I held my breath, closed my eyes, and didn't move as the plane made its final decent to Charles de Gaulle Airport after a seven long hour flight, I hadn't even looked out the window to see Paris on the approach, I was focused on keeping calm. To me the worst parts of flying besides the turbulence is taking off and landing. I get so anxious when those happen. This flight happened to have some of the worst turbulence I'd ever experienced, so much so that I was even considering the return trip home and the best way to run it instead of flying.
The plane dipped down and dropped as the wheels aimed for the runway, the tires squealed and screeched as rubber hit tarmac at an incredible speed. I gripped the seatbet as tight as I could, hoping the material would withstand my stone grip, it was better than gripping the armrest, I've damaged my fair share of those during flights and that had been someone in the family flying with me.
Finally the plane landed and made its way to the gate. It wasn't until I was sure that the plane was completely on the ground, that I felt calm enough to relax my grip on the belt and peek out the window at Paris.
The sun was just about set, so the nightlife was starting, all the buildings were aglow and I could see the red blinking lights and bright white lighthouse like light from atop the Eiffel Tower. Nothing compared to Paris at night, not even London, even in 1936 when I was last here with my family on vacation, before the war, long before many of us, especially us kids had even heard the name Adolf Hitler.
As the plane finally reached the gate, I gathered up my stuff and waited patiently to be let off the flying version of hell. Thankfully because of where my seat was located I was one of the first off. I thanked the attendant and captain as I departed, heading down the long hall to the terminal.
I made it through customs easy enough and followed the signs and my fellow travlerers to the baggage claim. The airport was bigger than I had expected and of course the signs were all in French, of course having the signs kept me from getting lost, normally much in part to my ability, I have a perfect sense of direction, but there were so many people, speaking so many different languages all herded into the airport, I kept getting swept into the hoards and pushed in the wrong direction.
I'm not sure how I even managed to hitch a ride with the right herd to get to the baggage claim. I quickly scanned around looking for my brother and sister, but didn't see either. Then I remembered that European airports had become very strict on non-passengers in the baggage area, no one except passengers, crew, and of course airport staff were allowed in the baggage claim, you had to get to the main entrance of the airport to meet up with friends, relatives, whoever was picking you up. So I watched for my bag to come around and easily yanked it off the belt. Like my clothes, the suitcase was brand new and was huge. I could have packed myself or Alice into the thing comfortable even with all my clothes.
I wheeled it down the corridor, following the gaggle of suitcases to the main area of the airport. A barrier was set up to keep non-passengers separate from passengers and at the end of barrier it opened up into the airport itself reuniting everyone. Hundreds lined the barrier calling out names and shouting to people.
I spotted Emmett right away and gently wiggled and pushed my way through the drones of people. As soon as Em saw me he grinned and waved me over to the rope separting us.
"Bonjo kid!" he said and I rolled my eyes, not even bothering to correct him.
"Hey Em!"
"Hang on Kid!" He reached over and grabbed my suitcase, lifting it over the barrier easily. Then he got this look in his eyes that I know all to well.
I closed my eyes and prepared for what came next. I felt his hands under my arms as he lifted me up and swung me over the barrier with no effort, a move that Carlisle would've killed him for.
"You could've made it look at least a little difficult."
"Naw where's the fun in that?" Em asked with a grin, which I returned as he throw his arm around my should and carried my suitcase in the other.
"You do realize it has wheels right?" I asked nodding at the obvious wheels
"Why do you want to go for a ride?" he paused "come on kid hop on it'll be fun!"
"Yeah till we get to a ramp and you let go." I shot back "forget it I'll walk."
"Suit yourself."
We moved through the crowd to where Rose was waiting, she grinned happily and reached over to hug me tight.
"We've missed you!" she said softly
"Missed you guys too."
"How was your flight?" she asked, I made a face
"Long…boring…" I shuddered "and bumpy."
"Chris were you jumping on the seats again?" Em asked tapping the brim of my hat so it covered my eyes
"Hell no, the turbulence was doing enough of the job for me."
We moved outside and I took a deep breath. I still smelt all the things associated with airports fumes mainly, but even so, Paris smelt pretty good.
The town car was waiting for us at the curb and the driver pulled open the back seat door for us before he moved to put my bags into the trunk. Rose accepted the middle seat so I could have the window as we drove through the city to the hotel, the Hotel Edouard 7 Paris Opera. Paris had changed, yet stayed the same as well. If that makes any sense.
"This your first trip to Paris?" the driver asked me in rough English.
"Non" I replied "I was here when I was about ten" the driver seemed surprised by my perfect French, I also left out that my last trip here had been sixty-nine years ago.
"Your French is very good" he complimented
"Merci!" I replied as Rose giggled and Em just looked confused.
"Well, I hope you enjoy your stay, visiting your brother and sister I understand?"
"Oui" I answered "for a week, then we're going across the channel to London, then onto Germany for a couple days."
"Ah touring Europe then?"
"Sort of."
We pulled in front of the hotel that Em and Rose and picked out and had been staying at since yesterday.
The bell hop opened the door and I slid out before he held his hand out to help Rose from the car, while another got my bags to put on the cart.
"thank you for driving us." I said to the driver while Em gave him a tip
"you are very welcome, I hope you folks have a wonderful time."
Rose and Em had already checked me into my room, since it was adjoining with theirs. We took the elevator to the top where our rooms were, I was promised spectacular views in all the cities and when Em pushed open the door to their room and I immediately saw the large window with a view of Paris spread out before me. Rose pushed open the adjoining door and ushered me into my room.
The room was huge, identical to Rose and Em's, but it was all mine, the bed was huge, of course unnecessary, but still cool.
I grinned, dropped my backpack, and dove into the bed. I was careful to land softly, so I wouldn't not only break the bed, but possibly go through the floor, but the bed actually absorbed my body and fluffed around me.
"Well, someone's making himself at home." Em said throwing a decorative pillow at me, I ducked and it headed towards a lamp, luckily my ability let me know beforehand where it was going and I reached out to deflect it, it careened at Rose who caught it and shook her head at us.
"The maturity level of the two of you combined is unbelievably low."
"Thank you!" we replied at the same time, grinning at her.
"So Chris, your room has the best view, did you miss it?" Rose asked
I jumped off the bed and bolted to the window. I pushed open the window and felt my grin widen. I could see the Eiffle Tower, Notre Dame, even parts of the Lourve. I turned to look at my brother and sister and I couldn't keep the grin off my face.
"Aw look how happy it is!" Em cooed
"So Chrissy does this establishment meet your approval?" Rose asked in a serious tone
"Naw, not at all." I replied and paused looking back out at the city, an idea crossing my mind, something my parents had done for me my first time to Paris. "So I'm the tour-guide right?" Rose nodded "well then my first stop on the tour begins tonight." Rose turned to Em and raised her eyebrow "go get ready and meet me in the lobby in fifteen minutes, no more no less." And with that I grabbed my key card from Emmett's hand and bolted out the door towards the elevator.