"Do me one favor while we're in Scotland," Alina said as she looked out as more buildings began to come into view, leaving the countryside behind. It was just a beautiful place that she couldn't seem to look away from the window. Maybe someday she'd want to live in the Scottish Highlands. The landscape was beautiful and so were these buildings. "Promise me that you won't purchase, wear, or even think about wearing a kilt. I know it's a cultural thing and I mean no disrespect to the Scottish gentlemen but...I think your mother would thank me as well."

She looked over to Clifton before giving him a smile as the train began to slow down. They'd soon be meeting up with Alexa Mackenzie's family and heading to their farm. It would be an adventure for sure, as she had never been to a farm before. She had been past them in her travels, so she had seen cows and sheep but only at a distance. And while she had a stable at her home in Surrey, England, it rested empty. She wondered if maybe after this trip, she'd want to own a horse or something to occupy it.

She could tell this would be an entirely different experience than the last one they had together. The last time she got to see Clifton, he had come to visit her at her place and they were given traditional seven course French meals by Margie and waited on their ever whim with James and the other staff. There was shopping in the most luxury stores and a charity gala with old world dances. Still, while a different experience, this would be an adventure all the same and she was excited for it. Alina came from a lot but it didn't make her a spoiled princess and she was ready to see her friend and ready to see the life she lived. She was also ready to help out if that were the case because she had heard that there was lots of work to be done on a farm.

"We're almost here," she whispered, popping a lemon drop in her mouth before placing the few things she had out on the seat next to her and stuffed them into her bag.

Alexa Mackenzie stood on the platform of the train station at Inverness, rocking back and forth nervously on her scuffed trainers. She dressed that day as she did any day at home, roughed up blue jeans that had once been cute, and kind of still were, and a rustic sort of way. She wore a yellow Hufflepuff T-shirt that she had acquired on one of their illicit trips to Hogsmeade, and her hands were shoved in her pockets as she waited for the train.

Her parents stood further behind her. And they stood apart. When Alexa had returned home from Hogwarts this summer, just a few weeks ago, she had found her parents barely speaking to each other. Even rather than saying aloud to the other, “Pass the salt, please,” they instead stood up, walked around the table, and got the salt themselves. It was not looking good.

She knew her parents had never really been happily married. And she also knew that she was the glue that kept them together, because they both loved her dearly. But being gone this past school year had put a strain on their relationship, and Alexa wondered morosely if they would recover. They had both been extremely kind to her, but while they were usually snippy with each other, now they seem to just ignore the other. She thought that was worse.

Alexa heard a faint rumbling, and leaned forward far off the platform to appear around the slight curve from which the train from London would appear. She could see smoke coming from the engine as it chugged along, and finally made it out as it rounded the bend, tooting its horn.

She jumped up and down and waved frantically at her parents. “They are almost here!”

Looking for @Alexa Mackenzie with @Alina Rosier

"Promise me that you won't purchase, wear, or even think about wearing a kilt. I know it's a cultural thing and I mean no disrespect to the Scottish gentlemen but...I think your mother would thank me as well."

Clifton gave her a strange look and then laughed. "Alina, disrespect or not, I wouldn't be caught dead in one of those. I was lucky enough to escape the cowboy hat my mom wanted."

She smiled at him and then both turned their gaze back to the slowing scenery. Alexa had been right, the place was beautiful. There was so much green and, even though they still had an hour to go before reaching the farm, things already felt less busy.

It made him excited for the days ahead. He'd be spending them with his two closest friends, trying new things and exploring new places. Alexa had never told him much about her family and he wondered what they were like. She was always so kind, which led him to believe they probably were too. But then she'd seemed to intentionally avoid the topic of her parents.

"We're almost here."

Clifton stole another lemon drop from Alina before she stowed them away. She laughed and smacked his hand, telling him if he kept that up they wouldn't have any left for the trip back. They both knew that was a lie though. Alina Rosier was never out of lemon drops. Clifton was almost convinced she knew some sort of secret lemon candy summoning spell.

The train came to a stop and Clifton made a point to grab Alina's things before she could. She consented, though not without stopping to straighten his collar and brush at his hair, and they made their way off the train.

As soon as they stepped out onto the pavement, Clifton began scanning the crowd for Alexa.

"Do you think her whole family has red hair, or just her?"

Then he saw her running up to them and he grinned. "Hey Alexa!"

She embraced Alina and Clifton dropped their things so he could give her a hug too. Then two adults that looked like her parents approached. They were smiling but Clifton immediately sensed some sort of silent tension between the two. He hoped having two more kids around wouldn't add to it.


"Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Mackenzie," he said, gathering his and Alina's things again. "I know it's a long drive. But it's great to finally meet you."

When Alina and Clifton clambered out of the train, she ran toward them and immediately hugged Alina, before hugging Clifton as well. It was so good to see them! All she could do was smile brilliantly, at a loss for words at the moment.

