This is my first fanfiction so please go easy on it. If you like the story I'll keep chapters coming. If not keep it to yourself, please don't hate on it. If you find any errors, whether it be spelling, grammar or anything else please just let me know. I've been reading many of the fanfictions on this site but I just wanted to add my own to them.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Underland Chronicles or any of the characters, save the ones that I will be adding. Both the Underland Chronicles and the characters within belong to Suzanne Collins.

-Ssi


The evening was quiet for the most part. Dinner consisted almost exclusively of Luxa and Mrs. Cormaci trading stories of the differences between the Overland and Underland. Hazard butted in with a few stories of his own experiences in the Overland so that Luxa could learn more. Unlike the Overlanders, the Underlanders knew that there was another civilization living just miles away through rock and stone. Even so though, the Underlanders took little time to learn much of anything about the other world that resided over them, meaning Luxa knew next to nothing about the expansive world.

After dinner the odd group gathered around the TV as Mrs. Cormaci found an old VHS tape of a 1960's comedy that she thought Luxa might enjoy. As the faded color of the movie filled the room Gregor's thoughts drifted again to the Underland. It used to be whenever he thought of the Underland it was either of his past, or of Luxa. But now that Luxa sat next to Gregor on the couch only inches away, his thoughts still turned to the Underland. And this time it was wondering what he could do to help. He knew that he couldn't return before Luxa was mended. But he also knew to a degree what Luxa was feeling. Half of Gregor felt it wouldn't be a bad idea to just return tomorrow, but the other half disagreed heavily. He knew that Luxa still had to recover more before she went back, and not just because Howard had told him that. Gregor was worried about her. He was worried about what could happen to Regalia if she returned in her current state. More than anything else, however, he worried about what could happen to her if she returned too quickly.

And then there was Vellac. Even after Gregor and Luxa had returned to the Underland what could they do to stop him? By the sounds of it Vellac had more than half of the Regalian army at his beck and call. Not to mention the countless rats that sided with him. In the pit of his stomach Gregor realized in the end he would have to fight. Somewhere down the line the only way to win this was to fight. As much as Gregor loathed the idea, he was beginning to feel his Rager sensation bubble in his blood as he just thought about it. For as much as he hated fighting his dislike for Vellac was growing more and more steadily. It was amazing that one man could turn whole armies against their leaders and Gregor knew this was either going to end in Vellac's blood, or Vellac's rise to power… And of those two, Gregor knew he would choose blood.

When Gregor looked up at the TV and broke from his train of thought he realized he was staring at static. Looking around the room he noticed that both his uncle and Mrs. Cormaci had left. Luxa and Hazard were both asleep on the couch, Luxa's head rested against Gregor's shoulder and Hazard's head against Luxa's. Gregor wondered how out of it he was to have not noticed any of that as it happened. Reaching over to stand next to the couch Gregor pressed the button on his phone so he could check the time. In about 20 minutes Gregor had his daily meeting with Howard.

Gregor slid quietly away from Luxa and Hazard without waking either of them... much to his surprise. One at a time Gregor carried Hazard and Luxa back into the guest room and laid them on their beds before heading to the bathroom. Gregor ran cold water from the faucet and splashed it on his face as he tried to keep his mind from wondering any more than it already had. Once Gregor had woken himself up and washed his face, he wandered into the kitchen and grabbed an apple before heading off for his meeting with Howard.

As Gregor entered the dark laundry room he heard a shuffle near the grate. "Gregor? Is that-" the voice echoed throughout the cement walled room before Gregor cut him off.

"Yes Howard, it's me. And before you ask, good news, Luxa's awake... Well i mean she's sleeping now but she was awake for more than a couple hours earlier today," Gregor stated as Howard slid out of his hiding place in the corner of the room.

"Ah, that is excellent news. One step closer to getting control of Regalia once more. How is she cooping?" Howard asked formally but Gregor saw the worry beyond Howard's words.

"Well, her stitches are holding but she seems weakened, not to mention she is under the impression that she is returning to the Underland tomorrow." Gregor let out his biggest concern.

"Tomorrow? No. I would be more than happy to see her return that soon but it would be unsafe and should anyone catch word of her injuries the moral of Regalia would lower drastically," Howard reexplained what he had started to say the previous night. "Do you still plan on returning with Luxa when she does return?"

Gregor thought about it for a few moments before answering. He still wasn't quite sure what she had against him or if it would ever pass. But Gregor did know one thing, if anything were to happen to her or any of his other friends in the Underland because he didn't return for such a juvenile reason as having a fight with Luxa on where he belonged, he would never forgive himself. "Yeah... Yeah I'm coming with her."

