Note: I do not own any real characters in my stories, i.e. 'N Sync, etc. I do, however, own all fictional characters and situations (emphasis on the fictional) as they are a product of my own overactive imagination. Please don't take them. Plagiarism is a bad, bad thing, and I will send the J-dawg after you and make you beg for mercy, and not in the good way..or I might just let Joe eat you J . And, as always, feedback is much appreciated. Thank you!

~~Two Weeks Later~~

Abby's eyes snapped open as a heron cried sharply beyond the open French doors. She sat up, staring into the familiar darkness as she groped for the rapidly fading images.

"Miss Abby, you up?" Anna called as she passed by the door, the doors to the linen closet opening and shutting.

"Yes." With a sigh, she threw the light covers off, sliding her legs over the side of the bed.

She stretched, going to stand in front of the doors. Morning sunlight streamed through, the heat warming her from head to foot. She lifted her face, stretching her arms out as she drew herself onto her tiptoes, muscles lengthening to their greatest extent as she breathed deeply, the breeze moving through her unbound hair.

"What a picture you make, Miss," Anna observed behind her.

Abby started, glancing back with confusion.

"What do you mean?" she asked curiously, relaxing and falling back onto her heels.

Anna chuckled, coming into the room. "You fairly look like one of those fairies that the Irish speak of. Those woodland sprites, with such long black hair and otherwordly eyes."

Abby blushed slightly. "I…"

Anna laughed more fully, then paused. "Miss, has anyone ever told you what you look like?"

Abby blinked, caught off guard.

"No, they haven't," Anna clucked with a sigh.

Abby shrugged. "Anna, it's no big deal. I've heard enough."

"And what do you mean by that?"

"I'm not ugly. I'm…unusual looking, thanks to Mama's eyes and hair mixed with Daddy's facial structure. No children will scream in terror, but I'm guessing I look much like they do to begin with," Abby stated with logical humor.

Anna snorted. "Hogwash. What about Justin and the others?"

The last question threw her. "I--what about them?"

"I may be old, but I'm not blind. Goodness, child," Anna sighed dramatically, and Abby's lips twitched.

"A moot point," she pointed out. "Cause I'll never see them."

"You could always ask to."

Abby paused, pleating the gauzy curtains absently. "Maybe, someday, if I think they'd be okay with it, and they're still around," she shrugged. She hesitated, her curiosity piqued.

"Anna…what do they look like?"

"You have all their stats, I'm guessing. Don't those describe them?" Anna asked, her amusement palpable.

"Not very well," Abby muttered, fighting a blush.

She paced away from the curtain, going to the dresser to pick up her brush. Anna came over and took the brush from her, taking her elbow and tugging her towards the front of the house.

"Come with me, child. You need some breakfast anyway. I have French toast and bagels made, nice and hot."

Abby's stomach grumbled as she breathed in the scent that filled the kitchen. She settled on the stool Anna pulled out for her, hearing silverware clink against a plate as Anna went to the stove. The dish was placed in front of her with a flourish.

"French toast, lightly buttered, twelve o'clock. Half a bagel, cream cheese, at three. And scrambled eggs at seven. Anything else?"

Abby smiled slightly, picking up her fork. "No. I don't think I'll be eating for a week after this as it is."

Anna snorted. "You need to eat more."

Abby rolled her eyes as the familiar refrain began, forking up the scrambled eggs and listening absently as Anna lectured on the importance of eating regularly.

She glanced up as a glass was plopped in front of her.

"Orange juice."

Abby nodded, mouth full of toast.

Anna took up a position behind her, beginning to run the brush through her mussed hair. Abby sighed, the residual tension in her muscles melting away with the hypnotic motion.

"Justin's the baby, and he looks it. That boy has a head of curls you wouldn't believe," Anna chuckled.

Abby's eyes widened, and a slight smile tipped her mouth as she listened, scalp tingling.

"He's tall, which I'm sure you already know. Bright blue eyes, and a killer smile. He knows how to turn on the charm, believe you me."

Abby nodded in agreement, having been on the receiving end of that charm.

"He's the most popular of the group with the girls. Their management considers him to be the most marketable."

"I don't doubt it," Anna agreed. "But I'm impressed. He's pretty grown-up and fairly level-headed for it. And he has a good heart."

Abby made a sound of agreement, waiting for her to continue. Her eyes closed automatically as the last tangle disappeared, the brush sweeping through her hair, and she propped her elbows on the table, continuing to eat absently.

"Let's see. JC's what I'd call 'handsome'. Old school, I know, but that what I think. Very--sophisticated looking, I think you might say. Hazel-blue eyes, and a well-defined face. You can see the intensity in his eyes especially."

Anna paused, thinking.

"Joe is a cutie. I don't think I've ever seen him without a smile. He reminds me of Raymond a little bit. Very tall, built like a lovable teddy bear, with the puppy-dog brown eyes to go with the image." She chuckled. "He's experimenting with the dye like Justin has. And has charm just like the youngest, only his is a little more, hmm, just a little more. He's a skirt-chaser, I'm betting."

Abby grinned around the bagel.

"And Chris, who I'm aware is the oldest, looks about their age anyway." She laughed. "So you're not the only cursed one."

Abby rolled her eyes, chewing.

"That one is--unusual, to say the least. His hair is braided, dreadlocks, I think he called them, and multi-colored."

Abby's eyebrows shot up.

"He's got very dark eyes that practically snap with intelligence. He's a contradiction. Acts young, very high energy, but he's got a lot more going on than people think. And he's far from being ugly."

Abby nodded, licking cream cheese from her fingers.

"And Lance." Anna twisted up the heavy mass of her hair experimentally, and Abby paused, listening with interest.

"Is he really pale enough to be termed an albino?" she finally asked, having nursed the curiosity since she'd first heard the nickname.

Anna laughed under her breath. "Whatever he looked liked when he got the name, he doesn't resemble it now. Let's see. He's been into the bleach, and ended up with rather two-toned hair. Short in the back, more natural, spiked and bleached on top. And gorgeous green eyes, mixed with yellow. Cat's eyes, I'd call them, very intense."

Abby propped her chin on her hand, trying to picture the color in her mind.

"Five good-looking guys," Anna stated, amused. "Very different in looks and everything else. JC's very lean and wiry, medium tall. Justin tall-tall and rangy. Joe tall-tall and solidly built. Chris on the short side of tall, sort of compact and bouncy," Anna laughed. "And Lance is sort of in-between all that. Medium-tall, a little rangy, but compact."

Abby squinted, trying to assemble vague figures in her mind, amorphous forms taking shape.

"Are you finished, or do you want to play with your toast some more?" Anna asked, placing the brush back on the table.

Abby sighed, stretching and pushing her plate back. "I'm done. I should go take my shower."

"What are your plans for today?"

Abby shrugged. "I'll go check the barns. Ry mentioned needing some things. Then I'll find something to occupy myself."

She was nearly at the door when Anna spoke again. "Are they coming today?"

Abby paused. "I don't know. They will if they want to," she kept her voice carefully neutral.

"They haven't come for almost a week," Anna observed.

"Lance mentioned being busy, which I can understand," Abby stated carelessly. She left the kitchen quickly, striding down the hall with her mind elsewhere.

Her eyes sprang open. Had she become that transparent, that quickly? "Nothing, Lance. Just tired."

Lance pulled the key from the ignition and jumped out of the car, jogging up the walk and whistling under his breath even as sweat immediately gathered at the base of his spine in the hot sun.

He pounded on the heavy front door, and heard the thunder of footsteps across the floor.

Justin flung open the door seconds later, half dressed and carrying his sneakers.

"Hey, man, I'm almost ready. C'mon in and grab something cold to drink."

Lance nodded, stepping inside the coolness of the house with a breath of relief.

"Who else is coming?" he asked, following Justin into the kitchen and opening the fridge to grab a can of Dr. Pepper.

Justin plopped in a kitchen table chair and began lacing his sneakers.

"Chris is coming, as long as we don't force him on any scary rides."

Lance grinned. Chris always said that, and somehow always managed to end up on all of them, screaming his lungs out.

"Who else?" he prodded after a quick gulp.

"Joey isn't. He's meeting some friends at the beach. JC decided to come, and he's bringing Tyler. He was messing around early at the studio, so he's running behind. But he just called, and should be here pretty soon."

Justin disappeared into the laundry room, appearing again with a white U of C T-shirt.

Fully-dressed, he wandered over to the couch where Lance sprawled out and flipped on the TV.

"Anything you want to see?" he asked lazily, and Lance shrugged.

"Nothing on in the morning except cartoons and talk shows." He looked over at Justin with a slight smile. "You choose."

Justin rolled his eyes and shook his head, but flipped the channel to the morning news, reaching for an open, sweating can of soda on the coffee table.

Companionable silence descended as they watched the news briefs. The channel broke for commercial, but his mind had already wandered elsewhere.

