"I guess I never really took the time to think of it before," Felix admitted. "Especially since Jake's been living with Sash and them since I moved here. I mean, I knew the story . . . I knew that his mom took off when he was a baby and whatever . . . but that never really registered in my head as something we had in common. Between everything Jake says about his stepmom and Mrs. Blake, I forgot that he was another one of us."

"Us," Breanna repeated. "Us the children raised without mothers?"

"Yeah."

She wrapped the phone cord around her pinky mindlessly. "Well, I can't wait to meet him. I'll have to give him mad hugs upon introduction."

Felix snickered. "You'll probably hug everyone the second you meet them anyway. You're too much of a softie." The comment was dripping one hundred percent with the deepest love and admiration.

"Maybe I'll hug them all. But that would probably mean I'd have to stop hugging YOU, and I just don't know if that's going to happen. At least for a few days."

Felix's mouth slipped into a smile - he was excited, impatient, and dying to plant kisses all over her. "That's fine by me."

Breanna resented the phone she was holding. It was a sad substitute for having Felix in the flesh and blood. But somehow, knowing that she would be with him in a few days made the telephone a little less loathsome. She shut her eyes, and spoke her words, and pretended to be in the same room as him. "I didn't ask permission. I just ask that you hug me back."

"Like you could stop me."

"Ah! I sense a challenge."

The "mood" they'd been going for was instantly ruined by both parties giggling like mad. Breanna laughed, and then sighed. It was so close. SO DAMN CLOSE!!!

"The only challenge I'm going to have is keeping my hands off of you until we get some privacy," Felix told her. "After that, the trip's a breeze. And you'll have a blast! I can't believe you're finally going to get to meet The Gang and they're going to meet you."

"I can't wait. I promise." Then she giggled again. "See if I can get any juicy dirt on you from your friends."

"Yeah, they'll probably be trying to get dirt on me from YOU. Especially Garland. Watch out for him, he's great but people can find him a bit, uh . . . " Felix looked for way to say it that would sound nice. ". . . overwhelming."

"I'm sure I'm going to love everybody. Now I'm going to let you go - I'm tired, you're tired, blah blah blah blah blah . . ."

She was right about that. Felix was tired. There were a lot of big events that had happened in the last few days - exciting triumphs for his friends, for sure. Now Felix wanted to rest because the next triumph would be his. The patience had paid off and now, finally, his sweetheart was going to be coming home.

* The End *

A/N: I apologize for how long it's been taking me to post chapters in these last couple stories, guys. I want to keep the stories going faster, I know they lose interest when all you get is a short chapter here and there. The next story picks up right where this one takes off, and yes, you get more about Jake and his mom. I'll do my absolute best to get it out as fast as I can - hope you guys enjoy it. Thanks for your patience with me, everyone, ya'll mean the world to me!