Ok.  I've got another thing for you to keep your eye out for.  When you see a word surrounded by ** then its in French.  So like if you see, "**We almost got lost**" Its in French.  If you see "*We almost got lost,*" Its in Spanish.  If you see "We almost got lost," That is in English.  Hope it's not too confusing.

*          *          *          *          *

            Monday morning Vaughn slowly opened his eyes.  "Jet lag is a bitch." He said, as he slowly got dressed.  The apartment stood still, as if it was the calm before the storm.  He looked over at the clock on the night stand.  10:32. "Am I seriously the first one up?"  He mumbled as he opened the door.  He half expected to hear his daughters giggling to cartoons downstairs, but it was still.  As he made his way down the hall, he peered into his daughter's room.  Juliana's bed was empty and made.  Alexandra still slept peacefully.  Sydney's door was shut tight.  Vaughn quietly made his way down the stairs, to find an empty lower level.  He walked over to the fridge.  A note was stuck to it.

            Michael and Alexandra. 

                        Today is Monday.  Juliana and I have to return to our daily lives.  We should be back at about 4.  There should be a couple of travel brochures on the table.  Feel free to see the city.  See you guys when we get home!

            Sydney.

            Vaughn looked onto the table, where brochures indeed did sit.  He poured a cup of coffee for himself.  He then pulled out a pan and began to cook some eggs.  As they sizzled on the stove, he walked upstairs to wake Alexandra.  "Angel, it's time to get up."  He said, gently shaking her.

            "No Daddy.  I don't want to get up."

            "Come on.  Only way to fix jet lag is to get up.  Come on, lets go!"

            "No."

            "Alexandra. Get up now."

            "Why?"

            "Because we are going to go see the city."

            "Where is Mommy and Juliana."

            "They had to go back to school.  They will be home at four."

            "Awww…"

            "Come on, up and at them Angel."

            "Ok Daddy."

            "I'll be downstairs.  I want you downstairs in twenty minutes."

            "K."  Alexandra rolled over in her bed. 

            "I meant it.  Don't make me come up here, and still find you asleep."

            "Yes Daddy."  Vaughn closed the door, and went downstairs to finish making breakfast.  He heard thumping sounds from the bedrooms above, and knew that Alexandra had woken up.  Five minutes later, she came running down the stairs.  "Morning Daddy."

            "Good morning Angel.  What do you want to do today?"

            "I don't know.  What is there to do?"

            "I was thinking about just taking a bus, and seeing where we end up."

            "Ok.  But we can't get lost."

            "No, we can't."

            "You get lost a lot."

            "I do not!"

            "You got us lost at the zoo."

            "I couldn't find the monkeys!"

            "I couldn't find the monkeys!"  Alexandra mimicked.

            "Ha.  Ha.  Eat your eggs."

            "Where is the pepper?"  Alexandra asked.  "You forgot to add a little bit of pepper to the eggs."

            "That is because I couldn't find some.  Maybe if we see a store, I could pick up some pepper for us."

            "Is there at least salt?"

            "Yup."  Vaughn handed her a salt shaker.  "I am going to take a shower.  Stay out of mischief, and then we will go."

            "K." 

            Vaughn dashed up the stairs.  After a quick shower, he ran back down the stairs.  He found Alexandra flipping aimlessly through the channels.

            "Nothing is in English." 

            "We're in Spain honey."

            "I know.  But maybe something would have been in English."

            "Good thought.  Are you ready to go?"

            "Yup." 

            "Ok, then.  Let's go."  Vaughn grabbed his coat, and the two ran out.  The first stop they made was the plaza.  He had Alexandra pose in front of a bunch of buildings, for pictures.  They got their lunch at some of the venders.  "Ok, where now Angel?"  Vaughn asked, as they took bites out of their food while sitting on a park bench.

            "We should go see Mommy."

            "I think she is at work.  Maybe later in the afternoon we can stop by."

            "Ok!"

            "Come on!  We have got more to see." 

            "I'm not finished eating Daddy!"

            "Ok, we wait."

            "Thank you."

            "Hey Alexandra?"

            "Yeah?"

            "How would you feel about Juliana and Mom possibly visiting us this summer?"

            "Only visit?"

            "Maybe move?"

            "YEAH!  I would love that! Oh really Daddy?  Will they really come and live with us?  That would be the coolest thing ever."  She put her food down next to her, and threw her arms around her father.

            "Ok, your mother and I have only talked a little about this. I'm not even sure if I should be talking to you about this."

            "It's ok Dad.  I won't tell Juliana. I can't."

            "And you can't bring this up with your mother either."

            "I promise."

            "Good.  So you like the idea?"

            "Yes." 

            "Come on.  Let's go now.  You seem to be done eating now."

            "I am!"  She jumped up off the bench, and took Vaughn's out stretched hand.  She skipped along side him, as they went off for another adventure. 

