Good morning/afternoon/evening everyone, I apologise most sincerely for the long wait, but it's here now, so there's no point in killing the author, right? Right. Lots of Kel and Neal in this chapter, and also special appearances by Duke Baird and Merric.

We don't own the characters. We own the depressing story we put them in.

Chapter 13: Jealousy

"RARARARARAR!" Screamed Neal to nobody in particular. He spotted his teddy bear and threw it out the window. "I hate you!" he yelled after it. "Stupid Merric, stupid Joren," he muttered, "RAAAR!"

Neal paused, looking around at his homely and tidy room, remembering the day they had decided to set up the lovely family. it seemed so long ago.

Suddenly Neal hated everything about the room, the walls, the bed and the desk, the windows that birds sat on and sang. He went into a frenzy , kicking and punching.

His foot landed on the doorknob, bending it. Neal clutched his foot, gasping.

"Ow." He whispered, and fell over.

He sat on the floor, whimpering. Everything was going wrong, but he could do something about it. He'd go apologise to Merric, whom, he supposed, was still on the floor of his room. Neal would bring his father along to help fix him up! That would show that he really cared about his friend!

Neal stood up, and limping slightly, walked towards the door. Merric didn't have to help with Cleon if he really didn't want to.

"You see, Merric," Kel said, speaking to the unconscious redhead lying on her bed. "Neal feels unsure these days. All he had ever wanted in life was to have a loving family he could be happy with, and his ideal just slipped out of his fingers."

Kel stroked Merric's curly red hair with one had. "you can't blame him, Merric," she continued, "it really isn't his fault. Nor is it yours, of course," she added hastily.

"But if you'd just - I dunno, sort of helped us - I mean, you are, well, 'involved'."

Merric moaned and tried to turn over.

"No!" cried Kel, "You can't!" she grabbed him to stop him turning over. "Maybe I should get a healer for you…"

At that very moment, the door swung open and in walked Neal, arm linked with Duke Baird. "I'm sorry Kel," he said, "So I brought my dad to help fix up - " His eyes landed on Merric with Kel holding him.

"What's HE doing here?!" Neal cried, his green eyes clearly portraying his emotions.

"oh yeah, that's right," he continued, face very red now, "just when I turn my back, you - you - with him -"

"Neal," Kel sighed, gently putting Merric down, "I was trying to stop him from turning over!"

"That's what they ALL say!" Neal shouted, swinging his arms around wildly.

Kel removed her hands from Merric and put them on her hips. "Well what is he doing here?" she asked, nodding at Neal's father.

Neal's colouring deepened. "I - it - he - not - we're - dad - stupid - think - what -" he spluttered, arms and legs flailing around madly.

Kel raised her eyebrows.

"It's not like that!" huffed Neal, "he's my dad! I'm not - " Neal swallowed, "Not - with him!"

Kel rolled her eyes. I meant, why did you bring him, as he has a total idiot!"

Neal's mouth opened to retort. "No he's not! At least he's a healer. And at lease he's not immediately stolen my hear!"

"Merric has not stolen my heart!" yelled Kel.

"Then how do you explain - this?!" he yelled, indicating the prone figure of Merric on her bed.

"Neal, you fool, he's unconscious! I brought him here because his room smelled bad!"

This only infuriated Neal more. "an you would know, wouldn't you?" he roared.

"Excuse me," piped up Duke Baird.

"You shut up!" snapped Kel, jumping up and pushing him out of the room. She slammed the door shut.

"How dare you be rude to my father!" screamed Neal.

"I don't like him," said Kel calmly.

Neal squared him shoulders. "Well", she said, "this boy you're involved with," he pointed at Merric, "I don't like him either, but an I kicking him out of my room?"

"Because this jolly well isn't your room!" cried Kel, "and I'm not involved with him! I'm involved with you!"

Neal looked at her superiorly. "that's what you think," he said coldly, and exited the room.

Joren took Merric's hand and led him to Alex's room.

"Yay!" yelled Merric, jumping onto the bed. Joren closed the door when Merric suddenly sat down.

"I'm hungry," Merric whined.

"Well," Joren said, sitting down also, "What would you like to eat?"

Merric though for a moment. "well, the best thing to satisfy hunger is a giant bread roll and you have to cut it up and inside you put strawberry jam. Now, the jam might be a little bit lumpy but that's alright, as long as you stir it up before putting it in."

"Anything else?" Joren smiled, a bit forcedly. Maybe the journey had made Merric a bit queasy.

"Yes! I also want lots and lots of lemon tarts. Wait, make that apple tarts. No, pomegranate tarts and, and -"

Merric yawned, his head dropped and he flopped onto the bed, asleep. Joren sighed, and lay down also. What a long day.

Yes, that was quite short… and I also haven't updated in quite a bit. Well, blame Aaron. He refused to write. We wrote all of this about a month ago, but I decided to wait for him to write something because it would be nice to present a nice, long chapter, but no, Aaron didn't think that it was necessary.

Anyway. What did you think? Come, on, review…

Next chapter will involve more misunderstandings. And Roger being naughty ;)!