" he offered.

They set off together.

"Zach, thank you so much. I know you didn't have to do any of this. I meant what I said. I WILL stay in touch, or at least I'll try."

As she looked at him, he had to believe she was telling the truth. He also realized that she wasn't the only one at fault. He had been, if not equally, at least partly to blame.

"Me too, Jeanne. I'll call you. Why don't you give me your address too?"

They wrote everything down and she promised to call once she arrived.

She reached out to hug him and tears started to fall down their faces. Zach was reminded forcibly of when Jeanne had left San Pedro.

But this was different, he reminded himself. We're different.

Everything had changed and everything was going to be okay.

He watched as she walked over to the boarding area. She turned around one final time and gave him a wave, smiling through her tear filled eyes.

A/N: Weak ending? I wanted it to be similar but different (and to have Zach especially realize it) to the film's ending. I sort of like it but would appreciate any and all feedback! Thanks for all the reviews I have gotten on this story so far. You are a wonderful group!