Reviews :

Burgie : True xD I guess we can blame Berri for this go-around.

Snake557 : Aw, thank you! It's something I strive for, with my own little future family! Thanks friend :)

CHICKENM4N : omg :( That just made my entire day. You really mean that? Thank you!


Song Listened To :

Feels Like Home ft. Kent Jones by Sigala


*Chapter 20*

"Sh-shh," Theo put his larger wrecking finger over his mouth, he eagerly peered back at Berri through his vivid, emerald green eyes, he obnoxiously dangled from the railings of the narrow spiral staircase that lead upstairs to Berri's bedroom, "I think they're on to us."

"How can you tell?" Berri whispered, her shoulder length cerulean blue hair dangled as she, too, was hanging from the banister of said stair case. Sunlight glinted down in a pattern of speckled, jungle canopy shade.

"They go quiet," Theo hissed in a louder whisper, though he readjusted his grip on the white, metal railing and tried not to make any noise.

"How are we going to sneak to the kitchen without them seeing, peasants!?" Wren pushed in a loud whisper; he waggled the pointing stick about, in his hand, and shook his head, "Your King is not pleased."

"We'll get the cookies, we just... Have to crawl, maybe," Berri wondered, she shrugged her little shoulders through her coral pink tank top.

The three younglings had been politely asked to play in Berri's bedroom, quietly, whilst Tessa, Zed, Ralph, Vanellope, Rancis and Turbo had a proper palace meeting in Tessa's and Zed's glorious gathering area, just beyond the kitchen and living quarters. All six adults stood about the hips-high table, it was a perfect square, twelve feet in all directions. Above said glossy white table was Tessa's and Zed's proper extension of the code room, all opened and displayed with sensitive information, and as all of the adults in the group talked about a becoming-serious matter, the cute children on the stairs banister had not a single inkling of said importance. Due to their mischievousness, and the ability to feed off of each other, they garnered the brilliant idea of sneaking into the kitchen, after two times of Rancis and Zed diligently reminding the children to play upstairs in the meantime, and properly warning them that the third time asked wouldn't look pretty.

"You think Auntie Tess will let us have some cookies if we don't sneak them first?" Theo wondered, though he largely flinched as Berri sharply shushed him, due to him speaking out of a whisper; they were thankful the adults didn't hear them.

"Maybe, if we're quiet-" Berri was suddenly cut off due to losing her grip with the banister, and from about a six foot drop, she squealed a hard, giggling scream and fell to the tiling underneath.

All at once, Wren and Theo loudly erupted in wails of exhausted laughter, and as Berri choked out a groan and a bout of joined loud laughter, as well, she grunted in cheeky dismay, got to her feet, brushed her hands off and cheekily grinned up to the two boys on her staircase. In the rush of forgetting that they needed to be quiet, she largely shook her head, waggled her pointer finger up at the two boys and inhaled a deep breath, to begin berating both boys, though before she could even utter words, a Queenly voice dominantly soaked the corridor in which the children were lightly sunk into.

"Ms. Berri Schweetz Kalivar," Tessa called, and although her tone wasn't inherently mad, all three children froze in a shock wave of terror and remembrance, "Alright, kids. Front and center."

Berri bugged her eyes in terror, as did Theo and Wren, in whole entire frozen shock. Theo looked the least terrified, due to his parents not being present, though Berri and Wren both looked washed with cute, child like fear. In a stumbling, nervous mess, all three children slowly stepped out of the stairwell, eased down the corridor with cute bare feet and light, spring time clothes, their faces sloped in a dollop of innocent worry. Berri nervously tucked her larger hands to her chest and felt the height of every single adult practically cave over her little 'five-year-old' self. All eyes were on the kids, though Berri felt a wave of fear roll over her with the dominant, uncertain and rather cheeky and smiling stare-down Turbo was giving.

"C'mere," Tessa's voice, although soft and tender, held a stern bite. Berri frowned and, although she knew she was in trouble, she beamed her mother a sheepish smile and hoped that somehow she could schmooze her way out of getting a verbal butt-whoopin. Though, much to her dismay, Tessa gently squat down to Berri's level, hooked Berri's chin in her much larger finger and held tight eye contact, "You remember what your father and great uncle Rancis told you ten minutes ago?"

"I... Think maybe..." Berri looked off, although she was in trouble, she disguised her fear in a fantastic show of nonchalance, a bratty, girly exterior that both Zed and Tessa had an impossible time navigating, due to being used to Ace's sweet and honest disposition, as a child.

"Look in my eyes, what did your father tell you?" Tessa's voice grew more stern, which had Berri nervously snapping to attention.

