"Stop shifting…you are making everyone nervous."

Nessa looked at Arliss and tried her hardest to stop her movements. "What about me…shouldn't you be more worried about me being nervous then them?" She sighed and leaned back in her chair. "This is just taking a toll on my nerves. I think I'm going to have a heart attack."

"Don't be so melodramatic." Arliss scolded. "What is the problem anyway? We are sitting in first class on one of the best airlines I could find, eating hot fudge sundaes while watching dvds on my laptop."

Nessa rolled her eyes. "We are watching God, The Devil and Bob on your laptop…not exactly the most high quality of entertainment."

"Bite your tongue!" Arliss said in horror. "This show is hilarious." He shook his head. "Alan Cumming, what would we do without your wit?"

"It's about a normal guy talking to God and Satan…yea, like that is a believable plot point."

"You'd prefer a more believable story…maybe about a teen that can turn people into evil rare hunters?"

Nessa rolled her eyes. "My point exactly: My life is crazy enough without having to watch more insanity." Sighing, she turned back to her magazine, leaving Arliss to chuckle at the antics of Bob.

Arliss remained quiet, watching his show a few more minutes, till he knew Nessa had calmed down a bit and was ready to talk to him. Pausing the DVD, he turned to his queen and lifted her hand up, gently kissing each finger. "Tell me what the real problem is."

"There is no problem." Nessa said, though Arliss could tell she was lying.

"Don't fib to a con artist, Nessa. You're good, but you aren't that good."

She sighed, giving up all pretenses of trying to hide her feelings. Laying her head on his shoulder, Nessa picked up his hand and began to play with his fingers, stroking and caressing them as she spoke. "I'm afraid of going home…I'm afraid of what's going to happen."

Arliss merely nodded, waiting to see if there was more. When Nessa made no move, he began to press her. "Are you afraid of what you'll do to your parents…or what your parents will do to you?" Nessa tensed, and Arliss knew he had hit the problem right on the head. "They are you're parents darlin'…"

"But am I their daughter?" She whispered. "It's silly…I know I'm not their Vanessa anymore. I am a new person, and my old life seems like a dream. I d-don't think like Vanessa…I don't act like Vanessa…I don't even look like her Arliss!" She closed her eyes. "I can't even think of myself as Vanessa Fox. She's like a different person. And I'm just Nessa Lockehart."

"First off…" Arliss said, gently cupping her face in his hands. "You aren't 'just Nessa Lockehart'. You are Nessa Lockehart…queen, hunter, my lover, my soul mate." He stroking her tears away with his thumb. "But more then that, lovely, you will always be Vanessa Fox. Just like I'll always be that boy I was before I took the name Arliss." He smiled. "Hell, I took the name Arliss before I even found Marik's diary…" Arliss patted the book, which was safely tucked in his duster's pocket, "…so you can't say that a name change alters who you are." He ran his fingers along her chin and throat. "Think about it like this, darlin': You are always changin'. You aren't the same Nessa, and you were never the same Vanessa. If you were to remain the same, I'd be talkin' to an infant." He chuckled and pulled her closer.

Nessa nodded weakly. "I know…but Arliss…what if they hate me? What if they look at me…" She sighed. "Why do I crave my parents love still?"

"Because they are your parents." Arliss whispered. "Just like you crave my love for helpin' you become reborn, you will crave their love for bringing you into this world." He kissed her cheek. "They will love you Nessa. It won't matter what you are now…you will always be Vanessa Fox to them. Now…you just have a bit more when it comes to that package."

Nessa sighed, cuddling closer to her rock, her mentor, her safe harbor. Arliss wrapped a strong arm around her waist and pulled Nessa tight against his chest. "I can't help but worry."

"Ya need to take your mind off things."

"How?"

"Would you two be quiet." The gentlemen in front of them growled. The balding little businessman glared at the two hunters, his eyes nearly hidden, his face so scrunched up. "I am trying to get some sleep, and all I can hear is you brats whining about your mommy and daddy. I can tell you, if I were your parents, I would have taught you to shut up and mind your manners long ago."

"Terribly sorry, sir." Arliss said, glancing at Nessa. "We'll let you get to your dreamin'." The man grumbled and was soon asleep, snoring loudly. "Seems the gods have answered your question as to how to keep yourself occupied." Nessa grinned as she closed her eyes, the dark magic aura flaring as her Shadow Choker glowed brightly, letting her inside the man's dreams.

&&&

"Come on Sy…plllllleeeeeaaassseeeeee?"

"No way Jaden!" Syrus said for the millionth time that afternoon. "There is no way I am going to duel you!"

