"Jessica, take another drink, sweetie, you need it. Lord knows I need one too." Ann says to her sobbing sister while they sit in a bar all the way in Duluth, hours from home.

"Ann, I needed this. I haven't drank in months!" She cries

"I know, you don't look well."

"I look that bad?" She cries

"Well, I didn't mean it like that! But you just look stressed. After everything you've been through these last few months.... I understand."

"But do you? My daughter tried to kill herself. Now my son wants to quit college. I haven't been there for Sam and Logan. I'm struggling Ann!" Jessica cries

"I'm here for you." She says as Jessica takes another shot

"I haven't done a single thing for myself in forever! It feels like years. By years I mean ever since I became a mom and pasted my bar exam. It's like non stop non stop! After my divorce I just had to keep going and going and going! I've had so much grief that I didn't even know I had until today." She cries

"I understand that 100%.... Us moms never stop moving. You're a good mom Jessica. And a great wife."

"My children.... Sean, Olivia, and Logan. They are all wonderful, I love them with everything I have.... and Sam, oh Sam.... he's so perfect. I love him." Jessica says with tears

"You needed a break. I already have a hotel ready for us down the streets. A two bedroom suite for us to go crazy! Just losen up, okay?"

//-//

The next morning-

"I forget, what does everyone want?" Sam asks as he scrambles around the kitchen.

He was getting worried. He had no idea where Jessica was. Everyone was wondering all morning. he couldn't get is wife off his mind. He was spinning in circles.

"Daddy! Mommy left because she was mad! When will she not be mad?" Logan asks as he drinks his milk.

"She'll be home soon!
Don't you worry, buddy!"

Then, Sean walks in. "I got my ticket. I leave this Monday." Sean says, he finally decided to go back. He needed this for himself.

"Really? I'm proud of you." Sam says as he starts making eggs.

"Mom home?"

"Nope."

"Damn... I need some things from the store."

"Then you should go get them. Listen, everyone is putting a lot of stress on her. When she gets home I want all the chores to be done and everything be perfect, alright? That includes all three of you." Sam says sternly

"What do we need to do?" Olivia asks, trying to make things as easy as possible for her mother. Olivia knew how worn out Jessica was becoming. She felt guilty and wanted to make things better.

"Logan, you have to clean up your room and the playroom, Olivia, vacuum, Sean, bathrooms! I'll clean everything else and laundry. Then, we will all tackle the kitchen."

"Is mom having a break down?" Sean asks

"Probably." Olivia says

"Oh no! Mommy is breaking?" Logan says

"No! Guys, watch what you say." Sam says widening his eyes.

"She has been MIA for almost twenty four hours, Sam!" Sean says

"She didn't run away. She has to come back." Sam says sternly

//-//

While the cleaning began, Sean and Olivia were upstairs doing their chores.

"I don't get it. Something just snapped in her. She went crazy! Mom has never spoken to anyone like the way she spoke to Frank." Sean says as he scrubs the floor.

Olivia stands at the door with the vacuum and sighs.

"It's all my fault, you know. Yours to with the whole college thing! What kind of reaction were you expecting, child!" Olivia says

"Don't blame yourself. You can't help that.... she understood and just wanted to keep you safe. You're doing better." Sean says sincerely

"But you! Wow, you!" Olivia says

"I know... I know... but I'm going back. What if something happened between her and Sam?"

"I doubt it... poor Logan, he's going through so much watching us all break."

"He has Sam. The most stable out of all of us!" He chuckles

//-//

Later that night-

There was still no word from Jessica. Luckily, Sam got ahold of Dorthy who called Ann. Jessica was safe, in Duluth, but she was unsure when she'd be home. Code for, hung over and not ready to drive.

Knowing she was safe was a Relife. Now, it was about finding out what snapped in her.

Olivia and Sean went to their fathers for dinner as they slowly rekindled their relationship. It was healthiest, mentally for the children.

It was just Logan and Sam, like always. After a long day of cleaning, they relaxed in the living room.

"Daddy, did mommy leave because of me?" He asks with sadness

"What? No way, buddy! You're the best." Sam smiles

"But my mommy died because of me.... and my daddy hated me. He told me. I don't want that to happen again." He cries

Hearing this from a little boy broke Sam's heart. He didn't know what to say.

"Listen to me, Logan. You can't think like that anymore. Your mommy loved you so dearly. She couldn't help herself after your father did what he did. And your father, don't listen to him. He is a bad man. You have me and mommy now, at our home, who love you so much. We care so dearly for you. I promise you, with everything inside of me, that you are so loved." He says giving him a hug

As they are in the middle of their long hug, they hear a car door close. They knew it wasn't Sean and Liv because they had just left. It had to be Jessica.

Logan got up and ran to the door while Sam slowly followed behind him. They were right.... it was Jessica walking through the door.

Logan didn't notice as he showered her with hugs. Sam did.... she looked so sickly and run down. Sam didn't say anything. He was just happy for her to be home, and would save the conversation for later.

"Mommy! Mommy! You're back! I thought you were gone forever!" He says

Jessica picks him up and holds him tight. "No baby.... I just went to see Aunt Ann." She says softly

"We cleaned for you! Everything! It's spotless, daddy said."

Jessica walks to Sam and gives him a kiss.

"It looks wonderful. Thank you." She says looking at Sam.

"Sean helped me build a lego set. I'm gonna go get it and show you." He says getting down from her arms.

"Baby, keep it where it is so it doesn't break. I'll come see it in a moment." She says as he runs off.

"Hey..." She says softly

"Hi.... I was worried." Sam says giving her a long hug

"I needed to.... I don't know why I left.... I'm sorry." She cries

"No, don't feel guilty for needing space. I understand. Just next time, bring your phone." He says holding it in the air.

He always knew how to put a smile on her face.

"Here's the rundown from this weekend. I forced the kids to clean clean and clean. They did. Sean, he's going back to Colgate this week. Olivia is doing well. Logan is as happy as can be. Sean and Liv are at Danny's for dinner. And me, I missed you like hell. Did you know that I hate sleeping alone?" He says

"Awww, babe...." She smiles

She didn't say much.... she just stood in his arms on the verge of tears.

//-//

Close to bedtime, Logan was fast asleep, Jessica reunited with the kids, then they went to bed.

Jessica and Sam stayed up, but he slowly grew tired and fell asleep. He tried to talk to her to see what was wrong, but she didn't budge.

Jessica laid in bed, wide awake. Her head was still spinning. She was going crazy and becoming anxious.

Around midnight she did something that she had never done before.

She walked downstairs and unlocked Sam's chest filled with alcohol. She needed something to soothe her mind and let her sleep.

She grabbed a bottle of Jack Daniels, poured it into a glass with ice, and started drinking away.

It took her a few glasses before she went back to bed....

But as she went to pour her third drink, Sam interrupted.

"Why are you doing this?" He asks standing at the door.

Jessica turns to him slowly with a glass in her hand and stares at him.

He walks up to her and puts his hands over hers and holds the glass.

"Don't do this.... don't...." He begs

"I needed to fall asleep." She mumbles

"Not like this. Jessica, please tell me what's going on."

Jessica stares into his eyes and he watches as they begin to water. He puts the glass down and holds her.

"I'm so unhappy..." she cries