Although she still wasn't happy with the idea of her mother dating, her talk with Preston and Kelly had opened her eyes. Sarah had always been aware of how much Jenny did for her since her father had passed away. She knew she could always count on her mother for whatever she needed, and Sarah was always grateful to have her around. However, Sarah got a little too comfortable with that. She was so used to having her mother around, helping her, guiding her, and caring for her, that it completely slipped her mind that Jenny was still a person. Just like Sarah, she needed a chance to get out of the house and be Jenny. She needed her own friends, her own life.

Sarah wasn't happy with the idea of Jenny dating, but she always wasn't happy with her reaction to Jenny claiming she wanted a night out. She needed to make it up to her mother.

She waited at home for Jenny to return. She was ready to make an apology for her reaction and was prepared to talk about the date with her mother. As the door opened, Sarah took a deep breath. When she heard two voices laughing, followed by Dane's deep voice, her fists clenched. When Jenny and Dane walked into the kitchen, Sarah was standing by the coffee pot, arms crossed. Jenny let out a gasp. She didn't expect to find her daughter at home. Since Sarah had stormed out without a goodbye before Jenny left, she was sure her daughter would spend the night elsewhere to avoid this.

"Sarah!"

"I thought you were going out with Jesse?" Sarah frowned.

"I cancelled that," Jenny said. "You clearly weren't comfortable so… I went out alone."

"Alone?" Sarah glanced to Dane, who suddenly felt very awkward. The night was innocent, but he knew what this looked like to Sarah. They didn't expect her home and were caught coming in together. He suddenly felt like a teenage boy again.

"I ran into Dane at the movies. Turns out, we had the same idea," Jenny explained to Sarah. "We just saw the movie together and I asked if he wanted to come in for a coffee."

Sarah glared back and forth between the couple and then let her fists unclenched. She didn't like seeing the date take place, but she reminded herself of her talk with Preston and Kelly. Jenny deserved a night to herself. It didn't matter much who she chose to spend it with. If anything, despite the surprise, maybe this was better. Sarah knew Dane, he was Brody and Levi's father. He was a good man. He wasn't a stranger, like Jesse, which had been one of Sarah's complaints.

"Makes sense, I guess," Sarah said. "I… I'll be up in my room, then. Give you both some space."

Jenny looked to Dane with worry as Sarah left. She wondered if she should follow her daughter. Dane nodded.

"I know how to make a pot of coffee. Why don't you go make sure she's okay while it brews?"

"Are you sure? I can always talk to her later…"

"Go," Dane chuckled. Jenny thanked him as she made her way upstairs. She knocked on Sarah's door before she opened it. Her daughter was at her desk, tinkering with her latest project.

"What's that?" Jenny asked.

"It's a gizmo," Sarah said. "Kind of figuring this one out as I go."

"Tinker project?"

"Yeah," Sarah nodded. She set her tinker project down on the desk and turned to Jenny, certain she was here to talk. Jenny took a seat on the bed and breathed in deeply.

"I know the thought of me dating is… hard."

"I get it," Sarah said. "I… I'm sorry I was such a bitch about it."

"I don't think I should have dropped it on your lap like that, though. Maybe if I had talked to you about it, instead of just doing it, you would understand that…"

"You need some time away from me?"

"No," Jenny shook her head. "Never."

"Mom, I'm not stupid," Sarah said with a little chuckle. "You know how much I love you, but sometimes, it's nice not to have you breathing down my neck."

"I don't breathe down your neck," Jenny protested, but then saw the way Sarah was looking to her, completely unconvinced, and she nodded in defeat, "Alright but… you do give me a lot to have to consider."

"I know," Sarah nodded. "And I know you mean well with it but… It's nice to get away for a bit and do my own thing. I'm sure that's how it feels for you too. And lately… well, since dad died, you haven't gotten that chance until now."

"You know he can't be replaced, right?" Jenny asked. "There is no one in the world that I will ever love the same way I love your father."

"I know."

"Going out tonight was for me. I wanted to have a little fun, have a little company. Hang out with someone more my age. As great as you kids are…"

"You want to get out of the house and be Jenny, not mom?"

"You get it?"

Sarah shrugged, "Yeah. I mean, it's weird to me. You're mom and… moms don't usually date. At least, you hope they never have to."

"Your father dated," Jenny said. "I thought maybe, having been through this before…"

"I'm dad's kid, though," Sarah said. "And he promised I would always come first, no matter what."

"He did," Jenny smiled. "And so do I."

"But if you… if you date," Sarah said. "If you like the guy and you date more and… what if you start a family? Your real family and…"

Jenny reached out and took Sarah's hands in hers. She squeezed them lovingly as she smiled, "I have my real family right here."

Sarah smiled back. Jenny gave her hands another little squeeze.

"If I ever bring someone else in, it will only be to add to what you and I have already," Jenny promised. "And it will never, ever be with someone you aren't happy with. And, god-forbid, I have another kid, they'll be baby number two. Not one. You have to trust that, by now, it's not biology that makes a family, right?"

"I know. I just…"

"I get it," Jenny smiled. "Whenever you doubt that though, remember that I chose you. I chose this life. That's got to mean something, right?"

"It does."

"What I have with you is already perfect," Jenny smiled. "Dysfunctional, for sure. Unexpected, crazy and frightening, absolutely. But I would never trade it in or give it up for anything. If I ever found someone, all they would be doing is adding to this perfect."

"Someone maybe being Dane?" Sarah asked. Jenny seemed a little surprised.

"What?"

"Isn't that why he's here? You cancelled on Jesse to hang out with Dane?"

"We just ran into each other at the movies. We're friends."

"Uh-huh," Sarah nodded. "Will you hang out again?"

"As friends, I'm sure. I don't think I'm ready for real dating yet."

"These things do just happen, you know," Sarah told her mother with a smirk. "Usually when you least expect it."

"I'm walking away now," Jenny said as she got up. Sarah started making kissing noises as Jenny left. The mother rolled her eyes as she closed the bedroom door. She then made her way downstairs, where coffee was waiting for her. Dane offered her a cup.

"Did it go well?"

"I have a really good kid," Jenny nodded. "Annoying, at times, but she's good."

"So I can stay?"

"Maybe just an hour or so," Jenny told him. "I don't want her getting any ideas."

"I've got to get home to the boys anyway," Dane smiled. "An hour or so is perfect."