Vicky:Ok so let me get this straight. Your leaving, for a long time?

Shalon: Yup, two months.

Vicky: Whoa, you think that is wise?

Shalon: Oh sure, whatever you do while I'm gone will have no major effect on me whatsoever. And even if it does, it will take 2 months for me to realize it. So in reality its more like two month vacation. I'll just deal with the consequences when I return.

Vicky: Ouch.

Shalon: Actually Vicky, I have every confidence that you will conduct yourself in a mature and sensible manner while I am gone.

Vicky: Wow! You really feel that way about me?

Shalon: No.

Episode 12: Celebration! Shalon's Big News

Duo walks in shuffling trough some mail.

Duo: Bills....Bills....Flyers...Bills...more Junk mail...Bills...Enlarge your pei...
Shalon: Anything for me?

Duo rifles through some more mail.

Trowa: Expecting a letter?
Shalon: Uh-huh.
Duo: *mumbling* shalon shalon shalon Shalon! Office of the registrar? I didn't know you went to school.

Duo hands the letter to Shalon who proceeds to open it.

Wufei: Where have you been? Living under a rock?
Heero: Shalon and Vicky have been attending University for some time now!
Quatre: It is Shalon's last year, don't you remember? We are invited to the graduation.
Duo: ......

Shalon lets out a scream.

Shalon: I got in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm going to Europe baby!
Duo: Eu-or-pe?
Duo: Psst Vix, why she going to Europe?
Vicky: It's an arcu-- arca... arqualagucal.... She is going to dig up dead things.
Shalon: Archaeological. Sheesh Vixs. One would think you didn't go to University too!
Vicky: Shut up.
Quatre: So what do you get to do in Europe, Shalon?
Shalon: I get to go to a Roman Villa in Italy and excavate some of it.
Quatre: And when do you leave?
Shalon: In one week.
Quatre: A WEEK?
Heero: They didn't give you much notice, did they?
Shalon: *shrugs* Can’t complain. It’s a trip to Europe!!
Quatre: *frantic* I need to get our tickets booked, pack the suitcases...I must get some of my appointments moved. *to Shalon* When are we leaving?
Shalon: We?
Quatre: But of course, we all will come with you.
Shalon: Oh no. I don't think so. This is for my schooling and credits. I'm afraid you aren't allowed to come. Sorry, Quatre.
Quatre: But but...you don't think I'd let you go to Europe all alone. They do bad things to pretty girls. The Pope is mean...
Duo: And wears a funny hat.
Quatre: ...they will sell you, make you eat weird food....
Vicky: Hey Quatre, I'm thinking of taking a nice relaxing trip to Iraq on my own.
Quatre: *uncaring* That’s nice Vicky. So Shalon....
Duo: *to Vicky* So either he thinks you are very capable or he hates you.
Vicky: Does this mean he thinks I'm not pretty? Heero...you think I'm pretty, right?
Heero: No...*gets elbowed by Wufei* I mean, yes. *looks uncomfortable* Are those chocolate almonds over there?
Vicky: Ooo, really? *goes to get chocolate almonds*
Duo: Nice one, Heero. She falls for that every time!
Heero: Hey Duo, I think I hear the ice cream truck coming.
Duo: Sweet! *runs off to get ice cream*
Heero: It’s just too easy.
Wufei: Heero...isn't it too early in the season for ice cream?
Heero: Yep. But it got rid of him, didn't it?
Wufei: Good point.
Quatre: ...and then after we get to Rome we can....
Shalon: Help...
Trowa: So are we going to go out for super or something to celebrate? I mean this is a big event in Shalon's life.
Quatre: But I still have to book the tickets...
Shalon: You can do that later. I agree with Trowa. Dinner is a good idea.
Duo: *walks back in licking an ice cream cone* Did someone mention dinner?

Heero and Wufei look at each other in disbelief.

