"Son of a bitch, Nikki." A stern face woman glared at the lanky boy and the camera shook slightly. Dark, malice filled eyes were directed at it, "Steven, for the love of god, turn that thing off this instant!"

Adam gasped for air, as the siblings continued to giggle wildly next to him.

It was easy to see that their eccentricity was genetic. It had to be. Three out of five children couldn't possibly a coincidence. He took a bite of his waffle. Luke warm on the inside, burnt on the outside. A stovetop obviously wasn't the best place to cook microwave waffles. But Ella had been so excited, and quite frankly he didn't have the balls to upset the fiery kiwi, he didn't complain.

"I think that was the day Ms Yelnats quit, wasn't it, Fitz?"

Marcy sat up and curled into Adam's side as Ella nodded, "uh huh. Three years with Nikki was more than enough."

The man slid an arm around her as the girls spoke of previous encounters with their brother and his…disciplinary issues.

"You remember when Kyle accidently set the garage on fire and didn't tell anyone about it?" Ella asked, earning a gasp from her sister.

"Yes! All my cassettes- gone!" She crossed her arms, "and he never-"

"Apologized!" The sisters finished.

Ella looked at Adam. "It was nine years ago and she still hasn't forgiven him."

He chuckled, and she elbowed him in the ribs. "Hey!" he yelped.

Marcy smirked. "Oops."

"Oops." He mimicked, giving her a light pinch on the side.

She shifted away from him, "prick."

Ella grinned at the two. Part of her wanted to hang a Mission Accomplished banner from the ceiling. But a smaller part, a much, much smaller part, felt a spark of concern rise in her chest. She liked Adam, thought he was good for Marcy, but she found him a little dodgy. A little secretive. Particularly about his past.

"So…Adikins. Tell us a little about your self. Ever been to prison?" The teen cocked a suggestive brow.

"What?" he chuckled. "No."

"Oh. Ever got anyone pregnant?"

"Fitzy." Marcy shook her head sternly.

"No, I don't think so anyway." He furrowed his brows, where was this coming from? "Um-"

"Ever contracted a venereal disease?"

"Ellaiden!" Marcy smacked her upside the head. "What's wrong with you!? Of course he hasn't!"

She looked at him, "you haven't right?"
"No!" He said with the slightest hint of indignity in his voice.

"If you have there's no shame in it-"

"I haven't." He assured her, shaking his head slightly.

Marcy clicked her tongue, "uh-huh." She looked at her little sister, "you all packed up?"

"Yup yup." The brunette nodded. She'd be leaving in the morning. "You gonna visit before you head off to the great beyond?"

Adam shot his…friend, a side glance. Was she going to visit him before she left? Make a special trip? Even just for a few hours? Would she even bother to call him before she got on the plane to Darfur? He lowered his head as an even more pressing matter struck him in the chest, would she think of him at all after she left New York?

"Probably." Marcy nodded, "I'm thinking of taking a week or two off before hand so I can get all my arrangements in order."

Adam's quiet flush didn't go unnoticed, but after the berating her sister had given him, Marcy didn't want to start an intimate discussion with Ella in the room. So she simple rested a hand on his leg, and changed the subject.

"What're you doing for New Years?"

Ella groaned, "Probably drinking with Nikki and Blaire…then I'll listen to Kira bad mouth you for most of the night."

"At which you will defend my honour right?"

Adam cast Marcy a look, she'd plastered on a smile at the mention of her older sister. Tilting his head, he absent mindedly placed his hand over hers, which still rested on his thigh. I thought she had the perfect family.

Ella nodded, "course, doll, always do."

"Mm." Marcy hummed and stood, "I'm gonna get a drink, anyone need anything?"

Neither did, and she retreated without a word.

"Kira doesn't approve of Amarcia's career choice." Ella muttered. "Thinks she's a freak."

"Oh." He hadn't meant for it to come out in a whisper, but it did. And in that moment he realized he and the girl he'd come to know weren't as different as he thought.