Hello, it's me again...but really it's me and Iwait4theRain again. For you see, we, yes we, wrote this fic together. It was a joy to work with her and I encourage you all to go read her WSS fics. She is quite talanted and is the only person who knows what Mint Wars and The Happy Hippie Home Helpers Club are. But you all probably don't care about our friendship, so on with the story.
This fic is a sequel to my AU fic "The Years Between Us". If AU is not for you, stop reading now before you have a cow. Otherwise, we hope you enjoy!
"Mommy? Are we there yet?" Rose whined from the backseat of the family car. It was early August and much too hot to be sitting in the car for this long.
"No Rose, we're still not there." Maria said, not thrilled with the heat either. Rose had been asking the same question every five minutes or so, thinking that every time the car passed any sort of building, they were in the city.
"Oh." Rose sighed, highly disappointed.
"OUCH!" Tony exclaimed from the driver's seat as a small mint collided with the back of his head. Maribel's high pitched laughter filled the car. Maribel and Rose had been fighting over a pack of Mentos since they had stopped to get gas…two hours ago. It was decided the mints were Maribel's after she won the quiet game; which obviously was a suggested game to play by the girls' parents. Was that coming back to get them now.
"Maribel, what have I told you about throwing mints at your father while he's driving?" Maria addressed her oldest daughter as calmly as possible. Maribel promptly stopped laughing and hung her head in shame.
"Sorry Mommy, sorry Daddy."
"Daddy?"
"Yes Rose?"
"I'm tired." Rose whined. Boy, did Tony love to hear that phrase.
"Then take a nap." Tony suggested.
"But I can't!"
"Why not, Rose?" Tony sighed.
"Because Maribel keeps poking me!" Rose whined very loudly.
"What? I am not!" Maribel protested as she gave her sister a push.
"Maribel." Maria sighed."But I wasn't!" Maribel argued, knowing very well she was right and as usual, Rose was lying.
"Maribel, please." Tony said.
"Humph." Maribel folded her arms in defeat. Rose turned to her sister and stuck her tongue out at her.
"Take a nap now Rose." Tony suggested.
"Okay! Good-night!" Rose closed her eyes and laid her head back on the seat. Maribel promptly followed.
"Are you excited to be going back?" Maria whispered quietly so she wouldn't wake up the girls.
"As excited as I'll ever be." Tony sighed, "What about you?"
Maria silently laughed to herself. She was very, very nervous about returning to the city. Even if it was only for a few days. Yet, she was excited to see Anita and Carlos again.
"Me too."
Tony looked out the window, watching the scenery roll by. The vast fields and grass that passed them by earlier had been traded for farms, bustling towns, suburban neighborhoods, and the bridge they were crossing right now. The island of Manhattan was in close reach. Tony was glad to be returning home. This was the place he was born and raised in. He had walked these streets in his past years. He remembered being with his friends. He remembered being happy and smiling and feeling so great that nothing could touch him. Now he knew that those were dark days. The life he had now was what he wanted.
"Daddy?" Maribel woke up rubbing her eyes.
"Yes Maribel?" Tony whispered.
"Are we there yet?"
Tony laughed to himself. "Yes. We're here."
"Yay!" Maribel shrieked.
