A drunken night leads to big changes in your relationship.

Although you 'd spent the last several hours alone with her inside the apartment, a soon as you stepped out of the front door and hit the street, it felt like a very different situation indeed. As if you were out running an errand with your mother once more. Possibly because of how Allison now walked with purpose in your mom's long, brown faux-leather jacket and purse tucked under one arm, while the other held firmly onto yours. And also possibly because, this was the first time you'd properly been out in public with Allison since the accident. Normally having been surrounded by her parents or within the safety of a car. Now it was just you, her and whoever else happened to walk by. No one else having the faintest idea that this woman walking beside you was not actually what she seemed. They would just see a mother and her son.

Reaching a nearby liquor store less than ten minutes later, Allison stopped outside and nervously whispered, "Okay. Here goes nothing." Taking a deep breath then as the two of you walked inside. As if there was even any chance she might not actually get served.

"I don't think you have anything to worry about," you assured her. "It's not like you're walking around with a fake ID." Though you supposed in a way, it was.

"I know, I know. I've just never done this before."

"You'll be fine."

Selecting a few different things; wine vodka, tequila, triple sec (for the margaritas) as well as other bits and pieces, Allison cautiously approached the counter. It being more than obvious (to you anyway) that the guy behind it was totally checking her out. Much to your annoyance. Sleazy bastard. For all her nerves though, she didn't actually have any problem at all getting served. The clerk even going so far as to call her "ma'am" a few times as he handed back her change.

Naturally this had Allison feeling rather proud. Having just bought her first score of booze. Giddily replaying the conversation over again as the two of you then returned home. "It's so weird being called ma'am now. I feel like my mom!" she said as reached her apartment door.

"Don't you mean, my mom?" you replied. This being a little more apt.

"Well, yeah... of course. I just mean that it's weird being treated like an adult all of a sudden. I'm still not used to it."

Though there was no way you could possibly relate, you could at least imagine it must be pretty strange. She'd only recently turned 18 a few weeks before the transplant, and even then, you'd never really classed her as an adult. Still being in high school. Still living at home with her parents. Still not being able to legally drink. Still (to an extent at least) being thought of as a child. Being in exactly in the same position as you were right now come to think of it. As a 40 year old woman though, all of that no longer applied. She would be treated differently by everyone. Everyone. And getting used to that would most definitely take some time.

For now though, in the privacy of her new home and with only you for company, she was allowed to be herself. That same spunky, fun-loving teenage girl you'd been crazy about, as she threw off her jacket, put on some music, and began dancing around the kitchen while she made the two of you drinks. Doing her best to follow the recipe for margaritas that you'd found on the net.

"Not bad. Not bad at all", you congratulated her, after taste testing the initial batch. Having never actually tried it before. Just knowing that when your mom was out, it was usually what she'd drink.

"Mm, yeah. I could get used to this", she agreed. Holding up her glass then and making a little toast. "Here's to new lives and new beginnings."

"To new lives and new beginnings."

And so, about two hours or so later, after a few more margaritas, you found yourselves growing rather tipsy. Admittedly not having much of a tolerance for ****, seeing as you rarely had the chance to drink it. Once or twice perhaps when your Uncle was visiting at Christmas, as well as at the occasional house party the two of you had attended. One in particular having ended quite badly for you indeed...

"You remember when you spewed in Becky Myers pool?" Allison laughed. The two of you now sitting on the couch, reliving old times. "She was so mad."

"Hey. That wasn't my fault, if you remember. You were the one who convinced me to drink that... that... whatever the hell it was!"

"I think it was some kind of shot."

"Yeah, which you never had," you reminded her. "You took one look at my face after drinking it and totally chickened out."

"No wonder. You practically turned green!"

This was true. It had been the most disgusting thing you'd ever drunk. Although thinking back to it now, you had some pretty fond memories of that night. You had pretty fond memories of most nights with Allison. This little trip down memory lane reminding you of just how much.

