"Collin!" Serena exclaimed, watching as her older brother tossed his silver curls and rubbed at the back of his head. He seemed exhausted and his ripped jeans and damp white T did little to improve his appearance. "I didn't know you were here!"

"I was just dropping off a few things", he motioned towards the boxes and crossed his arms tiredly over his chest. He slumped down on a random box in the corner and leaned towards her, his eyes pensive. "You look different"

She gulped, remembering her new body, and laughed nervously. "Must be my new face cream"

He stared at her skeptically, his eyes burning into her. Then, frowning, he lowered his gaze to her side. "Who's that?" he asked

Adonis, alert now, took a quick step back. Serena frowned. He knew Collin. So what was the problem?

"What's wrong?" she asked, bending down, one hand on her knee, the other caressing his cheek. He seemed to sense that there was no harm in Collin's presence and sat down on the hard wood floor, suddenly interested in her various cases of lipstick and mascara.

Strange, she thought, eying Collin suspiciously. They had seemed to get along fine in the future…

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Collin asked. "Earth to Serena". He waved a hand in front of her eyes.

"Sorry", she murmured, snapping out of her daze. "That's Adonis. He's my so-" …Dammit…

"Your what?"

"My…"

"She's my mommy!" Adonis exclaimed excitedly. She returned his sudden outburst with an apprehensive giggle.

"Can you believe him?" She rolled her eyes in attempt to convince a perplexed Collin. "Kids"

"We just traveled through time!" Adonis was no where near stopping. He smudged lipstick over his face in a messy gesture. "I almost got shot, you know" he reminded them for what felt like the hundreth time that day.

"What?" Collin asked, bewildered. "Serena, would you start making sense?"

"Okay", she gulped, the wheels in her head spinning rapidly. "We-"

"Let me! Let me!" Adonis wailed, drawing circles in red eye pencil all over his face so that he looked like a crimson Dalmatian. "Then we got locked in Jimena's house!"

"So who's Jimena? Serena, what-"

"I was talking! Geesh!" Adonis scolded his future uncle. "Like I was saying, I turned into a shadow and got us out! And then mommy took on a whole gang!"

Collin cocked an eyebrow at Serena "You?"

"And she was like this", he kicked the air. "And this! And this!" Serena finally took hold of him to keep him from falling over in his dizzy state. She gently leaned him against the wall before turning to Collin. She grinned too widely. "Some imagination, huh?"

"I guess", he muttered, staring at the child. "Is he a student too?"

"Huh?" What had Maggie told her family when she was gone?

"Kind of young isn't he? You picked up feeder schools?"

She nodded foolishly.

"I didn't know you'd be back from Vegas so soon"

Vegas? She crept into his mind. Girls. Surfing. Girls. And more surfing. She finally found what she was looking for. He had had a visit with Maggie in which she told him and their father that Serena was going on a field trip to celebrate her induction into the National Honors Society.

"You didn't get sent back did you?" he joked. "No midnight city raids or trying to sneak into guys' rooms?"

She laughed, realizing how much she missed his nagging. "Maybe"

He raised an eyebrow. "Maybe?"

She shrugged and smiled, knowing that the curiosity would eat him alive. "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" Her expression mellowed and she raced across the room to wrap him in a bear hug. She held him tight, regardless of the sweat dampening his shirt.

"I missed you"

"I missed you too", he squeaked from inside her rough embrace. "But you've only been gone for three days"

"Three long days", she groaned, releasing him and slumping down on the floor.

He gave her a sympathetic look. "That bad, huh?"

She grinned dreamily, thinking of Stanton. "Well, it wasn't all that bad"

"You met some guy?" he asked, accusingly.

"No". Stanton wasn't just some guy. Her forehead creased with tension as she remembered why she had escaped from Jimena's house in the first place. She needed some way to reach her destination. But how was she going to explain that to Collin?

"Good", Collin muttered. His expression softened and he reached down to pick up something large and grey. "Look who wants to see you"

Her eyes widened. "Wally!" She took the raccoon in her arms and it curled up to her chest. She gently ran her fingers through its fur.

"Cool!" A small voice echoed from behind the boxes. "A dog!"

Serena laughed and turned to Adonis, Wally still in her arms. "He's a raccoon. Want to hold him?"

