Fox awoke slowly; everything coming into view as his eyes was sensitive to the bright lights above and that horrible ringing in his ears hadn't gone away. Before he could even get his eyes open to see all that's around he could hear a voice.

"Fox?" He heard a women's sweet voice. "Fox honey can you hear me?" The vulpine didn't reply right away, he tried to sit up but did so to quickly as multiple jolts of pain surged through his torso and upper body and collapsed back onto the bed.

"Fox!" That voice came again as his eyes were finally adjusting to the light. A blurry image of a vixen came into focus as he finally could interpret her.

"Mom?"

"Oh thank God!" Vixy stood from her seat as tears started rolling down the sides of her face. She ran toward the door as she yelled down the hallway. "Doctor he's awake!" Within moments a canine in a white coat came up to Fox's bedside to see how his overall condition was. Through painful grogs and a very stiff body Vixy was able to get Fox into a sitting up position. After a few moments of looking over the monitor's and his body itself he stood back and smiled.

"Everything seems to be in order Mr. McCloud; you're on the way to a full recovery." It took Fox a moment to focus in and rally a response, his mind was still hazy and he breathed a bit harder then normal.

"How long have I been out?"

"You've been slipping in and out of consciousness for the past few days; you were in critical state when you arrived that night."

"How critical?" As the doctor explained things people started to pour into the room to Fox's notice. Ranging from friends to parents of the friends and James himself.

"You were shot in your right shoulder and had a massive blood loss. In that short amount of time you had loss about half of your blood. Your body's root temperature had dropped and the cold dug into your wound. Give it thirty minutes more and you would have been dead. Luckily your friend was there when she was; she applied pressure onto your wound and kept your body temperature sustainable just long enough for the paramedics to arrive. If she hadn't been there you would have died much quicker."

"Where is she?" Fox asked as he noticed she wasn't in the room.

"She's asleep in the next room over, her injuries were much more minimal then your own but she's quite well banged up as well." The canine doctor walked over toward an x-ray scanner projecting pictures of Fox's upper body. As the doctor explained things James walked by Fox's right side across from Vixy holding the baby kit. He gently handed Jamie to her daddy as he still gave the doctor his full attention. Luna made her way up to his left side as she took his left hand into her own, lacing their fingers.

"Miraculously nothing is broken; you just have some deep bruising and will feel woozy for a while until your blood flow continues as normal in the next few days. You'll be a bit sore for a couple of weeks so very minimal to zero physical exercise at all are advised." The doctor took another pause as he jotted some notes down on his clipboard, "I'll be sure to prescribe you some painkillers so you can have a little more movement."

"Thank you doctor." Fox talked nicely as he gave him a respectful nod.

"My pleasure." The doctor took his leave as Fox slightly adjusted his seating so he could lean up against the metal bed frame, a couple of moans leaking from his shut mouth as he did so.

"Take it easy Fox." Miyu walked up to his side as he struggled, her voice overtaken with concern and worry.

"I'm alright." Fox breathed easy as he brought Jamie close and looked down at her. The baby kit smiled as he brought her close; shaking her rattle with glee as she was held by daddy again after so long.

X

Hours after Fox had awoken he was finally alone, it took sometime before everyone could say what they wanted and Vixy took the baby away for a nap while daddy needed some rest himself. But Fox lay in his hospital bed wide awake, tortured with one known feeling that wouldn't go away because of him; guilt. Guilt that innocence died because of him. Guilt that he had to see people suffer because of who he is. And guilt that Krystal; who had returned and forgiven Fox for what he had done in the past was nearly killed due to being with him at the time, and ultimately being his friend. He just couldn't get over all the facts, all the notions that it was dangerous to be around him; life threatening indeed. In an attempt to shake these black feelings Fox turned on the plasma screen; auto set to a news show cast as a white feline reporter explained the news.

"An assassination attempt turned into a daring chase as well as a heroic leap to save an innocent vixen as ape attackers; who was later discovered to be hired Venomian soldiers attacked and pursued two young teenagers a few nights ago. A vulpine and a vixen escaped a bomb attack just moments before it was detonated, killing dozens instantly and leaving more to die in the streets. Including one Lieutenant Ryan Kreesh as he was put on a mission to protect the vulpine teen and was engulfed in the initial blast. The total amount of casualties are still unknown but have now been confirmed as over one hundred beings were killed."

