Alexa not being an overly social person, at least not an intertaining one found inviting several people to her home for a visit would be most interesting. It seemed that she was excited to say the least. She had made phone calls and invited 4 friends. Yet not just 4 friends, these were people that she had never met. People that she had talked to for months to years everyday of her life almost yet never laid eyes upon. IRC is a staring vehicle for meeting people. Well this was going to be a most interesting weekend. Alexa invited 4 IRC friends to come to visit her for the weekend. The weekend seemed more appropriate then just the day. For each one was coming from a great distance away. The trip for the day would be to much, yet the weekend would be well worth the trip. She made plans for the weekend. The apartment over the barn was beautiful and open with three large bedrooms a big kitchen and a living room that overlooked the grounds. It was built as a resident house for her sisters when they came to visit. Yet as of this date no one stayed in there.  With the help of her brother and two sisters they set about making the apartment ready for their guest. The males would stay there and the females would stay in the barn.

Shopping for food, wine, bread, was just the beginning. All the household articles had to be purchased and placed in the apartment. The beds had to be remade with fresh linen. The windows opened to let in the sun and fresh air. The sound of music came to her ears as Mustafa her brother let the stereo blast. Mustafa agreed to come for the weekend to just be on hand if needed for moral support.

Alexa thought of Katti many times over the past couple of weeks. Before she let Katti return home she got a promise that the girl would return in three weeks for another weekend. This one Alexa felt would be most important. As friday approached everything was in place.....the house had its once over and guest should be arriving at any moment. Mustafa put the dogs in pens for the arrival of the guest. The front gates were left open. Alexa had mailed directions with a map to each of the guest through the email.

Katti drove up to the gates surprised to find them open. She was sure she would have to somehow get out and call for help to get in but no the gates were wide open. She turned expecting to see the dogs to come running but no again, no dogs no horses nothing. As she turned around the first bend she came to the barn the horses were all inside the paddocks. The grounds were manicured to perfection. It was just to picture perfect she thought to herself. Like a portrait. The turn to the house confirmed not to many people present yet. Katti was nervous. She knew that there were going to be other guest. Alexa had just decided to mention it to her two nights ago. At first Katti thought of canceling out. Yet she found she wanted to go back. She wanted to be close to Alexa, and the farm. The peace she felt there was perfect. Three cars in the driveway.

Katti wondered who would be coming. Had they been there, did they feel the same thing for Alexa that she did. So much passed through the mind of Katti as she parked the car and got out. Opening the trunk of her car she pulled out her suitcase and an overnight bag.

"Here let me help you with that" came a deep voice.

Katti looked up into the face of a dark stranger. He was so good looking he almost took her breath away.

"Thank you" she replied.

"No problem, you must be Katti from Chicago" he stated:

"Yes I am" she stuttered a bit but caught herself "how did you know?"

With a smile that made his chisled good looks soften  "You plates, they say Illinois"

Damn how silly Katti felt of course her license plates.  Taking her bags and escorting her inside he introduced himself as Mustafa, the youngest brother of Alexandria's. Katti liked him at once. He was friendly and made her comfortable.

"I'll put your bags in the same guest room you were in the last time if that's ok with you"

"By all means. Is Alexa around?"

"Yeah, she is in the kitchen doing her girl thing." Mustafa let out a laugh that was more like a roar.

It must have been contagious, for Katti found herself smiling also.

"Katti girl, come on in the kitchen let Mustafa do that" Alexa yelled.

Katti couldn't wait to see Alexa again. It was like being away from someone you cared about so much and now you got to see them. She ran for the kitchen, upon entering she wrapped her arms around Alexa. They hugged like school girls.

"I missed you Katti girl"

"God I missed you also." Katti said: "I was about to jump on IRC just to find you but couldn't bring myself to. I did miss you so much though."

Alexa told her that other girls going to be there, one  by the name of Doha was coming, someone that was also on IRC, went by the nick of dodee and DarkAngel was going to be here to she said. Katti felt kinda depressed for the first time. She didn't want to share her time with Alexa and someone else. She had been no social débutante herself. So the ideal of meeting people for the first time that she didn't know well it just bothered her that's all.
Keeping her smile she listened as she was told there were also Two guys from irc coming two good friends of hers. Alexa told her they were all arabs and she felt it was time they all met in person and that she had a weekend planned of arabian horses and arabian men.
Katti laughed at this.

"What about your brother?" Katti asked.

"Did I hear my name? What about me?" he looked right at Katti.

Blushing she didn't know quite what to say.

"I was just going to ask if you were staying the weekend"

"Of course can't leave sis here with men stalking about now can I" he teased.

"So Katti what about you? Do you enjoy entertaining back at your place?" Mustafa asked.

"I really don't get a chance to entertain much"

"Mustafa, don't be bugging her. Katti don't listen to him he is always kidding around"

Mustafa frowned: "I am not kidding, I might be going to Chicago you never know when knowing someone there will come in handy. I hate hotels" he winked at Katti.

All of them broke out laughing, the ice had melted and Katti felt totally at ease with both sister and brother. Katti and Alexa were out in the barn when another car came through the gates.

