Hello (waves meekly)
This'll be the last chapter for a while, seeing as I have a really, really twisted idea for a short fic that I wanna write, and I don't feel as much like writing as drawing lately (yeah, you can see that fact in the evidence, considering I'm surrounded by various mountains ofsketches right now...)

But this only has about four more chapters to go, anyway, so after the fact, it should be finished soon, and I'll get working on the third and final installation of this line of stories.
Just to warn you, the third one will be a completely different kind of crossover, and Jess'll probably be the only character that'll be mentioned past the first few chapters from the old ones. I didn't plan it that way, but the storyline would be insanely difficult if it didn't happen solo (plus the fact that I happen to find it difficult to write more than one or two characters, as seen in the partial degrading of this fic)
I bet you'll never guess the crossover in a million years, either. It's THAT crazy (laughs manically) Hahahaha! DOOM on all of you! DOOOOOM!

In the interest of getting this out as fast as possible, review replies will be short:

TGBBF: You get to see the answers to all your glorious questionsnow!
You clean? Me cleaning is... rare.
(glomps)

Butterflydragon: Okay, okay... here it is (puppy eyes)
NINE! Nine cookies out of a three dozen batch? Man, your family is crazy! Like mine! COOL!

Bsdisaster: O.o
Ranma Hibiki: oh, but you know it will indeed be all over the ship. Jess never lies unless it's fun to do so XD

Raptorchick: Heh, really? Well, he has natural skill, then, doesn't he? (my first time baking turned out worse... much worse)
Our stories will never collide? Never say never, girl! It could happen (damn, that would be a hilarious one-shot...)

Juju: Hello, there! Jess is seventeen so far. XD

Specialguy: yup, yup, I get'cha. Been researching that, and probably'll have something 'bout it later. I think just eating Yautja flesh can do it, but i'd have to make sure.

DarkXeno: Wow, some of your ideas are pretty damn good... Have you ever tried your hand at writing? I think I'd really enjoy reading something that you wrote, considering that you have so many great ideas for things.
Nice April Fool, btw. You almost ALMOST had me going, there. I was like "WTF?"
It's always a pleasure to hear your nagging (snicker) no, really, it is! Who else'll keep me writing nonstop if not DARKXENO! (draws a dramatic, superhero pose of DarkXeno)
Sorry, got carried away... XD (lighthearted teasing alert!)


"Chopper, don't you think you've had enough?"

"What? I've only had four!"

I sighed and raised an eyebrow at the comical-looking Yautja, trying very hard not to laugh at his frosting covered mandibles and almost innocent look. Even his voice had risen slightly in pitch –something I had not thought possible- as he attempted to convince me to relinquish another of the desserts.

Where's the big bad warrior now? I thought with a smirk, Of all the times not to have a camera…

"You were only supposed to get one," I countered. I strode over to the counter and took a few paper towels from the roll, handing them to Chopper with an exaggerated sigh, "Clean your face off, man, you look like an idiot."

"The person covered in powder is saying that I look like an idiot?" Chopper asked snidely as he attempted to get the frosting off. I rolled my eyes.

"I make the powder look good," I retorted with a sharp grin, taking the pans and bowls that had been dirtied while baking and tossing them into the sink. Soon I had cleaned off the table once more, and I began gathering the stuff that would clean up the egg from the floor.

Funny though it had been, I was going to –for once- keep my promise to mom and clean whatever had happened to get messed up during my little lesson. I looked up as Chopper muttered something unintelligible but rude-sounding, "What was that?" I asked sweetly.

"I said 'funny you'," he answered, looking slightly uncomfortable. He was bending the truth, I could tell. Frankly, I had watched a bit too much South Park not to be able to figure it out. I glared for a moment, eyes narrowing in suspicion, but then shrugged and let it go.

The fact is, I knew he had never had much real sugar before, and the sugar high that was going to affect him later would be my sweet, sweet revenge. I felt an extremely evil smile tug at my lips as I thought of how a hyper Yautja might act, almost laughing at the several possible situations that established themselves in my head.

