Warning, this chapter contains mention of domestic abuse.

—

It's been a few weeks since Eric was born. Everyone in the HQ got used to the baby in the house.

Just as every morning, Ed and Ellie who now shared a room were woken by Eric's cry coming from the baby monitor. They were laying in the bed, cuddling. Ellie had her arms wrapped around Ed, running her hands under his shirt with a frog, squishing his stomach gently. He giggled softly before waking up to Eric's cry.

He sat up, ruffling his hair.

Ellie got up as well, stroking his back. "I'll go calm him down, you rest."

"No, I'll go."

She shook her head, smiling while dressing up. "It's my turn today and I don't mind."

He frowned at her.

"I'll be back before you know it." She winked at him before heading to the nursery.

On the way, Spiny, who's always full of energy, tagged along happily.

She opened the door from what used to be Zander's room and walked over to the crib Eric was in. She picked the crying baby up and got everything ready to take care of him.

The tiny Spinosaur watched Eric curiously the whole time. If Ellie didn't know better she'd say that he was trying to hunt the baby, but she was aware of how tamed the dinos are thanks to them being able to turn into cards.

She came back to Ed way later with Eric, seeing that Ed fell asleep again.

Ellie smiled and sat on the bed, kissing his head, stroking his hair.

She laid Eric on the bed, giving him a Saichania plushie Ed has in the room.

Spiny hopped at the bed as well, sniffing the plushie and Eric, making the boy giggle.

Ellie smiled at the boys adoringly.

—

Sometime later at the D-lab, Reese was woken up by her morning sickness. Her head was pounding and spinning and she vomited into the bucket next to the bed.

The door suddenly burst open and Zander rushed in, holding her hair back as he always. He must have passed the room just as she started and heard her. He rubbed her back, doing as much as he could to help.

She smiled at him when she stopped. Then her eyes traced at the clock, noticing how early it is.

"Why were you awake before me?" she asked him.

He frowned guilty, glancing away.

"Zan?" Reese hardened her glare.

"Well... I get up way too early every morning." Knowing that him limiting his own sleep just to watch over her would upset her, Zander very reluctant about telling her.

He received a mad pout and a sharp, nasty glare. "Zander, what did I tell you about overlooking your health for me?"

"I know!" He gasped, waving his arms around. "I just need to make sure you're both alright. I haven't slept that much since we moved in." He stretched the back of his head.

"Zan... That's no good. Insomnia shouldn't be taken lightly."

"Don't you think I know that? I...I... I wanna make sure that you're not having any nightmares, that your hair doesn't get dirty, that you have breakfast right as you wake up."

"I don't want you to put me above yourself, that is not right." She shook her head.

"But...you're my everything, angel."

"And you're mine, but straining yourself is too much. If you overlook your health for me, who's going to be here for me in the future?"

He bit his lip. "I guess..." He stroked her hair. "You always know what to say. How...?"

She gave him a big smile. "I heard a lot of this stuff from my parents and from the Ancients too. Now, take a nap; you need some rest before Ellie brings Eric."

At that last mention, Zander's body shivered.

"Are you okay...?" Reese wondered.

"Well...I'm not that sure if I'll even close an eye... I'm terrified of spending more than a few hours with Eric without Ellie for the first time... I'm just not ready to be a father."

"That's another reason for you to sleep for a while. You need to have some energy to deal with a child."

"Yeah, but-"

"Please. It's the best you can do right now."

"...better than stressing out I guess." He sighed and laid down.

She stroked his head and went to the bathroom.

—

A few hours later, back at the HQ, Ed woke up and saw Ellie and Eric smiling at him. He grinned back, sitting up.

"Morning..."

"Good morning, Teddy Bear."

"I see that you took Eric with you."

"He really wanted to see his uncle, isn't that right, sweetie?" Ellie cuddled the baby gently. Eric giggled happily. "We gotta prepare Eric for his weekend at Zander's place. I'll head to the bathroom. Could you watch over Eric?"

"Of course."

She pecked his cheek and left.

