Joni

I groan as my cell phone alarm goes off at five in the morning signifying it is time for me to get up and ready for my flight. I sit up and realize I fell asleep naked, but can't really bring myself to care. Last night was amazing and long overdue. My mom moved me into my apartment last weekend effectively shortening the amount of time I got to spend with Teddy. Couple that with midterms and I hadn't been able to spend more than an hour with him in six days. I wanted to make sure we got some time together before he left, but his father moved up his flight right as I pushed mine back. I sigh rubbing my hand over my face. I couldn't let Teddy go back home and be surrounded by all of his old bed mates without a proper send off. I trust Teddy I honestly do, but I know that he has had girls much more experienced than I and that makes me feel slightly apprehensive about letting him out of my sight. Don't worry what you lack in experience you make up for in enthusiasm and flexibility. That thought makes me laugh.

"What are you giggling about?" Teddy groans pulling me back down on to the bed. "Where do you think you are going?"

"I have to catch my flight" I protest trying to get up, but he holds me firmly in his grip.

"Oh I see you beg me to stay because your flight was pushed back and now you are just going to sneak out like a thief in the night?" he asks. I am happy my back is to his front so he can't see my smile. "I know you are smiling. My dad yelled at me for nearly an hour because of you."

"It was worth it, wasn't it?" I ask laughing. "I just didn't want to be here by myself. The campus is a ghost town and there is nothing to do."

"Oh so now I have to wait for my plane" he grumbles.

"Umm you said it wouldn't take off without you, which means whenever you want to leave you can, my flight offers no such luxury" I grunt trying to fight his grip. "Baby I need to go."

"I believe we found ourselves in this situation yesterday" he laughs sliding his hand down my stomach. "It ended really well for me last time."

"Teddy" I moan struggling. He flips me onto my front propping a pillow under my stomach and holds me down.

"You didn't take no for an answer so neither will I" he declares. He doesn't hesitate to slide in to the hilt. I grip the sheets and try to crawl away. "Nope" he says adjusting so his legs frame mine squeezing my legs tighter. "Don't run from it" he laughs

"I have to go" I moan as he begins to set a speed that prevents me from breathing deeply.

It was completely worth it…

Teddy

I nudge the door open with my foot as I carry in a tray with breakfast. My dad hired Annalise to come in three times a week to clean, shop and cook. She isn't here this week so I foraged some pop tarts and fruit, it won't win me any awards, but it should tie us over until our flight.

"What time is it?" Joni asks. She's sprawled naked under the sheets across the bed.

"Eight in the morning" I inform her. "You would have been boarding if you had made your flight."

"Do you know how much it will cost to get a change?" she grumbles not moving.

"Nothing" I inform her pulling her closer to me. "My pilot will fly us to Arizona and then myself to Washington. We leave in an hour you will land at the same time, but the flight will be a lot more pleasant."

"Seriously?" she asks. "If you had said that yesterday we could have left. I just didn't like the idea of being her solo."

"In all honesty it was Phoebe's idea" I admit. "I spoke to her briefly after getting off the phone by my dad. She said she spoke to you."

"She has called me a few times" she says stealing some grapes. "At first it was all about travel, but now it's like talking to a friend. I may have complained about our midterms have been keeping us apart for the past week."

"She said you cried" he teases.

"I teared up a little on Monday" she admits sitting up. "But that's because I still had one more exam and you told me you were leaving on Tuesday instead of today. I was slightly overwhelmed."

"You should have told me" I tell her putting down the tray on the side of the bed. "Rely on me" I offer pulling her into my lap.

"I will" she vows snuggling deeper into me.

"You are cheating" Phoebe grumbles as I take her last bit of cash and property.

"No I am just better at monopoly than you are" I laugh.

"I told you not to play with him" Ava says reclining on the couch. We have taken over the game room and are playing all the games we use to play when we were younger. Phoebe, Ava, and my Aunt Mia's twins Ethan Jr. and Emma have been holed up in here since I landed at five.

