Jack intended to take Ebony back to her old room, but that was easier said than done. The scream of that girl, Siva was it? had brought all the residents of the mall running. Amber ran down the main stairs, a tall spiky-haired blonde boy following closely behind her his hand pressed lightly to her waist. Her face screwed up in concern as she noticed Siva's unconscious form in Lex's arms.

"Lex, what's wrong with…"

"Jack!" Amber's head whipped around as her eyes sought the very first resident of the mall.

Ellie excitedly shouted Jack's name from the balcony above before charging down the stairs. Her foot slipped on the second to last step and she fell forward, tumbling into the back of Amber's companion, who stumbled before righting himself and twisting to assist Ellie, She accepted his aid, bracing herself on his arm as she straightened, sweeping her long blonde hair out of her face. A kaleidoscope of emotions played across it. Flushed embarrassment gave way to eye twinkling delight as she recalled the reason for her mad dash, which turned to brow-wrinkling confusion, followed by chin-quivering despair as unshed tears glistened in her eyes as she noted the protective way Jack held Ebony.

Jack's heart registered the teleplay of emotions, recognizing them not so much as a soothing balm, but more like a band-aid on an old scar, unnecessary and undesired. He knew that he was not looking very friendly at the moment, but he needed to get Ebony to a bed. Again, he started walking up the stairs, but now he had to wade through bodies and rapid-fire questions of what, where, when and how.

"Can you let the man through? I need him to hurry up so I can take Siva up to our room." Lex's shouted words washed over the gathered group like a slap, but having the opposite effect of what he was seeking as everyone froze then began firing questions at him.

"Guys!" Again there was silence as everyone turned to see why Amber was yelling. "Let them through. Your answers will all be answered in good time, but right now Jack and Lex need to get Ebony and Siva to their beds." The gathered Mallrats mumbled words of apology as they moved aside to allow the two boys to carry their delicate burdens up to the bedrooms.

"I could use a cup of tea, would anyone else like one?" Salene's voice was artificially light as she looked at the assembled group.

Ever willing to support his love, Pride responded, "I would," before sliding a comforting arm around her shoulders. She looked up, giving him a grateful smile as she headed off to the café. The group followed a step behind.

"Siva…couldn't. Siva's—dead." Ebony's head thrashed on the pillow as she mumbled semi-coherently.

"Shh, Sweetie, you've just passed out. Don't try to move." Jack smoothed Ebony's hair away from her face, trailing a finger down her velvet-soft cheek. Her head stilled, turning into his caress. "That's it, just sleep. I'll be right here." He leaned forward from his position sitting next to her on the bed and placed a kiss to her forehead, just above her temple.

He leaned back, looking at her, drinking in her delicate beauty. She looked so fragile in sleep, so young. His lip quirked up in a smile. She'd kill him if she heard him say that, or at the very least give him a fat lip! He absently rubbed his shoulder, where she had hit him many times before, usually when he had made a comment about her lack of height.

There it was. His whole world laid out on that bed. He slipped a hand onto her stomach, rubbing gently in soft circles. He leaned down and again whispered to her little bump, which was covered by his beige jacket. "Hey there, Lil Ebony. Your daddy here, saying hello. I can't wait for you to be here so I can hold you and kiss you and teach you how to use a computer. Your mom will be so jealous."

"I'm jealous too, you never hold and kiss me, or teach me to use a computer." Lex's voice drawled from his the doorway. He leaned against it, arms and legs crossed, his dark mane loose around his shoulders.

Jack's head whipped around, his brown eyes wide and startled. "Lex, what are you…you can't tell anyone about this. Ebony would kill me if she knew that I gave our secret and only thirty minutes after we get back to the mall."

Lex straightened up from the doorway, uncrossing his arms and legs, approaching the panicked boy on the bed. He pulled a chair next to the bed and sat down, crossing his right leg over his left knee. He leaned forward, addressing Jack. "Well mate, normally this opportunity would be too good to pass up. But you see, I find myself in the same predicament." He leaned back again, radiating self-satisfaction.

Jack looked at him dumbly for a couple of seconds, his brow furrowed in confusion, before Lex's meaning registered. His eyes sparkled and the corners of his mouth curled up as he grinned and thrust forward a hand towards the City Sheriff. "Congratulations man. With who, that girl…Siva?"

Lex took his hand, enclosing it in both of his own as he pumped Jack's hand up and down. "Yeah, Siva. She's going to have my baby."

Both boys' head jerked around and they froze as a faint voice called from behind Jack, "Siva's alive? And pregnant?"