Emily Charlton had had enough heart attacks in her life, but when she found her daughter's bed empty last night, it had been the ultimate heart attack. Maya was everything to her, and if she lost her...

Well, she didn't ever want to finish that sentence.

She watched Maya eating her cereal, careful to not drip milk on her chin. Emily rested her own chin on her hand, wondering how she'd gotten so lucky to have a wicked smart child despite everything.

"Good morning," Ethan said, walking past. He ruffled Maya's hair on the way. Emily's stomach clenched. He knew she hated when he touched either of them, and yet he did it anyway.

"How long are you here for?" Emily asked.

"Til tomorrow."

She watched him pour a cup of coffee. Fred and Serena had obviously been up before them as it had been made when Emily came down twenty minutes ago. She wondered if they'd gotten any sleep after that major fight last night.

Ethan turned to lean against the counter and smile at her over his mug. His blonde hair was trimmed neatly. His icy blue eyes were cold. His nose had a slight twist to it, having been broken when he was younger.

"I really wish you didn't hate me, Em," he said. His accent matched Serena's, which made all other women flock to him instantly, but Emily didn't react the same way to it.

"Maya, go play," Emily said immediately.

"But I'm not done," Maya started.

"Now," Emily said sharply. Maya set her spoon down and slid off her chair, not arguing any further. Once she was out of the room, Emily stood and walked over to Ethan.

"You need to understand that what happened between us was a long time ago, and I was drunk," she said. "I never liked you that way, and we both know you took advantage of the situation."

"You loved every second of it," Ethan scoffed. "Don't give me that shit."

"I was out of it," Emily said forcefully.

"So why didn't you report me? If you think I 'took advantage' of you?" Ethan challenged. They had a stare down, and he smiled slowly. "That's right. You don't have any evidence. We'd both been drinking, and you were all on board with the idea of 'shagging' me, as you call it, so it was consensual, and you know it." Emily clenched her fist. It was true. She had no proof. Her memory had been shit, and Serena had raved about how happy Emily had been with Ethan the night it happened and how exciting it would be to be real sisters if it worked out, so she must have been happy. She vaguely recalled having a good time, but she couldn't fully remember anything else. Serena was Emily's best friend and had never lied to her, so why would she lie about that? To top it off, Ethan was Serena's brother, so how could she accuse him of assaulting her when Serena held him in such high regard? She hadn't wanted to lose her friendship with Serena over something Emily considered to be stupid, so she'd kept her mouth shut, but she never drank around him again. She also spent very limited time with him, but Serena had invited him here since they were on vacation, and she couldn't very well tell her she didn't want him there because he had supposedly taken advantage of her seven years earlier but had no proof. It was all just so complicated.

"Mum? Can I go outside? Aunt Serena is there," Maya said, appearing again.

"Sure, baby."

She watched Maya go outside, her yellow sundress fluttering from the wind. Ethan was watching her too.

"I know she's my daughter," he said.

"She isn't," Emily said forcefully.

"She has my eyes," Ethan said.

"I have blue eyes too, idiot," Emily snapped. She felt like she was going to burst. He chortled as he went outside. She felt like she couldn't breathe. He had never said to Maya that he was her father, which told her he didn't fully think he was. He just liked to play with her about it. He liked to keep her on her toes and make idle threats to give her anxiety. Ethan was a bit twisted, but Serena adored him and thought he was a prince. Emily had tried to point out some things in the past, but her friend had always brushed it off or explained it away.

Why was Emily still friends with Serena? Well, she'd have no one in her life otherwise, and Emily needed to have someone in her life to keep her sane and babysit Maya every so often so she could have a semblance of a life, not that she let that happen much anymore since Fred had entered the picture (Fred made Ethan look like an amateur if Emily was honest). She tolerated Ethan when he was around, which wasn't much outside of this current arrangement.

She also needed to make sure someone could help Serena escape her abusive relationship when she finally decided she'd had enough, and Emily was patiently waiting to be that very someone. If that meant putting up with Ethan, then she'd do it.

...

Toll was trying to get comfortable in the hammock he'd strung up in front of Barney's cottage (there weren't any good places at Caesar's) when a beautiful blonde woman in a black string bikini walked up to him.

