Anna didn't sleep well the last night N Sync, Terri, Symone and Krysti were in the farmhouse. She was faced with all sorts of dilemmas and decisions. There were things she wanted to say to Joey, but didn't know how. Anna had grown to really care for him, but there was still something there, blocking her from telling him.

The next morning was a blur of sleepy eyes and luggage for the fine folks of Grandma's Valley. Anna stood in the middle of the common room, watching the various scenes that took place around her.

Terri was busy packing away last minute things in the girls room, moving luggage and arranging everything for the van and car while Chris was following her around, trying to do everything for her. Terri was getting so frustrated and was finally ready to snap.

"Chris, I really wish you would quit it. I'm not lifting anything too heavy, or doing anything strenuous! I can take care of myself and the twins!" Terri snapped as she folded towels out of the dryer.

"I'm sorry, baby." Chris put his arms around her bulging stomach and kissed her neck. "I've just never done this before, and I'm worried about you. I don't want you to hurt yourself."

Terri softened and turned to face Chris. "I understand, but I know what my limitations are. I would never do anything to hurt anyone, especially our babies." She kissed him and went pack to folding towels. Pacified, Chris went to double check all his things.

Anna next turned to look at Justin and Symone. Ever since the reconciled last night, they hadn't been able to keep their hands off each other. She could see them through the window, sitting on the hood of the van cuddling. If it had been any other two people, Anna would have been sick, but Symone and Justin looked so adorable together, and had been through so much, one had to just love them all the more for it.

"Justin?" Symone asked, looking up into the blue eyes she loved.

"Symone?" Justin asked back, kissing the tip of her nose.

"Did you ever stop loving me?"

Justin was silent for a moment. He had asked himself this question many times while they were apart. "No, I didn't. I tried to get myself to believe I did, to make myself stop loving you, but I couldn't. It's like you were attached to my soul. Did you ever stop loving me?"

Symone laughed. "How could I? I couldn't forget about it. It would be like trying to forget about my left leg, impossible. I loved you even when I hated you."

Justin bent down to kiss her again, as Anna turned away. She saw Joey sitting on his usual chair, reading a magazine. He had finished packing the night before, and had nothing left to do but wait. Anna sighed with frustration and looked at her little sister and Lance, sitting on the couch facing each other and talking. It sounded like they were bickering, but both were sporting huge smiles on their faces.

"I told you, Faith Hill is the best female country singer in the world. No one else could touch her voice." Emmi said, poking Lance in the arm.

"Why would they want to? Shania is the far superior singer. Plus, she looks hot in that leopard outfit from the 'That Don't Impress Me Much' video."

Emmi rolled her eyes. "Is that all you men think about? Country singers in skintight clothes?"

Lance pretended to think it over. "No. I also think about you in skintight clothes." He smiled wickedly and Emmi began to laugh.

Anna smiled at her sister. She deserved to have this life. It was Anna who had always been willing to give up if the road looked like it was going to be tough. Emmi knew that when she wanted something, she had to have it, no matter what.

Anna walked towards the girls' room, she paused outside the bathroom door. She heard splashes, giggles and soft voices. JC and Nicole were giving Adrienne a quick bath before it was time to leave. Anna thought about their relationship. Every couple in this house had been through trials and tribulations.

"Even those of us that aren't couples," she thought to herself. Anna shut the door of her room and sat down. She leaned back on her pillows and let her eyes close slowly. She thought about everything from her first meeting of Joey, with her in a towel to Joey singing 'For the Longest Time' to her last night. Everything came flooding back to her as she drifted off to make up on missed sleep.

Anna felt something start to shake her, and slapped at the hand. "Anna, wake up."

Anna slowly rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and opened them to look up at Emmi. "What?" she asked crossly, sitting up.

"You need to get up now. Everyone is ready to go. We're saying goodbye." Anna could see the tears already forming in her sister's eyes. She opened her arms and let Emmi crawl into them. The two women sat in silence, thinking about what the next few minutes would hold for them.

The Valley sisters each took a deep breath and stood, their brains telling their bodies what their hearts refused to believe. It was finally time to say goodbye to people who had become family in the past three months. Walking down the hallway suddenly made them feel like prisoners on death row. When they finally made it to the front door, Emmi paused and turned to her sister before opening it.

"This is really happening, isn't it?" she asked, almost afraid of the answer. It would be so much easier to believe that this was all a dream and that there was still time to spend with her new friends, and the love of her life. Lance--Emmi still hadn't figured out how she was going to survive without him. But she knew one thing; it wouldn't be easy.

Anna sighed heavily. "I'm afraid so. It's going to be…well, its gonna be hell, but at least we will still have each other."

Emmi managed to smile weakly. "I guess we had better get out there or they will have to leave without saying goodbye at all."

