Ten years latter.

"Sweaty! Ryan's here!" Heather called upstairs to Allison who had been getting ready for the past three hours.

"Coming!" She called.
In less then a minute, Ally appeared at the top of the stairs in a navy party dress and her mom's rosy lipstick.
She was greeted with flashing lights from her dad's camera, and the smiles of her family and date.

Striking a few mild poses, Allison carefully made her way down the stairs as not to trip over her nude kitten heels.

"Hi Ryan." She smiles at him, boldly linking arms with him.
"Hey Ally."

"Allison you look beautiful darling. Now you to turn so I can get a picture of the two of you." Heather instructed. Allison rolled her eyes and reluctantly turned to smile falsely at the camera.

After many other pictures, Sarah took Allison to the side while Toby had a chat with Ryan that involved a firm squeeze on the shoulder.

"You look beautiful." Sarah beamed, fixing a fold in Ally's dress.

"Thanks aunt Sarah."

"Look... I want you to have fun tonight, but I want you to be carful too." She instructed.

Allison rolled her eyes. "Aunt Sa-"

"Now now none of that. It's my job to worry, and these talks are part of the deal. I want you to be carful tonight and make wise choices."

"Yes, yes I will."

"And if any strange men offer you a peach?" Sarah quizzed.

Allison wrinkled her nose with a funny smirk. "I'll refuse it."

"That's my girl." Sarah winked, shooing her niece to the waiting boy by the door.

"You kids have fun!" Heather called out to them as they walked out to the car.

"Don't worry. We will!"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"It's 12:o0, shouldn't they be back by now?" Toby asked, noting the time of the grandfather clock sitting in the parlor.

"Give them time, I'm sure they'll be round." Heather assured. "Anybody want some more sweat tea?" She offered.

"If you could tap me off Heather, thanks." Sarah said, lifting her glass to be refilled. "You know, I think your right Toby... the dance ended at 11... They should've been back a while ago." She commented, looking to the door nervously.

The three sat together drinking tea and watching the news, silently stressing in their seats about what could have possibly kept Allison out so late.

*ring*ring*ring*ring*ring*

The house phone went off and Toby was almost to quick to stand. "I got it."

Heather and Sarah turned the television down to better here the conversation going in it the kitchen.

"Hello?

Yes this is he.

......

Wait.... What?

What?!

Where?

Yes officer... I'm on my way." Toby hung up the phone with a bang, causing the ladies to involuntarily jump.

"Who was it dear?" Heather called, a sick suspicion in her gut.

Toby stomped into the room with his jacket in arm and keys in hand.

"The police. Apparently Allison and Ryan were found at a party at a seniors house where everybody was caught drinking under age!" He was nearly shouting by the end of the explanation.

Heather gasped loudly and covered her open mouth with her hands in shock.

"I knew... I knew they were out to late. We should've gone out looking for them!" Toby hissed, pacing franticly. The vestal in his forehead was visibly pulsing.

As he made for the door, Sarah jumped from her seat. "Wait wait wait... Toby you're all worked up... Ill go get her." She insisted, taking her brother's coat and draping it over the couch arm, and reached for the car keys.

Toby looked immediately reluctant at the idea.
"Sarah, I should probably-"

"Come on, you know she'll work with me. At least let me talk with her. Explain to her why she is in the wrong before I turn her over to you and Heather."

Toby couldn't argue with his sister's reasonable explanation. He knew if he went to that party to pick up Ally, the night would end in a terrible array of screaming a tears.
He also knew that his daughter was very close to Sarah... Perhaps it wasn't a bad idea.