Once Laurel had checked on her animals to turned to Nic, the only other person in her animal's hovercraft. "I don't want to go to James' mansion," she whispered to him.

--

Wolfe blinked at the items before smiling a little back. Then he fingered the violin, slowly running a hand over it before putting it to his chin. Then he slowly began to play. There was something inexplicably calming about his music.

Nic acknowledged Laurel, but he didn't look like he was going to discuss this now.

--

Raven easily relaxed. Fin was roused a little, but quickly fell back asleep.

Laurel swallowed a little, recognizing the expression, "Don't make me go..." she pleaded quietly.

--

Kale listened to the music for awhile before suddenly marching back into the shuttle and pulling Blaze into a tight hug.

"... Why?" Nic asked, voice still a little damaged.

--

Blaze tensed a little, but after a moment she slowly relaxed a little. Then after a few moments more she slowly hugged Kale lightly back.

"... Don't make me go..." Laurel repeated in a more ragged voice as she backed up a little.

--

Kale continued to hug her tightly, "I..." he whispered, as always having a hard time finding the words, "don't want to be alone... anymore."

Nic didn't repeat himself, looking tired.

--

Blaze remained silent, but she hugged Kale a little tighter after another moment.

Laurel took Nic in, looking torn for a moment before she turned away and focused on Rosemary. She didn't say another word.

--

Kale rested his cheek against the side of her head, "I'm sorry..." he whispered painfully.

So Nic paced a little aimlessly to stretch his legs while waiting for Laurel to finish with her animals.

--

Blaze paused before nodding a little. "... Me too," she whispered back.

Finally, Laurel turned, "I want to ride in this hovercraft," she stated quietly.

Nic paused before nodding. He could deal with that.

"Alone."

--

Kale paused before kissing the side of Blaze's head tenderly, "I'm... a log," he informed her with a sigh.

Nic paused, more hesitant to allow that. He watched her carefully for a few moments as he tried to reach a decision.

--

Blaze still didn't say anything, still a bit in shock that Kale was hugging her. After a long moment she pulled away a little. "... You..." she explained quietly, looking in his eyes, "You are... Kale."

Laurel was trying her best to appear perfectly normal but her breathing was still a little labored and she was leaning up against Rosemary's cage.

--

Kale blinked and then nodded slightly, he'd assumed that had been established already.

"You can't fly it," Nic observed.

--

Blaze sighed a little as she nodded a bit. "Defiantly Kale," she whispered pulling him into a hug again.

Laurel didn't appear to have thought of that. "... There's autopilot..." she stated before faltering a little, "right?"

--

Kale shrugged it off as he hugged her tighter.

"Not to break up this love fest," Tulip spat from behind them, "But we're taking off."

"I won't let you pilot the Juttle," Nic replied simply.

--

Blaze sighed a little before letting Kale go.

Laurel actually glared at him a little but didn't reply.

--

Kale kept his hand tightly around hers as he took a seat again.

Since they were taking off soon, Wolfe finally stopped playing.

"I will pilot, I'll find another pilot, or let's go back," Nic explained.

--

Raven smiled at Wolfe again. He loved listening to him play.

He knew full well she didn't trust anyone else. After a moment Laurel slowly sat down next to Rosemary's cage, "Do what you want," she whispered, "I'm staying here."

--

Wolfe managed a smile back before going and piloting the craft.

So Nic checked in with Snow before going to the cockpit, leaving Laurel alone with the animals.

When they arrived at the mansion, James leaned over and whispered in Yue's ear, "It's a good thing you insisted I take that collar off," he noted.

Frei finally stirred a bit, looking out one of the windows.

Kale still hadn't let go of Blaze's hand.

Rosemary had wandered into the cockpit somewhere during the flight and was in the copilots seat. When they landed, Laurel hadn't moved from her spot although her hand was in a tight fist around something.

Yue rolled her eyes a little.

Raven let Frei move around, but Fin was still sleeping.

Blaze hadn't complained, but she was still surprised.

Nic let Rosemary be, going back to check on Laurel once they landed.

"So you won't get jealous, right?" James whispered to her as the door of the hovercraft started to open.

Wolfe came back to check on Raven, rolling his eyes a little at Fin. "Hard to believe that one's the brother of the Dominic," he muttered.

Kale kept his grip on her hand even as the door opened and he stood to exit.

