Taking another swig straight from the bottle of Jack Daniels in his hand North Taylor contemplated what his life had become in recent months.

First there was the disaster in Silas' family, then his uncle, whom he never knew existed, sent the Academy' Cavalry after him to drag him to America. Well... some would ask why such a big and mean guy like him didn't just refuse to go. To those people North would say "Fuck you. You obviously don't know this Mr. Blackbourne guy. He is a scary fucker."

At least he could bring his best friend along, who was in desperate need of a change of scenery.

North knew how much a change from one country to the other could do well to the heart and the mind. It allowed you to leave all baggage behind if you so choose. He had lived in several different places along with his father. Travel the world had been the only good point of his previous life, but it was what he wanted most for his future. The freedom to travel and see new places without responsibility, carrying only very little baggage.

He didn't need roots.

He didn't need family.

He didn't need love.

Love was for people worthier than him, and he was scum. Just like his father.

He took another swig from the bottle and stoop up. He needed to hide it in his jeep before going back to his old trailer so he could sleep his drunkenness off.

......

Turning off his laptop, Owen Blackbourne took off his glasses and rubbed at his eyes. It had taken only one hour for him to read the whole thing as he had been in a hurry to know what had happened to Sang all those years.

He sincerely didn't know whether to feel horrified of what she had gone through or proud at how she had handled herself and the situation. The capacity she had to make him feel both at the same time had obviously not changed through the years. He wondered if she'd give him premature, grey hairs... very probable, and I will enjoy every moment if she is still the same kind of girl he once knew.

The anger he felt at those monsters was also present. He'd hated them when he first saw the news in the journals and had silently applauded however had managed to catch them. Now that he knew Sang was involved he wanted to hunt them down and kill every single one, slowly and very painfully.

He couldn't go after people who were already arrested however.

But he could go after her parents.

And he definitely would.

Putting his glasses back in place, Owen stood from his chair, running his fingers through his hair to fix the messy thing it had become while he read the files. Smoothing his suit and fixing his tie he felt a little more in control of himself.

Pulling out his phone he green lined his best friend.

The call was answered on the first ring, "Owen."

His friend's voice was grave, with threads of the same emotions Owen felt running through it.

"Sean." Owen own voice was emotionless, but he knew Sean would be able to somehow sense what he was feeling right now.

"I don't know what to do, Owen. Aside from killing that people, of course." He practically growled from the other side of the line. "There is so much that needs to be done. I don't know where to start. When are you coming back?" he asked plaintively.

"Today. I've managed to book a flight for a couple of hours from now." I told him, checking my wristwatch.

"Today?" he asked, sounding a little surprised. "What about the mission?"

"It isn't important, Sean." I told him, frowning. It might have been years since he'd met Sang... Miss Sorenson, but he'd considered her family when they were kids. He'd failed in protecting her but he would go to her now and offer all the help he and the academy could give. "Miss Sorenson's situation needs to be sorted and our group is the one she is more familiar with inside the academy."

He still wasn't sure of his welcome, he knew that what she'd said to Dr. Roberts might have been just her trying to be polite, but he would keep his hope until proven contrary.

The sound of what appeared to be a relieved sigh came through the line "I was hoping you would say that, Owen. I've seriously missed our Pookie." He said, all cheer and bubbliness.

"She isn't ours Sean. It's been six years, remember? She might not want to be with us anymore. She might be a completely different person than who we knew."

"Are you saying that we don't help her if she is different, Owen?" he asked me, clearly irritated.

"Don't be ridiculous!" I snapped at him. "She needs help and we will help no matter what. I am just saying that she might have changed so much that we could not want her in the family anymore, and vice versa. Remember, Sean, that family is a choice." I hated having to point this out, but I didn't want my family to be disappointed. We had searched her for so long, our ideal girl, that finding her now and discovering that she wasn't anymore that sweet and caring person would probably break them.

It was his job to protect his family no matter what. He wouldn't fail again.

"Huff, very well, we will do it your way. But don't you dare to be anything than welcoming to her Owen! I am warning, if you make her feel like we don't care then I will... I will..."

Raising an eyebrow in amusement at his friend's lack of capacity to find a suitable treat he asked. "You will do what, Dr. Green?"

"I will break something!"

"Sean, I know you are in my house. Don't you dare to break anything." I warned.

"I will break your plates!"

"Don't..."

"I gave them to you and I will break them If I want to!"

Sighing in exasperation I told him "This whole conversation is pointless, anyway. I never had any intention of making Miss Sorenson feel unwelcome. I merely suggested the use of caution."

Huffing came from the other side of the line. "Fine, be all proper and cautious if you want to Owen. But I am handling this any way I want."

"Fine." I told him before hanging up. I didn't like having to put such walls between me and Sang either, but it was necessary and nothing Sean said or did would change it.

......

Arriving at the airport Luke was still wondering how he would tell Mr. Blackbourne about Sang's return. He'd always suspected the man of having had a childhood crush on the young girl.

Despite having had several one-night stands he'd never really dated anyone and Luke had though that perhaps a little green eyed beauty had spoiled him for other women.

