If… 11C

Two weeks later, while the bags for the long awaited trip were being put in the trunks of two cars. Travis and Steph still taking as much time to themselves as possible. Two weeks of Peggy allowing herself to get over Aida's sudden… whatever. Soon she would be on a boat and her phone will be off for a month. On the car ride, she got a message. -Aida "I was jealous. I shouldn't have said what I said. I'm so sorry."

Shocking. She didn't know what to send as a reply. Sherry was right first of all. There was no reason for Aida to be. Did this mean Sherry was right about the why? Aida is great at singing. She thought about what to send. She couldn't come up with anything. But she can't go for a month without talking to her. –"You have no reason to be. Do I have my friend back now?"

***

Two days into the trip and Tanner was sick. Steph was by his side, taking extra care of him. She only came up for air when he was asleep. Even then she took breaks from her reading and delegating phone calls to check on him. Travis was also delegating his work and all the things in between. For the most part, Shane and Peggy were left to themselves on the yacht. That evening, while Shane and Peggy were off watching- Peggy, was in her room and Shane was taking advantage of the setting sunlight to take pictures he would never share with anyone. Except maybe Sherry. Steph was in Tanner's cabin sitting behind him on his bed and massaging his head. "How are you feeling now?" She asked, using one hand to feel his body temperature. She placed the hand on his neck, a little hot.

"My entire body hurts. I tried standing before you came in and I thought I would fall." He explained.

"You were dizzy." She pointed out.

"Mmhmm." He closed his eyes.

"You'll feel better soon don't worry." He nodded

"Yoohooo…." The sound was muffled from the closed door. Then it opened. In walked Peggy and then Shane.

"Well well well. If it isn't Tanner. Two days in and you're already sick." Shane was rather excited to mock him. "What happened to all that 'myeh myeh myeh myehhhhh.' Huh?"

Peggy snorted at Shane's ridiculous mockery.

"That had something to do with something totally different. You didn't want to leave your room. I am sick."

"Whatever." Shane rolled his eyes.

"Hey mom, would he be better soon?" Peggy asked.

Steph nodded. "It's nothing big."

"Well hurry up. Oh!" Shane snapped his fingers. "Dad's making dinner tonight."

Tanner chuckled. It hurt him to do so. "Really?"

"Don't get him worked up guys." Steph warned.

Peggy laughed, "You're worried too aren't you? He's like stirring in between phone calls or something."

"Oh crap. I think I might be sick too. Do sick kids get a different food choice?"

"You want soup?" Steph glared at Shane. "And instead of coming to talk about it. One of you go help him."

"Sorry mom, it's my turn tomorrow and I intend to stay out of there till then."

"Peggy?" "I'm a baker not a cook. On my day, I'm using the cook book."

"What's he making anyway?" "He said it's a surprise." Shane shrugged.

"He's good at certain things. So as long as it's one of those. If not then we'll change the rule."

"To the cook making everything?" Peggy asked with a big hopeful smile."

"No, to one assistant." Shane sighed. "We'd have to wait and hope. I can't wait to see what Tanner makes us. This is going to be fun."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"What do you think? Sandwich boy."

"So what? They're great."

"We demand something better and preferably funny." He looked from Tanner to his mom. "How long do you think before he gets better? Two days?"

"Well I'm not a-" she realized what she was about to say, her eyes widened. "Bsolutely" She corrected. "Sure when exactly."

Peggy grabbed Shane's arm in a disbelief. "Mom? Did you almost say 'I'm not a doctor?'"

"Seriously?" Shane was hit with shock. Tanner broke out into spasms of laughter, only to groan on pain. She wrapped her arms round his head. He held on to her forearms. "I told you not to get him worked up." Hopefully that changed the subject.

"Mom?" Peggy asked expectantly.

"Why would I do that? Of course not."

"I think you forgot you are a doctor for a second." Shane was excited.

Another spasm of laughter and pain.

"Don't be ridiculous."

"Well." Peggy bit her lower lip to stop from laughing. "I'm going to go…" she needed a reason for leaving. "Help dad." She rushed off, shutting the door behind her.

Shane was now fully laughing. "She's so going to tell him." He shook his head. "I'm going to go witness that."

"Did you really forget?" Tanner asked as Shane headed for the door.

"What? So I've been playing with you for two days?" She wouldn't tell the truth. Not when it was so fun watching them react to it. It was a nice distraction from taking care of Tanner and working at the same time. But no doubt, Travis would question her when they're alone. She stopped herself from shaking her head at herself.

Forty five minutes later, dinner was ready. Having had her husband's cooking years ago, she was well prepared for the meal he'd made. But they weren't. And they were more than surprised at how good it was. Travis decided to try the cook book like Peggy intended to, for next time. Tanner was left with tales of the food and nothing else. Unfortunately for him.

A months worth of pages summarized…

Some times, either one of them would run to their parents' cabin. Peggy telling on Tanner, Tanner on Peggy, Tanner on Shane. An endless cycle that had the parents smiling and thanking their stars for the time they spent away from them before diving into it… whatever was the problem. Which was occasionally one person threatening to throw the others off the yacht. Of course there were moments of peace and pure fun. Like when Tanner gathered them all to take pictures while bathing in the sun. So many beautiful pictures from sun up to sun down, crazy poses that had them laughing at themselves. Serious and all. It was amazing. The pictures didn't stop when the competition was announced. Five of them had to break into teams for team dinners. One person, the unchosen had to set the table. The unlucky person was always a little grumpy and feeling left out. Dinners were judged more harshly than they were on individual days.

Before they left their house, they all had tasks. Shane was in charge of movies, Tanner snacks, Peggy music, Steph games and Travis… his task was assigning the tasks and approving them. Everything was approved. Of course there were times when everyone stayed in their cabins. In fact, there were times when they competed for cleanest cabins. Travis and Steph were always winners. Until the stakes were made higher. Moods and such aside, it was a wonderful month. They saw Shane off to school and took a flight back home. Peggy's excitement had turned to nervousness. School will begin in less than three days.=