Taking a vacation is not as relaxing as it seems.

We didn't talk the whole way to the airport. Alex stayed quiet the whole way there, only speaking to the cab driver when we reached Laguardia. We went through security, speaking to each other when we needed the boarding passes or identification. I used my psychic paper to get me through. I just made myself a random person from New York. It worked fine.

"Here you go, Ms. Phillips. Have a nice flight." The TSA agent said. She looked at me funny, but didn't do anything. Alex just used her drivers license. We were soon boarded and on our way to the West Coast at 3 times the speed of sound. I had booked us seats next to each other at the back of the plane. Luckily, it wasn't that crowded and we had a whole row to ourselves. That just made it more awkward.

"So…. San Francisco will be fun." Alex said, dispersing the silence.

"Yeah. The Deyoung museum is pretty cool. Annabeth would love the architecture." I replied, waiting for the drink cart to get to us. I needed some ginger ale to calm my nerves. Every time I fly in an airplane, my mind thinks of every possible outcome, including all the different ways we could crash. Ginger usually helped.

"Yeah, I wonder how she's doing right now. She hasn't left New York for years." Alex said, putting a concerned face on. But I knew that she was still embarrassed. I was too.

"Oh, she's probably on a bus right now. I wouldn't worry about her." I said. The drink cart got to us and I got my soda. Alex bought a small glass of vodka.

We sat in silence for a few more moments. I knew that we would have to discuss this at some point, and waiting would just make it more tense.

"Look, Alex. I-" I started to say, but I was interrupted by Alex smashing her lips into mine. I was surprised at first, but I eventually melted into the kiss. She broke away and buried herself into her book, cheeks blushing.

"Um. Ok then." I said, and she looked up from her book with tears in her eyes.

"I'm sorry! I just couldn't help myself. Every since you regenerated, I just started having these feelings for you, and then you started helping me with sword-play, and then you invited me to stay with you and Nathan, and then you disappeared, and I was just so sad and-" She started to ramble, so I took my turn to stop her from talking with a kiss.

"I know." I said, breaking the kiss. Anymore of this, and I would need an oxygen tank. "I have had those feelings toward you as well. Ever since we started hanging out with each other, I was in love with you. I just didn't know if you felt the same way." I took a deep breath and leaned back in my chair. "You have no idea how relieved I am. It's felt like a giant weight has been crushing my chest every time we hang out, and it took everything I had to stop myself from just pouring everything out." I looked over to Alex, and she smiled.

"I know, Jackie." She leaned back and closed her eyes. "I'm just glad it's out in the open now." She leaned her head onto my shoulder and I leaned in with her. It was a nice fit.

"You know, there's this great Vietnamese place I know of in the city. Has the best crab you will ever eat. Wanna go?" I said after about 30 minutes. She looked up and moved back into her seat.

"Well, I don't know. Are you paying?" She said, smirking.

"Of course." I said, pulling my sonic screwdriver out. It looked similar to Ten's silver and blue, only it emitted a green light instead.

"Then it's a date." She said, and she leaned back down and fell asleep in my lap the rest of the way there. I didn't complain one bit.

"So, the Emperor is pissed, I have mud all over my shoes, and Nathan just says 'Well, looks like this is going to get messy.'" I said, and Alex laughed. We had just finished dinner and now we were walking in the Golden Gate Park. She had her arm looped into mine and we were nearing the eastern end of the park. We had gotten a room at the top of the hotel, and we could see the whole bay from there. It was still a long walk back, so I called a cab when we neared the street. "After that, we killed the imperial armada and helped the Rebels take the city. I think that was after my 8th regeneration, so I was a guy."

"Well, that was quite the adventure. And you said that you don't really change that much when you regenerate?" Alex asked, getting in the cab.

"Not really. My male body pretty much stays the same, with only a difference in hair or eye color. My female body usually just changes height or face shape. Nothing too much." I told the cab driver the address of the hotel and we were on our way. We started to drive through the city and past that giant, pyramid looking building. What is it called? The Trecadero building? I cant remember. Anyways, we just kept talking.

"So, this is what, your 33rd regeneration?" She asked, and I nodded.

"About. I kind of lost count after a while. And Nathan didn't help by shooting me in the head."

