Hope ,noelles cousin, walked the dusty road kicking at a rock. So ready to see her cousin she ran up the road *yells* Noelle! Passing her aunt she waves, *waves* hi aunt Michele!

Noelle was perched on her room on her bed. Of course, she had just gotten off the train from Hogwarts and was immediately sent to her room. The girl was in trouble.

She was waiting for her cousins to come over. Her brothers had clung to her all the way home and she'd enjoyed their yammering on. She'd peeked at her baby sister and cooed over her for a bit until their station wagon started down the dirt road to their farm house.

Now she was stuck in her room until dinner time.

And of course, her mum had locked the window magically so she couldn't get out.

SIGHHH.

Heading to her window, she looked down and saw Hope. Noelle's face erupted into a smile and she banged on her window to get her cousins attention. "DAD! MUM!! HOPE IS HERE!! CAN I COME OUT??!?" Noelle yelled to her parents as she stayed by the window.

Noelle heard a yell downstairs but it was muffled. Taking that as a yes, she banged on her door for her brother to let her out. The locked I clicked and Noelle was out the door in a flash.

Her house was big but not so big you could get lost. She was outside in a matter of minutes. Hope had reached the porch by then.

Annnnd Hope was tackled in a hug.

As Hope was about to open the door she was tackled by her cousin. Laughing she got her her feet and pulled her cousin up with her. "So how much trouble are you in? Do I need to do some damage control?" Hope looked around at the house she had spent almost every summer at. It was still so beautiful. Remembering all the good times she turned to her cousin. "I ran ahead. Chris will be here shortly." Grabbing her cousins hand,"I heard you yell. You must be grounded. How mad are your folks?"

*Chris came trudging up the path to his aunt and uncles place, he was now 16. He didn't want to spend the summer here so his aunt and uncle to keep him closed up watching his sister and cousins. He wanted to go out. He finally has his license and he wanted to go make friends and get him a girl. Yet here he was walking up the driveway instead of driving because his parents didn't trust him. His sister was the one with the powers not him.. Ugh she couldget away with anything. Spotting his sister and cousin he waved. Well here we go he thought

Noelle beamed and clung to her cousin like a koala. Her brothers had done similar things to her when they had seen her. "I missed you." Says first and foremost. Looking back at the house, she needed to see where her parents were at. She saw her dad glancing out of the living room window.

"Im in trouble but not so much trouble that I don't get to see you two. How are you?? Are you ready for the summer?? You're coming over everyday right?? Sleepovers all the time??" Noelle asked her as she finally unclung herself from her.

Noelle saw Chris start walking up the dirt driveway. He looked miserable. Noelle giggled. "At least you aren't grounded!!" Because groundings did not do well with Nells. She already missed Sabbie.

Moving back, she went back into the house with Hopes hand firmly in hers. "Sabbie asked me something." Nells whispers to Hope.

*hope walks With Noelle. Looking back at her brother to make sure he's OK* so what'd he ask she whispers? *looking back at her uncle watching Noelle like a hawk made her glad her parents weren't like that. Her mum had a shop in diagon alley and her father worked on their farm. She helped her dad daily to lighten his load. Even though she was a witch and her dad was a muggle she got along better with her dad then her mum. Not that she loved her mum any less but she just got along better with her dad. Realizing she spaced off she smiled at Nell's. "You gotta tell me!" She whispered excitedly.

Noelle's face fell as she looked at her dad who was now acting like he hadn't been staring out the window at them. He used to not be like this. He used to be carefree. That was before his daughter started liking boys.

Noelle stepped into the house and lead her to her room. She was determined not to think of her room as a prison. Especially since Sabbie was gone. Sniffle. Don't think about it Nells.. He said he was leaving the day after they got back. Noelle didn't know they had moved it to a week out.

Once they were in her room, she closed the door and sat on the bed. "He wanted me to go on tour with him and his family... They leave in a few days." Noelle said and looked down. She wasn't going to cry about it... Again. She already had done that.

*looking at how Nell's mood changed she felt sorry for her cousin and all the stuff she was going through. "Is he going to keep in contact? Why didn't you go with him?

