Her Fate

Disclaimer: I don't own anyone from ADJL; I only own those who I make up.

Rating: PG-13

The Truth Comes Out

"I can't believe this!" Trixie yelled.

"Why didn't you tell me you worked with Jake?" Rosie asked.

"Well, you see-"

"Why'd you go and lie to me like that!" Jake demanded.

"Well, I-"

"I talked about him a lot to you, you could've at least told me you worked with him." Rosie stated.

"I know and-"

"Dude, we, like, told you everything." Spud said.

"Listen-"

"We told you everything and all this time you was bunkin' with Huntsgirl!" Trixie accused.

"If you would just-"

"How do you know about that!" Rosie asked with wide eyes.

"I could expla-"

"That's none of your business!" Trixie snapped.

"Could you-"

"I think it is my business!" Rosie snapped back.

"Well, too bad 'cause it ain't!" Trixie yelled.

"Guys-"

"Uh, it kinda is, Dudette." Spud told her.

"Hey-"

"Whose side are you on anyway?" Trixie asked him.

"I thought I was losin' my mind! How can we trust you!" Jake asked.

"Could you just-"

"What is going on out here?" Lao Shi asked as he and Fu Dog came out from the back room.

"I'd tell-"

"Shut up! He's right!" Rosie yelled.

"I want an explanation for this now!" Lao Shi yelled out.

"I'm trying to-"

"You, shut up! You think just 'cause you're back, you're the boss!" Trixie yelled.

"What is your problem!" Rosie shot.

"It's obviously you!" She shot back.

"Please stop-"

"I knew she was here and you just completely blew it off when you're related to her!" Jake yelled.

Gracie narrowed her eyes at the people yelling. Trixie and Rosie continued arguing, Jake was still yelling and so was Lao Shi.

She growled, these people wanted her to explain and they wouldn't shut up. She rubbed the bridge of her nose.

Suddenly, a large roar interrupted everyone. Spud jumped into Trixie's arms as everyone stared at the very large panther in the shop with wide eyes.

Once she had everyone's attention was on her, the panther transformed into Gracie. She took in a deep breath and breathed it out.

"Now that I have your attention, I think we ought to go into the back so I can explain everything." She said walking into the back room.

Trixie dropped Spud and followed her with everyone. Spud sat down on a chair and Trixie sat on his lap. Loa Shi sat in another with Fu lying down, acting like a normal dog since he didn't know about Rosie. Jake leaned against the wall and Rosie just stood next to him.

Gracie sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose. Everyone was finally quiet, all eyes on her.

God, she hated the spotlight.

"Alright, Grace, explain." Rosie told her in a soft voice, smiling at her. Gracie smiled back and nodded at her cousin.

"Ok, well, ya'll already know that Rosie is my cousin. And yes, I did lie to Jake about knowing her. But the only reason I did that was because ya'll was so insistent that Rosie was evil. I figured if I let ya'll meet on your own you'd see that she isn't. I wasn't expectin' her to show up here. I guess my plan didn't work so well."

"So why didn't you tell me?" Rosie asked.

"Because I was sworn to secrecy; I couldn't tell you about Jake…" she looked over at Jake. He seemed to know what she was about to do because he nodded. Gracie looked back at Rosie.

"Rosie, they know that you were the Huntsgirl." Rosie looked at her with furrowed brows. Gracie sighed, knowing this would be difficult for her to hear. "And Rosie… You told Jake, yourself." At Rosie's confused expression, Gracie turned to Jake.

"This really isn't my place, Jake…"

----

Jake sighed and looked at Rose. He felt everyone's eyes on him. He half expected his grandfather to stop this and have Fu Dog make some type of forgetting potion.

He looked to his grandpa. The old man merely sighed and shook his head. He probably knew that Jake was going to tell her despite what he said.

He took a deep breath, "It's true… You did tell me." He started.

She shook her head, "I never told you about the Huntsclan. I tried to keep you as far from the clan as possible, I didn't want to get you mixed up in that. I didn't even know you knew…" she trailed off and looked behind her… at his grandfather.

----

Rose stared at the old man. He was older, wrinklier and now he wore glasses but it was him. He still wore that stupid dress thingy.

Her eyes widened. She looked at the dog who was now standing on two feet and back up to the old man. The old man was that other dragon who caused problems for the clan. She learned that when she was still Huntsgirl.

She then looked at Trixie and Spud; Trixie glaring at her. That would explain the other woman's supreme dislike of her and why they saved the American Dragon from her.

The ski trip…

The night, the blizzard, the fight… She showed the dragon her birthmark. He seemed so hurt. He saved her from falling to her death.

Then he avoided her…

She looked back to Jake, "I… you… he…" she tried to make the sentence but the words wouldn't come out.

He seemed to understand what she meant because he nodded grimly.

Then, her world went black.

There it is. All done, for now at least. It wasn't very long and I apologize for that. The next one will be longer, I promise. Next chapter, Jake gets a crash course on the Protectors. Will Trixie ever forgive Rose? Will Gracie ever get rid of her headache? You'll find out soon enough. Please review.