Will whistled to himself as he pottered around the kitchen. It was the Friday morning before the beginning of the school year and he was hungrier than the very hungry caterpillar. Since Principal Figgins had been kind enough to give the staff the day off after a week of planning sessions and training, Will decided there was no better way to spend the morning than by making his daughters bacon and eggs.

With the bacon sizzling in one pan and the eggs in another, his mind began to wander. Will would be lying if he said he didn't miss his darling Em. In truth, he missed her everyday. But Will also knew he had to be strong for his daughters. He told them they could talk to him about their mother whenever they wanted to, but it just seemed like such a sore topic between the girls. Colleen shied away at the mere mention of Emma, while Lilibet did everything possible to keep Emma's memory alive. It was an impossible balancing act that made every little action Will made, every little step he took, made him feel like he was about to fall off the tightrope. And without Emma to be his safety net…

The sound dining room door sliding open broke Will from his thoughts, as in stepped an awakened and dressed Lillibet. "Morning dad," she greeted cheerfully despite the early hour. "Shouldn't you be at school?" She asked, looking between his pyjamas and the frying pans with confusion.

Will just shrugged as he moved the spitting bacon around on the pan before it could burn. "Figgans gave us teachers the day off. Thought I'd make you girls bacon and eggs for breakfast."

Lillibet just nodded indifferently. "Coffee?" She offered, reaching for coffee grinds and filters. As good and kind as Lillibet strived to be, she would light the world on fire for just one more cup of coffee.

"I'd love some." Will said, then glanced at the stairs. "Is Leena still asleep?"

"Probably," Lillibet answered, still indifferent. "I've been outside stretching since six so I wouldn't know."

Will nodded, deciding to focus on the daughter in front of him. "How are you feeling about school starting again?"

Not turning from the coffee maker, Lillibet just shrugged. "I haven't decided. I feel like I should be nostalgic since it'll be my last first day but also I just want to graduate you know?" Lillibet was a senior now, and surprisingly well adjusted for a girl of her age. Most of her classmates were party animals or something else crazy but Lillibet maintained her status as an honour student, a captain of the cheer squad, a drama student and an excellent figure skater. But she wasn't a member of the glee club. "I think I might save the nostalgia for graduation." Lillibet shrugged again.

"That's a good plan," Will encouraged gently. "Actually, I was wondering if you might be interested in joining the glee club since it's your final year?"

Footsteps prevented Lillibet from answering, and Will looked up to see the youngest Schuester walking into the kitchen sleepily. Colleen rubbed her eyes, which had huge bags under them that no teenager her age should have. "Do you two have any idea what time it is?" She questioned as she crossed her arms.

Will took a good look at Colleen, who looked more tired than usual. He suspected she had nightmares, but of course now that she was getting older she told him less. "Sorry, Leena, did we wake you?"

"Yeah," Colleen mumbled with a yawn. In truth, she had woken up in the middle of the night to a bad dream, and well it had taken her hours to fall back asleep. At least she had her phone to keep her occupied.

Lillibet just ignored the two of them, humming an old song of Emma's, "Time to get up, time to get up in the morning," she sang to herself as she passed out the coffees.

"No, thanks," Colleen said, handing the mug back to her sister, irked by her song choice. But of course she couldn't say that, or she'd be rude and it would lead to a fight.

With a roll of her eyes, Lillibet took the mug back and downed its contents in several loud gulps. "Tasty." She smiled, staring Colleen straight in the eyes. "Should have some coffee, it's good for you."

"Coffee is not good for fourteen year olds, Lillibet, even if you started at ten," Will rebuked as he flipped the eggs. "Colleen, could you grab some plates please, I made breakfast."

Colleen let out a sigh and grabbed some plates from the cabinet. She set them down on the table, then grabbed some cutlery and did the same.

"Colleen, you need a plate too," Will pointed out, when he noticed she had only set the table for two.

"I'm not hungry," Colleen objected quickly. "I'm going back to bed."

"You're already awake though." Lillibet pointed out as she grabbed a glass of apple juice. "Come sit, the sun will wake you up." She patted the chair beside her as she sat down.

Colleen rolled her eyes, "I said I'm going back to bed." She said firmly, wanting no part in breakfast, or spending time with her sister at this very moment.

Will sighed. "Don't forget you have an appointment with Donna in an hour, so there's no time to go back to bed." He reminded his youngest sternly. "So please eat something and get dressed. Lillibet is going to take you.

Colleen furrowed her brows in confusion. "Why is she taking me?" She pointed at her sister, who just pointed back.

"Apparently because Donna's office is on the way to the ice rink," Lillibet lamented sarcastically, "I got volunteered as tribute. And I need more coffee so we can get you a milkshake for breakfast too."

