Notes: Okay this is chapter two revise and I'm currently working on revising the other chapters. Nothing much to say but I need a BETA to revise my work. If you know anyone please send them my way.

Disclaimer: I do not own AVP characters, plain and simple. If I did this would be a movie not a story.

xXx

The Change:

Something Strange

xXx

"You're late," were the first words out of Sophia's mouth as she glared at her mother. Rachel grinned apologetically at her. "I had to pick up your sister first." Reminding her Ai had been suspended.

Frowning at this she brushed off all remaining dirt from her short skirt and pulled open the van door. Glancing toward the passenger seat her dark brown eyes widen at the sight of Lex looking at her. Blushing she tugged at her chestnut-haired shyly, "Hi Auntie."

Lex smiled at her nickname greeting her back she wave. "Hey there Sophie, long time no see."

"Aren't you going to get in?" a soft voice drew Sophie's attention to the back seat to her younger sister. Ai's green eyes started at Sophie in confusion, waiting for her to respond. Sophie's face bloomed into a brighter shade of red as she shuffled into the van. Rachael laughed and shook her head at the scene. She pulled out of the school's parking lot and drove home with a big grin plaster on her lips while Lex kept a close eye on the girls it was always fun to see them interact.

Ai stared at her elder sister curiously before she reached over and tugged on Sophie's hair and grinned to her as she did. Sophie eyes look back at her surprised, grinning she reach over to Ai tugging one of her chestnut locks and made sure to ruffle her hair. They both laugh at their silly interaction before returning their attention forward.

Sophie was the first to break the silence. "So Auntie, are you going to stay for dinner? It's my turn to cook, vérda mámi?"

"Sí sí," Rachael confirmed her eyes glue to the traffic. It was rush hour and many of the drivers were trying to cut in front of her.

"Reckless drivers, todos son unos tontos!" Slamming a hand on the steering wheel the Latina cursed under her breath momentarily forgetting her audience as she started to grumble under her breath.

Shaking her head at Rachael's little rant Lex replied, "Yes, I am going to stay over tonight if you guys don't mind me."

Both Sophie and Ai beamed at Lex excited to know their favorite person was going to stay.

"We're gonna have soo much fun Obasan!" Ai exclaimed.

Both Sophie and her leaned close to each other and began speaking softly as they started to formulate a plan. They planned for most of the ride and just as Rachael pulled over to park they leaned away with matching mischievous grins on their face. Laughing nervously, Lex's eyes wandered to the apartment building in front of her. She felt anxious and couldn't shake the feeling that something was going to happen. Pushing the feeling aside Lex was determined to enjoy her time at the Akira household.

xXx

"What are you going to make oneesan?" Ai asked as she stood next to Sophie by the stove watching her.

"You'll see." Breaking a fifth egg into a container, she handed it over to Ai. "Mix it," She instructed as measured the flour.

Lex and Rachael stood by the entrance of the kitchen watching them both and laughed at the antics of the younger girls. Ever since they had arrived, the girls had been running around the kitchen putting different things together to make a special dinner for a small fiesta.

"Ai takes after her dad doesn't she and Sophie takes after you."

Taking a swing from her beer bottle Rachel's smile fell. "Yeah their dad wanted to teach them his culture and what not. Ai was more open to it while Sophia preferred my traditions. Sometimes I wonder if it was because of their names. But you know over the years our cultures just blend together."

"What about the language?"

"Oh they both know Spanish and Japanese Lex, but they speak it oddly. I sometimes catch them talking to each other in Spanish and Japanese; we have even made it a joke and call it Japish." Her voice trailed off uncertainly, softly she continued. "Thanks for coming over Lex. I haven't seen the girls this happy since… he died."

"He really was a great guy and he really did loved you guys so much. I'm just glad I could help."

Lex had been there when the news had arrived. It had been so unexpected; while they were having fun he was dying. Satoshi had been killed along with his whole crew in an archaeological dig; the word kill was an understatement on what really happened there. The report was that some of the members had had a clean kill while others were tortured and skinned. Missing body parts and bones were just some of the grotesque things that they found. To save the families anguish, all of the bodies were cremated before they were sent back.

Rachael had broken down when they told her the news. They refused to tell her how he died but Lex had been able to smuggle the report and read what had happen. She was glad they hadn't told her what had happened. She made it a goal to be there and support her and the girls till they got back on their feet. After they did she had felt distant, a guilty sense fell over her. The deaths of the crew sounded so familiar to her own experience.

Laughing woefully Rachael shook her head. "To think it has been almost a year since his death. But almost two years since the incident with your crew."

"Yeah…" Had it been that long? It was a surreal feeling just to stand there alive.

