Authors Note: Happy 2011 guys! Here's hoping you enjoy the first chapter of the new year; I haven't had the time, energy, or ideas to write much of anything lately, and this probably won't be very long, but hey! It's something. Enjoy!

Title: Building Sandcastles

Era: Mid-Jak3, during the Kleiver disk challenge

Rating: PG (wow that's the lowest I've gone lol)

Prompt: Sandcastles

Dedicated to: Magic! For giving me the prompt :3

Warnings: None


"Bet you can't beat my record. If y'do, y'can have the crystal. But don't get to cocky, no one's beaten me record."

Tera could only role her eyes at the glint in Jak's eyes at the prospect of the challenge, waving him off towards the gun turret with a sigh, "Go on, trigger-happy, I can see you're dying to try it."

"Be done in a bit."

"Yeah, yeah, go on."

"Think I'll stick with Ter…" Daxter hopped onto the girls shoulder and leaned against her head, echoing Teras sigh as they watched Jak eagerly climb up the turret mound to get to the gun. Hot and rather bored, the channeler moved back a bit and plopped down in the sand, resting her chin in her hand as she stared out at the ocean in front of her.

Letting out a breath, the blonde glanced around again, eyes landing on the sand in front of her. One ear pricked curiously, eyes narrowing a little, a grin working its way onto her lips. She moved forwards onto her knees suddenly, beginning to pile sand in front of her, still grinning.

"Ter, whatchaohhhhh!" Daxter's eyes went wide, the ottsel immediately leaping off her shoulder to help pile sand up, working on forming a building between them, piling more and more sand to extend the shape, the form.

They ignored the weird looks they were getting from passing wastelanders, ignored Kleiver's sneers, and kept on building their castle, feeling, for the first time in years, free, as they had in Sandover.

Jak cleared the challenge and climbed back down, smirking and claiming his prize from Kleiver. When he turned, however, the smirk fell into something like shock, and then a sort of calm remembrance, a rare expression from the worn-out hero.

Walking over, he bent down beside Tera and grinned, lifting an eyebrow, "Whatcha doin' Ter?"

The blonde girl merely grinned back, "Buildin' Sandcastles."