Ellie sat on a plane, looking out the window, as she landed at the Los Angeles International Airport, thinking about the other times she had been in this situation.

She had been on a plane like this, alone, landing at this airport right after her dad died, when she had never been to LA before and was coming to live with her sister. It had been a long time since then, but she still remembered the terrifying feeling she had, despite the outward numbness.

She had come back many times from New York after visiting Kerry. Once, she had come back to an engaged Tony and Michelle. Another time, she came back to a married Tony and Michelle. And she had come back several times during her freshman year in order to comfort a once again single Michelle after leaving her husband, even though she was a poor college student and couldn't afford it.

She had come back just after her freshman year, when Tony and Michelle were starting over. She had been happy to see her sister happy again, and she had, after a while, forgiven Tony for the pain he caused both Michelle and herself. She remembered the time on that trip when he pulled her aside and apologized profusely for the past year and a half, reassuring her that he was changed, or changing, and that he loved Michelle with everything he had.

And she flown to LA to see Tony and Michelle married again. It was smaller this time, but in a way, Ellie thought, their history and everything they had been through together made it even better than the first time.

She had come back over New Year's, and Tony and Michelle had come to visit her in New York early in the spring, but she hadn't been to LA in a while, being busy double-majoring in political science and biochemistry.

Now, she was about to start her junior year. She had been working most of the summer, but came back for a quick visit before school started. She wasn't sure what was happening, but Michelle had been insistent that she come.

That night, she sat at the kitchen table in Tony and Michelle's house. "So how's Brent?" Tony asked, taking a bite of lasagna.

"Brian," Ellie began, "is just fine."

"I still can't believe that you have a real boyfriend!" Michelle said.

"Woah, just how real of a boyfriend is he, Elle?" Tony asked seriously.

"Do you mean have I slept with him?" Ellie asked, laughing a little bit. "No, I haven't."

Tony looked relieved, and Michelle smiled. "You should've brought him to come visit too," she said.

"Actually, he's in Vermont right now, visiting his parents and his sister Julianne. She just had her third baby."

Tony and Michelle looked at each other for just a moment across the table, but Ellie caught the glance.

"Oh my gosh! You're pregnant, aren't you?"

Michelle opened her mouth to say something, then shut it and just smiled.

"Well," Tony began, "we were going to tell you a little bit differently..."

They spent hours talking- about how far along Michelle was, about what room would be the baby's room, about names, more about Ellie's boyfriend, reminiscing.

The next morning, they were all three in the kitchen when Michelle announced that there was no more milk.

"I'll go get some if you want me to," Ellie offered, seeing as she was the only one completely ready to go.

"Are you sure? Because I can go," Tony said, setting his Cubs mug down on the counter next to the already-on television.

"No, really, I'll go. But can I take one of your cars?"

"Here, take mine," Michelle said, handing her the keys.

Ellie went to grab her purse and then headed for the door. Tony leaned on the cupboard next to Michelle, and she told him how much she liked his new blue shirt. If they would've heard the news right then, they would've heard about a certain beloved president's assassination.

But they didn't hear the television. It was drowned out by the explosion.