Taking a swing out of her own bottle, Lex looked back at the girls. She tightened her hold on the bottle as memories tried to resurface. The sound of glass cracking brought her out of her thoughts followed by a frantic Rachael. Both Ai and Sophia had stopped what they were doing to look at Lex in a panic.

"Oh my god! What the hell, mugre porquería, Lex, you're hand!"

Lex looked down at her hand as she dropped the remains of the glass bottle she had unconsciously broken. Her eyes widen in panic as she impulsively clutched her hand closed. Rachael snatched Lex's hand away from her before she could do any further damage. Prying her hand open so she could begin to clean off any reaming bits of glass from Lex's hand, Rachael blinked as she examined her palm questioningly. She cleaned more of blood off and gaped at what she saw.

Nervously Lex bit down on her lower lip, gathering her courage she glanced down anxiously to see what was wrong with her hand. She blink and immediately frowned, all she could see were small cuts on her palm.

'Why was Rachael making such a big deal about small cuts?'

Staring at her hand, her frown deepened as the small cuts turned into tiny lines.

'Wait, what, that's just not right'

Blinking once more Lex felt bewilder by the sudden change of events. She snatched her hand from Rachael's grip so she could study her palm closely. Smooth skin covered her palm, tougher than the previous skin. There was no sign of cuts or wounds to indicate what had just occurred only bits of dry blood.

"What the hell Lex did you… did you just do what I think you did?" The color drained from her once calm friends face.

Turning her hand over and back again, Lex was just as confused...and frightened. "Don't ask me, I don't know what the hell just happened!"

"What happen?" Inquired Ai confused.

"Nothing!" Rachael snapped, cringing at her vicious tone. She rubbed her hand over her face. "Perdone cariño,I didn't mean to snap can you guys clean this up? Your auntie and I need to talk, kay?"

Rachael rushed out of the kitchen dragging along a reluctant Lex.

Sophia shook her head and frowned at the mess her own mother left behind. In her panic she had dropped her beer bottle and now the floor was cover with glass and alcohol. Ai bent over to start picking up the large piece of glass, scowling Sophia tapped her shoulder to get Ai's attention.

Ai look at her. "Yes?"

"No, don't do that! You're going to cut yourself!"

After making her throw away the glass Sophia waved her off. "I'll do this. If you want you can stay here or tell mami food is going to be ready in 20 minutes."

Deciding that her sister was better off alone, Ai skipped over the glass and made her way down the hall to the living room. Stopping at the entrance she look back at her sister who was too busy cleaning to notice her trying to sneak into the living room. Looking back to her aunt and mother, they were currently looking at each other making it easy for her to sneak in.

"You know Lex…you keep so much secrets it's hard to tell when you're telling the truth. Can't you trust me?"

"I am serious Rache! I don't know what happened back there! God, it's been a long week and that damn shrink keeps making everything worse! I don't know what's going on anymore."

"You never told me what exactly happen in the expedition and don't give me that damn excuse you give the doctors. I know you better Lex, we have been friends since we were kids. I know you just as you know me. "

"Damn…I don't know if you'll believe me Rache." Lex groan ruffling her hair, frustrated at the situation.

"Lex just… tell me already." Rachael pleaded.

"Fine just… damn it… remember when I came back? I was paranoid very paranoid."

Rachael raised her eyebrow at Lex questioning her state of mind right now.

"Okay fine I'm still paranoid, but do you remember how I kept jumping at every shadow or the slightest noise?"

Rachael nodded her head in remembrance. Lex had been so hysterical when she had return from the hospital that Satoshi and her had decided it had been better for Lex to stay in their house while she got better.

Lex glance down at her hands then back at Rachael.

"How sometimes in my sleep I mutter things…"

"You mean black serpents, hunters, and rite of passage and god Lex! I can't remember half of the things you said. But Satoshi was so interested in what you spoke of that he wrote it all down. It has to be somewhere in his studies I can't find it but he was offer by Weyland to go to a similar archeologist expedition like your own but in a jungle. I can't remember where…"

Lex winced at her words. It had been mostly her fault Satoshi had taken the last trip. It was all because of the symbols that resemble her mark. She hadn't known that till afterwards when Ai had shown her the small gift her father had sent her. His last gift before he died that bore the mark of the hunter.

"Well my team was kill-"

"Dinner!" Sophia call out, entering the living room. She glanced at her sister hidden behind the couch confused. "What are you doing?"

Ai stumble out of her hiding spot looking guiltily at both of them. Grabbing Sophia's hand she dragged her out room "Let's go eat."

Rachael and Lex follow behind silently, Rachael was a tad annoyed by Ai's actions; she had taught her better than that. While Lex stared after Ai wondering if she would hate her if she knew she was the reason her father was dead. She grimaced at the thought. Ai was the one she was more attach to.

