Something to be Happy About:

Farrah Lee-Dreyar: 12

Benedict Orlando: 12

Nashi Dragneel: 9

Storm Fullbuster: 9

Cato Dreyar: 9

Roman Fernandez: 8

Persephone and Koree Redfox: 8

Bianca Fullbuster: 7

Portia Orlando: 6

Lorelle Strauss: 6

Eva, Minette, and Von Fernandez: 5

Layla Dragneel: 5

Igneel Dragneel: 4

Meeko Fullbuster: 4

Vera Orlando: 1

Isla Conbolt: 2 months

Romeo sighed as he climbed up the steps of his front porch. It had been a long day. He'd taken what he thought would have been an easy job that morning, helping a business bring all their recycable waste to the recycling center. He should have known by how much jewel they were willing to pay there'd be more to it than that, though. And, sure enough, the minute he got to the recycling center he was told that the second part of his job was to organize all the trash into a dozen different piles based upon the material they were made of, the shape they were in, and how large they were.

"This is why I just burn my trash," Romeo grumbled as he reached to turn the front door knob-

-Only to find that it was locked. He grumbled as he began to dig for his keys in his pockets. Ever since Isla had been born Wendy had gotten into the habit of locking every door in the house the minute it got dark. He didn't mind it usually. He liked the idea of there being an extra barrier between any outside threats and his his family. At the moment, though, he just wanted to get inside his house and get some sleep.

As the deadbolt clicked and he pushed the door open. As he closed the door behind him he heard a soft voice coming from his and Wendy's bedroom in the back of the house.

"Hush little baby don't say a word,

Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird.

If that mockingbird don't sing,

Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring..."

Romeo smiled as he set his bag and lunchbox down in the kitchen and made his way down the hall towards the bedroom. Wendy was seated in a rocking chair next to their bed, Isla in her arms, rocking back and forth as she sang to the baby.

"...If that diamond ring turns brass,

Mama's gonna buy you a looking glass…"

Romeo smiled as he walked to Wendy's side, leaned down a kissed her cheek. Wendy giggled as she turned towards him.

"How are my girls?" Romeo asked.

"Fine. How was your day?"

"Eh, let's talk more about you."

Wendy giggled again. Isla let out a wide yawn, snuggling closer to Wendy as she did so. Romeo smiled as he stared at his tiny daughter, reaching out to stroke her hair.

"Aw, is Daddy's little girl sleepy?" he asked.

Wendy smiled, answering: "Yup" before turning back to her husband. "She's eight weeks now, y'know?"

"Gosh, where's the time gone?" Romeo gasped.

"Right?" Wendy turned back at her sleeping baby. "I think she's big enough that we can take her to the guild hall."

"You sure?" Romeo looked worried. "Sure she's not too small? Shouldn't we keep her here for a little while longer."

"Romeo, we can't keep her all to ourselves forever," Wendy sighed. "Besides, I need to get out of this house. I'm starting to go crazy cooped up in here."

Romeo mentally kicked himself. He had been so caught up in revelling in his new title of "Dad" he hadn't stopped to think about how being stuck at home with a baby for two months would have affected Wendy.

"Ugh, sorry, honey, I didn't think about tha-"

"It's fine," Wendy assured him, looking back at Isla who was staring up at her parents with wide, curious eyes. "I've enjoyed just being Mommy these past few weeks. But I need a change in scenery. Besides, I'm sure eveyone is dying to get to see her."

"Well, of course," Romeo reached out and gently stroked Isla's cheek. "Who wouldn't want to see this little angel?"

Isla smiled as she clasped her tiny hand around Romeo's finger.

"You act like you're proud of her or something," Wendy giggled.

"Absolutely I am."

"Well, if you're so proud why don't you finish putting her to sleep while I take a bath," Wendy said smuggly as she stood to her feet, passed Isla to Romeo and skipped off to the bathroom.

"Well played, honey. Well played…" Romeo called after her before taking his seat in the rocking chair and pumping it back and forth with his foot. "Now how's my little girl doing tonight?"

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Romeo held the guild hall door openas Wendy stepped through, wearing an oversized poncho. The morning had brought with it a monsoon of a rainstorm. Wendy had put on a rain poncho before she left so that she could cover both herself and Isla. The minute she stepped foot inside Romeo closed the door behind her and lifted the poncho off over her head, revealing tiny Isla snuggled in her mother's arm, wrapped warmly in a checker white a lavendar blanket and sucking on a pink pacifier. All of the activity and chatter inside stopped and all eyes turned to the Conbolt family.