"Not to leave my bedroom," Berri's voice now wavered; as diligent and stubborn that her bratty side was, she was still young enough to cave almost immediately, especially in Tessa's Queenly presence.

"You three have the entirety of your bedroom to run around and play and be loud," Tessa stated firmly, and although her voice was quiet and directed right to Berri, her entire palace meeting group had a front row seat to Tessa's parenting, "You need to set a good example, and stay in your bedroom for the small time we need for this meeting. We gave you kids leeway and let you have some free reign. Do you want us to call you three a sitter?"

Berri frowned a look of now rising anxiousness, the fact that all adults had their eyes on Berri and Tessa. Rancis had quietly called Wren and Theo over, so to quietly give them the same warning that Tessa was giving Berri. Although Berri was younger than Wren and Theo, Tessa made sure to hold her to the standards of her own home, to set a good example to her cousins and obey. Berri's wavering blue eyes nervously glossed past Turbo and hooked tight to her dad, as if to silently beg for help, though much to her dismay, Zed cocked a blue eyebrow and gave her the same, stern, authoritative vibe Tessa was giving.

"I warned you, my babe," Zed grumbled, he shook his head and blurt a small chuckle, to which Ralph and Rancis finally eased knowing smiles.

"We're not going to be much longer, but I need you to obey and play upstairs for the meantime," Tessa patiently and sternly requested of Berri, who now was successful in garnering big tears in her gorgeous blue eyes, due to all the attention on her; although Tessa tried to keep their little conversation private, she continued on, "One more time and we're going to send Wren and Theo home, and you will go down for a nap. Do you understand?"

"Yeah," Berri whimpered as she finally crumpled to tears, she grimaced a small noise and rubbed her nose in agitation, though Tessa sagged her shoulders and finally eased a gentle smile.

"You're having a lot of fun, huh," Tessa almost whispered, to which Berri nervously nodded and peered her wet eyes into her mothers, and much to her relief, Tessa heaved a hard sigh and lovingly scooped Berri into her arms.

"I remember disrupting many a castle meeting with your uncle Oliver and Penny," Tessa grumbled as she finally stood and lugged Berri into her arm and hip, with one arm. Berri tucked her wet face into the top of Tessa's shoulder and remained entirely bashful as the group of adults softly chuckled with knowing.

"We weren't so easy on you, either," Ralph shook his head, Vanellope largely rolled her eyes and tucked her hair behind her ears as Ralph eagerly peered to her, "I remember one time resulted in a spanking."

"It was the one time where Oliver kept daring Tessa to knock on the Hull's wall," Vanellope huffed a laugh, to which Rancis bugged his eyes and gave Ralph and Vanellope a knowing smile of remembrance.

"I'd never seen Tessa so terrified to be in trouble," Rancis grunted a laugh, to which everyone easily joined him, Tessa rolled her eyes and glanced in her mother's and father's direction.

"I remember that... Hooo mom was pissed," Tessa grumbled as she readjusted Berri on her hip.

In tender inquiry, Berri finally peeled her face from the nook of Tessa's neck and shoulder, and in doing so, she remained tucked tight to Tessa's motherly care. Although her face and head was still successfully sunk into Tessa's neck and shoulder, her eyes gazed across the broad of Tessa's collar and bashfully hooked with Turbo's. In a shiver of terror, Berri shrank into herself and could feel Turbo's intimidating, creepy, golden gaze hook to hers in a show of forced laziness and un-intimidating disposition, his haunting square pupils, although matched Nox's and Throttle's much more welcoming gaze, was something new and unique for Berri to worry about. Although she had time to get used to Nox's and Throttle's creepy gaze, and had come to know and love them in their own right, Berri was especially wary of Turbo, the only one of TurboTime's boys that was hardly ever around.

"Alright, Bee," Tessa grunted, though just as she went to unlatch Berri from her, she could feel Berri grip to her in a show of terror. Tessa grunted, tried to peer down to her, and diligently followed her line of sight. She could tell that her and Turbo were having a bit of a wary, silent greeting, due to the two never being properly introduced before. Tessa lofted her gaze to Turbo, who raised his eyebrows in dewy, collected surprise and sagged into himself, "Y'okay, Bear?"

Berri didn't answer verbally, though only with a tender, nervous shrug as she remained entirely latched to Tessa, though with this, Tessa chuckled and jostled her a little.

"You remember Turbo, don't you? He's Nox's big brother," Tessa reminded; she was aware that Berri was extraordinarily terrified of all of the TurboTime's boys eyes, due to how mysterious and otherworldly they looked, though she was certain Berri was past this, "He's not gunna bite you, Turbo is one of Sugar Rush's Knights, much like your great uncle Rancis. Remember?"

