DISC: I DO NOT own any of the chars from BSC. They belong to Ann M. Martin. I Do however own anyone you don't recognize!
Enjoy!

"Kristy's Big Decision"

CHAPTER 20

Anya bolted upright, panting slightly. She couldn't' get the image of the burning ship out of her mind.

As she fully awoke, she heard Jon mumbling something.

"Jon?" She asked. "What's the matter?"

"I don't wanna cross a bunch of black cats, I don't wanna brake my grandmother's antique mirror and I don't wanna walk under a ladder! I'm Goofy about Superstitions!"

He woke up fully a few minutes later.

Anya blinked in confusion.

"Okay." She said. "I'm going back to sleep. IN fact, I'm heading back to the hotel. Wanna join me?" With that, she gathered up her stuff and stood to leave.

"Wait, don't leave!" He shouted. "It's Friday!"

"Yeah. " Anya said a little uncertainly. "And tomorrow's Saturday."

"Yes. But today's the thirteenth." He told her.

"So?"

Just then, a meow was heard outside their shelter.

Anya peeked out to find a black kitten with blue eyes staring back at her.

"Aw, hi, little one. " Anya said softly. "What are you doing out here? Come here." With that, she picked the kitten up and carried her back into the shelter. "Look what I found." She said, holding the kitten up for Jon to see.

At that point, Jon jumped up, ran out of the pavilion and right into a tree.

Anya didn't know whether to laugh or make sure he was okay.

"Well," she said to the kitten in her arms, "I guess that brings a whole new meaning to the phrase, watch out for that tree."

Jon got his barings and followed Anya back to the hotel.

Jon and Anya said good-night to one another outside the hotel door once someone at the desk had given her another room key.

It wasn't long before Anya returned. She put her purse down and rushed to the bed she shared with Alex.

She bent down and kissed her cheek.

As she put a hand through her hair, the seven-year-old woke up.

"Mama?" She said sleepily.

"Shh," Anya assured her. "It's okay. Go back to sleep." She whispered something to her in Russian and Alex nodded before drifting back into dreamland.

Anya sighed with relief, climbed in next to her and pulled her close as she too fell asleep for a few more hours.

When we all woke up for the rest of the day, Karen was practically bouncing off the walls with excitement. She couldn't' wait to get to the water park.

Just then, Karen squealed with happiness.

"Kristy! Kristy!" She shouted.

"What is it?" I asked.

"There's a kitten in the room!"

"What are you talking…" My voice trailed off as I heard an unmistakable mew.

"Sorry about that." A groggy voice said from the next bed over. "Come here, Marie. Pssst!" She said gently.

The kitten, Marie, obeyed a few minutes later.

"I'm gonna try and find her a good home." She said. "Sara wouldn't let us keep her."

"Why not? " I asked.

"She's allergic to them. " A small voice piped up from beside Anya.

"Morning, my cherina." Anya greeted. "How long have you been awake?"

Alex shrugged.

"Are we going to the pool today?" She asked.

"Kind of. " Anya said. "It's called a wave pool."

"Awesome!" The little girl shouted. She jumped out of bed and got ready in record time.

Karen followed suit a few minutes later.

Anya and I got ready a little more slowly.

We were just about to leave when the phone rang.

Anya picked it up on the second ring.

"Hello?" She said.

"Hi." Jon said, sounding hoarse. 'I don't' feel well. I don't think I can come with you today."

Anya grinned to herself.

"Well you know what? You're fortunate I spent the last four years taking care of Alex and six months before that caring for some kids in an orphanage."

"Then you understand the importance of me getting rest." Jon said hopefully.

"I know the perfect cure for a sore throat." She said.

"Chicken soup?" He asked.

"Nope. Coming out with us. Some fresh air will do you good. Besides, Marie will miss you if you don't come."

"Marie?" He asked.

"That's what I've decided to name the kitten." She said. "We're not keeping her though. My sister's allergic to cats."

"I see." Jon said. HE slipped out of his sore throat tone for a minute. "I might be contagious."

"We'll risk it. " Anya said. "Get ready and meet us downstairs for breakfast in a half an hour. Also, I know exactly what you have. It's called Friday the 13thitis. And you'll get over if you come out. And that's not a suggestion. As the Grand Duchess of Russia.."

In the background, Alex started to giggle. She loved it when her mother got like this.

"…I order you to meet us downstairs. No arguments. I could have you beheaded."

