The private jet landed a few miles out of Wichita. Flint and Jaye walked out of the plane, smelling the fresh country air. A cab waited for them at the small tiny airport. During the ride, Jaye glanced out of the window looking at the fields, many of which crops such as corn, wheat and other various vegetables. She could not even count the amount of cattle that they passed by.
The cab turned a long gravel pathway. Two wooden columns stood with a wooden sign, 'Faireborn Farms.' The long driveway passed several wooden fences, as several horses galloped at full speed.
Jaye felt nervous when she caught glimpse of the two story farm house. It was a beige color, with light gray shutters at each window. A dog barked from somewhere, warning to the family that they had guests.
The cab pulled in front of the house. Jaye glanced towards Flint, finding him asleep once more, she nudge him.
"Wake up, we're here."
Flint let out a mumble, "Hmm? We are?" opening his eyes. "We're here!" He opened the door to the cab, got out and walked around to open the door for Jaye. "Welcome Mrs. future Faireborn, to F.F. otherwise known as Faireborn Farms."
She took his hand and came out of the cab, glancing around her at the large place. A medium sized dog came running towards them, a short tail wagging to greet them.
"Hello, Rowdy." He patted the dog on the head, "Allie, meet Faireborn's Running for the Gold, better known as Rowdy. He's a top obedience dog in his class and belongs to my youngest sister, Nancy."
"He's cute." She said, watching the dog sniff her leg. "Can we go home now?"
He chuckled, "Oh no, I had to go through meeting Daddy, it's your turn my dear. They don't bite-- much."
"That's it! I'm leaving." Jaye said, pivoting around to get back into the cab.
Flint grabbed her hand, "Sorry, no retreats." He teased just when the front door burst open and a young woman with long brown hair to her waist, in a ponytail and Flint's identical brown eyes came running out to greet them.
"Dash!" She called out and ran to hug him.
"Nancy!" Flint hugged her tight. "Great to see you." letting go of his sister.
"Nancy, I want you to meet someone special." He then turned towards Jaye. "Allie, this is my youngest sister Nancy."
Nancy turned towards Jaye with a bright smile, "Hi. I heard a lot about you from Dashie."
"Dashie?" Jaye gave him a funny look.
"It's about time you brought her home, Dashiell." A young woman with short brown hair and hazel eyes spoke, slowly walking towards them from the house.
"Brenna!" Flint rushed over and pulled his other sister into an embrace. "Great to see you too!"
Brenna hugged her brother tightly. "I'm so glad to see you." She smiled.
Jaye stood there sheepishly, absentmindedly running the toe of her shoe in the dirt.
From the corner of her eye, Nancy noticed Jaye nervous posture. The woman was ready to run out of there, as if fifty snakes were chasing her.
"Did you have a good flight?" She asked politely, trying to break the barrier.
"We had a nice smooth flight, no turbulence!" Flint answered turning around with a grin.
Nancy sent him a scowling 'Not you, you idiot.' face. "How was Scotland? I hope to travel there one day. Hopefully, if Rowdy goes for international."
"Oh, you'll love Scotland. It's beautiful there." Jaye said. "Though I'm a little biased."
"Really?" Nancy asked excitedly.
"Alright, you two." Flint walked close to Jaye and put an arm around her. "Can we go in the house before we wined up here til five in the morning. Allie, when Nancy starts talking, it's hard for her to stop."
"Hey!" Nancy defended herself. "All I said was that I like Scotland!"
"That's just you warming up." Brenna teased.
Jaye wrapped her arm around Flint, holding tightly like a shield.
The cab driver dropped the suitcases on the porch and left after Flint paid him. They began to walk towards the house, Jaye taking as slow as possible, if the walk to Hawk's office was the long mile, this one felt worse. Like she was going to certain death. She watched Nancy, run up the stairs, and pick up one of the suitcases.
"Oof!" Nancy exhaled. "Dash, what did you pack in here? Feels like you brought all of Scotland's stones with you."
