Disclaimer: I own nothing that is Animorphs. This story is really just for fun, and I thank K.A. Applegate for her amazing series and awesome ideas.
Chapter 1
Jean's POV: Observations
Jean Berenson knew her sons were special. After all, they were her boys! Tom was always so involved in everything, and pitched in at home and at the Sharing. She was proud of Jake, too, even if he spent almost too much time with his friends.
Lately, though, something hadn't seemed quite right.
Lately… ha. Try the last few years, Jean thought to herself. At first it seemed like nothing was different. The family still talked and laughed at dinner, Tom still teased his younger brother, and the family got along like families should.
But slowly, Jean began to see differences. Tom was always doing things with the Sharing. He quit the basketball team with no explanation, and Jean knew how much he loved to play. He and Jake did almost nothing together, and neither seemed to mind.
What's happening with Tom?
And then there was Jake. Jake, who used to always have time for the family, out with friends day and night. Jake, who acted like everything was fine, but couldn't keep a deep sadness and tiredness from entering his eyes; it interfered with his usually perfect facade. He seemed as if the weight of the world were on his shoulders, and Jean couldn't help but worry that he was going through something that she wouldn't discover until it was too late.
She thought back to a conversation from earlier in the day.
"Jake, we're going to go shopping for a lawn mower today, your father, Tom, and me. Would you like to come, too? It'd be a good opportunity to spend time together as a family," finished Jean, hoping against hope her youngest would say yes.
She knew before he answered it would be a no, though, just by glancing at the way his whole face hardened in a way it never had mere months ago.
"Sorry, mom. I told Cassie I'd help her out at the barn today, and then we're going to meet up with everyone for a movie," said Jake, not looking her in the eye.
Spending time with his friends again, Jean thought, before saying good bye as Jake walked out the door.
It was the last time Jean would ever look at her son as a child.
Steve's POV: Wondering
Steve Berenson was a responsible man, and he prided himself on knowing who he was, and who the members of his family were as people. He had a loving wife and two amazing sons, and he was as proud as he could be of both of them for the independence they had showed in the last few years. Then again, maybe they were becoming too independent.
He wanted to see Tom play basketball, help him practice in the driveway, but Tom had quit the team. He wanted to play catch with his younger son, or take him out to see a movie or spend a day together, but Jake was always with his friends.
When did I lose my sons? Steve wondered sadly, and realized with a start that he had been gradually growing apart from his sons for years now. He had discussed it with Jean, and knew his wife shared his worries. Actually, they were both more worried about Jake than Tom. After all, Tom could take care of himself; Jake was still a boy.
It's my job to take care of him, thought Steve, but how can I help Jake if he doesn't open up?
More than anything, Steve just wanted his Jake back. Sure, Jake did a good job of acting like he was alright, but there was something about the look he often had in his eyes of anger or hurt, and the way he didn't open up to his family at all anymore, that really scared Steve. His grades were slipping, he often looked like he'd gotten no sleep at all, and he acted like he was years older than his true age, with a long, hard past bogging him down.
That's why Steve had been so looking forward to this trip to get a new lawn mower. He was eager to have the whole family together, for the kids to smile and laugh and be with Jean and himself.
He couldn't hide his disappointment when Jean told him that Jake couldn't make it, and as he looked out the window at his son walking down the street, he had the strange feeling that he might never see his Jake, the happy, carefree kid, again.
He had no idea how right he was.
Wishing: Tom's POV
Tom Berenson had been wishing for years now. He wished that he had never joined the Sharing because he had a crush on some girl. He wished that he wasn't trapped inside his own head, day after day, with nothing to do. He wished he didn't feel like dying rather than being a Yeerk slave, and he wished his family would notice that he hadn't talked to them in years.
Tom wished he didn't have an arrogant Yeerk in his head who knew his every thought and feeling. Most of all, he wished he could go back to being Tom, Jean and Steve's oldest son, and Jake's older brother.
Jake, I want to be there for you, I want to ask what's been going on with you, but I can't! Jake, please, hear me! See that this isn't me, that your older brother would never leave you so alone that you sometimes cry at night, when you think no one hears you.
Aww, how touching. You still think you will get the chance to be a part of your family again, sneered the Yeerk in Tom's head. You fool! Haven't you figured out yet that you will never speak to your family again? We, the mighty Yeerks, are almost done taking your world. Do not worry, though. Your family will be well taken care of. After all, they are about to become hosts and join the cause!
No, not my family, Tom pleaded once again, as he had for years. He couldn't believe that the Yeerks were finally going to take his family and imprison them, just as he had been for so long. He wanted them to know why he wasn't himself, but he would never wish that on them. That's why he had been so horrified when the Yeerk boasted of his true reasons for suggesting a family outing to buy a new lawnmower.
They will become hosts, and you can do nothing to stop us, the Yeerk gloated. But Tom heard the uncertainty in the Yeerk's thoughts, and knew he wondered why the Berenson's needed to be infested immediately, just as much as Tom worried.
When he and the Yeerk found out that Jake had passed on the trip, their reactions were understandably different. Tom was more than happy to find out that his brother would be free for at least one more day, while the Yeerk at first worried about what would happen when he didn't bring the whole family, but then dismissed this thought by deciding they could take him later.
After all, this world is ours. What is one more day for one insignificant human?
As the Yeerk carried on with his gloating, Tom thought back to the past few years. Aside from one mysterious phone call with a message for him to never give up, he had had precious few hopeful and happy moments. Of course, the Andalite bandits were always a source of inspiration, and they had been since Tom had first seen them. The way they fought on, continuing their daring attacks on the Yeerks when their numbers were obviously so few and they were so far from home brought Tom strength. He admired them, and could only hope for the chance to meet them one day, to thank them for all they had done for him. For some reason, Tom had always felt drawn to the tiger, who was clearly the leader.
If only I had that same strength, he had thought many times, and it often kept him going when he felt he would never be free.
As he headed off with his parents to "get a lawnmower", dreading their infestation, Tom thought once more of his little brother, and how alone he would be very soon.
Be safe, Jake.
Author's note: So, I assumed here that Tom's Yeerk would be in so much trouble for not knowing there had been an Andalite bandit living with him that he would be kept in the dark about their identities. I hope you guys like this story so far! I always have story ideas in my head, so I figured I'd try and write one down for once. Please review if you get the chance, but don't be too harsh; this is my first fanfic.
