DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THE LABYRINTH IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM
"I don't even know why I keep this," said Sarah as she worked on fixing her flower beds after the storm from last night. "It almost seems like I spend too much time fixing this thing then I do enjoying it!" Suddenly her daughter ran in front of her and onto a stone. Sarah groaned.
"Through Dangers Untold And Hardships Unnumbered I Have Fought My Way To The Castel Beyond The Goblin City To Take Back The Child That You Have Stolen! For My Will Is As Strong As Your And My Kingdom As Great! You Have No Power Over Me!" Crystal shouted from her perch.
"The goblin king may not have any power over you, but I your mother you do," said Sarah, "Don't you have homework? Go do it."
"Ah but Mom," said Crystal.
"Go," said Sarah.
Crystal groaned before looking up at the sky.
"Do you think it's going to storm again tonight?" she asked.
"Oh I doubt it," said Sarah, "And even if it does I'll be here tonight. It's not like I have a party or anything tonight."
"How did it go anyway?" asked Crystal.
"Hmm, about as same as any other party I had for a book," said Sarah.
"I liked this one. This one was real exciting," said Crystal.
"Honey you say that about all my books," said Sarah.
"Well they are all good," said Crystal.
"Thanks honey," said Sarah, "Go do your homework."
Crystal groaned and was about to head to the porch steps when she heard the sound of a car pulling up. She looked over towards the driveway and smiled as a cop car pulled up.
"Brain!" she shouted happily running towards him as he climbed out of his car.
"Hey how's it going?" he asked scooping her up, "how are you doing kid?"
"I'm all right," said Crystal.
"Good to hear, where's your mom?" he asked.
"I'm here," said Sarah walking over to him. Brain smiled at her. "What brings you by?"
"I came to see how the party went," said Brain.
"It went fine," said Sarah.
"I'm sorry I couldn't make it, but you know," said Brain.
"Yeah," said Sarah. The two of them had been on and off boyfriend and girlfriend for so many years. It had never really gotten to serious between them. Most people contributed it to the fact that Sarah was still grieving for her dead husband. Sarah just let them think that. It was better then explaining the real reason, that she still had unresolved feelings towards her daughter's real father the goblin king. She was happy that at least that through it all she and Brain had been friends not matter what happened. Brain sense there was something else in her life that kept her from wanting to be more serious with him, but he didn't want to push it. That and Brian was still really dedicated to his job as a cop and didn't want to risk getting too serious with anyone because of that. He too was happy enough most of the time with their relationship. Crystal was really found of him too. He was there for her when she needed a father figure in her life like for Father and Daughter dances or something like that. However he never tried pushed it too much. He didn't want her or Sarah to think he was trying replacing her real father.
"Did you catch any bad guys last night Brain?" asked Crystal.
"Do you really want to know how bad it was?" asked Brain.
"Yeah!" said Crystal.
"He can tell you after you got your homework done," said Sarah.
"You didn't get your homework done?" asked Brain.
"I was going to," said Crystal.
"You better get to it," said Brain putting her down, "You know sometimes not filling out the right paper work can get a person arrested."
"Not uh," said Crystal.
"Yeah huh," said Brain, "So you should get going."
"Fine," Crystal muttered as she headed to the house.
Sarah shook her head.
"She reminds me of myself at that age," she said before turning and hugging Brain "So last night went okay for you?"
"I'm still alive and in one piece aren't I?" asked Brain, "Oh but guess what? I may be getting promoted to detective soon."
"Oh that's great!" said Sarah, "Do did you want to stay for dinner, or do you have to get back?"
"No I can stay," said Brain as the two walked to the house. As they neared the porch, an owl appeared from no where and swooped over his head.
"Ah!" Brain shouted ducking just in time, "Its seems like almost every time I come to visit that thing attacks me!"
"Yeah that thing could stand to fly around somewhere else for a while!" said Sara looking over at the bird in the tree mad.
"So anyway, now what's going to happen with you and this new book?" asked Brain as he helped Sarah make dinner.
"The usual, book tours, signing, interviews that sort of thing," said Sarah.
"Oh," said Brain.
"What?" asked Sarah.
"Nothing," said Brain turning his attention back to the food he was making.
"What were thinking?" asked Sarah.
"I was thinking that this Mac n' cheese could use some more breadcrumbs," said Brain not turning around to look at her.
"Brain," said Sarah, "Talk!"
"I just can't help but think that Crystal starting to get upset about how much you're gone," said Brain.
"I'm not gone that often," said Sarah.
"Uh well," said Brain.
"I'm not!" Sarah insisted.
"Okay, so where's the first part of the book tour going to be?" asked Brain.
"Un New York," Sarah muttered.
"I'm sorry I didn't hear that," said Brain.
"NEW YORK!" Sarah shouted.
"Ah-ha!" said Brain.
"New York, what's so special about New York all of a sudden?" asked Crystal.
"I have to go there for the first part of my book tour when summer comes," said Sarah.
"Oh," moaned Crystal as she went and climbed up onto a stool near the counter. Brain looked at Sarah and raised his eyebrow.
"Well it's not I'm going by myself. I was going to take you with me if you want to come," said Sarah.
"Hmm," said Crystal not sounding all too happy about it.
"Don't you want to go to New York?" asked Sarah.
"We went there last year though," said Crystal nodding towards a picture of the two of them and Tobey in front of the Statue of Liberty.
"Yeah and we had such a good time," said Sarah.
"Hmm, and then where are we going after that, San Francisco again?" asked Crystal.
"Uh no, there's a stop in Chicago first," said Sarah.
"Great the Windy City, Maybe I'll loose my hat again," said Crystal.
"Well?" said Brain turning back to the Mac 'n cheese.
"Well if you don't want to come sweetheart maybe you can stay here with your grandparents," said Sarah.
"What about Uncle Tobey?" asked Crystal.
"He's going with me on the tour this time," said Sarah.
"Oh," Crystal moaned.
"Well maybe Brain can watch you?" asked Sara looking over at him. Crystal perked up at that and looked over at him.
"Uh well, as much I would like to, I'm not sure that's not such a good idea. I'm doing a lot of night shifts lately remember? That's why I couldn't be at the party or watch her last night," Brain pointed out as he carried the pot over to the counter.
"So I'll have to stay with Grandma and Grandpa?" asked Crystal.
"They're not that bad," said Sarah.
"Yeah they are, especially Grandma," said Crystal.
"There are worse people then your Grandma," said Sarah pulling out the chicken out from the oven.
"Oh yeah," said Brain.
"Why do you have to go at all?" asked Crystal.
"Its kind of my job," said Sarah, "If my books are doing good it means I get paid remember?"
"Yeah that's all that matters," said Crystal, "You'll probably be leaving a lot sooner anyway before school gets out."
"Crystal, don't act like this please," said Sarah, "Most kids would like to get to travel around like this."
"Yeah but most kids also still get a chance to stay home for a while with their parents too," said Crystal.
"Honey," said Sarah.
"I just want to be a normal kid," said Crystal.
Sarah bit her lip as she started serving the chicken.
'Yeah normal," she muttered. Just then she heard her phone ringing and walked off to answer it.
"Is it wrong for me to not want to travel a lot?" asked Crystal once her mother was out of the room.
"Nah, some people don't travel around that much," said Brain.
Just then Sarah walked back into the room.
"Who was it?" asked Brain.
"Alex, she wanted to ask me if I could go to New York tomorrow instead because she was able to get my first interview with the Today Show there," said Sarah.
Crystal slammed her hands down on the counter.
"I knew it! I knew you'd leave a lot sooner!" she snapped before getting up and running out of the room mad.
