A/N: Agh, I'm SO SORRY about the delay in posting on this story. Hopefully there will be more to come a lot sooner than I've updated previously. I apologize.

Chapter 7

"Amy, I thought you were taking some time for yourself." Maxine attempted to hide her surprise as she opened the front door to her daughter, whose arms were filled with suitcases.

"Well, so did I," Amy responded, hefting the luggage to the floor.

"What happened?"

Just then, the door swung open again, and Bruce walked in, lugging the rest of Amy's bags. "Where would you like these?" he asked, then noticed Maxine. "Oh, hi. Am I interrupting something?"

"Don't be silly," Amy insisted, walking over to him and motioning to the pile of suitcases on the floor. He dropped the rest of her bags and turned to her. "You know you're more than welcome here."

He nodded. "Right. Well, as much as I'm welcome here, I have a daughter I should go see. I will call you later." He leaned down to give her a chaste kiss on the cheek, as Maxine turned her eyes to the floor, giving them at least a little privacy.

Bruce straightened and left, Amy waving as he walked back outside. When the door closed, she slowly turned around and faced Maxine, who was holding back a smirk. "What?"

"Oh, nothing," Maxine responded.

Amy nodded slowly. "Okay . . ." She turned back to her suitcases, ready to start hauling them upstairs.

"It's just that," Maxine started again, causing Amy to drop her bags and glance up at her again, "you shouldn't let the media get to you."

"Ma . . ."

"This type of thing is bound to happen, what with your history and all."

Amy ran a hand through her hair. "Yeah, and I'm not gonna let that stop me from being happy." She turned back to her luggage and started dragging them to the stairs.

Maxine picked up a few bags and followed her. "Of course not, Amy. I wasn't suggesting you do. You need to show everyone that, not just me. By running away . . ."

"I know, I know," Amy said, depositing her bags at the top of stairs, "they win. Maybe I just wanted to come back here, just to be home, feel safe. Don't you know how that feels?"

Maxine wrapped Amy in a hug. "Of course I do. And I'm glad you came back." Amy tightened the hug, snuggling into Maxine's shoulder. "I've had enough teenage girl for awhile."

Amy backed out of her arms and swatted at her, then turned to Lauren's room. "How's she doing?"

Maxine shrugged. "She's hanging in there." Amy gave her a dubious glance. "She's stressed. It's to be expected. Her mother's considering becoming one of the biggest names in the state, and then she gets this new relationship dumped on her."

"Ma, I explained to her that Bruce and I were bound . . ."

"You don't need to explain it to me," Maxine interrupted her. "Go talk to your daughter. I'll be downstairs should anything come up in which you would need my assistance." She turned and clodded down the steps as Amy faced Lauren's room.

"Oh, God," she muttered, then walked to the door and gingerly knocked.

A few seconds later, Lauren swung open the door, the look of boredom on her face turning to one of shock. "Mom. I wasn't expecting you back so soon."

Amy walked into the room, picking stray clothes off the floor and tossing them toward the clothes hamper, as Lauren grabbed them away from her. "Planning something I should know about?"

Lauren shrugged, a faded t-shirt in her hands, and sat down on her bed. "No, I just thought you'd call before you came back home."

Amy chuckled, snagging the shirt and throwing it at the hamper. "It's my house. I can do what I want." Lauren rolled her eyes, so Amy quickly continued, joining her on the bed. "I'm not leaving you out of anything, sweetie. You have to believe me. Just because Bruce and I are together now . . ."

"I know, Mom," Lauren said, sounding slightly exasperated. "You just . . . do what you want." She stood up and began looking through her CDs.

"Oh, honey."

Lauren faced her again. "If you want to run for Senate, I'm cool with that." She turned back to the music.

"There's more than just the Senate thing to talk about, Lauren. I know I just dumped this Bruce thing in your lap, and that wasn't fair."

Lauren was silent for a few minutes, then selected a CD and turned around. "It's okay. I like Bruce. And I know you're happy with him. I can live with that."

Amy smiled, then laughed. "Well, I'm glad." She stood up and walked to her daughter. "Because I'd hate to have a dead daughter on my hands." She laughed again and wrapped her arms around her, as Lauren groaned at the bad joke.

"Not funny, Mom."

"Oh, I know, I'm such a bummer." She loosened the hug and tipped Lauren's face to face her own. "You gonna be okay?"

Lauren nodded, her lips tight, but didn't say anything. Amy released her, giving her a final kiss on top of the head as she did so, then turned for the door.

"Love your guts," Amy announced, looking back at Lauren and awaiting a response.

"Love you, too, Mom," Lauren responded quietly, still not looking at Amy.

Amy sighed and left the room, closing the door quietly behind her and pressing her forehead against it. It would take time. She knew that. But that didn't mean she had to like it. She closed her eyes against the thought, but they flew open again as she felt the door opening.

Her eyes focused on Lauren, who was standing there, still holding the doorknob. Lauren spoke.

"I meant it, Mom. I love you."

"Oh, honey, I know," Amy responded, and emotion overtook her. She gathered Lauren into her arms, pressing her daughter's head against her chest. "I know. It's just . . . hard. For all of us. It'll get better."

She felt Lauren nod against her. "I know. Just . . ." Amy looked down at her as Lauren pulled her head away to look up her. "Do what you need to do, and I'll try to handle it."

Amy smiled through the tears that were now flowing down her face, and sniffed. "Will do. Let's just hope Ma can do the same." They both started to laugh, and Amy released Lauren, heading toward the door again.

The journey would be a arduous one for all of them, but she was confident they'd make it through relatively unscathed. She smiled as she closed the door and shuffled down the stairs.