"Excusez-moi! Quel chemin de la salle d'embarquement?"

"Droite, puis gauche, Madame!"

"Merci!"

"Da rien ! Bonjour, Madame !"

She didn't even have to look for her. "Betty ! Over here, Girl !" and there she was, Ron, in what looked like the latest and most expensive haute coutoure of Paris. "My Goodness ! Betty, what on Earth are you dressed in ? And heading to Cannes ! Of all the stupid things to do !" Betty smiled and shook her head, some things just won't change. Before she could guess what's happening, a valet whisked her luggage into the boot of a Masserati. "Come On !" Ron took her hand and led her to a Lamborghini Diablo. "Ron, my bags are in..." Ron cut her off "Yeah, they will reach the chalet, don't worry !"

"Chalet ?"

Minutes later, the Diablo was racing to the outskirts of Paris, the Masserati hot on it's heels. "I can't believe it !" Betty shook her head "You are driving a Diablo !" Ron smiled and gave her a sideways glance "I have been practising." Betty shot back "Well, I hope it doesn't break down, these super cars have notorious engines !". Ron could only glare.

Mr. Jones didn't want to return home. What would he say to his wife ? How could he face her and Jelly after this ? This was the third time he was laid off. This job had held steady for a while, two years in fact. He didn't have to touch Jug's money. It was there should Jelly need it. It seemed that time was now.

"You don't look well, Dear." Mrs. Jones was concerned "Is everything all right ?" He forced a smile "Swell as usual, Gladys Darling !" he looked around "Where is the little angel ?"

"She went to Jinx's house, they are practising for their play." she said as she walked into the kitchen.

"My Goodness ! How could I forget it ? The play ! Of course !"

That night Hotdog was unusually quiet and Mr. Jones tried to evade his gaze.

He knew.

Mrs. Cooper stroked the contents of the drawer lovingly. Tiny woollen stockings, red for Polly, blue for Betty and Chick. The three of them outgrew these long, long ago but while those who wore them can forget, those who spent days knitting them cannot.

"Thinking about our Three Musketeers ?"

She smiled, that's what their father always called them. Despite being outnumbered two to one, Betty and to some extent Polly had taken after their brother. The three of them were always upto some mischief. Climbing fences and trees, playing ball in the rain, catching frogs. She was at her wit's ends at times trying to set them straight. Her husband paid lip service to her protests while encouraging them on when she was not looking.

"When was the last time we saw them together, Hal ?"

Mr. Cooper hugged her from behind and looked down lovingly on the tiny clothes. "Remember how Polly once helped you knit for Ann ?"

"She was trying to make a stocking and it ended up looking like a glove with holes !" Mrs. Cooper giggled as those scenes came alive before her "Polly was so bossy but she loved Ann dearly, she sometimes got jealous of Veronica when she tried to play big sister."

"Well, I think she still does !" Mr. Cooper said "She was cross with Betty when she didn't choose a school on the west coast."

"At least she is close to Chick."

"You miss the kids, don't you, Alice ?"

Mrs. Cooper hid her face in his chest and nodded.

"Maybe she is online !"

He shook his head, he had become mechanical over the past few weeks. Going to classes, doing his assignments, skipping meals, staring at the ceiling for long when he was supposed to be sleeping.

"Well, don't you have the name of this friend of hers whom she is supposed to be staying with ?"

I should have got her number, why not ask Arch ? But what if he ...no, he would never do that !

"You are gonna kill yourself one of these days, Romeo."

And with that Steve dragged him out for class.

It was like old days, except in place of the Lodge Mansion, it was a 18th century Chateau, which was a chalet for Ron's refined tastes. They spent hours talking and catching up on their lives.

"And I have got passes to the whole summit, all the days, all the events. It will be so much fun !" Betty grinned "More so, since you will be with me !"

Ron smiled, there were some ways in which Betty was still childish and she loved her for that "How's needlenose ?" she asked with a mischievous smile. Betty's eyes and face suddenly darkened and she lowered her eyes. "Sweetie, what's wrong ?" Ron squeezed her hand. Betty didn't know what to say, Ron was her best friend, more than a friend. They never had secrets from each other, about Archie yes, but that was behind them. "I...I..." she tried to speak "Honey !" Ron's grip tightened, Betty looked up, her eyes moist with tears "I think he is mad at me Ron, I think he doubts me."

What followed was a tale in hushed tones, sobs and gasps. "It's all my fault !" Betty wept "It wouldn't have worked, we hardly speak to each other these days." Ron hugged her and rubbed her back "Everything will be OK, Honey ! Everything will be OK !" She handed he phone to Betty "Call him now !"

"Ron, I can't !"

"No buts, Betty ! This is my phone and I run up bills which I don't even look at talking nonsense with anyone and everyone, you two seriously need to talk. It's just a simple case of misunderstanding and nothing else."

She dialled.

"It's switched off." she said with a heavy heart.

"Try again !"

Again and again the same message, too bad Ron couldn't charge up Jug's cell which was in his pocket. He forgot to charge it last night.

"And who would you be looking for, Miss ?"

"People who migrated to the United States between 1939 to 1945."

"Ah ! That's a long list !" The archivist said with concern in his eyes "Almost anyone and everyone who could buy a ticket on those boats did so, Miss. Times were bad then, really bad !"

"I know !" Sabrina smiled "But I am a fast reader, it shouldn't be a problem !"

"Searching for your Dad's or Mum's Grandparents, are you ?"

"You may say so !" she smiled.

"Ron ! There's no way I can wear that !"

"Oh ! And why not may I ask ?"

"It's too expensive ! Nobody would take me to be a reporter !"

"We will see ! Let's fit you up first !"

Betty gave up as Ron fussed over her, straightening a fold there, brushing the dress down there, buttoning it up just so. When it was done, she made Betty twirl round before the full length three panelled mirror. "So, how does it look ?"

"Oh Ron !" Betty whimpered "You shouldn't have."

Ron hugged her from behind and smiled, their faces reflected in the mirror "You look like a princess." she whispered "Just like Cinderella on her way to the ball."

"Didn't the charm end at midnight ?" Betty smiled.

"This one won't !" Ron gave her a little pinch " I promise !"

"I don't know how to thank you !"

"You are my kid sister, I have a right to pamper you."

"Ron !" Betty rolled her eyes "You are only five months older than me !"

"Old enough !" Ron grimaced and they broke into laughs.

His name appeared often in the news, but he never paid much heed to it. As he skimmed over the article which the Maths office had left on his desk his eyes stopped at a sentence.

"His family history is unknown, he himself says he doesn't remember much about them. Historians of Science have not been able to trace his lineage."

He smiled tersely.

No wonder they can't.

None of his parents were called Kenneth.