Lou paused as she viewed her room one last time. She'd cried a good few times since their Travel Huggers call, but not as many as her Mum, who supposedly wanted her to go on this trip. She was seeing Lou off, and her grandparents were also in the living room to drag out the goodbyes for as long as possible.

"Mary Lou! Stop moping and come take a photo with us before you leave!"

She sighed. Mary Lou was pretty, but she didn't favour it over her preferred name, Lou. Her Mum did prefer her full name, and while she usually obeyed her daughter's wish to use the second part only, she sometimes used her full name as habit when she was annoyed with her.

Lou fought back the last of her tears and closed the door. It was harder than she thought it would be. "Coming, Mum!"

In less than four hours, she'd be on an aeroplane, and her life would change forever. (Or so the adverts said.)

<<*>>

Giani was not ready for her flight. Carlos had predicted this, and told her to get up and pack repeatedly, but she'd ignored him.

"GIANI!" He yelled up the stairs. "WE HAVE TO LEAVE IN TWENTY MINUTES!"

Procrastination was turning out to be a problem.

"I JUST HAVE TO PACK A COUPLE MORE THINGS!"

A pause. "HAVE YOU PACKED ANYTHING AT ALL?"

"DOES PRINTING OFF MY BOARDING PASS COUNT?"

The sounds of him running up the stairs became louder and louder the closer he got. "No. Want my help?"

She stuck her tongue out at him, then reconsidered. "Yes."

He slung his guitar off his back. "Thought so. I'll start with clothes; you do the valuables, and we'll go from there. Sound good?"

"Why do you help me every time I screw up?"

He grinned. "That's what brothers are for."

<<*>>

Aster triple checked her flight time, picking up her passport on the counter while she was at it.

"Ah, Aster," her Meme smiled softly, speaking with a thick French accent. "Do not forget me on your travelling hugging app."

"Travel Huggers, Meme." She bent down and hugged her. "And I won't. Make sure you call me at least once a week and be good for Leanne. She'll send me updates on you, and I'll come charging back here if I hear even the slightest thing has gone wrong."

"Good luck, mon petit pois," she hugged her back, squeezing hard. "I will follow you on the Staragram."

Aster didn't correct her this time. She would miss her Meme's version of the English language. "I'll come home as soon as the year is up."

"Don't promise me anything. I want you to just have a good time. Oui?"

"Oui, Meme. I love you."

<<*>>

"THYYYYYYY!"

"ASPEEEEEEN!"

"THHYYYYYYY!" 

"ASPEEEEEEN!"

"I LOVE YOU, BRO!"

"I LOVE YOU TOO, SIBLING!" 

"SAY GOODBYE TO YOUR FAVOURITE CHICKEN!" 

"GOODBYE, I LOVE YOU, GOBSTOPPER!"

"I THOUGHT YOU DIDN'T HAVE FAVOURITES?"

"GOBSTOPPER IS SPECIAL."

"CUSTARD IS BETTER."

"YOU BETTER SEND ME PICTURES OF THEM WHEN I'M GONE!" 

"YOU BET I WILL!"

"WILL YOU TWO SHUT UP?"

"SORRY DAD!"

"I LOVE YOU DAD!"

"LOVE YOU TOO, THYME. ASPEN, HUG YOUR BROTHER AND GET BACK ON THE FARM."

"LET'S BRO HUG, BRO."

"I WOULD PREFER TO CRUSH YOUR BONES."

"ONLY IF I CAN CRUSH YOURS TOO."

<<*>>

"Mila, honey, can you pass me the butter?" Viktor asked pleasantly, turning to his youngest daughter.

"Sure!" They handed it over.

"Okay, Mila, let's go over what you should do if you come across a bear again," her mother pressed, an anxious frown clear on her face.

"Mother, Milana doesn't need you to go through that a third time," Dária rolled her eyes, stealing the butter from Viktor. "Or do you, little sister?"

"I'm okay, Mama, thank you," Mila couldn't help but grin: her family was together again, which was rare as her sister spent most of her time at university now, and as Mila was going away to travel for a year, it would be even rarer. "It's so good to see all of us together."

"I know," her father leant across the table and squeezed her hand.

"My youngest is leaving the nest!" Her Mama cried, looking between the two of them. "If you do not call daily, I will report you missing to the police."

Dária hid a laugh. "I wish you luck with that. You'll need it. Call me if you have the time."

"I will, but for now I'd just like to enjoy our meal," Mila took a big bite of food.

Her parents looked at each other, him to reassure her, and her sister looked away, almost as if she would cry.

Mila would miss them, but they were ready for her life to continue to new places, with new people. A new chapter, if you will. They couldn't wait.

<<*>>

Imogen was already pulling up outside the airport. She wasn't ready to get out of the car yet. Her grandfather was seated next to her, and he took her hand. "I'd wish you luck, but I imagine whoever these people are, they'll be quieter than the family at home."

She laughed. "Oh, definitely. I love you, Pop."

"I love you too, sunflower." He pulled her close to him in a hug, kissing her forehead. "The others will miss you, and I'll tell them you said hi. Now, go get 'em tiger."

Imogen stepped out of the car, pulling along her case and taking in a deep breath. She pressed call on her Pop's number. "I miss you already."

"Go on inside, kid. I'll wait here until I see you're safe."

"Okay."

And so she went into the airport, leaving all her worries outside. (She didn't, but for poetic sake, let's just say she did.) 

A/N 

This was sort of a final getting to know them chapter, featuring their families and the dynamic they have at home. I can now finally say that next chapter you will see them in san fran! 

Also update on the Jam on Toast tea situation - I had more today (gotta finish the box yk) and it tastes like a berry flavoured boiled sweet. With crumbs dropped in it. 

Which characters do you want to see interact together in the next few chapters? Comment it and it will happen. 

To you Starstruck guys, I have writer's block with that story atm but I'm trying to wrap it up for a release tomorrow. 

Tomorrow is a Bank Holiday for us British people, and I fully intend to make the most of that and write lots so you can get updated even when I'm doing exams!

Wednesday and Thursday this week and Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday next week are my worst days when I'll probably be inactive, but I'll try my hardest to keep spamming you with chapters. 

Lots of love and weird flavoured tea, Im <333