Summary: Aurora is in college, spending only her weekends and vacations in Crystal Springs. After since Andros' reunion with his children, Blaecleah kept quiet, but peace never lasts for long.

Necroblade: That's okay, really I know how annoying school can be.

Juzblue: He has a name. :P No real side-effects. Can't having Aurora waking up soon, sorry, at least, not chapter wise. You know in 17 chapters only 1 ½ days passed.

Jenny!: I came on, didn't I? I was on my room trying to find things to take with me on vacation for if it rains! I DON'T WANT ANOTHER BETA-READER! Okay, so you want a babbling topic? Babble about what could've happened to the A-squad or if one of them was related to A/A's offspring as in the kid of the kid of the kid of A/A. (maybe one 'the kid of' taken from it.)

The-power-of-love: Always.

Arwennicole: For my great fans I'm always willing to update soon.

DizneeDol: Glad you liked.

TrueRomantic: Yeah, they really should find a cure for Tommyitis. Yeah, you got it, the necklace glowed because of that.

Melissa: Sorry, no slowing down. I'll be on vacation soon, so you and Jenny will have a rest.

Ghostwriter: Glad you liked it. Catch ya on the flip side.

It Was Just The Beginning

Chapter 17

Zhane looked through the kitchen door into the backyard.

'Jeff's backyard.' He reminded himself, still stunned to know the guy brought up the courage to make up with his sister.

Raindrops were happily hitting the window in a quick, fast tempo. It had started raining about half an hour ago, but it didn't seem to bother his nephew. Ever since Andros and Ashley had left to visit Aurora, Ray had been in the garden.

He was dressed in a pair of grey sweatpants and a red wife beater, his feet bare. The cold and rain didn't seem to effect him even the slightest as he went through a slow kata that seemed to go on for hours to no end.

It didn't seem right in Zhane's eyes. An eleven-year-old boy already having such a burden on his shoulders to be that serious. It was as if he was watching Andros all over again.

Then cries of an infant caught his attention. His baby niece had obviously just woken up from her nap. The cries slowly gained strength and moments later Karone entered the kitchen, holding their niece who was obviously trying to scream her lungs out. Ciana didn't cry much, but when she did…

"Here, you hold her while I'll make her a bottle." Karone ordered, handing the screaming infant over to him.

"The kid sure got a good pair of lungs." Zhane commented, holding his niece gingerly, never having been the one to do this with his children.

The bottle was warmed in no time and Karone handed it to him - obviously he was to feed the baby in his arms. Sighing he tried to get Ciana to drink, but had no such luck. Obviously the kid wasn't hungry, or didn't want to be fed.

After about five minutes Jake and Sarah entered the kitchen.

"Why doesn't she stop crying?" Jake asked slightly annoyed.

"See needs to be fed, but won't drink." Zhane explained exasperatedly.

"Can I try?" Sarah asked, holding out her arms for the baby.

Zhane sighed and walked into the living room, ignoring the outstretched hands. Motioning for the kids to follow him, he pointed to the couch and the two sat down. He handed Sarah Ciana and the bottle and the girl tried to feed her baby niece, having as much luck as he had – which was basically none. Karone entered the room to and watched them.

After a while Jake reached out and took Ciana and the bottle from his sister. When he failed to get her to drink too, Karone tried. Ciana stayed stubborn and just kept crying. For another 15 minutes, Ciana and the bottle were passed around as the rain started to pour down faster, heavier, and depressingly.

Finally Zhane had enough of it. He handed Ciana and the bottle to Karone again and walked back into the kitchen. He opened the back door and took a deep breath.

"RAY!"

The boy stopped his kata and turned to look at his uncle slowly, a slightly annoyed expression on his face.

"Come in for a second, will you?"

Reluctantly Ray walked inside, dripping wet. When Zhane closed the door behind him, his sister's cries registered. Without a word he looked at Zhane curiously.

"She's hungry but won't drink." Zhane explained, clearly about to loose it.

"Shall I try?" Ray replied innocently.

"That was my plan, but put some dry clothes on first, okay?"

"Sure." Ray answered, dashing into the hall and up the stairs.

Within five minutes Ray came back down, dry clothes on and a towel hang over his shoulder. His hair was a bit messy, but much drier and it didn't drip anymore. His feet were still bare though.

Grinning madly he walked over to Jake whom now held Ciana and held out his hands. Unsure this would actually work, Jake handed the baby and the bottle to her big brother. The moment the bottle nipple entered her mouth again, Ciana quieted and happily started to suck on it.

Four mouths dropped open.

"How?" Zhane demanded.

"Ciana can be very stubborn about who is to feed her sometimes." Ray explained. "Mom says she probably got that from dad."

Zhane looked stunned for a moment and slowly he started to laugh. Soon Karone, Sarah and Jake joined him. Ray smiled, looking down at his sister again, who was still happily sucking on her bottle.

"Slow down, silly." He told her softly, a real smile on his face. "You'll burp it all out again if you continue like this."

Ciana stopped drinking for a moment and looked at him with wide eyes, before he lost her interest again and she continued drinking, not slowing down even a little.

Ray chuckled and let her. Knowing she was too stubborn to do something about it. She'd just have to learn the hard way.

A/N: A happy fluffy chapter in the midst off all the gloom. See, it's not all bad! Hope you liked it. Review!