"Hey, Trist." Taylor squeaked out as he opened the door farther. He tried not to flinch as he saw his best friend holding his little sister's hand.
    Tristan smiled brightly at his friend, "Hey, Tay."
    Catching the disgruntled look aimed at his sister he shrugged uncomfortably. "Mom said I had to bring her."
    They both rolled their eyes at that.
    "Come in," Taylor announced, grabbing and pulling his friend's arm. "She can play with Zac."
    Nodding eagerly at the suggestion, Tristan dragged his baby sister behind him as he hurried through the house after Taylor.
    Upon settling her on the floor next to eight year old Zac, Tristan tried pulling his hand free from hers.
    At first she wouldn't be let loose as her gaze settled firmly on the towhead who was busy making explosion noises with his army men.
    Unblinkingly, she watched on in fascination, the slowly let her brother's hand go.
    Tristan nodded his head towards the door, and he and Taylor tiptoed there.
    But the unmistakable whimpers brought them to a bumbling halt.
    Baby Alys was making noises around her thumb in her mouth, her eyes widening at the knowledge she was being left behind.
    Before they could turn around though, she stopped abruptly in mid-whimper. Tristan turned instantly to see what had happened.
    Seeing that Zac had moved to sit in front of her, and was offering another one of his army men into her sticky grasp was shocking. Due to the fact that he never shared his army men.
    Her small lips worked slowly, then smiled greedily before sticking the green figure into her mouth.

    Zac smiled weakly upon that memory as he looked around the darkened room. His eyes had adjusted to the darkness long ago, and he relaxed noticeably in the peaceful atmosphere.
    The hot shower had loosened the tense muscles in his neck and shoulders, and the quietness was soothing his still ringing ears.
    Actually, anything was better than being under those lights or in front of those cameras and their scrutinizing eyes.
    Alys never looked at him like that. That simple knowledge was enough to let him sleep at night, and to get him up the next morning.
    Stepping out of the steamy bathroom, Zac scanned the room lit only by the lamp between the two twin beds and sighed mercifully, knowing that Taylor would be too wrapped up in his journal, and Isaac would be too into his classes to bug him tonight with questions.
    Moving quickly as the AC cooled his warmed skin, Zac settled into his bed and shifted until he was comfortable. Left arm under the pillow, lying on his right side, and back to the light. Perfect.
    Shutting his eyes tight, he prayed for instant sleep.
    "We're getting up early, Zac."
    The comment reinforced his decision to fall asleep faster. The quicker tonight was over, the quicker morning came, and the quicker they'd get back to Tulsa.
    A quiet sigh slipped passed slackened lips. Back to Alys.
    The dark blanket of sleep laid over him with ease.