A/N: I'd like to thank everyone who's reading this story. This story is called "Journey", but really, this story, as well as "Training Wheels", are their own journeys for me. Thank you for joining me on this journey. And I hope you will continue to enjoy it.


Sharon locked the door of the storage unit and sighed. It felt as if she was locking away a lot of beautiful memories of Lauren. Rainie had decided that she did not want to move back into their house, and she was not ready to live alone yet; therefore, for the time being, she was staying at the condo.

Since Rainie couldn't bear to return to the house, Sharon and Andy cleared out the house within a few days and had the damage from the break-in fixed before they listed it for sale. Sharon had hoped that although Lauren had been murdered there, the realtor would still be able to sell it for a reasonable price.

A week and a half had passed since Rainie's interview. Sharon was relieved to learn that the suspect had passed away as a result of his injuries. As far as she was concerned, justice was served.

Although the news of the murderer's death seemed to comfort Rainie, she was still not doing much better. Most days, Sharon found it challenging to get her daughter out of bed. Rainie wasn't showering unless Sharon dragged her into the bathroom and bathed her. And her seat at the dinner and breakfast table was mostly empty. Rainie didn't eat unless Sharon had brought the plate into Rainie's room and fed her herself. Most nights, she heard Rainie cry herself to sleep, and her youngest daughter often asked to sleep in bed with Sharon and Andy, an indication that she was having nightmares. Her daughter's regression was hard to watch, and both Sharon and Andy were unsure how to help her, as she was not interested in helping herself.

One of the only things that Sharon had managed to convince Rainie was to file claims for Lauren's life and mortgage insurances. Of course, it was Sharon who handled all the paperwork, and Rainie only signed it. Even if her daughter was not interested in living at this point, Sharon had hoped that someday the money would help Rainie purchase a new house and become independent again. Imagining that her daughter would be able to establish what she had with Lauren felt far-fetched, and Sharon didn't even dare to think about what a future without Lauren would look like for Rainie.

Upon learning that Rainie had three public speaking commitments, Sharon had canceled them, explaining that her daughter was recently widowed and taking a break. The clients had been sympathetic to Rainie's situation, sending her flowers and bereavement baskets. Rainie still had two other commitments five months away, but Sharon didn't cancel those for the time being. She had hoped that by then, Rainie would be able to fulfill those commitments. She thought that was something to look forward to.

After failing to convince Rainie to call her regular therapist, Sharon was at her wit's end. She didn't want to deny Rainie the option to grieve the way she wanted, but her way of coping with her loss did not seem particularly healthy. She had to keep reminding herself that it had barely been a month since Lauren's death and that it was the first time Rainie experienced the loss of a loved one. The circumstances of Lauren's death certainly hadn't made it easy to deal with.

"Andy and I put everything in storage today," Sharon said when she entered Rainie's room that day, carrying her daughter's dinner plate. She took a seat at the end of the bed and placed the plate on Rainie's nightstand. "Andy made Fettuccine Alfredo for dinner." She tried to entice her daughter. "Do you think you want to try eating on your own tonight?"

"I'm not hungry," Rainie replied.

Sharon was used to that answer because Rainie had said it every single evening. She grabbed the fork and rolled some pasta around it, bringing it to Rainie's mouth. During the first few days, Sharon felt silly feeding a grown-up woman like a child. However, it seemed like the only way to make Rainie eat. Fettuccine Alfredo was Rainie's favorite Italian dish. Andy had put his heart and soul into making it extra creamy tonight, hoping that Rainie would be motivated to pick up the fork and eat independently. So far, his wish hadn't been realized. But Sharon was determined. Very rarely had Rainie resisted Andy's Italian cooking, and Sharon wasn't above a bit of manipulation. After Rainie took the first bite, Sharon put down the fork and began moving Rainie's hair from her face, complaining that it was messy. While that was the truth, she wasn't genuinely concerned about that.

Sharon could see her daughter's eyes looking at the plate, but Sharon insisted on braiding Rainie's hair instead of feeding her. Just as Sharon had expected, her daughter caved in. She grabbed the plate and began devouring the pasta, feeding herself for the first time in almost a month.

"Do you want some more?" Sharon offered after Rainie cleared the plate.

Rainie hummed affirmatively.

"Come to the kitchen and have some," Sharon said with a soft smile. She wasn't sure Rainie would take the same bait twice, but Andy's magical pasta did the trick. It made Sharon happy, and she hoped that Rainie would find the strength to eat independently at the dining table more from now on.

Andy looked surprised to see Rainie sitting at the table, and Sharon winked at him as she put another serving on their daughter's plate.

After they finished eating, Sharon asked Rainie to clear the table and was glad when she faced no resistance from her daughter. She figured the best way to help Rainie readjust to her new situation was to help her go on with her life, as painful as it was.

"It's still light outside. Why don't you throw on some clothes, and we'll go for a short walk?" Sharon deliberately used a tone that made it sound more like a demand than a suggestion.

