Arching her back as she groaned, Fia stretched on the couch under the hazy light filtering in through the window from the morning sun. The weekend had been rough but exhilarating. Finishing up all of the shows felt great and Fia finally felt refreshed. The only thing left to do now was complete her finals and prepare to move out for the summer.

She sat up slowly and pulled out her phone, smiling in delight when she noticed a text from her sister. "How did it go?" the message read. Fia sweatdropped. That could mean just about anything.

Fia texted back, "Everything is great :) . Guess who's going abroad!" It took awhile for her to receive a response and she was left wondering if her sister had died of shock. The message that came in read "I'm… surprised. About a lot of things. I'll meet up with you soon to talk." Sending Felicia a quick "Okie-dokie," Fia put her phone in her pocket and got up.

She made her way over to the bathroom and peered at her reflection in the mirror. Her hair was a matted mess and she hated that a quick brushing couldn't detain the auburn monster anymore. Grabbing her keys, Fia made her way out the front door, ignoring the chilly bite of the morning mist.


Karma walked in from his morning class and dropped his bag on the coffee table. He opened his bag and pulled out an economic theory book, flipping through the folded pages until he got to an unmarked chapter. Reading intensively, he didn't care when a familiar siamese cat curled up in his lap and began purring under his hand.

The front door clicked open and shut quickly. Wysteria's tail flicked happily and she mewled at the newcomer.

"Hello, Wysteria," an Italian voice giggled.

Karma froze in the middle of turning a page. He hadn't seen Fia since the first showing of the musical and wasn't sure how he was supposed to act around her now that she'd… confessed. "Hey, Fia," he muttered, eyes still glued to his book.

"Hello, Karma~" she responded cheerfully. "The weather's beautiful today and I feel immensely lighter! Well… I guess I'm literally lighter. This is such a weird feeling!"

Confused, Karma raised his head to see that Fia's long locks had been cut into a wavy bob falling just under her ears. She looked at him with a confused expression and tilted her head, making her hair fall into her face and tickle her cheeks.

"It's nothing," he waved it off dismissively with a smile as Fia sat beside him and took Wysteria into her lap. "You look cute."

"Heh, thanks!" Fia pulled her glasses out of their case and pulled a book off of the table, trying to get some of her assigned reading done before lunch. She promised Nagisa that she would make seven layer lasagna and she knew that would take some time… And lots of thyme… And a Timo.


Haven walked into the apartment to the smell of parmesan and tomato sauce. She peered into the kitchen to find Fia and a familiar Asian boy standing together in front of the stove, being 'cheesy' with their words, she assumed. Haven turned to leave but was glomped from behind.

"HAVEN!"

"Earnest," she replied curtly, sending a jab towards her cousin's side. He jumped back with a goofy grin and she turned to face him with her arms crossed. "What are you doing here?"

"I came by to say 'goodbye' before leaving next week. I'm sure the flight won't be a 'plane' one, but I had to get my fun in first, just in case~."

Fia laughed from the kitchen. "Why don't you guys hang out? I'll call you when lunch is ready!" she promised.

"Are you all packed up? I'll be here to help you move the day after tomorrow!" Earnest exclaimed as he sat down on the couch.

"Yeah. My half-brother might be helping out as well…" Haven leaned on Earnest's shoulder.

"Oh yeah, that guy. I'll finally get to meet him. He was such a jerk for such a long time."

"He's not that bad, honestly."

"If you say so," Earnest said with a shrug. "Looks like lunch is ready!" he shouted excitedly, running towards the short-haired girl standing in the doorway.

After sharing their meal and a bunch of laughs, Fia hugged Earnest and waved happily as Haven dragged him outside. Humming, Fia returned to the kitchen and began washing dishes in the sink. Karma took the spot next to Fia and wordlessly rinsed out the soapy plates she set them down on his side. She shot him an appreciative smile.

After they had washed and dried all of the dishes and put the remaining food in the fridge for Nagisa, Karma took Fia's arm. "Can we talk?"

She dried her hands off with a towel and nodded. "Sure thing. Want to sit outside?"

Karma and Fia took a seat on their usual hill. The redhead stretched out on the cool grass and watched the clouds roll slowly across the azure sky. Fia moved around him, finding flowers to weave into her hair and braid into a flower crown. Without sitting up, he snapped a quick picture with his cellphone of the scene.

Fia heard the shutter and turned around with a playful smile as she threw a shower of grass at her companion, which he snapped another picture of. "Hey! Cut it out," she said with a giggle.

"Nah, don't think so." Karma laughed and poked Fia's leg with a small twig. She squealed, jumping back and throwing more grass at him. Rolling over onto his side, he grabbed a flower and tucked it behind her ear.

"What was that for?" Smiling, she placed the flower crown lightly on his head. "Don't take it off!" She pouted and smacked Karma's protesting hand away, mirroring his unamused expression.

"Fine, fine," Karma grumbled. "But I'm not deleting the photos."

"What? Why not?" She tried to look over his shoulder at the screen but he locked the phone with a snicker.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Karma reached behind the girl and tickled the nape of her exposed neck.

Fia burst out laughing and playfully shoved him back. "Real mature, Karma."

"That's my middle name," he responded coolly.

"Ha-ha." Rubbing her neck with a free hand, Fia sighed softly. "So, what did you want to talk about?"

Sighing heavily, he began to speak. "About what you said the other day… Did you mean it when you said that you love me?"

Eyes as verdant a color as the swaying grass widened and Fia's face turned a dreamy shade of pink. "Yes," she asserted, "but you don't have to think too much on it." She smiled. "More than anything, I want you to be happy and if that's with another girl, that's…"

"Do you think I'm cruel?" Karma asked quietly. "The other day, after the mission, you said you hated people who were willing to intentionally hurt others who didn't deserve it, right?"

"I…" Fia faltered, unsure of how to answer his unexpected comment.

Smiling regretfully, he sighed. "Your silence is honest enough." He placed a hand on her head. "Don't go out with someone like me, not until I'm a better person, if ever. It seems like I keep making the wrong decisions, and that's not what I want for you."

She gradually began to nod. "I understand," Fia replied gingerly, knowing he didn't need more than that and an acceptance.

The pair sat in silence for a long while, Fia picking flowers and Karma watching the sky. He glanced over at her as she pulled a wilted petal away from its stem and sighed softly to himself. He didn't want to do to the beautiful girl what she had done to the beautiful flower.

"So does this mean we're mutually agreeing to be -?"

"Friends."

"Okay. Friends."


Nagisa took a bite of the lasagna on his plate and smiled appreciatively at Fia. "This is really good!"

She giggled and lowered her fork. "You've said that every layer for the last three layers!"

"It is good, Tsu-chan," Haven said simply. "I like your hair."

"Heh, thank you, Angel. Are you guys all packed up?"

