Disclaimer: nope. Last I checked Dark Angel was cancelled, AND not in my possession. Damn.

A/N: This the third part of a series, as the 3 in the title would suggest. I recommend that you read the other parts before you read this part, or at the very least that you read part 2 first, to understand who the characters are here. Either that, or read closely, 'cause I'm not going to yell character descriptions at you, and if you choose not to read the other ones, you'll just have to accept the way Zack is in here. That's it, that's all I have to say about the fact that this is a series! But it seems a shame to stop a good author's note when I just got started! What? You wanted to read the story? Okay, I'll stop then, but only if you promise to review!!!

Jondy the Abandoner 3: Barcoded

Chapter one: Pigtails

April 24, 2018

CAAAAACHSHHH!

Eloise awoke the sound of a cereal box falling to the floor, and its contents spilling. Aldrea was trying to make her own breakfast, and the handicap of being shorter than the counter had caused her to spill. Again.

Sighing, Eloise dragged herself from the warm comfort of her blankets, and stumbled into the small, beige and grey kitchen.

"G'morning Mom," said Aldrea, chipper voiced and already dressed and ready for school. She scratched her neck.

"Ungh," Eloise uttered in reply, rubbing her face to wake herself up. Why was she so tired? And warm? "Morning Kiddo."

Eloise's long black hair was draped messily over her shoulders and falling into her face. She had only worn a thin grey tank top, and blue shorts to bed, but she was still warm. She clicked on the box fan that sat on the counter. It took all space for any possible food preparation away, but with Eloise's skills in the kitchen, that was probably a good thing. Even though Brian insisted that she did make good spaghetti.

"How long until Brian comes for school?" asked Aldrea, who could tell time, even at age four, but this fact was pointless considering the clock on the microwave was broken.

Eloise glanced at her watch. It was almost 6:20. "Not for another twenty minutes," she said, pulling her hair into a ponytail. Gesturing to the pile of brightly colored cereal on the floor, Eloise told Aldrea to clean up, and then began to pour a new bowl and a glass of juice for her daughter.

It had been over a year since the incident when Brian had helped Eloise and Aldrea escape the clutches of Lydecker. Even so, Brian still didn't know Eloise's secret, but then, neither did Aldrea. Aldrea wasn't technically old enough for school, but since Brian worked there, a third grade teacher, he had been able to pull strings to let Aldrea start early. She soon had been bumped up to first grade. Aldrea had always been very smart; an attribute probably connected to her half transgenic genome.

"Mom, can you do my hair in pigtails today?" Aldrea asked as she picked at her cereal.

"Why?" Eloise didn't really like pigtails, even though they might look cute on Aldrea she considered. Still, cute was never really something she strived for in her daughter.

"Lacy and Casie always have pigtails and they are the nicest girls in class. Everyone wants to be like them," explained Aldrea.

"If you want to have pigtails, Lacy and Casie aren't important. Do you like these girls?"

"No. Not really."

"So are they really the nicest girls in class?"

"Well, no, but everybody likes them! And maybe if I have pigtails they'd be nicer."

"Aldrea, if these girls are being mean to you, that's their problem. And believe me, it has nothing to do with your lack of pigtails. Now, do you want pigtails, even though these girls won't be nice to you once you have them? 'Cause Aldrea, they won't be."

"Well, I still want them a little," said Aldrea, but looking slightly glum about it.

"Okay," Eloise conceded, leaning back on the refrigerator, fanning herself. "We don't have time now, but I'll put pigtails in your hair this afternoon when you get home."

"Braided ones?"

"Sure Aldrea. Then you can decide if you like how they look on you, before you wear them to school."

Aldrea grinned and went back to her now very soggy cereal.

Two taps were heard at the door, followed by Brian's entrance into the apartment. "Hey girls," he greeted.

His brown hair was gelled up into appealing spikes and his face freshly shaven; his skin tan and smooth. He was wearing a blue t-shirt, and green cargos. The t-shirt was tight on his biceps, which ordinarily would've caused Eloise's eyes to linger… but today they were stuck on the pants.

Brian didn't notice however, looking at Aldrea he asked, "What's for breakfast this morning," frowning at the murky collage of colors in the cereal bowl.

"Fruity Yummers," said Aldrea. "I should go get my backpack!" She slid down from her chair and sprinted off to her room.

At this point Eloise realized where she had been starring, and quickly averted her eyes, pretending to be greatly interested in something on the floor in front of her. She breathed deeply, practically gulping the air. Of course, no wonder she was so warm…

Brian looked at her in concern for a moment, but then seconds later Aldrea returned, bulging backpack in hand. Her bag was so huge for her, it looked impossible she'd ever carry it, but somehow most little kids manage this seemingly impossible feat.

"Ready to go Brian! Are you?"

"Yup. We don't wanna be late Kiddo. Give your mom a kiss goodbye," he said, smiling.

"Oh yeah!" said Aldrea, and hugged her mom around the middle, bringing Eloise out of her staring-at-the-floor-not-thinking-about-Brain stupor.

"Bye Mom," said Aldrea, and Eloise leaned down to kiss her goodbye. "Love ya!"

"You too. See you after school."

"Duh," said Aldrea.

"My turn," said Brian, holding out his arms. Aldrea snickered. Brian kissed her mom everyday before school, and it was still so funny, she thought.

"I-" Eloise stopped herself. She was going to say that she had a fever, and didn't want to get Brian sick, as an excuse not to kiss him today, but as she had just kissed Aldrea, that one wouldn't fly. She could feel his body heat close to her, and her skin became hyper-sensitized at his scent. She shivered.

He captured her mouth with his own, and Eloise just kept thinking, Aldrea's watching, Aldrea's watching, Aldrea's watching… It was the longest peck in all of history. "See ya later Eloise," Brian waved happily.

"Yeah. Later," said Eloise, forcing a half smile as they retreated out the door. She watched Brian's ass exit reluctantly, and once it was gone she positioned herself, face inches in front of the box fan. She could've smacked herself. How could she not have realized? Okay, so it'd only been three months since the last one, which was less time than normal, but still, why was she so stupid? Of course… She was in heat.

KNOCK, KNOCK.

"Who is it?" Eloise inquired.

"Zack… Didn't Aldrea tell you I was coming?"

"Ah, no." Aldrea was expecting him? But didn't tell her? She'd kill her!

"Okay, well Aldrea and I were gonna hang after school, and I'm early. So are you decent? I'd like to come in and wait, rather than chill in the hall. Maybe I'll eat your food or something."

Eloise gulped. "Could you maybe come back later?"

"What?"

"Uh. Well, okay, you come in. And I'm gonna go take a shower."

"Okay," said Zack, completely puzzled, as he let himself in.

Eloise ran to the bathroom.

Okay, so you promised to review, back when I ended my author's note. You are so obligated now! Go now… Give me praise, give me flames, give me something to let you know you were here… Really now, that's all I ask. To know whether or not I have actual readers out there.