Laurel looked at Nic, expression even more torn than before but slowly she held her fist out to him. It looked like she wanted to give him something.

"... I'll do my best," Yue promised.

Raven nodded a little, running a hand through Fin's hair.

Blaze paused before getting up with him.

So Nic walked over and opened his palm.

James kissed her lips lightly before his girls swarmed the hovercraft, very happy to see him back.

"C'mon, I'll take Frei," he stated, picking her up without any resistance on her part.

It looked like it was a physical effort for her to unclench her fist. But slowly, she opened it enough for one pill to drop from it and into Nic's hand. It was a very potent Dedi pill. Laurel was staring at Rosemary's cage again, refusing to meet Nic's eyes.

And Yue handled it remarkably well. She gave James some space, but not too much.

Once Wolfe had Frei, Raven gently maneuvered the sleeping Fin into his arms.

Nic didn't say anything, expression remaining the same as he put the pill in his pocket. Then he gently tried to get her to stand up.

After a moment of greetings, James grabbed Yue and pulled her to his side, "By the way, Yue is my girlfriend now," he informed them, believing he was being helpful. But from the hostile looks instantly given to Yue by many of the girls, he probably hadn't helped.

Laurel weakly tried to push Nic away, her eyes watery. "I'm still..." she whispered, a bit heartbroken, "not strong enough."

Yue took the glares, trying her best not to take it personally.

Nic paused before asking, "Should I carry you?"

James seemed oblivious to the glares as he led Yue out, arm still around her. Some of the girls were genuinely nice to Yue, asking questions about the resort.

Laurel paused, seeming find some sort of deeper meaning in his words. After a long moment she nodded slowly.

Yue did her best to be kind to the girls that would listen, answering whatever they wanted to know.

So Nic gently picked Laurel up, taking her to her old room at the mansion.

Luckily most of the girls spotted Fin and squealed at his cuteness before swarming around Raven instead of Yue. James chuckled a little, pulling Yue closer.

"Did you go on missions while I was gone?" he asked Blaze as they walked in a side door to escape the madness of the front.

Laurel wrapped her arms around Nic's neck tightly as he picked her up. When he reached her room, he faced the same old problem of her not wanting to let go.

Fin quickly woke up, a little stunned by all the women suddenly squealing over him.

Yue didn't discourage James, but she didn't encourage him either.

Nic went through the usual routine, trying to pry her off gently.

Some started pinching his cheeks, others his arms, all cooing over his cuteness. There were a few pretty girls around his age who seemed to have fallen for him at first sight.

"I'm sure Wolfe's going to call a meeting soon... let's have some fun while we can," he teased.

"Please stay," Laurel pleaded quietly, "... just for a little while."

Fin seemed very out of place. He didn't let Raven leave him alone.

"Uh..." Yue replied, "... You sure you don't want to catch up with everyone else?"

Nic sighed before nodding a little. But he still tried to pry Laurel off.

One girl started to hit on Raven only to be reminded by the others that he was gay. And once more the attention returned to Fin. One girl asked for his name.

James shook his head, smiled down at her.

Once Nic nodded, Laurel let go, laying back on the bed and resting though her eyes never left Nic.

Raven caught up with a few people he knew while keeping an eye on Fin. Fin paused before telling them it was Fin.

Yue seemed a little worried, but smiled back.

Nic pulled a chair up to the bed and sat down.

The girls concluded loudly that Fin was a very cute name. A few of the girls who had talked the most to Raven asked if he'd hooked up with Wolfe yet.

James blinked, "What did I do now?" he asked, a little complaint in his voice.

"I have a secret," Laurel whispered hesitantly, though that much would have been perfectly obvious to Nic already.

Raven kept the girls guessing. For now.

"Nothing," Yue reassured James, rubbing his arm a little. "I'm just trying not to stir the water too much."

So Nic waited for Laurel to speak.

The girls whined a little, attention slipping from Fin as they wanted to know the status of Waven. That's what they'd started to call them.

James sighed a little, she had a point. "Well alright," he replied, "I guess you're right. Don't think I'm putting you second though," said the passive james.

Laurel paused for a long moment, "... You'll want to leave if I tell you," she whispered.

Fin took the chance to escape.

Yue kissed James on the cheek. "Never," she replied.

Nic still didn't say anything.

Long had fallen asleep in the medical Juttle and was finally starting to come around.