Hey everyone! I'm baaaaaack! After a much needed mini break, here is the sequel to Secret Window, Open Window. To me, this chapter is just a catcher-upper from the last one because this is set six years later. Some new characters are introduced, new situations, old situations... I'll leave it up to you to figure it out.

DISCLAIMER: All for one and one for all. I do not own Alex Rider or anything that belongs to him or A.H. If I did, well, I don't really know. Anything that is not easily recognizable (non A.R.) belongs to me: plot, new characters, old and new situations, and some attempt at romance (cough, cough).Chapter One

Alex wiped his sweaty face with a towel almost as dirty as he was. Standing at a good 6'4, he had filled out in six years, still making the women look twice. He had managed to acquire a permanent tan from always being outside, as well as a few tattoos, but nothing too flashy. Standing back to admire his handy work, he smiled a tired smile. Washing down a thirteen foot ladder truck was no joke, especially when he did it by himself. Stretching, he collected his water bucket and sponges and started to put them away when he heard his name called.

"Oi, Rider! You got someone here to see ya!" called his partner from the front of the garage.

Wondering who it could be, he grabbed his shirt and walked around to the front of the station. When he got to the front, Ryan was grinning.

"Who is it?" he asked.

Smirking, Ryan pointed to the person standing in the sunlight a few feet from them.

Ever more perplexed, Alex walked closer to the person who turned out to be his roommate, Katie.

Katie had changed in the six years she had been living in England. She had always been thin, but now, her indefinable curves had been defined. She laughed more and had finally started to reopen the connection she had with her father. She stood there waiting for him with a smile on her face despite the whoops and catcalls she was receiving from the guys around the station.

"Hey, Katie. I would hug you, but… What's up?" he asked pulling his shirt over his head.

"I wanted to see if you were up to going out tonight," she said tucking a piece of light brown hair behind an ear. "I was on my way home and I didn't really feel like cooking."

"Um, yeah. Around what time?"

"What time will you be done? You seem to be busy."

"I can be home in a few," he said shading his eyes with his hand.

"Okay. See you. Bye Ryan."

"Bye Katie," Ryan called.

Ryan waited until Katie had turned the corner before he started snickering.

"What's so funny?" Alex asked walking over to where Ryan was sitting cleaning his boots.

Despite Ryan's tough attitude, he was a prankster, always up for a laugh. He was Alex's other best mate. It seemed that after he tried to end his life, he had all the friends in the world.

"You and her, man."

"You aren't still going on about that are you? It's getting a little old."

"When will you see that she's got the hots for you?"

"Katie? Man, she's my friend," Alex said, for what felt like the thousandth time.

"She could have called you like every other friend in the whole fucking universe. Instead, she delivers her message personally."

"Your point?"

"She lives with you, cooks for you, cleans for you. I mean, Jack named her godmother of her daughter. You guys are practically married; it's just not official. Yet," he said, brown eyes twinkling in the setting sun.

Alex laughed out loud.

"What? It's true. Even Tanya thinks so."

"You and Tanya both need to stop matchmaking, okay? Katie and I are best friends and have been for about six years," Alex said.

"Yeah, and my head is on fire. Are you still holding out for that other girl, Sabina?" Ryan asked.

"I haven't seen her in ten years. I gave up hope ten years ago. Listen, I better go. Later," he said.

Ryan watched him leave. He wondered when Alex would see what was right in front of his face.

888

Alex retreated back to the garage to clean up his mess. Once everything was all put away, he made his way to the showers to take a quick shower. Katie would flay him alive he tracked dirt of any kind around the house. As he stepped under the warm spray, he remembered the first time he had come home dirty. Katie had a hissie fit the size of Montana.

"Have you any idea how long it took me to clean these freaking floors today, Rider?"

"If you yelling is any indication, I would say a long time?"

" 'A long time' he says. It took me six hours! And here you come tracking dirt all through the foyer. If I didn't like you, you'd be dead right now!"

Alex watched as she stormed away. He could hear her clanging the stainless steel pots and pans in the kitchen muttering under her breath.

"Would you forgive me if I told you I was sorry?" he asked.

"No."

"Okay," he said taking off his shoes and walking to the kitchen in his socks.

"Would you forgive me if I offer to clean the floors?"

"Maybe."

By that time, Alex was standing right behind her. Placing his chin on her shoulder, he wrapped his arms around her.

"Would you forgive me if I go to yoga class with you tonight?"

The glare she gave him over her shoulder was negated by the smile tugging at her mouth.

"Is that a 'yes'?"

"If you cook and go to yoga tonight, I'll forgive you."

"Well, I hope you like omelets for dinner 'cuz that's all I know how to cook," he said moving her away from the range top and grabbing a skillet in one fluid movement.

"How did you do that?" she asked.

"I am a man of many talents. Being where I'm not supposed to be is a specialty of mine. So what do you want in the omelet?"

Wrapping a towel around his waist, he stepped into the changing room to get dressed. Fifteen minutes later, he walked out of the station and over to his black 5 series BMW. His car was the only thing he had really splurged on, besides clothes, when MI6 decided to pay him for every mission he had ever done. Switching the radio on, he fiddled around with dial until he settled on one that he liked, American pop. It seemed that some habits truly died hard.

When he pulled into his driveway, there was a car parked along the street. Grabbing his gym bag, he got out of the car and made his way up the front walk.

Opening the door he called out, "I'm home!"

Just like he thought, he heard the sound of little feet running to meet him.

Like it? Don't like it? I know it's not as, um, interesting as my last first chapter but it gets better, I promise (I hope)! Drop me a line. -RC