"I would expect that to happen on Friday the 13th."

"Do I have to say it in Russian?" She asked.

"She can do it too!" Alex said.

"Don't you think Saturday the 14th would be a much more fun time to go?"

"Just get your butt downstairs. Dosvedanya. And that doesn't mean good-bye." With that, she hung up.

Before hanging up on his end, Jon wondered aloud, "I wonder if that means I'll see you on the 14th."

Back in our hotel room, we were all awash in giggles.

Alex had even started crying a little from laughing so hard.

"That was great, Mama!" Alex said in between giggles.

Anya shrugged, but she was smiling too.

"Well, like Sara always says, if you got it, flaunt it."

"What does flaunt it mean? " Alex asked curiously.

"I'll tell you when you're sixteen." Anya replied. "Now go brush your teeth and make sure you have your Ariel towel in your bag. Scoot."

"Okay." Alex said. With that, she left to do as she was told.

Getting downstairs for breakfast, we helped the kids decide what they wanted to eat. We tried to veer them away from anything that wasn't on the food pyramid for this time of morning.

That included a chocolate Sundae, chocolate chip pancakes and a five foot chocolate cake.

Just as we had gotten the kids settled down and were starting our own conversations, we heard something like Goofy's shriek and someone falling downstairs.

"What was that!" Alex exclaimed in surprise.

"I'll go see." Anya said. She got up and left the table.

As she took off, Sari looked around and asked, "Goofy?" SHE glanced back at Claudia for confirmation.

Claud just smiled and helped her cut up some fruit the waitress had brought for us to munch on.

Meanwhile, out in the hallway, Anya had just helped Jon to his feet.

"What was that all about?" She asked. "We could hear it all the way in the restaurant."

"It's Friday the 13th." HE said. "Need I say more?"

Anya rolled her eyes and held out her hand.

"Would you allow me to escort you to our table?" She asked regally.

"Well since it seems I've broken every bone in my body, why not?"

Anya gave him a once over to make sure he wasn't' really injured too badly.

Once she was sure he was good to go, she led him back to our table.

When they arrived, we all turned to stare at them.

"He's even cuter than I remember." Claud whispered to me.

I shrugged. I wasn't really into boys right now. Even though I Had a sort of boyfriend back home. His name was Bart Taylor and he coached his own softball team like I coached the Krushers.

His team was called Bart's bashers. They often challenged the Krushers to games.

"Everyone," Anya said in an effort to get our attention, "I would like you to meet Jon. He's a new friend of mine."

"You know, I really think we should have waited until tomorrow when my head was in the game."

"It'll be fine. " She hissed back. "Relax." She led him over to a particular chair and grinned at who was sitting in it. "Jon, I would like you to meet my daughter, Alexandra. Alex, this is my friend, Jon."

Jon smiled at her warmly. HE then got an idea. He bowed to her, making Alex smile.

"It's nice to make your acquaintance, Princess."

"Likewise, kind sir." Alex said. she curtsied to him perfectly and sat back down. She turned to Anya just then. "Mama, may I have what Mariah's getting?"

"That depends." Anya said as she ruffled her daughter's hair.

"What do you mean?" The seven-year-old asked.

"What's she getting?" Anya inquired.

"No. " Alex said, confusing her mother.

"What do you mean no? No isn't a type of food."

Alex giggled.

"I mean what does depends mean?"

Anya was about to answer when they heard a slight crash.

"Are you okay?" Anya aske Jon, who was now rubbing his head.

"Yeah. " He said. "I'm fine. The room's spinning around and look at the pretty birdies."

As he was about to fall, Claud caught him.

"Here." She said, stuffing a Mickey bar into his hand. "You need this more than I do."

"Thanks. " He said. He opened the bar and started to eat it.

Anya mouthed thank you to Claud before turning her attention back to Alex.

"So what's Mariah getting, my cherina? " She asked.

"Strawberry pancakes and bacon." She replied.

"Okay. " Anya said. "That' sounds good."

"Thanks!" Alex said. She gave her mother a hug before going back to the conversation she had been having with Charlotte and Mariah before Anya had come back.

As Jon went to give Anya a small hug, he managed to knock over a few cups. This included Emily's sippy cup full of juice.

"Kristy, all gone!" She whimpered before bursting into tears.

I scooped Emily up and gave her a hug before promising we would get her more juice.