Berri nodded softly and kept her entirely curious, though still wary, gaze tight to Turbo's continuously sinking demeanor. He tried his hardest to come off as non-threatening and as un-intimidating as he could, though he knew nothing could help his creepy gaze.

"Say hello, don't be shy," Tessa uttered quietly into the top of Berri's head, and alongside this, she gave the top of Berri's head a gentle smooch.

To break the ice, Turbo softened even further, gingerly waved his fingers a little, and so not to seem too forced or intimidating, he just barely let his teeth peak through a tender smile. With this, Berri's eyes showed a little bit more confidence, and with Turbo's little act of bravery, Berri gingerly waved and uttered him a kind, albeit girly and shy 'hello'. Tessa gave Turbo an apologetic smile, shook her head and silently conveyed to Turbo that she was just overcoming a fear, to which Turbo politely shook his head and conveyed that Tessa had nothing to worry about.

"Alright, babe, please... PLEASE stay upstairs for just a little longer," Tessa grunted as she swung Berri down to the ground, set her free and urgently grappled for Theo's hand, as he ran by. Theo blurt a hard laugh, jolted and peered up to his aunt, though much to his surprise, Tessa yanked him into a strong hug, firmly smooched his cheek and blew a raspberry on his skin. He hollered in laughter and squirmed, though once he was finally free of Tessa's grasp, Tessa playfully began to swipe at Wren, who successfully got away, all three kids were a giggling mess, "Y'guys are going to be going with dad and grandpa to EZ Living after the meeting, so get your suits on."

"YAY!" All three kids hollered in a spike of excitement, though Berri stepped a little closer and peered her girly eyes up to her mother.

"Mom are you coming too?" Berri begged, to which Tessa gave her an apologetic smile and shook her head.

"No, me and your grandma have some work to do, here," Tessa explained, "You'll be going with the boys and the flyers. You'll have fun."

Berri raised her eyebrows at the word 'boys', to which she lumped every single male, on the palace lot, into that notion. Even though it was just Ralph, Zed, Rancis and Nox to be joining on the EZ Living trip, Berri bashfully glanced to Turbo and wondered if he would be joining as well. In an act of the utmost bravery, Berri broadened her spectrum and was now certain that Turbo was in on all of the fun.

"Is Turbo coming?" Berri politely asked, though with this, Turbo raised his eyebrows in a pang of mild, inquiring surprise, though he huffed a small chuckle and glanced to Ralph with uncertainty.

"No, baby, Turbo probably won't be joining, he's uh... He's got some plans after this meeting," Tessa gave Berri as polite of an answer as she could, though Berri frowned and accepted her mother's answer, Tessa was proud that Berri at least came crawling out of her comfort zone, a little more. The kids began to finally hustle towards the corridor in which lead to Berri's bedroom, "Y'guys go get ready, I'll come get you when the meeting is over with."

"That was nice of her," Zed volleyed to Tessa, he eyed Turbo and shrugged, "If y'ever feel comfortable leaving Sugar Rush, you can count Berri in on the multitudes of people who'd want you to join in on the fun and protect you, in the process."

"Means a lot," Turbo mumbled with a grateful smile as he looked down to his hands in a rise of cute uncertainty.


In EZ Living's incredible, spring time breeze, the group of Sugar Rush beach goers were diligent in finding a spot away from the crowds and hoards of people eager to get that slice of EZ Living sunshine. Tucked away in a sunny cove of wading pools that met with EZ Living sands, as well as the potential for crashing waves, Ralph, Zed, Nox and Rancis lay lazily in EZ Living's sunshine, all while keeping a diligent eye on the three younglings that splashed in the shallows nearby. Lickity, Royal and Boss also joined the beach crew today, no matter how hesitant Boss and Royal were about it. They knew they'd have to break the ice eventually, and getting out and doing activities was a cure all.

Boss flinched in a recoil of surprise, suddenly jolted from his nap, his massive blue eyes rolled from the back of his skull, the void of his enlarged pupils immediately shrunk with the hit of EZ Living's sunshine, in which splayed across his face. With a startled inhale, and the fight or flight instincts that still hung tight to his scales, he froze, took in his surroundings and was reminded where he was. He exhaled a hard, long sigh of relief and gently sagged back to the hot, black rock in which he lazily slept on, though the very noise, that woke him up, sprung once more, causing him to flinch and fixate his gaze in the direction of the noise.

