Note: Wow, I haven't updated in like four days... sorry to my poor, deprived, solitary fan. I start school tomorrow, so these updates will most likely be fewer and further between. But to make up for it, here's a chapter now! Maybe one tomorrow as well if I'm not completely swamped! (which I probably am) TO CLEAR THINGS UP: I do ship Dirk x Jake! I love that ship, it's one of my absolute favorites, don't hate me for Dirk x Will. But- if I get enough reviews saying you want me to switch it up a bit, I might be bribed into a little Gunblade. Also- y u no review? I need reviews! Please review! Disclaimer: I think you get the point, but Homestuck and all characters but Ella and Cuz belong to Lord Hussie.

-John's POV-

Ella disentangled herself from the group and got to her feet. I guess my face showed what I was about to do, but Rose stopped me with a look that said, 'Just leave her alone, she needs her space.' So I relaxed and let her walk away from our little nest. My chest felt heavy as I watched her round the bend- I couldn't help but feel like I should have comforted her. I felt a shadow of dread around the corners of my mind. What if it actually was her fault? I wonder, shaking my head slightly. That's impossible, miracles don't happen in the real world. But there was still that little worry that nagged at me in the back of my head.

I needed to do something- but what?

-Rose's POV-

Hm. Quite the interesting development, if I do say so myself. I am strictly one hundred percent a woman of science, but I must admit there was something a little off about this particular coincidence. What mattered most to me, however, was making sure that Ella didn't take this too hard. The best thing we could do for her was accept and welcome her into our circle even more; I was well aware that she felt a little out of place among us. Yes, what this called for was a good old-fashioned therapy session. I was happy to oblige, but we needed to give our friend some time alone for a few hours before we tried to help her.

-Dave's POV-

Okay, look. Just because I'm the coolest thing since Fluffer Nutters doesn't mean I don't care about my friends. And I guess I count Ella as a friend, even if we aren't that close. I'll admit it- I was worried that she'd beat herself up over this. Sure it looked bad, but come on. A birthday wish causing a hurricane? Get. Real. But John would probably kill me if I said that to her face, plus the chick didn't judge me for the totally uncool storm thing. So that's not something I'm going to say out loud any time soon. But the question is, what should I say? It would be totally ironic if I tried to comfort her or some shit like that, but again we're not that close and the others would think I was a tool. Because they just don't get irony. But I can't have done nothing...bluh, this shit was fucked up.

-Jade's POV-

Oh no! I had to do something! But I wasn't the right person to help her...Rose had that psychoanalysis glint to her eye, John looked worried sick, and Dave... was Dave. I thought she just needed a friend to give her some hugs and reassuring words, but I was sure that the others would shoot me down. Maybe we could all just approach her in our own ways...I was pretty sure that would do a lot of good. The problem was getting them to agree...

-Ella's POV-

I. Am. Such. A screw-up. I am the screw-up. It is me. People could die because of my idiotic birthday wish. I knew that sounded far-fetched, but stuff like this doesn't just happen. It doesn't work that way. I worried and picked at it as I walked out of the room before I started crying in front of the others, and without realizing it I walked into the room with the piano. I curled up in a chair and let silent tears run down my pitiful cheeks. I really hoped no one came looking for me because I didn't want any of them to see me cry. As stupid as that is.