Thankfully, no one occupied the only one of two bathrooms in the HQ at the moment. The only other bathroom in the whole building was in Jeremy's room, so the rest of the inhabitants had to share one.

She took her time getting ready, so long that she heard an aggressive and rapid knocking on the door. She was still in the shower, so she couldn't open at the moment. She didn't rush herself.

When she was done, she opened the door wrapped in a towel and was met with the green-haired anger.

"Oh... Ursula... Morning!" Ellie chuckled.

"Yeah, yeah. Could you hurry up?"

"Sure, but it might take a while."

Ursula glared at her. "You're not the only one here, Ray of Sunshine, you know?"

Ellie blushed, smiling cheekily. "Aw... You haven't called me that since we dated."

"Elizabeth!" Ursula snapped at the blonde.

"Sorry!"

"Just get done before the others-" She couldn't even finish the sentence since she heard foot. She turned around and saw Dr. Z and Ed, who was holding Eric just came and got ready to wait in a queue.

"Oh, come on!" Ursula massaged her temple, frustrated by having to deal with the same situation every single morning now. She is a diva; she needs her time to get ready and she can't just get up early in the morning or even at night to occupy the bathroom because she needs her beauty sleep.

This was getting annoying. It was okay back at Zeta Point because the only other person who took their time in the morning was Seth and she didn't even dare to rush him, but now she's at home and should not be denied or delayed like that.

She started getting very distressed and maybe spat out some swear words at the blonde.

"Well, at least Jeremy has his own bathroom..." Ellie sighed, happy that there isn't another person in the queue.

That's what stopped Ursula's swearing. Why didn't she think of that before?

To spare herself all the waiting or rushing by the others in the shared bathroom, she'll just simply occupy a different one.

She smirked to herself and raced upstairs, her cape waving behind her, leaving everyone confused.

Her quick steps made their way to the last room, the guest room. Her balance on the pink heels at such a speed was incredible. Then again, this wasn't her first time rushing with them.

She burst the door from the guest room open in the exact same motion as Zander did when he first presented his song to his angel.

The sudden opening of the door scared Jeremy who just came out of the bathroom just as he was taking the towel off. He screamed and covered most of his body with the towel.

"What the hell, Ursula?!"

"You don't have to hide your chest, you know that?" she asked instead of answering.

Jeremy frowned at her, raising his eyebrow. "Whatever... What do you want here? Have you ever heard of knocking?"

Ursula closed the door behind her. "Look, I'm getting sick of sharing a bathroom with everyone else. So... I thought..." She traced her away from him, crossing her arms.

"You wanna share a bathroom with me, huh?" Jeremy smirked teasingly at her.

"It's way easier than dealing with others."

"Okay. Your choice. I don't mind, my gorgeous diva. I'm already done, so go ahead," he told her, wrapping the towel around his waist, which revealed some surgery scars on his chest, and putting on his glasses.

"I'm surprised you agreed so quickly."

"I mean, you'd kick me or smack me if I didn't, so I don't really have a choice. Plus, I'm at your service, gorgeous." He winked at her, but then he cringed and blushed in embarrassment as he turned away. Did he really just do that?

She grinned, chuckling quietly to herself. She then took off her cape-like vest. Jeremy's face turned red when he noticed.

"Hey, could you help me with the zip?" Ursula asked him.

"...T-the zip...?"

"Yeah! It's easier for me. You gonna help or not?"

"Of course!" Jeremy hopped over to her, stunned by the first glance at her back before he even unzipped her suit. Her upper back and even the back of her neck had some old scars on them.

They didn't heal yet...

He shook it off and unzipped her, revealing more scars. He bit his lip. His hand that was still holding the zipper started to tremble, his eyes locked on her back.

His other hand reached to her and stroked some of the scars.

Ursula sucked in a quick breath and shivered at his touch.

Jeremy swiftly moved his hand away. "Sorry..."

She said nothing; she just walked into the bathroom, holding the suit to her front.

The black-haired sighed and threw his body onto the bed.

—

Ursula turned the shower on, relaxing under the hot rain.

She suddenly shuddered. She still felt the touch on her back, making her uneasy. She leaned her hand against the wall, curling it into a fist.

