Okay, just to clear something up.. Nicole is from another reality. R & M didn't live until 1984, her parents arn't the R & M we all know and love. Nicole's parents are.. well.. evil, for lack of any better word. But you'll have to keep reading to find out how evil.
Ok, enough of that.. *big hug* Thank you all so much! I didn't think there would be such a high level of interest in this fic. I'm quite pleased :) Also, so incrediably sorry it took me so long to update the darned thing. lol, I can't beleive how many of you emailed me, asking where the next chapter was. Here it is! See? Isn't it pretty?
Very sorry.. I havn't slept yet. Plus, I'm very, VERY excited about the LW gathering this weekend. Even if my friend is ditching me, and it looks like I might have to go alone.. still. EEII! *Hops around excitedly* Saturday! That's like.. *counts* four days away! That's insane!
okay, okay, I'm almost done. Just two more things. One, please check out my latest LW fic, 'And her little dog too'. It's a Wizard of Oz spoof, with a LW twist. I'm going to have another chapter for that uploaded tomorrow, btw. All written, just have to post it. And, finally, could I convince you to check out this link? http://quiz.ravenblack.net/blood.pl?biter=crimsoncat
It's a fun, game type page.. I need you to visit it so I get points. I'm all about the points. But, without further ado (yes, I'm done), here is the chapter you all had to wait so long for. Hope you like it.
=^..^=
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Nicole shuddered. She was sitting on the couch in the living room, while Marguerite, Challenger, and Veronica were in the kitchen trying to explain things to Roxton. Both her mind and heart were racing. She had to get away while she could. There was no telling what they would decide to do with her. Even if they said that Marguerite and Roxton weren't her parents, why should she believe them? What if they were all in on this together, each lying just so they'd be able to get her back home. Screw that!
Nicole got up off of the couch slowly, keeping a close eye on the four adults in the kitchen. It wasn't too far to the elevator. She was sure that she'd make it. And once she hit the jungle floor, Nicole was positive that they wouldn't be able to catch her. She'd be home free.
~*~*~*~*~
"My daughter?" Roxton repeated, obviously surprised. "Are you sure?"
Challenger launched into his newest theory about parallel dimensions, and alternate time lines. When he was done, the other three just looked more confused.
"All right.." Veronica was the first to speak. "Then what do we do with her?"
"She can't very well stay here." Marguerite said, putting her two cents in. "We have to find a way to get her back to her own time."
"And how are we supposed to do that?" Roxton sighed.
"Oh, it's not impossible." Challenger told his friend. "Difficult perhaps, but not impossible." Challenger rambled, excitedly.
"There have been a number of theories about other dimensions, where one might find different versions of himself, but it could never be proven. Not until now, that is. Just think what would happen if.."
The scientist was interrupted by the sound of the elevator rising. The four adults turned towards the noise, noticing that Nicole was more than halfway to the elevator.
"That must be Malone and Finn, back from their trip down to the lake." Roxton said.
"And where do you think you're going?" Marguerite asked the guilty looking teen, her voice a few notches higher than usual.
"Just looking for the bathroom." Nicole replied, offering the heiress a weak smile.
Marguerite's eyes narrowed slightly.
"I don't trust her." Marguerite spoke softly so that only her friends would hear her.
"Of course you don't." Roxton replied, just as softly. "She's acting just like you."
Marguerite turned away from the young girl to glare at Roxton.
"Really, Marguerite, stop being silly." Challenger sighed. "She's sixteen years old. How dangerous could she be?"
Roxton, Veronica, and Challenger left the kitchen, heading towards the elevator. Marguerite frowned.
"If she's supposed to be my daughter, she could be very dangerous." Marguerite muttered to herself. "Especially if she thinks she's in danger."
~*~*~*~*~
"Man, she has worse manners than I do." Finn, never one to hide what she was thinking, exclaimed.
Nicole glanced up, her cheeks reddening slightly.
"Its, uh, been awhile since I had any real food." She said.
The young girl had practically been shoveling the food into her mouth, barely bothering to chew before she swallowed it.
"How long were you in the jungle for?" Malone asked.
"A few days." Nicole shrugged, reaching for some more of the raptor meat. "I didn't eat much."
"Well, by all means, eat as much as you can." Challenger reassured her.
"Yes, eat up." Roxton agreed.
Nicole refused to meet Roxton's eyes. Something the others didn't miss.
"You can trust us you know." Veronica told the young girl. "We aren't going to hurt you."
The jungle beauty managed to catch Nicole's eyes for a second before she adverted them. Veronica sighed, worried that she wasn't getting through to her.
