Three years later Valamon was walking through a JewelBeemon village when she saw a FanBeemon flying as fast as it could towards her, screaming, "AHHH! It's a monster! SAVE MEE! AHHHHHHH!" It barreled into her.

"Whoa, calm down. What's wrong?" Valamon asked, catching it in her hands before it fell.

The FanBeemon merely pointed in the direction it had come before burying its face in her shirt.

Valamon looked up to see a tall demonic looking biker-type Digimon striding along the path looking around with a feral grin on his face. She could tell immediately that he was a Mega level viral and highly dangerous. "What do you want?"

The Digimon stopped and looked at her. His grin turned into a smirk. "What? Ya don't recognize me? Of course not." He put a clawed hand on his hip.

"What's that supposed ta mean? Who are you?"

The viral reached up and pulled something out of the bandana on his left arm. He held it up for her to see. It was a silver chain with a blood-red stone attached to it.

Valamon gasped. "My necklace! But I gave that to…how did you get it?" she demanded angrily, taking a step forward. "You better not've done anything to Impmon, if you did then I'll kill you!"

"Cool yer jets, toots. It's me, Impmon. Just Mega level."

Valamon stared at him with disbelief. "Impmon?"

"Actually, it's Beelzemon." he said, folding his arms.

"So you finally came to visit after all this time. I've been waiting for you to return."

"Well, let's just say I've been busy."

"Well, you're here now."

"Not for long though, there's somethin' I gotta do."

"Well, after yer done we can hang out, right?"

"I don't think so."

Valamon cocked her head to one side. "What, why not?"

"Because, I don't want to."

"Oh, maybe some other time?"

"No, I'm probably never gonna see you again."

"Why?" Valamon asked, surprised.

"'Cause I'm too good for you."

"Huh?" Valamon asked, blinking and raising an eyebrow in confusion.

"I don't need any friends."

"But Beelzemon-"

"Shut up!" Anger flashed in his hard ruby eyes. "I don't need you, I don't need anybody!"

Valamon could see pain and loneliness behind the anger in his eyes. She set FanBeemon down, walked over to Beelzemon, and threw her arms around his middle in hug.

He looked at her in surprise. "Wha-what the hell are you doin'?" he demanded, taking a step back.

"It's alright. I'm here for you." Valamon said quietly.

Beelzemon pushed her away. "I don't need you! I'm fine by myself."

As he turned to walk away, Valamon reached for him.

He swatted her hand away. "Leave me alone!"

Valamon's hand dropped to her side and tears streamed down her face. "Beelzemon..."

He gave her a look of disgust and looked down at the necklace still in his hand. "Oh yeah, here's your necklace." He tossed her the necklace and she caught it in mid-air.

She watched him disappear from view. I can't believe it; he doesn't want to be my friend any more. But there seems to be a reason for that. He seems so sad, though he's hiding it with anger. I remember when I used to do that. She looked down at her necklace. I'm not going to let him go through the same thing, no matter how much he resists. Full of determination, she ran in the direction Beelzemon had taken.

Beelzemon grunted as he struggled to keep Megidramon's jaws from closing in around him, his grip slackening slightly. Suddenly the viral dragon was thrown sideways. Beelzemon watched in amazement as Valamon came into view, looking quite angry.

"How dare you try to hurt him!" she snarled, dropping to the ground. "Now you die!" She fell into a fighting stance.

Megidramon roared and righted himself. "Megiddo Flame!"

With a swift uppercut, she sliced the attack in two. She charged at Megidramon, black energy coating her claws. "Dragon Cla-oof!" She was batted away like she a rag doll by his large claws.

Megidramon roared and slithered towards her.

She jumped up. "Come on, ya big ugly lizard!"

"Guilmon, please stop!"

Valamon looked past the Viral dragon and saw a boy with brown hair and goggles. She looked back at Megidramon.

"So, you're Guilmon, huh? Well, for the sake of your Tamer, I won't kill you." She straightened up. She jumped over Megidramon's head as he lunged at her.

