Mark could see where his sister was coming from. The context of the little run-in in the hall with Maddy was somewhat lacking, especially since Emily didn't know the good news. "We don't have to worry about who I'm pictured with on camera or out in public anymore," he argues with her once Maddy has left. "Everything's fine!"

"I get you sticking up for people and doing the right thing," Emily refutes, "but look where we are! There was no reason for her to be here today. What if Recruitment doesn't get their shit together and clear you? What if they were tapping that security camera and saw you two spending the afternoon together. Mark, that are too many scenarios where this still doesn't work out in your favor, and I don't appreciate you gambling on chance like that when it isn't only your life affected."

"Everything that I do is for the benefit of this family!"

"Until you met Maddy Shannon, right?"

The siblings fumed at each other, their crystal orbs each blazing with anger.

"You don't get it."

"What's there to get?"

Mark paces, throwing his hands up in frustration. "I like talking to her. Sue me."

"That's exactly what Recruitment wants to do!" Emily yells. "For the sake of this family, please just watch your back. Don't climb out on limbs you don't have to. Or this will end up just like it did a few years ago."

Mark clenches his fists in anger. "It pissed me off," he spits tersely, "when the damn recruitment officers decided to bring that up. I don't need it from you, too."

Emily eventually sighs, defeated. "Okay," she says softly. "That was a low-blow."

"I was trying to keep the kids from getting hurt when I left my assignment that day to get to their school during the riots," Mark reiterates his explanation, still frustrated, for what feels like the hundredth time. Talk about a trip down memory lane. He sees the smug look on the recruitment officer's face when he was pulled from and Shannons' house.

He was previously arrested when there were abuse accusations brought against him in the past, but the charges were dropped when the victim refused to testify. Dr. Shannon, as you see with the sudden change of heart of your daughter, there is a pattern appearing here. He is a danger.

The only real danger in that context was the rioting. At this point Mark doesn't even remember what this specific protest had been about, for desperate people make reckless choices so unrest isn't that unusual these days. But he vividly recalls the sinking feeling when hearing that the violence was so close to the school. Mark had only been a few blocks away on assignment, and figured he'd slip out, get his family home, and return before anyone even noticed. He had been wrong.

In the twenty minutes it took him to run through the madden streets, the teenaged girl of the family Mark was supposed to be protecting snuck out to see a forbidden boyfriend – during a freaking riot, Mark has vehemently pointed out through the years – got in a fight with said boy, and was physically injured.

"It was him," the rebellious, spoiled teen had spat at an unsuspecting Mark those years ago. And who was believed? The shaking girl with torn clothing and blood dripping down her? Or the young security guard, fresh on the job, barely old enough to be working such a gig in the first place? Obviously not the latter.

Emily, evidently unaware that Mark is unable to get his mind off of the nightmarish incident again, continues, "I just can't tell if you're the luckiest guy alive or the unluckiest. You get into these ridiculous situations – because you're so kind hearted but you still get wrapped up in them – and then you barely get out by the grit of your teeth."

Emily's hands grab hold of her brothers'. "I can't keep going through this," she pleads. "What were the odds that the father of the girl who falsely accused you of physically assaulting her just to avoid being grounded for sneaking out was suddenly arrested for drug trafficking, causing the family to lose everything and the girl to withdrawal the charges so she could go into protective custody? What are the odds that the boy who accused you of scapegoating him for crimes committed against Maddy is busted a few days later for a huge cyber hack scandal and is hauled away to prison in an undisclosed location, again effectively wiping you of any record tarnishes. Mark, you know that I trust you completely, but this career is getting too risky on a personal level."

"I know that," Mark agrees passionately, not completely understanding her point.

"We … we aren't getting to Terra Nova, Mark," Emily says.

Mark ducks his head, thinking he misheard. "Excuse me?"

"All of these years, every time you have been injured, every time you almost died, every time some crazy situation has kept me up all night praying to some higher power that we don't end up on the streets … none of it has gotten us anywhere," Emily's voice cracks. "We're raising the kids of the people who are running Terra Nova, and we still haven't gotten us or them on a pilgrimage." Tears slowly well up and spill down her cheeks. "We need to stop pretending that Terra Nova factors into our future, and instead start planning how to give those kids the brightest futures we can possibly conjure up. Because they deserve better than the cards they were dealt."

"We all deserve better than this hand," Marks says solidly, "but that's when we reshuffle the deck and – and regroup and, god how are you giving up? You are supposed to be the optimistic one! I-I can't … I can't … you need to not give up, Em! I'm trying, here."

"I know," his older sister promised, "but we need to be realistic now. I need to be realistic now."