Abby finished toweling off and stepped out of the shower stall, reaching for the robe that hung from the hook beside the shower. Her feet found purchase on the rug, and she wrapped herself snugly, moving towards the sink and pulling off the towel wrapped turban style around her head. Her hands searched the counter in front of her while she hummed under her breath.

She paused, huffing a sigh and swiping at her wet hair. Mentally, she reviewed where she might have taken her comb.

"Miss?" Anna knocked on the door.

"Yeah?" Abby replied absently, beginning to open and shut drawers.

"You have some visitors," Anna informed her, distinctly amused.

Abby paused, frowning. "It's only eight-thirty," she remarked incredulously.

"Yeah, and yet we're already up and around. What's taking so long, shortstuff?" Chris asked cheerfully.

Abby rolled her eyes, smiling.

"And don't you roll your eyes at me, young lady!" he lectured pompously.

Abby laughed, then clapped a hand over her mouth.

"Are you almost finished?" Chris whined.

Abby shook her head slightly. "Almost," she allowed. "Give me a few minutes."

She snagged her underwear and the tank and shorts she'd placed on the counter earlier, quickly donning them and moving to the door, the depth of happiness at knowing they'd come a little disturbing, though she refused to dwell on it. It started open as soon as she turned the knob, and the presence she'd forever associate with 'Chris' enveloped her. In a bear hug.

She squeaked, coughing slightly. "The human brain can only last four minutes without oxygen," she commented breathlessly, smiling and returning the gesture lightly.

"Which makes me wonder how Justin survived all these years," Lance commented from the direction of her bed, and Abby burst out laughing at Justin's disgruntled noise.

Chris turned around, still holding her off the floor, and remarked, amazed, "That one was good. I'm so proud." He sniffled, then set Abby down as she wriggled slightly. She walked towards the doorway, calling for Anna.

"What, child?" Anna's voice responded.

"Have you seen my comb? I can't remember where I left it."

"It's--"

"Here," Lance informed her.

"Never mind," she called to Anna, laughing under her breath.

Abby turned and made her way towards him, feeling the teeth touch her palm as he placed it in her hand.

"Thanks. So why are y'all here so early?" she asked curiously, climbing up into the middle of the bed and beginning to work the tangles from her wet hair.

The bed shifted, the air changing as Lance got up, and she frowned briefly before Justin caught her attention, moving through the French doors.

"It's going to be a beautiful day. Hot and sunny, no rain," he remarked casually.

Abby lifted a brow. "Yeah, and this pertains to me how?" She sighed and jerked on a tangle.

"Why, we wouldn't go back on our promise," Justin told her innocently.

Abby stopped struggling for the moment, eyes narrowing as she contemplated what he was talking about. Her lips twitched.

"What the hell are you talking about?" she sighed in exasperation.

"You mean you've already forgotten?" Chris pouted. "Okay, get the clues, Lance."

Abby blinked, resuming the chore of combing her hair. "Clues?"

"Yeah, Chris insisted that you had to figure it out. It's a surprise," Lance's voice was long-suffering as he moved back towards the bed.

Abby tipped her head curiously, feeling something being presented to her. She rolled her eyes, tossing the comb down before gingerly taking the bag he was holding and setting it in front of herself. An imp of mischief made her sit there, biting her lip as she pretended to peer into the bag.

"Guys, these aren't helping me at all," she finally remarked, mock-disappointed.

"Smartass," Justin informed her.

A smile slipped out, and she winked in his direction. "Thanks, superstar. Does this mean you're one of my fans?"

Justin chuckled. "Always," he replied, half-serious, then cleared his throat as surprise darted across her face. "Lance?"

Abby straightened as Lance moved after a second, sitting next to her on the bed.

"Okay, here we go, now, no peeking," he teased, and she rolled her eyes, shaking her head.

The bag rustled as he rummaged around inside, his arm brushing hers once as he reached across her.

Abby took a breath and shrugged her shoulders, frowning as she felt mild tension tighten her muscles, the scent of him invading her senses and making her feel strangely jumpy. What's wrong with you? You've had his forgiveness, and friendship, for what seems like forever now. Why are you still feeling like this around him? she lectured herself silently.

Her frown deepened. Because sometimes he still seems like he has residual feelings about it she answered herself slowly. It was true. She sometimes felt strange vibes from him; his voice, his presence, even his scent, sometimes felt off to her from what he said. As if he were guarding himself with her. Was he still harboring some issues about it? Self-doubts crept past her mental guards.

She knew Lance well enough now to see what the others had meant about him sometimes being too nice. He didn't like hurting people's feelings, and he tended to be considerate beyond his own feelings. Her lips tightened worriedly. Maybe that was it. He was trying to learn to like her. And she wasn't a very easy person to like, though the money tended to soften people's opinions.

She caught herself sharply. No she warned don't you even assign them that motive. They never ask you for money; they never asked for you to think about sponsoring them. They never asked for anything in return for helping Sunny. She flinched slightly, shoving the memories back. Yeah a soft voice agreed. Lance didn't even know you.

The outside world faded as she focused inward, shadow memories tugging at her. Not conscious ones; ones she had never tried to remember because of what they were connected to. Waking up disoriented and frightened. Being held and comforted for the first time in long, isolated years.

"Abby?" Lance's puzzled voice snapped her out her reverie, and her head jerked up.

She heard his surprised grunt as stars simultaneously exploded in her head, the impact making her release a howl of her own. Strong hands caught her shoulders before she lost her balance.

"Are you okay?" Lance asked, the grimace audible in his voice.

She nodded with a wince, rubbing the crown of her head gingerly. She glared at their audience as she registered the snickers.

"Shut up," she grumped.

Still laughing, Justin gasped, "Man, you should have seen Lance's face when you clipped him in the jaw. He looked like he was going to pass out for a second."

Abby rolled her eyes, tilting her head towards Lance.

"Such concern," she murmured. "Are you alright?"

"Fine," mild humor laced his voice. "Take more than a roundhouse from little ole you to hurt me," he teased, and she rolled her eyes.

"Uh-huh, sure," she agreed. She gently disengaged herself from his grip, sliding across the bed on her knees to the small nightstand and reaching in the drawer. She located one of the packs she was looking for and closed the drawer, then crawled back over the bed where Lance still sat.

She shot a quick look around, mildly unnerved by the silence. "What? What did I do now?"

"Has anyone ever told you that you have great legs, Abs?" Chris asked teasingly.

Abby blinked, feeling her face blush hotly. "Shut up, Chris. You're such dorks."

"Nah, we're just guys," Justin countered, trying not to laugh. She glared in his direction, crushing the pack in her hand.

"Don't remind me. You might also add in the adjective 'abnormal'." The pack had grown frigid, and she reached up, encountering the back of Lance's hand on one side of his jaw. "This side?" she asked lightly, pulling his hand down to press the pack against his jaw. She felt him jerk lightly before accepting the help.

"Where did this come from?"

She grinned and shook her head. "As well as I know anything, I still occasionally forget myself, or something gets moved by accident. I have a whole drawer full of these for just such an occasion."

"Aww, isn't that a Kodak picture?" Justin remarked.

"Shut up, Justin," Lance rumbled.

Abby looked in Justin's direction, lips twitching. "Well, I would have offered him the use of the tub and some bubble bath, but--" She frowned, stifling a laugh. "It wouldn't accomplish anything unless he was soaking his head."

"Don't laugh," Lance warned, and Abby raised her eyebrows, switching hands absently.

"If they don't laugh, how will I know if I made the joke right?" she asked innocently.

A truncated sound of exasperation escaped him, and her eyes widened as he took over the ice pack, then nudged her firmly around. Something bumped her knee, and she looked down automatically.

"Before we got off the subject," Lance cleared his throat meaningfully. His free hand grabbed one of hers, then fumbled before sliding up to her wrist. He paused.

"I need another hand."

A laugh escaped her.

"What for? This is rather entertaining," Chris commented, snickering softly.

Abby glanced towards the other two men, realizing they'd been rather quiet. Puzzlement crossed her face.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Justin leaned against the wall, watching with a small sense of satisfaction as Abby grinned, obviously not at all concerned about touching Lance. He smothered a laugh at the dazed, overwhelmed expression on Lance's face. His friend didn't know whether to play along or retreat.

Justin felt Chris looking at him and glanced over, smirking. Chris rolled his eyes.

Justin cleared his throat. "Aww, isn't that a Kodak moment?" he drawled.

Lance shot him a silencing look. "Shut up, Justin."

Abby looked in his direction, lips twitching. "Well, I would have offered him the use of the tub and some bubble bath, but--" She frowned, then her eyes brightened with mirth. "It wouldn't accomplish anything unless he was soaking his head."

Justin bit his lip to keep from laughing as Chris's eyebrows shot up, rather impressed.

"Don't laugh," Lance warned the room, rolling his eyes, and Abby raised her eyebrows, switching the hand that held the ice pack.

