Two weeks later

"Thanks for taking me to the airport Jess. I'd rather give you money for gas than pay for an Uber." Benji says as he meets Jesse at his car. "Yeah man, no problem. I was up anyway." Jesse shrugs like it's no big deal. Because it wasn't. The airport isn't far from where they live and Jesse has been so anxious these last couple of days, it's been hard for him to get a decent amount of rest. Even after going back to work at Georgia Entertainment, he was still restless. He needed a break but couldn't convince himself to go on his paid vacation. The vacation for him and his supposed-to-be wife. His plan today is to drop Benji off and head home. Maybe have a beer with his pancakes or something.

As the two friends make their way to the airport Benji tells Jesse about this last minute work trip he has to go on. They chat a bit before finally turning into the terminal.

"Park in the garage for a sec. I wanna talk to you before I go."

"Benji, we've been in the car together for 20 mins. Why didn't you say something before we left your house? You know parking isn't free here." Jesse complains as he parks the car.

"Yeah I know I'll give it back to you. Listen," Benji gets out of the car and grabs his stuff from Jesse's trunk. "Jess, get out of the car." He calls from the back.

He reluctantly crawls out of the driver's seat with a tired sigh. "Benji, why can't you talk to me inside? Why do I-". He stops.

"What's going on?" Jesse's confused. As he probably should be.

In front of him is Benji, Donald and Bumper waiting on him in a shuttle, similar to an oversized golf cart. Luggage stacked in the back and an open seat with his name on it. Not literally though.

"Hop in loser. We're going cruising!"

"Classic reference", mumbles Donald.

"I know." Bumper, always with smugness.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Sitting in the terminal for their flight to Miami, the boys are chatting it up about their plans for fun in the sun over the next few weeks. Jesse on the other hand is straight up perplexed.

"Explain." That's all he says. One word. Loud enough for only the guys around him to hear. He's clearly having some sort of fever dream and he needs clarification. Now.

"Alright look. When I tried to cancel your trip for you, I couldn't because it was paid in full and non-refundable. I decided to book the rest of us in a room on the same deck instead. No sense in all those funds and all that fun going to waste. We're family Jess. This is what we do. So I stole your spare house key and had Donald pack your shit while you were at work and hid your luggage at his house. Obviously I don't have a business trip to go on but I didn't know any other way to get your stubborn ass to the airport. So here we are. We're not going on your honeymoon. We're going on the ultimate guys trip! Just us." Benji concludes with a pat on his shoulder. For whatever reason this whole idea has seemed to calm Jesse's nerves a bit. Besides seeing as how he's currently at the airport waiting on a flight, there isn't much of an alternative option.

"Work?" Jesse and these one word responses.

"Covered. Your boss is pretty freaking cool by the way. No work for you pal." Bumper responded. Each of the guys had their prospective roles in Operation Get Jesse Out of His Funk 2017.

He had the best friends in the world.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Beca, you may begin."

Beca has managed the Herculean task of moving her stateroom up 5 decks in under an hour. Thanks in part to her assistant DJ Luke but mainly because she honestly doesn't have a lot of stuff. Therefore moving wasn't incredibly difficult. She actually had time to shower and prep before her first meeting with the entertainment team at 7am. "Yeah sure." She heads to the front of the conference room.

"You guys know I'm not sappy or emotional, but I'm truly honored to be leading this crew from now on. We really do have a great group of talented weirdos and I think it's awesome you have me as your leader." She says with a chuckle. Everyone else follows suit. As she looks around the room, she admires her talented team whom have become some of her best friends. Among them is Chloe, who traditionally is one of the theatrical performers but likes to pick up extra singing shifts. Her and Beca have been good friends since college back in Georgia. She's actually the one who told Beca about the DJ gig on the ship. Chloe has been performing at sea for a few years longer than Beca. Emily is rather new, and young, but she's got a great voice and the brunette has kind of been mentoring her musically for the last year or so. Emily sings in one of the bands around the ship, and even has a special solo shift a couple times a voyage where she gets to play her own original music. She's a great writer. Something Beca discovered about her early in her contracted employment with Olympia. Rounding out her entertainment friends is Aubrey. They have a love hate, but most love, friendship. Aubrey is in charge of the Theatrical performances on board, like the musicals and lives shows in the 3 story theatre. She and Beca collaborate quite a bit on the entertainment for Athena and that's usually where they butt heads. They're two alphas, strong willed and stubborn especially when it's something they are both passionate about. That's why they are such good friends and work well together, even when it doesn't seem like it to others.

