When Alex's alarm went off the next morning, he rolled over, clamped his pillow over his head, and let it beep. They'd gotten back late again last night and ended up talking another couple hours after Kai and Ernesto left, despite Jake's reminders that Eliot's flight would be leaving early. Alex didn't care. He didn't want the night to end, and it wasn't like he'd never pulled an all-nighter before.

"Make it stop," Jake groaned from the air mattress. Alex ignored him. Maybe if he concentrated really hard, he could fall back asleep...

There was a click, and the obnoxious beeping stopped. Alex shifted the pillow to find Eliot standing over him, dressed in his own clothes and frowning down at his brothers.

"Get up. We're gonna be late."

"Where'd you end up sleeping?" Alex muttered, pulling the pillow back over his face.

"Beach chair. I only needed an hour."

"Vampires don't sleep either," Jake said suspiciously.

"I'm not a vampire, Jake. I'm just motivated."

Jake grumbled an inaudible reply, which Eliot did not acknowledge. "I'm going to the airport," he said instead, striding out of Alex's room. "You were the ones who said you wanted to say goodbye."

"Goodbye," Alex called from under the pillow.

But Jake was up now, and he pulled off Alex's blanket and threw clothes at him until he got up too. Groaning, Alex rolled out of bed and made himself dress while Jake and Eliot waited in the shop, listening to the bits of conversation he could overhear through the door. It was nice, having someone else here. Normally he liked his solitude, but this... this was nice.

He bumped his guitar as he pulled his shirt over his head and smiled. He'd have a hard time playing it anymore without thinking about his brothers—and for once, the memory would be a pleasant one. He had even convinced Eliot to sing that song of his again—the Kenneth Crane one—and took a recording on his phone so he could learn it as well. The next time they all got together, he'd be able to join in.

"Ernesto's on his way," Jake called as Alex repositioned the guitar.

He joined the in the gift shop, stifling a yawn. "When'd you talk to Ernesto?"

"I got his number last night," Jake said. "We both did."

Eliot held up his phone and nodded. "He said he'd keep us updated on your health."

Alex didn't know whether to feel touched or annoyed. "My health is fine. I'm doing the meditation tapes and everything."

"Just in case," Jake said. "You ready?"

They made their way out of the gift shop, pausing on the beach so Jake could get one last look before they left. "I don't know what it is about this place," he said wistfully. "But I'm gonna miss it."

"It's me," Alex said. "You're gonna miss me."

"No, I'm pretty sure it's the shop."

Ernesto was waiting for them in the parking lot, once again with a carrying tray full of coffees. "Kai's going to meet us at the airport," he said.

Alex took a cup and opened the passenger door. "I get shotgun this time."

"You live here," Jake argued. "You get shotgun every day."

"Are you kidding? Kai never lets me sit in front."

"You could always get your own car," Ernesto pointed out.

"And deprive you of my company?" Alex asked. "I would never do that to you."

The drive to the airport was far too short. Alex spent the entire ride trying to think of something to say, waffling between being humorous and sincere. He wanted his brothers to know how glad he was that they'd come. He wanted them to understand that he was serious about maintaining a relationship with them, and that he was proud of the things they were doing now, of the people they'd become. And he also wanted to tell them that they were idiots for not bringing luggage and that they'd have to get their own hotel next time.

But the spell of the eel soup had worn off, and he couldn't find the words to say any of those things.

Kai met them inside, and together they walked to Eliot's gate. "I can't believe I'm saying this," she said. "But I think I'm gonna miss you. You're like Alex but without the annoying."

"I wouldn't mind working with you two again," Eliot said over Alex's protests. "If you ever need a hand, give me a call."

"Here," Ernesto said. He held out a folded piece of paper and shook Eliot's hand when he went to take it. "Chef Bayani's reef eel soup recipe. Don't forget to send me that chili recipe in return."

"I promise," Eliot said, smiling broadly.

Then he turned, and a twinge of unease crept into Alex's stomach. He didn't want to say goodbye. As good as his intentions were now, he knew what distance did to relationships. He didn't want to wake up 3 years from now wondering what his brothers were up to, unable to remember the last time they'd talked.

As if reading his mind, Eliot reached out one arm and pulled Alex into a hug. "I'll call," he said quietly. "I will. Things will be different."

Alex brought his arms up, crushing Eliot's chest against his own. "They better," he grunted.

