LAURA

"I'm going to miss you, babe," Michael murmurs into Laura's ear as they embrace. He kisses her softly on her neck making pleasurable goosebumps rise all over her skin. Laura wishes that she could stay in his arms forever. She deeply inhales his cologne.

Then suddenly, the spell is broken, as the door bangs open, very nearly off its hinges, and in marches Zara Anderson, in all her white t shirt and black jacket glory.

"And the shrew arrives," Michael states, looking at the disgruntled expression on her face.

"Hi to you too, brother in law," she replies, rolling her eyes.

"Be nice, you two." Laura interjects calmly, quite used to the squabbling that the two closest people to her heart usually get into.

"Well he started it," Zara demands, pushing her suitcase against the wall, and taking the other one from Jay's hands with a quick "thank you."

Laura eyes him with interest as he smiles and leaves. Zara notices Laura's expression and rolls her eyes.

"I better get going, darling," Michael bids, kissing Laura on the cheek. "Call me whenever you like, yeah? I'll see you soon."

"Stay longer?" Laura insists, pulling his hands. He laughs and kisses her on the lips.

"Gross, you guys!" Zara yells, throwing a pillow at them.

"Okay okay, I'm off." Michael breaks away and Laura escorts him to the door. "Bye shrew!" He calls to Zara.

"Whatever, brother in law." She calls back, throwing herself on the bare mattress, with her shoes still on.

A few seconds later, Laura comes back into the room, sits down on her already made bed and sighs. "Can't you be at least civil with Michael? You know he's my fiance." She complains to Zara who shakes her head.

"We do it affectionately," she counters, staring at the ceiling listlessly, her arms paining from all the effort.

"I give up!" Laura states loudly, throwing her arms up at her sides.

"Good," Zara replies, "i gave up a long time ago."