The afternoon had been quite long and tiring for all of them. Even though Sharon was the only one recovering from serious injuries, she wasn't the only one traumatized and heavily marked by the whole situation. Once Andy and Martha had come back with lunch, they eventually joined the conversation. It ended up as a family discussion that was very helpful and made them all feel closer. Grandma Martha had now the full story. She was then even more endeared with this beautiful broken family she was now part of, in a way. The part about having lost a child was particularly difficult to hear for Martha and the children. Even Andy was still very affected and had many regrets about the big misunderstanding that had led to such a dramatic outcome. He would probably never apologize enough to Sharon for letting her deal with this terrible loss on her own.

Martha shared her own setbacks with miscarriages. The poor lady had had her lot of difficulties and had given up on motherhood. Instead, she enjoyed a happy life with the love of her life who had died several years ago from cancer. It explained why she was beyond thrilled to be now part of a family and felt like she still had a chance at motherhood and grandmotherhood.

After sharing heart-to-heart stories from their past life, the now blended family needed to discuss the future. The past was behind them fortunately and it should remain that way. They had to move on to better days and dive into their plans to make the best out of the time ahead of them. Having talked to her children alone had made an instantaneous difference. She felt them way more open to include Andy into their family and reassured on how he was treating her. Her poor babies were scared for him to turn into a violent partner to their mother and needed to make sure he wouldn't hurt her.

When the conversation went to the question of where they'd all be living after her hospital stay brought everyone round to the same idea – they needed to look for a new home for all of them to live in – in Los Angeles, their hometown. Andy and Sharon had a whole family to shelter and it was exciting to make projects all together. They would have to start all over again since neither of them had a home there anymore. But they had a chance to take a fresh start and it was what mattered the most to them. It's with a large smile on her lips that Sharon closed her eyes that night, enveloped in her lover's arms. It sometimes felt surreal to feel like her life was better than her craziest dreams.

/

Days were flying by. Sharon would be released in two days now. Andy had been looking actively for their home and showed her pictures of the different houses he went on to visit as soon as he came back to her. Moving into a new house after leaving the hospital with still so much to recover from wasn't exactly what the doctors would recommend, but she was tired to feel like she had no home to go to. Moreover after 23 years of wait, she wanted to finally be able to share her home with the love of her life. If she had learnt anything from her past traumas, it was that life is short and one should never take it for granted because it hangs on a thread. So why wait any longer? She wanted a life with him so much that she was ready to face anything to reach her goal. Everyone would be there to help them out including Andrea, the team, her children and Martha. It would be alright she was sure of it.

Her heart beat for one particular house which charm was infinite. She could only picture them living their best life together full of happiness, love and trust. She felt beyond enthusiastic at the idea of starting a new life surrounded by her loved ones. She knew in her gut this was what they had always been looking for to live as a blended nonetheless happy family. Sharon gave Andy her green light letting him take care of the paperwork to seal the purchase of their family dream house. She didn't even need to see it in person because she unquestionably trusted Andy. They were on the same wavelength and he had fallen for it visiting it for real as much as she had fallen in love with it seeing the pictures he had taken for her. When the couple announced the big news to the children, everyone was cheerful and excited to get into this new chapter of their life. The atmosphere felt light and positive. Martha and the children immediately volunteered to help pick and build the furniture they would have to buy to fill their beautiful home. They didn't have much time left to organize everything for Sharon to come home to a furnished house with at least the minimum to eat and sleep. The rest of the furniture and decoration she would love to do later and take her time to create a cozy but neat place for them to live in.

/

As she looked out the window, she realized it was her last morning there. The room was bright and peaceful. Andy was still asleep beside her, the cutest expression on his face. How amazing to wake up to his embrace, his sleeping face nuzzled into her hair. His arm under her neck and the other one around her waist. He always kept his hand resting limp on her stomach. It was a way for him to check that she was breathing and fast asleep he had told her. Her lips curved at the memory of him explaining to her how important it was for him to make sure she was alright overnight. It was probably normal since she had had so much trouble finding some sleep in the first days because of her terrible nightmares.

This morning she felt happy, filled, satisfied. Life was about to take a new turn. A very promising turn. And yet she felt a little nervous too which had waken her up. She was worried. Would Andy and the kids blend into one single family? She knew her children were open and willing to include him but would things evolve the way she really wanted them to? He was doing his best and he had the most honorable intentions towards her and her family. She was safe with him and she knew it, no doubts on that. Nonetheless, she couldn't help but feel giddy not being able to control how things were to develop in the future. What would it be like to live under the same roof? She tried her best not to worry too much about it but it was a vain try.

What bothered her even more was Emily. She had been casted in a very prestigious Ballet Company and yet because of her she had missed many weeks and would probably end up fired. Sharon was scared to be the reason her daughter wouldn't be able to make her dreams come true. Moreover, she had a secret she had been keeping from Emily. Jack had told her in his twisted monologues that her online videos and articles were the reason he had been able to locate them. He had recognized her and managed, therefore, to trace them back. She didn't want for her to ever find out about it because she knew she would feel guilty and would think that she is to blame for the blows her mother took. Sharon was convinced that things were supposed to happen this way and she didn't regret any of it because it had allowed her to be free of Jack and reunited with Andy.

