"Mommy that was fun!" the energetic little boy screeched out as he unbuckled his seat belt. "I wanna ride again! Please Mommy, just one more time?"

Marissa laughed slightly and shook her head at Aiden as she reached up and ran her hand through the sandy blond mop of hair on his head. "Some other time sweetie, we dont have anywhere else to go right now.."

"We could go.. to the moon!" he screamed incredulously as he jumped to his feet and looked up at his mother. She couldnt help but smile. She didnt know if it was just because he was her son or not, but she was sure he was the cutest and sweetest little boy ever.

"These dont go to the moon, thats a space ship," she explained softly to him as she pulled her purse and his backpack out of the overhead luggage compartment. She handed him his little blue backpack and bent down to his level to help him pull it on his tiny little shoulders. "Plus, Grandma is waiting for us."

The little boy smiled mischievously at his mother and clasped his hand behind his back, rocking slightly, "Do you think she'll have candy for me again this time?" he tried to ask innocently. She smiled at him, "I'm sure she does."

"Yay!" he screeched clapping his hands together in excitement. Marissa laughed sweetly at him and patted the top of his head as she stood back up straight.

"Okay. All set?" she asked as she held out her hand to him. Aiden nodded vigorously as he took the hand his mother offered and followed her into the aisle and towards the front of the plane. As the two of them stepped out on the stairs leading down to the tarmac, Marissa took in a deep breath, trying to breathe in a much of the warm air she could. She was home again. After 5 long years. She wasnt sure if she was just imagining it or not, but the whole atmosphere felt different here, just one step outside; and it wasnt just because of the weather. She smiled despite herself down at the excited little boy grasping tightly to her hand as they quickly crossed the tarmac, rushing past the other passengers as Aiden pulled his mother into a jog.

"Grandma!" Aiden yelled as they entered the airport doors. He let go of his mother's hand abruptly before running a few feet into the arms of the petite red head's arms. She scooped him up and wrapped her arms tight around his little frame. "Oh, its soo good to see you!" she cooed over his shoulder as she squeezed her eyes shut and took in the hug.

"Stop it Mom, your gonna hurt him," Marissa laughed out as she reached the two of them. Julie looked up to take in the sight of her daughter and smiled. Over the years, Marissa and her mother had completely buried the grudge they carried against each other and had bonded. They had to through everything. For the first year or two of Aiden's life, Julie, and occasionally Kaitlyn, had come to visit 2 or 3 times a month, and even though Marissa had felt over burdened at times, she truly appreciated her family.

"Marissa, how is everything?" Julie commented as she set Aiden back on the ground before pulling her daughter into her arms.

"Well, I'm here, aren't I?" she retorted back sarcastically as she returned her mothers embrace. Julie ignored the comment, but frowned as she felt how skinny her daughter had become, shaking her head as she pulled back.

"You making sure to take care of yourself too honey?" Julie whispered in a concerned tone to her daughter.

"Yeah, of course," she answered back quickly. Yes, she took care of herself, but it wasnt like the way she took care of Aiden, and that was exactly how it should be. Aiden's needs came before anything else. It was obvious to see just by looking at the mother son pair that Aiden was her world. She smiled at him all the time and could never say no to him, even though he didnt really ask for much. Julie brushed off her concerns as her daughter laughed at the googly eyes Aiden was making at the rushing crowds of people.

"Well what do you say we get out of here and get something to eat?" Julie offered up as she looked down at Aiden.

"Pizza?" he asked skeptically, pouting out his lip as he looked back at his grandma.

"Sure, why not?"

"Yes!" he exclaimed as he jumped up in the air. The two women laughed as he grabbed each of their hands and walked between them through the airport, "I want cheese pizza, with sausage and pepperoni and pineapple and ketchup..."

"Ketchup?" Julie asked incredulously of his topping choice.

"Duh Grandma, you cant have pizza without ketchup. How else is the cheese gonna stick to it?" he asked matter of factly. Julie had to bit her lip to keep herself from laughing as she let him continue on his topping rant.

Marissa smiled down at her son, but was soon brought back to reality when they walked outside and the familiar sites of Newport came into view. Was she really ready to be back? She had been so caught up in getting out of Newport that she didnt have time to worry what would happen when they actually got here. Of course she'd have to see the Cohens eventually since her mom was still best friends with Kirstin. The Cohen's plus Ryan. She wondered if maybe by now it was the Cohen's plus Ryan and his girlfriend. Or the Cohen's plus Ryan and his wife; and children. She had told her mom long ago not to mention Ryan anymore. It was too painful and depressing and hearing about it just brought her back to her old pain. Not hearing about him made everything seem to disappear, and it was easy to get wrapped up in her new life and almost forget about him. Almost. She sighed heavily as she stopped on the side of her mother's car, helping Aiden out of his tiny backpack and into the car. She leaned over him and buckled him into the car seat her mother had purchased.

"Mommy, are you okay?" Aiden asked suddenly as he noticed the change in her attitude. Immediately Marissa was brought back to a smile at her sons concerns. She kissed him on his forehead. They were unbelievably close and were basically inseparable. The tiny four year old considered his mother to be his best friend in the entire world and she felt the same way. "I'm fine baby. More importantly, how are you?"

"Hungry.." he explained just as his little tummy let out a grumble. She giggled at him before shutting his door and crawling into the passenger seat. "Pizza hut, here we come!"