Hey again. Sorry I took so long, but I finally got my new laptop! So, I should be able to update more often. That is...when I'm not worrying about school. But anyways I just wanted to say thanks for the reviews! I really appreciate them.

Chapter 6

I reach for the door handle, but I stop a few inches from it. Should I knock? Or just walk in? Sigh. I guess if this really is my house I should be able to walk in. Right? Grabbing the knob I twist it, and walk in. Vander seems to be more hesitant, but follows me in anyways.

I take in my surroundings. There is a medium size couch, pictures on the wall, and….I gap in surprise. That has to be the largest flat screen holovision I have ever seen! I look over at the stupefied Vander. I guess he was having the same thoughts….

Deciding the flatscreen can wait, (as much as it kills me) I still have to meet…..my parents. Just as I'm about to move forwards to check out the other rooms, a little head pops out from around the corner.

"Melody." I say smiling. I can't help it. The Lombax girl runs towards me, and then jumps into my arms in a hug. This startles me, making me take a step back. He chocolate brown hair gets in my face, so I try to wipe it away. It doesn't work to well….Finally after a few more seconds Melody lets go. Her tail is wagging wildly and her bright blue eyes look up at me with first worry….then like she's going to murder me.

"Where have you been dork! I called Kimberly to see where you were today, because we knew she decided to take you to her dad's home. And she said Tachyon said you were gone!"

"Wait...two days ago?! And did you just say Tachyon's home?" I guess that would explain why I didn't remember being so high up.

"Yes and YES! How could you not know?!"

"Um….ya….about that. Remember that fall I told you about?"

"Yaa….Why?"

"I'm pretty sure I got a concussion….or something."

Melody's eyes widen. (Why everyone does that is beyond me), "What do you mean you have a concussion!"

"I mean I don't remember anything! Not this place! Not my girlfriend! Not Tachyon being alive!"

"Wait. What do mean you don't remember Tachyon being alive?!"

If I could I would have sweatdropped.

"Umm...Nevermind. That doesn't matter right now."

"Did you...did you kill him?!"

"What?!" Technically yes, but I can't say that. "No! Of course not! Why the heck would I do that?!" Besides the fact he tried to take over the entire universe and bring back a race that could kill a lot of people.

"Um. Guys?" We both turn to see Vander standing very awkwardly.

"Who's this?" Melody seems to have stopped her parenting.

"Melody, this is Vander. Vander this is Melody...my little sister."

Vander rolls his eyes and crosses his arms. " I kind of figured. Seeing how you two were ranting on like that. Kind of like an old married couple." He smirks at the last part. Nearly making me and Melody gag.

"Really Vander?! That's gross! Eww. He's my brother!" Melody shouts and covers her mouth like she's about to barf. This earns me a smile instead.

"Oh come on! I'm not that bad? Am I….honey?" I ask. Me and Vander are both now snickering. Ya. Ya. I know I'm childish, but if you saw her face from my point of view... you'd understand.

Melody's ears are now pressed to her head as she runs down the hall. She slams a door that I can only guess leads to the bathroom. I look over at Vander. A moment of silence passes between us before we both break down into a laughing fit.

After we stop. Vander looks at me with concern. "Well...now what?" he asks. I give a small shrug.

"I dunno. I guess we just look around. I'm sure my parents are in here somewhere….I think." Vander nods his head and we decide to explore the house. Of course we avoid the direction Melody went. We could...um...hear her gagging.

"Im not that bad am I?" I randomly asks. Vander just smiles, and then...pats my shoulder.

"Oh come on! Seriously?" This time he chuckles, and I give him a low irritated growl. He looks at me with a raised eyebrow.

"Did you just growl at me?" he asks. Still smiling.

"Maybe." I mutter.

After about ten minutes of exploring we find...no one. Absolutely, no one! Melody walks into the room we're in. Yes. We did stop in the kitchen.

"You took your time." I say grinning. She growls at me. A pathetic one, but a growl all the same. So, this is what it feel like.

"Do you really want me to go into details?"

"Uh.. no. Not really. Anyways, where is everyone?" I ask.

Melody rolls her eyes. "They're not here dork. Mom's working as a nurse, and Dad's at his workshop. He's a should be getting back in a couple of hours."

