[Rinrou]

Wolfe bowed slightly, "I didn't mean runaway in the traditional sense," he explained. "Running away, giving up all that you know to find who are you. That, I truly respect."

--

Laurel stared at Nic for a long moment, "I love you," she finally said quietly.

[Kaliko]

Something still seemed to be on Auntie's mind, but she didn't ask. Instead she stood and nodded. "Thank you for your work," she told him.

--

After a moment, Nic replied, "I love you too."

[Rinrou]

Wolfe smiled again and nodded before turning towards the door. Once back at the Juttle he made a few calls.

"What? Wolfe? Where on terra have you been? You can't just take off like that!" Snow scolded, her face frowning from the screen.

"It was important," Wolfe stated, "Now check the security I just installed." Snow sighed but complied.

"Perfect as always, but where is this place?" she paused, "Wait, isn't that-?" One look from Wolfe silenced her.

"Call up the list."

"The... Wolfe you can't be serious." Another look from Wolfe and she sighed, "Really? You're going to call them over this one guy?" She seemed to read his nearly expressionless face perfectly as she answered her own question. "Fine, got it, got it... but what do I say when they refuse to buy from this individual farm?"

"Tell them that if they refuse I'll withdraw my protection form them and their assets be destroyed in the blink of an eye," he stated coldly, a wicked twinkle in his eyes. Snow chuckled a little.

"Alright... well little family farm, you're in for a big surprise..." she mused as she hung up her call with Wolfe and began.

--

By that evening, orders were rushing in and the family business's merchandise was sold out. They would easily make enough profit each month to cover the cost of the new security, and more surplus on top of that. Whatever they grew would sell, for top price. Then the phone calls started: new companies had bought up their loans and had set the interest rates way lower, some offered more land and seeds at low prices. Other companies would pay them to grow their crops. When asked why the sudden involvement now, these companies expressed their interest in real, wholesome foods, not engineered in a lab but grown in real soil along with some marketing and stock jargon about how the move to real foods was returning. None gave totally straight answers but then again, what large company ever does. All the while there was nothing too flamboyant, nothing offered that would put this company on any real map. Their privacy would remain the way it was, they just had more opportunities and wealth now. No fretting to make payments if they took these companies up on their offers.

[Kaliko]

Later that evening, Raven got a phone call.

[Rinrou]

By that time, Wolfe was nearly back at the mansion. Snow, who had been ordered to keep an eye on Raven, attempted to tap into his call.

[Kaliko]

It was Raven's mom. Raven was barely able to say hello before his mom started boasting about the wonderful day.

[Rinrou]

Snow smiled, pleased.

There was a commotion from outside as Laurel and Rosen rode up. Laurel immediately headed for Nic's room.

[Kaliko]

That went on for awhile. Apparently she was going to keep their good fortune a secret and surprise everyone with various goodies later in the year. Raven started to seem a little skeptical as she talked about the specifics though. He started questioning her about some of the details and was starting to catch on.

Nic was in his room, like usual. He was at his computer, but surprisingly he didn't appear to be working. Just starting at the screen.

[Rinrou]

Snow kept tabs on the call until Wolfe arrived. Then she brought him up to date before he went into the conference room to talk to some of the companies.

Laurel didn't bother knocking this time as she entered and walked right over to him. "Hey," she said tiredly as she sank into his lap.

[Kaliko]

So Raven got closer and closer to the truth, until a quick description of the security man seemed to do it. He did a pretty good job of not letting his mom catch onto his train of thought though. Of course, his questions got him teased about having a thing for nice security guards. She even gave him the phone number Wolfe had given her. Raven played it off well, but his mom could tell something was on his mind.

Eventually she got out of him that he was really torn. He kept it vague; talking about some unnamed guy that kept giving him drastically polar signals. She asked why he didn't just ask they guy how he felt. Raven gave a face that confused his mother, but to Snow it looked like Raven thought that asking Wolfe something like that might actually be hazardous to his health. He told her it was complicated. His mom shrugged.

The conversation ended with them comparing notes about Aaron's current whereabouts and doings and some of the other more exciting stuff that had happened on the farm. Apparently there had been several bets going on concerning Steven and Patricia. His mother ended, telling her son just to ask the guy about how he felt. Raven rolled his eyes, they said their 'love you's, his mother told him she was proud of him, he told her to save some apple pie for his next visit, they said goodbye, and they hung up.

--

Nic blinked, a little surprise showing on his face. "Hey," he said, rubbing her back a little.

[Rinrou]

Snow laughed out loud at Raven's look which made Zala look at her strangely from across the room. Snow shook her head, "Wolfe's picked a keeper," she mused which only made Zala more confused.

--

Laurel frowned and wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly as she rested her cheek on his head, "Who'd of thought I'd miss you so much in one day?" she muttered.

[Kaliko]

Nic didn't say anything; just enjoying her presence.

[Rinrou]

Laurel pulled away after a moment and gently took Nic's face in her hands. She looked him over for a long moment, "Did you sleep? You ate good, right? Not just coffee?" she fussed quietly.

[Kaliko]

Nic nodded.

[Rinrou]

Laurel stared at Nic for another moment before leaning in. She stopped a hairsbreadth away, her eyes asking for permission.

--

"He knows," Snow informed Wolfe when he came out of the conference room, "He's pretty smart." Wolfe nodded slowly.

"I'll go speak with him," he said simply, "Where is he?"

[Kaliko]

Nic closed his eyes, giving her permission.

--

After the phone call, Raven went out into the garden again for some late night gardening therapy.