It was 10:00 Saturday morning. Lauren was sitting in the living room in one of the dark green armchairs with her silver notebook laptop on her lap as she watched television. Her sister, Alena, was in her room watching television.

Suddenly the TV fizzed out and Lauren's computer screen went blank.

"Hey! Stupid computer." Lauren grumbled, annoyed. She closed the computer lid and set it on the small wooden table in-between the chairs. Then she turned off the TV

"Lauren, something's wrong with the TV!" Alena called from her room.

"I know. Something's wrong with the one in here too. And the microwave?" Lauren scratched her head in puzzlement. "What's going on here?" She walked down the hallway towards her sister's room.

Alena was jabbing the channel button on her small silver TV that was on the small wooden table beside the foot of her bed, grumbling under her breath as the screen stayed fizzy.

"Don't break the TV!"

"I'm not!"

Lauren sat on the end of Alena's bed and looked around the cluttered room. "Sis, yer really going to have to clean this room before Mom gets home."

"I know, I know!" Alena snapped irritably.

Lauren frowned at her sister's tone but said nothing. She watched Alena as she continued flipping through the channels.

Suddenly the TV channels returned.

"Yes! Now I can watch my comedy channel!"

"Good fer you. I'm gonna go see if my computer's working. Now I gotta type all my stuff all over again!"

"Awww, poor Sissy." Alena said with a small giggle.

Lauren stood up, planting her fists on her hips. "Don't make me get you!"

Alena giggled louder, pulling away as Lauren walked around the side of the bed towards her sister. "No!"

Lauren chuckled. "Nah. Maybe later." She turned and walked out of the room.

Alena turned her attention back to the TV.

Lauren was walking down the hallway, grumbling to herself under her breath. She stopped outside her bedroom doorway when she saw her full-grown, lanky dark orange and white striped cat, Bart, stretched out on her bed, fast asleep. "Aww, you look so cute!" she said quietly with a small smile.

Lauren walked into the room and up to the bed. She bent down and planted a small kiss on the cat's head, right between the ears.

Bart came awake with a start. He looked up at Lauren through half-closed light green eyes, pupils slitted slightly. He blinked several times.

"Sorry, Bart." Lauren said, patting and stroking her cat's head.

Bart stood up and stretched, then jumped down from the bed.

Lauren followed him out of the room and down the rest of the short hallway to the living room.

Beelzemon was rather startled to find that he wasn't in his Tamers' house, but some else's living room. Where the hell am I? he thought as he looked around. This definitely ain't Ai and Mako's.

The room he was in was rather large and conjoined with the kitchen, which was cut off from the most of the living room by a counter, and a small hallway, which was right next to the front door. It had dark blue carpet and was furnished with two dark green armchairs against the wall next to the door, a wooden table in-between them with a lamp and silver laptop on it, a green couch opposite the chairs covered in a multi-colored afghan with two windows above it, a large wooden entertainment system in the corner behind/beside him. It had a TV in the large square area, the large left side of the shelves contained movies while the right side had books and unicorn knick-knacks.

The kitchen, from what he could see from where he was standing, had a white linoleum floor and large glass windows on the right side, a sink, stove, and cabinets were on the left side. A refrigerator was beside the end of the counter. Beside the large windows was a white table with four chairs on a dark blue-checkered piece of carpet. Behind the table was a Baker's Rack with a microwave on the large shelf, a box full of pots and pans on the bottom wire rack, and several empty jars were set on the wire shelf above the microwave.

The kitchen led to another small hallway that had only two openings, one at the end blocked by a wooden doorway, and the other was open.

Suddenly the Digimon's keen hearing caught the sound of laughter and footsteps. He looked at the hallway near the front door, rather curious. His eyes widened slightly as a girl and an orange cat appeared.

The girl was short, around 4 ft. 9 in. and had wavy dishwater brown hair with blonde highlights that reached her shoulders. She wore an over-sized orange shirt with "Bass Pro Shop" etched on the front that went to her knees and made her look a little bigger than she really was. Her green-brown eyes widened and her jaw dropped in shock when she saw the Digimon.

"N-Nena...c'mere. Tell me I'm seeing things." Lauren said over her shoulder, not taking her eyes off Beelzemon.

"Of course you're seeing things!" Alena said irritably. "There's things in the living room!"

"I don't think he's one of them!"

