A/N: We got my grandmother diamond white gold/diamond earrings this year. I love white gold, if you hadn't noticed (the necklace Twister bought Reggie is white gold, if you didn't catch that when he described it to Otto). My grandmother used to dislike white gold. She's allergic to any kind of jewelry besides 14 kt gold, so she thought you could be tricked when buying white gold, that it could actually be silver. It wasn't until recently that she decided white gold was okay. My grandmother's funny like that. She didn't want us to get her anything, she never does, and she acts so surprised when we do. She's like "you got me a gift, too? you didn't have to get me a gift!" It's like "but grandma, we love you, we wantto buy you things!" She doesn't understand, but it makes her happy, and that makes me happy.

ENJOY!

Chapter 7

Reggie chewed her thumbnail distractedly, sitting by the top of the stairs and watching Sandy pace the living room. The two adults had sent the kids up to "play" hoping it would take their minds off the severity of the situation. But Reggie, Sam, and Cleo were no longer children, and more than capable of drawing the most morbid of conclusions. Cleo had occupied herself in the room, turning on some Latin band Reggie didn't recognize and flipping aimlessly through a fashion magazine. Sam had settled on his laptop, opening programs, closing them again, putting headphones in his ears to listen to some techno tracks, clacking away at his computer keyboard. Both trying to shut out the current unpleasant circumstances.

But Reggie couldn't do that. She couldn't preoccupy herself with some irrelevant thing, not while her entire family was out in the blizzard, not while two of the most important people in her life, two boys she loved and cared for deeply, were in possible, and more than likely fatal, peril. Reggie buried her face in her arms. She couldn't help but blame herself. She should have asked Otto about the two sets of clothes, should have pressed him for answers, should have gone with her intuition that the two were up to something, should have nagged them, brought the matter to her father, should have noticed they were gone sooner, should have...she closed her eyes. She hadn't kissed Twister. Not since his family left in an attempt to make headway to their cabin. She hadn't kissed him, held him, let him hold her. He came in the room, with Otto, and she didn't go to him and kiss him, didn't touch him before he left. An hour and a half, her mind screamed, an hour and a half and not once in that time did she seek Twister out to be with him. She just sat in front of the television watching some stupid sitcom with the others, mindlessly thinking of nothing.

"Hey." Reggie looked up at the voice, smiling half-heartedly at Sam, who moved to sit next to her, "You okay?"

"No," she whispered, leaning her head back against the banister.

"You shouldn't worry," Sam told her, "They're going to be okay."

"Hun...I'm usually telling you not to worry," Reggie commented, laying her head on his shoulder as he slipped his arm around her, "How can they do this? Make everyone worry like this?"

"You forget, it's what they're best at, Reg," Sam chuckled sadly, "But you know that your dad's going to come in here, shoving both of them through the door by the scruff of their necks, and they'll grin at all of us as though it were one big joke. Twister will make some stupid comment, and we'll all laugh. They'll get fussed over, punished, and then it'll be like nothing happened at all. Raymundo will find them, he always does."

"I know you don't believe that," Reggie mumbled, "But thanks." She shifted slightly, wrapping her arms about herself, "I'm glad you're not out there, Sammy, if I lost all three of you I don't know what I'd do." Sam blushed, smiling sheepishly and snuggling closer to Reggie. "Twist..." Reg mumbled, staring blankly into empty space and Sam felt a twang of guilt.

"They'll be fine, Reg," he assured her, "They have to be." They startled when the door opened, the wind howling, brushing in litters of snow. Sam smiled to Reggie, saying, "See, that's your dad now. Let's go yell at those two morons." Reggie nodded, as they helped each other up, rushing down the stairs.

Sandy and Mrs. Dullard had both stood, turning to the door anxiously. Tito walked in first, and then Lars and his father. Reggie watched with expectant eyes as Ray walked in, pale and downcast. He shut the door behind him, raising sad eyes to look up at his daughter. Sandy let out a cry, her leg giving way beneath her, and Raul rushed to her side as she clutched the couch for support.

"Dad," Reggie whispered, "Where's Otto and Twister...?"

