April 20th,

It was Jessica's birthday and Sean's last day before he left for Germany. It was going to be a hard day for everybody to say bye to him for such a long time, but he would be home before Christmas and everyone was thankful for that. Just as long he made it home safely. They were having a picnic at the farm to celebrate Jessica and Sean.

After Jessica and Sam's talk a few weeks ago, things were starting to get better. Jessica started healthy eating habits and did a lot of fitness things with Sam. They went on long walks, made healthy dinners, and most importantly Jessica was taking care of herself.

They talked about moving every so often, but Jessica wasn't so sure.

For Sean, after a few weeks of therapy and working on himself he was doing a lot better.

Things were finally coming together for everyone and it was refreshing.

Sam and Jessica spent more time together as a couple and were there for each other.

//-//

"Forty never looked so good." Sam says opening his arms as Jessica walks out of the bathroom.

She decided to wear something casual on the semi warm spring day. She wore her jeans and a white button up. Jessica didn't want to be too dressy and more relaxed. No matter what she wore, Sam still has love eyes for her.

"Aww, thank you, baby." She says falling into his arms as he spins her around

"Today is going to be a great day." He says with a smile. That was their new motto now. "I want to make this day extra special for a special lady."

"I really love you, Sam Shepard." She leaves him a soft kiss and heads downstairs.

//-//

"Wow, look at my handsome boy! You look so great." Jessica says giving Sean a big hug. He woke a nice pair of slacks and a polo. Looking at her son all grown up made her heart throb. Everything was happening to fast.

"Happy birthday, mom." Sean says

"Mommy is Forty!! Mama is olddd." Logan says hugging her leg.

"Who told him to say that?" Jessica giggles

"Livy!" Logan grins

"Don't worry, Olivia, one day you'll be this old." Jessica smiles

"Happy birthday, old lady." Olivia smirks

"Everyone should be over soon!" Sam looks out the window

"With food!" Sean groans

"Honey, if you're so hungry, go grab some left overs." Jessica chuckles "you need to fill yourself up!"

"You look really pretty!" Logan says to his mother

"Aren't you guys so lucky to have such a pretty mama?" Sam says

"Okay... ew..." Olivia says storming out of the room.

Jessica does her silly little giggle then looks back at Sam.

//-//

Around noon everyone arrived. Sam set up giant tents near the water and tables and chairs. Everyone brought food over and made it into a little buffet.

All Jessica wanted this year was a fun little gathering with all of her family. She didn't care about her birthday, rather she wanted Sean to feel special and have lots of family time before he left.

As Jessica was talking she saw her dad in the corner of her eye. Things were still a little tense between them and Jessica didn't want that anymore, neither did Albert.

She slowly walks up to her dad who was all alone.

"Hey dad." She smiles

"Happy birthday, Jessie." He says giving her a hug

"Thank you.." she says softly. "I want us to talk more, dad. I'm sorry for..."

"Don't apologize. I should have come to you first when I sent him away. I can't help but feel guilty."

Jessica shakes her head. "At first I was very angry because I didn't know what Sean and I's future looked like. Then, when he came home and I saw how much he changed, for the better, I was relieved and thankful for all you did." Jessica starts to tear up.

"I love you Jessica and I love your kids. I was trying to do what I thought was right and I shouldn't have stepped in. I'm sorry for hurting you."

Jessica gives her dad a big hug and he hugs her back. She felt so relieved.

//-//

"Alright, let's sing!" Sam says as he lights the last candle on the cake.

Everyone starts to sing obnoxiously, just how Jessica liked it. She couldn't help but laugh the entire time.

"Happy birthday!" They all yell

Jessica blows out her candles and looks at Sam who was going in for a kiss.

"Thank you everyone!" She smiles

Everyone has some cake. While they are all chatting away Olivia ran into the house to get something.

When she came out everyone looked at her. She had a huge envelope in her hand.

"What's that, baby?" Jessica smiles

"I actually have an announcement." Olivia says

Everyone stops chatting and looks up at her.

"What is it?" Sean asks

"I know today is suppose to be about mom and Sean, but who am I to not steal the thunder?" She giggles

Everyone laughs along with her.

"What's inside that envelope?" Sam asks

"I've been keeping all of the college stuff to myself because it took me a while to find out where I really wanted to go. In this envelope is a letter from my dream college." She starts to tear up.

Jessica looks up at her daughter with teary eyes and holds her hand.

"Sean, can you do the honors of opening this for me?" Olivia cries

"Really?" He smiles

"Yeah."