Once the meeting is over, Beca and her girls hang back a bit.

"So boss lady, you ready for this 21 Day voyage?" Chloe is the first to speak amongst the girls.

"Yeah, I'm actually pretty pumped about it." Beca says as she gathers her stuff off the table. "The entertainment lineup is awesome and Kynzie is coming this time. I couldn't bare being away from her for 3 weeks."

McKynzie Denise Mitchell is Beca's 7 year old daughter. When Beca is away at sea, Kynzie stays with her parents in Miami. Each week when the ship returns to its home port, Beca gets a few quick hours to spend with her daughter before she's required to be back onboard before departure.

This time is special though. Kynzie's 8th Birthday is coming up in 2 weeks and Beca wanted to be with her for her big day. If weather permits, they'll be docked in St. Marteen on her actual birthday giving Kynzie a unique bday experience.

Beca can't wait.

"I'm really excited to see McKynzie again. I'm ready for her next riddle." Aubrey says with a chuckle. Her and Beca's daughter always go back and forth with riddles and puzzles. Beca likes to sit back and watch especially when her daughter stumps the blonde with a brain teaser she can't solve. They can get pretty competitive; who doesn't like watching Aubrey argue with 7 year old?

"I've heard she's been working on something extra special for you Bree. Be prepared to have your mind blown!" Beca winks at the blonde as she gathers the rest of her stuff and heads for the door. "Yeah I'll brace myself." Aubrey smiles. She really admires Beca as a mother and her relationship with Kynzie is a special one.

The girls exit the room with laughter and smiles. Once they depart, Beca heads to her office to put down her stuff before headed to shore to pick up her offspring.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Having just made it through Customs, the boys take to long trek to up the winding breezeway towards the welcoming crew on the ship. Having dropped off their luggage at the curbside porters at the port entrance, the guys now only carry their backpacks and IDs.

"Welcome Aboard Athena gentlemen! Can I see your Sailing Cards?" A crew member asks checking all cards to directing the boys to the glass front elevators in the center of the beautiful atrium.

"Mr. Swanson, your suite is ready for you now. You're on deck 12, Aft of the ship. If you take the elevators in the middle and go all the to back of the ship, you should be able to find your room. Lunch is also being served on deck 10 if you're hungry."

Jesse looks at his card once it's given back and thanks the guy for his help. He completely forgot he booked one of the only two Captain's Suites onboard. This room type comes with priority boarding and your room being ready as soon as you board.

"So since our rooms won't be ready til about 2pm, let's just put our stuff in Jesse's room til then." Benji states already heading for the elevators.

"Yeah that sounds cool. Then we can eat. I heard they have the best burgers at sea!" Bumper rubs is tummy in anticipation and follows behind the rest the guys as Jesse lingers a bit to look around.

The atrium of this ship is massive. Spanning seven or eight decks high, he can't really tell but those glass elevators seem to go all the way up. The space is wide open. Full of shops, restaurants and bars, many of which Jesse anticipates spending some quality time in. Just as his mind begins to wonder back to the reason he booked this trip in the first place...

"Here. C'mon man let's go. I got us all the drink package and you're already falling behind the rest of us." Donald says to Jesse as he hands him a shot of whiskey. He looks up to see all the guys at the bar downing a few more shots.

This is gonna be a long three weeks.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

AN: y'all, I promise I haven't forgotten about you or this story. My goal is get on a more consistent uploading regimen, but I just don't know what that looks like yet. I won't go another 9 months without uploading tho. I've already got other chapters/scene written and sketched out. It's gonna be good!