Finally, I managed to get all the egg off the floor, and I trashed the dirty paper towels I had used to clean with, giving a relieved sigh that turned into a groan as I turned to see Chopper trying to stuff another cupcake into his fanged mouth without me noticing. He stopped suddenly, eyes flicking over to me as I stood staring at him, one foot tapping slowly on the tile floor and arms crossed as I gave him a full powered glare. Slowly the hand holding the cupcake lowered, and his mandibles clicked together nervously.

"Might as well finish it now," I said with a heavy sigh, "But do not eat any more. I certainly don't need you getting sick, and you're gonna be hyper enough within an hour to keep everyone in the house on their toes."

Chopper paused in surprise, eyes widening slightly as he stared down at the half eaten object in his clawed, mottled hand.

"Hyper?"

"That's what sugar does to you, man," I said, snorting with amusement, "And since I don't think you've ever had concentrated sugar before… Gods, I wish I had a camera right about now!"

"Oh, shit…"

Heh, now my friends are starting to use my expressions!

"Damn, man, now you're starting to sound like me!" I exclaimed aloud, looking mock-horrified, "Ahh! My personality's contagious! We're all doomed! Dooomed!"

Yes, I had also perhaps had one too many cupcakes than I really needed. What, could you seriously blame me? Come on, after a month of no sugar besides the natural stuff found in fruit? Hell, I was just happy that the sugar hadn't gotten me to the point where I began to talk about radioactive breadboxes and the 'power of cheese popcorn!'

"Jessie, lay off the cupcakes!" Mom's voice floated to me from where she was playing the Nintendo in her bedroom. I groaned, "I can here you from in here, and even though I can't understand you, I can tell you're getting worked up!"

"I knoooow that!" I called back, "Just let me get 'em all in the boxes so Chopper can't sneak any more, either! Then I'll calm down and take a shower!"

"You need it!"

"Hey, be nice to your beloved missing child!"

I glowered at Chopper, who was trying not to choke on the cupcake that he had decided to finish after all as he barely contained his sugar-induced giggles. Song lyrics he may have had trouble with, but normal talking he didn't, and he understood every word of my delightful conversation with my mother.

"Oh, go to hell," I growled at him, smirking as I firmly set the last stray cupcake into a container and slammed the lid down, cutting off all access to the sugary goodness for at least another day. I pointed at the closed container, a serious glare in my eyes, "I know exactly how many cupcakes are in here, so if even one is unaccounted for when I get back…" I left the threat hanging in midair, and let my smirk widen into a genuine smile when Chopper managed to look guilty, "Good. Now you have some free time, so go ahead and explore the house if you want. Just try not to break anything irreplaceable."

"Pessimist," he grumbled.

"Hey, beats being disappointed," I replied, flicking my fingers in a half-wave as I set off from the kitchen, passing through the living room and making my way down the hallway. I slowed when I came up to my mom's bedroom, peeking in around the corner and watching her play her video game on the old, original Nintendo she had set up on the bed with some hesitation. It still felt so weird to be able to see her again, to know that I was back home, and that she was right there…

"Hello," I chirped.

"Hey, Jess," she replied with a smile. Then, her face turned serious and she began furiously pushing buttons, muttering to herself and talking to the screen in a whiny voice that I couldn't help but chuckle at, mostly because it was exactly as I remembered her approach to games. The game she was playing was, as always, Super Mario Bros. 3. No matter how many times she beat a game, she always loved playing it again.

"How far you got?" I asked, moving into the door from where I had been leaning against the frame and settling back against the wall, staring at the tiny television screen that my mom's attention was so focused on.

"Seventh world," she answered. I snorted.

"Pretty good for only playing for about twenty minutes," I mused contentedly. With a sigh, I looked up at the clock, seeing with surprise that it was quite late. I looked outside at the dark nothing through the windows, a small inconsistency bothering me, "Hey," I said carefully, dreading any answer I might get and hating that I did but not able to leave the question be, "Where's Dad?"

"At the races," she replied easily. I sighed inaudibly in relief, "He'll be gone for a few days, but he needed the stress reliever. It's just that… after you disappeared…"

"I know," I said softly, my high spirits and threatening sugar rush having already disappeared completely due to the seriousness of the conversation, "Hard times for you guys an' all. I never… never wanted…" Damn. I was never good at emotional stuff!

