The whole time today when Mom and Maddie showed Dad and I around, I tried to imagine what it would be like if I had grown up here, with them. Dad was equally curious, always wanting to know about everyone in their lives, yes their, Mom included. I had no idea how Mom was going to take Maddie living in Connecticut, but I doubted it would go over well.

I mean you could tell Mom and Maddie were close. Even though Mom had been away a lot, I had no doubt that she hadn't been running away from Maddie, but maybe just running away from her broken life. That was my theory that seemed about right. Sighing, I looked around the guest room, as if looking for an answer.

"Andy?" Looking up, I saw Maddie in her pajamas leaning against my doorframe.

"Yeah?" I looked at her concerned.

"Can we talk?" She asked, not waiting for my reply just walking in.

Sitting on the edge of my bed I looked to her, "Sure, what's the matter?" Before she replied she looked suspiciously down the hall, before quietly shutting the door.

"I have a problem… not a problem, just well, I'm so confused. I mean I have wanted for so long, so long, to meet my Father and to live with him. I used to day dream about it, funny how in my dreams it was much less awkward," I laughed, and nodded for her to continue. "Anywho, the point I'm trying to make is now that I have it, well now that I'm so close to having it. I don't want to leave Mom. I can't bear to leave her alone." Breaking off, she turned away looking sad.

"C'mere," I pulled her into a hug, trying to soothe her. "We can come see her every holiday, and even some weekends,"

"But, it won't be the same," She let go of me to look at me seriously. "It will never be the same, I mean once we're gone this will be just be Mom's house, no longer will it be home. Not only that, leaving Mom on her own? I mean I know she'll say she's fine, but would she really be fine? C'mon Andy, you know you hate leaving her too!"

"You're right, you're absolutely right. I… I used to dream about meeting Mom and you, squirt," I shook her playfully. "And, now that I met her and you, well I don't want to just turn my back on her. I mean, I guess you and I are in the same boat,"

"What are we going to do?" She asked me, leaning against my shoulder.

"Something, we'll think of something," I promised, putting my arm around her. We'd have to because I also dreaded leaving Mom alone here.

Once again I was at Chris's to work on the project. Nick had brought me over after dinner. I couldn't help, but be curious about what had happened with Allie and Chris today in the dining hall. What was up with them?

"What are you thinking about?" Chris asked me, when I was obviously in a daze.

"Umm… nothing really," I told him, looking down at my project notes in front of me. Chris looked like he didn't believe me. So what? I was lying what else was new? Lying had become my new best friend. But, then curiosity got the best of me, "Well, really can I ask you something?"

"Sure, anything," He replied, sitting back.

"Umm… just tell me if it seems out of line, but what's up with you and Allie Geller?" His eyes widened as I said her name. "Is that too-"

Interrupting me he gave me a weak smile, "No don't worry it's not rude at all, just unexpected… what's up with us, what do you mean by that exactly?"

"Well, today at lunch you two couldn't even say hi to each other, yet alone make eye contact?" Perhaps it wasn't even anything and I just picked up the wrong vibe.

"Oh, that. Well, it's complicated, we used to date, it wasn't a long or really serious relationship though. It started at the beginning of this past summer, and well was over at the beginning of the summer," He explained, his eyes had an almost glazed over expression as if he was remembering something.

"Oh," I mumbled, not knowing what else to say and, trying to bite back another question.

"It was nothing really," He told me, coming back to reality.

"Do you mind if I ask what happened?" I questioned, before I could stop myself, with better judgment.

"That, that's a long story… I don't even like to talk about it," He told me.

"I'm sorry, I really shouldn't have brought it up." I muttered, feeling stupid. "Sorry, I'm just kinda curious." Looking away, I felt suddenly uncomfortable.

"No, I'll tell you, I mean I haven't actually told anyone, and well I think I need to get it off my chest. It was at the beginning of summer, well technically I guess we started to date at the end of the school year, but it doesn't really matter, it still ended soon. Her brother Conner-"

"Yeah, I met him yesterday," He looked to me shocked, and it seemed as if he was a bit upset. But, I wasn't sure if it was because of that or the story he had begun telling me.

"Yeah well, he is really good friends with my stepbrother Andrew. So yeah, you can imagine how awkward that was…"

"What do you mean? Weren't that make it easier to see her?"

"Not really, considering Andrew and I… well to put it nicely, we hate each other. So of course, he hated the relationship since it started, I'm surprised the relationship even lasted as long as it did."

