Aly and Tina watched Blake and Lucas leave the house, get into their car, and drive off. Then Aly turned to Tina.

"Did you two...?" she asked, leaning against the kitchen counter.

"I don't want to talk about it, Aly." Tina pouted. She walked to the fridge and pulled out a container of orange juice.

"I'm your best friend-" Aly said, concern clouding her voice.

"Just...don't." Tina sighed, pouring out a glass of the juice and taking a quick sip. Aly shook her head, opting to leave her best friend alone for a while and walked down the hallway in search of her uncle.

"Grant! You can come back in now." she yelled, peeking into his room. He was sitting at the computer, browsing through something on Amazon.

"He's gone right? I don't have to beat anyone up? Cos my head is killing me-"

Aly laughed, "He's gone, Grant."

"Good. I'm going to the gym." he started to get up, turning off the screen while keeping the computer running.

"I... don't think that's a good idea." Aly muttered. Her uncle looked at her, shrugged, and decided to ignore her, walking out the door and downstairs.

"Holy fucking-" he started. Aly looked ashamed.

"Itoldyounottowalkinthere." she said quickly, the words blurring into one another.

"Alyana Cameron Goode you go and call your father-"

"Can't- sorry, break up crisis, I uh- yeah." she said quickly. Anything to evade the wrath of daddy.

"Who broke up?" Grant asked, interested.

"Well, Jayden and I did last night because I kissed Lucas, but like, um, Blake and Tina just broke up, you know, it's twisted."

Grant stared, "Wait- you and Jayden broke up?"

"Yeah, he was groping some other chi-"

"He was cheating on you?"

"No biggie, I do it all the time-"

"Wait. You cheat on him all the time?"

"Well, yeah, kind-"

"What do you mean? I raised you so you could be good. Not turn into this type of kid."

She snorted, "You hardly raised me, Uncle Grant. I practically raised myself."

"No wonder why you're so bad." he stated, mystified.

"I know. I'm proud of it. I did an okay job, right?" she grinned.

"Well, I wouldn't say ok."

"What did you just say?"

"I meant, I would say it's more than ok."

"Thanks, Grant." she started to walk away, but paused when she heard some muttering.

"Fucking girl just burned me."

"Umm I'm sorry, What did you just say?" she spoke up. Grant's head snapped around, looking sheepish. He gave her an innocent smile and she turned to walk away, rolling her eyes.

"Fucking daughter of Zach's." Another mutter.

"Excuse me?"

"What?"

"Did you just say something?"

"No. Ignore me."

"That's right, I'm his daughter do you have a prob-" she got cut off when she heard a knock on the door. Curious, she walked down and opened it. The sunlight blared in her eyes, turning her half blind.

"Who the fu- Aunt Abby!" she screamed, running into her aunt's arms. Abby hugged her back with equal enthusiasm.

"Hey squirt, what's up?"

"Uh, I, nothing..."

"Can I come in?"

"No, um, Aly and I were having a food fight and-"

"Why does it smell like alcohol in here?"

"Uncle Grant."

Abby muttered something incoherent as Grant appeared at the door and gave Aly a death stare.

"Grant Newman? As in Grant Newman from high school?" Abby asked, inspecting Grant with interested eyes.

"Yeah. Hey Abby." Grant blushed. As in, actual blushing.

"You still have to call me Ms. Cameron, you know?"

"Ok fine."

"So, uh, why does Aly call you Aunt Abby? Shouldn't it be Great Aunt Abby?" Grant asked, leading her into the house and leaving Aly to close the door. He smirked when she narrowed her eyes at him.

"No, it's Aunt Abby."

"I don't want to call her great aunt? Jokes about being old are reserved for you!" Aly said, sauntering down the hall into the kitchen. Grant rolled his eyes.

"So, your Dad called, um, he said bring your friend, we're going somewhere." Abby said, settling into a stool at the kitchen bench. She winked at Aly and Tina.

"Where?"

"I can't tell you. Grant, get your stuff too- and bring a suit." she commanded. Grant grumbled and shuffled into his room, closing the door with a soft thud.

"I'm still mildly curious; I have a break-up to deal with, Aunt..." Aly started, getting cut off again by Abby. She and Tina stared at each other, each wondering what was happening.

