Doctor Kim had been right when she said that the recovery process would not be easy but through it all Charlie had remained brave faced and determined. Walking had been his dream ever since he was a baby and no amount of pain was going to stop him from achieving his goal.

Charlie had stayed at the hospital for two more weeks before he was discharged. He couldn't go back to school immediately and had to stay home for four weeks. I didn't trust anyone to watch him so I'd talked to the principal who had allowed me to study from home for a month as long as I kept my grades up. That hadn't been an issue for me because I had the support of the most amazing boyfriend who always brought me all my homework and took it back to school for me. Jack had also been very understanding and had hired someone else to stand in for me while I stayed home to take care of Charlie.

My mom had come back from her booze cruise to find Charlie alive and well much to her disappointment. Her refusal to help Charlie and her rude behavior towards us had erased all doubt I ever had about leaving Crescent. I would be turning eighteen in three weeks and as soon as I did I would start getting all the preparations ready us to leave. Getting my mother to relinquish her rights to us would be easy as she never wanted responsibility of us in the first place. The hard part was talking Henry into leaving with us. As much as he didn't get along with his family, Crescent had been his home all his life and he would probably have qualms leaving it all behind. I also had to think about how we would all cope with leaving Jack behind. Charlie would miss Alex but he was a social kid and would make friends anywhere we went m.

It was exactly one month after Charlie's surgery and I was at Walmart shopping while Charlie was at his therapy session. I usually stayed and kept him company hyping him up but we were both going back to school come Monday and I'd planned a whole weekend for us to enjoy our last days of freedom. For that we needed snacks thus why I was shopping and having fun while at it.

My phone pinged with a text as I was looking for our favorite ice-cream flavor. I retrieved it and immediately groaned when I saw who was texting me. Ever since Henry and I went to see Colton for the signatures he had been texting and calling me a lot. I had no idea where he got my number from but seeing as he owned a tech company it would not have been hard for him to get it. I had been ignoring all forms of contact with him because I had no idea why he would want to see me when he had ignored me for eighteen years. He also kept asking about Charlie which pissed me off even more. Signing those papers had awoken something in him but I would not give into his demands just to make him feel better. His guilt could kill him for all I cared.

I shoved my phone back into my pocket ignoring the nth message he was sending me and picked a tub of cookies and cream tossing it in the basket.

"You know if you damage that you'll still have to pay for it."The unmistakable voice of my boyfriend commented behind me.

I smiled before turning around to face him all negative thoughts caused by my father leaving my mind.

"Good then I can just start on it right here."I retorted.

Henry smiled back and pulled me into his arms for a hug and quick kiss.

"Shouldn't you be in class right now?"I asked looking at my wrist watch for the time.

"Yeah but it was a half day because of the football game that's happening later."He replied.

"Oh, okay. What are you doing here anyway?"I asked as I walked down the aisle with Henry following behind me.

"I tracked you down and thought you could use some company."He replied.

"If you weren't so cute, your stalker tendencies would earn you a terrible reputation as the creepy nerd who likes to stalk girls as they go around with their shopping. I'd also probably have to report you after kicking your ass of course."I replied.

"Well lucky me, I'm cute and you're the only girl I stalk."Henry retorted looping his hand around my shoulders.

"Cocky much."I muttered making Henry laugh.

We got to the chips aisle and I groaned when I saw that there was only one family pack size of Lay's left and it was on the top shelf. I was too short to reach it but lucky me I had a pretty tall boyfriend who could help.

"You want help getting the Lay's don't you?"Henry asked noticing my distressed look and I nodded.

Henry reached for the bag but even for his 6'0 frame it was out of reach.

"Do they use ladders to put those up there?"I exclaimed glaring at the chips as if they were the guilty ones.

"Probably, just pick other chips."Henry suggested.

"No, I want the Lay's. I'll get one of the attendants to help."I replied.