"Why can't I just take the bus?" Colleen asked. "And who has a milkshake for breakfast?"

Lillibet looked guilty at Colleen's accusation. "Me…" she admitted, dropping some bacon on the floor for her cocker spaniel, Obo.

Will cleared his throat to get the attention of his girls. "Lillibet is taking you Leena, that's final. Now, both of you, breakfast."

"I said I'm not hungry!" Colleen snapped as she brought a hand to her temple. In truth, her stomach was a knot of nerves and she knew anything she ate she'd hurl up later.

"Why don't we have brunch after your appointment?" Lillibet offered, slightly off put by her sister's outburst.

"I don't want to!" Colleen declined loudly as she turned on her heel and disappeared into her room.

"I'll pick her up, I need to talk to Donna anyway," Will said to Lilibet, who simply shoved an egg into her mouth. Collen was doing worse, and she thought no one had noticed. But Will had most certainly noticed the changes in his daughter, he just wasn't sure what to do about them. "But I appreciate you trying."

Lillibet just shrugged as she stood up. "I'm going to get my stuff and chill upstairs for a bit." She told him, dropping her remaining bacon onto the ground.

"Lillibet!" Will scolded as squeals of laughter retreated up the stairs.

Colleen hated seeing Donna sometimes, especially now when everything they did clearly wasn't working. Plus, she was pretty sure she was the only teen seeing a psychologist. Lilibet had dropped her off outside of the building, leaving Colleen to go inside alone, which is why she preferred going with her dad, he at least waited with her. She sighed as she sat in her chair, she was getting tired of therapy, and it was showing in her most recent sessions, where she flat out refused to talk about the incident. Colleen sighed as the door to Donna's office opened.

"Come on in, Colleen," Donna greeted her. She was a middle-aged woman with dark brown hair. Colleen forced herself to stand and follow the woman inside of the room.

"You look tired," Donna observed.

"I am tired," Colleen replied defensively. She tucked her light brown hair behind her ear and tapped her foot idly.

Donna just smiled reassuringly. "So how has your week been, Colleen? Not too nervous about starting high school?"

Colleen sighed and slumped in her seat, resting her head on her hand. "Does it matter? It's not like I have a choice in going."

"Well if you think it's going to affect your learning then we'll need to address it." Donna noted with unjudging eyes. "Unfortunately, McKinley is the only public school in this district."

"I'm aware," Colleen said. She resisted the urge to glance at the clock, they had just started and they still had an hour. "What do you say to my dad when you talk to him?" She asked worriedly, seemingly out of nowhere.

With a nod, Donna sighed, "He asks how you are doing, and I tell him we are still working on it. I only say something if I think you are at risk of harm or if I think you may need something else to help with your depression."

"I don't need anything else," Colleen said. "What? You think I need pills like some kind of crazy person?"

"You know I don't think you're crazy, Colleen," Donna said, leaning forward in her chair. "But wouldn't you like the nightmares to stop? The little bursts of panic you feel when someone closes their locker a little too loudly? Don't you want to feel happy again?"

"I don't want pills, besides, my dad probably won't let me take any," Colleen insisted. She wasn't sure why she was being difficult, but she knew she'd be judged enough entering McKinley - being a teacher's kid, the beloved dead guidance counsellor's kid, and well, Lilibet's younger sister, it was all too much to add whatever medication she would have to take to the list.

"I'll leave that for you and your father to discuss, but I am going to refer you to Dr. Charles, our psychiatrist, in fact, I've already put in the referral, you see him after we're done here."

Colleen's jaw dropped at the news, and she barely cooperated for the remainder of her therapy session. After her appointment, she spotted her dad already in the waiting room. Will and Donna spoke briefly, and by the time they were done, Dr. Charles was ready to see them.

"Dad, I don't want pills," Colleen whispered to her father, grabbing him by the arm before he could follow the doctor into his office. "Please."

"You'll be fine kiddo," Will answered confidently. "It's just a trial."

Colleen frowned and released her grip on her father, who led her into Dr. Charles's office. It was a comfortable enough looking office, and Dr. Charles motioned for her and her father to sit, which they did.

"Hi there Colleen, I'm Dr. Charles, I'm an adolescent psychiatrist," the pudgy-looking man greeted warmly.

"Hi," Colleen said quietly as she picked at her nails.

"What are we in for today Colleen?" He asked her directly.

"Shouldn't you know that?" Colleen questioned as she glanced up briefly.

"Colleen!" Will snapped, surprised by her behaviour. "I'm so sorry…" The doctor held up a hand, cutting off Will.

"It's quite all right. I was just trying to break the ice since Colleen seems a bit distracted." Dr. Charles turned back to Colleen. "Now, Donna has recommended you start taking Paroxetine and Zoloft? Do you have any questions or concerns about that?"

