A/N: Since today is Mother's Day, I have completely rewritten this chapter to focus on Erin and Linda and their children. Enjoy!

Nicky volunteered to load the car. The truth was, she needed a moment alone to compose herself before joining the family on their trek to the last place on earth Nicky wanted to visit right now - The Rocks. As she hoisted the large red bag full of sports equipment into the trunk of the car, something sloshed and a cascade of liquid ran down her leg. She jumped six feet into the air, dropped the bag, and screamed like a banshee. At least, that's what happened in her head. In reality, she just rocked back on her heels and let out a startled squeak barely loud enough to register as a whisper, let alone a scream. Breathe, she told herself sternly as she opened the clothes bag (thank goodness for mothers who could predict the future!) and pulled out a towel.
"Everything okay here?" Her mother's concerned voice coming from behind her gave her her second heart attack in as many minutes.
"I'm fine," she said vehemently, hoping it would convince both of them, wiping her leg vigorously. "Some idiot left a bottle of water in the sports bag and it spilled everywhere. Probably ruined the bats, too! It might take me a while to clean up. Why don't you go on ahead with the others and I'll catch up."
Nicky was relieved when Erin took the hint and left her to complete her task. But her relief was short-lived when her mother returned after barely two minutes away.
"Okay, what's really going on?" Erin demanded.

"Nothing!" Nicky protested, her head buried in the trunk, so she could avoid looking at her accuser.

"Bull!" Erin shot back. "By the way, that idiot was me, and you need a shower."

Nicky's head shot up so fast she banged her head on the lid of the trunk.

"Are you saying I stink?" she demanded.

"No, I'm saying I know the difference between the sound of water hitting skin and water hitting the shower floor. These last two mornings you've run the shower without actually getting in it. What gives?" Erin softened her tone, but still demanded an answer.

"You've been listening in on me in the shower!?" Nicky's glare could have fried eggs.

"You're dodging the question." Erin brought the conversation back on track.

Nicky took a deep breath; time to come clean, she thought. "I know I'm over-reacting," she said. "I just can't imagine my life without them, and being under the shower makes me imagine what it must have been like for them."

"Have you talked to them, asked them what it was like?" Erin prodded.

"Mum! Seriously. They're – "

"I know," Erin broke in. "But they have to talk about it to get it out of their systems, too, and if it helps you in the process, all the better." She pulled Nicky up to standing and forced her independent teen to look her in the eye. "At least think about it?"

Seeing the concern in Erin's face, Nicky threw her arms around her mother. "I will, I promise."

XX XX XX XX XX XX

Sean was determined to be brave. The whole family were going to visit the site of the accident, and he wasn't going to give them anything to worry about by causing a scene. He wasn't going to cry, even though he felt like all the water he had swallowed was pushing at his eyes, trying to find a way out. He wasn't going to throw up, even though there was an elephant kicking his stomach from the inside. He wasn't going to fall down, even though his legs felt as weak as twigs in a tornado. No, he would just keep walking, following his family, one step at a time. But there was one person who wasn't fooled.
"Scary, huh?" The gentle voice of his mother interrupted his thoughts. And just in time - for all his good intentions, Sean was on the verge of losing his lunch.
But he squared his shoulders and gave Mommy a wide smile. "I'm okay," he reassured her, hoping she would believe his lie.
"Then you're doing better than me," was the astonishing reply he received. Sean looked at her in bewilderment. She was an adult, she wasn't supposed to stay scared. Staying scared was for sissies and his Mom wasn't a sissy. Or was she? Was that what she was saying? Surely not! She couldn't be. She was his Mom.
"Its scary remembering what happened, the sights, the sounds the smells, or worse still, there being none of those. Even worse, I think, is thinking about what might happen the next time you sit on a rock by the water, or go swimming in the sea, or play on the beach. That's why Daddy and Uncle Jamie thought we should come over here." By this time they had reached the rocky outcrop that had nearly caused a horrendous tragedy. Jack was already there. Linda stood behind both her boys and laid her hands on their shoulders. "We need to see for ourselves that there is nothing to be scared of, and work out ways of making sure it won't happen next time we come here." As she said this, the young mother felt the involuntary shivers that passed through her sons' bodies. This, she thought, this is why we had to do this; and, not for the first time in her life, she gave thanks for such a wise husband as hers. "So, what's going to be Rule Number One?"

"Don't tease people when I'm angry," was Jack's instantaneous reply. It was followed closely by Sean's "Don't run away just because somebody's mean to me." Jack had the grace to blush at that one. "Sorry!" he muttered. "No worries," assured his brother with a calming smile, which Jack thankfully returned.

"I can think of another one," Linda added. "One for us adults."

"What's that?" Jack and Sean chorused together.

"Make sure the environment is safe for you guys to be in." She pointed to the end of the rocks where the boys had climbed to. "Out there is further out than the sand. We should have realised that there might still be water there, and that the rocks might cause whirlpools. That was my mistake, and I'm sorry. Ooofff!" Linda nearly landed on her backside with the force of the bear hug she received from her sons, and she knew she was forgiven. AS she looked over, the tops of their heads, she caught sight of her beloved soulmate, and the love in her Danny's eyes was enough to allow her to begin forgiving herself, and start on the road to recovery.

A/N: Thanks for all the support you have given me through your reviews, favourites, and follows. It is much appreciated! HAPPY MOTHER"S DAY! xx