A/N: Here it is! The end of Look But Don't Touch! It's been a long-time coming for everyone, and once again I try my hardest to write when I can. Nothing but an adult life, people. That's all I can say. But anyhoo! Please enjoy this bittersweet yet also happy conclusion.

Ninjalogy

By: Mad Betrayal

Chapter 21 ~ Look But Don't Touch (FINAL)

"What will you do now?"

Cole stared despairingly at the closed door that Jay had left through. He had called out, but was ignored. Jay hadn't even looked back.

"The one you love and care about the most has just abandoned you. All because he found out how much of a bastard you truly are."

Lance's words were both bitter and smug, but Cole couldn't focus on him. Not now. Though he had prepared for the worst case scenario, he couldn't just leave things the way they were. He had to go to him.

"Jay…"

"Go ahead and try, won't do you any good."

"Maybe not, but…" And Cole left Lance alone in his room and exited out into the hall. It was still ominously quiet and disturbingly dim. He turned his head this way and that. Now which way did Jay go? Did he go even deeper into the villa, looking to distance himself from everyone? From him? Cole closed his eyes and began to concentrate. He could feel his lover's electric soul pulse from a ways away. So he did go deeper.

Cole followed the quivering blue soul through the badly lit corridor until he came to a halt just three doors down from Lance's room. Swallowing, he gripped the knob. But then gave pause when he heard a strange noise. He pressed his ear against the crack and listened… There it was again—a choked sob. Pained guilt gripped Cole's heart anew as he stood there and listened to Jay's anguish-ridden cries through the door.

There was no excuse. He had caused this to happen. And all because of his stupidity and inconsideration from years past had come back to bite him in the ass. He wanted nothing more than to open the door and comfort his best friend. But would Jay even want to see him? Let alone touch him? Out of all the trials and tribulations he had faced over the years, whether they came from being a ninja, or a friend, or a leader, or a teacher, or a lover. If there was ever a need for unwavering courage, it was now.

Bracing himself for the worst, Cole opened the door and entered the room. Amber light filtered through the closed drapes, casting Jay's place of refuge in dusky shades. It was another bedroom as far as Cole could tell, and there was Jay, sitting on a bed with his head in his hands. The staggered gasps and hiccups were more heart-wrenching from within than outside, and Cole slowly made his way to sit beside his distraught boyfriend.

Jay's sobs didn't cease, though they did quiet some when Cole's warmth settled down beside him. He lowered his hands, but didn't show his face, the shadows of dusk and his own long bangs working wonders in obscuring his expression. Cole braced his hands on his knees, unsure of what to do or even what to say. After careful deliberation, however, he licked his dry lips and opened his mouth.

"Jay…" his own voice sounded hoarse, like he had been the one to just spew tears, "…I'm so sorry I disappointed you. I've been running away from this shame for a long time—nearly ten years, and I've done nothing to try to rectify anything." He smiled pitifully, self-deprecation taking over. "It's…it's the same with my father, isn't it? Only a hundred times worst. I ran away from him, just like I ran away from this. And in both instances…*sniff*…I did nothing to initiate reconciliation. They both had to come to me, because of my own cowardice and reluctance. I want to make things right somehow, Jay, but I don't want to drag you down with me, so…" Cole's throat felt tight, but he forced himself to say the words. "…So…y-you can break-up with me if—"

"Stop it, okay. Just stop." Despite the soft delivery, there was an astute firmness in Jay's tone that made Cole close his mouth immediately. He watched as the other man took a moment to compose himself and turned to face him. His red eyes and blotchy visage told of his sorrow, and Cole felt another stab of guilt when he realized again that he was the cause of his boyfriend's tears. "I'm not gonna break-up with you over this."

Cole stared in shocked silence. "It's true you did something terrible—there's no denying that. But it's not like you're the sole one responsible, and you also feel remorse for your actions. It'd be different if you didn't feel anything, that even if Lance had confronted you, you wouldn't had taken responsibility and shrugged everything off. But you didn't. So you didn't run away, Cole…not this time." Jay smiled gently. "And I can't just stop loving you. Not when I still care. Not when I know you're still a good person…aside from a few hang-ups and skeletons in the closet."

Cole couldn't describe the amount of relief and overall adoration he felt right then. And for the second time that day, he felt the familiar prick of tears touch the corner of his eyes. "Mio Dio…Jay…" The beautiful blue-eyed man then leaned into him and embraced him.

