A/N: So here's ch.2, sorry it took so long to get up, I'm a slow typer, and I have a lot of schoolwork, you know? Its Suzanne's playroom, I'm just using her toys! Enjoy!

Chapter 2-Arrival

Gregor awoke the next morning, miserable as usual, before realizing what had just occurred the day before. He shot straight up, overly excited. He was going back. Finally, after what seemed like such a great amount of time, he was going back! He was going to see Luxa and Aurora, Ripred, Howard, Nike, Mareth, Perdita, Heronian, Lapblood, Vikus, Temp, Hazard, and Ares. No, wait, not Ares. Ares was dead, gone forever. But that brought him back to his dream. What did it mean? Was it just a dream? Or not. After all, his dreams usually meant something.

Oh well, I'll think about it when I've got food in me Gregor thought hungrily. He went down to the kitchen in an attempt to push all thoughts of the Underland from his mind. He pulled out a box of cereal and a carton of milk; he fixed three bowls of cereal, one for him, and two for Lizzie and Boots. He figured that they would wake up pretty soon. And what do you know; pretty soon you could hear Lizzie and Boots bounding out from the room they shared.

His grandmother used to live on there, too, but unfortunately she died after suffering a stroke in the hospital that she had taken up permanent residence in. They had held a small funeral, with only friends and family. So his sisters were marching into the kitchen. "Here you go, guys," Gregor said, handing them the bowls. "You're in a good mood today," Lizzie observed. "Of course I am," Gregor replied blissfully, "We're going down today after I finish helping Mrs. Cormaci,"

"We go see temp!" Boots stated in agreement. "Yes Boots, we'll go see temp," Lizzie said, giggling at the toddler, "And Ripred!" About two hours later, around10 o' clock, Gregor was knocking on the front door to Mrs. Cormaci's apartment. When the door opened, he was greeted by sights and smells that would last a lifetime.

First there was Mrs. Cormaci, standing at the door, grinning broadly. Then there was her house, beautifully decorated, including her menagerie of antique clocks. And even after all of that, there were the smells of her home! Mrs. Cormaci always seemed to have something baking. Today it smelled like garlic bread accompanied by spaghetti and meatballs. Gregor nearly licked his lips with anticipation. "Come in, come on," she greeted him,

"How's your day been, Gregor?" She asked, with that knowing smile still in place.

"Wonderful, perfect, in fact! It's been a great day!" Gregor replied jovially. "Oh, and why is that, Mister?" she asked in false concern. "I get to go back to the Underland! I'm so excited I can't wait, I'll get to go back and see everyone again, oh jeez, now I sound just like Lizzie," Gregor finished lamely, apparently sounding like a seven year old, even though he would be thirteen in a few months. "Yes, well that happens to even the best of us sometimes," Mrs. Cormaci joked, pretending to nod knowingly towards him. That day at Mrs. Cormaci's, Gregor helped with the spaghetti, took out the trash, and helped her clean out her apartment. Before he knew it, he was going down to the laundry room with his entire family, preparing to set out for the Underland once again. But when they pried open the laundry grate, a surprise awaited them.

"Nerissa?" Gregor asked, surprised, "How did you know that we would be here?"

"Greetings, Overlander, I saw you here in a vision a few weeks back, coming here, and I knew that you would need transportation." She said, gesturing below her. And sure enough, right there beside her was another bat, this one golden. When Gregor saw the second bat, he did a double-take, "Aurora?" he stammered.

"Hello, Gregor," she purred calmly. "Shall we depart?" Nerissa suggested. "Sounds like a good Idea to me," Gregor's dad said. They all climbed on to the bats.

For a while they just flew in silence. Eventually Gregor built up the courage to ask Aurora, "Does anyone know we're coming yet?"

"Just Vikus," She replied

"Oh"

"Gregor we will be landing shortly." Nerissa warned him after ten more minutes of flying in silence. Gregor nodded to show that he understood, and soon enough they were landing in the ceiling-less great hall of the Regalian Royal Palace. Vikus swept into the room, looking much better than he had after suffering a stroke in the previous month. He had gained much more use of the right side of his body; at least he could walk now. "Greetings Overlanders, how fare you?"

We're doing pretty well, thanks," Gregor replied graciously, "Um, Vikus," Gregor said, deciding to get right to the point, "Where's Luxa?" The underlander girl was nearly all he had thought about the entire month he had been stuck in New York.

"In her quarters, I believe, Gregor," Vikus replied with a knowing smile and a twinkle in his eyes.

Gregor didn't even respond. Before he knew what was happening, his feet were taking him down the hallway towards Luxa's rooms. He knocked and, after a moment, heard a muffled, "Come in." Even that little trace of her had his heart in his throat. He entered her sitting room to find her lying face down on the couch, looking at a picture; before she quickly stashed it away he caught a glimpse of it. It was the photo of them at Hazard's birthday party. She flipped around and sat up to see who was there, and got the shock of her life.

"Gregor?!?"

HAHAHA!!! How's that for a cliffie? What will Luxa do? Will she be pissed off, or happy? Read to find out!!!

-Abby (aka Hpluvr7)