"See?" Jon whispered in Anya's left ear, "I told you Friday the 13th is bad."

"It was just an accident." Anya whispered back.

"Okay." He said. "And me falling down the stairs?"

"It was you being careless."

"Mama?" Alex asked.

"Yeah, sweetheart?" Anya said.

"Can we bring some food back for Marie?"

"Sure!" Anya replied. "We'll get some milk for her before we leave for Typhoon lagoon."

"Claire's the goon!" Margo said with a giggle.

"Am not!" Claire shot back.

This affectively set a fight going between the youngest Pike sisters.

Mallory handled it with ease, since it was routine.

After Margo had gotten a time out and Claire had been calmed by Mal, our food arrived.

When breakfast ended, we went back upstairs to get ready for our trip to typhoon lagoon.

Jon insisted on waiting for us in the hallway, since I was helping Emily to change into her bathing suit and Anya had to help Alex with something.

Anya assured us that everything was okay as she led Alex into the bathroom.

Once everyone was ready and Marie had been fed, we met up with Jon and headed off to the lagoon.

When we arrived, we rounded up the kids to put sunscreen on them and to review the safety rules of the pool. We were aware some of the kids like Charlotte and even Karen and Alex knew how to behave in and around water. But some of the younger kids, like Gabbi and Emily, needed a little reminder.

After that was done, we let the kids go have fun. We made sure Emily and Sari had a sitter with them since they were still young.

After going on the slides for a little while, we headed over to the wave pool.

After reviewing the rules with the kid's one more time, we turned them loose.

As we relaxed in lounge chairs and kept a close watch on the kids, we started talking amongst ourselves.

I noticed that Anya and Jon had gotten two chairs close to one another and were talking with their heads fairly close together.

They did join in our conversation from time to time, but I could tell they wanted some time alone.

Claudia whispered to me that she bet me five bucks that they would kiss by the end of the day.

I shoved her playfully and told her she was out of her mind.

I was about to say something else, when I heard someone shouting for someone else to stop.

"Karen!" Mariah's normally patient voice shouted. "Stop splashing my sister! She doesn't wanna be splashed."

"Karen…" I said warningly. "If Gabbi doesn't wanna be splashed, leave her a lone."

"Kristy, I was just playing."

"I know." I said. "But still. You shouldn't' splash someone if they don't want to be splashed."

"Okay. " Karen said. "I'll try and stop."

"Good girl." I praised. "I know you can do it. " With that, I went back to my conversation with Claud.

No more then ten minutes later, I heard someone else yelling for Karen to stop whatever she was doing.

"Karen, stop it!" Alex said firmly. "I don't wanna play anymore."

"Come on." Karen coaxed. "We were having fun."

"You were having fun. " Alex pointed out. "I'm getting out for a while. See if Claire wants to play." With that, she got out of the pool and headed over to where we were sitting.

As I watched her progress, I saw Karen get out and follow her.

As Karen ran after her, Alex made a bee line for her mother's chair.

Halfway there, Karen ran up to her and tagged her.

Unfortunately, Alex ended up losing her balance. This caused her to slip on some water and fall on her left knee.

Anya jumped up the second she heard Alex start crying.

Getting to Alex's side, Anya picked her daughter up and carried her over to the chair she had been sitting in.

She put a hand through her hair and hugged her close in an effort to comfort her.

"What happened?" Anya asked as she pulled away so she could examine Alex's injury.

"Karen made me fall!" Alex sobbed.

I glared at my little sister.

"Karen Brewer…." I said. "Come here now."

Karen nodded. She knew whenever I used her first and last name, I meant business. She also knew she had to listen to me when Mom and Watson weren't around.

"Yes? " She asked softly.

"Did you push Alex?"

"We were playing tag and I tagged her." She said. "I didn't mean to make her fall."

Even though I knew that was probably true, Karen had been a little too hyper all day. I had to get her to calm down.

"This is your last chance." I said. "If you splash anyone else when they don't wanna be splashed, you're going on time out. Do you understand me, young lady?"

"Yes." She said.

"Yes what?" I prompted.

"Yes ma'am."
"Good. " With that, I let Karen go back to playing with the others.

Once she was gone, I turned to Anya.

"How's Alex?" I asked.

"Okay." She replied. "Her knee just looks bruised." SHE stood up, about to go get some ice, when Jon stood as well.

