To show that I actually do appreciate your nice comments, I'm writing yet another fic. Obviously Wheeler/Linka-based. It won't be as long as the previous one, though…at least I don't think so, but I may get carried away…. Don't say I'm not good to you…:-p.

Don't own the characters; not making any money off this etc.

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"Holy crap, this place is nice!" Wheeler exclaims appreciatively.

"Yeah," Gi agrees. "Linka your cousin is really lucky living here."

"Well, you know, she does have to work," I point out. But I have to agree with my friends. Looking around at the opulent lobby of the Royal Kanapa Hotel, I think how fortunate Valentina has always been. Her life has always been pretty much perfect. And now, she is a manager for a five star luxury hotel right on the beaches of a Pacific paradise.

"We must remember to thank her for her hospitality," Kwame reminds us. For once, he looks incredibly relaxed, lounging in one of the plush sofas.

"Not to mention Gaia for sending us here!" Ma-Ti jokes.

"It's not like we haven't earned a break…" Wheeler mutters. "Now, tell me, babe…" He turns to me and, grinning, slings an arm around my shoulder. "Does your cousin look anything like you?"

Typical Wheeler. I shrug off his arm.

"No," I reply. She's a thousand times prettier. "You'll find out for yourself," I add, before he can respond.

As if on cue, a tall, svelte woman emerges from behind a heavy oak door to our left, talking animatedly on her mobile phone. She is wearing a sleek navy blue suit that matches her eyes perfectly, and her thick, black hair is immaculately styled, every strand falling where it should be on her shoulders.

I roll my eyes as I see Wheeler immediately sit up to attention. I'm not at all surprised though: she has this effect on pretty much every male member of any species and Wheeler, in any case, is particularly vulnerable to female beauty.

Valentina spots us, an odd collection of young adults, looking slightly out of place in the luxurious surroundings. Quickly snapping her phone shut, she hurries over to us, somehow managing to glide elegantly across the floor despite her haste. Her eyes light up as she spots me, and I suddenly feel self-conscious in my worn Planeteer t-shirt and shorts, while all the other guests milling around are clearly dressed in the highest of haute couture. She embraces me in a warm hug, a stream of Russian flying out of her mouth so fast that I can only pick out a few words. 'You look great'. Yeah right. Not next to you. I hug her back warmly. Despite the fact that she unconsciously makes everyone around her feel woefully inadequate, she is my favourite cousin. Being the only close female relative, she is the one I have always talked to about any problems I have had. And I know she would come to me with her problems. If she ever had any, that is…

She finally releases me and turns to my friends. She greets each of them with two kisses on the cheek. A fiery blush spreads across Wheeler's face the moment her lips make contact with his skin. I chuckle silently to myself. Bozhe moy. I will have to remember to tease him about that one later.

"I am so sorry I couldn't come to meet you at the airport," she says, when the introductions are done. "There was a meeting. The usual boring stuff; how many towels should be in the bathrooms. That kind of thing…" She laughs lightly, and the soft tinkle must be contagious because all the boys are laughing as if it's the funniest thing anyone has ever said. I look at Gi to see if she has noticed, but she is too enthralled by the view from the lobby's ceiling-to-floor windows: a vast blue carpet of ocean stretching into the horizon. Water as far as the eye can see. I can tell she is itching to get out there.

"Let me show you to your rooms. Well, actually it's one suite with two double rooms. There's an extra bed in one of the rooms. I hope you don't mind; we've been booked solid…" Valentina begins apologetically.

"That is not a problem," Kwame says quickly. "We're just so appreciate, um, glad…we're happy to appreciate you putting us up here."

I have to laugh to myself again; I have never seen him like this! He can't even look her in the face without stumbling over his words…Men!

"Oh, it was no problem for me. Really it wasn't," Valentina reassures us. She glances over at an idle porter and he immediately hurries over towards us and begins to load our bags onto a trolley. Incredible! She doesn't even have to speak and men rush to do her bidding!

"Besides, I am really looking forward to spending some time with my favourite cousin," Valentina grins a dazzling white smile. "I've managed to get some time off, so we have plenty of time to catch up!"

We amble towards the row of gleaming lifts at the far end of the lobby.

"So, what has Linka told you about our childhood?" Valentina begins casually, as we enter an wooden-panelled lift. She has a mischievous glint in her eyes. Oh no…

"Not much, actually," Wheeler replies, looking at me somewhat accusingly. "She keeps a lot to herself." Now, why did Wheeler have to say that and make me out to be some kind of recluse?

"That's not true, Yankee," I begin. "I just don't feel the need to talk about everything all the time, unlike some people…"

"Well, then, you've changed a lot," Valentina laughs. "When we were kids, you could never get this girl to shut up!"

Wheeler, Kwame, Gi and Ma-Ti laugh along with her and I feel my cheeks burning. I would return the favour if I could, but, of course, there's nothing embarrassing to reveal from her past. It was more a case of people embarrassing themselves in a bid to impress her…

"Wow, I think I'm gonna like you," Wheeler grins. "What more can you tell us about Linka?"

"Oh, she was too cute as a child!" Valentina exclaims. "One time –this is really funny– we went to this swimming pool…do you remember that time, my dear?" She glances at me, beaming. Oh yes, I think. I definitely remember it. And it's not a story I'm keen to have retold. Not in front of all my friends…But she either can't read the pleading look in my eyes or chooses to ignore it. "Well, I don't know if Linka told you, but when she was younger she was a little…um, heavy…"