A/N: Sorry there's been such a period between updates. I've had a huge geography assignment for the past couple of weeks and didn't have any time to do any more on this. But hopefully I never have to think about Global Tourism Patterns again and I can update more regularly! This is pretty short, but I think most of my chapters are! Please read and review.

Also, I'd like to apologise to Liberty Ferall, for offending her with my portrayal of Mallory. As I said in my message to her, I wasn't trying to imply ALL large families are like that, and nor was I trying to say that Mallory's life is always like that. And I'm very sorry if that's what anyone has interpreted from my story.

Standing on Kristy's doorstep I wanted to turn around and run home. Three days. I reminded myself. You can handle three days. I'd told my parents three days was all I could get off from work. In truth, Élodie was perfectly able to cover all the duties assigned to us for both Monday and Tuesday. But I had told my boss that I'd be back for work on Tuesday morning. We were spending 2 weeks in New York, which was very convenient for the reunion. So, I had arrived in Stoneybrook half an hour ago, after a two hour train journey from the hotel in New York. I realised as I got off the train that in my business suit, I looked far too formal for meeting the others. So I rushed to my parent's house, changed, and then headed over to Kristy's.

I had expected to be late because of trying to answer all Mom and Dad's questions in the brief half hour I had with them but the house looked empty as I walked up to it. Luckily more of the ex-members arrived soon after me, and after avoiding an argument between Dawn and Abby we headed inside.

"Anyone want a cup of coffee?" Kristy asked as we headed in. "We weren't supposed to start it till everyone was here but I suppose no one will mind if we - "

"I'll have tea thanks," I interrupted, before Kristy could reel off the whole schedule. "I've gotten so used to French coffee I'm not sure I could handle American."

An awkward silence followed as we smiled edgily at each other. Mary Anne and Abby's husbands hung back a little as we headed into the kitchen. Kristy was getting out coffee and tea when Mary Anne came into the room followed by Jessi. She was swinging along on crutches, and didn't look particularly thrilled to be here either.

"Hi," she said, switching her left crutch to her right hand and pulling out a chair, before dropping gracefully into it. "I note you're not giving me the dreaded look, Kristy, even though I am," (she glanced at her watch and gasped in mock horror.) "10 minutes late!"

Kristy grinned. "I'm reserving that for the last person here." She joked. We laughed. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.

"So, how's your knee, Jessi?" Mary Anne, ever the kind and caring one, asked.

Jessi grimaced. "Sore," she replied. "Not as bad as it was right after the surgery though. I should be off my crutches soon."

The doorbell rang again before anyone could say anything. Kristy got up and went to answer it. A moment later she came into the room followed by Mallory.

"Right," said Kristy before anyone could say anything. "Claudia and Stacey are both coming later. About 9 or 10. Claudia's gone up to New York. I think Stacey's introducing Claud to her boyfriend. So we've got a few hours to fill in before we can officially start."

I caught Abby's eye at that point and could tell she was thinking the same thing I was. How official was this thing going to be?