Destination: Abidjan Scott began to do the pre-flight checks on the Tracy's Lear jet. Virgil was below, helping Brains, Tin-Tin, and Bekkah stow their luggage. Each of Bekkah's children had a backpack full of goodies, games and toys to take with them on the long flight to New Mexico. The rest of the household came down to see the six off on their journey. Even John hobbled down on his crutches. "Now, children, you be as good for your Nana and Papa Barnes as you are for me," Grandma Tracy commanded the children. "That is, good enough, but not too good." They giggled, and each moved in to give her a hug. Kyrano also got hugs from the Barnes children, and a kiss from Chell. "When you get back, Bekkah, I have something to discuss with you," Jeff said. He had stood in the doorway to the Barnes' quarters that morning, waiting to help them with their luggage. He looked around at the tiny living room, the kitchenette with its miniscule refrigerator, the lack of storage space that led to books being piled up all over. I have to do something about this, he thought. Maybe have something for Bekkah to look at when she returns. "Sure, Jeff. When I get back." Bekkah told him. The children said goodbye to Jeff, waving at him. Then suddenly, Joey tackled him around the waist with a rowdy hug. The ice broken, Terry, always an enthusiastic hugger, followed suit. Then Chell put her arms around his chest, leaned her head on him for just a moment, then gave him a peck on the cheek. Is this what a daughter feels like? Or maybe a granddaughter? he asked himself. He patted her shoulders and, in a move that surprised even himself, kissed her on the forehead. The children then gave hugs and kisses to their two favorite uncles, John and Gordon. Scott and Virgil climbed aboard. Gordon helped the children aboard and saw that they were strapped in properly. Brains waved at the gathering as he climbed in and sat down. Tin-Tin took her leave of her father with great affection, and gave Grandma a hug and kiss for good measure. Bekkah kissed John on the cheek and gave him a bear hug. She waved to Jeff and Kyrano. Then Gordon took her hand to help her into the plane. She wrapped the other hand around the back of his head and pulled him down for a long kiss, one which brought a grin to his face. "See you in two weeks." she told him. John was waving to the kids while Bekkah and Gordon said their passionate goodbye. His attention was drawn to Brains, who was watching the two kissing. A spasm of pain seemed to cross his face, then a moment later, he was smiling and waving like everyone else. I bet his hip is bothering him again, John thought. I hope the conference distracts him from it. "Hey, Gordo! Don't be all day about it!" Virgil complained when he saw what was going on. Gordon handed Bekkah into the jet, sealed it up, and stood back. Scott taxied the plane out to the runway and then lifted it up into the blue Pacific sky. Gordon helped John limp back to the house. "You okay, Gordo?" John asked. "Better than okay." came the answer. "Ohhhh! That kind of 'okay'." John said, nodding his head sagely. Gordon rolled his eyes. "You going to last for two whole weeks without her?" John teased. "Y'know, if you didn't have a cast on your foot, you'd be in the pool right now." Gordon replied. The brothers laughed together as they climbed the white stairs up to the villa.

Epilogue: Conversation Virgil looked over at the empty Round House. "It's kinda quiet here now," Virgil said. "Yeah," Scott agreed. "No children splashing in the pool." "No loud music in the lab." "No laughing at a movie." "No banging about in the hangars." "No dancing in the kitchen." "Dancing in the kitchen?" "Yup." "You're putting me on." "Nope. She dances in the kitchen." "I didn't know that." "Was it really this quiet before she came along? I can't remember." "Probably not. But she and the kids sure added to the decibel level." "Will we get used to not having them here?" "Maybe. It's only temporary. A couple of weeks away. By the time we get used to the quiet, they'll be back. She'll be back." "Yeah. She'll be back." "Dancing in the kitchen."