It appeared that Rainie got the hint because she went to her room and re-emerged moments later, wearing a pair of ripped jeans and a crop top. Sharon could tell that her daughter put minimal effort into what she threw on because she looked more like she was about to paint the house than go for a walk. But it was better than Sharon had expected, and she grabbed her keys and left.

They walked outside in quiet, and Sharon took the time to watch her daughter from the corner of her eye. She lost weight and was in desperate need of a shower, but even in her grief, she looked beautiful. Rainie was twenty-seven and could rebuild her life if she wanted. Sharon wasn't sure how long it would take her and if she'd ever meet someone with whom she would want to settle down again, but she had hoped that Lauren's death would not deter Rainie from living her life.

Rainie's phone dinged, and she pulled it out of her pocket, glared at the screen, and huffed.

"What happened?" Sharon asked.

"Nothing. It's just that Paul and Jessie want to come over," Rainie replied with an annoyed expression on her face.

"That's a good idea," Sharon said. "Company is good for you."

"I don't wanna…"

Sharon gave her daughter a demanding look, and Rainie quickly texted her friends to come over. They started heading back to the condo, and once they were home, Sharon motioned towards the bathroom, low-key hinting to Rainie that she should shower. It surprised Sharon that her daughter didn't argue and did as she was told.

While Rainie was in the shower, Sharon rummaged through her daughter's closet and pulled out some clothes that she thought would look better on her daughter than the house-renovation outfit she previously wore.

The color came back to Rainie's cheeks when she emerged from the shower. Sharon could tell her face was slightly flushed, and her hair looked more alive than it had in days.

A short while later, Rainie's friends knocked on the door, and Sharon opened it. She didn't know most of Rainie's friends, but Paul and Jessie were close friends of Lauren's if she remembered correctly. Sharon remembered seeing them at the funeral. She directed them towards Rainie's room and could hear their loud squeals as soon as they went through the door. It was clear that those two came to help pick up Rainie's mood, and Sharon was glad for that.

Sharon noticed Andy sitting on the balcony from the corner of her eye and decided to join him. She found him reading a book, one that he'd been invested in for the past few days. Andy wasn't much of a reader, so it must have been a good one if he gravitated towards a book.

"What are you reading?" Sharon asked.

"Good Omens, it's hilarious," Andy replied.

Sharon had read that book before. Ricky had recommended it to her a few years back. He said that she would never think of religion the same way. And while the book didn't rock her life and certainly didn't do anything to her religious beliefs, Sharon did enjoy it immensely. It was well written and very entertaining.

"Ricky said it would help cheer me up," Andy said.

Of course, Ricky put Andy up to this. Sharon would never have expected anything different. Her son probably recommended that book to half the country by now. He also mentioned there was a television show based on the book and that it was equally good. Sharon hadn't watched it, although it was already a few years old. But the book was funny, and she assumed the show was too, and it would provide a much-needed break from the grief. At some point, laughing would and should become a part of her range of expressions again.

"Make some room," she said, and Andy moved to the side of the loveseat.

Sharon took a seat by Andy's side and leaned against him in a way that allowed both of them to read together. Every few moments, she heard Andy's breath changing as he grinned or smirked at one of the very cleverly written lines in the book. Yes, they should watch the show together when he's done.

After Andy flipped a page, Sharon could hear loud voices coming from the living room. Paul and Jessie were noisy, but Sharon was okay with the noise if it cheered Rainie up even a little bit.

A moment later, Rainie stepped onto the balcony. "Umm, mom?" her voice was small and unconfident.

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"Jessie and Paul want me to go out with them," Rainie said, her voice becoming weaker by the second.

"That's a good idea," Sharon said.

"I don't know. It doesn't feel right," Rainie said, her voice thick.

Sharon stood up and walked towards her daughter, who leaned against the railing. "Honey, I am sure that nothing feels right to you now. And that's okay. If you wanna stay at home, you can, but maybe going out will make you feel better just for a little while."

"Yeah, well, they're insisting that I come with them, actually. So it doesn't seem like I have a choice." Rainie sulked with every word.

Sharon wrapped her arms around her daughter and stroked her hair. "Go out, sweetie. It may be good for you."

"I don't –" Rainie started, but Sharon shushed her.

"I'll wait up for you, so if you wanna talk when you're back, I'll be here. Do you need money, or are you good?"

"I have my credit card, so I think I'm good," Rainie said.

"Okay, take your cell. Is it charged?" Sharon asked.

Rainie hummed affirmatively.

"Good. If at any moment something feels overbearing, call me, and we'll talk about it, okay?"

"Thanks, mom. I love you."

Sharon kissed Rainie's cheek and pulled away. Sharon watched Rainie's friends marching her daughter out of the condo before returning to Andy's side.

"You're so dependable," Andy said as if he realized it for the first time in their seven years of marriage.

"She needs me, and if mediating the world to her during this time makes it easier, then I will be there," Sharon replied.