"If they don't laugh, how will I know if I made the joke right?" she asked innocently.

Lance shook his head with a chopped sigh, smiling, then took over the ice pack, nudging her around in one motion.

"Before we got off the subject," Lance cleared his throat meaningfully. His free hand grabbed one of hers, then fumbled before sliding up to her wrist. He paused, looking back and forth between Abby and the 'clues'.

Justin grinned at his non-plussed expression.

"I need another hand."

Abby laughed before she could stop herself.

"What for? This is rather entertaining," Chris commented, snickering softly.

Abby looked puzzled. Lance shot him a pleading look. "Justin--"

He relented, pleased that Abby simply seemed amused, and looked quite content to let Lance continue holding her hand.

"Okay, one more time," he agreed, squatting at the foot of the bed and picking up the first item. With a grin, he plopped it on her head.

"Aww, dontcha look cute," he cooed, laughing at the startled expression on her face.

"What on earth…"

"Take this," he ordered, handing her a pinwheel and forcing Lance to release her hand. He examined the other items.

"Ah-ah," Lance warned, "Not yet!"

Justin looked up in time to catch the roll of eyes as Abby dropped her hand.

"Yes, Lancey-poo," her voice oozed sweetness.

Lance grimaced. "You've been hanging around the others too much, it's official."

She laughed. "Too late now!"

"Has anyone told you you're that you're a smartass?"

Abby's face brightened with a grin. "JC! Man, where ya been?" Justin laughed as she imitated their greeting perfectly. "Help me!" she demanded a second later.

"And what would I be rescuing you from?" JC asked, grinning, as he advanced into the room, followed by his brother.

"Torture," Abby intoned solemnly, then her face stiffened with a slight frown. "Who's with you?"

JC looked back at Tyler. "Told ya. Abby, this is Tyler, my younger brother. He's coming with us."

Justin and Chris shot him silencing looks.

Abby gazed in Tyler's direction contemplatively. "Hello, Tyler, nice to meet you," she paused. "Coming with us?"

Justin shook his head. "JC, man, you suck at this game."

Tyler looked back and forth between his confused brother and his friends, and smiled. "Hello. And might I say, what a fine hat you're wearing."

Chris slapped his forehead. "It's genetic."

Tyler laughed. "Nah, I know exactly what I'm doing," he boasted.

"So does every other male in the known world. Yet, they still make maps and those little direction booklets. Go figure," Abby replied dryly, smiling.

"Ouch," Lance murmured, secretly pleased when her attention transferred back to him.

"Aww, did I hurt your feelings?"

"Aww, is the albino feeling abused?" Chris imitated, and Lance eyed the older man warily.

"Don't you come near me, man."

Chris sniffed, pretending to be offended.

"Abigail Prentice!"

Lance jerked around, then laughed, watching Abby investigate the hat they'd plopped on her head.

"You guys take too long," she replied imperturbably, frowning. "What is this?"

"Hit the music, Lance," Justin directed with a groan.

He picked up the cassette recorder, hitting the play button.

"Oh, Gawd, stop," JC pleaded in mock-horror. "Please, stop the torture--" He pretended to die a gruesome death, twitching horribly.

"You know, all our sight gags aren't that impressive since Abs is blind," Chris pointed out thoughtfully.

Lance stopped the tape, watching realization slide over Abby's face, and held his breath, ignoring the others.

She frowned slightly, shaking her head, then blew out a sigh.

"Say yes," he urged quietly, nudging her shoulder with his. "It'll be fun, Abby."

Abby shook her head doubtfully, her drying hair falling over her shoulders as she leaned forward.

"Lance, you're all asking something very--difficult," she murmured. He peered at her face, catching the lines of unhappiness etching her mouth.

"Not so difficult," he countered in an undertone. "A day out. You don't have to stay here all the time. In fact, I've wondered why you stayed here so long. Anna says you're always on the move. Come with us?"

She finally looked at him, and he could have sworn he saw tears in her eyes before she shook her head again. When she looked at him again they were gone.

"The problems involved with me going into a public place are rather--daunting," she mumbled dryly, and he paused, something nibbling at his mind.

"Abby, are you frightened?" he asked without thinking. "We wouldn't let anything happen to you."

Abby drew back, looking startled. "Of course not," she began stiffly. Terrified her eyes told him.

The part of him that advised caution yelled at him to back off, but the small part that was willing to take a risk began to do a mini-cheerleading effort of its own. Push Lance, just a little harder.

"Because I think you'd love Disney World. You've never been, and you're just lucky enough to go with us," he teased.

Abby snorted softly. "Gee, how lucky can one girl get," she drawled.

"Is that a 'yes'?" he asked hopefully.

Abby threw her hands in the air. "Isn't this rather dangerous for all of you?" she asked instead.

"Naw, the rides are pretty sissy compared to some of the ones I've been on," he deliberately mistook her question, smiling as she rolled her eyes.

"Not that, oh exalted one. Being in public."

He laughed briefly. "No, we'll be okay. Even if we do get recognized, Orlando is our hometown, so everyone is a little more used to us." He waited a beat. "Is that a 'yes', Abby?"

She hesitated, looking down at her hands as she fidgeted with the mouse-eared hat. "I dunno, Lance."

"Please?" he wheedled. "Man, you couldn't resist this face right now, I'm telling you," he informed her, grinning at her groan of exasperation.

"Doesn't matter anyway," she muttered. "Alright, I'll go," she capitulated.

"You won't regret--" he started to promise.

"Yahoo!!" They both nearly leaped out of their skin, having forgotten they weren't alone, and Lance looked over to see Justin, JC, and Chris performing a victory dance in the middle of the floor while Tyler shook his head at them.

He rolled his eyes as he caught the chant. "Go albino, go albino, go go…"

He looked back at Abby, her head tilted curiously as she listened.

"On second thought," he muttered, smiling as she laughed, her eyes lighting up.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Did you have fun?" JC asked, leaning against her shoulder companionably at the boat railing. Far beneath them, the prow of the boat plowed through the water, Cinderella's castle receding slowly behind them.

Watching out of the corner of his eye, he saw the smile edge its way out, the lenses of her sunglasses glinting in the early evening sunshine.

"Certain points were--interesting," she agreed solemnly. 

He made a mock-offended sound. "I distinctly heard shrieks of joy," he complained. The smile got bigger.

"I prefer 'screams of terror'," she countered with a laugh. "I've decided that y'all are nuts."

JC smiled. "It makes life more interesting," he mused.

"If you live long enough to see it," Abby snorted.

She smiled, lifting her face up into the cooler breeze.

JC nudged her again. "See? Told ya."

"JC, no one likes a person who says "I told you so.""

"Did I complete that phrase? NO. But did you assume that I would be correct?" he asked smugly.

She grimaced. "How deep is this lake?" she asked the air.

"Abs, I'm mortally wounded," JC claimed with a laugh.

"What did JC do now?" Justin asked curiously.

Abby laughed, turning her head as Justin tugged on the tail of her long braid. "Does he have to do anything?"

"Hey!" JC objected. "I can just feel the love on this boat," he pouted.

"The Love Boat," three voices chimed in as Abby laughed.

A relatively new presence wandered up to her elbow, and Abby smiled, having decided she liked the young man. "My brother and his friends are a bunch of weirdos," Tyler confided in an undertone, and she chuckled.

"You don't have to tell me that. What on earth are they doing?" she asked curiously, feeling the boards beneath her feet vibrate.

"They've formed a chorus line," Tyler informed her, and she could hear him shaking his head. He cleared his throat, turning back to the water. "So, Abby, or would you prefer Abs? Did you enjoy your day out?"

She smiled, resting her elbows on the rail. "Call me whatever you want except Abigail. And, don't tell them, but I did," she confided.

"I'm glad to hear that. Was it alright for me to tag along?"

She released a soft sigh, smiling faintly. "Of course. I think they're all under the impression that I'm unaware of the fact that they have lives when they're not with me," she explained dryly.

"That's not true!" Chris's voice protested from directly behind her, making her jump with surprise. "We were just afraid that if we told about the people in our lives, you wouldn't want to associate with us anymore," he ended, pleased with his explanation.

"I believe I was just insulted," Tyler stated dryly. "C'mere, Chris, I wanna talk with you."

"Uh, not right now," Chris temporized, obviously scrambling for something to save his skin. "Cause Abs promised me a dance!"

"Huh?" The bemused question was cut off as she was spun around, Chris's hands locking around one of her own, the other around her waist. He stuck their arms out to the side, beginning to tango her across the deck.

"Chris!" she yelped, stumbling.

"What?" he yodeled cheerfully.

"I don't dance," she informed him, cheeks burning as she tried to ignore the laughter from their audience.

"Why not?" he inquired, making a sudden sharp turn to retrace their steps. Her feet tripped as she lost his lead, frustration whipping through her.

