A bright green Kawasaki Ninja sped down the highway, weaving in and out of traffic before it pulled out onto and exit. It took a street near a big pond that had frozen over not too long ago. After passing a few houses, the bike slowed down a bit and pulled into the driveway of the Mercer house. It looked like it just went through World War III and was just being reconstructed. Bobby and Angel were standing outside of the house, making repairs. Harley pulled off her helmet, shaking out her golden yellow, bright green, and partially black hair. She pulled her duffel bag off her back and set it down on the asphalt.

"Well I'll be damned. If it isn't my little Toby. Come give your big brother a hug." Bobby shouted loudly, whooping as he wrapped her in a big bear hug and swung her around laughing. He set her down and as soon as her feet hit the ground, Angel swept her up again. Tossing her over his shoulder, he walked away.

"Angel, put me down!! Sofi, help me!" she screamed, knowing that Camille and Sofia wouldn't be too far. Sure enough, the two women came running to her aid and tackled Angel into the snow. Jerry's girls came out the house, yelling out their battle cries as they threw their selves on him.

"What you gone and done to your hair now? It's all bright and shit! You look like you came from the circus!" Angel exclaimed as soon as the girls let up. He held a couple of strands of her hair in his hand, looking at it. "Thanks, Ange. I really appreciate that." Harley said deadpanned.

"What, you forget about me too?" Jerry scoffed as he held his arms wide open. Harley stood up and embraced him. He smelt like coffee and donuts, meaning that he picked up breakfast for everyone. "I didn't forget you, Jere-bear." He scrunched up his face at the nickname.

"Do I get a hug?" A voice rang out over all the excitement. Harley froze and turned towards the house. Standing in the doorway was Jack. He still looked the same. His hair was still borderline messy but still good enough to look hot. He wore his trademark leather jacket with one arm out of the sleeve and in the cast. All in all, Jack looked exactly how Harley remembered and it threw her off like it always did before.

"Hey everyone, why don't we go in for breakfast. I've got coffee and donuts for everyone." Jerry shouted, clapping his hands to break up the tension that hung in the air. Everything was Jack wanted to say was left unspoken when he spotted her from the doorway. She had changed so much and had grown up as well. He hoped, no he prayed, that she didn't still hold a grudge over what he had said so long ago.

He waited by the doorway until she was the last one in the house. Angel had grabbed her duffel bag and tossed it in Bobby's old room. She smiled almost hesitantly and rushed into the dining room with everyone else, taking a seat in between Bobby and Angel on the far end of the table. Harley was avoiding him, which definitely meant that she remembered.

Harley ran a hand through her multi-coloured hair and sighed. Looking around the table, she could see the happiness that the Mercer family had found. Except for Jack. Jack was always searching for something. That's why he had his music and his drugs and his booze. But there was always something missing to him.

"So tell us all about you and California. I'm pretty sure you got some interesting stories from the looks of your hair." Sofia teased, cheekily. Everyone laughed except for Jack. He was actually interested in hearing what she had to say. Then maybe he might've gotten an idea as to what she had been going through while she was gone.

"Well after Aunt Julie and I left, I guess I was like 15. You guys were all older and getting ready to leave and shit. I decided I wanted a change. So I dyed my hair, pierced, and tattooed my body with my Aunt's help and just shed everything that I didn't like anymore. I went to school, joined the soccer team, and just lived life. Everything was fine." She shrugged her shoulders, reaching for a jelly-filled powdered donut.

Everyone smiled but Jack was surprised inwardly. He wondered where her piercings and tattoos were. He shook that thought from his head and smacked himself mentally. 'This is Harley you're talking about. She isn't meant to be anything more that just your sister. Right?' he thought.

"You know, I had a long flight. I'm just gonna go to bed if that's okay with you guys." She yawned as she pulled herself out of her chair. Bobby nodded, "You're gonna have my old room so just make yourself comfortable." And with that, Harley left to go upstairs. She pulled off her green leather jacket and slumped on Bobby's bed. Flopping backwards, she sighed. "What am I gonna do?"

"You know, Chica, I can see you still want Jackie boy. And form the looks of it, he want you too." Sofia's all-knowing, Latina voice came from outside the room. Harley shot up and was alarmed. "Don't worry, we're keeping this a secret between us girls." Camille piped. Harley knew these women were good for her brothers.

"Thanks you guys. Just let me know if you're gonna hatch some diabolical plan to get me and Fairy together." She joked as she pulled out a small tank top and some shorts for her to wear to bed. The girls smirked and went back downstairs to eat, leaving the door wide open. Harley never cared before and she still didn't now so she changed in the middle of the room, pulling off her shirt just as Jack came to talk to her. As soon as he saw her, his mouth ran dry.

She had her back turned to him so all he could see was the expanse of her back that had been marked with angel wings, two guns, and a rose in the middle. A huge banner sat above it all, saying "È Sempre Quei Calmi" meaning, "It's always the quiet ones". She had always been proud of her Italian heritage. Jack cleared his throat, getting Harley's attention. She gasped and turned around to face him, covering her chest.

"Don't you know how to knock?" She scowled as Jack turned around so she could pull her shirt on. She yanked on her tank top and made sure that Jack wasn't peeking. He wasn't. "Sorry about that. I just wanted to know if we could talk." He was still facing away from her.

"What do we have to talk about? Nothing, as far as I'm concerned." Jack winced at the abrasiveness of her voice so he turned around. She had this cold look on her face and Jack knew he had waited way too long to apologize. "Harley, I never meant to say any of those things I said. I was tweaking and I'm not the same kid I was back then." He tried but Harley held up her hand, silencing him almost immediately.

"I don't care anymore. As far as I'm concerned, I'm only looking after you for Bobby, Angel, and Jerry. Right now, you don't exist to me." She looked him up and down coldly before shutting the door in his face. Placing her back against it, she started to cry because she knew that what she said was a complete and utter lie.

Jack turned away from the room and walked towards his own, passing Camille and Sofia. It was obvious they had been eavesdropping. Jack rolled his eyes and sat in his room, his guitar sitting next to him. How he longed to play but he had to wait until his shoulder healed. "That was the worst apology attempt ever, Jackie boy. You gotta try harder than that." Sofia sat down on next to him, moving his guitar to its stand.

"How the hell else am I supposed to apologize if she won't even talk to me?!" He flipped out. Camille looked a bit peeved. She sat down on the other side of Jack and linked her arm with his. "Think of it this way. You have at least a month until your arm heals. Which means you have a month of Harley being in the house. Use it to your advantage, you dolt." And with that, she smacked Jack upside his head.