"Good," Howard smiled, "Regalia will be most pleased at this news. I do not wish to be rude but I must take leave of here, Dulcet will throw my body in the river if I continue to return home this late."

Gregor chuckled a bit, "yeah, go get home Howard, take care of yourself."

"Thank you Gregor," Howard gave a slight bow of his head as he crept back over to the grate. "Fly you high," he said as he disappeared into the grate.

Gregor crept back through the dark hallways as his mind started coming up with scenarios on how to keep Luxa from trying to return before she was fully healed. Inside he knew no matter what she would attempt to return before she was truly ready, but as long as Gregor could try to make that as long as possible, he could still protect her.

When Gregor opened the door a shiver ran over the back of his neck. At first glance everything seemed normal, but Gregor still had the feeling that something was out of place. Gregor started to close the door when he saw it. A thin glint of metal caught his eye as the knife swung towards him.

With the reflexes of a rager, Gregor's hand shot up and grabbed the small wrist stopping the oncoming attack. He was about to retaliate when the figure convulsed, dropping the knife and grabbing her abdomen. Luxa kneeled over as she held her wound.

"Luxa!" Gregor exclaimed, trying to be quiet not to wake anyone else, but he couldn't hide the small freak out he was having.

Luxa's eyes narrowed as she looked up at Gregor, "Where were you?" She muttered angrily.

"I was out talking to Howard, Luxa," Gregor sighed as he slowly closed the door behind him. "I do every night around this time."

Gregor tried to help Luxa to her feet but she pushed him away and tried to rise by herself, "Why did you not tell me? I woke up and you-you were just gone!" Luxa spat out as she continued to breath heavily. Gregor could hear the anger in her voice, but he could also hear something that resembled fear, but Gregor knew that wasn't right. Luxa didn't feel fear.

"Luxa calm down, I was only gone for a few minutes," he said as he picked the knife off the ground and placed onto the table beside the TV.

Luxa convulsed again as she tried to stand and would've fallen had Gregor not caught her arm and hip and pulled her up so she was standing next to him. She looked like she was either about to punch him or yell at him. Gregor wasn't sure which but he did know that she didn't have the energy at the moment to do either.

"Are you ok? Did you rip your stitches?" He asked as he helped her lay down on the couch. When she gasped for air and didn't respond Gregor pulled the bottom of her sweater and shirt up to see her injury. The stitches were intact but each of the individual stitches had a dark red ring around them from Luxa's earlier movement.

After her deep breath Luxa continued on her rant, "you left!" Gregor was beginning to wonder if it was Luxa just being mad or if her injuries were making her hysterical.

"Luxa, don't hurt yourself even more, just get some sleep, please, I'm not going anywhere," Gregor said as he sat on the floor beside the couch.

"But you left!" Luxa repeated, "you were my best friend, and you left!" Luxa breathed quickly and sharply as though she were about to cry, but no tears came. "After Henr-" she cut herself off before she finished her cousin's name. "You were there, and then you were gone," Luxa gulped and shut her eyes, tightening them as she exhaled.

"Luxa, I'm right here, I swear I'm not going anywhere. I promise I won't go anywhere else, ok? Please get some sleep." Gregor pleaded with the delirious Luxa.

"But, what if you do?" Luxa asked. If Gregor hadn't been so scared of her condition he might've even laughed at her question. It sounded like it was from an innocent child, not a queen of Regalia.

Gregor instead sighed and leaned against the front of the couch with his side. "I'm not going anywhere," he said as he reached over and laid his hand over Luxa's, wrapping his fingers around her hand. Gregor could make out each small line and indent in the palm of her calloused hands. Her fingers squeezed his back weakly for only a moment before going limp again. "I'll be here when you wake up, I promise."

Luxa's breathing slowly returned to a steady pace, "promise," she repeated. Her eyes didn't open, but they un-tightened visibly as she gulped again. Gregor watched her face closely as the muscles one by one gave into sleep. Only after he was sure that Luxa was sound asleep did he close his own eyes and lean his head against his shoulder. He wasn't sure how he would be able to keep her safe from the Underland right now... But he did know, whatever came at her, he would protect her at all costs.


That's chapter 20. I know you're all sick of hearing me say sorry for the long lengths of time inbetween some of these chapters, but once again, I'm sorry. I wanted to make sure I can set up the rest of the story and also not have these chapters inbetween now and then be super boring so I've been spending time trying to think of moments I want in this story before the return. After they return I have a pretty solid idea on how the events will occur. As always please rate and review. Any and all feedback is welcomed.

-Ssi