I'M HERE. Thank you all, once again, for waiting like the cool people you are. You guys have been SUPER supportive of schedule and personal changes and I couldn't be more grateful. SCHOOL'S OUT! And because of this fact, I PROMISE to update regularly. Like, seriously, I won't let you guys down. AND OH MY GOD 52 REVIEWS. Literally everything you guys have to say is really nice, and I love to know that my writing is good to you guys. I love hearing you guys for ideas and encouragements, they make my day and spur me on to write like a demon. Thank you all.

Shout out to BunnyYouRockXOX and guest Kairolyne. You two always review and always have positive feedback. Thanks, you guys are the best!

Summary: Recovery isn't easy, but together they make it work.

Ruby and Liam sat on the park bench in comfortable silence, watching two toddlers chase each other around, giggling and screeching in high-pitched voices. When one tripped on her bum, her counterpart plopped down next to her and the pair proceeded to roll through the grass, despite their parent's exasperated reprimands.

Ruby smiled, her cheek warm against Liam's shoulder. Even though she couldn't see him, Ruby knew Liam was smiling too.

"So." Liam stated.

"So." Ruby said, eyes still following the toddling children.

"Who was she?" Liam asked.

"The girl?" Ruby asked, surprised that that was the first question Liam asked her. She guessed it would have to do with...Vida and Chubs or something along the lines of what had happened earlier. "She's…a friend."

"Do you...would you like me to walk you home darlin'?" Liam suggested softly after a moment passed. Despite her best tries, Ruby couldn't stop the shiver that danced up and down her spine, leading her to wrap her arms around her middle in an attempt to stop her quaking frame. Liam shrugged out of his denim jacket and slipped it over Ruby's narrow shoulders.

"Could we just stay a little longer?" Ruby asked in a tiny voice, just barely hiding fear and self-doubt lying under the surface. Liam couldn't help it as he tightened his arms around Ruby minutely, flashing back to a skinny frame (all bone and limbs really) huddled in the seats of Black Betty, the blankets and seats swallowing her up.

Liam cleared his throat, trying his best to clear the memories, too. "Yes, of course darlin'."

When Ruby was walked home by Liam, she was greeted by a very, very worried Zu who was pointedly ignoring Chubs and Vida. The two had bowed heads and Vida looked the most guilty Ruby had ever seen her. Chubs literally shuffled his feet, something Ruby would had guffawed at had it been a different situation.

"Ruby...we're, I mean, we should never had...we're sorry." Chubs had stammered out, nervously fidgeting and adjusting his glasses.

Ruby had never seen him act so timid and sheepish, Ruby couldn't help the "it's fine" that slipped out of her mouth at his apology.

"What do you mean it's fine? You were the furthest thing from fine I've ever seen!" Zu exploded angrily. "They-you were-you should be mad!" Zu's cheeks were flushed a slight pink, her eyes glowing and fists clenched at her sides. Liam placed a calming and comforting hand on her shoulder, and Ruby was happy that Zu didn't shake it off.

"Zu-" Liam started in a cool voice.

"No, Zu's right," Vida cut in. "You have every right to be mad at us Ruby. We were wrong and totally out of line. I know we can't force you to forgive us, but if it makes it any better, we'll give you a free shot at us." Chubs almost argued at that, but his jaw snapped shut at Vida's scathing look.

"I…" Ruby had never, ever heard Vida sound so genuinely apologetic in her life-Ruby didn't think she was capable of doing so. "I am holding you to that in the future."

Vida laughed, a sort of surprised breath, surprised that Ruby could be so impossible.

"I think it's time for us to take our leave. See you around, Red." Vida said as she gathered her things and pushed Chubs out the door. Ruby scoffed slightly at the nickname, and at Zu still-(but slightly less) annoyed look.

Recovery wasn't a few days of dabbed away tears and light kisses. It was slow, grueling work.

In the first few days after, Ruby avoided the closet like the plague, dashing around quickly if she had to go near it. Liam held her through the night when nightmares became too much, playing soft classical music and opening a window to allow fresh air to waft in.

Over time, Ruby had allowed herself to truly live in her home again. She smiled more, laughed, and could finally unflinchingly go into the closet of doom. Sure, Liam had stocked it full of blankets. (And cookies...and put in lights.) But she never said she was perfect, but love never really was.

Trips to the park had become weekly, then daily, Ruby and Liam enjoying the strolls through the crisp air and sounds of life surrounding them.

One day, as Ruby and Liam were walking hand-in-hand through the winding paths of the park, Ruby was nearly bowled over by a short mass of brown and a flash of blue.

"Sorry! I wasn't watching where I was going I-" The stranger said as she picked herself off the ground.

"Piper?" Ruby asked, her eyebrows shooting to her hairline. The said figure shook hair out of her eyes and adjusted her blue glasses all in one gesture, before looking up to Ruby.

"Ruby! It's good to see you." Piper said, smiling. She turned to Liam, giving him assessing look, deeming him acceptable. "Feeling better?"

"Yeah, a lot better. Thanks, Piper." Ruby said honestly, ruffling Piper's hair. Piper huffed, but it was really only half-exasperation.

Liam watched the exchange with an amused expression that didn't escape Piper's eye. She lifted her head high, and stomped over to stand directly in Liam's path.

"You better treat this girl right mister, she's a special lady." Piper said matter-of-factly, with both hands on her hips, despite her being at least a head shorter than Liam.

"Yes ma'am." Liam answered bemusedly.

Piper nodded her head. "Ruby, if you ever have any trouble with this one, call me."

Ruby laughed, tinkling and airy. "Of course-you can count on it."

"What were you doing anyway, running around so, so-" Liam stammered, attempting to regain a sense of his manliness and dignity.

"I was playing a game, with my friends-" Piper cut in, stopping Liam. "WAIT. I gotta hide or I'm gonna lose the game!" Piper looked around for a place to duck behind.

"Too late." Another girl, the same age as Piper, poked Piper in back appearing out of nowhere. Piper shrieked.

"Zemira, no fair! I was catching up with Ruby!" Piper whined.

"Too bad-we still have to find Matt and Aries anyway." Zemira smirked. Zemira was several inches taller than Piper, with light olive skin and dark, tight curls that fell past her shoulders and back. Glasses adorned her face as well, but they were larger and a dark black compared to Piper's. Although her eyes were a lighter shade of brown, they had a sort of wiseness and dark in them where Piper had light. They made a perfect pair of friends.

"Fine." Piper moaned, managing to make the word two syllables long. As she turned to leave, she called out over her shoulder. "Nice seeing you Ruby!"

"Bye!" Ruby called back.

Liam looked flabbergasted. "Did I just get 'the talk' by a thirteen-year-old?"

"Yes, Liam. Yes you did." Ruby replied.

"Well, not how I expected this day to go."

Ruby dissolved into laughter, grabbing onto Liam's arm.

The open road no doubtedly had bumps and rough spots, but right now, the rain had lifted, and the sun was bright.