"He's got what?"

Rick couldn't help but laugh as A.J. groaned into the phone. His briefcase was already closed, the answering machine was set, and Rick was just about to hit the lights.

"And I told him to let the machine pick up, too. Can't blame me this time!" he thought, grinning, then he lost his humor as he saw the worried look on his brother's face.

"Well, we can't go, no, honey. I won't go by myself, not with the kids sick."

Now he felt horrible, and mouthed to A.J., "Let me talk to Linda."

Ignoring his brother's quizzical look, he took the receiver in hand. "Linda? Who's got what?"

"Rick, I'm glad you're there. Ceci and Robin came home from school sick, they've got chicken pox." Rick could hear the concern in her voice.

"Oh, honey, I'm sorry. Don't worry, A.J.'s had it. Sides, kids don't get it as bad these days."

But the thing is…I haven't. So there's no way I can go to San Diego with him." Now it was Rick's turn to groan.

"Linda, you guys have all the luck. Tell you what, why don't I drive A.J. to the reunion. I'll visit Aunty when he's mixing with his friends, then when the kids are well you two can fly off some place together." He suggested.

"Oh, Rick, I could almost kiss you, never mind, Laurie can do it for me." The relief in her voice made him smile, and he saw A.J.'s face mirror his thoughts of wanting to go with not wanting to leave his family.

"That's the girl, now I'll let you talk to the birthday boy. I'll see you later." He promised, then handed the phone back to his brother.

In a moment he saw he'd made the right move, A.J.'s face lit up with a few words from his wife, then he lowered his voice to whisper something to Linda as Rick pretended to be embarrassed.

"See you in a few minutes."

Rick saw A.J. hang up the phone then headed to the door. "Come on, little brother, let's go see the germ twins."

"Rick, wait a minute."

He turned and saw A.J., an uncertain look in his eyes as he stood by his desk.

"Are you sure you want to do this, I know you were going fishing with Robbie and Ian and the kids this weekend."

Rick nodded. "I'm sure, A.J.. The kids'll understand, and you only have a reunion once every decade or so. I want you to go. You're not getting cold feet, are you?"

A rueful grin appeared on the younger Simon's face. "Something like that, just wondering, how much everyone's changed, and if anyone's going to be…"

"Be what, mad at you about Anita?" Rick discerned the reason for A.J.'s second thoughts, and anger burned in his stomach at the anguish the unstable woman had caused A.J. and Linda the previous year. A.J.'s former girlfriend had been a popular girl back then, but too many people had been hurt by her obsessive behavior.

"Yeah, but, …"

"But nothing, A.J.. You did nothing wrong, and no one's going to blame you or us for what she did or for her getting punished. Right?"

A.J. sighed. "Right."

There was silence for a moment as the two men picked their stuff up again. As they walked toward the door, A.J. stopped.

"Thanks, Rick. Especially for making Linda feel better…and me." A.J.'s voice was wavering, then Rick gave him a hug.

"Anytime, A.J.. Now maybe we'd better stop at the store, I think you'd better lay in a stock of calamine lotion. Ricky's probably going to need it, too."

"You're right, God forbid your namesake not share and share alike!" A.J. chuckled.

Arriving home, Rick came whistling into the dining room."Laurie, did you talk to Linda this afternoon?"

"Yes, Rick, she told me about Robin and Ceci…and that you're taking A.J. to his high school reunion?", his wife's voice came from the kitchen.

"Yep, I'm going to stay at Aunty's, maybe check in on Carlos and his family." He replied, snatching some munchies off the reading table. He noticed that a figurine was now sitting next to the TV listings, an ugly brown…thing. He'd have to ask where it came from.

"That's …nice, Rick." Laurie's tone was hesitant. "You're driving A.J. to San Diego this weekend then coming back on Monday?"

"Yeah, sweetheart. This way he gets to go to all the events. We should miss all the traffic leaving on Monday, this way." Rick frowned, if he didn't know any better, he'd say Laurie was unhappy about his plans.

