Disney owns, I don't. Life sucks. Be sure to check out Tension, by Evolved. An amazing little Ron/Bon fic stuffed to the gills with smuff and smut! Make sure to check it out, though it is rated M, so no kiddies please.

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Ascent and Descent – Chapter 2

"Susan, you're coming to the game, aren't you?"

Susan tossed her books into her locker, smiling. "Of course I am. This is the Regional Championship! I wouldn't miss my man playing for anything!"

Brittany smiled as well. "Good, cause you've missed so many games since you're… I mean…"

"Just some stuff I had to take care of. My brothers are absolutely useless without me. I'll be there though."

"Good, cause Christy is going to be there, and she's been eyeing Jason when you haven't been around."

Susan slammed the locker a little more than she intended. "If that blond bimbo thinks she can steal Jason away from me, she has another thing coming. Besides, Jason wouldn't be interested in some air-headed cheerleader like that!"

Susan and Brittany quickly headed out to the field, laughing at various gossip they had heard about the members of the cheerleading squad, when Susan found herself slammed into a locker. Her eyes narrowed as she watched the small kid with glasses, as he frantically crawled on the floor, scooping up the various papers that had spilled from his arms.

"Watch where you're going, you loser!"

"I'm sorry, I just…"

"Did I give you permission to speak to me?"

The young man stared up at her wide-eyed. "I… I…"

Susan turned to her friend, sneering. "And there he goes again. He's just lucky we have to get to the game, or I'd really give him a piece of my mind!"

The two teens quickly left the boy on the floor, heading out to the field. Brittany was just shaking her head. "Can you believe how rude he was, bumping into you like that?"

"I know! No respect, whatsoever."

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Susan and Brittany were cheering madly as Jason ran the ball another twenty yards. Half time was approaching, and they were already up by seven on Westside. One short play later, Jason ran in for the touchdown, just as the whistle blew. The crowd leapt to their feet as Jason began to celebrate.

The team dashed back to the sidelines, and the cheerleaders began to perform, something that Susan wasn't too eager to watch. Brittany was still clapping madly when she turned to her friend. "Can you believe the game Jason is having? He's incredible!"

Susan just laughed, as she sat down. "I don't want you to be getting any thoughts on taking Jason from me."

"Wouldn't dream of it. Though maybe if he could introduce me to that really cute halfback… uh oh…"

"What?" Susan looked around, trying to find what drew her friend's attention.

"Umm… maybe we should go get some snacks or something…"

That was when Susan saw it. Christy, the blond cheerleader, had finished her routine, and dove straight into Jason's lap as he sat on the bench. She could see Jason trying to push her off, but she held on like a leech.

Susan rose quickly to her feet. "I'll be right back."

Brittany tried to stop her friend, but was too slow to catch her. Susan tore down the steps, running out to the sidelines. Christy had just gotten out of Jason's lap when Susan got there, and the smile on the cheerleader's face quickly disappeared when she saw the approaching freshman.

Susan didn't give her time to react, connecting quickly with a right cross that drove Christy to the ground. Susan quickly leapt on top of her, driving a knee into the girl's stomach. "Try to steal my boyfriend, will you? You stupid BITCH!"

Christy tried to fight back, but was pinned by Susan's weight, and the girl could only cry as Susan began to beat on her. Suddenly, Susan found herself airborne, as a pair of strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her away from the helpless girl.

"Let me at her, I'm going to KILL HER!"

"Susan… Susan, stop it!"

Susan realized quickly that it was Jason who had her, and relaxed a bit, no longer tearing to get at the girl who lay sobbing on the ground. The coach quickly approached, sizing up the situation. "Jason, you get your girlfriend to the office right now and get back here!"

Jason started heading there right away, mumbling apologies. When they were back to the school, he let her go, and Susan whirled quickly on him. "Why'd you pull me off her? That bitch was…"

"Susan, it doesn't matter. It's over! Why did you do that?"

"She was all over you! What was I supposed to do?"

Jason could feel his temper flaring slightly. "Yes, she went too far, but I don't think she deserved a beating like that! What has gotten into you?"

Susan's hands were clenched at her side, shaking. She looked close to hitting him, before she turned away, heading to the office herself. "Just go back to your blond bitch then if you think she didn't deserve it!"

"Susan… that's not… Susan!" Jason followed behind her, but she wasn't stopping. "Is that what this is about? You think I'd rather be with her than you?"

"Well you sure didn't fight all that hard when she sat in your lap."

"Because I didn't want to hurt her. If you would just listen to me for a second…"

Susan turned quickly, her eyes livid. "And listen to what?"

"That I don't want to be with her, that I WANT to be with you! Just because she's making eyes at me doesn't mean I'm going to jump in the sack with her. I just want to be with you!"

Susan seemed to deflate at that, as the rage seemed to melt off her. Slowly, after several moments, she closed her eyes, and her voice held none of the venom it did previously. "I… I'm sorry, okay? I just… when I saw her and… you were… I just…"

Jason stepped closer, wrapping his arms around her, and Susan started sobbing quietly. "I know, I'm sorry too. I mean, I love you and…"

Susan blinked, staring up at him wide-eyed. "You… you love me?"

Jason appeared a bit sheepish. "Well, yeah… I love you. But this isn't exactly how I planned on saying it to you. I was thinking… you know… like dinner or something."

Susan pressed herself harder against his chest, hugging him tightly. "I love you too! I just… after everything… I don't want to lose you! And she was…"

"Hey, it's all right. I'm not going anywhere."

They held each other for a few minutes, before they slowly pulled apart. Susan wiped a stray tear from her eye, smiling lightly. "Guess it's time for me to face the music, huh?"

"Yeah, but don't worry too much. I mean, what are they going to do?"

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"THREE DAYS?"

