"Ok" Katie said as she fiddled with her hair.

"Sounds interesting...I still haven't done that.We should go Katie, what do you think...We always have to value the girls thoughts, they are much smarter than us boys."Adam said taking her hand, and making them swing with his.

"What are we waiting for" Katie found herself swinging her arm aswell.

ooc: post at kitchen next...

Dylan sighed. He missed Gold. Lexi had Finn. Well at least he was closer to her age. And not a friend of Dylan's. Oh why did he care? He was a Denver. He didn't care about who was doing what with who. But she was family. Well she was meant to be family. When she wasn't constantly shouting at him. Sigh.

He leant against the wall his arms folded. He needed the air.

Lexi came strolling along toward the gates with one of Finn's hoodies on smiling brightly. She was bundled up tightly to stave off the cold and her sunglasses were nearly as big as her entire face. Heh. Then she saw her pitiful brother. Poor fella.

Stopping beside him she said, "Hey, what's wrong with you? You look like someone killed your crup or something."

Dylan looked up from his fingernails. They were clean and perfectly crafted. Thank god. He couldn't stand dirty nails. "Does it look like something is wrong?" Great. He didn't want people to think he was down or anything.

"Artie is fine. I miss Gold though. You have that Finn kid. And she is so far away. Owls aren't enough." He had never thought he would be in a long distance relationship. "You going home for Christmas?" Yep ask something else. She didn't need to think he was venerable or anything.

Lexi nodded her head yes when he asked if he looked as though something was wrong. Sigh. He was impossible sometimes. Sheesh. "That Finn kid? Could you say 'You have your boyfriend' or 'You have Finn'? That would be better, Dyl," she said without a hint of meaness in her voice. She was too happy to argue with him.

Uh oh... holiday. She chewed on her lower lip and said, "I am not sure. I may go on holiday to Paris or something if mum and dad will let me." She hoped they would. Like really really badly.

Dylan sighed, "Well I don't know him. So he is currently that Finn kid. Once I know him, he shall be known as Finn." Hmm boyfriend. Yeah. That was all she cared about. Her and her happiness. And whether he called him by his name correctly. Oh well cheer up.

He frowned, "They won't like that. You can't go away for Christmas. At least until you move out. Plus you are only 14. My first holiday alone was this summer when I went to see Gold. I always went with Dad. I don't think they would let you. Maybe I could go with you." He didn't actually want to go on holiday with her. Not just the two of them. But he could go see Gold. Just as long as they left at the same time and returned at the same time, their parents would be none the wiser.

Lexi rolled her eyes for reals this time and said, "He is my boyfriend and he isn't going anywhere so please be nice to him, Dylan. I like him a LOT." SHje KNEW he was going to be a prat about this. Gah. "Dylan, I know it is hard for you being away from Gold, but can't you be happy for me? There is nothing that I can do or say to make the pain you feel from being apart from her any better. I love you though and I am here for you." She gave him a pat on the shoulder as reinforcement.

"How do you know mum and dad won't let me go with just Finlay? But if they don't like it I will do as you said, but you can't stay with us. You will have to go to Gold and stay there until it is time to go home. Deal?"

Dylan shrugged, "I haven't not been nice to him. I haven't punched him. Yet." A lot? She liked Jake a lot. He sighed. It was just another fad. "Lexi. I am happy you have found someone. But you were happy with Jake. You will probably be happy with the next boy you flutter your eyelashes at." Hmmm. "I love you too Lex. I am here if you need a hug. That's what brothers are for right? Looking after their little sisters. I promise I won't go all mental on you again." He patted her hand, that was on his shoulder, and smiled a little.

"Because they wouldn't let me go out anywhere abroad. Until this summer. And they won't let you go with just a boy, you know that. You think I want to spend a week or whatever with you and Finn? Bleurgh, no thanks. I will leave you at the airport, or hotel or whatever, and then apparate to Gold. I'd rather spend every moment with her. Just as long as we are home for Christmas Eve, Day and Boxing Day, Mummy and Dad will be fine with it. We just don't have to tell them that you are spending it with Finlay." He frowned slightly, holding back laughter, "Finlay? His name is Finlay? Seriously, isn't that like a girl's name? Call him Finn please. Otherwise I will just laugh."

