Olivia was willing to stake her own life on the fact that Jess had been in the military before becoming a federal agent. She had to be. Most likely the Marines Olivia figured. It's in the way she stood and paced around, the way she looks at them, her cut-to-the-chase attitude, and it would explain why it was almost one in the morning and she was still drilling Olivia, Alex and Mackenzie on their new identities. However, if it was up to 'Sergeant FBI,' they would all still be standing, but about an hour into this interrogation session she quickly gave up that idea.

Now, four hours later, she and Olivia were still going strong, but Alex was fading fast and Mackenzie was just about asleep. "Jordan . . ." No answer. "Jordan, it's your turn." Still no answer. "Mackenzie."

Mackenzie jerked awake. "What?!" Jess gave her what had become known as 'the look,' but not to be confused with Alex's 'The Look!' "Come on, can't we do this in the morning or something? We've been through this fifty-thousand times . . . I know who I am. I probably know Jordan better than I ever knew Mackenzie."

"One more time."

"Really. What is it going to hurt by letting her go to bed?" Alex asked. "She obviously knows everything."

"One more time."

Mackenzie slunked back in her chair and threw her head back in defeat. "Jordan Makenna Taylor-Costa born October 28th, 4lbs. 2oz., seven weeks early to Jen Taylor and a dead-beat dad in Providence, Rhode Island. I stayed in the hospital for three weeks then went home with my mother and grandparents. I know nothing about my father, nor the details surrounding my conception because frankly, I don't wanna know. I went to preschool in Providence, then mom and me –"

Alex cleared her throat.

"Mom and I." Mackenzie corrected. "Moved again when she finished college and got a job working for the Boston Attorney General's Office." She yawned then continued pressing the agent's buttons. "So then I went to the Boston Children's School for kindergarten through fifth grade and then transferred to Salem Middle School in 6th grade and spent freshman and sophomore year at the Salem High." Mackenzie took a minute to stretch out her arms. "My mom met my other mom when we were at a family reunion in Disney World when I was 6 – That's why I had to transfer schools, because when I was 8 they decided to buy a house together in Salem, New Jersey." She got up and head toward the stairs. "And the rest is history."

"Wait a minute." Jess yelled up. "What about things you do for fun? School activities? Extra-curricular."

"I quit" Mackenzie retorted.

Jess shot a pissed off look toward Olivia. Olivia turned to Alex. "She's your daughter."

Jess turned to Alex. "Alright then mom, your turn."

Alex kicked Olivia under the table.

"Ow."

She turned to Jess and smiled. "Jennifer 'Jenn' Elizabeth Taylor born and raised on a horse breeding farm in Winslow, Arizona. I had always loved the theatre, but my parents pushed me elsewhere."

The next day and after majorly catching up on their lost sleep Jess thought it would be a good day to go out shopping, seeing as they had no clothes left and the fact that she was going to have one serious rebellion on her hands if she didn't let Olivia, Alex and Mackenzie out of the house. True she was hard on them, but it was only because she wanted them to be as safe as possible in this life with no room for question. She wouldn't let what happened before happen to this family. Not again. All baby birds need to be set free sometime.

After handing out debit cards, credit cards, checkbooks, driver's licenses, work IDs, school IDs, car keys, house keys, cell phones and about a million other important things, the foursome was well on their way. After much pleading by . . . well, mostly from Mackenzie and Alex, Jess caved and they all went out to breakfast to begin their day.

This place was so completely different from New York and everything the family was used to. It was slow paced and quiet and you could actually swallow your food without wondering just what the hell you were eating, and no one disturbed you or rushed you out of the restaurant. This would take a little getting used to, but they were determined to make the best out of it.

"Why did you pick Serendipity?" Olivia asked.

Mackenzie shrugged. "I don't know. Serendipity means finding something fortunate in sort of unexpected or unforeseen circumstances. What better to describe us? With everything that happened, we still managed to find each other and now we're all together."