Chuckling at this and taking another sip of your drink, you couldn't help but smile. "That was a good party though. Didn't Randall end up getting slapped by Becky as well?" It being particularly memorable for more reasons than one.

"Oh yeah. He said something really gross about wanting to wear her as a hat if I remember," she grimaced. "Talk about smooth."

"Well that was Randall," you laughed. "Always a hit with the ladies."

Giving you a little nudge with her elbow then, Allison then replied, "Not like you. You only had eyes for one girl." Your mother's face now wearing a ridiculous cutest little grin. One which you'd never really seen her make before.

While previously, Allison saying something like this to you while wearing that face and speaking with that voice would have felt incredibly uncomfortable (it after all still being quite obviously your mother's body siting there), the amount of **** you'd consumed, added to the ease in which you spoke about days long gone by, meant that it didn't really bother you so much. It in a way feeling like you could actually see past what she appeared to be on the outside. Seeing only the girl inside.

"Yep," you told her, "But thankfully that one girl only had eyes for me too," Giving her a little nudge back in return. "So it worked out great."

This made Allison giggle. "You're such a cutie, you know that?" This being a word of affection she would frequently use. Placing her glass down then and shifting over slightly, so that her head was now laying up against your shoulder. The sweet, fruity fragrance of her shampoo immediately hitting your nostrils. The smell being so familiar to you, as it was the one she always used. Causing the illusion to be that much more vivid.

Whispering softly, "I don't know what I'd do without you..." she pressed herself against you even more. The physical closeness of your bodies now feeling both familiar and comforting after so many weeks and months apart.

"I'll always be here for you, Allison," you replied, absentmindedly stroking at her hair now with your fingers, as you closed your eyes and felt yourself being transported back. Back to before the accident. Before the transplant. Before any of this had happened. Back to when it was simply just you and the girl you loved, snuggling up to one another on your bed, or on the couch while watching a movie. Back when you were happy.

While you were in this contented, almost dream like state, you felt her body slowly begin to shift. Moving her head upwards until you could feel her warm breath again your skin. A feint whisper of "I love you", escaping her lips, followed by their softness pressing up against you. Intertwining with your own as you reciprocated the kiss. The movement of her tongue within your mouth being unmistakable. Allison having a particular way of kissing that could never be confused with anyone else. I've wanted this so badly, you thought to yourself as you continued to make out. Having missed this so much. Having missed her so much. Becoming lost in this fantasy as you continued to make out...

It didn't last long however, as after less than thirty seconds, you finally opened your eyes. Expecting to see the cute, youthful 18 year old girl you'd been picturing in your mind, and instead finding yourself up close and personal with your own mother's face.

"JESUS!" you yelped, coming quickly back to your senses and pulling away as fast as you could. Feeling rather sickened.

Naturally you were mortified. Having gotten carried away in the moment, and now you weren't quite sure what to do or where to look. The woman sitting next to you being unmistakable now as anyone other than your mom. Looking admittedly rather shocked and upset herself on realizing what you'd just done.

"Oh God," she spluttered. Her face turning red. "Tim, I'm... I'm so sorry. I... I don't know what... I didn't mean for that to happen."

"No," you agreed, scratching awkwardly at the back of your neck. "Me... me neither." Having never felt so embarrassed nor weirded out in your life as you did right now. You'd kissed your own mother for Christ sake!

"It was... it was just the booze," you offered. Using that as a scapegoat, seeing as it had somewhat dulled your thinking. Laughing awkwardly then. "We really shouldn't have had so much to drink."

"Totally."

"Cause I mean... that was like, really weird," you continued, still avoiding her gaze. "We totally shouldn't have done that. You're my mom now, and we already agreed that we can't be... you know..." Boyfriend and girlfriend being the term you were searching for, but being unable to say actually it. The very idea that you could be that now being so wrong on so many levels, and something that could never realistically happen. Nor did you want it to, and you hoped that Allison felt the same.