The town was happy. More than that. It was content, at peace. Even with the little problems between people, such as Luke and Taylor, Kira knew they all felt like one large family. It was a comforting feeling to her, realizing that they adopted her so suddenly as well. Once again she crossed paths with Babette, this time with her friend, Ms. Patty, apparently the town's dance teacher. After telling them she was Lane's cousin and visiting from California for a little while, the whole town seemed to know within the hour.

Beacon Hills was a small town as well, but nowhere near as well connected as Stars Hollow apparently was. People on the street and in the different shops she entered, greeted her by name and introduced themselves. When a couple hours had passed, Kira could not remember everyone's names who had approached her. She never liked being the center of attention, yet she always seemed to end up that way for whatever reason.

Kira sighed and pulled out her phone. Her finger hovered over Scott's name for a moment and though she knew she couldn't contact him, without him worrying and rushing to her side, she decided to open their old texts and reread them. Hot tears welled up in her eyes as she craved to send something, to reopen the loving conversations they had once held, even over text. But it was too risky. With a determined sniff and shake of her head, she clicked her phone screen off and returned it to her pocket. It didn't help the loneliness itching in her heart.

At least she was safe. She hoped Scott and his pack were safe too, though things were always rocky in Beacon Hills.

Kira's phone beeped from her pocket. Her dad had sent her a text.

Did you make it safely to Stars Hollow? Did you find Lane?

Kira inwardly scolded herself. She'd completely forgotten to let them know she was okay and that she had made it to Lane.

I'm fine and yes, I did. We should probably cut contact now… Love you.

.

.

"I still don't understand why you're here?!" Lane fake punched Dave in the arm, her smile still going strong.

Dave laughed. "Well I don't have classes for a few days and I couldn't stop thinking about you… and well here I am. Sorry if it's bad timing, I know you're busy, work and everything…"

"No, no, seeing you is never bad," Lane gushed. All too clear was her memory of Dave running a whole mile in less than five minutes to see her at a hockey game. She still couldn't quite believe that she had the power to make someone feel that way about her, to feel so drawn to her.

With a smile, Dave gently caressed Lane's cheek and leaned in for a kiss, which Lane happily obliged to. Dave's arms hugged her around the waist and Lane stood tiptoe, her arms crossing happily around his neck. They stayed like that until they heard Lorelai's voice and broke apart slowly.

"Well, look who's back!" Lorelai exclaimed to Dave in a big smile. "Just couldn't stay away, huh?"

"Hi Lorelai." Dave said, still smiling. They were all smiling, genuinely happy, when Rory caught up.

"Mom! I told you I still had to get shoes on, why did you…" Rory stopped short when she saw Dave. "Dave? What's Dave doing here?" She asked Lane, amused suspicion in her eyes.

"He doesn't have classes for a few days and he wanted to visit." Lane squeezed his arm and looked up at him in a loving gaze, which he returned.

"Well as sweet as you two are, I'm in desperate need of sweetness as well, and by that, I mean donuts." With that, Lorelai marched past them into Luke's, but not before turning back to Dave. "Nice to have you back."

"Very nice," Rory echoed, still looking at Lane teasingly, who shrugged happily.

"We should take this somewhere more private," Dave whispered into her ear once Rory had followed her mother inside.

Lane couldn't agree more.

.

.

When Lane was finished explaining to Kira why she was late and who Dave was on the way back to Yale, she added that they'd be moving in with Lorelai on Monday.

"I just can't keep staying at Yale, I mean I don't even go there. Of course you are still welcome to hang with me, Rory said she'd ask for the both of us. I'm sure Lorelai will say yes, she's cool like that. Of course it's just temporary, I'll, we'll, have our own place soon. I'm looking at renting with the band. I'm part of a band, Hep Alien, we're called."

"Nice," Kira said a little quietly.

"You okay?" Lane asked.

"Oh, yeah I'm fine. Just with you mentioning Dave, it reminded me of my old boyfriend."

Lane smiled. "What was he like?"

"He was the best," Kira said with a laugh. "Kind, brave, adventurous. I learned so much with him, how to -" she stopped herself. She was getting to relaxed and almost slipped up. "How to grow into who I am now." She chose her words carefully.

Looking over at Lane, Kira saw her with a light smile resting on her face, her head tilted back. "He does sound wonderful."

Thankfully she didn't pry into why they were no longer together, just as Kira never felt the need to pry into why she had to move out of Mrs. Kim's house. The girls had a silent mutual respect and understanding for one another.

.

.

The Yukimura's car was parked in their driveway. Their lights were on. Anyone outside looking would assume they were having a nice, quiet, relaxing Saturday in. But it was planned to look that way, because in the basement lie Mr. and Mrs. Yukimura, bloodied and unconscious. But not dead. Void sighed as he meticulously wiped blood from his fingers. They hadn't given him the information he seeked. At least not yet.

He had a hunch, but the nogitsune was no fool, and refused to be played as one. All he needed was confirmation. It took him under ten seconds to unlock Mr. Yukimura's phone and sent a text in five. He held his hands in front of himself, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the back of his hand, eyes closed waiting for a reply.

When it came, he did not hesitate to open it.

I'm fine and yes, I did. We should probably cut contact now… Love you.

A dark smile came across Void's face. "I caught me a fox." He said in a singsong voice, before deleting the two messages from the phone and returning it to Mr. Yukimura's pocket. He didn't want him to know that he knew where she was. Chances were he'd warn Kira, and that, well... That would ruin the surprise.