Disclaimer: I own nothing you may or may not recognize. Characters are from RFR; I don't own them.

Rating: PG13, just in case

Pairing: Travis/Lily eventually

A/N: To those hunting my goof, T'aint Audrey, it isn't any of the main characters. It isn't a plot problem, just a detail about the show that really ticked me off that I had missed. If you guys didn't notice it, then I guess I did a pretty good job of distracting you, eh? Games still on though, if anyone figures it out I'll keep my promise

Because I Know You

Chapter Fourteen: Departures

Lily caught up with Robbie and Ray en route to the station. She didn't know if she would be of much use to them but it was her final show and she wouldn't miss it; she only wished Travis could be there too. Maybe they could call him during the show and tease him.

Robbie teased her slightly; "You ready for this?"

"Nope."

Ray knew her better, "Gonna do it anyway?"

"Yep."

Robbie laughed, "Some show this is gonna be with one DJ out and the other reduced to monosyllabic conversation."

She just stuck her tongue out at Robbie and unlocked the door.

They all noticed the labels and chuckled slightly. Ray noticed the label on Robbie's headphones and began to laugh quite loudly until the new Edit Button connected with his head. He noticed its label. "You practicing to take Lily's place?" He rubbed his head as Robbie continued into the booth to jumpstart the equipment. Lily was spying all the labels with a small, satisfied grin. Ray continued, "Travis was probably just setting us up for this little joke. He's not really visiting anyone."

"Uh, guys?" The tone in Robbie's voice caught their attention. "He really is visiting London relatives…in London."

Lily ceased all movement. "What?"

Robbie lifted the note so that they could see Travis' writing. "He left for London…today."

Lily scrambled to get to the phone and began dialing frantically as Ray refused to believe it. "That's insane, Robbie! He was just in class this morning!" In their shocked silence he heard Lily furiously pressing buttons. He jumped as Lily slammed the phone down with a growl. She shoved Ray out of her way and entered the booth to judge for herself. She saw the brief note:

To my fellow DJs and my friends,

I am leaving for London today to live with my uncle and help him with his studio. Hopefully, I can manage to find a career in some facet of the music industry as well. I've laid out everything you might need to run RFR and you have my cell number if you need to call. The CD's might come in handy if you need a demo of your "extra-curricular" activities someday. I believe you will succeed in whatever you attempt. It has been an honor knowing you.

Travis Strong, a.k.a. Smog

Lily was floored. There was very little emotion in that note. No special note to her after all they'd been through in the last few days. He was leaving…for good. There was no way she would see him now, even if she visited Roscoe. It took a few moments for that realization to sink in and then she bolted out of the door with a startled Ray and Robbie trailing behind her. She was holding on to the thin shred of hope that he was still home preparing to leave.

Ray caught up with her easily to grab her arm and she rounded on him viciously in her panic, "Let me GO!" Stunned by her behavior he did, watching as her hair whipped back wildly as she ran. Robbie came along side of him slightly winded.

"Dude, let her go, it's probably best. She won't want us to witness anything, we can be sure she's all right later."

Ray looked doubtful and torn. Robbie grabbed his arm for a moment to direct him back to the station and Ray followed simply because he didn't know what to do.

They entered the studio and looked around at the labels and reread the note. Ray was sitting in the booth with a thoughtful look upon his face. His voice sounded oddly out of character, quiet, calm, and confident, "He's running away from home."

Robbie huffed, "He's still had his doubts that this was his home, he was always wary."

Ray clarified, "Not Roscoe." He remembered Travis' statement of so long ago, the baseball analogy. "Lily."

As Lily ran, the rational part of her was insisting that she stop acting like an idiot; he was already gone, she'd already called his house and cell repeatedly. Her irrational side won out easily as she continued her path to Travis' house. Silently she cursed herself for having hobbies that did not necessarily help with her aerobic capacity. Still she kept running until she reached his house, ringing the doorbell and banging on the door when the bell did not produce a response. The house was dark, no one was home, and she knew it was impossible to catch him. She couldn't stop the sobs then. She slid slowly down to the ground. Damn him.

