Between heaven, hell, and back again

Couple: Ram and Amber; Bray and Java (Romance x2)

Others: Trudy and Mega

Words: Slacker, Headhunter, and Tracker

Sentences: "Ram sometimes you have to just close your eyes and jump even if it means getting a little dirty.", "I don't think she's ever been happier.", "Can we skip the I'm an idiot and get to the make up sex?"

Challenge by: Mamberlover

Rating: PG13 max

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The Mall was always a busy place people coming and going as time went on. What started out a team of decently respectable people slowly turned into a zoo of untraditional characters being members of the Mallrats.

The additions of Mega, and Ram perhaps the weirdest things to happen to them of course that was far from the weirdest. It all started back in Liberty, Ebony had been killed by Java. She then joined the rebellion- Ebony's death pushed Slade into Ruby's arms.

Java and Ram however never reconciled- because he chose to find salvation in Siva who was down after the loss of Ebony. However, it was short lived when she was killed in the battles by a techno. Though the techno's had gone to into battle without their fearless leader.

Trudy who was crying over Jay had went to the hotel and managed to in the process not only get into but through Mega's defenses. By the time it was over, he opted to give himself up without even a fight to the Mallrats before the battle went down.

They were quick to let him go under the stipulation that… he keep making Trudy happy. Jack and Ellie were still the solid couple. After the battle, Darryl and Gel went off together. Lex still grieving over constant loss fell into the arms of Salene and now they were starting to get off.

At first, Jay and Amber were a solid couple but the constant guilt of Amber's betrayal, and the anger at herself and Jay for betraying her best friend and sister finally drove a big enough wedge in them to cause all to end.

Though perhaps, that wasn't only wedge the other was May… and the fact that Jay and her were still bonding over mutual losses and pains. Amber had been smart enough to figure out where they were headed.

What no one saw coming however was Mega managed to find two of the missing- KC and Bray who had been working in a nearby prison camp together… the others however, he still had no leads on.

KC returned to right off starting to cause trouble with Lottie finding that Lex had finally left him in trouble making land for women; and Sammy was now his trainee in the art of thievery.

Bray however did not have such a good turn out, he came back to find out that Amber had lost their baby. Met a guy named Jay and now was having his child… though his Jay guy had moved onto May- Bray did not think he and her could carry on.

So, instead he threw himself into working for peace and tribal council that had been set up after the techno's were gone. Jack, Mega, and Ram had taken over the new technological headquarters and were at work constantly.

Amber was on maternity break, May, Slade and Lex were leading the new tribal based milita with other tribes as troops and such. Salene was now teaching at the new mini school for tribal kids, Ellie was working public relations, Trudy was working from the homestead, along with Ruby.

But Bray council made up some interesting people one of which was Java whom though he hated her and everything she stood for along with her attitude- he did appreciate her knowledge and deals… and ultimately it lead to the day's events…

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(Flashback)

"Bray…. About the meeting- Thrus…." A voice said from the side as Amber came walking towards the hotel main meeting room with an agenda on her mind….

However, it was soon ceased when she saw him and Java in a dead lip lock- her mouth hung open as she stood there momentarily floored- what the hell had just happened?

"Amber!"

(Flashback ends)

That's when she knew- it was over for good. There was no hope. Forget that she just given birth to Jay's son, whom she named Ved- forget that she had lost theirs- this was just too much. As she held her son she began to cry- now her worst dreams had come true not only was Bray out of life but now he was leaving for good… voluntarily.

"Amber, Amber- what's wrong?" Trudy asked from the doorway noticing her formerly zulu knotted friend sitting on her bed rocking baby Ved was crying up a storm with her long curls getting stuck to her eyelids.

"He left me, he really left me- he's gone Trudy, he's gone," she sobbed.

"Whose gone?" she asked moving to sit next to Amber putting her arm around her and squeezing her shoulder some, Amber only cried when…

"Oh no…" she said slowly.

Amber nodded, "He and JAVA… they left this morning".

"JAVA? He left with Java? Is he sick?" Trudy demanded in horror.

"All things considering the fact that you're with Mega…" she said slowly in between sobs, "It's not exactly impossible to believe- she's less evil than he is".

