Echo: Whoo! Christmas Eve!

Goldfish: Do not break out into song.

Echo: Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way-

Goldfish: Echo...

Echo: Oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh, hey!

Goldfish: Echo, I'm warning you...

Echo: Jingle bells, jingle bells-

Goldfish: SHUT UP!

Echo: Okay! Geez! No need to yell. Anyways, early Christmas present! Chapter 9!

Goldfish: What a fabulous present.

Echo: I know it's really short - more of a filler chapter than anything, just for everyone who wants to know what happens in Jack's apartment after the whole official father/daughter meeting.

Goldfish: It is very short.

Echo: But still. Hope you like it.

Goldfish: EchoGirl319 does not own Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's.

Through the Cosmos

Chapter 9

~ The Atlas Angel ~

The tension in the room had peaked to an all time high and it was making Violet incredibly nervous. Standing only a few feet away from her was her nineteen-year-old father. A strange, strangled noise escaped her throat but apart from that there was silence in the lavish living room that was occupied only by the champion, the secretary and the time-traveller.

Violet pulled the coat around her self-conciously, all too aware of the colour that was rapidly flooding her cheeks. It was as these times she wished she could be more like Jake or her father instead of her mother. At least then she'd probably have been able to do something with the situation. She had never felt more awkward.

"Aren't you going to answer?" Jack asked pointedly, folding his arms across his chest. Violet gulped and when she finally did speak her voice was hoarse.

"I'm Violet."

"Well then, Violet," the blond sneered, "I don't know how you got in here but I'm requesting that you leave. Now."

He moved his gaze from the eight-year-old to Mina, glaring at the blue-haired woman, who nodded meekly and moved to take Violet by the arm and lead her out but she was shrugged off. Violet looked haughty at her ignorant father's words and gave Mina a cold glare that matched the one Jack had just given her. Instantly the secretary recoiled.

Once Mina had backed away, Violet fixed her father with the same piercing look. Her Atlas side was finally shining through.

"I think I'll stay," she told him. Inwardly, she was shocked. She had never spoken to her father this way before (the gang had always referred to her as being a daddy's girl) but she had heard about how much of an arrogant, egotistical git – at least that had been Chris' description, she was unsure were he had heard it from – had been during his time as duel monsters champion. Before her mother had come along.

Jack, however, was rather surprised. No one had spoken to him like that in long time; as duel monsters champion Goodwin had let him do whatever he wanted, he had even, to an extent, encouraged the young man's obnoxious behaviour. He didn't like the girl's attitude, even though he was somewhat confused by it; she had gone from being nervous to haughty in a matter of minutes. What really irritated him, though, was that he had seemed to already have developed a soft spot for her. How was that possible? He had only known her for a couple of minutes and in that time she had already proven herself to be pest. Not to mention she had a glare that was startlingly similar to his own…

As this train of thought continued, any retort Jack had for the girl – Violet – was lost and instead he asked the first question that came to mind.

"Why?"

Of course, though, the girl had to be annoying and not give him a proper answer.

"'Cos."

"Why?" he repeated his question, though it came out as more of a growl. The girl looked up at him and crossed her arms, though the gesture was almost unnoticeable due to the fact that she was cloaked in the long, white trench coat. Jack frowned as he remembered that she was wearing his signature coat. He held out his hand for it.

"You're not staying," he reaffirmed. "Give me my coat and leave."

Violet's nostrils flared and her jaw was set. She grabbed the lapels of the coat to keep it around her shoulders and shook her head, taking a few steps back.

"Nu-uh," she told him, "I'm holding this coat hostage until you let me stay."

Mina jumped slightly at the girl's words and glanced between her and Jack. Was this seriously happening?

Jack, on the other hand, was spontaneously tempted to slam his head against a wall, which was odd, as he'd never been tempted to do such a thing before. Obviously this Violet girl wasn't getting the message. Either that or she was getting the message and was just being stubborn. And she was somehow immune to his glares.

Violet could see that this wasn't getting anywhere. Stubbornness was a family trait that both she and her father, as well as Jake, possessed. The argument that she and Jack were having right now was pointless; neither Atlas was going to back down. It was like two people pushing on either side of a brick wall. Instead she opted for a different tactic.

Jack was at a loss for words. Never before had someone threatened his coat. He, himself, had been threatened many times, especially when he was part of the Enforcers, but no one had ever threatened his coat. Then, much to his (and Mina's) surprise, Violet walked forwards until she was only a couple of feet away for him and looked up.

The cold, infallible blond would not admit how much of an affect this had on him. The eight-year-old's bright amethyst eyes seemed to have grown impossibly wide and innocent and she pouted. "Please?"

For a moment the ice around his heart seemed to melt and, realising this, he immediately looked away. "Fine."

Violet smiled angelically, her whole face lighting up, and impulsively hugged him around the waist. The champion froze at her actions and Violet, realising what she had done, instantly let go, blushing furiously at her slip-up.

Mina watched the entire scene with wide golden eyes. Had that really just happened?

Echo: So, what do you think? Good, bad, utter waste of time?

Goldfish: Waste of time. Definately.

Echo: Shut up. You're ruining my self-esteem. Anyhoo, you're probably like, "WTF? This was the shortest chapter ever" well don't worry, because I'll update again tomorrow! I promise.

Goldfish: Mm-hm.

Echo: Well, merry Christmas!

Goldfish: Indeed. I have found you the best present possible.

Echo: Wait a sec... I don't trust you, Goldfish. Please tell me that you didn't plant a bomb under the Christmas tree again?

Goldfish: Of course not! *shifty eyes* Where on earth did you get that idea from?

Echo: Hmm... *regards Goldfish warily* Well, please review! That can be your present to me!

?: Now, now, don't be an extortionist, Echo.

Echo: Who the hell are you?

?: I am... *reveals self* the Almighty Christmas Malteaser!

Echo & Goldfish: WTF?

Almighty Christmas Malteaser: Mwahahahahahahahahaa!

Goldfish: Hey! That's my line!

Echo: I think I might need to see a therapist... or a psychologist... *thinks about the mad goldfish loony bin escape* maybe a councillor as well...

Almighty Christmas Malteaser: Mwahahahahahahahahaa!

Echo: Oh well. *eats malteaser* Mmm, tasty...