"What's so funny?" Spot asked as the twins ran back into the main room giggling.

"They were kissin'!" They giggled some more and hopped onto the couch.

"I think we need to have a little talk," Spot said.

They fell quiet after a moment and looked at him.

"No more peeking, got it?"

They pouted. "But..."

"NO!"

Andy sighed grudgingly. "Yes sir." A moment later, Ann echoed the sentiment.

"Good." He handed them each a piece of the newspaper. "Just because you aren't going to your school, doesn't mean you can't learn something."

They looked at one another and sighed. Well, at least it wasn't in that schoolhouse back home...

* * *

"Well, I guess they got what they wanted," Chris said with a grin.

Molly pulled away from Chris and closed the door. "I think," she began, having heard Spot, "that this will be the end of their inquiries."

"Good."

She smiled. "I've never met more inquisitive kids."

"I haven't," he said, pulling her close again. "Now all we have to worry about is your brother finding out."

She smiled. "Yes... I can't imagine what he'd say about this..."

"I should probably talk to him...but..."

"But he doesn't like you much."

"He scares me."

"He scares anyone if he puts his mind to it."

"But not you?"

She smiled. "He does scare me sometimes."

"Just so that I'm not the only one."

With a small laugh, she shook her head. "No, you're not."

He kissed her forehead. "Thank you."

She blushed faintly.

"You're awful cute when you blush."

Her blush brightened and she smiled.

He laughed.

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "So... any more of that coffee left?"

He looked in the coffee pot. "Nope," he said, handing her what was left in his cup.

"Thank you," she said, taking the cup and taking a sip of it.

He leaned against the counter and watched her, smiling.

"So... what are you going to be doing while we're here?"

"Hadn't thought about it," she answered.

He sat down at the table. "Wonder how long we'll be here," he said quietly.

She put the cup of coffee down and stood behind him, wrapping her arms around him.

He rested his chin on her arms. "I'm gonna miss her so much... I keep thinking of all the times I was so rude to her... and how can I make that up to her with such a short, indefinite amount of time left?"

"All you can do is be there for her. Hold her. Tell her that you love her."

"But that still won't make up for all those times.."

"You can't make up for all those times. But you can make her last days good days."

"I guess..."

"Why don't we go see her?"

"Do you think that's a good idea? By ourselves, I mean...?"

She stepped away from him quickly. "Well, if you feel that way about me..."

"No... what I meant was.. you know.. with the whole Duchess thing we just had, would it be safe?" he said quickly, flustered.

"That doesn't matter right now. What matters is Julie."

"Well, I'm thinking of her too, you know... What do you think would happen to her if we both got nabbed again or something?"

He sighed. "She'd worry herself sick, she's always been like that."

"For all we know, Duchess doesn't even know that we are back in town."

"But what's stopping her from finding out?"

"Nothing. But Julie needs you, right now. And you need to be with her."

After some consideration, he nodded. "I suppose you're right..." But he was still very worried about Duchess.

"It's not like we are going looking for trouble this time..."

"Well, we weren't last time either... we were just looking for Coney Island." He stood.

She tossed her head. "I'm going, with or without you, Chris."

He sighed. "I didn't say I wouldn't go... I'm just worried."

"Can we go already?" she asked, pointing toward the door.

After a pause, he nodded. "Demanding, aren't we?"

She glared at him.

With a sigh, he headed out the door. She ran after him and tucked her hand in his. He gave her a little smile.  She smiled in return and rested her head on his shoulder. After a hesitant moment, he put his arm around her waist. It was strange... He remembered they used to hate one another.. and now?

"You know..." she said, "...it wasn't that long ago that we were arguing constantly."

He smiled. "I was just thinking that..."

She giggled.

"What changed, do you think?"

"Us.  We grew up."

He was quiet for a moment. "Yeah.. I guess we did."

"Everyone grows up someday, Chris."

"I know that."

She sighed.

Chris didn't say much more as they had reached Trent's office. "Well... we're here..." And, taking a deep breath, he walked in.

She followed close on his heels.

"Dr. Trent?" He glanced around the office for him.

Dr. Trent's nurse and wife, China, came out of the back room. "He'll be with you in a moment, Chris."

"Oh.. okay. Thank you..." And promptly, he sat down in a chair to wait.

"Is everything alright?" Molly asked.

China hesitated. "I'd rather you wait and let him tell you."

Chris frowned deeply. That didn't sound too good.

Molly sat beside him and took his hand.

"What's taking him so long?" he muttered, staring down the hall that China had disappeared.

"He'll be here soon."

"I wonder what is so important?..."

"Who knows."

"... I don't like waiting."

"I don't either."

A few minutes later Trent walked down the hall.

Spotting the doctor, Chris jumped to his feet. He watched him approach apprehensively.

Trent sighed. "China is going to sit with your sister. I'd like to go talk to Rae and Spot."

"Why? What's happening?" he demanded.

"She's not going to last much longer, Chris.  She needs to get out of my clinic and back into a house with her family. But I don't think she'll survive a trip back to Pleasant Valley."

He stared at Trent, silent. He looked at him, then, Molly, and then back at the doctor.

"I know a house that the owner is willing to rent out," Trent said. "Do you want to go with me to talk to Rae and Spot? Or do you want to stay here with Julie?"

"Stay with Julie."

Trent nodded. "She's in the second room on the left."

With a nod, he went to that room and approached Julie's side. She appeared to be asleep, but when he touched her hand her eyes opened.

"H-hey Julie," he croaked.

She smiled weakly. "Hey Chris."

"How..." he swallowed thickly. "How are you feeling?

"Not...too good...It hurts..."

He gave her a watery smile, trying to be a strong big brother, but not succeeding much. It hurt just to see her like this.

"Chris?"

"Yeah?"

"Will you hold me?"

He croaked a bit and nodded, sitting on the edge of her bed.  Molly leaned against the doorframe and watched them silently. He hugged his sister tightly. "Julie... I'm sorry for all the things I did and said to you as we grew up.... I didn't mean them... well, maybe at the time I thought I did... but I don't..."

"I know Chris."

Tears were rolling down his cheeks.

"Please don't cry...I'll start crying..."

"I'm sorry..."

"I...I love you, big brother."

He sniffed. "I love you too, sis."

She fell silent and wearily rested her head on his shoulder.

"The doctor said we should move into a house here while you're... ... you're... I think he wants you to move there too."

She took a deep breath. "I don't want to die, Chris...but if I have to...I don't want it to be here."

He nodded. "I know..."

"You aren't mad at me are you? You know...for this?"

"Why would I be mad at you?"

"For leaving you alone..."

"It's not your fault..."

She nodded.

He sighed and reflected quietly for a while.