The speech is done, the event over, the campaign kicked off. They're all exhausted when they get on the plane. It's a good kind of exhausted.
The senior staff is quiet for much of the ride back, allowing it to be a well-needed reprieve. Josh and Sam have a bit of a back and forth over who gets to read the next Harry Potter book with Cerulean- Sam's been reading them on his own to be able to talk about it with her, and Josh read her the early ones. Toby and C.J. half-listen as they enjoy the peace of not having to do anything for a little while. Cerulean is asleep in the chair between C.J. and Toby. It takes them most of the flight to realize something absolutely fantastic has happened.
"Daddy?" Cerulean lifts her head slowly. Sam's answer is cut short as he turns toward her.
"Yeah, Cerule?"
"Can I sit with you?"
"Of course. Come on over." Cerulean climbs down and goes over to him. Toby watches her with a small smile. As she's making herself comfortable in Sam's lap, C.J. turns to Toby.
"What are you smiling about?" she asks. Toby gestures to Cerulean.
"No screaming," he says softly. "No crying." A moment passes as C.J. and the other two realize what he means: Cerulean didn't wake up screaming or crying for the first time since their flight to Manchester. Josh starts to laugh, huge grin on his face. Sam sighs in relief and wraps Cerulean in his arms. C.J. smiles, allowing her head to tip back as her eyes close.
This flight is just what they needed.