Newfoundland. Huh…fun fact for Newfoundland...er…apparently 57% claim to be Irish, English, Scottish, or two of them. I think Chris put on a Scottish accent, so Toni will have to do the same. And just so you know, I did research the Newfoundland Screech, and it's not quite how it was on the show. Kissing the cod is the most accurate part. Thanks for reviewing, AnonBrowser, IllusionSign, lordgemini and OmniPotentUIJudgeOfCharacter (another new username!).

Chilling with Team Victory once again was actually chill. Not like with Team Amazon, where I could chill with Gwen but then had to come running over to stop Sierra molesting Cody or be unable to ignore some comment from Heather that would turn into an argument. Not even like Team Chris, where although I liked Alejandro, Tyler and Owen all right (and Izzy, even though she wasn't there any more), I spent a lot of time resisting the urge to tell Noah no one wanted to hear what he had to say. I got the feeling I was the only one who was annoyed by him, though, so maybe I was the only one who didn't want to hear it.

I did hesitantly broach the subject of the Noah-it-all with Team Victory. "So, what's the deal with Noah's sarcasm?" I asked them. "Does he ever speak in anything but quips?"

The others just shrugged. "Not that I'm aware." DJ said. "We weren't on the same team in the first season and we didn't hang out much at the Aftermath studio either." Bridgette just shrugged too.

"But you were on the same team as him, Lindsay, remember?" I said, hoping she would. "Did Noah ever speak in anything but sarcasm?"

Lindsay paused, thinking. Then she grinned. "Oh, I know one time!" she said. "Isabella was teasing him about how he kissed Cameron and he got all defensive and kept insisting he didn't."

"You mean Izzy said he kissed Cody?" I translated. "When was that?"

"During the Awake-a-thon." Bridgette spoke up. "They were both asleep. I was out of the challenge, but I was awake when it happened. He just kissed Cody's ear, but then they both woke up screaming."

"Oh." I nodded, remembering it. "But all I remember hearing from him apart from that was being snarky in the next challenge. And the Gophers sent him home immediately for refusing to participate. And he didn't even seem to expect it."

"Um, Toni?" DJ was looking at me hard. "Is it just me, or am I right in feeling that you don't like Noah all that much?"

I shrugged. "Yep, I don't like him. He's rude, and I've never heard him say a nice thing. Last time he was in First Class, he made some joke about how no one ever talks about Tyler on the fanblogs. Well, no one noticed he was trapped under Owen all night, and he said was he Tyler because he wasn't noticed. Tyler wasn't too pleased. Sarcasm's fine, but not when it's used 24-7 to insult everyone."

"Yeah, but he's not really a bad guy." DJ said. "He's rude, yeah, but he's not evil. Y'know, he's not like Heather. Now she was always mean. She'll say a nice word now and then, but she's evil to the core and will stab you in the back soon as look at you. Noah isn't like that."

"You have a point, sort of." I admitted. "Yes, he's not evil, but would it kill him to be a little nice?"

"Why don't you just ask him?" Bridgette suggested. "Just tell him how you feel. For all you know, he might have a good reason he's that way. You've got nothing to lose if you do it tactfully."

"Yeah…tact isn't my forte, Bridge." I said. "How would you do it?"

"Just tell him his sarcasm makes you feel cross with him all the time, and how it makes him come off as rude. Even though I didn't get to know him too well, I think he'll listen if you say that."

I smiled. "Okay. Thanks. Next time they're in First Class, I'll ask. As soon as I know his teammates aren't listening in, of course. I watched last season and saw how Owen kept listening to Gwen and Trent trying to talk and asking them to speak up so he didn't miss anything juicy."

"Owen's okay." Lindsay assured me. "And he considers Noah his friend, so he wouldn't do that."

At that moment, the intercom crackled. "Host to junior host!" Chris' voice came. "Cockpit, pronto!"

I gave a sigh. "I guess that's for me. See you guys. We'll probably be landing soon."

