Chapter Two: Farewell

The following morning Yuugi woke up early to enjoy a nice breakfast with Professor Hawkins and his granddaughter Rebecca. He dresses in the clothes he had laid out the previous night, jeans and a black T-shirt. None of his usual accessories adorn his neck or wrists, he didn't want any hassles later on when he has to go through airport security.

On his way to the kitchen, he makes a quick stop by the bathroom to brush his teeth and fix his hair.

When he enters the kitchen, Hawkins is sitting at the table sipping coffee while reading the morning paper and Rebecca hums a chirpy tune at the stove. She fixes together three plates of bacon, eggs, toast, and potatoes.

Yuugi takes his seat opposite Hawkins, greeting the two with a smile, "Good morning!"

Hawkins folds the paper aside, "Good morning."

Rebecca bounds over with a plate in each hand, "Good morning, Yuugi!" She goes back to fetch her plate before settling down between them. Spread across the table are jams of different flavors, a carafe of water, two small jugs of milk and orange juice, and the butter dish. She reaches for the milk jug, while Yuugi seeks the jams.

"Are all of your things packed, Yuugi?" Hawkins asks, cutting his eggs into pieces.

Yuugi swallows his bite of toast, "Mostly. Just some stuff from last night and this morning left."

"Your flight isn't until this afternoon, so you have a few hours before we have to leave." Hawkins digs into his potatoes, humming in delight at the seasoning. "My dear girl, I daresay you'll become an amazing chef one day!"

"Oh, grandfather! It's not that amazing to cook breakfast potatoes." Rebecca smiles. She slightly turns in her seat to face Yuugi, reaching to grasp his hand. "Though, I'll miss cooking food for you, Yuugi. I wish you didn't have to leave."

Yuugi pats her hand, "I know you do, Becs, but it's time for me to go be with my Grandpa. Just like yours needs you, mine needs me." Rebecca glances back at her grandfather. A tender grin and twinkling eyes make a mix of serene and thankfulness swell in her chest. She thinks Yuugi deserves a chance to feel like this too. She sighs, "You're right. As usual. Guess I can't keep you with me forever…"

"Hey, we don't we take a walk down the Thames after breakfast?" Yuugi suggests.

Rebecca perks up at that. The three thoroughly enjoy the rest of breakfast talking about future plans to visit during the summer, the best times to contact each other, and the memories shared over the duration of their time spent together.

The airport is teeming with people and cars rushing to and fro when Yuugi, Rebecca, and Hawkins pull up at the drop off zone. A woman in a blue flight attendant's outfit is standing off to the side along with a baggage handler holding onto a luggage trolley. The woman comes forward to greet them, her accent light and cheery, as the three step out of the car.

"Professor Arthur Hawkins!" Red lips line pearly white teeth.

Hawkins steps up to the green-eyed, black haired woman to take her hand in greeting, "Jaida, my dear! You look as lovely as ever!"

She giggles, "I haven't seen you since your last trip to Egypt over a year ago. How have you been?"

"I've been splendid, dear. Thank you. And how have you been?"

"Oh, you know, flying here and there and several places overseas every year."

"Speaking of which," Hawkins takes Yuugi by the shoulders steering the boy between himself and Jaida, "this young one is who you'll be taking overseas this time. Jaida, this is Yuugi. Yuugi meet Jaida."

Sparkling green jewels examine Yuugi's svelte body. He shuffles his feet, shoulders tense and eyes averted.

"He's so…cute!" Jaida exclaims. "I'll take very good care of him, yes I will!"

Yuugi looks up at Hawkins, "Professor, I don't need someone to keep track of me. I'm fifteen already."

"Now, now, Yuugi. It's a long flight. It'll make both your grandfather and I feel better if someone is able to look out for you. Jaida is very capable and I trust her." Hawkins pats the shoulders he's still holding on to.

Yuugi grumbles, but relents, "Okay." He smiles and holds out his hand toward Jaida. "Nice to meet you, Miss Jaida. Thank you for agreeing to look after me."

"Oh, my," Jaida takes his hand in her gloved one, "how adorably polite. It's my pleasure, Yuugi."

Jaida introduces the baggage handler as Jamie to Hawkins, then proceeds to help unload Yuugi's belongings from the car's trunk onto the trolley.

Rebecca uses this moment to pull Yuugi into the shadow of a tall pillar nearby. Silent and downcast, she merely grasps the side of his shirt. Everything she had wanted to say had already been said by the river; her fist tightens.

Yuugi's eyes soften as he gazes at the crown of her head, a small smile on his face. He wraps the younger girl in a tight hug. She lightly shakes in his hold, but hugs him back even tighter. A solid minute passes before she pushes away, fingers wiping at her eyes.

"Rebecca…"

She shakes her head, blonde hair swaying with the breeze, "Mm-mm. There's nothing left to say." She takes in a deep breath and lets it out in a quick sigh. A grin finds its way onto her peachy face, "Safe travels, Yuugi!"

A firm pressure on his shoulder has Yuugi looking up at Jaida's smiling face, "Are you ready to go? Jamie has already taken your luggage."

Behind them Hawkins stands next to the car, one hand on his cane and the other behind his back. Rebecca moves to stand beside her grandfather. He wraps an arm around her shoulders as she leans into him. Yuugi remains still, unable to take a single step in either direction.

"This isn't goodbye, Yuugi," Jaida whispers in his ear. "It's 'until-we-meet-again'." He glances at her from the corner of his eye. Her sincere smile has him nodding along, "Right." She gives him a barely-there push, which launches him into a three-person hug.

"Until we meet again," Yuugi softly says with a tear in his eye. Hawkins and Rebecca repeat the phrase. Then, he walks the short distance to the airport doors where Jaida is waiting for him. The two wave farewell as the doors slide shut.

Once Yuugi has finally left her sight, Rebecca buries her face in her grandfather's jacket and cries.