"What?" Alena asked, getting up from the bed and walking down the hallway. "You mean Bart?"

Lauren slowly shook her head.

"Then what're you...?" Alena's voice trailed off as she came up beside her older sister.

Beelzemon blinked in surprise when he saw Alena, who was a little taller, 5'2'', and skinnier than her older sister. She had shoulder-length curly dark brown hair and dark brown eyes. She wore bell-bottoms and a brown t-shirt.

Lauren leaned closer to her sister. "Nena, i-is it just me or it that Beelzemon?"

"Who else could it be?"

"Cool!" Lauren muttered.

Both girls jumped when Beelzemon spoke.

"Who're you?! Where the heck am I?!" he demanded in his gruff voice.

Lauren and Alena exchanged glances before looking at him and shrugging.

Beelzemon rolled his eyes. "Yer as bad as my Tamers!"

Lauren couldn't suppress an embarrassed grin.

Beelzemon folded his arms across his chest, glaring at the sisters. "You didn't answer my questions!"

"Ummm...well, I'm Lauren and this is my sister Alena," Lauren pointed to both in turn as she spoke. "And yer in our trailer."

"Where exactly?!"

"Madison, Indiana."

"Indiana?" Beelzemon said slowly in disbelief. His arms dropped to his sides and his eyes went wide, jaw dropping slightly as it sunk in. "What?!"

"Sorry, Beelzemon. Yer not in Japan anymore. You're not even in the same reality."

Beelzemon's face blanked, completely confused. "Huh?"

"You're a minor character in a TV series!" Alena said.

"No! No no no no! Th-this can't be!" Beelzemon shook his head. "It's not fair!"

"Aww, Poor Impy." Alena said in a sweet, mocking tone.

Beelzemon glared at her.

"Nena, I don't think you should be making fun of him. He's dangerous, remember?"

"He's just a cartoon. He can't hurt us."

Beelzemon's eyes lit up with rage and he bared his fangs in a snarl. "Just a cartoon?!" he growled.

"I'm sorry, an anime cartoon!"

"Nena!" Lauren hissed warningly.

Beelzemon drew his gun from the boot holster and pointed it at Alena.

She eyed the gun worriedly. "A-as I was saying...he can't hurt us," she said in a wavering voice, then added under her breath, "Hopefully."

The Mega level viral sneered, having heard what she had said. "Oh really? Let's just see what you have to say after I blow a hole in yer skull!"

"Er, that would be kinda hard," Alena tapped the side of her head. "I'm really hard-headed."

Beelzemon gave her a look of disdain, smacking his forehead and shaking his head.

Taking advantage of the distraction, Lauren hurried to the kitchen. She looked around, trying to find something suitable for her purpose. Suddenly she spotted a cast-iron skillet on the stove. "Ah-hah!" She picked it up and hurried back to the living room.

Beelzemon looked down at her as she came towards him. "What're you gonna do wid that?"

Lauren swung the skillet at him, hard

WHAM!

"Owww!" Beelzemon howled in pain, clutching his left hip with his free hand. He screwed his eyes shut and chewed on his bottom lip until it bled.

Alena busted up laughing. "And you thought you were so tough! One hit from a little skillet and you break down! Ha!"

Beelzemon glared at Alena, his eyes glittering with unshed tears. "Yer so dead!"

Alena stopped laughing. She pointed at her sister. "But she's the one who hit you!"

Beelzemon looked at Lauren. "You stupid human!" he yelled, then winced from the pain shooting through his hip. "I think you broke my hip," he said softly with pain in his voice.

"Well, you had a gun pointed at my sister."

With that said Beelzemon pulled out his other gun and pointed them at the girls.

Their mom, Beth, walked in suddenly. Beth was small a small person, only 4'11''. She had a more yellow-ish complexion; hair colored light brown, and light blue eyes. She wore an oversized dark red shirt with a blue name tag near the collar and black jeans with black tennis shoes. She also wore glasses "Girls, I'm-What're you doing standing in the doorway?"

"Mom!" the girls cried happily, turning towards their mother.

Beth looked from her children to Beelzemon. "What the? Get the hell away from my kids! Lauren, gimme that skillet! He's going down!"

Lauren obediently handed over the skillet, exchanging it for the box of cigarettes and soda her mother was carrying.

"Oh, not again!" Beelzemon groaned, rolling his eyes.

