The next day was Saturday and the house was already up when Lexi dragged herself out of bed around 10:00.  As she made her way to the bathroom to shower she sighed as she heard the noise coming from the living room.  Abuela and Abuelo were already here helping out with the kids.

Lexi took an extra long shower, wanting to avoid her family.  At least when Emma was here they could bond over complaining about the noise.  Funny how sometimes she hated Emma with all her might but now she'd give anything to be near her.

Last night, she'd overheard Vanessa arguing with Lin on the phone.  From what she'd gathered, Emma's roommate had moved out and she was trying to make it on her own.  Apparently, she wasn't doing a great job.  They were arguing about what to do.  They didn't want Emma living on her own, but if one of them were to move to San Fran with her, the other parent would be left with four kids.

If Lin were to move out there, it wouldn't be fair.  Why should she get him all to herself just because she was so busy?  Lexi needed him too.  Lexi quickly put her hair up in a towel and walked out to the kitchen.  Vanessa was busy washing some baby stuff.  It was insane how much stuff came with babies.  Endless bottles, odd contraptions.  And, of course, the noise.

"Can't anyone get her to shut up?!" Lexi complained to her mother as she got out some cereal.

Vanessa raised her eyebrows.  "Good morning to you too," she said.  "Believe me, I've been trying."

Vanessa studied her daughter as she got her breakfast ready.  She plopped herself down at the kitchen table, resting her head in her hand as she began to eat.  The kid had been moody to say the least the last few days.  Vanessa knew she missed Lin.  She missed him too.  Usually, Lexi was helpful with the little kids, but she'd been holing herself up in her room as soon as she got home from school.  Taking care of the kids wasn't her responsibility, of course, so Vanessa couldn't expect her to be a childcare giver.

As soon as Lexi was done, she disappeared to her room again.  She quickly dried her hair, got dressed, and told Vanessa she was going out.  Lexi had a cell phone now, so that made her feel a bit better.

Lexi pulled her hoodie up over her head and just started walking.  She'd never felt so alone in her life.  Not even after her parents had died.  Lin, Vanessa, Emma and the little kids were here family now, and now her family was becoming scattered.  What if Lin did move to San Francisco?  Would this be her life now?  Avoiding her home just so she could get away from her brothers and sister?  What kind of sister did that make her?

As she reached a park, Lexi wiped a tear away from her face.  She sat down on a park bench and put in her earbuds.  She closed her eyes and listened to some angry music.  A few minutes later it was interrupted by her phone ringing.  She looked at the screen.  Lin.  Her heart lightened.  She immediately answered.

"Lin!" she said, looking at his familiar, comforting face.

"Hi sweetheart," Lin greeted her from the other end.  It looked like she had been crying and she was outside somewhere.  "Where are you at?"

"Bennett Park," she told him, rubbing at her eye.  "Where are you?"

"At Emma's," he said.  "She's still asleep. Big surprise."

She chuckled at that.

"Lexi, were you crying?" he asked her gently.

Lexi turned her body a bit, shielding herself from anyone else around her.  "I'm okay," she dismissed.  "I just got a little frustrated."

She knew he wouldn't let it go that easily.  "What about?"

She sighed, steeling herself not to cry.  It was so easy to fall apart with Lin.  He was safe.  "I just got annoyed with so many people in the house."

Lin nodded.  "Was Emilia being loud?"

"Yeah," she smirked a little.  "What else is new?  I love Abuela and Abuelo but there's just too many people and it's so loud and I miss you and Emma."

Lin's heart ached for his daughter.  None of this was easy.  Emma needed him.  Lexi needed him.  Vanessa and the kids needed him.  He wished he could clone himself.

"I'm sorry, baby," he said.  "We miss you too."

"Then why are you talking about moving to San Francisco with Emma?" she accused, her voice getting angry.  Lin's eyebrows furrowed as she looked at her hurt face.

"Lex, that was just an idea," he tried to explained.  "It doesn't mean it's going to happen."

"But it could?"

Lin sighed, not knowing what to say.  "It's a possibility, but I really don't think that's the best choice for the family."

