I know I didn't put a year, but this takes place in (now) 2002. I put it in the same year that the movie came out. The few dates I mention put it between the November and February 2001 and 2002 calendar.

Disclaimer. I don't own Monsters, Inc or any of the characters in the movie. Though I'd like too. For I'd write a better ending for poor Randall.

I want to thank a very special person. I was going to put this at the end of the sorry, but I'll put it now since she had pleasantly surprised me. She, pitbulllady from here and on DeviantArt has done a wonderful picture for me. So here is my thanks. Thank you so much for being one of the many that gave their support. Thank you for answering all my questions silly or not. Thank you.

Chapter 35

XXX

Danielle rubbed her cheek against her pillow as she hugged the pillow that Randall had been using. After she had cried her heart out in the shower, the water hiding her tears, she had gotten out and just pulled on a tank shirt and a pair of underwear. She then had cleaned up the room, putting things in the bags and put them by the door. By then she just crawled up in the bed and tossed and turned and finally turned onto her side and huddled under the covers, hugging the pillow to her deeply breathing in his scent. She felt silly, she felt stupid. She felt…horrible.

It was dawn, the sky turning light when she finally fell asleep, and the New Orleans streets were quiet as fog from Lake Pontchartrain rolled through. It was during this time a long tired figure slowly drug himself toward the motel, using the fog as cover.

About a half an hour later the window seemed to open of its own accord. Randall slipped into the room then turned and closed the window. He walked over to the bed where Danielle was sleeping. He stared down at her, slightly embarrassed and unsure in letting her know that no monsters had come through either door. He had spent most of the night in the boy's room, blended and clinging to the wall, lost in his thoughts. When no monster came, he had then moved to the girl's room. He was then tired and had spent the rest of the night under the bed. When dawn was a half an hour away, it become very clear that no monster was coming. That meant one thing. The doors had been shredded. All the energy, the heartbreak, the remorse, the planning was all for not.

Embarrassment and pride had made him hesitate in coming back to the motel, him realizing how much he was still dependent on Danielle. But still, he had nothing here, no home, no job, and no money. Hell, did he even really have anything in the Monster World as well? What was left there for him? Even if he was declared acquitted, he had nothing left there as well. Back to the no home, no job, money. And it would be just as near impossible to start over there, as it would be here.

He had never felt so lost.

With a heavy sigh he leaned over Danielle and slipped his hand under the covers. He founded the edge of her shirt and slipped his hand under it and rubbed his hand against her back, running his fingers against her smooth soft skin.

Danielle jerked and he pulled his hand away when she turned over and opened her eyes. The hazel brown was hazy with sleep, but they flew open when she saw Randall's purple form over her. "Randall?"

He nodded.

She sat up fast then rose to her knees forgetting the she was only wearing a tank shirt and underwear. She hugged him as he hugged her back. "What happened? You couldn't get through?" She pulled back and then blushed as she realized she was half naked. She sat back down and pulled the covers over her lap.

Randall chuckled then looked serious. "The doors didn't open. Neither of them. No monsters, which meant the doors, had been shredded. I don't know how long ago, but the way the kids were sleeping easily, it's been awhile." Randall then walked away and began to pace, "To tell you the truth, I wasn't going to come back here."

"Why? I told you-" Danielle tried to say, but Randall interrupted her.

"I know what you said. But…I… you did so much and then you were offering to do more…I can't and don't want to take advantage of that …of you." He said truthfully and slightly shocked at himself. He indeed had changed so much.

Danielle shook her head, "Is that what you think? Randall, I know you have nothing and you are possibly used to having something. I want you to come back to Baton Rouge, back home. We'll think of something. Never think that you are taking advantage cause you are not." she then sighed and blushing, she slid off the bed and walked over to where her pajama bottoms were. Still blushing, she pulled them on and then walked over to Randall. He had been watching her, unsure what to say. She put her hand on the side of his wide head. "Come back and don't worry. If I didn't want you to…I would have never asked."

Randall took her hand from his face and then kissed it, "Until we work something out…an arrangement or something. I'm not a free loader."

"I never thought you as one." Danielle then hid a yawn. "Since you are here now, we can leave a bit earlier, but not without a bit more sleep. I know you haven't sleep all night huh?"

