AN I know I'm a little early with this update but I couldn't wait to put it up and get feedback. Plus it will tide you over if Gilmoregirl or I can't update for a while. Ideas and constructive criticism are as always welcome Onward with Chapter 4!

A Send Off And A Second Chance

"I'd love to know what brilliant fool decided to hide my stuff", someone yelled from the top floor. "My flight is in five hours and as we all know it takes forever to get through the security checkpoints!" Crashing could be heard around the Camden house as Annie and Eric tried to help Ruthie locate the luggage she had used when she went to Scotland in the first place. "Those things didn't just grow legs and run away Ruthie honey", Annie consoled her gently. "Which means they have got to be around here somewhere."

"That's it!" Sam complained throwing his pencil down. "It too loud to think in this place let alone do math!"

"That will teach you not to leave homework until the last twenty minutes before school Monday morning", said Simon bopping each of his ten-year-old brothers on the head as he came through the kitchen making some of the milk from their cereal bowls slop over.

"We don't need to know the order of operations." David protested massaging his temple. "Matt and Sarah already know that stuff. They're doctors." Simon laughed. "That's true but they went to medical school for a long time to learn all that stuff." The boys raised their eyebrows looking at each other worriedly. "They don't let fourth graders into medical school do they?" Sam asked.

"'Fraid not", Simon replied, "but I think I can help. The order of operations is simple if you just learn the sentence: Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally."

"We don't have an Aunt Sally", David pointed out. But secretly he second guessed himself glancing unsure between Sam and Simon. It had happened before. His mind's eye flashed back to the day when Grandpa Charles visited to tell Annie that she had a half-sister—the kids' Aunt Lily—from an extramarital affair Charles had a long ago. "We don't have an Aunt Sally do we?"

"No", Simon answered. "That is just one of those funny little sentences people use to remember things, like the order of operations: Parentheses Exponents Multiplication Division Addition Subtraction. Easy huh?"

"Yeah", David agreed. "Piece of cake."

"How many more of those memory thingamajigs do you got?" Sam wanted to know. "We have a history test after lunch and we spent all night playing PS3 at our friend Nick's house"

"Nice going Sam," David hissed through his teeth as Simon raised his eyebrows reproachfully. He wondered how his brothers would ever survive college with study habits like that, then began to wonder when he had started to sound like Eric than he ever thought he would. "Simon?" the twins called waving in front of his eyes. "You aren't going to rat us out Mom are you?"

"Well it's your lucky day Lindy. Mom, Dad and I have to get Ruthie to the airport for her 1:00pm flight back to Scotland. That means you have an extra twenty minutes to work on the bus ride." As if on cue, a horn could be heard a block or two in the distance.

"Boys you've got to get a move on!" Annie's voice floated down two flights of stairs as she helped Ruthie empty her dresser drawers into the finally found suitcases.

"We are Mom", they promised speaking as one unit. "Bye Ruthie, we love you."

"Love you too", Ruthie shouted "See you guys soon."

"Have a nice day you guys", Simon said ushering Sam and David out the door as he handed them two brown-bagged lunches. After his brothers left Simon decided to wait out the of free time he had before accompanying his little sister to the airport by looking through the Internet classifieds. Simon had been thinking for a long time, now that he was twenty (almost twenty-one) and had a college degree it was time to stop leeching off his parents (though if Annie ever knew how he felt she would insist that her baby boy could never be considered a leech) and move out. But last time he checked apartments and townhouses cost money, which required a job. If he were lucky there would be an open apartment in a neighborhood close to the Lodge so he could see Deena as much as he liked. There it was again. Just thinking her name made her remember last night when they finally confessed how much they had missed each other. It had been so sweet to finally say out loud but the rational side of his brain was screaming warnings right and left not to rush into any relationship too quickly.

Simon was so caught in the moment that the cordless was on its second ring before he even heard it. Having a gut feeling as to who it was he rushed to intercept the call before one of his parents could pick up the other line. "Just keep them busy for one more minute please Ruth", he pleaded with his sister quietly. "Please."

"What'd you say?" Deena's sweet voice asked. Simon started realizing he had spoken out loud.