"So what's gonna happen?"

"We don't know yet," he said honestly.  "We're talking about a few possibilities."

"Like what?" she asked.  Lin normally wouldn't talk to Lexi about big family decisions before he and Vanessa had talked more, but he felt he owed her more of an explanation.

"Well," he said.  "We could make Emma move back to New York."

Lexi winced.  "She'd never forgive you."

"I know," he said, rubbing his hand over his hair.  "But I don't know if she's really enjoying herself here that much anyway.  She's lonely and it's pretty demanding."

"What else?"

"Well, maybe Abuelo or Abuela could come out for a while.  They could take turns.  Or..." he paused.

"What?"

"You could all move out here?"

She was silent for a few seconds and looked down.  "M...move out there?"

"Yeah," he said.  "But that would be a huge sacrifice for everyone."

The thought of moving across the country was terrifying.  But the thought of being without Emma and Lin for months on end was even more scary.

"Well...maybe it's not the worst idea?" she ventured.  Lin was surprised.  He thought she would be highly opposed.

"Really?"

"Yeah...I mean, we would all be together.  That's the most important thing."

"But you're doing so well now," Lin said.  "You made really good friends with Savi and Emily."

Lexi nodded, knowing she would miss them.  But, she just wanted her family back together.

"Vanessa has a job, it would just...it would be asking too much," he said, scrubbing a hand over his face.  In the background, Lexi saw Emma walk into the kitchen.  Lin turned and called out good morning to her.  She looked exhausted.

"Listen, I better go," Lin said.  "We've still got a lot of thinking to do.  Can you help Vanessa out?"

She nodded.

"Good girl," he told her.  "I love you."

"Love you too."

Lin hung up and stared at the phone in his hand.  Should he mention the possibility to Vanessa?  If he really wanted it, she would go along with it.  She was an amazing wife.  But Lin didn't want her to have to give up her job.  If she thought it was the best thing for the family, she would though.

"Did you sleep okay?" Emma asked as she got out a bowl.

"I did," Lin said, standing up.  He walked to the kitchen with his hands in his pockets.  "You?"

"Fine, I guess," she said.  "Just glad I have the day off ballet."

She poured her cereal and Lin just stared at the countertop.  "What?" she asked.

He half-smiled.  "Nothing.  Just thinking."

She smiled as she set down the cereal box.  "What about?"

Lin wasn't sure how much to tell her.  He didn't want her feeling guilty about the hard decisions they'd have to make.  "Just Vanessa and the kids."

She nodded as she got the milk.  "Is she doing okay?"

"I think she's a little stressed," he admitted.  "My parents are there though."

"That's good," she said.  "How's Lex?"

"She misses me.  And you," he said.  "She was out walking around. I think the kids are driving her nuts."

"I bet," she said, getting a spoon and sitting down at the table.  Lin decided to make himself a second cup of coffee.  He wasn't talking much and looked deep in thought.  Emma knew something was up.  "What is it?"

"Hmmm??" he looked up at her stroking his mustache.

"You look like you're stressed out."

"Oh, I'm fine," he assured her.  "Just worried about V and Lex."

She stirred at her cereal.  "Do you wanna go back early?"

"What?  No," he said.  "I'm here for another three days.  I want to spend time with you."

"I know, she said.  "But Lin, I'm seventeen.  I can pretty much take care of myself."

He smirked.  "Emma, you had soup caked onto your burners.  You had barely anything in your cabinets."

"I'd had a busy week," she defended herself.

"Em, I don't want you by yourself," he said.  "I don't like thinking about you all alone in a big city."

"I'm fine," she insisted with a bit of annoyance in her voice.  Emma was tired of being babied.  She was finally out on her own; independent.  Sure, she missed her family and she wasn't a great housekeeper, but everyone had to start somewhere.

"Remember," he said, "You can always come home and go back to ABT.  You can get a college scholarship."

"I know, Lin," she told him, and he decided to let it go for now.  He wanted them to enjoy their time together, not argue.

