Ratchet and Cank Universe belongs to Insomniac Games

Eirlys and story belongs to me

Thank you, famousreadernumber1 for the review... and I'm a girl XD

Chapter 10 – This is Your Home

Tachyon made sure I got back by midnight as I waved him off and entered the house (through the front door rather than the window) and to my wonderment, both Kaden and Crystal were still up, watching TV.

They turned to face me as I looked at them, "Well, looks like she did come back on time," Crystal whispered as I ignored her and went to my room, not in the mood to start a fight with her.

I woke up early and made sure I had all my stuff before I changed into clean clothes. I walked into the living area, carrying all my stuff with me, "Hmp, that eager to leave are you?" Kaden muttered as he noticed me. I looked away not wanting to meet his eyes, "Alister is coming to pick you up, so you can have breakfast," he paused as I set my bags down by the door, "you must be hungry, you know, since you didn't eat yesterday, " he yawned.

"Yeah." I answered as I turned to face him. He handed me a saucer with a few slices of toast, "Thank you," I looked around, noticing the scarcity of his wife.

"She's still sleeping," Kaden answered, obviously noting my intentions as he went to sit on the sofa. I followed him while eating my meal. "I didn't realize until after I had left that I must have hurt you with my actions, " stating his epiphany.

"Look Kaden, I'm happy you're trying to be my friend, but like I said yesterday, I want to move away from you. Not like moving to a different planet or something, but rather try and find someone else. I keep coming back to you 'cause I know you're there and I can't keep relying on you, " I voiced my own epiphany. I looked at him before avoiding his gaze and took another bite out of my breakfast.

" I love Crystal, but you'll always be a friend. Just know that you'll never be alone, " he gently uttered.

"Thank you," I whispered with a half-smile.

"Ok," he clapped his hands before standing up, "I'll let you finish up then," he said before briskly leaving (no doubt going to see Crystal ).

I completed the consumption of my toast while flicking through the channels to find something interesting to watch. Alas, there was nothing, so I turned off the TV and went to go put my plate in the sink when I heard a knock at the door.

Knowing it must have been Alister, I smiled and went to answer it. There he stood, "That excited to have your life ruined by me?" I said gaining a smirk from Alister before he replied.

"As if you haven't already ruined my life. But it should be interesting nonetheless to see what you can come up with to further your attack on my existence," he retorted as I smiled, shaking my head and letting him in, "Where's Kaden and Crystal?" he asked curiously.

"In their room I guess, Kaden is up though," I answered as he inspected the home, "Speak of the Devil," I said as Kaden himself walked down the hallway, most likely wanting to see the guest.

"It looks like you're all set," Kaden said as he slammed his hands together, "Alister, you know I'm always here if she becomes too much for you to handle," Kaden teased while the soldier laughed in response.

"If I can handle the recklessness that is you, I think I should be able to handle Eirlys," he said receiving a hands-up surrender from the soon-to-be father, "Come on ,Eirlys, we better get you situated at my place," he ushered as I nodded grabbing my paraphernalia and following Alister out the door turning to bid Kaden farewell and then catching up with the disgruntled white Lombax.

I really don't know what possessed Alister to want to live at the top of a steep hill. He just laughed and said I had to carry my own weight around if I'm to be staying with him.

Once we made it however, Alister showed me to my room which he claimed to have been his storage room...which explained the apparent caked-on dirtiness. I asked for cleaning supplies and a few minutes later, he arrived with the desired materials and I began to work.

It took most of the day to get the room clean and rearranged to suit my liking, not that I liked the furniture. I lived without such possessions and found them bothersome.

So once I finished unpacking and making sure I was happy with everything, I went to go find my caretaker to ask him where the cleaning materials needed to be dispensed. As I rounded a corner, I noticed that Kaden and Crystal arrived. I went back around the corner not to interrupt but overhear. I was probably intruding their privacy but, hey! What do you expect me to do?

"If you ask me, you should have dropped her off in an orphanage the day you found out she was an orphan," I heard Crystal say as I refrained from gasping. How could she say something like that?

"Come on, Crystal, she didn't understand what was going on," Kaden spoke in my defence.

"But still, she's old enough! She can look after herself, she doesn't need to be pampered," she persisted.

"Look, thanks to the new, law there was nothing else we could do," he remarked.

"She could have easily been put on that program, " she insisted.

"She would have been sent away from this planet and to another where she knows no one," he interjected.

"And anyway, I'm sure once she gets enough money, she'll find a house and move out," Alister said as I heard Crystal scoff pompously.

"Can we go home now Kaden?" she whined.

"Very well, see you tomorrow Alister," he said, shaking hands.

"Yeah, see 'ya buddy," I heard Alister say as the door was heard opening and closing, "Eirlys, I know you're listening," he raised his voice as I came out from behind the corner.

"Why does she hate me so much?" I asked, obviously upset.

"She's just jealous, always has and always will be, " he muttered.

"What do you mean?" I pried.

"What I mean is," he said as he walked over to me and placed both hands on my shoulders as I looked up at him, "she knows that Kaden would have chosen you to be his partner if you were the right age. "

"But she got him Alister...," my voice was barely audible. " Anyway, I'm going to be more active, make some money doing whatever I can so I won't be in your way for very long," I successfully changed the subject.

"Eirlys, you may be a pain in my backside most of the time, but take as long as you need," he smiled as I returned the gesture.

"Thank you," I was honestly grateful.

"You're welcome, now I'd advise you get your rear up to the Raritanium mine. I don't think your friend will be too happy if you keep him waiting, just make sure you lock up when you decide to come home," he said, handing me a key to the house. I smirked before leaving, putting the cleaning tools away.

Thank you so much.

Thankyou for reading and remember to reveiw.