A/N: heya all! well probably few but still hi anyways! so how's life for all you readers? I'm sorry just a bit bored and so my A/N is probably end up being fairly long...just got back from 6th Form open evening...all my teachers convincing me to stay and take their subject for A level...well I kinda was already wanting to stay to be house captain for Carrington...the house that loses everything in a very enthusiastic way XD...well here's the next chapter...And Ace nothing happened to Alex but I suppose I should have said it was post-Snakehead...oh well...Alex is back in this chapter so enjoy!!


The smell of burning pancakes drifted up through the house as Jack ran around looking for something to stop the smoke from rising from the charred black frying pan and she almost jumped out of her skin when a voice behind her said, chuckling, "umm…burnt pancakes, my favourite!" ducking as a tea towel whipped around nearly hit him in the head.

"Alex! I swear one of these days you'll give me a heart attack,"

"What can I say? Old habits die hard! And that's only if you don't kill me with the cooking that takes longer than 10 minutes," he said once again ducking from the tea towel that was once again flying towards his head.

"But seriously it looks like it's snowed in here! And what did that pan ever do to you?" he chuckled eyeing the pan caked in the charred reminisce of what he supposed was Jack's attempt at pancakes.

Jack suddenly serious again said "Alex, it's been 2 years, will you ever stop acting like a spy? I mean, come on, you're the only 16 year old I know who gets up at the crack of dawn to practise karate," though she continued thinking, if it had been 2 years with almost no change, would Alex ever be just a normal teenager?

After hearing this Alex's eyes clouded over and became dark as he let down his guard momentarily as he remembered 'Scorpia never forgives. Scorpia never forgets'. Seeing this Jack realised what she had triggered and burst into a flurry of movement trying to distract him, but it was too late now, his face had returned to the emotionless mask that she remembered all too well from when Alex returned from each of his missions. So instead she just reached up to tousle his dirty blond hair and said, "It's been 2 years now and I still haven't been able to cook you your celebration breakfast,"

"It's ok Jack, I'm just happy that I no longer have to worry about getting a phone call from the 'bank'" he spat out the last word which was steeped in sarcasm, and then continued, "and be expected to leave immediately,"

With that he walked over and dumped himself into one of the chairs around the kitchen table.

"Fine. I give up, let's just have cereal today…but I swear one day you will get your pancakes," Jack said as she picked up 2 bowls out of the cupboard and the Cheerios, and walked over to the table and sat down opposite Alex.

Alex just smiled trying to stop himself from laughing at what Jack looked like, she had flour smeared across her forehead, obviously from when she had wiped her face with the back of her hand, and had pancake batter in her red hair.

"What? Do I have something on my face?" Jack demanded after having enough of Alex's amused expression.

"I think that you might need to be the judge of that, here see for yourself" he said handing her his spoon. She took it and looked at herself in the back of it and then burst into laughter.

"I'm amazed you managed to keep a straight face with this looking back at you," she said during the small pause between her laughter. The laughter was contagious and soon Alex couldn't help himself but to laugh as well.

"What can I say? I've had plenty of training in acting!" Alex managed to get out between laughs not quite noticing the roll flying towards his face till it was too late.


A/N: I hope you liked it...read and review please!! a cyber jammy dodger for all who review!! 3 (sorry shameless mocking of school has taken place :P) anyways I shall try to upload again soon!! but then again I'm off to China over half-term so probably not for a while...till then 3