"Drop the guns or I'll drop you!" Beth yelled, stepping in front of Lauren and Alena.

Beelzemon could tell she wasn't kidding by her furious expression. "Oh, crap."

"Hah! You chose the wrong family to mess with, buddy!" Alena giggled.

"Beelzemon," Lauren said quietly. "I'd advise you to put away the guns. Our mom goes a little berserk when we're in danger and will kill you by any means necessary. Remember how hard I hit you?"

Beelzemon winced from the throbbing pain still lingering in his hip. "Yeah…."

"Well, she'll hit you a lot harder and, since it's a cast-iron skillet, she can hit you as many times as she wants."

"I'm gonna tell you one more time, drop the guns!" Beth warned, taking a step towards the Mega.

Beelzemon quickly put his guns up. "Alright, alright! They're put up! Just don't hit me!"

Beth eyed the viral suspiciously for a moment before holding the skillet out to Lauren. "Go put that up."

"Yes, Mom." Lauren hurried to do as she was told.

Alena went back to her room to continue watching TV.

Beth continued to watch the viral, arms folded across her chest.

Lauren walked in to stand beside her mother, returning her things. "I'm surprised I didn't break his hip when I hit him."

"You hit him? Huh, no wonder he was afraid!"

Beelzemon rubbed his injured hip. "You hit hard."

"Sorry. You were threatening my sister. What else you expect me to do?"

"Sorry." Beelzemon mumbled, averting his gaze.

"It's OK. My sis gets on everybody's nerves."

"I do not!"

Lauren and Beth burst out laughing.

"Yes you do!" Lauren said to her sister as she looked down the hall at her.

Alena stuck her tongue out.

Lauren giggled and shook her head.

"Alright, that's enough," Beth turned to Beelzemon. "So why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be a cartoon character?"

Beelzemon shrugged. "I dunno. One minute I'm on my way home and the next…I'm here getting' made fun of and whacked with a skillet. And I thought my day couldn't have got any worse!"

"Karma. Comes around and bites ya in the butt or as in your case, hits you in the hip." Lauren said solemnly.

"Ya got that right! All I wanted to do was go home but no! I end up here instead with no clue of how to get back!"

Lauren smiled sympathetically. "Poor Beelzemon."

Beelzemon tilted his head to one side questionably. "How'd ya know my name? I don't remember tellin' ya."

"It's like Nena said, you're a character in a TV series, sorry to say."

"Huh? That don't make a lick of sense."

Lauren shrugged. "Life doesn't always make sense but we live it anyway," She walked over to her computer and picked it up. "Gimme a sec and I'll show you what I mean." she said as she sat down in the chair and opened the lid.

Curious, Beelzemon walked up in front of the chair Lauren was sitting in. "What're ya doin'?"

Lauren didn't answer. After a few moments, she turned the computer around and pointed to one of the four pictures that made up her wallpaper.

Beelzemon's eyes widened when he saw that they were all screenshots of himself, except one. "Wha da freak?"

"Those are screenshots of you from the TV series, except this one, someone drew it. Do you know how many people like you? Some too much, some not at all. There's all kinds of stuff about ya! Stories, pictures, you name it."

"Really? Never woulda thought…wow."

"Yeah. Here, lemme show you some other stuff I have…."

While those two were busy, Beth went to her room.

Lauren turned on the TV, changed the channel, and set the remote on the table without looking up.

"So, Lauren…she's your sis, right?" Beelzemon asked, looking down the hall at the Lauren's sister, who was lying on her bed watching TV.

"Yeah. She's a pain sometimes."

"How well do you guys get along?"

"We are nothing like your Tamers, I assure you. The longest we fight is like, two minutes or less. Mom taught us to get along and makes sure to enforce it."

"Oh. That's a relief. How old are you two?"

"I'm fourteen and she's twelve."

"She is? But she's taller than you…."

"So? She takes after our dad. He's taller than Mom. She used to think she was all that, just 'cause she grew like, four inches. Mom sorted her out though."

"It must suck being so small." Beelzemon said with a small grin.

Lauren frowned. "And yer one to talk! As Impmon yer smaller than your Tamers!"

Beelzemon's grin faded and a light blush crept to his pale cheeks as he looked away. "Er, yeah…hehe…."

