Brian chuckled, irony in his tone. "He'd get to anyone...." he murmured, then made a face. "Sorry, he is your Brother. Anyway, you're right, it isn't worth it" he looked down at his book, turning it to a page he had marked. "Are you, uh, doing anything after school?"

Emmy pushed a strand of her hair behind her ear, and shook her head gently. "No need to apologize - he's my brother, but you're right." She sighed, turning her gaze absently toward the window as she wondered why she was plagued with such a trying twin. She turned back to Brian when he asked if she was doing anything after school, grinning delightfully. "Uh, no, I'm not. You?"

"No, actually." he locked eyes with her. "Would you like to come to my house? Mom is fixing barbecued chicken, and" he matched her grin. "There will be plenty of it left"

Emmy hesitated, considering the offer. She didn't know Brian's family, and for a moment she feared it might be awkward having dinner at his house. However, she reassured herself it wouldn't be too bad with Brian there. She nodded slowly, "Barbecue chicken sounds good. I'd love to come over!" She smiled again, excited and no longer apprehensive.

What would Logan say? She thought suddenly, and frowned a bit. But she decided not to let it bother her. Who cares what he says.

"Great!" Brian said, smiling broadly. "I'll introduce you to my Mom. She'll love to meet you" he said, then looked up as the teacher came in. I guess it's time to keep myself focused on class.... he stole a glance at Emmy a she too turned to look at the teacher. And I'm not going to let Logan keep her from going with me....

"Where are you right now?" Nate asked, still in disbelief that his big brother had once again come back from the dead. Figuratively, anyways. "Currently? Somewhere five thousand feet above the ground, but I'll be arriving at the airport in at 1000 hours" Nate checked his watch"Thats a half an hour from now... I'll be there" Kevin replied "Looking forward to see you again"

"See you there"

---

Kevin leaned back in his seat, he still had a bandage over his forehead where a piece of shrapnel had pierced his skin, soon the flight attendant would appear and relate the pre landing announcements. As for now, he savored the silence.

He looked down at the young girl that he had come to love like the sister he never had "How you doing?" he asked, hanging up his phone.

Serria Griffen stared sadly out of the window of the airplane, her hand resting near the small pane of glass. Somewhere down there, under the clouds, was Ditto Town; the home she never called home. All she really had to return to was an empty little house, and a hollow life of school. Her blue eyes glassed over for a moment as she remember her Mom and Dad, both ambassadors to Ronia, stationed in the embassy at a neutral Ronnian town. She had accompanied them there at the young age of 14, and was now, only returning to her country of birth, 2 years later. The embassy at been attacked after almost a year of friendly relations, and her parents both killed in the ambush. If it hadn't been for Kevin, the young man who sat next to her, she too would probably have died in the attack, or later, in the prisoner of war camp her and him had been shipped to.

She sighed, hearing him finish his phone conversation. One of her light brown ringlets came undone, as she turned to answer him. He was like a brother to her and she attempted a smile. "I'm alright."

Rosamunde leaned back in her chair and listened as the teacher droned on about some sort of cell. She tapped the desk a few times with her eraser as she listened. Her wavy blonde hair was up in a messy bun; she hadn't felt like getting dressed up much today. Jean shorts and a yellow flowy tank-top were her choices in attire. A pair of white and yellow striped flats covered her size-7 feet.

She raised her hand and said, "Don't you mean the rough endoplasmic reticulum, Mr. Harbor? The rough ER synthesizes proteins, not the smooth..."

The teacher looked at her and adjusted his glasses. "Oh, yes, the rough. My mistake. Thank you, Miss Troy. Glad to see you were listening."

Rosamunde smiled and gave a nod. She glanced at the clock and sighed as she realized she still had a few hours before school ended. She was smart, but that didn't mean she liked school.

"Ok" Kevin said, most of his conversations with her had ended with one of her short, but calm responses "Ever spent much time in Ditto Town?" he asked.