"But, didn't Conner-"

"Nope, being Andrew's friend he obviously hated me, I mean he probably didn't hate me, but he did really dislike me. He and Andrew had been friends like their whole lives, so basically it was his worst nightmare when his sister started dating me. The day before we broke up, it was a party here. Andrew always throws a big bash when our parents are out of town."

"I know exactly what you mean, we did the same in New York…"

"Yeah, I was never really in to them, well when Andrew and his friends threw them that is… y'know if I ever did even go it basically was just beat up on Chris time. So, I pretty much learnt to just stay away when he had them. And, this time it was no different. Allie and I hadn't really talked, I had no idea if she was going to the party. Our parents had left suddenly, so it was a pretty much was a last minute party. And, I doubted she'd go, because it was just the older kids. So, I left and went to a friends house, and from there I called Allie's but no one answered,"

"She had gone to the party?" I guessed.

"Yeah, I didn't find that out till the next day when I had gone home. And, well I, I found her in a pretty compromising position…"

"She wouldn't…." I whispered, not even knowing Allie well, but defending her.

"She was in Andrew's room. When, I walked in she was getting dressed… but, y'know what got me, what threw me right over the edge? The fact that it was Andrew, it wasn't some random guy, it was him. And, the fact that, that smug bastard, oh, shit, you should have seen him!"

"What did she say?" I whispered, so quietly. Unable to take in all I had heard.

"She told me that her brother had dragged her to the party, she had fallen in the pool, and Andrew gave her some dry clothes and then she had just fallen asleep,"

"How, I mean Chris, what if that was the truth?"

"Andrew was in bed naked…" He growled, looking out the window angrily. We both just sat there in silence. I was taking in all that I had just learnt; well he just fumed over the past that had been haunting him.

"Did you ever… do you ever think that maybe well, maybe it was a set up?" If Conner and his friends hated the relationship so much maybe they had made it seem like something happened.

"A set up?" He repeated. "But, Holly, if it was a set up why would Allie be there, following unknowingly in their plan?" He asked me sadly, as if the thought had once before crossed his mind.

"Alcohol. I doubt Conner would go as far as to let them drug her." Chris looked to me shocked. "And, I highly doubt anything happened. I think she told the truth. I mean, her story is completely plausible. Her brother brought her, she drank a lot, fell in the pool, Andrew her offered her some dry things to wear, and then she probably just fell asleep."

"You're right that sounds liable, but I don't know. I knew that Conner's friends had always been interested in her, that's just another reason they hated me for. I mean they all would have tried to sleep with her already if it wasn't for Conner. I just remember seeing Andrew sitting up in bed… Sorry, I can't believe we're talking about this,"

"Don't apologize, I brought it up remember?" I told him, glad in a way we were now off the topic. "Whoa, time really does fly, Ricky and I gotta leave soon," I told him, looking at my watch, and standing up grabbing my stuff.

"Holly, don't say you're leaving because of this," He looked up at me worried.

"No, of course not, Chris, but I really think you and Allie could be." I told him, not sure whether I fully believed it or not and having no idea why I said it.

"I'm not interested in her anymore." He stated, gazing up at my eyes.

"No?" I questioned stupidly.

"You almost sound like you want us together? Did someone put you up to this?" He asked me smiling. I shook my head, what was my problem.

"No one," I told him, slinging my bag on my back.

"Are things good between us Holly?" He asked me. "I mean, we're good now right? You're not just taking off cause of something…"

"No, no way… But, Chris, are you alright?"

"I'm getting there." He told me grinning as he stood, now having to look down at me. The next thing I knew he kissed me. It was different from before, it was less cautious. As if now we knew everything about each other.

"Wow," I whispered, as our lips separated.

"Sorry, I've been wanting to do that since our last kiss," He confessed.

"Don't be sorry," I whispered, my voice raspy from the kiss. And, with that as his signal, Chris bowed his head and kissed me again.

I expected the house to be so quiet tonight seeing as how Tristan and Andrew are both gone, but surprisingly it wasn't. Julianna had her friend Ricky come home from school with her, and after dinner Ricky's sister Holly had even come over to work on a project with Chris. It was weird knowing they were Jess's kids. It didn't make me treat them any different, but it just felt weird. I guess because whenever Ithink ofJess all I think of is the seventeen year old boy I fell in love with.

When Jess had been to dinner on Saturday I have to admit I pretty much ignored him. Well, not exactly, I just didn't dig up the past, but why should I? I'm married now, I have children. There is no need for me to be thinking of another man.