"Geez, he really is crazy, isn't he?"

"Well, sometimes, I asked him to do it. And, other times, I needed to be in my male body because sometimes some universes would be sexist. But he does get creative." I looked outside and saw the bay to the side. The city was behind us.

"Um, excuse me, sir. Our hotel is in the city. Why are we out here?" I asked, becoming suspicious.

"Oh, I'm sorry, miss. The GPS must be malfunctioning." He said. I looked through the window and saw the GPS. It was turned off.

"Alex," I whispered, motioning for her to get closer, "I probably should have warned you. I wasn't exactly sent to San Francisco by the Angels."

"What do you mean?" She asked, but the driver stopped. I looked outside and saw a giant field of wheat near a giant hill.

"This is your stop, miss." The driver said. I wasn't going to push it, so we got out and walked into the field. The cab pulled away.

"Alex, whatever you do, don't make any sudden movements. Take your weapons off and put them on the ground in front of us." I said, and I flipped out my swords. I knew they would know about them, so I made sure to keep my back ups still in my arms. I put the swords down on the ground, and saw Alex pull out her knife, sword, and… crossbow? Where did she keep that? God, I love her.

There was rustling in front of us, and Paul appeared. "Hello Jackie." He said.

"Hey there, ass-face." I replied, and Paul got angry.

"Why, you little-" He said, but the girl Praetor came out behind him and stopped Paul.

"Paul, now is not the time. Jackie, you have done well escaping us. Our eagles could not track you for an entire month. Why you came back here, I have no idea, but it is sad that you brought an innocent along. What is your name?" She asked Alex, turning to her.

"My name is Alex, daughter of-"

"No, no, not right now." I said, cutting her off. "Not the time." I turned back towards the Praetor. "Well, it's been nice seeing you, but if you excuse us, we need to go." I turned around, but several soldiers stopped me from leaving.

"I'm afraid we can't allow you to do that Jackie. No one has ever escaped the Twelfth Legion and survived. I am afraid that you only have two choices: Die here or be captured."

"Twelfth legion? Jackie, what is she talking about?" Alex said, looking confused.

"I'm sorry that you were brought into this, but you have to keep this a secret. These soldiers are in the Twelfth Legion Fulminata, a Roman Legion. They are the children of the Roman gods and goddesses." I said, and Alex shrugged.

"Whatever. As long as they don't hurt us, I don't care if their fucking Chinese." She said, and I laughed. Again, another reason to love her.

"Well, I'm sorry, Alex, but unfortunately, Jackie must be punished. When we get back to New Rome, she will be put into isolation and given 40 lashes. It is Roman law." The Praetor said, and I shook my head.

"Well, if you believe I am going to do that willingly, then this is not going to go well for you. So why don't you take Paul," I said, pointing at the little shit-for-brains, "And go fuck yourselves in the ass with a cactus. Oh, I'm sorry, you're already doing that."

The Praetor looked furious. "Death it is, then." She raised her arm, and a whole cohort came out of the wheat, fully clad in armor.

"Jackie, I think now would be a good time to pick up our weapons." Alex said, but I just cracked my knuckles.

"Alex, at the count of 3, drop to the ground. Then, when I say, grab your stuff and run to the bay. I'll be right behind you." I did a quick 360, and saw that we were completely surrounded. "One."

She didn't give the slightest of movements.

"Two."

The cohort started to close in, brandishing their blades.

"THREE."

Alex dropped to the ground, and I brought out my back ups. They were two pistols that I had modified to take several different types of ammo, ranging from .22 to a freaking .50 caliber, as well as a few extra gadgets. I pulled the triggers, and flames shot out of the barrels. It ignited the wheat and started to spread everywhere. The cohort dropped to the ground, but a few weren't lucky enough. They caught on fire and started running frantically around. Pansies. This is just low strength. It only causes pain.

I yelled "NOW!" and Alex shot up, having already clipped her sword and knife back onto her belt. Her crossbow had disappeared, but I would have to ask about that later. She started running towards the water and I turned back toward the Praetor and Paul. They had dodged the flames, but were now getting up after realizing that the flames were only burning the wheat. The Praetor looked up at me, and I saw a face of pure rage.

"GET HER!" She said, and I flipped her off as I ran away.