Alex leaned over and hugged Mackenzie. Then Olivia came around the table and joined in. "Okay, human being here. Need oxygen"

"I like the name." Olivia agreed. "But it's going to take that old mare a while to get used to it. She's pretty stubborn."

"She's not old." Mackenzie protested.

"Well, when you're her age you can be that stubborn too Liv . . . Wait, you already are."

Olivia faked a smile and turned back to Mackenzie. "What about Lexie?"

"Chloe."

"Why?"

"I like the name." Olivia just laughed.

"Alright you three, let's set some ground rules." Jess began. "The FBI will pay for everything until the money from your mother comes in as we agreed Alex, or until you get your first month's pay - whichever may come first." Alex had been the one to bring up using the money her mother left her in the will – well, a part of it. It was a lot of money so even a third of it could support the three without her or Olivia working. Of course it was going to take a while to move the money around so it can't be traced, but they'd get it in time

"So," Jess continued. "The Bureau will fit the bill until the money comes through. Until then, go easy. We'll take the money out of your account, but . . ."

They nodded.

"This is your first time out in a public setting, so we're not going to push it. We'll make it brief. Clothes today, other stuff later. Understand?"

Silence

"Understand?"

"Ah yeah." "Got it." "Sure."

Contrary to what they previously agreed to, there was nothing brief about their first day out. They're women, so they really can't be held accountable for their shopping habits. About two hours into their outing Jess gave up running between Mackenzie and the lovebirds. Olivia and Alex mostly stayed together, but Mackenzie was usually in a whole other section. So, she found a section between everyone and parked it there and did so at every store they went into. For the next five hours.

"I don't know." Alex began. "I mean I want to, don't get me wrong, but I just don't think that this is the right time."

Olivia nodded sadly, but hid her disappointment. "I understand."

Mackenzie pulled Alex to the side. "Mom, Olivia is crazy about you. Why won't you just do this one little thing for her?"

"Because it's not just a little thing. You grew up in another generation, things are different for you. You have different views. But this will be with me for the rest of my life. It will change how people look at me, what they think of me."

Jess got up. "It's a dress, not a baby. You'll wear it once and it'll end up in the back of your closet. Now can we please go?"

Mackenzie took the dress off the rack. "She's part of that generation too."

Alex did end up purchasing the dress, if for no other reason than Olivia thought she looked absolutely breath-taking in it. And it would take up more time, thus teaching Jess to ever yell at her.

Jess had phone calls to make and paperwork to fill out when they got home so that left Alex and Olivia to bring in all the bags from Jess's tightly packed car as their only other help has sprained her ankle tripping over a curb.

"I'm just worried that I'm going to have more free time on my hands than I know what to do with." Olivia said.

"Well, we'll plan things. We'll have a date night once a week and a family night. And I doubt that Mackenzie will be up before noon if she doesn't absolutely have to, so you could take the dog out for walks in the morning since you get up before God."

Olivia grabbed another bag. "I'm sorry, who?"

Alex blinked, confused. "Jordan. Right. Sorry." She sighed. "This is going to take me a while."

"Don't worry babe, it's going to take us all a while. Why don't we finish bringing this stuff in and then break-in that hot tub?"

Alex grabbed three more bags. "Ready when you are."

Mackenzie hobbled her way down the stairs. "Hey aunt Jess."

Jess looked up from her pile of paperwork. "Hey sweetie, you come down for more meds?" Mackenzie nodded. "Here, sit down and I'll get it for you."

"Thanks." She sat down in the chair across from Jess's at the dining table. Jess placed two maroon pills and a glass of water in front of her. "Thanks."

"No problem." Jess sat back down and went right back into her work.

"Where are my parents?"

"In the hot tub."

Mackenzie put up a hand. "Enough said."

Jess smiled then put her pen down. "Jordan, can you hold down the fort for a bit?" She had an idea.

Haha...yes yes yes...a cliffhanger. But don't worry, the next chapter is WELL worth the wait. Let's just say its not for...little eyes.