"That can wait. We have to go."

"Why? Is this some sort of evacuation thing?" Aly grumbled, starting for her room, Tina trailing behind her. She was still a bit nervous around Abby, no matter how many of Aly's family gatherings she'd been to.

"What?" Abby questioned.

"No. Don't worry."

"Abby! My suit's at the dry cleaners." Grant yelled through his open door. He'd opened it a while ago to walk out and then back in when he thought he'd left his shoes outside.

"Fucking worthless piece of shit..." Abby muttered, grabbing her phone.

"Abby Cameron, language." Grant cautioned. "There're children here," he said, gesturing to Aly who raised her eyebrows.

"Yes, it's English, learn to speak it." she snapped back.

"We'll get you a suit when we get there." Aly said, holding out a credit card.

"Ca-ching." Grant grinned.

"Uh, I'm gonna go ... get Tina." Aly said slowly, getting off the stool she was sitting on.

"Wasn't she standing right here?" Grant asked, confused.

"She was, wasn't she. I wonder- Oh right. The bathroom." Aly said, rushing out of the room. Anything to get away from those two.

The pair watched as Aly dashed off into the hallway.

"I'm getting tired of keeping stuff from her. She deserves to know." Abby said, sighing, "and I'm tired of having to act like I don't know anything about her mother when I'm here. And I'm tired of acting stupid all the time."

Grant blinked, "When are you gonna get married? What are you? 45? Roughly?"

"42. All of the guys these days are dickheads, like yourself."

"Bitch.." Grant muttered.

"Excuse me?"

"Nothing."

"Where exactly are we going?" Tina asked, emerging from the bathroom and wringing her hands. She walked across the room and sat by her suitcase which was overflowing with clothing.

"I really have no idea. None at all." Aly shrugged, walking over and closing hers. She picked it up and started to drag it to the door. "You coming?"

"Of course, duh," Tina smiled. "I needed to get away anyway. Any guesses as to where we're going?"

"Well, my guess is Tokyo, but I don't know.." Aly mumbled, remembering where her dad had said he was going. "I'm going to go and raid Grant's closet, alright? And then maybe my dad's."

"Why?" Tina questioned, confused.

"I need to find a tux. Knowing Grant, he's going to pick out something that's over my $5000 a day limit."

Tina laughed, "Yeah, sure."

Aly walked down the hall, into her dad's room, and towards to desk. She opened the first drawer and fumbled around for the small, hidden button. Finding it, she pressed it once, and the entire bottom of the drawer slid away to reveal a small touch number pad. Pressing in the combination, Aly sighed as she watched another screen slide away. Her father's most treasured memories were there.

She picked up a locket, dangling it from its chain. Opening, it she studied the picture. It was a picture of a brunette girl, roughly 17. She was beautiful, but not the kind that pops out like a model's. It was the kind of beauty that you have to look carefully at to notice. She knew why her dad had fallen for her. She was something special, alright.

"Hi, mum," Aly whispered. She touched the picture inside for a while, but quickly closed it and stuffed it into her pocket before anyone realised she was in the room. She stood up, locked everything back in place, and walked over to her dad's closet. She studied the vast range of tuxes hanging in there. She noticed a dark gray one, and pulled out the bag, hanging it over her shoulder as she kicked the door close with her foot and started for the kitchen.

"All set?" Abby asked when she emerged. Tina and Grant were both bickering about something while Abby sipped some water out of a glass. Grant's head whipped up when he saw the tux, and his face fell.

"I wanted a new tux! Not one of Zach's hand-me-downs." he cried, standing up. Aly shrugged, handing him the tux while he glared at her.

"Dad's not supposed to know that you're wearing it." she said. Grant rolled his eyes.

"Let's go, guys," Abby said, laughing. They filed out the door and into Abby's sleek silver Mercedes, all of the suitcases miraculously fitting in the trunk. "To Japan!" she cheered. Grant slumped back in his seat and rolled his eyes.

Aly, in the back seat, fingered the locket in her pocket, thinking about her mother.

-crap, that was shitty. forgive me ?
-uh, another filler chapter, i have everything planned out. just need to write it.
-bleh, loved it? hate it? review and let me know :D

ps: there's going to be a surprise next chapter ;D

;tunarh.