'Oh. Hi…Mom.'

Linda smiled at him, taking a step forward and hugging him tightly. 'Hey, Shane.'

He returned her hold half-heartedly, surprised at the relief he felt when he finally pulled away from her. 'Uh, what are you doing here?'

'A mother needs a reason to visit her children now?'

Shane forced a smile. 'Of course not.'

'How's your sister? Still feeling down in the dumps?'

'She's not too good. She's, uh, she's not eating…she's been losing a lot of weight.'

Linda frowned with concern. 'Maybe she should come home with me?'

'No!'

His mother was obviously taken-aback by his forceful answer. 'Excuse me?'

'I mean, I think it's best if she stays with Maria and I for now. Just give her back some stability in her life. I don't think it's, uh, good for her to be, you know, be moving around so much.'

Fortunately, Linda nodded. 'Well, that makes sense. Where is she? Can I see her?'

Shane hesitated. He couldn't believe the thoughts that were running through his mind regarding his mother's motives, and he quickly cleared his head of them. His mother was not going to try and kill his sister. 'Sure. She's in her room. The guest room.'

*

'Stephanie?'

Stephanie looked up, and tried to smile. 'Hi, Maria.'

'How are you doing?'

'I'm better, I promise. It was good to see Mom today.'

Maria smiled gently at her. 'That's great, honey. How about some food? Feel a little hungry?'

She wasn't, but she nodded nonetheless. 'I am, actually.'

Maria brightened. 'Good, because dinner is nearly finished. Shane's been taking his cooking lessons very seriously, and let me tell you, it smells delicious.'

Stephanie forced a smile, but said nothing. She stood up and followed her sister-in-law out of the room and down the stairs. She listened patiently to Maria's incessant chatter about her day at work, the cheerful and animated way she talked taking Stephanie's mind off her…issues.

'Maria?'

Maria stopped mid-sentence, and turned to face her. 'What is it, honey?'

She felt her throat suddenly tighten with emotion, and she swallowed hard. 'I just wanted to…to say thank you for everything you and Shane have done for me these past few weeks, and…and…' Stephanie trailed off, unsure of how to continue.

'Oh, hey, it's been no problem at all, Steph,' Maria said, giving her a hug. 'We've been more than happy to have you stay with us.'

'You guys have been-'

'Steph, you don't have to say anything at all.'

'I know I've been a burden to you-'

'Will you stop? We love having you here.'

'But-'

'We care about you, Steph. It's what families do.'

Stephanie took a deep breath, and tried to compose herself. 'Thank you.'

A serious look came over Maria's face. 'I realise that you're going through an extremely terrible time in your life at the moment, but we're here for you. You will get through this, and you will be okay.'

She knew that her sister-in-law was right despite the large part of her that rebelled at the other woman's words, but she nodded nevertheless. 'Thanks, Maria.'

'What are sisters for?'

'Hey, hey, where are the two best McMahon women?' Shane's jovial voice called out from the direction of the dining room. 'Dinner isn't going to eat itself you know!'

Maria rolled her eyes. 'And the man commandeth 'ye women shall come forth and eat of mine tidings, for mine toil and blood hath gone into it', and the women obeyed.'

Unable to help herself, Stephanie started giggling. It felt good to laugh, if only for a little while.

Maria grinned as she hooked her arm around Stephanie's. 'Come on, let's see if those lessons paid off.'