"Because I feel about as graceful as an overweight hippo. I can't dance." As if to prove her point, she stumbled again, misstepping and accidentally kneeing Chris on the inside of his thigh, causing him to stumble as well.

"You weren't kidding," Chris remarked, finally stopping so Abby could catch her breath.

"No," she muttered.

There was a beat of silence, then Chris offered softly, contrite, for her ears alone, "Hey, I'm sorry." His fingers brushed over her flaming cheek. "I didn't--"

"It's alright," she mumbled, backing away slightly. She forced a stiff shrug. "I don't dance," she reiterated. "I'm going to go sit down."

"Are you mad at me?" Chris grabbed her wrist.

She shook her head, her smile less forced. "Nah. You didn't know, and I can't stay mad at my friends."

She was able to pull away from his surprised grip, reaching for her cane, tucked against her side. But a familiar hand stayed her movement. "I can show you some benches, Abby."

She nodded without hesitation, allowing him to take her elbow and following his lead. Lance threw back a smile at his older friend, winking.

"I don't think I've ever seen Chris at a loss for words."

Justin eyed the tableau curiously, leaning back against the railing beside JC and Tyler as they held a spitting contest over the side. Chris walked over, a strange expression on his face.

"What?" he asked.

"I think I need a tissue," he pretended to sniffle, but there was a truly pleased expression on his face.

JC and Tyler suspended their game for a quick time out. "What?"

"Abs used the "F" word," he informed them tearfully, grinning.

Tyler frowned in mock-thought. "Is it that shocking? I mean, she doesn't look like a potty-mouth, but she has been hanging around y'all."

JC smacked him on the back of the head. "Not that." He grinned, pleased. "Awesome."

"What word, then?" Tyler demanded of the smiling group.

Justin was nodding his head, snapping his fingers to the beat of a song in his head. "Friend," he announced with satisfaction.

Tyler looked at them all oddly. "Why is that--?"

"Because Abs didn't want anything to do with us," JC explained. "We've worn her down," he pretended to gloat, then laughed.

"So you all became obsessed with convincing her to be friends? Some sort of project to keep you occupied while you were on break?" Tyler asked, confused.

"No," Justin negated, mildly annoyed, then looked at JC questioningly. "Have you told him anything?"

JC looked startled, but Tyler replied for him. "Nope. Didn't even know she existed until Jace asked me if I wanted to come to Disney World. Then he told me it was just you guys and this girl I'd never even heard about. That surprised me. Have you told Mom about her?" he asked his brother.

"Has anyone told anyone else about her?" Justin asked into the silence.

"No."

"No."

"Not me. And I would bet Joey hasn't either. Or Lance," Justin added. He looked at the others, disturbed. "Why haven't we? I know that I'm not embarrassed or anything about knowing her--but we've kept her separate, in a way." He stopped, feeling incredibly guilty. "She knows. You know she does. She may not leave, but we don't push either. We tell her about our lives, what's peeving us, but we don't talk about other friends and family. And you heard her comment."

"Because she is separate?" Tyler offered. "I don't know. I knew Jace was going off somewhere with you in his limited free-free time, but he'd just mumble something about a 'friend's place', and drive off."

JC flushed a little. "I did? Sorry, Ty," he mumbled.

Tyler shrugged. "That would explain it. Now that I've been there, I can understand how it would happen. Being there is like being on a different planet, a really nice one. And I could understand not wanting to share that with the outside world, wanting to keep it a secret." He lifted his brows with a smile. "I could also understand wanting to keep Abs under wraps. Not only is she really nice and funny, she's hot," he whistled softly, then jumped as JC slapped the back of his head.

"Don't even think about it," Justin shook his head. "First of all, we've done all the work." He smiled wryly.

Chris nodded in agreement. "She was withdrawn almost to the point of completely checking out when we met her."

Justin nodded. "And second, Lance likes her."

Tyler gaped slightly. "Lance likes her?"

"Yup," JC told him. "So hands off."

Tyler raised his hands, palms out. "I gotcha. But he's known her all this time, and hasn't made a move, obviously," he spoke questioningly.

Chris slapped his forehead. "Even if Lance weren't a little reticent about those of the female persuasion, see above statement, brainiac."

Tyler thought a moment, then grimaced. "Oh--yeah, sorry." He smiled sheepishly.

Chris shook his head. "Like I said. Genetic."

JC glared at him mildly. "Watch your back, old man."

Chris craned his neck to look behind himself. He whistled softly. "Why hasn't anyone ever told me what a fine-looking ass I have?" he asked of no one in particular.

"Put on your glasses and then ask us again," Justin advised, grinning slightly.

Chris sighed long-sufferingly. "No respect," he announced sadly.

"None at all," JC agreed cheerfully, then sobered slightly. "Can we change things?" he asked, switching back to their former conversation.

"Only if Abs is open to it. Not like we can drag her along. A screaming blind girl tends to rouse suspicion," Chris pointed out.

"Thanks for the input," Justin told him dryly. "Though Chris is partially right."

"She came here, though, didn't she?" Tyler asked.

Justin nodded with a smile. "True."

He stared out at the glinting water thoughtfully.

"What about the Fourth?" Tyler finally asked.

"What?" he asked defensively as the three men stared at him blankly. "You weren't saying anything. We usually plan to have a huge cookout and fireworks at someone's house; bunches of people will be there for your big send-off, so--"

JC noogied him affectionately, then looked at Chris with a superior smile. "Anything else you'd like to say about my family tree?"

Chris snickered. "JC, have you ever wondered if you were adopted?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Abby sank down onto the wooden bench with a weary sigh, stretching out her legs and scrunching her toes inside her athletic shoes.

"Tired?" Lance asked softly, and she nodded.

"I haven't walked this much since Su--" she cut herself off abruptly, then took a deep breath. "Since Sunny," she completed.

His fingers touched the back of her hand, his shoulder leaning against hers in silent comfort, and she smiled faintly. "It's okay," she assured him quietly.

"Somehow, I don't think it'll ever be okay."

Her head tilted, puzzled at the note of emotion in his voice. "It gets easier," she assured him. She sighed, feeling the doubt in him. "It does, Lance," she promised, staring forward as memories of Sunny crowded closer. The grief was still there, padding on soft feet around her soul, but it was muted now. Careful vigilance would keep it there.

"We worry about you," he stated abruptly.

She smiled, staring off into the distance. It was incredible how one simple little phrase could make the whole world seem brighter no matter how unrelenting the darkness. "Thank you," she murmured.

His hand closed around hers more firmly. "You shouldn't have to thank people for caring," he stated, a note of disapproval in his voice.

She shrugged, heart beating a little faster as she turned their hands palm to palm, squeezing his gently. But her reward was the reciprocal gesture he gave her, and the weight of his shoulder against hers. She took a breath. "There are many kinds of dysfunctional families, and the loving, stable kind are a minority. But you never know, maybe I'm just thanking you for letting me crush your hand all day."

He laughed quietly. "No, I deserve a medal for that."

She grinned. "Hey, you offered. Do doctors go around touting how many patients they saved that day?" she teased.

He snorted, looking down into her shining eyes behind the shades. This was his reward. She was easy with him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Flashback~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

"Since I'm not being paid the big bucks, I'll take what I can get," he replied dryly.

"You mean my everlasting gratitude and all the ice cream you can eat isn't enough?" Abby frowned, then stuck out her lower lip in a devastating pout.

He shook his head with a smile. "Where'd you learn to do that?"

A smile brightened her face. "Was that one good? I've been taking tips from Justin."

He sank back into the wooden back of the bench, laughing until tears came to his eyes. "I don't think we've been a good influence on you."

His thoughts paused as her smile turned shyly happy. "No, you've all been a very good influence on me. I never thought I'd be…"

"Be what?" he prodded carefully, pulse tripping.

"Happy," Abby murmured. "I was tolerating life, occasionally content, but I've never been happy since before…" She took a deep breath. "Life will be very boring once you're all gone," she tacked on lightly.

He succumbed to instinct, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her close for an affectionate hug. "We're sneaky that way. But don't think you'll get rid of us that easily. We like to come back and torment the people we know so they won't miss us too much."

Abby laughed, resting her head against his shoulder. "Who said I was going to miss you?" she prevaricated. "I only have a little over a week before I can finally get rid of you all. I'll deal with the boredom," she declared with studied indifference.

"Awww, that's right. Be strong. That's my girl," he drawled, grinning as Abby yelped and tried to bat away his hands as they went for her sides.

When she was laughing helplessly, he stopped, happiness filling him as she leaned against his side, yawning.

"Lance?" her voice was so quiet he almost missed it.

"What?" he whispered back.

"I will miss you all," she admitted in a small voice.

He sighed deeply, brushing the damp curls back from her temple. "Same here, Abby--" Disappointment panged as the captain announced imminent docking.

Abby groaned and muttered a mild epithet, assuaging some of the disappointment. Tyler appeared next to them, shooting him an apologetic look.

