Chapter Nine

=Jack=

Jack played his guitar in his room. Sometimes he'd think about what happen that morning and he smiled. Whenever he had a girl, it was just sex. With Alyss, it was…different. More. He'd never loved anyone like this and he enjoyed it. She was so sweet and innocent, he wonder why the hell she wanted him. He was the "first-class fuck up, third-class rock star." But for some reason, she loved him and that's all that mattered.

He thought about her scars and he started seeing red. How could anyone do that to their own family, no matter what? That poor girl had been through hell and back. Shit, she even tried to kill herself! Jack shook his head. He'd been through his own shit in the past but never like that. He could understand the feeling somewhat. All alone. Scared that you'll get hurt again if you fuck up anything no matter how little. He'd been there but his scars were in his head, not imprinted on his skin. How long had she been hiding them? At least since she got to Detroit. That was for damn sure. She always had something covering her back and her wrists no matter how warm it got. He couldn't believe it. She'd always been upbeat, even though she did keep to herself most of the time. It was hard to see that she had all this shit going on without seeing the proof of it.

He heard Evelyn call for them to come down for lunch and put away his guitar. He'd keep her safe. He owed her that. He left the room and thumped downstairs, hearing Alyss rummage in her room. Jack got down there to see everyone gathered around the table, even Jerry. And they all were staring at him.

"What?" he asked as he sat down at the table. Bobby had a big, smart ass grin that was really starting to tick Jack off. "What?"

"Have a good morning?" His brother asked politely.

Jack shrugged, trying to play off indifference. "Have this song I'm working on but it's just not coming together right,"

Smart ass grin got bigger. "Uh-huh, and that wouldn't have to do with fucking a certain girl would it?" Evelyn gave Bobby a stern look at the swearing. "What? It's the truth,"

"What are you talking about?" Jack asked, getting really pissed off.

"Oh, c'mon! Quit playing dumb!" Bobby laughed. "I heard you two up there! Had to actually put my ear to the door to make sure but I heard you,"

Jack's eyes grew wide. "What the hell were you doing at Alyss' door?"

Bobby shrugged. "Ma needed someone to run errands. I didn't wanna do it. Angel didn't want to do it, so I went to look for you two. You weren't in your room so I figured you were hanging out with Alyss in her room. Turns out you were banging instead of hanging.

Evelyn reached over and smacked him in the back of the head. "Don't be crude,"

Jack hung his head in defeat. "Shit…"

Angel laughed. "Oh, c'mon, Jack, it's not like we didn't know something was going on!"

Jack looked up at him. "What's that suppose to mean?"

"Jack," replied Jerry. "You two have been practically attached at the hip since she got here. It was only a matter of time,"

Evelyn smiled sweetly at Jack and patted his hand. "I think it's wonderful that you two are together. She's good for you. Better than any of the other girls I've seen you with," He nodded sheepishly. "Granted I don't exactly approve of you having sex up there but it's not entirely my say. Just remember to use protection please?"

He nodded. "She won't without it,"

Evelyn chuckled. "Smart girl,"

Jack heard small thumping noise and someone humming as they came down the stairs and into the kitchen. Speaking of which…

~Alyss~

I was engrossed in my book (and the occasional stray thought) when I heard Evelyn call for lunch. I put my bookmark in the book to hold my place and placed it on the nightstand. After getting up from the bed, I adjusted my shirt and gauntlets, checking to see how high I could raise my arms before my shirt lifted up. Then I shrugged a couple times to see how I could avoid lifting my shirt. After I finished checking myself repeatedly, I headed downstairs with humming to the tune of "Enjoy the Silence" by Depeche Mode. I slowed my footsteps as everyone suddenly looked up at me.

"Ooookay, why does this look like an intervention?" I asked. My mouth was probably twitching pretty badly.

Bobby shook his head. "No intervention. Just wanna talk,"

"About?"

Jack sighed. "They know,"

I blanked. "They know what?" I asked slowly, nervous about the answer.

"About us,"

My eyes widened. "What? How! When?"

"Bobby went looking for us and…heard,"

"Frig," I muttered and hung my head.

"Hey, it's no big deal!" Jeremiah assured me.

I looked up and noticed no one had a grossed-out look. Actually everyone was smiling, other than Jack's sheepish one. "You're not bothered?" I asked.

"Nope," replied Angel.

"I think it's adorable, you two together," said Evelyn.

"I do have one concern," said Bobby. Oh boy, here it comes. "You do realize you just fucked a fairy, right?" SMACK! Go, Evelyn!

Jack rolled his eyes. "Bobby, for the last time, I'm not gay!"

