Ellie pushed at Jay's hands, which were trying to assist her in exiting the bed she had been laying in for upwards of 18 hours a day for the past week and a half. He was helping her out of the bed, but she wanted no part of it.

"I can do it myself!" She pulled her legs slowly from beneath the covers, easing one then the other over the side of the bed. She eased forward towards the edge and sucked in a sharp breath as her ribs protested the action. Jay immediately came to her side, sliding a strong arm around her torso, pulling her to her feet.

"I don't want to hear another word. You have a sprained wrist and cracked ribs. I'm going to help you whether you want it or not." He grit his teeth as he guided her to the bathroom, where she needed to go, and which was the source of her current waspishness with him.

"But surely there's someone else? I don't want you helping me." She whined as her cheeks reddened.

"Look I know you're embarrassed," she harrumphed and he pretended not to hear, continuing straight on, "but there's no one else. Trudy's at the hotel with Mega, Salene is there too, working, May—well, I'm not really sure what May is doing; Siva is laying down as she doesn't feel so good, but I could go get Ebony or Amber for you."

All he got was a thunderous glare in response as Ellie bit her lip and shuffled slowly alongside Jay. He helped her into the bathroom, then helped her take care of her needs and then carried her back to bed, over her protests.

"Stop!" He called out, startling her. "Can you please not talk for one minute?" His knuckles gleamed stark white against lilac sheets. Taking a deep breath, he exhaled slowly, raising his head as the air left his body.

"Do you-do you know what it did to me, what it still does to me seeing you fall under that collapse? Pushing me out of the way? When I think of what could have happened…"

Her snarkiness fell away in the face of his unguarded admission. She knew how he felt. Immediately after the explosion, she had retained no memory of the incident, but everything had come back to her in pieces, until she recalled everything. Including the reason she had shoved him out of the way. It wasn't something she had thought about; her instincts took over and she had just reacted. Just like she had to act now, to do something to remove the shadows from his eyes. She raised her hand to his face, cupping his cheek.

"It's okay. I'm going to be fine. Before you know it, I'll be the pain in your side again, sticking my nose where it doesn't belong."

He smiled, as she intended, but it was pitiful as smiles went, not even reaching his eyes. He dropped his head to her shoulder, burying his face in the golden length of her hair. As she felt moisture on her neck, she said nothing, simply holding him and allowing him the release he had held off for so long.

The two children sat on the sofa casting dubious expressions on their minder for the day. Simultaneously they looked at each other with 'are you thinking what I'm thinking' looks. They had heard the hushed conversations and caught glimpses of Amber before in her not quite there state of mind, but never before had they been treated to the floorshow. The former Tribe leader chattered away at nineteen to the dozen as she twirled around the room, holding this item of clothing and that against her body, before discarding it, still questing for just the right look.

"I feel pretty,
Oh, so pretty,
I feel pretty and witty and bright!
And I pity
Any girl who isn't me tonight."

"That's not the only thing to pity," Sammy murmured in an aside to Mouse, still unhappy with not being allowed to go to the hotel with Mega and Trudy or to the market with Lex or anywhere other than where he was presently.

"Shush," the smaller girl said, not taking her eyes off Amber.

She squeaked in a manner reminiscent of her namesake when the older girl spun to a stop in front of them. Her eyes bright and her cheeks flushed with color. Her teeth flashing brightly in an eerie grin, she extended a hand to Sammy.

"Won't you join my kind sir?"

Sammy gulped, his eyes wide, body frozen, incapable of even blinking. He opened his mouth to speak, releasing a strangled squawk and then blushed, ducking his head. Amber laughed huskily, the laugh of a woman reveling in her feminine wiles…except this particular laugh was a little too loud, a little too shrill and it sent shivers down Sammy's spine.

"C'mon, Sammy; I won't bite…much." She clasped his nerveless fingers, pulling him to his feet, surprising him with her strength. He stumbled a bit, fetching up solidly against Amber, his free hand grasping her shoulder for balance.

"Now you're getting into it." She beamed at him and began to hum again, leading Sammy around the room as he stared helplessly at Mouse over her shoulder. The young girl giggled at the image of Sammy being twirled around the room by Amber, laughing harder when he glared at her.

She was not prepared for the dancers to circle in front of her and she gasped when Amber grabbed her hand, drawing her to her feet as well. Mouse's eyes rounded and before she knew it, Amber had placed her small hands in Sammy's, pushing them to continue dancing as she hummed. Sammy began to protest, but stopped when Mouse kicked him in the shin, giving him a speaking glare. Understanding and rolling his eyes, he began twirling Mouse around the room, with room enthusiasm than skill or grace.

