Raven's smile grew a little larger. "And old friend of yours and and old friend of mine."

Laurel frowned deeply, not pleased in the slightest, "Did you ask permission of Cong before you invited more people to stay here? This will not be good for my father." she growled softly.

"They don't know about this place," Raven explained as he added a little more sirup to his pancake. "All they know is that we're in Sweden, and we're going to meet up with them in Stockholm for the day."

Laurel continued to frown, "I can't leave my father." she stated firmly. Bee decided to stay out of this one, getting up to get another pancake.

"Your father has showed great improvement; he will be alright for the day. And if anything out of the ordinary happens Bee will call us, and we'll jump on the first light train back to your father's side." Raven nodded, like he had thought all this through carefully. "Getting out of this house for awhile will do you and, consequently, your father a world of good. Plus, Kandy would be awfully disappointed if you didn't come..."

Laurel blinked at the mention of Kandy, "... You contacted her?" she asked, confused.

Raven nodded, still smiling. "She flew to Sweden to go shopping with us today."

Laurel frowned again, staring at her food as she weighed the idea in her mind. After a long moment, Bee spoke up, "Laurel, I can take care of your father for one afternoon. Don't worry. He won't be alone." she reassured her.

Laurel glanced at Bee before looking back at Raven, "Just... for today." she replied, still a bit wary.

"We'll leave in thirty minutes," Raven replied happily.

Laurel paused again before nodding slightly and going back to her food. Bee winked at Raven before leaving the kitchen to check on Laurel's father.

Before they left, Cong set Laurel up with a wristband that remotely monitored her father. It would vibrate if anything changed worth noting.

Laurel thanked Cong and went silently with Raven into the Juttle. She took a seat in the front beside him and sighed a little, "It's a good thing Wolfe taught you how to fly." she remarked softly as she closed her eyes.

"We're not traveling that far," Raven reassured Laurel with big smile. He had really cleaned himself up for this, and he seemed awfully excited about it. And so he flew the juttle to a large mall in Stockholm. Like he promised, the flight wasn't too long. "You want to give Kandy a call and let her know we're here?" he asked after they had landed.

Laurel blinked, "I... lost my phone." she admitted quietly after a moment.

Raven chuckled a little before handing Laurel his. "No worries today," he reminded her with a wink.

Laurel blinked again, face a bit blank but she took Raven's phone and dialed Kandy's number. All she got out was "Hel-?"

After a few minutes of sitting there silently with the phone to her ear she mumbled, "Mm." and hung up. She handed to phone back to Raven, "She's coming." she explained.

Raven chuckled a little. "Did she mention anything about my friend?" he asked as he got out of the juttle.

Laurel shook her head, rubbing a hand through the half and inch of fuzz that had grown on her scalp.

Raven chuckled again. "I sure hope he hasn't gotten lost... Ah, well." And so he lead Laurel to the entrance to meet up with Kandy.

"LAAAUREL!" the very familiar call rang out as a bouncing, bubbly, bright pink haired girl ran towards them. She was wearing an even more ridiculous outfit of pastel and neon colors and definitely had not sacrificed any of her frills and bows and glitter.

Laurel took a moment to brace herself before stepped towards her. Kandy nearly tackled Laurel to the ground in her enthusiasm, rubbing her cheek against hers affectionately. "I missed you!" she complained, not letting go. Laurel coughed a little, trying to catch her breath before a small smiled peeked out.

Raven laughed at the two of them for a moment before looking around. There was no one else with Kandy. But after another minute, a man came stumbling out of the entrance. He was young and handsome, but he looked very much like a fish out of water with rough hands and plain, simple clothes. This very clearly wasn't his scene.

He looked relieved as he spotted Kandy. Then he blinked and a big smile crossed his face as he spotted Raven and waved to him.

"There you are, Aaron," Raven laughed as he ran over to the man and gave him a hug.

Finally Kandy let go a little, still gripping Laurel's arm as she turned to look at the men. "I think they're lovers~" she said rather loudly to Laurel. Laurel blinked, a little confused.

