It was dinner time at the Anders home, and the dining room table was filled for the first time in a long time. Myand nad Luan sat at the widths of the table, while Raven and Kori sat on one side of it's length, opposite of their guest Arella and Tom. As Kori and the adults ate, Raven stabbed vegetables with her fork. She hadn't taken a single bite or said one word since they sat down for dinner. The only thing she did do was lock her gaze on Arella who faced her at the table.

It took awhile, but eventually Kori noticed this and her eyes saddened. She could tell by the look on Raven's face that the young goth was feeling two things; curiousity and anger, and judging by how silent she was Kori knew her anger trumped curiousity.

Unable to take anymore and hoping to help her friend, Kori dropped her fork on the table and looked at Arella. "So, Mrs. Roth-"

"Oh, call me Arella," the dark haired beauty said with a smile, placing her glass of wine on the table.

Kori smiled sweetly, correcting herself. "Arella, if you don't mind me asking, where the hell have you been all this time?"

"Kori!" Myan scolded.

Kori ignored her father and instead sent a small smile in Raven's direction, one that was returned and the girls clasped their hands together under the table.

"It's fine," Arella assured Myan before turning to Kori.

"After I left Jump City I moved to Florida and got in touch with an old friend from high school." At this she smiled at Tom and they held hands above the table, a sight that caused Raven to narrow her eyes. "He took me in and helped me get back on my feet."

"Anything for you, darling," Tom replied with an affectionate smile and he kissed her hand before returning to his dinner.

"Darling?" Kori mused outloud, looking nervously from Arella to Raven, then back again. "You two must be really close."

There was a pause before Arella continued. "Well... actually we are. Tom and I are married."

"You got married?" Raven asked in disbelief, her eyes wide.

"It was very spontaneous," Tom began to explain. "We had just finished watching my son's baseball game and-"

"You have a son?" Raven nearly stood up from her seat in shock.

"Actually, I have six-"

"Six?" Raven repeated. How many shocks would she recieve in one day?

Tom nodded before continuing on with his story. "So we had just finished watching the game and had gone out for some ice cream, and I don't know how she did it but Arella had chocolate all over her face."

Arella slapped him with her napkin, a playful smile on her face. "It was not all over my face."

Tom laughed. "So, anyway, I was helping her clean up and we're both just laughing, and suddenly it hit me. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with this woman. So I asked her, right there in the ice cream parlour in front of all my boys."

"We went and made it official the next day," Arella added.

"And we've been happier ever since."

"That's lovely," Luan told her. "I'm happy that you've been living life to the fullest since you've left town."

At this Raven looked away and began stabbing vegetables with her fork again.

"Thank you. That really means a lot, especially considering how unhappy I was before, but it's in the past now and I've moved on."

"If you were so damn happy then why did you come back to Jump City?" Kori asked, suddenly feeling the need to protect Raven.

"Language, Kori," snapped Myan disapprovingly. "You will show respect."

"Myan, it's fine. Really it is," Arella assured him, looking at Jori and then to Raven. She had a feeling she knew why Kori was being hostile with her. "To be honest I'm glad she asked me that so we can get straight to the point about why I came here. I've always loved Jump City, and although I was happy in Florida I've missed this place, so Tom and I have purchased a house here."

"Wait till you see the place, Raven," said Tom with excitement. "You are going to love it."

Raven's eyes flickered up at him and she finally raised her head. "Excuse me?"

Arella was grinning ear to ear, her excitement consuming her. "The main reason we moved to Jump City was to be with you, Raven. We want you to move in with us."

"Isn't that wonderful, Raven," said Luan, turning to look at the purple haired girl and she clapped her hands with a smile. "You can have your family back."

"Not that we haven't enjoyed having her," Myan added quickly, as the adults in the room chuckled. "She's been a pleasure."

"Isn't this exciting, Raven?" Arella said as she turned to face her. "You can have your own room and we can paint it whichever color you like. And I can't wait for you to meet the boys-"

"No."

Arella paused a moment in puzzlement. "Huh?"

"I said no," Raven growled vehemently, her hands clenching around the table cloth. "I am not moving in with you. You and the Brady Bunch thing you got going on here can move back to Florida for all I care."

"Raven, I don't understand...," Arella began with a frown, her expression a hurt one. "Aren't you glad to see me? We've been apart for so long that I-"

"Glad to see you?" Raven had to laugh at the one. "Why would I be glad to see you?" She glared daggers at her mother. "You left me! You left me behind so you could shack up with some guy. And to add salt to the wound you replaced me with his kids."