I can't get him out of my head though. I need to see my Mom.

Walking downstairs, I found Julianna and Rick in the kitchen.

"Mom have you seen the portable phone?" Julianna asked, while looking under a pile of newspapers.

"No, why?" I questioned.

"Ricky has to call his Dad to come and get him and Holly." She told me.

"Don't worry about it," I replied, shrugging it off. Was I crazy for what I was going to suggest next? "I was going to head to see your Grandmother tonight in Star's Hollow, so I can drop them off at home…"

"Is that alright?" Ricky asked hesitantly.

"Of course, your Father always has to drive out here to get you, it high time I drove." I explained, looking at the clock it was nine on a school night. "Okay, you guys go get Holly and we'll leave…"

While, the kids were upstairs I couldn't help but check my reflection in the hall mirror. I was going to see Jess tonight, and well it's only polite to make sure I didn't look completely ghoulish. I was so caught up with thinking of Jess and seeing his house, I didn't even notice how much the four children were blushing when they came downstairs, or, how awkward and embarrassed Holly and Chris acted when they said goodbye.

"Now, I should be home in about an hour. I just have to go stop in with Grandma. If you need anything just call my cell," I told my children, before heading out with the two Mariano's. "So, do you children like it here?" I asked them, once we were all situated in the car, and I was turning out of the driveway.

"It's different, but yeah I like it here..." Rick replied grinning.

"How about you Holly?" I turned and looked at her in the passenger seat next to me.

"It's nice, but it's strange since I'm the only girl at home now." She laughed.

"Oh, that must be terrible! I remember before Julianna came when it was just me and the boys, mind you they were really young then, but I know how frustrating it can be at times. Are you guys going to visit your Mom often?" I asked them casually.

"No idea," Holly sighed, and I could tell it was a sore subject.

"We haven't even seen her in a while, it was Dad who told us about the divorce and then we all moved out. She wasn't even home then," Ricky confessed.

"Oh, I'm sorry." I told them sincerely, regretting bringing up the subject.

"It's ok, I mean it's life." Holly replied. I grinned, she was right that's life, what can you do about it. I secretly wanted more information about the girl that Jess had married and had children with.

"Turn left," Ricky told me as I came to an intersection. "And, well it's this one on the right… the only one that's visible." The house was a Victorian house that had the classic wrap around porch. It was not a house that I could never imagine Jess Mariano living in, but I guess things had changed.

"Quite a change from New York," I said, looking around at the desolate area.

"Yeah, we had tons of neighbours there. Here, we don't have many, and the ones we have own farms and are hidden with long driveways," Holly explained. "Thanks, so much for the ride,"

"Yeah, thanks a lot!" Ricky added, while getting out.

"Anytime," I told them, suddenly shocked when I saw Jess appear from inside the house. I watched, as Jess interacted with his kids as they came up the steps, hugging them both. Who would have thought, he'd be such a great father? Putting the car in reverse, I began to back away from the house.

"Wait, Rory!" There was Jess, running to the car. Sighing I stopped the car and put it in park, reluctantly rolling down the window. "Um… Thanks," He told me out of breath, as he reached the door. "I was just waiting here for them to call, and I know this is out of the way. So, thanks a lot,"

"No problem," I told him smiling.

"You wanna come in?" He asked me, nervously.

"Umm... I shouldn't. I have to go see my Mom in Stars Hollow, before heading back." I explained. I tried not to kick myself for saying that.

"Alright, well drive safely," He told me. When did Jess become so… become so adult? When did he grow up?

I was so happy to have both of my kids here, but I knew and worried the truth about the visit home. I mean now that Maddie has found her Dad, what was I thinking? For her to want to continue to live with me? He has so much more to offer. Ugh, this is really making me angry. I want to enjoy my time with them, but how can I, when I have the whole undercurrent of this truth thing going around. Yesterday was good though, when we showed Andrew and Tristan around. Although, I felt as if Tristan was sizing me up at every place we went. Maddie's a good kid isn't she? I raised her well, so he should just leave it alone.

Groaning, I knew I wouldn't be happy all day, because of this. The only thing that I knew that could make me semi happy could be a bubble bath, the ultimate cheer up plan.

Sinking into the hot soapy water, I sighed happily. Yes, this was it. Closing my eyes I sank lower into the tub.

"Summer?" Abruptly I opened my eyes and looked around frantically. That was Tristan's voice, why would he be calling me? "Summer?" He repeated. The voice sounded nearer, shit!

