Note: special thank you to Sarah whom reviewed my story with such touching compliments. To you I apologize for my errors, your words made me want to be a better writer minus the spellchecker. The frequent quick updates and finally to this story had been with reviewers such as yourself in mind. Thank you everyone- and please if your review leave a way for me to contact you so I can thank you properly.

Chapter Seventeen

Since and Always

DivineAngel

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"AHHH!" He bolted up wincing at the tight stabbing pain that came from his chest. Looking down at his bandaged light skin befuddled as he ran his hand over the tight white ties. Glancing at his left arm, and blinking hard at the tight bandage there too.

"Shhh." He jumped as someone touched his side. His blue eyes widening at the scarred fingers gently bumping into his wrist. Gene was right there next to him! Dark eyes covered with some type of cloth motionless where he could see it. Dark tones of the outlaw's shoulders and upper chest also heavily bandaged lying next to him in the white sheet of the full sided bed.

"Gene!?" He practically screamed. A smile running over his face as Gene cringed to the sudden hands grabbing it. But he had to know it was real, that *he* was still alive, and so he dove his hands to Gene's shoulder and shook. An irritated growled emitting from the clenched scarred teeth as he drew his hands back as he blinked. "Gene…we lived?…We're not dead?" He grinned, blue eyes all to excited through the pain, and sudden sleepy feeling that was washing over him now that the adrenaline and fear from his dream was washing away.

"What? Dead?" Gene gave him a look even with the bandages and lack of its eyes. "No. Now lay down and stop moving…Where are we?" He lowered himself back into the bed and lay down as Gene. Staring up at the ceiling exhausted as he registered the question.

"I don't know." He frowned. "I just came too."

Gene grinned. "I am aware." He glanced at Gene and realized the outlaw must have just recently came to like him, but with the bandages couldn't see. He turned to the room and let his eyes travel over its simple square craftsmanship. Simple country wood slat walls, and small end table at the end of the bed. Their was a quilt towards the bottom, pulled up the sheet just enough to make it to his ankles, another one hanging on the wall near them with three small window.

"If I didn't know any better I'd say it was the…eighteen hundreds or something." He frowned listening to the confused -what?- Gene sent him. His face cringing hard as he slowly sat up again. Looking down at the light hues of his skin. No mud, no blood, no….He lifted the sheet a little, feeling the cooler air lift it up around his legs and Gene's hip. He frowned. "We're not wearing any clothes."

He watched Gene frown before giving him a short grunt. "Well I better be if I am lying here with you."

He shook his head, glancing at the bedroom door. "Your not Gene. You don't know who brought us here?" He watched the outlaw shake its head ever so slightly. "Alright well I am getting-" He stopped, quickly sitting back down the small amount he had risen as the door opened. His blue eyes watching a small fat women waddle in carrying a tray of food. Her pudgy face stopping momentarily as she saw him sitting up before huffing a -good- and sitting the tray down on the end table. Making eye contact with him as he continued watching her confused and wincing where he sat.

"Name." She asked. After sitting the stuff down she came right at him and gripped his chin. Looking into his eyes as if there should be something there. "Name?"

"Aa Jim." She didn't seem to acknowledge his answer. Her old and rough, but smooth hands running down his arms checking them over. Turning his hands over, and looking at his palms before moving to his bandages. "Ahh." He cringed as she pressed at his wound. Peeling some tape back and looking at the bloody mess. He looked down at his own cut when the bandaged moved slightly. She had taken very good care of them…for some time too. His wound was healing, and his bandages were clean. "Where are we?" He looked up at her face, watching her small hazel eyes meet his.

"Kentucky." She nodded watching him swallow lightly, clueless. "The Eastern Central Part of the United States." She watched the blue eyes continue frowning, almost confused. "On Earth." She nodded watching his fast blink register that.

"Where is everyone? The army? People?…" He trailed moving his uninjured hand to gesture to the room.

"My son found you." She nodded and spoke softly, watching him soak all this in. "We hunt the animals here, and sell their skins to…other planets." She shrugged, waddling over to the small end table again and picking up a bowl. "One of our traps, caught your arm there." She smiled at him, wondering if he had set it off on purpose in hopes someone would find them. People didn't just set traps, and then not check them. She watched him look at his arm, slowly pulling the bandage to loosen it so he could see the cut. "Don't." He stopped as she grabbed his hand, shaking her head no. "It has to heal, no doctors here." He looked down at the small white bowl she was handing him. The warm smell of soup running up to him and making him nuts. Her soft hazel eyes nodding approvingly as he started eating fast. "Now that your up…I move you to new room." She nodded at the blue eyes that shot up at her chewing. "He.." she motioned at the outlaw, making a small frown. "Not so good. Too much blood lost."

He swallowed turning towards the unruly red hair laying next to him. "When did you find us?…How long ago?"

He watched her waddle back over to the small end table and pick up the second bowl. "A week, few days more." She shrugged again, moving over to the outlaw with the bowl and looking down at it. Blue eyes watching her start peeling bandages away from the outlaw's chest. His blue eyes frowning at the blood inside them, fresh raw red tones bleeding into the crisp white everywhere. "See." She pointed to the blood before glancing up at him. "He your friend?" She watched him nod immediately.

"My partner."

She nodded stirring the soup she held slowly. "I move you to new room." Carefully leveling some noodles and broth and bringing it to Gene's lips. Slowly letting it seep in, watching the red hair move slightly as it drank it.

"I need a phone." He watched her look up at him. "...Please." She shook her head.

"All the phones are broken now." She watched his face tense lightly. Gene wasn't going to last like that. "A computer?" He watched her shake her head no. "There has to be a computer somewhere!" He watched her start frowning as he started raising his voice. "What about your son? Does he know where I can get one!?" His hands reaching to her, moving around as she backed up slightly.

"You must rest. My son will be home soon, then he can find one for you." She watched him nod lightly. "Your clothes were soaked with blood." She nodded at him, watching him sit still now. "You can borrow some, when my son comes home." She watched him lie back slightly, eating the soup as she spoke her last sentence sternly. Familiar motherly tones running in, as if she were speaking to a child who was sick.

Blue eyes watching the noodles swirl around his dish as he moved the spoon before glancing at Gene. The sooner they were out of here, the better.

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"What is it you need a computer for?" the man said, watching him slowly slide the shirt they had given him on using only his right hand. His bandaged left hard to bend, along with his chest, and legs that were still tired.

"I have to call for help. We have to leave because my partner needs medical help." He answered slowly, buttoning the navy blue shirt up before glancing at the guy again. The same hazel eyes the woman had traceable in her son. Maybe his kid would look something like him. He smiled slightly, before taking a step away from the side of the bed. The loose corduroy brown pants they had given him, far too loose but good enough. "Gene, I'll be back soon." He threw a grin at the unruly hair that just waved at him with it's fingers, motionless in the bed. "So where is it you have one?" He limped lightly, as he fallowed the guy out to his car. The brown hair and hazel eyes of the man getting into the drivers side and starting it.

"Down at the power plant near here, there should be something." The man said shrugging. "I am sorry we can't offer you a phone, your right about your partner. I was surprised he was still…" The man trailed when it glanced at his tense almost dangerous expression. "Well, when we found you two." The sentence finished quickly, anxious to change the subject. "Where do you live?"

"Sentinel three."

"Really, that far?" The guy shot him a look, watching him nod. His short, but ever growing blonde moving slightly in the breeze as the car started. "That's a long way for a guy to be from home." He glanced at the blue eyes as no answer came. "Born on Earth were you?"

"That's what they tell me." He sighed. "My childhood had me, moving around a lot." He sent the guy a weird grin, and the response expression he got seemed slightly confused.

"Well… that can be hard on kids these days. I've been living here in Kentucky all my life. Gotten to know the people, the land…" the man continued as he watched the passing scenery, green and lush, but the hills in the distance were burnt and black.. They weren't too far from the smoke, the rubble, and the small five foot ditch that had helped them survive.

"I am sorry what?"

He glanced back at the guy as he realized he was being asked a question. "Married…I said are you married?" the guy smiled at him watching him nod.

"Yes..er..no." He shook his head again. "Engaged." the hazel eyes grinned at him.

"Lucky lucky you made it through the war then. I hear it helps if you have a pretty little gal to go home to." He smiled slightly, trying to at least make polite conversation since he was in this guys car and did need the computer. "Myself I've never been in combat." The car took a left. "Def in one ear." the man nodded, continuing up another straight road. "Army doesn't want me." He shrugged. "What were you? Solider? Captain? Commander?" The hazel eye winked at him, watching him smile more.

"A commander, of four regiments."

"Ooh is that so." The man grinned. "Must be hard being responsible for all those lives." The hazel eyes nodded, but he didn't answer . "Puts a lot of responsibility on one when…your so young." the hazel eyes glanced back at him from the road, studying him again. "How old did you say you were?"

"Eighteen."

"And how long where you in war?"

"Two years, nine months and eighteen days."

The hazel eyes blinked, watching him just continue watching the scenery. Blonde hair blowing in the wind of the road as he did a small fake smile. "...But who's counting right?" The guy sent him a shrug and he answered a monotone right. After that, the guy was quiet for the rest of the trip as he just looked off, watching the land pass by them as they drove.

With Gene bleeding like that, they were limited to a number of hours before he would drop to a critical state. Then again, if he made contact with…that's right, his brain jumped…Who am I going to contact? Not Dan and Mel, not until everything was settled. Not until they were definitely fine, or definitely dying. Definitely on their way home, or definitely lost…there was no in-between anymore, and there were no options…only one. "Well this should be it." He turned to the brown hair that motioned up to the large gray building. "If anyone's still got something, the plant should." His blue eyes ran up to the building, to the square windows, to the left side that were slightly singed, tall enough to catch some of the blast blowing down wind. "Yup." He glanced back at the guy getting out of the car. "If anyone's still got something, it's the plant." The guy nodded at him starting for the small side door. His blonde hair fallowing the hazel eyes that knew just where they were going, they had lived there they're entire life.

