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Lily sat in a tree far from her house cell phone clutched in her hands ready to dial Alex and hoping that he would still be awake. It was around noon in England but she wasn't exactly certain of the time in Destiny City. She was sure it was night, but not sure how late.

Sighing she unlocked her screen and proceeded to dial Alex. She wouldn't be interupted here and she needed to inform Alex of her plan to basically run away from home. She knew her parents would follow when they became aware of her plans, but by then it would be to late. She was an adult and they certainly couldnt not force her back to England.

She listened to the phone ringing hoping Alex would be awake and would answer.

Nope, he wasn't awake. In fact he was asleep, his clock on the bedside table reading 7 am. It was far too early for him to be awake, especially considering the battle the night before and the pizza and beer consumed in celebration. But his phone ringing, a very familiar classical piece, roused him from his sleep. Peeking his head out, from where it was buried into his pillow a glare was sent to his phone. "Too early." He hadn't even looked too his clock, it simply felt too early. As his phone continued to ring he reached out and grabbed it from the bed side table and hit answer. Bringing it to his ear he snuggled back into his pillow the best he could and still be able to talk. "Lily, what's up?" Grogy and sleepy.

"Alex, sorry. Did I wake you? I waited, honest I did. Just never really checked the time differences. Anyway I came up with a plan, but I'm not sure how well it will play out."

Lily's back curled into the tree branch and she smiled thinking on her plan. She was far from the house and neither Xander nor Rose were home so she was free to speak more about the issue she was currently.

"My mom and dad have been acting so strangely. I wasn't to sure they let me away from the house on my own long enough to climb a tree and talk to you. It is so weird. Have your parents said anything? I mean I can't imagine my father would give up your mom even if he is in England. They've worked together forever!"

"It's ok." Sighing he pushed himself up, he had been sleeping on his side though leaning toward laying on his stomach. As he pushed himself up he turned so his back was to the headboard of his bed, and the mountain of pillows he kept at the head of his bed. "It's seven in the morning here, just so you know." And the smile he wore she could certainly hear in his voice.

"Just had a long night, if it hadn't been for that I'd have already been up and taking a morning run." He said while shrugging, even if she couldn't see it.

"Nothing from my parents. Just the normal talks with them and visits when I drop Cadha off so I can go to work." She knew he had a job so she knew his morning routine. A morning run and then of to work and on weekends a morning run and bed then a shower. It was a normal routine and even the new addiction of getting ready for work rather than going back to bed she knew about, he'd told her as soon as he could about the job.

"Your father won't give my mom up even if I help you escape?" He asked, hoping that her father wouldn't take out his part in this plot on his mother. He knew her father, and mother, would be pissed at him but he quaint honestly didn't give a ********. He wanted Lily back and it was obvious she wanted to be back as well. "Have you gotten to talk to Rose about a plan?"

Lily shook her head a smile of her own appearing on her lips, which only happened when she talking to Alex now that she had realized her parents plans of trying to keep her in England. She was glad it wasn't actually too late or too early.

"Whatever had happened it seems they are content to keep it to themselves. I really do not get it, well I do, but I wish they had let me make my own decision. They always have before. I guess that's really what I do not get. They made us all leave and while Xander and Rose are fine with it, I'm the tough one this time."

Lily shook her head at Alex's question although he could not see her, but then she realized this and sighed. "I don't think that will happen and besides he'd be lost without her. You know that as much as I do. I surprised he hasnt tried to convince her to England."

She frowned when he asked about Rose, but decided it really didn't matter because either way she would get back to Destiny City. "I can't tell her. I don't think she will help me if she will and I don't think I will be able to come up with a convincing enough lie otherwise. I'm going to get her to take me on a shopping trip, then run away. Not sure just yet how I will get away, but I know Rose will definitely be okay with a day of shopping."

She sighed lightly, "How do you think I can get away from her? I need something that will give me enough time where she won't look for me."