            Sydney forcefully closed her folders as she prepared to leave.  "Hey there Jessica."  Shana said approaching Sydney's office.

            "Shana, hey."

            "Leaving work?"

            "Yes.  I have got to pick up Alexandra."

            "Alexandra?"

            "Oh, I'm sorry, Juliana.  I have to pick up Juliana.  I have to meet Alexandra at home."

            "Ah yes.  School is out."

            "Oh shush.  You have a nanny."

            "My mother doesn't really count."

            "I think she does.  You try being a single mother, and then you can complain about your mother being your nanny.  Frankly, if I knew who my mother is, I would beg her to be Juliana's nanny."

            "Who is Alexandra?  You've never mentioned her before, and suddenly you're mixing her up with Juliana."

            "Can you keep a secret?"

            "What are we, third graders?"

            "No, Alexandra is."

            "And she is?"

            "My daughter."

            "Excuse me?"

            "My husband, who I've forgotten, because of well, you know.  He showed up a couple weeks ago.  And Alexandra is our daughter.  And they are in town for a couple of days."

            "What are you doing at work then?"

            "Um, teaching?"

            "Why aren't you using up your vacation time?"

            "Because."

            "Because why?  You should be at home, spending time with this family of yours that is only here for a couple of days."

            "Juliana still has to go to school."

            "But you should be at home."

            "They leave Friday."

            "See, that gives you three more days with them.  You can probably get a sub for those three days too."

            "Are you trying to get rid of me Shana?"

            "No.  Just looking out for your well being."

            "Thanks."

            "Any time Jessica."

            "Actually it's Sydney."

            "Sydney.  Not English?"

            "No.  Vaughn."

            "Sydney Vaughn.  Are you going to change your desk plate?"

            "Don't think so.  My students don't know about me not remembering things."

            "Ok.  Listen.  This is my classroom.  Time to teach French."

            "I will see you later Shana."

            "You too Jess- I mean Sydney."  Sydney smiled, and walked to the school.  Juliana sat on the hill, as she did most days.  But today, Sydney was worried for the first time.  There were two other people there with her.  Older people.  She broke out into a run, to make sure that Juliana was ok.  As she got closer, she breathed a sigh of relief.  Not only was she ok, but she was with people they both trusted. 

            "Mama!"  Juliana cried at her approaching mother.

            "Michael, Alex, what are you guys doing here?"

            "Came to see you guys."

            "*Look Mama!  They came to pick me up.  They wanted to surprise me.  Did you know about this Mama?  Because this is the coolest thing ever.*"

            "*No. They surprised me too.*"

            "Let's go home."  Sydney said.  She only extended a hand, to Juliana as her only translation.

            "**Michael, I've decided to not go to work until you and Alexandra leave**"  Sydney said, masking under the veil of French as to not let neither Alexandra or Juliana catch their conversation.

            "**Any reason we're speaking French?**"

            "**I want to surprise Alexandra, but not make Juliana jealous.**"

            "**Oh.  Did you have anything particular in mind to do?**"

            "**No.  But Shana suggested that I take work off, and I thought it was a good idea.  I mean you're only in Spain for a couple of days and I figured that I should be using this to my full advantage.**"

            "**But you agreed to come to LA.**"

            "**It's still not every day that you are in Barcelona.  You need a tour guide.**"

            "**How true.  Alexandra,**"  Alexandra looked over at her father, at the mention of her name.  "Yes, we're talking about you." Vaughn said, directing it at his daughter.  "**We almost got lost.**"

            "**Almost?**"

            "**Yes, Almost.  And I'm not going to tell you anymore.**"

            Sydney laughed.  "**Oh really**"

            "**Yeah really.**"

            "*Mama?  When is Tía and Tío Luis and Raquel coming back?*" Juliana asked.

            "*Saturday love.  They went to go see Raquel's grandma.  Remember how I told you she was sick?*"

            "*Oh yeah.*"

            "Mommy?  Do you have a soccer ball?  I want to show you how well I can play soccer!"

            "Why does everyone want to talk to me right now?"

            "Because you're the Mom!"

            "Of course because I'm the Mom."

            "So do you have one?"

            "I don't know.  *Juliana, do we have a soccer ball?*"

            "*Yeah.  You got mad at me last week because I was playing with it in the apartment, and so you took it away from me.*"

            "*I know honey, I was being sarcastic.*"

            "*Oh.*"

            "Alex, we have a very nice soccer ball.  Maybe when we get home you can show me."

            "Cool." 

            Sydney grabbed Juliana's hand as they crossed the street after the four got off the bus.  Automatically, she felt a second small hand slip into her own.  She looked down to see Alexandra's hand nestled tightly within her own.  She smiled over at Vaughn, who held Juliana's other hand.  All four were linked.  Like a family.