Karma grumbled. "No, I have a policy analysis to submit and a few more final exams. You have any extra boxes?"

"I do," Nagisa said. "There are a lot of perks to always being at the library when new shipments come in."

"Speaking of moving, where are you storing your stuff?" Fia asked curiously. "I probably have space back at my house if you still need a place." She glanced at Karma and quickly looked away.

The redhead waved his fork dismissively and smiled reassuringly, even if his eyes bore some form of sadness behind curved lips. "Karasuma and Ms. Bitch are going to help us move our things to a storage locker nearby. No offense but I don't trust your siblings not to touch my stuff."

"You act like I trust them… I'm definitely packing all of my fragile things and valuables into my car before my family shows up to help me move!"

"You have a car, Tsu-chan?" Haven asked. "I didn't know."

Fia shrugged. "I never use it," she admitted. "I never have to since almost everything I need is in walking distance and I can take the trains and busses home."

"What kind of car is it?" Nagisa inquired politely.

"It's, um, well, er…" Her face reddened under her housemates' intent stares. "It's a Fiat."

Nearly choking on his food, Karma broke out laughing. "As in Fia-t?"

"Y-Yeah… My dad picked it out, okay? Quit laughing!" She threw a napkin at him with a smile." What about you, Angel? Is Earnest coming over to help you?"

The girl nodded. "Yes. I've asked him and Richard to assist me. Kavi might come by too."

Blue eyes glanced curiously at Haven. "When does Kavi graduate?"

"Seniors graduate next week," Fia explained. "I'm going to the closing ceremony to see Peter. Are you going to see Kavi? I know…" She paused for careful thought. "That it should have been your graduation… Were you planning to tell us, Haven?"

"Oh, that…" Haven looked away. "The entire department wanted me to graduate this year so I could been streamlined into the MIT computer science graduate program. The streamline ended this year. It was a plan they've had since I declared my major freshman year. I was really excited for it as a Freshman and a Sophomore, but this year I started having my doubts. I was going to tell you guys if I made it in. Missing my presentation really stunk, though."

Nagisa nodded understandingly and sympathetically gave Haven a hug. Resting his chin on his palm, Karma looked away; He may not have liked the girl, but he respected hard work and a thesis was definitely the embodiment of that for students like them. Contrastingly to the boys, Fia shifted in her seat uncomfortably.

"Well… " she began nervously. "I also have something to tell you guys that I was waiting until I got a confirmation for." Tucking a short tuft of hair behind her ear, she smiled up at her housemates, rigid and paralyzed.

Karma raised an eyebrow at her and, appearing to slouch lazily in his seat, nudged Fia's knee with his own. "Well?"

Surprised by the sudden contact, Fia jumped back slightly. Staring at Karma, she pressed a hand to her chest and laughed in relief, realizing that it was only him. "I've gotten permission to study abroad!" she announced excitedly as she glanced around the table. No one's expression changed. "Um… for all of fall semester next year."

"Um, well, I'm happy for you," Nagisa began with a reassuring smile. "How… long have you been thinking of going for?"

"Maybe since the beginning of this semester?" Fia dropped her gaze. "I just feel like I have to do this."

"Wow, Tsu-chan… Good for you," Haven sighed, "I'll miss you though. Who'll be my roommate?"

Fia opened her mouth to answer, but slowly shrunk back in her chair. "I've been thinking about that for a while now… I know it will be hard, especially if you have to watch what you say, but I hope that you'll still give me your blessing to go." Lip trembling slightly, she bowed her head.

"Of-of course, Tsu-chan. It might be a bit inconvenient, but I'm happy for you."

She nodded slowly and looked to her strangely-silent housemate. His citrus eyes found hers and Karma reached over to ruffle her fluffy hair. Through a strained smile, he pinched her cheek lightly.

"We'll be fine, Fia. You should worry about yourself. Knowing you, you'll probably get lost in your own hometown."

Her cheeks flushed and puffed out. Fia stomped her foot. "Will not! I'm going to be just fine so just you wait!"

"Please, the only time you don't get lost is when you follow your nose to the cake shop down the block."

"HEY! THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE OUR SECRET!" Green eyes watered above a quivering bottom lip. "Backstabber…"

"Figuratively or literally~?"

"Karma!"

Nagisa smiled between his bickering, albeit smiling, friends and politely raised his hand to interrupt. "Fia, what do you plan to do about our job? Did you talk to Mr. Karasuma yet?"

She sweat-dropped. "Not yet… I talked to Ms. Jelavic, and we agreed that it would be best to work a little more - prove my worth and loyalty - and wait until things settle down. I hope we can get along and get through everything smoothly," Fia sighed with her fingers crossed.


"Move faster, contadino! (peasant)" Lupe demanded. She kicked at her brother's heels as they carried small boxes towards a moving truck.

"You move faster before I drop this on you!" Gio snapped. "I'm actually carrying some heavy stuff, unlike you!"

"Stop it, you two," Florence said from where she was resting on a chair under the shade of a large tree.

"Yes, Mami…" The two responded resolutely before handing their boxes off to Giovanni, who was organizing Fia's things to fit neatly in the truck.

"How did you learn that word anyway?" the teenager huffed.

"Mami's day-time soap operas~!"

"COMING THROUGH~~!" the twins yelled, running by carrying a tall lamp over their heads as they skirted around a tall male with green hair.

"You have something on your face," Peter laughed as he took a box from Fia.

She wrinkled her nose. "Is it dust? It's definitely a dust bunny, right?"

"No," he said, shaking his sea green bangs from his eyes, "it's a smile."

She couldn't help but break out into a grin. "Peter! Thanks again for helping out!"

"Not a problem. At least I'm not just lounging around and sipping at ice tea."

"I can hear you!" a brunette called from under the same tree as Florence. Violet eyes stared boredly at the pair. "I'm overseeing."

"More like trying to check out Ms. Jelavic," Peter sighed. He looked between the sunbathing blonde talking with the Italian fashionista to the director who occasionally let his eyes drift over to her like waves rolling onto a golden grained shore.

"Looking good, hot stuff!" Jelavic sang as she waved to Karasuma, who was carrying some of the heavier furniture with Karma towards their rental truck.

He shot her a curious expression as he wiped the sweat from his brow with a free hand. "I suppose it is hot out here…"

The redhead sweatdropped. His former teacher really did live up to his nickname of "Da Densest."

Fia bounded up to Karma and Karasuma with a few drinks in hand. "Here!" She passed over the icy drinks, sweating through their glasses under the high-hanging sun. "Can I help at all?"

Karasuma raised an eyebrow. "I appreciate it, Fia, but don't you have your own stuff to move?"

The Italian girl sweat-dropped and stole a glance at the heavily-populated moving truck. "No, I think we're just about done."

Karma shrugged, swirling the ice in his cup absentmindedly with the striped straw. "I think I'm good, but you could probably lend a hand to Nagisa."