Continuing to hum, Amber went back to her clothing choices, happily sorting through her collection of clothing.

"She's cracked I tell you." Sammy whispered loudly.

"Shh, she might hear you." Mouse hissed more quietly.

"I don't care. First chance I get, I'm out of here." He stared at Amber, who was once again talking to herself as she stood in front of her mirror, a leather vest top pressed to her chest.

There it was again. That oh-so-familiar scent. She hadn't smelled it in a while now and surely it was impossible that she could be smelling it at this moment. Java wrinkled her nose, inhaling. Yes, it was. She opened her eyes slowly, blinking, reaching out. She was unpleasantly surprised to see Amber puttering around her bed once again. Java's nostrils flared and anger filled her.

"Get out!" You fucking whore, get away from me. Get out this instant!"

Amber drew back, freezing under the other girl's unexpected verbal attack. She reached out a hand towards Java, who was inching herself up on the pillows.

"Let me help you…" Amber began. "You're still weak; I could—"

"You can do not one damn thing for me. And I'm plenty strong enough to kick your if you want to test me. I said and I meant it: GET OUT!"

Amber squeaked and ran out of the room, tears streaming down her face.

Java glared after her, then braced her arms and pushed herself up further on the bed pillows, flinching at the pain the simple movement still cost her. She reached over to her night table and picked up the cup, draining its meager contents. It wasn't enough to quench her thirst and she reached over for the pitcher, only to have it scooped up before she could get to it.

Licking dry chapped lips, she viewed the person in front of her with distaste, envy, and just a little, though she would never admit it—fear.

"Ebony, how unpleasant to see you."

The younger girl smiled a feral smile—all teeth and no joy. I could say the same. But I haven't the time for trivialities, so I'll cut to the chase. You and Ram came to us for help. You are here on our sufferance. Meaning you better stay in our good graces if you want our help. That means all of us, including Amber. I know you've had a difficult ordeal recently, so well make allowances. But that only extends so far. Amber has been in here like a trooper—keeping your room neat and your pitcher stocked. You'd do well to show her some gratitude."

Java eyed the pitcher thirstily. Ebony stopped speaking, bending over slightly and gripping her stomach. It appeared that Lil Ebony as she had begun to think of her, did not like conflict, and had administered a particularly forceful kick.

A glimmer of fear sparkled in Java's eyes, only to be replaced by derision. "Kid's not even out yet and it's already abusing you. Sounds like my kind of kid. It already knows what kind of mother it's going to have. But enough of the sisterly chatter. Slattern or no, I don't want that cow back in here. Send the red-headed one instead. She's not so clearly unsuitable."

Ebony straightened up, laughing. Again, the mirth did not make it to her eyes. "Look who's acting like to the manor born? I don't know where you think you are, but we're not your Techno lackeys. Salene has a job and has not time to run around picking up after you. Amber stays at the Mall for the most part and oversees its upkeep. She kindly consented to including your care in her already full schedule. Everyone else has things they have to do. You don't like it, tough; you have to deal."

She approached the bed, slamming the pitcher down on the night table. "Try not to choke on it."

Java clasped the pitcher and filled her cup that she had been gripping tightly the entire time. She drank thirstily, spilling a bit on herself. When she emptied the cup, she collapsed onto the pillows, holding the cup over the general direction of the nightstand. Groaning, she draped her arm over her eyes. She sniffed once and then twice, then before she knew it, the tears flowed unchecked from the corners of her eyes and the room filled with the sound of her whimpering sobs.

Ebony stormed away from the room Java occupied as quickly as her growing burden would allow. Head down, focused on her previous discussion, she didn't know who she hit until after impact. However, she didn't need sight to recognize the arms that clasped her close to the body she knew so well and longed to hold to her these past few nights.

"Oomph," Jack uttered as he grabbed her, then seeing her upset, asked, "What's wrong? Is it the baby?"

She extracted herself from his arms, shoving away from him.

"The baby, the baby! It's always about he baby. What about me? Am I okay? Do you care? As long as the baby's okay, right? Well you know what you can do?"

She didn't wait for an answer, taking off. He followed her, grabbing hold of her shoulder and spinning her around.

"Oh no you don't. We've been performing the steps of this particular dance for too long now and we're going to resolve it, one way or another."

Ebony glared at the hand on her shoulder, then at Jack. Wordlessly, he removed it, crossing his arms. Ebony said nothing and again turned to walk away from him, slowly.

"Ebony." The lone word carried a wealth of meaning.