"You're right, it not being a holiday weekend and all." His wife came out of the kitchen with a roasted chicken and vegetables, then brought out a pitcher of lemonade and some biscuits.

As she sat down across from him, Rick was startled to see an upset look on Laurie's face.

"Darlin', is something wrong?"

She looked up, startled, then her smile was rueful as she leaned over and hugged his neck. "Am I that obvious, love? I'm sorry."

Rick returned her embrace, then pulled her into his lap.

"Sweetheart, I'm the one who should be sorry, I should have called you before promising to take A.J." He dropped a kiss on her cheek.

"Oh, Rick, darling, no." She raised her face to his, and he saw the worry in her eyes. "Don't mind me, love. I've just had the frights all day for no reason at all."

Rick's worries deepened, "the frights" were Laurie's term for the feelings she had prior to a premonition or vision. She'd never had them for any length of time, though.

"Laurie, you didn't have a premonition or bad feeling, did you?"

She shook her head, then snuggled into his arms as he stroked her hair. "No, darling. Just, just an ominous something in the air. It's okay, I think it's very thoughtful of you to take A.J…..he and Linda can take off when the kids are better or something."

Rick smiled with relief, then kissed her as he lifted her back into her seat.

"That's my girl. I knew you'd agree too. I just couldn't stand him not seeing his friends after all these years. Now, let me see how our bird turned out!" Rick made a big show of sharpening the cutting knife for Laurie's benefit and got a laugh out of her.

All misgivings aside, even Rick was a little nervous the following Friday when he and A.J. packed up the truck then went to drop Laurie off at A.J.'s. Neither he or Laurie had slept well, and he was glad she was going to stay with Linda and the kids.

"Poor Rudy, somehow I don't think he thought his golden years would be spent caring for three itchy kids." Rick joked as they pulled up to the condo.

"He is the best, sis. I don't think any of them will have a single scar, not with that new cream he used." A.J. added, sensing Rick's mood.

"I worried about his getting stuck helping with them, but he said he'd be hurt if we trusted them to anybody else." Laurie replied, smiling as she saw the front door open and Linda come outside, Melly in her arms.

"Rick, this is the only reason I hate going to San Diego." A.J. said in a low voice once Laurie had gotten out of the truck with her bag.

"Only, A.J.?" Rick tried to quip, then found himself failing miserably. "Ah, hell, A.J., they'd feel worse then us if we didn't go after all. Tell you what, If you don't want to stay over Sunday, we won't, we'll leave right after the picnic."

His brother smiled. "Now you're talking!"

Mercifully, Laurie and Linda kept their farewells to a minimum, especially as A.J. told them that they should be home Sunday night.

"Are you sure, A.J.?" Linda fretted, then A.J. embraced her.

"I'm sure, honey, that's all the time I can handle being without you." He snickered, then gave her one more kiss and a burbling Melly a squeeze. "Be good for Mama, sweetie."

Waving to the kids who were waving from their bedroom window, A.J. went to the truck ahead of Rick, who reluctantly released Laurie from his arms.

"Time to go, love. You and Linda be good and get some rest. Oscar did say he was coming for lunch?" Rick asked, dropping a kiss on her lips.

"Yes, Rick. He'll be here around 1pm, oh, you two better to go." She said, then whispered, "I love you. Please be careful."

"I will, princess." Rick kissed her fingers then picked up their sack lunches and headed to the truck.

As the guys buckled up, Cecilia came out of the condo, then stood arm in arm as the three women waved as Rick pulled away from the curb then drove off.

"All right, you two." She tried to look stern as both Linda and Laurie wiped their eyes. "How about hot dogs for lunch?"

"Thanks, Mom. Hot dogs are a good idea." Immediately Laurie perked up, then Linda resignedly agreed.

"You're right, Mom. Make that 2 hot dogs."