Lexi eyed him and shook her head. He just didn't get it. "Dyl, I never felt for Jake what I feel for Finlay. I mean it. I have never felt like this about anyone before. I really think I might love him. You were right when you said when it was love I would know," she said with a smile. She really did love him. A lot. "And I don't flutter my eyelashes at anyone, you prat," she said with a chuckle as she pushed him.

"I kind of wanted to spend the entire holiday away. I feel kind of like I am intruding on your family's Christmas with my being there. I was going to go visit Uncle Silas and the twins actually," she said with a sad little smile.

Dylan frowned for a moment. Finn. She loved Finn? Well that was something different. He couldn't laugh anymore. No fair. "Well I am glad you know. Like me and Gold." He laughed, "That I am glad about then. Nothing worse than a Denver that flutters their eyelashes." He pushed her back. At least she didn't get offended about that.

"But you are family. It wouldn't be Christmas without you." He frowned slightly. "We'd love you to be there. As family. You are my sister unfortunately."

Lexi smiled. He finally got it. He finally wasn't going to give her a hard time. YAY! She did push him again and roll her eyes at him. "It was kind of like... I knew it the moment we touched. Hell, I think I knew it the moment we spoke. It was instant." She meant it too. She loved Finlay.

"I think I really need to see Silas though, Dylan. I haven't seen him at all lately. And I haven't seen Imogen and Gabriel since they were newborns. Maybe I can go to Silas' for Eve and then be at the Denver family thing for Day. Maybe. I just feel as though I am still a bit of an outsider to all of this." she said honestly.

He pushed her back again. "I knew as soon as I saw Gold that she would be it." Well at least she would sort of stop something. He wasn't sure what, but he knew she would stop. Hopefully she would also stop pushing it around in his face.

"Ok. That is understandable. Since he is your uncle and all. I am sure Mummy and Dad would understand as well. But we would still like you there. Why do you feel an outsider, Lex?"

Lexi nodded because she really knew what he was talking about with the whole knowing they would be it. "He is really fantastic, Dylan. He might not seem that way to you, but he is really," she said quietly with a little smile on her face.

Lexi's smile faded and she shook her head, "I guess it is weird for me... You all really aren't my family. You have your own traditions and stuff and I have never been a part of them. I feel like an outsider. I mean, I know mum and dad love me, but... It is hard to explain. I kind of, in an odd way, wish I was with My birth family for Christmas... it is all I have ever known."

Dylan smiled. He was glad she actually loved someone fully. Someone she could rely on. "Well if you like him so much, then I guess I will have to too. If he hurts you though, I will hurt him, deal?"

"I understand that. But this will be our first Christmas together. Like properly. But if you wish to be elsewhere, that is fine. You are always welcome to join us though. It is your house after all." It made him kind of sad that she didn't want to be spend Christmas with him and his family. Since she was part of it too.

Lexi rolled her eyes at him fully and said, "Dylan if he hurts me I will hurt him myself, thank you very much. He and I have already discussed how good I am with a Beater's bat. He is fully understanding of how serious I am about beating his face in if he upsets me."

"Well I understand that, Dylan, but you don't really get it. You have always had them... This is new to me. I have only known one family and one family's traditions and as much sa I loathe my mother and father and especially my Grandmum Agrona, I still miss them in an odd way. I want to owl Silas and see him, maybe that will help with the whole... seperation anxiety of whatever this is."

Dylan nodded, "Ok then." So he wasn't allowed to look after her at all? Great. She was good with a beater's bat. He had seen her play. He never wanted to be on the end of that.

"I understand that. I can give you your Christmas present whenever," he shrugged. It was only Christmas after all. Not like it meant anything. He wasn't a Christian or anything. Somehow it was a conflict of interests or something. He didn't understand it. He didn't need to.

“That wasn’t moaning.” Jack sighed. “That was concern.” He didn’t find when Rhea came to him on the subject of Callie and love to be particularly whiney, but more of worry and “... anger. It was anger too.” Yes, she had been angry, even though Jack wasn’t dating her at that point, so he hadn’t understood why she was so upset. Well, he didn’t realize being alone together and kissing occasionally could result into her liking him in that way. Silly really, because he was leading her on ... ever so slightly of course. Jack had never really understood the whole concept of flirting leading to actual feelings, because it had never happened to him.

