AN: I've been wanting to get this started/done for a long time, but didn't know exactly how, and needed some time to debrief after HBO's "Six Feet Under" (highly suggest it). Anyways, here's the last chapter:

Dressed in a sweatshirt and jeans, Elizabeth walked down the stairs to join her family in the kitchen. Today, was to be the first attempt at a "work-free" Saturday. Ultimately, it was the thought that count.

"Morning all! Where we going?" Elizabeth beamed as she crossed over to the stove, hoping to find remaining breakfast.

"Well, Stevie suggested mini-golf, but these two," Henry's glance shifted between Alison and Jason, "Have decided they don't want to go."

"What? C'mon guys…" Elizabeth said, picking up the plate of pancakes.

"I just...want to stay home," Alison confessed.

"And I...just don't want to go," Jason added.

"How can you say that when you don't even know where we're going?' Stevie scoffed.

"Experience," Jason added.

"Well I for one was thinking we could go to the farm,"

"Great, assured boredom,"

"At least he's returned to his default," Henry glanced at Elizabeth.

"Ha. Ha," Jason responded.

"No, seriously guys...I adjusted my schedule for this. All of us together like old times," Elizabeth went on.

"But you never asked us what we wanted," Alison replied.

"Should I have had to?" Elizabeth questioned.

"No," Henry interjected, "Come on, guys, grab your jackets, we're going to the farm. No exceptions," He said with a sweeping glance to all three of his children.

When the McCords arrived at the farm, the atmosphere amongst the five was mellow and yet distant. They all sensed it the moment they stepped out of the car. Sure the exterior fit the memory, but it sure wasn't home, not to any of them. Though, as all McCords do, they stepped forward without objection, carrying their feelings of unfamiliarity across the threshold.

"We're here. what do we do now? Jason asked in a grumble.

"Horses?" Stevie suggested. Earning a light smack from her sister.

"What?" Stevie hissed.

"Mom?...Buttercup?" Alison reminded.

"Right..." Stevie whispered back, "Or...we don't have to do horses."

"Good job with the sensitivity because it's not like we just lost Buttercup or anything," Jason chimed in.

It was then Elizabeth realized what her daughters' hushed tones were for. She moved to speak but was cut off.

"Okay, that was even more insensitive," Alison informed, her voice tinted with slight laughter.

"I'm fine guys, really," Elizabeth responded, "But we didn't plan this all so we could fight, so let's figure out what we're doing here."

"Then...stables…?" Stevie suggested.

"We could," Elizabeth affirmed.

"Or we could go around the neighborhood, see some old friends?" Henry added.

"Or we could not," Jason said.

Bearing in mind the lines) of response he would most likely instigate, Henry decided to continue. "And why is that?" He asked.

"Because...I mean, do you think these people really care? It's not the same."

"Fine," Henry said as he looked at Elizabeth, "Let's go to the stables."

Later, that evening, when all was put to rest for the night, Henry made his way up the stairs to find Elizabeth sitting up in bed, reading a book.

"Hey, you," He said as he fixed his eyes upon her from the comfort of the doorway.

Hey babe," she replied, setting her book to the side. Prompting Henry to join her.

She curled up close to her husband, needing the reassurance of his presence. "Is it crazy that I expected more from today?" Elizabeth questioned.

"No. But if it were anything close to perfection would it be worth it?"

Biting her lip, she looked away from him for a moment; needing to turn the question over. "Henry, I‒I just wanted them to feel like they were at home, and that we were too."

"I know," he said, placing a kiss on her shoulder, "Maybe this isn't their home, though."

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" She looked up at him.

"No," He stated gently, "But at some point, the present becomes the past..."

"I know, I just feel like sometimes that we stole their childhood. I mean with my job, your job. It's not the same. Jason resents my decision every day.

"Yeah, well that's Jason. If he truly missed it he would have cared more about today," Henry corrected.

"Makes you wonder where 'The Merry McCords' went," Elizabeth chuckled.

"Somewhere," Henry sighed.