Rose went at a light jog around corners of the few blocks that it took to Jake's house,all the while trying not to let the guilt of making the others swear not to tell Jake's parents surface up.

There was so much bad blood between their families in these last two years that stemmed mostly from Jake's visit to Hong Kong that first time.She sighed upon finally reaching the street.

"Made it.And without any-"Her sentence was excised when a person bumped heads into her and caused her to fall."Lord,I'm so sorry.I didn't see you there."The blond boy grunted slightly.

"Obviously not,"He rubbed his head and raised it."Roslicious?"

"Brad!?"Rose's mind drew a blank.

"Hey there.Fancy running into you here,literally."

He held out a hand to help her up,she promptly refused.

"Hey,yourself."she said wryly,and then."You remember me?"

Brad continued to massage his scalp as they stood up."Yeah,I think I'm starting to remember a lot.Where are you going to?"

"It's not any of your business."She started away.

"Rose,wait."he took hold of her arm."How do I know you?"

His query slightly interested her.Bumping heads and seeing me again must have triggered his memories as mine were when I saw Jake's photograph of us."I haven't a clue Brad."

She jerked her arm back and rounded the corner.

"But you've just gotta help me.First I find out that my parents are imposters,my full name is Bradford,and then Dr. Pandarus."

The name sounded golden to Rose."Eli Pandarus?"she made a large back flip in mid-air to face Brad again."You know him?"

He watched in amazement as she landed to his other side.

"Whoa.That's hot!And...no.I didn't actually know him.It's kind of blurry.I lived on this island with my parents and he visited."

"And you know where this island is?"Rose urged on.

"A lot of stuff is missing but I think so.It's a ways out from the Hudson River."Brad squared his eyes."You know something."

She turned her eyes away from the older teen and stared out from the building's shadow that elongated as the sun began to set into a world of swarthiness.They both had to compromise.

"I don't like it and I don't like you."her blue eyes immediately went to lock with his."But I promise to help you uncover your past if you get me to this island,he might just have Jake there."

For what reason,I don't know.Rose's heart ached miserably as they shook hands and forged an unspoken alliance together.

x.x.x

Eleven-year-old Haley watched from a safe distance from the center of the stair case.All of the tension still clung tightly in the air long after the fury of words had been fired back and forth.

"They called here again."Susan had complained to her husband when he arrived home."After my whole day off of making calls and waiting by the phone.Johnation,they think Jake took her!"

"That's it!"he had exploded,marching over."Were phoning the police about Jake and were blocking the Wheatons for good!"

For fifteen minutes straight there had been nothing but yelling.

Haley shuddered with a sigh and hugged herself to the rail pole for some support.It had been like this because Rose's parents hated Jake and his proposal to Rose.They had started it all up.

It could have worked out,Haley's parents had been willing.

But the endless string of misunderstanding and mishap seemed to grow with every passing day.After all the turmoil,no one had bothered trying to adjust anymore.Therein lied the main reason.

The only reason she could come up with.How could everyone accept a dragon slayer dating a dragon or how could her dad accept the family after being deceived to for so many years but the Wheatons couldn't accept Jake.She didn't have an answer.

Haley's cell phone hummed her Jana Cabana ring tone.

"Hello."She tried sounding upbeat.

"It's Sun Park.Haley,we may have a positive lead to where he is.Your grandfather and I are still following up on other leads but you need to meet the others in the Hudson River harbor."

Excitement tingled within her."Really?Where's the lead to?"

"Rose didn't have time to say but it'll be within the hour.Just try to be safe my Little Flower,were only a call away to help you."

The line disconnected.

Haley sighed and descended down from the door.Her father was in the kitchen when she turned to look at him.Much of his old self had been shoved aside for a more tired,intolerant man.

But,when had there been time to laugh or kid these two years?

"Rose didn't have time to say."

For the first time resentful towards anyone,Haley left the house with the full knowledge it would be night before they checked on her.But by then hopefully Jake and Rose would be found.

And for what?To only further cause the two families grief.She shed a tear at the thought as she morphed into the fading sun.

They weren't to blame.

Sometimes people couldn't accept what that didn't understand.

x.x.x

He felt unrestrained.The intense pressure around his body was gone completely and he felt himself slowly waking.Jake smiled to himself,this was the feeling he got when he lied next to Rose.

Nothing too serious happened but on nice nights when he had no dragon duties,Jake would take her on a midnight flight up to an abdicated griffin's nest on top of the Emperor State Building.

There they'd watch the stars glistening,minds drifting off and on into the endless expanse of consolations.Then they would kiss.

Or talk about their futures,whichever came first.

Jake opened his eyes in the anticipation of seeing Rose,what he saw was his human form standing over a large white unicorn by his feet.Deep gash wounds stood out on it's throat;it was dead.

Nausea swiftly rose to Jake's stomach as he clutched it.

"This was a field experiment in which I blanked out your mind with the mutation toxins,"Pandarus explained not far away."I'll have to try a few more times before I fully take your humanity."

He felt his hands ball into fists and his throat constricted as his eyes focused away.Slowly,silently,he took on his dragon form.

"You aren't going to get away with this,"Jake promised him in a low voice and lunged at him in flight.The man didn't even flinch.

An invisible field formed in front of Pandarus that Jake collided head first with."If you threaten me,attempt to lay a claw on me or disobey me as your master."he smirked."I will destroy you."

"I won't let you use and abuse me like this!"He rose up weakly.

"Of course you won't,American Dragon.Because once I finish your transition it won't matter.Jake Long will cease being your identity.Rather,the dragon who defeated the Dark Dragon will be the dragon to help me spread my reign over this whole city.

And with the assistance of other dragons,the earth as a whole."

Jake dug his claws into his palms in furious thought.I'll get out of this somehow.Gramps and Fu or someone will find me.

He released an uneasy breath and peered over at the unicorn.

Deeply pained by it's loss and uncertain about the future.It had to of been at least two days but somehow he would find a way.

To be continued...