Principal Greene just stared at Susan, until she finally sat down. "I'm afraid it's one of the only recourses I have right now. This is the third time this month you've gotten into a confrontation, and you need to learn that this behavior is not acceptable. As well, when you return, you'll be sent to talk with a grief and anger counselor."

"WHAT? Why would I need…"

"Miss Go, you obviously have not dealt well with your parents death, and this behavior is one of the symptoms. As well, if you don't attend these sessions, we'll have to consider… other alternatives. Alternatives that might not work so well in your favour."

"But… but, I mean…"

"That is all Miss Go!"

Susan could only stare at the man, her mind awhirl for what this meant, before she slowly rose from her seat, mumbling quietly under her breath as she left his office.

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She slammed the door behind her when she got home, and felt a brief flash of relief as she dropped her bag to the floor. That relief vanished when Henry came out to meet her.

"Where have you been? It was your turn to do supper, and you're at a football game, getting into fights? I talked with the principal!"

"Look, I don't have the time or energy to get into this. Just order pizza already!"

Henry crossed his arms over his chest, blocking her way. "That's not the point. We all have responsibilities to take care of, and you neglected yours! Now you're suspended from school, so I expect you to pick up a lot of the slack over the next few days."

"Who the hell do you think you are?" Susan stepped right up to his face, glaring at him. "I do more than my fair share around here, so who the hell do you think you are?"

"Well, I'm the one who has to take care of this family now, so you'll listen to what I have to say!"

Susan just rolled her eyes. "Oh yeah, the big man. Well, I have a life you know. I'm not some maid for you to boss around. I have a boyfriend, and friends, and a life outside this house. Oh, I'm sorry, that's something you wouldn't know anything about, is it, with your head stuck in a comic book all day!"

"I gave up college to come back here and take care of everyone, so don't start lecturing me on sacrifices! If I hadn't, you'd be going to some foster parent. Do you want that?"

"Well, it would probably be a hell of a lot better than putting up with your crap every day!"

"My crap? I have to work everyday, going to dad's office, to the company he ran for years, just to keep us going! You think we have money to burn? That's because I'm working my ass off here! And what are you doing? Nothing! You just act like a spoiled little bitch! You might have been able to get away with that when Mom and Dad were alive, but…"

He never saw Susan's fist as it connected with his jaw, and the next thing he knew, Susan was standing over him, fire alight in her eyes. "Don't you EVER call me a bitch again, got it? And don't you dare bring Mom and Dad into this!"

They stared at each other for some time, refusing to look away or even blink, until they heard a small voice behind them. "Do you guys have to fight?"

They both turned in time to see a very scared Wendell and Will, looking down at them from the stairs, huddling up against the wall, tears running down their cheeks. Susan blanched at the sight, and quickly shot past them and up to her room.

Michael came out of his room a few moments later, noticing Henry on the floor. "Supper ready yet?"

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Susan started at the knock at her door, but refused to respond. When the door opened, she almost leapt her feet, ready to beat on the person stupid enough to enter without an invitation. "What the hell do you want?"

Michael just smiled, and held up a pizza box. "Figured you'd want something to eat. I think I got what you liked."

Susan just huffed slightly, grabbing the box quickly. "Thanks."

Michael remained standing there, and Susan just eyed him, wondering what else he wanted. "So… this going to keep going?"

Susan stuffed half the slice into her mouth, swallowing quickly. "What?"

"The fighting between you and Henry. The twins are starting to get freaked out by it, you know. Especially when you guys start in on foster homes and all that."

Susan dropped the slice back into the box, groaning slightly. "Yeah, they would, wouldn't they?"

"Wouldn't hurt to talk to them you know, let them know they're not going to get separated or something."

Susan sighed, closing up the box. "They gone to bed yet?"

Michael just shrugged. "They went to their room, don't know if they're asleep or not. Wouldn't hurt to check."

Susan got up, making her way to the door. She paused when she got to Michael. "Why do you care all of a sudden anyways?"

Michael just laughed. "Hey, I get you guys to stop yelling, and the twins settled down, I can go back to listening to my music in peace. Even with headphones, I can hear you guys clearly. It's really quite annoying!"

Susan quickly swatted him, and he left the room with a chuckle. She made her way to the twin's room, opening the door carefully and quietly, looking in on them. Both of them seemed to be lying there, fast asleep, so she started to close the door.

"Susan?"

She stuck her head in, noting it was William sitting up. She lowered her voice to a whisper, hoping not to wake the other one up. "I didn't mean to wake you. Go back to sleep."

"Susan… are we going to go to foster homes?"

Susan sighed, and slipped in the door, moving quickly to Will's bed. She sat down beside him, and he quickly moved to hold onto her, something she had never really been comfortable with. "No, we're not going to go to foster homes. Henry and I were just fighting. We didn't mean it."

"But you guys didn't fight like this before?" Wendell was now sitting up.

"I know, and I'm sorry guys, but I promise, nothing is going to happen. We'll be fine."

"But what if there's another accident, like Mommy and Daddy? What would happen then?"

Susan felt a brief pain when they mentioned that, and knew it had hit them hard, harder then even the two of them, at seven, showed. "I can't promise that nothing like that won't happen again. But it was an accident. Just remember, me and Henry and even Michael love you guys a lot, and we won't let anything happen."

Wendell hopped out of bed, and threw himself at Susan. She sidled over, giving herself and the twins room, and she held them in her arms as they cried. When she felt them settling down, she craned her head down, kissing them gently on their foreheads. She softly whispered to them, not even sure what she was saying, until she felt them drift off to sleep. When she was satisfied that they would finally sleep peacefully, she allowed her own eyes to close, and slowly drifted off herself.

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Author's Notes – Next chapter… fate comes a knockin'!