"Exactly. I get made fun of at school. Called names, get picked on 'cause I'm the shortest kid in the eight grade," Lauren folded her arms across her chest and blew hard through her nose. "Stupid stuck up…grrrr!" she grumbled under her breath.

Beelzemon chuckled. "Yeah, I know how that feels. I used to get made fun of all the time 'cause I was short."

"And a loud-mouth." Lauren added with a suppressed giggle.

Beelzemon frowned. "That's not the point," he said dryly.

Lauren shrugged. "True, though."

"Still not the point."

"Well, anyway, to change the subject. Do you like music?"

"Yeah, I guess so," Beelzemon said with a small shrug. "Why?"

"Just wondering. I have a large number of songs on my computer. From hard rock to techno. Except for that rap crap most kids are listening to nowadays. It's quite vulgar and has a terrible beat," Lauren shook her head with distaste. "And don't get me started on the kids that listen to it!"

Beelzemon grinned. "You have quite an open mind, doncha?"

Lauren grinned lopsidedly. "Yeah. But I know when to keep my mouth shut so I don't get into any trouble."

Beelzemon nodded, folding his arms. "Smart idea, kid. Can't remember how many times my mouth's got me inta trouble."

"Especially with Indramon." Lauren said quietly.

Beelzemon shuddered visibly. "Yeah…I regret that so much." He exhaled a low sigh and rubbed his sore hip distractedly.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have said that."

"It's alright. You have no idea what I went through."

"I do a little. I saw the episode. I felt really sorry for you."

Beelzemon turned away. "Hmph, I don't need anybody feelin' sorry fer me."

Lauren looked back at her computer screen, blinking back tears.

Suddenly Bart jumped up onto her lap.

"Hi, Bart. What're you doing?"

Bart meowed in his squeaky voice, walking over to the arm of the chair closest to the door.

Lauren rolled her eyes. "You want out, right?"

As if in answer, Bart jumped down and walked to the door.

Lauren got up, setting her computer on the floor and went to open the door. After letting out the cat, she returned to her seat, setting the laptop back on her lap. She looked up at Beelzemon. "You can sit down, if you want."

Beelzemon sat down in the other chair, resting his arm on the chair so that he could put his cheek on his knuckles. He stared at the TV screen.

Beelzemon looked at Lauren out of the corner of his eye when he heard the fast clicking of keys. "What're you doin'?"

"Huh?" Lauren looked up at him. She blushed lightly. "Oh, um…j-just working on some stories…."

"Stories? Can I see?"

"No! I-I mean…oh fudge." She looked backed at her computer, now blushing furiously.

Beelzemon blinked in surprise. "So…that means I can't read 'em? I've been learnin' how to read with the kids. I'm actually quite good now."

"But you've been learning Japanese. This is English."

"Well, actually I've been learnin' a bit of both," Beelzemon said proudly. "It's harder than Japanese, but I'm getting it."

"Well, that's good. English is one of the hardest languages to learn, because of all the weird rules and pronunciations."

"Yeah, no kiddin'."

"If you want, I could help you with your English. I can bring my English book home from school Monday."

"Sounds like fun." Beelzemon said sarcastically.

"Sorry," Lauren said quietly, sounding a bit hurt. "Just tryin' ta be helpful."

Beelzemon smiled apologetically. "I know. I'm just not a big study person, that's all. Besides, I hope not ta be here Monday. I promised Ai and Mako I'd be home taday for Mako's birthday."

"Oh. But I thought you lived with them."

"Yeah. But you try livin' with a coupla kids who like to play pranks on each other-"

"Like Ai gluing Mako to the floor?" Lauren interjected.

"Exactly! They also still fight over just about everything, just not as heated, and they still use me as their play toy! I need peace fer a bit so either I leave for a few days for the Digital World or stay in town for a few hours."

"I see. You have to understand though that they're only five and six. Kids at that age do lots of silly things because they're learning they can do them. They don't understand they're bothering you, they're just learning that."

"You know a lot for fourteen."

Lauren smiled meekly. "Yeah, I guess so. Just not as much as some others would. Experience gives you lots of common sense, too. I had to mature faster when I was younger because my mom worked and I had to watch after Sis 'cause there was no one else."

"Oh."

"Yeah I-Amara! Bad girl, get down!"

Beelzemon looked up to see a grey striped kitten walking on the cluttered counter, batting at the Wander Jew.

