"Hey, Ian! You haven't seen Ellie around, have you?" Alan asked as he jogged down the path to the Visitors' Center.

Ian shook his head.

"Sorry, Al. I have no clue where she is."

"Damn. I've been looking for her all afternoon . . ." Alan muttered.

"Have you checked Raptor Valley?"

"Mhm. Sarah and Kelly are down there."

Ian rolled his eyes.

"I know. Good god, Sarah can't be torn away from those raptors. She's like Jane Goodall! And Kelly seems to really like Charlie now. It's a good thing, don't get me wrong, but I don't want any tears when we leave for the mainland."

"Did they really make friendship bracelets?" Alan asked.

"You'd better believe it! Is Charlie still wearing his?"

"I don't know. I didn't actually see him, but where there's Kelly, there's Charlie."

Ian frowned.

"But if you saw Kelly, why didn't you see Charlie?"

"I didn't see Kelly. But Sarah was watching her, right?"

Ian rubbed his chin.

"So you went looking for Ellie, but didn't see Kelly, and Kelly's with Charlie, but not with Sarah?"

Alan blinked.

"I think so? . . ."

"Odd."

Alan nodded. The two men started walking towards the Visitors' Center, shuffling down the gravel road in short strides. After a moment, Ian sighed awkwardly and turned to Alan.

"Is Ellie still, uh . . ."

"Doing raptor things? Yes."

Ian nodded pensively.

"Has it gotten worse?"

Alan bit the inside of his lip and shrugged.

"About the same. She hasn't attacked me since that one time, but- . . ."

Alan shook his head.

"What?" Ian pressed.

"I should talk to her about this."

"You'll upset her. You remember how she snapped, last time . . ."

"No, I have to be honest. We promised."

"You and Ellie?" Ian asked.

"All three of us. Don't you remember our pact?"

Ian shook his head.

"We promised to tell each other anything and everything. That's what friends do. We're a team. There's no reason to lie to each other. I have to be completely and brutally honest."

"What if she asks if a dress makes her look fat?"

Alan raised his eyebrow.

"Well, she IS pregnant . . ."

The men turned as they heard a light crunching of gravel from behind. Sarah was jogging down the trail, and she seemed out of breath. Ian walked over and tried to put his arms around her, but she swatted him away casually.

"Have you seen the kids?" she puffed.

Ian's eyes went wide.

"You LOST them?" he shrilled.

"No! Of course not!" Sarah growled, "I'm just wondering where they are . . ."

"In other words: you lost them," Ian hummed.

"I said they could play around the Visitors' Center area. There's only so many places they could be."

"I guess," Ian sighed, "And there's nothing dangerous nearby, anyway . . ."

"There are TWO dangerous things, Ian. But they're locked up and heavily guarded," Alan reminded him.

"True, true. Still, we'd better find- Oh, there they are! Kids! Kids!" Ian called to the two speckles that were frolicking in the field. Alan waved to Charlie. He waved back and started running towards them. Kelly followed.

"That's a relief . . ." Alan breathed, "Now I just have to find Ellie, tell her the truth, say I love her, and fix everything."

"Awww . . ." Sarah gushed, "Ian, why don't you ever say you love me anymore?"

Ian snorted.

"I told you on our wedding day. If anything changes, I'll let you know . . ."

Charlie skipped over and tackled Alan to the ground. He landed with a light "oof" and smiled.

"Kelly and I caught a frog today!" Charlie beamed. Kelly held up their trophy and grinned. The amphibian croaked and wiggled its feet irritably.

"Cute," Ian said unenthusiastically, "What are you gonna do with it?"

Charlie looked up at Alan with big eyes.

"Can I keep it?"

Alan laughed.

"Sure, why not? He can catch all of the mosquitoes that seem to be buzzing around . . ."

Ian chuckled.

"Look on the bright side: if they get stuck in amber, you could be a major attraction in the distant future!"

"Wouldn't THAT be a sight?" Sarah giggled, "Can you imagine? . . ."

"Haha! 'Welcome to Alan Park!' Am I right?" Ian cackled.

Alan crossed his arms.

"Oh, come on, Ian! You know there can only be one of me! I'm just THAT unique."

"I guess you're right. But I imagine it'd be interesting to see yourself from another point of view . . ."

***TSJPFEW***

"You've got a lot of nerve, coming here!" the alternate Ellie snapped as Ellie sat down in the kitchen, "What if someone sees us, huh? How are you going to explain that?"

Ellie bit her lip.

"I don't know . . ." she wavered.

"So, why risk it?" the alternate Ellie snapped.

"I need your advice . . ." Ellie whispered humbly.

The alternate Ellie rubbed her temples and sat down.

"Is this about Alan?" she asked bluntly.

"No! Of course not! I'm pregnant . . ." Ellie grumbled.

"Hm. Congratulations. So, what's the question?" she asked tersely.

