Chapter 3- The Longest Journeys Begin With a Single Step

Disclaimer: Hate to break it to you, but the only characters that belong to us are the Abernathys. Nobody else. :( And neither of us is a pretty blonde by the name of Carrie Underwood, so no, we don't own "Don't Forget to Remember Me."

Eighteen years had come and gone
For Momma they flew by
But for me they drug on and on
We were loadin' up that Chevy
Both tryin' not to cry
Momma kept on talkin' puttin' off goodbye
Then she took my hand and said
Baby don't forget

Several hours later Sarah, Meagan, Randy and their father stood at the entrance to Queen's Line Airport in Sydney. They had said goodbye to Corey and Marc at home. Neither of them could make it because of work. They both wished they could come to see them off properly and so promised to be the first to see them when they came back at the end of the school year. Sarah knew full well that they would keep their word. It gave her something to look forward to, at least.

"Well, this is it. Everyone has their tickets, right?" asked their father as they began to approach the doors.

"Yep." Randy answered affirmatively.

"Alright, Randy, you remember how to get there, don't you?" he asked.

"Dad, I'm sure we all do. That's, like, all you talked about all the way here. Stop worrying, we'll be fine." said Meagan, anxious to get to England.

"Yeah, Dad, we'll be fine." said Sarah "Plus, Randy will be with us. And we'll stay together, just like always."

"They're right, Dad. You shouldn't get so worried." Randy added, while giving his father an assuring look.

"You're right. You're right. It's just you three have never been so far away from home before." Mr. Abernathy said trying to pull himself together for his children.

Before you hit the highway you better stop for gas
And there's a fifty in the ashtray if you run short on cash
Here's a map and here's a Bible if you ever lose your way
Just one more thing before you leave
Don't forget to remember me

"You mean you haven't ever been so far away from us. And so it's unsettling to see your babies leave you." Meagan said with a concerned yet teasing gleam to her honey brown eyes.

"Yes, I supposed that's more accurate. Well, then. This is where I leave the three of you. Remember though you venture to a foreign place, you are never alone. Always remember who you are and that you can always rely on each other. And, most of all, that you are a proud generation of the Abernathy family." said Mr. Abernathy bursting with pride and affection streaming from his face at his three youngest children.

"Good-bye, Dad." said Sarah trying to hide the sorrowful yet somewhat prideful tears that were brimming in her eyes. "I'm going to miss you." She cried as she hurried to her father's waiting, comforting arms. "I love you so much." She said as she cried hysterically.

She had tried so hard all morning to keep her feelings of despair and loss from coming to the surface. She had kept telling herself it wasn't so bad, that she'd have a great time and make a lot of friends. She told herself that she was just over-reacting. But in the back of her mind she knew it was a losing battle, but she refused to admit she was losing control of her emotions. This was just the breaking point for her restraint. She couldn't hold it anymore. She had to let it all out. And the best way to do that was to cry. And that's exactly what she did. There she stood, within the strong, comforting embrace of her father's arms, in a crowded airport full of strangers, but she didn't care. They didn't matter, they were invisible to her. All she cared about was her father who was patting her consolingly, trying to take away her pain.

This downtown apartment sure makes me miss home
And those bills there on the counter
Keep tellin' me I'm on my own
Just like every Sunday I called Mama up last night
And even when it's not I tell her everything's all right
Before we hung up I said
Hey Mama don't forget

"There, there. You'll do just fine. Its alright." said Mr. Abernathy,

holding his youngest daughter close to him.

"I don't want to start all over. It took me 15 years to get this far.

I don't want to lose what I have here." Sarah sobbed into her father's

chest.

"Sarah, you won't ever lose what you have here. And you're

not starting over, you're just adding to what you already have. I would never send you away and make you start over. This is one of those experiences that will make you a better, stronger person, but, you have to experience it first. You are not alone." He said still holding her close.

By now Meagan and Randy had come to stand on either side of Sarah. Meagan took Sarah's left hand and held it lovingly in hers.

"Are you ready, Sarah?" she asked tenderly with a caring twinkle to her eyes that strengthened Sarah even more than her father's embrace.

"I… I think so." she said, her resolve wavering ever so slightly.

To tell my baby sister I'll see her in the fall
Tell Mama that I miss her yeah I should giver her a call
And make sure that you tell daddy that I'm still his little girl
Yeah I still feel like I'm where I'm supposed to be
But don't forget to remember me

At this Randy took her other hand just as Meagan had. She turned to him, knowing that whatever he said would give her the strength to say good-bye and not look back for fear of losing her composure all over again.

"You can't come back home unless you leave. You can't be missed unless you go. And might I remind you if we don't go now we'll miss the plane. I believe I speak for both Meagan and myself when I say I will not leave without you easily." He said in a kind, reassuring yet firm voice. At that moment she had decided she was ready and nothing, and she meant nothing, was going to stop her.

"You do speak for the both of us." Meagan added affirmatively "So are you up for a challenge?" she said turning back to Sarah with a mischievous, competitive glint in her honey-brown eyes.

"Are you kidding? Have you ever known Sarah to turn down a challenge, ever?" Randy asked sarcastically, yet in a joking tone.

"Of, course I'm ready for a challenge. As long as I have you two by my side I can do anything." Sarah replied with confidence.

"Well then I suppose it would be alright for me to get back on the road, aye?" Mr. Abernathy asked sincerely.

"Yes, Papa. I'll, I mean, we'll be fine. Thanks for always being there." Sarah said with appreciation ringing in her, once again, confident voice. "I love you."

"I love you too, babe. Remember to write." he said pulling her close and kissing her forehead gently.

"I will if you will." she said with a smile.

"Bye, Dad." Meagan called as she and Randy started walking farther into the airport.

"Bye, Dad." Randy called shortly after Meagan.

"Good-bye you two. Stay safe. And stick together!" he called as all three disappeared into the crowd, linked hand in hand.

Tonight I find myself kneelin' by the bed to pray
Haven't done this in a while so i don't know what to say
But Lord I feel so small sometimes in this big old place
Yeah I know there's more important things
But don't forget to remember me