I nod my head in understanding before turning to Vander.I give him a look that says We are in for it when my mom get's home. He seems to understand. At least I think so. Seeing as we aren't talking to each other and I'm not so good with facial expressions...unless it's Clank. Then I understand completely. I mentally slap myself. Stop thinking about him! It'll only make you miss him more! Sigh.

"Well….I'm sure we could do something to keep ourselves busy." I say smiling as the thought of the giant flat screen crosses my mind.

A couple hours pass.

"NO! You did NOT just do THAT!" I shout as Vander had just killed my Agorian warrior with his Blargian Snagglebeast for the sixth time. Sometimes…..I hate video games. My ears flatten and I look down in shame as he does a small victory dance. Stupid game.

"Who's dumb idea was it to play this game anyways?!" I say irritatedly. Vander jus laughs and sits next to me.

"You dummy. Remember?" he says with that huge grin on his face. I still don't understand this guy. I roll my eyes at him.

"Rematch?" I ask.

"No."

"Why?"

"Because you've asked me this six times, and I beat you every single one!"

"So….is that a yes or no?"

He gives me a hard stare. "Dang it." I mutter. Before we can do anything else we hear the opening and closing of a door.

"Mom! You're home!" I hear Melody shout from the chair she sits at. M-Mom? I look over at the door and sure enough there is a tall female Lombax. Her fur is a light creamy color with slightly darker stripes, curly blond hair, and bright blue eyes. She's also wearing a crison t-shirt and blue jeans. This….is my mother? I can't believe it! I want to run over and hug her so bad right now, but I got to keep it cool for now. Don't want to get any closer to a night at the crazy house as it is. Work slowly.

Looking down I see my tail wagging. Ah crap! I manage to stop the stupid thing. I hope know one saw that! Too late. Vander is silently giggling, but stops when I give him a hard glare. Luckily I have fur. If I didn't...I'd be bright red in utter embarrassment.

"Hey mom!" I shout. Settling with a huge grin, and an occasional glance at my tail Just in case.

"Hey Ratchet! How was school?" She asks. Uh….

"School?" I ask ears falling back. School! I have school?! She crosses her arms and taps her foot. What is it with girls always tapping their foot at me?! It's not like I did anything wrong! Most of the time.

"Don't tell me you've been skipping school and hoverboarding again!" She tell me in a motherly manner. So that's what that feels like.

"Er...No! You see what happened was-"

"No excuses! You're grounded and no hoverboarding!"

"W-what?!" Okaay. I knew that if I ever reunited with the Lombaxes it would be hard. But this is ridiculous! I barely know my mom a minute, and I'm already grounded!

My mom seems to have seen Vander. He looks a bit uneasy and I can't say I blame him.

"Who's this?" she asks. Before I even open my mouth Melody join the conversation.

"That's Ratchet's friend, Vander."

"Hi" he says sheepishly waving a hand. This is...awkward.

"Hello." she says uncertainly waving back.

"Also, mom" I start choosing my words carefully. " I got a concussion, and I don't remember much." Worst sentence I've ever said. But what else could I say? Hey mom. I've lived a life where I'm a hero and everyone wants me dead. Then some how ended up here bleeding (that part would upset any mother.) with no idea how I got here, and lied about a concussion. Also, I've never met you in my life! That wouldn't end so well.

"Concussion?" she asks before running over to me.

"What are you-" I start, but stop as she puts a hand to my head and starts….examining me. I think.

"Why didn't you go to the doctors?"

"Um...would you believe I did?" Her tail flicks in irritation.

"I'm a nurse! I would have known if my son was in the hospital."

"Oh...right. Er...forgot Melody said ." I rub the back of my head.

"Well...I'm sure it will go away soon. At least….I hope so." Really? She's buying it?! Clank was right! My dumb excuses do come in handy. Of course they're not all dumb. Like the time I stayed up too late, and when people asked me what was wrong I just said Quark. Everyone believed me. Besides...it was half true. Quark did irritate me that day. Wait! Stop thinking about everyone! Just stop! You'll see them again. *Sigh* But still...I miss them so much….even Quark.

I must have been thinking for a while because Vander is snapping his fingers in front of my face.

"Hello. Fastoon to Ratchet." I shake my head to clear my thought.

