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: Wow! I had a lot of new readers to review that last chapter. All of your responses are so overwhelming. I am truly grateful for your input and truly touched that something I have written affected a few of you deeply enough to bawl right along with me.

Because I Know You

Chapter Sixteen: Departure part deux

After finally convincing Ray that she was emotionally stable enough for him to leave, Lily spent most of the night awake. Most of her belongings were packed away in preparation for her move so she had nothing to divert her attention. She had figured on insomnia tonight; what she hadn't planned on was the reason behind her restlessness. Excitement over attending one of the finest arts schools in the country was not one of the emotions she was feeling. Anger, abandonment, and insecurity were all vying for her foremost attention. Oddly enough layered beneath all of that was relief. Relief that Travis Strong did indeed have feelings for her. Whether they were as deep as Ray seemed to believe remained to be seen. She wasn't completely sure that she was in love herself. If being in love brought this entanglement of antagonistic emotions then she was a likely candidate.

Annoyingly enough, she knew that Travis' advice rang true. One of the ways she could bring herself around was to focus on her dream, to be true to herself. She wasn't really mad at him for wanting to pursue his destiny. The thing that bothered her was his deliberate deception. He had never done such a thing before unless you counted his involvement in their underground radio station. She liked to think that she was a strong enough person to support his choice. It angered her that he had taken the decision out of her hands. She was not some lovesick, weak-minded female who would completely fall apart if "her man" wasn't nearby. The initial shock of his departure may have ruffled her a bit but she was not going to fall apart at the seams. Travis would hear all about that if she could ever reach him.

She and Ray had continuously dialed Travis' number as well as his parents with no success. Robbie went above and beyond the call of duty by dropping by the Strong residence. He confirmed that Travis' parents had not returned to their house. Lily knew Travis would not call her first, his note had said he'd be waiting for her call. She didn't know exactly why she wasn't able to reach him; it could be as simple as connectivity on the cell but she wouldn't rest easy until she heard his voice.

Robbie and Ray were her escorts to the airport. The drive there had been strangely silent, which was quite odd for three people vocal enough to want to form their own version of radio. Ray had noticed that her hands were shaking and gently took one into his. The warmth and security that radiated from him soothed her. After the lack of communication with Travis, Lily made sure that both Robbie and Ray knew how to reach her and vice versa. Phone numbers, cell numbers, email addresses and the good old-fashioned snail mail addresses were all accounted for in her new notebook computer as well as hardcopy backup in her little black book. Well, it was actually baby blue but served the same function.

Robbie, ever the pioneer, spoke first. "We're gonna miss having you around, not just at RFR, but as Lily."

She couldn't really remember Robbie ever being so sentimental. "Well, I'll miss you guys too. But you still have Shady for a little longer, thanks to some fancy editing."

Ray voiced his opinion on that matter, "Not the same, not even close. On the upside, my arms might actually heal."

Lily punched him twice for good measure. "That ought to last you till I return."

Ray smirked and Lily was struck by the finality of that statement. She lurched forward and grabbed them both around the neck in a group hug. It seemed to last a full minute. To her surprise, Ray was the one brave enough to pull away and let go first.

"Go be famous, Lily."

Robbie could only nod his head and she noticed that his eyes were mysteriously misty. She loved them both that much more at the sight.

With absurd timing, the airline announced her boarding call and Lily noticed her parents motioning for her to step over to the checkpoint.

Again Ray's instincts were uncanny as he answered her unspoken request. "We'll keep trying too, Lily. We'll find him. I promise."

She hugged him again, kissing his cheek softly, not trusting her voice anymore. And with a last hug for Robbie she turned to the counter to display her pass to the clerk. As she was about to enter the causeway behind her parents she heard Robbie call out to her. "Yo! Lily!"

The sight before her buoyed her spirit and yet still brought a fresh wave of tears. Robbie and Ray had both donned absurdly bright pink wigs in a tribute to her short political career when she had used such a prop during her run for class president. They must have hidden them in Robbie's ever-present backpack. Each of the guys held a handmade banner. One read, "THINK PINK!" The other "GOOD LUCK!" At the last moment Ray pulled out a third and held it high over his fuscia afro. "WE LOVE YOU LILY!" To the dismay of the passengers behind her, Lily quickly whipped out her digital camera and snapped the shot. Ray's smile was brilliant and Robbie was somewhat horrified to realize that he had forever been captured wearing fake hair…pink fake hair.

Nearly four weeks passed and Lily had not been able to reach Travis or his parents. She was worried but did not dwell on it. She knew that Robbie had all the worst case scenarios covered by checking London flight information and Internet news sites.

New York was definitely keeping her busy. Her parents dragged her around in their hunt for suitable housing and she met her new academic tutor as well as her music instructors. The whirlwind of activity kept her mind from focusing on the lack of communication with Travis. Even stranger, was the complete disappearance of the Strongs. Her emails with Ray and Robbie confirmed that the house was still closed and dark but had not been touched otherwise, no moving vans or real estate salespersons. Audrey had confirmed that Travis had left to be with his "uncle in London." It was absurd that none of them knew exactly who that was. That just wasn't the type of information that was deemed relevant in their past conversations. Until now that is.

Lily was thankful that her parents had decided to come with her. Her mom would be staying in New York with her. Her dad would return to Roscoe in a couple of weeks. After her parents finally agreed on an apartment close enough to her school activities, Lily was glad to be able to unpack the boxes that had been home in Roscoe awaiting a shipping destination. She missed her old room dreadfully. New color was certainly on the agenda for this one. Painting would have to be added to her already long to-do list. As the task of organizing tired her out, Lily pulled the box labeled "Memories and Mementos" onto her bed. Ray's Book of Firsts was placed in the bureau beside her bed. She found the loose photos that she normally taped to her mirror and set them to the side. The framed CD's that Ray had given her followed that. The manila envelope containing the demo packet information was about to follow suit but for some reason Lily pulled the information out.

She was again humbled that Travis had put forth such an effort. His journal sat nearby with much the same information, solid proof of his dedication to her and her dreams. Idly, she flipped the pages, reading the names of major recording labels and independent ones as well. Some she had heard of and some she hadn't. Nearing the end of the list a name jumped out at her. One of the contacts for an independent label in London was none other than Bartholomew Strong. It listed a phone number. Her heart began to race and she nearly fell off the bed as she lunged for Travis' journal. She cursed her shaking fingers as she struggled to find the right entry.

There it was, in that maniacal scratching that indicated that Travis' was on a roll.

Don't forget Uncle Barty. It had listed the same studio out to the side.

She'd found Travis.

A/N: Anyone seen the movie Field of Dreams with Kevin Costner? I don't own it either.

The field of corn swayed gently in the cool evening breeze. The fragrant crop seemed to whisper as the stalks waltzed in the wind. I drifted closer to the edge suddenly draw by the desire to walk among the branches. As I was about to enter its maze a silky voice stopped me cold.

If you write it they will read.

I spun around finding no one, nothing but rows and rows of corn. Unnerved I spoke aloud to the disembodied voice, "Excuse me? Who are you?"

If you write it they will read.

Exasperation laced my next words, "Write what?"

If you write it they will read.

Belligerence eclipsed my exasperation. "And if I write it and they read it…then?"

They will read it and….REVIEW!