Disclaimer: Don't own 'um. Too bad. I do own almost everything in this chapter, besides Harry, and I do own the plot.

AN: Yeah, I know this is really short, but oh well! It's still a chapter, right? RIGHT?

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The first half an hour in the little blue car was rather uncomfortable. Gretchen kept sneaking looks in the mirror between Henry and herself, beaming at Ru. Ru felt that she should be the one to start a conversation, but couldn't think of anything to say. 

     Finally, Henry coughed, which seemed to snap Gretchen in to action. "Sooo! Ru!"

Gretchen half turned in her seat to 'face' the girl. " Tell us about yourself, um… what do you like to do?" Gretchen asked, obviously excited.

    Ru smiled, "well… I love to draw." She remarked, suddenly feeling rather shallow that the only thing she really did was draw. However, Gretchen didn't share her attitude. In fact, the woman beamed at her.

    "A little artist, eh?" Ru blushed and nodded. "Well! We'll just have to see some of your pictures!" Gretchen exclaimed, her eyes bright.

    Ru gave her a warm smile, and returned to staring out the window. She watched as the landscape changed, from city, to grassy hills, and back into city as they passed threw towns.

    Finally, she heard Henry coughed, drawing her attention back to the front of the car.

 "Well, since we're all going to live together," Gretchen gave him a 'Duh' look, but he continued. "I think I should tell you the family rules."

    Oh no, she thought ironically, I have a family, and to think, I might get upset over rules. She listened intently to what Henry had to say.

     "Number one, I forbid you to ever go down without a fight, Number two, you have to tell us exactly what you think of something, no exceptions." Ru raised her eyebrows, but continued to listen, with amusement.

      "Number three, you must never let us invade your personal space, but always tell us what you're doing. Number four, you must act like an individual. Number five, never, I repeat, never!" he paused for affect, "let us take advantage of you."

    "And last, and most importantly, of all," Gretchen gave him a warning look, but he continued. "No dating until you're married."

   "Henry!" Gretchen exclaimed open-mouthed, giving him a soft slap on the arm. He chuckled, and Gretchen's eyes danced.

   Ru laughed right along with them, "I can follow all of those rules, right down to the letter."

    Seeing Gretchen look a little disappointed, she amended, "but that doesn't mean I can't have good old fashioned gossip with certain individuals who shall remain anonymous." She gave Gretchen a wink, and she winked back. Henry laughed, and returned to the road, inserting odd comments into the conversation between Ru and Gretchen. The drive to the motel seemed to slip by without her noticing. Simply dissolving in to the past, like sugar in water. And it was definitely, just as sweet.

~*~

When they arrived at the hotel, Ru and her new parents were too tired to do more than bring in a suit case each, and fall fast asleep. Nothing was going to be as sweet as living with these people, Ru was sure of it. She couldn't wait to reach England. She couldn't wait to go to school; nothing was going to stop her from living a normal life now. Absolutely nothing.

~*~

Harry gazed out the kitchen window, as he scrubbed one of the lunch dishes. Things were going to change, he could feel it. Now all he had to wonder was, exactly what was going to happen? And how close to home was it going to strike?

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AN: He He He, welcome to my world peeps.