Recovery

Recovery Chapter 1

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Hi friends! I'm now 27 years old, I have a full-time job as a middle school paraeducator, I am slowly getting to know myself and my passions, I might go back to school to discover my passion, I make life how I want to, and I'm still as obsessed with Austin and Ally as I was when I was a teenager! It's aged like wine, and it continues to age like wine. Austin and Ally is the most comforting show I've ever seen in my life. Bar none.

Also, I'm going to give CW for this fic and this chapter: There are mentions of sexual assault/rape, a couple of mentions of suicide, mental health issues and bullying. Please remember to only read if you feel comfortable.

OK, enough of my rambling. Enjoy my story!

Ally Dawson sits in the living room, with her glass of wine, listening to her daughter, Emilia, practice the piano, playing Beethoven. With her Labubus and Beanie Boos sitting on top of the piano, she insists they sit up when she practices, because she sees them as good luck charms for her upcoming recital. She says,

"You're the most talented pianist I know, sweetheart."

Emilia blushes in a pure eight-year-old fashion.

"I'm just doing what I love, Mommy."

Emilia loves playing piano, doing art projects, and reading. She loves animals, unicorns, cats, Wicked, K-Pop Demon Hunters, SpongeBob SquarePants, Bluey, Star Wars, Disney movies, Labubus, Beanie Boos, and she loves National Geographic Animal specials.

"You've been practicing for over an hour. Don't you want to take a break?"

The eight-year-old ponders this for a minute.

"Miss Ramirez wants me to practice."

Ally says,

"I'm sure she'd also want you to take breaks when you need to."

She laughs.

"OK, Mommy."

Austin Moon, Ally's fiancé, comes in, carrying a box of Crumbl cookies and shouts out,

"Hey."

Emilia goes to Austin and says,

"Austin!"

He says,

"I got a little surprise for you guys. My last fixing gig was at a Crumbl cookie factory. I was fixing their freezer after it broke. The manager gave me a box of cookies, on the house. I also got someone's favorite, the confetti cake."

Emilia's face lights up as if she were opening presents on Christmas. Austin says,

"We can have this while watching TV, sweetheart."

He pets her hair with his dominant hand. He puts the box down, and the two of them kiss companionably.

"I didn't want you to think I forgot about you, Ally,"

Austin says soft-spokenly.

"Austin, I don't think that at all."

She leans in to kiss her fiancé, and he kisses her back.

Emilia goes to her room to change into her pajamas. Ally instantly remembers that she has a piece due for her work at her journalism job. She's been thinking about drinking, listening to her daughter play the piano, making Emilia's dinner, spending time with her, and helping her with her homework. She pours a glass of wine and opens the door to her room, listening to Austin watching Unicorn Academy with Emilia. Ally decides to write a piece on the controversy of ChatGPT and AI in general. She manages to complete a whopping five pages while tipsy and drinks more wine.