Flint chuckled again, "That's not mine, Nancy. It belongs to Allie."
"Hey, that's just the necessities." Jaye explained.
Brenna went to picked one of the suitcases and discovered it was heavy as the first one.
Nancy looked down at the suitcase then at Jaye with a smile, "Well, in that case, here you go, Dash. You take this one. I'll grab this little carry case." Leaving the heavy bag for her brother, she called, "Rowdy, come." The dog came running up the stairs and followed Nancy in the house.
"Nancy's right, what did you put in here? Some of your Dad's swords?" He teased, picking up the suitcase and opening the door for Jaye. "After you, Milady."
"Can't I just stay out here a little bit longer?" Jaye asked.
"Nope."
Brenna chuckled and walked inside, carrying the other suitcase with both hands.
Through the screen door the voice of Flint's mother, Jean Faireborn could be heard going after her middle child. "Brenna, you shouldn't be carrying that."
"I'll get it, Mom." Nancy walked briskly towards Brenna and took the suitcase from her sister's hand, before Flint could ask any questions.
"Mom!" Flint said, with a huge grin and embraced his mother in a tight hug. "Missed you."
"What's all the racket?" Logan Faireborn's voice asked from up the stairs, walking down the steps.
Jaye tried to stay behind Flint, she was extremely nervous on meeting his family, wondering if she would liked and welcomed.
"Dashiell is home, honey." Jean Faireborn announced to her husband. "You must be Alison. Welcome to the farm, dear." Hugging Jaye.
Jaye looked surprised. "Thank you, Mrs. Faireborn."
"Dash, son I'm glad to see you." Logan pulled his oldest child into a hug.
"You two must be hungry, I highly doubt that army of yours gives you enough nourishment! Both of you look like skin and bones!" Jean claimed, shaking her head.
Nancy stepped next to her, "Mom! They just arrived and you're already to stuff their faces! And they don't look skinny to me." This statement caused Flint to chuckle.
"Thanks, Mrs. Faireborn. I'm not hungry right now." Jaye said.
"Here we go." Brenna said, shaking her head, knowing what her mother already had set in her mind.
"Dear..." Logan's remark came, warning his wife.
Jean shook her head, "Nonsense. you must be famished from flying across the ocean. I just whipped up something small."
Nancy dropped her jaw, "Mom! You cooked enough for an army!"
"She's right, Mom. You always cook enough for an army." Flint grinned, and turned to Jaye, "She puts Roadblock to shame."
"Can they at least get settled before we make her gain five pounds within an half hour arriving here?" asked Nancy.
"Yeah, Mom. Can't you see she's nervous?" Brenna said.
Jaye shot Flint a pleading look. She hated gaining weight.
He sent her an apologetic smile, "Don't worry. I'll make sure you will loose all the weight, when we get back to base." causing Jaye to blush.
Nancy coughed. "Mom. I'll show them where they are sleeping, Ok?"
Jean turned towards her daughter, "Alright dear, but hurry. Logan dear, can you help me in the kitchen?"
"Yes, yes." Logan sighed and followed his wife towards the kitchen, who was now babbling about how skinny both her son and his fiancé looked.
Jaye followed Nancy and Flint, who were both walking up the staircase to the second floor. Her eyes turned towards the wall, glancing at several pictures that were hung on it. One showed a small boy, Flint chasing what seemed both his sisters. Another showed Nancy, sitting in a chair, reading a book. The one next to it had Brenna in a swing, with a bright smile on her face, There was a sparkle into the young girl's hazel eyes, one that did not shine when she met her only moments ago. Walking the stairs silently, she noticed another picture of Flint and his sisters smiling to the camera, and one more with their parents. She glanced back towards the brother and sister who were several steps ahead of her.
Nancy dragged the small bag up the stairs. "Dash, we made the guest bedroom for you both to stay. Because, your room has … emm…"
"You put your collections in there, didn't you?" Flint accused, then he turned to Jaye, "Nancy is a packrat."