Randall shook his head. "I dozed, but no, I didn't want to miss the chance. But…"

"Then come on to bed. We'll check out at 10." Danielle walked back to the bed and slid back under the covers and put the pillow that she had been hugging back. She then looked over at Randall. "Aren't you coming in?" she asked.

Randall's insides tightened. He held her eyes with an intense gaze. "Do you want me to?"

"Yes. Of course."

Randall slowly walked over and lifted the blankets. He slid his long body into the bed and pressed up against her back and rose up slightly and slid his arms over her side and rested one on her hip. Danielle was laying on her side and she turned slightly looking up at him He nuzzled her shoulder and then pressed a ghost of a kiss to her bare freckled shoulder before resting his head on the pillow beside her.

Danielle turn back around and laid back down and closed her eyes and fell into a much more relaxed sleep as Randall pushed his head into her hair and relaxed behind her as well.

When Randall woke up, the sun was higher. It wasn't like him to sleep away the day like that, but he was tired. He rolled over, feeling for Danielle, only to find that the bed was mysteriously empty. Must be in the bathroom, he thought, lifting his head to listen. She wasn't there. She wasn't anywhere. Randall took a deep breath. Did she really leave? Leave him there? Why would she leave without telling him? Randall shot out of the bed, looking around. The bags was gone and he was almost on the verge of a panic attack when the door opened

"Shit!" he muttered, blending.

Danielle stepped in with a cup. She closed the door right when Randall unblended.

"Danielle!"

She turned and smiled at him, "Randall, what's wrong? Did you think I'd leave you? I was just putting the bags in the truck and getting you a coffee. I was letting you sleep."

Randall flushed sheepishly. "Well…I…"

Danielle shook her head and sighed and set the coffee on the dresser. She walked up to him and kissed his nose. "Randall, it would be very cruel of me to leave you here." she stepped back. "I'll take your coffee down to the truck. Freshen up, or whatever. I'll be down by the truck."

Randall nodded and watched her leave then turned and went into the bathroom to do his 'business'. He then took a moment to wash his face and hands. Then with a tired sigh, he turned the light off and went to the window and opened it as he blended. He slipped out closing the window behind him. He slithered down the wall and across the ground to the truck. Danielle was leaning against the side waiting for him, pretending that she was looking at a map. Randall, still tired, couldn't help but brush against her as he passed and climbed up in the truck, the tip of his tail curling around her wrist for a second.

Danielle jumped and she heard Randall chuckle. She shook her head and smiled and then climbed up in the truck and closed the door. It wasn't until they were out on the interstate that Randall unblended. He stared out the window, confused and unsure, though he did make himself feel a bit better when Danielle passed a car that had some kids in it. They gawked at him, until he pulled a horrible face and then chuckled at the expressions on their faces. "Yep, I still got it."

"Well, I hope that it isn't catching."

Randall looked over at Danielle.

She sniggered, "I saw that Randall. Behave yourself."

"Really Danielle…can you expect any less of me?" Randall grinned tiredly.

"Not now. Not anymore. And you noticed what I noticed? I still got into trouble on Mardi Gras. We both got drunk and well…." She trailed off. What were they going to do now? She had told him that he could stay with her as long as he wanted, but would he really take her up on that offer? And if he did…how would this affect their relationship? Would it be a one-time thing or would it become something more? Did he want something more? Did she want something more? She then thought. Had it been her hangover panicked mind confusing her but had she heard him say that he may actually want to try? She had told him no, but it was only cause she didn't want to take away his chance to go home and try make a wrong a right. But now that he had no other way back, or at least one she could think of right way, he wasn't going anywhere. And since he wasn't going anywhere, could she try?

"Uh Randall?" she said shyly.

Randall looked back over at her. "Hmm?"

"About what happened…."

"Didn't we already talk about that?" Randall asked his stomach began to turn.

"Yes and no. We talked about what happened and that we aren't sorry. But it never got further then that because we thought you were leaving. I want to talk about this before we get home. I want this settled now." Danielle said as she gripped the steering wheel.

"Oh. Well…. what do you want to do? I'll take a cue from you." Randall was watching

her closely.

"I think I know what I want…but even though we had sex…. it's still right back to the spur of the moment thing…the tension, the wine… you go first…you owe me…in more ways then one." Danielle blushed.