Beelzemon was tired of standing around and ran at Megidramon. "I'm gonna finish this now!" He pulled out his gun. "Double Impact!"

The bullets hit Megidramon's side. He swiveled his head to look at Beelzemon and growled. He whipped around his tail, slamming it into Beelzemon.

Beelzemon went flying backwards, slamming into the ground, and sliding several inches before coming to a stop.

Valamon grabbed Megidramon's tail and tossed him away, then walked over to Beelzemon. She bent down and held out her hand to him.

Beelzemon swatted it away and stood up. "What are you doin' here? I thought I told ya I don't need you!"

"I'm not going to leave you alone."

"DAMN YOU! LEAVE ME ALONE!" he roared in her face.

Valamon's eyes narrowed to slits. "I don't think so. I want to help you."

"I don't need your help!" He backhanded her viciously. "I don't need you, I don't need anybody!"

Valamon spat out a mixture of spit and blood onto the ground and wiped her mouth, ignoring the stinging pain from the small wounds that Beelzemon's metal-coated glove had left on her cheek. "Yes you do. You just don't realize it," she said calmly, looking up at him sympathetically. "You're my friend; I don't want you to be sad and unhappy."

Beelzemon's eyes widened in surprise. "Valamon…" He sighed. "Leave me alone, just, leave me alone." He shook his head and turned away.

Valamon reached out to touch him but was suddenly yanked backwards. "Ahh!"

Beelzemon spun around. "Valamon!"

Valamon snapped out her wings and flew up. She saw a group of six kids and five Digimon standing on a cliff overlooking the battle. One of the girls was on her knees with her face in her hands, her whole body shaking. Valamon cocked her head to one side. What's wrong with her?

"Darkness Claw!"

Valamon looked down to see Beelzemon drive his claws through Megidramon. The Viral dragon collapsed.

Beelzemon pulled his claws out, turned, and walked a ways away.

The brown-haired boy rushed over to Megidramon. "Guilmon, GUILMON!" he cried, hugging the dragon's head, tears coursing down his face.

"Aww, ain't that sweet? I'll put you outta yer misery. Double Impact!"

"Beelzemon, NO!" Valamon screamed.

Just as the bullets were about to hit Megidramon, he hit them away with his tail. Then the dragon and child was enveloped in a gold light.

Valamon watched in amazement as it dispersed, leaving behind a white armored knight with a crimson cape, lance, and shield. "What happened? Where's the boy?"

"Crap." Beelzemon said simply, pulling out his other gun.

"You're going to pay for killing Leomon and trying to harm my friends! For that you can never be forgiven!" the knight said in a voice that sounded like it was two people talking.

"Who said I wanted forgiveness?"

"Lightning Joust!"

Beelzemon dodged the attack, retaliating with his own. "Double Impact!"

The knight Digimon held up his shield, blocking the bullets. Valamon watched the battle between the two Mega Virals with concern. Suddenly Beelzemon was successfully hit with a Lightning Joust, making him fall to his knees. As he struggled to pull himself up, the viral knight charged at him. Just as he was about to strike, Valamon dropped down in front of Beelzemon and was struck through the stomach. She gasped and fell to her knees. She coughed fiercely and spat up blood.

The startled knight pulled out his lance, causing Valamon to fall forwards, and took a step back. "What have I done?" he whispered, horrified.

"Valamon!" Beelzemon cried in disbelief. He dropped to his knees and picked her up in his arms. "Why, why did you do that?"

"Because," Valamon said softly. "You're my friend; I wasn't going to let you be killed in front of my eyes when I could've done something about it."

"I'm sorry; I never meant what I said to you." Tears trickled down his cheeks, splattering on Valamon's face.

She reached up and wiped his face with her hand. "I know, I forgive you. And, I'm sorry too."

"Whatever for?"

"I broke my promise."

"Wha-what promise?"

