Will there really be a morning? Is there such a thing as day? Could I see it from the mountains if I were as tall as they?

Time snapped back into place as the sun came slipping up past the ocean horizon, warming the sky into rosy glow as it reflected out across the gentle ripples of water. Perhaps it was that warmth that first brought Tami back to her senses, or maybe it was the light footfall behind her, but as the sun rose, she forced her eyes open, rolling to her side as she coughed up sea water. She was so dizzy that the recent events had not yet entered her mind.

"Hmm...do I want to know how you ended up out here?"

Tami rolled onto her back, using a hand to shield her eyes from the sun, and blinked several times as Andrea looked down at her in mild amusement. "Umm..." She pulled herself to a sitting position as Andrea sat down in the sand beside her, and tried to relate what had last happened.

"Well, you don't seem very dead to me."

Tami glanced down at her attire -- she was not in her usual blue dress, but a simple pair of jeans and a white painter's shirt. Glancing at Andrea, she realized her attire was identical. Real cute, continuum, real cute...did I do that?? "Uh...yeah, I guess not..." She ran her hand over her stomach, but there was no wound, and no broken bones from her fall. She sighed slightly. "It really did happen, I swear..."

"And I believe you...but it would be pretty ridiculous if you could kill yourself in your own continuum." She turned to raise an eyebrow at Tami from behind her big round glasses. "I hope some kind of lesson's been learned."

"Don't hit the red square button?" she smiled and Andrea laughed.

"I can't get the image of Sydney...that outfit....singing So Many Men....out of my head!"

"I really screwed up."

"Nah..."

Has it feet like waterlillies? Has it feathers like a bird? Is it brought from famous countries of which I have never heard?

There was silence for a moment as they both sat in the sand watching the waves tumble end over end before Tami jumped to her feet. "Let's go look for shells." The two went wandering down the shore, away from thr castle, occassionally stopping to pick up the perfectly shaped shells....clams and tornado shells, and even some exquisite beach glass tumbled smooth. "So..." Tami started, finally stating what was on her mind. "You never like to leave the shack. You're out two days in a row...how come?"

Andrea rolled her eyes as she bent to pick up another shell. "...worried about you, obviously."

"Oh..."

Before they could say another word, a small giggle was heard from beyond the next sand dune, and Tami's eyes went wide as Andrea grinned slightly and made a "Shush" motion with her hand.

"Oh, Lu, don't...that tickles!" the light and airy voice drifted to them as they tiptoed towards the dune. They were just about to peek around the side of it when another voice, a deep and raspy alto, startled them.

"Who's there?" she demanded.

Andrea grinned at Tami and then walked around the dune. "Just us."

"Continuum keepers," Lulu nodded, narrowing her eyes as Yuna waved at them.

"Isn't it a lovely morning?" she said, winking her green eye at them.

Tami nodded enthusiastically and turned to look out at the ocean. "I could stay here all day..."

Oh, some scholar! Oh, some sailor! Oh some wise man from the skies! Please to tell a little pilgrim where the place called morning lies...

"You two should really take some time to ejoy the world you've created," Yuna said, snuggling back against Lulu on their blanket. Beside them was a portable stereo softly playing jazz music, and a basket that could only have been for food. They looked entirely settled and ready for a day of enjoying the fine weather.

"Eh, better things to do most of the time," Andrea shrugged, looking around. "It is a nice place, though."

"Let's go for a walk, Lu..." Yuna said, turning shining eyes towards her companion.

"Why?" the older girl sighed.

"Pleeeease?" she smiled again as winningly as possible.

"Oh, alright..." The two girls climbed to their feet and started to walk off hand in hand. Just as they were about to round the bend, Lulu glanced over her shoulder to survey them with a rather frightening smirk. "You ought to learn to appreciate each other a little, too." They sauntered off and Tami raised her eyebrows.

"That was...interesting," Andrea replied with a laugh, sitting down on the blanket they had just vacated.

"Thank you..." Tami said suddenly and abruptly, sitting down beside her.

Andrea was rifling through the picnic basket at that point, and suddenly, like magic, produced a bottle of diet coke and two cups. "For what?" she said quizzically as Tami laughed softly.

"I dunno...bailing me out?"

"Not a problem."

Tami reached to hold the cups as she poured, glancing back at the castle and idly wondering if anyone else was awake. "Well..." she said, taking a sip. "I get so carried away sometimes..."

"Melodramatic," Andrea supplied, putting the bottle back in the basket and kicking off her shoes.

"Heh, yeah..." Tami grinned, kicking off her own sandals and stretching in the warm morning sun. "I just...I..."

"Yeah...?"

"I do appreciate you, and appreciate this place, and you putting up with me and my drama and the insanity and nothing making sense...and...and..."

"I know," she said simply, leaning back on her elbows. There was a moment's pause before Tami put her drink down and reached over to hug her. "What was that for?" she raised an eyebrow and Tami shrugged slightly, not answering. "Eh, well..." she faltered, watching her friend's morose look. She reached over to hug her back, and as Tami smiled in cheerful surprise, she gave a thoughtful sigh. "I wonder if Sydney and Hardin made up..."

"I wonder why Selphie wanted to borrow my Christmas lights..."

Will there really be a morning... ...is there such a thing as day? Could I see it from the mountains... if I were as tall... ...if I were as tall... ......as they....?