Arella shook her head, this was going all wrong. "It really wasn't like that-"

"Then how would you explain it?" Raven screamed, punching her fist against the table and causing her water glass to tumble. "While you were happy I was miserable. You left me alone with dad and do you know what happened while you were gone? He beat me."

Arella looked down at her plate, ashamed. "Yes... I know. Myan and Luan filled me in."

"Bullshit," Raven spat, standing up now so she could lean across the table. "You don't know anything because you weren't here! You weren't here when I needed you the most."

Tears came to Arella's eyes and she wiped them away with her thumb, sighing. "Raven, I am so sorry. I shouldn't have-"

"Shouldn't have what, mother?" Raven questioned, saying the word mother with a sarcastic tone. "Shouldn't have left me alone so you could go play house with Tom? Well you did."

"She's trying to make up for it now-" Tom tried explaining, but one glare from Raven made him fall silent.

"If she really cared she would have come back sooner."

"Raven, please, you have to believe how sorry I am," Arella said as she reached for her hand but Raven snatched it away, an action that caused the tears to return to Arella's eyes.

"Raven, try to understand where your mother is coming from," Myan insisted.

Raven shook her head, her lips pursed as she fought back tears.

Arella stood up from her chair and looked as if she was about to approach her daughter. "Raven-"

Raven took two steps back, her fingers raised. "Don't come near me!"

Arella took a step back and her arms fell to her side.

"I refuse to move in with you so just... just leave me alone."

Arella sighed, her eyes shutting from emotional distress. "I can't do that, Raven. You're my daughter."

"Why not? You've had no problem doing it so far."

Before anymore debate could be said Raven turned and fled the dining room, heading for the front door. Soon the slam of the front door filled everyone's ears.

Kori threw the napkin on her lap on top of the table and stood up, heading in Raven's direction while calling her name. They heard the front door shut once more, and the dining room filled with silence. Dejectedly, Arella fell back into her seat, hiding her face with her hands.

"...I suppose that means no dessert, huh," said Tom after a moment of silence, earning him a few glares and a sigh from the person next to him.

TT

Jade finished lighting the last of her scented candles and blew out the match in her fingers. She took a moment to step back and admire her handy work, a pleased expression coming to her face. She was finally finished transforming the ordinary living room of the Queen house into a (what she called) love den. There were scented candles, rose petals scattered across the floor, and smooth jazz music playing. She had lit the fireplace as well, and the coffee table had two glasses and a bottle of wine. In addition to that she had a bowl of strawberries and chocolate.

The only thing missing was Roy.

Jade smirked as she touched up her makeup by the mirror on the wall and fluffed up her hair. Ollie would be working late tonight, and she had convinced Dinah to take Lian off her hands for a couple of hours. It was more than enough time for her and Roy to enjoy themselves.

It wasn't long before she heard the front door being unlocked and she hurried to the couch, stretching out across it with as sexy of a pose as she could muster. She plopped her head up in one hand, a sultry gaze in her eyes. Roy was going to be so surprised.

TT

Roy stood outside the front door of his home with his keys in hand. As he stuck the key in and turned it, he turned his head to look back at Joey, Wally, and Jenn. "You are going to love Jade and Lian, Joey," he said as he pushed open the door. "She's going to be so surprised."

The group of four ventured inside, making sure to shut the door behind themselves.

"Jade?" Roy called out, gazing up the stairs and expecting her to come down.

"I'm in the living room," she called back in a sing song voice.

As they turned to the direction the living room was in; Wally paused, sniffing the air. "What's that smell? ... Is that jazz music?"

His questions were soon answered upon entering the living room. Roy's jaw dropped, Jenn gasped and her hands flew to cover her mouth, and both Wally and Joey went wide eyed as their eyes fell upon Jade who wore a very sexy halter teddy that had the sides cut out. It was red lace, gave her breast a boost, and was partially see through.

Jade screamed, her cheeks flaming as she grabbed two throw pillows to cover up her most private of areas. "Roy, what the hell! Some warning would have been nice!"

"I didn't know you were going to be sexy," he claimed, turning his gaze to the side to see that Jenn was covering Wally's eyes and dragging him out the room. He expected Joey to leave the room as well, but the blonde boy stood there with a grin on his face and his arms crossed. "Beat it, Joey."