"Sure!" Fia turned on her heel and ran over to take a plastic bin from the bluenette.

Setting down the couch in the truck, Karasuma sighed. "You four used to be so close… I'm glad you're getting along for now, but I hope you won't let your personal feelings affect your performance on the upcoming mission."

"It won't," Karma replied curtly, tucking his hands into his pockets and pushing a box away with his foot.

Falling heavily onto the couch, Karasuma sighed and leaned back against the plush cushions. Karma hadn't met his eyes once today. He didn't want to be troublesome, but how was he to tell what path would be the right one for these boys?


"I don't think I signed up for boxing!" Earnest laughed with his head stuck inside an empty cardboard box.

Haven, the apparent culprit, scowled. "This is cruel and unusual pun-ishment! Just tape up the box and put my books in it." She sighed and rolled up her dark sleeves as Earnest saluted and ran off with the box and some packing tape.

"Hey, where should I put this?" A familiar blonde with a sharp gaze held out a lamp to Haven.

"You can just put that with the other tech stuff, Richard. Thanks again for helping," she said, smiling slightly.

"No prob," Richard lowered the lamp and paused before continuing, "I met up with Dad the other day. He said he might come work here next year…"

"Yeah, I heard about it."

"Does he know you go here?" Richard looked at her out of the corner of his eyes.

"He talked to me about it."

"Well, shoot." Richard looked away, "Mom doesn't know."

"And the problem is?" Haven tilted her head.

"Sorry, but you're not exactly inconspicuous," Richard motioned the lamp at his sister. "She'll notice you for sure if she ever comes to the campus."

"My hair probably doesn't help anything," Haven exhaled, "Dad… Dad also said…"

"Yeah, what is it?"

She took a deep breath, "Dad also said he… he still loved my mother."

"I expected as much," he sighed. "Mom's not exactly given him any reason to fall back in love with her… then again, she doesn't exactly want him back either. I swear, those two just need to get a divorce," Richard shook his head.


"So, that rumor you told me about, Fia, it ended up being true! It's all over campus now. Karen Moore and Professor Johnson were a thing! Now that the scandal can't be covered up, the school has to hire a new professor now. I bet it'll be that white-haired guy. Do you know him Haven? I saw you talking to him a few weeks ago," Rebecca spouted in the doorway of the apartment.

Fia froze mid-step and dropped the cushion in her hands. "Are you serious?! - I mean, o-of course it was!" She paled, sweat-dropping, never having expected that her forced fabrication might end up being true. Maybe she really was cursed to tell the truth. Sighing heavily, she picked up her cushion and carried it off, unable to process the news.

"Hey, sis, where does this go?" Richard called through the door, a labeled box in his hand.

"Ah, yes…" Haven looked at the looking girl standing before her, "The white haired professor is my… our father." Haven motioned to Richard.

"OH MY GOSH! REALLY?" Rebecca exclaimed. "But what's the our about? Do you a sibling?"

"Guy behind you, he's my older half brother," Haven stared at Rebecca intensely. "But, don't tell people. No one needs to know we're all related."

"Mkay, I'll keep quiet. I'm not here to wreck lives with little scandals like that. But I expect some juicy gossip later! Ta-ta!" Rebecca smiled and finger-waved at Haven.

"Yeah, thanks. Most of what you need to know about Wysteria's with her stuff. If it's not there, call me," Haven smiled slightly. "Richard, help her carry that stuff out," Haven motioned towards some stuff piled next to the door. He nodded and carried the box out of the apartment, waiting in the hall for Rebecca.

Nagisa waved as Rebecca scooped Wysteria up in her arms and carried her off. The bluenette reached down to pick up another box and smiled when he felt a pair of slender arms wrap around his abdomen from behind. He straightened himself out and smiled softly.

"Hi, Haven. I already told you that I wasn't going anywhere." Nagisa chuckled and placed his hands lightly over hers.

"I know."

"Will you let me turn around this time so I can hug you?"

Hesitantly, Haven loosened her grip just enough so Nagisa could turn around and place his arms around her. She quickly hid her pink face in his chest and sighed quietly.


Nagisa looked over to see a tanned boy animatedly talking to a short, scowling man sitting under a different tree than before.

"Aw, c'mon. This conversation hasn't tape-ered off yet, right? I can pack away more puns!" Earnest said, holding up the packing tape as he wiggled his eyebrows. Brian looked anything but amused, but, then again, he almost always looked like that.

"Mind if I take this for you?" a voice called.

The pigtailed boy turned to see Kavi standing there with a hand in his pocket. "Sure," Nagisa replied. "Doesn't Haven need help?"

"I was saw her a little bit earlier but that other kid - Richard, was it? - seems to be helping her out a lot. Besides, we have some catching up to do, right?" Kavi grinned, his expression friendly and sincere. "Seems like you and Haven got together. She's happy, at least from what I saw today. I'm glad about that."

"Yeah," Nagisa nodded as he picked up another box and walked with Kavi to Karasuma's car. "So how are you?"


Jelavic scanned through the pages of the portfolio for the third time, in part to see the sketches again and in part to be fanned.

"So these designs are all yours, Florence?" the blonde asked curiously.

Florence smiled. "Yes, they are. Most of these are old by now, but I just cleaned out one of my offices today and found that."

"You call those old," Jelavic huffed, "but I think I saw one or two of those pieces in my own collection."

"Well, I'm flattered to have my clothing worn by as young and beautiful a woman as you," Florence replied slyly.

Blue eyes glanced curiously into the golden ore shaded behind dark sunglasses. "Most women at your age have passed their peak, but you still have your looks going for you."

Florence chuckled as she stole a glance at the auburn-haired girl standing with her eyes turned up towards the cerulean mist of sky. "Perhaps, but having so many kids has taken quite the toll on my body. I can no longer do the same work you ask of my precious daughter."

"I can only imagine. I'm still not sure how I feel about a bunch of little brats running around."

"You get used to it." Florence laughed lightly.

"I'm not so sure about that… but you seem pretty proud," Jelavic observed aloud.

"Of course I am. I always have been. Whether or not their blood is blessed or cursed, it's the same that fuels every fiber of my own being, correct?" Her fingertips drifted towards and aligned with the five-pointed mark hidden under the collar of her dress.


"Richard, Earnest, go get the boxes out of my closet. Be careful with them! They're mainly filled with computer parts!" Haven ordered the two boys standing in the hallway.

"So, you're Haven's half-brother?" Earnest looked at Richard with skepticism as the two started their task. "I thought you two would look more… alike."

"Yeah, I took after my mom."

"Just curious, why the sudden change of heart? I spent the last ten years hearing about you bullying her," Earnest asked as the two walked into the girls' room to disappear into the depths of Haven's closet.