She stopped.

"We do this now, Ebony, or not at all. We can't go on this way."

She whirled then, a petite virago with war in her eyes.

"So you want to do this? Fine, let's do this. Let us begin, shall we, with your recent need to try to control me, first downstairs and now here. This is neither the time nor the place to hash this out, but the Great Jack is going to have his way come Hell or high water. So guess what? You win. You want to air our dirty laundry for all the Mall to hear, so be it. But understand this, you are NOT, I repeat, not the boss of me. I am a grown woman with a working brain and I'm fully capable of making decisions on my own. I've had enough of that type of shit with Zoot and I'm not doing it again. I will kill you first, got me? I am not going back there again." Her voice shook with ferocity as she finished.

Jack looked flummoxed, unprepared for Ebony's verbal outpouring and threat, but then he found his footing.

"Fine, We won't go there, even if it seems to be the only thing you respond to. But that's not the point. I know I messed up in the basement. I'll be the very first to admit it. However, I need you to talk to me about it. Don't freeze me out and look through me like I'm not there. I can't deal with that and I shouldn't have to. You're right, you're fully grown and so am I, so we should deal with this situation like adults. Instead we're here, in this mess. How did we get here, Ebs? It was us against the world, but now it seems like us against each other and I've been there and done that and the T-shirt's in the donation bin for Goodwill."

A crowd had gathered to watch the heated exchanges between Jack and Ebony. Siva looked on worriedly, agitatedly stroking her stomach. Mouse and Sammy peered over at them as well, their heads swiveling back and forth like they were viewing tennis match. May munched while she watched, enjoying a good snack with the show. Amber wrung her hands, not quite certain what to do to resolve the issue. She flinched, jumping as Ebony went back on the attack.

"Oh don't give me that 'seen it all' bull. I've written the book, and the stories I could tell would turn your hair white."

""I wouldn't be so sure of that," Jack responded, his eyes slipping to the direction of their audience.

"Try me. I've endured Zoot, I've lived the second wave of the virus and the Chosen, and my unlamented stay with the Technos, and I've managed to come out of each of those situations a little more battered, but I survived." She wiped away a stray tear. "I thought I was done with the struggling and with the fighting. You were supposed to be there for me, not dragging me into a childish display of one-upmanship. Dammit, you were supposed to be different." She turned away to hide.

"Shit! Ebony, don't cry. You know I hate it when you cry." Jack enclosed her in his arms from the back and she rested her head on his shoulder.

Just then Lex entered the Mall. Walking over to Siva, her wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, his hands splayed across her belly. "What's up with Punch and Judy? Have they been at it again?"

Siva nestled her head on his shoulder, calmer but not completely tension free. "They were fighting, but then Ebony started crying and that's where we're at now, but nothing has been resolved. Before long, they'll be fighting again."

"Maybe that's what they have to do. Fight and bite and scratch and maybe that'll lead to a different kind of fighting and scratching and biting and everything will be all better."

Siva raised her head, leaning to the side so that she could see Lex face-to-face. "Please tell me you don't really believe that?"

He shrugged. "It can't hurt."

She rolled her eyes and rested her head again. "Sometimes I wonder about you."

"What's to wonder?" He whispered next to her ear, "I'll tell you anything you want to know. Show you too." He pulled her closer to him.

She gasped, slapping his hand. "Lex!"

"Some things never change, do they Trude?" Mega's monotone.caught Lex and Siva by surprise. The couple faced the newcomers. They saw Trudy looking at Mega uncertainly.

"What's up guys?" Siva asked.

Mega looked over her and Lex's shoulders. "Shouldn't we be asking you that?" He answered. "Why's Ebony crying on Jack's shoulder and why is everyone watching?"

"Oh, you know pregnant women, crazy hormones; one minute laughing, the next crying. And of course we can't get enough of it, so…" Lex replied.

"Right." Mega responded, turning to Trudy. "Pretty much the same as usual for this place."

"Well, I'll be—Mega, did you just make a joke? I didn't think you did that. Doesn't it go against the Techno credo or something?" Lex smirked.

"Stuff it, Lex." Trudy glared at him, and then smiled at Siva. "So where's my baby? I missed her terribly today."

Siva smiled back. "I can imagine; she's such s sweetheart. I put her down for a nap a little while ago, but she should be waking any minute now." She glanced over her shoulder at Jack and Ebony. "If she isn't already," she mumbled.

"What was that?" Trudy asked.

"Oh nothing, just talking to myself."

