Mary Jo was glad to be home with her family. The show was incredibly stressful on her the last few months. Quint and Claudia had been living with their father and she'd missed them terribly. Quint hugged her when she walked through the front door.

"Hi mom!" He exclaimed. She hugged him tightly. It was nice that Quint would hug her, even at the age of twelve.

"Hey Quint."

"How long are you here for this time?" He asked sitting on the couch.

"I'm home for good." Ted walked into the room.

"Hey Mary Jo."

"Ted."

"We were about to sit and watch TV. Want to join us?"

"It's how I get to see you every week. Did you get my letter on the set?" Mary Jo nodded and kissed his cheek.

"I did. Thank you," she sighed, "I didn't reply because I knew I'd be coming home." They heard the theme song and she sat down.

"Are you in this episode mom?"

"I wasn't there at all last week, so I think the last episode was my last one Quint."

"Okay." The phone rang.

"Hello?" Ted asked picking it up. "She's here if you want to talk to her," he turned to her, "Mary Jo, it's Claudia." She rushed over to grab the phone.

"Hi Claudia!"

"Mom? What are you doing at dad's house?"

"I'm picking up your brother. I want Quint to come home if he will." She smiled at him and his eyes widened in delight.

"So you won't be in L.A. anymore?"

"No. I've said my final line. I'm home permanently."

"Maybe I can come home more then." Claudia said.

"That's up to you." Mary Jo was focusing more on her conversation with Claudia than the TV, so she failed to see her replacement.

"I have to go," Claudia stated, "I'll come home next weekend." Mary Jo handed Ted the phone and sat back down on the other side of Quint.

"Where's Tammy?" Mary Jo asked.

"Gone." Quint replied.

"Gone?" Mary Jo questioned.

"We're no longer together. She left within the last month or so."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be," he paused, "not everybody can put up with me for twelve years like you did. She had a good four years before she gave up."

"Well Ted, you aren't the easiest man to live with." He nodded in agreement.

"Can we watch the show?" Quint asked. They sat back and watched Carlene and Julia on the screen.

"Do you miss it mom?" She wrapped her arms around him and kissed his cheek.

"Absolutely not," she replied, "I missed you and your sister."

"We missed you too." In the corner of his eye, Quint saw a red hair woman on the screen.

"Thought you weren't in this one mom." Mary Jo looked at the screen.

"It's not me. That's Susan Sarandon."

"Who's she?" Ted smiled.

"She's a big time movie actor Quint. She's done a lot of films, but I don't think she's done too many TV shows."

"She looks a lot like you."

"That's the point of television. She replaced me, so they want somebody who will look similar to me."

"Okay."

"Do you want to go home after this is over?"

"Yeah." Mary Jo hugged him.

"Decatur's close to home. Did you go to the house much?"

"Only for some of my stuff. I hated going to the house when you weren't home. It felt weird." Mary Jo nodded.

'It felt that way when I went home last night."

"I'm glad you're back." He hugged her and she rested her head against his.

"Me too."

A few days later, Mary Jo was cleaning the house when the phone rang. She couldn't reach it until the third ring. She was in the linen closet organizing coats and shoes. Finally she answered it.

"Hello?"

"Mary Jo?" A female voice cracked.

"Carlene, is that you?"

"Yeah, we wanted to call and offer you your job back. We need you on the show Mary Jo. I like Susan, but she isn't you." Mary Jo looked around. Luckily Quint was upstairs in his bedroom.

"Carlene, I've missed the time with my family. I'd rather sit and watch the show with Quint than to be on it and away from home."

"Are you sure?"

"I love my son Carlene. The decision has been made."

"Okay, it was nice having you on the show while it lasted."

"I'm sorry Carlene. Los Angeles was not my kind of city."

"It could grow on you."

"You have fun and enjoy it. I prefer being here in Atlanta."

"Well then keep watching," she paused, "I hear we're getting picked up for a second season."

"Wonderful," Mary Jo smiled, "sounds like the Carlene Dobber show is really picking up."

"Yeah, I've been waiting a long time for this." Mary Jo nodded. Carlene had always wanted her name in lights. Now she had it and she has Anthony and Julia to protect her. Allison will drive them all crazy. So Mary Jo can raise her children and know everything's going to be okay. It'll be perfect.

A/N: Short, but not bad

The End