Colleen glanced at her father, then at the doctor, and suddenly she felt trapped. She knew she'd be leaving the room with medication, whether she wanted it or not. "No." She mumbled, shaking her head.

Dr. Charles looked at her in surprise. "Is that so? Well, this is just a trial run of a lower dosage anyway…" he began rambling about the potential side-effects and when it should be taken, but Colleen just tuned the doctor out.

"Did you get that Colleen?" Will asked her suddenly, and Colleen noticed both sets of eyes were on her.

She nodded numbly. "Yeah."

"Good," Dr. Charles nodded, handing Colleen two scripts. Taking them felt a lot like being handed a death sentence. "The pharmacy just downstairs will have them in stock, we'll follow up in two weeks."

"Great, thank you so much, Dr. Charles," Will said as he stood.

Colleen followed suit with a slight sigh and followed her father out of the clinic. She resisted the urge to rip the pieces of paper in her hands.

"Dad, can I skip next week's session?" Colleen asked. Then clarified when he shot her a confused look. "With Donna, I mean, it's just I'm starting school and it's a lot of change and a lot of work and I just think it'll be too much going on."

Will looked at her sadly. "And that's why you need it, Leena." He wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "Come on, let's get Lillibet to meet up with us for some lunch and ice cream."

"I don't want therapy anymore, it's not even helping!" Colleen snapped, growing frustrated that no one was actually listening to her. "I'm tired of being the only person in my friend group who can't hang out on Fridays because I have to go tell some stranger how I'm feeling."

"Colleen, please calm down." Will told her sternly before softening. "Look, we'll see how you're doing on Thursday and we'll decide then okay? But no promises."

Colleen rolled her eyes. "You're just saying that to placate me." she said, handing him the scripts. "Go get my stupid pills, I wanna walk home." She added, wanting some time and space to clear her head.

"No Colleen, that's a fifty minute walk and it's way too hot! I know it's frustrating but we have to keep trying because the alternative is laying down and dying. So let's get your scripts, find some lunch and keep going."

Colleen crossed her arms. "You can make me go but you can't make me talk to her."

"That's not a waste of time to me then." Will answered, making a mental note to not let Lillibet drop Colleen off anymore. It seemed he was going to have to escort her in himself.

Colleen groaned and followed her father to the pharmacy. She couldn't believe he wouldn't just give her one week off therapy, was it really too much to ask?

Lillibet groaned as she pulled off her skate. Ever since the shooting her right ankle had never quite been the same. Trampled on by a number of students, it had been fractured in five separate places. Two surgeries, a plate, and multiple screws were required to fix it, but Lillibet remained grateful that she could still walk and continue her love of figure skating.

But of course, she just had to overdo it today and now her ankle was reminding her of it.

"You did an excellent job today Elizabeth." Adelaide, Lillibet's coach, informed her as she sat down opposite her. "You'll have that double in no time."

"Thanks." Lillibet grinned proudly. "Practice makes perfect."

"Everything all right?" Adelaide asked gently. She'd been coaching Lillibet from the beginning when a then eight year-old Lillibet first stepped onto the ice at a friend's birthday party. So of course Adelaide knew how to read Lillibet.

"Yeah. I think Colleen is mad at me but whatever." Lillibet shrugged dismissively as she cleaned the ice from her boot.

The German ice coach just nodded. "And why is she mad at you?"

"Probably because she wants nothing to do with mom's memory," Lillibet replied, irritated that her sister wouldn't even let her sing the damn tune their mother sang almost every single morning. "Like, I get it Adelaide, I really do. I miss mum as much as she does but this is just my way of remembering her."

"I see." Adelaide nodded again, leaning forward. "Grief is not an easy thing, and I praise God everyday that he gave you such strength. But you must also have compassion, and give your sister the grace she needs to grow. You are both young, give yourselves time."

Lillibet sighed, slumping in her seat. "It seems that all I ever give her is time and space though Adelaide."

"Good." Adelaide retorted sharply, pointing at Lillibet sharply. "If that is what you must do, then so be it. You are both growing, she will come around in due course. You did yourself many a time, and Colleen is your sister. She shares your strength, and your heart." The German coach pointed at her chest, counselling gently as she always did.

"I'll try Adelaide. I promise." Lillibet smiled,

"Now, you have a good first week back at school." Adelaide instructed sternly with a glint of mischief in her eyes. She patted Lillibet's knee as she stood.

"I will. Thanks Adelaide." Lillibet nodded, grabbing her bag and racing out of the rink with only a quick thanks to the owner's son. But he was a hockey player so it was fine.

