Full Moon Fling *Unedited*

Prescription Flights To Glasgow

Roger and Mack came back from the Chinese a fair bit later, and they both looked a bit freaked out; although neither of them would say why.  That alone was enough to put me on edge.

"Right...who likes egg fried rice, because that bird always gives me too much." Mack grumbles as he sets the boxes down.

"Bet you've never said that about a bird before, Mack." Gordon smirks, making everyone but Mack and Precious snigger.

"That's because Mack just doesn't get any." I say solemnly and Roger groans; covering his ears.

"Please, Alba; let me think you're innocent!" He begs as he screws his eyes shut; I roll my eyes as I go over to him and pat his head, ignoring everyone snickering at me on my tiptoes.

"I'm so sorry I ruined your mental image of my innocence, Uncle Roger." I apologize loudly; he cautiously lowers his hands from his ears and opens his eyes slowly, staring at me.

"It's okay, Alba...just let me keep it.  It makes me happy!" Roger exclaims; I roll my eyes again and go back over to the overflowing kitchen table.

Ahh...take out the Fife way, I think happily as I look at the dozens of cartons set out on the table, steam rising up and making condensation on the ceiling.  Colin and Precious watch in shock and awe - and probably a fair bit of disgust - as the Fife's of the house circle the table and snatch at the boxes they want.

No one ever cooked after mam killed herself...the kitchen was her space; it smelt like her for a long time after she was gone.  Mam would have our guts if she saw us fighting over take out cartons, but here we are; pushing each other out of the way and grabbing at the food we want before anyone else can take it.  Some of the lids slip off the cartons; and by the time us Fife's have got our food, there's noodle and chow mein splattered on the walls and the floor.

"You all eat like pigs." Precious sniffs as she peels the skin off an apple; I knock the lid off the chow mein and smile at Colin as he looks at me with stunned eyes.

"Shut up, Precious." We all snap - even Tristan, much to everyone's shock - as we eat our food contentedly.  There might be a fight coming, there might not be; but right now, life seems more normal than it has in a long time.

*****

Colin's POV

Jesus wept; I've never seen a scramble like that for food.  It's insane!  It's not like there wasn't enough for all of them...

Hush up, Colin, you're impressed really, Alba teases and I smirk at her, pulling out a stand of noodle from her hair.  We look at it for a few seconds before laughing, all our worries momentarily forgotten.  Alba's laugh is like music, it just lights up the room; no one can not smile when they hear Alba giggle.

It's good to see her not looking stressed, or scared, or sad...or crying.  Her family brightens up when they see her and I don't think she even realises how much they like having her around, how their faces light up when they see her.  Gordon especially.  I glance over at Gordon and watch him as he chats away to Alba, both of them laughing and trying not to choke on their food.  I smile to myself as I finish off the stir fry and throw the empty box in the bin; it's good to see her so calm.

I know I'm kidding myself.  I know as well as Alba does that Crusher will come back in seven days.  We have seven days to find out what makes Alba the centre of attention.  My mind flashes back to the needle I saw in Crusher's hand when I got Alba out from the prison that was his house, and I shake it from my mind.  Alba's fine; she doesn't look any different.