I'm unsure if anyone is still reading fanfiction. However, I've recently rediscovered my love for it. I genuinely can't believe it's been over three years since I updated this, phew, time goes so fast. For a long period, I worked constant night shift and it just became easier to give this up as I didn't have the time, resources or energy to deliver stories on time. I also didn't want to make promises I couldn't keep about updates as I know people wait patiently on them. Having said that, there is patiently waiting and there is waiting for 3 or 4 years. I can only apologise.

"Do you think that's a good idea, Paul?" Stephanie asked her husband, pulling plates out of the dishwasher and passing them to him. He took them from her, his big hands curling around the edges of the fine china.

"Is it a bad idea?" he shrugged. "I mean, it will get her out of the house."

Stephanie stopped, propping her hip against the counter. She thought about what Paul had suggested. Whilst she did agree that they had to get Carter doing something other than staring at the 4 walls of their upstairs guest bedroom, she wasn't sure that Paul taking her on the road was a good idea. He was about to embark on a mini tour, traveling with RAW for 3 months, stopping in at home only a handful of times. Was that really a good environment for Carter? She had only been with them a matter of weeks and most of that time she had spent in her room. It was all they could do to get her to eat downstairs with them.

Stephanie made a noise in the back of her throat, lifting a glass from the dishwasher to pass to him. "Well, I know that but, babe, she's barely left her room, never mind leave the house."

Paul looked over at his wife as he closed the cupboard where they kept the plates. He took the glass from Stephanie's outstretched hand and stepped to the right, opening the glassware cupboard. He could see the concern on her face, he knew she cared very much about Carter and her wellbeing. She loved her almost as much as she loved their own children. During the twelve years that had passed without sign of his daughter, Paul knew that Stephanie was hurting just as much as he was. If he was being honest with himself, she had probably hurt more because she had her own grief to deal with alongside his.

He ran a hand over his face, turning to brace his back against the counter. He curled his fingers around the edge of the black marble, letting out a sigh.

"I don't know what to do, Steph. She's so disconnected from everything. I just...I just want to give her something to focus on. I want to try and make a connection with her again."

"And you think that being on the road is the best place for that?"

"Well, I- "

"Being on the road is the best place for what?" both glanced at the door to see Carter huddled in the doorway, one shoulder propped up against the door.

"Oh nothing, we were just- "

"I want you to come out on the road with me for a few months," Paul cut his wife off, his eyes locking with his daughter's. "I think a change of scenery might do you good."

The young woman stepped into the room, approaching the counter where her dad and stepmom stood. She reached for a peach that was sitting in the fruit bowl and took a bite of it, sinking onto one of the high stools that lined her side of the counter.

"And you think that's a bad idea, Steph?" Carter asked, as she caught a drop of peach juice with her tongue. She pressed the nail of her thumb into the peach, playing with the fuzz on the surface of the fruit.

"I-I'm just not sure if it's the best idea for you right now. Your dad is going to be on the road for 3 months, Carter. That's a long time to be away without being home," Stephanie shrugged, taking another two glasses from the dishwasher and passing them to Paul.

Carter took another bite of the peach, swallowing it with a thoughtful expression on her face. Inside she was trying not to cringe because she took umbrage with Stephanie referring to Weston as her home. However, the wheels in her mind began to turn as she envisaged a way to get back home. New York wasn't that far from where she was, but Stephanie and her dad were watching her like a hawk. What if there was a chance for her to get to the city and try to find Caspar while her dad was busy with whatever his job entailed?

"When would we be leaving?" Carter asked, turning to glance at her dad. His shoulders lifted and he stood up from where he was leaning, approaching the other side of the counter.

"You want to go?" he asked, not able to fight the smile that had creeped onto his face.

Carter almost rolled her eyes. He was practically glowing with glee at the thought that she might want to travel with him.

"I'm just asking, if I wanted to go, when would we be leaving?" she asked, raising her eyebrows in curiosity, finishing off the last of the peach. She dropped the stone from the fruit into her hand, getting up to go and put it in the bin. Afterwards, she walked to the sink, rinsing her hands of the sweet, sticky juice from the peach.

"Monday," Paul replied. "That gives you a few days to de- "

"I'll go with you," she shrugged. "Sounds like a blast," she added sarcastically.

"Carter…." Paul trailed off, drawing her a look.

"I'm kidding, jeez," Carter rolled her eyes. "There just one thing though. All my clothes are in New York and I'm doubtful that you have enough clothes in your closet to kit me out for weeks," she said, looking at Stephanie.

"I can take you shopping," Stephanie offered, her mouth forming one of those beaming smiles. "If you want, that is?" she added.

"Great, can't wait!" she resisted the urge to roll her eyes again as she headed for the bi-fold patio doors. "This is going to be fun," Carter laughed coldly as she sparked up a cigarette and disappeared into the garden.