Jaden was on his knees, hands clasped together, tears in his eyes. "Come on Syrus, just one little duel…I'll let you have a 1000 lp lead. 2000 lp lead…I'll cut my deck in half, I'll use only 1000 attack monsters!"

"No thanks." Syrus said as he turned back to his computer, trying to find a last minute Christmas gift for his brother. "Do you think Zane would rather have a shirt, or a book? They have Angels and Demons on sale at He tried hard to change the subject, though he knew it wouldn't work.

"Maybe Zane would like a duel for Christmas…a duel with me!" Jaden said quickly, already liking his idea. "You could wrap me up and put me in his room. Then he could unwrap me and we could play in his room! Nothin' like unwrapping a duelist and playing with them…what?"

Syrus and Chumley looked at their friend, wondering if the young man realized just how wrong his statement sounded. Seeing an almost crazed look in his eyes, both realized that no, sadly, Jaden did not see how the idea of Zane unwrapping Jaden could be seen in a much different light.

"Come on guys…" Jaden whined, looking at them with near insanity. With the Christmas break, almost everyone was gone back home except for the three of them and several teachers, and Jaden hadn't dueled anyone since Jinzo that first night. Now, stuck with the thought that he would have to wait a full 2 weeks before he could duel someone, the young silfer was going through withdrawal. "I really need to duel… ppllllleeeeasssseeeee?"

Chumley sighed in defeat. "Ok Jaden…we'll go get our duel disks. We left them with Banner."

Jaden grinned. "Alright! We'll have a best of 21…no, best of 41…" He continued to rant on about how much dueling they would have during the two weeks, about all the tournaments the three of them could have, as his two friends left the door.

"Chumley, why did you cave in?" Syrus asked. "You can't expect…" Syrus let out a yelp when Chumley promptly grabbed him, heaving him over his shoulder and began to run. "Chumley…what are we…"

"Come Sy, Jaden isn't going to wait too long before he realizes that we aren't coming back! We have to find someplace to hide!"

Syrus blinked. "We're hiding? From Jaden?"

"Would you rather duel him over and over?" Chumley asked as he ran.

Syrus thought it over as Chumley continued to plow through the forest. "maybe Zane will let us sleep on the floor of his room."

&&&

"A gremlin! There was a gremlin on the wing!" The man screamed as he was led away by doctors, a straightjacket wrapped around him. "A gremlin was on the wing…why won't any of you believe me? It was trying to bring down the plane…I saw it…I SAW THE GREMLIN!"

The rest of the passengers watched as the businessman was taken away, glad that he was no longer in their presence. On their descent, the man had suddenly awoke from his sleep screaming about gremlins. A nice couple behind him had tried to calm the poor man, but he had taken one look at them and began screaming that the gremlins were now IN the plane. He had preceded to try and sucker punch the man, then made a run up the aisle. Luckily, the young man he had tried to hit had managed to tackle him and pin him down until the cops could come and drag the crazed man away, all the while screaming his head off.

"Thank you so much." One of the flight attendants said, checking on the couple. "I don't know what would have happened…"

"Don't worry about it." The young woman said. "We just wanted to stop him before he hurt himself."

"Well…thank you still." The pilot said, joining the conversation. "Is there anything we can do for you?"

The young man shrugged. "Not really…we were hopin' to get to my girl's parent's place soon, spend the Christmas season with them an' all. Would hate to be late, so we have to grab our luggage, go find a car…"

"Captain…you're friends with the manager of the Enterprise station, could you get them a car?"

The captain nodded. "Yes, I think so…you see about getting them some luggage…and maybe throw together some thank you baskets…listen…" He turned to the two teens. "You wait here, we will get everything settled for you in 10 minutes." The two of them hurried off, never noticing the private grins that the two teens shared amongst themselves.

"A gremlin, Nessa?" Arliss asked.

"What can I say, I am a lover of the classics." Nessa giggled as the two of them walked over to the window and watched as the luggage handlers grabbed their bags. "Some of my best work…this little choker does good work."

Arliss nodded. "Should be, with what I had to do to get it."

"Nothing naughty…I hope."

"Of course not. All on the straight and narrow."

The two of them laughed.

&&&

"Hey Zane!"

Zane turned around to see Jaden grinning at him like a fool, his duel disk on his arm and deck ready for action. Zane looked down at Jaden and frowned, watching the slifer bounce back and forth. "How did you get in here?" Zane asked. No hellos, no nice greetings…just a question as to how Jaden got into the Obelisk Blue Men's Dorm's main area.

"I walked through the door." Jaden said, looking over Zane's shoulder. "Have you seen Sy or Chumley?"