Olivia moves next to Sam and jess as they hug her tightly and everyone sits at the edge of their seat.

"Open it, god damn it!" Jane yells

"I'm nervous."

"Where is it from?" Dorthy asks

"Pepperdine University!" Sean says

Everyone gasps

"Livy... no way!" Ann says

"California?" Jessica says breathlessly

Sean slowly starts to open it. No one knew if she was accepted or not. Olivia didn't even know. She wanted Sean to be the one to open it because though her and her brother have had their differences, but she loved her brother and wanted him to do the honors.

Everyone was getting very impatient. As he started reading the letter, his face changed within a second.

"What does it say?" Jessica exclaims

"Accepted... my sister was accepted! Liv, you're in!" Sean yells

Everyone starts to scream and cheer for her. Olivia started to cry. She had been so uncertain about her future plans, but this one school she couldn't get out of her head. California... Pepperdine university.

Jessica clenched onto Olivia and started to cry. It was almost three years ago since Olivia tried to take her own life... she was in such a dark hole and no one thought she'd make it through. Surely enough she was about to graduate with straight A's. She had a rocky start to senior year, but she pulled through. Jessica couldn't believe how fast her children were growing up. Now Olivia, her baby girl was going to a big time school. She never doubted Olivia for a second and was over to moon.

"Mom... can I go?" She asks

With tears rolling down her eyes, she nods and gives Olivia a hug.

"Oh course you can go."

//-//

The 21st,

Yesterday was an extraordinary day, but now it was time to send Sean off. He got in all of his goodbyes. Sam, Jessica, Olivia, Logan, Albert and Danny were all at the airport to send him off.

Jessica was a mess. Sending her boy away back into the army for the first time. She had mixed emotions. Their relationship had been rocky, but over the last month they were able to reconcile and build a stronger relationship.

"I want you to be safe, do you hear me?" Danny says with tears in his eyes.

"Yes, sir."

"I know you can do it, Sean. This is going to be amazing for you. And I'm so proud." Albert says

"I wouldn't be here without you." Sean says with a soft smile

Olivia was too emotional to say goodbye. She just cried and held her brother in her arms for as long as she could. Jessica stood by herself with her hands covering her mouth. She didn't want to make Sean upset, but she couldn't hold it in.

"Be good in school, if anything happens you bet your ass I will fly home." He says to her

"I'll miss you." Olivia cries

"I'll miss you too. But I'll be home before you know it." She smiles

"What about me?" Logan cries as Olivia backs away and cries in her dads arms.

"God how much I'll miss you! What would I do without my little bro?" He smiles

"I don't know, I guess you'll have to find out." Logan giggles

Everyone laughed a bit then watched Logan and his big brother have a moment together. Sean waited last to say goodbye to Jessica.

Sam cried too. There wasn't a dry eye in the airport.

"Take care of yourself. Do what you do best, be the man you want to be, and make us proud. Even though we are already so proud." Sam says

"Thank you for everything, Sam. You're a big part of my life and I'm so glad that you're here, watching me do this." Sean smiles

"I wouldn't miss this for the world. I'm proud of you, buddy. You're a son to me. You're our son." Sam chuckles with tears.

Then, Sean and Jessica make eye contact. This is really where Sean broke. Seeing his mother so upset made him upset. He didn't want to leave her, but then again this is what his life would be now.

"Come here." Jessica says opening her arms.

"I love you, mom." He cries hard

"Oh gosh, how much I love you too. I couldn't be more proud." She cries

"Am I doing the right thing?" He questions

"Of course. You're passionate about this and this is what you want to do. God will be with you through it all and I will be too." She says seriously

"Promise me you'll take care of yourself."

Jessica bites her bottom lip and nods her head. "You too."

"Mom, you're my biggest inspiration."

"Oh baby..." she cries

"I only hope to be half as strong as you."

"If you need anything or anything happens, I will go to you. Even if you're in the middle of some desert. No matter what I will be there for you. Just don't forget your worth, Sean. You're an incredible young man and we are all so proud of you. This is your calling." Jessica gets one last good look at her son as they announce his flight. She saw all of the men in uniform lining up to get on the plane.

She held in her tears for a moment.

"I guess that's me." He says picking up his bags.

Sean was dressed from head to toe in his uniform. He had his newly shaved head and everything.

"Just one more hug." Jessica cries

They all come in together, even Danny, and hold Sean tight in their arms."

"I love you all. This isn't a goodbye, just a see you soon."

//-//