---

Nate looked around the house, no one but him was up yet. He left a note on the table that told them where he was going, and then he ran outside. Grabbed his skate board and kicked off towards the airport.

"I spent a few years there after we moved from the city. I don't remember a lot of it, though" She looked down at her hands, wondering how she would live, alone, in the small white house that had been her home. Her parents were dead. It was hard to realize they wouldn't be waiting for her. Sometimes she tried to convince herself they still lived and breathed and would be there to embrace her when she came off the plane...but no. They were killed by soldiers in Ronia.

**

David pulled up in front of Nate's residence, hearing the female voice of the GPS echo the already known fact 'Target arrived at'. He cast a bored glance at the home, but his dark hawk like eyes scrutinized the details. The place was well kept, with a mowed lawn and one small tree in the front yard. It's white paint wasn't peeling and it's roof looked almost new, along with the small fence that ran around the yard.

He noted that the car was in the drive, which could only mean someone was home. He pressed a button on his dash, and a small key pad flipped up. He punched in a string of digits and his glove compartment popped open, revealing several low caliber pistols and a blackjack. He took two of the guns, checked if they were load, which they were, and slipped one into his shoulder holster and kept the other in his hand. The rumbling of his cars engine reminded him of his plan. He turned his car into the house's drive-way, placing it in such a way escape from the home would be easy through the back door. He then tossed his sun glasses onto his passenger seat and opened his door slipping out.

His right hand gripped the handle of his gun as he stepped toward the front door. His knuckles wrapped loudly on the frame, and he waited, his mouth twisted into malicious smile. Feet were heard walking lightly on the inside and the screen door opened followed by the outside door.

"Hello?" Nate's Mother greeted, her brow lifted at David.

David stepped toward her abruptly, shoving his gun up into her chin. "I'd like to speak to your son, please"

She gasped, and stared at him with wide confused eyes. "Bu-But he isn't here."

"Then I'll speak to you and your husband" David said coldly. "I have a few questions to ask...." he forced his way in, the doors slamming closed behind him...

*

Maralyn squeezed her husband's hand, shaking her head. "All your friends will understand. And, we can always buy you a wig" she said, trying to lighten the mood.

*****

Jack patted his horse's sweaty side, smiling at the animal kindly. "Good Run, GoldenRod" he said in a whisper, moving around the horse, snatching a towel from a bucket near by. He rubbed him down, talking to him softly the whole time, telling him what a very good horse he was. GoldenRod seemed to listen, his breathing slowly calming and his ears twitching back to listen to his master. After rubbing down, Jack brushed him with the curry comb and wire brush. Then as a finishing touch her rubbed his horse's golden coat with a oil that would sooth itchy skin and help the hair.

"Now it's time to rest, old boy" Jack said, leading him to his stall. After the horse was put away, and fed, Jack left the barn, staring up into sky. Dark Clouds had begun to roll in, contrasting earlier in the day when the sun had been high and hot. He thought it looked like it might rain, the air smelling sweet like it always did before God sent a down pour.

Whistling a country song Jack crossed the yard and skipped up the stairs into his home. He ate a quick lunch, which consisted of a bacon sandwich with mustard, ketchup and a light salsa, and cleaned his appearance up a bit. Working with horses for the whole morning does make you look a bit ruff. He cleaned his face and straightened a few wild strands of red hair, and then, after that left. He climbed into his painted truck, and turned the key. I have a few things to do in town... he thought as he pulled out of the drive.

**

After School, Brian waited on the front side-walk for Emmy. She had promised to find him here. He was waiting, with as much patience as he could muster. Excitement was pinching his heart. He couldn't wait to introduce her to his Mother and Father. I know they'll like her

Rosamunde skipped toward the exit of the school, glancing at her cellphone and pulling her hair out of the bun. She put the rubberband around her wrist and tousled her hair a little. It would take her at least half an hour to get to the lake. She had plenty of time.