She felt her parents’ presence behind her and turned to look at them. Both were smiling politely, as they stood 2 feet apart. Clifton was the first to speak to them, and they both smiled warmly at him. “It’s our pleasure dear,” her mother said, her blonde hair tucked behind her ears, while her father, with his dark red hair covered neatly by a hat, stepped forward and said, “Here, let me take these for you to the car.” They were smiling and that was good. Maybe the distraction would help them, Alexa thought.

Her parents began to wander back to the car, and taking both of her friends' hands, she tugged to them along with her, bursting with excitement. She stopped and looked at them both, and hugged them again. Then she backed off, blushing slightly. “I’m sorry for being so excited! It’s just so wonderful to see you both!”

She led the way to the old beetle her parents drove, where her mom was sitting in the front seat already while her dad loaded the luggage into the boot. “I’m afraid will all have to pile them in the back, but we should fit!” Alexa said quickly, heading for the car. She took the seat on the far side, knowing they would probably want to sit by each other. She wondered how their romance was coming along, and smiled to herself, hoping all was well between them.

Alina smiled because this was the second car she had ridden in although it was quite different from Clifton's parents' car. It was nice to have the middle seat because she couldn't play with the windows and the locks the way she had, getting a little bit of odd looks from his parents before Clifton explained. Surely, despite knowing what they'd do by now, she'd still want to play with the windows and locks.

She couldn't help but look out from one window to the next. The Scottish Highlands really were so beautiful and she could see why someone wanted to live out there, even if it took an hour's time to get home. "So I already warned my father... we have a stable back home and its beautiful, but empty. I told him I was going to choose an animal while I'm here and want one of my own when I return. Who knows, he might just end up with an entire farm and then you'll have to give me some tips on managing it all."

She then leaned forward to where Alexa's parents were. "Hi there. Alina. Alina Rosier," she said to them and smiled kindly. "Thank you for having us to visit." She too wanted to get that in because she was grateful for it.

Traving with @Alina Rosier and @Alexa Mackenzie

Clifton noticed Alina eyeing the buttons on the door and he smiled to himself, reminded of her visit to his house. Though, being in such an old, cool car he was tempted to push them himself. She began talking to Alexa and her family, introducing herself and explaining how farm life might get contagious.

Clifton joined in. "My family's yard is too small for a stable...Do you think chickens like the beach?"

It was kind of a goofy comment but he was kind of in a goofy mood after having traveled for hours. Besides, he felt just as excited as his two friends as he watched the passing scenery. Clifton hadn't seen so much building-free space since the train to Hogwarts. It was just greenery and trees for miles. It was the kind of location he could easily lose himself in and he determined to come back one day and check it out when it wasn't all flashing past the car window.

He began to wonder if Alexa had any siblings or if she was just a powerhouse at farm chores. He thought about asking, but then shied away from the topic of her family for now. Alexa's parents seemed really friendly, but he noticed that they only ever talked Alina, Alexa, and himself. Never to each other. His own parents' three-million reminders to mind his manners and not be nosy kicked in and he decided he'd just find out when he got there.

After an hour or so of making fun plans with his friends and getting to know Mr. and Mrs. Mackenzie better, Clifton thought he spotted their destination. Alexa's sudden excitement told him he was right.

Alexa noticed that Alina kept glancing at the locks and the windows of the vehicle with a small smile and wondered what she was thinking. She would have to ask later.

When she told about how she warned her father that she might come home with an animal, everyone in the car laughed, and some of the tension between her parents seemed to leak away. They also laughed at Clifton’s chicken comment.

Alina leaned forward and introduced herself, and Alexa smacked herself on her forehead. “I’ve done it again! Sorry you guys, these are my parents, Alexander Mackenzie, and Clare Mackenzie. And mum and da, you’ve already met Alina, but this is Clifton Troublefield. We are all in the same House at Hogwarts,” Alexa elaborated, but her parents were already reaching back over their shoulders to shake hands with her two friends.

“Nice to finally meet the people we’ve heard so much about,” her mother said politely, smiling kindly. Alexa figured they would pick up on her English accent straight off, instead of the Scottish burr that she and her father spoke.

“I hope you two enjoy this day of our home. Everything we have is yours,” her dad said as well, smiling but not taking his eyes off the road.

I know it's way over the word count, but I thought you might like to see how it looks :-)

The road wound higher and higher into the hills, and after about an hour’s time off talking and laughing in the car, Alexa finally sat bolt upright. “It’s right over there,” she pointed out the window, and you could just make out the roof of a barn.

They pulled around the corner, and suddenly drove into a wide-open space surrounded by hills. In it was tucked a charming three-story stone and wood house, with gables on the windows, and ivy completely covering the one side of the house.

Across from the house was a large barn, and a few other outbuildings of indiscriminate type, at least Alexa knew, they would be to her friends. From where they parked the car by the house, you could see chickens pecking in the yard, a cow lowing in her paddock, next to a paddock where an old horse quietly grazed.