"I'll go and get it. "HE offered. He smiled at Alex and added, "Besides, all knee injuries deserve a brownie"

Alex managed a small smile for him.

"Thanks. " She whispered softly.

"No problem, Princess." He said. With that, he was gone.

Settling back against the chair, Anya cuddled Alex close while they waited for Jon to return.

She also prayed there wouldn't be anymore disasters on his way back.

As it happened, Jon's return was uneventful. He handed Anya the ice pack and Alex a peanut butter brownie.

He was just about to sit down when we all heard Claudia shriek in panic.

"Sari!" She cried.

Sari glanced back at Claudia as she stretched out her hand as though she were trying to reach for something.

"Goofy going swimming!" Sari announced. SHE frowned just then. "Come back Goofy!" She tried to catch up with him in her inner tube, but found she couldn't' reach him. She started to cry from frustration.

It was then that she discovered she couldn't' turn around. She also realized that the water was getting deeper.

"Sari!" Claud called frantically again. "NO!"

Jon was on his feet in a second.

"I'm braver than any number." He said.

"Good for you!" Anya said as she stared worriedly at Sari's floating inner tube. "Now go and save her."

Jon nodded and dove into the pool after the toddler.

"Bad inner tube." HE scolded the object. "Bad, bad inner tube!"

"Help!" Sari cried.

"Well, that's what the intended plan is." Jon replied. He reached out for her, but a wave interrupted his progress.

IT also knocked both of them aside.

This meant Sari was out of her inner tube. Now she was really scared.

Jon swam further, trying to grab a hold of the little girl.

"Help!" She cried again.

"I'm coming, sweetie!" Jon called out.

'Keep floating.' He thought desperately. 'Keep floating.'

Finally, after what seemed like hours, but was really only five minutes, Jon had a firm grip on Sari.

As he hugged her close and assured her she was okay, he chided her semi sternly for her attempted swimming lesson.

"Sweetie, you're not gonna be the next Neemo."

"Neemo bad!" Sari cried.

We all sighed with relief when we saw Jon emerge with Sari.

He handed her to Claud, who quickly dried her off and hugged her tightly.

Mal and I hugged her as well.

Anya would have hugged her too, but she still had Alex in her arms.

However, as Jon approached them, she set Alex down for a minute and stood up to meet him.

Once they were inches apart, Anya pulled him into her arms and hugged him fiercely.

She then planted a kiss on his cheek.

"You did it!" She said. "Thank you. You saved her life."

Jon blushed at the praise as well as Anya's earlier actions.

"It was no problem." He said modestly.

Just then, Sari let out a cry, followed by another and another.

"What's wrong, Sar-bear?" Claud asked.

"Goofy go bye-bye!" Sari cried. "Want Goofy back!"

Jon ran back to the pool, but Anya's voice stopped him.

"That's really not necessary." She said. "We can buy her another one."
"Or I could rescue this one." He countered.

Anya let out a growl of frustration.

"Why are men so stubborn?" She asked rhetorically.

"I don't know." Alex answered. "Maybe it's because they're from Mars."

Anya chose to drop the subject, which was a wise move on her part.

Jon returned a few minutes later with Goofy. He handed him to Sari before collapsing in a chair beside Anya on her right.

"Here you go." He said to Sari.

"What do you say? " Claud prompted gently.

"Thank you. " Sari replied as she hugged Goofy tightly.

"NO problem." He said. He turned to Anya. "I'm gonna get going. I'm a little tired after all that excitement. I was wondering if I could have your phone number? Maybe we could go out to dinner sometime before you leave."

Anya grinned.

"That would be great." She said.

He indicated Alex too.

"All three of us." He said with a grin.

"That's really nice of you." Anya said.

"It's my pleasure." Jon said.

Anya scribbled down her cell phone number on a scrap of paper and handed it to him.

"Dosvedanya." Anya said as she watched Jon leave.

"Dosvedanya!"! Alex called after him.

And just like that, he was gone.

When we got back to the hotel, there was a message for Sari from Goofy.

She was delighted to get it and it lifted her spirits tremendously.

After we got cleaned up, we relaxed in the game room for a little while before heading off to dinner.

Since Alex had a little bit of a hard day, we let her choose where to eat. She chose the Rainforest Café and we headed over shortly afterwards.

As we were being seated, Anya gazed around the restaurant as though looking for someone.

I had a feeling it wouldn't be long before she saw Jon again. IN fact, I was sure of it…