Disclaimer: We all know Casey wouldn't be away for long enough for RJ to be missing anyone.

RJ wondered if this was how all parents felt after their children moved away.

Lonely. Utterly lonely.

RJ never understood the phrase 'Lone Wolf.' Wolves were never alone, always in a pack.

Now that his pack was gone, RJ understood why.

Being alone gave you a lot of time to think. And without anybody to pull your out of it, those thoughts usually transformed into self-pity.

It had been six and a half moths since Dominic had moved out and taken Fran out of Ocean Bluff. He often received postcards, letters, and e-mails from the couple. The latest saying Dom was ready to propose. He had yet to get Fran's response and he was happy - he was expecting her screaming.

Three months after that, Theo and Lily moved out to find an apartment of their own. Though Lily had been gentle about it, Theo had told him bluntly that they wanted to be together 'without parental authority.' They came by for work, of course and RJ was happy for them, but he still missed them.

And Casey...he hadn't talked to the tiger since Dom left. And he didn't blame his mate for the silence. It was partly his fault and he knew how busy things could be at Pai Zhuq. Days stuck in an ocean of boring paperwork.

"Anybody tell you it takes more muscles to frown than to smile?"

RJ looked up from The Chair to see Casey at the staircase. He sprang from the seat and embraced the boy - man - burying his face in the crook of his neck. He breathed in the other's scent; it had been so long since he breathed in anybody's scent, let alone his tiger's. Casey just laughed and wrapped his arms around RJ, hiding a kiss in his lover's hair.

"What are you doing here?" RJ asked, not letting go.

"I can't visit the love of my life every once in a while?" Casey pulled back, kissing RJ's cheek. At least he tried. Casey laughed again. "RJ, unless you're eager to perform CPR, I suggest you let me breath." RJ slowly let go, keeping a possessive arm around the younger's waist. Casey laughed for the fourth time. He had never seen the wolf so shy. He looked about the quiet flat. "Where's Theo and Lily?"

"Last I heard, Turtle Cove. They were helping a teacher."

"And has Fran called you and screamed your ear off yet?"

"Nope."

"She has in mine."

RJ brought Casey into his room.