"Just so long as you don't start answering yourself." Trudy laughed. "Anyway, I'm going to see Brady, let her know how much Mommy missed her today." She grinned at Lex and Siva before leaving, Mega nodding to the pair and following.

"Something's going on there." Siva watched the couple walking away.

"You mean like Mega has fallen for Trudy and has finally learned to lighten up? I couldn't believe it either."

"Not that you dope. Can't you be serious for one second? I meant that they're not as comfortable as they put out. Did you see the way Trudy was looking at Mega?"

"Like she had just crawled through the desert and he was tall drink of ice-cold water? I seen the look before once or twice. It looks good on you. Just like that top looks good on you…but even better on the floor next to the bed."

"Lex!"

"What? I'm just telling the truth. If you come upstairs with me, I'll show you."

Siva bit her lip, glancing over to where the others had begun to disperse, Jack and Ebony having gone to their room.

"Let someone else worry about dinner. You've been watching the brats all day."

She still looked unsure.

"I'll bring a bottle of sparkling cider…"

Her eyes widened and her cheeks flushed, but she nodded. Lex ran to the kitchen and hurried back, a chilled bottle in his hand. He held her hand, leading her up the stairs, whispering wicked promises to her all along the way.

In the wee hours of the morning, nothing much stirred at the Mall. It's inhabitants all curled up snugly in their beds, dreaming far and wide. Well not all its inhabitants. One lay awake, watching the clock too excited to sleep, while another held the bars of his cage, watching, waiting. Then it was time and the excited one threw off the covers, racing down the basement stairs. Quickly the lock was opened, but the expected embrace was put off.

"Not quite yet, my love; business first."

Pouting, but understanding, she nodded and led the way back upstairs, showing him the alarm system.

"You're kidding me? This is child's play. These are the people that brought me low? Oh the shame." Muttering more of the same, he made short work of disarming the system. Next, he raised the grill, letting in the troops that waited without. Once they were all in and in position, he went back over to the alarm, setting it off. He then pulled her into his arms, giving her the kiss she had been waiting for.

It wasn't long before lights came on upstairs, along with shouts and all too soon, Lex, Jack, Jay, Mega and Pride raced down the stairs, ready to attack. Lex skidded to a halt at the bottom of the stairs, with the others crashing into his back, sending them all sprawling to the ground.

"What is it? What's going on?" Mouse asked, trying to look around Salene, who was trying to keep her and Sammy upstairs. Trudy was calming Brady, while May, Siva and Ebony stared on in shock.

"Fellas, don't bother to get up; my shooters are a little trigger happy and I wouldn't want any of you to lose anything the lovely ladies might miss. Speaking of which, ladies, come on down as well, join the party. The more the merrier I always say."

"We're fine right here." Salene replied.

"Oh but I insist, or would you rather I persuade you? The fellas here might not appreciate my methods."

"Don't! We'll come down. Just don't do anything hasty." Salene called back.

"I knew you would see it my way. Take your time, don't rush on my account. I wouldn't want anything to happen to those buns you're carrying."

Ebony glared and wrapping an arm around a quaking Siva, urged her down the stairs, taking a seat in the café.

"Who the hell are they, Ram? And how did you get out of your cage?" She jerked her head at the soldiers backing up the former Techno leader.

He laughed, throwing his head back. "I do love that saucy attitude of yours, Ebony. I'll be a pleasure to break it." He sobered up. "To answer your first question, surely one of you must know? You all really are ruining the illusion for me. Can you imagine, me defeated by you lot? Who could credit it?"

"The Maravaj, I presume?" Mega asked.

"Give the man a cookie! Looks like my efforts with you weren't wasted after all, Mega. You do your old teacher proud. I was beginning to think you all would never figure it out. Glad to know even I can figure wrong."

"Enough with the self-adulation, Ram! How the hell did you get out of your cage? I know you didn't pick the lock." Ebony demanded.

"Tut, tut, all that stress can't possibly be good for your baby, though you do bring up a good point." He pulled the slighter form that had been concealed behind him to the front of him, eliciting a near universal chorus of gasps.

"I see you're all familiar with my lady friend." He smirked.

"Hey all." Amber waved, beaming at them. "I know you're all a little surprised, not having expected him, but I thought at least one of you would have guessed. I've been bursting at the seams not to blurt out my happy news and I expected you, Ebony, to have found me out. But don't go trying to start something. You have Jack now, so make sure you stay away from my Bray."

So saying, she slipped her arms around Ram's neck, pulling his head down for a lingering kiss.

The original lyrics on this song are "I feel pretty, oh so pretty, so pretty and witty and gay," as in the first meaning of that word. Oy, please save me from political correctness