Part 3: You look; sound; feel and hell, you even smell like the man I love! But the man standing in front of me is a stranger to me.

Chapter 21: Party Time

Authors Note: Since I'm sick and the internet is boring me, I have decided to write some more. Did anyone see what I did to chapters 18, 19, and 20's titles? They wrote out: That's when I realized… she wasn't the enemy… she was the Devil. What did you think? Also does anyone watch Young Justice on here? Cause Salvage was so freaking good! Spitfire all the way:) Anyways, on to the story.

Dedication: This is to LyssaKay. She asked me to update oh-so nicely chapter 20 and so I did! She writes "Where we Belong", so check it out!

Disclaimer: Wish I could say I owned this stuff, I would be so happy that I was part of a group so amazing.

P.S. Here are Taz's dress and shoes: .com/jane_norman_one_sleeve_animal/thing?id=54072075 and .com/womens_shoes_online_kg_emiline/thing?id=13256587

Admiral Hagen and Jessica just stared at her, both with different expressions written on their faces. Admiral Hagen's had surprise written all over it; his jaw was almost touching his desk, his eyes wide as dinner plates, and his eyebrows had all but retreated into his hair. Jessica's was blank at first but then solely curved into a malicious smile.

She had won. She had finally gotten the lieutenant to leave Up's side. Even better was that she had gotten her to leave the ship. Jessica knew next to nothing about Starship 14-K7, except it was the ship built before 15-A2.

"But-but-but… Taz?" Admiral Hagen cocked his head to the side and stared at her as if that would give him the answer.

"Dat is where de rest of my family is. Jose, Veronica, Ryder, and Alejandro are all dere. If I can't stay wid my family here, I want to go to my real family." She just stared straight ahead, not looking at either one of them.

"Don't you want to stay on the same ship as Commander Up and his crew?" The Admiral was still trying to figure it out. She was never quick to leave Up.

"I hust said I want to be wid my real family. If I can't stay with my surrogate family, I want to leave." She answered with no emotion again.

"If she wants to leave, then let her. It's what she wants." Jessica added to the end quickly.

"Well, let's this all official and set up then." Admiral Hagen clapped his hands together and reached for a pen.

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There was a knock on the door and then it swished open to reveal Up. Taz spun around and looked him up and down.

"Well jou clean up nice." She turned back around to apply some lipgloss.

The Commander was in black dress pants and a blue shirt that matched his eyes. Taz remembered buying him the shirt for that very same reason.

"I could say the same thing about you." He replied as she turned back around.

Taz was in a short, plain black dress with one very long sleeve. There was a thin, gold belt around her waist and black pumps on her feet. Her hair was in soft waves reaching about the middle of her back, it had been almost a year since she had cut it. Her hair had always grown fast. Her make was subtle like at the Ranger Ball.

"It's almost five." Taz looked down at communicator.

"Shall we head out then?" Up held out his arm and she linked her arm through his.

She looked down at the ground, she felt guilty about not telling Up yet.

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They walked into the party arm and arm. It was at the bar, even though Jessica insisted on having it at a club, Up had put his foot down and said it was for Taz and that it was happening at the bar. Everyone was already dancing and drinking. As much as Taz hated it, her birthday was always legendary. It was at the same place every year but something was always different. This year, February had managed to track down at chocolate fountain. There was a whole table dedicated to food just for the fountain.

Taz gave Up a huge hug. He knew her so well and sometimes she wished she didn't have to share him with the rest of the world. They're moment was shattered by a throat being cleared. They broke apart to find Jessica glaring at them.

"Come on, Up, let's dance." She pulled him to the dance floor and Taz was left in the door way.

She was surrounded by people but she felt so alone.

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The night was once again becoming legendary. They had cut the cake, sang Happy Birthday in English and Spanish, and had dipped many things in chocolate. Taz knew though that this birthday was going to top all the rest as soon as Bug got on the stage.

"February, would you come here, please." He said into the mic. He took her hands in his and began to speak. "When you met me, you thought I was a brave, human Starship Ranger. When I learned that I could be human, I was overjoyed that I would get to see you again. But I became disappointed after some time when I couldn't show you the real me. Only Dead God knows why, but I got another chance to be with you. I could show you the real me. The Bug I had always been, even when I was in a human body. February, you helped me see that. You helped me see that I was more than just a measly, little bug. I wanted to do this on Bug World but that's light years away and we can't wait forever. Eep Ork Ah Ah… I love you, February."Bug got down on one knee, pulled out a little black box, and opened it. "Will you marry me?"

"Yes! Yes, yes, yes!" She jumped up and down and then gave Bug a huge kiss.

He slipped the ring on and she held it up for all to see. They had one last kiss and then left the stage. Taz walked over to the chocolate fountain and put a marshmallow on stick. She had just pulled it out of the fountain when the room got silent. She shoved the whole thing in her mouth and turned around to see everyone pushed up against the walls to make a clear pathway from the door.

"Is Lieutenant Taz here?" A Spanish accent asked.

"She's right back there." Up told the man and pointed to her.

His boots clicked as he walked across the wood floor towards her. Taz swallowed the marshmallow and looked up to the man.

"Lieutenant Taz, would jou mind talking to me outside?" It was asked a question but it was a command.

They walked out and Taz tried to ignore the whispers of the party guests.

"What does the Head of the League want with her?"

"Maybe she's getting promoted."