"What?" I called back confused, and at lack of better reply.

"Um, can we talk?" He questioned, I could hear him outside the door. No, I wanted to shout. Why was he even in my room?

"Y'know, now is not really a good time." I told him, sounding distracted as I played with the bubbles.

"But?" Looking up sharply, I saw he had actually entered the bathroom. Gasping back at scream, I covered myself beneath the bubbles still in shock.

"Get out!" I told him, not wanting to shout; for fear that Maddie and Andrew would hear. However, instead of listening to me as any nice person would have he leaned against the door, looking at me in amusement. That jackass was actually loving this! "Look, Tristan, our children are just feet away, get out now, before I have to scream!"

"Actually, the kids left to get some food," He replied grinning.

"Well, I can still scream and then maybe the neighbours will come!" I threatened, completely not liking the situation.

"What's the problem?" He questioned, looking at me intently.

"The problem?" I asked in disbelief. "Okay, one if you can believe it I'm naked! And, two, well two is obvious I don't want you to see me naked and to add to it you're married and in a room with your naked ex- girlfriend… not good."

"I've seen you've naked millions of times, if you haven't forgotten we have two kids, and that takes a bit of, show and tell, if you know what I mean." He smirked at me, the same smirk that had drawn me closer those many years before.

"Tristan!" I shouted annoyed. "Well, I, you're married," I mumbled out.

"Yeah, but what's the problem with seeing you naked, I have before." He repeated, not moving from his position.

"The problem is I am not comfortable!" I told him truthfully.

"Why have you changed somehow?" He asked, leaning forward curiously.

"No!" I exclaimed, embarrassed the way the conversation was going. "Pass me that towel; you have officially ruined my mood."

"This towel?" He questioned, fingering the blue towel on the rack.

"What other towel?" I asked him sarcastically.

"No need to be so-"

Interrupting I said, "Obvious?"

"I was leaning towards bitchy." He told me finally handing me the towel.

"What do you want anyway Tristan?" I questioned him, taking the towel. "Turn." I commanded, letting the water out of the tub.

"I've seen you like this before," He said in a sing song voice.

"So what," I answered back matching his tone. "Just turn around please!" I practically begged. To my luck he turned around and I quickly stood up and wrapped the towel around me carefully stepping out of the bath tub.

Unbeknownst of Summer I watched as she got out, through the mirror. And, I had to admit besides some additional stretch marks from being pregnant, she pretty much was in the same shape as when I first fell in love with her. Don't get me wrong I love Rory, I mean in a way she was my first love. I mean when I used to tease and call her Mary, I really did like her. But, well Summer and I share Maddie and Andrew together. And, I know however much I hate it grocery boy, aka Dean, and Rory share the same bond through Chris. In a way I'm still in love with Summer, I mean in a way I always will, but I'm pretty sure, I mean I know that's just because of the children.

"So, what is it? What is so important you had to come rushing into my bathroom for?" She demanded, turning around with the towel wrapped around her tightly.

"Well, I think you know," I replied, trying not to think of what I knew the towel was hiding.

"Enlighten me," She said pushing past me and into her room.

"Umm… well, about Maddie coming to live with me." I told her, watching as she gathered clothes from various drawers, not saying anything. "I mean, if it was alright with you..."

"Turn." She commanded, once again, looking at me expectantly.

"Oh yeah, sorry…" I mumbled turning away. "So, would that be alright? I mean you could still see her during the holidays and even weekends if you wanted,"

"You can turn back," She told me, turning around silently. I watched as she took the towel back to hang in the bathroom.

"So?" I questioned, stupidly.

"I guess, it's whatever Maddie wants. I mean only she knows what is best for her," She replied, walking past me and out of the room. Sighing, I slumped down onto her bed. This was just so complicated! I wanted Maddie to live with me, but I didn't want to spilt apart Summer and her.

Walking back into the house, I wondered if Mom and Dad had even communicated while we were gone. Knowing it was Tuesday, and we'd have to go back either today or tomorrow, I was curious when Dad was going to have the conversation with Mom. Or, even if he already did, by the tension that was in the room when we arrived, I could assume that they had. Mom was sitting as far away from Dad as she could get, well still being at the same table at him. They both were just drinking coffee and reading the paper.

"Hey," Andrew greeted them, from beside me. "We're back…"

"How was your morning?" I questioned, looking from one to the other.