"I love you…and I'm going to stand beside you and help you through this the best way I can."

Cole's arms tightened around Jay's lithe form after his whispered declaration. Even the little jab previously was endearing as it symbolized Jay's acceptance to love him for who he was including his faults. Just as Cole did him. "Thank you, Jay. And for what it's worth…I'm sorry again."

Jay kissed his cheek. "It's okay…but, Cole…I have to go to him."

Cole loosened his grip in order to lean back and look at his lover. "You mean Lance."

Jay wiped his eye with the heel of his palm, to rid himself of the last of his tears. "Well you can't do it," he pointed out the obvious. "I doubt he'll listen to a word you say. But maybe I can reach him. I can feel his suffering. He's in so much pain, Cole. And…I want to help him too…if I can."

Of course. Cole expected no less in the face of Jay's sensitivity. Smiling, he leaned forward and captured those supple, baby pink curves in a chaste but sweet kiss. He pulled back slowly and rested his brow against Jay's. "Then go to him. If anyone can help Lance, it's you."

An airy chuckle escaped Jay then. "I don't know about that, but I'll try." The pair disengaged from their embrace and Jay stood, "Give me a little time alone with him. I think it's better if you're not in the room with me."

Cole nodded. "I understand."

Thus, Jay retraced his steps back to Lance's room. He stood before the closed door—much like Cole had—and took a deep, calming breath. He wasn't hesitant, mind you, just worried. After learning of Cole's past and Lance's indirect involvement within it, he could readily deduce that the other Italian wasn't a bad person. No, he was just heart-broken and very lonely. There was a void inside him that had never been filled since Shane's passing. And no one could fill it…not even him. No matter how much Lance desired him too.

Knocking briefly in order to alert the other master of his presence, Jay entered Lance's haven for a second time. It was dark inside. Lance had extinguished the artificial light and instead allowed the natural rays of dusk to illuminate his solemn sanctuary as well. Jay's eyes strayed to the bed where a shadowy figure cast in burnt gold sat, slouched and head bowed. Taking another quiet breath, he allowed his feet to guide him towards the silent and still figure. It was almost an exact reenactment of how Cole approached him: tentative but hopeful. He sat down beside Lance, close enough for the other to feel his warmth but far enough to allow personal space.

"You came back. Alone. Heh…I knew you would." Lance's tone was low and broken. His supposedly pleased words were nothing more than a slipshod pretense and Jay knew it.

"Yeah, but not for the reason you'd hoped."

At Lance's silence, Jay took it as his cue to continue. "It's true that I was upset. Still am. But I wasn't angry at Cole; I was just saddened by the entire situation. It was horrible…and I knew it had to be excruciating for Shane, but perhaps even more so for you…" Lance looked at him. His bangs had become mussed over time and now fell messily over his eyes. But those teal gems were still as empty as when this whole fiasco started. His miserable appearance tugged once more at Jay's heartstrings, and he reached out to push away the dark fringe. He smiled faintly when Lance leaned into his touch. "You had just lost your father, and when you came back you had found out that you lost your best friend too. I can't even imagine what that must've felt like…"

Lance took hold of Jay's hand, keeping it in place against his face. "Jay…please stay with me. I need you here. I need someone like you—someone to lessen the pain."

"I'm sorry, Lance."

"But why?" Desperation seeped into the sound master's voice, the cold façade crumbling to ash and being replaced by deep melancholy. His hand trembled. "Why stay with someone like him? I don't understand."

"Yes you do," Jay countered firmly. "You understand what true love feels like. How it grips you almost painfully, and you're willing to hang onto it yourself…" sapphire locked with teal, "…no matter what."

Lance closed his eyes tight, his brow furrowed in internal anguish. "Even after all this time…you still love your best friend. Shane can't be replaced. I can't replace Shane…and you know it." It was a small, infinitesimal sound, but Jay heard it. He pulled the other man into his arms and held him tight as he wept hopelessly and uncontrollably onto his shoulder.

*~Ninjalogy~*

Meanwhile, out on the terrace, there was a rather anxious dilemma. Max and Jude had squabbled amongst themselves for some unknown reason before the rest of the Ninja. But the tall redhead had finally relented with a frown and permitted Jude to tell the Ninja what had transpired in the past between Cole, Lance, and the mysterious Shane Underwood.

Kai leaned back in his chair and grimaced. "Damn…so that's what happened…"

"But that doesn't even sound like Cole," Brad challenged. "That's too cowardly and selfish!"