They walked away from the bar and over to the Sky Deck. He stopped and was about to sit down when Taz reached out and hugged him.

"It's good to see jou too, Taziana." He hugged her back. "Feliz Cumpleanos. It's strange to imagine all my kids are adults. It seems like yesterday jou were becoming a woman, my how nine years does pass by fast."

"Papa, I've missed jou so much." She pulled away and sat down on a small sofa. She kicked her shoes off and pulled her legs up onto the sofa. "Why are jou here dough? Jou have a whole League to run, jou can't be stopping to make birthday visits."

President Sanchez sat down next to her, "Jou know me so well, Taziana. I received news dat jou were leaving Commander Up's crew, is dis true?"

"Papa! I told jou not to track me!" She hit his shoulder.

"I stopped doing dat a long time ago. No, I hear about dis drough one of de Ambassadors. When de dynamic duo of de Galactic League is splitting up, word is gonna get out pretty fast."

"It's nothing. I'm sorry jou wasted jour time in coming to check it out." She looked away from him and out to the stars.

"Taziana, I'm not leaving until jou tell me what happened."

"Fine! It was Hessica, Up's fiancé. She sent de Admiral a request to become Up's lieutenant but dat post was already taken by me. De asked if I was ok wid all dis and I said yes. Because of how I've helped de League dey let me choose where I wanted to go. I chose to go to Starship 14-K7." She still didn't look at her dad.

"Are jou sure dis is what jou want?" He took her chin in his hand and made her look at him.

"What choice do I have?"

President Sanchez reached over and pulled her into a hug. They sat like that until Up came out looking for them.

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They walked back in silence. Taz was holding her shoes in her hand and Up looking at the ground.

"What did your dad want?" He broke the silence.

"Hust to say Happy Birthday. It's been a while, jou know."

"Are you ok? You seem upset about something." Up stopped and turned to look at her.

"No, I've hust been dinking about de year. Can jou believe dat today we've known each other for nine years?"

"It seems crazy to think that's its almost been a decade. I've enjoyed every minute of it; don't let anyone tell you otherwise." He slung his arm over her shoulder and started to walk towards the bar.

They walked the rest of the way in a comfortable silence. At the entrance of the bar Taz put her shoes back on and watched as Jessica took to the stage with a glass of champagne in her hand. Taz and Up walked in and stood at the front of the crowd.

"Attention everyone! I just want to make a toast to the birthday girl, Taz." She raised her glass. "May your adventures on Starship 14-K7 be as exciting as the ones on this Starship. Cheers!"

Everyone raised their glass, bottle or cup and was about to say 'cheers' when Krayonder interrupted.

"Starship 14-K7? Taz are you leaving?"

Before Taz could answer, Jessica chimed in cheerily. "Why yes she is Krayonder!"

"Is this true Taz?" Up turned to look at her with hurt on his face.

"Si." Taz just looked at the ground.

"I thought we told each other everything?" He couldn't hide the hurt in his voice.

"I only found out a few hours ago! I wanted to tell jou, but I didn't want jou to be sad at de party." She looked up, her face pleading.

"I told you minutes after I asked Jessica out!" His voice was rising. "I can't believe you told Jessica before you told me!"

"She was der-"

"Come on, Up. Let's leave Taz alone to think about what she has done to you." Jessica interrupted.

She got down from the stage and lead Up out the doors. Taz chased after them, taking her shoes off in the process.

"Dis is all jour fault!" She screamed and pointed at Jessica.

"Taz! Don't talk to Jessica like that!" Up spun around and yelled back.

"She sent de request! She wanted to be jour lieutenant!" Taz yelled.

She didn't wait for an answer she just turned and ran. She ran to her room and typed in her pass code hurriedly, she knew up would be there soon. Sure enough, she heard the door swish open as she walked over to the bed. Up grabbed her and turned her around to face him.

"Jessica said she never sent in a request." He snarled.

"Who are jou going to believe? Jour fiancé dat jou've known for nine months or jour best amigo, which've jou known for nine YEARS!" She wriggled out of his grasp and ran to the bed.

They yelled and screamed at each other for about 15 more minutes before Taz finally snapped.

"Remember your second wish on your sixteenth birthday? When you made me promise never to leave you? Did you ever think that it worked both ways?" He sighed and then left.

"I hoped it would work both ways… but obviously I waited too long." She sat down on her bed. "I loved jou, Up. I wanted jou to stay wid me and be mine forever, but I let dat slip away. Jou left me de day jou asked out Jessica."

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Up came back later that night to check on Taz. She had fallen asleep in her dress and had very faint tear stains on her cheeks. He chuckled a little at how young she looked, but he picked her up to tuck her in.

She stirred a bit as he picked her up. "Up?"

"Yes?"

"Lo siento, Up."

"I'm sorry too, Taz." He pulled the blanket up to her shoulders.

"Up… don't leave me." She sounded like she was sixteen again.

"Would never dream of it." He answered as he crawled in next to her.

Ok so I just realized how emotional Taz is in this fic, I'm gonna give my reason right now. I've decided that she is just like that sometimes; I mean who says she is always tough? I didn't like this chapter as much but I think it works well in the story. Anyways… I've got exams next week so I won't be posting until June. Also, I was so excited to see how many reviews I got on chapter 20! 17! That's a big number:) So keep reviewing and I'll see you next time.

Hakuna Matata!

-Kellyxoxoxo