Chapter 14:

Maureen sat propped up in bed watching television while Joanne ran home to shower and change. It was so boring at this hospital, and she couldn't wait until she got to go home as well. A knock on the door caught her attention. She looked up to find Benny standing there, looking incredibly uncomfortable.

"May I, uh, come in?" he stammered.

"Sure." She muted the television and motioned to the chair Joanne usually occupied next to the bed. He took a seat and crossed his legs. "What's up, Benjamin?" she teased. It felt as if the old Maureen was back.

"I just stopped by to see how you're doing…and to make amends. I figured since Alex and Cassia are 'involved' now, it would help to have their parents getting along with each other."

"There's nothing to makes amends about. We've been getting along fine for a while now, and unless you royally screw up again, I don't see things changing between us any time soon." Benny cracked a small smile.

"I don't think I'll be closing down any tent cities any time soon."

"And I don't think I'll be staging any protests soon. I'll be stuck here for the rest of eternity it feels like."

"It can't be that bad," Benny reasoned, even though he knew that it had to be terrible for someone like Maureen to be stuck in a bed for several days on end. She gave him a knowing look, and they both laughed. "At least you're better." She sighed.

"Yeah, at least I'm better. No more headaches, my eyesight is almost back to normal, and I'm gaining weight again."

"You know, most women aren't exactly thrilled about gaining weight." She smacked his arm playfully.

"When you weight as much as I do, gaining weight is a Godsend. That radiation and shit really did the trick."

"Well, it's great to see that you're back to normal now." Maureen took a sip of water and nodded in agreement. Things really were starting to look up for her now.

Joanne walked down the hall to Maureen's hospital room holding Paige's hand on one side of her and Tiffany's hand on the other. They were going to see Maureen now that she was almost back to her usual self. When they entered the room, they found her talking happily to Benny as if they were old friends.

"Mommy!" Tiffany exclaimed as she ran from Joanne's grip and bounced up onto the bed.

"Hey, honey," Maureen cooed as she scooped her up into her arms and kissed the top of her head lovingly.

"I missed you."

"I missed you too, Tiff." Joanne carefully put Paige down on the other side of Maureen. She was more than thrilled to be back with her mommy once again. Maureen held both of her little girls close, afraid to let them go. "Where's Cass?"

"At the library with Alex," Joanne replied as she leaned casually against the air conditioner.

"I can guarantee that there's no studying getting done," Benny pointed out with a chuckle. Maureen and Joanne had to agree with him there. They trusted the two of them together, even after Cassia's exploits with Zack before.

At the library, Cassia and Alex were actually bent over their books trying to get some homework done. Under the table, they played footsies with each other, causing them to crack small smiles and glance up at each other every so often.

"This whole studying together thing really isn't working," she pointed out rather bluntly. Alex closed his book.

"I gotta agree with you there." Cassia began to put her books away as well. "Say we start to head home. It's getting late." Before she could react, he grabbed her bag as well as his, and they walked out of the library and towards their buildings.

By the time Cassia got home, Joanne and the girls were home from the hospital as well. Joanne was in the kitchen making dinner while Tiffany and Paige watched television in the living room.

"How much studying did you two really get done today?" Joanne asked as Cassia dumped her bag next to the front door.

"Define 'studying'," she teased as she grabbed a banana out of the bowl of fruit on the counter.

"Cassia!" Joanne exclaimed.

"Just kidding, gosh, Mama. We did get a lot of studying done, but we got bored and left the library to come home." She spun around and called over her shoulder, "I'll be in my room!" Rolling her eyes, Joanne went back to preparing dinner. Maureen definitely was more adept at handling teenage problems such as guys and dating, and she couldn't wait for her to come home.

A/N: Next chapter is probably going to be the last.

~Tina101