"We're all not exactly childhood friends, Brad," Lloyd put forth. "We can't discredit what Jude said, because we didn't know Cole back then. He could've been a completely different person."

Zane looked to his brethren. "It would explain his distance over the last three days, as well as his acceptance to go along with whatever Lance had in store."

"Yeah…" Kai shook his head, "…guilt's a bitch."

"Which is why I say leave things be," Max sneered, cutting his eyes sharply towards his younger brother. But Jude scowled right back.

"So, what? You think it's okay to keep seeing Lance suffer?"

"Of course not!" Max snapped. "But dammit, Jude, you had no right to—"

"I'm just tired of it, okay?!" Jude's chest heaved with his outburst as he slammed his hands down onto the table. "It's been long enough…too long. Now Shane's just being the cowardly and selfish one…"

"Wait, what!?" The Ninja gawked whilst Max just rubbed his face tiredly with both hands. "Didn't you just say that Shane committed suicide?!" Kai asked.

Jude sighed heavily, like a huge burden had just been uplifted from his shoulders. He was ready and willing to tell all. "Yeah…at least…that's what he wanted everyone to believe."

"Goddammit, Jude…" Max whispered.

The Ninja were baffled by this new revelation, but Zane was the first to plead to the younger. "Please explain, Judeca."

Jude looked to his brother for affirmation, and Max gave it with a non-committable wave of his hand. He turned back to address the Ninja. "Well, after Shane's alleged suicide, the Underwoods chose to cut their ties to the Lombardi family…per Shane's request apparently. We didn't know any of this at the time, of course. But although it was possible for the Underwoods to stay under the radar from the Lombardis, the same couldn't be said for our family…"

"Astor… Oracle has been partnered with the Prophesy Foundation foryears now," Brad prudently interjected. "And the Prophesy Foundation was founded by…*gasp*…"

Jude and Max nodded. "Yep…the Underwoods," they said in unison. "Thus, it was only a matter of time before there was some slip-up or carelessness from Shane's supposedly dead-self," Jude continued. "When we ran into him six years ago during a family outing, he told us everything then."

"And it was he who made us promise not to tell Lance or anybody else of his whereabouts," Max said solemnly. "He wasn't ready to face him. And after the years drudged on, we begged and pleaded for Shane to reveal himself—that Lance really needed him…but he always refused. He just kept saying the same thing."

"Which now only sounds like an excuse," Jude growled. "I've been sympathetic long enough. He better show up, or I'm gonna go find him and drag his sorry ass back here kicking and screaming if that's what it takes."

The Ninja stayed silent, each one stewing in his own thoughts. But weren't Shane and Lance supposed to be best friends? So then why would Shane knowingly let Lance suffer for years? Was it because of his own shame? Did he feel marked by his past, and thought he couldn't trust his heart to anyone else? All of these thoughts were just mere conjectures of course, for none but Shane could affirm if any of them had merit.

"When did you contact him?" Lloyd asked next.

"Just this morning, before you guys got here," Jude answered. "Once I told him what was going on, he said he'd be here."

"Tch! So he's coming for Cole, not for Lance?" Kai stood up and walked over to the balcony to look down below towards the villa's entrance, as if hoping to spot the wayward Shane. "Shit's about to get real. Jude, do you know where—Zane!"

The fire ninja turned just in time to see his opposite slump over onto the table. The others arose quickly, Lloyd and Brad already by the nindroid's side, calling out his name. Kai bolted back over to the table just as Zane lifted his head and blinked around himself owlishly.

"Whaa…what happened…?" Zane was clearly just as confused as the rest of them. Kai helped his lover to carefully lean back into his chair.

"That's what we'd like to know, Diamond," he said seriously. "You just passed out. Only for a few seconds, but still."

Zane touched his temple. There was worry reflected in his optics, but also haggardness. "I…I don't know…" He sounded distant—not really in touch with reality. "All of a sudden I just felt very tired."

Frowning, Kai looked to the two brothers across the table. "Is there somewhere he could rest?" He asked. And just like that, Zane had become his top priority.

Max nodded. "Yeah, follow me."