Joey blinked and chuckled awkwardly. "Oh, right. Sorry. My bad," his eyes fell on Jade once more before he left the room. "Nice meeting you."

Jade shyly waved her fingers at him, watching him as he went. Once he was gone she glared at Roy. "Who is that?"

"That's Joey. He's new and really cool so I wanted to introduce him to you," his line of vision traced over Jade's body. "That new?"

"Yes it's new," she replied, tart, before throwing a spare pillow at him.

He caught it with ease and winked at her. "Does this mean I should get rid of them?"

She stood up and grabbed a silk green robe to cover herself up. "Oh, you are so not getting any tonight," she declared with a scowl.

Meanwhile, in the foyer of the Queen home; Jenn, Wally, and Joey stood around awkwardly by the bottom of the stairs. They stood in silence, but it was soon broken by Wally as he turned to look up at Jenn.

"So... is there something similar in your closet?"

Jenn's cheeks turned pink and she glared at Wally before smacking him upside the head.

"Ow!"

Joey covered his mouth to stiffle a laugh. He was loving his new friends.

TT

Gar sat on his bed, his bedroom door shut to allow him the privacy he needed as he stared at the picture of Terra he had brought to school. Beside him was the frame he had taken it out of. Ever since Terra's death he had gotten in the habit of carrying her picture everywhere with him, and he now suddenly felt the urge to return it to its frame and keep it at home.

Although he had decided to do this, Gar hesitated. He suddenly felt terrible for wanting to leave her behind, as if keeping her photo at home instead of in his pocket would mean that he was also putting his feelings away for her. He knew it was silly to think like that, but he couldn't help it.

Terra, despite her flaws, had been the love of his life. She was his everything; his girlfriend, his best friend, his first time... She had given him so much. How could he disregard that and just keep her on shelf for the rest of his life.

Gar crossed over to his dresser, Terra's picture and the frame in hand. He leaned against it, thinking intently. If he kept her picture in his pocket, what would that mean? Would it mean he was refusing to move on with his life? Did he even want to move on?

That question caused him to take out the other photo he had been carrying around as of lately. It was Raven's picture. She had been beyond amazing to him this past summer. When he was down she was the one to take him out for ice cream. When he sobbed in the bathroom with the door locked so no one would see him, she would be waiting outside for him. It was her acts of friendship that pulled him through, that took away some of the pain Terra had left behind.

And that caused yet another dilemma for him. He understood why he carried Terra's photo around with him everywhere, but why did he carry Raven's? Was it because he was starting to feel something more?

Gar held the pictures of the girls side by side. Ask him how he felt about Terra and he could answer you. He loved her, he probably always would which would help explain his reluctance to let her go. Ask him how he felt about Raven and he would say she was a close friend. A very close friend who was maturing beautifully... She had an amazing heart, amazing strength. She was the new light in his world.

He began to think about how Terra would feel if she knew what was going on inside of him. Would she be mad? Would she give him her blessings?

Before he could figure out the answer to his questions, the door to his bedroom burst open, shocking him enough to jump in his spot.

Raven entered the room with an air of fury surrounding her.

Gar turned around to face her, but not before shoving his pictures and frame into the top draw of his dresser. "Jesus, Rae, you scared me. What are you doing here?"

She put her hands on her hips. "I'm mad."

"And I have green hair," he replied. "Tell me something that isn't obvious."

She paused as her eyes gazed down at her feet. After a moment she sighed and looked up, her arms crossing. "My mom is back in Jump City."

Gar's eyes widened and he lost his breath in shock. He wanted to speak, wanted to say something that would help, but his voice had suddenly vanished.

Luckily for him, Raven didn't want to hear anything he had to say. "Distract me. Please."

He did the one thing he could do. Picked up a video game.

TT

Raven violently punched the air as she battled Gar in a boxing game for Wii sports. "I wish I could punch something for real," she grumled as her character mercilessly beat into Gar's.

"Just so long as it's not me or my tv," Gar said as he continuously tried and failed to gain the upper hand. His lips turned up into a smirk. "I have extra fluffy pillows. How about fighting them?"

"I'd rather my mom's new husband."

"Your mom got remarried?" Gar asked as Raven punched his guy down for the count.

Raven's arms fell to her sides and a bitter look came to her face. "Yeah. She's a step mom to six boys, too."

Gar frowned and shut the game off. "We should talk about this."

Raven turned the game back on. "Don't want to."

