Two years later...

Chapter 21

It was a Thursday night; everyone in the family was asleep, until there was a huge bang on the door.

Joanne jolted awake, her eyes popping open, the knocking getting loud.

"Shut up!" Maureen yelled with out even rolling over.

"Maureen, I think someone is at the door." Joanne whispered, shaking Maureen awake.

Maureen sighed, popping an eye open, glancing at the clock, "It's three in the morning it's probably a prank."

More banging, causing Leah to run in the room, jumping on the bed, "Mama!" she said hiding her face on Joanne's neck, "Who's here?"

Joanne wrapped her arms around her, cringing when Tessa woke up and began crying.

"Someone get the door!" Haley yelled from her room.

Maureen angrily pulled the covers off of her, climbing off of the bed, "I'll fucking get it!" She yelled, throwing her pillow across the room, "Who comes banging on the door so early in the fucking morning!" she screamed storming down the stairs, "This better be fucking important!" She shouted, yanking the door open.

"Is Leah home?"

Maureen let out a sigh, running a hand through her hair, "Brooke…it's three in the morning, what are you doing here?"

Brooke trembled, her hands shaking, "I need Leah…" She replied, her voice quivering.

Maureen studied the fifteen year-old, sensing something was wrong. She moved aside letting her in. "Leah." She called, and the blonde was quickly downstairs, getting tackled into a hug.

"What's going on?" Joanne asked, coming down a few minutes later, trying to calm Tessa down.

"My mom." Brooke muffled against Leah's shoulder, "She was doing so good, but she…she…" Brooke burst into a fit of sobs, unable to get it out.

Joanne and Maureen shared a worried look. Joanne passed the two-year-old off to Maureen, while Joanne went to sooth Brooke.

"What happened sweetie?" Joanne asked.

"She's gone." Brooke whimpered,

"Oh, honey." Joanne cooed, pulling Brooke into a hug, Leah going numb, not knowing what to say. She went and leaned against Maureen, while Joanne calmed Brooke down. "Does your dad know where you are?"

Brooke shrugged, "He's at the hospital. I don't know why… they declared her at 2:01am…" She said blankly, still clutching onto Joanne.

Joanne rubbed her back, leading her to the living room, "Maureen, try and get a hold of her dad."

Maureen simply nodded, and took Tessa with her upstairs. Haley and Tessa slept with Maureen in the master bedroom that night, while Joanne lay with Brooke and Leah in Leah's room, everyone too shocked to sleep.

The next week went by slow, Joanne helped Mr. Andrews with funeral stuff, and Leah tried her hardest to consol her best friend. Eventually weeks turned into months, Brooke wasn't up to going out as much as she used too, and inevitably Leah met a guy, Kyle, and the two started hanging out and then began dating.

Leah and Brooke still hung out, but Brooke sort of changed after her mother had passed away, taking more chances, sneaking off to parties, and eventually Leah followed back into her best friend's foot steps, the only thing keeping them from being as close as they were before, was Kyle. (but everyone knows what happens a few years later. (wink, wink)

"Leah this isn't like you!" Joanne yelled, pointing a finger in her daughter's face, "Ever since you've been dating that boy…" She said, shaking her head, little did she know Brooke was the one who influenced her to sneak out to the party.

"Sorry Mama." Leah quietly replied.

"Go to your room!" Joanne yelled, "Brush your teeth. I can smell alcohol on your breath!"

"Yes Mama." Leah said, bursting into tears as she ran up to her room, shoving pass Maureen.

"Hey!" Maureen whined, coming face to face with an angry Joanne.

"She's sixteen!" Joanne yelled, "She shouldn't be drinking or going off to parties!"

Maureen shrugged, "She's just being a teenager."

"Don't you side with her!" Joanne said, now pointing a finger in Maureen's face.

"Okay, calm down." Maureen said grabbing Joanne's finger and pulling her close.

"I don't like that Kyle guy." Joanne said, relaxing a little under Maureen's touch.

"Me either, Pookie." Maureen replied, "But there is nothing we can do about it. You know what I did when my parents told me I couldn't go out and have boyfriends?"

Joanne crossed her arms, still upset, "What?"

"I did it anyway." Maureen replied, "Them telling me not to do something, only made me want to do it that much more, so calm down, alright?"

Joanne shook her head, clenching her jaw. "Teenagers…" She muttered.

"I know." Maureen smiled, "They're interesting, aren't they?"

"I'm glad you find this funny, Maureen, I really do." Joanne sarcastically replied.

"Shhh, have a beer, calm your nerves." Maureen instructed handing Joanne a cold one.

Joanne grabbed the beer, taking a long drink. When she put the drink down, her eyes nearly bugged out of her eyes for the second time that night.

"Tessa!"

Maureen snapped her head down the hallway, where Haley was having a massive laughing fit. Her eyes followed where Haley was pointing, and finally figured out why, which caused her to burst out laughing as well.

"Tessa, what did you do?" Joanne asked, biting back a smile.

"She cut herself." Haley replied, "So she went to the bathroom to try and find a Band-Aid…"

"And she found pads!" Maureen laughed. "Oh my God."

Joanne laughed, pulling Tessa close, "Babe, come here." She smiled, pulling the pad off of her forehead.

Maureen smiled, "Joanne you have to admit, even with all the tough times, the good times make it all worth it."

Joanne looked up smiling, "I agree."

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Next chapter is the last. :)