"Sorry what? I was just...thinking."

"*Sigh* You're mom said I can stay over for dinner, and that it'll be done in about a half hour to an hour. Oh. Also, you're not grounded."

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

"Sooo. What do we do in the mean time?" I ask. Vander smirks.

"I thought

I might take you up on that rematch. Whaddaya say?"

I smile a wide toothy grin. "You're on."

45 minutes later…..

"What? How did you. But, BUT!" I smile at Vander's dumbfounded look.

"Well...looks like your snagglebeast is going to need some mental help. Lots and lots of mental help." I say thinking about the pile of ashes I managed to turn it into. Finally.

"But. But you cheated!" Vander asks with an irritated look.

"How did I cheat?"

"You. You..er..um…" I raise an eyebrow. Still smiling at my victory.

"Sore loser much?"he crosses his arms and gives a small huff. I just roll my eyes. Then. playfully punch him in the arm. He returns the gesture.

"Dinner's ready!" We hear my mom shout from the kitchen. We both hurriedly walk. Smelling the food the whole time. When we reach our destination Melody is setting the last plate on the table and mom is filling the plates with Mac and cheese. Also, some Banque chicken is set in the center of the table surrounded by plates full of different fruits and vegetables. None with eyeballs much to my relief.

We all take our seats around the table. Vander looks like he's about to drool at the sight of food. I snap my fingers and then in a mocking voice say "Fastoon to Vander."

"Hey mom? When's dad going to be here?" Melody asks.

"Well. He should-" Mom is interrupted by the opening of a door. A minute later an older Lombax with the same fur and eye color of me 's wearing an oil stained dark grey mechanic suit. Vander nearly chokes on his drum stick.

"H-Hey dad." I say. At least, I hope it's my dad otherwise this would stink. Luckily he smiles when I say this. Phew.

"Hey son. How was school?" Again with the school!

"Well…." He crosses his arms and taps his foot. Oh come on! Luckily the dumbstruck cragmite rescues me.

"Y-You're K-Kaden." he says stammering. My dad raises an eyebrow.

"Yes I am. Who are you?" Seriously. This would have been a lot less annoying as a group instead of individually.

"I'm Vander, sir."

"Pleased to meet you, and none of that sir crap. Just call me Kaden. You a friend of Ratchet's?"

"Yes sir." My dad gives him a hard stare.

"I mean Yes Kaden."

Dad smiles warmly at this before hopping in a seat next to my mom. Which is right acrossed me, Vander, and Melody. We eat quietly for the most part until dad speaks up again.

"You still haven't answered the question Ratchet." he says without looking up from his plate. My ears droop a little. Luckily I'm saved yet again when Mom leans over and whispers the obvious in his large ears. For the record she's a terrible whisperer! I heard every word, and practically everyone already knows! It's not a secret.

"W-what? How?" hoe asks.

"Fell down a hill." Melody adds with a little too much sarcasm. And a too large smile.

"You what?!" Again. Not how I planned this to go.

"I fell down a rocky hill and got a concussion." I say.

"Do you remember us?" Not at all.

"Sorta. Mom says it should go away soon." If there was ever one to begin with. Dad nods his head looking a bit confused still.

"Well…. that's good. I guess." he says. Then the room is quiet again. The only sound in the soft clunking of fork on plate. Seriously! This is way too quiet for my liking. But...I guess it's better than worrying about questions and answers.

After we finish eating Vander has to say our goodbyes, and we decided we'd meet up in a couple of days where we first met up. I'm pretty sure I rember how to get there….hopefully.

I was shown to my room. It has paintings of space and different planets on it. There is one in particular that catches my eye right by my bed. Veldin. I smile before crawling into my star covered bedding. I think about the events earlier today. It may not have gone exactly the way I wanted it to, but still I met my parents! I may have already met her before, but having a sister too?! I mean Clank's always been a brother to me, and I never want to change that. But, to be honest…..I've always wanted a little sis. And Vander. A cragmite. Who'd have thought I'd actually start to become friends with a Cragmite?! In the end though, I;m glad that we became friends. The only thing that could make this better is if Clank were here. I smile. It's a

cross between the happiness of meeting my family, and the loss of a friend.

"Night Clank."