Hey y'all! So I've had this idea rolling in my head for a while, I can't tell you exactly why right now or it will completely give away the 'surprise' in the story. What I can tell you though is that lots of fluff will ensue, and it is probably the first story I've written with so much inspiration taken from myself, my own road trips, and my own interests. I hope you all enjoy! If you do please leave a review and I'll continue!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Henson characters. I don't own nor am I sponsored by any of the companies I may mention.
"Hey Sarah?" Robert called up to her room.
"Yeah Dad?" Sarah yelled back, not really wanting to leave the comfort of her bed she so dearly missed.
"Why don't you come down here, Karen and I have a surprise for you and Toby."
Sarah let her legs slide over the edge of her bed, she stayed several seconds longer before forcing herself to her feet. Making her way downstairs she heard Toby coming, and before she had a second to react she was pummeled by her not so little baby brother. Now a young teen, 12 years old. They both crashed to the ground.
"Come over here to the table you two." Karen said laughing. "Now, you're father and I have some great news to tell you both, you ready?" Karen looked at Robert with anticipation.
"We're going on a family road trip!" They both said in unison.
Sarah and Toby looked at each other and then at their parents. Sarah was nervous about this 'family road trip' idea, Toby was mixed between 'I'll have a cool story to tell my friends' and 'oh god I have to leave my game console!'.
Both Karen and Robert looked at their kids respectively, "Well? This is going to be so much fun!" Karen clasped her hands to her chest.
Sarah looked at Toby who was still frozen, his young teenage mind taking its time processing the information. She spoke up, obvious that her brother wasn't going to. "Uh, where are we road-tripping to?" She asked.
"Good question!" Karen was unfazed by Sarah and Toby's reactions. After Sarah's stint in the Labyrinth she had reconciled with her stepmother, who actually turned out to be really fun. It was still awkward for a while, but over time they became close in a way she knew she never would have been if Karen were her biological mother. Now Sarah called her mom and basically filled her in right where her real mother had left off when she left. Karen was beaming right now, and Robert was all smiles as well. "Well, were going somewhere around here..." she said, unfolding a large United States map, placing her manicured finger over the western side of Montana. "And before you ask what we're doing here…"
"Well, that's a surprise as well!" Robert picked up where Karen had left off.
"Okay, well… If I can't ask that, then I guess the question is when are we leaving?" Sarah was intrigued, she had always heard things about Montana, both good and bad, but more good. Toby still sat in a wide-eyed stupor.
"Monday morning at 4:00 AM sharp!" Robert answered. "Which means you two should get packing, because its Saturday night right now! Oh, and pack more jeans and sweatshirts that usual, as well as some boots, and not fancy ones. Sturdy sneakers will work as well, Toby."
Sarah's mind was racing with possibilities, it settled on camping, they were going camping. That seemed so unlike Karen, yet she had her moments. Sarah elbowed Toby, who had yet to say anything. "You heard 'em! Let's get packing!" Sarah laughed when she pulled Toby out of his chair and toward the stairs.
"But my video games…" Was all he mumbled as they marched upstairs.
"This is going to be one hell of an adventure." Robert shook his head and laughed a bit.
Sarah had pulled a big suitcase from her closet along with her big duffle bag, sizing them up to figure how long it would take her to fit everything she would need and then some. Much of her clothing was still not unpacked from cardboard boxes she had just brought back from dorm living. Now 25 and finally finished getting her doctorate in psychology, she was looking to find a job and was still living at home. She dumped all the contents out of her boxes and started looking through what she would need to wash before packing and what was good to put in her suitcase. She started making piles, being the Type-A person she was. Planning an outfit for every day, and packing those garments together. She eventually slid down to the carpet and laid by her suitcase in surrender.
"Saaarahhhhhhh?!" Came a pre-pubescent voice from down the hall. Sarah picked herself up from the floor and walked to Toby's room where the only progress her brother had made in packing was tossing some socks into his bag. He looked at her with pathetic puppy eyes, begging for her to pack the rest of his clothes for him.