Everyone sat down to eat dinner. The only one that talked throughout the dinner had been Sophia; speaking of the latest trends in class, or how the teacher had made a mistake, how the principle had been tricked or other small events that happen in school. When dinner ended everyone headed off to bed. Ai scowled while Sophia laughed at her reaction.

Lex headed off into the guest room with Rachael following her. "Lex can we finish this tomorrow?"

"Let's do that, just don't hate me Rach."

"I can't hate you Lex no matter what I just can't. Good night."

After handing Lex some fresh clean blankets Rachael headed to her own room. With everyone in their own rooms, Lex was left to her thoughts. Looking down at the blankets, she dragged herself to the bed. Once the sheets were extended, she lie down on the bed and let herself drift off to sleep. Her dreams were filled with a Hunter, a frantic Sebastian and old Wayland making his last breath count. It was restless night.

xXx

The morning couldn't come sooner. Yawning Lex finished getting ready for the day. Rachael had felt the need to wake her up so graciously by kicking her off the bed. Shoving her into the bathroom with a change of clothes and leaving her to fend for herself. She snorted as she finish drying her face, pulling on the clothes given to her she had to admit Rachel had good taste in clothes but really why did she have to have such big attributes. Waving the though away she headed to the kitchen no time to dwindle over that.

Lex had only managed to take one step into the room before she was shoved, once again, into a seat by Rachael who was setting up the table. Lex glared at her while Rachael pretended that she did nothing wrong. Lex shifted her glare over to the counter in the kitchen and saw Sophie toasting bread while Ai stood by the oven breaking eggs for their breakfast.

Feeling self-conscious Lex shifted in her seat. Everyone knew she couldn't cook to save her life. Did they have to show off while she was around? Soon, however, her attention was drawn to the loud ticking sound emitting from the clock resting on the upper shelf. Glancing at it, Lex read it was a few minutes passed ten.

Tick-Toc

Tick-Toc

Tick-Toc

Squeezing her eyes shut, Lex covered her ears to prevent them from hearing the loud ticks and soft tocks.

'Talk about going insane…'

Peering up at the clock and wishing it a slow death, Lex's attention went back to the others. They hadn't mentioned what happened yesterday. Instead they moved on with their daily routine, abandoning all other thoughts and leaving the events of yesterday behind.

This left Lex to ponder what to do when they decided to talk. Keeping a close eye on Ai, she feared the worst. She loved her dearly and it would just break her heart if she hated her. But even now, she showed no ill will towards Lex. On the contrary, she was still as open as ever but seemed a bit timid, almost bashful. She was curious about what she had overheard, she always was.

Rachel had mention once that Ai was different an odd child and indeed she was most of her time she would be off on her own her mind occupied with things not around her. She could spend hours staring at empty space, or encrypting some sort of puzzle this small things marked her away from others. And that's where the problem laid; Lex knew full well that Ai was too much like her father.

She had inherited some of his best traits along with his worst. Lex wasn't surprised, Ai and her father did spend a lot of time together and he shared all his secrets with her. That made it more difficult, Ai knew everything about him and if memory served, Rachael had told her that Satoshi's book had gone missing.

Ai could have taken it, trying to figure out what her father hadn't. Maybe Lex could ask Ai for help but that would only put her in danger. But they were already in danger being with her.

'What to do...'

"Anyone want omelets?" Ai questioned excitedly as she placed the last omelet on the Lex's plate.

Yawning, Lex shoved all thoughts aside as Ai sat herself beside her. Lex smiled down at Ai, as she focused her attention on eating and talking. They spend the rest of the morning hanging out in the kitchen, laughing, talking and munching on food

xXx

After breakfast, Lex found herself being dragged away to do things around the house, and before long, she found herself outside playing with the girls. The day went by so fast for them that by the time they knew it, it was time for dinner.

"Come on guys, its late everyone inside," Rachael called out.

Ai and Sophie didn't have to be told twice and were running into the kitchen to rummage through the fridge to see what they could eat.

'Wow, hungry freaking teens'

"I guess it's too late to make food,"

Lex sorted, "You mean more like too lazy to make food."

"Same difference, let's order take out. Whoever is up for pizza say aye!" Rachael said while grabbing hold of the phone and dialing the phone number for the pizza place.

"Aye!" The girls call out.

"Pizza sounds good," Lex agreed.

"Hi, I would like to order two pepperoni pizzas and -"

Ding-dong!

Pausing mid-sentence, Rachael looked at Lex confused.

"Excuse me for just one moment." Putting a hand over the mouth piece Rachael asked Lex, "Did you invite anyone?"

"No, I hadn't even planned to come here or spend the night. Did you?"

"Not that I remember." Rachael mused for a moment before remembering she still had the pizza place on the phone. Blushing she continued, "Oh and hot wings. That's all. Put the delivery under Rachael Akira please, okay thank you." Hanging up she scowled. "Whoever it is better have a good reason to be here."