He shut it off again. "Raven, c'mon. You always said that if I needed someone to talk to you that you would listen. It goes both ways, y;know. I can listen. Just talk to me."

Raven sighed and shook her head. Sharing her own problems and thoughts and feelings had never been easy for her.

Not knowing what else to do, Gar placed his control down on the floor. He then took the one Raven had and put it down as well. Turning to her he opened up his arms. Raven jeered at him with crossed arms, but this did not deter him and he made a gesturing motion with his hands and softly told her to "c'mon."

Although a bit reluctant Raven lowered her arms and took the step forward that brought her into Gar's arms, her head going to rest on his shoulder and she was suddenly surprised to find out that he had grown some. They were now the same height. How could she have not realized that before. She scolded herself for not noticing, but suddenly her mind felt as ease as Gar's arms closed around her, holding her close. She relaxed against him and her hands went to his back, her hands gripping his shirt. It felt nice and she closed her eyes, pleased.

"You smell nice," Gar murmured.

That was her wake up call and she pulled away, her cheeks flushed.

"Sorry," he apologized, regretting that he had to open his big mouth and ruin the moment.

"No, it's cool," she said absently as she tucked her hair behind her ear.

The room became very quite as their eyes locked, neither moving.

Suddenly, Raven placed her hand on his shoulder and was leaning in. As their eyes began to shut... Raven's ring tone went off, playing a heavy metal song that made the two jump apart before anything could happen.

Raven fumbled for her phone before finally pulling it out. "Hello? ...Oh, hey, Kori... I'm at Gar's place... Yeah, I'm fine. I just needed a distraction... Did she and her new husband leave yet? ... Good... Yeah, I'll head back now," Raven shut her phone and glanced at Gar shyly. "I have to go. Kori and her parents are worried."

"I understand," he took a step towards her. "Let me walk y-"

"No!"

He took a step back, surprised.

"Sorry," she rubbed her temples with one hand and reached for the door knob with the other. "It's fine. I can show myself out."

"Okay... I'll see you at school tomorrow then?"

She nodded. "Yeah."

With no more to say, Raven left Gar's home in a hurry.

TT

To Alain's surprise, hanging out with Isaiah wasn't as bad as he thought it would be. In fact, he was having a lot of fun. They liked the same movies, the same video games, and to his delightful pleasure he discovered that Isaiah did not like eating seafood.

That sealed the deal.

As they sat in Toni's living room with their feet kicked up on the coffee table, Wicked Scary playing on the flat screen television, and snakcs in their laps, they found themselves low on popcorn.

"I'm going to get a refill," Toni announced as her hand landed in the empty popcorn bowl. She climbed over the sofa with the bowl tucked under her arm. "Pause it."

"No!" Isaiah called.

She poked her tongue out at him before disappearing. "Meanie."

The boys just laughed and turned back to the movie.

As they watched, Alain felt the sudden urge to speak to Isaiah while they were alone. "Hey, Isaiah?"

Isaiah glanced towards him. "Yeah?"

"I just wanted to apologize for today. I felt jealous and intimidated by you because you're Toni's ex-boyfriend and it made me act like a jerk. I'm sorry."

"Hey, it's cool man."

Alain smiled and turned his attention back to the movie.

"You were right to feel jealous and intimitated."

Alain turned his head back in Isaiah's direction and raised a brow. "What do you mean?"

"I still have feelings for Toni," Isaiah explained with a smile. "And I plan on stealing her away from you." Isaiah turned back to the movie and reached for the twizzlers. "And by the way... I loooove seafood."

Alain stiffened in shock, a look of disbelief on his face.

Toni returned and reclaimed her seat in the middle of the boys. "What I miss?"

"Nothing," Isaiah answered, taking a handful of popcorn from the bowl without a care in the world.

The same couldn't be said for Alain who's mind was consumed with worry.

TT

SPECIAL THANKS TO PolarPurple, Star of Airdrie, Sweet Heart Angel, lonerinluv, Magic Kiwi, BerryDrops, clarkLover1, chipmunkswillrule, Daniella TT, Agent of the Divine One, anon, Pineapple girl 1997, sabs lil sis, AND Goldenheart11 FOR THE AMAZING REVIEWS!

So, I was really shocked to see so many reviews and it just made my day ^_^ Thank you all so much! It means a lot to me to see so much support.

NEXT CHAPTER: ALAIN RECRUITS JOEY TO HELP HIM AGAINST ISAIAH.

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