A/N Well, it has been awhile since I updated, hasn't it? If I'm being honest, I had writer's block on this story for a few months, and then I got busy preparing to move again, but now that I'm settled in, I have more time on my hands. Jade and Macey's parents will show up in this chapter- so there may or may not be a little drama ahead of us!

Disclaimer: Nothing has changed. I still don't own Jackie Chan Adventures, only Macey.

Song selection: "Good"~ Better Than Ezra

Chapter Forty-Nine: The Demon World (s2, ep12, part 1)

I sighed, staring at my phone screen, as I had been for the past twenty minutes, attempting to conjure an appropriate response to the bombshell my mother had dropped on me through text last Friday. For some reason, I just couldn't bring myself to respond. Their intentions weren't malicious, and I loved my parents more than anything in the world, but I was a grown-up, dammit. I didn't need them checking in on me every weekend. I wasn't twelve anymore.

And, okay, on my part, it might have been that I was worried about everyone's (everyone= Jackie, Uncle, Jade) reactions would be. I was already self-conscious enough, and now my parents would be visiting out of the blue, too. I pulled my pillow over my face and groaned into the fabric, my voice muffled. I either cared too much or didn't care at all. I either overthought everything or underthought everything. It was enough that even I was driving myself crazy. I really needed something to do. I wished it was a work day, but it was Saturday, so Uncle's Rare Finds was closed, and I didn't have an article to work on for awhile, so I had no idea what else to do with myself. It was already 2:30 in the afternoon, and I had gotten nothing productive done. I was fidgety and overthinking everything. I needed something to do, stat. I pulled on sweatpants and a hoodie and jogged down the steps toward the dojo room, which, I discovered, was empty upon stepping in.

Good. I need time to myself.

I eyed the punching bag nearby. And a good workout.

I returned to my room and changed into camo-patterned shorts and a black muscle T-shirt. I quickly put my hair into a lazy ponytail, clumsily dropping the scrunchy several times before managing to finally tie it, and walked back into the dojo.

I cautiously approached the punching bag as if I were approaching an actual human being, tentatively putting my feet and fists into the usual (and hopefully correct) stance, and started slowly jumping in place before actually jumping. I swung my fists against the punching bag, grunting with every punch thrown.

This went on for a few minutes before I heard Jackie say, "Wrong stance."

I abruptly stopped punching and turned around to see Jackie standing on the mat, arms folded across his broad chest.

"Really?" I looked down at my fist, frowning. "Sorry."

Jackie re-adjusted my stance. "What are you apologizing for? Here." He let go of my wrists and demonstrated the correct method of punching. "You must hold your wrists correctly, or you'll hurt yourself. That is the beginner's most common mistake. Your opponent will be more likely to take advantage of you."

I hissed in frustration. "I just can't get this right. Glad I'm not alone, though," I muttered under my breath, flexing my aching wrists.

Jackie handed me a water bottle, and I gratefully accepted it. "Don't rush things," he told me gently as I sucked it down in one gulp. "Good things come to those who wait."

"Let me guess." I grinned, crackling the now-empty water bottle in my hand. "Ancient Chinese proverb?"

"No." Jackie smiled lightly. "Advice from Jackie." He looked me up and down, concern flashing across his face. "Are you okay?"

"Yes." My face flushed from a mixture of overheating and embarrassment. "Why-why-why do you ask?"

"Tell the truth," Jackie coaxed, his tone akin to a parent convincing a child to take their medicine.

I slumped in defeat. "Okay, you got me," I sighed, dropping my hands to my hips. "How did you know?"

Jackie raised his eyebrows, a smirk curling his lips. "Because your voice gets higher when you lie."

It was really that obvious? I frowned. "Okay," I huffed, sticking my nose up. "My parents are coming to visit soon."

Jackie tilted his head to one side. "I would think that would be a good thing?"

"Yes and no," I said flatly, attempting feebly to disguise the anxiety in my voice. "It's just...they can be a tad bit…" He stared at me, waiting for me to complete my sentence. "Overbearing. And embarrassing. And loud. And eccentric-"

"Macey." Jackie softly cut me off. "I'm sure they're wonderful."

"It would be a stretch to call them 'wonderful'," I muttered under my breath, and he frowned, raising his eyebrows. "I mean, thank you."

"Let's get something to eat." I yawned, stretching. "I'm starving."

"Changing the subject, I see." Jackie chuckled. "Alright, let's go."

We made our way down the hallway toward the kitchen.

The door to Jade's room opened, and she ran out into the hallway, nearly bumping into me. "Sorry," she said quickly, breathing heavily. "Hi, Macey and Jackie!"

"Jade." Jackie frowned at her. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing." Jade shook her head. "Just going to get something to-"

The doorbell ringing abruptly cut her off.

"I'll get it!" Jade ran to the door and opened it to reveal an Asian couple standing on the threshold.

"Surprise!" the said couple chorused in unison.

Jade's eyes widened. "Mom? Dad?" she exclaimed incredulously, staring up at them.

"Hope you don't mind us dropping in uninvited," Jade's mother stated apologetically.

"Mom and Dad?!" I was just as incredulous as Jade.

"Cousin Jackie!" Jade's father hugged Jackie, doing that weird pat on the back that guys always do when hugging each other. "It's so good to see you again."

"You have been such a wonderful role model for Jade," Jade's mother told Jackie, smiling brightly.

"Oh well, thank you," Jackie said sheepishly, clearly taken aback.

Uncle came up behind Jackie and cuffed him upside the head.

"Ow!" Jackie rubbed the spot where Uncle nailed him, glaring at Uncle.

"You take credit for my good influence?!" Uncle demanded, obviously unhappy.

"Uncle!" Both Jade's parents cheered, beaming.

Did this couple say everything in unison?

"Tch," Jade scoffed, folding her arms tightly across her chest. "Is Uncle everyone's uncle?"

"He's a monkey's uncle," I joked, causing Uncle to glare at me. "Hehe…"

"He is actually our cousin…" Jade's father volunteered. "Isn't he?"

Jackie and I looked at each other in confusion.

Somebody call the History Channel, because things just got interesting.