Both men chuckled as they turned to the women. "A long time ago," Aaron confirmed as he messed up Raven's hair.

"Quit that," Raven complained as he swatted Aaron away. He was quite upset about his hair, apparently he had spent a long time getting it just right.

"Now we're best friends," Aaron continued as he left Raven to tend to his displaced locks. "I'm Aaron," he told Laurel. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

Laurel didn't respond, she seemed deep in her own thoughts. Kandy blinked as Laurel frowned and suddenly kissed her cheek, "Stop muling it over and just ask if you have a question!" she chirped, knowing Laurel well. Laurel blinked at Kandy before looking back at Raven and Aaron, "So..." she started then paused, trying to frame her question, "You both have known you prefer men for a long time?"

It was Kandy's turn to blink, she hadn't expected that question. But soon she giggled and looked expectantly at the two former lovers.

Aaron nodded, seeming perfectly willing to answer whatever questions Laurel had. Raven was still trying to fix his hair.

"How did you know?" Laurel asked, eyes curious. It appeared for the first time she had thoroughly been distracted away from thoughts of her father.

Aaron blinked. "Uh..." he pondered for a moment. Then he shrugged. "I just knew. I'm not sure how to explain it."

Laurel's eyebrows knitted together as she glanced at Raven, waiting for his answer. Kandy giggled again from her side.

After a moment, Raven realized he was on the spot. "Oh, well, it was the same for me," he replied.

Laurel sighed a little, "That doesn't make any sense." she finally admitted. Kandy shrugged, "I'd be Bi for you, Laurel." she teased.

There was that confused look again. "... Bi?" Laurel asked quietly.

Raven and Aaron both laughed a little. Despite the stark contrast between the two men they really did laugh like old friends. "Bisexual," Raven explained. "It means you're attracted to men and women."

Kandy started to lead Laurel along. Laurel continued to frown, "Both?" she mused. Suddenly she let out an annoyed sigh, "Well how am I supposed to know?! I've never loved either!" she burst out, "I guess I might as well be Bi."

At this Kandy burst out laughing and kissed Laurel's cheek again. Laurel managed a smile but her eyes were still elsewhere, it wasn't clear exactly what she was thinking.

Aaron laughed again at this. Raven rolled his eyes. "You'll figure it out," he reassured Laurel as they entered the mall.

"Is there such a thing as Ni?" Laurel suddenly muttered, "Nisexual? Loves neither? I suppose that would be more fitting." There was a bit of morbidity seeping back into her tone.

Kandy caught it instantly and hugged her, starting to chat away in a cheerful tone that slowly seemed to bring Laurel away from those deeper thoughts. They began to hit the stores, Kandy trying for the hundredth time to get Aaron to let her pick out "nicer" clothing for him.

With Raven's help, Aaron finally started to succumb. "Nothing bright or that sparkles or lights up or anything like that," he said hesitantly.

Kandy was pouting, "But that's no fun!" she complained. Surprisingly it was Laurel who actually found an outfit that seemed to work the best. It was a slightly fitted but still light and comfortable deep blue top and boot-cut jeans. Both were practical but didn't appear as cheap as the ones he was wearing. He wouldn't look so out of place in them. Kandy found an earthy, leather jacket that would keep him warm. It was so not her style that when Laurel pointed it out to her she sighed, "I know... I surprise myself sometimes. Perhaps I could add a few sparkles?" she asked hopefully.

"That's quite alright," Aaron reassured Kandy.

"Still a stick in the mud, I see," Raven teased him. Then Aaron messed up his hair again.

Kandy sighed a little, "Can I get you a bracelet then?" she asked too nicely.

Laurel had wandered off to the far side of the store. She stood staring at something.

"Bracelets get caught on everything," Aaron replied.

Raven left Aaron to fend for himself and went to get a look at what Laurel was staring at.

Kandy pouted, "A necklace then?" she bargained.

Laurel was looking at the shoes. A very particular pair of shoes in fact. Nearly identical to the ones she'd bought Nic.