"Um…" Wendy began to feel a bit awkward, drawing Isla closer to her.

"Aw, the baby!" almost everyone cheered as they stampeded towards Wendy, Romeo, and the star of the show, Isla. A dozen voices began cooing and awwing about how cute she was, a few hands reaching out to hold her tiny hands or stroke her hair. Wendy smiled politely at them as she took a step back. She wasn't sure she was comfortable with all these people just touching her baby.

"Alright, alright, let me through!" a familiar voice called as a certain, blond, celestial wizard used her signature kick to force some of the more stubborn guild members out of her way. "I helped them through the birth so I get dibs!"

"Hey, Lucy," Wendy smiled and Lucy approached her, smiling brightly.

"Hi, how are you doing?" Lucy asked.

"Oh, fine," Wendy answered. "Just glad to be getting out of the house for a little while."

"Yeah, I remember those days," Lucy nodded. "Try being stuck at home with three little ones after being on berest for months."

"I think I'll pass," Wendy replied, to which Lucy giggled before leaning down to look at Isla.

"And how is this little cutie doing?" she asked as she held her arms out for Isla. Wendy carefully passed her daughter to her old friend, a little regretful to part with the tiny girl, but she knew Isla would be safe with Lucy. Isla just stared, wide-eyed and curious as to who this new, strange person was.

"Well, hello there Isla," Lucy beamed. "Finally come out to say 'hi' to everyone, haven't you?"

Isla just kept sucking on her pacifier. Lucy's smile just widened.

"Oh, I remember when my three were this small. I miss those days."

"Well, look who's here!" Natsu said as he suddenly appeared, giving Wendy a hug and slapping Romeo on the back. "How are you two crazy kids doing?"

"Oh, fine," Wendy smiled.

"What about you?" Romeo asked.

"Oh, I'm doin' alright," Natsu shrugged before walking to his wife's side to look at Isla. "And, look who's here! Mind if I hold her?"

Wendy quickly nodded to confirm he could.

"C'mere," Natsu gently took Isla from Lucy. Isla let out a little coo, now very curious that she had seen two new people.

"Who wants to hang out with her Uncle Natsu?"

Wendy smiled as she chatted with her guild mates, enjoying some actual adult interaction as Isla was passed around to from guild aunt to guild uncle. The sound of children giggling came from behind Wendy. She turned and smiled at the scene behind her. All of the older children were giggling and running about a cleared out space of the main room. Portia Orlando was blindfolded, wandering about the crowd as she loudly called out "Marco!"

"Polo!" a dozen voices called back to her.

Wendy giggled at the sight, then noticed something.

"Say, Erza? Where's Von?"

"At home," Erza answered, gently rocking Isla in her arms. "He caught a cold this morning so he and Jellal stayed behind."

"Aw, poor little thing! I hope he gets better," Wendy said, concern in her voice. She supposed she shouldn't be surprised. It seemed whenever the weather turned nasty Von got sick, and it was raining cats and dogs outside. Even though five years had passed since his and his sister's traumatic entrance into the world Von had not seemed to be able to keep his health up for long. He was still a small and sickly child. He looked to be about three rather than five, and both of his sisters dwarfed him despite being the same age as him. To put it simply, Wendy was worried about the little Fernandez boy, and she was sure she wasn't the only one. Still, he was only five, he still had a chance to outgrow it.

Hopefully.

"Marco."

"Polo!"

Portia whirled around and began chasing after Bianca, who was standing close behind her. Bianca squealed as she turned and ducked-

-right behind Layla who was then tagged by Portia.

"Hey! Bianca!" Layla whined.

"Sorry," Bianca giggled.

"No you're not!"

"Doesn't matter, 'cuz you're it!" Portia smiled as she passed the blindfold to Layla. Layla and Bianca had always been close. When Portia arrived at Fairy Tail she fit right into their little group as if she had been their missing piece. The three were now practically inseperable. As Layla took the blindfold from Portia Nashi raced to her sister's side and tied it around her eyes, waving her hand in front of her face to make sure Layla couldn't see, then spun the little girl around ten times before all the children scattered.

