CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
(chapter title – Nice Little Chats)

NIGHTOWL009: OMFG! That's wonderful Sar!
MADAMEELPHABA06: lol
NIGHTOWL009: what else did he say?
MADAMEELPHABA06: I screamed and put the phone down before I could hear anything else.
NIGHTOWL009: lol
MADAMEELPHABA06: So, how's Kait doing?
NIGHTOWL009: she's ok. Just resting on the couch, her ankle elevated.
MADAMEELPHABA06: she'll be bummed about the play.
NIGHTOWL009: I know. She'll get over it, tho.
MADAMEELPHABA06: I know she will – h/o – there's a message coming in.
NIGHTOWL009: okay.

Sara minimized her conversation with Jennifer and looked to see the box in the corner that said 'RAZZLEDAZZLER09 has logged on'. Smiling, Sara clicked 'start new chat'.

MADAMEELPHABA06: hey there stranger
RAZZLEDAZZLER09: hey there beautiful
MADAMEELPHABA: are the rumors true?
RAZZLEDAZZLER09: huh?
MADAMEELPHABA06: about you coming back to NY.
RAZZLEDAZZLER09: yeah – they're tru
RAZZLEDAZZLER09: true
RAZZLEDAZZLER09: mom didn't like her job, so she quit. She liked the one back in NY better.
MADAMEELPHABA06: you're just saying that so that you can be with me, right?
RAZZLEDAZZLER09: of course not.
RAZZLEDAZZLER09: so, are u seeing anyone?
MADAMEELPHABA: nope. U?
RAZZLEDAZZLER09: I was dating a girl named Lily, but we decided to call off the relationship.
MADAMEELPHABA06: aww. Y?
RAZZLEDAZZLER09: turns out, she was cheating on me.
MADAMEELPHABA06: aww, I'm sorry.
RAZZLEDAZZLER09: it's not your fault
MADAMEELPHABA06: lol
MADAMEELPHABA06: Jennifer's on. Wanna say 'hi'?
RAZZLEDAZZLER09: it's okay. Igg anyway
MADAMEELPHABA06: okay. Hey, when r u coming back 2 NY?
RAZZLEDAZZLER09: a while, sweetie.
MADAMEELPHABA06: okay. I'll tell Jenn u said 'hi'
RAZZLEDAZZLER09: k. bye. I love u
MADAMEELPHABA06: love u, 2

RAZZLEDAZZLER09 has signed off

Sara maximized her chat with Jennifer and smiled – her friend was still online even though it was going on midnight.

MADAMEELPHABA06: hey girl.
auto response from NIGHTOWL009: Busy – try the cell.

Sara sighed and went to work on her Music Comp. class – write a song about your favorite member – or members – of your family.

Digging out her composition notebook, she flipped through the pages until she found a poem she had written for her Dad while he was in the hospital. She had thought about turning it into a song for him, but she had decided against it. She didn't know why.

As she worked on the song, a trumpet fanfare played – Jennifer had left her an instant message. Getting up from her couch, she walked over to her computer and sat down in her green spinney chair.

NIGHTOWL009: sry about that – mom just took Kait to the hosp.
MADAMEELPHABA06: is she ok?
NIGHTOWL009: no – I'm waiting to hear the results
NIGHTOWL009: I'm kind of scared for her.
NIGHTOWL009: I'm supposed to be watching out for her.
MADAMEELPHABA06: I know, girl. It'll be okay.
MADAMEELPHABA06: now you know I feel whenever I have to watch Adam.
NIGHTOWL009: lol
MADAMEELPHABA06: guess who I was talking to right now?
NIGHTOWL009: dunno. Who?
MADAMEELPHABA06: it's a guy.
NIGHTOWL009: that narrows it down.
NIGHTOWL009: lol
MADAMEELPHABA06: very funny girl.
MADAMEELPHABA06: seriously tho.
NIGHTOWL009: u only know 1 boy…
NIGHTOWL009: OMG! PEPTER!
NIGHTOWL009: Peter
MADAMEELPHABA06: lol!
NIGHTOWL009: what'd he say?
MADAMEELPHABA06: he's coming back to NY.
NIGHTOWL009: really? When?
MADAMEELPHABA06: he doesn't know.
NIGHTOWL009: I bet ur happy, huh?
MADAMEELPHABA06: I'm more than happy – I'm thrilled!
NIGHTOWL009: lol
NIGHTOWL009: did u see my latest post on myspace?
MADAMEELPHABA06: I think so – remind me which one it was again.
NIGHTOWL009: the one about the play…
MADAMEELPHABA06: oh yeah! I'm remembering it now.
NIGHTOWL009: lol
MADAMEELPHABA06: igg. Homework calls.
NIGHTOWL009: okay girl. I'll call you tomorrow.
MADAMEELPHABA06: sounds good. Tell Kait I said 'hi'
NIGHTOWL009: will do. Night girl.
MADAMEELPHABA06: night.

NIGHTOWL009 has logged off.

Sara yawned, turned off her computer, grabbed a Diet Coke from her mini fridge and went to work on her homework for her Music Comp. class. She also had a stack of college applications that needed to be filled out. She was hoping to go to a college out of state, but her fathers would probably want her to stay close – just in case something happened to one or both of them and they needed someone to care for Adam.

An hour later, Sara had her Music Comp. homework done and was in her pajamas, sipping her Diet Coke and watching an adult cartoon – Family Guy.

"Merry Christmas to all and to all shut the hell up" Peter told his family, sitting back down on the couch. Sara laughed at that part – Peter Griffin always made her laugh, although Stewie and Brian stole the show.

"Sawa – me can't sleep." Adam whined, coming into Sara's room. Sara turned the TV to Disney Channel as she flipped on the light – Adam was standing in the doorway in blue footie pajamas and was holding a stuffed rhino in his hand.

"Aww. C'mere Adam." Sara told her brother. He smiled and walked over to her. Sara kissed the top of his head as they watched an episode of Charlie & Lola – Adam's favorite show.

Adam quickly fell asleep in the middle of the episode, so Sara picked him up and carried him to his room. She rubbed his stomach and sang a little bit of Edelweiss – the song that her Dad used to sing to her when she was younger. That song always helped Sara fall asleep, no matter what.

"Edelweiss, edelweiss, every morning you greet me
Small and white,
Clean and bright,
You look happy to meet me
Blossom of snow
May you bloom and grow,
Bloom and grow forever
Edelweiss, edelweiss, bless my home-land forever
" Sara sang softly. Kissing Adam goodnight, she exited his room and made her way back down the hall to her room.

Deciding she was tired, she turned off the TV and climbed into bed. She looked up at the heavens and smiled – she would give her Dad an update every night about what was going on from earth.

"Hey Dad. Hey Mom. Hey Uncle Collins. Hey Aunt Angel. It's me – Sara – updating yet again. I just wanted to tell you a few things that went on today…" Sara stifled a yawn as she continued to talk to her family. She told them the day's events and what all had happened.

"Well, I gotta go – the girls and I are going to the New York Renaissance Fair tomorrow and I wanna be well rested for it. Papa, Daddy and Adam say 'hi' and that they miss all of you." Sara's eyelids grew heavy.

"I…love…you." Sara yawned, resting her head on the pillow and instantly fell asleep, dreaming of her family and how they were doing.

A/N: don't own the lyrics to Edelweiss. belongs to respected owner. 'nuff said.