Adonis nodded, though he seemed somewhat afraid. Serena held Wally out to Adonis, but he refused to go and simply jumped back into her arms. Adonis pouted.

"It doesn't like me"

"I don't understand" Serena sighed. He was usually so friendly… Then she took a good look at Adonis's face. The lipstick gave his lips a swollen look, black eye make up made him seem menacing, and powder enveloped his features so that he was stark white. He looked like a livid clown. Struggling to hold back her laughter, she placed Wally on the hardwood floor. "Sorry", she apologized with a grin and watched as he raced out of the room.

"How do I look?" Adonis asked, striking a pose.

"Like you need a bath", she answered, scraping at the mounds of lipstick that stretched to his jaws. Turning to her side, she saw Collin staring at the child.

"What's he doing here again?"

"Saving my daddy!"

"If Serena's your mommy, who's your daddy?"

"That's enough", Serena intervened before things could become even more twisted and tangled. "I was hoping you could drop him off at home", she lied, a plan forming in her head.

Adonis's expression fell. 'I don't wanna go-"

"It's on Packard Street". She gave him Catty's address.

"Sure", Collin shrugged and grabbed a ring of keys from his pocket. "I have to go back to Long Beach tonight anyway" He started out of the door.

"It is not on Packard Street!" Adonis whispered.

"It is tonight" Serena sighed, grabbing his hand and dragging him towards any room with water, soap, and a good washcloth.

"Keep your head inside the car", Serena scolded Adonis for the twentieth time since they had climbed into Collin's silver sports utility van.

Which had only been two minutes ago.

"So", Collin started, turning onto La Cienega. "Did the bus drop you off here?"

"Yes", Serena lied, trying her best to sound natural.

"No it didn't!" Adonis countered, scrubbing at a patch of black make up remnants under his eye. She turned around to glare daggers at him. How was it possible that her future self managed to handle both him and his sister each day without having a nervous breakdown? She would have to tell herself how amazing she was if they ever came face to face. She shuddered, pondering on how strange it would be.

"So if the bus didn't drop you off then what happened?" Collin took a quick glance at Serena before averting his attentions back to the road, his long fingers tightening around the steering wheel. She could sense his annoyance and it was probably best that she made up something. And fast.

"We-"

"The gang drove us!" Adonis gushed, excitedly.

"It did not!"

"It did so!" Adonis argued. "Cause of your shirt! Remember?"

Collin stopped at a red light and turned to Serena. Before she could slam her back against the leather interior, he took her by the shoulder and eyed the word "RISKY" surrounded by several other gang inscriptions. His eyes widened.

"God, Serena! What did you do? Join the Mafia?"

"What's a mah- fee- ah?" Adonis asked, curiosity blooming in his huge emerald eyes. Both Serena and Collin hushed him in unison.

"Look, Collin", Serena began, her stomach stringing one by one into countless knots. "It's not what you think"

"Then what is it?"

"We have to save my daddy!" Adonis reminded him.

"Your daddy?"

"See?" Anxiety clung tight to Serena's chest as Adonis's hand dived into his pocket for something. He eventually pulled out an array of colorful pictures. Serena gasped.

"Adonis! No!"

Too late. Adonis handed one to Collin and Serena watched as his eyes flashed with hot anger.

"What the hell?" he roared.

"Oooooooooooooooooooooh!" Adonis sang at Collin's language.

Serena snatched the photo away from him and stared into the jovial eyes of her and her future lover… at their wedding ceremony. She wore an untraditional off white theatrical dress, a cello in one arm. Stanton wore a slick black tuxedo, his golden bangs untamed and tussled. She groaned at their position. Why did she always have to be in his lap?

"Er… this isn't-"

"You got married?"

"Um-"

"In Vegas?"

"Huh?"

"To him?"

"We-"

"Are you kidding me, Serena?"

"Gr-" Adonis started.

"No! I mean, I was only-"

"You were only sitting in his lap!"

"G-"

"I know this guy! He's one of those losers who hang out on Hollywood Boulevard all day!"

"Well-"

"Mommy?"

"He's bad news!"

"I-"

"I thought you had more sense than that!"

Anger flickered through her chest and she could feel a flame steadily growing, whipping dangerously at her insides. "You can't keep telling me what to do, you know! I'm in high school!"

"Collin?" Adonis droned.