"Marco?" Layla asked.

"Polo!" the respones were almost lost in the sound of the wind squealing outside, but Layla raised her arms and began shuffling about to try and tag someone. Wendy smiled to herself as she watched. Though she was thoroughly enjoying Isla's baby days she was greatly looking forward to when she'd be big enough to run and play around with her cousins. As Wendy watched the game she noticed someone was now joining in the fun. Benedict was seated on the steps, arms crossed, hoodie pulled over his face. Wendy frowned. She had hoped in these two months the boy would open up a bit, but he seemed just as reserved and cut off from everyone as he had been before.

Isla began to get fussy from hunger. Wendy took her from Erza, who had been making goo-goo noises to her and slipped off to feed her. She frowned in concern at Benedict as she slipped into a private room in the back.

Erza too noticed the lonely boy and was also concerned, but she had another matter to attend to first. Natsu was actually sitting still for once and not to eat. Erza had been trying to catch him all morning and now was her chance. She slipped over to where Natsu was chatting with some of the other guys and tapped him over the shoulder.

"A word?" she asked.

Natsu nodded and followed her to a quiet corner of the main room. "'Sup?"

Erza hung her head as she tried to find the words for what she wanted to ask.

"Hey, Erza, are you okay?" Natsu asked, suddenly concerned.

"I'm fine, I just have a favor I'd like to ask you," she answered.

"'Kay. Shoot."

"It's about Von," Erza began.

"Yeah, noticed he wasn't here today. He's not sick again is he?"

"I'm afraid so."

"Gosh, Erza, I'm sorry. If there's anything I can do let me know," Natsu said, brow furrowed. He worried about that kid. It seemed that if you just breathed too hard in Von's direction he came down with something. True, he'd been sickly since birth and the fact that he'd even survived longer than a week was a miracle. Still, constantly being confined to bed due to illness was no way to live.

"Actually, that's what I want to talk to you about," Erza sighed.

"Huh?" Natsu arched an eyebrow in confusion.

"I've been talking to some of the others to see if they had any solutions to Von's ailment. While talking with Dreyars Laxus pointed out that he too used to be a sickly child until he had a dragon slayer lacrima implanted into him. I'm not ready to take such drastic measures as implanting a lacrima in Von, but still, dragon slayer magic is so powerful it might be the boost Von needs to overcome his ailments."

"So you want me to teach the little guy my magic?" Natsu asked, eyebrows raising in surprise.

Erza hung her head. "Yes. Minette has seemed to take after Jellal. She's already learned several of his spells, but Von and Eva have yet to demonstrate any magical skills. I don't even know if he'll be able to learn Fire Dragon Slayer magic, but if it will help him gain stregnth it's worth a shot." She sighed as she hugged herself and turned slightly away from Natsu. She was not one to ask for favors, especially not one this large, but nothing she and Jellal had tried had helped Von and she was getting desperate. "I know it's alot to ask. And given how rare your magic is you might want to save it to pass onto one of your own children. But even if you'd just consider I'd greatly appreciate it."

"Pfft!" Natsu waved his hand. "None of mine have taken up my magic yet, so I guess they ain't going to. Besides, I may not have a Fire Dragon Slayer, but I do have a Fire Wizard and a Dragon Slayer, so that's close enoguh for me. I'd be happy to show the kid a thing or two."

Erza's eyes brightened as she turned back to her friend. "Really?"

"Sure," Natsu nodded. "Why no-oof!"

"Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!" Erza cheered as she hugged Natsu.

"No-eugh-problem. Choking! Not breathing!"

As Natsu squirmed to free himself from Erza's death hug, Wendy came back, burping Isla against her shoulder. She immediately turned and saw Benedict still seated on the steps. She sighed and walked to his side.

"Mind if I sit with you for a while?" she asked.

Benedict lifted his head, surprised that someone had actually noticed him, but he quickly lowered his head back. "Sure."

Wendy sat down next to him as she kept patting Isla's back. "What are you doing over here by yourself."

Benedict shrugged.

"You know you can go play with them, right?" Wendy asked.

"Not my thing," Benedict answered. "Kinda of a little kid thing anyways."