She had been hopeful that this newfound love could survive the distance of her quest to New York but she had serious doubts about its survival when it came to London. He hadn't really said goodbye. He didn't even single her out in his note.

Her crying stopped instantly as she suddenly remembered their little date in the studio. He had given her two gifts. One to open when she left, he had said. Her rational mind kicked in again. It was really for her to open after she discovered he had gone. He had been planning this for a long time; he had known about it and had not told her. She remembered their night in the park as he had gently convinced her to tell Ray she was leaving. Hypocrite! Her anger gave her the strength to push off the ground and dust off. She headed for home; whatever he had given her had better be good.

Travis was on autopilot as he walked through the parking lot of the airport, his parents following behind him and chatting amiably. He had learned early in life to turn off his emotions during major transitions such as this. As such, he was completely unprepared when someone plowed into him quite hard, sending his belongings skittering along the pavement. He didn't think much of it as he muttered, "Don't worry about it," to the well dressed but obviously late businessman who was apologizing profusely. Belatedly, he noticed papers being caught in a whirlwind and watched with wonder as they fluttered quickly away. Nonplussed, he began to straighten himself up; it was only addresses of the gang that he could get easily with a simple phone call. Just then he heard a phone ring followed by the crunch of plastic popping and whipped his head to the sound. There lay his cellphone, correction, what was left of his cellphone in the wake of a departing van. With a sigh he proceeded into the terminal, he would just have to wait until he got to London to call them. They would probably be a little angry at first anyway.

At the gate, his mother fussed a little, brushing off his shoulders and attempting to smooth down his hair. She'd never understood its style. Her chatter was just a droning buzz until his subconscious plucked out something that seemed vital.

"Pardon?"

"Travis, you really should pay more attention, it's a dangerous place…London. I said here are the numbers where your father and I can be reached. We will be traveling for the next three weeks or so but we want you to check in with us, darling.'

"You're leaving Roscoe?"

"Well, I don't think it's anything permanent but your father is going to be discussing his future plans. We've always been like seeds born upon the wind. Why do you even ask, you're going to be in London."

He wondered that himself. He supposed it had been comforting knowing it was possible to return. That scenario was in jeopardy now. At his silence his mother began chatting again and his instinct to withdraw kicked in. Absently, he took the piece of paper listing their itinerary. He said goodbye to his parents, cleared the final security checks, and handed over his boarding pass. He paused only briefly before entering the causeway to the plane but he didn't look back.

No one paid him any attention as he settled in his seat and prepared for flight. After the plane rose with a roar in seeming defiance of physics he pulled out his portable CD player hoping it still worked after its impact with the harried traveler. He pressed play and listened as the banter of four friends filled his thoughts and kept him company on his trip across the ocean. He did not bother with his latest mantra; he knew it was pointless. He would always long for Lily.

A/N: How's that for a meanie cliffhanger, not so nice now, am I? (DIE cricket DIE!)

Here we go again folks: My tribute to the end of a fine show.

A deep voice stated calmly, "He got on the plane."

He felt her come up directly behind him to peer over his shoulder at the screen. "What do you mean he got on the plane?"

"Could I BE any more clear? He...Got...On…The…Plane."

She began to pace. "That's not possible. That's not right. Everyone knows people in love don't get on planes and fly across the globe."

He turned to face her in astonishment. "YOU almost did."

"Keyword, Ross…ALMOST! We have to do something, there needs to be a change, a rewrite, something, anything!"

"How do you propose we do that"

(ALL TOGETHER NOW)

"REVIEW!!!"

(Well, I won't rewrite it, but the ending could be swayed.) . Also, sorry this is a little shorter, I actually had to split it here because my ideas for this chapter ran a little long.