Hello! :D I'm feeling really happy today! :D

REVIEW REPLIES:

-But I Have Promises To Keep
OH MY GOSH! STARKID BUDDIES! Haha! All of those references made me laugh! Yesterday in ASL, my brother, who also takes the class, raises his hand and asks, 'What is I wanna be, in Sign Language?' And I look back at him and we both smile and burst out into song. :) 'I wanna be, A STARSHIP RANGER!' Haha, great day in ASL that most likely made history! Dang, I wish I had your skills to combine several references into one sentence. In fact, the only quote I have in mind from HMB is this:
Alfred: Who likes the circus?
Batman (Bat Wayne...Bruce Man...DANGIT! :D): *looks to the side and smiles* Batman...
Haha! Starkids forever, right? Thanks for the review!

-LaylaaSkiesOfBlue
THANK YOU! :D Haha, we're going to learn more about what happened to Mal and Natara in the third story! Yeah, it's a while away, but I think the third story is going to be the . :D Thank you for the kind review! You're awesome!

-The Sarcastic Polar Bear
Aw, thanks for the review! Even if it was a frowny face. You're awesome and I love your stories! :D

-mozzi-girl (The Beast!)
I thought you'd like it, Beast! Haha! :) Haha! I know, Hal is so sweet! :) Thanks for the review!

SOOOOOOO! I wanted to share something that happened on Thursday. You all know this earthquake thing has torn me in two (Hotdog style...Not hamburger ;) ) and some of you know I have math at six in the morning. Well, on Thursday, I was half asleep as my teacher read the lesson. I take the same math class as my cousin and she sits in front of me. This particular day, I was totally out of it. I was practically asleep on my desk. After my teacher was done teaching, my cousin was conversing with her friend about math. (And remember, I'm asleep on my desk) and she starts tapping her foot on the ground, causing it to shake.

What do you suppose a paranoid girl did at this point? :)

I dove under the desk, just like practiced on Tuesday when we had the ShakeOut. All eyes fell on me as I crouched under my desk. My teacher began laughing and said, "At least Shelby's prepared!"

So yeah, Embarrassing moment of the week fulfilled.

I'm way better though! I mean, I still think about the quake, but not as much anymore. I kind of just let it slip from my head because I have other things to worry about. :)

Also, this is my last story update for the week. I decided that I would work on stories during the week and videos during the weekend and possibly on Friday night. :) I have trailers for every single volume (excluding Vol. 8) planned out. :) I want to work on all of them during my free days. Just for you guys. They won't be as cool as Vol. 2's trailer/music video/summary, but more along the lines of my Maskmaker trailer. :)

I always have something I want to say before I close, but I cannot remember it. If I do, I'll write it down so I can include it in the next update.

Thank you all for your support, words of kindness, and critique. :) You're all awesome and mi amigos!

Shelbeast out!

:D

The next morning was very hard for me to actually get my butt off the couch. I was feeling much better...But very tired, weak, sore; you know, all of that good stuff. It was like being pregnant all over again. Only this time, I wouldn't get something beautiful out of it.

"Good morning, Sleeping Beauty," Hal greeted. He had totally taken over my house. Everything was spot-less clean and the smell of a gourmet breakfast was heavy in the air. I breathed it in and sighed as I took a seat at the table.

"Morning..." I replied and yawned.

"How are you feeling?"

"Like crap...But better. I didn't have a nightmare this time..."

Hal prepared a plate of toast, eggs (scrambled, of course! The only way I like to eat eggs) bacon and oranges on the side. He placed it in front of me and took a seat beside me.

"That's good," he said. "I don't like it when you're scared."

I smiled. "You're the cheesiest boyfriend I've ever had." As I slowly ate, he smiled slightly.

"So, does this mean we're a couple now?" he asked.

"I'm willing to give it a try if you are, Hun."

Hal chuckled and leaned over to kiss my cheek. As he did this, he stole an orange slice. "Good," he replied, "because you aren't getting rid of me until you're feeling on top of the world."

I smirked. "Cheesiest boyfriend."

I finished my breakfast rather quickly and trekked back to the couch. That's when I got the phone call.

