Mac bounces down the stairs like she usually does, quickly noticing her stepmother had fallen asleep in an almost puddle on the floor. She bites her lip, kneeling next to her, she touches her arm, "Sharon." The young girl tilts her head to the side, "Sharon?" She shakes her arm slightly.

Sharon opens her eyes, quickly realizing she fell asleep on the floor. She moans as she sits up slowly, leaning against the wall, "Sorry."

"Are you okay?"

She nods, "Back is killing me, but I'm fine." She groans slightly, "Kate still asleep?"

Mac stands, offering her a hand to help her up, "Yeah, she snores really loudly."

"Tell me about it. Grinds her teeth too." Sharon takes the young woman's hand, "How about you? Sleep well?" She stands next to her.

"Better than I thought I would." She walks toward the kitchen, "Where's Dad? I noticed he wasn't in the guest room like you said he'd probably be."

"Oh, he's fine. He went over Provenza's and they watched a movie." Sharon answers a little too quickly. Instinct driving her, experience guiding her voice.

Mac studies her stepmother, pulling out a bagel a bag and sliding it into a toaster, "You're a terrible liar." She replies softly.

"Mac-" Sharon sighs.

"How much did he drink?" She had heard horror stories from her mother and her brother, but never actually witnessed her father's illness first hand.

She shakes her head, folding her arms, "No, we aren't doing that."

"I am an adult-"

"Mac, it doesn't matter how much he consumed. He's going to a meeting this morning. He's getting right back on the wagon." Sharon places a hand on the middle of the girl's back, "I wouldn't lie to you about that."

Mac swallows, "He'll come back home?"

"He's coming back today if he wants."

"What if he doesn't want to?"

Sharon shakes her head, "We must be optimistic." She replies softly, "Kate doesn't know about any of this...his life before. She doesn't need to. So, we're going to tough it out for her, agreed?"

Mac nods, "Agreed."

Kate slowly steps down the stairs, holding onto the handrail, "Mommy?" She calls.

Sharon spins quickly, grinning to her daughter, "Good morning, baby."

"Where's Daddy?"

Mac bites her lip, "He had a slumber party with Uncle Louie."

"No fair!" Kate pouts, "I wanted to go."

"I'm sure the Provenzas will love to have you whenever you ask, Katie." Sharon smirks, "Now, would you like some breakfast?"

"I would like-" She pauses, climbing up onto a stool at the kitchen island, "I would like chicken and cucumbers and gummies and ice cream."

"That sounds pretty gross." Mac giggles softly.

"What about toast, waffles, or eggs?" The older woman attempts to sway her daughter.

"Can I have whippy cream on my waffles?"

"If you'd like." She nods.

"And Nutty-Ella."

"Nutella?"

"Yes."

"Absolutely." Sharon grins, "Just a little bit though, don't want to go overboard."

Kate stretches, her arms raised above her head as her face contorts in a yawn, "I'm going to a sleepover to Uncle Louie's house today."

"Well, how about you give him a call after lunch and you ask about tomorrow night. They may have some plans today."

"Lizard will be there too?"

Mac grins, "I'm really sure she doesn't like that name."

Kate smirks, "It makes Uncle Louie laugh. I like it when he laughs."

"Yes, Katie, Liz will probably be there too." Sharon nods, smiling to her. She puts Mac's bagel on a plate before pushing waffles in for the toddler, "Mac, do you want anything on top?"

"I'll get it-" She stands, offering.

"Just tell me. I'm right here." Sharon opens the cabinet, "What will it be?"

"Just syrup." Mac watches her, "A lot of syrup." She smiles when it's placed in front of her.

"I'm sure you can manage it. I'm having oatmeal." She pulls a packet of organic oatmeal from the cabinet, pouring it into a bowl and doing as the directions say on the package before popping the ceramic bowl into the microwave. Sharon retrieves her daughter's waffles from the toaster, placing them on a plate and making them as she asked, "Katie, do you want to put sprinkles on top?"

Kate's eyes widen, "I can have sprinkles?"

"Sure. Not too many though." She places the plate in front of her with a small shaker of multicolored sprinkles. Sharon smirks, watching as her daughter covers her entire plate with them.

"Did you want waffles with those sprinkles?" Mac raises an eyebrow.

Kate shakes her head, licking her lips. She lets her mother cut the waffle with it's ridiculous amount of toppings before digging in.

"She's going to be wired. What are you thinking?" The young woman laughs a little.

Sharon shakes her head, "She's fine. Pick your battles and don't forget to create memories, that's what my mother always says." She offers Mac a simple smile, obtaining her own breakfast of oatmeal from the microwave. She covers the top with honey before sitting next to her stepdaughter, "Take your time, Katie."

"But it's so good." Kate growls excitedly.

"And no one is taking it away from you. Take your time."

Mac finishes half of her waffle, "Any idea when he's due home?"

Sharon shakes her head, stirring her oatmeal almost absently before bringing it to her lips, "I don't know, I'm sorry."

"Only because I don't think I want to be here." She says softly, "I'll...I can go..." The young woman shrugs, "I don't know-"

"Mac, this is very different. He was really worried about you when he left. Whatever you were told before, just forget it. Erase it from your mind and take him as he is instead of what people are telling you to take him as." She sighs, "He needs support and love."

"I'm just afraid." Mac whispers.

Sharon wraps her arm around the young woman, "I meant to ask you. Do you think you need to see someone? Some to talk to?"

"I don't know, maybe."

"I will always listen to anything you want to share with me, however, I'm not a medical doctor. If you need to be prescribed medication or something along the lines of that, a doctor will be a great help." Sharon offers her a soft smile, "Okay?"

Mac nods, "Thanks for...Thanks for yesterday-"

"It's what family does, Mac. We stay together for one another and we help each other through everything."

"You acted like my mom. You didn't have to do that. That's what I mean, Thank you for-" She shakes her head, "My mom didn't want me. It doesn't mean you have to feel the need to-"

"Yes, I admit, I do feel like you need a female figure who can be a parental type to you...who wants to be your parent. You weren't given a good one before. Your mother did a terrible thing to you yesterday and to you a couple years ago. No one deserves that. Especially you." Sharon speaks quietly in her ear so Kate wouldn't attempt to listen to them, "You're an intelligent and beautiful young woman. No one should ever make you feel otherwise. Especially a parent."

Mac bites her lip, tears returning to her eyes, "Thanks though."

The older woman nods quickly, holding her a moment before returning to her oatmeal.