"Nat!"

He managed not to flinch but not by much.

"Hey, Brit, what's up?"

"Is that Brittany?" Wren called from their bedroom.

"Yeah, she seems excited," Nat replied.

"She's always excited," Wren observed as she came out of the room adjusting the fall of her skirt.  "Hi, Brittany."  Wren stopped and gave the younger woman a questioning look.  "What is it?"

That was the moment Nat realized the little speedster wasn't rushing through a couple of hundred words per minute but stood silent, her head down.

"Brit?" he said.

"Daddy wants me to come home," she said, not looking up.

"How is that a bad thing?" Wren asked.

The girl shrugged. "I dunno," she replied. "But I'm not sure I want to leave you guys."

Nat leaned over and kissed her on the top of the head.  "Nothing to stop you from visiting any time you like, you know that."

The girl nodded.

"But it's only three days until the end of the semester," Brit told them.

"Three days …" Nat muttered. "You leave immediately after?"

Brit gave a small shrug, "I suppose."

Wren placed her hand on Brit's shoulder.  "You know we'll support you no matter which way you go."

Brit sniffled, "I know, but I miss Daddy and Bets.  I love you guys but …"

"It's not home here," Nat finished.  Brit gave a little nod.

"Brittany," Wren began. "You will always have a home here, you know that.  We'll miss you very much, but you have to do what your heart tells you."

"I know … but how do I say good-bye to everyone?"

"A big beach party," Nat grinned.

"Of course," Wren said dryly.

"Daddy has a favor to ask, which kinda sounds weird since you've already been watching out for me for the last six months."

"Whatever we can do, you know that, so does he," Nat assured her.  "What is it?"

"There's this girl …"