''Three years ago, when you were still with me. An Angewomon brought you to me drunk. You pleaded me never to leave you alone. I promised you I wouldn't, never like I was," Tears streamed down her face. "I can't keep that promise."

He hugged her and buried his face in her hair. "Valamon..."

Valamon closed her eyes, inhaled sharply, and coughed. "Man, I survived a sword in the back; you'd think I'd survive a lance through the stomach..."

"No one could survive that," Beelzemon's voice cracked. "Valamon, there's something I gotta tell ya. I-"

"Shh, don't say anything." Valamon murmured.

"But I have to-"

"No." She began coughing violently.

Beelzemon hugged her tighter. "Don't leave me. Please, don't. I don't want to be left alone again."

"I'm sorry." Valamon said hoarsely.

Neither of them had noticed the bits of data that were flying off Valamon until she looked down and sighed. "I can't believe this is the end."

"Neither can I." He put his hand on her cheek.

Valamon smiled weakly. "Here," she said, pulling her necklace out of one of her pockets. She held it out to him. "You keep it; I won't need it anymore."

He took it from her. He looked at it for a moment then looked at Valamon and cried out as he watched her disappear. "Valamon! Valamon..." He buried his face in his hands and began sobbing uncontrollably, digging his claws in his helmet.

The knight reverted to a small red dinosaur-like Digimon and the brown-haired boy.

Takato looked very distraught. He walked over to Beelzemon. "Beelzemon, I'm really sorry."

"She was the only one who cared, and I treated her like crap. I never got ta tell her how I really felt, now I never will," He opened his hand and looked down at Valamon's necklace. "I'm sorry, Valamon." he whispered.

Renamon phased into view beside him. She put a paw on his shoulder.

He jerked away. "Stay the fuck away from me!"

"Come home with us."

"There's nothing there for me, there's nothing here either, not anymore."

"Even though you did some terrible things-"

Beelzemon snorted, "That's an understatement."

Renamon frowned before continuing. "We're still welcoming you to return with us."

"Not all of you are," Beelzemon said, looking up at Jeri. "Besides, I was such a jerk to ya. Why should you care?"

"Because I do, now come on."

Beelzemon shakily got to his feet. "Fine."

"Beelzemon! Look out!"

Beelzemon glanced over his shoulder and his eyes widened as he saw the metal plates coming towards him.

Suddenly a shadow passed overhead and he felt a heavy weight on his shoulders and heard a grunt. His eyes widened in disbelief when Valamon looked up at him. "Valamon?"

She smiled weakly. "Hi."

He chuckled weakly. "Oh my God. I never thought I'd see you again!" He put an arm around her waist and picked her up.

"I didn't either. Oh, it hurts."

"I'll get ya away from here." Beelzemon said, turning. He began to fly slowly.

"I see you're wearing my necklace."

"Oh, yeah. Couldn't keep myself from doin' that."

Valamon's smile widened slightly. "That's nice."

Beelzemon reached a skyscraper, flew up to the top floor, and kicked in one of the windows.

The Monster Makers looked up at them, startled. Beelzemon set Valamon down. She stood there for a few seconds before her knees buckled and she collapsed. Beelzemon caught her and helped her over to the nearest wall, where she sat.

"Where are the others?" Yamaki asked.

"Still battlin'." Beelzemon replied, not taking his eyes off Valamon.

"Damn!" Valamon cried, pulling out one of the blades in her back. She held it up and examined it. Half of it was dripping with blood. "No one can say Digimon don't bleed," She looked up at Yamaki. "I've heard quite a bit about you from the Sovereign. They said that if you didn't stop that program that deleted Digimon, he would send me in ta straighten ya out." She crushed the blade in her hand into dust and let it fall to the floor.

"Why you?"

"'Cause I'm the-ow!-Guardian," Valamon replied, pulling another out. "Damn stupid D-Reaper! Once I'm healed, yer ass is mine!" She threw it and it embedded itself in the opposite wall.