Heero: Where did he get ice cream?
Wufei: It's one of life’s mysteries...like black holes.
Trowa: Or like the forth dimension at Ikea. *shudders in remembrance*
Vicky: Hey! Where did you get ice cream? I want some!
Shalon: No. It will spoil your dinner.
Vicky: *pouts*
Duo: So what’s this about dinner?
Wufei: We should decide where we are going.
Quatre: Let’s let Shalon decide.
Shalon: I want to go to the Peacecraft Pizza Parlor. They have the best lasagna there!
Vicky: Shalon! You can have all the lasagna you want when you get to Italy! Pick something else.
Shalon: I want lasagna.
Quatre: If Shalon wants lasagna, Shalon gets lasagna.
Vicky: Fine! I'm going to Iraq!
Wufei: WTF?
Shalon: Stop being such a drama queen, Vicky.
Vicky: Hmph.
Wufei: Can we just go already?
Duo: Fooood! Can I drive?
Everyone: NO!

************
~ At the Peacecraft Pizza Parlor ~

A tall, red haired, blue-green eyed girl dressed in black and white approach the group.

Waitress: HI! Welcome to the Peacecraft Pizza Parlor! Best Pizza this side of the Sanq Kingdom! Big dinner party tonight huh? What’s the special occasion?
Quatre: Well you see Shalon and I are going to Europe!
Waitress: Ooooh a Honeymoon!
Everyone: *sweatdrop*
Shalon: Actually, I'M going to Europe alone, Quatre-boy here is just delusional.
Waitress: Yikes problems at the home front, and so early in the marriage too.
Duo: Marriage!? Hoo HOO! Do you have it wrong lady. They are not married.
Wufei: *under his breath* They just act like it.
Heero: *To Wufei* It comes natural when you have roommates that act like two year olds.
Vicky: Hey waitress lady! Do we get crayons and colouring mats at this restaurant?
Waitress: Err...sure. Anyways, my name is Katherine and I will be your server this evening.
Shalon: I want Lasagna please. With extra extra meat sauce and cheese!
Waitress Katherine: *sweatdrop* That’s wonderful. Perhaps you and your party would like to sit down and take a look at the menu first?
Shalon: *sigh* I suppose. But you guys better not take long to order. I'm hungry!
Duo: Yes Ma'am!

The gang sit down and peruse the menu

Vicky: ooooo Poutine!
Duo: Poutine?
Vicky: Yeah Poutine, its fries, Canadian style!
Duo: Oh fries! I'll have that!
Waitress Katherine: Ok Poutine for the Braided boy. *winks at him*
Vicky: Teee!
Waitress Katherine: Tea for the Miss.
Vicky: Tea?
Quatre: I will have the escargot.
Duo: Yo, dude you know that's just dead snails whipped up to look pretty.
Waitress Katherine: Err...we don't have escargot.
Quatre: How about caviar?
Waitress Katherine: Err.
Wufei: For god's sake, Winner! This is a pizza parlor! They don't have any of that fancy crap you like to eat.
Quatre: Ok. I will have a salad with the dressing on the side.

Waitress Katherine turns to Heero.

Heero: Do you have Sushi?
Wufei: Pi-ZZA! Not the International Grill.
Heero: Hn!
Trowa: I'll get the Tacos.
Wufei: BARTON!
Trowa: What? It says tacos right here *points to the menu*
Wufei: Hmph.
Heero: I guess I will get the pepperoni pizza.
Waitress Katherine: *to Wufei* and how about you?
Wufei: *grumbling* I'll get the tai chicken pizza. And make sure it's not too spicy!
Waitress Katherine: Ah... ok. However, it’s not supposed be spicy so I think you will be okay.
Wufei: Whatever woman.
Waitress Katherine: *under her breath* Extra spicy it is.*glares at Wufei then leaves to put back the order*

Duo: Ya know, you should be nicer to the waitresses; they can always spit in your food if you piss them off.
Wufei: I'd get Quatre to sue them.
Duo: Look at you! Always getting others to fight your battles.
Wufei: Just try saying that to me again and I'll show you how capable I am!
Duo: Ooo...tough guy, huh?!? Do you wanna take this outside?
Wufei: Gladly!
Shalon: Okay you two, that's enough! Behave or else....
Wufei: Well he started it!
Duo: Did not!
Wufei: Did too!
Vicky: Must be full moon...
Shalon: ENOUGH! Let's just have a nice quiet dinner for once. No police officers, no injuries, no guns and no alcohol – and Heero this means you; no giant squids, and no vegetables under the table.
Vicky: I like vegetables.
Duo: Damn!
Heero: You didn't order anything with vegetables in it Duo. What are you worried about?
Duo: Oh yeah. Well that's a relief.