As the two boys left, Kavi rounded the corner. "Hey, Haven," he called.

"Kavi, I saw you around earlier. Why didn't you come talk to me sooner?"

"Something else called me away," Kavi replied sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck.

"No worries," Haven replied.

"Uh oh, that usually means you really messed up this time. In girl and in work emails," Kavi joked.

"Not that funny," Haven smiled slightly.

"I tried," Kavi admitted before taking on a more serious expression. "I don't mean to rub it in or anything but, what are you going to do now?"

"Dunno. I guess I'll go talk to the department," Haven sighed, "They've probably already thought up some back-up plan for me."

"Forget the department, what do you want?" Kavi asked her.

"To get my major I guess… after that, I have a job already lined up."

"Really? that's great! Who are you going to work for?"

"Wouldn't you like to know," Haven smiled smugly.

"Come on, we're old friends! Who'd you get a job with?"

"It's classified," Haven winked coyly.

At that moment, Richard and Earnest left the room laughing loudy as they carried the boxes out.

"What are you two laughing about?" Haven asked them suspiciously.

"See, what did I tell you?" Richard gestured to his sister.

"You're right!" Earnest exclaimed.

"What are you two talking about?" Haven asked.

"Oh, nothing, little sis," Richard smiled, emerald eyes twinkling.

"We were just talking about animals, bee-lieve me!"

"Right, no mercy!" Haven exclaimed as she began running after the two.

"Oh no! Here comes the side jabs!" Earnest exclaimed as the two boys ran out of the apartment, their arms filled with boxes.


"Well, Lupe, you always have your eye out for cute guys. What do you think of our group here today?" Mia said. She was sprawled out on her front in the cool grass just a little away from where the majority of guys were finishing up packing.

The girl played with her pigtails and shrugged nonchalantly. "I don't know. I haven't really been looking today." She tapped her ribboned shoes together

"Well, we could just go through all of them," Mio suggested. He sat next to Mia, rubbing her back gently with the hand not supporting the bulk of his weight.

"Do we really have to do this…?" Gio grumbled.

The twins shot their older brother a pointed look. "Don't you want to look at Fia's potential suitors?"

Gio sat up suddenly, feeling protective and very, very interested all of a sudden. He pointed towards a blonde man talking with a tanned, high-school age guy. "What about them?"

Lupe frowned. "They're okay-looking, I guess. The loud one has a cute smile, though! It's really bright and charming. He seems pretty funny."

Mia waved her hand dismissively. "I don't know, I kind of like the rough look of the blonde guy. Look at the muscles on his arms!"

"He's a decade older than you!" Gio protested.

"A girl can look, can't she?" Mia sighed. "It's not like Mio hasn't stole a few looks at the women here."

He blushed and ran his hand through his chocolate locks. "Shut up… Hey, who's that?"

"Who?" Mia traced her sibling's gaze to a tall, dark man checking his phone under the shade. "Oh, he's kind of cute," she cooed as the man pulled back his locks with his fingers.

"I think that's Haven's friend or something from her computer geek class," Gio said flatly. "Sure, he's cute, but he seems like a jokester to me!"

"That really handsome guy over there looks like the serious type," Lupe said cheerfully.

Mia, Mio, and Gio all dead-panned, clouds of dread forming around their heads. "HE LOOKS SCARY!" They watched the violet-eyed man fix his bowtie begrudgingly while ordering around some of the other guys.

"Well, I think he's dreamy. He looks like a man who knows what he's doing!"

Scoffing, Gio rolled his eyes. "What would you know about that?" His action sent him rolling down the hill. "GAH! LUPE!"

"YOU DESERVED THAT!" she huffed. "DON'T MOCK MY PRINCES!"

"Speaking of princes," Mio hummed, "that guy looks like one, don't you think, Lupe?" He gently turned her face towards the boy with seafoam green hair who was pouring the contents of a water bottle down the back of his white tank top to slip free from the downward, hot iron pressure of the sun.

"He's very princely!" Lupe exclaimed in glee. "He even acts like one!" she commented, observing him offer to get a drink for her older sister.

"He… might not be a terrible match for Fia," Gio muttered.

Mia scoffed. "I doubt he could handle us though!"

"Maybe, maybe not," Mio started, "but I think you're all forgetting someone important."

"Karma," the quartet answered together. They saw Karma stretched out on one of the couches within the moving truck, napping with a stray packing newspaper draped over his face.

"He's the best looking of them all, but he's… lazy." Lupe sighed.

"Yeah, he's lazy, but he's a delinquent when he's active," Gio grumbled, climbing back up the hill. "But I guess he hasn't been the most terrible… He showed up to Fia's show."

"WHAT?! EVEN THE CHERRY TOP GOT TO SEE IT?!" The twins groaned and fell back onto each other.

"Still," Mia protested, "He pranks and harrasses her all the time!"

"Well, I think he's fun to be around," the littlest girl retorted.

"But he has such a bad attitude!" Gio pointed out.

"And Fia will cry if he gets hurt in a fight or anything like that," Mio added.

"But he's super smart! He's one of the top in his class!" Lupe argued. "He can take care of himself, and he'll be able to take care of her in the future!"

Mio and Mia exchanged glances. "He could probably take care of kids… He's never been mean to us, not really anyway."

Jumping up like a launching rocket as if propelled by his disgust, Gio scrunched up his face. "I DON'T EVEN WANT TO THINK ABOUT THOSE TWO COPULATING! THIS CONVERSATION ENDS NOW!"

Lupe looked up with curious glances to the childishly-snickering twins. "What's that mean?"

"It means, I'm going to pummel you if you keep laughing," a bored voice called.

The Timo children all turned to see a pack of annoyed looking men, led by a growling redhead.

"Well, I was wondering why I was sneezing," Peter said with a shrug and a laugh as he casually ran his hand through his hair. "These are Fia's siblings? There are more than I realized…"

"Trust me, it doesn't end with these four," Karma sighed.

"THERE ARE MORE?!"

The short brunette standing next to him folding his arms over his chest. "It would appear so. They have her same blank expression." He rolled his violet eyes under the pretense of being irritated, when he was really just trying to avoid the gaze of the child ogling him.

"I think it's kind of cute," Kavi laughed, locking his hands behind his head. "I don't mind being called cute, but am I really that much of a jokester?"

"'Any buttons but those?'" Karma grumbled under his breath, turning slightly red when Kavi broke out into a fit of laughter.

Richard scowled, more than a little annoyed and weirded out by the kids' strange commentary. "They're little buggers, the lot of them."

"You know we can hear you!" Mio and Mia protested together.

"Yes, I know!" he spat back.

"IT WAS THEIR IDEA!" Gio said, pointing fervently at the twin terrors.

"HEY! TRAITOR."

"You want to see mean?" Karma smirked sadistically, cracking his knuckles as horns and a pointed tail sprouted behind him, glowing in a purple aura. "Fia's inside the apartment. You're all dead now~."