"No, I haven't…where were the guards?" Zane asked. Normally, there were guards stations at the doors of the dorm, to guard the best of the best duelists and the teachers that lived there: Dr. Crowler, Dr. Stilton, Dr. Milo, and Chancellor Shepard. No one got in without permission…

"I think they were off to lunch." Jaden said, still looking around for his two missing friends. "So…you see Syrus or Chumley? They said they were going to duel me, but I can't find them."

Zane sighed. "no Jaden, I have not seen my brother or his little friend. Now, if you will excuss me…"

"Wait!" jaden said, grabbing Zane's arm. "Why don't we duel…rematch and all? I am totally ready to see those Cyber Dragons of yours."

"I am busy at the moment." Zane said, turning back to go to his dorm.

"Doing what?"

"Important things." Zane said, annoyed. "Now, if you don't mind…"

"…waiting here for you to get done so we can duel? No problem!"

The Kaiser of the Academy looked the slifer over, and with a shake of his head, turned and headed back to his room, taking the elevator to the top floor. When he arrived, he briskly made his way to his room, and making sure no one was around, opened the door and entered, locking the dorm up behind him.

"Syrus, Chumley." He called out, the two friends emerging from their hiding spots. "We need to get out of here…your friend Jaden has lost his marbles, and I personally don't want to deal with him." Zane opened the window and began to climb out, the two slifers following after him.

&&&

Arliss couldn't help but smile as he turned the wheel of the bright red Malibu and pulled into the gas station/convenience store. The car handled like a dream, and he made a note to buy one for personal use when he had the chance. 'Maybe I'll just buy this one…get a different engine put in though…maybe an altered one from a yaris or something…40 miles to the gallon….'

"I can't believe I'm back here." Nessa said quietly. "I remember coming to this store with my mom to get slushies during the summer…we'd walk all the way here, getting nice and warm in the sun, then walk all the way back, cooling off with our drinks." She smiled softly as Arliss opened his door. "I didn't realize how many memories I would have to face."

"Don't worry my love." Arliss said, walking over to her side of the car and opening the door, helping her out. "Just a quick pop in to get some pop and we'll be on the road to your parent's house."

The two of them climbed the 3 stairs that led up to the Village West's entrance and walked into the store. The building, once a house that sat on the corner of town, had been converted years ago into the town's only gas station, then later into a store as well. The entire main area had the feel of a living room, down to the flat, worn carpet and pale white walls.

As they entered the store, a few customers within all turned their heads, surprised by the teens. Arliss and Nessa made quite a pair. Nessa was wearing a blacksweatshirt and super baggy black jeans. Her nails and makeup were done in a dark black, and her long ebony hair hung long on her back; her shadow choker around her neck. Arliss wore a black dress shirt, a pair of blue jeans, and his shadow star proudly around his neck. Both had on their purple dusters, which billowed behind them as the could marched to the pop section.

"We don't need to bring pop." Nessa whispered, listening to the radio as it played the latest boy band hit. "My mom will have some."

"A gentlemen always brings presents when greeting his future bride's parents. Remember darlin', we want to make a good impression."

Nessa nodded and began to browse the magazines while Arliss debated the merits of Coke and Pepsi. She ducked down to check the lower racks just as five girls entered. Nessa resisted a growl, remembering the three bitches that had tried to hurt her in the bathroom back at the academy. She hadn't told Arliss, but those girls had frightened her mainly because they reminded her of these girls. Each one was her age, but unlike Vanessa, had blossomed well before anyone else, making them instantly the talk of the school. Pretty, popular, with money from their shop worker daddies and bodies that Vanessa had died for; they had made her life miserable.

Of course, Ness knew she shouldn't envy them. Through Arliss, she had more money then all of them combined. She also had a body that put theirs to shame. While they had developed quicker, they were still growing into womanhood. Their limbs were long and awkward, their faces not fitting their bustline or their figure. They still hadn't mastered makeup, dispite what Vanessa had once thought.

But, dispite everything she was now, she suddenly felt like her old self seeing the 5 'Eyecatchers', as they were known, walking into the convenience store like they owned the place.

"Did you hear that Brett Snell tried to ask me out?" Sarah Baryo, the head of the pack, asked.

"No way!" her friend Nicci said in horror. "That little worm…you're kidding!"

"Not at all…thought I would be impressed because his dad bought him a new car…please. I might want to ride around town, but I would never bee seen with that freak."

Carrie giggled. "Did you hear about who is coming back?"

"Who?" Mandy wondered.

"Vanessa Fox." Dinah answered

"Vanessa?" The rest of the girls squealed, laughing. Nessa lowered herself further as the girls gossiped.

