I stifled my laughter as I strolled into the other guest room, finding Nicole, Jake, and Callie sitting on the futon laughing as they ate oreos.

"You're going to spoil your dinner." I scolded.

"Oh, Locke— Erica," Nicole turned towards me as I spoke. "Your brother is a total nerd."

"And proud of it!" Jake said, crumbs spewing from his mouth as he spoke.

I ignored the ew of that, instead stealing the box from them. "Yeah I'm sure you can tell we're related."

"Hey!" Jake said, reaching out for the container of Oreos I had just swiped.

"No." I pulled them away and glared.

"Yeah you're both dorks. Hey, Jake, do you know how to play Texas Hold 'Em?"

"Uhhh no?"

"Blackjack?"

"Nuh uh."

"Five card draw?"

"Nope! Why?"

Nicole smiled. "This'll be fun."

I rolled my eyes. "No hustling. Jacob wants us to watch movies in his room until dinner. Yay or nay?"

"Hmm, I gotta teach squirt here poker."

"Another time?" I suggested.

"You let me teach Callie Blackjack though!" Nicole argued.

"I didn't let you. You just did it while I was gone. And fine you can teach Jay Blackjack, but we're gonna watch a movie with Jacob. You can join us if you want."

Nicole leapt to her feet. "I can do both. You in, Squirt?"

"Sure, why not." Jake shrugged.

"I call dibs on picking the movie!" Callie exclaimed, dashing out of the room ahead of the rest of us.

"What no fair! I want veto power!" Nicole said, running after her.

Jake turned to me, raising an eyebrow. "You found a real collection of weirdos on your way here, huh."

I shrugged, smiling. "I guess you can call them that. Although it's mostly Jacob."

"I like them."

I ruffled his hair. "Me too."

By the time we'd made it to Jacob's room Callie had already chosen The Princess Bride as the movie we were going to be forced to watch. Honestly, no arguments there.

Jake and Nicole sat on the floor, playing Blackjack. I sat on Jake's bed, while Callie sat curled up in Jacob's lap on his bed.

Everything felt so right. So complete.

Yet perfection never last long. Soon they'd leave me and I almost definitely wouldn't ever see them again.

Unless... I chose to stay with them.

Stay...

Stay here or stay with them?

Looking at the little family I'd collected, I knew it'd be near impossible to say goodbye after all we'd been through.

But Jake was safe here. I was safe here. My uncles were here. Everything would be okay if we stayed.

Stay or go?

Look! A mostly regular update! Let's see how long I can keep this up. Please, comment and let me know your thoughts! It helps me keep writing.
~Oz