Author's Note: Okay, sis, I was just trying to joke. But that's hard to do through the computer. Any way! Where were we? Oh yeah! The movie! Well, we'll skip ahead to the next day!

Nicole's Prov

I groaned and rolled over, which meant rolling over onto the floor. "Ow!"

"Huh? What?" Pein sat up to my thud. Everyone else had already gotten up, so Ellie ran in.

"Are you okay, Nikki? Pein, did you hit her?" She got out her evil eyes on Pein.

"I'm fine. I just fell off the couch." I sat up rubbing my head. I got up. "Is there any food?"

"Yeah, we have breakfast." Ellie started back towards the kitchen. I waited until Pein stood up before taking his hand and going to the kitchen.

"What we got?" I asked. There were pancakes and bacon and eggs and omelets. "Wow. You went all out." Ellie shrugged and grabbed two plates for Pein and me. I took two pancakes, several strips of bacon, and on omelet. Everyone was waiting for me to decide what to do today when I sat down to eat.

"So? Where are we going today?" Marller asked excitedly, sitting down in front of me I looked up with half of a pancake hanging out of mouth. I choked down what was in my mouth and let the rest drop to the plate.

"Ellie, how about you decide?" I looked sideways at my sister right as her eyes got huge.

"Let's go to the park down the street! It's real pretty!" She smiled hopefully at me.

"Sure! When we're done eat-" I looked over at Pein's empty plate, "-ting. Not helpin' me here." He shrugged and went to get dressed after putting his plate in the kitchen. I sighed and finished off my last bacon strip, looking longingly at my now empty plate.

"I remember when the food was still there. Good times." I said wistfully. Ellie laughed at me and took care of plate, sending me off to my room to get dressed.

I chose a black tank top with Sasori and Deidara posing on it and black cargo pants. Pein put on some khaki pants and a random white t-shirt. We rushed down the stairs to see everyone waiting.

"Well, let's go!" Ellie rushed us out the door. As soon as she was walking in the bright and shining sun she sighed contentedly. "What a beautiful day!" I laughed as she stuck out her arms and spun around, smiling up at the sun.

I smiled sadly at her. She looked just like she did when she was 8.

"Ha ha! Look at me Mommy!" Ellie called out.

"You look ready to take on world!" Mom's sweet, warm voice rang out behind me, and she rushed forward to pick Ellie up and spin around.

"Hey, you three! Don't get too far ahead!" My Dad laughed and I looked over my shoulder to see his bright smile.

"Don't worry Dad! We're not going anywhere!" I called with a chuckle. He was weighed down with chairs and umbrellas, everything we needed for the perfect day. He just dropped everything when we got to the park, right then and there, and watched my mom chase Ellie.

Ellie squealed with delight when Mom grabbed her from behind, her smile warm enough to melt the sun. I leaned against my dad's leg as we watched, and I felt his warm and callused hand in mine.

"What are you thinking about?" Pein looked down at me, and his hand squeezed mine.

"Just my parents." I sighed. "She acts just like she did when she was 8." I gestured to Ellie, who was running from Sasori, who grabbed her from behind. Just like Mom.

"Hey. Sometimes we all need to relax and act like children." He smiled at me. "I'm sure your parents were wonderful people."

I nodded, looking down at my feet. "They would like you. They liked everybody. And everybody liked them." We caught up with Ellie, so I stopped talking.

"Just like old times, huh?" She asked playfully. I forced a smile.

"Yep. Just like old times." Painstakingly like old times.

"Hey, come on!" Ellie grabbed my free hand and pulled me over to the swing set, dragging along Pein and Sasori. She put me on one of the swings and plopped down on the other. "Push us!"

"Ellie!" I laughed. "We're not little kids!"

"So! It's romantic!" Ellie laughed with me. Pein and Sasori started pushing us on the swings, which only caused us to laugh more. We flew higher and higher, until I was sure I could touch the clouds. Pein gave an extra hard push, and I almost flew off.

"Stop!" I squealed. He pushed harder again, and I laughed. "Stop! Stop, Dad, stop!" When I realized what I had said, I stopped smiling. It was like someone had hit me square on chest, and the breath left my lungs. "Stop!" I shrieked. Pein stopped the swing and I stumbled away, tears now streaming down my cheeks.

I think he called out my name, and I think Ellie did, too. But I didn't hear them. I stumbled blindly on through the reserved trees, hiding myself deeper and deeper in the forest. It was like I never really cried over my parents; never really missed them. I only thought I did.

Someone had flipped a switch on me. They had hit me squarely in the heart, and pulled a few strings in the process.

I leaned up against a tree, holding onto its rough bark for dear life. The tears never stopped all the while, and I was sure I would drown in my own sadness.

"Nicole!" Pein cried. He ran up to me and wrapped his arms around me. I buried my face in his chest, staining his shirt in the process.

"He always swung me too high." I whispered. My dad's smiling face flashed before my eyes. "He always did."

Pein just nodded, stroking my hair and hugging me close. "It's okay."

"No! It's not!" I pulled away from him, fresh tears on my cheeks. I looked up at him with mixed emotions. I was sad, angry, pathetic, pleading. "They're gone! They're really gone! As long as they're not here, nothing's okay!"

My mental breakdown was interrupted by Ellie's shrill scream.

"Ellie!" I yelled back. I started running in the direction that I heard her scream. Her high E. "Ellie!"

"Over here!" She replied. I saw a dot that looked like her jumping up and down waving. When I reached her, she was pale as porcelain. She was pointing down at a body. Female. She was facing up; lying on her back on the dirt. I stared down in horror at the disfigured remains.

"Mom!?!"

Drama! Cliffy! What will happen next? Woo! Long chapter, finally! So, what do you think? Be honest. Am I a good drama writer?

Ellie: My sister does not own Erin, Avery, or the Akatsuki. But I think I'm giving Marller to her. I might. Oh, by the way, will you ever explain what happened to our parents in your story?

Me: I will next chapter, so be on the lookout! Bye!