I was about to step away to go seek help when Henry stopped me.

"I have an idea."He proposed.

"Which is?"I asked.

Instead of replying Henry took the basket from me, set it down and pushed me in front of the shelf standing behind me. Before I could ask about his crazy idea I felt his head nudging my legs apart and soon enough I was airborne.

"Are you crazy? You'll drop me."I screeched latching into Henry's dark locks for support.

"Pull any harder and I'll go bald."Henry grunted and I relaxed my hold on his hair but not completely.

"Put me down Henry before you drop me."I demanded looking at the ground.

I was pretty high up and if he dropped me I'd probably break my neck or smash my head open against the tiles.

"Just trust me to not drop you. The faster you grab your chips the faster I'll put you down."Henry replied.

Taking I leap of faith I let go of his hair with one hand and grabbed the pack of Lay's dropping it in the basket.

"Okay put me down now."I requested.

"Nope I actually quite like you there. I wonder if I can run with you on my shoulders."Henry replied as he started walking down the aisle at a fast pace.

Thankfully there wasn't anyone around to see me embarrass myself in case I did fall.

"Henry put me down, I'm afraid of heights."I begged.

"No you're not. We went rock climbing last week and you loved it. "Henry countered with a laugh.

He was right but I had safety ropes attached to me then. Henry was having too much fun to put me down so I decided to mess with him.

"I'm getting dizzy, I think I'm going to pass out."I mumbled taking a leap of faith and loosening my grip on his hair to sell my story.

I swayed around for good measure and as quickly as he had picked me up, Henry put me down and cupped my face looking at me worriedly. I winked at him and smiled making him groan in displeasure.

"You're very conniving."Henry said.

"Right back you boyfriend."I grinned picking up my basket and continuing with my shopping.

After I was done, I payed and Henry helped me carry my bags to the car.

"How did you get here?"I asked looking around the parking lot for his jeep.

"I walked."Henry shrugged.

"How the heck do you always have the energy to walk everywhere?"I asked.

"The right kind of motivation."Henry replied with a shrug.

"Well okay then. I'm going to pick Charlie up from physical therapy if you want to tag along."I invited.

"I'd be happy to ."Henry replied.

We both got into my truck and I drove towards the hospital hoping Charlie was already done his two hour session.

We arrived at the Crescent Physiotherapy Center and having been there plenty of times before I knew where to go. The nurse at the reception was a mean old lady called Heather. She definitely belonged in a library not a clinic with her mean face, ice-cold stare and that sneer that always gave me the creeps. I'd already signed in when I brought Charlie in earlier so I didn't even stop by to say hello as I pulled Henry with me. Heather looked at me disapprovingly but after the spat we'd had a week ago where I brought her off her high horse she'd been behaving herself around me.

The room Charlie was usually in was like a gym just with more expensive and elaborate work out gear. It was also all very fancy, clean and didn't smell of sweat or desperate testosterone fuelled men.

Charlie was in the far corner working out with Doctor Zeeke who had been helping him ever since he as discharged from the hospital. Doctor Zeeke was a young man in his late twenties with long red hair, a matching beard and green eyes. He was also 6'5, with bulging muscles that made him look more like a body builder than a doctor. Me being the nosy person that I was had meddled in his life and discovered that he had been in the military for two years before he had his leg blown off in Iraq thus his prosthetic leg. He was honorably discharged and instead of sitting on his ass he'd joined medical school to become a physiotherapist.

"Hey Doctor Z."I greeted cheerfully.

The good doctor was helping Charlie back onto his wheelchair from the treadmill. I kissed Charlie's cheek and stood next to him my hand on his shoulder.

"If it isn't my favorites patient annoying sister."Doctor Zeeke replied with an annoyed grin but the happy lines at the corner of his eyes betrayed his statement.

"You say that but I know deep down you look forward to seeing me."I replied with a smile.

"Less and less as of next week and I can't be happier."Doctor Zeeke grinned.

