Author's Note: Thank you all for reviewing, its what drives me to write. Thanks for all the nice tings you've said! And no this is not the last chapter, I'm just recognizing everyone. Here they are:

Fiddler Jones, psycho-bunny, Slayer Girl 1362, and AnimeLuverGurlz. Thanks for all of your support. Enjoy!

Chapter Sixteen

"Keep It Up"

Anders woke up the next morning feeling queasy. He had to go to work so he packed a quick lunch and was off. He was starting down the road when he noticed Tendra. He was a little behind him so he decided to wait. Tendra saw him and ran to catch up.

"Hey Anders."

"I feel a little sick today. "

"Have to keep going. Alder wouldn't care if you were in a coma, he'd just yell 'Back to work!' at you all day."

They laughed and joked about their unreasonable section leader.

Soon they were checked off on Joere's list and on the elevator.

"So, do you like it here so far Anders?"

"Yeah, its better than I thought it would be. It's great to have a friend here."

"It is better than fighting everything off yourself."

They arrived at Section J and went to their spots.

Alder was yelling at some guy for not responding to him as 'sir'.

The two picked up their axes and started to work.

(Back at Titans Tower.)

"So Anders acquired a job at the local mines to help raise money for us."

"Well that's great for him."

"I'm glad he was able to find something he liked Starfire."

"Yes. Well next…….."

(Back at Starfire's hut.)

Fiera and Starfire were cleaning clothes. Fiera was washing, and Starfire was handing her the pins to hang the clothes with. Fiera wished that Anders was here. If their family was still complete, Anders and Deramus would be chopping wood and joking. Blackfire would be playing with Starfire, and I would be cleaning. I'm still perfectly content with that though. I love to watch my family play and have a good time.

Fiera was filled with sadness at the thought of her lost husband and daughter. She was so sad that she had to sit down. Starfire became worried. She thought that the same thing that had happened with her father was happening with her mother. She ran over to her mother.

"Mommy, whats wrong? Please don't go mommy, don't leave like Daddy and Blackfire. Please…………."

She was starting to cry now.

Fiera pulled the girl onto her lap and hugged her.

"Oh no sweetie, I would never leave you, niether will Anders. I love you."

She kissed her child's forehead and rocked her in her arms.

"I wish Anders would come home."

"I do too Star, I do too."

That night Fiera tucked in Starfire and read her the earth story 'The Boy Who Called Wolf'. She quickly fell asleep. It was 11:00. Fiera decided to wait for Anders. She sat down at the table and thought.

I wonder whats going on at the mine. He seems so overworked when I see him come home. I wsh to Miyu that I could take his place and work, but Deramus wanted him to work. Anders is so obedient and proud of his father. So since Deramus said it, Anders is willing to follow it, no matter what. How I wish Anders would be home more often. Its like he avoides me. I just want to reach out to him and let him know I'm here for him. My family is falling apart. Oh Miyu, why? Why must I constantly question my strength? Why must my family carry this curse? Was it something we did? Was it something I did? My husband is dead, I don't know if my daughter is alive or dead, my only son is a workaholic, and my little girl might grow up alone and unsure. I no longer pray for myself, but rather for my children.

Just then a tired Anders walked in.

"Your home early?"

"Yes. My boss thought I did and excellent job so he let me off early. Aren't you glad to see me?"

"Yes, why wouldn't I be?"

Silence.

"Listen mother……Mom, could I ask you for advice….on a girl?"

"Sure."

"Well you see, I….I mean my friend likes this girl."

"I see. Well, is this girl everything that your 'friend' wants in a girl?"

"Oh yes. She's beautiful, smart, courteous, strong, funny, and everything else I…I mean everything that my friend could hope for."

"Oh. Well, why does your friend need my help?"

"Well, he has problems at home and a new job, so he doesn't want to slack off and fail his family over her."

"Your friend should be following his heart, who knows, this girl might bring happiness into his heart, happiness he's never known. Everything else will take care of itself."

Anders sighed in relief.

"Thanks mom, I'll be sure to tell my friend."

"Anytime sweetie. I'm glad that I could help your 'friend'."

"I'm going to go to bed now, goodnight."

"Goodnight, I love you. Oh, I made your lunch for you."

"Thanks, I love you too Mom."

Fiera opened her mouth to speak, but stopped herself. She didn't want to rush Anders into opening up to her yet. She wanted to ask him about work.

Fiera got up and walked to her room. She hopped into bed. She stretched out her arm, hoping to find a comforting Deramus under it. But alas, it fell with a soft 'plop' onto the bed below. She curled up into a ball and tried to forget her losses.

Anders woke up at 3:45 the next morning. He put on his newly laundered hat and grabbed his lunch. He turned it around, only to find a heart with a "Love you sweetie" inside of it. He shuddered at the thought of what the guys would say if they saw it.

He met up with Tendra and they made their way torwards the mine. A girl was outside gardening. Tendra waved at her. She giggled and blushed. He winked at her. She blew him a kiss and started working again.

"How do you manage to get all the ladies on Tameran?"

"Its easy really. All in the technique. You just give them a wink and a smile, their practically yours after that."

Anders was ashamed of it, but he was surprised that girl's would like a guy with only one arm.

"I'll have to use that on Renee."

"Who's she?"

"Oh, she's kind of my girlfriend."

"Stick with her buddy, she just might change your life."

Anders ran over his friend's words in his head time after time.

They entered the elevator and descended. Alder greeted them, or rather Anders, at the entrance to their section.

"Ah, Anders, my best worker. I was wrong about you my boy. Their might be a Section Change inyour future."

Tendra frowned at these words. He had always wanted that job, he had told Anders too.

Anders didn't seem to notice. He was so caught up in the idea of moving up a section.

The two walked back to their spots.

"Isn't that great Tendra, just think, me, moving up to Section I."

"Wouldn't you think so?"

Anders was a little shocked at his friend's remark.

"You know what, I don't care if you get into stupid Section I, why would I care?!?!" He was shouting now.

"Because you're my friend Tendra."

"I'm not your friend! I told you that that section change was the only thing I kept going for, you knew! And know you go boasting as if I'm not here? As If my dreams don't matter? Your just a worthless piece of trash!"

"I am not! And if you were a real friend, you would be happy for me! You're the piece of trash!"

"At least I don't have family issues!"

Anders was really hurt by this.

"You one-armed freak!"

Tendra was shocked, then hurt. He walked away. Picking up his lunch.

"I'm taking the day off Alder, take it off my pay check if you have to."

"Tendra, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it."

Anders hung his head. He had boasted. He had known that Tendra wanted that job, it was the only thing that kept him going.

"Ok people, back to work. Nothing to see here."

Anders picked up his axe and went to work. After a few more hours of digging, Anders hit a gem. It was unbelievable, he had found the most precious of all gems.

"I found something, something big!"

Alder came running.

"A Suferus!"

Everyone crowded over and awed at it.

"Anders, congratulations, I'm moving you up to Section F for this."

Alder shook his hand and let him soak in the joy. The joy only lasted for so long before Anders was reminded about his comment to Tendra. He hated him now, so whats the use in apologizing? He had lost his best friend.

Anders walked home that night with shame written all over his face. He climbed into bed, and fell asleep. Tommorow he was to report to Section F. His new section leader was a man named Reny.

Authors Note: I'm so sorry that took so long. I had a better chapter written out, but it was accidently deleted. Read and Review, flames are okay!