Noelle shook her head. "I couldn't go... I couldn't leave my family." Despite them not being the most warm family the last couple months, they were still her family. "He didn't know if he would be returning to Hogwarts." Noelle told Hope and bowed her head.

She gave a shaky breath. This was hard okay? Sabbie was her best friend. Her favorite person. And now... He was just... Leaving her. She couldn't blame him. He was going to be with his family and find his father. But she wanted to blame him. She wanted to be mad and throw a fit.

But she didn't.

Noelle looked up at her cousin and gave a half-hearted smile. "Hes doing what he loves. He will be with his family. He plans on finding his dad. All good things. I wouldn't want him to stay because of me. That's selfish. " Boy, Noelle had done a lot of growing up her first year at Hogwarts.

Hope patted Nell's on her back trying to comfort her but failing miserably. She had never been in a situation like this and really didn't know what to say. She was innocent when it came to guys and friends. With only having that one kiss she really couldn't say she understood so she hugged her cousin.
I hope he calls you every day and sends you cool stuff! In the mean time I can try and keep you distracted. *looks around and rolls her eyes* or I can try but with you being grounded that's going to be hard. We can still do stuff and I'll b over all the time!

Noell appreciated Hopes sympathy. She had cried a few times since telling him no and most people knew that Noelle Grace Summers did not cry very often. Sabbie just meant a lot to her. He was her first friend at Hogwarts, her first adventure buddy, her first joke, her first person to get scolded in class for. He was a round of firsts for her. She would practically do anything for him... Except leave her family.

"Yes! I'll need lots of distractions. Maybe if Dad and Mum know that HES LEAVING... They will be more lenient on me." She said that last part loud because she knew her parents were listening.

"Maybe the neighborhood can throw some more parties. Get everyone over for a big ho down." Because they used to do them every other Sunday but it had been a while since they'd done them since Noelle hd gone to school.

hope smiled at Nells. "ya that would be great! and we can dance and dress up! it would be fun!! and maybe Chris will meet a girl or something and quit sulking. its very depressing." Thinks about what she just said, "not that sulking and being depressing is the issue. its just..." knowing she was stammering because she didnt want to hurt her cousins feelings about guys and stuff she just shut up. and looked down. "Im sorry I meant that another way and it just came out all wrong." Shaking her head she pushed off the bed, "so what are we going to do today?"

Noelle grinned and cupped her mouth. No sense getting up when she was sure her brothers would be spying on her and Hope. "DAD!! MUM!! CAN WE HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD PARTY TOMORROW???" Noelle yelled and waited to hear a reply.

Noelle heard her dad respond quickly that they are already planning one since she was home. Noelle beamed.

But then Hopes words caught up to her and she frowned a bit. "You think I'm depressing?" All kinds of words could describe Noelle, but depressing was never one of them. She didn't know how to think about that.

"you're not depressing my brother is. you are sad because of Sabbath and I dont blame you. I wish i knew a way to help you out. you know I try and say one thing and another comes out of my mouth. I meant that we need to get you up and active so your mind isnt on him and maybe you will feel a little better." Hope smiled down at Nells. She might be younger than her cousin by a few months but she always felt like somehow they were the same age. She felt like Nells was more like her sister than cousin.

Noelle listened to what her cousin had to say. She smiled softly and stood up. Tucking her hair behind her ear, she leaned forward and hugged her tight. Just really needs a hug. "I saw him on the train. Sabbie is a mess." She meant that in the most adored way possible. Of course.

Noelle took Hope's hand and led her out of her room. She would be in here enough. She needed to be outside. It was where she belonged.

Bursting through the front door, she headed straight to the cousins hideout. The old treehouse. Mum had been delusional about the old tree house and insisted on working her magic on it so it would never.... Fall out of the tree, the way it looked like it would.

Hope and Noelle and even Chris when he was younger, had spent many nights in this treehouse. Scrambling up the boards that were nailed to the tree. She lifted the trapdoor and pulled herself into it. She was sure Hope would be following after shortly.

Hope looked at the rickety old tree house and couldn't help but smile. She remembered all the good times her and her cousins n brother had in this place. Following Noelle she climbed the ladder and headed into the tee house. Looking around she sighed. Just as she remembered. "It's exactly as I remembered! Oh my gosh I haven't been up here in a couple of years."