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"Come on Joe." The guy laughed. "Ain't no woman can do thathahahah." Grinning hazel eyes turning to him since he had been working away on the small ten year old computer for the last twenty minutes. Working away at the keyboard now, abandoning all the connecting and reconnecting and arrangement of all the small wires. Blue eyes glaring only at the screen, motionless and determined to open the window they needed to get a way home. Diligently hacking through all the protection and coding because he didn't have time to schedule and online session or make an appointment. Only one option which was to put his call through direct and charge the fee to this poor business. "You got that handled there Jim?" He nodded, never moving his eye from the screen as the brown hair shrugged and continued it's conversation with it's old school friend.

"There." He grinned watching the small window read sending and then ringing his blue eyes waiting, taking a deep breath as he got himself ready, but he didn't have time to think about what the face inside the window would mean to him. He had to be direct, had to just get this done. It was important, it was…Gene's life.

"Hello?" The small monitor smiled at him, filled with the other side of another computer millions of miles away on Heighfong. A pale smiling face playing with it's ear waiting for an answer before opening it's eyes to look at him as he said nothing. "Ah…and how can I help you?" The brown eyes frowned almost confused at the foreign face looking at him.

"I need to cash in a favor."

"What?" The brown eyes frowned backing up from where they had leaned into the monitor to see him. "A favor? I feel your mistaken, I don't even know you. You must have the wrong number." The brown eyes smiled again, oblivious to who he was, when he would never be able to forget the relationship he had with Fred Lou.

"Don't hang up Fred." He frowned slightly as the pale hand moved to disconnect them. "I need you to fly a ship down here and pick us up, and send a doctor or something." Fred were staring at him, silent and confused as he spoke. "Make it get here by tonight because I don't think we've got much longer."

"A ship." Fred gave him a look. "Now see here whoever you-"

"Jim." He put his name in watching Fred wave its hand dismissing his interruption.

"-Jim, I am not going to fly….........." Fred stopped dead, a silent pause running over the man's expression before its leaned down to the monitor to see him better. Studying him with almost a look of disbelieve before its eyes widened at him. Widened at the blonde hair, the blue eyes, the expression patiently waiting on his face, slightly tense because he was looking at Fred for the first time in years. Hearing Fred's voice again, and it was scary. Even now when he was so much older from the small little boy Fred had so easily befriended in itss crush's bedroom, itss office and then the company bathroom.

"I am in Kentucky on Earth." He growled his words into the monitor, hating Fred for just staring and staring at him. He wasn't a freak damnt. "Gene needs a doctor Fred…the war…is over."

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He sighed looking up at the ceiling from his side of the bed. Listening to Gene's soft breathing to his right.

"Jim."

He glanced over at the small mumble, watching the scarred chest just continue to slowly breath, and continuously loose strength on him. "We're leaving tonight so save your strength Gene." He grinned at the scarred hands gently pushing the small bandage from their eyes. Looking at him from underneath it in small half open lines of dark color.

"There's no one who could get a ship out here on such late notice Jim." Gene smiled at his joke. "Thought's I'd just pass out huh." He just stared back at Gene's face saying nothing. There was no guarantee Fred could come, he didn't know how much influence the guy still had. It had been some six seven years since he had known Fred had influence, the guys business could have died or lost strength since then. Either way…he had to stay…hopeful.

"Save your strength cause I am not dressing you and we *are* leaving tonight." He moved, looking back up at the ceiling, feeling the scarred hand move onto his shoulder.

"A boy." Gene mumbled, and his eyes widened instantly

"Gene! that's gre-"

"-But I never got to see him." He sat up smiling when Gene cut him off. "They drafted me…maybe two months after you left." Gene frowned slightly, lost in thought staring at both him and nothing as it remembered everything. Running the business without him, Danny lonely without him, getting further along in her pregnancy without him. Melfina, so beautiful. "Danny looked…" Gene chuckled suddenly. "So fat."

"Shut up." He grinned shoving at Gene's hand playfully. "Bet she looked beautiful." He smiled laying back into his pillow, listening to the chuckled, -and fat- Gene grunt. "Danny never told me." He felt Gene move slightly, looking at him. "She only said stuff like…how much love she had for the baby, and how beautiful it was…never *what* it was." He sighed, and Gene let the bandage fall back over its eye sighing tired.

"Surprise, surprise Jim." Gene mumbled weak but still in high spirits…sort of.

"Yeah right." He grunt, slowly sitting up to the sounds of a car outside. Gently sliding off the bed with a cringe and moving to the small end table for some of the extra clothes. Grabbing some shorts and stuff and tossing them at the outlaw. Watching Gene move the bandage over the dark eye as they picked up the clothes frowning. "I am serious, I think this is our ride." He spoke turning around and limping out the bedroom door, closing it behind him as he moved into the kitchen. The small plump woman humming away as she cooked, glancing at him but not saying anything. Watching him stare out the window at the men her son were talking to. His chest slowly starting to hitch in his breathing as he watched the two guys dressed in black suits, one in casual clothing and one in a white coat playing with its ear start coming towards the house. IT was Fred, flesh and blood but ten feet from the door to the house. He hadn't seen the man since…Fred just looked so difference. Warped as though in a dream, he remembered the man being…taller.

He turned from the window and shot back to the bedroom. If not for just a moment to compose himself or hid from Fred, but than that small ounce of comfort Gene always had pocketed for him. He ripped the door open and bolted in, scaring the life out of the outlaw. "Geez you idiot." Gene scowled at him, jumping at the sudden someone coming into the room while it was getting dressed. "What." Gene growled at him, watching him look over with a deep breath, but he said nothing.

"Nothing." He said, getting a hold on himself, it had been years since he had seen Fred, but still he remembered. But the shaken almost pale expression disappeared as he straightened up and fast. "Ready to go?" He watched Gene just sigh as it lay there in some shorts. Muttering a -Yeah, why not. Always had a weird dream where I got to leave the house in my underwear and no one noticed.- Gene smiled as he walked over looking up at the small knock on the door. "Yeah!" He watched the thin wood open to the pudgy woman's sweet hazel eyes and smile that showed the men in. The casual Polo dressed man starting for the outlaw on sight, obviously the doctor. Both guys in black coming over with a stretcher as he backed out of the way. Listening to the small -How are you wounded?- come from the brown hair below him as they started wheeling the outlaw out. His blonde hair fallowing, limping ever so slightly as he worked hard to walk on the pain.

Ignoring Fred as he walked by and out the door, blue eyes looking up at the parked ship that seemed so tall next to the small country house. Some mile away but still, easily visible as perhaps that tallest thing to ever enter the town. He sighed moving up closer to the outlaw who was now attached to an IV as he walked. Home…They were going home. He started smiling slightly, slowly letting it grow as he boarded the ship and buckled into one of the chairs. The outlaw's stretcher being harnessed down as the doctor continued working, applying ointments and injections to the wounds. His blue eyes looking up slightly as they closed, a long heavy sigh admitting. Home…that's where they were going…

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"Jim, Jim time to get up." Daniella's smooth hands were moving around his shoulders. Loving into his skin before disappearing with her weight, off the bed. God she was so adorably annoying. Wake him with the sun would she.

"Danny." he mumbled her name into his pillow, blue eyes still closed as her hands reappeared on his shoulders. his lips were still to tired to groan his Gooo awwaayyy.

"Jjiimm." She cooed, whispering down as she pushed on him. Watching him roll onto his back, blue eyes half open, yawning at her. "You're a lazy daddy." He grinned up at her smirk and sweet thin figure still in pajamas. A small blanketed bundle in her arms, making his eyes and mind wake up instantly. He wanted to see! He sat up fast anxious to see. The face, the babies face, that's what he wanted to see. Wanted to see the baby so bad. He reached out and gently took hold of the bundles cloth so he could move it. God he just wanted to see the face.

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"Son? Son?" He frowned, blue eyes looking up at the man who was shaking his shoulder as he started waking up. "Son." Foreign middle aged face dressed in a loose Polo shirt and Dockers looking at him. Plucked from it's golf game to race across space and get them. "Are you injured?" It was a dream. He was still in space, still trying to get back.

"Aa…yeah." He nodded slightly, slowly unbuckling as he woke up more. Glancing around the ship as he slowly started unbuttoning his shirt, blue eyes flowing over everyone until landing on Gene. Still on the stretcher now sleeping soundly as the bandage on his chest was slowly undone and new medical crème was applied. HE watched the guy smear the gross stuff into him before looking up. Freezing slightly when his eyes locked on Fred's inquisitive expression playing with its ear across the ship from him. Smiling as he glared at it, looking over his thin body. Brown corduroy pants and blonde hair, shirt open and bare chest. "Ow" He glanced down at the small piece of metal removed from his gash. Effective medical hands bandaging him up before moving to his left arm and slowly unraveling that bandage as well. His blonde hair leaning back, eyes closed through the small burning rubs and stinging before something was being injected into his side. "Ah" He cringed as the ship suddenly tilted, pushing him into the side of his chair fast and jolting the small soda can next to him. "What was that?!" He snapped his yell up to the front to the driver, sure the ship had jumped a few times since they had started four hours ago, but nothing like that.

"Excuse me." Fred yelled at the driver as well before getting up and starting towards the cock pit. "Just what is it you think your doing driver?" He could hear Fred, see the frown on the guys face but whatever the pilots were saying only reached him in mumbles.

"Fred!" Fred turned to him when he finally spoke, a look like it was surprise to hear his voice. "What's wrong." He quickly stood up brushing the doctor off firmly. "Why are we stopping?" He frowned stomping over to the man and frowning as it continued to stare at all the changes that had developed his features. "Hey." He reached into the cockpit and shoved the drivers chair slightly. "What's going on?" The pilot's nervous eyes turning towards his frowning face.