Mark can practically feel his heart breaking as a sharp stabbing pain pounds within his chest. Yes, he always blows his sister off as overly optimistic, but that doesn't mean he never appreciates that perspective. He needs that perspective, he relies on it. If Emily is giving up, Mark doesn't know how to keep going himself. He doesn't know what there is left to believe in.

Glancing up at the loft through watery eyes, Mark makes eye contact with Stephen as the young boy holds earphones firmly in place over Macey's head, not letting her hear the argument unfolding beneath them. Macey's eyes were squeezed blissfully shut as she mouths the words to some song playing through the electronic cords, but Stephen's eyes are bloodshot.

"We're not ever going to see Mom and Dad again, are we?"

Emily and Mark look at each other speechless.

Emily, naturally, is the one to come up with a response for the boy. "We're going to reshuffle our deck," she says as pleasantly as possible, though her voice is still raw. "If we are coming to the conclusion as a family that we will not be getting Terra Nova, then there is really no point in staying here any longer."

Chicago is so outrageously expensive to live in, with people willing to pay exorable taxes on everything just to be closer to Hope Plaza. Mark realizes what Emily has been thinking. "We move," he finishes for his sister. "We get out of the city, find a better, safer place since it'll be less expensive. Think about it," he tries to smile at Stephen, "we'll have better food. Maybe we can even afford private school for you guys if we're no longer in Chicago. You'll be able to have a really good education, buddy, and we can look for a place near an indoor area, so you and Macey could try your hands at some sports, like the matches we watch on the Plex."

Stephen's grip tightens around Macey. "You really think that learning to play some stupid, complicated version of catch that's still just going to be a knock off of the real equipment and stadiums they have in domes will make up for you guys not believing in Mom and Dad anymore?" his voice cracks.

"We need," Emily reasons gently, "to be ready for the possibility of a future that doesn't include Terra Nova. You know your parents would want you two there with them no matter what, but for whatever reason, that hasn't been possible."

"We still keep entering the lottery," Mark promises, "but we won't be in the City Center anymore. And, once we move, I'll be around more often. I'm done with recruitment; I'll find a nine to five, even if it's standing on guard one of the monorail systems or something. We are a family, and that will never change."

The atmosphere slowly shifts as the unconventional group goes about their daily activities. Mark starts looking for something to cook, and Emily instructs the kids to start cleaning up the apartment, a task not too difficult considering their already limited possessions. "Go through your things so we can get rid of anything we don't need anymore," she says.

Macey, who still has her ear buds in to avoid all she knew to be another sibling brawl, finally sits up and gives her attention to everyone else. "You talking to me?"

Emily nods, repeating herself.

"Why?" Macey frowns.

"We're getting more organized. We'll talk about it more over dinner."

The afternoon's activities are a subdued affair, especially in contrast to the argumentative explosion that had previously occurred. Mark, still getting used to being back home, now wishes that he had asked Maddy for some cooking tips before they parted. It still bothers him that they won't see each other again, but instead he tries to focus on the positive, on his family. It might not be Terra Nova, but they are starting on a second chance, their own fresh start.

"I don't think I need Mr. Snuggles anymore," Macey announces, pulling a dusty stuffed brown bear from under the bed and tossing it down to the floor below.

"Awe," Emily says absentmindedly as she retrieves the childhood trinket, "you used to sleep with him every single night for as long as I can remember. Do you know how many times we had to tear about the loft trying to figure out where he was so you would be safe from nightmares?"

Macey flips her hair and announces that she's too old for stuffed animals now.

"You know what?" Emily continues. "I'm supposed to meet up with Elisabeth at some point tomorrow anyway to go over some last-minute stuff for her and Jim's financials, I am sure that Zoe would love a new friend before the scary …" The three others in the room turn to look at her in confusion. "The, uh, the big scary trip," Emily finishes hesitantly.

"Who's going where?" Stephen asked. "Someone you know from school? Or is it the hospital?"

Macey was extra giddy. "Do you know someone going to a dome?" she asks excitedly. "I've always wanted to know what it was like inside them. Do think we could meet them, and we could see pictures when they get back?" Her expression is so hopeful that Emily feels guilty she can't provide more for her and her brother.

However, it is Mark's expression Emily really doesn't care to see. She turns around slowly to find her brother standing at the stove, frozen still. His face is a mask of incredulity as he tries to fathom the information Emily just let slip. "I'm sorry, what?"

Wow. Trying to update daily and already missed one … oops!

Hope you all enjoyed! About time Mark figured out his sister wasn't that clueless about his last assignment. What are your thoughts are them moving away?! Review