LOVE ISN'T EASY (but it sure is hard enough)

JULY 31ST, 1995

Olivia Danes and Juno Lennox hadn't seen their boys in a month.

Juno swore it was the best summer she had ever experienced, and nearly every single moment she wanted to remember had been recorded. The video camera was practically glued to Henry's hand, only being pried off him when Dom was around to use it. That was more often than not, Liv's best friends had barely gone a day without seeing them, claiming that they wanted to spend their last summer still in school together before the future started calling.

Liv was already downstairs, Juno could tell from her hastily made bed and the sixties music muffled through floors and shut doors. Robbie's barks grew louder as Sarah spoke to him, just like she did every day, and Henry shouted for Juno to tell her breakfast was ready, just like he had done every morning since she got there.

Her slipper clad feet made barely any noise on the wooden flooring, Robbie scampering into the kitchen behind her in search of any scraps. He was much bigger than he had been when they had adopted him into the family, but was as cheeky and happy as he had always been.

"Muffin?" Liv asked, placing a plate of them down in the middle of the table. They disappeared quite quickly after, Robbie hoovering up dropped crumbs from under their seats.

"So, what's your plan then?" Sarah asked, pressing a kiss to her husband's hair as he handed her a mug full of coffee.

"The others should be here in about an hour, planning on heading south. I have the tent but we also have money for a hotel in case we need it, we might try visit Cedric."

"Are you sure you'll be okay on your own?"

"Don't worry Dad, I go to school for way longer! Besides, I have the baseball bat in the boot and Rory could scare off a mountain lion."

"Alright, but we'll miss you!" Henry said, pouting as Robbie whined. Liv opened her arms for him to jump into, laughing as the dog tried to lick her cheek.

"Go and get dressed, we'll pack up the car when you're done."

An hour later, Dom opened the door to be greeted with an incredibly excited Robbie. Mabel and Rory came in after, carrying gigantic bags that were practically bursting at the seams. Sarah rushed over to them, kissing each of them on the cheek and taking the bags out of their hands.

"Have you got bricks in these?"

"Wouldn't know, they're mostly Dom's."

"Stop disrespecting me, Walker."

Rory cackled, Mabel giggling slightly as Liv and Juno appeared at the bottom of the staircase. Dom grinned at them, finally letting go of Robbie and standing up to hug them both like he did every single time he saw them.

"You two ready?" He asked, "All our stuff has to go in the car and we're sorted!"

"Is it all gonna fit? I mean we have a lot of stuff for just one week." Mabel asked.

"I charmed it so we can put in as much stuff as we want, we don't have to worry about it."

"Cool, cool, totally remembered you could do that."

"Car's ready for you, I still can't believe you're leaving me!" Henry whined, pulling Liv into a giant hug.

"Dad. We're going to be fine, I'll be back before you know it"

He let out a dramatic sniff, letting himself pull away before falling into his wife's arms. Sarah sighed, patting his hair as he buried his face in her neck.

"If you really have to go..."

Liv pressed a kiss to their cheeks, putting her last few bits and pieces in the car. She got in the driver's seat, putting on the summer roadtrip playlist her Dad had made her, and pressed play. Sarah, Henry and Robbie waved as they drove off, music blasting and their hair blowing rapidly in the wind. She squeezed his hand gently, leading him back into the house.