"That's not mean, that's just evil!" Lupe argued.

"IT'S SATAN!" Gio screamed like a little girl, trying to scramble past the twins, who quickly grabbed him and turned him onto his back with scary smiles that showed their intention of making a sacrifice out of him. "I WILL NOT BE MADE A VICTIM AGAIN!"

"Too late~!"

Sweat-dropping, Peter crouched down besides the teens and separated them. "Hey, now. Let's all play nice," he said, shooting a pointed look at Karma.

He shoved his hands in his pockets and whistled innocently, looking on.

Earnest peered down at the Timo kids from over Brian's shoulders. "You guys sure have a lot of free Timo to just be sitting around here."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"GET HIM!" The Timo children all yelled together with annoyance burning brightly in their eyes. Four pairs of hands all lunged for Earnest, laughing, as he took off running down the hill. "DOWN WITH THE PUNNY ONE!"


Giovanni, Karasuma, and Richard all exchanged nods then slammed closed the doors to their respective moving trucks simultaneously. A loud cheer erupted from the people standing just off to the side who were just so relieved to be done for the day.

Karasuma patted Nagisa and Karma on the back. "Alright, I'll drive this over to storage. Take care of yourselves until next week, okay?"

The bluenette nodded. "Thanks, Mr. Karasuma! See you next week!"

"Yeah, whatever." Karma scratched at his ear boredly. "We'll be fine. See you later, Chief, Don."

Giovanni laughed. "Trying to get rid of me so soon, huh?" He clapped Karma on the back. "I won't go down that quickly. Not even the best of Italy could take me down."

"You sure, old man? Let's test your reflexes in a good old fashioned knife fight then! You wouldn't back out of that, would you, Don?"

"If you're going to roughhouse, just keep it out of my house," Florence called as she took Giovanni's elbow. "Break any of my things, and I'll break you," she said coolly.

"We hear you loud and clear." Karma laughed dryly with a sweat-drop. Even he wasn't willing to mess with her.

Fia ran up to her father and threw her arms around his neck. "Thanks for taking care of this for me, Papi. I'll miss you over the summer."

"Be sure to call," Florence said sternly, pinching her daughter's cheek.

"Owkah, owkah! I wirh!" She whined softly, attacking her mom in a hug as soon as her cheek was released from the bear trap that was her mother's pinch.

Karma shoved his hands in his pockets and smiled. Fia turned around and stared at him expectantly, almost hesitantly. He shot her a curious glance when he was tackled from behind by four pairs of arms and herded towards Fia and her parents.

"What the -"

He found a head of pinkish auburn hair snuggled up into his chest. He was surrounded by an encompassing warmth, a warmth that was the Timo family.

"I don't like this gushy stuff, you know."

Laughing, the family broke, leaves departing radially from a tree ready to embrace the autumn chill.

"Hey, don't do anything stupid," Gio muttered under scarlet cheeks. "You two better come back okay, okay?"

"If you touch our sister over summer vacation, we'll know!" The twins stood arm-in-arm, eyes gleaming as they glared at the redhead.

"Try not to let the summer heat get you too bothered," Lupe chimed, glancing between Karma and her sister.

Karma rubbed the back of his head, unable to understand what the younger Timo siblings were yelling all at once. "Uh… Sure thing?"

"Alright, kids! Pack it up!" The Italian man bellowed. "We're heading out!"

Someone cleared her voice. "Mind if I tag along?"

Pairs of varying shades of green and gold all turned to see a woman standing a couple yards from the truck, her hands carefully folded over her stomach and a wry smile on her face almost hidden behind long locks.

"Felicia…?"


"Haven…?" Aunt Joy asked hesitantly as her niece entered the kitchen.

"Hey Aunt Joy, I'll get out of your kitchen soon enough. Where's Mom and Earnest?"

"They're getting some last minute ingredients. We weren't expecting you for another half hour. Did you appreciate my birthday present? Have you started using it?" Joy asked as she eyed Haven's chest.

"I had to open that up in front of several boys, did not appreciate that," Haven replied with irritation, "and no, I have not."

"But you're obviously using something," Joy smirked and grabbed her niece's chest with both hands.

"Aunt Joy!" the younger girl squeaked, turning very red.

"Sorry, couldn't resist," Joy retreated, laughing.

"Hmph," Haven pouted. "I see what mom means when she said growing up in the Lee household was weird."

"She said that!" Joy said feigning hurt before bursting out laughing. "I'm not the only one to blame for that though. Ruby and Amber are as much at fault as I am."

"Ruby and Amber?" Haven looked at her aunt in confusion.

"Surely your mom told you she had three sisters!" Joy exclaimed. She continued after seeing her niece's continued confusion. "Yeah, Ruby came first, then Amber and then me. Your mom's the baby of us four."

""She may have mentioned it once… when I was really young…" Haven replied.

"Your mom had a falling out with the rest of our family after she became pregnant with you…" Joy replied tentatively.

"About that… I… I ran into Dr. Brown the other day. He gave me this folder about mom…" Haven handed the folder to her aunt who began flipping through it. "He…" Haven faltered, "He said he still loved… her." Haven watched her aunt's reaction closely to no avail. The Chinese woman didn't even acknowledge she had heard the statement and continued flipping through the file. "Should… should I tell mom that I ran into him?"

"Sure, but I wouldn't tell her that last part," Joy suggested.

"So, what other family members don't I know about?" Haven asked curiously.

"Let's see, there is your grandma and grandpa, two aunts, an uncle, and three cousins," Joy thought for a moment before adding, "But there could be four, I can never keep track of how many kids Amber has."

"Do you think I'll ever meet them?" Haven asked.

"Dunno. Maybe if Pearl gets married to Dr. Brown… and apologizes to our parents… but that's probably not going to happen. All parties involved are way too stubborn," Joy speculated as the front door creaked open.

"We're back!" Earnest sang from the living room.


"But I'm back and I'm sorry." Running her hands through her hair, Felicia let herself fall into Fia's arms with an exhausted sigh.

Florence pushed herself away from the table, a magnet repelled by its polar equal, and stalked towards her room. Giovanni smiled ruefully at his oldest daughter and ran off after his wife.

"Calma per favore, sorella," Fia pleaded. "This amount of stress can't be good for you or… the baby."

"Does she have to be this difficult? I know I'm an ungrateful brat in her eyes, but this isn't just about me anymore! Since my boyfriend died, I… I had no one else to go to. Irina is leading your missions this summer so she offered me her place but I have no idea what I'm doing. Children are… Confusing."

"I get it," Fia promised. "We're here to support you. That's what family is for. Do you need me to stay -"

Felicia slapped her hand over her sister's lips like a flyswatter in the summer. "No. Absolutely not. You are going. You are getting out of here faster than I can assassinate a pigheaded bigot."