Beelzemon reverted to his wingless form and sat down beside Valamon. "Yeah, we gotta still get Jeri outta there."

"Jeri, who's that?"

"She is-was-one of the Tamers, 'til I killed her Digimon."

Valamon sighed and pulled another out of her back. "Hey, Beelzemon? Wanna see who's stronger?"

"How?"

Valamon stood up. "Like this!" She hurled it with all her might at the wall. It went through the wall kept and going.

Everyone watched as it hit the next building and made a hole in it.

Beelzemon's jaw dropped, as well as everyone else's. "Damn, yer good."

"Thanks," Valamon sat back down. "Could ya help me get the rest of these out?"

"Sure."

Valamon looked around and watched the Monster Makers as they busily worked on their computers. She could tell Yamaki was watching them through his sunglasses even though it looked like he was looking out the window.

Suddenly feeling exhausted, Valamon closed her eyes and leaned against Beelzemon. While she slept, Beelzemon very gently pried the rest of the blades out of her back and tossed them away. After he was done, he shifted slightly and ran his claws through her hair.

The Tamers walked in, very surprised to see the sleeping Valamon and Beelzemon. They saw the blood on the floor and the hole as well as the bloody blades stuck in the wall and on the floor.

"Whoa, what happened?" Henry asked, looking around.

Yamaki shrugged and turned away.

Suddenly Valamon stirred. She looked up at the Tamers and stood up. "How's it goin'?"

"F-fine. We still haven't gotten Jeri out though." Takato replied.

"I think I have an idea for gettin' yer friend free."

"You do?" Takato asked in surprise.

Valamon nodded. "But it'll take a while. I have to heal up and Catastrophe'll need time to get here."

"Catastrophe?"

Valamon smiled. She turned and walked over to the window, allowing them to see her wounds and her blood-soaked shirt. They grimaced.

She spread her wings and flew out the window, where she hovered just outside. She let out a low eerie whistle that echoed. After a moment, she stopped and went back inside. "Now we wait."

"How long?"

"Well, since he's in the Digital World…maybe a few days. I'll tell you when he's here."

"Oh."

Valamon coughed. "Man, hurts like hell." She spat out blood and wiped her mouth. She walked over to Beelzemon and sat down. She reached out and picked up one of the blades between her claws. With a flick of her wrist, she sent the blade up into the ceiling. Then she began to lightly sketch on the wall with her foreclaw.

"Hewwo."

Valamon looked up to see a young girl with brown hair in a yellow t-shirt and light blue shorts. "Hello little one."

"What are you doing?"

"Just drawing." Valamon replied.

"What's your name?"

"Valamon."

"My name's Susie."

"What a nice name."

"Wanna play with me?"
"Sorry, but no thanks."

"Oh, Ok," Susie turned around and saw Terriermon. "Tewwiermon! Wanna play dress-up?"

Terriermon squeaked and bolted. Susie ran after him.

Valamon giggled and sighed. Suddenly Beelzemon fell against her shoulder. He slid down and his head and shoulder dropped onto her lap. Valamon's eyes widened in surprise. She smiled and put a hand on his cheek. She draped her wing over him like a sheet.

Beelzemon slowly opened his eyes. At first, his vision was blurry but as it came into focus, he saw that he was lying on his side on Valamon's lap. He bolted upright, making Valamon's wing cover his face and startling her.

Valamon moved her wing and smiled at Beelzemon. "I see you're awake."

"Yeah." He looked down at his hands, blushing lightly.

"It's really boring here."

"Yeah, hey ya wanna come with me ta check on the kids?"

"Kids? I guess so..."

"Great, this way we can fix up your wounds too."

Valamon smiled. "So this means I'm your friend again?"

"Of course! I told ya I didn't mean what I said to ya. It's just that I had been through a lot of terrible ordeals after I left the Digital World."

"I understand."

"I forgot that you do. I hate myself for yellin' at ya. I especially hate myself for hittin' ya."

