A/N: I did my best with the travel route from Spain to America. Being set in the 80s, I have very little info to go on, so please don't come after me.

June of 1985//Madrid

Natasha deeply loathed Javier. Every sour conversation. All the death stares. His toxic tone when he's mad, and now this... It proved Nat's theory, that in all the years of knowing him. He didn't have a heart, or if he did, it was hollow and made from stone. His solution to every screw-up that comes his way. Is to treat them as objects to be thrown far away. Except it never worked with Claudia's bastard child. She always came back like a boomerang. The latest attempt to get rid of the eye swore was his greatest plan yet: leave Natasha with a bunch of strangers in the land of cowboys and high taxes. America.

It was all arranged beforehand. An extremely old friend -- as in 32 years ago, who knew Claudia lived in Cresent City, USA and said Natasha could stay for ten weeks, far away from the chaos she'd created. So when the day arrived like the quiet before the storm, Bob drove Nat to the airport. Nat remained unusually quiet, keeping to herself during half the journey—surprisingly not even annoying Bob, who was driving and wearing his hearing aids for this trip. Despite a few attempts at conversation from Bob, Nat responded with only nods, prompting him to give up and turn to the radio. 

Upon reaching the airport's parking lot, Bob exited, scanning the area before courteously opening the door for Nat. They loaded Nat's luggage onto a trolley and entered the bustling airport. The scene was lively—families with giggling kids at a bustling restaurant, air hostesses confidently striding towards their plane, and an elderly couple searching for passports. Amidst the noise of metal detectors and people rushing, Nat and Bob navigated to a check-in counter, dropped off luggage, obtained the boarding pass, and headed straight to the waiting area. As they endured what seemed like an eternity but was merely five minutes, a woman's voice echoed through the intercom, announcing the imminent boarding of the flight to L.A. in 10 minutes. Seizing the opportunity, Bob decided to break the silence. In one swift motion, he took the Walkman cassette and headphones from Nat's grasp.

"Hey, what's your problem?!" asked Nat

"My problem is you," he said

"Well, so are a lot of people, give that back," Nat tried to get her Walkman back

"No,"

"This is not a time for games Bob, give it back,"

"Not until you say it,"

Nat reached for the cassette and headphones, but Bob swiftly pulled them out of reach.

"Say it,"

"You bitch, you're causing a scene,"

"Just say it,"

"Say what!? That I have to deal with meeting some total stranger because my mom cares more about her bitchy self than me. And this guy, who didn't even know I existed, agreed to ship me off across the ocean to live with them for ten frickin days. And guess what? It wasn't even my mom's shitty idea, but Javier's – a guy who treats kids like animals. Seriously, who does that?!" yelled Nat

Everyone close enough to hear that confession gave a confused face at the butler and the fiery girl.

"¿Qué están mirando ustedes?" Nat said rudely

The people staring looked away and went back to their business.

"Now see, was that so hard?" Bob gave Nat back her Walkman and headphones

Nat sulked like a child; "Was it also your plan to embarrass me,"

"That was all you, Edelweiss," said Bob

"I'm not five anymore, you don't need to call me that,"

"Yet what I heard was a girl scared out of her mind,"

"I never-,"

"Ah fräulein, zum ersten Mal in deinem geschäftigen Leben darfst du Angst haben,"

Nat let out a heavy sigh.

"Hate it when you say things like that,"

"Dennoch spreche ich die Wahrheit, and from experience,"

The intercom announced that people flying to L.A. can begin to board. Natasha hesitated to go.

"Hey," Bob placed his hand on her shoulder, "I'm always a phone call away if you need to talk,"

"That's not what I'm worried about," her tone sounded anxious

"You don't have to like him nor him like you, just don't burn his house down like October 1982," he reassured her

"Okay, how was that my fault when he held the torch,"

"The news never lies, Edelweiss," Nat punched Bob in the shoulder for that comment, and this made them both laugh

"You better go, or else they leave without you," Bob said

Nat got her things and began to walk to her gate. But she turned around, ran back to Bob and gave him the biggest hug she ever gave. Bob hugged her back.

"Benehmen Edelweiss," Bob whispered in Nat's ear then watched her walk to the gate

****

Crescent City// USA

Natasha's flight to the United States wasn't unpleasant, but her mind buzzed with thoughts of what lies ahead. On her second bus to Crescent City, she stared out the window as city lights streaked by. The engine's hum and bus's jostling failed to calm her. Arriving at 8 PM, she entered a nearly empty bus station, underwhelmed by the American hype. It seemed no different from any other country she had visited, yet there was a feeling she couldn't shake. Waiting for 5 minutes for a stranger, she sat next to an elderly woman knitting an odd sweater.

10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20, 40, closing in on an hour of waiting and still no sign of the mystery person. The elderly woman she was sitting next to had completed her knitting project -- which wasn't a sweater but more a colourful poncho. Nat found it odd that this woman was just sitting here knitting away. She was unaware that a man dressed in neon yellow oilskin trousers jacket and green wellies was running straight for the only operating ticket booth.

"Can I assist you, sir?" the ticket booth operator asked plainly

"Were there any buses from Redding that come within the hour?" said the man

The ticket operator blinked slowly, then checked his clipboard; "There was one bus,"

"Did anyone disembark?" the man pressed

The ticket operator blinked again, checked his clipboard once more, and responded, "Yes,"

"Are they still present?"

The ticket operator gestured towards Natasha, finally seeing the man's face. It was gentle, with stress lines across his forehead -- meaning he could be around 40 years old, sky-blue eyes hidden behind square glasses, and hair black with hints of grey. He gazed at Natasha, who was conversing with the elderly woman. The unspoken tension as he approached.

"Hello there," the man greeted

Natasha looked up, her hair did that slow-motion flick, showcasing her dazzling green eyes and sweet small smile.

"Oh, hi," Nat responded, "Anything I can help you with?"

The man just stared at Nat as if he had seen a ghost. Awkward.

"Um, sir, are you-,"

"You look just like her," the man finally said with a sense of recognition

This came as a shock to Nat.

"Ah, w-who do I look like?" Nat asked feeling unsafe about how the man looked at her

"No, I just mean. . .," the man faltered, the words hovering just out of reach

"As much is not in all uncomfortable," she took her things and left her seat

"Wait, I didn't mean to. . ., you're Claudia's child, aren't you?"

Nat froze! Her breath shuddered, and a shiver went down her spine.

"How do you-,"

"Know who you are, you have her smile," the man slowly walked up to her

Nat turned, looking straight into those blue eyes. Something about them gave her a feeling of safety and it felt weird to her.

"Oh, where are my manners, I'm Weston Hayes, though you can call me Weston or West for short. You'll stay with me and my family for the summer, although I haven't mentioned it to them yet," Weston extended his hand

"Natasha, Pierce," taking the bold move of shaking his hand

"Pleasure to meet you, Natasha, if that's what you want to be called?"

"Natasha is fine, how do you know my mother?"

"Well, that's a tough one, let's say we used to date in college," he's hand nervously behind his head

"Oh good to know,"

A moment of awkward silence.

"You're probably very tired from your travels, we can go home now if you'd like?"

"That would be nice," Nat smiled shyly

The duo walked out of the station to Weston's pickup truck waiting to head back to the Hayes family house.