"Just that we're lucky Mom and Dad are helping Ruthie find something", his explanation tumbling out. "Deena you really shouldn't have called the house phone. What if someone besides Ruthie or me had picked up?"

"I know but I wanted to talk to you. I keep thinking about last night. We should go for it Simon we should try again because life may not give us a third chance."

"I feel the same way but Deena we can't just jump into this headfirst like this—it isn't rational."

"So? Love isn't rational Simon. I saw you twice: yesterday and last night, and there was something there, I felt it. Do you know why I came back here Simon?"

"Lucy said it was for your dad's wedding."

"We yes, of course but… I know it sounds selfish but you were at least a small part. I came to church yesterday morning because I was hoping to see you. I think I still love you, Simon! Don't you think you could love me?

"I don't know. I think I could. Trust me, Deena, I want to—I really want to. Think about it though… we haven't seen each other in eight years. Things can change a heck of a lot in eight years."

A buzzing noise alerted the two that someone else had joined in on the conversation from upstairs. Simon held his breath nervously. "Cool it you two", Ruthie advised in a hiss. "I really need to hightail it to the airport now or risk losing my flight. Besides Mom and Dad are starting to get suspicious of where you are!" Simon cursed at her in his mind, he really did want to keep talking—if not to iron out the confusing details of the last twenty or so hours—than just to hear her voice.

"I've got to go now", he admitted reluctantly. "Let's meet for dinner tonight and talk, get to know each other again."

"Simon, you need to hustle it up son!" Eric commanded. "If you're planning to see your sister off we need to leave in five minutes."

"Coming Dad", he replied before turning his attention back to the angel on the other end of the line. "Where do you want to meet? How about The Varsity, say 7:30. Okay I'll see you soon. Bye."

Hanging up the cordless, Simon sprinted out to the van where his parents and Ruthie were waiting impatiently. Eric had already started the engine.

"Who was that on the phone?" was the first thing out of Annie's mouth.

"No particular person", Simon answered, quickly thinking as he went. He moved a suitcase out of the way, and hoisted himself into the car. "I've been looking for a job lately but not many people will trust a kid fresh out of college with their money these days. A friend's mom works at Sparrow Bridge National Bank and she said there are a couple openings for tellers. She promised to put in a good word for me at work today."

"That would be wonderful son!" Eric said enthusiastically, putting on the brake as the car pulled up to a red light.

"Yeah pretty awesome", Simon agreed halfheartedly. He cast a surreptitious look at Ruthie who was staring at her lap, immensely interested all of the sudden in the loose thread on her skirt. "Jeez sis", he laughed. "With as many shoes as you brought you must be hoping to clothe half of the homeless population in Scotland!" Ruthie reached over to slap him sticking out her tongue.

Eric gazed into the rear view mirror reproachfully as he took Exit 983 off the highway and began to circle the airport's full lot. "Your mother and I have always tried to teach you that charity begins at home but philanthropy is something that should never get lost in translation."

"Very true", said Annie. "Eric that family's pulling out", she added pointing to an emptying spot.

"I'm on it", her husband responded, parking the car. Simon was about to remind them that he had only been joking around but stopped, it was almost impossible to fight off both his parents at the same time.

Annie swiveled around in her seat to face Ruthie who was anxiously looking at her watch for the umpteenth time. "Don't worry honey", she promised. "Three hours is plenty of time" Ruthie didn't hear her mother because she was too busy searching hysterically through the many pockets of her duffel. "Damn it", she muttered

"Ruth Jennifer Camden!" Eric scolded severely.

"What is it?" Simon asked, bounding up so fast he hit his head on the roof of the car, and doing so employed a few choice words of his own earning a glare from his father.

"I left my boarding slip on the kitchen counter", Ruthie groaned.

Simon jaw dropped. "Okay well… don't panic. Let's just drive back and get it."

"We don't have time to drive back", his father replied. "Not if your sister plans on making her flight. Ruthie, I told you to make sure you had it!"

"I'm so sorry Dad!"

"Don't raise your voice to your father", Annie reprimanded sharply. Placing a calming hand on her husband's shoulder she snapped into problem solving mode. "Simon's right honey," she added to Eric in an undertone, "Panicking doesn't help anyone. Simon help your sister look for her boarding slip while you unload and meet your father and I at security in ten minutes."