Valamon put a hand on his shoulder. "It's alright. It didn't hurt that much. And I don't hate you. I've had worse happen to me than get yelled at and slapped."

Beelzemon looked down at the floor and sighed. "Bet yer life was a living hell."

"Yes. But it's alright now."

"Well, come on. Let's get outta here."

They stood up. Beelzemon picked Valamon up. A bright light enveloped him and when it dispersed, Beelzemon had purple-ish black feathered wings and green eyes. He walked over to the window and flew out.

"I can fly by myself."

"Alright." Beelzemon let her fly out of his arms.

Together they flew for a bit.

"To think, as Impmon you were scared of flying."

"I wasn't scared of flying. It's just that I messed with a lot of Digimon that flew and they'd get mad and carry me by my feet high up in the air and drop me."

"Oh."

"Hey, wanna race?"

"Sure, but I gotta warn ya. I'm really fast."

"How fast?"

"I can travel faster than many Digimon."

"Not faster than an Imperialdramon."

"No, but who could?"

Beelzemon shrugged.

"Well come on!" Valamon said, speeding off ahead of him.

"Hey no fair! VALAMON!" Beelzemon cried, taking off after her.

The two chased each other around for a while until they got to the house.

"Ai! Mako! I'm back!" Beelzemon called, landing and reverting to his wingless form.

Valamon landed beside him and looked around. She looked at the house and watched as the door open and two young children ran out, a boy and a girl, screaming happily. They ran up to Beelzemon and latched onto his legs.

He picked them. "Hey guys."

"Impmon, you were great!"

"Yeah I was, wasn't I?"

"Who's that?"

Beelzemon turned to Valamon. "This is my friend, Valamon. I brought her over ta meet ya."

"She's pretty," the little girl said.

Valamon blushed lightly.

"Yes she is." Beelzemon agreed with a sheepish grin.

Valamon blushed deeper and looked away shyly.

"Come on let's go inside."

They walked inside and Beelzemon set the kids down. He turned to Valamon. "Come with me, we need ta tend to your wounds."

"A-alright." Valamon followed him into the bathroom. She watched as he looked through the drawers and medicine cabinet muttering to himself.

"Damn! Where the hell is it?"

"Where's what?"

"The freakin' gauze wrap. I know they got one runnin' around here somewhere!"

"Gauze wrap? What's that?"

"It's a long bandage."

"Oh."

Beelzemon growled in frustration. "I'll be right back," He walked out of the bathroom. A minute later, he returned. "Alright. Valamon, this is the kids' grandma. She's gonna bandage ya up, since she knows where everythin' is." he said as an elderly woman appeared beside him.

"Oh, my," The woman's eyes widened at the sight of Valamon. "Well, dearie, let's get you fixed up." She walked over to one of the cabinets.

Valamon watched the woman for a moment then looked up to see Beelzemon disappear.

"Ok, I need you to lift up your shirt so I can look at your wounds."

Valamon hesitantly pulled up the back of her shirt.

She heard the woman gasp. "My God! You should be dead right now, with all these holes in you."

"Well, I ain't exactly human, ya know."

"I see. These are some pretty nasty wounds; I'll have ya patched up. And what in the world is this thing?"

"It's nothing."

Valamon watched as the woman started looking through a small drawer. She pulled out a long brown roll.

Valamon guessed that it was probably the gauze wrap Beelzemon had been looking for earlier.

The woman also pulled out a bottle. She turned around and ordered Valamon to sit down while she applied ointment to the wounds. Then she started wrapping her up. "Let me take your shirt and fix it up for you, it's a mess."

Valamon removed her shirt and handed it to the woman. She followed her into the living room, draping her wings around herself. She saw Beelzemon sitting on the couch with the kids nestled in his lap as they watched TV. Beelzemon looked up at her and, seeing her shirtless bandaged chest, blushed lightly and looked away.

Valamon sat down on the couch beside him.