"We're under arrest sir."

He frowned. "What? Under arrest?" He made a face, looking up at the ships screen which was broadcasting some funny looking markings or something. "By who? Where are we?"

"By the Ctarl Ctarl Empire sir." The driver answered fast turning back around. "Apparently part of the Bon territory is being over run by Ctarl Ctarl property." What!? His head shot, how could that be! His blue eyes glancing back to Gene, the outlaw's eyes were closed and it was either sleeping or unconscious.

Their eyes all turning to the doctor that suddenly spoke. "He needs medical facilities." The doc shrugged leaning into the side of the ship near the stretcher. "I can keep him running stable on IV's for…six, nine hours? But…" the guy shrugged again. "Without the proper tools, I am not a miracle worker." The spoke casually shaking its head as though that were Gene's fait and his face and body tensed immediately.

"Jim." Fred laid a reassuring hand on his shoulder when it saw the change.

"Keep your hands off me Fred!" He snapped yanking the hand off. "Now turn the ship around AND LETS GO!" He growled mad, screaming at all of them.

"I'am afraid that is out of the question." His blue eyes snapped at the ships monitor as it spoke. The heavily fuzzed face of a male Ctarl Ctarl glaring at them. "Your ship and all of it's kind are here by under arrest in the name of the Ctarl Ctarl Empire!" He gripped the small doorway as the ship did a sudden jerk. Foreign Ctarl anchors clamping down on them from outside. "You will hear by be escorted back to our military compound at liad hours!"

"You can't!" He screamed immediately, accidentally and everyone stopped including the Ctarl Ctarl. "We-we h-had clearance to pass here." He fumbled.

"Hmp, unlikely human." The Ctarl grunt, looking more than skeptical

"We do!" He repeated again, watching the hard eyes glare at him from the monitor, licking it's lips impatiently as it watched his mouth gap lightly. "By imperial ambassador Lady Aisha Clan Clan." He watched the Ctarl on screen blink immediately, their screen muting for talking. The angry and befuddled Ctarl arguing away before coming back.

"Until verification you are here by under arrest in name of the empire, and will be detained until communication with Lady Aisha is established…human."

"NO!" He growled as the monitor blacked out, the launch of the ship and his own anger sending him forward into the drivers chair. "DAMNT!" He growled his blue eyes snapping at Fred to his side with frustration. "I CALLED You for a REASON!" He growled balling the white coat into his fists and throwing as much strength as he could into his punch. A weak satisfaction filling him when it knocked Fred back and straight into the wall before the strong hands of the body guards rushed over shoulder's and yanked him back. Getting rough when he refused to let Fred go. His hand had clamped on the white coat, his eyes fixed glaring at the startled face. Hate. That's what he felt. Hate and frustration he couldn't just Go HOME! "YOU-YOU! BASTARD!…FRED!…BAASTARD!"

"That's enough Son!" The doctor suddenly pushed into his arms and pulling his hands off the white coat. "Your in no condition for this!" The purple hues of the man's polo shirt pushing into his face as he continued glaring at Fred's. "Sit him there, he needs to rest." The body guards started yanking him back to his chair with the doctors directions. Forcing him into it as he growled at Fred, he still hadn't unlocked his eyes from the man's face…and it looked scared if not just startled. For once, scared of him. That felt so good.

He smirked a sly grin at everyone in the ship, testing them, all of them to let him sit there, just give him a second to bolt up and he'd get Fred good. The doctor seemed to be the only one unimpressed and annoyed, sitting back down next to him with an impatient expression. "Now let me see your arm, it's infected." He turned to the touch that was holding his left arm, a new cloth coming to his reddened gash oozing white pus. The sudden sting of the cloth on his arm, snapping his eyes back up to Fred and glaring. Frowning harder as the ship jerked again, groaning slightly with the strong metal supports clasping around it as they were brought into the Ctarl Ctarl military compound. Fred's brown eyes staring back a him as he glared before turning to the front of the ship as they jolted to a halt. His blonde hair shoving the doctor back off and quickly standing up. Moving over to the stretcher as they started un-strapping it. Flicking his eyes up at the door as it opened and the strong silhouettes of the Ctarl Ctarl military shown in. The one on the monitor coming forward, snapping a look at him, as the irritable human who spoke Lady Aisha's name on the monitor.

"Now hear humans, you are to remain in military hold until further notice." The deep browns of fur growled at them as the officers moved around, pushing them into a small group and shoving them towards the door. His face pinching more annoyed as the strong shove came form behind him. Pushing him to the small door and grabbing the back of his neck. The strong Ctarl dragging him along with it before turning back to face the ship and yanking him around by his neck to face it as well. Letting him look around from the tilted fashion his neck was held in as he glared at the irritated Ctarl Ctarl officer watching the ship empty. His eyes switching to Fred as the Ctarl Ctarl's recognized it as one of their merchants and gave it a few minutes to calmly exit instead of yanking it out like everyone else. So Fred's business hadn't gone down hill after all, in fact it had probably improved if the Ctarl Ctarls respected it.

"Take all humans to confinement." The commanding Ctarl turned to them with its barking command. Pointing toward the hall as the hand on his neck yanked him to the side and shoved him forward. Ignoring his growl as he heard Fred's -Well excuse me, there's no reason to get so excited- being shoved up behind him, and he slowed his walk slightly. He wanted to see Fred, maybe the guy could weasel them out of this. Instead all he got was a hard jab in his shoulder blades shoving him forward again.

"Alright I am walking." He said, suppressing his anger as he spoke, getting Aisha mad was one thing. Getting her people mad was another. "Can you call Lady Aisha for me?" He glanced back at the strong Ctarl behind him, stumbling forward with another harder shove and grunt that answered him. "I only want-ah-" He cringed as the strong hand grabbed the back of his neck and hair and pulled him into a small gray hallway. Opening a cell almost identical to a police cell and shoving him into it. Smiling at his mad blue eyes that spun around as it stumbled back onto a cot all to big for a human. The cots, walls, bars and everything made for the strong Ctarl males. "Hey get him another!" He growled shoving Fred back out as the Ctarl started pushing it in.

"Irritable human." One of the Ctarl's strong fur hands snapping at his arm and shoved him over. Watching with a smile as he stumbled over into the cement banging his bandaged elbow with a hard cringe. He must have looked like the weakest thing on earth he thought disgusted.

"Jimmy here-" Fred quickly came to him to help.

"Get OFF Fred!" He growled yanking his arm away from concerned expression trying to tug him up. Fred's startled and almost annoyed expression taking a step back with his outburst.

"Now Jim there's no reason to bring our past differences into the present. I would have thought you'd gotten over what little-"

"-LITTLE!?" He screamed, and Fred took another quick step back as he scrambled up. Glaring furious at the now cautious expression watching him. "Just GET AWAY and Stay away or I'll show you…" He growled yanking Fred back into his face by balling its coat into his hand. "I'll *show you*, what I learned in war Fred." He snarled, and Fred's eyes widened as they nodded. Watching him slowly sprout a bitter lop sided grin that started nodding as well. "Yeah I'll--Gene!" He dropped the white coat like lead weight, when a few Ctarl's drug the outlaw's form past the bars of his cell and opened the one next to his. "Hey!?" He shot, pushing into the bars to see, straining to see around the thick cement wall between his cell and Gene's as they shoved the outlaw's limp form in to the cement. "HEy! HEY! Open my cell! Move me there!" He screamed reaching for the Ctarl's that walked by. Watching them stop to look at the animated human. "PLEASE! Please he'll die! He needs help!" He screamed frantically, squeezing the bars, yanking at them as the befuddled grunts walked by him with a scoff. Quickly leaving before he did something weird they'd have to do something about. "NOO AHHH!" He screamed yanking on the bars with all his strength but they won't even budge. "YOU!" He screamed spinning around to Fred's wide eyes that had backed up. Watching his wild blonde hair spin around. There were strands in his glaring eyes, he could kill the next person who touched him, kill the next person who moved Gene one inch further from him. Kill someone, the offer never sounded so good.. "Make them…" He started low throat growling his directions. "..Open that door and switch you with HIM! I am NOT GOING TO SIT BY AND LET HIM DIIIE! NOW FRED!" He screamed yanking Fred's body forward with more strength than he knew he had and slamming it forward into the cell bars. Shoving it with a desire to push it farther from him, and bust a wider space through that god damn metal sticks locking him in this box. "NOW! NOW FRED!"

"Jim! Take it easy, of course. Of course! I'll help!" Fred almost pleaded, it had squeaked when he yanked it forward the way it did and now stood rambling with a weak smile and concerned expression. Reaching a shaky arm through the bars and waving to grab the guards attention. "I'll always help Gene! You know that." Fred sent him a fast nervous wink as they nodded repeatedly. "Always! Guards! Guards!"

"You better." He growled, giving Fred one last shove into the bars before backing up. Listening to the loud slam from the door down the hall as the heavy male Ctarl guards started coming back. "Make them switch you with Gene." He shoved Fred again, now that he was starting to calm down a little, he realized shoving Fred felt good.

The guards stomped over and frowned at them, watching Fred grow a big smile real fast. "A, haha it seems there has been a small misunderstanding." Fred nodded, grinning nervously. "I am a respectable merchant, my name is Fred, owner of Lou enterprises. I believe you've done some business with my father, as well as our current market." They watched the guards grunt at them, considering. "I believe if you check your records you'll find *several* very pleasing receipts for some *very* rare and *very* expensive material? His blue eyes watched Fred nod at the guards that shrugged lightly. "If you could just do me a quick favor is all I ask. The man in the next cell is my brother, and is in need of a little help. Women trouble." The guards grinned at the wink. "If you could just ship him over this way, that would be, aa, so great." He watched Fred keep nodding as the guards shrugged and started to the next cell. His hand shoving Fred a little before backing up as the bars opened and Gene was shoved at them. "Thanks again!" Fred continued but he shot towards gene. "And make sure you call if you ever need anything!"

