As soon as they arrived back on Earth, Mandy checked Matt into a rehab center in Fadden Hills. For the first week, no contact was allowed between Matt and anyone outside the center. But Mandy made sure to be there for the first permitted visitation. They ate in the cafeteria, joking about how the food wasn't much better than either Sheffield or East Heatherfield. "I'll make sure to bring something from the sandwich chop downtown tomorrow." She said as they walked out.

They held hands as they walked through the courtyard. Mandy tried to keep the conversation light, and focus on better times. As they sat down on the bench, she brought up something from their childhood. "Remember when we were little, and I'd go to your house whenever there was a thunderstorm?"

"Yeah…" a weak smile came to his face. "…you were scared of a lot of things…"

"And I know that you're scared now. You're afraid that you won't be able to get through this."

"So you're reading my mind, aren't you?" He asked, a bit depressed.

"Nope." She answered smiling. "I just know you." She kissed him on the cheek, making him blush. "And I know you will get through this. You just have to commit yourself, and know that I'm with you." They shared a hug, and it was almost time for another class for Matt. "I'll be back tomorrow."

…...

The next day, Mandy was back at the same time. Only this time, she brought a Reuben from the local deli shop for Matt. "How'd you know?" He asked.

"Like I said, no one knows you like I do."

These visits continued. They would be short, friendly, with Mandy trying to get closer to Matt, trying to get him to open up more. They were like this until a week later, when they were in his bedroom. Mandy saw that the bags under his eyes had all but disappeared, and he looked more and more like his old self, but his addictions were far, far from over. She then revealed the present she had brought for him from Heatherfield: his old acoustic guitar. Matt's face lit up when he saw it and kissed her. "Thank you!"

"Well, don't just stare at it, play something for me!" She playfully demanded.

"I don't think I've played in years…except sometimes for Hay Lin."

"Don't think about that." She said as she reached for his shoulder. "You're here to get better."

"I think I know the song that's been on my mind…" with that he started moving his fingers over the strings. It took a few minutes for him to get the hang of it, but once he got the right tune, he started to sing…

Didn't know why I couldn't fly
Didn't want to be stuck on the ground
I wanted to soar across the sky
But something was holding me down

What had me cower in fear?
What was it I couldn't see?
The answer near, but so unclear
I was fighting the demon in me…

Mandy had never heard the song before, but knew it fit his current situation very well. She sat back while he continued to play this song about an internal struggle, a struggle she was determined to help him win. When he finished playing, she sat on his bed next to him. "That was amazing!"

"Wow…I didn't know I still had it in me…"

"You've got a lot in you." She said, blushing.

"I still can't believe what happened…" He said sounding depressed.

Mandy rubbed his back. "Hey…don't blame yourself. Once I found out what happened to you, I knew my mission was to rescue you."

Matt looked over at her, feeling like he didn't deserve that.

She continued. "It actually made me hate Hay Lin even more. Will demonstrated that one night when she glamoured herself as her."

"What? Why would she do that?"

"To show us that we were letting our emotions get the best of us, and she was right. But whether my emotions were running away with me or not, the fact is, the whole time you were with Hay Lin, there was someone on the other side fighting for you…"

He sighed at that, leaning his head against her.

"…and that same someone is rooting for you now."

"Thanks…" he answered softly, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

Mandy blushed, then remembered something. "You know, when Will was disguised as Hay Lin…she said you were a good kisser, when your mouth didn't smell like weed."

"Most of it's a blur…" he said. "…being enthralled and high most of the time won't leave clear memories…" He forced out a chuckle.

"Well, you definitely don't smell like weed now…" She said, with a curious look in her eye.

Matt turned to look at her, like a shy teenager. Mandy looked back with an innocent but excited smile. They stared at each other for what seemed like an hour, each hoping the other would make the first move. Then Matt couldn't take it anymore, and gently graced Mandy's lips with his own. Mandy felt a rush inside her and gratefully returned the kiss, putting in all the passion she had built up over all those months. They wrapped their arms around each other, and when they finally came up for air, she wanted to tell him he was a good kisser, but other words came out instead, almost on their own. "I love you." She gasped and covered her mouth.

Matt also gasped when he heard it. But it wasn't because he didn't love her as well, it was because he didn't feel like he deserved her love. "I…I think I love you too…" he said unsure, but he wanted it to be true. Mandy held him again, and he put his arms around her.

"Promise me you'll get better."

Matt didn't have the confidence to make that promise, but now he had a surefire reason to get better. "I promise I'll try."

Mandy kissed him again, and they held each other for a big longer before it was time for her to leave.

After she left, Matt started to shake. His urges were returning. Whenever Mandy was around, he would try to hide his struggle, but it was extremely hard. As he got ready for bed, still shaking, he went into the bathroom, looking into the mirror over the sink as he tried to hold himself up. As he looked in the mirror, he forced out some words that he had been taught on the first day he arrived:

"Lord, grant me the serenity,

To accept the things I cannot change,

And the courage to change those which I can,

And the wisdom to know the difference…"

The next morning, Matt woke up after dreaming about the kiss he shared with Mandy. He felt more stable in the morning, and his urges were strongest at night. As he got ready for breakfast, he looked in the mirror again. He looked better now, his face no longer had the fragile appearance that it had in Kandrakar. As he looked in the mirror, he said something else, determined to get better, if not for himself, then for those who were important to him.

"I'm going to take care of you today.

I'm going to protect you today.

I love you today,

And I'm going to love you tomorrow."

Days passed for Matt, some slowly and some quickly. The high point of each day would be when Mandy would come to visit him, and it would be like a date. One day, however, Mandy decided to bring a guest with her. His eyes went wide as he saw her blonde hair. "Lilian!"

She ran toward him and they hugged tightly. "Matt…I missed you so much!"

"I missed you too."

The three of them walked through the courtyard, getting Lilian up to speed about what's been going on with him at rehab. Lilian was very glad to hear about the progress he had been making.

"So do you think you're getting better?" She asked.

"I hope I am." Matt answered, trying to smile.

"Well remember, Sir Matthew…" she started. "…as Heart of Earth, I hereby order you to get better." She finished with a big smile and a hug.

"I'll do my best."

So this chapter focused on Matt and Mandy. And Lilian's not being bossy, that's just her way of encouraging Matt. And don't forget to review!