"All right." Simon popped the trunk and came around the car to meet Ruthie at the luggage pile.

Ruthie waited until her parents were out of earshot to catch his eye. "Sorry about your head", she apologized

"It's okay", he replied letting out a big oomph as he set down the heaviest backpack. "But I'm assuming you didn't leave your boarding pass on the kitchen counter?"

"Nope", she affirmed with a sly half smile. "Don't worry I'll "find" it later. I just wanted a minute alone with you before I leave. So tell me about this "job interview" of yours."

"I'm meeting her at The Varsity for dinner at 7:30."

His sister nodded approvingly. "What else?"

"Well I was thinking of maybe taking a walk by The Bluff, you know if it isn't too crowded." Aha. Ruthie wasn't fooled for a second. Everybody with straw for brains knew that no one simply "walked by" The Bluff. The Bluff was a spot just out of town were the smooth stone perch stuck out just far enough for people to stick their feet in the bay and watch the moon.

She smiled—when she was sure he wasn't looking—it was nice to see Simon so happy again just five short days after his epic fail of a graduation party. (Though considering the drastic change in her brother's mood the time when he loved Rose much less lamented her loss seemed a lifetime away) But it sounded to Ruthie like Deena was the one person who could make Simon smile again. It was nice to see him finally with a woman he deserved.

*~*~*~*~*

Five hours later Simon was laughing to himself as he cleared the supper dishes. The day had been interesting to say the least. Annie and Eric had so relieved when Ruthie miraculously found her boarding pass and ticket, which were supposedly stuffed in Simon's coat pocket for safekeeping. After that the three bystanders took turns giving Ruthie a suffocating hug. She promised a sobbing Annie that she would come home for the Thanksgiving/Christmas holidays and told them to give everyone her love. Simon had to help Eric surgically loosen his mother's hold but not before Ruthie gave her word that she would call home as soon as her plane touched down in Scotland. As his sister went off with her friends from the exchange program Simon swore he saw her wink at him and whisper "Good luck" when their parents had turned away.

Missing dinner was a closer call than Simon had hoped for but he made the excuse that he was meeting his friend at The Varsity to hear about his future employment and didn't want to be full. Gazing at his watch as he dried the last dish Simon realized it was already 7:10 and dashed into the front hall to get his coat.

"We're crossing our fingers for you"; Lucy called from the living room where she and Annie were having a cup of coffee while Sam and David played Candy Land with Savannah. It was Kevin's night to put little Kevvy Junior to bed.

"Thanks," Simon replied. "I'll need it."

*~*~*~*~*

It wasn't until he and Deena were in a booth at The Varsity that Simon had the opportunity to glance around the restaurant thankful that none of father blabby parishioners had chosen tonight to dine out. Those people would rip his job alibi to shreds in nothing flat.

"But that doesn't matter now", he reminded himself looking at Deena in her white blouse and periwinkle skirt, her honey-colored hair slightly wavy. "Your out with an angel."

"Do I have something on my face", Deena laughed nervously, blushing a bit as she took a ketchup-covered fry from the plate the departing waiter had put in front of them.

"No, no, no," Simon assured her. "Everything's fine."

"I can't believe you already graduated from college", she said nostalgically sipping her Coke. "You seem so much more mature than me."

"Not by that much, you only have a semester of vet school left. Did you know Matt and his wife Sarah are doctors?"

"Really that's great!" It sounded like she really meant it too; one of many awesome things about Deena was that she always seemed genuinely interested in whatever Simon found to babble about. He chewed his burger savoring that warm feeling in the pit of his stomach.

"Yeah, well you know my Uncle Hank is the gynecologist that delivered Matt, Sam and David. He got Matt a job at the hospital and Matt loved it, not at first but eventually. Now Matt works side by side with him. Sarah is a pediatrician. They have twin toddlers, Jamie and Johnny. What made you want to become a vet?"