Gene had just been shoved in, and the outlaws strong form hit his like a ton of bricks! Knocking him right over after he stumbled back a few steps. "Gene? Gene?!" He felt his panic building in his chest as he squirmed underneath the outlaw. Shifting it up quickly and sliding it onto a cot as he got up himself.. His exhale groaning slightly as he let Gene's weight finally slid off him entirely. The pressure lifting from his injured arm and chest a relief. "Aaa Gene." He cringed at the blood seeping through the outlaw's bandages. "I think he…he still needs the IV." He shook his head lightly, looking over the strong wound in the outlaw's chest. His blue eyes snapping up at the pained -Jim- that slurred from the outlaw's mouth. Gene's dark eyes opening slightly, looking up at the blue eyes and blonde hair that seemed to be over it every time it woke up. "Gene, don't talk, your hurt bad." He shook his head at the scarred hand that picked up and pushed into his face slightly. Dark eyes trying to confirm if the tears it thought it saw in his eyes were there.

"Jim." Gene would have grinned at the immediate -Shh- that Jim snapped at it if it had the strength. "What's…what's?….wrong."

"Nothing." He grinned fast, watching the unruly red hair do a small nod, eyes closed as they listened to the repeated. "Nothing, nothing's wrong. It's good." He reassured as Gene opened its eyes. Vaguely making out some kinda cot about a foot and a half from him on a cement wall and…

"Jim." Gene muttered a raspy whisper and he squeeze the scarred hand to answer. "I am hallucinating." Gene gave him a lop sided grin with its sloppy breathing. "Looks like…Fred's.." the outlaw's voice was mumbled with a small laugh and he made a face.

"Yeah me too." He frowned slightly, feeling the scarred hand he was squeezing move slightly. "Gene, we're under arrest. The Ctarl Ctarl's thought we were trespassing." He watched the outlaw frown a -stupid Aisha, can't…shut up.- "Not Aisha Gene." He grinned, sniffling lightly as he felt his eyes welling up slightly, the grip in his hand becoming lighter and lighter. Gene could die because they were just…sitting in some cell. An Iv would be all they would need but…well for a few hours.

"Don't you worry Gene." Fred exclaimed, and he jumped as the man suddenly leaned over his shoulder. "We'll get you some help, isn't that right Jim." Fred turned to him with a smile and he made a face, turning back to the outlaw with a fake smile.

"Yeah." He mumbled lightly, watching Gene's eyes struggle to barely open so they could send him their -what the hell is going on- expression .

"Fred?" Gene almost gasped the name in -my god I already died and didn't notice- shock.

"That's right Gene." Fred grinned immediately. "I flew all the way across space to see you, but we can talk about that later. Right now, you should concentrate on doing whatever it is Jim thinks you should do." Fred said smiling and Gene made a - I am going to be sick- expression as Fred shook a finger at it as though to scold it for getting injured. "Rest up now."

"Alright Fred!" He snapped, shoving Fred away from them as he frowned. "Geez." Scowling as he just sat closer to the cot the outlaw was lying on. Looking down towards the floor, and quietly sitting still. Watching the outlaw's breathing start dropping to even less of a motion then there was now. A scarred hand slowly moving from the side of the cot, just enough so its fingers could rough his short blonde strands ever so slightly, and his eyes welled up with the touch as he sat there silent. Gene was dying…without help, and soon, that would be it for the outlaw.

"Mommy!" His blue eyes snapped up at the yell, watching the small soft peach furred face and pink nose appear at the bars. Bright cyan eyes grinning at him from underneath the bright Ctarl Ctarl hair. "Mommy! Uncle Jim's in Jail Crying!"

"Tyler!" He snapped, his face grinning almost as soon as he saw the small Ctarl who was in front of his cell, waving to him as he yelled it's name. "AISHA! It's us GET US OUT!" His scrambled up fast, tripping with the pain in his chest and arm as he limped to cell bars and reached out so Aisha would hopefully see him. He figured it wasn't often they had humans locked in these cells, seeing as they weren't designed for humans.

He only groaned, slumped into the bars and closed his eyes with a heavy sigh as he heard Aisha's squeaking voice start snapping orders from outside their hallway. She was coming. Aisha was coming, and god she never sounded so good.

"Jim!" Aisha snapped, her bright eyes frowning at him slightly. "What were you doing trespassing on Ctarl Ctarl air space?" She smiled with her tease, as her soft expression watched his face just cave with just hard gratitude and relief someone was there to help him, and who better then Aisha, she had never let him down. "Come on get out!" She smiled nodding to the hallway as he stepped back for the opening cell door.

"Aisha, a doctor was brought in here with us. Where is he? Gene's hurt bad and he needs to get to a hospital right a-" Aisha shoved past him a little flaring her eyes at Gene's seemingly lazy form.

"-Gene! You birdbrain! Do you have any idea how worried Mel has been?!" He had to grin at her fast interruption. Her bright hair and tight green dress now pushing past him to yell at the next to unconscious outlaw who was being helped out by a few Ctarl Ctarls. "You don't call her! You don't write her! Your lucky Mel hasn't just-Huh?" He watched her stop, her face doing a hard blink when she finally noticed Fred's white coat and purple hair in there with them. "Who are you?" Aisha frowned slightly, leaning into the pale face. Tyler suddenly attaching to his leg and hugging as he watched. His blue eyes ear to ear as Fred started stammering -a, well a, I am a friend of Gene's hahah- at Aisha's soft face and bright but dangerous eyes. She stood staring at Fred for a moment, before turning back to him as though she were no longer interested. "Your lucky I was so close by Jim." she stated matter o'factly ushering him towards the cell door. "Or else you would have been here for a very long time." She watched him nod as she left Fred entirely and came towards him. Her bright eyes running over his face and hair and build. "Looks like Aisha can't call you wittle Jim anymore." She said smiling Loving into his cheek with her hand gently before hugging him, smiling as squeezed back hard and happy. The same ducking into her tightness Tyler had when the young body woke with a nightmare.

"Man I thought you'd never get here." He choked his sigh into her hair, leaning off her and smiling as she simply ran a hand through it. "Your getting short Aisha." He grinned at her, happy he was now so much taller. Watching her scrunch her nose with a small -hmp- that tugged on his hair to a small -what happen, did the rest all fall out?- teasing insult.

"Come on Jim." She sighed before her voice started picking up its normally energetic tones. "Aisha doesn't want to hang around here all day!" She declared starting out the small cell door as he fallowed, with Fred. "Aisha came all the way from the nigara ara spa ship to see you Jim." She glanced back at him with a smile watching him do a fast inhale and nod.

"And he's sure glad." He said smiling at her as they started back through the gray hall and into the large docking base.

"Military Compound, just wait till I tell Mel where I busted you out of." She snickered at him before becoming more serious. Her bright eyes just staring at him as he looked around the giant docking room they stood in as the Ctarl's released Fred's ship. "Jim…" He turned to her soft purr. "Why did you stop writing Jim?" She frowned slightly as she asked him, watching him open his mouth as if to say something, before it just dropped slightly. It was impossible for her to tell him what he put them through. How upset they all became when one day his letters just, stopped coming. Like he had disappeared from the universe. ".....Your other, all alone." Aisha's bright eyes frowned at him, but it was a soft upset frown. She didn't understand why he wouldn't have communicated to Danny if he was ok. "And Gene." Her soft confused frown looking at him before hardening. "That birdbrain." She spit suddenly glancing at Tyler, who was doing his best to comfort the unconscious uncle Gene while eating some Ctarl food.

"I couldn't." He said, and Aisha turned back to him quickly. "I didn't have any paper, there was no where to send it out and…I…" He watched her bright eyes just continue patiently watching him. Waiting for some of the hard real reasons to start coming through. The ones that wouldn't have stopped him from writing had he had all the items he just listed. "I didn't want to send her any." He turned away with his answer. "I didn't want any part of the war coming back to her…none of it." His face was firm and sure with his decision as he frowned out his tones. That's not what he wanted Daniella reading, or seeing… It was so hard to judge his letters when he stopped writing them, so hard to make sure he sounded like his old self when in reality he was anything but. The war was horrible, and some days it was hard to remember what happened, as though he blanked out during their fights and just acted on instinct. Where on others, he remembered so vividly he'd sit crying for hours. It was so very hard to judge what type of letter would go home to Daniella when that was what he did. He never wanted anything but encouragement to come to her. Encouragement that he'd make it out alive. That he really could do this. That he wasn't such a failure. Anything less he didn't want her reading…that's…that's not what he wanted his kid to…his kid. "I want to go home Aisha." he looked up and to her immediately, and she nodded. After quickly standing next to him as he stared off lost in thought before snapping back to reality with the mind shattering jolt a fish gets when yanked from water.

"Hmp" She grunted a smile at him. "Are you crazy Jim? Your going with Gene-" She watched his face brighten with her statement. "-To the hospital you morons, now get in the ship!" She grinned shoving him towards the ramp fast. Watching him stumble lightly as he laughed before slowly moving up it, limping all the way. His face sighing hard as he felt her hand run onto his shoulder, offering him support without even really toughing him. "I already told them I was bringing you."

Aisha's voice smiling from behind him before her face came into view as he turned around and sunk into a chair. "I told them to send the bill to Starwind and Hawking but…I figured, knowing you too, Aisha better come just in case someone calls the cops when they find out your account is empty."