Trudy sighed and rolled her eyes some- she had a point there, "Okay so maybe he found some hidden good in her and they decided to get a fresh start? Can you blame him Amber? He came back expecting that you guys would have a baby, and that you waited for him in open arms, but instead he found with you with another man and another man's baby," she explained lightly.

What else would Trudy gonna say- after all, she left when she saw Amber with Jay too, did she expect that Bray wouldn't! Trudy however did not come out and say that not wanting to hurt Amber more.

Amber just sobbed more on Trudy's shoulder- causing Trudy to grab Ved and put him on her lap- she didn't trust Amber not to drop him in her state- she then slowly unhinged herself from the hysterically sobbing Amber and put him in his cot and then stayed with her till she fell asleep.

Trudy then got up and headed towards her own room- she smiled at Brady from the extended room besides her- her daughter already fast asleep as she made her way to the bedroom where Josh was sitting already computer posed- in his boxers- with his eyes firmly glued to the monitor.

"Well no one can ever accuse you of being a slacker," she said with a light tone as she walked towards the dresser causing him to look up at her words.

He shrugged a bit and turned his gaze back to the screen, "No would accuse of me of being less than neurotically obsessed with my computer and work," he responded.

"That's true," she conceded with a small smile as she finished changing into her purple nightie and headed towards their bed causing his eyes to flicker towards her again then back to the computer and one more time.

"Decisions, decisions…" she said with a big smile.

"You're making this hard- stop distracting me- go back to wherever you were earlier, I'm trying to play tracker here," Mega informed her.

"I would but Amber's finally asleep and I don't think she needs the waking besides you can play tracker tomorrow- they new guys aren't going anywhere anytime soon… besides if they want this city they have a lot more to handle now than before. Don't worry about it… besides…. I thought we were going to have that belated make up sex?" Trudy said with a smile brushing her hair out of her face and pushing down on his computer monitor forcing it to close which then turned his gaze solely on hers.

(Flashback- night before)

"You forgot? You forgot that it's our anniversary?"

"I'm a computer geek and I'm not good with dates?" Mega replied deadpan.

"JOSH!" Trudy cried folding her arms angrily.

"I'm sorry?"

"You actually have to put that in a form of a question?" she demanded with a hard gaze.

"Uh… yea…." He said carefully.

Trudy looked at him even sharper as she stormed over lightly to the bed and hit his shoulder hard shoving him down.

"Ow! What am I supposed to say? There's not exactly a guide book entitled "what to say to girlfriends when you forget you've been dating for a year"- and I'm in or was in a tribe called the TECHNO'S as if any of them would have experience in the field of dating let alone what to say one in the event they did forget," he answered in lightly defensive tone.

Trudy rolled her eyes, "You're also a Mallrat and trust me when I say Lex has that experience, just ask him".

"Right… because I'm going to voluntarily ask Lex the one that can't even read for advice considering he puts his foot in his mouth for a living anyway," he argued looking at her.

Trudy sighed- why was it, even when she was right that Mega always won anyway?

"You are such an idiot sometimes…" she said to him, "But a smart one at the same time…"

"Yea yea, Can we skip the 'I'm an idiot' and get to the make up sex then?" he inquired, "You know- so I look good?"

"That's going to have wait- I kind told Brady I'd sleep with her tonight- she said the bad men were ruining her sleep".

He then sighed, "Fine but tomorrow…"

"You got it".

(Flashback ends)

He might not have said or shown anything but Trudy could tell, she finally had his full attention as she moved her hands to his legs.

"Oh yea…" he said slowly, "Well guess it can wait after all…" he said putting the computer down as Trudy wasted no time going at him the second it reached the ground.

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(The next morning)

"I don't think she's ever been happier," a smile came off from the kitchen as Salene, and Ruby were making breakfast.

"Who?" Trudy asked moving to join the two ladies who were making waffles, pancakes, and cereal.

"May," Salene said with a smile motioning to her and Jay kissing under the newly placed mistletoe that was hanging as a joke.

"Oh will you two get a room, god!" a voice said from the side disgusted as Lex came shoving past them in his black trench coat walking up to the counter and shamelessly kissing Salene on the lips.