She shifted to look at him, finishing the last of the drink. "When my dad and I moved away, your dad referred us to somebody he knew up in Baltimore, Reverend Hanley. The year I was sixteen Dr. Bailey from the hospital in Baltimore said if I was still in remission this checkup she would release me out of pediatrics and I would continue to see the doctor there who specialized in treating adults. I was terrified that the leukemia would come back and I would be treated with the babies forever. Besides that, everything that I—and everybody who rooted for me—worked for would fall apart. Reverend Hanley suggested I do something to service others so I started working at the animal shelters around town. I've been in remission now for thirteen years."

"That's great", Simon cried. By this time tears were welling up in her eye and people were staring at Simon like he was some sort of monster. He felt guilty for even mentioning vet school, knowing that Deena's leukemia was a touchy subject.

"Check please", he hailed the waiter, deciding in was best to get out of here with some of his dignity and her pride intact.

The weather was chilly for a night in late May, Simon noticed seeing goose bumps rising on his date's arm. "Here take my coat", he offered wrapping it around her shoulders. "I can take you back to the hotel now…if you want me to."

Deena shook her head. "No thanks, Charlotte's there forcing my dad to help her with the wedding plans. She has a binder like five inches thick. Besides I want to hang out with you some more"

"You do?" he cried. "Even after I made you cry."

Deena laughed, like a thousand wind chimes. "You think you were the one who made me cry! Simon that's crazy."

"It is?"

"Yes! Anyway I was crying because, in that moment—back there at the restaurant—I was so happy. Being in remission, it's the greatest, most natural high ever. I feel as if I'm floating, like nothing bad can ever happen to me again. Just before we left Baltimore, Dr. Bailey called, she told me based on this year's test results she was almost assuredly optimistic that the leukemia was gone for good. That's when I convinced my dad and Charlotte to get married here—by your dad because I wanted to tell him and you the good news! Besides, it was perfect because Charlotte had been begging us to see where I grew up for the longest time." She laughed again, hoarser this time as she caught her breath.

Simon stayed silent for a while even after Deena finished trying to find words that could accurately express his happiness but there were none. She waited patiently but he didn't say anything. Instead Simon picked her up right there on the public sidewalk and began spinning her around and around until she burst out laughing. He wanted to hold on to her, to touch her tenderly and never let her go but he stopped himself. There had to be something more than that to this relationship because Deena meant more to him than any girlfriend he'd had in a long, long time.

He laughed with her, finally setting her on her feet again. "Okay", he gasped still regaining his composure. "What do you want to do?"

"It's so pretty when the sun sets"; Deena whispered gazing at the fading pink of the western sky. "Will you watch it with me Simon? We can head over to The Bluff now and we wont miss it."

Simon nodded. "The Bluff it is." Intertwining his fingers with hers they made it to The Bluff in record time. Miraculously for a night in late spring they were the only couple there but Simon couldn't help being a little thankful for that. Deena oohed softly kicking her bare ankles in the bay. Simon reached over grabbing two flat white pebbles and handed one to her. "You know Lucy and Mary told me once that if you skip a stone into the bay just as the sun sets you get a wish."

Deena turned to him raising her eyebrows. The sun's final light glinted brilliantly off of her blond hair. "Simon Camden is this some kind of trick?"

"Knowing my sisters it may've been but I never tried it out. You want to?"

Deena shrugged. "Why not?" Just as the sun set the two stones rippled through the bay's still water.

"Wanna tell me what you wished for?" Deena asked quietly.

Simon shook his head defiantly. "You and I both know that's against the rules. I want my wish to come true."

"Can you show me?" Deena persisted, she had a strange feeling she knew what the wish would be and no one was more surprised than her when the next words she spoke came out uncharacteristically seductive. "Pretty please? "

Simon huffed in fake-exasperation. "I guess so", he sighed theatrically, "what the heck! When did I ever pay attention to rules before?" With that he leaned toward her his head slightly cocked. "Deena will you…?" Before he could finish her lips met his halfway. After a few seconds of mutual enjoyment they broke away…too soon in Simon's opinion. "So?" He waited.

"Yes Simon I'll be your girlfriend."

Halleluiah! Halleluiah! Sappy I know but I couldn't wait to make them officially together. For all of you Ruthie fans don't give up on us. She hasn't disappeared completely; her part will just become indirect as the story gets more Simeena-centric. As always review pretty please.