"It's empty?!" She watched his blue eyes do a fast -no it's not!- gap before relaxing as she shrugged. "Funny." He grunt as she sat down next to him. Her bright eyes watching Tyler continue poking the frowning dark eyes of the outlaw…she'd give him another minute before saying anything. "What hospital are they taking us to Aisha?" He frowned, eyes closed thinking…the closest was probably…Symka? Yeah Symka's had to be the-

"-The downtown locus one." He bolted up, eyes wide as he turned to her. "Unless of course, if that's not what you want Jim." She watched his blue eyes blink with the word Locus. Almost choking with the first real sentence that made it sound as though he'd make it back home. After all, that's what he wanted more than anything. Home.

"I didn't think I would make it." He shook his head with his raspy whisper, but Aisha only nodded softly with understanding. Her gentle hand sliding onto his hand and squeezing it with a smile. "I was so sure I'd die Aisha…so sure." He leaned his head back into his seat, squeezing his eyes shut as he frowned. "Ninety five…" He mumbled "Ninety five percent…die." She watched his mouth barely utter his statistic as he breathed out his words. His body exhausted from trying and failing and hitting every single bump along the road to home. No warning, no gas, no food, no medicine, no help, no phone, no lawyer, everything out to get him. Her bright eyes humming as soft tune next to him as she watched him sleep. His subconscious so sure Aisha could handle things, his mind would willingly let his body go to sleep now. Her soft hand holding his, letting him lean into her shoulder and side as she smiled ahead at her little angel playing away before humming a small.

"Don't poke your uncle birdbrain Tyler…he's bleeding now."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Alright, alright can I go." He shot impatiently, watching the nurse frown as she continued bandaging his arm. "Yes. I can see it's healing, good job." He shoved her off trying to get up but she stubbornly pushed him back and moved to block him.

"Perhaps if you were a bit more still Mr. Hawking I would be able to do my job with more efficiency." she said frowning down at his infected gash, now coated with creams and stitches as she bandaged it back up. Carefully wrapping the bandage around and around his arm before slowly connecting it in place. Smiling satisfied as she glanced up at the blue eyes just watching her with a dull slump.

"Now?" He groaned.

"Make sure not to get dirt inside and have it changed in about a day or two." She continued smiling, completely thrilled with her job.

"Yes. Thank you." he said, hopping off the small table in lightning speed as he yanked his shirt on. Her bright expression watching him limp out of the room and down the hall before smiling a -Another perfect job helping and imperfect patient.-

He turned a few corners glancing around "Judith?" His blue eyes scanning everything and everywhere looking for her. Skimming over the nurses and doctors, none of them important before quickly heading to the outlaw's room. "Judith?" He stuck his head in, looking around before smiling and stumbling in as she looked up from Gene's bed. He should have guessed she would be there. As soon as she got to the hospital she had taken over all of Gene's care. No one had yet to do a better job either, Gene was awake and smiling at him the moment it saw him walk in. He headed right to the outlaws bed, dropping his eyes from Judith with a -Yes. I found you- to Gene with a -God your actually starting to look alive again- relief. "Gene." He grinned. "Good drugs?" Gene's tired expression just closed its eyes with a sleepy grin, loving the morphine and other treasures that had been pumped into its arm. He looked back up at Judith's pleased expression. "Judith, I am going. Can I go? I am going." He grinned at her, backing up to the door as he boxer shuffled lightly anxious to get away as her mouth started slowly dipping open with protest. Quickly walking around the side of Gene's bed and straight to him when he got too close to the door.

"Jim did the nurse do everything right?" She asked, still concerned for him as she took hold of his arm. Turning it slightly as she examined the bandages.

"Aaa down to the T." He groaned as her gently fingers kept inspecting before sighing a small -well- that meant he could go and he burst into a grin. "Take good care of Gene for me." He smiled stealing a fast hug before rushing for the door. Her calm face slowly starting a smile as he took off, before laughing at the low, raspy -moron- Gene muttered from the bed.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

No way was anything stopping him this time, he was going home. Going to *be* home. "I am home." He grinned sighing hard as he stopped in front of their building. His heart picking up as he walked up to the door, the thousands of times he had done it before seemed like nothing in comparison to how important this one time would be.

He yanked his hand back from the knob, stepping away for just a moment. Just a moment to catch his breath, to collect his thoughts. He had ran all the way from Judith, all the way from the medical group, from the Ctarls prison, from Earth. So much of him felt like he should still be running it was confusing to contemplate he might finally be done. That there really was a light at the end of his tunnel, and he'd be alive to reach it.

He ran a hand through his sloppy hair, moving to the side front window just for an idea of how he looked. His reflection came to him instantly, his choppy short blonde hair making down the middle of his forehead in a spiked outward fashion as always. His bandaged arm and scuffed skin, those wacko clothes. He was starting to frown at himself with what he saw, he didn't exactly want to scare people away with his-all thought stopped when the faint silhouette of a woman walked by the kitchen doorway from inside. Now all of a sudden his eyes looked past the window frame with his image on it, to the inside. There was a girl in there, and judging from the height it wasn't Melfina. "Ahh mine." He growled, the slyest most dangerous smile spreading over his face as he grit his teeth and raced in the door. Yanking it open and silently shutting it behind him as he glanced around. Letting his eyes run over everything and just bask in the fact he was standing where he was. Everything here was his, Gene's and his. Theirs. It was what he had always known, where he had always lived. Their furniture, their rooms, everything as it was the same only…cleaner? He smiled at it all before licking his lips and starting for the kitchen. Swallowing hard as he slowly moved to the doorway and stopped.

Just.

watching her.

Daniella's soft red hair was now cut in a short bob that stopped at her jaw line. Soft pastel pink tank top and darker pink floral skirt humming away as she did something at the counter while she wore a white apron. The colors of her clothes were so bright, but yet so soft. They bled into her skin which was toned with all the hunny of summer. So her constant movement under its rays toned her darker in some places and just a kiss lighter amongst parts of her arms and shoulders. Her skin held a shimmer, like the moist essence that was her lips, and to him it seemed as though she were glowing. Nothing ever looked so good. Nothing ever looked so delicious, and he bit his lip to keep from attacking her as the mischievous smile ran like wild fire from each corner of his mouth. He was seconds from becoming the animal Gene always was, the sly smile, the squint to his eyes, a lion watching its gentle prey. She was so unsuspecting, so innocently wiping up the counter before grabbing a juice box and starting out the back door….What? He frowned. She Just Left!

He shot after her, quick enough to catch the screen door she just exited from behind it could close. Still she was oblivious, walking into the yard that had…grass? And lots of it. A small flower bed and even a swing! His eyes were ready to explode on the sight before his heart stopped. Or maybe even skipped as a small three year old little boy shot around from the side of the house laughing. IN the sun light it was hard to see the child that ran to Daniella eager for the juice she had. But still, he could make out the dark tanned tones of skin and deep brown hair. Such a color it confused chocolate with night itself and only stood second to the deep black color that were the boys eyes.

Three years.

That's how many years of his babies life he had missed. Three…or so. It was such a hard idea to phantom, such a mind baffling concept. On paper you could nod your head and mutter a wow, in your mind you could struggle to list what could have accomplished in that amount of time you had missed. In real life, he stumbled back, as thought all the days and memories he was absent from pummeled into him. Like a whooping bag of bricks, and the screen door tightened in his grasp. His body almost limp where he stood clamped to it. It was hard to feel some of it. Hard to think through what had happened…he….he hadn't even brought a present. He felt numbed to the core, robbed of so much, it was hard to find the first complaint to file, and even harder to decide where to send it.

Ahead Daniella stood hugging the small boy yelling to play as it squirmed in her arms. She wasn't going to let it go though, not until she was done hugging and the boy's soft features had dropped to an irritated little pout pointing across the yard as it whined something. He glanced in the direction and nearly died at the second little body he had failed to notice because it was sitting still in the grass. The small body was almost entirely blocked by Daniella as it got up and suddenly ran at her. Its thin arms linking together behind her knees where he could see, but he couldn't see the face. Two…two boys, that's what it looked like. There were two boys. That meant one was Gene's and…one was…his.

The screen door slipped from his fingers.

Daniella stood up with a "Yes I am watching!" as both little bodies started running back down the yard making noise. She heard the screen door suddenly close behind her and she smiled turning around. "Mel look what-" and that was it. Her face went blank, her voice stopped dead in the same second her vision blurred to smear away everything but him from sight. In the same second she knew what she had been waiting and hoping for had finally arrived, and everything would be ok. *Since* the moment he left her arms, she had *always* had hope. Her *Since and Always* had made it's way back to her, and her eyes rushed with tears the moment she found the strength to swallow. Everything about him was still in tact, walking back through her door with the same happy smile he had given them when he left.

"Jim" She gasped his name into a whisper and his face tightened with the sound of her voice tonguing into his name with love. "Jim?" She repeated, as though to confirm he was real as she closed her eyes for only a moment. So she could blink away the tears and see every inch of him better. So she could see the blonde hair that was now chopped and slightly lop sided but still there. The blue eyes that were still just as sure and strong as ever. The light skin, and bandaged arm, loose corduroy pants and button up blue shirt. "Jim I-"

"-I wanted to write." He choked his phrase suddenly and she stopped dead. His voice was overrun with so much emotion it faltered at every note. Lop sided, stranded, battle notes washing over her like a dream. Swimming through the space between them with the sound of his voice, and she tore at him. Throwing herself at him as he reached back for the screen door. Stumbling back with her impact and small cry and right into the house as she snuggled in close to his neck.

"Ohhh Jiiiiiimmmm." She whined, her eyes streamed with tears as she started kissing. His hands coming up her body quickly and squeezing the life from her as she wrapped her legs around him. "Ahhh yooou didn't write for sooo long." She sobbed as she pulled back. His hands ravaging her body in quick motions that tried to grab all over her at one time. His limp staggering them into the wall before shoving off and into the hall towards the stairs. Feeling nothing but her fingers and heat and love. All of her he wanted. Now. He wanted It NOW!