"Hi," she said. Taken aback, Toll went too far one way, and the hammock dumped him out unceremoniously onto the ground. His left foot was caught in one of the holes, leaving his leg twisted in an awkward angle behind him in the air.

"Oh my gosh," she said, going to assist him. "Are you okay?"

"Yea," he replied, feeling like someone had sucked all the air from his lungs. She helped free him, and he propped himself up on his elbows as she knelt in front of him.

"I'm Serena," she said. She had a foreign accent. He had no idea what it was, but it was music to his ears.

"Toll," he replied.

"Toll?" she repeated.

"Yea. Um, a nickname, but it stuck."

"I see."

"How can I help?" he asked, clearing his throat. He felt like a dithering idiot on the ground staring at this Brazilian goddess. He'd finally figured out her accent.

"I need help getting my kayak down," she said. "The others aren't there or else I wouldn't be here bothering you."

"You're not bothering me," he said quickly. He struggled to his feet. "I can help. No problem at all." He wasn't sure who the "others" were. He didn't care. He followed her over to where she was trying to get her kayak down. He assisted, and together, they walked it to the lake.

"Thank you so much," Serena said, smiling at him as she tucked her hair behind her ear. Toll was feeling very love struck in this moment.

"Anytime," he said sincerely.

"Nice to meet you, Toll." She was still smiling.

"Likewise."

She grabbed her paddle, and he knew that was his cue to leave. He managed to walk in a straight line back to his hammock. She went kayaking by a moment later, and he waved at her. She waved back and then was gone. He stood there, staring at the spot where she'd been when Caesar found him.

"What is it?" he asked, looking as well.

"I just met my future wife," Toll answered absently. Caesar peered at the water again, still not seeing what Toll was referring to as his friend climbed back into the hammock.

"You know mermaids ain't real, right?" Caesar asked. "Did you hit your head or something?"

"Go away, Caesar," Toll said, closing his eyes and tucking his arms behind his head.

"A'ight," Caesar said, shrugging. He grabbed the fishing pole he'd come for and headed back to spend some time with Louis.

...

"This lake is shit," Gunner commented as he reeled in his untouched mepps.

"I told you," Barney said.

"Then why are we out here?" Lee asked.

"Cos it's fun to try."

Gunner gave a snort and shook his head, but he reloaded his bait and tossed it out again. Lee was leaning back in his seat and had his feet propped up on the side of the boat. Barney was sitting on top of the boat seat, reaching to steer every so often.

"What's with you?" Barney asked, looking at Lee, who had pulled his ball cap low and closed his eyes.

"Trying to sleep," he answered.

"Why? Didn't you sleep last night?"

"Not really," Lee answered, giving Gunner a pointed look. "Did you know that you snore while you inhale and when you exhale?"

"Really?" Gunner asked, sounding mildly curious.

"You were practically sucking in the drapes, Gunner," Barney agreed. "You really should get that looked at."

"Eh, I'm pretty sure I've got a bullet with my name on it before my snoring kills me," Gunner replied with a shrug. Lee went back to trying to nap. Barney glanced out over the water.

"Do you feel relaxed yet?" Lee asked Barney after a while. He'd lifted his hat up a bit, giving up on sleeping since the sun was too hot.

"Every time you ask me that, it makes me tense," Barney answered, sounding annoyed.

"The whole purpose of this is to get over Billy, right?" Lee asked, turning his head to look up at him. "Just to be clear."

"We're not getting over Billy," Barney said aggressively. "We'll never 'get over' Billy."

"So what are we doing here then?"

"Trying to have a vacation."

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't know of any workplaces where all the employees go on vacation together," Lee reasoned.

"We're family, and family goes on vacation."

"Dysfunctional families don't."

"They do if they have to."

"And we have to?"

"Yes."

"Are you the demented grandfather of this group then?" Lee asked.

"Hey," Barney said, his tone a warning.

"That makes me the cool cousin right?" Lee went on. "And Gunner is what? The family dog?"

"Hey," Gunner said, indignant.

