"That thing was going to RAPE me?!" You yelled at her, pointed at the sky. Jess hummed a bit, a signal for 'yes'. You quite literally face-palmed. "Are you fucking serious? I was nearly -"

"Nearly. Didn't happen. You should be on the ground kissing my feet for saving you." Jess said, smirking over her shoulder. You grumbled angrily. Jess was still sitting in front of you on Strider's back, though she was riding in a 'side saddle' like fashion.

"Whatever..." You sighed, looking to your right at the trees.

"Miss Slender!" Jess called out again, her usually dark chocolate voice raising in octaves.

"Jessica, what in the world are you screaming about?" The echoed voice of Miss Slender asked as she came into view. "Oh, and I see you've brought _ with you." She said simply.

"Yeah...heh...Popobawa nearly got us..."

"This far west?"

"Apparently...thing must be starved for attention." Jess said, bring Strider to a stop. You just sat there, staring at the two women as they spoke about that strange bat thing. You didn't really know what to say at this point.

"So why have you come here, Jessica?" Slenderwoman asked, tilting her head ever so slightly. Jess, in responce, slumped her shoulders and gave her what you assumed to be a puppy dog face, though you couldn't see it.

"Could you pwease transport us hoooome?" She asked in a small child like voice.

"Now, Jessica, that is unneeded. You have Stiltwalker-"

"Strider." Jess interupted.

"Strider, of course. You have Strider. He will get you home quickly. Now please, I'm rather busy right now." And with that, Slenderwoman turned and disappeared in a blink of an eye.

"W-what the..."

"Cruddy bitch...Come on, Strider. Boojeh." Jess commanded, patting the side of his neck. Strider gave a strange, gurgled groaning sound, turning around and heading in another direction. "With our Batty friend around you ain't leaving the mansion without me or someone with you...except Hoodlum...She won't give two shits."

"Comforting..." You said, rolling your eyes.

+++++++++++++++++++

You and Jess arrived at the mansion within ten minutes thanks to Striders long legs. He strolled into the back yard area where the others were hanging out.

Jill sat on the large patio, reading an old book and licking a lollipop.

Hoodlum sat on the steps, hood and mask still on as she sat in a very boyish manner with one leg resting two steps down and the other on the one beneath where she sat; an assault rifle held between her legs as she worked on it, polishing it and checking the connections.

Masquerade sat in the middle of the back yard area, under a cherry tree with a sketch book propped up in her lap. She took notice of your return first and offered a small wave before going back to her previous actions.

Benny was resting in a hammock along the tree line, bandanna pulled down to cover her face as one of her legs dangled from the netting.

Tami was sitting by the cherry tree as well, though on the opposite side as from Masquerade, peaking around the trunk to see what she was drawing.

You took notice of a new addition to the group. A small boy, maybe around the age of eight who sat a few feet from the patio, talking with a stuffed bunny. When Jess's gaze found him, you literally saw her bored demeanor change to one of excitement.

"There's my Changeling Child!" She called out. The boy looked up and as you drew closer, you gasped. The boy was bleeding from his head, a red view of blood coming from hsi hair and running down his face, and one line from his mouth. He didn't act hurt though, instead, he jumped to his feet, racing to meet Strider in the middle.

"Momma Jess!" He cried, opening his arms. Jess slid from Striders back before he even stopped, racing to him and scooping him into her arms.

"Ooooh, I missed you soooo much!" She cooed, swinging him in a circle. The young boy laughed and giggled, clinging to her. Strider came to a stop, his large head moving back and forth as though surveying the area. Jess noticed and smiled. "Strider, Vala Van. Mentaruu." Strider let out another rumbled groan, bending down to let You off.

"Momma Jess, who's this?" The boy asked, pointing to you.

"That's _, Momma's new boyfriend." Jess answered matter of factly.

"Eeeew!" The boy laughed, scrunching up his face.

"Sammy, behave and introduce yourself." Jess chastised.

The boy looked at her then back to you, suddenly seeming nervous. "I...I'm Sammy..." He said, looking at the ground. You crouched down, smiling at him. He wore an over sized orange shirt with blue cloth pants and no shoes. His hair was a regular brown, though it hid where the blood came from.

"I'm (Your Name), nice to meet you." You replied, nodding a bit.

"Sammy, why don't you head inside? There's some cherry turn overs I know you'll love in the fridge." Jess offered in a motherly tone. The boy made a sound of joy, nodding his head and running inside. Jess watched him go, smiling sweetly. "Sammy...is like my son." She explained when he was out of sight, turning to you.

"He seems like a good kid but...the..." You motioned to your head to show what you meant.

"The blood? Oh, little Sammy...he's dead...but he's one of us, so he fits right in." Jess glanced at you before adding. "Yes, he's dead, but not a damn zombie. He's...my Changeling Child."

"Changeling Child?" You questioned.

She nodded. "You see...there's a legend of a woman who wanted a baby so badly...but she couldn't bare one. So she went to the elfin folk and begged them for a babe. They gave her one, but...she only asked for a baby...not a son. The baby never aged, only stayed small. Fifty years she cared for it, some legends say, she still rocks him to sleep. Forever a babe...that's what Sammy is to me."

"You really want children, don't you?"

She nodded, her eyes far off before focusing on you. "(Your Name), you know I'm a murderer right? A serial killer?"

"Yes." You nodded.

"Did you know that even if I kill random people...I still have my morals?" You only shook your head slowly. "I will never hurt a child younger than 13. If I murder a family, and they have a kid...I'll make sure their asleep safely. Sometimes I open the front door and leave it open so the neighbors will notice quickly and come make sure the family is okay and find them. Other times I call the police and dropped the phone, so they'll come and whisk the child away."

"I'm sure you can have one, Jess." You said, placing a hand on her shoulder. She turned to you, blinking.

"How are you so sure?"

"I'm not. I just know."