Alice: Shut up and play along Stud-muffin.

Shane: Don’t listen to Alice, lets just say this is part of your present.

Alex shrugged and let herself be guided to a cab.

Alex: Shouldn’t we stay at the airport?

Shane: We’ll be back with an hour before the flight, don’t worry.

A couple minutes later, Shane and Alice held Alex as they stood outside a tattoo parlour.

Alex: Where are we?

Shane took off the blindfold.

Alex: Are you kidding me?

Shane: You’ve always said you wanted one. I figured hey you’ll be 16, better me be there than you do it behind my back. Anyway, I was 14 when I got mine.

Alex: No way MOM! You’re the greatest.

Shane: I figured I’d get another while I’m here. Any clue what you want?

Alex nodded. She knew exactly what she wanted.

Alice: I think I’m gonna get a piercing.

Alex: Really, where?

Alice grinned mischievously.

Shane: I heard it hurts like hell.

Alex: I heard it’s amazing for sexual pleasure. I actually think it’s kinda hot.

Alice smiled. The three walked in.

Carmen looked at herself in the mirror. There were piles of clothes on the floor behind her. She couldn’t find ANYTHING to hid her tummy. She groaned and held up her hair, wondering if it made a difference. Well, it didn’t, but she all of a sudden remembered she had a tattoo there. She had forgotten about that, the bird. She half smiled, then frowned remembering Shane and Alex.

Alex walked out with Shane. She leaned against the outside wall.

Shane: Lets see it.

Alex lifted her sleeve. On her shoulder there was a basketball with Blcok-letters AM bursting from it. It was about 2 inches in diameter.

Shane: Wicked!

Alex: Lets see yours.

Shane lowered her collar and turned around. On her shoulder blade there were some shapes that looked like Chinese calligraphy.

Alex: What does it say?

Shane: It’s your name in Kanji.

Alex: My name?

Shane: Yeah, I figured that you’re probably the only permanent thing I’ve got, so I made you permanent.

Alex smiled.

Alex: Thanks ma.

Just then, Alice walked out, legs spread. Shane and Alex laughed.

Shane: Hurt Alice?

Alice: Don’t even fucking start with me.

Shane: I hate to say it but, I told you so!

Carmen flew the last piece of clothing she owned to the floor before she broke down and cried. She cried for missing out on Alex’s life, she cried for giving her up a second time, she cried for the new baby, but she mostly cried for Shane, for leaving her and for starting a new life, thinking she was dead. She even missed Hermes. She cried until she heard a faint knock on her door.

Carmen: Come in.

The second half of the plane ride wasn’t eventful. It consisted of a bad movie, some peanuts, dinner and Alex and Alice falling asleep. Once they landed, they checked into a hotel for the night.