"As the soldiers gave chase to the two teens they dialed 911 and gave directions to their whereabouts as the chase went on, dodging bullet fire and escaped them for moments by hiding in a newly worked on upper class home. As the chase continued the two teens had no choice but to run from the responding officers in the area; as the soldiers opened fire killing four and wounding six more. With the help that was called eliminated the two teens had no choice but to jump onto an in motion passenger train to escape the attackers, but even that wasn't enough as a few miles more up North they were shot at again. It came down to the wire as the two teens had no choice but to leap off as the train was still moving. Where they were later recovered by paramedics as the vulpine and vixen was severely wounded from their completed escape. It was later learned that the soldiers were hired by Corneria's infamous Dr. Andross to kill the targeted male teen. Until he was later stopped by a vulpine who is to remain anonymous. No more is given on the doctor other then that he is behind bars and is to be on trial for his crimes. The two teens are to remain anonymous but it's a shocking story of heroism still in the making."

Fox turned off the plasma screen as he had now felt even worse; over a hundred innocent beings were killed because he wouldn't stay put. It was a lot to dwell on the mind as he felt horrible on the inside and it was showing on the out.

"Fox what's wrong?" He looked toward the door to see his father entering the room, looking concerned. Fox was as pale as he's ever seen as he held the grimmest of looks.

"Dad." The teenager started slowly, "People died because of me."

"That's not true Fox."

"It is true; if I would have just kept still in my apartment none of those people would have been killed. Why didn't I just listen?" Fox held his in his slightly bandaged hands as he tried to keep himself together and not break down crying. It was a horrible feeling, he was disgusted with himself. Beings lost their lives because of him, because of his presence there at the coffee shop. Because he simply wouldn't listen.

"Fox." James took a seat by his bedside as he set a palm on his shoulder. "Listen to me, Andross killed all those people not you. If you would have stayed you would have been killed in the end and still innocent people would have died. He probably would have blown up the entire apartment complex and maybe even Peppy's house as well. By leaving you may have in fact saved lives."

It was hard to Fox to believe that, he didn't want to believe that. Because either way people died because of him. Though it wasn't his fault, it was one of those things that just couldn't be helped. He started to take in what James said more and more, just to try and feel better about it.

"You're a hero." James said with a smile as he stood up. "You saved Krystal; it was probably that much harder protecting her as well during the whole thing. You should feel proud Fox."

"She saved me though." Fox interlined, or so that's what he believed to what happened. Near the end his mind went hazy; he couldn't even remember how she kept him warm for about an hour until medics came to him.

"Well the important thing is that you're both alright." James leaned over forward as he looked to hi son placing his palm on Fox's shoulder again. "And Andross is behind bars."

"He'll be standing trial in a day or so." James stood up to see Peppy walking into the room, standing by his closest friend. "It just hasn't been decided if they're going to give him life in prison or the death penalty. Either way he won't be hurting anyone ever again."

Peppy looked toward the bandaged teen as he smiled. "This whole incident is to remain hush-hush as much as possible. Your families name and your own as well won't be given to the news media. We figured you had enough on your mind already, and don't need anymore extra attention with school and the like."

"Thank you Peppy. I really appreciate that, the last thing I need is this to get attention from."

"No problem my boy." A single question now lingered in Fox's mind.

"So what happens now?"

"Well the house still isn't repaired yet, so we'll have to keep our living conditions as they are now. But now that Andross won't be a factor anymore you can take Jamie with you again if you'd like. I'd imagine you would want to rest up first though." James explained everything to his boy but was surprised by the fiery determination defined through his eyes.

"Of course I'll take care of her again." Fox showed no fear, only determination in his words.

"Alright then. I'll get everything moved to your apartment before you'll be able to be released in a few days. We want to try and make your burden as light as possible."

"Falco and Bill asked to stay in your apartment earlier actually. Peppy mentioned as he raised his pointer finger. "They said they'd like to try and help as much as possible until you're back on your own feet."

"I'd love some help." Fox said with a smile as he looked toward the two adults.

"Miyu wanted to stay with you as well, even Fara wanted to help take care of Jamie. I would have let them but I think four would already be too many in your small apartment as it is. Besides two girls alone with three guys? Seems like an awkward atmosphere."

Fox wasn't leaning toward either side of the debate between the two girls. Though the company and help would be nice he didn't want to be in that awkward situation as well.

"Falco and Bill definitely but I'll hold off on Miyu and Fara for now. Let's wait till we get to that step first."

"Of course, we'll leave you alone now Fox. You need some rest." The two adults excused themselves as Fox digested everything in with a great big sigh of relief. Though it would be a while he couldn't wait to be taking care of his baby girl again. And was finally glad this episode was over. Finally things would go back to the way they were before.

"The hero at rest." He looked up to see a blue vixen leaning against his room's door frame all bandaged up just like he was. "Though your mind is hardly at all." As Krystal walked toward the sitting vulpine he avoided eye contact. Those feelings of guild and remorse came up again as he saw the damage. Krystal herself was bandaged in various areas of her body, more then half bruised as a deep purple could be seen underneath her fur mainly on her forearms. Fox only bowed his head and stayed as quiet as a mouse.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be." She took a seat by his bedside to try and get him to look at her. "It wasn't your fault. If anything it was my own."