A bit unsteady and sluggish to get to his feet, Kai lifted his boyfriend into his arms without a word and trailed after Max back inside, leaving the other three alone out on the terrace. Jude was the first to break the silence. "Huh…another strange occurrence. You would almost think the guy was preg—"

The loud chiming of a doorbell sliced through Jude's words, and the blond whirled around to look out and down below from the terrace. Baby blues blinked. "SHANE!" Lloyd and Brad rushed to the railings as well and peered down below to the entrance of the villa. Upon hearing his name, a young cinnamon-haired man turned and looked up toward the voice. The fading day's rays blanketed the landscape in shadows of burnt orange and creeping purple and dappled the young man in warm tones, a welcomed compliment to his yellow shirt and dark pants.

The one called lifted his hand in greeting, the corners of his mouth shyly upturned as his deep, blue eyes met with Judeca's.

*~Ninjalogy~*

Why did Max feel like an intruder in his own home? He knew this had become a private moment between the fire and ice masters. He knew he should've made himself scarce the moment after he had opened the door to a spare bedroom where Zane could rest comfortably. But he didn't. He had just leaned against the doorframe and watched. He had watched Kai gently lower Zane down onto the bed like he was made out of the finest china. He had watched as Kai took off the other's shoes and fluffed his pillows while murmuring sweet words of assurance. And Zane's eyes never once strayed from him. He followed his moments with a soft, tired smile on his face, and answered Kai's words with supple chortles and appreciative whispers.

Max had tried to find some flaw in Kai's performance, some edge he could use against him as leverage…but he couldn't find anything. Sure the guy was an impulsive hothead that much was easy enough to deduce. But when it came to Zane, everything inside him seemed to calm and cool down. Ice chilled the fire—didn't extinguish it…only chilled it. Max remembered hearing that sizzling hiss when Zane had touched Kai when the other had brought out his element in defense. That wasn't opposites trying to push back against the other. That was yin and yang. That was balance and equilibrium.

He smiled ruefully. He had found Zane too late. The bond between fire and ice wouldn't be broken any time soon. Not by him…or anyone else. The sound of the doorbell interrupted his thoughts, and it was only then did Zane and Kai's eyes strayed to him. Pure hazel had gone and ice blue had returned. Max kept his smile. "I'll check it out, you two can stay here."

Zane sent him a beautiful smile, and Max's heart couldn't help but clench painfully at the sight. "Thank you, Maxmillian."

"Yeah, thanks, man."

Hmph, perhaps in another time Max would've meet Zane before Kai—had stayed with him and got to know him longer. Perhaps in another time he would've been the one to sweep the charming snow prince off his feet and given him everything he desired and more…so much more. But no, not in this timeline…maybe he'd have better luck in the next… Max turned away from the pair on the bed and left the doorway to venture out towards the foyer. He humbly bowed out from the very brief waltz for Zane's affections.

Max kept his smile. "You win, Kai…" he breathed into the silence. "…You win."

*~Ninjalogy~*

Haven waited for fifteen minutes, Cole decided he had given Jay enough time and made his way back to Lance's room to check on them. He wasn't worried. He knew Jay meant what he said, and wouldn't go back on his word. But he couldn't disregard Lance entirely. He just wasn't sure if the other Italian's grief would get the better of him or not, and he would try to…do…something to Jay. Cole quickened his pace. He was only three doors down, thankfully, and arrived in just a few seconds before Lance's door.

He gripped the door knob. He would just have a peek, just in case they were still in the midst of a conversation. He didn't want to barge in if they were still talking. Hopefully, that was what they were doing… Cole shook his head. Think positive…like Jay… Think positive… Twisting the knob, he pushed the door open a crack and peeked inside. Two shadowy figures on a bed. Close. Too close. Cole's heart leapt in his throat and he was just about to throw the door open…until he heard a sound.

"Shh…it's okay, Lance… It's okay…"

Lance was crying… and Jay was holding him…

Feeling wretched, Cole quietly closed the door and backed away. He had no place in that room right now. He hadn't forgotten that he was still pretty much the bad guy in Lance's eyes. But…he was going to fulfill his promise. He was going to try to make things right by taking responsibility and going to Shane's parents to apologize. He was ready to do it alone, but thank god Jay was going to be with him. To stay with him through it all. But right now, it was best to give them some more time alone.

I should probably go and check on the others…

His brothers had the right to know what was going on. That is if Jude and Max hadn't already told them. He made the long trek back to the terrace. However, he was surprised to find no one sitting at the table. "Huh? Where'd they do…?" He wondered aloud, and decided to take a chance and venture downstairs. Upon reaching the top of the grand stairwell, he heard a cacophony of voices down below: surprise, excitement, and oddly some ridicule all intermingled to be relinquished in cluttered tangent.