I obediently met Chris just behind the curtain blocking the cockpit. "Yep?"

"Just briefing you on the challenge." Chris explained. "Race to the mainland of the island, so we'll be landing next to the ocean – they'll take fishing boats and bring in fish as they race – it's part of the reward, but I've got clams in case none of them bring any in. The team that gets there last will have to shuck the clams and clean all the other fish. Other two teams will do a Screech-In relay. There's four with everyone except Team Victory, so let two people do the middle one. Remember how to do that?"

I gave a sigh. "I remember." We'd had a family reunion in Newfoundland the year I was thirteen. Mostly our relatives – Auntie Celine, our cousin Jerd and everyone else – hadn't made us kids do the Screech-In, but since most of our cousins were younger, like me, Chris organized everyone under sixteen to have a go at it when the adults weren't looking, as a race. My brother Aiden had been in on it as well – he'd been fifteen. We just had to chug a shot (since we were underage, Chris made it apple cider vinegar instead), decipher a slang recitation and kiss a cod.

"Jerd will meet you up there and deliver the saying." Chris added. "And I'm putting the apple cider vinegar in a small jug. Just taking one shot and then being done is a bit too easy for one contestant, don't you think?" He grinned. "I mean, you managed the whole ceremony and you were thirteen when I made you do it."

"You couldn't make me do anything, Chrissy." I reminded him. "I told you at the time that I could do it, and you kept saying you didn't believe I had the guts. I just had to prove you wrong. Old age catching up with you, or did you just block out what it was like to be in your early twenties instead of late?"

Chris gritted his teeth. At least I'd rattled him. I smiled sweetly. "Nothing against you. Just don't make things up and I won't tell Sierra how old you are."

Everyone except me got dumped into the water when we landed. Me, I got to stand on a boat and tell them in a fake accent "Welcome to the McLean homelands! Well, close to it – getting there is the first thing you'll be doing today!"

"What with the who now?" Cody frowned.

Sierra, floating beside him, knew exactly what I was saying, though. "It must be Newfoundland! Chris is originally from blow me down Highlands, so Toni must be too!" she explained.

"Aye," I agreed, "It's kind of a homecoming for McLeans all over Canada." I switched back to my normal voice. "Anyway, we've got three anchored rowboats for your teams." I pointed over at said rowboats. "The island's straight up there. Each of you need to paddle your boats up there for the first part of the challenge. And try pulling in fish on your way. Trust me, it has a reward. Oh, and don't be last. You can't compete for invincibility, and if that wasn't punishment enough, Chrissy let me in on what you'll have to do, and trust me, you'd rather take the challenge than do what he has in store."

The groups started swimming, and positioned themselves. Alejandro and Heather both took coxing to keep the rowers in time. Cody and Sierra rowed for Team Amazon, while Tyler and Noah took over for Team Chris. I saw Team Victory talking quietly as they reached their boat, but eventually, the two girls took rowing positions and DJ coxed. Owen and Gwen were fishing, but Team Victory had clearly decided it was more important to be fast. Well, really, it was.

"Okay, you can start by the bell!" I called out. "And, speaking of which…" Ding-ding! "Okay, you can go, but don't forget to sing!"

Since I had to meet them on the mainland, I didn't stick around to hear their song. I had a motorboat and Chef, so he drove me to the shore, ready for the teams to arrive.

Team Amazon arrived first. I grinned at all of them. Team Victory followed. Neither team had any fish, but luckily, Team Chris arrived with a lobster and some fish, so it wouldn't just be clam soup. I set them up first.

"I thought the team that brings in the most fish gets a reward?" Alejandro said, giving me this devastatingly handsome mesmerizing look.

I knew I was blushing, but I managed to stammer out "Well, I did say that, but I also said coming in last has a punishment. You'll get the reward later, but for now, you four will have to take the last place punishment." I dumped the sack of clams in front of them. The guys, guessing correctly, all groaned.

