What Happens in Aspen Lasts in Reefside

Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own PR. Sucks for me, I know.

A/N: If you're just here for the high rating, you're going to be waiting another few chapters. Otherwise, enjoy the rest of the flight.

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"Can I ask you something, Dr. Mercer?" Cassidy asked him almost as soon as he took his seat beside her once having secured her carry-on luggage in the overhead compartment.

"Sure," Cassidy," he answered as he shifted slightly in his seat to face her as much as he could.

"Why aren't we flying to Aspen on a private plane?"

"I suppose the simple answer is because I don't have one," he answered, slightly surprised by her question.

"How's that possible?"

Fighting a laugh, he answered, "I assume it must have slipped my mind to purchase one."

"It just doesn't make sense to me. That great house, your car, the cars we rode to the airport in, yet you don't have a plane."

"Perhaps I prefer to spend my time on the ground," he heard himself say. Soon relieved to see the satisfaction and understanding in her eyes.

"So why did you want to get away from Reefside this week? And why have all of us with you?"

"Cassidy, it really is true what most of Reefside says, you will make an amazing reporter," he told her, this time unable to suppress a soft smile to her.

"Aw, thanks," she told him with a smile that spread across her face.

He nodded as his smile had yet to fade. "Reefside wasn't where I felt I needed to be and I knew that I wasn't the only one feeling the need to get away. Though I had originally intended it to only be Trent and myself, but Conner and Ethan overheard Trent and I speaking. Then they told the others and though Tommy tried to discourage them, it did little good."

"Then I overheard and had Devin pester you to let us come along," she added, disappointment now creeping into her soft voice. Though not even she knew why she felt disappointed in herself. She was a reporter, by getting him to agree to this she would already be in town for the competition. Why should she feel guilty for wanting the story?

He nodded. "Though it seems to be going well so far."

"Has anyone thanked you for this yet?"

He paused, seemingly searching his memory, but the answer was no.

Reading that in his expression, Cassidy stated, "Well then let me be the first. Thanks for this, Dr. Mercer. I know we all appreciate it."

"You're welcome, Cassidy." His soft smile returned and was soon met with her own.

"Oh, man, this is so cool!" Conner beamed to the young men on either side of him as looked at one of the lodge's brochures again, this time reading it. "Check out these hot tubs!"

"This is gonna be one awesome week!" Ethan chimed.

"Mmmm, ski bunnies in bikinis," Devin purred.

"Guys, you know that's not part of the vacation," Tommy stated, though he knew it was no use.

"Pay no attention to Mr. 'I'm not getting any because my girlfriend couldn't come with us,'" Conner told Devin. Devin only laughed.

"Conner!" Tommy called, not seeing the humor.

This time Conner and Ethan joined in Devin's laughter.

"Come on, Dr. O, you had to know one of us was gonna hear you talking to her at some point," Ethan stated.

Tommy rolled his eyes. It had been Conner who had overheard part of his most recent conversation with Kim. He had asked if she could get off work to join them, but it was up to her to train her students for their upcoming gymnastics competition since her coaching partner was on her own vacation. He was disappointed, but understood.

Trent tried to ignore the others and turned his attention to Kira. "Have you seen this?" he asked as he held open another page of the thin booklet.

"An open mike?!" she asked excitedly. "I can't wait! I've got so many new songs I want to do. I have no idea which one I'll choose, but thanks."

"Well, if you want someone to sort of test them out on, I wouldn't mind," he volunteered. He was rewarded with a smile from his friend.

"What are you looking the most forward to when we get to Aspen?" Cassidy asked her former substitute teacher.

"The seclusion and relaxation as well as seeing the competition. What are you looking the most forward to?"

She shrugged. "The snow, the scenery and of course the competition. I don't really know what else, I've never been to Aspen before. Have you?"

"A few times, yes."

"With Trent?"

"Only once. Two Christmases ago, if I remember correctly."

"How was it?"

"It was work. I'm not entirely sure where Trent was for most of it, but I was on a working vacation."

"Another expedition, I assume?" she asked with a slight laugh.

"Something like that, yes."

"And?"

"There wasn't much to be found, we discovered."

"Dinosaurs gave you a cold reception, huh?" she joked, wanting to see him laugh. It worked.

"You could say that," he answered as his laughter subsided only slightly.

"Are Cassidy and your dad joking?" Ethan asked Trent as they laughed together again over something else.

"Looks like," he answered, feeling confused as to how. But his confusion quickly faded as he went back to talking with Kira.

"Cassidy almost never jokes," Devin commented.

"Well, Anton did used to be pretty laid back," Tommy chimed. "Maybe this trip's just helping him to remember that."

"How long do you think it'll be before she talks him into an interview?" Conner asked Devin.

"She's probably already tried. Maybe that's what they're laughing about."

Though in truth what had them laughing now was that Cassidy had paraphrased Trent's question to his father from a few weeks before.

"I'm not sure any of you would consider there to be a way to make brussel sprouts edible," he answered, somehow unable to contain his laughter as Cassidy laughed with him at knowing he was right.

The plane landed safely in Aspen nearly a half an hour later, both chaperones quickly realizing they needed to keep their eyes on Conner and Devin before they ran off and into the airport.

It was obvious both young men were anxious to start their vacation, but were soon ordered to take their seats once again by both their mentor and their former substitute teacher.

"Come on, Dr. O," Ethan whined seconds later.

"Sit," Tommy ordered, pointing a seemingly parental finger at him and the seat.

"Now?" Conner pleaded as more passengers had emerged from the plane a minute later.

"Take a seat, Conner," Anton warned.

"But -" Devin began.

"Come on, Devin, it's not so bad," Cassidy stated from her seat.

"I would've thought you would want to get down to baggage claim," Kira said skeptically.

"I do, but running down there now won't change the fact they probably haven't even unloaded our stuff yet."

"Can we at least get our stuff our of the overhead bins then?" Conner asked.

Tommy rolled his eyes, but answered, "Fine."

It was still several minutes before they were all able to make their way into the airport, but once they did each of the students began to pair up with whomever they had decided to ride to the hotel with. Soon in search of their drivers.

"So who's riding with whom?" Kira asked as she looked to Tommy.

"Anton said we'd get to make that choice ourselves," he answered.

"Okay," she said with a shrug.

"I can't believe Mercer wouldn't let me have a car, this is so bogus," Conner said as he walked over to join them.

"Conner, you'll be fine," Tommy told him, the chaperone title now beginning to slightly take its toll. "Would you rather ride with me or Trent?"

"Ethan and Devin are already riding with Trent," he answered with a sigh.

"And you don't want to ride with Anton," he finished.

"Cassidy is. I guess since they were already on the plane together and he survived that it makes sense."

Tommy couldn't help but laugh slightly. "Alright, then I guess I'm ready when you two are," he said as he looked to the students who were quickly following.

"Aspen, here we come, baby!" Ethan shouted as he climbed into the silver sedan Trent was driving.

"Oh yeah!" Devin added as he took a seat in the back.