Randall did too as he looked away. "I think I might want to try. Maybe take it somewhere." he looked back at her intently, "We both know how hard it could be…can be…will be. Hell, I know how hard regular relationships are even with your same species.

But if you are willing to try…then I am."

Danielle was thoughtful. She had always usually scorned relationships, she had always felt uncomfortable and out of place when she watched Liss and her boyfriends, but she had also watched with a certain curiosity and even a hidden jealousy. She had always believed that she was already whole, and didn't really need to be with anyone to feel that way. But she was wrong, and now she didn't know what to do about it. But that was wrong too. She knew what she should do. She sighed. "Relationships are hard," she agreed nodding. She then bit her lip and glanced at Randall. He met her eye. He was staring intently and even slightly hopeful. "But…I'm willing to try. I want to try." she reached out and Randall met her hand halfway. He entwined his long and thick three-fingered hand around her five-fingered hand.

XXX

Danielle was putting her things away, while she made Randall deal with his bead collection. The beads were nice but for the life of her she didn't know why he almost threw a fit she was ready to throw them away. She shrugged; it could be because it was his first Mardi Gras and that he 'earned' them. She rolled her eyes with a small grin. Bread whined up at her where she was lying on the bed. The dog had glued herself to Danielle since she had been home.

She jumped when a hand pressed against her back. She spun around to see no one. Suddenly green eyes flew wide open from tiny slits and Randall raised his fronds straight up.

Danielle gasped and jerked back failing on her butt on the bed. She glared up at Randall.

"Randall!" She hissed.

He chuckled and held his hand out. "I couldn't help it. It never fails."

Danielle took his hand, "Someone is in a playful mood, but it still wasn't funny."

"It was funny..." Randall said stubbornly.

"Was not."

"Was too."

"Was not. It was actually pathetic."

"Alright, you know what? You're pathetic!" Randall said finally.

"You know," Danielle began, "I am pathetic. Here I stand, having this remarkably second-grade argument with you, when there has to be a thousand better ways to spend my Thursday afternoon."

"One such activity being..." Randall decided to humor her.

Danielle made no verbal response, just looked sidelong at him and winked before scooping up some clothes and then slipped into her bathroom to change.

Stupid!

Randall thought, Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! For someone who had once jokingly claimed to be 'romantically challenged', she certainly knew how to torture a male.

Randall waited until a cessation of thuds and rustlings told him that Danielle had finished changing before he crossed the room and rapped on the door.

"Come in," Danielle said, "It's unlocked."

The door swung open, but Randall remained where he was, leaning against the doorframe both sets of arms crossed. "You are a cruel female," he said silkily. "You drop me a hint... and then force me to wait before I act on it? Do you have any idea what that kind of suspense does to a male like me?"

"Exactly what I intended it to."

Danielle was squaring up to him... Randall had to admit, he rather liked her combative -almost controlling but still shy sexuality. He watched her, almost apprehensive as she walked up to him and gently began to run her hands over his scaly chest. He watched both her hands and her face.

Randall's scales had that wonderful warm texture that many of the large snakes and lizards that she had handled at the zoo had. They were hard, but smooth almost silk like. She ran her fingers across his narrow collarbone.

"I hate waiting." he said uncrossing his arms and slowly wrapped them around her rib cage and waist and pulled her so close that her face was right in his.

"You're so impatient." Danielle teased. "Maybe I should just keep talking and make you wait even longer."

Randall shook his head, "No."

Danielle sniggered and then pressed a sweet kiss to his mouth. It was still little awkward, but Randall's wide mouth was surprisingly tender as he kissed her back. This kiss was more certain than the others and with the only the slightest hesitation his tongue touched Danielle's lips. His heart just about stopped when Danielle opened her mouth to him. Their tongues met and came together in a slow dance, eliciting soft moan from both.

A ringing from the phone shattered the moment.

Both groaned and pulled away. "I-I should get that..." Danielle stammered, breaking away from Randall to retrieve the phone from the side of her bed this time.

Randall growled low to himself. He really hated that phone. Shaking his head, he walked out of the room back to the other bedroom and got the shock of his life.

XX

"Hello?" Danielle said grumpily into the receiver.

"Hey, D!" Liss's voice came through the earpiece. "How's life?"