"Sure, you are," He grinned, rubbing the back of his head. "You just won't admit it,"

I sighed and went over to sit by Jack. "Okay, Bobby, knock it off before I reach over and smack you,"

Bobby snorted. "I'd love to see you try,"

"Uh, Bobby," said Angel. "She did knock you on your ass,"

I grinned. "Exactly,"

Bobby glared. "Shut up,"

"Never," I stuck my tongue out. Jack laughed and grabbed my hand under the table to give it a squeeze. I smiled at him. I guess I didn't have to worry about our relationship, did I?


A week or so past and it was getting close to Christmas. I was scrambling for Christmas presents for my family, a feat I could actually accomplish thanks to all the babysitting I did for Jerry. Daniela and Amelia were so dang cute! Even when they did make me play dolls with them (like I said: Barbies I can handle). Jack and I were inseparable. Before school let out for winter break, we were together every chance we got at school. Sometimes we'd sneak into a broom closet and make out for a bit before class started. Hey, the guy's an awesome hisser. Could I really help myself? He always escorted me to class no matter late it'd make him. A lot of times he'd half to run to class just to get there before he was officially late. When break started, we were always together unless I was Christmas shopping.

Every other day I'd visit Lexi and Jack would come with me. She really started to like him and Jack seemed to have a soft spot for her too. Sometimes, she'd sit in Jack's lap on the couch while I read. This time I was reading The Graveyard Book since she loved Coraline so much. Jack looked confused at her creepy choice, until I started reading and he realized how cute it was. I busted up laughing at the surprised look on Lexi's face when it mentioned "the man Jack" even though he was a villain.

"I didn't know you were in a book, Jack!" she piped.

Jack was about to play along and brag about it but I made a slashing motion across my throat with my hand. "He's the villain!" I mouthed.

Jack nodded. "Actually, that's someone pretending to be me. He's not very nice," I gave him the thumbs up and continued reading.

Days past and Christmas was creeping around the corner. I'd gotten something for everyone except Jack and I was hauling tail to find something. I had to find something good, to show him how much I loved him. Come on, give me something to work with here. Then I found it. The perfect gift for Jack. I grinned and bought it right then and there, getting it all wrapped up to sort of hide it just in case. Evelyn had gone with me that day but she was still shopping. So I made my purchase and went to the car to put it there. Outside the store, a woman was sitting there with a box that said "For Sale." I heard the whimper of puppies and tried to walk right past her without looking into the box. Unfortunately, one of them popped up their head and barked playfully at me. It looked like a grey wolf pup but its tongue was blue. It also had one blue eye and one brown. Frig, I'm lost. I looked over at the little pup and smiled.

"Hey, there, little guy," I grinned as I came over. "Do you mind if I pet him?"

The woman just smiled. "Go ahead, dear," I happily came over and knelt in front of the box. There was only one pup, the one that practically called me over. "He's the last one, dear. I hope someone'll take him in soon. I can't,"

I winced as I petted the puppy who looked as happy as can be to have me there. Oh, frig.

"There you are, Alyss," Evelyn was shuffling out of the store with her purchases.

"Hey, Evelyn," I said weakly.

"What have you got there, Alyss?" She came over and saw the little pup. "Aw! How sweet,"

The woman smiled. "Your granddaughter's been keeping him company. I'm surprised she hasn't asked for the price,"

"Well…I would," I amended. "But I don't think I could keep him,"

Evelyn looked at me and then at the little puppy. "How much?" she asked the woman. WHAT?

"Well, I had them going at a hundred and fifty a piece, but I was thinking of letting him go for free. No one seemed to want him 'cause he's the only wolf-like one in the litter,"

My eyes bugged out and I stared at this poor puppy in horror. How could no one want this little guy?

"Is he trained?"

"Yep. House broken and everything. He's got his shots and he's neutered too,"

"Great, we'll take him!"

I looked up at Evelyn and a huge smile spread across my face. "Oh my god, thank you so much!"

Evelyn smiled. "I didn't think I could tear you away from him. Besides, he seems to love you to pieces," She was right. The little guy was all over me and he wouldn't let up. He was so just happy as if he understood he was going home with me. I grinned.

"Alright, let's get these in the car and we'll head to a pat store to get all his stuff, okay?" I nodded and picked up me new little companion.

"Ya hear that, Fenris? You're coming home with me!" I hugged him close and he licked my face. I turned the woman. "Thank you so much,"

She shook her head. "No, thank you. You've saved me the heart ache of taking him to the pound,"

In my head, pound was dog for foster care. That hit a nerve and I hugged my little Fenris tighter.