Jake hugged him next, muttering something about Eliot needing to cut his hippie hair, and then stood back and cleared his throat awkwardly. It was the awkwardness that finally did it, giving Alex the courage to say what they had rarely said growing up.

"I love you guys," he said, draping an arm over each of their shoulders. "I'm gonna miss you."

Jake patted his elbow. "If you want, I'll text you every day so you don't miss me too much."

"Just—I'm trying to be nice here, man."

"It's weird. I don't like it."

Eliot squeezed Alex's arm and stepped away, giving them all a short wave. "My flight's boarding soon. You two continue your mushy goodbye, and I'll see you around Christmas."

"In Cebu or New Orleans?" Alex asked.

Eliot hitched one shoulder. "I was thinking Oklahoma."

Alex smiled. "I'll start saving."

"Aren't you gonna say you love us?" Jake called as Eliot turned away.

He lifted one hand without turning around. "Yeah," he said, disappearing around a corner.

Yeah. That was better. Alex nudged Jake's arm and gestured at his empty hands. "Where's your ticket? You didn't say what time your flight was."

"Oh, I don't have a flight." Jake pulled out his phone and tapped the screen, holding up his finger when Alex started to ask a question. "Jenkins? Yeah, I've got it. Can you make me a door?"

"What kind of door?" Kai asked doubtfully.

Jake slipped his phone back into his pocket. "He'll find the nearest one to me using the GPS on my phone and—ah, closet. I like that better than when it's a bathroom. He doesn't always get the men's bathroom."

"A magic door?" Ernesto said. His voice was bright with excitement, and Alex couldn't help laughing at him.

But Jake gave him a serious nod. "That's how I'll get the rest of Flores's artifacts, too. We'll just open a door into the storage container and clear it out. Should be empty in about in hour."

"I don't want to know," Kai said. "It was hard enough convincing Ocampo to accept that I was able to find Flores when no one can figure out how he escaped. I'm leaving the storage container full of magic items out of my report."

"Probably a good idea," Jake agreed. He offered her his hand, smiling. "So long, Detective. It's been a pleasure."

"Likewise," she said warmly. "Come back and visit any time."

"Maybe I'll bring my team next time," Jake mused.

"Your other librarians?" Alex said.

"Yeah, and Baird. You guys will like Baird and Cassie, but Jones... well, it'd be an interesting time, let's put it that way."

Alex recognized two of the names from Jake's story about practical jokes, and he was extremely curious to see how Kai would handle such a group. She seemed to be having the same thoughts, because she offered Jake a weak smile and said, "I'm sure they're all very busy."

Jake grinned in response and gave Alex a final, long look. "I'll talk to you soon?" he said. A hardness in his voice made it seem like a challenge.

"Yeah," Alex said. "And make sure you send me the next paper by Oliver Thompson or Griffin Griffould or whoever else so I don't have to waste time searching for it."

Jake laughed and reached for the door of the closet. "See you guys around."

He turned the handle, and Alex gaped as Jake stepped through the door of the closet into what looked like a giant library. The door closed before he could get a better look, but if the expressions on Kai's and Ernesto's faces were anything to go by, he hadn't imagined it.

I'm visiting that place someday, he decided. Maybe they could rotate Christmases—one in Oklahoma, one in the Library, one in New Orleans, one on the beach...

"I like them," Ernesto said. He was still staring at the door, blinking as if trying to adjust his eyes.

Kai turned away. "I do too. Why can't they retire to the island? I think I'd get less of a headache working with them."

"I'm not going anywhere," Alex said. "So if they do come here, you're stuck with all 3 of us again."

"They might help keep you in line," Kai said.

Alex snorted. "Eliot's way more of a troublemaker than I ever was, and Jake—hey, what are you doing? Are you texting?"

Ernesto looked up from his phone and shrugged. "I said I'd give them updates."

"Them who? And what do you mean updates?"

"I don't want them to worry."

"My brothers? They've only been gone two minutes!"

"A lot can happen in two minutes."

"Like what?"

"Calm down, you'll get yourself too worked up. Who's hungry? I know a great breakfast place near here."

Alex started toward the front doors. "Finally. Let's go—I've got to scout out some places for the next time they visit."

"You sure there's going to be a next time?" Kai said.

"Yeah," Alex said, smiling. "There's definitely going to be a next time."

The End

Author's Note: Thank you so much for reading! If anyone's interested, I've started working on a sequel in which the brothers and the Librarians go after the Curator. I'm hoping to post it in a few weeks under the name "Three French Hens". Thanks again for your support!