~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Lana's PoV

It bothers me to my very core that there are people who aren't interested in sleeping in. You know, those 5:00 a.m. runners and that neighbor whose lights shine right in your window, strategically waking you up just to annoy you. How can they not like the feel of sun flitting through the curtains after a good night's sleep? It's incomprehensible to me how someone can stand waking up and not laying in bed for a few minutes. That's the best part about waking up. That moment when you first open your eyes, and everything's perfect. You have a whole new day to start fresh, and to make up for all of the stupid things you did in the past day.

But, eventually, you remember all of the things that you have to do for the day, and that moment is ruined. Well, at least for today.

"Ooph!" Something small yet heavy lands on my stomach, temporarily knocking the wind out of me. I open my eyes as I feel something equaly heavy and tiny land on my legs, only to see two little girls, giggling maniacally.

Apparently five year olds don't understand the whole 'No-Wakie-Before-Ten-On-Saturday' rule that governs the teenage ideal. "Jill, Becca, what are you doing?" I ask, trying to look mad and failing. I can never stay mad at my siblings, even if they do ruin the best part of waking up. And besides, you try being mad for long at a two adorable little girls wearing princess dresses and carrying swords. It just doesn't work well.

"Waking you up, silly. Mrs. Holmes made us pancakes!" Jill squeals excitedly. Becca nods enthusiastically, reminding me very much of a bobblehead. I smile at the twins. "Ok, you two run downstair and save me a seat, and I'll get changed."

"Ok!!!!" they yell at the same time, then run downstairs, swords flailing wildly and pigtails boucing madly. I sigh, wishing that I had a real sibling around. I did, a long time ago, but she's not here any more.

You see, when I was six, I was in an accident- a bad one. Sara and I were the only ones who survived, and I only just barely made it. We were declared wards of the state, and were put in the Eden Orphanage. She was adopted when I was still in the hospital. I was so drugged up that I can barely even remember telling her goodbye.

I don't mind- at least she got to have a family. She was only three, so hopefully she isn't scarred from it. It's good if she has a mom, and a dad. Maybe even a dog. But you know what? I don't envy the ones who got a family, because I have one here, too. A non-related, entirely dysfunctional family, to say the least, but it's mine, and I love it. Well, most of the time.

I pull off my pajama pants and throw them in a hamper, noting that I'll have to do the laundry tonight. I tug on a battered pair of low-rise jeans, and replace my pink tank top with a bright yellow one. Knowing that if I don't hurry, I'll miss out on pancakes, I leave my brown curly hair down and hurry downstairs, sliding down the banister even though I always get caught. It's too much fun to pass up.

I follow my nose to the syrup and find myself in the dining room. Most of the children have already eaten breakfast, but the ones who are in here are eating pancakes like there's no tomorrow. The door squeaks a little as it swings shut behind me, and my brothers and sisters look up and wave. Becca flags me over to the seat between her and Jill.

"Hey girls, enjoying Mrs. Holmes's latest culinary miracle?" I ask, only to be answered with incomprehensible mumblings from filled mouths. I smile at them. God, I hope they don't ever get split up. That would kill them. But I know that they'll never let that happen, even if it means they'll be here until they're eighteen. Hey, maybe when I'm no longer a minor, I can adopt them. Maybe...

It's not so bad living in an orphanage- not exactly what the producers of Annie had in mind, to say the least. I mean, you get a roof over your head, and good food, and you get a ton of surrogate siblings. But sometimes it sucks. Sure, I always have siblings around, but no one here is my age. I was just never chosen. I toy with my charm bracelet, playing with the tiny charms. I have one for every one of my siblings who've gone away. I currently have 22 and counting.

But the very worst part of living in an orphanage is the pity-looks. It's horrible. I mean, come on, there are children with abusive parents out there that are far worse off than me. I guess that's the reason I don't tell people. Because it's too easy to be labeled "the orphan girl" and too hard to lose that title. I sigh, finishing my breakfast.

"See ya later, girls." I shout and head to the High Place, the one place I know that I can be left alone, the one place I can manage to stay hidden. It's my favorite spot in the whole world.

Who knows? Maybe I want to stay hidden...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~TC Command Center, Seattle, Washington

"Max, Alec, you might want to take a look at this." Dix shouts from across the room, and Max and Alec walk over, thinking that Dix wants to talk to them about the latest supply run. "Hey guys. We're got a letter here that just kinda...well, it just kind of showed up. It's addresses to you two."

He hands it to Alec, and Alec leans in so that Max can read it. He looks at her, and she nods. He opens it, pulling out the letter. "Ahem... Dear 494 and 452,

I know that you are doing a wonderful job of running your City, children, because you two were born to be leaders of the transgenics. I made you both extra-special. You were also designed for each other, as you probably know.

I do, though, have a favor to ask you. As you probably know, the Conclave had pretty strict restrictions about having children, restrictions that I obviously thought were wrong. So I created a transgenic all on my own, and had a family friend be the surrogate. Everything was kept secret, and the girl was brought up as a normal girl. But when she was six, her surrogate family died in a car accident. The only thing that saved her was her superior genetics. She was put up for adoption, but no one ever adopted her.

Now Ames and his men have found out about her, and are planning on capturing her. You need to save her from them-she doesn't know that she's special, and won't likely fight.

I know that it is presumptuous of me to ask you a favor, especially since you have been looking for me for quite a while, but I haven't been able to come out of hiding quite yet. But this is for the Transgenic cause. Max, Alec, she is the one with matching runes. You need her. We all do.

Forever yours,

Sandeman"

Everyone in the room stands still for a moment, the silence to tense that even without transgenic hearing, you could hear a pin drop. Max clears her throat, and everyone looks at her. "You got an address?"

Alec nods, and they both grab their jackets. "Let's blaze. We gotta transgenic to find." Max says, and they walk out the door, both thinking more about the part of the letter that said that they were made for each other than about the girl.

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A/N: hello! I decided to start a new story, because this thing has been in my head for a while. Ok, I'm gonna go watch Tru Calling now. Hope you like, and please enjoy!!!!

Oh, disclaimer: I don't own it, as much as I like to pretend. *pouts* I'm ok, really....I just need to *sniffle* have some time alone to deal with my lack of Dark-Angel ownership.

Molly jeane