"Oh yea…the hobbit is returning from her nerd school…her parents are so excited." Nicci rolled her eyes. "Can you only imagine how bad she must be now, after spending time with more freaks like her?"

"Nessa." Arliss whispered, causing the girl to yelp in surprise. "What are you doing down here?"

"Arliss…I…I don't think I can do this." She whispered.

"Again with the fear? I thought we talked aobut this…there is no problem, your parents…"

"This isn't about my parents." Nessa said as Arliss pulled her up. "I can't be in this town…can't we just say hi to my parents and then go to Green Bay or something? Spend the rest of the time in a hotel…" She gave him a lusty grin. "Play around all of Christmas break…"

"As lovely as that sounds, we can do that here." Arliss tugged on her arm. "Now come on…"

"Please Arliss." She whimpered. "Don't make me stay…I hate it here."

Arliss frowned as he tried to lead her to the cash register. "What do you mean, hate it here? This is your home town. This is where you grew up…just 5 minutes aog you were talking about slushies…"

"Forget the damn slushies, I want to go home!" She shouted, stomping her foot. Everyone turned to look at them as the building shook. Arliss quickly acted just as confused as them, and muttered something about mini quakes.

"Home…this is your home."

"Home is with you, Arliss…at the abandoned dorm. This place isn't my home anymore…please, let's go."

Arliss smiled, setting the pop down and hugging her close. "I'm glad you think fo our dorm as home." He grabbed his pepsi. "But we are staying in New Juddville, on your parent's farm, for 2 weeks."

"no!" Nessa whined.

"Yes!"

"NO!"

"WHY NOT?" Arliss growled, frustrated. "What are you so scared of? It's not oru parents, it's not the buildings, it's not the mem…" He paused, looking back at the 5 girls that were pointing at them and rolling their eyes. "It's them…isn't it? it's the memories of this place." Nessa nodded her head. "Nessa…I told you that you are different now when we talked about yoru parents. And it applies for this place. You aren't that scared girl any more."

"But what if I am." Nessa whispered. "I can pretend I'm strong…that I'm not scared or weak or someone that can be used easily at the academy. But here…I can't. I become Vanessa again." She looked up at Arliss. "Don't you see…this place makes me her again…and I hate it. I remember how bad things were before, and I just don't know…" She sighed. "I have fond memories of this place when I am away from it…but being here…all I remember is bad."

Arliss smiled sadly and hugged her with his free arm. "it will be fine love…I'll be right by your side."

"Arliss…I just don't…" Before she could finish, the radio at the register switched songs and Arliss couldn't help but chuckle.

"I think the fates are sending you a message." Before she could question what he meant, Arliss began to sing. " You spent 15 years trying to get out of this place. You were looking for something you couldn't replace. You were running away from the only thing you've ever known."

Nessa shook her head as Arliss smoothly sang to tune, motioning for her to join him. She shook her head, but he gave her the puppy dog eyes, which on him were so wrong, and she began to sing along her own part. "Like a blind dog without a bone. I was a gypsy lost in the twilight zone. I hijacked a rainbow and crashed into a pot of gold"

"I been there, done that" The two sang together, Nessa smiling slightly as Arliss began to pay for his purchase, never stopping from belting out the lyrics. "and I ain't lookin' back on the seeds I've sown. Having dimes, spending too much time on the telephone. Who says you can't go home?"

Everyone in the station was now looking at the two strangers as the laughed, singing their hearts out along with the radio. The 5 girls scoffed in annoyance and left without purchasing anything, Arliss and Nessa following shortly after, still singing.

"Who says you can't go home? There's only one place they call me one of their own.
Just a hometown girl, born a rolling stone. Who says you can't go home? Who says you can't go back? been all around the world and as a matter of fact. There's only one place left I want to go, who says you can't go home?"

Nessa was laughing now, her earlier fears gone as Arliss leapt onto the hood of the car, not caring if he damaged it, singing at the top of his lungs. "It's alright, it's alright, it's alright, it's alright, its alright!"

"Get down from there!" Nessa giggled.

"No, you get up here!" Arliss said, yanking her up and pulling her into his arms. His queen laughed as he began to dance with her, still singing. "You went as far as you could, You tried to find a new face. There isn't one of these lines that you would erase. You've lived a million miles of memories on that road!"

"I'm not singing anymore!" Nessa laughed, slapping his shoulder.

"Well then, We'll have to do something else." Arliss stated, grabbing her and planting a steamy kiss on her lips. Nessa moaned and tangled her fingers in his hair as he pressed in body into hers, not caring they were making out on top of a car in the middle of a sleepy town.