"And she's not the only one," Ruby whispered to Trudy as Salene and him broke it up with her having a big smile on her face causing Trudy to laugh a bit.

She then whispered back, "Yea but Amber isn't doing so well…"

"What do you mean?" Salene inquired turning her attention back towards Trudy and Ruby.

"Bray left yesterday… for good," Trudy said slowly in a low voice as to not alert the others as Salene served Lex a plate of food before making her way back the group.

"He did? Why?" she demanded.

"I don't know but he wasn't alone," Trudy answered noting that now Amber was showing up from the far right corner that they needed to end this chat soon- motioning over to the dry eyed look of Amber, the disheartened expression, and the messy hair… well her look spoke volumes about it.

"Who did he leave with?" Ruby inquired seeing Amber and looking over her.

"Java"

Salene turned to her in shock- her eyes flashing a look of shock which she quickly forced down as she saw Amber approaching and she plastered a fake smile on her face, "Amber! Are you hungry? Can I get you something?"

Amber just looked up at slowly like a partial robot, "No, I'm not really hungry right now- I need to go to the hotel.. do some work…. Find someone to replace… well find two people actually to replace two of the council members they er quit the tribal council," she explained leaving out the details of who had quit.

Though they already knew whom- Bray and Java.

"Right well is there anything we can do for you? Anything at all?" Ruby asked her looking at her trying to hide her horror.

"Um- find me a new Mallrat representative and a new techno one…"

"How about Ram?" Trudy suggested, "He'd be good for that- he's got the time anyway. Josh and Jack do most of the hard stuff".

"That's a not a bad idea- I'll talk about it with him later… but what about for us?" she inquired.

The girls looked around, "I can't," Salene said automatically, "Too much going on… lots to prepare for… including a wedding…" she said slowly.

With that the three girls heads jerked towards her, "What!" they hissed.

"Me and headhunter Lex over there are getting married," she whispered, "But don't say anything- we're waiting till dinner to announce it formally," Salene said with a smile.

"Oh Sal…" Amber said getting a bit too chocked up- tears forming in the corners of her eyes, sure she was happy for Salene- her finally getting a man worthy after all that happened with Pride.

But she couldn't but feel that the wedding that should have been taking place was hers and Bray.

"Amber you okay?" the girls asked suddenly after the other two had silently congratulated Salene keeping the attention off them for the others who were still eating mere feet away- they'd celebrate, hug, and bug her late for details.

The others turned to Amber as well noticing the sobs.

"Um yea, I'm fine- I just- I need to go- you guys have a vote on the representative- I need to go now…" she replied racing off her hand covering her mouth before removing it and calling over to Trudy, "Watch Ved for me".

"Of course," Trudy yelled back with a sad look.

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(The hotel)

It seemed like the rest of the day had gone in slow motion. She had just sat there like a mindless robot. Ram had accepted her offer, and the others voted Ellie as representative seeing as she practically did that job anyway.

The meeting had been rather long or so it seemed like it would never end but that didn't matter much because Amber ignored half of it. She had only at one point heard Ellie go to Ram, "Ram sometimes you have to just close your eyes and jump even if it means getting a little dirty."

She then noticed Ram curl his nose at her and start to yell- her too out of it to even bother breaking them up. Ellie though still wanting to fight with Ram made a mental note of it- forcing herself to get over it and move on with the meeting taking over as leaders when the others complained of Amber's lack of attentiveness.

As Amber continued to sit there dead as a log finally some shouting brought her to reality, "Amber! Amber… AMBER," Ellie cried waving a hand in her face.

"Huh… oh Ellie, what is it?" she asked.

"Amber, the meeting is over, and you've been sitting there like a zombie for the last two hours. You didn't catch a word that was said to you or anyone else. And you acted like the world was ending- what is up with you… and where was Bray?" Ellie demanded.

Amber looked at her, "I think you know that answer- why else would I be replacing him and Java…"

"Because she got kicked out of the city- and he joined the milita?" Ellie asked hopefully.

"More like they did a runner together," Amber replied sadly.