"That's fast…"

"I know."

The pair sat in silence at the worn wooden kitchen table as they listened to the clock tick, a steady march towards the final answer they anxiously needed to hear.

"I never realized how serious you were with your boyfriend… Fiance, I guess?" Fia returned her sister's dejected grunt with a nervous laugh. "Any idea what the gender of your baby will be? If she's a girl, we still have some things of Lupe's old things lying around…"

"I don't know… All I know is that this baby is my last piece of him and I'd rather give up my career than let that go…"

"That's surprisingly sentimental of you…"

"Don't even start."

"Well, he or she will have lots of playmates. You'll be fine here. I know it."

"I don't think the kids want me around, though," Felicia sighed.

"Well, you did kind of miss all of them growing up… All of the holidays and landmarks… Gio often waited with me when I was looking for you… I didn't want to believe that you weren't thinking of me the same I was thinking of you."

Felicia smiled wryly. "Sorry that I missed your graduation… I know you wanted Felix to be there when you got your diploma. I know I'm not a good substitute but I should have been there for you."

"Should have? This is a strange battle… between the responsibilities we have for our loved ones and the ones we have for ourselves…"

"How philosophical of you… But, I'm glad to have you."

Fia smiled. "Thanks. Oh, and, Fee'cia? Congratulations."


"I'm sorry I'll miss your graduation, but I sure didn't forget about it." Haven smiled and handed her cousin a small box wrapped in childish animal-covered wrapping paper. "Here's your graduation present. Congratulations!"

"Thanks, Haven! You sure you can't come next week?" Earnest asked as he and Haven sat on the couch.

"I'm really sorry, but my housemates and I head out before then," Haven sighed. "I'll also miss you heading off to Indonesia… or was it Thailand… or China?"

"Australia actually," Earnest replied as he began unwrapping the present. "I'm taking care of marsupials there."

Haven sweatdropped, "Just how many places are you going over the course of next year?"

"Let's see… There's Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, China, India, Egypt, South Africa, and Brazil. So a total of eight countries," Earnest grinned at his cousin.

"How… How are you affording all of that?" Haven sweatdropped.

"Oh, did I forget to tell you? I've had a part-time job the past few years. Puns for 50 cents and punches afterwards for a dollar," Earnest grinned at his cousin's horrified expression. "The second part was a joke. But I did sell puns for 50 cents and saved my allowance since middle school. I've been using the monetary graduation presents too."

"Well, someone's dedicated," Haven smirked.

"It's in my name, Earnest Lee," the boy smiled and was rewarded with getting his hair ruffled.

"Such a smart aleck," Haven grinned at her cousin as he finally pulled his graduation present out.

"Wow! Thanks, Haven! There's an animal pun postcard for every week!" Earnest exclaimed as he flipped through the childish planner.

"It's a fill-in-your-own-date so you can use it while abroad. Maybe you'll be able to organize yourself while you're at it," Haven smirked. "And the postcards are to remind you to stay in touch. You're notorious for forgetting us when you're with animals."

"Haven, could you set the table? Earnest, I need help cooking," Joy called from the kitchen.


The Timo family sat around the kitchen table in silence save for the occasional scrape of silverware against china.

"So… Who is this chick?" Lupe asked after shoving a meatball into her mouth.

Mio and Mia exchanged glances at each other from across the table. "Someone who ditched us."

Gio shot them a warning look and glanced tentatively at Felicia. "She's… our oldest sister."

"I thought that was Fia," the child protested.

Felicia lowered her fork. "Well, I guess it makes sense that you wouldn't remember me. I left when you were still just the cutest little bambina."

Lupe looked to Fia who nodded slowly with a small smile. "That's why there aren't any pictures of her in the house…" she explained slowly. "But I assure you, this is our sister."

The pigtailed girl shrugged, twirling strands of spaghetti nonchalantly on her fork as she propped her chin up on her palm. "If you say so. Would you let me bedazzle your things?"

"You touch the shoes and you die," Felicia responded flatly.

"Your hairbrush?"

"Go for it."

Fia shuddered in horror.

Mio glared at Felicia. "You think you can just pick up where you left off?"

The woman ran a hand through her molten copper hair and sighed. "Of course not, but I have to start somewhere, Mio."

"That's… Mia," Fia coughed into her hand. "Pass the parmesan?"

The real Mio complied with Fia's request but wore a conflicted face. "Sure… sorella."

Felicia bit back her lip, attempting to hide her hurt. Gio scowled but shot her a sympathetic look, knowing that no one but Fia could tell the twins apart and feeling guilty that he, being only a year older and with them more of the time, still couldn't tell them apart, let alone tell how they were feeling.

Lupe looked curiously at the solemn faces framing their table. "Where's mami?"


"So, Mom, I ran into Dr. Brown the other day…" Haven began tentatively. Across the kitchen, Aunt Joy visibly froze, unsure of her sister's reaction.

"When did you two meet? Why didn't you tell me earlier? I would have come to see him," Pearl pouted.

"I didn't know I would run into him, otherwise I would have told you," Haven sweat dropped. "Anyways, he gave me some info that might interest you. I gave Joy the file."

"Oh good. Can I look at it?"

"Of course, after we're done eating," Joy smiled as she headed to the table, holding plates of food. "It's ratatouille for dinner," she declared as she placed a plate in front of each person.

"Ratatouille? I've never tried yours before Aunt Joy. Did you guys have some while I was at college?" Haven asked.

"I'm trying a new recipe tonight," Joy replied. "I hope it's good. Bon appetit everyone."

"Don't you mean Bon appe-squeak!" Earnest grinned from his seat. He had a napkin tucked into his collar, his knife in his right hand and his fork in his left.

"If you weren't across the table, I would definitely give you a side jab right now!" Haven scowled, a forkful of food halfway to her mouth.

"That's why you two sit across the table from each other, remember?" Joy smiled as she too began eating.

"Yes, Earnest made a pun and you put your bowl of macaroni and cheese on his head," Pearl reminisced. "I'll go get the pictures!" she smiled as she got up and headed out of the kitchen.

"Mom took pictures?" Haven stared at Joy in disbelief.

"I wasn't around that night and she thought the entire situation was extremely funny. She wanted to show me what had happened and it snapped her out of one of her slumps so, yes, she took about a dozen photos," Joy explained, smiling.

Pearl walked into the kitchen carrying a photo album and sat back down at the table. "I remember it like yesterday, you two were so cute!" the woman recalled as she turned to the page and showed it to the family. A five-year-old Haven sat at the very table they were sitting at now, arms crossed and an extremely annoyed expression on her face. Next to her, a three-year-old Earnest wore Haven's bowl of macaroni and cheese like a hat and a gigantic grin. He held up two fingers on each hand.

"So that's when it started!" Haven exclaimed. "The whole peace signs in photographs thing!"