"Upstairs." He suddenly pant, groaning as he ran his hands from her shoulder blades to her tail bone and squeezed. "NOw." He grunt as she sucked in a small portion of his neck in her kiss.

"AHmmm I was soooo wooorrrieed about yooou…buuutthead." Her soft salty tears running into his mouth as she rubbed her face into his, pressed her lips and tongue into his. Watching his face breath in sharp fast breaths that couldn't get enough of her taste and smell. Blue eyes closed so he could feel all of her again.

His hands making it inside her shirt to soft skin of her back and out the top into her hair. "We're going upstairs." His grin running back into her mouth as his they sunk into the landing of the stairs. God it was hard to keep pushing Daniella where he wanted and his limp was making the stairs seem like a death walk! This Was Close Enough!

He rolled on top of her quickly, pulling back from her mouth and pushing into her neck as he ran his hands over her hips and under to her butt, pulling her into him as he cried. "Oooh God!" He sobbed suddenly, squeezing the air from her lungs as he nuzzled back into her neck to hide. To just smell her.

"Jim." She whispered his name again, running her hands around him before sending one to his hair. Hanging on as he squeezed and sniffled for just a moment before turning to her mouth and capturing it. His quiet still form heating back up with life and climbing over her and in-between her legs pushing her skirt up. Stopping as her hand came to his face and cupped his chin. Tilting it up so her eyes locked with his and she smiled. Her smile enough to make him just stop, god why couldn't he just get to every part of her at once! Her hand tugged slightly and he slid up her so his face was over hers, breathing down in heavy pants as she slowly licked her lips. Gently wiping one of the lingering tears from his face with her finger before letting it trace down his jaw bone, neck, and right into the dip dead center on his chest. Tracing a small circle there as her second hand slid up his arm with tickling fingers and traced over the bandages there. "Every night." She started talking, slowly closing her eyes as she spoke. "I-I held him so close…won't let him go." She shook her head slightly. "For the longest time I…thought…that would be as much of you as…I'd ever get to keep." Her eyes opened, blinking back the tears that still wanted to fall with her shaky smile that struggled to stabilize her voice"Jim….There's someone I want you to meet." She whispered, her smile growing as she gently sat up, sitting him up with her movement and frowning slightly as he looked away.

He was worried. What would he say? What would he do? He had nothing to offer, his son. He had been so gone for so long! "He loves you so much already Jim." Daniella said, gently sliding her hands up to his shoulders and tugging him up and with her. And the moment his eyes went back to her he smiled, leaning forward for her mouth and catching just the tip because she took a soft step back. Her soft lips just barely connecting enough to close all space between them, making him come forward further. "Shh." She smiled, backing up slowly before squeaking as he grabbed her arm with such a grip to keep her still and get to her mouth. Nothing but silence in the room as he enjoyed the silky cavern that could be forever his, before finally pulling back for air. Watching her look up to him with half lidded eyes that slowly licked her lips again.."No matter what Jim...You are his father, and he loves you…already." She said, her smile taking his hand and leading him to the kitchen. Sending him only a reassuring nod as she pushed back out the screen door and pulled her smooth fingers from him. Walking out a few feet into the sun and covering her eyes as she called down the yard for the small body that started obediently running her way.

Once again he was pumping ice cold adrenaline through his body as Daniella blocked all of the boy until the thin arms wrapped around her neck when she crouched down. Pulling the small figure up into her arms with hugs and kisses, and whispers to the small face and bright green eyes smiling up at her before she turned around. IN her arms the small body turned to, to see him. Big pools of green inside the tiny face blinking at him from underneath short blonde hair that was mess like his.

"Jim." Daniella said, smiling as though she had never been more proud of anything than the small pudgy body she held on her hip. "This is Derek."

She watched him smile, blue eyes locked on the small soft face of big green eyes, blonde hair and light skin looking at him. "And Derek." She smiled, nuzzling her face into the small ear and cheek that smiled absently with the touch as it stared at him.. "Derek, this is your daddy."

He felt his chest pull at him, paining him with how lucky he was to have all of this, to her have her, to have the bright pair of green eyes that were smiling at him. A small hand of little pudgy fingers reaching for his chest as he walked over and poking him before pressing with it's palm.

His blue eyes smiling, choking back tears at the small "Dis?" that turned to Danny, asking her if he really was dad before looking back to him as she nodded. The eyes studied him for a moment, staring up at him with such innocent power he felt for sure whatever they were searching for inside him, he'd fail with. Yet instead, when the eyes dropped, the small pudgy hand that was still tightly curled into Daniella's shirt wiggled free and leaned to him. Reaching for the bandaged mess and weird shirt that was his chest and he glanced at Daniella for help. She quickly stepped forward, enough so that the little hands made contact, and he slid his own underneath its little arms. Lifting the weight from Daniella entirely and to him with a smile. Letting the small body sit on his arm as he ran a hand into its soft blonde hair. The bright green eyes smiled, patting his chest before reaching up to his face and touching his cheek and nose before patting that too. Jumping slightly with the deep sound of his fast laugh before brightening its smile as he kissed the small fingers that ran over his mouth.

The small hand was studying all his features, fascinated with how big and strong he was. It wanted to touch, see how much of it was like him, and it was simply thrilled with his hair. Running its hand into his strands and tugging and ruffling before turning to Daniella with another small "Dis." Tickled with Daniella's small nod and smile that kept all her tears locked in her eyes. "Dis my daddy." The small mouth mumbled to both of them, confirming and possessive as it wrapped its little arms around his neck.

He closed his eyes, gently wrapping his arms around the tiny body, unsure of how hard he could actually hug it. "What's this?" Daniella cooed into Derek's face with a smile. Ruffling its hair before ruffling right into his with a "Huh? Is your hair the same color? Is it?" Squeaking as he looped an arm around her waist and yanked her into both of them before grinning at the second little body that started stomping up the yard annoyed.

Frowning at them for being abandoned near the really cool dirt hole it had just discovered with Derek before the boy ran off. "What's that your doing!?" The small mouth yelled at them frowning a pout. "I want to play!"

"Ok." Daniella whispered, nodding almost as though to herself as she gently pulled Derek off him and stood the small body in the grass. "Derek mommy's going inside now ok?"

"K."

He grinned at the small happy response that started happily running back to the frowning pout standing some ten feet away.

"Come on." Daniella laid a hand on his chest lightly, ushering him towards the door without a word or shove. He just turned to her, in awe of what she was. Unable to tell her how proud he was. Proud she could keep up the business and house with Melfina, and raise his baby all by herself. "Jim?" She smiled at him as though perplexed he wasn't moving before just relaxing. "Look at what you did Jim." She said, and he turned back to the small body, staring at it mesmerized by the small person he had created. "Look what we made." She whispered, leaning into his side and hugging. " "Three years doesn't matter, you can stay with him forever now…stay with me…forever please." His face tightened with his body when he heard her soft pleading words. That was all…

"Daniella that's all I ever wanted." He said looking down at her.

She beamed, squeezing him as hard as she could as she nuzzled her head into his chest. "I love you. Love you soo much." Standing up and kissing his face and neck as she pushed him backwards. "Come on, lets go in." She nodded towards the screen door and he opened it for her before fallowing her in.

"Does he know where I was?" He asked, watching her nod as she started back to the counter

"I told him you were on Earth with his uncle Gene." She watched him grin fast…someone was always an uncle around here.

"What Jim?" She almost gasped, whirling towards him instantly with the tightest look of panic he'd ever seen. "Oh god…Jim…where."

"What?" He asked immediately, his entire body snapping alert with the expression. Taking a quick step forward and grabbing her shoulders as her eyes saddened slightly. "What is it?" He frowned his desperate question.

"Jim where's-" Daniella muttered before jumping at the sound of the front door closing and looking over to Melfina who walked into the room carrying two large grocery bags.

Mel still hadn't looked up yet, the poor girl was struggling with the weight before whining a"Ah Daniella can you take one of…" before looking up and stopping dead.

He snapped forward grabbing the bag she almost dropped and quickly sliding it onto the table. "Jim!" Mel's arms flew around him before he had even finished putting it down. Squeezing him tightly with a long soft whine. "Oooh Jim, I am soo glad your back." Mel said, her soft face rubbing into his shoulder, like Danny had done to Derek's face when she told him who he was. "Sooo happy Jim." Mel quickly looked up at him with a bright smile and he grinned.

"Me too. It's so good to see you Mel." He said hugging back before gently letting her go so she could step back and glance around. Smiling at Daniella who looked as though she might pass out or start sobbing. "I missed you so much Mel." He grinned, and he watched Mel smile softly looking down for a moment before brushing the strands of her hair from her face as they fallowed the movement. Looking back up as though she might say something before a slight frown crossed her features. Wait…something was missing…Jim was there all alone, that didn't look right. Where was Gene? Why wasn't he here too? Why was Jim back all alone!? "Mel?" He frowned at her upset look, watching her carefully lick her lips before speaking to him.

"Jim." Mel whispered out his name with a desperate slow cringe. "Where is he?…Jim…Why has Gene, not…" Her mocha eyes frowning into a tight sad look, gripping his arm as she watched him smile. "Why isn't he with you?"

"Mel don't worry." He grinned fast, watching her face rush with confusion. All of her dread and fear that what luck had brought Jim back to them, had forgotten to bring Gene back with it, bracing with his words. "He's right-"

"Right here."

"GENE!" Mel snapped from him and into the outlaw that was suddenly grinning in the kitchen doorway before he could even look up. His eyes widening at the familiar strong voice in heart beat as Daniella's hands slid onto his chest leaning into him from behind.

"Gene. Judith let you out?" He said laughing out his words skeptically. Gene just looked up at him from where it was hugging Melfina to nothing.