She'd swear that she heard two muffled voices, a female and a man, yelling and screaming in anger. And suddenly, she felt a stabbing pain on her back and again and again...

A memory...that was never meant to surface again, but it did...

No... All of that is in the past. It hurts, but she can do nothing to change that.

She was hated by the people who gave her life...However, they don't matter anymore, do they? Even if they're still alive, they don't matter. None of what happened matters...

—

Later that day, Ellie brought baby Eric to the D-lab. Zander was still very insecure and nervous even in his sleep, so Reese was the one who picked Eric up and his stuff. He was so happy to see her.

She peaked into the bedroom, seeing Zander still sleeping, mumbling something. It was obvious that he was worried about what father he's going to be not just to Eric, but to the unborn one as well.

Reese frowned, knowing how much a family means to him after what he's been through.

She left the door open and took Eric to the nursery room. She sat down on a mattress on the floor, setting Eric down. She played with him for a while just as used to with her baby sister all those years ago.

Soon, Zander came into the room, smiling.

Reese noticed him and smiled back, cuddling the giggling baby. "Do you feel any better?"

"Yeah... Sarah and Amour woke me up. ...I guess I'm not even needed here though."

"What are you saying, Zan? You're his father, of course, you're needed here. That Eric has some fun with me doesn't mean it won't be the same with you."

"You think?"

Reese nodded and Zander sat beside her, reaching for his son. Once he cuddled the baby, Eric started crying.

Zander frowned, handing Eric back to Reese. "He hates me..."

"No way." Reese glared at him half reproachingly for Zander's immediate defeat and half understandingly. "It's not your fault."

"It is! I made him cry!"

Reese rolled her eyes. "You really have no idea how to take care of a baby, do you?"

"...No... I couldn't take care of my siblings as babies since we met later on and Daniel and Sally never asked me to babysit Rod or Laura when they were born. So, once again, I'm a klutz with this."

"You should read some of the parenting books I bought then."

"Maybe..."

Reese stood up, holding Eric tightly. "You need to spend this whole weekend learning how to care about your son."

"But you already saw that he hates and cries when I try to touch him."

"First of all, I'm here to help you. And second of all... It smells like it really wasn't you who made him cry... I'm pretty sure he needs to have his diaper changed and that should be up to you."

"But I don't know how?!" He gasped.

"And that's why. The best way to learn is to try."

"...I guess."

—

Ellie tossed herself onto the bed, sighing. She felt such a huge weight falling off her shoulders now that Eric was with Zander. But despite her free time, she rather just laid down and did nothing.

Ed approached her, stroking her hair.

"It didn't go away..." Ellie mumbled quietly.

"What do you mean?"

"The belly... It didn't go away after the pregnancy like it would to some other people. I've never really cared about what others think; I was happy with my body, but as I was getting bigger I started to enjoy the thought of being a little smaller. ...nothing changed about my body though..."

"Ellie, please, get up."

"Wait, what...?"

"Just please do."

"Okay...?" Ellie did as she was told and got hugged from behind by Ed.

"As long as I can hug you like this and my hands can touch, you are not fat," he told her.

She blushed, smiling at him. He used her own words against her.

He rested his forehead on her back. "You know I love you just the way you are."

She turned around and kissed his head, stroking his cheek. "I love you too, my little marshmallow."

He chuckled softly.

"What about we watch a movie together?" she suggested.

"I would love that."

—

In the evening, both Reese and Zander fell onto the bed, exhausted.

"How do they do that? How can they stand all the mess?" Zander questioned.

"Well, that's how parenting goes. And it's waiting for us in less than 4 months."

"Oh..." He covered his with his hands and screamed. "No!"

"...And I thought you're excited for both your kids."

"Of course, I am! I just... didn't realize how much work it would be."

"We'll get through it, Zan. No one expects us to be the perfect parents immediately." Reese took his hand and kissed his cheek. "You did great today."

"I'm not so sure about that..."

"But I am."

Zander hugged his angel. "I wouldn't be able to do it without you."

—

While one of her uncles was struggling to take care of his son, Laura was having a good time with Lenna and Hoshi during their sleepover.