"And I never stopped," Earnest replied, his bronze eyes twinkling. The three women at the table laughed heartily. Laughter and happy chatter flowed from the Lees' kitchen late into the night, long after dessert had been served and the dishes washed.

"It's getting late," Joy yawned as Haven put the last plate away. "Pearl, you and Haven can use the guest bedroom. I'm sure the busses have stopped running by now."

"Thank you so much, Joy," Pearl smiled and walked out of the kitchen with the photo album under her arm. Haven rushed after her.


Florence walked out of her room with a large cardboard box straining towards the floor in her smooth hands. Giovanni rushed forward to grab the heavy box from her and, together, they walked to the living room where Felicia and Fia were sitting together in an old armchair hand-in-hand. Dropping the box onto the coffee table, he scooped his kids up in an arm each and dropped the squealing pair onto his lap as he fell back into the armchair.

"This is just like old times. I used to sit you girls down like this every night and read you stories~!" He roared with laughter, a rosy tint staining his dark skin under glimmering eyes.

Felicia, hair tousled and mouth scowling, adjusted herself in her seat. "What are you doing?"

Fia giggled softly. "And you would read and read until your voice got hoarse -"

The brunette girl smiled involuntarily. "So you would start reading the villains voices in the funniest way -"

"Until mami made you her special tea for your throat and you would shuffle us off to bed!" Fia finished.

"Ahh… That's right," Giovanni chuckled, "What was your favorite story again?"

"I thought you always liked the one with the mouse…" Felicia commented, shooting her sister a curious glance.

"Yeah! That was so cute! But… what was it called?"

"Topo Tip," Florence answered quietly, her rosy lips painted into a small smile. "You always had Felix draw him for you."

The girls all laughed fleetingly like a setting sun that falls into the enveloping darkness of twilight.

Giovanni smiled softly at his wife. "Amore, why don't you show the girls what you brought?"

Sighing softly, Florence opened the box and pulled out a few envelopes labeled "My Oldest Daughter" in neat calligraphy. She passed the paper packages over to Felicia and watched as she gingerly spilled the contents, a plethora of photos, onto her lap.

"I never did get rid of them," Florence said defensively. "I'm not that cruel of a mother that I could… erase you from my life." She eased herself onto the couch with a wry smile. "I have photo albums too… All of them have blank pages I've left open for you. I'm sorry that I took so long to find these… You must have thought I was angry… and… I'm sorry that it's taken me so long to apologize. I just want you to know that I'm proud of the woman you have become."

"Mammina…" Like dewdrops, tears condensed into liquefied crystals in fern eyes and clung to branching copper eyelashes. "I'm sorry too. I should have… tried to see that you were hurting too and…" Her words were cut short, strangled by the warbling that was her crying and the trembling that came to rock her limber form. Tears splattered photograph after photograph as she flipped through her childhood. "Dio, hai tenuto la pellicola non sviluppata… (God, you kept the underdeveloped film…)"

Standing shakily and pressing a hand firmly to her mouth, Felicia made her way over to her mother and collapsed into her arms as she finally let her sobs overtake her. Florence soothingly rubbed her back and smiled at Fia and Giovanni, who were exchanging relieved smiles and a comforting embrace.

After some time and some more reminiscing over old photographs, Fia gave her mom a hesitant nod of approval.

"Felicia…" Florence began tentatively. "We were thinking that you should have Felix's old room."

Felicia turned her gaze towards her younger sister. "I don't mind sharing a room with Guadalupe."

"I know you're worried about feeling awkward," Fia admitted, "but I'm not likely to move in again after I graduate." She ignored the loud sniffle from behind her. "So… I was thinking you should have the room. That will give you and the baby some privacy for now. Besides, I think Mio and Mia are going to start needing space away from each other soon. They're getting more and more different."

Florence shot her daughter a curious glance. "You want us to re-do the rooms?"

"Aw, c'mon, amore, it's not like you to back away from a challenge," Giovanni called.

"I'm not!" She protested indignantly. "So, purple and gold, purple and pink, and a subdued red. The scheme of the entire house might change. Si, I think it will." Florence ran to her room with a pen in hand, ready to conquer the designs in her head.

Giovanni sweat-dropped. "There goes my dessert allowance for the month… I better check on her. Buonanotte, le mie belle ragazze (Goodnight, my beautiful girls)" He dropped a kiss on each of their foreheads which they each returned with a kiss to one of his cheeks.

"Buonanotte," they called back.

Felicia sighed in relief, slumping in her seat like a deflated balloon. "That was… surprisingly easy."

"Yeah… I'm really surprised," Fia admitted. "So she's really letting you stay… She wants you to stay."

"So she's really letting you go," Felicia returned. "She wants you to go."

Fia shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "She wants me to bring down an empire." Pulling the collar of her shirt aside to reveal a flower-like birthmark over her heart, Fia sighed. "Is this thing really worth all the trouble?"

"I don't know. Are you really okay with this?" The older sister gestured loosely with her hand to the house. "All the changes."

"I am… I think. I'll help you pack up the room tomorrow so it will be easier for you to move in… Don't worry too much about the other kids. They're all a little awkward at first, but I'm sure they'll warm up to you," Fia said reassuringly. "Actually… Fee'cia, would you mind if I slept in Felix's room tonight?"

"Not at all. I take it I can have your bed?"

"Yeah," Fia laughed. "After you satisfy that craving for bananas and oreos."

"It's actually for whipped cream and oranges, but that wasn't a bad guess."

Fia giggled. "Goodnight, sorella!" she called as she made her way down the dark hall and flipped on the light to her brother's room, breathing in the familiar shades of white and blue that would encompass her as she drifted off to sleep.


Haven looked around the room, the white walls, the forest green carpet, the two twin beds. It all looked so familiar to her, almost more familiar than her mother's house. How many times had she slept in this room? Too many times to count. She sat on the edge of one of the beds and looked at her mother as she entered the room. "Why… why don't you ever talk about the rest of our family? Ruby, Amber, your mom and dad?"

"Why do you want to know about those horrible people?" Pearl turned around as sharply as she spoke. "我的父母 (my parents)," Pearl took a deep breath, "they're intolerant, old-fashioned, unforgiving, self-righteous jerks."

Haven looked at her mother in confusion, "I know they disinherited you, but-"

"No buts. They wouldn't help me at all. Not before and certainly not after. Ruby and Amber were no better. They're too scared to stand up to them," the woman ranted bitterly. "Only Joy and your father ever cared for me."

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up," Haven walked to the bathroom to finish getting ready for bed. As she flossed, brushed her teeth and washed her face, she thought of what her mother had said and thought of Felicia. The number of similarities between them and the number of differences as well.

When she returned to the bedroom, Haven approached her mother cautiously, "As I told you a while ago, I'm going to be traveling with my housemates this summer… Are you sure you're going to be okay on your own?"