"It's your loss. I'm a joy to behold. Anyway Doctor Z, this is my boyfriend Henry. Henry this is Doctor Zeeke, the kind gentleman who has been helping Charlie learn how to walk."I introduced.

"Sweet words will get you nowhere."Doctor Zeeke glared at me before turning to Henry."Nice to meet you Henry, you've definitely got your hands full with this one."

"Definitely do."Henry grinned earning himself a glare from me.

"Can I show her now?"Charlie asked cutting in through our conversation.

"Show me what?"I asked.

"Charlie wants to show you something so please stand back."Doctor Zeeke requested pointing at a spot on the floor a couple of steps back.

Henry and I stood back while Charlie and Doctor Zeeke whispered amongst themselves. The whole situation was a little strange until I saw Doctor Zeeke stand back. Charlie got this determined look before he took his feet off the footrests and braced his hands on the bars. Without anyone's help I watched as my brother stood on his own too feet. I gasped and was about to cheer and go to him when Doctor Zeeke stopped me by holding up a hand. Charlie let go of the armrests and took a short step forward then another. Soon enough he was walking towards me in short shaky steps. His body wasn't stable but he didn't need anyone's help to walk.

My brother was walking unaided for the first time in his life. His steps were like that of a toddler learning to walk but he actually did it. I stood there hand clasped over my mouth as happy tears rolled down my cheek. Charlie finally reached me and looked up at me for approval. Unable to stop myself I went on my knees and hugged him.

"I'm so proud of you Charlie."I whispered still in a daze.

All our effort, Charlie's endurance and all the jobs I'd ever taken had finally paid off. Charlie was finally able to walk, on his own two legs.

"Charlie is a determined young man and a delight to work with. He'll still need his wheelchair but he can trade it for crutches in a few weeks. By the end of the month he will be able to walk on his own two feet unaided."Doctor Zeeke advised us.

I got off my knees and hugged Doctor Zeeke. It took him by surprise but he chuckled and hugged me back. We helped Charlie back onto his wheelchair, said our goodbyes and left. Charlie was ahead of us while Henry and I hang back.

"He's finally walking, I can't believe it."I exclaimed looking at Charlie.

"It's like the doctor said, he's determined, has the best doctors and a great support system. You helped him get there so you should be proud of yourself too."Henry replied.

"You always know what to say."I grinned at him.

Henry just smiled back and kissed my cheek as we walked away from the hospital hand in hand. When we got back to my truck, Charlie insisted that he could get himself into the truck and we let him do it. It took a few minutes and we were there to catch him in case he fell but he managed to get himself secure in his seat. Henry folded the chair and put it in the bed of the truck before sitting next to me on the passengers seat.

"Willow now that I won't be needing my chair anymore can we donate it?"Charlie asked looking at me hopefully through the rearview mirror.

I smiled and looked at Henry who was already looking at me. He winked at me and I sniffed holding back another wave of tears. I really had done a good job with Charlie to make him such a kind soul.

"Yes bud we can donate your chair as soon as you stop using it."I answered and Charlie cheered making me smile.

"So what do you guys have planned for tonight?"Henry inquired.

"We have a movie marathon planned. You're welcome to join if you want."I replied.

"I wouldn't want to intrude on sibling time."Henry countered.

"You won't be."I assured him but I could see that he still wasn't convinced."Charlie can Henry join us for our movie marathon?"

"Yeah as long as he doesn't eat my Lay's."Charlie replied making Henry and I laugh.

"He won't, he's more of a Doritos guy."I replied looking at Henry.

"So what do you say Henry will you join us now that we both approve?"I asked.

"Sure, I'll join you guys."He replied.

"Awesome, let's get something to eat first. Pizza or MacDonald?"I inquired.

"Pizza."Two voices declared simultaneously.

"Pizza it is."I announced taking the right turn for Pizza hut.