The phone rang. Cruz walked over and picked it up answering "Hello?"

Hey.

Her eyes widened. It was Lightning!?

"Uh, hey!"

How are things?

"Um.. Adjusting I guess.."

I got the request form. It's in my hands right now.

"Oh..You did?.. I thought Cal would.."

Well I'm running the school for the week while he's recovering.

"Right.. Makes sense.. Sorry.."

Don't be sorry. Just.. You wanna talk about this?

Cruz snickered rudely. "Don't you want me to leave you alone and never speak to you again?"

I'm sorry about the restraining order, but I had to get through to you. I love Sally.. I can't.. Damage my future with her.

"So I was damage? Because I sure as hell wasn't damage before."

Not exactly what I meant.. Just.. ugh... You really wanna transfer to Florida?

"...Well... I mean.. I don't have Miguel permanently and.. I keep having to fly back and fourth to Florida for him to live with my parents on their days.."

Right, your parents. I forgot they lived there. Still.. You know I could help you?

"Help what? There's nothing to help with Lightning."

I have a very argumentative lawyer. Bet she can help you gain full custody.

"Really? I mean.. I just.. He's my problem.. Not.. yours.."

Don't call your kid a problem.

"Ofcorse not! i just meant... I.."

Anyways, the kid's cute. I'd like to help if I can. If you want me to. Where is his father anyway?

"Not involved. His choice, not mine. Miguel's father signed away all his rights like you did when you found out he wasn't yours.."

Yeah, Lightning did think about that from time to time. How different his life, their lives would be if Miguel had been his son.

Talk to your lawyer. See what you'd need to make happen in order to get custody sooner. That is, if you wanna stay in Radiator Springs?

"I do. Maybe.. I don't know. Things are always so.. Tense.. Between Sally and I and.. I don't know. She really hates me."

She was doing fine with you until you began this game of trying to snatch me back.

"Yeah.. That was stupid of me.. I ruined a lot of any.. I ruined my future in this town.."

Not true. Just..

"I have Lightning. Sally will.. Always.. Glare at me and hate me and.. I can't live in this.. Like that."

Hmm.

"So.. I'm sorry.. I just thought with Miguel, things might be easier in Florida for me and him. If he was yours which.. I wish he was.. Things would be different."

Lightning didn't wish the kid was his. It was sort of a blessing be wasn't.

Right.. Okay. I guess I'll see you Monday. So you really want me to sign this?

"Yup. See you then."

Lightning hung up and sighed. It really wasn't his problem, he just didn't wanna see Cruz or Miguel leave like this...

Sally just pulled up to Flo's to grab some lunch when she noticed Lightning leaving the building. She quickly caught up greeting "Hey! Didn't know you were headed out for lunch today?" she questioned. Lightning smiled explaining "I'm gonna check on Mom. Thought I'd bring her her favorite." That was sweet of him. Sally stepped closer and kissed his cheek. "Love you. Will you be home later tonight?" she asked. Lightning shook his head answering "Normal time today." "Good. We can sit down and talk about your mother's obvious condition." she reminded. Lightning sighed, but nodded. "I'll see you back home." Sally added before placing one more kiss on his cheek and heading into the diner while Lightning headed to his mother's.

The door's little bell rang. Sally immediately locked eyes with Nick who was in the back of the line. He smiled sarcastically maybe. Sally sighed, but smiled to as she walked up behind him. Nick spoke first asking "How are the kids?" Before turning akd facing her. Sally smiled still, answering with "Good. They didn't even realize anything had actually happened." Nick chuckled a little before adding "No offense, but you don't look like a mother of three beautiful children." Sally snickered. "Well thank you. For both the compliments there. And thanks again." she replied. Nick nodded happily. It was his job after all. "So..." he continued as they waited in the line. "Lightning McQueen.." Sally nodded replying "Yup. He's.. My husband. Or he was and.. Will be again." She laughed awkwardly saying that like that. Sounded weird.

Nick snickered and apologized "Hey, I'm sorry for the other night.. At dinner. Not only for seeming like a dirty cheater, but for that thing with Lightning. I.. Read so many different and aweful things about the guy and then when I saw him.. I.. I may have just judged him rather quickly. I'm sorry." Sally sighed but smiled. "Well.. Thank you for that. I'm so sorry too. I just.. I saw the ring and jumped to conclusions because.. Well I've been there.. With the uh.. Um.. Cheating.." She said that softly. Like ahewas ashamed. Nick then defended "Men like him give us good guys a bad name.. I'm sorry for dinner, but I'm not sorry for saying what I said. You can do better and you do deserve better. Ofcorse.. I come from a home that a situation as such happened." "Really?" Sally asked.