"There are lots of good qualities in a dog," Lee reasoned, trying to unruffle the feathers he'd managed to ruffle with that statement.

"You're right," Gunner agreed after a moment, thinking. "Loyal. Smart. Friendly. Cuddly. Attracted to..."

"Please stop," Barney said, looking slightly alarmed at where this conversation could go because he knew Gunner could go there.

"To what, Gunner?" Lee asked, egging him on. He was ignored, though, as Gunner's rod squealed.

"Bingo!" Gunner exclaimed, lurching upwards and yanking his rod back hard to set the hook.

"Atta boy, Gunner," Barney said, putting the boat in neutral and reeling in his rod. Lee did the same with a snort, wondering if Barney realized he'd used dog lingo just now. Barney got the net out and waited as Gunner reeled in his catch. Once it was in the boat, it flopped around, slapping against Gunner's ankles.

"Keeper?" Gunner asked, sounding hopeful. Barney slid it in the makeshift slot measurer, which was really a piece of eaves trough with a line on it.

"You got lucky," Barney said. "It's a keeper." He put the slot away as Gunner whacked the fish senseless and put it in the bucket.

"I'll beat Toll's ass sooner than later," Gunner commented gleefully. Barney put the boat back in gear, and they all put their lines back in the water.

"Billy liked to fish," Lee commented, remembering. Both Barney and Gunner just nodded, not knowing what else to say.

No, sir, they definitely were never going to get over Billy.

...

"I think he's too young to water ski," Tia said worriedly. She was in the older style speed boat, which Toll had managed to fix and get running again (he hadn't understood why no one had tried to fix it sooner). He was at the wheel now, waiting for the signal to go.

"Nonsense," Caesar said, standing waist deep next to Louis, who was floating on his back with his skis sticking up. "He's gonna be fine."

"I got it," Louis said.

"You sure?" Tia asked.

"Yep. I can do it."

"Alright, but if you're in trouble, what do you do?" Caesar asked.

"Let go of the rope," Louis answered solemnly.

"Good lad. Alright, let's do this!" Caesar called. He waded to the dock, pulled himself out, and went to get into the boat with the others. He gave Louis the thumbs up, which he returned. Tia still looked worried, so Caesar patted her leg reassuringly.

"He'll be a natural, just like his daddy."

"I hope so."

Caesar gave Toll the nod, and he pushed the throttle down. Louis was up in an instant, making Caesar hoot and holler at how easily he'd done it. Tia was screaming with joy too as Louis held on and stayed upright.

"YEAAAAAAAA LOUIS!" Toll bellowed over the wind as he looked back to see the boy still going. Louis was beaming, his teeth gleaming in the sun. He went around the lake carefully, trying to avoid too many waves. They passed Barney with Gunner and Lee, and the three of them waved and grinned. Barney cupped his hands over his mouth to whoop as Louis passed by.

Tia slipped her hand into Caesar's, and he smiled at her. She was feeling good, and she tried not to think about if this was going to end. She didn't want it to end. She wanted them to be happy forever. Seeing Caesar laughing and smiling was a good thing. She just hoped it would last.

...

Lee had been designated the job of filleting the fish. It had something to do with him being the knife specialist, but he didn't mind. They'd caught three all together, and Gunner was already drooling over a fish fry for lunch. He'd spent the first ten minutes supervising Lee's handiwork and making too many comments until Lee had threatened to stab him, and then he'd gotten the hint and left him alone.

"Hi," a little voice said by the door of the shed. Lee jerked slightly, nearly filleting his thumb, and looked to see Maya standing there smiling at him. Her hair was down today, and it went just past her jaw.

"Hey," he said. "What're you doing over here?"

"I wanted to say hi," Maya answered with a shrug as if that was the most normal thing in the world to do.

"Does your mama know where you are?"

"Maya!"

That said it all. Maya looked a bit guilty as she turned her head to look towards where the shout had come from. She looked back at Lee.

"I just wanted to say thank you for being my friend last night," she said.

"You're welcome. If you ever need me, I'm here," Lee promised. "And I mean for anything, got it?" She nodded gravely.