The storm had sort of faded into the background until I saw a fork of lightning out the window and the lights flickered and died. Thunder boomed with an almighty crash a few seconds later, making me jump even though I was expecting it. Great. Now I was in tears and the power was out. I curled in on myself tighter, not caring that my muscles were going to be very cramped after this ordeal. I felt my gritty eyes close as I sank into an exhausted slumber.

~~~~~five hours later~~~~~

They had decided to go along with Jade's idea of approaching her separately, starting with Dave and ending with John. Rose would go second and Jade would go directly before John. Dave picked himself up and brushed off his already spotless jeans, steeling himself for what was to come.

He'd have to show emotion.

He searched the hallway that he had seen Ella leave through, poking his head into rooms and finally spotting her (still sleeping uneasily) in the Piano Room. He knocked gently on the door frame.

"Ella?"

Her eyes fluttered open as she looked at him blearily.

"Mmm?"

"Are you okay?"

Her eyes narrowed at him suspiciously. Was this irony? Because this stunk to the high heavens of insincerity. Dave obviously caught her look, because he shook his head seriously.

"Nope. This is legit concern."

Ella nodded warily and pulled herself up into a sitting position, wincing. She had been right about the muscles.

"...Not exactly, but for all intents and purposes let's say I am."

"Alright, cool. Here, I brought you something."

"It better not be anything like my birthday present, or I'll do a lot more than just throw it at you."

He chuckled. "No, nothing like that."

"Okay, so what is it?"

He took his hand out from behind his back and tossed her something.

"Catch."

She caught it. "My sketchbook? What for?"

"Dunno, I thought drawing might make you feel a little better."

"...Wow, thanks Dave. That's...surprisingly thoughtful of you."

"No prob. Oh, and don't let Rose do her psycho thing on you too hard, kay?"

Ella couldn't help but laugh a bit. "Okay."

Dave nodded at her and went back to the living room, pointing at Rose.

"You're up, Dr. Lalonde."

She smiled sarcastically at him and got up gracefully, clutching a clipboard to her chest.

"Thank you, Mr. Strider. I will be with her shortly."

"She's in the room with the piano, fourth door on your right."

Rose simply nodded in acknowledgement and walked down the hall in a very ladylike manner, still holding her clipboard. She went in to find Ella stretching and wincing as she loosened her stiff muscles.

"Ow! Hi Rose. You here to examine my brains?"

"In a way, yes."

Ella rolled her eyes and gestured to the seat across from her. "Please, sit down. Would you like something to drink?" she asked sarcastically.

The other girl gave her a dry smile. "I believe I am the one who should be asking you if you would like a beverage, given as you are currently my patient."

"Well you better hurry before my patience runs out."

Rose chuckled and sat down. "Try to bear with me. Why are you blaming yourself for this natural occurrence of nature?"

"Because this is way too fishy to be an accident and everything happens for a reason," Ella said without hesitation.

"Are you afraid that we would think less of you if, in fact, this was your fault?"

"...Maybe a little."

She smiled reassuringly at her bespectacled friend. "We would never push you away, Ella. I know you are insecure about fitting in with us, but you have nothing to worry about. You are part of our group and we don't plan to change that any time soon."

Ella looked at the ground and nodded, obviously not reassured.

"What I suggest is talking to John about this."

She snapped her head up, looking confused.

"You obviously trust him a lot and I believe that expressing your feeling to someone who you really and truly trust is among the best kinds of therapy."

"I trust you, Rose."

"Not the same way that you trust Mr. Egbert. If you are not comfortable talking to him, perhaps your cousin could be of assistance."

She nodded thoughtfully and fingered the edge of her notebook. "Thanks, I might do that."

The purple-eyed blonde just smiled and rose elegantly from her chair. "I'll send Jade in."

"Okay..."

Rose tossed the flashlight to Jade, who caught it deftly and bounced to her feet. She skipped cheerfully down the hallway and poked her head in the room where Ella was drawing to calm herself down.

"Hi."

She didn't look up. "Hey," she murmured softly as she drew a careful line.

Jade went over and hugged her unexpectedly. Ella jolted with surprise and looked up at her best friend. "Jade. What are you doing."

"Hugging you."

"I see that. Why?"

"Because you looked like you needed a hug. Oh, don't look at me like that, you did!"

The short teen sighed and allowed Jade to hug her. "Fine. But just this once."

She released her and sat in the chair that was next to Ella's, smiling a little. "You're such a grumpypuss sometimes."

"Hmph. Maybe I am."