"Hey, Abs, would you do me the honor of escorting me? I have a few questions for you."

Abby frowned, then shrugged. "Sure." She struggled upright, and Tyler disappeared into the disembarking crowd with her. Lance frowned, watching them go.

"Problems, Lancey-poo?" Chris inquired.

Lance turned to find his friends smiling at him benevolently.

"No, not at all. Why would you think that?" he asked innocently, gaining his feet.

"Because if your eyes weren't already green, they would be right now," Justin laughed. Lance rolled his eyes.

"Shut up. I am not jealous," he denied.

"You said it, I didn't," Justin replied cheerily.

"Don't worry, we sent Ty over because we need to talk with you about something. We feel really bad we had to interrupt your little romantic interlude, though," JC offered, grinning.

Lance rubbed a hand over his hot cheeks. "Guys--" he groaned. "You wanted me to be friends. I'm being friends."

"Uhhhhmmm," Chris nodded, steering him towards the dock. "Anyway, here's our thoughts."

"This shouldn't take too long," he mumbled.

"Shut up and listen."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I can't," Abby shook her head, shoving papers into a folder roughly, clearly agitated.

"Why not?" Joe pouted. "C'mon, I couldn't do Disney. Come party with us, Abs."

Abby shook her head shortly, biting her lip.

"I can't, Joe," she repeated, standing suddenly, her chair shooting out behind her.

"But why?" Justin took up the refrain as she hesitated tensely behind the wide barrier. It was two days later and the discussion was not going well. "This is our Fourth of July and our big send-off, Abs. We want you to be there."

Abby's face darkened at the mention of their departure for the second leg of their tour.

"I know, superstar. I just…can't."

"'Can't' isn't a reason," JC told her softly. "I think 'won't' is a better word."

Abby shrugged helplessly, then turned her gaze in Lance's direction. "Anything you'd like to say?" her voice was faintly bitter.

"Not really," Lance spoke gently. "Except that we'd really like to have you there."

Her face wrinkled in a pained frown, and she pinched the bridge of her nose. "This is a family thing--"

"And friends," Justin inserted. He saw the quick nods from his friends as he took a deep breath. "We want you to know that we never meant to exclude you from the rest of our lives. Somehow you ended up being separate from everything again, and this time it was us doing it. And we feel awful about that."

Abby was shaking her head. "That's not true."

"Yes, it is. Though it's partially your fault for letting us get away with it," Chris informed her sternly. "You need to start demanding that consideration, Abs. If you really want to be our friend, then you need to take an interest in us too. And that involves the scope of our lives beyond our time here. We're tired of being the only ones to reach out."

A shocked look flared across her face before her features tightened defensively.

Lance cursed inwardly. It was too soon. She would retreat.

"Miss Abby, I need to speak with you, now," they all jerked around in surprise as Anna announced herself from the doorway. "Clear out, guys," she ordered, lips tight, her eyes snapping.

They exchanged wide-eyed glances before hurriedly clearing out of the room. They filed down to the kitchen as the office door shut firmly behind her. They sat down, Chris and Joe absently picking up cookies off the plate on the counter.

"What is she talking to her about, do you think?" Joey asked thoughtfully.

"I dunno, but I hope she's on our side," Chris answered wryly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"What, exactly, are you trying to do?"

"What?" Abby snapped defensively.

"Child," Anna sighed suddenly. "You can't mourn them forever."

Abby's eyes widened, her face crumbling slightly. Her fists clenched. "I'm not--"

"You are," Anna countered. "You carry them like trump cards in your soul, aces up your sleeve that you play whenever there's a threat to your isolated little world. But you can't use them like that to avoid life."

Abby straightened proudly. "I am not avoiding life." She threw out her hand in a wild gesture. "What about them? I let them in! I went against everything inside that told me to avoid them at all costs, and what am I facing now? They're leaving! Am I supposed to go amongst strangers and smile happily as they say their goodbyes?" she demanded hoarsely, the carefully guarded pain escaping.

"No," Anna concurred softly. "You're supposed to have faith that this isn't a 'goodbye'. Just a 'see you later, wish me well'."

Abby snorted, chin trembling. "I've already fixed that. I'm not going anywhere except away from here. I've decided. I'm going to fly back up to New York tomorrow. Then maybe Europe. I've wasted enough time down here as it is."

"You hush, right now," Anna rapped. "Your parents may have never had to spank you, but I will take you over my knee, child, in a heartbeat. You're talking nonsense, and I won't have it."

Abby lifted her chin proudly, stung by the rebuke. "I've lived alone all my life just fine. I've tried this friendship thing, and I'm sure I can live just fine without it."

Anna laughed softly, and Abby flushed.

"Don't--"

"Why are you so frightened, child?"

The walls inside her tumbled slowly. "I'm not--"

"You are." The smell of cinnamon and vanilla swirled around her as Anna pulled her close. Tears filled her eyes, clogging her throat. She felt her mother's embrace again, so faint it was only a pale echo in her memory. She swallowed repeatedly as Anna pulled away slightly.

"Friendship is more than giving them facts and accepting them into the periphery of your life. You have to let them into your life. But more than that, you have to let them in your soul."

Fear gripped her in icy claws. "Anna--"

A gentle finger tipped her chin up.

"You don't have to be alone. You don't have to grieve forever. You're allowed to find some happiness, child. You're allowed to--"

"Allowed to what?"

"Allowed to have fun, child. Be a regular person." That's not what Anna had meant to say, but Abby didn't question her.

"I'll never be a regular person though. I'll never--"

"Never say never. And you have to try something before you can rule it out of the realm of possibility. You should know that, Miss."

Abby was silent.

"Miss Abby?"

She sighed.

"I promised I'd try," she voiced softly.

"You have to do more than try, child. They're beginning to understand this. They separated you from the rest of their lives unconsciously, but you--you did it deliberately," Abby charged quietly.

Abby closed her eyes, pain throbbing behind them.

"Don't you understand, child?"

"Understand what?" she asked in a whisper.

"This is your chance, child."

She shook her head slowly, sighing. "Chance for what?"

"For anything you want."

Abby frowned at the cryptic answer. She sighed.

"Sometimes I don't know what I want," she whispered helplessly.

"Wrong. You know exactly what you want. Otherwise, why would you have gone to Disney World? You've already started to accept them into your heart, child. They've found their way into your emotions, in a way that you haven't been able to rationalize out. Now you just have to decide if you're going to let the past rule your life forever."

Abby's eyes widened as Anna's words found their mark.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They all looked up, startled, as Abby padded into the kitchen on quiet feet, going to the fridge and finding a bottle of water. She padded back to the doorway, then looked back at them with a tentative smile.

"I don't like pickles on my hamburgers. And I want two slices of cheese."

She disappeared back down the hallway as they stared after her, mildly stunned. Joey gave a whoop of excitement, jumping up and sprinting after her.

They heard her muffled yelp of surprise, then ripples of laughter as Joe took off down the hall with her, obviously headed outside.

Justin whistled softly, bopping his head to a rhythmless beat. "Thank you, Anna."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 "Lance?" Abby's call stopped him in his tracks, and he pivoted, going through the kitchen doorway rather than continuing on to the office.

"Abby, what are you doing in the kitchen?" he teased, shoving his hands into his shorts pockets. "We're going to eat as soon as we haul your carcass back to--" his voice trailed off as he took in the other three people sitting at the table eating.

They all regarded him as coolly as he did them, except for Cecile, who blushed slightly.

"Lance, my relatives decided to pay me a visit, isn't that just lovely?" Abby asked, deadpan, and he looked over at her.

She sat on the countertop by the sink, her arms crossed, a carefully neutral expression on her face.

"Yes, how nice," he agreed, sliding a glance at them before approaching her.

"Do you want us to leave?" he asked softly, so only she could hear.

Her lips tightened, and he watched her eyes darken. She shook her head. "Stay," she murmured. His gaze fell with the movement of her hand, and then hesitantly placed his within hers. She tugged him forward, and he realized what she wanted a split-second later.

He hopped up on the counter beside her, sitting close enough to feel the heat from the bare skin of her thigh against his and smell the shower-fresh scent of her shampoo and perfume.

She nudged him gently, asking softly, "Who else?"

"Just Chris. He was trying to catch a chameleon by the house."

That brought a faint smile.

"Abigail, were you planning on introducing us?" the carefully cultured, cool tones sliced through their brief conversation, and he watched a guard slip over Abby's eyes.

He looked up into a pair of icy, pale blue eyes that were in the process of evaluating him.

"No," he heard Abby sigh before clearing her throat.

"Lance, this is my aunt, Claire. You've met Cecile. And a Mr. Jackson Carter, a friend of Cecile's," she completed in the same neutral voice.

He nodded, "Nice to meet you," he greeted politely, examining the interlopers that made Abby so tense.