"Well, Farrah's about you age, and she's playing with them," Wendy said, gesturing her head towards the girl in question. Benedict glanced in Farrah's direction. Her honey-red hair had been twisted into two tight buns on either side of her hair, keeping it out of her face as she ducked and weaved through the crowd of children.

"She's weird," Benedict grumbled, lowering his head again.

Wendy laughed. "Maybe, but aren't we all a little weird in our own ways?"

"Eh dunno," Benedict grumbled into his knees.

Isla finally let out a belch and Wendy moved her to the crook of her arm. Benedict ever so slightly lifted his head to look at her. Wendy noticed, and watched him from the corner of her eye. Benedict had a little baby sister he'd had to take part in raising. Maybe he was more comfortable with babies than he was with children his own age…

He just watched them for a while, his face actually visible for once. He really was a nice looking boy. Light blue eyes, jet black hair that hung just above his shoulders, bronze colored skin. It was a shame he was so insecure of the patchy white scars that covered him from his neck to just above his belt line. Wendy knew that it wasn't those scars that kept him from playing with the other children, though. It was the scars that no one could see.

"Can I hold her?" Benedict finalyl asked after a few moments of silence.

"Sure," Wendy beamed, passing Isla to Benedict. "Just be careful."

"It's not like I'm gonna drop her," Benedict grumbled.

"Oh, no, it's not that," Wendy giggled. "It's just that, well, she's a hair puller."

As if on cure, Isla latched onto a strand of Benedict's hair and gave it a tug. He gently turned his head to pull it from her grasp and tucked her into his arms. For the first time that day he actually smiled as he rocked her. Wendy smiled as she watched. So he wasn't hopeless yet.

"Oh, so you'll play with the baby but not us?" a whiny voice called.

"Lorelle!" Wendy snapped, crossing her arms. Oh, that girl! Wendy loved her but sometimes she just wanted to smack her!

"I was just holding her," Benedict grumbled as he passed Isla back to Wendy. Wendy groaned. And just when she was starting to make progress with the boy.

"So, what? We're not good enough for you?" Lorelle asked, hands on her hips.

"Leave him alone, Lorelle," Farrah called.

At the sound of the eldest of the children's stern voice, all the rest stopped in their game and became silent. Benedict blinked in surprise. Wow, all the other kids stopped to listen to her! Maybe there was more to this weird girl than he thought...

"What? It's true! He never plays with us!" Lorelle whined. "He's always sitting by himself and he never talks! He thinks he's better than us!"

"Do not," Benedict argued.

"So why you don't talk to us?" Lorelle's mouth suddenly curled into a wicked smiled. "Are you jealous because you got no magic?"

"For the thousandth time, I have magic I just don't like using it," Benedict sighed.

"Liar! Liar! Pants on fire! Who doesn't like using their magic?" Lorelle suddenly gasped, holding a hand to her mouth. "Did you do somethign bad with it?"

"None of your business."

"Lorelle, that's enough," Wendy scolded.

"But what if he did? We'll have to throw him out of the guil-"

Vwoom!

Nashi went to smack Lorelle in the back of the head, but Lorelle simply softened the density of her body and Nashi's fist went straight through her.

"Nice try, Smokey!" she stuck her tongue out at Nashi.

"Leave him alone!" Nashi shouted, eyes blaring. "If he doesn't want to say what his magic is he doesn't have to!"

"I was just curious, geez," Lorelle rolled her eyes.

"Well, go be curious somewhere else!" Nashi shouted. "You've got no right telling someone what they can and can't do with their magic!"

"Oh, so just because you got some fancy demi-god magic you think you can tell the rest of us what to do with our magic?"

"I didn't say that!" Nashi stamped her foot.

"What the-That's what you were doing, you bratty busy-body!" Bianca shouted.

"Stay out of it Angel-Farts!" Lorelle snapped before turning back to Nashi. "And you! If you think you can order me about, you're dead wrong! You think you're so special, but you're not! You're just like the rest of us. Only difference between me and you is that I've got class and style and you're just two faus-pas away from being a savage!"

"Celestial Constellation Crash!"

Lorelle changed her body's density again as a blast of celestial magic in the shape of the big dipper went straight through her.

"Is that the best you can do you little-ouch!" Lorelle stumbled back as Igneel caught her off gaurd with a kick to the jaw.

"Don't talk to my sister like that you punk!" Igneel shouted as he stood over Lorelle.