"Ok," They both mumbled.

"Sounds delightful," Andrew joked, setting himself at the table between Dad and Mom. I followed his lead and sat opposite him.

"Your Mother and I need to talk with you," Dad told me, glancing up from his paper at me.

"What about me?" Andrew asked feeling degraded.

"Not with you," He replied, not even looking up from the paper this time.

"Oh, c'mon Tristan, I don't think it matters whether Andy is there or not," Mom bit back, putting down her paper. "Let's just talk right now!"

"I don't think it's a good idea," Dad muttered, draining his coffee mug.

"Yeah, well this is not a democracy," Mom told him.

"Ok, whatever," He replied, obviously at a loss of words.

"Fine… Maddie would you like to live with your Father in Hartford?" She questioned me bluntly. What do I say, how do you tell your own Mother you want to move out? I really don't want to abandon her.

"Umm, well, I dunno, uh-"

"Cut the crap honey, I really don't want you trying to spare my feelings here, give me a yes or no." Dad, Andy and I just stared at my Mom shocked, because of her honestly. "C'mon, what is it?" She questioned. What do I say?

"Yes," I squeaked.

"Good, then, I guess we have our work cut out for us." She replied, standing up and taking the empty mugs to the sink.

"Work?" I repeated dumbly.

"We gotta get you packed; don't you want your stuff there with Dad?" She questioned.

"Well, I guess, but why don't I keep it here for when I come home?" I asked her confused.

"Honey, your Father might not want to have to buy you everything again. And, plus with you gone maybe I'll downsize. I mean why have such a big house, if you don't even need half of it?" She responded. "Now, I'm going to head to the basement to look for boxes," And, with that she left the room.

"Ok," I mumbled staring at the table. Selling the house? I grew up here, this is my home. Don't be so selfish Maddie; I berated myself Mom can do what she wants. You picked Dad remember?

"I'm going to go, start packing and such," Maddie told us quietly, leaving the room just as fast as Mom has done. Both Dad and I just stared at the doorway.

"Well, happy now?" I asked Dad.

"Andy, you know I never wanted this," He replied, looking straight at me.

"I know Dad, but this whole situation is just really shitty," I admitted. I was so surprised when he didn't scold me on my choice of words, instead he agreed.

"… really shitty,"

It was Tuesday, and I couldn't be happier knowing that Maddie would be back either today or tomorrow. And, then hopefully she'll be enrolled at Chilton and I'll see her everyday. Sitting at the lunch table, I seemed to drift away just thinking of Maddie.

"Hey Dan," Looking next to me, I saw my new found friend Matt. "How are you?"

"Tired," I told him to explain my constant zoning out.

"Oh, hey you gotta come to the party at my house on Friday, alright?" He told me, drinking his coffee.

"Oh, for sure," I replied, really only half with it.

"We'll have to get you a girl too," He laughed looking around the room.

"No need," I told him, finishing my soda.

"Huh? You taken?" He questioned, looking curiously my way.

"Kind of, it's… it's complicated,"

"How so?"

"Well, I guess you could call it a quiet relationship,"

"You lucky fool are you talking about a girl with no strings attached? Cause, wherever you got there, I want one of those,"

"It's not like that. I mean I want her to be my girlfriend," I confessed. I couldn't believe I was telling a guy I had just met a day ago, how I felt about Maddie. "She's perfect, and we'd just be so good together,"

"What's the problem?"

"There are a couple, she's my sister's best friend, we used to be best friends until we got into a fight in middle school, and up until about a week ago we really hadn't been on speaking terms, or at least we never said any nice stuff. And, now, something happened, she won't tell me, but I know she's being abused or something."

"Abused?" Matt repeated shocked.

"Yeah, her face was covered in like bruises and scrapes, some other places too."

"What happened?"

"Holly and she won't tell me. I don't mind though, well I do, I mean I'm curious as hell, but I respect her privacy. She'll tell me eventually."

"Who is she?"

Looking at him, as if to check whether I could trust him, "Maddie… there's another problem though, she just found out who her birth Father is and with that comes a brother as well,"

"Isn't that good news?"

"Well, you would think so, but it might make it a bad time to start something up,"

"Hartford or New York?" He asked.

"That's the thing, she lived next to me in New York with her Mom, but her recently found Dad lives here."

"Do I know him?"

"Look, if I tell you it stays between us, right?" Matt nodded repeatedly. "Well, her Father is Tristan DuGrey, so, y'know that means her brother is-"

"Andrew," He concluded interrupting me. "How did that happen?"

