Series: 23 for 23
Title: Eighteen: Second Banana Czechoslovakian
Author: Jmaria
Rating: FR-15
Disclaimer: I own the World Walker, Katims owns Roswell.
Spoilers: Serenity and Series One (to be safe)
Series Summary: Twenty-three stories and crossings of worlds (read: insanity) to celebrate twenty-three years.
Part Summary: Settling down and finding that natural pace.
Words: 220
A/N: First quote comes from the fourth into, second comes from Long Trip Alone by Dierks Bentley. Also - back when I was 23, at the time in Michigan you did not need a passport or enhanced license to cross the border into Canada. Which is how a lot of 19yrs got plastered legally. (They still do, but you need to fork out the cash for the special license.)

Dedication: To fluties-flake for the fandoms and prompt.

23 for 23
Eighteen: Second Banana Czechoslovakian

The World shifted slightly to the left and it had nothing to do with the copious amount of liquor involved at all.

Everybody stumbles sometimes and needs a hand to hold, cause it's a long trip alone.

"It's cold," Maria shivered, her eyes squinting against the glare of sunlight on the water. "Why is it so cold?"

"Lake effect," Michael shrugged, squatting down beside her. "Max thinks we could stay here for a while."

"Where it snows?" Maria narrowed her eyes at him.

"Only a couple months out of the year," he smirked.

"It's Michigan. What happens in Michigan? Besides cars being made and freaky-unnatural weather in the summer?"

"It's not that cold," Michael had the audacity to laugh at her. "Nothin' compared to NYC."

"You may have a point," Maria nodded. "Where do we go from here, Michael?"

"Upwards and onwards," he shrugged.

"Don't even joke about that," Maria shuddered. "All that vast nothing up there, gah! Can you imagine what it would be like."

"I wasn't being literal, Deluca."

"You know, sometimes it's hard to tell with you," she narrowed her eyes. "If you didn't mean it like that, what did you mean?"

"The Great North."

"Canada?"

"You don't need a passport to leave the country. Yet."

"And when we get there, what, you're gonna become a lumberjack?" Maria frowned. "It's even colder there."

Michael grinned at her and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. She fake-punched him in the stomach, but relished the comfort in his touch.

"Don't worry, Deluca. I'll keep you warm."