After a minute, he released her, Nessa panting hard. "Wow…"

Arliss nodded. "Tell me…was that something little Vanessa would have done?" Nessa shook her head. "See love…it isn't all an act. You are complex, and this place just brings up some more emotions then you've been use to. But you are going to beat them because you have a secret weapon…me." He grinned. "I'm going to help you face the demons that haunt you in this town, and we are going to make so many good memories in this place…"

"Do any of them involve no clothing?" Nessa whispered.

"Maybe." Arliss said with a grin. "But to find out, we need to get going."

Nessa didn't have to be asked twice, and the two of them quickly hoped into the car, leaving Nessa's worries behind at that gas station.

&&&

"Tony! Tony! Vanessa coming!"

Tony Fox hurried out of the barn, whipping his hands on his overalls. His wife, Martha Fox, was bundled in a warm jacket, hurrying out of the back door to watch as the rental car headed towards them.

"So, who is this mystery guy she's brining?" He asked, still not understanding what was going on with his daughter.

"His name is Arliss Lockehart, and he's Vanessa's boyfriend."

"Boyfriend…she's been gone for 4 months. How could she have a boyfriend?" Tony asked.

Martha rolled her eyes. They had just had this discussion not 20 minutes ago when he had gone out to check on the chickens. "They met at her tryouts…apparently, Arliss is one of the best duelists at the school. He began training her, and they ended up dating after she was promoted to Obelisk Blue."

"And that is good, being in Obvious Blue?"

"Obelisk Blue,Tony. And yes, it's good. At least, from what Vanessa told me…oh, there they are!" She waved as the car pulled into the driveway.

In said car, Arliss hurriedly zipped his pants up while Nessa pulled her shirt back on. "You know darlin'…people normally have sex in a car when it's NOT in motion, ya know what I mean?"

"Where is the fun in that?" Nessa said with a giggle. "Come on…I want to introduce you to mom and dad!"

Arliss shook his head as Nessa hurried out of the car. "That girl and her mood swings. From happy to scared, to whiny, to horny, now excited." He shook his head. "I have to love passionate women." Hurrying out of the car, he found Nessa standing a few feet from her parents, both of them looking at her in shock.

"Hi mom…hi dad." She said softly.

"V-Vanessa?" Martha asked. "Is that you?"

"You've…grown." Tony stammered.

"Growth spurt?" Nessa offered.

"We're as shocked as she is." Arliss said, trying to cut the tension. In a month she grew so rapidly I had to buy her all new clothing. Must have had God figurin' that she needed to bloom right quick."

Nessa's mother walked to her daughter, looking up at her for the first time ever. "Look at you…you look so grown up…" She stroked her child's cheek. "Look at my baby…a woman now…" Martha began to sniffle, before embracing Nessa, sobbing in joy at seeing her daughter. Arliss couldn't help but smile as Tony Fox walked over and joined his girls.

'So this is what it's like to have loving parents?' Arliss wondered.

Next Time: Christmas is coming. Presents, Family, Caroling. Can Arliss, who never had a Christmas before, survive this slice of overplayed Americana? Meanwhile, Candace deals with her family, and resists the urge to kill them. And let's not forget Jaden, who's still going through duel withdrawal. With most of the school hiding from him, will he stumble upon Alexander and Samantha's secret? Find out in Episode 24: You can't go home part 2: Christmas around the world

Author's Note: I can't remember if I've ever revealed that Arliss Lockhart's name is a fake one he used, that it isn't his given name. But even if I did, I'll repeat it, because it's important to realize that just like Nessa, Arliss is just the next step from another person.

Also, it's the return of the diary. For a while, it's been missing, but I always planned for it to return. The story dictates what appears and what doesn't…and The diary didn't plan a roll in much of the more character driven parts. Don't worry though, it will appear more often now as Arliss gears towards his end game.

New Juddville is a fake town I made, inspired by the town I went to school in. Village West is based on the actual 'only gas station' the town has.

This chapter was also very important because it shows that the Nessa we knew is in part an act. That Vanessa is still under there, she just is able to be more strong willed. But she is still there to be scared. But with Arliss, she can become Nessa, the strong willed queen.

The song Arliss and Nessa sing is "Who says you can't go home?" by Bon Jovi, which inspired the title of this arc.

Finally, someone asked me recently if I had ever considered making a Wikipedia page for GX Hunters. Their main point for one being that this story is so complex that it needs it's own page to help people go back and remember what they have learned.

The truth is, I haven't, mainly because it seems egotistical. But, if someone wants to get one started, I wouldn't say no to helping add new stuff to it.