"Kids! Anyone want fudge pops?"

"Yeah!"

The kids jumped off Beelzemon's lap and raced into the kitchen with their grandma following behind them.

Beelzemon got up and followed them. He stopped and turned to Valamon. "You comin'?"

"No."

He shrugged and walked into the kitchen.

I don't see why he was so angry before. He seems quite happy with these kids. Valamon stood up and walked over to the front door. She reached out and put a hand on the doorknob. She looked in the direction of the kitchen. Then she opened the door and went outside. She sat down on the front step and looked up at the sky, which was partially covered by dark silver clouds. She sighed. She glanced over her shoulder when she heard the door open.

"Whatcha doin' out here all alone?" Beelzemon sat down beside her. He held out a fudge pop to her.

She took it and looked at it uncertainly. "I just wanted to have some alone time I guess." She gave it an experimental lick. Deciding she liked it, she bit into it. She ignored the cold and numbing affect as she continued eating.

"Uh, Valamon? Ya ain't supposed ta eat it like that."

Valamon shrugged. A few moments later, she finished and set the stick down. "You really love those kids, don't you?"

"Huh?" Beelzemon looked at her, then looked up. "Yeah, they're a handful sometimes but, still..."

Valamon looked down at her hands.

"What's the matter?"

"Huh? Oh, nothing."

"Don't say that, I can tell you ain't happy about something."

"I told you, it's nothing."

"You're not alone anymore. I'm here for ya."

Valamon looked up at him in surprise, then looked away. "I still feel alone. No one's ever really cared about me. Seeing you with those kids…it hurts. 'Cause it shows me what I don't have, never had, and probably never really will. I guess that's the price I pay for being the Guardian, condemned to a life of loneliness…." Her voice cracked and tears spilled from her eyes.

Beelzemon put a hand on her shoulder. Valamon jerked away and stood up.

Beelzemon stood up as well. "Come on, let's go inside. It's gettin' kinda chilly out here."

They walked inside. Beelzemon sat down on the couch in-between the children. Valamon looked down at the floor as she walked over and sat down on the edge farthest from the three. Beelzemon looked at her sympathetically.

Ai, who was the closest to Valamon, looked up at her. "What's wrong?"

Valamon looked at her. She shook her head. "Nothing," she replied, then looked away, pretending to be interested on what was on the television. She looked down and saw Ai pulling herself up on her lap. "Uh, what are you doing?"

Ai smiled up at her. "You look sad, how come?"

"You wouldn't understand."

"Ai, Mako! Time for bed!"

"Ohhh!" the kids said simultaneously.

"Come on now."

"But we're not tired yet!" the children insisted.

"I'll read you a bedtime story."

"Ooooh, could Valamon read it to us?" Ai asked.

"If she wants to."

Valamon looked at her uncertainly. "I don't know how to read." she said quietly.

"You don't?" the kids' grandma asked, slightly shocked.

"No, I never needed to. All I do is fight." She shrugged.

"Don't feel too bad, I don't know how to either. Not many Digimon do." Beelzemon said reassuringly.

Ai and Mako's grandma nodded understandingly then turned to the kids. "Come on now."

Unwillingly the children went with their grandmother into their room.

Valamon stood up and walked towards the door.

"Where ya goin'?"

"Outside."

"You don't have ta sleep outside."

Valamon turned to him. "I don't?"

"Nah, you can have the couch. Usually I sleep here but you can if ya want."

"Oh, but where will you sleep?" She walked over and sat down on the couch.

"I can sleep on the couch too; unless the kids want me ta sleep in their room with 'em."

Valamon sighed. "They probably will."

As if on cue, she heard the kids call out from their room, "Impmon!"

Beelzemon sighed and stood up. He walked into the kids' room.

Valamon sighed and curled up, tucking her legs under her. She crossed her arms on the arm of the couch and rested her cheek on them. She could feel tears forming in her eyes. She closed her eyes to try and hold them back.