"Took your sweet time, didn't you?"

Cole could make out Jude's angry tirade amongst the bicker, and looked down to see the two brothers and Lloyd and Brad forming a semicircle around a young male brunet. His brow furrowed. Who's that…? Were their three hosts expecting another guest?

"Jude…I'm sorry. I just—"

"You just nothing, Shane! Do you realize it's almost been ten years?! A fuckin' decade since you disappeared!? Do you know you let Lance suffer needlessly for almost TEN YEARS!?"

Cole's heart nearly stopped. His breath caught. His lungs constricted. Shane? Shane was alive? And here? He couldn't see the brunet clearly from so high up, thus rushed down the staircase and came to a halt at the bottom. He stared at the backs of his friends, blocking his view. No one had noticed him.

"Shane…?"

Like the Red Sea, the group parted and turned to look at him in surprise. And there in the middle…was the one who haunted the dark recesses of Cole's mind. The one who had plagued him with so much guilt and shame. Cole stared long and hard at the slim young man no less than forty feet away: same cinnamon-shaded hair, albeit a bit longer now that of which could be pulled back into a ponytail. Long, straight bangs still framed a heart-shaped face, a nervous smile still gave way to the appearance of a lone dimple in his right cheek, and a small beauty mark still made a home below the corner of his right eye. Deep blue eyes… Deep blue eyes that looked so painstakingly familiar…

Jay…

"Hello…Cole."

There was no shock on Shane's face. No anger. No fear. No repulsion. No…for some reason…Shane's expression mirrored Cole's: Shame. Was this a dream? Or was this his true chance for repentance. Well, whatever it was, Cole took it. "Shane I'm…I'm so sorry. I did you so wrong back then… I led you on…and I abandoned you and…and I didn't even look back. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

Shane approached him slowly, but without fear. And when he neared, he placed his hand on his shoulder and smiled. Up close, Cole could see just how small Shane was to him. He'd grown taller over the years, sure, but not by much. He was still shorter than him—and Jay. But those eyes…

"Thank you for apologizing, Cole. But…out of the two of us…I think what I did was a lot worse…"

Cole didn't understand… Wait. Was it about what Jude said earlier?

"Personally, I think you both suck!" Jude spat indignantly, and Max rolled his eyes. He nudged his younger brother in the arm.

"Christ, couldn't you lay off a little, bro?"

"No, Max, it's alright." Shane looked over his shoulder at the pair, saddened and guilt-stricken. "He has every right to be mad at me." He turned back to Cole. "Do you know where Lance is?"

Cole was still a little shaken up and shell-shocked by the presumed dead Underwood, but nodded his head nonetheless. "Yeah. Upstairs. With Jay—uh…follow me."

Thus, not only Shane, but the others followed after Cole as well. Up the stairs and down the same gloomy hallway Lance had led him and Jay earlier. The group came to a stop before Lance's bedroom door and Cole gestured to Shane. "After you."

And with same silent courage, Shane opened the door. Lance's room was flooded with light this time around, as nightfall had finally come in earnest. Jay still sat beside the solemn Italian, rubbing his back comfortably, but gave pause at the entrance of Shane and the group. "Uhh…" Clearly at a loss, Jay eyed the newcomer dubiously before shifting his gaze to Cole. But it was Shane who was the one who spoke.

"Jay, was it? Do you mind if we switch places…?"

Still hunched over and head bowed, Lance went stock-still. At Cole's nod, Jay stood up and stepped away. "Yeah—uh…sure…" It was a slow transition—one of confusion, the other of hope. When Shane took Jay's place and lighted his hand tenderly upon Lance's back, the other man still didn't respond. All was quiet for a seemingly immeasurable amount of time. But then, Shane quietly began his ministrations and started to gently let his hand caress his long-time friend's back.

