VirginiaHouchin Physya - thank you so much for sticking around and prompting me to update! I adore you both!

This is short, but I really, really wanted to post something. So here goes.

I love you all, my darlings. Thanks for sticking by me. I appreciate it.

Vacations are sort of like the graphs based off Gaussian curves. There's a distinct bell shape. They start out on the low end, not allowing for a lot of variety. There are lists upon lists of things to accomplish. You can't leave food in your fridge that can go bad. If you don't want your bill to be sky high, you have to make sure your thermostat is at an appropriate temperature. You have to pack, organize the trip, make sure that your job won't blow up while you're gone, ask someone to check on your living space and your pets, and finally get on a plane. There's so much to be done in preparation, it's enough to drive someone crazy and cause them to cancel the trip. Some don't take vacations simply because of the pre-vacation frenzy.

When you finally arrive at your destination, you have to check into a hotel, unpack, find some way around the city, and locate places to eat. A lot of this can be done beforehand, but it's foolish to assume things are going to work out precisely the way you want them to. Life throws wicked curveballs. And if you're not watching out for them or you are unable to adapt to them as they come, they'll hit you right in the face. She's an unforgiving bitch like that. Sometimes, anyway. Okay, probably most of the time. It truly sucked for someone who liked to control things, like me.

The preparations required to go from California to New York was a pain in the ass, mainly because some people couldn't resist asking questions once I returned from South Carolina. As soon as I stepped foot into the school, a call came through.

"Planning on eloping, Cupcake? I'm disappointed. Where's my invite?"

I groaned. Oh, for the love of God. I can never have one moment of peace with these people. I stepped out of the way of traffic and off to the side of the lobby. It was a nice, sunny day so most of the kids were spending their free time outside, but I didn't want any curious ears overhearing my conversation. "I don't know who told you, Tony, but you need to butt out. Seriously, all of you are kind of on my shit list now. Also, getting Friday to hide your caller ID so I would answer? So not cool. No more treats for you."

"Oh, come on! You know I love those chocolates!"

"Yeah, and you know how much I like for people to mind their own business. What we learn?"

He scoffed. "We're just worried about out top performer!"

I was instantly suspicions, enough for me to push my anger back at his comment. "Who's 'we', Tony? Who have you talked to? Are you still in contact with Senator Assbutt?" Jean and the Professor were the only ones who knew of my plans to visit Avi in California. Maybe Logan, but he hadn't been in contact with me for a while so I was unsure. "Have you still not learned your lesson? I know Barnes killed your folks, but that's not a valid reason to push Ross towards my ass."

Tony's entire demeanor changed. "Did you know?" The aggression was clear. "Please, tell me you didn't know."

"No," I hurriedly reassured him, belatedly realizing I overstepped my boundaries. Shit. "I didn't know. I swear to you I had no idea. I only looked through the files when I traveled back home. You know I haven't had any contact with them. I'm not...I refused to choose sides, okay?" I paused for a moment. "But, Tones, you know it wasn't actually him, right? I'm not saying Barnes is a saint, but he wasn't in control of himself when he..."

Not surprisingly, he changed the conversation. "Anyway, you're visiting Boy Toy's family? This is a big deal! When's the wedding? Can I be a bridesmaid? Wait, that might be weird. I wouldn't look good in a dress. Groomsman, then? You can arrange that, can't you? We all know I'm your favorite."

I snorted. "First, you need to check with your so-called reliable source because there is not even a whisper of wedding bells on the horizon. At all. That's not even on my mind, Tony. Don't get your hopes up. Second, are we really talking about relationships? What about you and Pepper? Have you managed to talk things out yet?" I was genuinely curious about this, but I wasn't expecting much of an answer.

"Uh, yeah, that's a work in progress."

I could have pressed, but I spotted Wanda walking down the stairway. When did she get here? "I wish you luck with that, Tones, I really do. I kind of have to go, though, okay?"

"Sure, sure. Be safe, Cupcake. And stop by the digs sometime, would you? I know of someone who would love to meet you if you could spare a few minutes."

"Tony, you better not have-"

"Bye!"

I growled at my phone as the screen blinked with an ended call. "Trouble?" Wanda questioned as she came to stand in front of me. She was in a dark dress and her usual boots. A light shawl covered her shoulders and the top parts of her arms. I would forever be envious of how she managed to look beautiful with seemingly no effort on her part.

Shrugging, I slipped my phone into the back pocket of my jeans and stepped forward to pull her into a hug. "Hey. I wasn't expecting to see you here." It truly wasn't often that she showed up at the School. She felt like she didn't belong, being both a Mutant and yet not.

She returned the hug, lacing her hand with mine when she pulled back. As if on instinct, I could feel her searching around the edges of my mind, trying to find out how I was feeling most likely. I gently nudged her away mentally but pulled her closer physically. "How about you ask me?" I playfully questioned. I had a much easier time avoiding a conversation about my feelings if I was physically talking to her rather than telepathically holding a conversation.

She smiled in apology with a glint of worry in her eyes. "You are back early. Why?"

"I need to wash some clothes so I will have something to wear for my trip to California." I dragged her with me to my room. The laundry could wait until after a nap.

"A trip to California? That is on the other side of America, yes? Why are you going there?"

We stopped at my room, and I opened the door, throwing my bags onto the floor and landing stomach-down on the bed. My sheets were messy, just as I left them. I felt a pang of relief that no one had managed to successfully sneak into my room. "Avriel invited me to meet his family."

Wanda sat down beside me, and for a moment, nothing was said. "Did you volunteer, or did he offer?"

I considered the question. "Both, I suppose."

"And you are sure about this?"

A short noise of humorless laughter erupted from my throat. "I do not know if I am sure about anything anymore. Other than the unwavering fact that I am not a morning person."

Warm fingers slipped through my hair. "I was under the impression that most couples did not meet each other's families until many months or even years into a relationship."

"I couldn't drag him away from them on his free time. He doesn't get enough of it as is, and if he wants to spend time with his family, who am I to demand otherwise? I want to see him; he wants to see me. I offered to go with him. End of story."

My hair was tugged in several different directions, and I was left to assume that Wanda was braiding my hair. It was a thing we started doing early in our friendship. I offered to braid her hair when she had too much on her mind and too much energy in her soul. She returned the favor when the emotions of others around me began to bleed into my soul and tear me down. "I am sure you will be fine," she mentioned after a long time of silence. She patted my back and stood. "Oh, the barn called. You should probably go to work for a while before you leave again."

I groaned. "I really should quit that job and teach full time."

"Your love of horses will not fade, and you will become unhappy with your decision."

"Yeah, yeah. I didn't ask for words of wisdom, sis. I wanted a little bit of sympathy."

"If I give you that all the time, you will get away with your endless moping," she joked.

I shot a thin beam of purple energy her way, and she easily blocked, retaliating with a red energy ball of her own. I let it hit me, laughing when it did nothing more than push me further back onto the bed. "Will you send someone to wake me in about an hour? I will go to the barn after a nap."

"Of course. Sleep well, sestra."

"Şi tu, iubire." (And you, love.)