"But you aren't planning on staying here, are you?" mom asked, interrupting me. I stayed silent for a long moment, mouth opening and closing like a fish as I tried to think of what to say.

"I… I don't belong in this world," I choked out finally, feeling as if the words were far too lame for the situation. It made me grimace to hear the sounds come out of my mouth, "I never belonged here, you know that," I forced a weak smile to show as I shrugged my shoulders, "Heh, this way you don't have to worry about collage prices, anymore."

Yeah, that had been an old problem that I'd had, considering the college I had wanted to go to was pretty damn expensive.

She looked up at me, and I shifted uncomfortably as I saw tears threatening to run out of her eyes. Finally, I made up my mind and sat down on the bed, careful not to mess up the game, and brought her into a huge, tight hug. She felt so small, so fragile. I forced myself not to start crying, as well. The last thing anyone in the house needed was for me to break down.

That's what you get for trying to make light of the situation, I growled at myself angrily.

"I love you, Jessie," she said, her voice muffled, "I don't want you to leave."

"You can't keep me forever," I replied, voice soft and heavy as the guilt, the utter sadness, weighted me down. It may not have been a particularly nice thing to say, but it was the truth, and I felt that truth was more powerful for healing than all the well-meant lies in the world, "I have to be free. You've known that for a long time, now."

"But I never thought it would be so soon," she sobbed, "I missed you so much, and now you're back… I don't know if I could stand losing you again."

What? Is that what she's so afraid of?

"Losing me?" I asked, a small chuckle escaping me as I pushed my mom back to arms length, looking into her puffy, tear stained eyes with amusement. If there was but one chance to make her feel better about my decision, then this was it, "Losing me? Whatever gave you that idea? You could never lose me, mom! No matter what, I'll always remember you, and I'll always love you, and the rest of the family. You know that."

"But you won't be here…"

"Not in body," I said, hugging her again, "But I've lived here way too long for my spirit to just up and leave! You know what you could do to remind you of me when you're feeling down, don't you?"

"What?"

If this situation wasn't so serious, mom's confusion might be funny right about now…

"Just get on the computer," I said with a sigh, "You always told me I spent too long on it, and I always told you that it was my life. So learn how to use it, and go ahead and read some of the stories that I made. I have a feeling you'd like them, even if they are unfinished."

With that, I sat up, looking down at my leather-like armor and sighing. Hopefully, this whole spiel was over now. I smiled weakly and gave my mom a wink, seeing her grin back in return, her eyes still clouded with sadness but much of the edge gone.

"I'll try it, then."

"Good," I said, forcing myself to be more happy, "Now if you excuse me, I have a shower to take! I don't want to run anybody out of the room just by walking in, do I?"

She chuckled at that, and I grinned widely before turning to leave, glad that I could have lifted the spirits of the room a bit.

"Jessie?"

"Yeah?" I said, turning back with a curious look on my face.

"Your hair is fading. I have some more of the dye near the sink… I don't think you'll have time for it tomorrow, but if you want to take it wherever you're going…"

I stared blankly for a moment, absorbing the information and twiddling my faded, almost natural color hair in my fingers. Then, I smiled a wide, almost crazy smile.

"Lifesaver!" I practically screamed, bounding over to my mom and crushing her in a hug. She gasped, and I grinned sheepishly as I released her, remembering that I was a bit stronger now from my training then I had been before, "Hehe, sorry 'bout that… Thanks so much, mom! I have been so worried that I would never be able to get my hair back to my chosen color!"

"You're welcome," she said, brushing a stray strand of hair out of my eyes and plucking a loose strand from my armor, "You still shed like crazy… Heh, go take your shower. I love you."

"Love ya, too," I answered, bounding out of the room and down to my own room, striding immediately to my short, squat, hand-me-down dresser that I had gotten after my sister had moved out. I wondered briefly how she had taken the news that I had gone missing, but quickly quashed any thoughts on the matter, as they could only ruin what small part of the evening I had left. Instead, I focused on trying to find my old pajamas.

Hey, if I was gonna stay here, I was gonna be comfortable. No two ways about it!