"Don't worry Mustafa knows what to do. We are in no hurry. The horses need us now" Alexa said.

Katti went through the barn, it was funny but she remembered the names of all the horses and she had only spent one weekend here before. Yet each one seemed like an old friend she had come back to see. Touching them and just rubbing them down a little put her mind at ease.

"Can horses always make you feel so wonderful" she questioned.

"Absolutely" came the reply "they are gods gift for our souls, if we respect them they are our most valuable assets."

Doha came down to the barn, peeking in through the sliding door, "Hello, Alexa are you down here?"

"Come on in Doha"

With a big hug Alexa wrapped her arms around the girl that had shared two years of her life in conversations each night on irc.

"God it's good to finally get to see you. I would say meet you but we already have met and know each other. By the way do you know Katti?"

"No" reaching out her hand Doha shook hands with Katti. "Nice to meet you"

Strange Doha thought to herself.....the handshake came so fast yet with Alexa there was no thought of a handshake. Only the contact of a caress would do. It felt so right. Doha was happy to finally be here. The girls spent the better part of two hours in the barn making Doha aquatinted with her heritage as it was called. Katti felt special, after all she had already met an angel and been part of the getting to know her. She felt that she was family there greeting a friend. Strange how such a thought came across to her. Yet it was there solid and strong.

Mustafa came in with two guys in toll.

"Hey I am taking the men up to get them settled. It's almost 8 what do you say we all get settled and introduced over a bite to eat." Before the two men could meet the girls below they were led to the upper level of the barn....where a deck stretched the length of the outer shell. Once inside they picked rooms...and put their things away. Mustafa answered a few question. Yet not one question was asked which girl was Alexandria. Somehow it was just known.

Inside the house, Alexa had already set the table and laid out the food.....when the men came into the house. The girls were there...three and three...nice even number they all thought at the same time. Hasson spoke his thoughts out loud.

Laughing Alexa stated "Don't count your chickens yet, we have another visitor coming. This is not a mate matching this weekend. We are just here to meet and get to know each other  a bit more."

The man standing in the corner all by himself just observing, smiled politely at the situation. His dark hair and mustache were a contrast to his rather light skin. So far he didn't say much. A quiet hi seemed to be the only thing that came out of his mouth.

Invited to sit at the table they all took their seats.....Alexa being a gracious host decided to help out the situation a bit.

"Lets all introduce ourselves while we eat and tell a bit about ourselves."

Realizing that not much was being said before hand. She also choose to keep the introductions of them men until later. Well now was the time.

"Who shall start" she invited.

"You can" Katti took it upon herself to speak up.

"hehehe alright then. My name is Alexandria,  I am a female attorney out of Michigan as you all know, 26 years old, single looking for my Mr. Right, nest"

Katti spoke up surprised at her own self for doing so. " My name is Katherine, I am also a female out of Illinois who is 26 years old, widowed not looking at all."

Alexa coaches Katti to say more. "Come on Katti that isn't enough tell us more"

" Well lets see, I work with computers live on my own and yes I have a beautiful little girl named Heather"

"Next" Alexa said.

Mustafa followed " Mustafa here, also 26 years old but not a twin, we are 10 months apart, Attorney also, an old family tradition. Very Single and Able for the right girl. She had to love my dog and my horses, and me. I don't mind being last as long as I am the only man in her life. hehehe"

Everyone broke out in light laughter.

Doha followed "my name is Doha I live in Ohio, 25 years old, single, engaged once but it didn't work out. I am lebanese, looking for a rich man to cure all my woos in life. I work in a hospital for retarded children. I love it, but sometimes it's very stressful and makes me think about having children of my own."

"Well I am Hasson, the one and only, also lebanese. Age is of no importance here, no money now but on my way to my first million. Single, well not really, I got a lot of wanna be's waiting for me to just give the word. I am in the university studying computer science. Well that's about it...guess brother you are the last to tell" he said looking across the table.

Just then a knock on the door came. Mustafa jumping up smiled, "hold that thought man"

Coming back in with a beautiful redheaded girl he said......

"Hail hail the gang is all here."

"Hi" she smiled "sorry I am late, I'm Fadawa"

Laughter came from Alexa, "you have come just in time we were just make introductions, have a seat over here by me. I am Alexandria or AnAngel which ever."

Fadawa smiled and sat in the seat next to Alexa. Going over quickly each introduction again. Fadawa smiled to each in turn nodding her head. Then she introduced herself.

"I am Fadawa aka fada or little Egypt. I am Egyptian born here in the stated in New Jersey, 23 years old and working my way through medical school. I am not married and have been ircing for about 8 months.

Even to herself she didn't know how Alexa had gotten her to come to Michigan for this vacation as she called it. She didn't really want to come, yet here she was. She couldn't turn down the invitation to visit Alexa. Strange how see felt compelled to come to Michigan for this IRC woman.

Well last be not least came the last person in the room. Swallowing his food, he smiled and spoke up.

"My name is Besher,  I am 28 years old and a Jordanian living in New York City.

Katti's heart was beating so fast, she was sure everyone could hear it, especially Besher.
Besher, Besher, she kept saying over and over to the pounding of her heart beat.