Although it was packed with power, Royal clumsily hovered over a shallow pool of clear water and was unsuccessfully trying to fish. With another loud pang, he sharply threw out his long chameleon tongue with a pop, and as the fierce speed split the water in half and popped like a jolt of lightning, he was still failing at catching any fish, with this method. Boss resisted the urge to ignore Royal and fall back asleep, though he diligently kept his mature eyes honed tight to Royal, a curious show of just how Royal went about things, such as hunting and fishing. Royal was a more than capable being, though for his sheltered, palace lifestyle, it was clear he likely needed to learn a thing or two, when it came to his wild, animal side. Boss eyed him in contemplation, though the seventh time Royal flashed his tongue down into the water, at lightning speed, and was continuously unsuccessful, Boss finally inhaled a readied breath and got to his four feet.

In a slow saunter over to Royal, he was uncertain how to approach this tender situation, though with able paws, he finally lowered his head and neared the massive span of Royal's shallow, which was about four feet deep. Boss's large clawed paws hung to the edge of the shallow, his incredible blue eyes scanned the school of fish Royal was desperately trying to fish from. With one, final pang of Royal's tongue, water viciously splashed back to his face, as if to prove that he was ultimately failing, once and for all. Royal grunted an annoyed noise, sagged his wings and finally acknowledged Boss's presence with a simple gloss of irritated eye contact. Boss cleared his throat, did everything to prove his good intentions and lowered his ears, to show he wasn't asserting dominance here.

"You mind if I help out, a little?" Boss pressed warmly, his fatherly voice coat Royal's with love, and although it was clear Boss was desperately trying to mend the gap between him and his mate's son, he still felt his grumbly exterior want to just leave Royal to his own devices. Lickity's loving, encouraging coding coursed through his, as if to prove to Boss that it was likely his duty to take Royal under his wing, teach him the things any father would teach their pup, though Boss wondered if Royal would have him, as such.

"You want to help me?" Royal snapped quietly, he, too, flattened his ears and gave Boss his cold, golden stare of whole annoyance; Boss persisted.

"You're trying to catch the fish while they're alert, they're ready to flee at any strike," Boss instructed, "Y'gotta stun them, first... Then catching will be easy."

"... Go on," Royal instructed gently as he eyed the fish, and although he didn't want to admit it, he knew Boss had a good point.

"Watch closely," Boss pressed as he tucked his wings tight to his body.

With careful practice and years of experience, he swung his tail around, sprawled his gorgeous blue and dark brown tail fins, and in a sudden, vicious movement, Boss slapped the top of the water with his tail, ultimately stunning the fish, like stated. With a lunge, Boss nearly dove face first into the water, took a quick snap, stood up straight and was happy to show Royal that he had a very large, flailing and protesting fish tight between his fangs. Royal sagged his wings in surprise, allowed humility to coat his existence and wondered if Boss was on to something. Boss blurt a small chuckle and was quickly to swallow the fish whole.

"Wow, that... Was quick," Royal choked, he tried not to show too much warmth, though he mocked Boss's demeanor and was diligent in tucking his wings tight to his body.

Although Royal wasn't used to it, he sprawled his gold and coral tail fins, steadied himself, and inhaled a deep breath. With a great amount of clumsiness, Royal thrusted his whole tail into the water, causing water to splash everywhere. Boss blurt a hard laugh, took a step or two away and shook his gorgeous mane free of water.

"Lightly, lightly! Just slap the surface, Roy," Boss let a wide smile sprawl his face, he wanted to so desperately warm up; Royal looked disgruntled.

In a second attempt, Royal shook his head, flattened his ears, and with greater success, he finally slapped his tail to the top of the water with a pang. Royal widened his eyes, watched the fish lazily fall out of formation, and with a gentle lunge, Royal opened his mouth wide, shot his tongue out, once more, and was successful in reeling in a fish. Royal panted, stood up straight and was entirely surprised to have a wiggly, protesting fish tight in his fangs, much like Boss was just a minute ago. Royal perked his ears in boyish cuteness, he bounced on his feet and peered to Boss with a roll of excitement, though he immediately sagged and remembered he was playing a very grudge-filled game of keep away with his mother's new mate. In a firm snap and swallow, Royal ate his prize and only glanced in Boss's direction.

"Th-thanks," Royal staggered gently, Boss bobbed a nod and knew this was his time to gently bow out.

"You're welcome," Boss eased as he finally turned heel and walked away.

Boss smiled down to his paws in cute, scheming delight. He knew he had struck gold, he was well aware Royal was teachable, and it was in this instance did Boss understand that his and Royal's little ember of a bond would only continue to grow through teachable moments, a lifestyle in which Royal has not had much experience in. Boss felt floored at this thought, the lifetime of hunting and wilderness living was now coming to his aid, to successfully take Royal under his wing and make him a well rounded dragon. Just as Boss sunk back to his napping spot, he peered back to Royal and was thrilled to see Royal still following through with Boss's technique; he knew it'd be a journey, though with the first steps already played out, Boss was certain the road to Royal's heart shouldn't be too long, from here.