That's what this is all about

Sam and Andy struggle with their growing family, their victories and limitations and how much they love each other and how far they've come, and learn a valuable lesson along the way. Post season 6.

Yeah, it's been like two years but I've been rewatching McSwarek scenes and my heart couldn't take it.

Last one! Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. I have a super special place for this story as I struggled with CP my entire life. Hope you enjoy how it ends

Chapter 10

5 years later...

Andy couldn't believe her baby was 6. He was going to first grade and her heart filled with pride the same as it was full of dread.

She worried, for him and what would happen to him as he was around other kids, bigger kids. How they would react around him? What would they say?

"You worry too much McNally." Sam told her with a kiss the morning of Eli's first day. All the other kids were already either in the car or about to get our the door."He's tougher than you think."

"Yeah Mom and if anyone tries anything, I'll punch them." Sofa said kissing her cheek.

Sofia was already a teenager with a coming driving test and new car around the corner, something Sam said he was beyond grateful for because she could help with drop off. She lived full time with them still, Shane and Marlo had moved to the US due to Shane's job so she would see her mother every 3 months or so, vacations and holidays.

It wasn't the ideal arrangement but it worked for them.

Milo was now 15, her still sweet boy, dealt with his father's temper most days but he made ends meet by going to hockey practice and getting good grades at school. Oliver would say that he'd end up in the big leagues.

Sam would be okay with that and Milio too, if they were being honest.

AJ and Charlie were now 9 and 11 respectively which only meant they'd be leaving childhood behind soon and it honestly made Andy sad. She hoped she could treasure as much as was capable of before her children began to hate her.

"Mom, you still have to sign this." Milo said. "Coach said today's the last day or I'll miss camp."

"Camp on the first week of school? I'm not sure that's a good idea bud." Andy tool the piece of paper from him. "I don't want hockey to be more important than school. That was not the deal."

"It's okay mom... it's just the first week." Milo grinned. "Toby said he'd take notes from me and I'll go and meet with teachers today so I can make up for it, I promise."

Andy smiled. "If Dad's okay with it." Sam was more than okay with it to be honest. "Oh right..." She said when Milo gave her a puzzled look.

"School first..." Came Sam's voice behind Andy. "That was the deal."

"Good save Swarek..." McNally smirked. "Okay, get out of here, you're gonna be late." Milo kissed Andy's cheek as he and Sam high fived each other when they thought she wasn't looking.

"So, can I just point out, I'm tired of hand me downs?" AJ groaned as she came out. "Sofia was taller than me..I look like I'm wearing a dress..."

Andy could see that in fact AJ seemed to be struggling with her available clothes choice. "I'll talk to Dad about it, okay? Hurry up, before you miss them or... she heard Sam honking. "That happens."

"And they say we can't be patient." AJ sighed as she hurried out the door. "Love you Mom!"

Next came Charlie, who by now was about to enter his preteen years, he was the one to take after Tommy the most with light eyes and curly hair which fell over his forehead and were stopped by his glasses.

"You sure you don't want me to go with you to drop Eli off, Mom?" He asked.

"No, I got it baby, Dad's meeting me there anyway. That's very sweet of you though.." Charlie smiled. "Have a great day."

"Yep, me and a bunch of 13 year olds? Who you think will be the most mature one?" Her ever overachiever said. "Why can I just be average?"

"Because you have McNally blood in you and it's our need to have to prove something." She laughed as he sighed."And that wouldn't be fun, would it?"

Andy took a look at the disaster in the kitchen as the last kid walked out the door. Bass and Boo were staring at her from the backyard so that she would have a heart and let them in.

She did, heading down the hall to check on Eli. He sat there on the bed, fidgeting with his hands. "Hey bud, ready to go?"

Eli hadn't grown much, truth be told, people would confuse him for a younger kid until he opened his mouth and spoke. He wore a simple pair of jeans and grey T- shirt, another hand me down from one of his brothers, Eli looked down at his shoes, a messy attempt to tie them was evident. "Let me help you with those, we don't want to be late to our first day..."

"I still can't do it." He said, a glint of sadness invaded his voice. Her son was a warrior in all sense of the word, but Andy was aware he struggled with the little things still.

"It's okay baby, it doesn't matter, we'll work on it..."

"Dad sad I'd do better before summer.."

"Eli..."

"Why won't my hands work?" Andy's heart sank. Her baby boy was now able to dress himself although it took him longer to do it, it was when Andy realized how they would have to savour little victories like that. "I try and I try..."

"And we'll keep trying, alright?" Eli nodded.

Andy wasn't about to let him give up like that, it wasn't what they were about. "There, I got it."

They made it out of the house in record time, Andy cursed under her breath as she didn't have the squad car for her advantage during the run school mornings.

Andy helped Eli down the car and handed him his crutches as she carried his bag for him.

Ever since he was 5, Eli had been walking with aids, even though he kept getting better and better at things, he struggled with his balance and his legs weren't strong enough to support all his weight, but Sam and Andy had refused to get him used to a wheelchair, so for school as it was not so long a distance what he'd be doing every day, he had mastered his crutches.

His chair would still be available should he need it to go someplace farther on school grounds. They had run everything down with the principals and the teachers beforehand.

"Andy? Hi. I'm Summer, I'll be teaching the first grade class Eli will be in." A lady said as they reached the gate. "You ready buddy?"

"Hi.." Andy said looking over at her son. "As ready as we'll ever be, right?"

"I guess." Eli said shyly.

"Well, you can call me Mrs. Jennings, I get the feeling you'll be just fine with us."

"His brother and sister are in the school too so..." Andy said.

"Of course." Mrs. Jennings smiled. "I'll keep that in mind. Do you want me to take that from you?" The teacher glanced down at the bag. Just as in cue, a car parked near Andy's.

It was Sam.

"Oh good, you're still here..." He hurried down to meet them. "Hi, I'm Eli's dad."

"Mrs. Jennings..." the young girl smiled. "It'a a good thing you got here because we need to go inside now."

Eli's hands tensed on the crutches handles. "Here." Andy gave her his bag pack.

"No, I want to take it, I can do it..." Eli said turning to Sam, he knew Andy would argue. "I want to Daddy."

Andy looked over at Sam and at Mrs. Jennings.

"You want to carry it yourself? Okay, we can do that." He took the bag from Summer and helped Eli put it on, he had been practicing the whole keep your balance on one side thing. "Alright, all set."

"Are you sure Eli? I don't have any problem.."

"I'm sure." He said with a smile. "I can do it."

"Of course you can." Sam smiled, giving him a hug as he stood up. "I love you buddy."

"Love too, and mommy..." Eli then turned to Andy who was having a hard time dealing with her emotions, as always. He waved at them the best he could and smiled. She hugged him, and Sam had to pull her away. "He's fine, mommy..."

"I know." Andy hissed at him.

He was ready for this.

"He'll be okay, right?" Andy said, waving back, feeling as Sam placed a hand on her lower back.

"Of course he will Andy..." He kissed her softly." And we will be too, this is what it's all about, right?"

Yes it was and they've come so far to turn back now. There was no going back.

The end! What did you think?