"I know but we can't afford for him to worried can we? I'm not so sure he'd accept the idea of my being an Ace like my dad did, even if we could tell him."

He smiled and pulled me to him.

"Everything will be fine. We'll wind up telling him or we won't. He's going back to New York anyway. Being away from it all will help, I'm sure."

"You're probably right. So you don't know who's coming with us?"

"Not yet. All the older ones they want here, my dad, my uncles, because of their abilities. They either need to use it or want them here in case dad finds something and they have to attack the Watson's."

"Attack," I whispered under my breath.

"One more good reason we won't be here. Don't worry about it." He pulled my face up. "You gonna be ok with Bish and all?"

I nodded just as dad came across the lawn.

"Let's get going, baby girl," he said and climbed in the back of Bish's car.

"Your dad will be a good buffer," Caleb said and smiled. "See you in a bit. Are you excited? I mean, I know it's not good circ.u.mstances but... I'm pretty happy to be going away with you."

I smiled too thinking about it.

"Me too. I've never even been out of Tennessee."

"What? How's that possible?" he mused.

"It's possible. We never took vacations. I've never ridden a plane either."

"Well, you'll like it. It'll be late, so we'll sleep most of the way, anyway. I promise we'll have a good time in California."

I nodded and went up on my tip toes to kiss him. We hadn't been kissing two point two seconds when Bish honked the horn. He actually honked.

I glared at him but Caleb laughed.

"He's not liking me too much I don't think."

"That's not funny. He's being so rude. I've never seen him like this."

"You're his sister. It's ok, he just needs time to figure me out. He'll get it while were gone. Get going, I'll see you in an hour."

"Ok."

"Oh and don't worry about the cell phone, I got it covered."

"Caleb-" I protested in my most whiny voice.

"See you later, gorgeous," he said grinning as he walked backwards away from me.

As he turned away I stopped in a revelation. I realized that I never felt the stuck feeling of needing to be released from him just now, even a little. It was the first time we'd both walked away of our own free will.

Bish honked again. I rolled my eyes as I got in.

"Rude much," I spouted and glared daggers at him.

"You're going to see each other in like five minutes. I thought we were in a hurry to get home?"

"He was explaining the details to me about our flight. What's wrong with you?"

"What's wrong with me?" he said incredulously and turned onto the street.

"Now, Bish-" dad tried but to no good.

"Gee, I don't know," Bish kept going in his deep voice but the sarcasm was making him boom even more. "You almost faint on the porch in front of everyone and no one seems to care. You are so incredibly serious about this boy and everyone acts like you're about to get hitched or something, even dad, and it's weird. You're acting funny, like you're sick or something, but once again, everyone acts like it's just normal and nothing's wrong."

"Bish. You've been gone a while. Things aren't the same as when you left," I tried to explain.

"That is very clear but that doesn't explain anything. Something weird is going on here." Then he jerked the wheel, righted himself and turned to look at me with wide eyes. "Oh no, are you pregnant?"

"No! I'm not pregnant," I grumbled and wondered why everyone thinks that.

He sighed long and heavy, just like dad had done and it irked me as much as it had when dad did it.

"Well, that's good but something is going on."

"When do you leave?"

"Not sure, I told you. I don't know what I'm doing. I was hoping I'd get to spend some time with you, but you're running away with your boyfriend."

I stayed silent. There was no point. He was thinking about punching Caleb's jaw when he came to pick me up. I wanted to punch Bish's jaw right then.

We pulled into the driveway and we got out. Dad went inside and I pulled Bish to a stop by his arm.

"Wait. Look." I tucked my hair behind my ear, trying to look vulnerable and small. "Everyone thought you'd be just like this. I love Caleb, he's different and his family is different. They are really close and everyone...likes me. Dad has come to terms with Caleb and me, you're going to have to too."

"Mags." I felt him soften in his mind and his face visibly softened too. He placed his hands on the tops of my arms. "I'm sorry, ok? I came home expecting one thing and find something completely different. You're so...different. You look different, talk different, act different. You're different with Caleb too. I never remember you being like that with Chad." I mentally rolled my eyes. I wish everyone would stop being so perceptive. "I'm just worried about you. It seems no one else is."

"Believe me. I have enough people worrying about me. I want my brother back. I missed you." I hugged him and heard his thoughts cave. He didn't want to fight with me either. "I want you to come back and see me soon. Ok? I have no idea how long I'll be gone but," I shrugged. "don't stay gone for so long."

"Ok. I'll try. Mags, I want to like Caleb, I do-"

"Well, you better get started because he's it for me."

"What? You're so young, you can't know that. I bet you thought Chad was it for you too. Now Caleb, he may not feel the same way."

"I know it. Please. You don't have to like him, though if you'd give him a chance you would, but you do have to be civil. He's here to stay."

"Ok. I'll try," he repeated. "I love ya, kid."

"I love you, too."

"Alright, go pack."

We walked inside and I heard his question before he asked it and I still didn't know what to say.

"So, Caleb's sister, Jen, seems nice. She married?"

"No."

