'But...it can't be...I saw him perish!' Cronus glowed with rage as he launched a string of attacks at the dead man walking. Each miscalculated and fuelled by fury was deflected with ease out of harm's way.

'Really Cronus? I think your starting to show your age.' Jay humoured, walking slowly toward the raging god, flicking the continuous blasts innocently away.

'I don't...understand!...you can't...they defiantly...ARGH! Agnon! Seize them!' Cronus ordered, firing one after the other.

'Sorry, Agnon's a little...tied up...at the moment.' A higher than usual make voice announced, shortly followed by a gruff tone from another corner of the room.

'Giants sure are dumb!'

'Fitting alliance with you then, don't you think Cronus!' A confident female sounded from another side of the darkness coating the walls.

'Yes, very diplomatic.' A figure stepped out into the light, wearing a very distinguishing wear of goggles atop his head. Young Jay gave a sharp nod to the two Atlantas' who returned it subtly, as he pulled down his strange eyewear. Suddenly a whip launched itself into the air and snapped the cord of the lighting, causing the room to falling to darkness and a load crash!

'What's going on?'

Suddenly there was a snap...and then another...and another. Numerous promethean firesticks had been activated and littered over the room. The subtle glow was just enough to launch a new wave of fear and hate right at the heart of Cronus.

Before him faced his deepest horror.

The two Jays' stood side by side with each member of each team lined up either side. Next to Jay was then Theresa followed by Archie and Atlanta, then Herry and Neil. Alex stood behind his parents with thumb in mouth, clinging to his mother's leg, with his father's hand protectively yet caringly stoking through his burgundy hair.

'No...it...it can't...NO!' Cronus yelped, his knees failing and threatening to buckle beneath him.

'Oh it is. And finally, it's over.' The elder Jay raised his sword accusingly. 'Now get in.' He moved the sword to point in the direction of Archie's cell. The two Theresas' stepped forward, intimidatingly, forcing Cronus the shamble backward, a look of terror on his ungodly face.

'Are you ready?' The elder Theresa called over to the other side of the room. Working away were the two brainy members of the teams. The amount of wires connecting to the machine had considerable decreased, with now one main cable leading from a large processor to the cage like cell.

'Yeah, but I don't know how long the processor'll last!' Called the younger, worried with reason as the large machine began to grow loader and shake move violently. Theresa slammed the cell door shut from a couple of metres away with a swift flick of her wrist, then a sharp turn to lock it tight.

'What's happening? What is he...they doing?' Cronus screamed realising the trap he had willingly walked into while under such a state of shock.

'You gave us one minute, and I can do a lot in one minute mind...' The young Odie began.

'...but imagine if you gave two people one minute. That statistically doubled our chances of beating you...'

'...and so we technically had two minutes in which we can work twice as hard and do things twice as fast...'

'...such as reroute the power into a closed circuit and away from the maingrid and back to you...'

'...or to be more precise...that cage you are currently standing in. Can I hear a Boo Ya!'

'But to kill me...in cold blood? Not really your style, Jay!' Cronus grinned, yeaning to call the heroes' bluff.

'You took away our friends... our family...and everyone we have every loved...and I'm sorry Cronus if after 6 years my morals are a little bit rusty. The truth is you kinda deserve it! And it's time to end this! Once and for all!' He stepped back to rejoin the line leaving the two girls forward nearest the cell.

'Ready?' The elder Theresa asked bluntly to her younger self.

'Yeah, sure...let's do this.'

They both closed their eyes and raised their arms towards the cell. Slowly but surely a translucent blue glow began to grow around the cage, partially suppressing Cronus's cries and screams. He desperately tried to open a portal but traumatizingly was unable to.

'Ha! Nice try but in our one minute I had time to locate an old project of mine.' Odie announced proudly, holding a familiar gadget.

'Nice one Odie!' Called out the elder Herry, punching the air.

'Odie...now!...' called out the strained voice of the elder Theresa, still with eyes clenched shut. The glow had grown to cover the entire cage and was just surrounding the processor as the two Odies' ran for cover after manually releasing the power surge. Cronus' scream echoed through the room as a blinding light filled the inside of the glow. The heroes, young and old began to look worryingly at the two Theresas'. Blood began to slowly trickle down their nostrils and their faces' winced at the pain.

'Theresa!...THERESA!...Let go!...Its killing you let go!' The elder Jay screamed over the volume of the machinery and voice of agony. His younger self took to his own Theresa and followed suit.

'Come on Theresa! Don't do this yourself!...Don't do it to us! PLEASE! Let go!'

'I can't...'

'...too strong.'

'Yes but you're stronger! You're both stronger...'

'...You can both beat this!'

Their whimpers were the only reply, as suddenly their eyes flew open and shot out the same glow they were projecting through their fingertips.

'Theresa!...THERESA!'

'They can't hear us!'

'JAY DO SOMETHING!' Atlanta screamed, clinging to Archie's sleeve. Tears were escaping everyone's eyes and the older Archie lifted his child away from the painful sight. Atlanta clung onto her family, not braking eye contact with her best friend. Herry, Neil and Odie stood still protecting their eyes from the viciously bright rays. Jay took a step toward Theresa and placed a hand on her shoulder, before lifting it slowly to her cheek.

'Oh I'm going to do something...something I should have done a long time ago. His elder self watched in wonder, then nodded understanding instantly.

'Hey! You've waited over a year. I've had 6 years!' he winked at his younger self, sharing a moment to be proud of the man he once was before turning back to Theresa and, in sync, they whispered something in each girl's ear.

