OK, well the next chapter won't be up for a while, because I posted the others sooner than expected. I shouldn't be too much longer than a week I hope.

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing at all.

Luke entered the room, expecting the worst, but was surprised to see his mother sitting at the old desk, reading a book.

"Oh, mum!" exclaimed Luke.

Helen looked up at the sound of her son's voice.

"Luke!" she cried.

Luke and Helen embraced each other for a long time, until Luke whispered in her ear "Oh, I thought you were going to be so sick. Judy just told us you had a stroke," he said, feeling his eyes beginning to water.

Helen pulled away from her son, and said to him, "Oh, you've met Judy and Ken. Good. Yeah, I had a small stroke. It wasn't too serious. I guess they told you I still needed looking after, hey? They'll use any excuse to stay," she said breaking off in a laugh.

Luke gave a feeble smile back. Helen said "Well, enough about me; tell me what you've been up to. And why haven't I heard from you in so long, mister? I've missed you!"

Luke told his mother about the years since he left home, excluding the part where he lost all of his money. Helen beamed at her son. "I always knee you'd be a doctor," she said proudly.

Luke smiled, "Um, mum, I came here with Joan and Kevin…"

Helen' face suddenly fell. "Oh, I don't suppose that Kevin will want to see me. I was pretty pushy. I don't think Joan will fancy it either. We never made up you know?"

Luke gave a slight nod. "Well, I think Kevin wants to see you. He was the one who suggested it. He's had a few …problems lately. I think he needs a bit of motherly guidance. And I'm sure Joan will forgive you if you forgive her. It'll be fine."

Helen made no comment, so Luke said, "I'll go get one of them."

Luke raced down stairs and told Joan and Kevin that they could go and see Helen. Kevin hastily said "I'll go!' To Luke it sounded eager, but Joan knew it was mainly to get out of the eerie stare of the silent Ken.

Kevin made the trip upstairs for the first time in years. He guessed his mother was still in the same room she had always been in. He wheeled into her room, and was met abruptly by Helen herself.

Helen flung her arms around Kevin. "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry," she kept sobbing. And to his surprise, he cried back, He just wanted to be young again and climb onto his mothers lap, and just cry into her shoulder. He didn't feel as alone as he had for the past two years. His mothers warm chest was comforting to him. The two remained like this for several minutes. Kevin simply said "I forgive you,"

Helen looked at her son, and hugged him harder.

"You've gotten so thin!" she cried.

"Yeah, I just had pneumonia. And I haven't exactly been eating or exercising very well," Kevin said thoughtfully.

Helen nodded, and just savoured the moment. Her baby boy was finally back home.

Joan waited downstairs for half an hour, organizing her thoughts. Luke had told her that their mother wasn't critically ill, but she still wasn't sure about what she might look like. She trudged upstairs to wait. She was heading towards her old room when Kevin came out of their parents room. His eyes were red and puffy, but somehow he looked happier than he had in years.

He said softly to Joan, "Just go and see her,"

Joan took a deep breath and sighed. She guessed she should really see her mother, seeing as she had a near death experience.

She entered the room. Her mother was sitting on the edge of the bed, and looked as though she was trying to remember a speech. Indeed, when Joan entered the room, Helen looked up her daughter and started off.

"Joan, I am so sorry about what I did. I was wrong. You had every right to go off and venture on our own. The truth is, I didn't want to let you go. And neither did your dad. I promise you, the only reason I wanted you home was because you were too young to grow up. But you were old enough to let go. I should have realized that. I'm sorry,"

"Mum, I will forgive you, but I also must apologise. I was wrong, and now I need you. I really need you. And I know Kevin and Luke need you too. So can we forget the past, forever? I want to start over." Joan said as tears streamed down her cheeks.

Helen looked at her daughter. She had grown up. She wasn't her little girl anymore.

"Of course,"

When Joan and Helen came down the stairs, Will had just arrived home. Joan ran to her father, along with Luke and Kevin. They all thought the same thing. At last, this is all behind us.

But was it?

Next chapter: Ok, so the Girardi's have forgiven each other, but it's going to take them a lot longer to forget. And there are certain people who are also involved in this debacle. And some of Luke's secret will be revealed, next time on No Place Like Home.

Love your reviews, let's go for a record! Let's go for 8! I know you can do it! Or am I overly ambitious? Oh well. Until next time, I'm Em's Pride.