It was time for Flynn to go home. He had work to do on his house. Andrea didn't want him to leave. She kept distracting him with kisses and caresses. "You could come with me," he offered.

"For the night?"

"And the next one, and the one after that."

"I would be practically living there."

"That's the point. I know we just started seeing each other and I must sound like I'm crazy for even bringing this up, but I don't like waking up without you. I want you in my bed. I want to eat breakfast with you. I want to come home to you, and I really would love it if you brought your speakers to my house. They're awesome."

Andrea laughed. "You just want my electronics."

"I want all of you. The gadgets are just a nice bonus."

"I have a mortgage."

"It's a lovely house. You could rent it, and if you don't like me anymore, come back."

"I'm not going to stop liking you."

"I'm going to hold you to that." He kissed her. She packed a bag and followed him home. She didn't know when she would move or if she could even find a renter, but she would try.

The Beach

Sharon and Bobby made burgers for lunch. Sharon typically just bought the frozen patties, but Bobby's spice rub was divine. Bobby had some beef scraps that he grilled for Hunter. She was happy as a clam. "Want to get in the jacuzzi after lunch?" Bobby wanted to get her in something more revealing.

She smiled. "You have to promise to keep your hands to yourself. I'm still recovering from last night."

"Scouts honor!" Not that Bobby was ever a scout. They changed into their swimsuits, and they took a nice dip.

"I want to know more about you," Bobby told Sharon.

"Ask me anything?"

"What's your most embarassing sex story?"

"I'm not telling."

"Why not?"

"It's embarassing."

"That's the point. I'll go first. I was 17, and I had been flirting with this girl from class. She was in charge of the morning announcements for school, and she was in the office. We set the station to play pre-recorded announcements and used the time to make out. One day, we started doing more on the desk and somehow we must of hit the mic. Everyone heard us, including her father who was the vice principal. To make it worse, I didn't notice, and I was not the most gentlemanly with my language. When we left the room, all of the admins were waiting for us. I got the school-parent meeting of the century. The administration yelled at me. When my parents arrived, they yelled at me. My administration yelled at me in front of my parents, my dad started yelling at them for yelling at me and the next thing I know, my dad got escorted out the building. They wanted to suspend me but not her, and my parents threatened to sue. It was a huge saga."

"That's unbelievable."

"It gets worse. As it turns out, she flipped the mic on purpose, to spite her father."

"What!"

"So, what's your story?"

Sharon stammered. "I was a junior in college. I was with boyfriend at the time, and we were in my dorm room. It was the end of the year, and my roommate already moved out, so I thought we would be all alone. We were just getting to the good part when a door opened. It was my roommates parents, and her, her grandparents there to take her out to lunch. She hadn't told them that she moved out."

"Did you cause a heart attack?" Bobby was cracking up.

"It's not funny. Well it's a little funny."

The Loft

"Don't stop! Don't Stop!" Eliza was shrieking.

Gabriel had her up against the wall, her legs around his hips. He stood tall as he took her. Her head rested on his shoulder. She moaned and groaned as he kept her on the edge. The cold air in her apartment tingled her naked frame and the little hairs on her body stood out on end.

Gabriel was eager to please. He paid attention to every moan and whimper, figured out exactly how she wanted to be kissed, which positions she preferred, how she wanted him to thrust. He studied her like he was learning a new language, familiarizing himself with all of her patterns.

"AHHH! AHHH!" She collapsed on him as her orgasm overcame her. He held her up and pounded her until he came deep inside of her.

They lied down on her fluffy rug. Gabriel felt conficted. He had never been happier, but he wasn't on the course he had planned. Meet a gal, go to church get married have little Gabriels. He found himself enamored with a woman he met in a bar, probably has never been to Church in the last decade and lives for the moment, never worrying about deadline or the future unless her agent makes her. The stars that burn the hottest die the youngest, and Gabriel was afraid that this start was going to sink soon. Eliza could sense his anguish. He had a troubled soul, but she couldn't help him until he let her in. She kissed the nape of his neck. He pulled her closer.

Sharon's House

Rusty spent his time doing his homework. He was behind in history class, mainly because he doesn't listen. His teacher was so boring

He wanted to just set his dumb book on fire and dance around it.

Flynn's House

He and Andrea made dinner together. They whipped up a mean risotto, a salad and stuffed peppers. She doesn't get to eat as much meat with Flynn, but he's a great cook and vegetables are healthier anyway. Also, Flynn has no Scotch, but Andrea could get used to it. She kissed him softly.

The Beach

Bobby kept stealing kisses from Sharon. He paid extra attention to her neck.

"You said you'd keep your hands to yourself."

"I am Sharon. I'm using my mouth instead."

She smirked at him. He kissed her again and slipped his arms around her. "These are just my arms."

She leaned into him, and they basked in the sun.

The Car

Brenda and Fritz checked out of the hotel and headed home. Brenda slept soundly in the passenger's seat. Fritz drove. He couldn't believe the weekend they had. It was more like an erotic thriller than a true story. He chuckled to himself.

Fritz's cell went off. He ignored it, but the caller kept calling. He pulled over to answer it.

"Hello."

"OH Fritz." Sobs

"Liz, what's wrong."

She told her story. She got scammed by these gypsies and now she was stuck in Toledo with no way of getting home. They stole her car and her stuff. She had no money, couldn't get ahold of any credit until Monday and was walking along the road. Fritz promised to rent her a hotel room online and arrange for them to send a car to pick her up. "Do you want me to come down there?"

