Disclaimer:I don't own anyone or anything from the Underland Chronicles, and the couple excerpts from the book belong to Suzanne Collins as well.


Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick...

The words, though soundless, pulsed through Gregor's head, reminding him painfully of the selfless, brave little Tick, from what seemed so long ago, in the Prophecy of Grey. She had perished terribly, and though he had promised never to kill another cockroach again, it had never seemed enough. His eyes dulled as he remembered that chain of events.

As they bounded at her, Tick flew directly into the face of the lead rat, causing it to startle back in surprise. Until that moment, Gregor hadn't even realized the roaches had wings. Maybe the rats didn't know, either. But it didn't take them long to recover. The lead rat sprang forward and crushed Tick's head in its jaws.

The bridge had collapsed then, and Tick was eternally gone. How odd, that life could be destroyed so quickly. It took months, years, for a life to begin, to grow, and be self-sustaining, and in one fell swoop, it could be whisked away.

Gregor found himself weeping once again, the memory just as strangely painful as that moment. He forgot that Temp had been keeping watch in the Prophecy room with him, until the cockroach came up to him, laying an antennae on his arm.

Temp, whose antennas had drooped down over his head, reached out and touched Gregor with a feeler. "Thank you. To weep when Tick has lost time."

"What distresses you, Overlander?" the cockroach's raspy, faintly hissing voice asked, his head slightly cocked.

After a moment, Gregor wiped his eyes, sighing faintly and turning to Temp. "I was...remembering Tick." A long silence followed, broken only when Gregor blurted out, "Do you miss her?"

If cockroaches had more facial muscles, Temp would have had a depressed, tormented look on his face. "Miss her, I do, miss her." a long, catching hiss emitted from his mandibles now. "Close, we were. If humans we were, love it was."

Cockroaches can love? Gregor wondered briefly, then asked, "Do you regret that she died?"

A peace settled over Temp, so visible that Gregor was somewhat surprised. "Regret, I do not. She lives, the Princess. In my heart, lives Tick. Always, she will."

"Mine too," Gregor whispered, placing a hand over his heart and thinking of all the others inside.

"Know, I know."


Short, I know, but I loved writing it...there's a big lack of cockroach romance out there, so...jah. :P Let me know what you think!

Comments and constructive crit are always welcome; thank you everyone!

I'd like to dedicate this fic to Sapphira Lily on TUC forums, known as Alexandrite Celestea here. She's such an awesome person, a wonderful mod and admin, and a cool friend. ^^