Kintra's stomach churned, twisting and flopping as her mom once again exited the freeway. The drive was so familiar, yet Kintra gripped the handle on the car door, her knuckles turning white, from nervousness. She glanced over at her mom, who wore a strange smirk on her face. "Why do you look so happy?" she had signed, and the smirk had disappeared, but it was back now, and Kintra was once again curious. Her mom could not communicate with her while she was driving, and that seemed to be in the older woman's favor at the moment. As soon as her mom guided the car onto the Grey's street, though, Kintra lost all trains of thought. Her hand, which had just started relaxing once again, tightened instinctively. Images of Nick and his last words to her flashed into her memory, threatening to make her sick. This time, the sickness had nothing to do with her treatments.

A curious sight met Kintra's eyes when she saw Mrs. Grey, another man whom she assumed was Mr. Grey, Nick, and three other boys moving between the house and a huge bus like ants from food to an ant hill. She frowned slightly and turned to her mom, looking for an explanation. "Don't worry about it," her mom told her. "Just be flexible."

That remark made Kintra even more curious. She frowned again and her mom kissed her forehead. "Let's go," she said, and Kintra was left in the car alone. She stepped out, her eyes immediately flashing to where Nick stood, watching her. Instantly, Kintra's eyes flew down to the ground, becoming extremely interested in the patch of grass in front of her. "Come on, Kintra!" her mom called, forcing her to look up and proceed.

Mrs. Grey was a saving grace. As soon as she saw Kintra, she ran to her, flinging her arms around the smaller girl's body. "I'm so glad to see you!" she cried. She pushed Kintra back at arm's length, freeing her hands and asked, "How are you feeling?"

Kintra felt Nick's eyes on her, so she signed, "Fine, thank you. You? Are you moving?"

Mrs. Grey laughed. "Of course not." Her gaze flickered over to rest on Mrs. Philips, who stood with a suitcase pulled from the truck in her hands. "We're going on the boys' tour."

Kintra frowned. "Are you cancelling lessons?" she inquired, her hands moving rapidly.

Mrs. Grey took the suitcase from Kintra's mom and handed it to Kintra. "No," she said, handing the suitcase to Kintra. "You're coming with us." Immediately, Kintra's eyes flickered to where Nick stood, watching her once more. Mrs. Grey saw the look and turned, motioning for her son to come closer, much to Kintra's alarm.

Once in range, Nick smiled pleasantly at Kintra's mother. "Hi, Mrs. Philips," he said.

"Hi, Nick," she responded. "Are you excited about going on another tour?"

He nodded, and then, his gaze swept towards Kintra. "If you ladies don't mind," he said with a smile, "I'd like to borrow Kintra for a moment." Neither mom objected, so Kintra was forced to follow him, excusing herself from the gathering.

Nick stretched his hand out and took hers, making her jump. He ignored her startled face, and he ignored the looks from the rest of his family as he led Kintra inside. He gently pulled her over to the piano and pulled out the seat, patting the spot next to him on the bench. Hesitantly, Kintra sat down on the very edge, looking like an animal ready to dart should the predator pounce. Nick gently slid the lid of the piano back and settled his fingers on the ivory keys. Soon, music began to flow through the room, the tone undulating as Nick's fingers plied different keys in rapid succession.

Kintra began to ease out of her stiff position. The music stirred her heart and spoke to her, clearer than words, and when the message became clear, her head snapped up to meet Nick's face and found that his eyes were already on her face, waiting for her to understand. It was a message of regret, remorse, and apology. When the final notes died away, Nick lowered his gaze from hers, now ashamed.

"I'm so sorry," he said in a voice so low that Kintra could barely make out the words. "I didn't know." She sat back, understanding that he knew about her leukemia. She looked at his face and found that it was hidden from her view since he had bowed it so low.

She used her finger to lift his chin, looking deeply into his eyes once they were open to her. Finding the truth of his words in the twin depths, she smiled and sat back so that she could use her hands. "Apology accepted," she signed. "I know what it's like for people not to understand you. Maybe we could listen to each other better?" It was an offer of truce that Nick was happy to accept.

"Absolutely," he responded.

"Good," she signed. "Now, are you going to introduce me to your brothers, or will I just have to wait until they talk to me themselves?"

Nick smiled. "No," he said, standing up. "I'll introduce them to you. Just make sure that you sign a little slower for them. They aren't as fluent as mom and I." Kintra nodded and Nick led her outside to where his family stood, getting introduced to Kintra's mom. Smoothly, he broke in after the last family member had been introduced. "And this," he said, motioning to Kintra, "is her daughter. Kintra, this is my dad, my brother, Joe, my brother, Kevin, and my brother, Frankie."

"Hello," Kintra signed slowly. "It's nice to meet all of you."

Joe smiled at her and asked, "What kind of name is Kintra anyway? I've never heard it before."

"It's an old Scottish name," Kintra explained. "It means 'rustic' or 'of the country.'" She smiled sheepishly. "I was born in a country cabin unexpectedly, so my mom named me Kintra."

"Interesting," Kevin said sincerely.

"Are we ready to go?" Mrs. Grey asked. "We have a long day ahead of us." Everyone took that as a sign to get into the bus, so Mrs. Philips hugged Kintra tightly for a moment.

"Be careful," she whispered in her daughter's ear. "Have fun. I love you."

Kintra smiled at her mom, grateful that she was letting her go. "Always, I'll try, and I love you too," she signed, hurriedly answering each one of her mom's commands. They hugged again and Kintra took a step back, hearing the bus's engine roar to life. An awkward silence fell over both she and her mom.

It was Joe who broke that ice. He leaned out the window and called, "Come on, Rusty Girl, or we'll be late!"

That sent Kintra and her mom into peals of laughter, and they hugged once more. "Tell Emma that I love her!" Kintra signed as she ran back to the bus. "And you and dad!" Her mom waved and Kintra stepped up into the bus.

There, she found the boys lounging already. Nick patted the spot next to him without looking up from the book he was reading, indicating that Kintra was supposed to sit by him. She smiled and sat down, ready to be off. "Everyone ready?" Mr. Grey called back.

"Yep," the boys responded. Kintra heard the bus ease into gear and the journey began.

She was still waiting for someone to tell her where they were going.