"Huh," Wendy cocked her head to one side. "Who knew the Lucy-Kick was genetic..."

"Okay, that's it!" Lorelle stood to her feet. "You want to go?"

"Bring it on!" Igneel challenged.

"That's enough! All of you!" Wendy stood to her feet and glared down at the children who all immediately snapped out of their angry glares and stared up at her with fear in their eyes.

Wendy opened her mouth to go into her scolding speech when a loud gush of wind and a crashing noise startled her. She looked up just in time to see a gigantic tree crashing through the roof of the guild hall and heading straight towards her and the children. She gasped, and bent over to try her best to shield Isla from the impact.

"Thunder Blast!" a voice called next to her.

Ka-Boom!

Thunder clapped-

-but not from outside. From right next to her where the voice had come from. Where Bendict had been sitting. A series of shockwaves coursed over Wendy as she held screaming Isla close to her chest, still wating for the impact. But it never came. Instead a cloud of dust settled over her. Wendy lifted her head up. A thick layer of what looked like saw dust covered the steps, the cleared space the children had been playing in, and all of the children. But there was no tree in sight. It had been completely dissolved to dust.

"Whoa!" Igneel said as he shook the dust off his head.

"What was that?" Nashi asked.

Wendy was wondering the same thing as she slowly turned towards Benedict. He was standing on his feet, both fists held above his head, his hood fallen back from his face, breathing heavily. He slowly lowered his arms as a look of dread filled his eyes. His hands shook as he reached back and tugged his hood back in place.

"Well, I guess since he showed ya I can tell you now," Portia cheered as she skipped towards Benedict.

"Benedict has Sound Magic. He can make thunder blasts like you just saw, and sonic booms, and sound waves, he can even copy any sound he hears!"

"Cool!" about half of the children gasp.

"You and Farrah should learn to do a unison raid!" Cato exclaimed.

"Why you say that bro?" Farrah asked.

"Y'know. Because you're the lightning, and he's the thunde-where'd he go?"

Everyone turned back to the steps and sure enough Benedict was gone.

"Oh, dear," Wendy sighed, worried about where the boy had gone.

"Wendy!"

Wendy turned to find Romeo rushing to her. "Are you two alright?"

"Yes, we're fine," Wendy answered, bouncing Isla to try and get her to stop crying. All of the parents began rushing forward, anxious to check on their little ones.

"Cato!" Mirajane fell to her knees and snatched the little boy into her arms. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Cato nodded as he hugged him mother back.

"What just happened?" Laxus' voice boomed as he appeared in the doorway of one of the halls and all but jumped out of skin at the giant crater in the roof and the pile of saw dust covering the ground.

"Mira?" he asked as he walked to his wife's side.

"A tree fell through the roof," Mirajane answered. "But Benedict used his Sound MAgic to turn it to dust before it could hit anyone."

"Wha-are you guys okay?" he asked, kneeling down to Mirajane and Cato's level.

"I'm okay," Cato answered.

"I am too," Mirajane assured her husband, grabbing his hand and placing it against her barely pooching belly. "And so is this little one."

"Where's Farrah?" Laxus asked.

"She-" Cato turned and looked behind him. "Well, she was right here…"

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Farrah sniffed at the air. She had caught onto Benedict's scent, now she just had to follow it until she figured out where he had snuck off to. The smell was getting stronger. She followed it to a storage closet on the top floor of the guild hall and pushed the door open. Benedict was huddled in a corner, shoulders shaking. Farrah gasped as she heard soft sniffles and sobs coming from him. She carefully closed the door behind her and tiptoed towards him. She set a hand on his shoulder. He jumped and whirled around, frowning when he saw her.

"What do you want?" he asked.

"I just wanted to make sure you were okay," Farrah answered.

"I'm fine, now go away," he grumbled, wiping at his face.

"Nope," Farrah shook her head.

"How'd you even find me?"

"I'm a dragon slayer. I can sniff out anyone out of anywhere."

"Ugh, of course."

Farrah sat down crosslegged across from Benedict.

"Didn't I tell you to go away?"

"And didn't I tell you 'nope?'" Farrah giggled. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone you ugly cry."

"You think you're funny, huh?"

"Eh, sometimes," Farrah shrugged. "So, what's wrong?"

"Nothing. Now leave me alone."

"Nope."

"Ugh, you're annoying."