"Tristan and her Mom never got married first they had Andrew and then Maddie. Right after Maddie was born they knew it would never work so they each got a kid, and Tristan moved back here."

"But, that's great, cause then she'll move back here and you guys can be together,"

"Well, I hope," I told him, thinking about Maddie and my whole relationship.

Dear old Mom and Dad are leaving tonight. Damn, parents don't they know what will happen? I mean come Saturday our house will be a freaking pigsty. Screw it, maybe I can go stay with a friend this weekend, but wait everyone from Chilton is probably going to end up being there.

"Earth to Allie," I looked over at my best friend Kristina and grinned. Our friendship had been on the rocks lately, because Kristina was good friends with Chris too, so every since the 'accident' or whatever you wanna call it, she has had to be splitting her time between us. "What were you thinking about?" She asked me.

"This weekend… Kay, what am I going to do?" I questioned pathetically.

"Umm, kinda confused here," She replied.

"I mean when, ugh, Conner has his little party,"

"Well usually at parties people drink or do drugs. But, seeing as how the latter is so extremely dumb, I'd suggest the former. Alcohol, y'know what that is?"

"Shut up," I grinned, hitting her with my notebook. Sitting up straight when I saw the Librarian glare at me, "Shh… the Nazi's watching."

"Alright," Kay whispered back. "So? You going though?"

"How can I not? It's my house?" I told her, only to make her burst out laughing, only stopping when the Librarian shadowed over our table.

"Ladies, can you both be quiet, if not I'll have to ask you to leave. Other people are trying to study here and you two are acting like children, this is your warning," As she turned her back and left both Kay and I made faces and mimicked her. We were immature, but she was so stupid, no one was working in here. There were couples getting it on in the back, behind the stacks, but she never really left her post aka desk, unless to shout, so how would she know? Laughing at each other, we tried to cover our giggles up, too late. Turning back around she came over to us, "Ms. Geller, Ms. Rygalski, I've already warned you. Leave now please," Laughing louder, we grabbed our stuff and headed out. We had class soon anyway, it didn't matter.

"Mom are sure this is okay," I asked for about the fiftieth time. "I don't want to leave you," The car was all packed and we were set to leave, I was excited in a way, but depressed to leave Mom behind.

"Go honey, Chilton is a great school. Look how your Father turned out. And, you need the best education, so go!" She pushed me towards the car. "Andy," She smiled as she embraced my brother.

"Mom, I wish you-"

Cutting him off, "No, no you don't" Hugging him tighter, I swear I could see tears in her eyes. "Oh, Maddie," Grabbing me too, my Mom hugged us both holding us close.

"Mom-" I started again.

"Honey, please don't ruin this," She told me, finally releasing us.

"Maddie's right-" Andrew tried as well.

"No, no talk of that, my rules." She stated trying to grin, "Now go get in that car and be happy." She pushed us both towards it.

"But," I began, not wanting to leave her.

"What did I say, Maddie?" She questioned in a stern voice.

"Alright," Andrew and I both gave her one last hug before getting in the car. Dad had been leaning against the car watching the exchange, as soon as we got in the car he walked over to Mom, as if he hadn't wanted us to hear him talk with her.

"Summer, you don't have to do this," He told her stepping so they were only a small space apart.

"No, Tristan I am, so let me," She replied.

"Thank you so much, you're a great person. I wish things hadn't happened the way they did," From the car both Andrew and I could notice something intense was happening, for both Mom and Dad looked upset, but not angry, just sad.

"Go home to your family Tristan," She whispered quietly, looking at the ground.

"Summer if you ever need anything-"

"I'll be fine," She gave a weak smile, that although was supposed to be assuring was definitely not.

"He's going to hug her," I grinned, leaning forward and tapping Andrew frantically from the back seat.

"Will she let him?" Andrew asked, just as intently looking out the window. My lips formed a grin as I looked out the window and saw my two parents embracing.

"I can't bear to leave her," I whispered.

"Neither can I," Andrew agreed. "But, it's what she wants,"

"Or, at least what she says she wants," I added, watching as our parents broke apart, and Dad placed a kiss on Mom's forehead, before hurrying to the car. Mom was now obviously close to tears, but trying to stay strong.

"Let's go kids," Dad said, as he got in the car and fastened his seat belt. Both Andrew and I and even Dad waved to Mom as we pulled away from the curb and until we turned off the street and could no longer see her.