"We didn't find them, princess," Ray answered solemnly, "I'm sorry...we couldn't..." Reggie felt her heart sink, as she herself sunk to the steps, her bottom lip trembling. Sam stood, his mouth hinged open, and Mrs. Dullard brought her hand over her eyes. Cleo had come out of the room, looking around at the distress that had covered the room, and bursting into tears, knowing without having to ask what was happening.

"But they're okay, right?" Reggie demanded, "They're okay, right, dad? Right?"

"I don't know, princess," Ray mumbled, crossing the room to engulf his daughter in a warm hug.

"¡Voy a buscarlo! (I'm going to look for him)," Sandy was crying, her husband trying to retrain her from running out the door, "¡Voy a buscar a mi bebé! ¡Dejado voy de mí, tengo que encontrarlo! (I'm going to look for my baby! Let go of me, I have to find him!)" Tito stood silently beside Mrs. Dullard attempting to soothe her, and Lars stood back watching in anguish, uncertain of what to say or do. His parents were falling apart, his cousin was crying, his little brother...

Everyone was in too much turmoil to notice the front door open again, and the two lithe figures skulk in limping and wincing. It was when they closed the door that Sam looked up, eyeing the two figures in disbelief.

"¡Dejado vaya de mí! (Let go of me)," Sandy was screaming, "¡Mi bebé me necesita! (My baby needs me!)"

"¿Qué bebé, mom?" Twister spoke up, his voice harsh, his face pink and chapped, dried blood staining his jacket, a large scrape along his neck and cheek. A hush fell over the room as all the occupants turned to face the two boys standing awkwardly in the entryway. Otto was unzipping his jacket, eyes staring at the wooden floor, and Twister jabbed him with an elbow, hissing, "You said they wouldn't notice we were gone."

It was like a flood, the way everyone flocked to the two boys. Ray threw his arms around his son, jolting the boy back and forth in an overzealous greeting. Sandy had latched onto Twister's neck, squeezing tightly while Raul patted him heartily on the shoulder, giving his weather worn son a once over. Lars stood shaking his head, arms crossed over his chest, tears brimming his eyes, trying to figure out if he should hug his punk little brother or just beat the crap out of him for making the older boy worry. Reggie threw her arms around her own brother, and Sam was overcome with relief, nearly hyperventilating beside his mother and Tito. Cleo threw her arms around her cousin, and then Otto.

"Mi hijo," Sandy was saying, "¿Cómo podría usted hacer esto? ¿Cómo podría usted preocuparse nos tan? Le ponen a tierra. ¡Usted está más que puesto a tierra, usted no está dejando mi vista hasta que volvemos a casa! (How could you do this? How could you worry us so? You are grounded. You are more than grounded, you are not leaving my sight until we return home!)"

"What were you two thinking?" Ray demanded of his son, and smacking the back of his head upon deciding the boy was in healthy condition, "Running out into a snowstorm? What honestly was going through your mind, huh, Rocket boy?"

"Yes, I'd like to know that as well," Raul pressed, raising an eyebrow.

"What makes you think it was my idea?" Otto cried, as Twister struggled in his mother's grasp.

"Mom, usted está cortando la circulación a mi cerebro (Mom, you're cutting off circulation to my brain)," he gasped.

"Of course it was your idea, Rocket dork," Lars growled, "Twister is stupid, but ridiculous stunts like trying to snowboard in a goddamned blizzard aren't really his thing!" Otto lowered his head as everyone stared expectantly at him. Twister frowned at his best friend, undoing his jacket as Sandy had released him.

"No," Twister stated firmly, "It was my fault we went out there. I lost...something...and Otto just came to help me look for it. I'm sorry."

"¿Maurice, cuál hay ese es tan importante salir en una tormenta como eso? (Maurice, what is there that is so important to go out in a storm like that?)" Sandy asked, rubbing her son's arm to warm him up.

"It's doesn't matter now," Twister mumbled, "We couldn't find it." There was silence, a momentary pause as everyone contemplated the recent happening. Tito clapped his hands together.

"Let's get these boys away from the door, and warm. They look like snow-bruddahs," he announced, "I'll go make two fresh cups of hot chocolate with extra marshmallows!" He bustled into the kitchen as the others rushed from the living room to get blankets, clothes, the first aid kit, and Raul moved to start a fire. Reggie stepped forward to Twister, who was hanging his jacket up. He turned to face her sheepishly, trying to think of something to say.

