"So, Carrie…Lacey has been your best friend for a long time, right?" Brian asked. It was later that night and he and Cairo had gone for a walk around the quiet streets of London. It was just past midnight, and after spending the evening talking with Kevin, Howie and AJ, she had needed to escape the constant questions asking about how she was dealing without Nick, and the constant reminders of him. So much of their time together had been spent with those men, and it was really hard for her not to feel sorry for herself around them. She was stronger than that, at least she had been, but she could only take so much.

"Yes sir. She 'adopted me' my first year of high school, which was so cool because she was a junior at the time. Ever since, we've just shared one brain, it seems. Why?" Cairo asked, suddenly sensing another motive.

"Well, I was just wondering…You know…Do you think that she's, you know, seeing anyone?" he stammered out. Cairo stopped in her tracks.

"No way! Ew! That's just not right!" she yelled, gesturing her disgust with her hands.

"What are you talking about?"

"The best friend of the ex-boyfriend is not allowed to be interested in the best friend. That is just messed up and EW!" she hollered.

"I'm trying to see your logic and it's just not working. But then again, it hardly ever does," Brian said sadly.

"Okay, Lacey is like my big sister, we are that close. And you, because you are like Nick's big brother, became my big brother by osmosis. So, big brother cannot ask out big sister. That just causes emotional trauma for all involved, especially me!" Cairo protested. Then she thought of something.

"Do you think she's cute?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes," Brian said, a little embarrassed. Cairo squealed, and jumped around, clapping her hands.

"That is so cute!"

"If you say anything, Cairo Williams, I will have you murdered," Brian warned.

"Of course I won't say anything," she promised, crossing her fingers behind her back. As they walked on, Cairo thought happily that for the first time in months she felt young again. She had been an old maid for too long, she wanted to be her immature self again. And the person that brings out my inner child is Nick, she thought sadly, with a sigh. It was going to be very hard to return to Brickwood.

* * * *

"What do you mean, you aren't coming? You selfish little bastard! You promised that you would come and talk this out with us. No, I don't care about that. You made a commitment nine years ago, and you are not going to back out on it unless you can come and give us a valid reason, face to face," Kevin raged.

"Why the hell isn't he here yet?" AJ called, until Kevin waved him off.

"She is not a part of the group. You are. You get here, soon!" Kevin ordered.

"There is something wrong with him, he would not normally do this," Brian insisted.

"Fine. We are going to reschedule this meeting, because my friend, you have a contract to fulfil. Unless all of us consent to release you from that contract, which we will not agree to do unless you come meet with us, you are stuck by law to be at that recording session in two weeks," Kevin said, finally hanging up the phone in disgust.

"This is wrong. I know it," Howie said.

* * * *

She hesitated, having to force herself to look at the old place again without shuddering. Brian, behind her, gripped her shoulder in support, to let her know that she wasn't alone. Forcing herself not to shudder, she looked the house up and down, and then walked towards the door.

"So, you sure that the people leasing won't think it's weird that you are here?" Brian asked.

"I had a clause put in the lease that my wing of the house be left untouched, as well as my study, and that I could return here at any time. They are leasing on a certain part of the house, not the entire area," Cairo explained, as she dug out her key. She was about to place it into the lock when it suddenly swung open.

"What the hell are you doing here?" an outraged voice demanded. Cairo's stomach fell to her knees as she caught a glimpse of her tenant. It was Meagan, and her tuition was telling her that Nick could be found not far behind her.

"I own this place, what are you doing here?" Cairo answered, pushing past her, and entering the house. It was as if a giant weight began to press against her shoulders as she crossed the threshold. Assuming it was psychological, she brushed it off.

"I am one of your leasing tenants, and you have no right to be here," Meagan said, following close behind her.

"Ah, it looks as though someone didn't read the fine print," Cairo said, turning around, so that she was face-to-face with Meagan.

"What are you talking about?" Meagan demanded.

"The lease, Meagan. I told you about that. She can come and go as she pleases, even if we are here. She stays in her wing and we stay in ours, remember?" another voice said. It was quiet and solemn, and even if she were a hundred and nine, she would never in her life forget it.

"See Meagan? Listen to Nick, because this conversation is over. Come on Brian, I'll show you your room," Cairo said, marching up the stairs. As soon as she was sure that they could not see her anymore, she began to run. Away from that voice, away from him. She couldn't let him see her fall apart, she just could not. She would not, because she was so much stronger than that.

She stopped when she reached the door to her old room. Opening the door, she walked in and saw that it was exactly as she had left it. Even the bed was still unmade.

"Kay, it will get easier with time," Brian said, walking in behind her.

"What did you just call me?" she asked, smiling a little.

"Well, I figured that ever since I became the 'big brother', I may as well do as the 'big sister' does. Justifies it in the end," he answered. Suddenly, Cairo hugged him.

"Thank you so much for being here," she whispered.

"I didn't want you to be alone," he whispered back.