"I'm not surprised Rose was up for going, she's always seemed the sort to want to travel the world. Your brother being so good with it surprised me, given his job and such." He admitted while he leaned back into his pillows so he wa sitting up in bed and comfortable. Crossing his legs, at the ankles, under the sheet he tipped his head back slowly.

"It is odd though, I mean not even my parents have a clue. I haven't brought it up, I didn't think that would be a good idea - to ask. But my mother mentioned being clueless about it, she was saying how hard it makes work with your father being so far away and technology being the only thing keeping buisness flowing between them." Which was certainly a good thing, if it weren't for modern technology he could only imagin the issues which would be presented the two adults.

Laughing he shook his head and smiled brightly. "I doubt he could do that, your father may have a way with words but I doubt he could even manage that! My mother has her repuation here and other clients. Although she may go for a visit at some point, that's yet to be mentioned but I wouldn't be all that surprised if it came up or simply happened." His mother might ust spring such a thing on him, like her convincing him to go to that event for the homeless animals of Destiny City. His mother could at times be quite spontanous.

"The only thing I can think of is so cliche...and maybe that's why it could work." He said trailing off and sighed as he climbed out of his bed and padded his way to the bathroom. "You could go to th bathroom...and then sneak on out...hide and make your way from the store..."

"Thank heavens for cell phone and email or it would be even harder, right? I bet it even harder because not even Xander is there to meet with your mother. We've all been taught about Dad's accounts and business, but Xander know the most of the three of us."

Lily gave a small laugh at Alex's mom not being convinced to England. Yes her dad had a way with words, but Alex's mom was a tough cookie and she could crumble under pressure. Of course Lily voiced this opinion to Alex laughing all the while."

She nodded at Alex's explanation, but then shook her head even though Alex would not know that. She was quiet for a moment before she spoke again. "That wouldn't work. She look for me in like ten minutes. I wouldn't even make it out of the mall. I need something that will keep her from looking for me."

"Yeah, your brother was good with that." He said off handidly sa he entered the bathroom and decided to finger comb his hair, for now that would do. He planned to return to bed and he would go back to sleep once the conversation was over. "If cell phones, email, or phones in general weren't around and you were this far away...I'd have lost it by now."

"Your father would have to offer a lot to mom to get her to crumble and move all the way across the pond to England. I don't think he could offer her enough she's a lawyer...she'd want the world, or at least a job equal to the one she has now or better." And his mother was right up there, she couldmake partner and they both knew that. His mother knew her stuff when it came to buisness law. Not to mention the amount of times she would sit second seat for any criminal charges involving someone she worked for, she might just be able to handle herself in a criminal case.

Maybe not a mall but a shop right off a main street. You could sneak out and get lost in the crowd? That way you don't have to get through a mall, only a single store, and get lost with the people on the street to get some distance and than get a cab. But what about all your things? Unless your planning to come here with nothing but the clothing your wearing. Ohhh...if you do that we can go on a shopping spree for all new things for you." And that sounded like a very nice way to celebrate her return.

Lily laughed lightly despite the direness she felt from the situation. She hated she was so far away and more so that it seemed moving to England wasn't entirely a well thoughtout decision on her parents part. It was weird and she knew it and she felt it revolved around her, but had no concrete proof aside from her somewhat hostage situation. She lay back again the back of the tree more firmly and sighed. "It makes me wish I was there all the more to know our family could become estranged after being together for so many years. I hate this Alex and that is saying a lot as I don't hate much of anything."

She shook her head even though Alex still could not see her. "I can't take anything Alex, it would cause to much suspicion. I may try to mail you some of my favorites though. I do not think my escape can be made until after school starts. I'll gain a small amount more freedom then. Also its very hard for me to get lost in a crowd, my hair is one of the biggest reasons why. Getting a cab is a good idea though, and a suggestion I will definitely be taking."