Nodding Anna followed her sister, but in the back of her mind she was wondering if not saying goodbye to Joey at all would be easier than this.

Emmi walked toward the van where everyone had gathered. Tears had already pooled in her eyes, but she attempted to blink them back. The first person she ran into was Symone, who was putting her bass in with the rest of the luggage. Her brown hair was up in a high ponytail, keeping it away from her face. She turned around and pulled Emmi into a hug the moment she saw her.

"Hey country girl, thanks for keeping my boys in line for the summer." Emmi laughed along with Symone. The younger girl pulled away and looked into Emmi's eyes. "Thank you for everything you did to keep me sane, I would never be with Justin again if it wasn't for you."

Emmi smiled. "Oh no, I had nothing to do with that. You two were meant to be together, come hell or high water. But, I am glad it all worked out for you."

Justin walked up behind the pair, having already said goodbye to Anna. He scooped Emmi into his arms and hugged her tight. "Who knew with the fuss I put up when we first got here that I would be so sad to leave?"

"Aww, that's cause you remembered how much fun it is to be a country boy." Justin smiled and squeezed her close again before setting her feet back down and dropping a kiss on her cheek.

Nicole was hugging Anna so tightly that she wasn't sure that she could breathe. "I am gonna miss you so much Annabella!"

Anna sniffled. "I am gonna miss you too Nikki. But I will see you for the wedding in 3 months, right?"

"Yeah, November twenty third. I am counting on you and Emmi to be there," Nicole confirmed.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world, sweetie. Make sure you call or email and let me know you got back safely. And tell Jessica not to get into TOO much trouble before I get there." The girls laughed and hugged one more time before they moved on. Anna had said her quick good-byes to everyone. Everyone that is, except Joey. She couldn't seem to find him anywhere, and now she was wondering if she was going to get the chance to see if lack of closure was easier than having to face him. She stood holding her breath, watching her sister clutching Lance with all her might.

"What am I going to do without you?" Emmi's choked sobs registered in Lance's ear.

"Oh baby, I will talk to you every day and I will miss you every minute," he tilted her eyes up to meet his, "But just know that I am loving you every second Emmiline Valley. You will never be without me because I am leaving my heart in your hands." His hands skimmed her face from under her chin to the side of her face, cupping it gently. Slowly he brought his lips to hers in a searing kiss that would help fight of the loneliest of nights.

"Touching scene, huh?" a voice breathed on Anna's ear, not just any voice, Joey's voice. The voice that haunted her dreams, the voice she wanted to crawl into and let it soothe all her fears, the voice she loved with all her heart. She turned to face him, averting his eyes. She wasn't sure that she could fight her feelings if she looked into his deep brown orbs. Instead she pulled him close to her and hugged him tightly.

"I can't leave letting you think I am angry with you Anna. I understand, I do. It doesn't make it hurt any less, but I understand." He pulled away slightly and stared at the top of her head until she had no choice but to turn head toward him. Their eyes connected, both filled with salty tears of regret and love. In that instant Anna cursed her pride.

"I'm sorry," she sobbed. "I'm so sorry Joey, I'm just…I can't…oh Joey, I…" he placed one of his fingers softly against her lips.

"Shhhh, its OK. You are confused. But just know that I have never felt this way before. I love you with everything inside of me. I will be waiting for you when and if you decide that you want to be with me. You are all I have ever dreamed of Anna."

Anna continued to cry but found the strength to move her head slightly to leave a soft kiss on his lips. "You will see Joey, I will find you. This isn't the end of us."

Joey pulled her to him for a comforting hug. "This is just the beginning Anna, just the beginning." He pulled away and kissed her cheek, taking with him some of her tears before walking toward the van.

Emmi had pulled away from Lance and let him board the van as well. All the doors shut and inside all that could be seen were hands waving and wiping away tears. Emmi stood next to Anna, letting her tears stream down her face and land in the dirt.

The passenger side window rolled down and Chris' upper body emerged. He waved exaggeratedly and then, in his true fashion began to sing. "So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, goodbye…happy trails to you, until we meet again…I love you, you love me, we're a happy fami…"

"SHUT UP CHRIS!" was the resounding cry from inside the white van.

Anna and Emmi had to laugh at the scene, but their laughter only made the tears come faster.

"What do we do now Ann?" Emmi asked looking at her crying sister.

"I guess we go back to how we were before they came," Anna sighed.

They continued to stand watching the road that carried the van and ten very special people out of their lives.

"Anna?"

"Yeah sweetie?"

"I can't remember before they came…" with that statement she fell into her older sisters arms, sobs wracking her body.

Anna cried harder as well. "Neither can I Ems, neither can I."

'I never wanted to make you cry...I guess I should have taken a little more time...But just remember...For every tear that falls from your eye...two tears fall from mine.'~Hanson, Two Tears