"Maya, what are you doing?" Emily asked, coming into view. She had on a long shirt that was wet from her bathing suit underneath. She halted upon seeing Lee standing there holding a knife in his hand. She instinctively put her hand on Maya's shoulder.

"He's filleting a fish," Maya told her. "See?"

"Oh." Emily's eyes flickered to the half butchered fish on the workbench.

"Hi," Lee said to her. In the daylight, she was stunning. Her dark brown hair reached her shoulders, and her blue eyes showed enough sadness to match his. He found himself wanting to know all about it and how to make it better.

"I'm sorry if she's bothering you," Emily said.

"Mr. Christmas is my friend," Maya insisted.

"Sweetheart, you've only known him for five minutes."

"Half an hour," Maya corrected. "At least." Lee swallowed his laugh as Emily looked exasperated.

"Alright, but please leave him in peace, okay? You're giving me a stroke every time I turn around and you're gone."

"You'd be dead if you really had a stroke," Maya pointed out.

"Okay, we really need to get you back into reading books for your age."

"They're all so boring," Maya said, rolling her eyes. Lee watched, fascinated. Maya had blue eyes like her mother.

"Come on," Emily said, nudging Maya back towards their cottage.

"Bye, Mr. Christmas," Maya said.

"I really don't mind if you call me Lee," he offered. He watched Emily register the name. It had been his clever way of telling her his name without being obvious about it, but he figured she realized that.

"Can I, Mum?" Maya asked, looking up at Emily.

"An exception to the rule," Emily agreed. "But only because he's okay with it."

"Okay! Bye, Lee," Maya said, trying it out.

"Bye kiddo."

Emily gave him one last look before turning to follow her daughter. Lee watched her walk away, her hair blowing in the wind.

He very much wanted to get to know her more.

"Wait!" he called, dropping the knife and jogging after her. She stopped, passing a hand over her face to keep her hair out of her eyes. Maya kept going, though, without looking back.

"Yes?" she asked.

"My friend has a son who is seven. If Maya wants a buddy to hang out with, I'm sure he'd be thrilled. He really could use time with someone his own age." It was a long shot, but he was desperate.

"That actually might be nice," Emily said. "She doesn't have a lot of friends."

"Too smart for them?"

"Was it that obvious?" she countered, a smile on her lips finally.

"Well, Louis is pretty smart too. Maybe not her level, but close enough." He could smell the sunscreen on her skin. He kept his eyes on her face and not on the see through part of her shirt where her two piece was outlined.

"Let me know when you want her to come over," Emily said. Movement made them both look to see a blonde haired man standing there shirtless and in swim shorts, watching them.

"Is he a problem?" Lee asked quietly.

"No. He's leaving soon," Emily answered. "Is your phone on you?"

"Yea."

"I'll put my number in it."

He understood that she didn't want him coming over when that guy was there. If there wasn't a problem now, it certainly would cause a problem then. He very much wanted to know what the problem was and offer to deal with it for her.

He handed her his phone, and he watched the guy clench his jaw as she entered her number slowly. He realized she was also doing this on purpose to get this exact reaction from this man. He was all right with that.

"Text me," she said, handing it back to him. She let her fingers linger against his, and he felt electrified.

"I will."

She smiled, and he smiled back. Then she made her way along the trail. Lee watched the man glower at him over her shoulder and reach for her hand when she approached him.

"Sod off!" she said loudly, pulling away. Lee took in the man's furious expression before following behind her, talking animatedly with her. He wondered what the story was. He had an idea that he was going to eventually find out.

...

Barney was standing in the middle of his bedroom and could feel the memories pushing to the forefront from the back of his mind. It was causing a headache to form, which made him rub at his temples lightly. He heard Lee come inside from cleaning the fish, and Gunner started talking to him about how pissed Toll was gonna be when he found out he was already behind.

Barney opened the closet door and was greeted with the smell of his aunt. He reached to touch one of her knitted sweaters that her mother had made for her, and he could suddenly see her sitting in her rocking chair in the corner, hands folded on her lap and a smile on her face as she watched everyone bustle around.

He shut the closet door, clearing his throat. He'd deal with his memories another day.