The older woman was pretty in an uptight, calculating way. Razor thin and perfectly pressed, she wore her frosted blonde hair in an elegantly chic style to compliment her designer linen suit, which was wildly out of place in the sticky heat. He skimmed over Cecile, pinning his gaze on the preppy, hawkish young man in the polo shirt and chinos who looked to be about his age.

Jackson smiled slowly in response to Abby's introduction, speaking smoothly. "Call me Jackson, please, Abigail. I'm sure we'll be great friends."

Lance's hackles rose as he caught the covetous look in Carter's stare as he ran his eyes over Abby.

Abby's face tightened briefly, and he nearly smirked at the other man when she deliberately leaned against his shoulder.

"Oh, really?" she remarked without interest. "I don't think we'll have time for that. I know how Claire dislikes the humidity and heat."

"Oh, Abigail, we planned on staying for at least a week," her aunt countered. "I'll tolerate the heat, since Cece so wanted to stay long enough to get a tan and show Jackson around."

"A week?" Abby echoed, her heart sinking.

Lance sighed as he saw their plans for the Fourth and the short time before they left to tour go down in flames. Then Abby's lips tightened firmly.

"How nice for you and Cecile, Claire. However, I already have plans for this week, which can't be changed because you decided to show up unannounced."

Lance brightened and nearly cheered aloud at the shocked looks on their faces.

Claire recovered after a second. "Abigail," she scolded. "I can't think of a thing that would be more important than showing hospitality to your relatives since I know for a fact that you don't have anyone else."

Abby visibly bristled at the lecture. "More's the pity," she snapped, and Claire's face reddened as she sent an apologetic look at Jackson.

"Please pardon my niece, Jackson. I've tried and tried to instruct her on--"

"Shut it, Claire," Abby ordered. "Don't make excuses for me. If he doesn't like me, I couldn't give a rat's ass."

Claire and Cecile visibly winced, but Jackson smiled charmingly.

"On the contrary, I enjoy your outspokenness, Abigail. I find it quite refreshing."

Lance felt the muscles in his back and shoulders tighten.

Abby snorted. "Whatever," she dismissed. "Don't try to charm me into liking you, Carter. I may not be able to see it, but I can smell b.s. from a hundred paces."

Lance stifled a snicker, catching sight of Chris as he ducked out of the kitchen doorway, grinning brightly.

Claire groaned and covered her face, her careful façade cracking. "Jesus, Abigail, can you be any more rude?"

Abby smirked. "Would you like me to try?" She turned her gaze in Jackson's direction. "Nothing else to say, Carter?"

He was struggling to recover, Lance noted with inward glee. Like Claire, his cultivated exterior could only take so many frontal attacks. His smile was strained as he opened his mouth again, proceeding to stick his foot further down his throat.

"Forgive me if I've done something to offend, Abigail. I'd forgotten that exceptions must be made."

It was the wrong thing to say, and Lance stared at the man in mild awe. Was he a complete idiot? Even Cecile knew it, sinking down into her seat and staring at her plate.

"Exceptions?" Abby asked carefully.

"Yes, for your handicap," he added solicitously. "It certainly changes things. I have to remember to be more careful about what I say."

My God, he was. Lance shook his head, watching with a suppressed smile as Abby's lips curved into a predatory smile.

"If, for some Godforsaken reason, I were to ever want to carry on a conversation with you, my being blind has no effect on anything I say. It certainly does not affect how I hear anything. I do, however, take exception to being called handicapped. I am far from being handicapped, Carter. It helps me weed out the ones who are trying to cozy up to me for money even faster."

Jackson's face went beet red, and he stuttered briefly. "Miss Prentice! I'm not--"

"Cecile will not receive a penny from her trust until she turns twenty-one, Mr. Carter, were you aware of that?" Abby inquired. "And even then, she receives only a monthly allowance to live on."

"Abigail," Cecile finally protested. "He doesn't want me for the money! He has money in his own right! He likes me for me," she declared righteously.

Abby made a doubtful sound. "Somehow, Cecile--" 

 Two green projectiles suddenly whizzed through the air, hitting the table. Cecile shrieked with surprise, and Lance watched with amusement as Jackson Carter leaped back from the table, panicked.

Claire backed away slowly with her hand at her throat.

"Good Lord, Abigail, your house is infested with pests," she exclaimed indignantly.

The small lizards, having frozen at the commotion, now scampered around the table. Cecile moaned, clutching Jackson.

"What is all the ruckus about?" Abby finally asked.

"Flying chameleons," he told her, trying not to laugh.

Abby caught on instantly, her eyes brightening. "Oh--really. Why don't you collect our lizard aviators, and we'll put them back in their natural habitat?"

He hopped off the counter, catching the reptiles when they froze at his approach, and followed Abby out of the kitchen, throwing a last glance back at the hyperventilating trio. "It's safe now."

Abby laughed softly as Chris picked her up and spun her around in the hallway. "My thanks to the dreaded wonder."

"Welcome," Chris accepted his reptilian friends from Lance, congratulating them on their exploits and promising them a lot of bugs for their efforts.

Lance shook his head. "So what does this mean?"

"It means that my relatives are going to have to fend for themselves--"

"Abigail?" Cecile asked tentatively from the doorway.

Abby sighed. "What, Cecile?"

"Please, can I talk to you?"

Abby walked over to her cousin reluctantly, holding a quiet, intense conversation.

Lance watched for a minute, then turned to look at Chris, nearly jumping out of his skin when he stared down a snout to a beady pair of eyes.

"Criminy, Chris!" He took a step back. "Can you act normal for a few minutes at a time?" he demanded humorously.

"Guys?" Abby's voice brought them both around. "I won't be able to come."

Disappointment speared him, but he forced a light note to his voice. "We understand."

Abby's brow wrinkled, and she sighed. "Cecile wants us to be together as a family tonight very badly. I dunno--" She glanced back at the kitchen. "We used to be close," her mumbled comment was nearly lost.

Chris smiled solemnly. "It's okay, Abby. We understand. We'll just save some fireworks to let off at the lake before we go."

Her face fell, and she shook her head slowly. "You guys will be real busy getting everything done last minute. I won't hold my breath," she smiled faintly.

"No, we wi--"

"Don't make promises, please, Lance."

He sucked in a breath as her arms slid around his waist, hugging him tightly. Surprise held him still for a second before Chris poked him in the back. He returned the embrace with careful fierceness, his heart feeling like lead.

Abby pulled back with a shy smile. "Just in case." He watched with a sinking heart as she hugged Chris.

"Wish JC, Justin, and Joe luck for me, and give 'em a hug. Tell them I'm sorry, too."

"We will," Chris promised when the words didn't emerge from Lance. Chris had to physically urge him to the door.

"Bye, guys," Abby's voice reached them softly, and he turned his head, catching the expression of bleakness before it smoothed out.

"Not goodbye," Chris negated. "We'll be back to torture you sooner than you might think," he threatened, deliberately keeping the mood light.

A smile flickered out.

"Abigail?" Claire's imperious voice inquired. Abby's head turned, her smile fading.

"Just remember that there are lizards everywhere," Chris called, the screen door slamming behind them.

They listened for the quick laugh the comment drew before heading to the car and climbing in.

"Lance?" Chris asked, getting into the driver's side when Lance climbed into the passenger's.

"What?" he dredged up the words.

"You okay, man?"

He sighed softly, trying to divorce himself from the tangled emotions.

"Yeah." Liar.

"Are you sure?"

He watched the series of fairy-tale lakes pass by.

"Yeah. I just wasn't--It ended quicker than--"

"I know."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Abby hunched her shoulders, resting her chin on her knees as the lake breeze ruffled the escaping strands of hair.

Fourth of July.

Around her, her aunt and cousin, and Jackson, of course, held a polite conversation about the ideals of landscaping, a picnic dinner of lemon chicken and iced champagne spread out around them.

Whatever Cecile had wanted, she seemed to have forgotten, ignoring her as always.

She sighed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I'm open!!" JC grunted as he caught the ball, and Lance made a half-hearted lunge towards him, watching as Tyler tackled his brother gleefully.

"Dinner's ready!!" Justin's mom hollered.

The lawn immediately cleared as everyone rushed towards the laden tables where various aunts and mothers had been keeping guard until the burgers and hot dogs could be cooked.

Lance smiled and replied dryly to the teasing comment directed at his stellar football skills, taking a place in line as a foam plate was thrust into his hands.

He sighed softly, catching Justin's sympathetic look.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Abby listened quietly as the shrill whistles exploded into booming sparks above them, hearing her companions 'ooh' and 'ahh' politely.

When the short display was over, they clapped politely.

"Thank you, Raymond," she called, knowing he'd been hard-pressed to find the fireworks on such short notice.

"You're welcome, Miss."

"Do you need anything, Miss Abby?" Anna asked gently.

"No. Go home and relax. We'll clean up tomorrow."

She felt the brief clasp of Anna's hand before she and Ray moved back up the beach.