Without another word she headed to the door, yanking it open. She glared at the intruder ready to yell at them but stopped short. Blinking she stared confused "Kath? Chica, what are you doing here?"

At Rachael's sudden outburst, a curious Lex had gone to see who was at the door, immediately recognizing who it was. Katherine Saenz, Kath for short.

Pretty and slim had curly copper red hair, wearing tight jeans and a black shirt with a modest V-neckline. People would often mistake her for a party girl with her looks, but she was quite the opposite, preferring to be with family than at a party.

They worked together but that was not where Lex had met her. They had met in one of their girl's night out in one of the local bars. That girl's night out had been a disaster , the only good thing coming out of it had been meeting Kath.

Smirking at the thought, Lex greeted her. "Kath, what's up girl?"

Katherine frowned and didn't reply back. That was when Rachael and Lex noticed that her mascara was smudged. Looking between them, Katherine fidgeted and brought up her hand to show a case of beer. "Aren't you going to invite me in?"

Rachael eyes widen in surprise. "Oh come in! Sorry, I didn't expect you to come…I actually thought you would be with your boyfriend."

Katherine's frown deepened at her words. Rachael shut her mouth at once and decided it was better to wait for Katherine to explain what was going on. Rachael led her inside and made sure to lock the door. Lex didn't say anything instead she helped Katherine with the box of beer placing it on the counter. She opened the box and handed a can of beer to Rachael and Katherine.

Just as they were settling in to start chatting, the doorbell rang once again to alert everyone that the pizza was there. After Rachael brought it in and paid for it her girls grabbed a box for themselves and ran off into the living room to watch movies, leaving the trio alone to talk.

Smart girls…

It wasn't long before they all found themselves reliving the past with odd stories.

Laughing Lex clutched her side as it was starting to hurt too much.

"Yeah... he tried to kiss me that sucker but I kicked him right where it counts. He was such a lousy bastard. I'm so glad you dumped him Lex." Katherine's word came out slurred as she tried to keep herself upright.

"Me too." Gulping down the remaining alcohol from the can, Lex regarded the almost empty beer box.

"Aye por dios, remember that Stephen guy? Hmm, he was so good in bed that I could have sworn my bed was heaven after he was through," Rachael purred.

"Rach!" Both Kath and Lex exclaim before they set off laughing at her boldness.

"Oh don't get me wrong I loved Satoshi and I always will but even a woman like me has needs." She started laughing with a wistful look in her eyes. A pregnant silence overcame them once Rachael calmed down.

"He dumped me," Kath spoke up. "That bastard dumped me for a bimbo, that stupid idiot dumped me on our fifth anniversary, I wasted five years of my life loving that…that thing."

"Well would you look at that! None of us have a love life now! I say, who needs men?" Grabbing another beer can, Lex popped it open and took a swing out of her bottle. "Life goes on!"

"So true…All I know is that bastard is going to pay for what he did." Katherine shifted in her seat so suddenly that it caused her to lose her balance and send her tumbling down. Impulsively, she grabbed hold of Rachael's hand to try and stop her but instead of Rachael bracing for the extra weight she in turn grabbed Lex's arm for balance. Lex was just as ill prepared for the extra weight and so they all went crashing down to the floor.

They laid there stunned at what just happened before they exploded into laughter. Lex shook her head and questioned herself on how many beers she had. Looking at her watch, she was surprised at the time almost three already. "Oh damn, it's late."

Rachael looked over her shoulder while she was clutching her stomach. All the laughing was making her side hurt.

"Oops."

Standing up unsteadily, Rachael yanked on Lex's hand to help get Lex on her feet. Lex then proceeded to try and help up a giggling Katherine. Rachael disregarded Lex's failed attempts to help Katherine up and moved away from them and headed to the living room. Peeking into the room, she was expecting to see the girls awake but instead found them curled up side by side snuggled up to a cover with the TV still on.

Snickering suddenly, she flipped the TV off and headed back.

"Guys!" Rachael whined as she watched Lex finally pull Katherine off the floor. "I think I am…No wait I think you guys are drunk or is it that we all are drunk…?"

"No! You are all drunk…I just need sleep." Lex declared. With one last tugged she managed to pull Kath off the floor. Walking unsteadily Lex headed into her room, not bothering to wash up as she crashed onto the bed.

Snorting at Lex's antics, Rachael and Kath followed heading for the girls' room. "Sorry we hadn't planned this and the girls are in the living room so you're fine."

Snickering once more, Katherine mumbled, "No it's okay, it's okay I'm here, I'm here." Tumbling to the bed Kath waved her hand franticly, "I think I'm drunk."

Dropping on to the bed beside her Rachael echoed Katherine's words, "I think you're drunk too."

xXx

End note: Yes I changed the names. 8D