"Not going to happen. We're on vacation. No. Absolutely not...Then fix it. Sure, I feel for the foundation, but to promise that…way beyond respectable request. Vacation may not be a big deal to you, because you actually get your two weeks a year, but for us, it's special. We'll have to leave early and change all of our plans. Fix it, then. It's your mess, you clean it up!" an angered conversation echoed through the closed doors to Cairo's study.

"This doesn't sound so great for the Boys," Erika said, slightly upset. She only got to spend so much time with her "Boy" toy, and now it sounded like that might be robbed from her.

"Maybe it means that we'll have to leave here early. I love Carrie and everything, and we have been having a great time here, but there is something messed up about this house," Anna whispered.

"I agree wholeheartedly with you, Anna. I'm going to try to sell it, or if that doesn't work, I'll give the damn thing away," Cairo's voice suddenly said, startling the two girls.

"Are you sure it's the only way? You know we are saving your ass right now. We don't often do favours. Keep that in mind the next time you want to run another trashy story about us," Howie's voice, hard in it's anger, boomed through the doors.

"Whoa! Didn't think he had it in him," Cairo said. The five Boys all came trudging out of the study together.

"Well gentleman, I hope that call was collect," Cairo said sternly, trying to brighten some of the long faces.

"Cheap-ass," Brian scoffed affectionately.

"Some jack ass with the London Times promised that we'd perform at a benefit for AIDS research. And, we have to go, because the show sold out, and apparently we are the head-liners," Howie declared.

"Kay, you might remember him as the 'Copy' Cat guy," Nick said. Cairo immediately began to hiss.

"Know him well?" Anna asked.

"He reviewed my first 'over-seas' publication and called it the 'Copy' Cat's Eyes. Jackass. Accused me of using every old cliched horror technique out there. I am not a cliched writer! I find new and horrifying, twisted, freaky crap to put into my stories. The jackass. I'm not a copy-cat!" Cairo whined.

"You're just one twisted-sister," Kevin said.

"Anyway, we have to leave tomorrow," AJ filled in.

"But you're on vacation!" Erika whined.

"Tell us about it. Kay, you coming with?" Nick asked.

"Considering you can't bare to live without me and you are making a spectacle of yourself just begging me to come with you, I suppose I should. If I didn't, would you miss me?" she asked, a sparkle in her eye, hoping to see some resemblance to her Nick in the man standing in front of her. She was not disappointed.

"No, would you miss me?"

"No. Would you miss me?"

"They are at it again. We'll finish this conversation later, after they're done torturing each other," Kevin decided.

* * * *

"Darling, I hate to leave you," Nick murmured softly into Cairo's hair, as they stood on her balcony, watching the night sky. They had just spent the last couple of hours packing and getting ready for their early morning departure the next day, and were now enjoying their last night of freedom before Nick's life caught up with him, once again.

"Someone's feeling extremely blond today. I'm coming with you," Cairo reminded him.

"Where I am going, I only wish you could come. Don't say such things, it makes it harder to say goodbye to you, love," he said, his voice ragged and sad. He sounded old.

"What are you talking about, Nick?" Cairo asked, a little concerned.

"But it is my duty, I must see it through, do you understand me, darling?" he demanded, desperate for her to agree.

"Of course I understand. It's not really a big deal. I'm coming with you, remember," Cairo said, her eyes darkening with a twinge of fear.

"Do I mean anything to you? For if I did, you would not toy with me so. You cannot come with me, I go where no lady should ever see," he said. Cairo noticed that his eyes were slightly glazed, as if he were half-asleep, or sleep-walking.

"Okay, Nicky-boy, it's time for you to go to bed. Come with me," she said softly, pulling him gently into her room, and through the doors into his bedroom.

"Do not forget me while I am away, my dear. Promise me that you will wait for me," he pleaded.

"I promise," she said, eager to get him into bed without awakening him from his weird state of unconsciousness.