"Are you coming in, Abigail?" Claire asked.

"No. The spare rooms have been made up."

"Thank you, dear. Happy Fourth."

The darkness hid her wince.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lance laughed, wolf-whistling with the others as a parade of fireworks lit the sky in bright explosions.

Wild cheers and shrieks of excitement emerged from the youngest to oldest with each booming explosion. Sparklers dotted the lawn, bobbing around as their small owners took to their feet. He laughed along with the others as Chris decided to join them, writing dirty words in the air until JC and Joe tackled him.

He managed to squirm away as he was cheered on, running around merrily until Justin appeared with his own sparkler. They commenced dueling like professional fencers, and Lance chuckled, tipping his head back as light exploded again.

He felt hands squeeze his shoulders, and smiled at his mother as she leaned over him.

"I'm going to miss my boy," she told him in between explosions. He nodded in agreement, returning the hug, and resting very briefly against her shoulder. He felt her hands stroke his hair.

"Okay?"

Red and green bathed the sky. "Yeah."

He sighed.

"Yeah."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Abigail? Did you sleep out here?" Jackson Carter's oily voice intruded upon the solitude of the early morning.

She snarled softly on the inside.

"No," she answered simply. It was true. She hadn't slept.

There was a beat of silence, during which it was too much to hope that he would take the hint and leave.

"Abigail, I wish to apologize again for--"

"I don't care, Carter," she interrupted. A deep sigh worked out of her. "I don't care." The sun crested the horizon, and she closed her burning eyes with the sudden heat.

She rested her forehead on her knees, ignoring the other man as longing speared through her, desperately wishing he were someone else.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Are you taking this?"

Lance looked up and shook his head silently as Justin offered the suit for his decision.

"No, if we need to get dressed up, they'll rent something for us."

Justin rehung the suit, turning back around and watching as Lance methodically packed his bag. He shoved his hands in his pockets, wandering around the room.

"I'm going back to say goodbye," he announced abruptly, watching Lance out of the corner of his eye.

Lance paused, then nodded. "Okay."

Justin frowned at his guarded tone.

"What? Is something wrong?"

Lance sat back on his heels, running a hand through his hair.

"I'm not sure if it wouldn't be easier for her if we didn't go back, none of us. That night, she was pretty final."

"I want to say goodbye, just like to all of my friends," Justin informed him, hurt. "So do JC and Joey."

Lance looked up guiltily. "I know, man, but you didn't see her face."

Justin dropped down to the floor in front of the closet. "Why? Was she upset?"

Lance nodded. "Have you thought about what we're leaving her with?" he asked, the thoughts having stewed for several days in his mind.

"You tell me, you've spent the most time with her," Justin requested.

Lance looked at him, surprised. "Me?"

Justin nodded, hooking his hands around his knees. "Yeah. You're surprised?" A smile beamed out at him, and Lance shook his head.

"I know what you were trying to do, J."

Justin shrugged. "Trying to do?"

Lance stared at him piercingly. "Don't play dumb."

Justin's smile quirked. "Lance, my man, think about this one for a minute. Yeah, I wanted you to be friends so things wouldn't be uncomfortable, but you did the rest yourself."

Lance opened his mouth to retort, then snapped it shut. What is the 'rest' that I did? His mind went around and around that thought. Anymore, he wasn't sure of anything except for the feeling that a big hole was going to appear in his life when he wasn't able to spend time with Abby, talk with her. He'd never talked with any girl like he'd talked with her.

He looked up as Abby's soft voice grabbed his attention.  

He took a deep breath, staring blankly down at the now full duffel bag.

"I'm done except for my toothbrush and stuff. I'll take those last along with my laptop," he spoke absently.

"Cool," Justin agreed, climbing to his feet. "I'm going to run home and see what's up, make sure Chris doesn't forget anything. You want to do anything today?"

He shrugged, feeling distinctly tired. "Not really. We should probably get rested up. You know how hard it is to sleep on the bus at first."

"Yeah," Justin agreed. Lance looked over to find him staring thoughtfully at the picture collage over his desk.

"We don't have any pictures of Abs," he announced suddenly.

He hesitated, then shrugged again. "No, guess not."

"That bites. We should get some."

"Yeah."

"Lance?" Justin asked thoughtfully.

Lance rubbed the back of his neck, going over to stare inside the closet.

"What?"

"We could always ask her to come with us."

When he turned, Justin was gone.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Abby's eyes cracked open as the first rays of warmth hit them, wincing. Not being able to sleep until exhaustion demanded it made for sore eyes in the morning.

She sat up, yawning. They were leaving tonight. Her lips tightened at the silent reminder.

Abby pushed her aching body out of the wicker deck chair, refolding the blanket she pulled over herself sometime during the night. She padded through the sleeping house on quiet feet, slipping into her office and shutting the door.

Her guests would not be up for several hours, and she cherished the peace that lingered.

"Computer?"

"Activated. Ready for directives," the pleasant female voice replied seconds later.

"NYSE, Nasdaq closing quotes."

She went over to collapse in the leather desk chair, listening with half an ear as the numbers were reeled off.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"For how long, Justin?"

"I dunno. However long she can put up with us. Does anyone have a problem with her being around?"

"No."

"No."

"No, but we're not the ones you should be asking that."

"Do you think he'll refuse?"

"Maybe. Doubt it. He's already missing her. But we have to think about whether it'll be harder for him if she's there all the time."

"We can't foresee the future. This might be the best thing for him. Maybe someone who isn't in the same kind of business is better for him."

"You're reaching on that one, and it hasn't been that long--"

"No, I'm not. Abs has both the money and inclination to do whatever she wants to do at any given moment. If she wanted to see him, she can. Simple as that. She doesn't have a set schedule or definite time commitments; she's already told us that."

"That's a good argument, Curly. But you also have to think about the fact that maybe she won't want to come."

Silence.

"What's brewing inside there, J?"

"Lance could convince her."

"Then you better hope we can convince Lance."

"We?"

"Don't gloat. We feel like schmucks already."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Abby looked up as the door opened.

"Do you plan on spending all day, every day inside this office?" Anna asked with a sigh.

Abby shrugged. "What else is there for me to do?"

"You could go see the horses."

"Maybe later," she replied softly.

"How much later?"

Abby shrugged.

"Do you miss them that much?"

Abby paused, her heart feeling like breakable glass. "I'll get over it. It's just the stress of the situation."

"When are they leaving?"

"Tonight."

"Will you let them go without saying goodbye?"

Her eyes closed. "I already did."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lance walked through the screen door; the noon day sun was too hot to dawdle outside.

"Justin? Guys? What was with the message you left on my machine?" Silence answered him.

"In the den, Lance!" Justin called seconds later.

He made his way to the room, finding the others grouped around an odd pile on the low table.

"What's going on?"

Something came flying through the air, and he reflexively caught it.

"What--?"
He stared down at the beanie in his hands, a smile crooking up his mouth. The beanie knight was clothed in shiny silver cloth armor, his legs wrapped around the sides of his white charger. A folded piece of paper fluttered from the tip of his lance, and he pulled it off, opening it curiously.

He looked up slowly, seeing the others holding small momentos of their own.

"The grand send-off," Chris mumbled quietly, twirling a vinyl sleeve between his hands.

"Lance, I talked to Anna," Justin began.

He played gently with the plush knight, sinking down onto the couch. "She's holed herself up, hasn't she?"

"Yeah," Justin confirmed. "She talks in monosyllables and barely sleeps. Her relatives have settled in for the long haul, and she just keeps pulling farther away."

"She'll be fine, we all know that," he pointed out, playing devil's advocate.

"Yeah," Justin looked at the others unhappily. "But--I feel partially responsible. Dammit," he started to pace. "Why does this always happen?" he demanded of no one in particular. "You meet someone and try to build a friendship, and bam! we have to leave again. She going to be gone when we get back. I'm surprised she hasn't disappeared already. She thinks of this as a last goodbye," he gestured to the items they held in their hands.

"She's almost 21. She's lived alone a long time. What makes you think that anything we do has that big of an effect on her?" Lance questioned, already knowing the answer to that question. He kept his face blank as he waited.

"Because I've listened to her," Justin stated quietly. "And she's done the same for me."

Having watched the exchange silently, JC finally prodded. "Lance?"

Lance crossed his arms, leveling his gaze at Justin. "She's your friend. You could have asked her to come yourself, and I wouldn't have objected. What are you planning, J?"

Justin sat down, relieved. "Nothing. It's all up to you."

"Me??"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Heavy footsteps came to the door, pausing, and she groaned silently. "Carter, I swear to God, if I had a gun--"

The doorknob clicked open., whispering across the rug.

"For the last time, Carter--" she began through clenched teeth, then stopped, stiffening.

"Lance?" her voice croaked, surprise and slow, spiraling pain holding her still. You weren't supposed to come back. Why did you come back?

A soft laugh. "Hey, magic."