"You saved me." They finally met eye contact as he looked back down. "If you hadn't been there, I would have died that night."

"You saved me." She gave back as Fox looked up to her again, a small smile across her slightly bruised face. "I would have been killed if you hadn't taken me with you on the escape. If we would have parted ways back at the coffee shop I would have been shot before I turned the corner. You saved me Fox; I only returned the favor."

"If it wasn't for me you wouldn't have even been around the shop when the bomb went off."

"Hey don't think about it." Krystal had Fox look her in the eyes as he knew what she was trying to do. She was trying to get him to stop thinking about it because he knew he was right. "The important thing is that we're alive and alright." She rubbed his cheek the same way she did that night under the bridge in the storm. Her warmth gave Fox's mind a flash back to that evening. The whole time spent at the bridge was nothing but a blur until now. Images of what she did; how she kept him alive and with her played through his mind as he blushed.

"I never got to thank my hero properly." Krystal cupped his face with both hands as she gently lifted Fox's head to meet her gaze. For just a moment they stared into each others glossy, emerald orbs until Krystal closed the gap, and met his lips with her own. Their shared moment wasn't rushed or quick, it was a blissful kiss between the two that held comfort and meaning for them both. In a way it was something the two teens needed, to raise their spirits after this passed epidemic. The kisses Krystal gave him back at the bridge was essential to his survival, this one was more meaningful then words or a hug. She wanted to show Fox how much she really cared about him.

Krystal slowly pulled away leaving her lips chilled from disconnecting the warmth of her vulpine savior. She smiled as she still held his face.

"Thank you for saving me Fox. Thank you for everything." Krystal excused herself as she walked to her room on the other side of the hallway. Fox wasn't left in a daze but she did leave something with him. This moment brought the two of them closer together, maybe even closer then when the two were dating. They saved each other in this life-threatening episode and pulled through together. Neither of them would have made it out alive if it wasn't for the other. It was good to have Krystal back.

"I'd thought you'd be sleeping." He looked up to see Luna standing in his doorway, "I wanted to check up on you."

"It's hard to sleep." As Luna stepped toward the bed she took a seat by his side. Fox took her hand into his own as they laced fingers again. "I'm just glad it's over."

"I'm glad you're alright." The two shared a brief hug as Fox held onto his lady, rubbing her back for reassurance as he smiled.

"I'm just sorry I had to put you through all the worry."

"It's nothing anymore. You're okay and the guy who did this is going to rot. Everything's fine now."

"Yea everything is going back to the way it was." Fox acted as if in a dream with his past sentence. To be an average teen once again felt like heaven. Well to act as a normal teen at least, whether Fox could classify himself as a normal teen couldn't be more obvious. But still it was paradise after this episode. He just had to make sure to take it easy for a while, good thing he'd have some help.

Fox pulled the she-wolf for a sudden kiss as it came as a surprise, but a very pleasant surprise indeed. Their kiss was passionate as it was deepened, Fox wrapping around her small waist while Luna circled around his strong shoulders. He brought her close to his heart as he was reminded once again just how precious this life is. As Fox pulled away Luna took in a breath of fresh air as he smirked.

"That felt good." Luna let out a small, playful laugh to his words as she breathed easy.

"If anyone deserves to be feeling good around here it would be you."

"Hopefully." The vulpine joked as he lay back down on the bed, Luna hovering over him as he looked up to the ceiling.

"So what happens now?" Fox thought about it for a moment. A lot would change but a lot would stay the same. He smiled once again at the thoughts of relief as this whole episode of someone out to get him was over and done with. Finally back to the life of a teenager making his way into adulthood. Finally back to the life of Fox McCloud without fear.

"What happens now? Now it's time to be…" Fox paused for a moment as he thought of the word he was looking for. It came to him a moment later as he smiled. The best word to describe his life getting back on track the way he was use to.

"Normal again."

Author's Notes

These last few chapters may have been a bit confusing so I'll explain it plain and simple.

Bottom line: The Lylat Wars has been avoided!

Andross was detained and dealt with before he could build up any REAL support to start an uprising against the Lylat System. That's right: No Vixy dying in car bomb, no James dying at Venom as they tried to escape. And no Star Fox led by Fox McCloud.

Fox's life is going to return to 'normal' as normal gets for him. It's back to the teenage drama from here on out!

…Or is it? o.O

This little episode of Andross pretty much just brought Fox closer to all the supporting characters, especially Krystal for obvious reasons ;) As well as bringing her back and getting her 'involved' in the story since she just returned back in Chapter 8.

But trust me when I say it only gets BETTER from here! I got a lot more planned for you guys!

P.S. Sorry if these last chapters were dirty when it came to grammar issues and all…They were all written around 2-3 AM!