She needed to talk to Emily about her future in the Ballet Company. She wanted her, by all means, under the same roof but she wouldn't compromise her career that had such a good start. The cast director and choreographer had liked her so much when she auditioned that it would be selfish of her to stop her daughter from enjoying new experiences like this one. Emily hadn't mentioned anything about it so far and she was afraid she didn't dare to, feeling way too concerned for her mother. She would have to talk to her alone to know what she truly wanted for her career. The possibility to see her going back to Utah and not being able to follow her was heartbreaking but she knew that a good mother had to let her children fly on their own and accomplish their very own dreams.

- Are you alright Sweetheart? Andy asked, his voice hoarse with sleep.

- Yes, honey… just thinking about a few things… I'm okay, she answered with almost a whisper.

She didn't mean to alert him, but he could feel something was up and pressed his hand against her stomach, pulling her closer against his chest.

- What's up? he whispered in her ear.

Sharon slowly turned around in his arms, her face meeting his.

- What's wrong honey? You know you can tell me anything, don't you? Andy was concerned.

- Don't worry… there's nothing wrong exactly, I'm just feeling a little nervous this morning. There're so many new things ahead of us that… I don't know… she couldn't look him in the eye or she would no longer be able to control herself.

- You're feeling overwhelmed.

- Right…

- I know you Sweetheart, and it's okay to feel a little nervous. It's time for change, time to find new marks and that can be a little scary.

- You know me too well… she chuckled feeling a little embarrassed, her eyes giving away how scared and nervous she actually was.

- Come here… Andy wrapped his arms around her and she instinctively met the crook of his neck with her face. I'll follow your rhythm, you don't have to worry about us. I'm not in a hurry, I want to live every moment with you and take new steps whenever you're ready for them, okay?

- Okay… she whispered.

- If there's anything wrong, you can tell me. I won't get mad at you for having a different need or opinion. I'll never force you to do anything you don't want to do and I'll never hurt you, at least not intentionally. And most of all I can promise you that I'll never raise my hand to you. Ever. I swear I'll protect you no matter what and even if I have to leave this life for it.

- I know you won't hurt me, Andy, and I want to be with you more than I can express. I'm so glad you're with me in this. I love you.

- I love you too, Sweetheart.

He knew she wasn't done, there was something else but he would wait for her to be ready. Meanwhile, he kept soothing her and brushing her auburn hair. As he had promised her, he would hold her as much as she needed him to.

A few minutes later, she finally spoke again.

- I'm worried about Emily, Sharon blurted out her voice heavy with emotion.

- What's the matter with Emily? Andy took her out of his embrace so that he could face her.

- She might be unhappy because of me… I'm a burden to my children and I just hate it, Andy… tears started forming in the corner of her eyes.

- What are you talking about? That's nonsense, Sharon.

- Back in Utah, she auditioned and was hired in a Ballet Company.

- Well, that's wonderful! How are you making her unhappy?

- Because of me, she couldn't show up at work for over a month. We haven't talked about it ever since we got back here and I'm afraid I'm the reason she's not going back… What if she never gets another chance because of me?

- Sharon, I know you're scared for your children but it doesn't make sense, honey. She's alive thanks to you! You protected her by sending her to a safe place, how could she be mad at you? I don't know her like you do but I know her enough to assure you that you don't make her unhappy. She probably didn't bring up the subject because she was worried about you. We all were. Maybe she was just too busy looking after you and wasn't focused on her career.

- See, that's exactly what bothers me… she has to interrupt her career to look after me… I'm fine, I want her to be happy and I want her to focus on her life and career, not me…

- My love, what you have to understand is that your family loves you and all of us just want to help you and look after you. You're not used to being taken care of but that's how love truly works. When you love someone, you take care of that person and wanna make sure she's alright. That's what we're all doing. How could you think any of us would be upset with you about that?

- I know… and I love the way we are all forming a family… I just don't want to stop any of you from doing what makes you happy.

- It makes us happy to be with you and support you, I promise. And honey don't underestimate your injuries, you're feeling better now but… seeing you fully bashed up with bruises, bleeding, barely able to walk was frightening for everyone, including me even if I tried my best to hide it.

- I know I scared you all. I scared myself. Thank you for all you did for me, Andy.

- You don't have to thank me, I love every bit of it. Now you'll just have to find a moment to talk about it with Emily. I'm sure you'll work this out. Everything's gonna be fine, I promise.

- You're probably right…

- Now, let's get you ready for the big day. We're finally moving in together! I'm so glad to get the chance to live this with you Sharon, you have no idea.

Oh yes, she knew. She was indeed caught up in her doubts again but she knew how thrilled he was because she felt just the same. They had been waiting for this for so long that it felt surreal to love each other shamelessly and countlessly. At last. Sharon dearly caressed his cheek with her hand and tasted his lips with a gentle kiss. Through her tears, she looked him in the eye and pulled him in for another kiss. She was the luckiest woman alive and she wouldn't take it for granted.

/

Just like that they were back to their hometown. Sharon hadn't realized how much she had missed her city, her habits there, the people, the shops she liked, the little coffee place she loved to go to. It was all details, but she felt finally home and she could see her children with the same satisfaction to be back in that very familiar city. After several hours of active work and a huge help from all their friends and family, Andy and Sharon finally had their Home Sweet Home. There was room for everyone and although the decoration wasn't too special yet, it was a very welcoming place already with everything they needed to feel comfortable and happy in the years to come.