"That's okay. You have to work tomorrow."

"Let me know if you need anything else, and I'll be there."

"Thanks, Brother."

Fritz went on orbtiz on his phone and found a hotel. He rented a room and called them to pick up his sister and take her there. He told them to charge the fee to his card.

Fritz got them home and fed Joel. He had to carry Brenda into the house. She muttered, "Fritzi," but stayed asleep. He put her in the bed and called to check on Liz. She was in the car, on her way to the hotel. She thanked him again, and he told her not to worry about it. He and Liz were the last of the Howards. They had to look out for each other.

The Beach

Bobby and Sharon had a tame Saturday night. They went to the drum circle on the beach and saw dancers, firespinners, drummers of course and lots of partying. The smell of weed irked Sharon, but it was vacation, so she stayed far away. Bobby wished he had some. Hunter loved the fire. She would get close, find it too warm, bark and jump back, just to approach it again.

They walked back to the house, and she fell asleep in his arms.

Monday in Chicago

Marcus Ginn had everything a 12 year old boy could want. He was tall, great at baseball, had lots of friends, and he lived in a nice home.

Unfortunately, his grandparents were sick. First, it was his grandmother. She got better but then she got worse again. Grandpa had been taking care of her, but now he needs help, too. Marcus wants to help more, but he's only 12. This is all out of his hands. He sighed and went to school.

Henry and Molly Ginn only had one daughter, Patricia. She was a deadbeat. No one had seen her in 11 years, and the last time they saw her, she was a mess: conning people out of money, supporting her drug addict of a boyfriend. They always hoped she would come back on the straight and narrow. She never came back, not for Marcus, not for anybody. They hoped she was alive, but they really didn't know. They had no idea who Marcus's father was.

"We don't have a choice." Henry told Molly, sick of arguing.

"But he's been here his whole life. He doesn't know any other parents."

"We can't be his parents anymore. We're in and out of the hospital. We can't supervise him. We can't advise him. He needs parents who can stay healthy."

Molly felt defeated. Tears filled her eyes. She knew Henry was right but she didn't want to lose Marcus. She didn't know what would happen to him. She also was afraid to die. She knew she and Henry didn't have that much time left. Giving up Marcus made it that much more real. "I'm just afraid to..."

"I know. We all are." He hugged her. They weeped together. They had been married 50 years and had been through lots of rough times. This felt like the worst of them.

Atlanta, GA

Jacob got a call from Bobby. "Hey I got your letter. That looks like a fair offer, but I don't think Joyce will accept it."

"I know she won't."

"Then why send it?"

"This is the art of negotiation. You always send a lowball as your first counteroffer. No matter what we do, she will ask for more. We may as well ask for something low, and then see where she raises us."

"I leave this to you. How's that smoker treating you?"

"Awesome. I had a big barbeque last weekend. Everyone loved the meat, and your spice rub. I never thought to use expresso in it."

"I told you. It just gives a nice crust to the meat."

"I thought it would just taste like Folgers. You really should sell your recipes."

"You think anyone would buy them?"

"You never know until you try it."

"Maybe, I will. Catch you later, cuz."

Jacob sent the letter to Joyce's lawyer.

He then went to heat up pork. Yum!

Michael just signed a new deal. He had the exclusive rights to an up and coming band from Decatur. He was sure this would finally put him on the map. He bought some flowers to celebrate with Joyce tonight.

Washington, DC

Charlie was just leaving class. She was doing very well. Her professor stopped her on the way out. "Charlie."

"Yes, Professor Brooks."

"Do you have a minute?"

"Sure. Charlie stopped to look at him."

"You're doing very well in this biology class."

"Thank you."

"So well, that I want to recommend you for our travelling program."

"What?"

"Georgetown has a program where students can spend a semester studying a university that ranks highly in the field. UCLA has an amazing biology department. I was wondering if you would be interested in representing Georgetown this spring. We had a student set to go, but she is taking a job with the CDC, and she needs to stay here."

"Wow! That would be amazing."

"So you'll apply."

"You bet."

"Here are the forms."

"Thanks."

"No problem. I like to see bright students succeed." He smiled and Charlie left. A spring in LA. Yes! First things first, get this application done.

Florida

Clay Jr was at work. He always worked so much. He got a call from his father. "Hey Jr. when's the last time you took time off work?"

"You know how it is, Dad. If I start taking time off, I'll start getting left out. That means no promotions."

What is with my kids and being obsessed with work? "When's the last time you took your lady out to dinner, or away for the weekend."

"Dad, she knows I do this for us."

"Bobby thought the same thing."

"She's not Joyce!"

"I know that, but people can grow apart when they hardly see each other. Think about it."

"Sure, Dad. Is that all?"

"Well, your sister and her husband are coming for Thanksgiving."

"Here?" Brenda never came to Florida.

"Yes, here. She managed to take time off work."

Another guilt trip. "See you at home, Dad."

"Are you coming home? For dinner?"

"Bye Dad!" He hung up. Damn his father could push his buttons. He means well, but he needs a hobby or something.

Toledo, KY

Liz finally got a plane ticket home. She had to wait at the TSA forever since she didn't have her ID. She finally got home, and now she'd have to get new cards, ids, a new car. What a mess! This was the last road trip she was taking.