Bobby stepped off the plane and onto the tarmac, blinking slightly as he slid his shades over his eyes.
"Freedom, Bobby," Gabriella said into his ear, throwing her arms around his neck from behind as they walked. "This is the life."
"This is how all Uni kids are meant to spend their holidays," Lennon agreed, coming up from behind, one arm around Shayne's waist.
"Definitely, I'm feeling it," Shayne chimed in. "No responsibility, no school, no homework. Just sun."
"God, it feels good to be out of shitty New York," Bobby announced. "I'm going to make the most of this, even if it's only for a week."
Lennon and Shayne shared a look. They'd been hearing Bobby's restlessness in his voice for the last month, and wondered if it had anything to do with his marriage. And it was seeming more like it did. It wasn't that he didn't love Julie, or his kids... it seemed to be more the fact that he felt so tied down and burdened at such a young age. He hadn't expected to be a dad until later down the track and now he was not only the biological father of twins, but he was the one looking after all the other kids, along with Julie, despite not having any ties to them at all. It was making him kinda edgy these days.
Bobby reached behind him to put his arms around Gabriella, and they walked a few metres looking like conjoined penguins, before they reached the airport and set about getting their luggage.
After sorting everything out and finding their rental car, Lennon slid into the front seat and zoomed them off in the direction of their hotel, where they were going to eat and relax by their pool.
This was freedom.
This was what Bobby had been missing.