Waitress Katherine: *comes with the food* Okay, so here's a house salad for you with dressing on the side *places the plate in front of Quatre*, Poutine for the braided cutie, Taco's for the quiet, uni-banged one, Pepperoni pizza to the handsome one, Lasagna with extra extra meat sauce for the impatient one, a tai chicken pizza for the rude one, and tea for you. That should be everything.
Vicky: *looks at her tea* Umm...excuse me...
Waitress Katherine: Yes?
Vicky: Err... Don't I get any food?
Waitress Katherine: You ordered Tea, enjoy! *walks off*
Vicky: But I'm hungry....
Duo: Ooo bad luck there Vixsters. Should have thought of that before you ordered tea.
Vicky: But I didn't order tea.
Duo: Hey! There is cheese and gravy on my fries!!??!
Vicky: That's what poutine is! But if you don't like it I'll take it off your hands.
Duo: *mouth full of poutine mumbles* mm..No way! This stuff is great!
Shalon: Don't talk with your mouth full.
Duo: Sorry.
Vicky: Dang. *sighs* Oh Heero! How's your pizza?
Heero: Fine.
Vicky: That's good...can I have a piece?
Heero: No.
Vicky: Shalon, is your lasagna okay?
Shalon: Blissfully vegetable free.
Vicky: *pouts* Wufei...?
Wufei: No!
Vicky: You guys are mean.
Quatre: There there, Vicky. Drink your tea!
Vicky: *indignant* Fine! I hope this tea is poisoned! *drinks it all down in one gulp* There’s not even tea leaves to chew on at the bottom.
Shalon: Vicky, you are acting very strange today.
Heero: Full moon.
Shalon: Ah. I see.
Duo: And she is probably really hungry.
Heero: No, she's just upset that no one is paying attention to her.
Duo: Oh, like attention deficit.
Wufei: No, that is what you have.
Duo: Hey! I resent that remar...oooh look! That kid over there has a cookie!
Wufei: I rest my case
Shalon: By the way Wufei, how is your food?
Wufei: I'm just trying it now... *takes a huge bite of his pizza*

Everyone at the table watches as Wufei turns bright red. Tears start leaking down his face as he chews. Swallowing quickly, he reaches for his water and downs the entire glass in one gulp.

Wufei: SON OF A BITCH!!!!! ...this is good. *eats more*
Shalon: *signals to Waitress Katherine* I think we're going to need more water here.
Waitress Katherine: Is that so? *evil glint in her eye* How’s the food this evening??
Wuefi: Hey, what’s in this? It’s great!
Waitress Katherine: *uncomfortable* You actually like it?
Wufei: It's got some hell of a bite, but damn it's good!
Waitress Katherine: Damn! I mean...peanut sauce.
Trowa: I never knew peanut sauce was spicy.
Waitress Katherine: *laughs nervously* Well you see it’s a new kind of peanut sauce. heheh.
Trowa: Hey you’re kind of cute. Do you surf?
Waitress Katherine: Err...no. I'll go get you that water.
Shalon: Thanks!

Everybody eats in relative silence, except Vicky who just sits, staring longingly at everybody else’s rapidly disappearing food.