"Found 'em!" I whispered to myself, pulling out the long, t-shirt material nightgown that I used to love and what I knew for a fact was more comfortable than just about any other nighttime clothing I had. It would feel good to be able to sleep in my own bed again, to feel that familiar pillow under my head and my multitude of special stuffed creatures –namely things I had gotten from my mom for Easter every year- sitting beside me as I slept.

It almost made me want to just jump on the bed and fall asleep right there, but I knew better.

I walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower, feeling the humidity of the room rise as the hot steam from the water billowed into the air. It reminded me a lot of the Yautja ship, and the way the temperature there always felt as if someone had just gotten out of the shower. Again, I found myself missing that second home I had found for myself, and I sighed as I stripped my armor off, running my fingers over the rough metal before setting it carefully on the counter. I would clean it later, after I had gotten comfortable. Perhaps I could even convince Chopper to sit still long enough to watch a movie as I cleaned it… I was pretty sure Yautja didn't have movies, or at least not the kind that humans did.

But to decide on the movie… Really, I was torn between AvP, Reign of Fire, or Princess Mononoke. All of the three were of a subject I was sure the Yautja would enjoy, but I instantly wrote off the third, as I didn't feel like sitting for three full hours or watching an animated film. Plus, I wasn't sure about the first one; it was one thing to tell them that they had been nothing but move characters, but to show them just might be too much, especially since Chopper had been the first one to die. Sure, being able to boo and throw stuff at the screen would be fun. But I really didn't need a depressed, sugar-high teen Yautja on my hands.

I sighed as the warm; almost hot water hit my skin, the problem of what to watch for the rest of the evening momentarily forgotten. There was just something about a shower that a bath didn't quite reach. Perhaps it was the constant pounding of the liquid on one's skin, but all I knew at the moment was that it felt wonderful and familiar. It was something I was used to, and I washed my hair gladly, reveling in the steady pressure of the multiple streams on my head, letting the dull roar wash away all other sounds or thoughts.

Man, I love this, I sighed in my mind, having to make a conscious effort not to fall asleep right there, so peaceful…

"Jess?"

All peaceful thoughts were shattered in an instant as I recognized the voice. Immediately, I was on edge, and very, very angry. Almost murderously angry, in fact.

"Chopper, what the fuck are you doing in here!" I yelped, "Can't you see I'm taking a shower!"

Right then, I was just thanking any higher powers there might have been that there was a shower curtain blocking any eyefuls, but that didn't stop my rage. I cut off any reply that the Yautja might have been saying with an angry shriek as I hefted a heavy shampoo bottle that happened to be sitting on the shower shelf.

"Get out!" I yelled, "GET OUT NOW!"

With that, I scooted over just enough to be able to throw the bottle full force past the curtain.

WHAM!

You're just lucky you're near the door! I snarled to Chopper in my mind, seething as I heard the other make a hasty and well-warranted escape out of the room. Too bad I had missed my target and probably dented the wall, instead, Hell, you're just lucky that I didn't hit ya in yer dumbass head! Fucking Yautja have worse timing than the damn Xenos…

Well, not really true, since Xeno's had the worst timing in the entire world, be it reality or otherwise, but still!

The rest of the shower went fairly quickly after that, since I didn't feel like relaxing, anymore. With a half sigh, half growl, I turned off the water, stepping out of the shower and drying off with a huge, fluffy towel before I slipped my pajamas on, still grumbling under my breath. Finally, after putting the shampoo bottle back in its place and gathering up the towel and my armor, I opened the door and stalked out, setting the towel into the laundry basket in the hall and making my way down to the living room with my armor in my arms, ignoring the sound of chuckles following me from my mom's room.

Laugh now, but it wouldn't be funny if it happened to you, I thought venomously, trying to ignore the growing feeling of amusement about the whole ordeal rising in the back of my mind. Finally, I gave up, but I kept my laughter in, and tried to keep the smile from my lips as I forced my eyes to remain angry, Okay, okay, it's funny, anyway. But I won't let Chopper know that!

Besides, it'll be fun to throw my armor at his head before I get a full explanation…


Yea! Armor throwing and MOVIES! Can anybody tell what my second favorite one is? (snicker)