"Am not!" She replied, walking up the stairs to the second floor
"Are so!" Flint stated, "She has enough books to fill an entire library.Not to mention all those evil plastic things."
"Meanie," His sister hissed, slapping him on the arm.
"Evil plastic things?" Jaye asked, not sure if she wanted to know the answer.
Nancy turned to face her, "That's Dash's name for my dolls. I collect American Girl. Each character is from a different Historical period. I use them for educational purposes."
"You do not." Flint's reply came from the top of the stairs. "Just admit it, you like playing with them. Allie, those things have more outfits than your own closet." Then he narrowed his eyes towards his sister, "And where are their outfits?"
Nancy stopped short, "Umm.. can I go with classified information with that?"
"You put them in my closet, didn't you." Flint concluded, shaking his head.
Jaye started laughing, a loud hearty laugh.
"Allie, you are so lucky to be an only child." Flint stated then looked at his sister, "Maybe I could take a few of them back to the base."
"Why?" Nancy narrowed her eyes at him.
"The guys can really use some new targets for practicing." He laughed, ducking from his sister's hand.
Jaye playfully smacked the back of his head. "Dash, play nice." She laughed.
"Yeah, Dashie, play nice." Nancy teased, then winked at Jaye, "Maybe we should give him a few dolls to dress and brush their hair."
Flint shook his head, "I rather not."
Jaye giggled, feeling more at home by the minute.
They walked down the hallway towards the guest bedroom, which was next to what appeared Flint's old bedroom, which now occupied most of Kansas's books and the evil plastic things.
"I'm afraid to even look in there." Flint proclaimed, "I wonder if I could find my old bed, probably buried under all those things."
Nancy opened the door to the bedroom and lead them inside. It was a spacious room, a queen sized bed was in the middle of the room, against one of the walls with a handmade blue and purple quilt set. A dresser stood against one of the other walls, next to a closet, and two nightstands with lamps completed the room's furniture. Several small paintings hung from the wall, judging from the watermarks, they were made by the Faireborn children. A vase with flowers stood on the dresser, with other small little trinkets. The room felt warm and cozy.
Flint settled down the suitcases on the bed. "What? The Faireborn Hotel doesn't leave mints on the pillows?" He teased, causing his sister to roll her eyes.
"There are extra pillows and blankets in the closest. But knowing mom, she probably has three blankets under that quilt already."
Flint picked up the quilt's corner. "Four."
"NANCY!" Jean's voice floated up the stairs, "I need you down here! And tell Dashiell and Alison, the food's on the table!"
Nancy poked her head out the door. "Coming!" She called back, then turned to Flint, "It's great to have you here, even if it's only for a few days." giving her brother another hug. "You too, Allie." She added with a smile. "But there's one more thing I have to do."
"What's that?"
"This!" She grabbed Flint's beret from his head and ran out of the room.
Flint looked at Jaye, his mouth opened, "She took my beret!" He said in surprise.
Jaye chuckled. "I think I'm going to get along nicely with your sister."
Brenna stuck her head in the room. "I see Nancy got your hat again." She teased him mercilessly about his beret being a hat.
Flint folded his arms. "It's a beret! My favorite too. She better not put it on Rowdy again." causing the other two women to laugh.
"BRENNA! DASHIELL! Food is getting cold!" Jean's voice floated up the stairs.
Jaye was really nervous. Brenna noticed and walked over to her."Don't worry. Momma is harmless."
"I...I've never had a mother, so I don't know what to expect." Jaye said.
Brenna looked at her with a sad face. "I'm sorry to hear that."
Flint put an arm around her, "Believe me, she's harmless. And she doesn't know how to sword fight, unless it's one of her large cooking forks." He joked. "Come on, lets get down there before she sends up the search party."
Jaye nodded and followed them down the stairs, her stomach full of Cobra Rattlers chasing each other.