It took everything inside her not to visibly flinch. "Lance--" Yet again, they managed to render her speechless. "Why--" she groped for words.

"We changed our minds."

She stared at him blankly, throat hurting as he came closer, hopping up to sit on the edge of her desk as he always did.

"Changed your minds?" she echoed softly. "I didn't think that was an option, Lance."

"Nah, not about touring." The light note in his voice strained slightly. He was nervous, tense about something.

"I already said--I," she fumbled, fidgeting with the pen on her desk.

"Goodbye?" he asked quietly. "That's not really fair, Abby girl."

She twisted away, hiding her face. "I wanted to give you something to remember me by, is that a bad thing?"

"Yes," Lance answered simply. She jerked with surprise when her chair spun back around, Lance's voice coming from below her. His hands held the chair firmly. "You're going to disappear, right? That doesn't seem like you, Abby."

"I always disappear, Lance," she muttered, flushing.

"Like with your charities and projects?" he prodded. "You only choose to disappear, Abby. Your choice. Only this time, don't we have a say in it too?"

"What--what are you talking about?" she asked, caught off guard.

"I guess there's no easy way to put this," Lance sighed. "And we don't have much time. Abby, how would you like to discover the wilds of the States from the great American tour bus?"

Abby sat silently, absorbing his words. Shock fluttered across her face.

"You're joking."

He shook his head. "Nope."

"Then you're drunk."

He laughed, trying to swallow the tense feeling at the back of his throat. "Nope. Sober as a judge."

She smiled faintly. "I've known a lot of alcoholic benchwarmers," she murmured.

"Abby?"

"What?" she sighed.

"Say yes."

She laughed shortly. "You never used to be this pushy."

"Nah, you're just beginning to see the real me. The many layers of the great Mississippi albino."

"Like a white onion," Abby murmured absently.

"Are you saying I stink?" he asked dryly.

Abby blinked, widening her eyes. "You said it, I didn't."

"But you thought it, and put it out into the universe, didn't you?"

Her laughter rang out, and he smiled. "This," he inserted quietly.

Abby sobered abruptly, hesitant again. "This?"

"This is why we need you on the bus. I get tired of testing my wits on the others. I always feel guilty about dueling with the unarmed."

Abby smiled wanly. "Lance--"

"What will you do? As long as you have your laptop and cell, you can do your thing from anywhere, right?"

"Yeah," she answered reluctantly.

"I know you'll miss Anna and Ray, but will you miss anyone else?"

She glared at him half-heartedly. "No, and that's not fair."

"How long since you've had a vacation? Have you ever been on a road trip while old enough to really enjoy it?"

Abby slumped back. "No, you know that," she complained. "Lance--"

"Will you really miss us?" he asked softly, heart beating faster. Her face fell, lashes fluttering down to conceal her eyes.

"If you really meant it about reaching out, this might help accomplish it," he played his trump card, holding his breath.

Her face tightened with the conflict.

"Are you sure?" she finally asked uncertainly, biting her lip. "I don't know if…"

She sighed, looking torn. He smiled before reining it in.

"You've spent all your living essentially alone," Lance told her quietly. "Why not come with us? It's not a commitment. Our life is crazy, and you may decide you hate it, and you can leave if that's what you want."

Abby sank back in her chair, rubbing the bridge of her nose.

"Abby? C'mon, Abby, what have you got to lose?"

"From what JC says, sleep," Abby countered weakly. "And privacy, and peace and quiet."

"They're very overrated anyway," Lance declared humorously, then sobered. "I know from experience that tour and bus life is hectic, but…"

"But what?" Abby asked curiously when he fell silent.

"It's hard to explain," he sighed after a moment. "You've been to many places. But you haven't been to them with us. It's an experience like no other," he chuckled softly.

Abby smiled slightly, then shook her head. "Why? Why is this so important?"

"I--We don't really have a concrete reason. We want you to come, have some fun. Call it the vacation of a lifetime."

A finger touched her chin lightly, tipping her head up. "We just want you to be happy. And we're being a little selfish because we'd like to keep in touch with you. But what do you want?"

Abby's eyes widened, and she took a deep breath, worries crowding her face.

"My handicap is a real thing, and a problem. Are you all sure you want to deal with that?"

"We wouldn't have asked if we didn't want you along," Justin said firmly from the door.

Abby smiled wanly, her head tilting as she listened to the other four wander in. "You've only had a taste of it; you haven't seen how much of a problem--"

"Justin wasn't kidding. We kinda figured all the new scenery would require a few adjustments. But that's okay," Chris seconded, walking in and seating himself on the couch.

"What about the fans, the media, the public?" Abby tried.

"You're our friend, you're blind, you're touring with us. Any other questions?" JC answered that one.

"Management?" Abby sighed.

"They know we bring people with us on occasion. Family, friends. You're just going to be an extended guest, for however long you'd like to stay," Joe replied.

"What about your privacy? How will you like a female taking up residence with you?" Abby asked, a little desperate.

After a quick glance at Lance, who was sitting back on his heels beside her chair, Chris answered. "Naw, that's the great thing about this, Abs," he declared cheerfully. "We can all walk around buck naked, and you wouldn't know."

A startled expression flared across her face, sparking stifled snickers. She coughed, looking around at them strangely.

"You…haven't…been doing that, have you?" she asked cautiously. "There are just some mental pictures I don't need."

"I think I'm offended," Justin pouted.

Abby grinned slightly. "Superstar, I--" She cut herself off from completing the sentence, a blush tinting her cheeks. I can only see what I touch.

"Ooohh, is Abs having dirty thoughts?" Chris teased, and Lance looked at her quickly, catching the flare of color on her cheekbones before she ducked her head.

She laughed, shaking her head as she struggled to recover. "Chris, you're the one thinking about running around me buck naked, not I."

"Actually, only Lance has done it," Chris replied imperturbably.

Lance slapped his forehead, feeling his face go up in flames. "Can we get back to the subject at hand?" he mumbled desperately.

Abby shook her head, reaching down and rubbing his hair affectionately. "Nah, I think I like this subject a lot better. Now what's this I hear…?"

"Certain people stole my clothes while I was showering here. I wasn't, however, buck naked. I was wearing a towel," he stated defensively. "And that's all the information I'm giving out."

"We forgot to take the towel," Joe supplied. Lance glared at him.

"We'll get it right the next time," Chris added, smiling as Lance rolled his eyes.

Abby chuckled, teasing, "Lance, are you blushing?" She touched his cheek with her palm, startling him into jerking his head. His lips brushed the heel of her thumb, and her eyes widened in confusion at the tingling contact. She took a breath, withdrawing her hand quickly.

"Yeah, you made him blush," Abby managed lightly, raising an eyebrow. "Somehow I think it was on purpose. If you're going to be mean to him all the time around me, maybe I shouldn't..."

"They're always mean to me," Lance countered automatically, focusing intently on her face. Had he seen it? Just for a second?

Abby grimaced, crossing her arms. "And they want someone else along to browbeat?" she asked dryly.

"Nah, if we get tired of Lance, there's always Joey," Justin assured her.

"Hey," Joe started.

JC shushed him. "We won't lie to you. The bus gets crowded, even claustrophobic sometimes. We get on each other's nerves. We get bored and argue. The schedule is tiring and hectic. Sometimes we'll be there, and sometimes we won't. But there's nothing like it. If you're really interested in sponsoring the next tour, this will show you what it's really like."

Abby was silent as she pondered. When Justin opened his mouth, Chris shook his head.

Abby looked up, the inner voice of caution screaming at her. What are you thinking?! You aren't going to do this, are you? Are you?! This is insane! How do you know you'll be able to cope in their world? How will you deal? How?? You don't have Sunny now, Abby! She shied away from the thought. How long do you think they're going to stick around when they realize how much work it takes to make sure you don't die by crossing the street? Her jaw firmed. I'll cope, or I'll leave, simple as that. Simple as that?! You've got to be kidding. She ignored the scathing disbelief.

"You don't give a girl much time to pack, do you?" she commented softly. The inner voice threw up its hands in resignation.

"Hey, we gave you four hours notice, what more do you want from us?" Chris asked, smiling. "We put a lot of time into this little persuasive discussion."

"You put a lot of time into it?" Lance demanded.

Justin coughed and smiled, moving to tug Abby from the chair. "I think you're the hardest sell we've ever done," he told her, pleased.

Abby smiled slowly. "If you think you've seen stubborn…" she shook her head. "More than likely, you'll want to kick me off the bus in a few weeks."

"After the blood, sweat, and tears we put into getting you there?" JC laughed. "That's where the browbeating comes into play."

"Enough chatter, I feel a group hug coming on," Joey interrupted.

Abby's eyes widened. "No, wa--" Her protest was muffled as they converged on her enthusiastically.

"Joey, stop touching my ass," Chris ordered a split-second later.

"Sorry, thought you were Abs."

Abby burst out laughing.

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