"Wow. It's so...... big...." Janet gazed at Windia. She hadn't realized just how used she had gotten to the smaller towns until just now.

"It's kind of weird to think," Ray started to say, "that this is it. We're home... no more camp fires, no more having to worry about things at night..."

"Yea." Janet nodded her head in agreement. "Now the most we have to worry about is things like, 'will I be ready for Mr. Jamerson's dammed test today?' or 'what's the mystery meat Mrs. Kester is serving today? Oh god I hope I remembered to bring my own lunch...'"

"Hey... does anyone know what day it is?" Ray, Janet, and Lucy all turned to look at Jason who was rubbing his left hand uneasily. Ray thought for a moment before shaking his head.

"Honestly? I have no idea... guess we'll find out when we all get home though, right?"

"Home..." Lucy sighed. Her voice startled the other three with her. Lucy had been silent during most of the trip home, and it was suddenly odd to hear her voice. It wasn't the emotionless and flat tone that the group had become used to. This time there was emotion in her voice, and that emotion was dispare and loneliness. Ray cast a glance at Jason and Janet before clearing his throat.

"I guess this is it then... we'll see each other at school?" The dragon felt an awkward smirk tug at his lips as he thought about talking to Janet and Jason during school. Who knows, it could happen. Janet gave a light nod in reply. Jason did nothing.

"Well..." Janet sighed and looked over Windia again. "I'm sore, I'm tired, I'm hungry, and I want to go home and get clean. Lucy..." she turned to the raven-haired windian, studying her friend for a moment before envoloping her in a comforting hug. "You know you can always talk to me... I'm here for you at any time." Janet could hear her friend sniff lightly as Lucy nodded in response. Janet slowly seperated from her friend, gave her a reassuring smile, and turned to go.

"Wait!" Janet turned back to see Lucy gazing up at her. "Wait, all of you... we need to settle some things..." Her companions exchanged confused glances as Lucy started up again. "We've been gone for over two weeks.. people are going to be wondering when we get back to school. I..." she shook her head, "I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm really not wanting to go around and spout off to everyone all that just happened to us. But then again, if we don't give people answers, there's going to be a lot of suspicion and rumors going around." Lucy sighed and looked at the others with her. "We need to come up with something.. some type of story that people will believe..."

Ray rubbed the back of his neck for a moment thoughtfully. "Um... I don't know, maybe we could have said we went on a trip?"

Janet rolled her eyes. "Oh that's a story people are going to believe..."

"Wait, no wait..." Lucy shook her head for a moment. "Actually, that might work. Okay you two," Lucy looked from Janet to Ray before continuing with her idea, "this is what happened. Dad was given some vacation time, so he decided to take the family out for a trip that lasted a couple of weeks. I invited Janet and Ray to come with us, so that's why we've been gone. While we were out on our trip, Dad was called out to go to High Fort suddenly, and Brandon...." Lucy's voice faltered a bit and her eyes seemed to dim as she mentioned her brothers name. "Brandon went with him.... that's why he's not here now... and we're not sure when he's coming back home....." her voice trailed off into silence and she gazed down at the ground. Ray and Janet exchanged glances.

"Alright..." Janet nodded in agreement with the story. "That'll work."

"No!" Jason continued to rub his hand in annoyance as he gazed at the others with an annoyed look. "No that doesn't fucking work. What about me?"

"You," Lucy turned her head just slightly towars Jason. He couldn't see her eyes, but the red-haired windian shrank back a bit as he heard the anger and annoyance that filled Lucy's voice. "You can come up with your own stupid story. You ran away, you've been sick, it doesn't matter, alright?" With a mutter Lucy turned her gaze back to the ground. "Just think up something for yourself, you usually do..."

Jason made no reply. He simply stared quietly at Lucy. She still hates me... she still thinks I'm the one to blame for Brandon. And then again, aren't I? You did run out on him, Burnhart. You know it yourself, he would be alive if it weren't for you. Must you always be so fucking selfish? If you had just stayed and fought... Jason shook his head, trying to knock the thoughts away. This had been something that had been running through his head over and over again on the way back to Windia. It wasn't just that Lucy blamed him for Brandon's death, Jason blamed himself for it too, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't make himself believe otherwise. With a sigh, Jason stuffed his hands in his pockets, moved his shoulders around a bit to adjust the weight of the crossbow on his back, and started to head home. Ray watched him go quietly as Janet was busy trying to make Lucy feel better.

"C'mon. You need some rest..." Janet was gazing at Lucy with a worried expression. "I'll take you home..."

"No." Lucy shook her head and sighed. "No, I'm not going home just yet." That earned a confused look from Janet, and Lucy went on to explain. "I need to stop by the castle first. There's still some things I need to clear up."

Janet gave an understanding nod. "Alright... well... I need to get home..." She gave her friend another hug. "Lucy, I'll see you later... don't worry, I'm here to help." With another weak smile at her friend, Janet turned and headed off in the direction of home.

Ray watched her go before turning to Lucy. "Come on, I'll walk with you to the castle."

Lucy shook her head and looked up at him. "No, I can walk myself there. Besides, you should get home and check on your sister. She's probably worried sick about you."

Ray rubbed his neck lightly. "Yea, I know she is. I'll go see her in a bit, but first... I'm taking you to the castle. And then to your house. I can't just leave you all by yourself."

"And why not?" There was a slight defensive tone to Lucy's voice as she gazed up at Ray. Her face had taken on it's emotionless look again. Ray just shook his head.

"What kind of Ryu would I be if I didn't escort my Nina home?"

"Ray...." Lucy felt tears welling up in her eyes and she turned her head. "Ray, stop it! Stop it now!" She wasn't trying to hide it anymore, and Ray could hear the anger in her voice. "Stop saying that. I'm not Nina, I never want to be Nina again. I just want to be Lucy, alright? Not some Nina who needs a Ryu!" Lucy did her best to fight back her tears and suddenly she felt a light hand on her shoulder. She glanced over to see Ray, a serious and worried look in his eyes.

"That's alright. You don't have to be Nina. You can be Lucy if you want. But if you're going to go ahead and be Lucy.. well, then can I go ahead and be your Ray?" He gave the windian a light smile. Lucy stared at him in wonder for a moment before letting out a quiet sob and throwing her arms around him, burying her face in his chest.

"Ray...." she cried quietly, and the dragon reached down to stroke her hair gently. "I want to go home... I want my brother back... I wish none of this had ever happened..."

"I know..." Ray sighed. "I think all of us feel like that. But it did happen, and we have to deal with that... but you know what? We've got each other. You have me and Janet to help you through anything. Shoot, we went through hell with you... you know you can depend on us..."

Lucy was doing her best to manage her crying as she nodded in response to Ray. She sniffed quietly and looked up at him. "I guess so..."

Ray gazed down at Lucy with a warm, comforting smile as he stroked her hair one last time. "It'll get better, you'll see. The worst is over now. Come on, let's get you to the castle, and then to home so you can sleep." And with that he began to lead Lucy into Windia.