"No." Gene grinned, hushing the crying raven hair loving into it. Almost knocking it over as it leaned into the doorway for support, still pained from the bullet that had been removed from its chest, and the rest of its wounds. "I asked her if I could go, she gave me some, when your ready answer, so I made a break for it." Gene grinned, and he almost laughed.

His face falling to a -You Did What!?- Wide eyed expression. "You walked!?" He laughed.

"Are you crazy." Gene made a face before moving. Side stepping slightly as it continued to hug Mel to pieces, but moving enough to reveal Iris's tight little pink dress and bright smile. Iris all but getting a single peak at him before shooting to him.

"Oh JIMMY!"

"Iris!" He grinned, grabbing her as she wrapped him in her arms, whining out long cries. "I caaan't believe you twwoooo! Gooing to war! You want to die huh!? Oooh I hate it Jim! Hated not having you heeeeere, leaving Dannieeeela all allllooone!" She squeaked, scolding him with her tone as he hugged her. Her squeezing stopping to pull her fists up to his shoulders and beat him with the sweet unique love that had started when he was four and never died. "My Jiiim, you iddiooot!" Iris pulled back frowning at him as she sniffled. Giving him another swat before turning around and hitting the outlaw another few *more* times. "Bunch of animals!" She snapping scolding looks between him and Gene with a puffed up little pout to her features.. "What's so funny huh? Jim! You want to go to war, and fight all man like then fine!" She frowned before suddenly smiling and grabbing his cheeks before smooshing them together. "I am just glad you brought your butt back in one piece." She cooed before laughing as he shook free with a grin. She sent him a wink as her eyes ran over his body to make sure no limbs were missing before turning to Gene and frowning. "You animal Gene Starwind!" She squeaked frowned at Gene's injured form. "Go running off and get yourself all shot up huh!? You don't see Jim all shot up do ya huh." She said with a small grunt and Gene just grit its teeth at her before growling a small -Jim was shot up plenty Iris-

"Judith is going to be livid Gene." He grinned at the scarred face, laughing at the mumbled, -I know- that started pulling, Melfina to the stairs while using her body for leverage to walk.

"Tell her I'll be back soon when she calls!"

He grinned at the outlaw's words, glancing at Iris who was pulling the left overs out of the fridge and sliding them onto the counter. Daniella's arms finally sliding off from around his chest and walking over to the sink messing with dishes. He smiled before strolling over to the screen door and looking out at the two wrestling bodies. "Is he hungry or….anything?" He turned to Daniella with a lop sided smile while pointing at the door.

"Jim." Daniella laughed his name for a moment before nodding. "It's lunch time isn't it? Call him in." She said nodding towards the screen door. He shook his head slightly, still nervous about the small 3 foot figure that seemed off limits. "Like this." She grinned whispering a "Deerrreek luunch! get your butt in this house or Mommy will eat you" Daniella giggled laughing harder as he grinned and strolled out the door to get away from the obnoxious encouragement. She knew it would work, and she watched satisfied through the kitchen window as he walked into the yard a few feet. Making a small movement as though he'd call out before starting down the lawn as Iris walked over and started watching too.

"What?" Iris frowned putting stuff into the sink before glancing back out the window. Squeaking her question fast as she pulled the saran rap off the chicken fingers. "Where's Jimmy going…that animal."

"To get Derek for lunch." She smiled her response, and Iris stopped to watch too. Laughing with her as Jim started coming back holding the small body with patchy blonde hair and bright green eyes talking away with the second little body fallowing with a tight hold on Jim's pants.

Mel walked in, opening her mouth to ask about lunch before stopping on sight of them all looking out the window smiling without a sound. "What are you all looking at?" She asked walking over and looking out before snapping a small frown and heading for the screen door. "Brice! You put that stick down sweetie!" Mel called out, watching the second three year old stop moving with the yell and drop the stick it was swinging. Opening the door for the small pairs of feet that walked in under her arm before moving for Jim. "Jim are you hungry?" She asked smiling up at his happy expression and he sighed

"Am I ever" He said, grinning at Mel's instant smile. His appetite always meant everything was well to Melfina, and so since he could remember he always said yes he was hungry. Even though she hadn't asked yet when he had to lie, even now he was starving. Sinking into the kitchen chair and watching Daniella send Derek to wash its hands before sending him a playful wink.

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"Melfina?" Gene sat up slowly, dark eyes looking around for her as he pushed some of his unruly hair from his face. "Damnt" He frowned as he heard her voice in the kitchen. One minute he's pulling her up the stairs, pushing in the bedroom door and the next…"Ahh I feeellll asleep." He groaned running a hand over his eyes and massaging his temples. "I can't believe I..ah." He choked blinking quickly to clear his vision and see what walked by the open bedroom doorway. No Way! "AhJim?" He gapped in disbelief, pushing himself up quickly so he could get to the hall and verify what he thought he saw. It looked, just like Jim but….couldn't be. "Ahh I am seeing things." He muttered getting up. "Stupid Judith and her stupid...meds and…" He trailed, walking into the empty upstairs hall and looking in the direction the small pair of jean shorts, white shirt, and blonde hair had gone in. His face frowning at thesmall voice and -Brice gimmi dat soap!- that came from the bathroom. Oh my god, he was loosing his mind. He frowned a little concerned "Mel?" he called out, raising his voice a little hinting towards the slight tingle of panic he felt.. With his luck, he was probably dead, because what he saw was impossible. It Just *Couldn't* be Jim.

He started further into the hall to investigate, leaning into the wall for support as he made his way to the bathroom doorway and stopped. Letting his body stop dead with his mind, and he just stared at the small boy with patchy blonde hair on a stool, hands in the sink, splashing water. Like some type of family video he didn't have, he had seen this a million times, years and years ago. The little boy was amazing to him, to see Jim so small again. So energetic and inquisitive, yet cautious and desperate to imitate him. He almost lost his breath in his smile when the small body started talking, and spread its child voice into the room.

"Mom says I have to wash my hands, she said." The boy nodded, splashing more water before adding more soap, and he smiled instantly. Little Jim was talking to….that's him. He grinned, ear to ear. He knew which one was his immediately. The second little boy, standing behind the stool frowning annoyed. Little thin figure with dark almost black hair and dark majestic eyes. That one was his, the one that grit its teeth when it was hit with water and declared it was going to shove Derek off its stool.

"Whatcha doing?" He suddenly spoke, sure and sly as ever as all the movement in the bathroom stopped. Bright green eyes, wide and beautiful innocent orbs turning to him slowly. They were the wrong color he thought, Jim's body with green eyes. He grinned a small chuckle when both boys slowly turned to him with wide shocked eyes to see him. Standing motionless, with flabbergasted blank expressions. Small mouths slowly slipping open to the tall, tall big man in the doorway. "….Is it lunch time?" He asked, his voice so loud and deep in the deadly silent room, and both little boys almost jumped before his did one, single, slow, nod. "Washing your hands?" He asked smiling, crouching down so he'd be smaller and the widened eyes fallowed him.. Small patch of blonde hair nodding a -Yes- and he grinned.

He turned to the little boy he knew was his, its dark deep eyes had never stopped staring at him. The small body was in complete awe with his tanned skin tones and hard features. It was simply captivated by the sly smile that ran over his face, and the scars adorning his cheek to even register what he was saying. "Hey." He smiled softly to it. "Is your mommy in the kitchen?" he patiently waited for an answer, watching a small tongue lick the little lips before the boy reached for him. Slowly a hand with small curled fingers extended forward, and gently touched the scars on his cheek.

"Does dat hurt?" The small child voice asked.

He grinned, shaking his head no. "One time it did…but not too much." He answered with a fast wink and the little face laughed at his answer for just the slightest second. "I came from so far away to see you Brice." he grinned, running his hand up the small face and into the soft dark strands of hair. "From so far away." His deep voice repeating itself as it marveled at the small body, and it was all his.

"From Earth?" The small voice asked, and he nodded before turning to look behind him when Brice suddenly looked up.

"Gene." Melfina smiled down to him, he hadn't even heard her come up the stairs. "Isn't he everything, you ever wanted Gene?" she locked her eyes on him as he stood up with another one of his sure grins. That look was the closest thing he could muster to possibly try and tell her what he felt. "….Everything you could ever…dream of?"

"Melfina." He sighed out her name, running his hand into her hair and she smiled and nuzzled into the touch laying her own hand over his as she looked down at the small boy watching them. "Brice, do you know who this is?" She asked and her son's brown eyes smiled. Small patch of dark hair nodding at her.

"My daddy." Brice answered sure and happy, and Gene's hand tightened on her just a little. Brice just pointed a finger to him before opening its hand and showing Melfina how clean it was. Wrapping both little palms and curled fingers around the arm he reached down and hugging as he pulled it up into his arms.

"Your damn right I am." He grinned, squeezing the life out of the small cotton shirt and shorts he held onto. His dark eyes grinning at the pair of wide green eyes looking up at him from the floor. Blown away by his existence, and fact he just took Brice. He smirked. "Nice to meet you." He extended his hand and the wide green eyes looked down at it before gently taking hold of one of his fingers. Just hanging on as he shook his hand a little and moved the thin arm. "What's your name?" He asked, suppressing his laugh because the small mouth hadn't closed once. It mine as well have been on the floor staring at what a character he was.

"Derek." The small voice answered slowly.

"Well Derek." He grinned at the little expression that raised its eyebrows just a tad. "Say hello to your uncle Gene." He grinned proudly introducing himself.

"Hi" the little voice answered obediently and a little monotone.