"It's been a long day.." Nicole shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "Is it all right if I go to bed a little early?"
"You'll be staying in the room you woke up in." Challenger told her. "Make yourself at home."
Nicole nodded and slipped away from the table. Once she had vanished from sight, Marguerite was quick to let her opinion be known.
"There is no way in hell that girl is ever going to trust us." She stated mater-of-factly, not even bothering to look up from her food.
"What makes you say that?" Veronica asked.
Marguerite turned her attention to the younger woman, an amused expression on her face.
"Have you seen the way she looks at me? Or how she won't even look at Roxton? She acts like a puppy that's been beaten." Marguerite's amused expression vanished.
"I doubt her parents treat her very well. She'll expect us to treat her the same." Marguerite returned her attention to the remainder of her meal.
"She isn't going to trust us." The heiress repeated. "Not a chance in hell."
~*~*~*~*~
Nicole sat down on the bed slowly. It felt as though every part of her body was shaking, and they were. She wasn't used to being so close to her father for so long. Even if he wasn't her actual father, or so they said, it didn't make any difference. All through dinner, every muscle had been tense, waiting for that slight change in Roxton's tone. Or the small twitch at the corner of his right eye that always happened mere seconds before he launched an attack on her. Nicole had been tense all night, waiting for a beating that never came. It was exhausting. Every time he moved, her heart would beat even faster. There was no way she would be able to stay with them. She couldn't live this way. Never knowing when, or even if, he would strike.
With a quiet sigh, Nicole moved into the center of the bed. She curled up as tight as she could, as a cat might. Closing her eyes, Nicole decided that she had at least another half-hour before they were done eating. She could let herself rest for thirty minutes, but no more. One single tear escaped her closed eyes before Nicole could pull herself back under control.
'You've been in tighter spots than this.' She told herself. 'Things have been much worse.'
Nicole inhaled deeply.
'There we go. Good girl. Calm down, and get some sleep. Thirty minutes, no more, ok? You can run tonight, while they are sleeping. Just get some rest.'
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Thoughts anyone? You know what to do! Click the button! Click it! lol. Don't forget to check out my other fic, or visit that web page. Pretty please. Both would be greatly appreciated. So.. review, and let me know what you think. Worth the wait? I'll try and make the next chapter eventful.. We'll see what happens. I'm working on it. In the meantime, click that button, and I'll see you next chapter.
Dai stiho
~CrimsonCat~
Ok, enough of that.. *big hug* Thank you all so much! I didn't think there would be such a high level of interest in this fic. I'm quite pleased :) Also, so incrediably sorry it took me so long to update the darned thing. lol, I can't beleive how many of you emailed me, asking where the next chapter was. Here it is! See? Isn't it pretty?
Very sorry.. I havn't slept yet. Plus, I'm very, VERY excited about the LW gathering this weekend. Even if my friend is ditching me, and it looks like I might have to go alone.. still. EEII! *Hops around excitedly* Saturday! That's like.. *counts* four days away! That's insane!
okay, okay, I'm almost done. Just two more things. One, please check out my latest LW fic, 'And her little dog too'. It's a Wizard of Oz spoof, with a LW twist. I'm going to have another chapter for that uploaded tomorrow, btw. All written, just have to post it. And, finally, could I convince you to check out this link? http://quiz.ravenblack.net/blood.pl?biter=crimsoncat
It's a fun, game type page.. I need you to visit it so I get points. I'm all about the points. But, without further ado (yes, I'm done), here is the chapter you all had to wait so long for. Hope you like it.
=^..^=
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Nicole shuddered. She was sitting on the couch in the living room, while Marguerite, Challenger, and Veronica were in the kitchen trying to explain things to Roxton. Both her mind and heart were racing. She had to get away while she could. There was no telling what they would decide to do with her. Even if they said that Marguerite and Roxton weren't her parents, why should she believe them? What if they were all in on this together, each lying just so they'd be able to get her back home. Screw that!
Nicole got up off of the couch slowly, keeping a close eye on the four adults in the kitchen. It wasn't too far to the elevator. She was sure that she'd make it. And once she hit the jungle floor, Nicole was positive that they wouldn't be able to catch her. She'd be home free.
~*~*~*~*~
"My daughter?" Roxton repeated, obviously surprised. "Are you sure?"
Challenger launched into his newest theory about parallel dimensions, and alternate time lines. When he was done, the other three just looked more confused.
"All right.." Veronica was the first to speak. "Then what do we do with her?"
"She can't very well stay here." Marguerite said, putting her two cents in. "We have to find a way to get her back to her own time."
