In honor of the babes winning another Grammy. And the fact that I'm seeing them in May.

Love you all, my darlings.

I threw myself into my music in an attempt to distract myself. It worked, for a while. Then, I realized that most of my songs were depressing. They were about lost loves and missing someone who you couldn't possibly see again. It was pathetic, really, but music had always been a way for me to vent my emotions. I was only writing what I was feeling inside. The music wouldn't bring them back. It wouldn't bring him back.

Not even the phone calls and texts helped. Albeit, there were more texts than anything else, but the rare times I heard his deep voice over the phone only made the pain worse. It made me wish he was right beside me so I could swoon from the bass notes in person.

Rose and Christina eventually got fed up with me moping around the house. "We've called your mother and scheduled for you to fly out to see her. You will be leaving tomorrow at 9 AM."

I was shocked. Floored. It took a while for my brain to process the information. "Why?"

Christina placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. It felt restraining. "You need to move on with your life. They're only going to be gone for a few months, Claire. They haven't left forever."

It felt that way. "Do you think spending time with my mother will be a better option? At least I'm getting work done here."

"Sweetheart, don't take this the wrong way, but I really doubt your fans are going to want to listen to one sad song after the other. You haven't written anything cheerful and happy in a while, something that inspires hope instead of desperation. Christina and I both agree that seeing your mother, experiencing a change in scenery for a little while, would be the best option for you. You don't need to continue this way. It's not healthy. You're only running yourself down."

I sighed. "And spending time with my family back home is healthy?"

"Despite the past, Claire, they do love you."

"Yeah, they sure had a funny way of showing it. They basically kicked me out, Christina, or do you not remember?"

"But you're a better person for it now, no?" Christina fired back.

I shook my head. I was fighting a losing argument. "I'll go, but I won't stay long."

"A week," Rose offered.

I narrowed my eyes. "Sure, whatever. I'll stay a week."

"And no contact with the outside world."

I snorted. "Not that I could do that even if I wanted to. They're busy, anyway. The Grammys are coming up." I left out Valentine's Day. I didn't even dare to open that can of worms.

"All right, then. It's settled. Start packing, and remember to take a lot of cold weather clothing. You know how cold Minnesota gets."

"Yeah, I know." I marched up the stairs and to my room in a sour mood. That mood lasted until I boarded the plane, and then the dread came. Yes, I was partially glad to be going back home, but the people there would probably not be the most welcoming.

Who knows? I guessed I would find out soon enough.

~*plane ride*~

It took a while, but I eventually found my luggage. Next was finding who was supposed to pick me up from the airport.

"Claire Bear! Over here!"

Oh my God. No freaking way. I frantically searched the crowd. I found him. "Austin!" I yelled as I ran over.

The human being that wrapped me in his arms was perhaps the only person I was looking forward to seeing once I returned to my country roots. He easily picked my short person off of the ground and swung me around, my bags falling to the floor. "It's so good to see you again, Claire Bear! When Ma said that you were coming back home, I couldn't believe it."

"What are you doing here? Not that I don't appreciate it, but why did Ma send you and not someone else?"

"You're actually staying with Olena and me."

I hesitated. "Why is that?"

He rubbed the back of his neck, an action I knew meant he was uncomfortable with the situation. "Ma thought you would be more comfortable staying somewhere other than the house."

I snorted. "She doesn't want me to be around too much."

Austin sighed. "Look, Claire, Ma loves you."

"But not enough to accept my career choice like she accepted yours." I sighed. "Just forget about it Austin. I'll drop my bags off at your house, and then we can make plans to either go to the house or meet with Ma. I'm supposed to be detoxing this week. That means no stress, no worries, and no working."

Austin grabbed half of my stuff, and I grabbed the rest. "About the work thing..."

I laughed a bit. "Of course I'll help you with the cattle, Austin. There's nothing to worry about."

He sighed. "Oh, thank goodness."

We got into his truck and began the drive to his house from the airport. It would be about an hour or two, so I settled myself into the seat and set the radio to a station we both liked. "Any big news for the group lately?"

Austin shrugged. "A bunch of the usual. What about you? How did your tour with Pentatonix go?"

I smiled at the mention of their name. "It was okay."

Austin glanced at me out of the corner of his eye. "I'm your older brother, Claire. That smile of yours means it was more than okay."

"Well..."