____

Back in New York, Lexi returned home a couple hours after she'd left.  Luz and Luis had taken the boys to the zoo, leaving Vanessa home with Emilia.  She was actually sleeping soundly, giving Vanessa a few minutes of peace.

"There you are," she smiled as she saw Lexi come in.  "I was beginning to wonder where you'd gone."

"Just hanging out at the park," she said, getting a soda out of the fridge.  "Lin called me."

"Yeah?" she said, sitting down next to her daughter.  "How's he doing?"

"Fine," Lexi told her, taking a long sip.  "He says Emma's lonely."

"Yeah, I think she is."

"Why doesn't she just move back home?" Lexi asked.

"Well, it's not that simple," Vanessa explained.  "She's lonely but this is her dream."

"But she's still in high school and she still has college.  Why can't she do that like a normal person?"

Vanessa shrugged.  "She's Emma."

That explained everything, really.  Emma was her own person and no one could tell her what to do.  Lexi just wished she would have some sense when it came to her feelings.  She didn't have to stick things out just because it was professional ballet.  Wasn't family the most important?

They were quiet for a minute or so, just thinking and resting.

"Couldn't we move out there?" Lexi blurted.  Vanessa looked at her daughter, surprised.

"Really?"

"Yeah," she said.  "I mean, if Emma needs help we could keep the family together that way.  Then Lin wouldn't have to move there permanently.  And you wouldn't be stuck with the kids."

Vanessa scooted closer to Lexi.  "What did you talk about with Lin?"

"We were just brainstorming," she said, wondering if she'd gone too far.  Hadn't they talked about this?

"Lexi, I'm glad you're trying to think of ways to help out the family, but I really don't think moving across the country would be a good idea.  Our lives are here in New York."

"Then when's Emma coming back?" she almost whined.  "I miss her."

Vanessa put her arm around her daughter, and Lexi rested her head on her shoulder.  "I know.  I miss her too.  A lot."

"You do?"

"Of course.  You two are my daughters.  Whenever you're away I miss you."

Lexi sighed and closed her eyes.  It felt nice to know she was missed when she was gone.  She wasn't Lin and Vanessa's biological child.  Growing up, Lexi always enjoyed spending time with them, but they weren't family.  It was funny how quickly they'd turned into just that.  It almost seemed now like it had always been this way.  Lexi felt guilty for feeling that way.  Did that betray her parents?

___

A few days later, it was time for Lin to head back to New York.  He was dreading it, and Emma was a little bit too.  He had an early flight, so Lin got ready quietly in the morning so he didn't disturb Emma.  It was a futile attempt.  As soon as she heard his footsteps moving around, she was awake, thinking about how she would be alone again.

Lin packed up his things and wheeled his suitcase to the door.  He then quietly knocked on Emma's bedroom door, and she sat up in bed.  Lin smiled at her, hating to say goodbye.  He sat on her bed.

"All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go..." he began to sing, and Emma started to laugh, but then started to cry a little bit.

"Hey," he said softly, pulling her into a hug.  Lin kissed her hair and just held her for several minutes.  They both knew this would be difficult, but that didn't make it any easier.

Lin pulled back and took her hands in his.  "Remember, we're just a phone call away.  And you're always welcome home."

She nodded and wiped away a tear.  Emma then swung her legs over the side and got up to walk her dad to the door.  The sun was just starting to come up and she had a full day of ballet ahead of her.  Lin stopped at the door and gave her a final, big hug.

"Love you, kid," he told her.

"Love you too."

Emma locked the door behind him, then sank to the floor and cried.

___

It had been hard walking away from Emma.  She was practically a grown woman but he still worried about her.  He'd always worry about her.  It was nice to get back to New York City, though, and be bombarded with kids when he got home.  Sebastian, Francisco and Lexi all ran to him and enveloped him in a group hug.  Lin fell over and allowed himself to be attacked.  The boys climbed on him, wanting to play and hug.  They all laughed as they wrestled around.

Vanessa just smiled from the kitchen where she was fixing the boys a shake.  A few minutes later, Lin was finally released and he stood up, making his way to his wife; his love.  She smiled as she turned to him and he wrapped his arms around her, then started kissing her.