"Git down, Mara! Now!"

Amara looked up at Lauren, blinking several times. She walked to the edge near the chair and jumped on the arm. Then she jumped onto the back and lay down, stretching herself out into a comfortable position.

"Silly little monster! She doesn't understand she's in trouble and she doesn't like to listen either. Sucha pain in the butt. But she's a cutie." Lauren reached up and stroked Amara's side.

The kitten began to purr loudly.

"She's sure loud."

Lauren chuckled. "You can hear her in here from Alena's room!"

"That sure is loud, fer a kitten. So, then who's that?"

Lauren looked in the direction Beelzemon was pointing to see a pure white cat with a calico tail, a brown smudge on her head near her left ear, and jade greens cautiously walking in from the kitchen area. "That's Jade. She's mom cat and she's really skittish, so be quiet and no sudden movements."

"Kay."

"Jade," Lauren called softly. "Here girl. Jade."

Jade walked up to the chair and jumped onto Lauren's lap.

"Hi, pretty girl." Lauren said as she slowly scratched the cat's chin.

Jade rubbed her cheek against the girl's hand before curling up against her stomach and partially on the computer.

"You got anything ta drink? I'm parched."

"Yeah, there's bottled water in the fridge, help yourself."

"Thanks." Beelzemon said as he stood up. He walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator door. Pushing aside a container of leftovers, he pulled out a bottle of water and opened it.

The viral greedily downed half the bottle as he returned to his seat.

"Better?" Lauren asked, not looking up from her computer screen.

"Yup." Beelzemon replied, setting the bottle on the table.

"That's good."

Beelzemon drummed his claws on his leg. After a few minutes, he looked over at Lauren. "So what do you do fer fun around here?"

"Lots of things. What did you have in mind?"

Beelzemon shrugged. "Dunno. Whatcha got ta do?"

"Um. Reading, go out for a walk, board games, and video games."

"Video games? What kinda games?"

"Well…" Lauren started counting on her fingers. "A racing game, Destroy All Humans, Sudeki, Munch's Odyssey, Harry Potter the fourth game, a Castle Wolfenstein, and a few Mom rented. Halo 2, Area 41, and the new Spyro for Sis. Oh and Raze's Hell," She clapped a hand over her mouth; she had not meant to say 'hell'. "Oops."

"Wow, that's a lotta games. What's Raze's Hell?"
Lauren grinned. "Only the best game to play if you don't like cute pink things and if you just like causin' destruction. But it is rather difficult."

"Could we play?"

"Yeah," Lauren carefully nudged Jade, making her jump off her lap, and set the computer on the floor. "I have to ask Mom first for the Xbox."

Beelzemon watched Lauren as she through the kitchen to the small hallway that led to Beth's room and the laundry.

Lauren knocked lightly on the wooden door with her knuckles.

"Come in!"

Lauren pushed the door open. "Mom, are you using the Xbox?"

Beth looked up from the afghan she was working on. "No, why?"

"Can we use it in the living room?"

"I don't see why not. What're you going to play?"

"Raze's Heck." Lauren replied as she unhooked the Xbox.

Beth smiled. "Why did I even ask? That's probably your favorite game."

"Other than Halo 2, yes." Lauren picked up the Xbox, setting the cords, controller, and game on top, then she walked back into the living room and set it on the floor in front of the entertainment system. Then she plugged the cord into the wall and moved the TV enough to get at the cable cord.

Beelzemon watched, rather amused as Lauren struggled to remove the cable cord from the back of the TV.

"Stupid cord!" Lauren grumbled. "Pain ta get on, pain ta get off."

"Need any help?"

"No, I got it."

Lauren spent several more moments unscrewing the cord until it finally came off. "Hah! Told you I could get it off. Now, to put this on." She put the cable cord for the Xbox onto the TV and inserted the game.

Lauren picked up the controller and sat down on the floor next to Beelzemon.

"So how do ya play?" Beelzemon asked as he watched the main menu come up on the screen.

"It's simple really. I'll show you after I finish this level; it's the last on the game."

"Alright. I wanna watch you, try ta learn a bit about this game."

"Alright."

Beelzemon greatly enjoyed watching the 14-year-old girl fight creatures called Kewlettes that were small and square-headed with squeaky voices that sounded like they swallowed a whole can of helium. There was also a small variety of other such as bears, ducks, and large rabbits. All had different weapons.