She found her old, but clean car, pulled open the driver’s door and slid inside. The scent of wildflowers coming from the scented flip-flop hanging from her mirror filled her senses as she shoved the key into the ignition. Backing out of the space, she put some pressure on the gas and headed out of the school parking lot.

She rolled her windows down and let the wind blow through her hair as the twang of country music tumbled from her cars’ speakers. The last of the buildings of Ditto Town passed by and after about 15 minutes her car passed the fence that surrounded the property of the horse farm. She smiled as she saw a few of the horses near the fence. Since no one was on the road, she pulled over, shut her engine off, stepped out of the car and walked toward the fence, clicking her tongue.

The horses lifted their heads and swished their tails, but they didn’t come any closer. Above her, the sky darkened, but only a little bit. Rosamunde hoped it wouldn't rain. After a few minutes of watching them, she walked back to her car and tried to start it up.

Only, it wouldn’t start up. She stared at the steering wheel and tried again. The same result occurred, only this time a clap of thunder accompanied the grinding sound of her car.

“Seriously?” she said to the car and leaned her head on the steering wheel. “You choose to break down on me now?”

Emmy navigated through the front hall of Ditto Town High School, excited to get out and meet Brian outside. She grinned slightly as she thought about his invitation that morning again, and wondered what his parents were like.

Exiting the front doors, she quickly looked around for Brian among the departing students, and caught sight of him standing on the sidewalk. She also cautiously scanned for Logan, and after feeling confident that her twin brother was nowhere nearby, she rushed over to Brian.

"Hey," she said cheerfully. "I'm here!"

-------

Logan was nowhere near where Emmy and Brian were, because he was still standing in the hall socializing with friends; Stacey, Peter, and Jen included, among others. He was conversing and joking as usual, when he noticed Emmy hadn't shown up yet. She usually did soon after class let out, since she didn't like staying around large groups of people any longer than she had too. "Have any of you seen Emmers?" he asked casually, not really too terribly concerned.

Great!" Brian said joyfully, a wide grin spreading across his face. He slipped his backpack onto his back. "Do you need to stop by your house for anything before going to mine?" he asked her.

****

Jack was returning from his trip into Ditto Town. He had bought his groceries, and picked up several bags of horse food, which was laid in the back of his truck, and was hurrying back to his house so as not to be caught in the down pour he was sure was coming. Thunder began to crack over head, and he rolled one window down, country music filtering out and the smell of sweet air going in. The sky, which had begun to turn pink, was being invaded by black and gray. Lighting shot up in the distance and he thought it looked quite beautiful....from a distance.

His truck neared his farm, and he was surprised to see another car pulled up near the fence of his horse pasture. It was an old, but clean car, he made out the silhouette of someone in it. Someone must have broken down....or just stopped to see my horse.... He drove up near the car, and parked, getting out. He bent down near the open passenger side window and peered in. "Ma'am?" he asked, his voice hinted a slight southern accent, only slight, "Car not workin'?"

]The southern drawl penetrated the silence and Rosamunde's thoughts. She jumped, lifting her head from the steering wheel and holding a hand over her heart. "Oh, you scared me!"

"Um," Rosamunde put her hand on the door handle and was about to step out, but she reached for her phone instead. No service... She looked up at him again, "You wouldn't happen to know anything about old Camaros, would you?" She smiled at him, running a hand though her hair, hoping it wasn't too messy from the wind.

A lop sided grin adorned Jack's face. "I didn't mean to scare ya" he said softly, looking up as another crack of thunder split the sky. "I can see what I can do" he answered to her question, and he walked around to the front of the car, lifting up the hood. He was hidden from her view for several minutes, then slammed the hood and came back around to the passenger side. "You've got a few problems under the head there. I'd probably be able to fix 'em, but it would take time and tools"

The the pregnant clouds above then began to rain down. Droplets of water, soaked his hair and green shirt. He still smiled though. "My name is Jack" he said with a chuckle even though he was getting drenched.