-Authors Note-

Well. Ohai thar.

xD

Things have been hectic lately, but believe it or not, to me that makes me write more. I've been talking to the coolest guy in the world, whom I like and whom likeS me back, and that puts me in such a good mood I just CAN'T stop writing! So, usually, I don't update this often.

Just saying.

I DON'T OWN NOTHING! :D But it would be sweetness if I did…

Follow me on Twitter, Emmingle. STALK ME!

"You can call me Doctor Death Defying."

I turn around slowly, the biggest smile on my face possible. I can only imagine how goofy I look.

"Doctor, I'm Sparx Fire. It's truly an honour to meet you…" I gush, reaching out a hand. He smiles warmly at me. I notice the twinkle in his deep eyes, a twinkle that had left the eyes, and souls, Of most after the boom. I admire him already.

Instead of shaking my hand, he gives it a high-five. "Great to meet you, Sparx." He chuckles. "Now, Party told me you had a question to ask me?" He says.

I look down, noticing the wheel chair he had been confined to. I think for a second, before meeting his gaze once more.

"Well…" I start hesitantly. "It's more of a favour, I guess, than a question…" I tuck my hair behind my ear, but it falls back into place.

He looks at me expectantly. "…Go on." He says. I find comfort in his deep voice.

And so I start my story.

I remember the loneliness more than anything else.

The cold nights, feeling empty, but no more tears to cry. The long days spent walking, my only companion a radio.

I remember, in one of my old groups in which I stayed only about a month or two, with around 6 or 7 people in it, one had spoken to me.

"Spark…" He said, looking me in my crimson eyes.

His own were a deep, unnatural green, and they shone in the moonlight, as we gathered around a large, built fire. His hands were strong, and his hair was windswept, but what most stood out about him was his personality.

Yeah, yeah, I know it sounds cheesy. But… there was just something.

Something that made me blush and hide my face every time he smiled.

"Yes?" I reply, grinning ear to ear.

He chuckled and looked down, tucking a strand of chocolate brown hair behind his ear. ( I had gotten the bad habit of doing that when I was nervous from him. ) "I…" he looked up at me again.

Then looked down,

Then looked up.

I could see the tint of his cheeks turn a faded pink as he looked me in the eyes.

I miss those soulful green eyes…

I remember leaning in. I remember kissing him with all I had.

I remember a week later, waking up next to him, his arm around me. I remember thinking it would be forever.

But I've learned, in fact,

Forever is just a word, not a promise.

That day, I remember him making me stay back with some of the others, as he left to fight of a large number of Dracs.

"I love you too much to lose, Ivory." He sighed.

I remember the last kiss he had given me, and the last time I had seen him, the back of his head, as he walked away towards the old mustang we had kept. Driving off into the distance, as two others held me back from running after him.

I remember the tears streaming down my face, the screaming and begging and pleading coming out of between my chapped lips.

But…

The thing I remember most about what had happened, was feeling the loneliness pool

back into my heart as he never came back.

I had explained to DDD about my current situation, about how I was hopelessly alone.

Alone…

I shiver.

By now it's just him and I, sitting on the bar stools- Well, I am, anyway. He's in his

wheelchair. He had prepared some kind of pre-boom tea, it tasted like herbal, and he had

admitted he had found it under the sink long ago when he had discovered the old diner.

I had told him about my family, my friends, my groups. About the things I had seen, and

things I could not un-see.

He had nodded, listened to my story. Not interrupted once. He just looked on, as if he

was slowly processing my words.

Finally, as I started into my half empty cup, the silence stating my finish, he spoke. It startled me.

"What you've told me… Sounds like a whole lot of sadness for one young lady." He shakes his head. "The bomb has effected many like you. Leaving them with nothing."

He pauses to take a sip of the herbal drink in his hands, the steam rising up to his wrinkled, bold features.

"We, here, are lucky. PartyPoison, Jet Star… All of them, myself, and some others, we are lucky to have what we have. A roof over our heads, food to eat, most of the time… and love. We have… what is kind of like a family. Glow Kid, her innocence-" I scoff at this. "-Pulls us together. Gives us character. Heart."

Another head shake.

"I can't explain how much I owe all of them… But like I was saying, there are many like you, with nothing, no one. We can't help them all."

I blink and look down. I can feel the rejection.

"but, Sparx Fire, there is something about you I cannot fathom. You seem… So, different. Hurt, but hopeful."

Another pause. A low, hearty laugh escapes his lips. "I don't imagine I make any sense. It's hard to put the aura you put off into words…"

I smile, and for a minute, I see something flash in his eyes. Worry.

"Sparx, I would love it if you could stay with us. With Show Pony around, we don't need much anymore… but there's always something. Always." He smiles at me once more, and wheels off into the middle of the room. I stay seated.