"Well, I just want to know how to deal with it, that's all . . ."

"But this is your second child, right? So, what do you need ME for?" the alternate Ellie stressed. Ellie hunched her shoulders a little.

"I don't think I can raise this child in the same way I've raised Charlie . . ."

"Why not?" the alternate Ellie asked, tapping the table impatiently.

"He's . . . special."

The alternate Ellie sighed. She drummed her fingers down the side of her coffee cup.

"Was it difficult to raise him?"

"Well, it was strange, that's for sure!" Ellie laughed nervously.

"Then this should be easier, right? . . ."

Ellie frowned in thought. That was what Robin said . . .

Then again, that was what ROBIN said . . .

"Do you ever feel like you have no one to talk to?" Ellie asked, "No one competent, I mean?"

The alternate Ellie shrugged.

"Sometimes. But I have my friends . . . and Mark."

Ellie tried not to gag. She coughed a little, however, and choked on her own spit. The alternate Ellie noticed this, but didn't provide anything more than an obtuse reaction. Ellie smiled sheepishly as she cleared her throat. The other Ellie sighed. Her eyes flicked down and up again unceremoniously.

"Are you really happy with Alan?" the alternate Ellie asked cautiously.

"Yes! Of course! And forever, yes!" Ellie affirmed.

"Just asking . . ."

"Well, stop! I'm perfectly happy with Alan!" Ellie said with a final nod.

"Then why can't you talk about your problems with him?"

Ellie scratched her ear.

"I . . . I can. But I don't know if he'd understand . . ."

The other Ellie closed her eyes.

"If he doesn't understand, maybe you should consider-"

"Don't finish that sentence. Ever."

The alternate Ellie rolled her eyes.

"You're so naïve . . ."

"And you're a bitter, lonely housewife!" Ellie spat.

"Did you come back just to insult me?" the alternate Ellie growled.

Ellie frowned.

"You and I are very different people . . ."

"You think so? Just wait until Alan betrays you! Then we'll see how jolly you are!"

"Alan won't betray me. He understands . . ."

"Does he?"

"Yes. I- . . . I think so. Maybe. I don't know."

"Why don't you ask him, then?" the alternate Ellie drawled patronizingly.

Ellie scoffed.

"Fine. I will!"

And with that, she stormed out of the room and entered the interdimensional gateway.

***TSJPFEW***

Alan carried a very drowsy Charlie to the Visitors' Center. The raptor's eyelids moved up and down slowly as he dozed off unwillingly. He shook his head a little to wake up. Alan smiled and held him close.

"Are we there yet?" Charlie yawned.

"Almost."

Charlie purred as Alan marched up the rotunda staircase. He walked down the hallway and nudged open the door to Charlie's room with his back. When they were inside, Charlie hopped out of his arms and climbed into bed. After stepping in a small circle, he curled up and waited for Alan to tuck him in.

As he pulled a blanket over Charlie's shoulders, Alan glanced at the drawing above Charlie's bed. He had scribbled a picture of Ellie and Alan in the hospital, glued together with extra-strength rubber cement. Above it, they had stuck glow-in-the-dark stars across the wall, which lit up all of his other drawings. He was getting better with each passing day, and some of his illustrations were looking rather lifelike.

Alan bit his tongue. In his mind, he had attributed this fact to the genetic inheritance of his uncanny ability to sketch, but that was impossible, wasn't it? Charlie wasn't related to him; he wasn't even a member of his species! And yet, who would believe that he wasn't Alan's son? They were so similar, so identical, in many respects. They were father and son, and not even a flicker of doubt crossed Alan's mind as he reflected upon this.

Co-ack!

Alan smiled as the captured frog gave a gentle ribbit in its tank. It pressed its feet against the glass and made slimy fingerprints. Charlie smiled and stretched out his legs.

"Should I stay up and wait for Mom?" he yawned. Alan smiled and ruffled his feathers.

"No, kiddo. Go to sleep. You'll see her in the morning."

Charlie laid his head on the pillow and closed his eyes. Alan watched him for a moment, then stood up with a sigh. He closed the door gently as he stepped into the hall.

On the way out of the Visitors' Center, he passed Morton and Penelope, who gave him a friendly wave. They set off to find Donald Gennaro, as it was time for their weekly poker game. Kipper and Bucky joined them, and they laughed merrily as they skipped down the hall.

Alan stepped out into the night, where a myriad of crickets sang a gentle melody in the warm, tropical air. A row of torches illuminated the pathway with a gentle orange glow. Noticing that one stick was about to flicker out, Alan grabbed a can of fuel and screwed it in with a soft click.

Further down the trail, the road began to grow dark. The staggered blinking of fireflies kept Alan company as he trotted towards the Safari Lodge with a spring in his step. He faltered, however, when he saw a raptor pounce upon a stray goose in the field. Snapping the bird's neck with its jaws, the raptor bent its head down and tore a piece of flesh off the goose's breast. Alan retched a little, then continued down the path. Before he got too far, however, the raptor lifted its head and smiled.