"Haha." He laughed and Derek jumped, glancing quickly at Melfina for reassurance but she only smiled brightly. "Where's your dad?" He asked, and Derek's small finger just pointed to the floor to a -Down da stairs.- "Downstairs huh." He grunted, grabbing the small arm and pulling the blonde hair into his arms too. smiling at the small body that tensed up a little scared of him before relaxing when it realized he wasn't hurting it or Brice. "Hey." He smiled gently, the same kind he used to give Jim and he got a weak one in return. "Lets go get him then." He turned to Melfina who was still watching him. "What do you guys say to that huh?" He grinned watching the big eyes and smiles nod at him as he started down the stairs. Glancing into the kitchen as Daniella walked by holding a large platter, before Jim fallowed her. Looking like it'd just love to take that dish eat the food and then cart Daniella off to somewhere soft it could lock all of them out of. "Jim!" He called, and the blue eyes were suddenly back in the doorway to see what he wanted before laughing at his full arms. Hesitating slightly as it shift its hands around Derek's body before pulling the smaller form from him and into its own arms.

That was a load off, he wasn't used to carting around kids. Still, it was hardly an inconvenience when you wake up and get to walk downstairs to a kitchen full of women cooking for you. "Ahh what are you cooking, smells great." He grinned inhaling deeply as he moved to the table full of food with a sly smile. This stuff was going in his mouth…now, no waiting.

"Gene!" Iris's squeaked, she had eyed him the minute she saw him step towards the table. Now her thin hand shoved his away from the patters he was pulling stuff off. "Aww I had them looking sooo nice." She whined, moving vegetables and anitpasta back into the empty spaces before giving his wide chewing smile a glare. "Oh shut up." She frowned, tight pink dress moving back over to Daniella who was at the counter trying to drain noodles as Jim teased her before moving as Mel pulled things from the oven. "Hey I am loving this." He grinned. All of that food was going in his mouth too. "Feels like thanksgiving in here."

Jim turned to his statement with a smile, and he could tell in a second just by looking at the blue eyes, Jim was truly happy. His younger partner came right to him and sat down across the table with a grin and smile. "Cidny and Mike are coming by, they'll be here any minute." Jim grunt for a moment, smiling at the small boy sitting on him content with watching Mommy cook. "I can't believe they're still making it with the bar Gene." Jim sighed before switching its attention to its son who came walking into the room and right to Daniella. Tugging on the pink skirt with a -Mommy Mike is here at da door.-

Daniella was nodding as she spooned noddles from the pot into a dish. "Alright hunny I am coming." She answered sweetly, building a small frown at the multitasking that involved handing the noodles off, eating cold ones, or carting noodles to the door.

"I got it." He said standing up, and it was as though she forgot he was finally home. That she could turn and ask with a smile, Can you get it? And he would go. It was smile he had never seen on her face when she turned to him. As though something in his sentence had made her gush just for the tiniest second with overwhelming excitement he-tall and blonde, and developed everywhere with the cutest sloppy hair cut she ever did see, smiling just like he used to- was hers. And *since* she could remember that's what she had always wanted *Always* more than anything she had just wanted to marry Jim, and have a baby, and play house. Being able to do that was more than she could ask for. Watching him walk to the door with a inquisitive miniature version of him hesitantly fallowing, but wanting so bad to know it could walk along too, was too good to be true. Her soft laughter unnoticed in the chaotic kitchen as she watched him stop when he noticed the little boy fallowing and beckon for it to come. Smiling as it did, cautiously taking a few steps before bolting over with a smile, and locking hands with its daddy.

This was everything she had ever wanted.

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"No it wasn't Mike!"

Jim grinned, watching Iris stop eating her spaghetti to squeak at Mike's tight, white, wife beater eating pasta across from her. "Your messing up the story!"

"It's not a story Iris, it's a fact." Mike replied calmly, and Melfina smiled.

Picking up the story there and continuing with a soft smile to Gene who was eating like a mad person. "He came to the door, and well, when I opened it-"

"-When she opened it." Mike interrupted grinning. "There's this friendly neighbor just standing there, all pushing into Mel's lovely face. Talking on and on about how he wants to see some Gene Starwind haha."

He glanced at Daniella as she choked laughing with Mike's words. Quickly swallowing and grabbing his water as he forked up more pasta. "Mike! How can you say that!?" Daniella exclaimed, motioning his water cup around at nothing. " The man had a gun. Ok, he *had* a gun." He grinned, switching his water cup for Daniella's empty one as she gave him his back. But he wasn't thirsty. All of them crowded into their small kitchen table. His small miniature version of himself eating from his dish with a tiny fork as it sat on his lap. Brice asleep on Melfina across the table next to the outlaw. "Mike." Daniella started again shaking her head with a big smile. "How can you say someone isn't being friendly if-"

"-Wait! He had a gun?!-" Gene suddenly shot in. Fork stopping mid air full of food as the outlaw just registered what they said. "A gun?"

"-if they have a gun!" Daniella continued talking to Mike, ignoring Gene's outburst with a smile. " I mean don't you think that's a little but of an understatement?"

"He did have a gun, he was aiming." Mel said nodding with a smile to confirm this and Gene frowned sitting the fork down on its dish quickly.

"ok." Mike shrugged, a soft amused grin growing over its face."Maybe he did…so I go to this guy, you speaking to him."

"HAHA!" He burst out laughing, but Gene's face was sinking to a -What?- annoyed/confused frown. Shooting him a large part of that annoyed frown when he started choking on his spaghetti while he laughed and Irish joined him.

Mike just chuckled slightly and continued. "You should have seen that brothers face." Mike grinned pointing over to Mel who looked down with a soft smile. "Looking at Melfina like I just slapped him."

"He was not." Mel sighed her words softly, and Daniella started laughing with him too. This was just too funny.

"I says, you want to see Gene Starwind." Mike grinned, getting louder to talk over them. "That's him." Mike pointed back to Mel with a nod, and Mel's smile widened.

"He didn't believe you!" Gene shot, frowning with its skeptical tone. No way they just told some assassin he became a woman! "Did he!? I mean face it, I don't look anything like.." Gene frowned, a little unsure what to think about this before growing a grin as it glanced over at how hard Jim was laughing.

"That's the funny thing Gene." Mike grinned, chuckling out his words as Iris finally stopped laughing and waited to hear more what Mike would say when it gave them one of its dramatic pauses.. "He stands there….takes a good look at Melfina's beautiful little face and says…" Mike grinned, watching them all wait to hear it. Ttheir faces ready to laugh as Mike looked around the table to each one of them. "...He says...I ain't frighten no *women*!"

"Hahaha." Daniella broke down.

"No he didn't baby!" Cidny shot in disbelief grabbing part of his arm and shaking slightly as if unable to enjoy this entirely alone. She had to let him know physically how funny it was, and he only grinned at her. "I missed that!?" She exclaimed disappointed and shocked "I almost came that day! Almost! Mike says, Cidny you watch the bar I am gonna swing by Starwinds place. So I say, ok. I mean, who would have thought the day I stay behind-"

"-Mike you didn't ask me to come?" Iris suddenly interrupted with a fast frown to Mike who sat laughing. "Huh? How come you didn't ask huh?"

"-Who would have thought!?" Cidny just continued ignoring it. "Something funny happens." Cid sighed, finishing her sentence as she started eating more pasta watching Iris pout.

"Sure leave Iris behind to watch the bar…" Iris whined giving Mike her bottom lip. "It's cuase I am getting fatter." Iris said frowning a squint at Mike before snapping at Gene who burst out laughing with that comment. "Shut up Gene!" Gene only laughing harder with her whining snap before Cidny started in with the-

"-Your not getting fat baby! If anybody's getting fatter it's Cidny. Me. I am getting fatter." Cidny said nodding before frowning at the -I am! I am too, huh Mel!?- Iris started squeaking glancing at Mel for confirmation as Cidny turned to him. "Jimmy baby talk some sense into Iris, she's got her head full of nuttin'." He grinned feeling Cid shove his arm lightly, patting his shoulder as she started eating again.

His eyes glancing around at all of them before down at the small bundle falling asleep in his arms. He choked a lop sided grin at that one, he couldn't imagine how in the world the little body was falling asleep in all this commotion, and when he looked up none of it had stopped. Iris was whining away to Mike about being left behind because she was fat. Cidny was continuously arguing that wasn't true before bringing up some new wacko diet she heard about. Gene was laughing its ass off at Iris's complaining. Occasionally getting loud squeaking shouts to Shut up! from Iris herself as Mel kept conversation with both Gene about not teasing Iris, and with Daniella about where to put Brice and Derek because they were both falling asleep and the house was so noisy.

That was all he ever wanted, all of these voices, these faces and people. They were his home, his life, his family, and now, after all that had happened to him. *Since* the beginning when his memories started, filling him with the ups and downs life had given him. Till now, with the faces and love that would always be with him. He could never be more ready to do what he wanted most of all. To raise a family and a business with his partner. It was amazing how things had worked out, somehow in the end all managed to come together right. So that what he considered his life, was the happiness that he had come to love and refer to his as *always* The rest of what happened before didn't matter anymore. Now, with all of them together, having lunch, in his home, all of them were apart of his *since, and always*, the most precious thing in the world.

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~Hey thanks so so much for reading my story. I know it was really long and I put a lot of effort into it so I hope you enjoyed it I've written a few others if you interested (non as long as this one-FOR REAL!-:) if that's a relief~ please take the time to REVIEW FOR ME:). It really helps me in my writing and I would just LUV to know what you thought. I know some people are unsatisfied with the lack of plot involving the original ols characters, but that's just not why I was writing this story. Its really a Jim story, and the camera fallows him. So if those characters aren't there, they aren't there. Sorry. I apologize for some of the way some of my earlier chapters were written. Really having to rush, makes your chapters suck. I hope I can get back to them and revise *gulps* that's a big goal and I am hoping over the summer I can complete it. N E Way, this *is* the end. There won't be any continues or anything-so thanks again, and I hope you enjoyed it.

DivineAngel