Ethan sits down at her table at lunch and announces, "I was questioned by police yesterday!"

"So was I. Good times, good times."

He laughs. "Actually it was rather dull."

"Yeah. I have no idea where Trouble went. I don't think the cops really thought I would, but they had to ask, I guess."

"They seemed to suspect I'd given him a hand somehow, actually. But I'm as clueless as the next fellow. Pity; I'd've liked to get a goodbye kiss."

"The cops said if he sends us a postcard or anything we should tell them," volunteers Andi.

"Yes, they told me something similar. Not bloody likely. If I get a postcard from Trouble, I'll assume he means for me to set it on fire."

"They kept talking about how we might think we're helping him by keeping quiet but we're really not and it'd be best for him to go home," says Andi.

"And we told them we agreed completely and thought Trouble would too as soon as he was safe at home and had a few days to calm down," says Bella piously.

Ethan snickers.

"So apart from our friend the runaway, how are things?"

"Boring, mainly. And with you?"

"Likewise. Lots of writing. We're going to fly up to see Charlie in a week and a half, but we can bump the flight if Robin needs us to in order to come along."

"Have fun," he says dryly.

"We will do our best."

"Well, don't strain yourself."

"We'll do our best at that too."

He snorts.

Trouble still hasn't made contact. By the time school ends and the last final has been taken in and Renée is starting to formulate summer plans for what she'll be up to in the twins' absence, Bella is beginning to seriously entertain the hypothesis that he flew off with his new friend Aspret The Duck, never to return.

"Yeah -"

"Sure."

Bella morphs too. <Hi, Trouble! I was wondering if you were ever coming back. What have you been up to?>

<I figured that the best way to make running away look good would be to actually do it. So I did. Got back yesterday. Are you guys alone in there, can I come in and demorph?>