It had been four years since the ASHTD had been created, and many more were in production. Since that time, Jack had never forgotten about the world he had stepped into, and would often take visits to explore it. However, his visits didn't last long for he knew that he needed to return home.

From what he had discovered, it was an island, the weather was cool and some places were much colder than others, to the point where it snowed. There were many different villages scattered across the island, some big, some small, but Jack himself never entered them. He would simply observe them, and the people that lived in them, from afar.

There was so much yet to discover, so much to learn! It was also something that Aperture could benefit from, something to improve the ASHTD even more! So, Jack made a decision, it was a hard one, and it took a lot of thought, but in the end he felt it was the right thing to do. He would go to live in the world that he came to love, learn all he could about it, and then one day, return to Aperture and report his findings. He and Sarah had a long talk about this the night prior, and had come to an agreement, they would go and Alice would come with them. They also talked about it with Alice, she was excited, but at the same time she was upset. As much as she wanted to see this world, she didn't want to leave her beloved Chell and auntie Caroline behind, but when Jack told her they would be coming with them, Alice was all for it.

Jack didn't want to leave his sister and her child alone. Not after what happened four years prior. Alice had barely been a couple of months old when Cave passed away. Despite being the fighter he was, his sickness had finally caught up to him and he died from liver failure. This had broken both Caroline and Chell's hearts and they hadn't been the same since then. Caroline especially, she seemed so nervous all the time and became even more affectionate than she already was. Caroline had always been an affectionate person, and that was a good thing, but this was over the top. She acted like every day was her last and, despite now being CEO of Aperture in Cave's place, she went out of her way to spend as much time as she could with her family. This confused and concerned Jack. Hence, why he wanted to offer Caroline and Chell a new start, a chance to leave their past behind them.

Jack tapped his fingers lightly on the table as he, Sarah, and now four year old Alice, were awaiting Chell and Caroline's arrival.

"You wanted to talk to us?"

Everyone turned to face Caroline and nine year old Chell, who were now standing in the doorway. Upon seeing her older cousin, Alice's face lit up and she ran over to Chell, knocking her to the ground.

"Chell!"

All the adults in the room laughed, Chell got up into a sitting position and grinned. "Hello Alice"

She then lifted up her four year old cousin and took a seat on one of the chairs, placing Alice in her lap. This only prompted even more laughter from the adults. It made Jack smile to see Caroline laugh, he hadn't seen her laugh for four years.

Caroline took a seat on one of the chairs and the discussion began.

"Caroline, I would like to ask you something."

"Yes Jack?"

"You see, ever since we created the ASHTD, the world we discovered has constantly been boggling my mind." He paused a moment "It's something that I've thought very deeply about..." Inhale, Exhale, for some reason this was harder to say than he thought it would be. "So me and Sarah had a discussion last night, and we decided that we wanted to go and live in this world, we've also talked to Alice about this..." He paused again, taking a deep breath. "So basically, what I wanted to ask is if you and Chell would like to come along with us, I believe by taking the time to study this world, Aperture Science can benefit greatly"

Caroline's face dropped. She wanted to go with them, every part of her wanted to go with them, but she couldn't. It was her fate to have her consciousness uploaded to the Genetic Lifeform and Disk Operating System. A fate that neither Jack, Chell, Sarah or Alice were told about. Cave knew good and well that none of them would go along with it. So, he had made sure they were elsewhere when created the prerecorded message naming Caroline his successor. All they knew was that Caroline would be taking over Aperture when Cave died, they knew nothing of the Genetic Lifeform and Disk Operating System. This was something Caroline didn't want, it was something that she never wanted, but when it became her husband's dying wish, she felt the need to go along with it, out of respect for the man she loved.

"Jack..." she said weakly

"I'm sorry but I can't..."

As she said this, tears fell from her eyes.

The whole room became quiet. Both Jack and Sarah were shocked and slightly hurt at Caroline's answer, while Chell looked completely heartbroken and Alice burst into tears.

Leaping off her cousin's lap, Alice ran over and dug her head into's her aunt's. Chell got up and chased after her, standing then stood in front of the two of them, biting down on her lip and trying very hard not to cry. Caroline wiped the tears from her eyes and began to stroke Alice's hair.

"Why auntie Caroline?" Alice's said through muffled sobs "I don't understand." Chell just looked at her mother, she said nothing, but Caroline could tell from the look on her face that she had the same question as Alice. For a moment Caroline was quiet. She needed to think up a lie. As much as she hated lying to them, hating seeing them all so upset, but it was for the best.

Upon coming up with what she would say, Caroline swallowed before speaking again.

"Alice..."

"Chell..."

"Sarah..."

"Jack..."

"I need to stay here and run Aperture..."

She looked at Jack and Sarah "It's what your brother-in-law..." then down at Alice "Your uncle..." Last, but not least she looked at Chell "Your father... wanted for me... it wouldn't be right for me leave... especially with bring your daughter to work day coming up in a couple weeks..."

Tears cascaded from her eyes like waterfalls.

"I'm very sorry... I hope you will forgive me... I love you all very much..."

Once again, the room became quiet.

In the end, Caroline supposed it wasn't really a lie that she had told them. It was more or less not telling them the full truth, a white lie if you will. She knew if she were to tell them the truth, then things would be a lot worse and far more difficult than they were now.

After a long moment of silence, Jack finally spoke up. He tried his hardest to smile."I respect your decision Caroline, and I forgive you" He then got up from his seat, walking over to his older sister and wrapping his arms around her. "And not matter what happens, I will always, always, love you"

Sarah also got up from her seat and walked over to them, placing her hand on her sister-in-law's shoulder, and squeezing it gently."I forgive you too Caroline, I understand why you wish to stay here."

Alice sniffled raising her head from her aunt's lap."I forgive you too anutie Caroline"

Caroline then looked over to Chell, she still looked so heartbroken. She hated seeing her daughter this way. She was about to apologize again, but Chell cut her off. "I forgive you too Mommy" she said softly. Despite how much it hurt, Chell was used to these kinds of things happening to her. She then turned to her baby cousin whom she loved very dearly.

"I'll visit you Alice! I promise!" she stated before wrapping her small arms around her little cousin, and holding her close.

"What about you Auntie Caroline?, Will you come visit us too" Alice asked with another sniffle

"I promise" Caroline said weakly.

Saying those two words hurt the most out of anything she had said today, because she knew that she would never get the chance.