Wufei: Whooooo-Hoooooooooo *leans back in his chair patting his belly* What a meal!
Shalon: I agree! The lasagna here is always the best!
Quatre: This place was excellent, even though they didn't have escargot or caviar.
Vicky: I didn't like it.
Duo: Oh don't be such a stick in the mud. Add more sugar to your tea next time.
Quatre: Miss, can we get the bill please?
Vicky: But what about dessert?
Wufei: None for me thanks I'm full.
Duo: I already had my caloric and fat intake for the week.
Quatre: No time. We have a trip to Europe to plan, you know.
Vicky: But I'm still hungry!!
Quatre: You can have a cheese sandwich when you get home. Keep this up and you won't get to come next time!
Vicky: What did I do? You're so mean today Quatre!

Waitress Katherine comes back with the bill and chocolate mints.

Waitress Katherine: Here you go.
Duo: All right! Mints! *grabs a handful*
Shalon: *grabs Duo by the braid* Hey! You can only have one.
Duo: Awe. Hey Vicky, you don't mind if I take yours, right?
Vicky: Well, actually...yes.
Duo: *grabs Vicky's mint* Great! Thanks Vicky, you're the best! SWEETNESS. TWO MINTS! *does the I-have-two-mints happy dance*
Vicky: *looks ready to cry*
Heero: Here Vicky. You can have my mint.
Vicky: Really? Thanks Heero. *jumps on Heero and gives him a big hug* You're the bestest!
Wufei: Get a room.
Trowa: Did you know that sucking on mints makes you hungry? Apparently, the salivating indicates to your stomach that it should prepare for food.
Heero: Trowa, shut up.

Quatre pays the bill and everyone starts to pile out towards the parking lot. Wufei catches himself and returns to Waitress Katherine.

Wufei: Dinner was great! Thank you for making it such a wonderful experience! I will defiantly come back and I hope you will be my server. *Wufei pulls out his wallet and gives her a $20 tip then runs out to join the others in a very good mood*

*Outside*

Shalon: Well this has been an interesting evening. I can’t believe we actually managed to have a civilized outing. Granted, everyone acted somewhat strange today but we didn’t get kicked out or arrested. Seems wrong somehow...
Vicky: *not paying attention to Shalon* WHOA! Check out the moon.
Heero: Full Moon.

***********

~ One week later at the international airport ~

Announcer: Flight 148 to Paris now boarding.

Shalon: Well that’s me. I guess I'll be seeing you in two months.
Vicky: Good luck! Bring me back rocks!

Shalon proceeds to share hugs with everyone one.

Trowa: Watch out for the circus performers in Europe. If they want you to put your head in the mouth of a lion just say no.
Shalon: Uh...sure thing.
Wufei: In Egypt they kidnap girls to sell to slavery. *thinks* Egypt is really nice this time of year.
Shalon: Umm...right. Well, it's a good thing I'm not going to Egypt then, isn't it.
Duo: Don't eat the cock-a-leaky soup! Bad experience. *shudder* And don't let the Pope poke you with his hat where he shouldn't!
Shalon: No problem. I'll make sure his hat is in sight at all times.
Heero: Where’s Quatre?
Shalon: Still trying to purchase last minute ticket.
Trowa: You’d better get going.
Wufei: Yeah perhaps you can shake him off.
Shalon: Good idea. Well, I'm off then! Take care everyone! *walks off to board her plane*
Everyone: Bye! Have a good trip!

Quatre returns out of breath.

Quatre: I *huff* got *huff* one.!
Duo: Well better put it too good use buddy cause the plane is leaving.
Quatre: Shit. *runs off*
Wufei: You know I have never seen him so unorganised and out of character as he has been this past week. Shalon is coming back, and for a woman she is quite capable.
Trowa: I think it is the fear of losing the only other person who is able to manage the household.
Wufei: True. Wait....if Shalon, and Quatre are both gone....
Trowa: ...yup that though has been plaguing me all week.

Duo and Vicky in the background are...
Vicky: Hey what’s this do?
Heero: VICKY NO!! THATS THE FIRE ALA......

Fire alarm goes off.

Trowa: It is going to be an interesting couple of months.

Episode 13: Shalon and Quatre Gone: Chili Cook Off ASV Vicky Style