Omigosh, this has taken me FOREVER to get out! But I am finally doing it and I'm super excited to get it written! Yeah, yeah, I probably shouldn't be starting it with my other stories still needing to be written, but I'm having an INSANE writer's block for two of them and I needed to let the inspiration for THIS story take it's flight. I hope you guys like it! Remember, this is sequel to Into the Night, and if you haven't read that then this might not make sense, but then again, it probably can stand alone.

This author's note is long enough. I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: Don't own anything…not even the place. It's very sad, yes?

…...

Chapter One: Arriving

Cammie

I looked out the window of the plane, wondering how things could change so quickly. Nebraska was just below us and I could feel the jet slowly descending. It was very strange to think that, last year, as I traveled to Nebraska, I couldn't stop thinking about Josh. Now, I had a totally different boy sitting beside me, his arm around me, his hand stroking my hair.

I smiled at the thought. Zachary Goode had been a lot of things when I first met him, but I had never dreamed that he would end up as my boyfriend. Traveling to Nebraska to meet my grandparents. Spending Christmas with us. This could never have happened with Josh, even if I hadn't gotten caught. No normal boy could ever spend Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa Morgan and the rest of our family.

We flew over a forest, one I recognized. I used to go there all the time as a child. I remember running to that forest when I found out that Dad was never coming home.

I shook away the thought, turning away from the window and glancing up at Zach. His arm constricted around me as I leaned closer and he smirked. I rolled my eyes, resting my head against his chest. Next to him, Melanie shifted in her sleep, rolling closer to Zach. He smiled down at her, his other arm cradling her head. Kate and Abby sat in front of us, talking in minimal tones.

I snuggled closer to Zach, wrapping an arm around his waist. He kissed the top of my head. His hand trailed up and down my arm, raising goose bumps on my arm. I smiled, turning into his chest. "That feels nice," I murmured.

He smirked. "I kinda figured that out, Gallagher Girl," he said.

Melanie stirred. "Zachy?" she muttered sleepily. "Cammie? Are we almost there?"

I glanced out the window. "Yes, Mel, honey, we're landing in about five minutes."

"Okay, good. I can't wait to meet your grandparents!" she exclaimed, suddenly wide awake. "Will they like you, Zachy?" she asked her brother.

I glanced up at Zach, who had spontaneously gone slightly pale. He forced a smile. "Of course, Mel." I could barely detect the nervousness in his tone, but it was there. "Who doesn't like me?" he said, his cockiness only somewhat forced.

The eight-year-old grinned. "Well, let's see…" She giggled when Zach's free hand attacked her with tickles.

"Little twerp," he said laughingly. His expression became serious. "Hey, can you do something for me?" he asked conspiratorially. She nodded as if her life depended on it. "Go ask Aunt Kate if she's excited for Uncle Damian to come to Nebraska with us." He winked. "And it wasn't from me."

Melanie got an expression not unlike her brother's and she smiled mischievously. "Okay!" Her voice was so small that it was hard to believe that a girl of her size could get up to any kind of mischief…but I knew that she could. I'd spent the last few weeks with her since we got out of the Circle of Cavan. She scampered off to find Kate, who was no longer sitting in front of us.

I looked up at Zach. "What was that about?"

He looked at me, feigning innocence. "That? That was just me making some fun with Mel…and Kate."

I gave him a look. "Not that," I said, rolling my eyes. "When Melanie asked you if my grandparents would like you, you…blanched."

He looked down at his lap. "You noticed that, huh?"

"Yes," I said, nodding, "I did." I cocked my head to the side. "Are you nervous, Zach?"

He looked me straight in the eye then, his green eyes penetrating. "You tell me, Cam."

I refrained from glaring at him. I hated it when he did this. He made me guess. I hated guessing games. I'd ask him a question that he didn't want to admit to or answer and he'd look at me and tell me to answer it. I knew the answer, but I wanted him to tell me.

So I said what I knew probably wouldn't comfort him, but I wanted to say anyway. "I think," I started, "that you shouldn't be nervous at all." I sat up a little straighter, trying to pull back. Zach wouldn't let me; his arm stayed around me, tight as can be. I knew I could just move it—I had strength too, obviously; you kinda have to, to be able to be a spy—but truth be told, I liked it there.

When he didn't look convinced, I sighed. "My grandparents aren't judgmental and they are open-minded. They knew your parents. Trust me, they'll love you."

His eyes tight, he smiled at me. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, Cam, but that doesn't stop me from being nervous….I want your family to like me. I want to be able to say that you're the girl whose family I impressed." He looked down at our now-entwined hands. "Cam…you are the first girl that I have ever dated…that I wanted to keep. The others…well, you can imagine. They were like Jim—Josh. They were normal. They were shallow. They weren't anything like you. They didn't have the qualities it took to make me stay; not like you. Their families I didn't care about; their affection, I didn't care about." He turned to me again, looking into my eyes. "I care about what your family thinks. I care about what your friends think." Despite the fact that he was being the side of himself that only I see, he smiled when he said that. "Don't tell them." He quieted for a moment and I waited, knowing that he'd continue.

He sighed, pulling me closer. "You are the only girl that I've come this close to. I've opened up to you…in ways that I've never opened up to anyone. Not even Kate. I never meant to fall in love with you, but I did. The love I feel for you is all consuming. When I thought I was going to lose you only a few weeks ago, I went into a…catatonic state. I watched them work on you; I watched as they almost failed." He sighed again, kissing my head. "I love you. I didn't ask for it to happen, but it did. I want your family to love me, like you do." He gave me a dry laugh. "So yes, to answer your question, I am nervous."

My eyes softened. What he'd told me…it wasn't in his character. The only time I'd ever seen that side of him was when he told me he loved me for the first time. On the roof. I smiled at the memory.

"Zachary Jared Goode," I murmured. His name rolling of my tongue so naturally…it was new to me. "I promise you, if you show them who you are, let them know how much you care, they'll love you." He looked away and I grabbed his chin, moving his head to look at him. "You're the most…amazing guy that I've ever met." The minute I said it, I realized how bad that sounded. "And all the guys I've heard about. I love you. No matter what happens. It's always going to be you. I swear my family will love you. Mm already does and heaven knows that Dad does. I'm pretty positive my family will too."

"And," Abby's voice sounded as she came out of the bathroom, "we're about to find out." She smirked. "Fasten your seatbelts, guys. We're landing soon."

I glanced out the window. There was no landing lane. Just a field. A filed that brought back memories from only a few weeks ago. It seemed like years.

I turned back to him, squeezing his hand. I didn't know how much it helped, but I hoped it would help at least a little.

The jet descended slowly, landing in the field a few minutes after Abby had come out. Melanie had taken her seat next to Zach, grinning up at him and telling him what Kate had said. ("Tell Zach that I'm not an idiot. And yes, I am excited to see 'Uncle' Damian.")

I smiled up at him, wrapping an arm around his waist for a quick squeeze. I glanced out my window, knowing my grandparents were there, waiting. "Ready?" I asked, giving him my best encouraging smile. "Remember what I said."

He sighed, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "Ready as I'll ever be." And with that, we exited the jet.

…

Okee, I know this is super duper short, but I promise that the next chapters will be longer. I don't know how long this is going to be and I'm honestly playing with a few different plots. If you have any ideas, give them to me please! I hope you liked the first chapter! I know I liked writing it. Sorry Zach is so OOC but he had to be in this and for this. I'm trying really hard to keep him in character for the story.

REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW! I hope you guys are still with me!

~XJamesBondX