Disclaimer: I don't own anything because I am pathetic.

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            Joan's alarm rang at 7am on Monday morning. She begrudgingly dragged herself out of bed and towards the shower. As the soap ran through her hair, she couldn't recall setting her alarm the night before. After she dressed and dried her hair, Joan travelled down to the kitchen. She entered to see Adam, Luke and Grace sitting at the table eating.

            "What's going on?" she asked. The fridge door closed and Joan suddenly noticed Rebecca was there.

            "Morning Joan," she said and handed her a plate of pancakes.

            "Um, hi Rebecca…" Joan sat down at the table next to Adam. Joan stared at the pancakes before pushing them away from her. Adam looked at her worriedly.

            "I'm not hungry," she shrugged. He took her hand and squeezed it lightly. Grace started clearing the plates off of the table.

            "Your dad is at the hospital with Kevin and they're going to stay with your mom, so I'm going to crash here with you guys until they come home. I'll drive you to school and-" Joan cut Rebecca off.

            "Wait, we're going to school? I want to go and be with mom."

            "Joan, your dad wants you go to school, he promised that if anything changed he'd come and get you right away."

            Joan nodded but she still didn't want to go. How could she walk in and see someone else doing her mom's job. Regardless, they all got up and grabbed their bags.

            "Here," Rebecca said, handing them each a paper bag.

            "What's this yo?" Adam asked.

            "I made a lunch for each of you," she smiled. Grace looked confused, but took it anyhow.

"Common guys, I'll take you to school on my way to the paper."

            Grace and Luke followed her out to the car, but Adam stopped in the doorway when he saw that Joan wasn't following. He saw the fear in her eyes and approached her, taking her hand in his.

            "She would want you to go," he said. Joan drew in a shaky breath.

            "I know…but I should be with her."

            "You know that if she could, she would tell you to go to school. She wouldn't want you sitting in the hospital with her, seeing her like this."

            "I guess you're right," Joan sighed.

"She would say that wouldn't she," she laughed softly. Joan wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him. She went out to the car and he followed but stopped before closing the door. He stared at the Girardi's kitchen and Adam could swear he saw Mrs.Girardi standing at the counter asking him if he wanted some breakfast. He sighed and looked back once more before shutting the door behind him.  

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            The house was silent. The only sound was the ticking of the clock that read 9pm as they all sat in the kitchen. Rebecca was at the hospital, but had taken them all home after visiting Mrs.Girardi. Grace was sitting on the floor in front of the fridge while Luke sat with his head in his hands at the table. Adam was perched on the counter with Joan resting against him, his arms wrapped around her. The silence floated eerily through the kitchen as they waited. Suddenly the phone rang, startling everyone. They all stared at it as it vibrated, but no one moved. Finally Joan stepped away from Adam and picked up the phone.

            "H-hello?" Joan's voice was shaking as she answered.

"Hi daddy… Uh huh… no I understand," her voice cracked and tears flowed down her cheeks. She sniffed quietly.

"Yeah, ok… Bye Dad… I love you too," trembling, Joan hung up the phone. Grace and Luke both stood up and Adam slid off the counter. They all stared at her.

            "Mom," Joan's voice shook as she slowly raised her head.

"She just woke up and she's going to be fine."

            Luke rushed forward and pulled Joan into a hug. He laughed and she could feel the tears on his face wetting her already damp cheeks as she embraced him. When Luke let her go, Joan turned around and practically jumped on Adam. She held his face between her hands and kissed him with everything she had. When they finally pulled apart, Adam smiled and reached up, brushing away her tears with his thumbs. Joan's face broke out into a smile.

            "She's going to be ok Adam, it's all going to be ok."

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            "This is the most gorgeous day I have ever experienced!" Joan laughed, as she swung higher. She felt Adam's hands on her back as he pushed her, willing her to go higher. Grace rolled her eyes at Joan, but laughed all the same. It was eleven o'clock and they had just had just come from the hospital and decided to go to the park. Mrs.Girardi looked better than ever and the Doctor had agreed that she could go home at the end of the week. Grace had seen Luke smile; genuinely smile, for the first time in days. It was warm outside and the sun was shining.

            "You know, we never got a chance to talk about what happened at the competition," Luke said as he and Grace crossed the street to where Joan and Adam already were at the Park.

            "Yeah…" Grace trailed off.

"About that-"

            "Wait Grace, I need to say something first. I know you call me Geek all the time and that whole thing with Glynis and all. Well, I never told you why we broke up."

            "I thought Geek Love was scientifically programmed, what could have gone wrong?" Grace smirked.

            "The program was the wrong one. I couldn't go out with Glynis because…she wasn't the one I wanted to be with and we both knew that."

            Grace stared at him a moment and then turned to walk away, but Luke caught up and stepped in front of her.

            "Grace wait!"

            "You're making a big mistake. You don't want to be with me!" She stepped around him and continued walking.

            "Why not! Grace, I'm in love with you!" he called after her. Joan stopped swinging and she and Adam both stared at them. Grace whipped around and faced him with tears in her eyes. Luke slowly moved towards her.

            "No you're not! You just think you are! I can't make you happy, I'm not like that!"

            "Yes you can. I like you the way you are," Luke insisted.

            "I can't-" But Luke cut Grace off by capturing her lips with his. After a few minutes, Luke pulled away and met her eyes.

            "I like you exactly the way you are," he insisted.

            "This will never work Geek," Grace smirked at him.

            "We'll make it work, I'm very persistent."

Grace kissed him softly and Joan turned around on the swing to face Adam.

            "Dysfunctional love, isn't it wonderful," she laughed. He grinned at her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

            "Unchallenged Jane, unchallenged."

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Author's Note:

My, that was terribly difficult. I'm in a rut right now about everything. I don't really feel like doing anything but lying in bed. Unfortunately I have had to go to school. And my best friend is in Italy right now, so I'm very lonely on top of it all. Anyhow, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. It wasn't one of my best, but it's the best I could manage right now. Huge thanks to everyone who reviewed!!!! You guys are amazing! And yes Rooney rules, I'm very excited about that. Thanks again, and review PLEASE! Whether you liked it or not, I always enjoy feedback. Thanks!

Arwen5       aKa SkEtChY jAnE