"I'm not speaking to you," Reggie said steadily.

"Oh...okay," Twister whispered, a little startled and hurt, studying the floor. He was taken aback when she thrust her arms around his waist, holding him tightly, burying her face in his collar. He was silent, wrapping his arms around her, slightly flushed. Those in the living room watched quietly.

"You can let him go now, Reg," Sam finally broke the silence, "I don't think he'll be going anywhere agian."

"Oh," Reggie muttered, a little dazed, letting go and stepping back, "Sorry."

"Gee, thanks, Squid," Twister drawled sarcastically.

"Usted los muchachos va arriba y cambia fuera de esas ropas mojadas (You boys go upstairs and change out of those wet clothes)," Sandy commanded, "¿Y usted están se entienden ambas duchas calientes largas que toman esta noche, eso? (And you're both taking long hot showers tonight, is that understood?)"

"Yes ma'am," Otto and Twister murmured in unison, trudging up the stairs together.

-0-0-

It was late in the night when they all gathered in the living room, Ray standing in the middle, arms crossed over his chest. The storm was still bellowing outside, beating against the windows. He had bad news, the group could tell right away.

"I was listening on the radio," he started, running a hand over the back of his neck, "It's not certain when this storm will blow over, but we're trapped here, that's for certain. Now we have a few months supply of food stored, so that won't be a problem..."

"We're going to be trapped here for a month," Twister cried, his mother sitting beside him, holding tightly to him. She hadn't let him be since he'd returned, and there wasn't much he could do about it. He didn't really mind. He was warm.

"That's not what he said," Sam corrected the obviously horrified young man, "This storm won't last more than a few days. I checked the forecast on the net with my laptop."

"Now, I'm not going to lie. This is a small cabin, and there's a lot of us. It's going to be very cramped. The Rodriguez kids will sleep upstairs with Otto and Reggie in their room, Tito and I will bunk in this room, Mrs. Dullard and Sam will still be staying in their room, Sandy and Raul can have my room. Any questions?"

"Mr. Rocket, you really want your daughter sleeping in the same room as the twisted one?" Lars piped, getting severely stern looks from around the room.

"Lars, no hace que se levanta (Lars, do not make me get up)," Sandy snarled.

"Sorry, ma'am," he muttered.

"Anything else?" Ray inquired, taking a deep breath. There was no reply. "Alright then, the best we can do is hope for this storm to blow over quickly. I suggest you kids all get ready for bed." They nodded, shuffling up the stairs. Only Lars stayed behind with the adults as they broke into whispered discussion.

"Things are worse than their telling us," Otto concluded as they entered the room, shutting the door tightly behind them.

"What makes you say that?" Twister demanded.

"Because adults always send the kids up to bed when things are really bad," Reggie clarified, then reeling on the boys, hands on hips, "Now spill, what the hell were you two doing sneaking out? Do you realize, you two idiots could have gotten yourselves killed?"

"Tone down on the harshness, sis," Otto snapped, "Twist explained, we were looking for something."

"Oh, really, and what was it?" Cleo asked, crossing her arms over her chest, "And I would like lots more detail. What could possibly possess the two of you to go out in that mess?"

"Yeah, honestly, Twister, what is worth you and your best friend's life?" Sam joined in. Twister frowned, throwing his hands up.

"What does it matter? It's gone, alright," he shouted, "I lost it! I screwed up! I'm sorry! I tried, okay? I tried this year, I really did! I worked hard for something...but that's what I get. It's because I'm stupid, alright." he pouted slightly, looking away, "I'm going to go...um...brush my teeth, I guess." He left the room and the others watched in silence, a little too stunned to say anything.

"What was that about?" Sam finally asked, "I was just wondering...he just blew up for no reason."

"I'll go see if he's okay," Reggie whispered, slipping out the door as well.

END A/N: Aww...poor Twister, he's so upset. And everyone is giving him such a hard time. He feels like such a failure.

Please excuse any grammatical and typing errors (I bet you're getting tired of reading this, I'm getting tired of writing it...)

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THanks for Reading.