I love you.

The glow from their hands vanished almost immediately, leaving only a glowing mist escaping their eyes, floating now to surround each of them. Jay then lifted his hand from his cheek to gentle under chin, softly brushing the side of his finger against her porcelain skin. He lifted up her chin and lay his lip over her's, drifting them together slowly, almost teasing her. He broke away and opened his eyes to gaze once more at her. The mist was now thickening and swirling around each girl, growing in ferocity and strength by the second. The light suddenly stopped flowing and expanded quickly to suddenly engulf the entire room. The girls rose slightly off the ground as the ferocious mist swirled its way out of the room as fast as possible, knocking the young Odie over and the elder Neil into elder Herry, who barely noticed the force as he was too distracted by the beautiful colours swirling above him. Finally the mist settled and the heroes found it safe to look at their friends again. The younger Theresa had collapsed into Jay's arms on the floor, while the elder Jay cradled his girl in his arms tightly, swaying her side to side, holding her head into the crock of his neck.

'...no...'A whisper escaped the young Atlanta before burying herself once more into Archie's chest as he embraced her again, staring blankly at his friends. Herry grabbed the nearest people and pulled them, rather forcibly, towards him. Archie, still clutching his son, looked at his best friend, then down to muzzle Atlanta's hair. Silence invaded.

*cough*

Young Theresa began to stir, soon followed by her older counterpart. She opened her eye to latch onto Jay's.

'Is he...is he gone?'

'Yes.' At this she through her arms around him as her held her up and close to his chest.

'I love you! I really really love you! I'm sorry it took this long.' He managed through tears, rocking her back and forth. The elder Theresa looked on at this and her eyes began to tear. She looked at the man who's arms she was in. After a second she pushed them apart.

'No...No! I refuse to go through this again! Six years! Six years I waited for you to come back!' She accused him, tears streaming down her cheeks. 'Where were you? Why didn't you come?' He stood with an empty mouth searching for the words but them came from someone else.

'He was helping me.' Archie handed Atlanta Alex and stepped out towards warily. 'Since the accident he's been trying to get me out from the inside.' He explained hinting at the odd outfit no one, not ever Neil had noticed. Jay was dressed in a black henchman suit trimmed with red and a gold crest on the right breast pocket. A simple black mask was sticking out of his back pocket.

'It's my fault he didn't rejoin you. Cronus had me under constant supervision not to mention...' Archie continued but stopped abruptly. 'Cronus.' Everyone turn to see a pile of devastated equipment and rubble from unfortunate walls. The floor of the cell was clearly visible but lying at the centre of it, between the broken bars, was nothing except ash. No charred but still identifiable remains or patches of clothing.

'So is he?...Is he actually gone?' The younger Neil asked openly looking around. None seemed certain but all yearned for confirmation.

'I'll take a sample, test it back at the lab. If it is him...well that means...well it means...' Began the elder Odie.

'...We've done it?' Herry interrupted, quizzically. Silent looks to each other filled the next couple of seconds, before the group began to roar with laughter and hugs all around. Except Theresa who stared unbelievingly at the floor. Jay stepped closer to her.

'I did try. I tried so hard. I wanted to come back but...'

'...but the world comes first.' She finished, sighing deeply.

'That's what i got wrong. I'm so sorry it took too long to realise. I've been hiding the truth for so long, I can't even think straight anymore.' He grabbed her lightly by the shoulders to bring her to face him. He lifted her chin lightly to force eye contact. 'Theresa, do you remember when we first met?' she nodded slightly, trying to look down again, but stopped by Jay. 'Do you remember when Hera said you had psychic abilities and I asked if you could read minds?' once again she nodded. 'Do you know why I asked?' she slowly shook her head, looking deep into his eyes. 'It was because I didn't want you to know that I thought you were totally gorgeous!' she let out a slight smile and giggle. 'I wanted to kiss you right then but I knew I'd never be brave enough...' he blushed slightly, looking down for a second before he was interrupted.

'Jay I've seen you slay monsters and risk your life on a daily basis and you're still too scared to kiss a girl you like?' she looking hurtfully into his eyes.

'That was the problem! Do you have any idea what you can do to a guy over a couple of months? I didn't just like you, I was crazy about you!' he sighed. Closing his eyes, he bent his head down to rest it on her forehead. 'That what I've been hiding, that's what's been bugging me for the past seven years. I thought I was protecting the world fighting and training but what I never fully understood was how important you are to me. You're my world Theresa; you always have been, even if neither of us knew it.' He sighed again but this time was disallowed another breath as Theresa stung her arms around his neck tightly and passionately pressed her lips to her's. After a moment startled, he grabbed her by the waist and lifted her higher, closer to his lips. One arm held tight across her thighs with the other caressing her back lovingly. When the time finally came to release, they broke apart slowly gazing right into each other, before bringing themselves back together in an emotional embrace.

This act of affection went mostly unnoticed with Herry, Neil and Odie all celebrating, Archie getting more acquainted with his son, and his younger self receiving a very special hockey lesson from Atlanta, who he had lifted up to wrap her legs around his waist and his arms protectively around her back. The only one's really to notice were Jay and Theresa only 6 years younger, who though had stood were still in a tight embrace.

'Well I can't wait for that one!' Theresa giggled into Jay's ear.

'Well maybe you don't have to.' Jay replied seductively causing her to giggle more as he placed a simple kiss on her lips.