"Wow…you've gotten really big. So strong and dapper." Still absolutely nothing from Lance, not even a twitch. Shane swallowed. "I…put you through a lot, haven't I? They told me—Max and Jude—they told me how you were changing. How you were suffering. But I… But I was too ashamed to face you. I wasn't thinking, Lance. I just wanted to disappear, and I made them promise to keep quiet about my existence. I was so humiliated. I know I went too far…in faking my own death…and putting you through such unnecessary pain. There's no excuse. And when the years kept passing by, and Max and Jude—especially Jude—kept telling me to come back, that you needed me…I couldn't. I was thinking about me, not you. Even though you roamed my mind, night and day…I just kept running away. But when Jude called me this morning and told me what was going on and that Cole had resurfaced…and how you going to confront him over my "death"…I knew I had to act. I had to get to you before you took out any transgressions against Cole over my stupidity. I had to stop running away. Lance…I'm so sorry. Please…it may take a long time, but I'm willing to wait—please… Please find it in your heart to forgive me. Please."

By the end of it all, Shane was reduced to a sobbing mess. Large, crystalline tears rolled continuously down his cheeks and dripped from his chin. His grip on Lance's shirt was hard and white-knuckled. But still…Lance didn't budge. He remained still like a humanized wax replica. Until…

"Nine years…eleven months….three weeks…and five days… That's how long you've been gone… That's how long I've grieved for you… That's how long I've kept you in my heart…"

Lance sat up, his back straightened, and he slowly turned to the sorrowful Shane. The others watched with worry and bated breath as that empty, dead look within teal orbs didn't recede. Shane bit his lip as his tears continued to fall, even when Lance reached out to him and cupped his cheek.

"…But you're here now... You're not dead… And you've sincerely apologized…" Lance's gaze never wavered from Shane's. "…But I don't forgive you. Not yet. But maybe…in time… For you owe me…nine years…eleven months…three weeks…and five days…"

A breathless gasp escaped Shane then, and he happily threw his arms around Lance's neck. And Lance slowly encircled his arms around the smaller man. "Okay," Shane breathed thickly, "I'll give you the whole ten years. I'll give you everything that I am. I won't ever abandon you again, Lance. I promise."

There was a collective sigh of relief from the audience, and one by one they backed out of the room to give the reunited friends their privacy. Jay was the last to leave. He watched for a moment longer with a smile on his face, before turning and exiting, closing the door softly behind him. Out in the hallway once more, Max threw his arms up in a hearty stretch.

"Welp! Ahh…crisis averted. What do you say we start dinner then, hm?" He eyed each Ninja individually. "Any of you nutcases cook?"

"Why do we have to be 'nutcases'?" Lloyd rebuked, causing Brad to giggle.

"And why do we have to cook?" Cole put in. "Aren't we still guests?"

"Actually, I wouldn't mind feeling the heat of the kitchen right about now," Jay emoted, lacing his fingers with Cole's. "It'll be a spankin' good debuff after today's tension. And! We can show Lance that he's not the only good Italian chef around here, right?"

Cole's chest automatically seemed to inflate with pride. "Yeah, you're right, hun. Let's do it."

"Cool!" Jude hurrahed, always up for a good meal. "Now that that's settled, let's get out of this dreary corridor and head back down stairs! I think there are some pretty good movies on tonight."

"And, we can check on Zane and Kai," Max said, and began to lead the way back downstairs. "Snow was feelin' a little tired earlier."

Once downstairs in the foyer, the group noticed the two aforementioned masters sitting in the previous living room, seemingly in deep conversation. "Oh hey! Feelin' better, Snow?" Max called out, and both ninjas actually jumped at the unexpected shout.

"Oh! Um…" Zane looked to Kai briefly and the fire ninja nodded, smiling brightly all the while. Not smirking, but smiling. They stood up from the couch and turned to the approaching bunch, with Kai's arm draped protectively across Zane's shoulders. "Yes, Maximillian. Thank you."

"Hey…what's up, you guys?" Cole asked, looking from one friend to the next skeptically.

Max cocked an eyebrow when golden-amber orbs strayed to him…and stayed. "Nothing…" Kai shrugged. But everyone could tell it was everything except the contrary. Those eyes…that smile…turned even brighter. "…Zane and I…are just going to be parents soon."

While everyone else's jaws dropped, Max just groaned. Ohhh…you cocky, lucky-ass son-of-a-bitch…

A/N: LOL! I thought this was a good enough place to end this story as any! Huh, isn't it funny that this is the third time within this book that I've ended a story with Zane being preggers? I guess a pregnant nindroid is fascinating to me. Anyhoo! I'm glad I was able to finish this short story before I left. That's right, peeps, I'm going to be spending the remainder of the holiday season in the Bahamas with my future hubby, and won't be back until the 7th of January. So this will be my last update for about a month and then I'll be back to continue Unexpected! I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! See ya in January!