A/N: Hey! I'm back again with another fanfic! This one, I think, is an original idea. Possibly. Probably not. Oh well.

Summary:
Up has served in the G.L.E.E for ten long, tedious years. His compensation? A week long leave with his Lieutenant, of course! He takes Taz to his hometown in Mobile, Alabama and attempts to show her that life isn't all about war and strife.

Disclaimer: I do not only this lovely pairing.

Fireflies

It was February 6th, 2918. It was the 906th anniversary of the start of the Robot Wars, the 907th anniversary of the founding of the G.L.E.E, the 936th anniversary of J. Geils Band's "Centerfold" hitting #1 on pop charts, the 947th anniversary of the first golf ball being hit on the moon, aaaaannnd…..my 30th birthday. I also happen to be in my 10th year of service to the G.L.E.E. That means my lieutnenant and I get to take a week long leave and vacation wherever we want.

After we both receive the notice, I consult with Taz about her plans. She was kind of indifferent about the entire thing. Said she was probably going to go to the places she remember wanting to visit as a child.

"Jou know, like de Grand Canyon or Crazy Horse. Somet'ing dat hasn't been completely distruido."

I didn't know what to say, so I just shrugged.

"What about jou? What do jou have planned?"

"Me? Well, I was thinking about going to Alabama and trying to restore my old family farm."

"Oh, dat's cool," she replied, looking away.

We lapsed into an uncomfortable silence. I noticed she was trying to find something to occupy her eyes with that wasn't me. "Taz," she looked back at me. "Do you wanna come with me?"

Her eyes widen in alarm as she desperately tried to find a valid excuse. "What? No, I can't do dat to jou. I would just be a burden. I-I don't want to intrude. I-it-"

I shushed her by placing two fingers over her lips. "I could use the company."

She smiled and, I should've seen this coming, licked my fingers. I pulled my hand back in mock disgust, "You little shit!"

She laughed and swatted my hand away as I wiped the spit off on her cheek. I then lifted her up and threw her over my shoulder. I carried her back to her room to pack with her pounding on my back and yelling Spanish insults in my ear the entire way.

~~~~~~~~~X~~~~~~~~~

After the exploration pod docked at the Starship base in Montgomery, we hopped in the yellow Jeep Wrangler the G.L.E.E. provided us and took the three hour trip down I-65 to Mobile.

I drive up the mile long, gravel driveway to the old, abandoned house. We studied my old home. The roof of the house was stained green with moss and caved in at the back. Ivy clung to the outside walls and the windows were dark and grey and held an empty, sad feeling within them. Around it, unkempt undergrowth made it look as if it was birthed by Gaea herself.

I got out of the car and entered the house. Inside, there were faded black streaks along the walls as mold from the damp nights had begun to seep in. Flaking speckles of paint were lining the floor with dust and the corpses of unfortunate creatures. The antique wooden furniture was rotting; stained with lichen while the curtains lay hanging, limp and moth-eaten. The place felt still, heavy with expectation and foreboding waiting for one more life form to creak across the worn, wooden floorboards. Home, sweet home, huh?

"Jou lived here?" she asked in awe.

I look at her. "Why always the tone of surprise?"

She smirks, but then furrows her brow, "So, what do we do first?"

"First? First we make camp." I lead her out the back door and down the trail I imprinted all those years ago.

Taz followed silently, sensing that I needed a minute for the nostalgia to vacate my heart. That's one of the things I love most about Taz. Ever since I met her seven years ago, she has always known when someone just need to be alone and when she needs to keep her mouth shut. Except when she's angry, of course.

The trail opened up to a small clearing, revealing my lake. After my mom died, this is where I'd escape to when my father came home pissed, drunk, and broke.

"It's beautiful," Taz whispered.

"Yeah," I replied, looking over the tall grass out to the rolling hills of my property. "It is."

We stand there for a few seconds before, "Come on, it's almost dark. We have to pitch the tent."

I kneel down next to my pack and pull out the tent and some other necessary supplies.

"Up, what are dose jars for?" Taz asked me. I hadn't even realized she was watching me.

"You'll see," was all I said and she huffed, knowing she wouldn't get me to tell her.

~~~~~~~~~~~X~~~~~~~~~~~

When the sun finally set, I grabbed a flashlight, the jars, and Taz's hand and led her through the grass.

"Where are we going?" she asked me.

"Just around the riverbend," I replied.

She smirked at the 923 year old movie. "Pero, en serio. What are we doing?"

"Well, us kids need nightlights, don't we?"

She looked at me skeptically, but allowed me to drag her along.

"Oh," she gasped, covering her mouth with her free hand. Thousands of little lights floated around, lighting up the bank of the lake. "Really? Fireflies?" she asked, her eyebrow raised.

"Yes. Come on, Taz. Keep an open mind. Look," I reached out and caught one. I showed it to her, the light coming from the spaces between my fingers. "Hold it."

She held out her hand as the little bug crawled out of mine and onto her arm. She watched it for a moment before saying, "It tickles."

I turned off my flashlight and put it in my pocket. I handed her a jar, "Let's catch 'em!"

She cupped the tiny bug in her hands and slipped it into the jar. We spent the next few hours running, horsing around, laughing, and just enjoying each other's company overall.

When the jars reached their full capacity, we hiked back to the tent. Taz took her knife and cut little slits in the lids to allow oxygen in.

"We'll let dem out in de mañana," she says.

"I agree and take one of the jars. She puts hers next to her pillow and I do the same. Taz burrowed into her sleeping bag, curling into a ball. I stare at her for a moment, seeing the light glistening in her soft, brown eyes as she watched every movement of the bugs.

"Gracias, Up. For tonight," she said softly. "I really needed it."

"Needed what?" I ask.

She turns to me, looking me straight in the eye. "To get away," she says. "Away from everything."

I nod. "You're welcome, Taz. And, to be honest, I needed it too."

She smiled softly and I crawled into my sleeping bag.

"Goodnight, Taz. We've got a long, hard day of work to look forward to tomorrow."

She grunted in response, which earned a chuckle from me, and I fell asleep watching the dancing lights from the bugs as they reflected off the roof of the tent.

A/N: I hoped you liked this! Please review!