"I'll be fine, Haven. I'm staying here so Joy won't be lonely," Pearl smiled at her daughter as if their previous conversation hadn't occured at all.

"That's good," Haven slipped between the covers and tried to fall asleep. So much was changing, some for the better, some for the worst. All she could do right now was let the pieces fall where they may. She didn't know how it would all pan out yet, but she could hope for the best. She laid in bed pondering everything as the crickets outside sang.


"And here's your ride!" Noriko motioned to a beat-up turquoise volkswagen bus, baking under the bright, early-summer sun to the upbeat singing, or screeching depending on your mood, of birds.

Fia immediately paled. "I don't mean to sound rude… this early in the morning but can I just take my own car and meet you there?" she asked hopefully.

"Your little lime of a car will stick out like a sore thumb," Jelavic responded. "Besides, don't you need to stick together?"

Karasuma rubbed the back of his neck. "I know it's not much to look at, but it'll do. Just hold out until we get to the first stopping point. I promise it won't be that bad."

Fia sighed resignedly and glanced up at Karma who was looking at the car with slight disdain. She nudged him gently and he sighed, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"I'm going to come to hate that thing."

"Sounds like you already do…"

Together, the two went to check out the vehicle, one with caution and the other with disgust.

Haven hopped into the back seat. "Works for me," she said nonchalantly.

Nagisa sweat-dropped and circled the vehicle carefully. "Are you sure this is running correctly? I don't mind the way it looks, but I would rather not get stuck in the middle of nowhere."

"Don't worry, the sound system's been revamped and the ac works… usually," Classified assured. "I hope you five enjoy the ride."

"Wait, five?" Noriko exclaimed, "I'm going with you guys, right?"

"You're only about two years older than these kids, Noriko. That's much closer in age than to the three of us," Classified motioned to Karasuma and Jelavic.

Karma rolled his eyes. "Great. As if we need the extra sound system when we have her." Fia shot him a pout and he gave her a "what do you want me to do?!" look that read "I'm cranky and didn't get any sleep" to her.

"I heard that, Karma Akabane!" Noriko crossed her arms in irritation.

"This friggin' sucks." He shook his head and climbed into the car, sitting in the front passenger seat. He put his headphones on, effectively isolating himself from the others as he yawned irritatedly and placed his head against the door.

Nagisa tentatively placed his backpack with the rest of the luggage sitting in the back-most row and took a seat next to Haven. Giving her a quick peck on the cheek, he opened his book to a neatly-placed bookmark and immersed himself in the elusive world where words unfurl and combine, synthesizing into an illusionary virtual reality in his hands.

Fia came in on the other side of Haven and gingerly sat down in her seat behind Karma. Someone would have to put distance between those two. After tapping on his shoulder and handing him a headphone splitter, Fia smiled and sat back as he plugged it into his phone begrudgingly. Humming, she closed the door and turned towards the window for the long drive.

"Are we ready to go?" Noriko went around the vehicle once to check it over, hopped into the driver's seat, and adjusted the mirrors.

"Where are we going?" Haven asked.

"I'm not sure yet. We're going to be following Classified so anything goes."


Florence: Giovanni, your daughter just left without us for the first time and we're going to be grandparents… Now the kids really are going to call you old.

Giovanni: CHE?! My little girl!

Felicia: Why do they call it morning sickness if it hits you around the clock? … What do you mean I have to deal with this for a few more weeks?

Left Brain: It has been more than 72 hours, I do not know how much longer I will survive without Right Brain.

Right Brain: ^_^"" How are we going to survive 3 months if we can't make it 3 days? (Also, this just goes to show that we can't survive without the other, even if Left Brain gets super annoyed with me xD ).

Left Brain: It's only because I'm used to sharing a cranium with you. (pouty blushing)

Right Brain: Oh, boo. /.\ Well, anyway, I'm glad we could tie up so many loose ends! What's going to happen from here on out? *_*

Narrator: Gee, I wish you guys would tell me so I could give a preview for the next chapter.

Left Brain: Trapped in a virtually wifi-less hell. Sorry, I'm gonna be on hiatus.

Right Brain: I'll miss you guys! I'll try to post some spin-offs while I'm abroad. Looking forward to seeing you guys all again in a few months! ^_^ 3

Noriko: Fia, we were each supposed to bring only two suitcases, so why are there three green ones in the back of the car?

Haven: I only brought one, so I told Fia she could use my luggage spot. She said something about needing the extra space.

Fia: (quietly, blushing) Would you believe me if I told you that's JUST for my bras…? They don't fold or bend or roll! I promise I tried to fit them! I did!

Noriko: We're getting a call from Classified. Redhead, take off the headphones. Oi! Redhead! He can't hear me…

Nagisa: No, not at all. You'd have more chance getting the driver of the car in the three lanes over to respond.

Noriko: (sigh) Well, someone take them off and tell him it's work-related!

Haven: Who wants to volunteer as tribute? Not me! (looks at Fia)

Nagisa: (sweat-drops) Well… I'm a little far… (looks at Fia)

Fia: (trembling bottom lip) I don't want to die, man!

Haven: Fia, You're sacrifice will be appreciated by the greater good.

Fia: Cazzo, don't lie to me! You two just don't want to do it! (hesitantly glances towards where heavy metal music is drifting from Karma's headphones)

Noriko: Will someone please just take those headphones off!

Fia: (kissing her life goodbye, reaches over to take his headphones)

Karma: (takes his headphones off and turns around) What are you all yammering about? … (sees Fia's awkwardly outstretched hands in his face) uh…

Fia: …

Karma: … Can I help you?

Fia: (screams and claws at her car seat in a desperate attempt to escape throught the back)

Karma: (sweat-drops) The hell is going on? - You know, I don't care. (sits back in his seat)

Haven: Looks like your sacrifice wasn't necessary after all, Tsu-chan.

Nagisa: Are you okay, Fia?

Fia: (Heavy breathing, almost wheezing) I'm… okay… I think. Thanks, Nagisa. Sorry, Karma.

Karma: It's fine. Try not to have a heart attack, okay? Your family will kill me.

Fia: Gee, thanks for the consideration…

Classified: (in surround sound) Hello, everyone! How's it going? Like the car?

Noriko: Going to fill us in on the mission, Andy? Protocol states the inter-car radio's only supposed to be used for work-related conversation.

Classified: Protocol Shmotocol! And not even close~! Fine, I'll be serious. Say "hello" to the leaders of the other two squads we'll be working with.

Koopa Kid: (in surround sound) Remember me, kids? Mario, Princess Peach, and Rosalina are gonna be around too.

Red Baron: (in surround sound) Hello, you little shits. Try not to fuck up this time, okay?

Haven, Karma, Fia, Nagisa: This summer's gonna be fun…