"What are you doing after this Teddy?" EJ asks.

"Nothing, I am here all night, buddy" I say ruffling his hair. He is fourteen and follows me around shamelessly.

"Can we play again?" he asks excitedly as my phone rings.

"Sure just let me get this first" I say. "Hey, babe" I answer.

"HEY, BABE" my sister and cousins echoes.

"Hush" I say rising and leaving the room. "What is up?"

"I was just calling to tell you that you don't have to fly to L.A" she says dejectedly. "My parents can't make it; my dad has twisted his ankle and my mom is going to stay there and help him. She was going to still try to make it, but I told her not to."

"So, what, are you going to head back to campus?" I ask surprised.

"No" she scoffs. "I am already at the hotel next to the trail. I will start the hike as planned."

"YOU ARE NOT HIKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT ALONE" I say over the phone, not realizing I am yelling until I see my mom's shocked face. I mouth sorry and head towards the patio.

"Teddy, I have been training for this for months" she argues

"I don't care" I reply slightly less aggressively. "It is twenty-four miles in the dark, so I will repeat myself and let me be absolutely clear you will not hike alone."

"You are my boyfriend not my father" she growls back giving me inspiration.

"Hold on" I say putting her on hold and calling her parents' house. "Good evening Mrs. Townes" I say cheerfully when she answers.

"Teddy?" she says merrily in her thick British accent. "It is lovely to hear from you."

"You too" I say honestly. "I was calling because your daughter is under the impression that she is going to hike the trail by herself and I was hoping you could talk to her."

"Of course I will call her now" she says.

"I actually have her on hold, give me a second" I offer happily. "Joni?"

"Yes" she groans.

"Mrs. Townes?" I ask.

"Yes love I am here" she answers.

"You called my mom?" Joni shrieks. "That is low."

"It sounds like he had no choice" Mrs. Townes says. "I cannot believe that you thought we would be okay with you walking that trail at night by yourself. Have you lost your mid."

"Mom" Joni sighs into the phone. "I have been practicing for months."

"So have I, but you don't see me wandering around Texas in the bloody dark" she replies. "We will do this another time."

"I may even join you guys" I offer.

"I hate when you guys band against me" Joni whines.

"Thanks Mrs. Townes" I say sweetly.

"No problem Teddy" she replies. "Call me anytime you need help. I love you both."

"Love you too mom" Joni says. "I can't believe you called my mom."

"All is fair in love and war" I reply. "I can get you a flight out tomorrow you shouldn't be alone."

"No, it is okay" she sighs. "I will just fly back to Boston. If I go home it will make me want to stay."

"I am not sending you home I am bringing you to me" I inform her.

"Your Dad hates me" she argues.

"Well I and my sister love you so you are coming" I counter. "I will call you when I have everything ready" I inform her heading into the house to get my laptop.

"Does Teddy really have a girlfriend?" Emma asks Phoebe.

"Yes" Phoebe answers organizing the board.

"What is she like?" EJ asks.

"She is really nice and crazy pretty" Phoebe says making me smile. "She is a little taller than mom, but not by much."

"Is she smart?" EJ asks.

"I think she is" Phoebe answers honestly. "She is Russian."

"She is half Russian half Spanish" I correct entering the game room. "I have to do something real quick I will be back."

"Can I come with you?" asks EJ. I roll my eyes, but nod my head anyway. I spot my mom as we head towards the stairs.

"Mom Joni is coming tomorrow" I inform her as we head up the stairs.

"Are you asking me or telling me?" she asks placing her hand on her hip.

"Asking?" I answer hesitantly not completely sure.

"What happened to the hiking?" dad asks coming down the stairs.

"Her father twisted his ankle" I inform them. "She doesn't want to go to Texas and don't want her on campus alone, so I am going to fly her out here…if that is okay with you of course."

"The more the merrier" mom says receiving a harsh glare from dad. "It will give us the opportunity to get to know her better."

"Thanks mom" I say. I can't hide my smile as I see dad's disgruntled face.

One point to mom…