Sarah rolled her eyes and set to work. She rooted around his drawers for some t-shirts leaning on the shabbier side, making a pile of them ready to compress into the case. She then pulled out all the jeans Toby had, placing them all neatly into his suitcase as well. Toby wasn't too caught up in appearances, much to his mother's disdain.
"See, not hard at all." Sarah said, more to herself than to Toby, as he was entranced by his game.
That evening Sarah struck up conversation about the road trip, noting that Karen and Robert were being very vague. She really wanted answers. Where exactly where they going? What were they going to do while there? What was the temperature supposed to be like? Their lips were sealed though.
After dinner had finished Karen and Sarah sat on the back porch enjoying the cool evening air. Washington was still a great temperature around the summer, not to cold, but not to warm either.
"So, Sarah, I know I haven't asked this in a while, but have you at least thought of maybe dating?" Her stepdaughter was 25 now, and had barely shown interest in anything but school.
Sarah sighed, "You have done a great job avoiding the topic, thank you very much. I hate to disappoint but no, no prince charming. My standards are high though. Everyone wanting prince charming, but I want a king. I just have too high of standards I guess!" Sarah joked, but there was a truth to her statement. One she kept even from herself except for in dreams.
Soon after they had finished talking a bit more it started sprinkling. Karen ran inside, but Sarah just stood against the rail in her t-shirt and pajama shorts. Soon the sprinkle turned into a pour as the rain washed down. It was the closest thing to magic she knew of. She twirled in the rain, letting it drench every inch of her. By the time she went back inside she was thoroughly soaked and her fingers and toes were numb. Karen immediately scolded Sarah for coming into the house with wet feet and making a slight mess of her freshly cleaned tile floor, but it wasn't without a warm, fluffy towel, right out of the drier. Sarah absorbed the heat from the towel in exchange for it absorbing the water. She decided maybe it was time to take a warm shower.
Later that night Sarah lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, listening to the rain hit the roof, imagining what adventures awaited her. She was excited even if it meant she had to leave the bed she had only recently come back to. Several long moments later Sarah gave up and decided to do something she hadn't done since her Christmas break, call on her friends.
The mirror in her room rippled and Hoggle and Ludo appeared. Hoggle grumbled about her not calling on them in so long, but his mood only lasted seconds as they went right back into their normal pattern. Sarah sat curled up in her fluffy purple bean bag in the corner of her room, Hoggle and Ludo sat around her while they chatted and caught up.
"Hoggle, where is Sir Didymus?" She inquired.
"Uh, well 'es on assignment from the rat. Important stuff 'e had ta do." Hoggle quickly answered.
"Hmm, well that's a shame. If you seem him let him know that I would enjoy a game of scrabble with him, well, not until I get back that is." Sarah remembered her trip plans.
"What does ya mean? You've already been gone fer a long time, and now yer leavin again?" Hoggle hadn't fully forgiven Sarah apparently.
"Oh! I forgot to mention that. Karen and my father have planned a road trip for the family. It ought to be an adventure. I'm sure there will be endless hours of stories to share with you all when I get back."
"When does ya leave?"
"The day after tomorrow, 4 am sharp!" Sarah noted with a hint of sarcasm. She was not fond of early mornings.
"We should have a sendin off party for ya!" Hoggle exclaimed, and Ludo nodded in agreement.
"Oh, you don't have to do that for me. How about a returning party, and I'll be able to tell all of my stories to everyone who wants to come" As much as Sarah would love to see her friends she would love even more to get an early bed time. "Well, everyone who is invited who wants to come." She mentioned with almost a sad note, her thoughts drifting to the truth she mentioned earlier.
Sarah yawned, as much as she would love to spend more time with Hoggle and Ludo, she needed to get some rest. After she sent off the two and crawled back into her bed, drifting into sweet dreams.
Thanks a million for reading! I hope y'all review and are in need of a little fluffiness!