"A freshman!" he corrected her. "A freshman in high school!"

"Your point being?"

A long pause. "Are you still a virgin?" he winced as if the words had been forced out of his throat.

"Y-" she hesitated, the need to spite him insatiable. "Maybe"

"G-"

"MAYBE?" he boomed. "That guy must have like a million diseases!"

"That's not even possible, Collin"

"Don't get technical with me!"

"GUYS!"

"WHAT?" they cried simultaneously.

He lifted a tiny finger to point ahead.

"Green light."

Suddenly the sounds of angry shouting and honks seemed to blend into the scene. How long had they been there? Groaning, Collin shot off into the night.

"I can't believe this", Collin choked.

"You should have listened to me!" Adonis yelled.

"Yeah, you should have listened to him"

Collin snapped his head around to glare at her. "You know what I'm talking about"

She sighed and crossed her arms. "I was just kidding, alright? I can't believe you believed me"

"Then what were you doing with him?"

"We were just goofing off", Serena lied. "Nothing serious"

"It sure looks serious"

"Want to see another picture?" Adonis held up a handful.

"No!" Serena seized the photos and shoved them into the right pocket of her hoodie. "No more pictures"

"You're acting weird, mommy" Adonis poked the back of her head.

"I agree" Collin muttered, eying the wedding picture, now that they had stopped again. She tried to pry it from his fingers, but something caught his attention.

"What's this?" he asked, pointing at her face. She cocked an eyebrow. What was he talking about? She leaned down to take a closer look. Uh oh… He stared straight at her.

"Open up"

She shook her head, her lips tight. "Uhn uhn"

"Serena!"

"Nope"

"I'm warning you"

She kept her mouth closed and shrugged. Then, unexpectedly, he reached over and pulled at her jaws.

"Collin!" she scolded and yanked at his white- blonde locks.

"Stop struggling!" he exclaimed painfully, still prying at her cheeks. She groaned. They hadn't fought like this since they were in diapers. He finally pulled at her nose causing her to let out a loud 'OUCH', exposing her tongue. His expression went pale and he leaned back.

She rubbed at her nose and closed her mouth to hide the tongue piercing but it was obviously too late. She rolled her eyes. "Happy?"

He didn't respond. His eyes back on the road now, he turned onto Alvera and made a sharp U turn back onto La Cienega. "Collin-" She started to ask what he was doing when black spots obscured her vision. They gradually ran into each other, forming larger spots until her entire line of vision had been diminished. She gasped, struggling to make out Collin and Adonis or even the street lights.

"Serena?" Collin called, his voice terrified.

Serena? A woman's voice whispered across her mind. It was vaguely familiar.

Who is it? She wondered if it was the same woman who helped her earlier in the abandoned castle. Selene?

"Serena, are you okay?"

The woman's only response was soft laughter. I've come to warn you.

Where are you?

No where nearby. I'm communicating with you from within your moon amulet.

Definitely Selene.

My amulet? She felt her fingers closing over the stone.

"Serena? Do you need to go to the hospital?"

There's no time to explain. You're in grave danger. I can feel a dark presence

What?

You have to get out

But what about Stanton?

"Mommy!"

There's no time for that. Take both of you and get out.

Rage seethed through her. You don't know how I feel!

I know exactly how you feel

Serena frowned, remembering tales of Endymion, Selene's Earth lover. But I-

What's happening? I think I'm slipping

But I can't-

Go! Now!

Serena took a sharp jolt back into the physical world and glanced around warily. The Los Angeles street lights blinded her now and the night stared back at her, as clear as ever. She looked down to see that the necklace had slipped from her neck. Is that why they had disconnected? Readjusting it, she spun around to face Collin and cocked an eyebrow. They were going the wrong way. "Where are you taking us?" she demanded, holding Adonis's arm protectively. Could he be the danger that Selene had warned her about? Was he possessed?

"Back to Long Beach". His eyebrows furrowed. "Are you okay?"

"No", she panicked. "Turn back around!"

"No way, Serena! I'm worried about you! You've been acting so weird…"

"Collin", she warned him, her powers involuntarily building inside.

"You can't just go out with some jerk and get your tongue pierced"

"Please"

"I don't want you to end up like some whore on the streets"

"Stop the car!"