Going to the disembark area he searched through the crowd for his silver eyed academy's liaison.

There, amid a crowd of people, some carrying baggage's, others only carrying a small bag, some hurrying off alone, others saying goodbye to friends and family, Luke was taken back to approximately six month ago, when in this same airport he met his brother for the first time.

Thinking about her and his brother, Luke knew that she'd had a part on his and Silas' arrival in America, even if those two didn't know of it. After all, it had been her insistence in sending them to the academy that caused Luke's uncle to start giving him more attention. The guilt he'd felt for neglecting his nephew had driven the old man to search for his long lost brother, in hopes of maybe rebuilding his family. It was then that they found North. And his poor excuse for a father.

The disappointment at what his own brother had become caused Uncle to turn his back to him, but he couldn't leave his other nephew suffering alone. So he called Owen and asked him to retrieve the other boy by any means necessary.

North had agreed to come, but he had a condition. His friend and his family were to come along and receive all the help that our "prissy" school could give.

Prissy... really? He has no idea what...

"Mr. Taylor." The sound of the emotionless greeting behind him made Luke jump and spin around.

"Mr. Blackbourne! You surprised me!" I told him, needlessly.

"So I notice, Mr. Taylor. You appeared to be very distracted, is there something bothering you or I should send you to a refresher class on environment awareness?" he asked me while fixing his tie.

"No need Mr. Blackbourne. I just had a lot going on in my mind." I answered, "So, how was the flight?" I asked, stalling.

Raising an eyebrow in my direction that clearly displayed his knowledge of what I was doing, he merely waited for me to get on with it, without speaking.

Shuffling my feet in the ground I reminded myself that I was not a five year old child and Mr. Blackbourne wasn't my father, so there was no reason to feel like a soon to be chastised kid.

"Well, you see... It-seems-that-Sang-is-back-because-I-found-her-half-naked-in-Kota's-bedroom-and-we-talked-and-we-took-her-to-my-house..." I hadn't meant to tell him about that "half naked" part, but Mr. Blackbourne looks had a way of making you blurt everything out without though. It didn't always work on him anymore because he was used to it, but today he was feeling a little vulnerable with Sang's return.

She seemed to be the same wonderful, amazing, beautiful, strong girl she had always been, and that meant they were all in serious trouble. Unless...

My thought were cut off by Mr. Blackbourne's demanding voice. "What do you mean by "half naked" Mr. Taylor?" He asked sharply.

Only caught that part, did you? Hehe...

"Well... it was an accident, really. She was changing clothes at Kota's room and I didn't know it was her when I barged in." I told him, striving for a serious face while trying to keep myself from daydreaming about her again.

Sighing in exasperation, Mr. Blackbourne fixed his tie, again.

Huh... nervous much?

Trying to hide my amusement I changed the subject to a discussion about how Uncle was handling the dinner while we headed to the car.

Buckling in we soon were off, heading towards my house since Mr. Blackbourne wished to meet with "Miss Sorenson" immediately to discuss Academy Business.

Yeah, right.

......

Sitting in the passenger seat, because Mr. Taylor had insisted in driving, Mr. Blackbourne fixed his tie one more time before opening his door and getting out of the car.

Standing up he smoothed his suit of any nonexistent wrinkles and walked towards the old house the Taylors were reforming, following the elder Mr. Taylor who had scooted ahead like an eager puppy searching for its master.

He was nervous...

Very nervous...

He might have cautioned Sean against constructing expectations about Miss San... Sorenson, but he couldn't stop himself from doing exactly that.

He wanted her to be the same.

He wanted her to want them, him.

He wanted her in the academy.

Someone who had managed to do what they did in that school, without any backing, would be a huge asset.

The academy would want her and try to take her from them if he didn't act fast. It was of utmost importance that they restore their old friendship and acquire her trust.

How will she react? Did she really miss us? Will she hate me now for not being able to help her?

These questions all flowed through his mind while he walked through the house, trying to find Mr. Taylor and Miss Sa... Sorenson.

Spotting Luke by the garage doors, looking inside with a dazed smile, he walked over only to be met with the sexiest little behind he'd seen in a long time, bent over the open hood of the younger Mr. Taylor's Jeep.

The younger Mr. Taylor's Jeep... Oh darling... I see you are still quite a troublemaker...

It was then that they all heard a very distinctive bellow.

The angry voice immediately warned Miss Sang of her audience and made her jump startled, hitting her head in the hood, yelping.

I felt my blood boil.

......

"LUCIAN! WHO THE FUCK IS THIS BLONDE BIMBO MESSING WITH MY JEEP!"

My, my... seems like little bro can speak after all, and in English too...

Cupcake jumped at his shout and hit her pretty little head in the hood, yelping.

"And who exactly are you calling a "bimbo" Mr. Taylor junior?"

Uuh ooo... now he is dead meat...

  AN: hummmm... *looks around embarrassedly* Hey guys! Long time no see! *looks down* I know I said this update would come out in a couple of days... but I've been kinda busy. *Looks up with puppy eyes*

Do you still like me?