We went to the pet store and got everything he'd need: bed, dog bowl, collar with his name and address on the tag, leash, food. I even got him a little doggie toy that he seemed to love already. It was a stuffed bat that squeaked. I thought it was too cute and so did Evelyn. When we got home, I put Fenris down and told him to stay as I started unpacking everything. He sort of listened. He stayed close to me feet as I went in. Least he didn't go wandering around.

None of the boys were home so I took my chance to take Jack present and hide it upstairs in my room. I hid it under the bed with the other presents, thankful that my blanket hung low enough to hide them from view. Fenris followed me and hopped onto the bed.

"Stay, Fenris," I told him and put my hands up to emphasis the point. "Stay," I backed out of the room and headed downstairs to help Evelyn. Fenris stayed in the room.

Just as we were bringing back in the last bag, Bobby's Cutlass and Jerry's Volvo came up. They're here. "Hey, sis, whatcha got there?" Bobby shouted as they all piled out.

"Stuff!" I told him as I went inside. They all came in and sitting right there on the dining table was a big bag of dog food waiting to be put away.

"What the fuck is that?" Bobby asked, pointing at the bag.

"Your dinner," I grinned. "Hope you're hungry," the other guys roared with laughter.

Evelyn poked her head out of the kitchen. "Hello, boys. Alyss, why don't you call down our new member of the family,"

"Fenris!" I called then made kissing noises. "Here, boy!" Quick as a blink, Fenris came sprinting from my room and ended up at my feet. "Good boy!" I grinned at him and reached over to open his bag of treats so I could give him one. He loved it!

"Oh, hell no!" Bobby shouted as I picked up the puppy. "He is not staying!"

"Yes, he is, Bobby," Evelyn told him. "Poor little guy would gone to the pound if we hadn't taken him,"

"Besides, think about it, when he gets big, he'll be the best security system in Detroit! How many burglars are going to rob us if they find a monster sized wolf snarling at them?"

Jerry nodded. "She's got a point,"

Bobby sighed. "Ma, you really gotta stop bringing in these strays. I thought Alyss was the last one,"

I stuck my tongue out. "Bite me, Bobby,"

Jack came over and let Fenris sniff him before petting him. "What's his name?"

"Fenris," I said proudly. "It's the name of a Norse wolf god,"

"Weird name," Angel muttered as he came to say hello too.

"Oh, c'mon! How many people have 'Alyssanna' as a full name?" Again, laughter. Fenris looked pleased as punch to be surrounded by everyone. It made me happy to see him so perky. He liked everyone, especially Jack. The moment I put him down, he started running around both our feet. At dinner, he sat perfectly still in between me and Jack, just waiting for one of us to drop something. I snuck him a piece once in a while and he was a good boy about it.

Fenris followed me upstairs when it was time for bed and lay down in his new doggy bed at the foot of mine with his little bat toy. Jack snuck in and cuddled with me again that night and I was thankful Fen didn't start barking when he came in. The little guy was trained good!

At one put, I felt a little something crawl into bed and snuggle in between Jack and me. I looked up to see Fenris curled up between us and I couldn't suppress a giggle. The movement must have woken Jack too because I heard him chuckle.

"Doesn't leave you alone does he?" He smiled.

I grinned. "I brought him home when no one else would. I took him in even while no one wanted him 'cause he's different,"

Jack looked at me and kissed me on the forehead. "Sounds like you're talking about someone else, not Fenris,"

I half smiled. "Maybe I am,"

"I love you," he told me before kissing me sweetly.

"I love you too," I whispered back and kissed him. Fenris made a small whimper and looked up at me with those big puppy eyes, as if to say "What about me?". I grinned and kissed the top of his head. "I love you too, baby boy. Momma will always love you," He barked playfully and licked my face to death, showing how much he loved me too. Me and Jack both laughed. Things were so complete. I had a family that loved me. I had the love of my life. I got to see my "little sister" all the time. And now, I had a new little companion. I really did have it all. Funny how it loves to crash and burn.

Author's Note: Hi all! Hope you all had a Merry Christmas. Mine was quiet but nice. Hope you all like this chapter! I might be wrong about Fenris being a Norse god, so i apologize. If you're wondering what Alyss bought Jack...well, i actually don't know that yet! ^o^" if any of you have any suggestions, feel free to pm them to me or put it in a reveiw. I'll give you credit for the idea in the author's note if your's get's picked. If you have any suggestions for the other guy's present, feel free to share them too :) Please tell me what you think and i'll post real soon.

TTFN, Ta Ta For Now!