"Ugh!" I growled as I pulled my ringing phone out of my pocket. "It's Chief Spencer. Hal, can you take this one?"

"Sure thing," he said and I tossed him the phone. He answered it quickly. "Hello? This is Hal Talon."

He walked into the other room, his voice fading into the distance. While he talked to Chief Spencer, I threw myself on the couch and sighed heavily. Hal continued for another minute and walked to the couch.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, handing the phone to me. I took it back and shrugged. "I could be doing better. Why do you ask?"

"Are you up for a stake out?" Hal asked.

"Stake out?" I asked, confused as to what he was getting at.

"Yeah. Something about a little girl being abducted and held hostage at this abandoned hotel..."

That got me out of my sick mode. Believe me, when kids were on the line, it didn't matter what state of health I was in. Sean used to call me Super Mommy because whenever I'd hear just the slightest cry coming from Tommy when he was little, I'd spring into action. When other kids were on the line, however, I'd think about what I would do if they were my own. Super Mommy was one dangerous, butt-kicking agent.

"Let's go," I said and I walked to my door and Hal chuckled.

"You might want to get dressed first, Nat," he called. I looked down at my ratty bathrobe and sighed heavily.

"Setbacks, setbacks," I muttered as I walked into my room.

-C.O.D-

Hal pulled up to a parking lot littered with S.W.A.T Vans and police cars. Nick, my old partner, stood at his car, his gun pulled out and a bullet-proof vest strapped on. He looked over at our car and gave me an annoyed look as he stormed over.

"Natalia," he growled as I stepped out, Hal by my side, "What are you doing?"

"I'm here to save that little girl," I snapped. "Why are you so concerned?"

"May I remind you that you were in the hospital for a week or so and after that, fell down with a very serious fever. Why are you here?"

Nick looked more paranoid than usual. He never liked Hal, I knew that. He also didn't like the fact that his new partner was a rookie who only liked the thrill of car-rides.

"Chief Spencer called," I replied, trying to calm down a bit. "I'm included in this stake-out."

"It's alright, Nick," Hal cut in. "If anything starts happening to her that would delay..."

"I didn't ask for your answer, Agent," Nick growled. "I'm not worried about you and your concern for my...Excuse me...YOUR partner!"

"Look, I understand my timing was bad," Hal said, keeping his mellow composure. "But it's both of our job to look after each other, and that includes Natalia. I trust how she's feeling right now, believe me."

A gunshot rang out from behind us and I glanced up at the hold hotel. On the highest floor, leaning out through the window was a man with a mask. I hated it when they wore masks.

"If any of you try to break in, I will have Abigail killed instantly. You understand?" he shouted through the window. "And I mean any of you!"

A tiny voice rang out, causing my blood to boil. "Please! Help me!"

The man flipped around and threw something. I couldn't see what, but it was something big enough to make the girl scream out in pain.

"We got to get up there!" I growled, trying to contain my fury.

"First of all, Nat," Nick began, "he said he would kill the girl if we moved in. Second, you don't even have a vest on! You can get killed."

"Nick, I've been through a lot this past year. I had a baby, I filed for divorce, I've been a single mother ever since, Hal and I went into a lone village, searching for my uncle, where we almost got killed. I also found Genevieve Collins's crazy sister and escaped a robot-guarded prison with my life intact. One little stake-out like this is just like riding a roller coaster. You need to get it over with."

Nick glared at me. "Nat, it's always the simple things that will get you killed."

I scoffed and looked towards Hal. "Hal, get the vests out of the trunk..."

"Sure thing," he replied and walked off. Nick pulled me aside and whispered harshly.

"What is with you and Mr. Miami Agent?"

I sighed. "Nick...Honestly, it's none of your business. I know you really want me to be happy and such, and I am!"

"You're dating him...Aren't you..."

I nodded. "Yes, I am. And let me just say...When no one else could care for me; He did. He's a great guy. Nick and I am happy. Please, don't make this harder than it seems."

"It's kind of hard," he growled.

"Why?"

"Because you've never had the girl you loved almost killed and yet, in the aftermath, drift and fall into the arms of some fake, wannabe, super spy!"