After months, she grew close with the two; she even told them more about what happened to her. Of course, the version of the story was slightly altered so it's easier for them to understand. She felt relieved letting it out. Telling them about the time-traveling, about...her life...made them both more comfortable to open up.

Hoshi didn't have much to say about his life; no supernatural forces tempered with his life. He did get through some rough stuff despite that. Hoshi loves rock climbing which obviously once resulted in him getting hurt. He fell down a few years ago, breaking his arms and a leg and falling into a coma which created some tension between his parents. His mother blamed his father for what happened.

Lenna wasn't that sharing with her past at first, but she slowly did say more. It was the first time Laura heard all that straight from Lenna.

...she confirmed some of Laura's theories. The streak of her cheek was made by her nephew before she lost him and the rest of her family.

Her story kept colliding with what she heard almost a month ago; they were so similar that it couldn't be a coincidence. But then again, their families are meant to be dead...how could they actually be related...?

Once Lenna stopped talking, Hoshi immediately leaped to her and hugged her tightly. She didn't even play her tough girl act and accepted the embrace.

—

The next morning the queue to the shared bathroom at the HQ wasn't an issue to the one who despised it the most.

After hearing a knock on the door, Jeremy opened, letting Ursula in.

"I'm already done, so the bathroom's all yours," he told her, walking on the other side of the room.

Ursula frowned; he walked away just like that without saying anything else...

Like yesterday, she took the cape-like vest down and asked Jeremy to help her unzip her. With his face red, he did as he was told. He stopped again, staring at the scars longer than before.

"They're ugly, I know! Could you stop looking at them?!" Ursula snapped at him.

"Sorry... I just..."

"Just what?! You already know enough about them! Even more than anyone else! What more do you want?!"

"...you really think I wanna look at them?!" He pulled away, glaring at her in slight anger and confusion. "Scars are not pleasant to look at, okay? But yours at least don't make people yell at you for just trying to be who you are. Sure, you don't deserve them, but...they're not your fault."

"I don't remember asking for any speeches like that!" she growled quietly.

"I'm just trying to say that you don't have to be ashamed by the scars on your back. I might not know what it's like to be so mistreated by people you trust, but I still experienced a fair share of bullying from strangers and betrayal from my parents. Scars don't matter; they don't take away from your appeal."

"If they don't matter just stop talking about them!" she yelled.

After a while of silence, she spoke again. "...just don't remind me."

"Ursula..."

"These scars remind me that my parents didn't even want me! I was a punching bag for them! No... We are punching bags for Dr. Z. ...they treated me even worse than that..."

"Hey... You don't have to talk about it." Jeremy reached his hand to her, rubbing her arm soothingly.

Still lost in her memories, she jerked, turned around, and almost bashed Jeremy away. He pulled away, giving her some space.

"Or you can just let it all out. I'm here to hear you out; just like you were there for me many times, my gorgeous diva."

She chuckled softly at that nickname. "You bet I am."

He took off his vest and his shirt, showing surgery scars on his chest. "Don't forget that you're not the only one with scars that remind you of how you used to be treated."

"Stop with that sentimental talk." She smirked at him.

"Roger that, gorgeous diva." He walked away with a smile on his face.

"Your," she said.

He stopped and turned around. "What?"

"Your gorgeous diva."

Jeremy's face turned red. Did she just basically said that she wants to be his?! No! He's just overthinking things, isn't he? His brain was fried at the thought, so it took him a while to realize that she already went to the bathroom.

He smiled to himself, his heart beating fast. "Urs..."

—

Lenna was the first one to wake up in the morning; she was quiet and lost in her thoughts.

When Laura opened her eyes, she noticed Lenna laying there silently.

"Good morning."

"Oh...morning..."

"Hey, something wrong Lenna?"

"No... I was just thinking..." Lenna turned away.

"Understandable..."

"Being the only one left alone isn't easy..."

"I know what you mean, but I'm sure they wouldn't want you to give up. What would they do in your place?"

"...what would they do...? My brother would figure out a way to change the past for sure."