Lillibet drove home, Taylor Swift's Anti-Hero blaring on loop the entire trip home from the skating rink. On the way she grabbed yet another coffee for herself and her father, as well as a vanilla milkshake for her younger sister, who was probably trying to avoid eating lunch right now. Colleen thought she was being subtle, but Lillibet had been in her shoes once and knew exactly what was wrong. Pulling into the driveway, she uttered a quick prayer for patience before precariously scooping up her stuff and walked into the house.

"Hey Lilli-bear, how was practice?" Will asked as Lillibet walked into the kitchen carrying the styrofoam cups of coffee as well as one milkshake. Dumping them down on the counter, Lillibet stared in confusion at the two bottles of pills sitting on the microwave.

"Yeah, Adelaide was happy with my progress on the camel spin," Lilibet answered distantly as she picked up one of the pill bottles. "Whose are these?" She asked, more interested in reading the ingredients than the name

"They're your sister's," Will replied curtly.

"And you can put them back now," Colleen said moodily, from where she sat at the table picking at her lunch. "I'm not hungry, can I go please?"

Lilibet spun around and saw that Colleen had barely touched the food on her plate. She prayed that whatever the medication on the microwave was, it would give her sister an appetite again. "Why are you on medication all of a sudden?" She asked curiously, but it sounded like an accusation to Colleen's ears. "I thought Donna wasn't interested in it?"

"Does it matter?" Colleen nearly snapped at her older sister, and Lillibet took a step back in surprise. "Dad, can I go now?" She repeated her question, getting more annoyed at her family by the second.

"No. You need to eat something, Colleen." Will reminded her sternly.

Colleen sighed and slumped in her seat as she crossed her arms, but kept quiet.

Will looked at his youngest with eyes full of concern and worry. "Have you told Donna about your lack of appetite?" he asked. This was getting out of hand.

"No…" Colleen trailed off, not wanting to meet his eyes.

"Then I'll be telling her, at your next session. Which I will be taking you to," Will decided with an edge of anger in his voice. "I'm booking you in on Monday, you're not going another week with barely touching your food."

"Then can I go now?" Colleen repeated her earlier question, staring at the table, refusing to make eye contact with her father.

Lillibet looked between her sister and her father with growing concern. "Is everyone okay?" Because the vibes I'm getting are not happy ones."

"Oh my god, mind your own business!" Colleen finally snapped as she stood from the table.

"Don't take the Lord's name in vain then!" Lillibet snapped back, eyes narrowing on her sister before she spun back to glare at her father. "What have you done now?" She accused him. Her hand waved behind her as if to tell Colleen to run.

"Yeah, believe it or not I don't need your lectures and I don't need your help dealing with dad!" Colleen yelled. "For once in your lives can't you both just leave me alone?!" she added, then took off from the room. Will and Lilibet could hear every foot stomp of the journey to her bedroom, the sounds replaced with the loud banging of her door being slammed shut.

And then it was quiet.

With a shrug, Lillibet looked at her father with a sad smile, "I tried. You okay?"

"Yes Lillibet," Will lied shakily. "I'm fine. Why don't you have some lunch and I'll have a chat with Colleen later."

"Yeah, maybe don't do that." Lillibet told him wryly, grabbing her plate and another coffee. "Lee Lee's not going to be in the mood for that until after she graduates."

"Well, she can't just snap at us like this," Will said as he ran a hand through his hair. "Maybe she needs a different therapist… She asked to skip with Donna next week, maybe something happened?" He mused, trying to figure out his youngest daughter's behaviour.

Lillibet eyed her father suspiciously. "Remember when I got put on meds and I was weepier than a widow who'd just killed her husband?"

"Yeah…" Will paled at the memory.

"Exactly!" She pointed out, barely letting her father get a reply in. "And remember that night I had to spend in the hospital with mum because I tried to overdose on the one medication you can't overdose on? Leena's going to be fine. Just give her a hot minute to sort herself out." Lillibet took an aggressive bit of her sandwich, pointing it at Will. "She's a big girl now." She added through a mouthful of food.

"She hasn't taken it yet, Lilibet." Will pointed out. "She said she'd take it tonight, and well, I think that's going to be another battle with her."

Lillibet took another bite of her sandwich. "My point still stands. No one likes the thought of having their brain chemistry altered and then it happens and everything turns out." Lillibet frowned into her sandwich, as if it held the answers to the universe. "Or not. Not like I'm psychic."

Will let out a breath. "I just wish she'd tell me what's going on." Colleen had gradually been becoming more closed off, and well he didn't like it. Will shook his head, he'd deal with Colleen later. Right now, however. An opportunity was being handed to him on a shiny silver spoon.

"Say Lillibet?" Will asked as he switched on the coffee machine. "Would you be interested in joining the New Directions for your final year?"

His eldest just screamed through a mouthful of bread.