"Divorced."

"Caleb's family doesn't get divorced."

"What does that mean?"

"They don't believe in it. No one has ever gotten divorced in his family."

"Wow. That's pretty amazing but isn't that one more reason to be wary. What if things don't work out with you and Caleb? You'd be the first ones to fail in the family."

"Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence."

"No pressure, huh?" He elbowed me playfully.

I chuckled with him because it was better than anything I could think of.

"So, Jen's not married and not divorced but she had a kid," he mused.

"Date rape," I blurted and he looked at me sharply. "She doesn't date, Bish."

"Wow. Ok. Well, I'm gonna go, uh...catch up with dad while you get packed."

He walked away and I regretted laying it out there like that but I had to nip it in the bud. I felt terrible, flashing back to his memories of a horrible life before he met us but, I stopped them and took a deep breath.

It was for the best to stop it now. He wouldn't see her that much, for a while anyway.

Thirty.

I ran upstairs and pulled out my school track duffel bag. I didn't own a suitcase because we never went anywhere. I stuffed as many dresses and skirts I could in it then a couple pairs of jeans and shirts then the essentials and I was done. By this time it was almost time for Caleb to be here and it amazed me how I still got b.u.t.terflies thinking about him. I wondered if it'd ever go away. I hoped not.

I pulled and dragged my bag down the hall and stairs because it was too heavy and bulky, shouldering my purse at the same time, and heard laughter behind me. I looked down the stairs to see Caleb, Peter, dad and Bish all chuckling, watching me struggle. I placed my hands on my hips and gave my best glare but it didn't stop the laughter. If anything it made it worse.

"I'll get that," Caleb said, swiftly scaling the steps and lifting the bag easily, smirking at me.

I thought with my new man arms I would be able to lift a duffel bag.

Caleb laughed in my mind.

You're stronger than you were but you're still not Wonder Woman.

Ha, ha.

"Ready?" he asked still smirking.

"Yeah."

"Let's go then."

We all piled in the cars and they went straight to the police station. I gave my brief statement as Peter explained that we we're needing to catch a flight. They were perplexed as to how Caleb had found me but Peter can be very persuasive and smooth talking. We were out of there in ten minutes.

As I sat in the back with Caleb, I rubbed my wrist, mourning the loss of my bracelet, the only real thing I had to remember the only people who were there for me this year. Caleb reached over and wrapped his fingers around my wrist. When I looked up at him, he smiled sadly, feeling my pain. I just shrugged. What else could I do?

We had about forty minutes until our flight left by the time we made it to the airport drop-off, cutting it close. Peter spoke to me in my mind, advising me about the explosion of voices and information I'd get when we got to the airport.

Ok, Maggie, he started but didn't look at me, just faced forward so Bish wouldn't see him staring at me. Now, whenever you're in a crowd just focus on yourself or Caleb. When you focus, you won't let anything in but what you want to. It's only when your mind is open or caught off guard that you're overwhelmed. It'll take a little practice but you'll get the hang of it in no time. You'll be ready for it before it happens. So, when we get there, just focus on someone before you step out of the car and you'll be fine, ok?

I couldn't nod or anything, because he wouldn't see so I just took it that he knew I'd heard him.

We pulled up and I knew the person who was going to grab me first would be dad, so I focused on only reading him. When he opened the door, I winced waiting for the overload of voices but heard nothing but dad's wary inner monologue as he hugged me to him. He looked at me closely and tested his theory.

Can you hear me?

I nodded slightly.

I want you to be careful. Be watching, don't let your guard down and I want you to know that I'm...proud of you. You're a beautiful woman now with a sweet heart, trying to keep your old man from worrying about you, but I'll always be your dad and I'll always worry. Comes with the territory, but, I like Caleb and his family is...something else. I like them too. You did good, kiddo. Now, listen. I know what you have to do but I want you two to sleep on the couch, ok? I don't think it's a good idea for you to share a bedroom, though I understand the need to sleep with him. Got it? I nodded again. I love you more than life and I want you to have a good time but not too good. Why don't you think about college while you're there...and be careful...and don't do anything crazy...and call me everyday.

I had to suppress a laugh and nodded again and squeezed him.

"I love you, dad."

"Love you too, baby girl."

Then I hugged Peter, turning my focus to him, and he gave me a similar internal pep talk but with less gush. I thanked him for the advice and told him it was working well and he smiled. Then it was Bish's turn.

"Be careful and don't worry. They'll find these guys," he said and hugged me tightly. "Text me, ok?"

"Of course."

"Don't do anything stupid and give me a reason to have to kill your boyfriend." I rolled my eyes and looked drolly at him. "Love ya, kid."

"Love you too. Bye."

Bish just smiled and c.o.c.ked his head at Caleb in contest. Caleb laughed, nodded good naturedly and took his luggage and my bag as we made our way through the revolving doors of the airport entrance way. I looked back over my shoulder and saw them still watching us go. I waved and followed Caleb to the ticket counter. He handled everything for us.

We went to sit at our gate after going through security and he asked me if I was ok.