"Everyone!" He calls loudly. A smile is hinting on his lips.

I sit there, confused, my feet dangling off of the chair, mug in my lap, as everyone gathers in the room. A woman with gladiator sunglasses perched on top of her head and headphones around her neck, with bleached blonde hair down to her shoulders walked in with a man(?) dressed in blue and white polka dotted leggings, a black leather thong, black motor cycle helmet, NOISE shirt and roller skates come into the room together.

Soon, the brat and the boys walk in. People look confused.

The doctor wheeled around so that he could see me and the others at the same time.

"Sparx Fire…" he clears his throat. "The young lady over there, will be staying with us for a while."

His grin fades as a few people scowl. The woman and Party look nervous, Fun Ghoul looks excited, and the rest just look confused.

The woman looks over at me, her eyes filled with worry, and then switched her gaze to Doctor D.

"Hey, DDD, mind if I talk to you?" She asks nervously. Her sight keeps darting to mine, as if I'm going to jump her any minute now. I jokingly reach for my gun and she freaks out.

The doctor seems to think about it for a second, and then nods and they saunter off into a room. Party Poison and Kobra Kid follow suit.

So I'm left here with Glow Kid, Fun Ghoul, Jet Star and roller-thong, who's real name I don't know. Jet Star is playing with Glow Kid, some kind of shooting game or something.

Swivel, swivel. I swing around on the bar stool, with nothing better to do.

I think about it, really, and my situation is kind of terrible right now.

Just a little bit.

Here I am, some complete stranger walking in, basically demanding a spot in this family of theirs.

I face palm. What the hell WAS I thinking? If I was them, I would have shot me down in a heartbeat. I mean, I sounded suspicious now that I thought about it. I could have been a spy, for all they knew…

I attempt to wallow in my own grief when a tap on the shoulder startles me. I swiftly dart my hand and eyes to my ray gun, when I hear a familiar laugh behind me.

"Relax, Sparky-Sparx." Fun Ghoul chuckles into my ear. I shiver.

Growling, I clench my fists. "Don't call me that, please." I say slowly.

He shrugs and takes a seat next to me on the dusty stool. "Chill. Joke." He smiles. He slouches over, putting his sculpted chin in his hands, elbows on the wooden table. He stares up into space, with the same shine in his eyes of that of a 2nd grader. It's cute.

Ghoul chuckles and rubs his eyes, like he's tired or something. "What are you?" He laughs, hiking up his midnight bangs with his fingers. He takes a peek at me and grins even more.

I shrug. "A white human female." I respond I monotone, fingering the details of a nearby, rusty napkin dispenser.

"No, like, seriously." He says, letting the fair fall back onto his face. He props his chin up once more, but this time, facing me. As if he's ready to listen to some grand ol' life story. "You're just walking for who knows how long, fighting off dracs alone, and when we find you stick Party in an arm lock! It's like you were born into the marines!"

I pause, letting a smile slip across my chapped lips. I open my mouth to say something, but change my mind and just giggle.

"Um, no. I can guarantee I am not in any sort of army force. But I did take karate in third grade." I joke, tucking my hair behind my ear. He's laughing too, now. "Where are you from?" He chuckles.

And suddenly, it's quiet. I stop laughing, and his grin fades into blankness. It's silent for a few, long seconds.

"What do you mean by that?" I ask, my voice almost a hoarse whisper.

Fun Ghoul looks shocked. At the same time, regretful. I mean, pre-boom crap is sort of a tender subject.

"I guess…"

It's quiet for another minute or so.

"I was born and raised in the heart of Battery City."

Ghoul seems surprised. "That was the worst part. How are you alive?" He asks.

I slowly place my head in my hands, staring at the blue strands of my hair falling over my eyes and face. "We owned a bomb shelter." And I laugh weakly. "Pretty random, huh? But it comes in handy in situations like those. Not to say is completely protected me or anything, like, dude. Look at my fucking hair. But at least…"

"At least you're alive." He practically says it with me.

There's a silent tension hanging in the air for the next few minutes, until he breaks the uncomfortable silence.

"Want me to give you le grand tour?" He asks, reaching out a hand. There's a genuine smile on his pale face, and it makes me flush with butterflies.

I take it, and we're off.

Hours later, I lie in a makeshift bed made of sheets and fluffy objects, staring up at the blurry ceiling.

They had decided to let me stay.

They had given me my own "bed",

And insisted I think of them as family.

So here I am, no longer sleeping on rocks… Thinking,

Hey.

Maybe I've found home.

Whaaadddya think? I tried my best, okayyy! Dx whatever. The ending is kind of meh, I know… but I did that in like, ten minutes tops. I had finished 90% of it within a day and then just left it, and now I picked it up, desperate to finish something for once. xDDD Yeah. So there you go. R&R or I shall FIND you…

Bwahahaa! :3