A/N: For the most part, you don't have to have read In a New York Minute, but it'd probably help to understand what's going on. Especially the prologue. And it's never too late to leave reviews, if you haven't read it yet! Hint hint, nudge nudge... Anyways, here's just a little something to get you started!

Disclaimer: Don't own, no profit. Just a bit of fun!

Prologue-

The girl sighed heavily as she sank down onto the leather sofa in her penthouse suite. She gazed around the apartment, taking everything in. The stylish furniture, the top of the line TV and stereo, and the exotic fish (which she had forgotten to give to someone to feed before she left a year ago, and which were now floating belly up and smelling decidedly awful) were all evidence of her obvious affluence.

"I should be perfectly happy here," she muttered to herself. "I'm home. I got to see America. So what the heck is wrong here?"

But she knew good and well what was wrong. In her chosen career, life could hardly be considered dull, but the idea of going back to work here at home was making her miserable. She had always refused to leave home, back when she was younger. Back when her father was still alive. As long as she had him, she had never had the slightest desire to get away from home. When he had died a year ago, a part of her had died as well. She had thought that escaping from the cold, luxurious life she had would help her escape the pain. And so, she had embarked on the cross country journey of a lifetime.

Now, a year later, she was home again. Now she was missing him more than ever. But she was also missing something else, something quite surprising. Through her year long journey to various towns and cities across America, she had kept thinking back to the very first stop she had made. It had been one of the smallest towns, and she had only stayed there for one day. It had been almost painful, watching those people whose family bonds were so strong it was like having her own father there all over again. And that was what was wrong. She, a Yankee born and raised, had left her heart in the southland.

As she sat in the lap of luxury on her leather furniture in the upscale apartment, she found herself with the irresistible longing to return to the tiny little southern town. The smallest glimpse of a smile played on her pretty face at the mere thought of the strange place. Of all the places she had been, that odd little town had been the most entertaining, had kept her on her toes the most, and had played on her desperate sense of adventure and restlessness that had shoved its way into her since the passing of her father. And besides… he would still be there.

She let the idea that was growing in her mind tug gently at her heart. She closed her eyes as she could feel the ancient, nomadic need to wander, to get away, pull her as it had done so often over the past year. She hadn't stayed in one place for more than a week or two, and she knew eventually she would have to settle down again. But whether she was to do so here, in her hometown, was no longer as set as she had believed.

A year ago, she would have laughed at herself for even considering the notion of settling anywhere but here, and certainly for some tiny southern town that wasn't even on some maps. Could she really give up everything she had here for the life she could have instead? Opening her eyes suddenly, the girl came to a decision. There was one way to find out. She would just have to go back and see. She would go back, just for one more day. If the need to wander away dissipated, she would not return to New York.

Years ago, she wouldn't have even considered doing what she was about to do. Jumping to her feet decisively, the girl snatched up the phone and dialed the familiar number. It rang only twice before being picked up.

"Hello, sir, it's me again. No sir, I'm afraid I won't be back to work yet for quite some time….Yes, sir. I realize that, sir. When am I coming back?" She paused, wondering at her own daring. "Well, sir, I'll be honest. I may not be. That's what I'm going to find out right now. I'll check back in later to let you know." Slamming down the phone, the girl started heading for the door, but stopped as she reached the fish bowl. Rolling her eyes, she grabbed the bowl, carried the fish to the bathroom, and flushed them down. Not bothering to wash out the bowl itself, she picked up her bags, which had yet to be unpacked, and left the apartment without a backwards glance.