I've been so stressed out with college and taking care of my ill mom that I almost forgot I was writing a fanfic. Sorry for the long wait.

Chapter 4: An Happy Reunion

NiGHTS' smile widened when she recognized who had called her. It wasn't hard since the two people were dressed in the exact same clothes they were wearing about 11 years ago. Apparently. "Claris! Elliot!" She waved as they ran up to her.

Claris got there first and gave NiGHTS a big hug, followed by Elliot. "It's so good to see you again!" they said happily.

NiGHTS responded, "You too!" She stepped back to look at them. "My goodness, you've gotten big since last time!"

Elliot pointed out, "Well, last time was 11 years ago. We're adults now."

"Wearing the same clothes from last time." Claris added. "Apparently."

NiGHTS asked, "How'd you know I was here?"

"Well, we've been living here for about two years because of our work," Elliot began, "and we saw you on TV when you were in Paris."

"Helloooooooo?" Reala spoke up, clearly annoyed. "Did everyone forget about the red jester and his quadrupeds?"

Clawz laughed nerdily, muttered "Quadrupeds", then Jackle shrieked, "Yeah! Still waiting for that 20 percent more Jackle!"

Claris and Elliot looked behind NiGHTS uneasily. "Uh, is that...?" Claris started, looking nervously at Jackle.

Jackle popped up in front of her with a hyper grin. "Carey! Remember me? I tried to kill you!"

Claris backed up behind Elliot. "Yeah, I'd rather not think about that..." she murmured.

"Aah!" Elliot jumped as he realized something was rubbing against his legs. But when he looked down, it was just a cat. But not just any cat. "Clawz?" he said uneasily.

Clawz sighed and expressed sadly, "Sadly, yes, it is I. Stuck inside this 'kitty' form."

"And I'm Reala, in case you don't know or just forgot." Reala addressed boredly, crossing his arms.

Elliot pointed at NiGHTS' companions and asked her, "Uh, NiGHTS? Why do you have a trio of bad guys following you?"

"It's a long story." NiGHTS told them. "You'd have to read the previous Fanfics (written by ERiN OPPEL)." She turned to your screen. "That goes for you too, in case you haven't already."

Reala groaned, "No! We already broke the fourth wall in the last Fanfic!"

"Well no one would've known if you hadn't said so!" Jackle noted.

Reala realized that Jackle was right. Apparently. "Gaaaah!"

Elliot changed the subject by saying to NiGHTS, "We have so much to catch up on! Did you know Claris and I are engaged?"

Claris said proudly, "He proposed to me this spring." She showed off her ring.

NiGHTS' eyes beamed at the diamond ring and she squealed, "I KNEW you two would get together just fine!" She said in delight, "Oh you're gonna love being married, because I do!"

Clawz noted dryly, "You've only been married for a day and a half."

"I know, and I love it already!" NiGHTS squealed, hugging Reala, who looked chuckled and tried not to look embarrassed.

Now the human couple looked downright bewildered. NiGHTS was married to Reala? The logic didn't fit: NiGHTS was always the "good guy" and Reala was the "second-main villain". Guess they're not NxR fans. The pair exchanged glances but tried not to look uncomfortable. Of course, it didn't really work. Actually, it failed completely.

"You're…um…married…" Elliot began slowly.

"…To him?" Claris finished with a raised eyebrow.

Reala could see where this was going, and he wasn't gonna stand for it this time. "That's right, judge a book by its cover! And don't forget to count the inside flap; that's part of the cover too!" He snapped.

NiGHTS frowned in concern. "Reala? Are you ok?"

"I'm fine, it's your friends who have a problem." He replied, glowering at them.

NiGHTS rubbed his shoulder and said gently, "They're just scared because they last saw you as a villain. Please don't be mad at them for not understanding."

"But how do we make them understand?" Reala asked glumly.

NiGHTS suggested, "Well, how about saying sorry first?"

Reala thought, then nodded. "Ok." He turned to Claris and Elliot. "Go ahead."

Clawz face-palmed and Jackle snorted.

NiGHTS clarified to her mate, "Um…I meant you should apologize. To them."

Reala looked shocked at first, but then he shuffled his feet and mumbled to Claris and Elliot, "I'm…er…s-sorr…" He felt NiGHTS grab his mouth and help him say the words. "Soorrrry."

Clawz spoke up to the humans, "That's the best you're gonna get, so take it or leave it."

Elliot and Claris exchanged glances, then smiled weakly at Reala. "That's ok." Said Elliot.

Then Claris thought of something and asked NiGHTS, "Hey, do you guys have a place to stay?"

Before NiGHTS could reply, Jackle cut in, "Sure! We've got a nice, cozy alley all to ourselves! And we were even gonna charge other hobos to stay in it!"

"Noooooooooo!" NiGHTS, Reala, and Clawz shouted and pushed Jackle aside.

"What? It's a good idea!" said Jackle.

"Not as good as it used to be." mumbled Reala.

Claris continued, "Well, if you don't have a place, why don't you stay at our apartment?"

NiGHTS beamed. "Really? You mean it? Oh, thank you very much!"

Elliot then whispered to Claris, "Um... all of them?"

Claris' smile faded. "Oh..."

Jackle then popped up in between them and reassured, "Don't worry, we're gonna have loads and loads of fun!"

Claris and Elliot exchanged worried glances.

"Well, here we are." Elliot said as he opened their door, shortly after NiGHTS had summarized the previous Fanfics (written by ERiN OPPEL). It was a cozy little apartment fit for two people. It had two bedrooms and a yellow kitchen with one of those little "islands" in the middle. On the right side, there was a big couch and a low table in front of a TV. Along the walls were pictures of-

"GET ON WITH IT!" Jackle shouted angrily.

NiGHTS looked confused. "Who are you talking to?"

"Whom." corrected Reala.

Everyone looked even more confused at him.

Elliot broke the silence by suggesting, "Then, I guess you two can sleep on the couch. Clawz can sleep in a basket, and we'll set up some newspapers and jellybeans in a corner for Jackle."

"Yay!" Jackle cheered. "Jellybeans!"

Claris yawned. "Well, it's pretty late. Maybe we should get some rest and talk more in the morning." The others agreed. Claris and Elliot said goodnight, then went to their separate bedrooms.

NiGHTS snuggled up close to Reala and murmured. "G'night, Ree."

Reala kissed NiGHTS' face and said, "Sleep tight, NiGHTS."

Clawz shifted uncomfortably in his woven basket. "Hey, can I sleep on the couch with you guys? This basket is itchy."

"No." Reala said at once.

"Of course!" NiGHTS said warmly.

Clawz purred and leaped onto the couch and squeezed in between the two jesters. He curled up contently, resting his tail on Reala's face, much to Reala's annoyance.

Jackle called from his corner, "JELLYBEANS! Oh, good night everyone!"

This chapter is short because it was cut from the next chapter because I want to focus on NiGHTS' group and Wizeman's group separately. Reviews will be much appreciated.