The main character, Raze, a strange blue yeti-styled creature who had orange markings on his face, also had a large variety of weapons called breath shots because he ate these special plants that were ammo and shot them back out his mouth. He also had a rolling attack and a swiping attack with the twin blades on his right wrist.

"Hey, Beelzemon? Could you check and see if Bart wants in yet?"

"Sure." Beelzemon stood up and opened the door. He looked down to see Bart crouched patiently by the door.

After letting in the cat, Beelzemon sat beside Lauren on the floor with one leg stretched out and the other arched with his arm draped over it.

"Aw, crap! I died! Stupid critters."

"Ya gotta start over?" Beelzemon asked, slightly sad he didn't get to play yet. The game looked like a lot of fun.

"Well…no. You can play now. Just let me get you started."

Beelzemon grinned. "Cool!"

Lauren handed the controller to the viral after setting up a new game for him. "Alright. Most of the game has audio instructions, but if you need help, just ask."

"Alright."

After playing for two hours and only getting to the third level, the pair stopped to eat a late lunch of ham sandwiches, Doritos, and cans of Coke.

Beth walked in. "Hey, honey. I know you're in the middle of eating but what would you like for dinner?"

Lauren shrugged. "Dunno."

Beth rolled her eyes. "Is that your only answer to that question?"

"Not exactly." Lauren replied, taking a sip of her soda.

"Well then, what do you want?"

"Um…tacos maybe? Nena was tellin' me yesterday she wanted tacos."

"Hm. "Yeah I guess so. I'm going to have to go to the store and pick stuff up. Are coming with...?" Beth's voice trailed off as she looked over at Beelzemon, who was still eating. "Er, never mind."

The Mega looked up at Beth and smirked. "What? Ya don't trust me?" he asked.

Beth glared at him. "Hell no! You tried to kill my kids!"

"'Til I hit him."

Beelzemon nodded. "Exactly. Usually I ain't that mean but that just hurt."

Beth folded her arms. "I still don't trust you."

Beelzemon shrugged. "Oh well. Not many trust me anyways, not even Ai and Mako's parents. But it's not like they can send me away, the kids would have a fit."

"Well, mom you can take Alena so she can carry the heavy bags. 'Cause if you com in laden with bags like last time, yer in big trouble."

Beth smiled. "Yes, dear. I know."

Beelzemon looked slightly puzzled as Beth walked out of the room. He looked at Lauren. "Why would she be in trouble?"

"She has Rheumatoid arthritis in her hands. Arthritis is a disease that makes the body turn on itself. Too much calcium builds up on the joints, causing pain and stiffness. It usually cripples that part of the body after some time."

"Sounds bad."

"Yeah," Lauren stood up with her plate and empty can. "Especially when it's severe," She put both in the sink. As she turned around, her knee popped loudly. "Ow."

Beelzemon's eyes widened in surprise. "Holy crap! What was that?!"

"My knee," Lauren replied. "It's OK. I pop all the time, every joint. Sometimes it hurts, most times it doesn't." As she spoke, she cracked her fingers loudly on both hands.

Beelzemon stood up and put his things in the sink, then turned to Lauren. "Do you know why you do that?"

"Not exactly. Mom says it might be calcium deficiency. Grandpa says it isn't. So I haven't a clue." Lauren looked down at her hand.

Beelzemon watched as it trembled uncontrollably, especially the last two fingers.

"My nervous is wound too tight, as Mom put it," Lauren said, answering Beelzemon's unasked question. "I can't ever stay still, even when I'm completely calm. I sway side-to-side when I stand and my foot or leg shakes when I sit…it's very bothersome."

"Huh, must be," Beelzemon held up one hand and examined it thoroughly. He frowned. "Mine is perfectly still…hmph. That's weird."

Lauren shook her head. "Not really." She walked back to the living room and sat down in the chair.

Beelzemon quickly followed suit, sitting on the floor with his back against the other chair. He picked up the controller. "You were right." he said as he started playing.

"Huh? Right about what?"

"This game! It's so freakin' hard!"

Lauren smiled thinly. She looked in the direction of her mother and sister, who were walking down the hallway towards the front door.

"Alright now. We'll be back in a few. If he gives you any trouble, hit him with the skillet."

Lauren and Alena giggled.

