LittleMidgett and Karone-Sakura; yeah, I know. Sadness… but, then again, I never could do that very well… :)

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Robert

Amanda caught Hannah just before Jade fell. Jake caught her, crying out to her. I looked down… and saw I was in my usual clothes. We all were…

"What is this place?" Sakura was suddenly latched onto me, looking around. I looked at her, then trailed down as I looked at her clothes. Sleeveless shirt, and cut-off jeans… I don't even think she noticed what she was wearing.

She looked amazingly good in it though…

"This? This is my house!" I cried, suddenly realising where we were. No… this couldn't… we had to… get…

"Everyone, I suggest we leave now" I gritted my teeth.

"Why?"

"My house isn't safe" I told Rachel, and caught Amanda's look. She knew… I'd told her everything… my father hurting my mother… and anyone who got in his way…

"All right. Let's move to my house" She looked at the clock "My brothers should still be at school and TAFE"

"All right"

She led the way out the door, to her house. Everyone followed, and I left last, shutting the door behind me, a memory resurfacing for an instant, before I pushed it away and we went to Amanda's.

Sakura passed out on the way there… she was so afraid… so I carried her, realising she still had her bow and arrows with her.

What the…?

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Jade cried uncontrollably as Jake tried to comfort her. But there was just no way…

Hannah wailed, and Amanda tried to calm her down. She was hungry…

Everyone else was talking quietly amongst themselves. I was sitting beside the couch, pressing a cold wash cloth on Sakura's forehead.

"WHY!-!-!" Jade screamed into the air "Why did you take them?-!"

ALL WILL BE CLEAR SOON.

We all froze. This was the first time we'd heard them speak to us directly.

"If you hurt them-!" Jake snarled.

THEY WILL NOT BE HARMED. ONLY TESTED.

"Exactly my point!"

"WHY US?-!" Ithiell asked.

YOU HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE BETTER THAN YOU ARE.

"And Sakura?" I demanded.

ALL WILL BE CLEAR SOON.

"You're worse than the Ellimist!-!" Marco yelled, throwing something that I hoped wasn't breakable.

There was something like a deep laughing sound.

THE ELLIMIST AND CRAYAK ARE CHILDREN COMPARED TO US. TIME HAS NO MEANING FOR US, FOR WE ARE TIME.

"Huh?" Amanda looked confused. I was right behind her on that one.

Then… nothing.

"What does that mean? They are time?" Rachel asked.

(I do not know) Ax said. He was an Andalite once more, and Rtaia and Ithiell had gone back to their usual selves when we'd come through the door (and shut the blinds).

"I wish I did know" Rtaia said regrettably.

"Hey, you're aliens, but you don't have to know everything" I managed to say, smiling at them. Sakura was still out cold.

Jade sniffled "I want my babies back"

Jake hugged her, and she buried her face in his chest.

"We'll get them back… don't worry" He whispered in her hair.

"Here… I think Hannah wants her mama" Amanda leaned down with Hannah, and Jade slowly turned around, taking the little girl.

I honestly wanted to know how they were going to be tested. The little boy and the other girl…

And then Sakura woke up, waking the whole neighbourhood with her screams.

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Jade

I went and stayed with Erek. He didn't mind though… in fact, I think he was kind of glad I was there. Maybe he just needed something else to do with his time besides go to school and that. His… 'father'… minded at first, but then he got used to it.

Amanda and Cassie packed some clothes for me. And that night, I sat with Hannah on the bed upstairs, staring at the wall as I fed her again. I'd gotten used to the old-fashioned way of doing it. Plus, it took next to no time.

Here, in the real world, time had passed. But… amazingly, it was like we'd been here all along. Fighting the Yeerks, dodging around families…

The Chee hadn't done it. Stupid H.Bs must have…

Speaking of the Chee, there was one at my house now. Eating my food (or pretending to) badgering my brother and sisters, being hounded by my mother…

I was a mother now. She was a grandmother. I wonder if I'd ever be able to tell her…

Dad would kill me straight out. I knew that. I was sixteen now, but…

I sighed, shifting Hannah's weight again. She made a sharp squealing sound, then settled.

"You ok in there?" Erek called through the door.

"Yeah, it's ok. We'll come out and watch T.V with you guys soon, all right?"

"Ok. Just remember, if you need anything…"

"I know, thanks Erek"

I heard him walking downstairs, and I sighed.

Even though I'd only known my other two for a short time, I… I loved them. Desiree and James… I'd managed to tell the difference between the girls… Desiree had a birthmark… James was…

Bang!

I jerked, then jumped up and spun around to the window. I nearly had a heart-attack when I saw a peregrine falcon bang its head against the window. I cringed when I saw it do that, then ran and opened the window, with Hannah still in my arms.

(Sorry. You were just in your own little world then…) Jake said as he demorphed on the bed. Hannah was still attached to me, but she'd fallen asleep. I moved her, covering myself up as Jake gently took her from me.

"Sorry. I… I just… stupid higher beings and their games…" I muttered. He put his free arm around my shoulders, kissing my forehead.

"I know. But we're going to find a way to get them back you know"

"Uh-huh. How dare they give them to us, then take them away!" I hissed, suddenly angry.

"My thoughts exactly" Jake murmured, he pulled me back down on the bed, sitting down himself, cuddling our daughter. She had my hair, which shocked me. Her eyes though… they were beginning to turn brown. Like Jakes.

We sat there for a little bit, before Hannah got restless again. I said goodnight to Jake, and he morphed back to a peregrine falcon. My heart felt like it was about to rip out of my chest as he sat on the windowsill. But I had to say it… needed to… tonight, before anything worse happened…

"Jake?"

(Yes?)

"I love you. I… I just wanted you to… in case…"

(I love you too Jade. Now get some rest. I'll see you tomorrow)

I nodded. We were going to have another meeting. After all, there was another person to attend to. Sakura.

How we were going to help her was a mystery to me.

Um… I hope you didn't mind this bit… and I hope you don't mind what I'm about to do next… it'll be weird, but worth it.

Slowing it down, before speeding up… you know the drill…