On the other side of the barn a massive pig lay sprawled in the pigpen, six little piglets dancing around her. And finally, as they made to get out of the car, they were charged by three dogs: they were all border collies of different ages and colors, tails wagging madly and barking happily at the site of the familiar car.

The last thing to see was an older couple standing on the steps up to the front door, waving at them and beaming happily.

“That’s Joe and Annie. They board with us, and do much of the work around the farm and the house, since my parents work in Inverness.” She leapt from the car, and corralled the dogs, kneeling in the dirt while they greeted her excitedly. “I’ve got them distracted,” she laughed. “They won’t do anything but say hello, but they can be pretty loud, so if you want to make a break for the house, now is the time!”

"I think they're fantastic," Alina said as she knelt down to give the dogs a pet. Border Collies were such beautiful creatures and she loved how eager they were to welcome them to the farm. She then stood up to get her bags but Alexa's dad was already offering to take them so she took a look around at those chickens, the cow, the pigs, and she gave a wave to Annie and Joe, wondering if by having them as renters, it was like the hired help - like her James and Margie and the others.

She wondered if Alexa had other animals that weren't around in clear sight - maybe a barn cat, a goat, a llama or alpaca. Not that the farm needed any more, it was already fantastic already.

"If you're running short on space in the house for guests, I'm sure Clive won't mind sleeping with your mum pig and her little ones," she teased Clifton before bumping him playfully with her hip. Of course she was kidding! She would give up any space she had for him and he knew it.

She then turned to look over her shoulder and give Alexa a playful smile too so their host knew she was only kidding!

Exploring the farm with @Alina Rosier and @Alexa Mackenzie

From the moment one of the border collies licked drool all over his face, Clifton loved the place. He laughed and petted them and wished his parents would let him get another dog. The only reason they hadn't was because when the first one died he'd been younger and--according to them--completely inconsolable for a week. It wasn't something he was going to tell two girls, of course, but maybe he could get his parents to reconsider.

They walked around the place. It was a nice setup. Really nice. With the ivy and all, the place looked like it was taken out of a story book. But what Clifton liked the most is all the fresh air. His inner astronomy geek kicked in he began wondering what the stars must've looked like at night being this high up in the mountains in an area so far away from everything else. It was a safe bet he could spot more planets than at home.

"If you're running short on space in the house for guests, I'm sure Clive won't mind sleeping with your mum pig and her little ones," Alina bumped him with her hip, nudging him out of his thoughts.

Clifton stuffed his hands in his pockets with a playful sort of shrug. "Sure. I mean, it wouldn't smell much different than the cabins at football camp."

Finally, even though he knew it was probably dinner time soon and even though he wanted to meet Joe and Annie, Clifton couldn't help himself.

"Hey Alexa, what's over those hills? Is it just more farmland, or..." Uncharted area to explore? It was probably the first, but he at least wanted to ask.

Hanging out with @Clifton Troublefield and @Alina Rosier

Alexa smiled at Alina as the other girl knelt down to greet the three dogs. The obvious elder in the group was a once proud and now a little rundown true black-and-white border collie. His skin hung loose on his large frame, where much muscle had been before. He was very much retired, Aragorn was. Next in age, approximately middle-aged was a beautiful rust and white female, who was significantly less sedate than the old one. Arwen wagged her tail, happy to greet the new visitors and her old friend Alexa. Lastly was another black-and-white dog, but this one with a lot of white on his face. His coat was sleek and shiny, and his muscles strong and lean underneath it. He bounced about happily, making the most noise, looking at everyone. Of the three dogs, Pippin was her favorite.

She introduced her friends to the dogs, naming each one. She didn’t figure Alina had ever read the Lord of the Rings series, but wondered if Clifton would recognize the names. Even now, introduced into the world of magic, they were still her favorite books.

Standing up and pushing Pippin away, Alexa laughed at Alina’s comment. She laughed harder at Clifton’s. “No, no,” she said between giggles, “we have plenty of room. You can’t see it from here, but behind the house is a guesthouse. That’s for Joe and Annie live. We have plenty of space in the main house. Here, let me introduce you.”

The older couple, about the age of their own parents, came down the steps. Both were warm and friendly, and Annie couldn’t help but hug Alexa’s new friends. “We’ve heard so much about you, we feel like we know you already!” She exclaimed, while her husband smiled and shook hands with the two of them.

Clifton’s question finally got through to Alexa’s ears. “Oh!” She cried, as the sun began to go down over the hills in question. She looked slyly at Clifton. “That’s one of the places I want to show you. The haunted forest is there, and the castle ruins.” She grinned at them. “Maybe,” she whispered, suddenly feeling bold, “we could sneak out tonight and explore it. It’s always better at night!” She broke off quickly, smiling innocently at her father, who had just returned from depositing the luggage in the guest rooms.

“Okay folks, how about some supper?”