Noelle looked at all the things that were in the treehouse. She grinned at the pictures she had done with Hope and the paintings that were done. Oh, there was the little pine cone anima family they had made.

Noelle reached over and picked up the pine cone pig. She grinned at it. At least she was grinning. "Remember these?" Noelle asked Hope as she handed her the pig and grabbed the pine cone cow. She examined it. It was still in perfect condition. No spiderwebs in it or anything.

As a matter of fact, nothing in the tree house hd spiderwebs and just like Hope had said, it had been a couple years since they had been up here. She suspected her mum doing magic to preserve the place.

Meanwhile, It was night in Andalucia, Spain. Sabbath had already packed his bags to travel, he had his guitar, his costumes, his dance shoes, everything ready to go. He sat on the end of his bed and from the display of clear pockets hanging on his bedroom wall he took out the only two photos he had of his parents, and a photo of him and Noelle taken at his house last Christmas, he looked at the photo, he was smiling, he had his arm around her shoulder and she had her head tilted back in an open laugh, her eyes alive, her hair tousled. He sighed as he lingered over it, before slipping it with the other two photos into the side pocket of his bag.

He got up and went downstairs to find his cousin José and friend Juliana chatting together in the sala. He had already told José he was planning to go to Noelle's house to say his last farewell. After hearing about the nightbus, José had been super keen to tag along, and Sabbath had finally relented, allowing him to come. "José, I'm going now, you ready?" he asked. Juliana stood up, "I'm coming too, Gitano, José told me all about it" Juliana added in Spanish. "Oh, did he, now" he said, sending an icy stare José's way. Thinking about Nells had made him feel sad again, he was in no mood to argue, He shook his head, "Suit yourself" he said. He turned and headed out of the house, through the front gate and had already summoned the nightbus as the other two caught him up.

The ride was a wild one, as always, as the nightbus careened its way into the morning light, finally stopping at the end of Noelle's long driveway at the farm. The three gitanos disembarked and started the long walk up the drive. Sabbath's attention was attracted to a rather rickety looking tree house in grounds. He could see figures beneath it preparing to climb the wooden planks attached to the tree. As he walked closer, he could make out the unmistakable form of Noelle, she had Hope with her. Sabbath changed tack, heading straight for the treehouse, he was relieved, as he thought he would have to argue his way through her parents to see her one last time. This made things much easier.

By the time they reached the treehouse, the girls were already inside, Sabbath began to climb the plank ladder, followed by José, and finally, Juliana. He paused to listen to the tail end of the girls conversation. He heard Noelle say "I saw Sabbie on the train, he is a mess" before the conversation shifted to another topic. It did nothing for him to know that he'd been unable to hide how he felt. Because, he was a mess, but unlike Nells, he was a brooder, he took his hurts to silences. He climbed further up the tree, his head popping up above the treehouse floor, he looked around, spotting Nells.

Noelles mind had flitted to Sabbie as she examined the treehouse and the figurines. She couldn't go more than a few minutes without thinking about him. It was probably because they didn't have any closure. They had said a somewhat goodbye at the feast and Noelle still had a lot of unsaid feelings about it all.

She had glanced around the treehouse once more and caught sight of Sabbies head coming through the opening of the trap door. Her first thought was her mind playing tricks on her again. She'd imagined Sabbie not leaving her and being with her too many times.

Noelle kept a look around the treehouse and then back at her figurine. Wait.

She looked back at the opening again and indeed... Sabbies image was still there, emerging. Noelle's mouth dropped open and she dropped her pine cone cow and crawled over to him. She didn't wait to pull him into a tight hug before he was all the way in the treehouse. "Sabbie!!" She breathed and held on tight to him.

All her other emotions ceased to exist right at this moment. She just wanted to hug and hold her best friend, her favorite person, right at this moment.

It took her a few minutes to let go of him but when she did, she was smoothing his hair. "What are you doing here??" Because as happy as she was to see him here... He was definitely not allowed.

