The next morning couldn't have come fast enough. While everyone else was carrying there things over to the van, Felicia was in the kitchen washing the rest of the dishes.

Maxie stood at the bottom of the stairs and whispered, "Coast is clear. Hurry up!"

Lucas jogged down the stairs and jumped in the trunk. Before she shut the lid he asked, "Are you sure it is a good idea for me to ride in here?"

"You want to come with us, don't you?"

"Well, yes, but…"

"Then get in!" Maxie exclaimed as she slammed the lid down.

Felicia walked into the room, about a second after the cover closed, "Who in the world are you talking to?"

"Myself. I do that, Mom. You know that. I talk to myself all the time. its normal really my hole class is doing it , its like the new black "

Felicia gave her a puzzled look and then said, "All right. Well, its good to see finally packed? I would think a suitcase would have been enough for you, like your sister and cousin. Let me see what you can leave at home so we don't have to lug that big thing through the airport."

Felicia headed toward the trunk. With a thud, Maxie plopped down on it. She crossed her arms over her chest. "You are dragging me all the way to Texas for my summer vacation. Can't I, at least, bring what I want? Isn't that fair, Mom?"

"I suppose so." Felicia headed outside to the van.

Maxie stood up.

Lucas whispered, "How am I supposed to breath?"

"Lift the cover if you need air. Duh."

Robin stuck her head in the door and asked, "Hey, Maxie, are you coming or what? Mac is getting testy."

A horn honked.

"See?" asked Robin

"Can you help me with my trunk?" Maxie asked her cousin.

They drug it to the front door and then out to the porch, all the while robin complaining about its heaviness Robin gave it a hard tug and it bumped down the stairs. She rolled her eyes at Maxie, "Did you pack your whole room in here?"

"no I left my teddies and dolls , maybe I should go get them"

"no don't trust me you wont need them , don't you have stuff in Texas to play with" by now Robin had almost reached the van and was asking Mac to help them with the trunk.

"yeah duh" said Maxie as she ran over to her chest.

"OUCH that hurt!" hissed Lucas softly.

"Shhh" Maxie whispered

A moment later, her step father walked over.

"You should have told me you needed help, honey."

Maxie's only reply was a cold "Thanks,. The young girl was still giving him attitude over not going to Texas with them. Her birth father was a no- show in her life. She hated when Mac seemed to be acting the same way. Though, deep inside, she knew he would always be there to save her if worse came to worst.

"My god! What's in that chest?" asked Mac after getting back into the drivers seat.

"Clothes" muttered Maxie.

"Every piece of clothes she owns,"snarked Robin "Ever heard of not going overboard, Maxie?"

"Enough with the attitude!" screamed Felicia. It would be a long vacation if the girls kept behaving this way.

At the airport, Maxie asked "Daddy why can't you come just this once, for me… don't you love me?" Her tone was not sad like Georgie's the night before. Instead she was angry but underneath needy for him to prove his family was more important than work.

"Of course, I love you, but I have to work" said Mac.

That girl sure new how to play the daddy card with him. It worked more often that not but this time he couldn't give her what she wanted. It broke his heart to hear the insecurities in her voice- she should never have to doubt his love-but he had no choice but to stay in Port Charles right now. The mayor would have his butt fired if he went on vacation during the murder investigation they were working on.

Soon one of the male flight attendants came over to the family.

"Excuse me, little girl do you need help with your trunk?"He asked

"Yes and I'm Maxie, not a little girl… I'm 10 almost 11" stated Maxie. She hated being called a little girl. In her mind, little girls were cry babies and, if there was one thing Maxie Jones wasn't, it was a cry baby.

"Ok, Maxie," he stressed her name " can I help you with your trunk?"

"Duh," sneered Maxie. "Not like I can do it alone, now, can I?"

The guy began to leave and Maxie asked "Where are you taking my trunk"

"To the luggage compartment."

Maxie's eyes widen. There was no way she could let that happen.

Inside the trunk, Lucas started to freak out. His hand went toward the lid, as he thought about blowing the whole crazy plan and getting out of this trunk before it was too late.