Now how would she know if he was going to date Cosette or not? If he remembered correctly, he was with Rhea which meant he couldn’t possibly even think about dating anyone else, that would just be incredibly rude. He wouldn’t date Cosette, no. It would be too strange, he was fine and dandy just kissing and flirting with her now and again. However, the kissing had to stop, but did the flirting? Really? It was so meaningless and Jack knew Cosette didn’t think anything of it. Why would it when Cosette could have anyone she wanted? She was smart, beautiful, French. Way too good for Jack. HA! Who was he kidding? No one was ever too good for him, even if when they spoke French it made him smile. “Why are you so hung up on the fact that I’m going to date Cosette? It’s never been a topic I’ve talked about with her. Plus, I’m with Rhea, so ... we shouldn’t even be talking about it.” Just in case she was in ear shot! Jack had a funny feeling Rhea didn’t like Cosette. Why didn’t the girls like her? She was quite nice when you got to know her. Right?

Even though Callie was now cuddling him, she still wasn’t being very supportive. Why should he think about the future? And what will happen with him and Rhea, and him and Cosette for that matter? Since Callie was the one who brought her up. Sigh. “Thanks for the support love. When I want to be beaten with pessimistic comments, I’ll come to you.” He smirked.

Callie gaped. Wasn't moaning ?! WASN'T MOANING !? Course it was freakin' moaning or they wouldn't be discuissing it nowwwww. mentalflail. Calm down Callie Calm down. "If it wasn't moaning she wouldn't of gone to you to grass me up. When she went to you she knew exactly what she wanted to happen." which was....Jack to fall in love with her, which in Callie's eyes was halfway to happening AND for him to moan at Callie, which in anyone's eyes they were both doing right now so because she was moaning back it was all fair. 'Cept the him falling for Rhea part. "Anger ? If she was so angry about it then why didn't she bother to ask me if i was being serious ?" eye!roll. Rhea caused so much argument. "No. Ill tell you why. Because if I'd have told her I was joking she wouldn't of been able to run to her 'knight in shining armor' for 'rescuing'."

Over-done it too much ?

So Jack clearly wasn't getting the hints that she wanted him to tell her about him and Cosette. She wasn't exactly sure if there was a him and Cosette but yeah if there was she needed to know, so she could stir everything up. Evil!Smirk. Hung up on him dating Cosette...."Well for one. I dont want it to happen, shes evil. And if im being perfectly truthful which with myself I always try to be then...Im not hung up on it. I was trying to get you to tell me if there was a you and Cosette so y'know I could stir things up a bit." Damn. She prolly should've left out the last part because now he was obviously gonna tell her. [/sarcasm] She wasn't desperate to know because well if he was dating Cosette she was gonna like SO grass him up to Rhea because Cosette was meeeean. She let go of the older boy and shifted towards the left.

Pessimistic comments ? Was that some sort of English comment ? She had no idea what that was so she'd take it as a compliment. "I have no idea what a 'pessimistic comment' is but Thank you. Glad I could help." she said ending with a small beam on her face.

Lexi just nodded absently and patted his shoulder again before pulling him into a hug. She wasn;t sure what was going on with her lately, but she felt that she was never truly going to be a Denver and maybe going back to her real family was the best thing for her.

"Yeah we will exchange gifts at some point in time," she said with a small smile.Glancing up at the sky she sighed and said, "Well I need to run. I have some letters that I need to send out and I am going to have to coax Wasabi out of the rafters." She gave him a little wave for jogging away from him toward the owlery.

Dylan smiled, and hugged her back. That was nice. He rarely got hugs anymore. And it was nice getting one off Lexi. Who cared that she had a boyfriend? Just as long as he didn't hurt her, Dylan was happy. Yes Dylan should be happy.

Oh she was leaving him already? But he was enjoying their hug so much. "Um ok Lexi. I'll see you later." He gave her a wave as she ran off. How odd.