"Hey! That ain't quite fair! I'm still sore from earlier!"

"Awww, poor Beelzemon!" Alena snickered.

Beelzemon glared at her for a moment before doing something unexpected. He stuck his tongue out at her.

The other three looked at each other in surprise before bursting into laughter. The Mega Digimon joined in with a small chuckle. When the laughter subsided, Beth and Alena left for the store.

Lauren returned to typing, pausing occasionally to help Beelzemon and scold him for the use of foul language at the TV.

"What? Don't scold me fer cussin' out the game!"

"The only person allowed to cuss in this house is Mom. Besides, I don't like hearing you use such foul language. I hear enough of that at school."

Beelzemon rolled his eyes and returned to the game.

Lauren changed the song on her computer before returning to type.

Half an hour later Beth and Alena returned laden with bags. Lauren put away her computer to help.

"Hey, cake mix!" Lauren said as she pulled a box of chocolate cake mix from one of the bags. "We makin' a cake?"

"Actually, cupcakes." Beth replied as she balled up an empty plastic bag and set it on the table.

"When?"

"When what?"

"When do we get to make the cupcakes?"

Beth paused, looking thoughtful. "We could make them…in a few minutes or a little later. Which ever you guys choose."

"Now!" Alena cried.

Beth suppressed a chuckle. "Alright. I'll start on them in a few moments. Lena, please get everything ready for me."

"Yes, Mom." Alena said, sounding rather angry that she was the one who had to do it.

Beth glared at her youngest daughter. "Don't give me that attitude! Yes, you know what I mean. Now do as you're told."

Alena silently mocked Beth as she walked off towards her room.

"Lena!" Lauren hissed warningly.

"Lauren!" Alena said mockingly back.

Lauren shook her head and went back to the living room. She sat down and watched Beelzemon as he died again.

The angry Digimon sputtered and ranted under his breath.

Lauren giggled. "I told you it was hard. Why don't you play something else, like Halo 2?"

"Sure, whatever. Just change the game before I break it!"

"Then you'd have to pay for the broken game, it's not ours." Lauren said as she walked up to the game system and knelt down.

While Lauren changed the game, Beelzemon went to the kitchen where Beth was working on the batter for the cupcakes. "Hey. You need any help?"

"Hm? Oh, no thank you. I got it."

Beelzemon sat down in one of the kitchen chairs. "Kay."

Lauren hadn't noticed Beelzemon was gone, too wrapped up in her game.

Every now and again Beth would have to scold Lauren for yelling at the game.

"And you yell at me fer cussin' out the game!"

"She's just yelling at the game. She always does that. She'll even just talk to them, but mainly it's yelling."

Beelzemon snickered. "Weird kid."

"I heard that! I am not…Oh wait, yeah I am. Hehe. Never mind."

Beelzemon shook his head, a smile upon his lips. "Ah, she ain't that weird. Not as weird as her sis, anyway."

"Yes. Alena has some issues with being overly funny sometimes and talking too fast."

"She also talks a mile a minute!" Lauren said with a giggle. Her giggle trailed of abruptly and she growled, "Hey! That's not fair! Stupid Elites and their plasma swords, stupid Brute and his stupid plasma rod!"

Beelzemon was thoroughly confused. He scratched the back of his head. "What're ya talkin' about?"

"I'm just gettin' mad at some critters on this game…that keep killing me! Usually I can kill them but I'm in an enclosed place and I'm playing as the Arbiter. He never gets very good weapons. You'd think that maybe they'd let you use Marine weapons but nooo! Grrrr, die already!" Lauren continued with her angry ranting as she tried to kill the creatures, without much luck.

The four sat down for dinner about an hour later.

Beelzemon felt rather awkward listening to the three's lively conversations. He was unused to such eccentric people like Alena. It was also difficult to keep up with a word the 12-year-old was saying because of how fast she spoke.

Beth had to constantly remind her youngest to slow down. "Alena! Slow down! You're talking too fast again."

"Oh, sorry, Mom."

"It's alright dear. Just speak slower."

"Yes, Mom. Anyways! Like I was saying…."

Lauren burst into a fit of giggles as her sister reenacted a series of scenes from a comedian she had been watching before dinner.

When dinner was done, Beelzemon helped Lauren put up leftovers while Beth and Alena took the cupcakes from the oven, setting them on plates on the table.