"TOGETHER?" Ellie cried in shock- noticing suddenly Amber starting to tear again, "Oh Amber, I'm so sorry- I didn't mean…"

"No, its fine," she said quickly brushing the tears away before they could form.

"Look- why don't we go back to the Mall- have some dinner… relax…" Ellie suggested slowly.

"I can't Ellie- I have some work to do… I'll be back later though," she answered slowly moving to get up.

"But Amber you're barely attentive as it is and it's only one night…" she said slowly.

"No Ellie, I've made my mind, I'll be back later- I promise, just go back to mall- have something to eat… tell Sal congratulations from me- and we'll talk later," Amber replied heading for the door.

"Congratulations, over?" Ellie asked mystified.

"You'll find out later- now go"

Ellie sighed as Amber closed the door.

(Hours later)

Burying herself in work at the Mall, Amber wasted away studying papers and figures completely out of it. Ignoring anything and everything too wrapped up in her own pain as suddenly she heard the door open.

At first, she expected to see Ellie or some other Mallrat but was surprised to see Ram standing there.

"Hi," he said slowly.

"Hi…" she replied looking at him oddly- why was he acting that way.

"How are you?"

"I'm okay… you?" she asked oddly.

"Depressed and emotionally screwed- nothing unusual," Ram replied with a sardonic laugh.

"Over?" she asked.

"Siva died a year ago," he told her deadpan.

"Oh- I'm…"

"Don't- okay? Don't, I don't need pity and I don't need sympathy. I'd just rather suffer alone in silence," Ram began slightly defensive with a sharp look to match.

"I know how that feels," Amber conceded shoving away the papers and turning to him, "You're not the only one…"

"The saint and Javie?"

"That obvious?"

"You're not the only one either," Ram said calmly.

"It got to you too?" she asked mildly surprised.

Ram nodded, rolling his eyes and sighing, "She was still my first- my first love- my first everything, my first enemy as well. I know exactly what it feels like."

Amber looked at him noticing the sadness in his eyes as well hidden behind his silent expression free face, "You carry it like Mega would"

"He learned it from somewhere, when we first met- he was an impressionable kid- and I was his teacher," Ram shrugged.

"Like Lex and KC"

"Or Lottie and KC," he added.

"So then we might as well suffer together," Amber suggested suddenly.

"What do you have in mind?" he inquired.

"Drinks- a lot of drinks…"

"Sounds like a plan to me"

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(Hours later)

"So let me get this straight- you like pink?" Ram asked assumed as him and Amber downed another drink.

"Yea surprise you?"

"Just a little that and whole Princess bride obsession thing," he answered.

Amber laughed a little as she took in another before turning to him half drunk- half dead.

"Well there's a lot of things I don't tell anyone…"

"So I've noticed"

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN- IT'S CLOSING TIME" a voice came over the speaker.

Amber laughed and moved to get up…. However as she did, she nearly fell over causing Ram to dive to help her up- apparently, he was going to be walking her home.

"Okay- well then I guess we should go… pity we have to cut this short but I'll walk you back to the mall," he said putting his arm around her- their last trail of chat forgotten.

"I can't… Ved- I don't want to be a bad mother coming home drunk off my rocker- is there any spare rooms at the hotel?" she asked him.

"Naturally- but are you sure…"

"I am… it would be a help," Amber confessed.

"Fine by me…. Besides I could use the company for once," Ram said honestly.

Amber then turned to him slowly, "Really? So then why don't I just stay with you?" she inquired.

Ram eyebrow rose as they headed for the door, "What?"

"Well you need the company, we've both had a rough night, and it's just one night… I mean unless you're not interested," Amber said.

"No, I am- it's just… you don't strike me as the one night type," he said carefully.

"I'm not but this one time, I'll make an exception unless you have a protest?"

"Nope none at all," he replied as he moved to kiss her causing a wave of shock to go up her spine as he kissed her.

She then looked at him with equal shock as he broke it, "What was that for?" she asked.

"Just making sure it didn't bother you and you didn't cringe or slap me so, I'd say we're all ahead full on this sex business"

"Guess so…" she realised carefully, "To the hotel then"

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The end