Jade laughed. "I just wanted to say that it's not your fault. Nope! Don't start! It is not your fault and that is final. I like fantasy as much as the next gal but this is just ridiculous."

"...I still feel responsible, somehow."

"Nope! Not. Your. Fault!"

Ella laughed. "Okay, Mistress Harley. It is not my fault that my birthday wish caused a huge hurricane."

"Stop saying that!"

"Fine, fine. You win."

"Good. I will now leave you alone with John."

"We are not fucking!" Ella called after her as she left the room. "Goddamn it Jade," she muttered as the girl giggled and left.

"Okay John, you're up! Knock her socks off!"

"And maybe more than her socks," Dave said seductively. John shot him a dirty look and went into the Piano Room. All he could see of Ella was her feet; she appeared to be on her back on the opposite side of the chair with her legs propped up on the armrest.

"Um...what are you doing?"

"Being upside down in the dark. What does it look like I'm doing?"

He chuckled and walked over, sitting in the chair. "Being a doofus?"

"Hm. I guess I can see how you might think that."

He laughed again and tickled her bare feet.

The power came back on just as Ella started giggling uncontrollably and the feet disappeared from John's line of vision. A second later, her smiling face popped up over the edge of the chair.

-John's POV-

Man, how could I possibly have thought that it was her fault? I would die for that grin. It sucks that she doesn't smile at me like that...all the time. I wanted all the adorable smiles. Right. Then.

-Ella's POV-

God. Holy fucking Lord. I did not deserve that much hotness. I still don't deserve that much hotness. God John why are you so goddamn hot?!

She stood up all the way (which isn't saying much) and poked John in the ribs.

"Scoot."

He obliged, moving over so that Ella could cuddle up next to him in the over large armchair. She rested her head against his bare chest and tucked her legs up under her, sighing contently. John pulled her into a hug and they sat there wordlessly for what could have been ten minutes or an hour. The tiny girl started to purr softly against his chest and he grinned, scratching her behind the ears. The hum grew a little louder as he cuddled her as one might cuddle a cat.

Ella finally looked up at him, her eyes half-lidded and a sort of greenish gold color. John admired them and took off her huge bug-eye glasses so he could see them more clearly. She allowed this, though she tensed a little against his side.

"Relax, I just want to see your eyes," he said softly, brushing away her bangs. They were always falling into her eyes, no matter how hard she tried to control them. All she did was look at him with those big, color-changing eyes.

Ella jerked backwards slightly in surprise when his lips met hers. She closed her eyes and let him kiss her, snaking her hands around his neck and burying them in his hair. John broke away and looked into her eyes for a second before moving slowly down to the base of her neck. Ella felt a tiny presure on her skin as he started nibbling her neck in the sexiest way. She let out a small noise and he started sucking on it gently. She shivered and moaned a little. John smiled into the crook of her neck as he proceded to leave a little line of hickeys up to her jaw, exciting several small whines and needy shimmers from her as he went. He pulled away again and stroked her flushed, freckled cheek with the pad of his thumb as he sat transfixed by her eyes, which were slowly turning a rich shade of reddish brown.

"Wow," John whispered huskily as he saw Ella blush. "Your eyes..."

"Yeah, I know, they're probably turning that freaky red color," she mumbled, looking away.

"It's not freaky! It's cool."

"John, I don't like empty compliments. I know they're freaky, I've seen them myself and they are definitely very creepy."

He nuzzled her neck. "Nothing about you could ever be creepy."

She turned red and squirmed shyly. He smiled at her and kissed her deeply, long and slow, leaving her head spinning and her lips buzzing pleasantly. She pulled him back again, breathlessly wanting more. He felt his heart beating like a drum as he cupped her face with his hand and flicked his tongue over her lips. John felt the corners of her mouth twitch upwards against his. Ella opened her mouth and let him explore with his tongue. She shuddered and moaned, spreading her spindly artist's fingers across his chest. He pulled her closer and let his tongue slide out of her mouth. He kissed her once, soft and tender, before breaking away. She shook like a leaf in his arms, flushed and panting. He was sure he looked the same or worse, but he didn't give a flying feathery fuck. All that mattered was Ella and the knot that had been untied in both their chests.

Note: Wow do I leave a lot of notes. This is such a long chapter, and I am ust shamelessly ruining the moment. Reviews can be cashed in for a sequel, but only if the leprechaun gets her gold! ~kandyblood wiggles her eyebrows hopefully and exits~