Lexi turned up her nose.  "Get a room!"

They broke apart and Lin shot his daughter a look.  "You kids are always getting in the way."

"Not my problem," she quipped.

Lin spent the next hour or so trying to relax on the couch, chatting with Vanessa as the kids played.  Every once in a while he got a kid stepping on him, but that was all part of being a dad.  Soon, they'd be too big to step on him.

"How'd she seem when you left?" Vanessa asked.

"She was crying a bit," Lin told her.  "I wish she had some more friends."

Vanessa sighed and ran a hand through her hair.  "Do you think this is really what she wants?  I mean, she jumped on the first offer she got.  She knows she doesn't have to stay doesn't she?"

"Believe me, she knows," Lin told her.  "I reminded her multiple times.  The invitation's open."

Lin kissed her head, then rested his chin on top of it.  It was hard to know what to do.  They'd only been parents for a few years.  Who knew they'd be dealing with this sort of decision in their late 30's?

The minds were soon occupied by childcare.  Emilia woke up, so Lin went to go get her, having been away for a week. She smiled when she saw her father, causing Lin to smile widely.  He loved that she recognized him and seemed to like him.  He changed her diaper then blew raspberries all over her tummy, causing her to giggle.  Lin put on a onesie and carried her out to the living room.  She was getting stronger and working on turning over.  Lin sat her on her belly on her play pad and laid down on his stomach in front of her.  He talked to her quietly, encouraging her when she tried to push herself to the right.  She didn't quite get there, but she was building up her little muscles.

___

Back in San Francisco, Emma walked home after a long day of ballet.  It was strange walking again alone once again.  All last week, Lin had been with her.  She sighed as she put her key in the lock and walked into an empty apartment.  She plopped her bag down and immediately went to the shower.

Lin had cooked up a storm while he was there, so she had tons of leftovers in the freezer.  She found a container of chili and got out a saucepan to heat it in.  She turned on the TV and stretched a little as she waited for her dinner.  When it was ready, she plopped down on the couch to eat it.  As she ate, she scrolled through her phone.  Lin and Vanessa were both good about sending her pictures of the little kids.  She missed them so much.  There was one of Lin on the floor with Emilia, trying to get her to turn over.

When she was done, she set her bowl on the coffee table and laid down on her back.  She scrolled through the photos and videos, smiling and getting homesick.  Why was she doing this again?  All the way across the country?  Lin and Vanessa had a point.  She was seventeen years old and this was her first offer from a professional company.  She could go to college next year and study dance.  Then she'd be even better in four years.  If she was good enough to get offered a professional job, surely she'd be good enough to get a scholarhip somewhere.

She pulled up her laptop and searched again for the top ballet colleges.  She knew them all already.  How close were they to home?  Suddenly, she shut her laptop quickly.  What was she doing?  This was her dream.  What was it saying if she was just going to give it up?  How many ballerinas wouldn't kill to get into her position?  Emma was too proud for her own good.  She'd made a commitment and she wanted to see it through.  Even if she was miserable.

Emma went to bed around 9 so she could get a full night sleep.  Despite that, she couldn't fall asleep.  After she'd tossed and turned for a good hour, she decided she needed to talk to someone.  Vanessa.  Forgetting about the time difference, she called.

"Hello?" Vanessa asked groggily.

"Vanessa?" Emma asked.

"Emma," Vanessa pushed herself up to sitting.  She grabbed her robe and walked out towards the living room so she wouldn't disturb Lin.  "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah," she said.  "You sound tired."

Vanessa checked her watch.  "It's almost 1 a.m.," she told Emma.

"Shit!" Emma said.  "Sorry, I forgot about the time difference.  I'll call you tomorrow."

"No, it's okay," Vanessa assured her as she laid down on the couch.  "What's up?"

Emma sighed.  She'd called Vanessa, after all, so she couldn't exactly chicken out and say she just wanted to chat.  "I...I don't know if I want to do this anymore."

Vanessa was quiet for a few moments, surprised that Emma was actually admitting it out loud.  They'd all suspected she was lonely and miserable, but Emma was so stubborn she wouldn't admit it.