"Yeah, Cato tells me the same thing."

"Gee, wonder why!"

"So what's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"ERGH!" Benedict crashed his face against his knees that he had drawn against his chest.

Farrah stared at him for a while, wating to see if he'd say something. When he didn't she scooted closer and began talking again:

"So, why'd you not wanna show up your magic? I think it's pretty cool."

"It's useless," Benedict grumbled.

"Um, obviously not seeing as you just saved all of our lives."

"I just got lucky today is all. It's still useless."

"Yeah, I don't think so. Luck may have had something to with it, but you still must of some skills or usefulness to do what yo-"

"I couldn't stop him!"

Farrah jumped at the outburst. Benedict drew his knees closer as tears began pouring over from his clamped shut eyes.

"He was coming for us! He was going to burn us! And I couldn't stop him! I tried every spell I knew and it was no use! All I did was splatter his acid all over the house and my mom and sisters! Now look at me!"

He ripped his hood back to expose the scar on his neck. "I'm going to have to live the rest of my life with these scars because even though I can stop a freakin' tree I couldn't stop my dad!"

Farrah was quiet for a minute, then she scooted even closer to Benedict. She clasped her hands together in her lap, staring hard at them before she spoke.

"Did anyone tell you I'm adopted?"

"No," Benedict answered. "Though that does explain a lot. You look nothing like your folks."

"Yeah," Farrah sighed. "I used to be a part of a travelling merchant tribe. Then one day a group of dark wizards attacked us. My mother managed to get me far enough that I could crawl under a bunch of bushes and hide. The rest of my tribe wasn't lucky. The dark wizards killed them. All of them."

Benedict gasped and turned to Farrah. How-But she was always so happy! Smiling! Laughing! He would have never guessed that she'd gone through somethign so horrific.

"A few hours later a group from Fairy Tail happened upon the scene-"

"Let me guess, Laxus and Mirajane," Benedict said.

Farrah nodded. "They officially adopted me a few weeks later, but they began treating me as if I was their own as soon as they found me. So much so that Laxus began teaching me his magic. I was excited at first. I never thought I'd get to be a wizard or join a guild or learn magic. But after a while, I began to get angry at myself. I wasn't just learning any old magic. I was learning dragon slayer magic. I was a dragon slayer. I was capable of this awesome power that could have saved my tribe if I had just learned it earlier! I wondered why I had to wait around for everyone I'd ever known to die to find out what I was capable of! By then it was too late for me to do anything, so what was the point?"

Farrah's hands clenched to fist and tears began brimming her eyes. Benedict just stared at her. He'd never seen this side of her before.

"But then after a while I realized something," Farrah continued, calming down a bit. "Even if I had learned Lightning Dragon Slayer magic before my tribe died there's no guarantee I could have stopped it. Chances are I would have just died alongside them. But I'll never really know now, and getting angry or sad about it wasn't going to change anything."

Farrah turned to Benedict and smiled. "You may have not been able to stop your dad, but what would have happened if you had just sat back and done nothing? Chances are you, your mom, and your sisters could have been killed. You're all still alive, though. And you've gotten a fresh start in life. As much as what happened might still hurt those are two things you can be happy about, right?"

Benedict wiped at his face with his sleeve. "Guess so."

"See?" Farrah's smiled widened. "As bad as things might seem now they will get better. You've just gotta hold on long enough to see it through."

"Sure, whatever you say."

Farrah stood to her feet and held out her hand. "C'mon."

"Where we goin'?"

"Back down stairs. We've still got a game of Marco Polo to play and with your Sound Magic you'r a shoe in."

"Ugh, do I have to?"

"Yes."

Benedict rolled his eyes as he took Farrah's hand and let her help him to his feet and lead him back downstairs. Nashi had already put the blindfold back on Layla when they got there. She turned her sister around and around again and the children scattered.

"Marco?"

"Polo!"

Layla waved her hands about. Benedict shoved his hands into his pockets as he began to aimlessly wander about. This was so stup-

A familiar giggle came from behind him. He turned and found Portia doing a nervous dance as she shuffled away from Layla. It had been a long time since he'd seen her that giddy. It made him smile.

"Marco?" Layla asked again.

"Polo!" all the kids shouted.

Benedict sighed, still smiling at his little sister as he joined in:

"Polo."