Hope couldn't help but smile and laugh with excitement at Noelle throwing herself at sabbie. She was so happy they were getting to see each other. Wanting to give them space she took the rope that was on the outside of the open window, hoisted herself down and started to slide down the rope. Man that brought back memories of them swinging on this rope.
As she neared the bottom she saw José and Juliana. She jumped off and and walked to them. Not too thrilled to see Julianna and wondering why she was here but hope didn't want to start anything again so she gave a fake smile. "Hey José and Julianna. Come over this way so my aunt and uncle don't see you." She motioned for them to follow her around the tree until they were out of site.

Before he knew it, Nells had flung herself upon him. He wrapped his arms around her and clung onto her too. He didn't say anything, he just held her close, savouring the moment, breathing her in as the minutes passed. She pulled away, smoothing his hair. He caressed her cheek, his haunted eyes met hers "Nells, I had to see you one last time", he knew he wasn't allowed, but he was hurting and these emotions could easily turn to ire, if anyone were to challenge him, Nells' parents included.


Meanwhile, José and Juliana had moved to the sheltered position that Hope had suggested. José was busy making conversation with Hope and Juliana was wandering nearby, her hands in her pockets, kicking at the odd stone with her shoe. She kept glancing up the treehouse ladder.

José noticed Hope's 'not too thrilled with Juliana' expression and attempted an explanation. "Oh, Juliana, she was hanging out with me at home and I happened to mention that Sabbie was coming here and she was really keen to come. I said Ok, because she's seemed really lonely lately, been hanging around our place a lot more, I feel bad for her, you know, she been asking me to talk to my Abuela about letting her travel with us".

Not really knowing what to say to Josés admirlttance of Julianna she looked away for a second and looked over at Julianna, "are you OK?" Waiting for her answer she turned to Jose n gave him a weak smile. "That's really sweet of you. I know you will have a bunch of fun on the road. I hope Julianna and you find happiness." She of course figured that José being single and Julianna being single and it was obvious Noelle and sabbath would work through their differences that maybe José and Julianna would give it a try. She wasn't that happy about it but there was only a kiss between José and Hope. What did she expect would happen?

Noelle hung onto Sabbie and barely noticed that her cousin had practically flung herself out of the window to get away from Sabelle.

Noelle also could tell that Sabbie was hurting. She hugged him tightly again. "What are ou doing here??" She asked him though she wasn't sad to see him. She was thrilled. She thought she'd never see him again, yet here he was.

Hearing voices, Noelle let go of Sabbie and looked down through the trap door and raised her eyebrows when she saw Julianna. She called out to them and gave a wave t let them know she knew they were there.

Upstairs, Sabbie had scrambled the rest of the way up the ladder and was now inside the treehouse properly sitting on his knees before Nells. He and Nells were struggling to relinquish their embrace. "I had to see you again before we leave" he said, looking at her, "I miss you already and we haven't even left yet". He looked down to his lap, "I see they've released you from your grounding?" He thought that now she had her freedom again, taking to the open road with him would be even less appealing to her now. He knew he had nothing with which to attract her and this saddened him further.

Juliana was looking up again to the treehouse. She was wondering what was taking Sabbath so long and she was annoyed that he was up there alone with that girl. She gave a plastic smile to Noelle as her face appeared at the treehouse trap door as she waved. Juliana then glanced over at her Noelle's wretched cousin, she could see her lips moving. Was she saying something to her? Juliana pulled her earphones out of her ears, "What?" she said to Hope, in a clearly annoyed manner.

Noelle's attention was on Sabbie again. Her best friend. Her favorite person. She watched as he talked. How his demeanor had changed since she had seen him last. She knew Sabbie well enough to know his mannerisms and this wasn't the Sabbie she knew. "Dad doesn't know I'm up here. Hope and Chris are here. He's out in the field now so he's not paying attention to me. I'm hoping since.... You're leaving that he will unground me... Though.. " She didn't finish the last of that sentence. She knew he would know.

Noelle looked back at the ground as she heard Julianna again. "Whats she doing here??" She asked Sabbie without looking back at him. He knew Julianna wasn't her favorite person. She wasn't keen for the girl to have found out where she lived. "Maybe we should go down there with them."