"Are you still having a rough time?" she asked gently.

"Yeah," she said.  "It's just...it's not like I thought it would be.  I pictured myself the happiest I've ever been with tons of friends.  I didn't realize I'd be so lonely and it would be so hard."

"It does sound very hard," she agreed.  "And the first time out by yourself can be scary."

"Vanessa," she paused.  "My body...I've stopped, you know...having my period."

Vanessa rubbed her fingers over her forehead.  "Oh, sweetheart," she said.  "You're working too hard."

"I know," she said tearfully.  "But, I have to!"

Vanessa sat up, wishing she could hug her daughter.  "No you don't, Emma.  You're still just a kid.  You don't have to do this.  You can move home and finish off the year at Hunter.  Then you can go to college nearby.  If you're miserable it's not worth it."

"But I made a commitment," Emma argued, trying to convince them both that this was the wrong move.

"People quit their jobs all the time," Vanessa assure her.  "It's perfectly okay."

"Are you disappointed in me?" Emma asked, her head in her hand.

"Of course not, sweetheart," Vanessa said.  "I'm so proud of you.  You took a risk.  I don't know if I could have done what you did at seventeen."

"But now I want to quit!" she sobbed.

"It's not quitting.  You're listening to your heart," she said.  "You're allowed to change your mind."

Emma cried softly on the other end.  Vanessa became aware that Lin was walking out with Emilia for a feeding.  He got some milk out of the fridge and began to warm it up.  He listened to his wife on the phone, realizing it was Emma.  Lin rearranged Emilia in his arms and gave her the bottle as he joined Vanessa on the couch.  He listened intently as he rested against the back of the couch as Emilia fed hungrily.

"I'll look at flights in the morning," Vanessa told her.  "Lin's up.  Do you want to talk to him?"

"Sure," she said, wiping her eyes.  Lin took the phone from his wife, resting it against his shoulder and ear as he multi-tasked.

"Hi, sweetheart," Lin greeted her.

"Hi Lin," she said, and he could tell she'd been crying.

"What's up?"

"I can't do this anymore," she admitted to him.  "I wanna come home."

"That's fine," he told her.  "We'll all be glad to have you home."

"I'm disappointed in myself, though," she told him.

"Of course you are," he said, not surprised at all.  "You're your harshest critic.  But you've got your shit together way more than I did at seventeen."

"Really?" she asked

"Pshyea!" he said.  "I didn't know what the hell I was doing.  Who does when they're seventeen?"

Emma laughed a little bit at that.  Sometimes she took herself too seriously.  "Do you think Hunter will take me back?"

"Of course they will," he said.  "You've only been gone for two months, and you've kept up on your school work, right?"

"Yeah," she said.  Of course she had.

"You'll come home and everything will be the way it was before," he assured her.  "You can come back to ABT and finish high school, and then you'll choose somewhere to go to college."

She smiled a little.  College.  College could be fun.  She and Lin talked for another ten or fifteen minutes.  Emma was feeling much better now that she'd made a decision.  She'd been so worried it would be the wrong decision, but now it felt so right.  She would be back with her family.  In her city.

Emilia had finished her bottle and was now in a milk coma in her father's arms.  Lin set the bottle on the side table and started to burp her.

"Well, I need to get your little sister back to bed," he told her around 1:30 in the morning.

"Give her a kiss for me," she requested.

"Of course," he said, giving her a sweet kiss on the cheek.  "Done.  She'd kiss you back if she was awake."

Emma laughed.  "Love you, Lin.  See you soon."

"Love you too," he said, smiling.  Lin tucked his wife's phone in his PJ pocket and walked his infant daughter back to his room.  He set her down in her bassinet gently and then plugged in Vanessa's phone at her bedside table.  He climbed in behind her, his chest flush with her back.  Lin kissed her neck gently.

"She's coming home," Lin whispered to his wife, letting his hand rub her belly.  Vanessa smiled and put her hand over his.  She sighed out contentedly as they both slipped into a satisfied sleep.