Somewhere over the ocean.
Everything is quiet apart from the usual noises of a plane flying to its destiny: the engines rumbling, one bell calling the flight attendant sometimes, a passenger coughing, someone gets up to go to the restroom... Probably things are a bit noisier at the back of the plane but the first class area is an ocean of calm. Above all now that the brats are sleepy...They've been flying for about 10 hours and they have 5 more ahead which means that the girls have gone through all the stages possible: from excitement, to hyperactivity, to boredom till falling into a trance of drowsiness.
Excitement was the mood prevailing when they set foot into the plane and saw the fancy seats that can turn into a bed: Cookie was delighted with the big screen and free earbuds and she watched three movies in a row; Kat loved the amenities and tried all of them from slippers to socks, an eye mask, and a kit with skincare and toiletry products; Jin was shocked by the quality of the Asian food on the menu and even enjoyed a fresh fruit cocktail and the two adults were happy to take the middle two seats giving up the windows to the brats because their seats turn into a double bed with full-size pillows and fine linens.
They reached a new level of hyperactivity when the time to order lunch arrived and they were offered a menu so full of options that they seemed unable to choose for themselves and Ruby had to impose order with her frown. But after eating, seeing lots of movies, listening to music, fighting, reading, fighting even more because they were unable to sleep despite the comfortable beds... boredom became a problem and Iselen threatened with throwing them headfirst out of the plane... which was a weird thing because their momma is usually the nice one and the actress the one who loses patience. The three girls took their words as a warning and tried to behave for once, they managed to sleep for a few hours and that led them to the stage of drowsiness made in equal parts of exhaustion, boredom and weariness...
"Do you think they can handle five more hours locked in this small space?" Ruby whispers in Iselen's ear, tickling her with her breath while her hand plays with her fingers. Despite the girls moving and complaining nonstop, they managed to sleep for some hours with their heads leaning close and her arms around their waists.
"They have no choice, I'm afraid. Honestly, I'd be behaving like a brat too if it wasn't because I'm scared of you frowning at me..." The brunette woman kisses the tip of her girlfriend's nose naughtily. "I'm tired and want to get out of this plane, run on a beach and scream at the top of my lungs." The actress nods and sighs, rubbing her thumb on Iselen's soft cheek.
"We can do it now... That would cheer them up a little and time will move faster..."
"Do you think so? It's a little early but we're on the other side of the world now so I guess the day is the right one..." Isy takes a quick look at her watch that keeps the LA time zone. "Okay, let's do it..."
Both adults straighten their backs on their seats and stare at Cookie intently, the young English girl plays with her earbuds wires and seems completely oblivious to her surroundings. Ruby clears her throat but nothing happens till she takes a small piece of paper from the notebook Iselen was using to plan their trip and what cities they'd prefer to visit, she makes a small ball and throws it to Cookie, hitting her forehead taking advantage of her Batwoman skills. The young girl looks up frowning, ready to scold her sisters, when she realizes the actress is staring at her with her eyes wide open. Behind her, her momma, tilts her head abruptly pointing at the flight attendant. Cookie looks back at them baffled for a few seconds till she seems to understand and nods firmly, she gets up and punches Kat's shoulder gently as she walks past her.
"Restroom..." she mumbles when Jin looks up from her magazine and the Asian girl smiles faintly before turning another page boringly. Luckily, she hasn't noticed how Kat is gesturing at their momma and an evil grin spreads across her face. Actually, tricking the young ninja isn't that easy usually but the 10 hour flight has been too long even for her and her brain is completely wiped out. Kat is delighted with the idea of making a fuss to avert her sister's attention from what Cookie is doing.
"By the way, Isy, I need to talk to you about a serious matter..." the young Moroccan harsh tone of voice startles Jin, who looks at her confused and then to her momma raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah?" the brunette woman answers absentmindedly while following the amazing jawline of her girlfriend with her fingertips making the DJ smile and lick her lips mischievously.
"It's about the last work of art you purchased..." That seems to grab Iselen's attention and leans forward to stare at Kat, leaning her elbow on Ruby's armrest.
"The painting of a beautiful naked lady by Ellectra? I hung it on the corridor wall... What's wrong with it?"
"I love that painting... I was thinking about buying one myself... Babe, you have to give me the contact information of the artist." Iselen smiles at Ruby and nods before kissing her cheek sweetly.
"You never told me that the painting glows in the dark! I woke up at midnight two days ago and went to the kitchen in order to grab a glass of water, it scared the Hades out of me when I saw it... I thought it was a ghost!" Kat yells outraged while her family bursts into laughing.
"Kat, you know we can't afford having a ghost at home," her momma answers before laughing even more.
"Why not?" The young Moroccan seems genuinely confused.
"Let me count..." Jin speaks slowly, showing her finger one at a time. "Momma and dadd... Ruby... Cookie, you and me... One dog, well, four when Ruby brings her babies... a ferret, two cats, a bunny, a hedgehog, a chinchilla and a clownfish... Oh! And Xander the squirrel... We don't have room for a ghost, definitely."
"What?" Kat pouts while the two adults laugh again. "But I wanted a raven pet and..."
"No fucking way!" Ruby's loud whisper echoes through the first class area of the plane grabbing the attention of some passengers. "Why the hell would you want a raven pet? You already had a rainbow lorikeet and you know what happened."
"She wants it to collect its black feathers and use them along with other nasty things witches need for their spells..." Iselen scrunches her nose looking at Kat.
"Oh yes, leave the nasty things for witches because us, the haughty druids, only need herbs, a gold sickle and astronomy for our spells. We don't touch eyes of newt and mouse tails... Druids are so extra..." The young Moroccan answers offended. Ruby looks back at her girlfriend waiting for her reply but the brunette woman just takes her notebook and starts writing. Five seconds later she shows the page to her kid with a mischievous grin on her face.
Druids, being extra since the day we built Stonehenge.
"Momma has a point here..." Jin giggles so amused by the argument that she hasn't noticed Cookie getting closer to her back.
"Happy birthday to youuuuu..." They all start singing while the young Asian girl opens her eyes wide in disbelief, jumping on her seat shocked.
"What? It's not my birthday yet, is it?" she seems totally confused while her sister leaves a huge cake with a candle lit on the tray of her seat.
"I'm not sure, I have no idea which time zone this is... According to my watch, it's not your birthday in LA but since we're getting closer to Australia... I'm pretty sure it's your birthday somewhere on Earth so make a wish and blow the candle." Iselen points at the cake and they all clap when Jin obeys happily.
"It looks so good..." Kat drools staring at it. "Where did you buy it, Cookie?"
"I ordered it to the best bakery I could find close to the airport, the flight attendant kept it in the fridge for us... It's made with mascarpone cheese, cream, strawberries and chocolate... But... I also have these..." She moves her hands like a magician conjuring a trick and the kind flight attendant gets closer with a new tray. "Two chocolate vegan cupcakes for the most beautiful ladies in the world..."
"Well, thank you, Cookie. This is really lovely of you..."Ruby takes the dish and hums in appreciation. "They smell really good..."
"Enjoy the cake, girls. We'll be landing in Australia soon and Jin... I'm afraid you have to wait till we're at Ruby's home for your presents..." The young Asian girl frowns confused at her momma while licking the cream of the candle, Kat helps cutting the cake and Cookie waits patiently with the plates and spoons in her hand. "The airline didn't let us to board with tons of ninja stuff... knives aren't allowed on a plane, I'm afraid."
"You're the weirdest family ever, seriously, but I love you so much," Ruby states before biting her cupcake.
