Kay and Jessica sneaked past the kitchen where their mother stood cooking.

"He won't like this Kay," Jessica warned.

"Be quiet, brat," Kay whispered back. The two tip-toed quietly up the creaky front stairs, avoiding the spots Noah himself had taught them to be aware of while sneaking up.

"Well, when he bites our heads off, you're taking all the blame on this one."

Kay turned, staring at her little sister. "Stop being so smart, Jess. He's our brother. It's our duty to wake him up."

"It's not even eight thirty. You know Noah likes to sleep in on weekends." The two girls stopped outside of the door of Noah's room. Since Kay had moved out of Jessica's room into Noah's old one, he'd taken up residence in the Morning Suite of thier mother's Inn upon his return home. He probably liked it better anyway, Kay thought. At least he didn't have to be a constant witness to Cousin Charity's supreme goodness.

"Well, this is special. If we want him to take us out for breakfast, we gotta wake him up first.," Kay told her sister. She put her hand on the knob, but Jessica's next words stopped her.

"You only want to go the Book Cafe 'cause you know Charity and Miguel will be there. Mom makes a better breakfast anyway. You just want to spy on them! Kay, when are you going to learn? Miguel will never love you the way he loves Charity."

Kay turned on her sister, ready to strangle the little brat.

"You two could do this a lot better," came a familiar voice from behind Kay.

The older girls shoulders slumped in defeat while her sister turned to run.

"Jess, you're already caught," Noah said, his words stopping her at the stairs.

Kay turned, a smirk on her face. "Why are you up so early?"

"Good morning to you too, Kay." He watched his sister smile, then push him over as she walked into his room. "You coming too Jessica?"

"Yeah, I guess," she said, walking past him into the room. She took a seat on the edge of the bed while Kay wandered around the expansive room.

"So, what's this about the Book Cafe," he asked, walking over to sit beside his younger sister.

"I don't know. She's the one who wants to go, not me," Jessica said, giving Kay a dirty look.

"Hey, what's this," Kay asked, holding up a book she had found on the nightstand.

"That's a novel, Kay. People usually read them whenever they have free time." Noah nudged his little sister, knowing she would appreciate his jibe at Kay. Judging by the grin on her face, he was right.

"Ha, ha, ha," Kay responded drolly. "Come on, Noah. If we don't hurry, they're going to stop serving breakfast at the Book Cafe."

"It's like, eight Kay! And anyway, I'm home. I want to enjoy mom's cooking. If there's one thing I've missed, it would be her huge meals."

Kay moved to sit on the other side of Noah. "But you missed me, right?"

"I missed mom's cooking, and joking around with dad. I missed teasing Jessica, and hanging out with my friends who are still around."

"Hello," Kay said, waving her hands in the air. She got up, walking to the door. "Good to know my only brother cares about me," she said, opening the door.

"And I missed making my know it all sister angry as hell."

"Noah," Jess admonished while Kay turned, running back to give him a hug.

"I knew you missed me," Kay said, smothering him.

Noah laughed. He'd be lying if he said he didn't enjoy the attention. Growing up, he'd felt closed in by having two younger sisters who he was expected to set an example for and take care of all the time. But as soon as he'd gone away to school, he'd missed having to look out for Jess and Kay. He'd missed their intrusions into his life and the love and devotion they so freely offered to him on a continuous basis.

He'd missed his family, period.

"Of course I missed you Kay. Both of you," he said, wrapping a hand around Jess and pulling her into the hug.

"This is the most beautiful sight a mother could see," Grace said. She stood at the open door, watching her three children together, tears streaming down her face.

"Aw, mom. Don't cry," Jessica said, quickly standing to console her mother.

"These are happy tears, Jess. All my babies are home. A mother couldn't ask for anything more." She hugged her youngest daughter close.

"Well, this is great, but we're actually on our way out," Kay said, giving Noah a look to agree with her.

"But I made a huge breakfast. Pancakes, eggs, sausage, biscuits, muffins--"

"Mmmm, sounds great," Noah stood, only to be slugged by Kay. "Watch it munchkin," he told her, rubbing his arm.

"Mom, I'm sure you made a wonderful meal but Noah wanted to go to the Book Cafe for breakfast and he invited Jess and I to go with him. I hope you don't mind," she finished, praying to God they'd be able to skip the family meal this morning. If she didn't get down to the Book Cafe, and fast, Charity would have more time alone with Miguel. As if the two weren't together constantly anyway. Time alone could only mean they'd be getting closer, which would mean the chances of making Miguel see how right she was for him were diminishing.

"Well, Kay, I kind of wanted us to eat together," Grace said, her face falling slightly.

"Then we will mom," Jessica said, sending a murderous look in Kay's direction.

"But we can't!" Kay watched as everyone looked at her as if she'd sprung a second head. "I mean," she tried again, "Noah's meeting some of his old friends for breakfast. You know, the guys he used to hang with all the time. The Sullivan boys and Tommy Mason."

"Really," Noah asked, surprised at the level of Kay's deception. She must really want to go to the Book Cafe he mused.

"Yeah, really," she emphasized.

"Well, I would like to see those guys. I know its only been a week that I've been home, but I've barely met up with anyone I used to run with." Noah walked over to his mom. "You don't mind that I go, do you mom? I promise we'll eat breakfast together tomorrow."

"Promise me lunch and dinner today and you have a deal," Grace said, though reluctantly. She had prepared her best dishes this morning and would have to end up feeding them to the few guests that were at the Inn.

"You know I'll be there mom," he responded with a kiss to her cheek.

"Yes," Kay whispered in victory.

"I don't know what you're so happy about Kay. Noah is going out with his friends. You have to stay home."

"But, mom, he invited me and Jessica. Noah," she pleaded.

"It's alright with me if it's alright with you ma," Noah said. He went into the bathroom to change his shirt to come out and find Kay practically begging to go.

"Kay, I don't know--"

"Really, mom. It's okay. I'd like to spend some time with Jess and Kay. They won't be a nuisance, I'm sure."

"I'm positive," Kay responded. Jessica remained silent, seething at the fact that Kay would once again get her way.

"Well, okay," Grace said with a smile. "You can take my car if you want."

"Actually, I think I'll take Uncle Hank's truck. Dad gave me the keys last night."

The group walked out of the room and down the stairs to the main hallway.

"I didn't know Hank was out of town again."

"Yeah. Something about "getting his priorities straight" Dad said. Anyway, he'll be gone for a week or two which will give me a car to move around in until he gets back."

"But if we take mom's car there'll be so much more room," Kay said looking at Jessica.

"Shotgun," both girls called at the same time, though Jessica was already running for the door.

"Those two," Grace mused, shaking her head at their antics. One day, by the grace of God, Jessica and Kay would learn to place all bickering aside and just be sisters.

"Yeah, I know. They were such sweet little girls when I left. What'd you and Dad do to them anyway," he teased with a last hug to his mom.

By the time he walked over to the front of thier house, he found Jessica and Kay fighting over who would sit in the front seat of their Uncle's restored old truck.

"I got here first, Kay."

"I'm the oldest," Kay responded.

"Well, I'm the oldest out of all of us and I say you get the back," Noah told her.

"But--"

"No buts," Noah said, pointing to the back of the truck. "This was your scheme, your ploy. Jess is being dragged along against her will, I'm sure."

"Still--"

"Either its the back or you can find your own way, Kay." Noah smiled happily at his rhyme as he headed for the driver's side door of his uncle's truck.

Jessica also grinned as Kay fumed, marching towards the back. "And for a second, I was actually happy to have you home," she muttered.

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