"And how are we supposed to do that?" Roxton sighed.
"Oh, it's not impossible." Challenger told his friend. "Difficult perhaps, but not impossible." Challenger rambled, excitedly.
"There have been a number of theories about other dimensions, where one might find different versions of himself, but it could never be proven. Not until now, that is. Just think what would happen if.."
The scientist was interrupted by the sound of the elevator rising. The four adults turned towards the noise, noticing that Nicole was more than halfway to the elevator.
"That must be Malone and Finn, back from their trip down to the lake." Roxton said.
"And where do you think you're going?" Marguerite asked the guilty looking teen, her voice a few notches higher than usual.
"Just looking for the bathroom." Nicole replied, offering the heiress a weak smile.
Marguerite's eyes narrowed slightly.
"I don't trust her." Marguerite spoke softly so that only her friends would hear her.
"Of course you don't." Roxton replied, just as softly. "She's acting just like you."
Marguerite turned away from the young girl to glare at Roxton.
"Really, Marguerite, stop being silly." Challenger sighed. "She's sixteen years old. How dangerous could she be?"
Roxton, Veronica, and Challenger left the kitchen, heading towards the elevator. Marguerite frowned.
"If she's supposed to be my daughter, she could be very dangerous." Marguerite muttered to herself. "Especially if she thinks she's in danger."
~*~*~*~*~
"Man, she has worse manners than I do." Finn, never one to hide what she was thinking, exclaimed.
Nicole glanced up, her cheeks reddening slightly.
"Its, uh, been awhile since I had any real food." She said.
The young girl had practically been shoveling the food into her mouth, barely bothering to chew before she swallowed it.
"How long were you in the jungle for?" Malone asked.
"A few days." Nicole shrugged, reaching for some more of the raptor meat. "I didn't eat much."
"Well, by all means, eat as much as you can." Challenger reassured her.
"Yes, eat up." Roxton agreed.
Nicole refused to meet Roxton's eyes. Something the others didn't miss.
"You can trust us you know." Veronica told the young girl. "We aren't going to hurt you."
The jungle beauty managed to catch Nicole's eyes for a second before she adverted them. Veronica sighed, worried that she wasn't getting through to her.
"It's been a long day.." Nicole shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "Is it all right if I go to bed a little early?"
"You'll be staying in the room you woke up in." Challenger told her. "Make yourself at home."
Nicole nodded and slipped away from the table. Once she had vanished from sight, Marguerite was quick to let her opinion be known.
"There is no way in hell that girl is ever going to trust us." She stated mater-of-factly, not even bothering to look up from her food.
"What makes you say that?" Veronica asked.
Marguerite turned her attention to the younger woman, an amused expression on her face.
"Have you seen the way she looks at me? Or how she won't even look at Roxton? She acts like a puppy that's been beaten." Marguerite's amused expression vanished.
"I doubt her parents treat her very well. She'll expect us to treat her the same." Marguerite returned her attention to the remainder of her meal.
"She isn't going to trust us." The heiress repeated. "Not a chance in hell."
~*~*~*~*~
Nicole sat down on the bed slowly. It felt as though every part of her body was shaking, and they were. She wasn't used to being so close to her father for so long. Even if he wasn't her actual father, or so they said, it didn't make any difference. All through dinner, every muscle had been tense, waiting for that slight change in Roxton's tone. Or the small twitch at the corner of his right eye that always happened mere seconds before he launched an attack on her. Nicole had been tense all night, waiting for a beating that never came. It was exhausting. Every time he moved, her heart would beat even faster. There was no way she would be able to stay with them. She couldn't live this way. Never knowing when, or even if, he would strike.
With a quiet sigh, Nicole moved into the center of the bed. She curled up as tight as she could, as a cat might. Closing her eyes, Nicole decided that she had at least another half-hour before they were done eating. She could let herself rest for thirty minutes, but no more. One single tear escaped her closed eyes before Nicole could pull herself back under control.
'You've been in tighter spots than this.' She told herself. 'Things have been much worse.'
Nicole inhaled deeply.
'There we go. Good girl. Calm down, and get some sleep. Thirty minutes, no more, ok? You can run tonight, while they are sleeping. Just get some rest.'
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Thoughts anyone? You know what to do! Click the button! Click it! lol. Don't forget to check out my other fic, or visit that web page. Pretty please. Both would be greatly appreciated. So.. review, and let me know what you think. Worth the wait? I'll try and make the next chapter eventful.. We'll see what happens. I'm working on it. In the meantime, click that button, and I'll see you next chapter.
Dai stiho
~CrimsonCat~