“Everyone isn’t out to get you love.” She was always on about people ‘grassing her up’ and telling on her. Callie was being very paranoid at the moment. Yes, Rhea had come to Jack to talk about what Callie had said about the whole love thing, but the majority of the conversation wasn’t exactly about Callie’s lie, or talking about how Callie was a bad person. Rhea talked more about Jack’s lifestyle and how he liked to kiss numerous girls now and then, and also how she had liked him in the first place. “What do you mean by that? She knew exactly what she wanted to happen? Well of course she did. She was hoping that I would like her back and ... and I do.” It was such a weird thing to say coming from him.

Jack smirked at this point. Knight in shining armour? He really liked this sound of that, especially the shining armour; definitely a true symbol for being a hero. “Being a knight in shining armour does sound that bad, ya know.” He laughed a little, hoping that his superhero uniform wouldn’t be underpants outside his lycra tights. NO! Of course not! Because being a knight which was SO much better, apart from the fact that they weren’t as colourful as superheroes. Meh, he’d have to jazz up his armour a little. “Me and Cosette?” Well, what was there to say? They had kissed now and then, just like he had done with Callie, but didn’t he do that with many ladies that he met? And a gorgeous French girl really couldn’t be exempt from that attribute of Jack’s. “No, there’s nothing. Why do you want to know so much? You jealous?” Jack raised an eyebrow and grinned; she blatantly was, because Callie wanted him all for herself of course, everybody did. But then his grin suddenly disappeared. “Hey! That’s not very bestie like to stir things up!” Trying to ruin Jack’s life? Not very bestie like AT ALL! Hurrumph.

Jack laughed again. Hmm, if she didn’t know what pessimistic meant, then that meant he could use it all the time. Teehee. “No problem.” And the fact that she was taking it as a compliment was even funnier. HA! How Jack loved sarcasm.

Everyone ? Of COURSE everyone wasn't out to get her. She was California Parker! Rhea apparently didn't see the importance in that and was sillyily not worshipping her like she should be. Silleh Rhea. She obviously didn't know it was better to be friends with Callie and not an enemy. Well obviously not. "I know. Just Rhea's being a little stupid and trying to get at me." Like Courtney was. The only difference was, Courtney had obviously had practice and knew HOW to get at Callie. Stupid little blondie first girl who'd stole Callie's last nameeee. But anyway back onto Rhea. "No. I mean she knew exactly what she wanted you to do. Before the whole liking her bit." she said pausing to fake vomit when Jack said he liked her. Nothing against Rhea just the fact that Jack had told her he liked someone. Rahter Rhea than Cosette though. "She knew she wanted you to come moan at me which is Why she told us. Cus she wanted you to get super angry so you wouldn't talk to me anymore." Callie really needed to stop twisting things so much.

Callie shook her head. He wasn't meant to want to be a knight in shining armor. "Course it doesnt. Wearin' those dirty, hot, sweaty armor suits All day long. I mean imagine how many people have warn those before, or fought in them or even died in them and then you'd be wearin' 'em. All those horrible germys. And silver's totally not your colour. But if you wanna be a knight and get to have all that everyday you should totally go for it." That was most likely a failed attempt to put Jack off being Rhea's knight in shining armor cus she didn't really know if Jack didn't like germs either or not. She prolly shouldnt of asked about him and Cosette. He might like tell her about them snogging and all and that would just be...ergh. *shudders* "ME ?! JEALOUS ?!" she spat out. "Those two words should never be used in a sentence. Why should I be jealous of you and that blonde girl ?" she said blinking. She had nothing to be jealous of. so she liked to think. "But. If I didn't stir anything up then your life would be absouloutly boooringgggg. And no excitement would happen and then you'd end up living in a house with Rhea with 27 children having nothing to ever tell them about cus nothing ever happened in your plain simple life. Hows that sound ?"....not waiting for him to answer...."So yeah you should be greatful you have a bestie as awesome as me." wink.

Why he wasn't in bed, he didn't know. Somewhere between being exhausted and needing to stretch his legs and clear his mind, he had wandered here, all the way back to the front gates. Now, he stood before them, blinking up with more space between his ears than he would ever care to admit.

Really, the only thing running through his mind was a list of things that had happened in the day, and a list of things he still needed to do and worry about. A mantra he was sure he would be repeating until at least, the Tournament was over.