"Alan!"

Oh, god. It was Ellie.

Alan gave an awkward smile as Ellie demorphed and padded up to him, licking the blood off of her lips. He returned an uncomfortable hug and gulped.

"Where have you been? I've been looking for you all day!" Alan said.

Ellie smiled and rubbed her head against his chest.

"You don't have to worry about me. But I'm glad you care."

She sighed and closed her eyes, leaning against him with a smile on her face. Alan pulled away when she began to purr. She frowned in confusion and cocked her head.

"What's wrong?"

"You're purring."

Ellie blinked.

"I know . . ."

Oh, god. She knew. That made it even worse . . .

Noticing his discomfort, Ellie stepped forward and took his hand.

"I wanted to thank you. I'm lucky to have someone who underst-"

"You're scaring me, Ellie."

She let go of his hand and froze. After a beat, Alan resumed his lecture.

"You've been acting really strange lately. It's alarming."

Ellie stared at him with disbelief. Then, her expression shifted to a look of absolute betrayal.

"You think there's something wrong with me?"

"Not exactly."

"What, then?"

"We just need to have a little talk, that's all . . ."

"Are you trying to 'fix' me?"

"Calm down . . ."

"I will NOT calm down! Why are you so against raptors, all of a sudden?"

"I'm not against raptors!"

"Then why are you afraid?"

"Because you aren't supposed to be a raptor!"

Ellie growled and stormed down the road. Alan jogged beside her.

"Listen, we need to talk. If we just work through this . . ."

"Work through what, Alan? My 'raptor issues'? Ha! How do you expect to get through to me if you don't even trust me? No, scratch that! You can't get through to me because you don't understand my oh-so-frightening saurian ways!"

"Ellie, that's not what I meant!"

"Then what DID you mean?"

Alan slowed to a stop and looked into Ellie's eyes. He hadn't seen her this angry since they fought in the clinic over two years ago. This was very bad . . .

Suddenly, Crusher tumbled out of the sky.

"Ellie! Tuhuma's trying to start a forest fire!" he yelped.

Ellie's eyes went wide. Without another word, she sprinted down the road. Alan followed, hoping to help her with whatever disaster was taking place. He puffed as he tried to keep up. She was not a raptor, but she was surprisingly fast.

They found Tuhuma by the tall grass. He was carrying a torch in his mouth. Every time he tried to dip it into the grass, however, the flame fizzled and popped under the moist vegetation.

"Damn. I should have waited until dry season . . ."

Ellie snatched the torch out of his mouth and snapped it over her leg. Tuhuma flinched, but looked up at her hopefully.

"Does this mean you're going to fight me?"

Ellie snarled menacingly.

"I refuse. My answer is no. Go home."

Crusher did a little dance.

"Yeah, go home, ya big-"

"You too, Crusher."

"But-"

"Now!"

Crusher flinched. He held his head low as he began to escort Tuhuma to the Valley.

"I'm sorry, Ellie . . ." he whispered.

"Filthy pet! You ought to be ashamed of yourself, taking orders from this weak, pathetic human!"

Ellie turned and began to walk up the road with a calm expression.

"She's a disgrace to this island! We'd have been much better off without her."

Ellie didn't break her stride. Alan walked beside her.

"Now we're the livestock of a soft-headed weakling. Feh! Pathetic excuse of a leader! Next thing you know, she'll be handing off the job to her half-breed son-"

Ellie whipped around and pounced on Tuhuma, morphing into a raptor in midair. Alan watched with wide eyes as they tore at each other's throats, snarling and hissing like feral tigers. He tried to intervene, but they were a hurricane of claws and teeth. Suddenly, Ellie grabbed Tuhuma's arm in her jaw. Before he could slash at her face, she twisted her head and fractured his humerus. He howled in pain and limped away hastily, his arm hanging flaccidly in a u-shaped curve. Ellie growled. Tuhuma whimpered and retreated into the darkness.

With Tuhuma gone, Ellie began to pant in exhaustion. She demorphed unsteadily, stumbling down the road like a drunkard. Alan reached out to catch her, but she pushed him away. She staggered back towards the Visitors' Center with clenched teeth.

"Ellie! Ellie, wait . . ."

"WHAT?"

Alan stumbled backwards, afraid that she might decide to attack him as well. Instead, she just looked at him with rage and disappointment.

***TSJPFEW***

They didn't exchange another word that night. Ellie didn't even bother changing into her nightgown. She simply kicked off her shoes and wrapped herself in the bedsheets, facing away from the center of the bed. Alan reached out his hand to comfort her, but decided against it. Instead, he stepped into bed and turned away from her, hoping that she would feel better in the morning. He told himself that it was just a hiccup, that it would pass in a day or two . . .

But it was hard to ignore the frantic weeping coming from the other side of the bed.