Feeling rather mischievous, Beelzemon picked up a plate of cupcakes as he walked by the on the way to the living room.

"Hey!" Alena cried when she spotted him.

"Uh-oh."

"Come back with those cupcakes, you thief!"

Beelzemon ignored Alena, who was following him as he walked over to the green chair nearest the TV

"Gimme the plate!" Alena screamed as she jumped up, trying to grab the plate.

Beelzemon grinned as he pulled the plate from Alena's grasp. "Come on! You haveta jump ta get it! Come on pipsqueak!"

Alena glared at the Mega. She climbed up on the chair, much to Beelzemon's surprise. He had to hold the plate above his head to keep the persistent child from getting a hold of it.

Beth walked into the room. "Give that back right now!" she said in a commanding tone.

Beelzemon looked down at her in surprise. "Eh?"

"Give that plate to Alena now!"

"I'm only gonna eat the ones that aren't frosted!" Beelzemon said defensively.

"We haven't even got the frosting out yet!" Alena snapped.

"Ohh!" Beelzemon groaned. "Come on!"

Beth folded her arms, fixing the viral with an icy glare. "Don't make me get the skillet."

Beelzemon stared back at her. He saw no fear in her light blue eyes. He rolled his eyes and handed the plate to Alena, folding his arms sulkily. "No fair."

Alena stuck her tongue out at him and got down from the chair. With her nose in the air, she walked to the kitchen.

Beelzemon plopped down in the chair, crossing one leg over the other and folding his arms, grumbling under his breath as he slumped down.

To Lauren, he looked much like a dejected child who's mother refused his request. Picking up a white frosted cupcake that Alena had just set down, she walked up to him.

Beelzemon cast a quick glance at her before looking away.

Lauren held the cupcake out to him. "Here. I know you wanted one."

Beelzemon looked up at the teenager in surprise as he straightened up, unfolding his arms. He took it from her, looked at it for a moment, then looked at Lauren. "I only get one?"

Lauren rolled her eyes and too the cupcake from him. Breaking off a small chunk, she put it in his hand. "There, better?" She chuckled as she walked back to the kitchen, eating the rest of the cupcake.

"Hey!" Beelzemon cried in indignation, jumping to his feet. His anger was replaced by surprise when Lauren walked up to him with a plate of six frosted cupcakes, a pleased grin on her face.

She held the plate up to the stunned Beelzemon.

"H-huh?"

"Surprised? Thought so. Holy crap! It's snowing again."

"Huh? Snowing?" Beelzemon turned and looked out the window located behind the table between the chairs. Snow flurries were falling softly from the light grey clouds. "Whoa, cool!"

Lauren set the plate on the table and walked to the door. She opened it to stare out the misting screen door. "Maybe tomorrow we can have a snowball fight. Sound like fun, Sis?"

"Yeah!"

"I just have to find a warm pair of pants…Hey, Mom? You know where those black jogging pants of yours are?"

"Yes and no, you can't wear them. You'll stretch them out and I won't be able to wear them anymore. There is a fuzzy pair of grey paints you can wear. They're hanging up in the closet in my room."

"Alright," Lauren opened the screen door and stooped down, picking up a handful of snow. She squished it together in her hand, then dropped it before closing the door. "It's good packing snow." she said as she walked to her seat.

Beelzemon had already started eating his cupcakes and was more than half-done by the time Beth and Alena started eating theirs. Lauren had not wanted any, instead she continued with her game.

Around 11: 30 Lauren wandered off to bed after telling everyone goodnight. Beelzemon was still up playing Halo 2 while Alena was watching TV in her room.

Lauren was awoken from her slumber by a dream. She looked at her digital clock to see that it was 4: 58 in the morning. Deciding to get something to drink, she got up from the bed. As she walked out into the hall, she saw Beelzemon fast asleep in the chair, the footrest was out and his legs were propped up on it.

The light from the TV washed over his sleeping form, giving it a blue hue. The game controller, still in his hand, was resting on his leg.

Lauren carefully pried the controller from the viral's clawed hand and rolled it up as she walked up to the TV. She set the controller on the Xbox, then turned off the TV. She went into the kitchen and got a bottle of water from the refrigerator, then went into her mother's room, took a sheet from the basket beside the door, and returned to the living room. She spread the sheet out over Beelzemon and returned to her room.