Danielle raised an eyebrow, even if Lissette couldn't see her do so. "I was about to find out, but you interrupted it." she answered pointedly.

"Well that's a shame. So, I see you made it back. How did the night go?"

Danielle didn't answer. She had heard voices and it sure wasn't the TV. Not with Randall answering them back. "Uh Liss, I got to go." Danielle hung the phone up. She then quietly padded down the hall and to her old bedroom. She listened carefully through the closed door.

"So, I see that you have made yourself rather cozy right here in the Human World. Where is the human right now?" a feminine but still male sounding voice asked.

"I don't know where It is. But I do know that this door had been shredded long ago. How is it still active?" Randall asked his voice guarded.

"I think you do know where It is. After all it is HER house. As for the door. I could tell you a very long and very boring story, but I was never one for campfire tales. But I am sure you remember something called the Scream Extractor?"

That did it for Danielle. She slipped back off and went to her bedroom. She knew this was not going to be good. She dropped to her knees and reached under her bed and pulled out a wooden case. It was something she was for the first time glad she had. She opened it and pulled out her single barrel shotgun. Quickly loading it she carefully carried it back to the room, she took a deep breath and put her hand on the door.

"See Randall…I don't think there is any choice in this." the other monster said.

Danielle pushed the door open and raised the shotgun. Her eyes widened at the slight of the new monster. He was so tall and skinny. He must have been 7 feet or more. He was a bright blue with black rings around his thighs and his semi long neck and long tail. There was black marking on his back and black specks over his body and hands. He was like Randall and had extra arms, but he had three sets, the middle ones were a dark blue. But what got her was his head. His head was large and round and flat. His mouth was full of sharp teeth and he was frowning at Randall, all his red eyes on him. All twelve red eyes that moved on stocks.

"I think that Randall does have a choice. I don't know who you are, but I suggest that you better leave quickly." Danielle hissed though her voice shook

Both monsters looked over at her. She had the gun aimed right at the blue monster's chest.

Randall blinked at the sight of the gun while the blue monster's face split into a nasty grin.

"And the little Human that had clearly helped you. This has gotten more interesting," the blue monster said.

"Danielle…leave." Randall said as his eyes got bigger.

"No. I'm Cajun, no feet pue tan is going to be in my house." Danielle cocked the gun. "I'll give you to the count of three to leave. One…"

The blue monster frowned. "You better put that down, before little girls get hurt."

"Two…"

The next few seconds happened in a blur. Randall lunged forward toward Danielle, the blue monster laughed and reached out and grabbed his blue tail and with a grunt swung him into the wall just as the gun was ripped from Danielle's hands. She spun around cursing up storm but her breath got caught in her throat and she began to hyperventilate.

The very monster that had scared her from age two to age six was standing behind her. It seemed to her that he hadn't changed at all in 17 years. He was still gray, still hard shelled, still moved with crab/spider movements. His five gray green eyes were hardened as he glared at her. He held the gun in his two seven-fingered hands and with a grunt cracked it. Destroying it.

Danielle struggled to breathe, fishing in her pocket in for her inhaler.

"Boggs…you sure got yourself into a mess. It's time to come back. The Scream Extractor has been fixed but there is one problem…."

"The suction force too strong?" Randall asked as he stood up. "No hold on the energy?"

"Correct. We tested four children. All dead." Waternoose said as he stared at both

Danielle and Randall.

Both their eyes widened and they looked at each other.

"I want you to come back and calibrate the settings…."

"Yes. I had already tried. No good. I saw your little note. You are the only one that knows them," the tall blue monster said.

Randall shook his head. "No. I think that that thing was doomed from the start. It…."

Randall closed his eyes. "It should have been left alone."

Waternoose chuckled, "My boy," he said in a kind voice, though his eyes showed his true hatred, "You don't know what happened after Sullivan and Wazowski tossed you out here do you?"

Randall snorted, "Hell no. I have been stuck out here ever since."

"I was stripped of my CEO position and Sullivan is now the company's CEO." Waternoose dropped the bomb.

"What! That's….."

"Not fair? Ridiculous?"

"There are a few more words I can think of, " Randall said nodding his head absentmindedly.

"Then come back, calibrate the settings and you can help get revenge on Sullivan and Wazowski. Think about it; we both hate those monsters. We can get revenge on them for banishing you, and for taking my company."

