Prettypinkcheer5- A few more, maybe 3 or 4, depending on how things go. Dad is home.

Klinoa- I am glad it touched you so much. Then again, I cry at the drop of a hat. My CSI:NY story is underway.

Lia06- I hope you like this chapter too. Saying goodbye is so hard.

Meadow567- I got your email about it. He doesn't get enough attention. Also, you and Emador are thinking alike about Kylah. DUDE!

Flowersc781- Pittsburgh will come into play at the very end.

Emador- I wanted to include Jake because I thought it completed the whole story. And Janny is all yours. Oh he has antics ahead.

Author's Note- I am gonna do a shameless plug here. (But isn't there a saying, 'be your own biggest fan'?) Anywho, My CSI:NY story is started and being posted. The first few chapters are up already. It's called 'New Start, New Life, New York City'. I hope you will all check it out. (Eddie Cahill is on CSI:NY so there is a Miracle connection of sorts!) Peace and Love!

February 26, 1980

Minneapolis, MN

"Craig, just load the boxes I marked. I am mailing the rest to my home in Qualla." I told him. My apartment was packed up and we were all moving out of the dorms. "Make sure you leave room for Smokey in my car."

"The cat that is seeing the world." Craig smiled.

"He is my child. Where I go he goes." I said and moved a few more boxes.

"You know when you moved here in June everything fit in your car. Somehow you accumulated so much more stuff…."

"Yeah yeah yeah…..I told you I'm a packrat." I laughed.

There was a knock at the door.

"Come in only if you're willing to carry boxes." I yelled.

Verchota opened the door and walked in. "I'm all packed and getting ready to leave. I just wanted to say goodbye."

I walked over and hugged him. "Good luck Phil."

"Thanks, take care of coach." He said. Then he hugged Craig. "Coach, good luck in New York."

"Thanks. Take care Phil." Craig said.

Verchota started to leave then turned around. "Now that we're all leaving, and Craig is no longer OFFICIALLY my coach…..are you two screwing yet?"

"I….PHILIP…" I said but laughed and went to hug him. "Don't ever change. I love you…just how you are."

"I'll miss you Kylah….I'll even miss Smokey." Phil said.

"Thank you for not letting him die. He's a great kitty." I said.

"I'm out. Later guys." Verchota turned and walked out.

I turned to Craig. "I hate this. I'm going to miss these guys so much. Now who is going to ask me about my sex life that Phil is gone? Who is going to get drunk and stupid with Silk gone? Who is going chase older women with Janny gone? Who is going to be shy around girls with Ramsey gone?"

"I know how you feel. But we'll see each other soon, right?" Craig smiled.

"I hope. I haven't even left yet and I miss you already." I said.

"You know there is something I have always wanted to do in this apartment?" Craig smirked.

"I already took my sheets off my bed." I sighed.

"Not the bed." Craig said.

"And I packed away all my towels." I said.

"Not the shower." Craig started backing me across the room.

"And the couch is over there." I pointed in the direction opposite of where Craig was leading me.

"Not the couch." Craig said as my back touched the kitchen counter.

"Then where?" I asked.

"Here." Craig said and lifted me onto the counter.

"You really were letting your imagination wander before the Olympics." I commented.

"You have no idea." Craig said and leaned in to kiss me.

I put my arms around Craig's neck and leaned into him. He started to unbutton my shirt when the door suddenly opened. We broke apart to see Ramsey standing there, wide-eyed, trying to speak but nothing coming out. Ramsey muttered.

I hurried to pull my shirt closed.

"I….bye." Ramsey said and hurried out slamming the door behind him.

I started laughing. "Verchota would've given his left arm to catch us doing that, but instead the shy, quiet one catches us."

Craig walked over and locked the door. "We don't need anyone else catching us."

xxxxxXXXXXxxxxxXXXXX

"I can't believe that this is really it." I said as I walked out to the parking lot, Smokey under my arm.

"You'll call me as soon as you get to your hotel for the night….and first thing in the morning before you start driving again….and when you stop again tomorrow night…."

I cut Craig off. "Why don't I call you every fifty miles?" I smiled.

"I just don't want to let you go. It's gonna be hard being away from you." Craig said.

"But you'll be starting your new job in New York, and I'll be glad to be home and soon we'll see each other…..we'll make plans as soon as we know our schedules better." I said.

"You're right…..it's just I haven't been away from you except overnight since June." Craig said.

"We'll talk a lot…as much as we can." I said.

"Silk suggested phone sex." Craig laughed.

"I'll just fly to New York." I said.

Janny was loading a few bags into the trunk of his car.

"You leaving Janny?" I asked.

"Yeah, this is the last of my things." He said.

"I'm headed out too." I said.

"Man, I'm gonna miss you. You beat up on Verchota." Janny smiled.

"I'm gonna miss you too. And you be nice to that girl from the Olympics, she seems to like you." I hugged him.

"And Coach Craig, the minute you make Kylah a MILF, you call me." Janny winked.

Craig laughed. "We'll see what happens."

Janny climbed in his car and started it up. Smokey was startled so I hurried and put him in the front seat of my car.

"Well, I guess I should get going." I said.

"I'll make sure all your other boxes get to the post office. I'm gonna head there on my way back to Detroit." Craig said.

"It's hard to leave. I've been so happy here." I said.

"It's like you told the boys, you'll always carry the memories with you." Craig said.

I nodded. "How long till you're home in Detroit?"

"I should be there by tomorrow, I'm gonna drive all night." Craig said.

"Then I might not be able to call you tonight." I said.

"Leave a message. I still wanna hear your voice." Craig said.

I reached up and hugged him. "I love you. Be careful driving."

"I love you too. And you be careful too." Craig said.

"I will. I'll even go the speed limit." I smiled to keep from crying.

"I better let you go now, or I never will." Craig said.

I couldn't help it, I started crying.

"Don't cry. The hardest part is leaving." Craig said and hugged me again.

"I don't want to leave….especially not you." I said.

"I promise, we'll see each other before Easter. Even if I have to hop a ride with the Easter Bunny himself." Craig said.

I laughed despite myself.

"There's that smile that stops my heart." Craig said.

"Before Easter?" I asked.

"I promise." Craig said.

I nodded. "I'm just gonna get in the car and drive."

"You'll be fine once you're out of town." Craig said.

He leaned down and kissed me, and I held on tight, not wanting to let him go.

"I love you." I told him.

"I love you too." He said.

I took a deep breath and climbed into my car, starting the ignition. I put the car in reverse and backed out. I blew a kiss at Craig who was waving from the sidewalk, then pulled onto the street.