𝗠𝘆 𝗘𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗲 ⇉ 𝗝𝗝 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗸

𝘱 𝘳 𝘰 𝘮 𝘪 𝘴 𝘦

IF THERE WAS ONE word to describe the current state Ari was in, it would be tired. Tired of being on a hot plane that seemed to stretch time endlessly. Tired of Kie's constant fidgeting, which added to her already frayed nerves. But most of all, she was tired of being so tired.

Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, each one demanding attention and draining her energy further. The noise around her, the hum of the plane, the chatter coming from Mike, all blended into a cacophony that made it hard to think straight.

Ari felt the weight of her exhaustion deep in her bones, a physical and mental fatigue that seemed to seep into every part of her being. It was as if the very essence of her strength was being sapped away, leaving her feeling hollow and worn out.

Yet, despite this overwhelming tiredness, she knew she had to stay strong. For Cora, who needed her for guidance and support. For JJ, who depended on her just as much as she depended on him.

Their reliance on her was a lifeline, a reminder that she couldn't afford to give in to the exhaustion. She had to keep going, to push through the weariness, because they needed her. They always will.

And in a way, needing to be strong for them gave her a sense of purpose, a reason to keep fighting against the tide of fatigue that threatened to pull her under.

The only one not fazed by anything going on in the plane was Cora Lynn, who laid peacefully in her father's arms. JJ gently swayed side to side, whispering sweet nothings to her. She'd been asleep for half the ride, and if she was awake, she was eating. Ari wished she had it that nice.

Stabilizing Cora in his left arm, JJ used his right to pull out a busted map. With Ari's help, he opened it as he spoke, pointing at it.

"We're going to be landing about a couple hours out of Tres Rocas, at a farm. It's right here." He gestured to the general area of the farm. Ari and Kie both gave him wide-eyed looks.

"A couple of hours?" Kie echoed, her voice tinged with disbelief.

"Yeah, I know." JJ sighed, passing them the map so they could look it over themselves. "But Barracuda Mike says there's a bus into town we should be able to catch, so..."

Ariella nodded slowly, her head falling back against the plane seat. She seemed to be the only one to dare even ask about the possibility of not seeing the rest of the Pogues. "J, what if they're not there?"

It was a scary thought. First Big John, now the rest of her family...

The blonde boy honestly didn't want to think about the possibility, so instead, he smiled, giving her a small nudge. "If they're not there...then we have ourselves a free vacation. I know it isn't Greece, but it's good to check off the bucket list."

He knew just how to put a smile on her face. Ari kissed his cheek before laying her head on his shoulder, her hand reaching out to intertwine with Kiara's.

They just hoped that after all this, everything would be close to normal again. But then again, what is normal to them?

The plane ride was a microcosm of their lives—filled with uncertainty, exhaustion, and fleeting moments of peace. JJ's gentle swaying with Cora was a rare moment of calm amidst the chaos, a reminder of the innocence and simplicity they were fighting to protect.

The busted map symbolized their fractured journey, piecing together a path forward with whatever they had. JJ's attempt to lighten the mood with talk of a "free vacation" was his way of shielding them from the harsh realities they could possibly face, using humor to mask his own fears.