"A way to change the past...?"

"His IQ levels were incredible. He studied evolution, but he was also skilled in technology. He wasn't very sociable though..." Then she mumbled a name, which made Laura shoot up, staring at Lenna in shock. She was right.

"What is it, girl?"

"You need to go see someone."

—

Meanwhile, on the Black Pearl, Seth, Gelly, and even the broken Alpha Droid, who grew to love being near Gelly, came in. The Ancients and, surprisingly enough, Minmi were working there and looked up as soon as they noticed their arrival.

"Why did you call us here?" Seth asked immediately, "apart from fixing the time machine, we have nothing to discuss."

"Minmi requested you and Gelly," Trias told him.

"Yeah! There's nothing more behind it," Cretacia added, swinging her arms around, "we have no desire to spend time with you after what you've done. Oh, hi, Gelly!" She waved at the Gel Jark.

Gelly smiled and waved back shyly.

"Then what is it?" Seth turned to Minmi who jerked at his glare.

"Oh! Um..." She quickly grabbed her tablet and swiped her fingers across it, making a holographic screen appeared next to her. The screen showed a Gel Jark and some values about the content of its body. "I tried experimenting with a part of Ms. Gelly's body to create something I like to call 'Copy Jark'. Since the substance the original Gel Jarks are made of cannot be found on Earth, I had to use some substitute elements to attempt the closest result." She pulled out a little glass with a pink lavender blob inside it. "Knowing that you have experience with Gel Jarks, I thought that you could help me with the development of the copy."

"...I suppose."

"A Copy Jark?" Gelly looked at the tiny blob. She opened the glass and let the blob crawl onto her hand.

"Yes... The only problem I have with it is the regenerating of the material. Rod promised to take a look at the rest that would be needed in the Gel Jark recreation. Actually, it already has its own AI, which is not as mature and advanced as Jonathan's or Helga's, but it should be enough for now."

The Copy Jark slid from Gelly onto Droid's head and crawled inside it. Its eyes turned pink as the Copy Jark took over the control.

"Wait, what did you use for the chip that is inside it?" Trias wondered.

"Oh, I found a few that I am willing to bet are from Gel Jarks, however, I don't know how they are supposed to act."

Droid, who was being controlled by the Copy Jark, rushed out of the room as the Gel Jark copy could finally move properly.

"Wait!" Minmi ran after it and Gelly followed slowly behind.

Being left behind, the rest stayed silent.

The silence was very awkward between them. No wonder; after what happened between them...

Remembering what Gelly and even Ellie told him, Seth decided to at least try to make a little bit of peace.

"I am impressed by Reese's assistant," he said calmly but got only one reaction; Cretacia turned away, crossing her arms. He wasn't surprised at all. "I am glad she gets along with Ms. Jark and the same goes for you. She improves thanks to you and that makes her happy which is good."

He still got no answer.

"You can hate me for what I've done, but Ms. Jark does not deserve that hatred."

"You should know that we're better than that," Trias told him, "do you really expect us to blame the innocent?"

"Well, you do excuse the guilty after all."

Seth should not have said that and he definitely should not have referred to Reese with that.

"Say a single bad thing about Reese and I will personally end you and all your hair in one second!" Cretacia yelled at him, pulling out her scissors while pushing Trias out of the way.

Her husband immediately wrapped his arms around her, holding her back.

"Cretacia, no."

Seth smirked, seemingly not bothered by Cretacia's outburst.

"Cretacia, YES!"

Before Trias almost lost his grip, the door from the room opened and Laura followed by Hoshi and Lenna.

"Okay, why did you bring us here-" Lenna wanted to ask, but stopped midsentence and stared at Seth without a single word.

Seth glanced at the door and his eyes widened. "Lenna...?"

Lenna smiled softly. "No way..."

—

Yep, a cliffhanger; haven't done one in a while.

Oh, the whole "Cretacia, no; Cretacia, yes!" thing is a little inside joke between me and my friends, and Foolsy already used it in one of her stories.

The chapter name comes from Superchick's song We Live.

Not much has happened, but I hope you still enjoyed reading the chapter.