"Tempting, but I learned a few things while out here. One, what I did was wrong, two, it would be a very bad idea…and third…" Randall began to glare at Waternoose suspiciously, "You hate me. Always have. Why give me these new offers now?"

Waternoose then smirked. He knew now Randall was no longer fooled or going to be easily swayed like he had been a few years ago. He opened his mouth to offer another alternative when Danielle spoke up.

She had been watching and listening as she had tried to get her breathing under control. Come on girl, you aren't six any more…. hell where's that monster-be-gone stick? She then noticing that it was behind her where Randall had last propped it up. She reached behind her and her hands wrapped around the handle. She gripped it and took a deep breath…then swung it out from beside her. She held it defensibly knowing it wasn't do much damage against a hard shelled crab monster, but it was better then nothing "All right Crabcakes…you may have ruined my gun…it doesn't mean I'm going to sit back and listen to this." she pointed the stick at him. "I want you to go back through that closet door and take the grinning freak over there with you. But Randall will stay."

Waternoose had figured the human female to be a mild annoyance. But the brash way she spoke to him had him looking back at her. His eyes then widened when he saw the stick. He remembered her. Not many children had ever attacked him. "You…I remember you."

"Yeah?" Danielle's voice was still shaky with her fear of him. "I'm not six anymore. I can hit harder now, so I suggest that you go on back."

Waternoose scowled. "Randall's coming with us. He's a Monster… this is the Human World. He doesn't belong. I'll overlook the fact you saw us if you just step back."

"Oh hell no!"

Randall had been slowly moving up to the side of Danielle. "You heard the lady. I'm not going anywhere. Give up on the machine. It was a failure and unrealistic from the start."

Waternoose looked from Danielle to Randall. "Oh god. How disgusting. Let's cut to the chase, shall we? Randall, you will be coming back to Monstropolis. And you will be fixing the machine and since you've opened that big mouth of yours the human is coming as well."

"Over my dead body!" Randall growled.

"That can be arranged. But not until later." Waternoose said as he moved in. "Jester." He stepped up to grab Randall, but he jumped back and onto the wall, pushing Danielle down at the same time. Waternoose missed and as he tried turned to turn his big bulk around Danielle scooted back but was picked up by the waist. She was twisted around and saw blue hands grabbing at her.

"Freeze Boggs!" the blue monster said. "Seems we got some leverage over you. Now. You come down off that wall or your little human will be in a world of pain." He then squeezed Danielle's left wrist hard.

Randall froze at the sound of a bone breaking as Danielle involuntary cried out as the monster broke her wrist.

Randall snarled low but came off the wall. "Fine. I'll go, but she stays here."

"Oh no. She comes. Now get moving." Waternoose pointed to the closet. "Never thought you would go soft Boggs."

Randall opened the closet door. "I could go into some long winded speech about how humans aren't so bad and such, but it would matter would it?"

"Smart boy. It wouldn't." Waternoose said with his arms crossed glaring at Randall.

Randall pulled the door open and walked into the door that led into a darkened room that was somewhere in the factory of MI. He turned his head to see Danielle being held by the monster that had introduced himself as Jester Bobbens. Randall met her eyes. She looked calm though there was pain on her face as she held the black and blue wrist to her chest. She looked calm but her eyes clearly showed how terrified she was. And he didn't blame her one bit. Both monsters were much bigger then her and one had already broke her wrist. He growled low when he saw Jester whisper something to her.

Danielle's wrist had white hot needle pain shooting through it and she gritted her teeth at each jarring step. The tall blue monster had hands everywhere on her. One was tangled in her hair, another holding her by the upper arm as she tried to hold the broken wrist to her chest. Another hand was around her waist and another was holding her pant's waistband.

He was giggling and sniggering and it was really getting on her nerves. Her chest and lungs were aching; her wrist was broken and was turning black and blue. She saw Randall look back at her then growl when the monster bent down so that his huge flat face was next to her, his red eyes moved around her face and head. He grinned at her as he shoved her forward after Waternoose. "Crabcakes…I'll have to remember that," he giggled at her. "Come on Sweetheart…time to enter a whole new world!" he pushed her in and closed the door behind them with the end of his thick tail.