Disclaimer: I own nothing except my imagination and Abbey and the kids.

a/n: Thank you to everyone who reviewed last chapter and hope you like this one.

A couple of weeks had gone by since Logan returned to the academy after his stint in jail and so far, neither Matt nor Abbey had gotten any kind of negative feedback from chief Thomas so they were glad about that. Both Logan and Chase were coming back home with excellent grades, making both their parents happy.

"So only a couple more weeks until your training is over. You guys excited?" Abbey asked her sons as they ate some pizza on friday night.

"Yeah, I can't wait to be out there and saving people." Logan stuffed his mouth with a slice.

"Promise me you'll be careful?" Matt and Abbey had talked about her worries but she needed to hear it from the boys too.

"We'll be careful." Chase added, taking her hand in his and giving it a squeeze. "When's dad coming home?"

"I don't know. He had a job to do at Mrs. Baker's house." She looked towards the door, expecting him home any minute now.

"Are you sure he should be working so hard?" Chase followed his mother's eyes towards the door and sighed.

"He got cleared last week to go back to work, he's fine."

"He had pneumonia mom, he shouldn't be working so hard."

"Your father is a grown man, I think he knows if he's ok to work or not." Abbey chuckled.

"Mom, dad?" Andrew called from the front door.

"In the kitchen." The twins turned around in their seats and looked at their older brother, Amanda right behind him.

"Is dad here?"

"Right here. Something going on?" He patted him on the back and kissed Abbey.

"Can we talk?" Abbey looked to Amanda's clasped hands around her son's and back to Matt.

"Alright guys. Clear the pizza and get out of here." The twins understood what they had to do and everything was picked up faster than Abbey had witnessed before and they were out of the kitchen, knowing that it was a discussion that didn't involve them. Andrew looked at Amanda with a sweet smile and although he knew it would break his mother's heart, he knew it had to be done.

"Mom, dad."

"Come on Andrew, out with it." Matt knew all too well what this discussion was all about.

"Well Amanda and I have been dating for a while now and things are going great. What I'm trying to say is that we talked a lot about this and we've decided to move in together."

"When?" Was all Abbey found to say, shock taking over her.

"In a month."

"Why so soon? The two of you don't need to rush into this."

"Mom." He knew how much this was hurting her. "We're not rushing into this. We talked a lot about it actually and decided it was the next natural step." Amanda still hadn't said a word up to then.

"I love your son very much Mrs. Casey and I understand this is a really big step for everyone but I wouldn't see myself with anyone else than Andrew." Matt gave Abbey's hand an extra squeeze and she stopped a tear from falling on her cheek with her thumb.

"I know and I'm sorry. It's just my mom heart that's hurting right now." She smiled at both her son and Amanda. "So tell me about your new place." They spent the next hour talking about Andrew's new appartment with Amanda before the couple left again, going to spend their evening together, leaving both Abbey and Matt alone once again.

"Hey, are you ok?"

"I'm perfectly fine."

"Oh come on. It's me, you don't have to lie."

"I knew this was coming. Why does it hurt so much?" Matt pulled her to him.

"Because our oldest, first born son is moving out. It's supposed to hurt baby."

"And why are you so calm in all of this?"

"Because you're not." He laughed. "And because we raised him right and he's grown into a grounded, well mannered young man with a brilliant career ahead of him."

"I hate it when you have all the right words to say."

"I love you too." He kissed the top of her head. "How about we watch the game with a cold one huh?"

"You know how to win a girl's heart." She laughed.

"I've always known how to win yours." He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and they walked together to the fridge to grab a couple of beers to cuddle on the couch together, the Hawks beating the Kings by two.

"This place sure is going to feel empty when he leaves." She looked around the living room as she took a pull of her beer and placing it on the end table.

"Just think about it though. We'll have way more privacy to do this." He pulled her on top of him and kissed her.

"That's not funny Matt." She swatted his chest when she recovered from the kiss.

"I'm sorry baby. I know this is going to be hard but he has to make his own way in life and I'm pretty sure he'll be just fine."

"I know." She sighed, putting her hands on his chest and leaning into him. "It's just hard."

"I don't want to see when the twins move out." He whispered to her ear as she sat up on his lap.

"Don't do that to me Matt." She hit his chest again. "That's not nice."

"You're right, I'm sorry. How about we go to bed?"

"Yeah. I just want this day to be over."

"That won't make Your problem disappear."

"I know." She sighed. " But I don't want to think about it for a few hours. I just want to lay in your arms." They went up the stairs, Matt's hands on her hips and they got ready to go to bed, just laying there together, no word needed.

Andrew walked into his parents house well past midnight, rubbing bits of paint off his hands. The apartment they were moving in had been emptied out a few weeks ago and the building owner had agreed to lend them the keys so they could get the place ready before moving day in two months. Andrew had been there every occasion he had, putting plaster and sanding the walls so now they had started painting each room. He put his bag down by the door and cautiously walked through the dark house, heading towards the kitchen to wash his hands and face off before he headed off to bed, hoping not to wake up anyone. There was only light coming from the stove fan and he noticed his mom was sitting at the breakfast bar with a cup in her hands.

"What are you doing up mom?" He whispered, not wanting to scare her.

"I couldn't sleep." She brought her cup of coffee to her lips.

"Is everything ok?" He sat down next to her.

"Yeah, everything is good." She smiled at him and ran a hand up and down his back. "What did you do tonight?" She eyed the paint on his hands.

"We painted the kitchen."

"What do you guys have left to do in there?"

"There's some things left in the bathroom to do and a few cabinets to fix in the kitchen and painting."

"Why don't you ask your dad to help you in the kitchen? I'm sure he'd love to do this with you."

"I wanted to but he got sick and I didn't want to bother him with it."

"Well I'm sure he'd love to help you now that we know that you're moving."

"Are you ok with that?"

"It'll take some time to get used to you not being here anymore but that's part of growing up. I'm just happy that you found a great girl and that you're happy."

"I am happy mom."

"It's all I ever wanted for you." She smiled at him, drinking some more of her tea. "Do you guys have all your furniture? Are you missing anything?"

"A few things but we're supposed to go get what's missing soon."

"Alright, keep me in the loop please. Me and dad want to help too."

"Thanks mom." He kissed her cheek. "I'm going to head to bed, don't stay up too late."

"Good night son."

"Night ma." He went upstairs to what was his room for a few weeks still, leaving his mom with her thoughts in the kitchen. The next weeks would prouve emotional for their little family.

a/n: Sorry It took so much time for me to post this chapter but I've been sidelined with a back injury. There's only three more chapters to this little story so please take a few minutes to leave a review before you go. - Sarra