"You see," I explained, "You'll get your reward along with whoever wins invincibility. But you also have to make the reward. Clean everything you brought in, shuck these clams, and then you can go to the kitchen in our little cottage-" I pointed to our challenge area – "And there's a chowder recipe waiting for you. As a reward for bringing in the most fish, you'll get to have some along with our invincible team." I gave them a cheerful wave. "Now I better get on with the challenge. Good luck, guys!"

Inside, the other two teams were seated opposite each other. "Welcome to the second part of the challenge!" I greeted in. "Today, we're going to have a Screech In. It's a Newfoundland tradition, but we're turning it into a relay. Each of you will have to do one part – so count yourselves lucky, because Chrissy made me and a bunch of other cousins do the whole thing when we were younger. So, Heather and Lindsay, you two are first. Originally, we used liquor for this part, but since we're all underage, you're taking the same thing I did – apple cider vinegar. A whole jug. Once you've finished it, Lindsay can tag Bridgette and Heather can tag Gwen and Sierra. They'll have to decipher a phrase spoken by another cousin of mine, Jerd McLean." As I spoke, Jerd came strolling through. He was shorter than me, but we exchanged the McLean smile as he passed me by.

"Once that's over, each of you tag DJ and Cody, who will each have to kiss a cod – and if you can make out with it, that'll be even better." I teased. "No, you just have to kiss it. But try to make it passionate. I did it, and that was after taking a shot of vinegar and spelling out a phrase."

Then, I set the jugs down in front of the two girls, and they begun. I knew Lindsay had the weaker stomach, so I fully expected Heather to finish first. But actually, they finished at about the same time. Lindsay kept taking breaks, but she gulped down more at a time than Heather did, so they tagged their teammates around the same time.

"Ring the bell at the pumphouse." Jerd said as his first phrase.

Gwen and Sierra exchanged bewildered glances. Bridgette looked nervous.

"What is the pumphouse?" Sierra thought out loud. Well, that sounded like she might be on the right track.

There was a pause. Then Bridgette brightened up. "Was that 'Can I use the bathroom?'" she asked.

Jerd nodded and I smiled. "Yep, and to answer your question, Sierra, the pumphouse meant the washroom. And you two need to get a move on if you don't want DJ to kiss the cod before Cody. Jerd, another saying?"

"The worst thing you can have in your head is a nar toom." Jerd recited.

Gwen and Sierra looked at each other again, but then Sierra smiled. "'Nar' must mean no!" she exclaimed. "It's something missing in your head!"

Meanwhile, DJ was being given the fish, which he looked nervous of.

"The worst thing you can have in your head is no…" Gwen said slowly. She paused. "Teeth?" she finished.

I nodded. "That's right! So since DJ hasn't puckered up yet, Cody, you still have a chance!"

Cody looked at the cod. Then he looked at Gwen, who was sitting next to him. The next second, he'd closed his eyes, picked up the cod and really was kissing it with passion, before DJ had even made a move.

"Well, congratulations to Team Amazon!" I announced. "Team Chris are just now preparing your reward – a fish chowder supper! They'll be eating with you, I'm afraid – but they did bring in most of the ingredients." I turned to the other three. "Team Victory, sorry to say you didn't win, but you gave it a good try, and you'll be having Chef's food on the plane…but," I added in a whisper, "I'll try to save you some chowder."

I did manage to save a little bit. It was only enough for about a peanut-bowl sized serving for each member of Team Victory, but they seemed pleased. Not at pleased as Team Chris was when they found out none of them were going home, though.

I didn't like the trip all that much, though. Chris kept teasing me about how I didn't know as much about the area as he did, and even though Jerd didn't say anything, he kept laughing, so I knew he was on Chris' side.

It looked like I'd have a lot to tell Sierra while we were sitting in First Class this time.

So yep, Toni's actually done this challenge herself, mainly because Chris managed to get all his little cousins to do it. Well, okay, probably the youngest was no younger than ten. Even he wouldn't make a little kid take a shot, but to be fair, at least it's only a tiny bit of alcohol. Hope you liked this episode.