She toyed with one of her very red curls, which were part of what made her Lily. She was less attached to them than she had been in her younger year, what with the forced chopping off of her locks. She thought breifly that is she cut the majority of it off she might be less noticable even to her sister, even if just for a moment.

"I know...I dislike that it seems our families are to be parted for some unknown reason." He spoke softly, it was upsetting really. Thir families had been almost as one for so many years, since he was born, and now it seemed that some unknown thing had divided their houses in a litteral and figurative manner. And he was sure that it would remain so once Lily returned, if it didn't become an even larger rift.

"It would be a good idea to mail things, the things you don't want to leave behind." Unfortunately, what would happen with Eamon? She couldn't mail him without raising suspicion with her family. That wasn't a good idea. So what would happen to Lily's beloved dog? He didn't dare think on that or bring it up to his friend. "I'll wait for your return, call me when your safe in the air and I'll meet you at the sirport. Until then I'll be sending you a care package. I would write you about the changes going on but I'd rather tell you those at least over a phone, letters are so terribly impersonal." Shaking his head as he finished his buisness in the bathroom and took to padding around the house in a lazy manner.

"Things have changed Lily, I just wish you were here...I miss you terribly. You were always more my family than my own cousins; I could never tolerate them for long stretches of time." And Lily he could just spend hours up hours in the company of. His cousins could never hope for that from him.

Lily wanted to cry not being able to go to Alex and just lie on one of their bed and talk about everything and nothing. He was her best friend, her brother in a way, almost like having a twin at times. She missed him terribly, just as much as he missed her she was sure.

"We'll figure it all out Alex, we will figure it all out. Things will work out in the end okay and before you know it we will be drinking tea and chatting about everything like until the wee hours of the morning just like we do."

Lily yawned slightly and was reminded of the time difference for the two of them. "I should let you go Alex. I'm sure you probably need some more sleep. I hope your getting at least as much as I am," she said softly not that she was getting much or had gotten very much in years.

"I'll be waiting the package and I'll make sure to send over what I can before I make my way ..."

"Lily," a voice rang out and Lily looked up to see her father coming toward her.

"I have to go," she said quickly hanging up and leaving her best friend with a dial tone.

"As always you will be drinking tea. I'll have an espresso. I still can't stand tea." Eventhough he grew tea plants and plucked their leaves, dried them, and blended them with other things. It was all for Lily really. A hobby given a purpose; that of pleasing a friend and some minor medical uses. "I hope we figure this out, I really do." It was like some mystery which needed a solution, even if the reason for this seperation was never figured out. A solution to the problem was needed.

"I doubt I'm getting as much as you are." Unaware of how little she was getting, he just knew he was getting little. "Your worth staying up for." Came the honest words as he held the phone tighter as he found himself sitting on the living room floor with his back pressed to a wall. He was tired, no doubt about that, but he also wanted and needed to talk to Lily.

"Alright, call me again when you can, please. Let me know you got the package and we can talk, you can tell me what your sending back." So he knew what to expect. "I'll get your room decorated for you as things arrive." Again his fingers racked through his loose blond hair. "Call me whenever...well so long as I'm not in school." He'd figure something out if she called him when he was at work, or on patrol.

Lily heard his slightly rushed, somewhat babbled words but she did not have time to respond before she had hung up. She was sure Alex would understand after all he was Alex, her best friend, who was going to help get her back to Destiny City.

Her phone was quickly tucked away and she jumped down to greet her father, slightly hurt by the brief frown that flitted across his face. "Your mother and sister thought you might like to go school shopping for the new semester. You need to be prepared for college in a whole new country Lily blossom."

Lily nodded and gave a small grin, knowing going shopping meant she would have a small break from this place. She wouldn't mention Destiny City at all anymore, she didn't want to argue. She would be back there soon anyway. "Alright. I need to change though," she said before running off toward the house calling back to her father, "come on slop poke."

This time she missed the obvious frown that graced her father's face.