"You don't have to be afraid of change.
You don't have to worry about what's being taken away.
Just look to see what's being added." -Jackie Greer
Miko, Jack, and Raf were standing in a circle, talking, laughing, and hugging. A week had gone by, one filled of laughter and shaking heads, past friends and new ones, memories forgotten and new ones gained. It was an experience they would never forget, how could they? Even when Starscream passed by shouting threats he had smiled upon seeing 'The Autobots old pets', and they had just waved back as the whacky 'con flew away. It was a week they would never forget, filled with everything worth remembering.
"You have my number right? And my area code?" Miko was asking frantically, digging around in her purse for her phone number.
"Chill Miko, I have it." Raf laughed, rolling his eyes at Miko's craziness.
"You sure?" The Japanese faltered, pausing her excavation of her purse's insides to look at the tech geek.
"Of course we have it." Jack spoke, smiling at the old friend.
"You have mine right?" Raf asked Miko hopefully, knowing she would have already lost it by now.
"Um..."
"I'll write it out again." Raf sighed, pulling a piece of paper out of one of his carry ons to scribble down his phone number. Again.
"You really are the best." Miko breathed happily, taking the paper and losing it inside her purse. "I'm sure I still have yours Jack." Miko said with false bravado, wondering if she still actually had it... It wasn't her fault she was so forgetful! Really!
"Here you go." Jack rolled his eyes, pulling out a business card with his name on it.
"Thanks, Jack. You know me so well." Miko laughed nervously, sticking the paper in her purse.
"Of course I do." Jack smirked, shaking his head.
"So, where you headed?" Miko asked Raf, as if she didn't know.
"It's time to get back to D.C., a company can't run itself you know." He joked, looking at her with a smile. "Besides, I miss Mary. I'm ready to get home."
"Aw, I'm so happy for you! And be nice to your wife, so what if the baby's name is Daphne? That's pretty, elegant, and simplistic."
"Like you know anything about that." Jack snorted.
"Hey!"
"What about you Jack? Headed to Italy?" Raf inquired.
"Yeah, I've got the same problem as you do. A town doesn't run itself. Besides, it's a bit more, uh, quiet back in Borbona."
"You mean it doesn't have us making your life crazy." Miko replied dryly, but she was smiling.
"Maybe." Jack allowed.
"You headed back to Japan, Miko? Or are you off on some crazy adventure?" Raf asked, looking at his eccentric friend carefully.
"Pu-lease. I stopped acting like a five year old many years ago. I'm a well mannered woman of society if you hadn't noticed."
"Uh huh, so where you going? And should I be waiting for your picture to come up on Interpol?" Jack asked, arching an eyebrow.
"Jack, how could you think so little of me?" Miko replied, mock wounded. "I would never cause trouble, never."
"Sure." Raf spoke, not believing a word of it. Miko just smiled and clasped her hands in front of her like an angel.
"Now boarding flight 320 for New York City." An attendant called over the speaker.
"Well, I guess I better get going." Jack sighed, looking at his friends sadly. "Sierra's probably heading over now."
"Why are you headed for the great NYC? Why not just get on over to Europe?" Miko questioned, cocking her head sideways.
"Sierra wants to see New York City, it's got everything imaginable. Besides, Sierra and I want to see some of the sights before we jet away. You know everyone's always been saying New York is just so great and amazing, we want to go find out why. Have an adventure or two." Jack explained, a smile on his face.
"Okay, just promise me two things before you go." Miko replied seriously.
"Um, sure?"
"When you're in New York City, do not eat any meat from corner vender people. I had a cousin who had a hot dog from one of those corner food stands, and he got food poisoning."
"Deal."
"And second," Miko said, her gaze swiveling to include Raf. "In twenty years from now..." She trailed off, smiling her mysterious little smile.
"We come back?" Raf finished for her, a little unsure.
"We come back." She nodded. "Deal guys?" She grinned.
"Now boarding flight 329 for Washington D.C." Another attendant called over the speakers.
"Think fast, you both gotta get going." Miko said, and then started humming the Jeopardy theme song. "I, Miko Nakadai, swear that in twenty years from this exact date I will return to Jasper, Nevada. I will return to mile marker 25, and unless I'm dead, I will come." The two men cast a glance between them, and they both had to smile.
"I, Rafael Esquivel,"
"I, Jackson Darby,"
"swear that in twenty years from this exact date I will return to Jasper, Nevada." They chorused together. "I will return to mile marker 25, and unless I'm dead, I will come."
"Now boarding flight 390 for Tokyo."
"See you guys in twenty years!" Miko called, giving the guys one quick last hug before she picked up her bags and walked away. "You better be there!" She called over her shoulder, grinning her trademark smile and then she turned the corner and was gone.
"See ya then?" Jack asked.
"See ya then." Raf nodded, and giving the other a fist bump headed in opposite directions toward their flights.
~(0)~
High up in the air, Miko smiled as she watched two more planes take flight. We're all going our own way. Again. Oh well, twenty years isn't to bad. I made it this far didn't I? Miko chuckled, settling down in her seat. I'll seem them again, someday...
-The End-
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"The world is round and the place which may seem like the end might also be the beginning." -Ivy Baker Priest