Nick nodded. Out of curiousity, Sally had to ask "If you don't mind me asking... What was that like? For you I mean.. How old were you? Mom or Dad?" Nick thought a moment because he wanted to answer her truthfully. "I was eight. Young enough to know my parents weren't getting along at some point. My Dad cheated with some woman from his old work place. My mother never forgave him, never let him come home unless it was his turn to get me. The worst part was all the arguing. Like, I get it. People, especially couples argue, but.. They could find a reason to argue over the color of the grass. It was ridiculous." Sally nodded and actually felt relief. "Wow. That's good to hear.." She muttered with a smile. Nick raised a brow and she I'm explained! "I forgave, forgive Lightning!.. So.. We hardly argue much anymore and.. I mean we fight ofcorse just.. Things are getting better. We are getting married again and we're happy."

Nick smiled replying "That's good to know. Happy for you than. You have a much bigher heart than I expected and give that man more than he deserves. Just watch yourself.. Once a cheater, always a cheater. It's not a saying, it's true." Sally only got defensive snapping "Lightning won't.. Shouldn't.." She mumbled and frowned. Nicn quickly assured "I hope not, surely not..But I'm being honest.. It's not that he likes other women. Just.." He was trying to explain and Sally wanted to know what he was trying to say. "Just what?" She asked. Nick sighed and continued "Just.. Once a man knows that he can cheat and easily get away with it, winning the girl back? He finds that he could flat out murder someone and she forgive him. You did after he did more than cheat to you." Sally stared. Was that true? Would she forgive him for anything at this point, No matter what he did to her?

"Lightning only cheated on me." she corrected. Nick snickered and shook his head now correcting her. "No, making the mistake once for like one night or so.. That's cheating. Lightning had a full on affair. A relationship with another woman. I'm sorry, but that's the truth." Sally sighed. It was the truth. She cheated, he had a long affair with a younger, hotter woman. Sally took a deep breath. She wasn't letting this get to her. She forgave Lightning. She forgave him and that was that. She needed to let this go for good. She needed to let her feelings out. She needed to get off her chest what she had been holding onto for a while now. Especially sense Cruz started to try and steal Lightning back once again. Sally knew she needed to, to help her and Lightning's relationship in moving forward...

Megan walked by the bedroom and stopped. Was Cal in bed? She opened the door calling his name, but he wasn't there!? "Cal?.." She immediately became worried and ran into the bathroom! Busting open the door, but he wasn't there either! She ran through the hallway and yelling out, calling out his name loudly! "Cal!? Cal!" "Right here.." He replied as she ran by the back door. Megan quickly ran back over and up to her husband asking "What are you doing out of bed!?" She saw keys in his hands. "No!" She snapped and snatched them up! Cal growled and explained "I need to see someone. Anyone! I need to get out!" "You shouldn't drive yet!" Meg reminded.

Cal sighed with an eye roll, whining "Megan I have been in that bed for days! Doctor says if I feel okay to get out, I cna get out." "Yes, but you need to avoid stress." His loving wife reminded. Cal glared at her. He wanted to snap something back, but didn't. "Come on, let's get you back to bed." She suggested. Cal frowned. "Megan, I love you.. But this memory loss thing has me running blanks.. I need to know what is going on, what I can't remember and why I was with Sterling in the first place. Because if I remember anything? It's that Sterling ans I aren't exaxtly friends."

Megan sighed as she took his hands replying "Somethings are just.. Best forgotten okay? Please.." She quietly begged. Cal stared inti her beautiful eyes and put on a smile. "Okay..." He reluctantly agreed. Megan lay her head on his chest. Taking a sniff of his scent. "I love you so much Cal.." She reminded warmly and lovingly. Cal snickered with a happy smile. "I love you to." and kissed her brown hair over her head. But he windered what on earth she could mean by that. What things were best forgotten?...

Lightning sat in technically Cal's office. Doing a bit of research. He squinted a little as he typed into the search bar.

Alzheimers symptoms

Enter.

The results he read didn't do much, but upset his stomach. It was very clear his mother had it. Though he planned to take her to a professional ofcorse before doing much of anything. Lightning knew he didn't want to put her in a nursing home. What else could he do?

Taking care of someome with Alzheimers.

Enter.

Although that was what he searched. Another result caught his eye.

Symptoms of Late-Stage Alzheimer's Disease

Increased susceptibility to infections, including skin infections.

Difficulty walking and moving, eventually resulting in the person becoming chair-bound or bed-bound.

Loss of the ability to communicate through words.

Groaning, grunting, moaning.

Difficulty swallowing and eating.

Lightning stared at these things and sighed. Rubbing his hands over his face a bit in agitation. Then one of the suggested searches caught his attention and he clicked it reading.

How long does a person live after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's?

four to eight years

On average, a person with Alzheimer's lives four to eight years after diagnosis

That made him sick. The thought that his mother may only have that long left! Okay, that was enough internet searching for today! Lightning shut the screen off and leaned back in the seat. Sick. Just sick. Because in honesty, though he wouosntwouldn't admit it to anyone really. He was a Mama's boy. He had always had a close relationship to his mother and this hurt. This was scary and new and sickening. And he couldn't exactly go to his mother for this either because he was afraid to accept this might even be happening. He knew he was overwhelmed and overthinking this now but all he could think was my mother is going to die soon...

That night as the couple lay for bed. Sally did bring up the situation of his mother, but Lightning avoided it. He didn't want ti face it yet...