“Three, but they better go by slowly.” Ian said, still absentmindedly playing with her hair. “Because I leave in the afternoon the day after.”

“Yeah…so do I.” Abby replied, looking up at him.

There was a silence between them. In the back of their minds, they knew that this conversation had to come up at some point. But with last night going so…well, and just feeling secure with each other, both found it an unwelcome guest. Abby sighed loudly as she tried calculating things in her mind.

“I take six weeks off, to visit friends in Australia, and then I go and train for World’s.” Ian replied. “And the Pan Pacs.”

“I go back to school…last year of college.” Abby replied. “Although…I do have easy courses. Bunch of culture classes for France and Italy. And one or two Government classes each semester.”

“We’ll figure it out…not now though. One because our bus is here, and two, because we’ve only got a few more precious days to see if Durex will ship more.” Ian said, smirking. Abby stared at him wide eyed. “Well not that many times.”

But eventually the Closing Ceremonies did catch up with them, and they partied well into the morning hours, from sunset to sunrise. And they found themselves at the airport. Ian’s flight took off two hours before the Phelps’ and Abby’s flight. Abby abandoned her things with Michael to go be with Ian at his airport gate. First class began to board way too soon.

Ian stood up and put his bag on his shoulder and took Abby into his arms. “We’ll see each other again.” He said, as he felt her tears on his shirt. “Come on… I’m supposed to be your cousin’s archrival…I’ll see you again, trust me.” Abby smiled up at him, though her eyes told the opposite story. He gave her one long kiss before he left to board the plane.

Abby made the walk back, sniffling a little, and sat next to Michael. “Are you okay?” Michael asked. “What did you guys decide on?”

“I don’t know…luck?” Abby replied. “He’s got training in six weeks, I’ve got school.”

Michael didn’t know what to say but he placed a reassuring arm around her. “Don’t worry about it. By the way he’s talked about you, he won’t forget you.”

*~*~

Ian was at home with his mum and dad, who didn’t get to go to Athens, but watched him faithfully on the television. He showed them his pictures, many of them of him and Abby. “She’s a pretty one, Ian, where’d you meet this sheila?”

“She’s Michael Phelps’ cousin, I met her at a restaurant.” Ian replied, smiling slightly to himself. “We got on really well.”

“Oh, she’s American, then?” His mother asked after she saw a picture of them dressed up fancy for one of the more upscale nightclubs. “Is she nice?”

“Oh yeah…really laid back, and a wicked sense of humor.” Ian replied. “She’s different from the other girls I’ve dated. Not high maintenance at all.”

“So, what is she doing now?” Her father asked, looking at a picture of the two of them looking quite cozy on Michael’s boat.

“Well, she’s off starting her last year at Columbia University in New York City.” Ian answered. “I’ve heard it’s a really good school.”

“What’s she studying?” His father asked as Ian sighed at the game of twenty questions.

“French and Italian studies and Government. She wants to work for the CIA or something.” He replied. “She’s got the brains for it.”

“Wow, Ian, going after brains and beauty. I’m very proud.” His father grinned.

Meanwhile, back in Connecticut, Abby was packing for college. Her mother had taken the liberty of scrapbooking all of her pictures into something appealing, knowing that if Abby had gotten her hands on it, the pictures may have ended in a shoebox under her bed in her apartment. Although this time, Abby was packing for a longer period of time, she was going to France her first semester and Italy her second, graduating at the University of Milan.

“Mom, seriously, I need to pack that scrapbook, but I can’t do it if you’re looking at it all the time.” Abby replied. “Mom….”

“He’s a very nice looking swimmer.” Her mother, Nancy, always said when looking at a picture of them in the water.

“Yes mom, I know…” Abby sighed. “Mom, I leave for France in two days…I neeeeed to finish packing.”

“Oh alright.” Her mother sighed closing up the book and handing it to her. It would never really be packed away, she just wanted to look at it herself.

Michael drove up from Maryland a day before she left for France. He too would start training for the Worlds, though at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor instead of Maryland. He sat with her at the airport and talked about random things like the weather and Euro to dollar exchange.

“Mike…” she started as people started to board.

“Yes’m?” He asked, grinning at her.

“Try and send me Dave Chappelle’s first season…and, tell me when the World’s and Pan Pacs are.” Abby grinned. “I’ll miss ya, squirt.”

“Shh, I’m not shorter than you anymore. And haven’t been for years.” He laughed, hugging her as she went into her line. “Call, and if you don’t, you’re so not going to World’s with me.”

Abby grinned and knew she’d keep her promise.