"I love you so much, Sharon. You're such a good mother and such a wonderful partner. We are all lucky to have you." Andy's voice was husky with emotion. Soon enough, the book was discarded in favor of a heated make-out session.

They pulled apart a few minutes later with silly smiles on their faces. They didn't get the chance or the passion for being intimate since Lauren's death, and that was the first time since Rainie moved in that they connected on a sensual level. It felt releasing, and Sharon didn't realize how much she needed this. Her libido was still too low for anything more, but she hoped that as life went on, they would restore their sex life as well. In the meantime, she watched Andy pick the book off the floor, and they settled in their shared reading position again.

Sharon kept her phone close to her throughout the evening if Rainie called, but it remained silent. It appeared that even though Rainie hesitated to go out, she was still able to have fun. Sharon found solace in this thought; she had been worried about what the future held for her daughter. She wanted Rainie to fall in love again someday, create a family with another person, and grow from this tragedy like she's grown from the adversity of her past.

About an hour later, Andy got tired of reading and went to bed while Sharon remained in the living room and shuffled through the DVR for a movie that would be engaging enough to keep her awake. She checked her phone several times, but Rainie hadn't called, so she assumed so far everything was still okay.

It was close to midnight when Sharon heard a loud knock on the door and some mumbling behind it. She went to open it, not expecting the sight on the other side. Rainie was being supported from either side by Jessie and Paul; her eyes were glazy, and she reeked of alcohol. After getting her out of her friends' arms, Sharon ensured that they were not driving home before she wished them goodnight and closed the door behind them.

She carried Rainie to her bedroom, sat her on the bed as she helped her get out of her shoes and clothes. As she unbuttoned her daughter's blouse, the telltale smell from her hair and skin told Sharon that on top of being drunk, Rainie also had smoked weed. That was less than ideal on the best of days, let alone right now. Sharon now realized that it was probably not the first time Rainie used drugs, and considering her past and her mother's addiction, it worried her. What bothered her even more, was the possibility that Rainie may have had more than alcohol and pot in her system, which could require medical attention.

"Rainie, I know that you drank and smoked a little, but just so I can keep your safety, have you taken any other drugs?" she asked.

Rainie mumbled something.

"Rainie, anything? Molly, Sally, cocaine, LSD? I promise I won't be angry."

Rainie emitted another mumble that did not answer Sharon's question.

Sharon took her daughter's phone and texted Jessie, asking if Rainie was under the influence of anything more than alcohol and marijuana. She was relieved when Jessie replied that Rainie drank a lot and barely touched the weed.

As she put Rainie's phone down, she noticed that tears streamed down her daughter's face as she slurred an unintelligible string of words repeatedly. It took her a moment to understand what Rainie was saying.

"I messed up. I messed up. I messed up. I messup."

"Honey, it's okay," Sharon said softly. "I'm not angry. I'm really not."

After getting Rainie out of her clothes and into her pajamas, Sharon went to the kitchen and brought her a glass of water. She watched as Rainie gulped it down.

"Are you hungry?" Sharon asked, knowing one of the effects of weed was extreme hunger. "I could get you some chips."

"I messed up, mom," Rainie said again, this time clearer.

"It's fine. We'll talk about it tomorrow and figure out a better coping mechanism," Sharon said.

"I'm gonna get pregnant."

Sharon pursed her lips. She wasn't sure how aware Rainie was of her words. Drunken confessions often made very little sense. The hangover that Rainie would have in the morning would. "I'm gonna leave the trash can next to your bed if you wanna throw up," she said.

"You'll help me, right?" Rainie asked.

"We'll talk when you're sober. Get under the blanket."

As soon as Rainie's head hit her pillow, she fell asleep. Sharon went out of the room and returned with a glass of water and aspirin, which she placed on Rainie's nightstand, and turned off the light, leaving the door cracked open before she retreated to her bedroom.

"Everything okay?" Andy asked when she crawled into bed.

"She's drunk and high," Sharon said.

"I didn't expect it from her," Andy replied.

"Can you talk to her about it tomorrow?" Sharon asked. When it came to the subject of addictions, Andy was stronger and more resilient than her. She trusted him to deal with this issue.

"Sure. Should I be a bad cop or a good cop?" Andy asked.

Sharon thought about it for a moment before she answered, "As her father, you should be both."

Andy wrapped his arm around Sharon's waist. "Are you okay, babe?"

"Not really. I didn't think I'd have to deal with this again." Sharon admitted.

"What do you need right now?" Andy asked. He always asked how he could help when he sensed that Sharon was close to a breakdown.

"Hug me tighter," Sharon said.

Andy's arms tightened around Sharon's waist, and he pulled her to him.

Sharon buried her face in his chest and let her tears come. She felt Andy's fingers rubbing soothing circles across her back, providing silent support.

He pressed his lips against her forehead and emitted a lengthy hum. It took a moment for Sharon to realize what he was humming.

If you're lost, you can look and you will find me

Time after time

If you fall, I will catch you, I will be waiting

Time after time.

-TBC-