"No"

"This is the last time I'm going to tell you"

He laughed. "Are you serious?"

"Stop the car", she said firmly.

"Yeah r-" He trailed off as she shot into his mind and clouded it as Stanton had taught her to do. Collin now sat in a daze, blinking every dozen seconds.

"Sorry", she whispered in his ear before grabbing the wheel. She pulled over on Whitmore and felt herself bouncing up on the curb. "Oops", she muttered before turning off the ignition and grabbing Adonis's sleeve. "Come on", she yelled. "Before he snaps out of it". The child seemed to understand well enough. She swung open the door and they both dodged out of the van. Packard Street wasn't that far away. She was sure that she could walk there. Taking Adonis in her arms, she sprinted down the sidewalk, Jimena's boots slapping against the hard pavement. The moon shone an eerie glow upon the Earth, forming a foreboding shadow through the Jacaranda trees. She swallowed hard, wondering if she should take it as an omen. Too late, she thought to herself. Stanton needed her and right now, she felt as if she could defy anything for him. Besides, she had gone much too far to turn back. If Collin had always been right about anything, it was his surfing motto: Take it to the end. And that's exactly what she planned to do tonight.

Serena stood on Catty's front step, the porch light bathing the concrete with ghostly yellow radiance. She pressed a cold finger onto the doorbell and waited. Adonis squirmed about, restless in her arms.

"Where are we?" he grumbled.

"At Catty's"

"Why?"

"She's the only one who can take us back"

"Back where?"

Suddenly, a light flickered on inside and a middle- aged woman in a blue robe with stars and constellations swung open the first door. She cocked an eyebrow and lowered her reading glasses. "Do I know you?"

Serena shook her head and put on her best meeting- mom face. "No. I'm a friend of Catty's"

It must have worked because the woman returned her smile and opened the screen door to let her in. "Hi", she greeted her. "I'm Kendra. Catty's mother"

Serena nodded and took in the quaint little abode. The living room was painted an off white and several antiques and scriptures donned the walls. She wasn't sure where to sit, worried that she would break something. Kendra seemed to sense her apprehension. "You can sit over there". She pointed towards a brown sofa. "Would you like anything to drink?"

"No, thank you", Serena smiled graciously. "I'd really like to see Catty now if that's okay"

"Catty!" Kendra called. "First I have to check and make sure she hasn't run off to Vanessa's". She laughed and disappeared into the next room. Serena nodded and balled the material of her pajama pants up into tight fists. In order to follow something like this through, she needed a plan, and she had nothing. Catty's consent was doubtful and she wasn't sure what she would do if the girl disagreed. Could she manipulate her thoughts? And if she did, would there be dire consequences? She groaned in confusion. It wasn't possible for her to control Catty's powers so what was the point in trying to control her thoughts? Footsteps could be heard from nearby and she finally looked up to see Catty and Kendra entering the living room. Catty's cheery face fell, fading to a pale white and Kendra eyed her daughter in concern.

"What is it?" she asked, suddenly glaring at Serena as if she had just committed a grave murder.

"Nothing", Catty shook her head and motioned towards the other room. "Come on, Serena. Let's go in the kitchen" She turned the other way, her emerald green robe flowing over the floors and Serena followed after her, grabbing Adonis's hand who was entertaining himself by nudging one of Kendra's vases and watching how long it took to fall before he could catch it. They walked down the hallway and finally into a blue kitchen. Catty let Serena and Adonis stroll in before locking the door. Serena scowled at the gesture.

"I didn't come here so you could trap me again. I have to talk to you"

Catty didn't respond, too busy pulling a leftover pizza box from the fridge. She slammed the door and reached in to get a slice of pizza. "Want some?" she asked, shoving the unheated piece in her mouth and downing it after a few quick bites.

Serena shook her head. "You have to take me back in time"

Catty sighed. "I can't. Maggie said-"

"I don't care what Maggie said. He's innocent"

Catty slumped down on a chair, clutching at her chest as if she were freezing. "She said that he might have started the Atrox rebellion. We can't risk keeping him alive"

"So what are you going to do about it?" Serena asked. "He's an immortal"

"We know" Catty clutched her chest tighter. "We're going to mortalize him" She gulped before going on. "And if the process alone won't kill him, the Atrox will".

Serena fell back in a chair, overwhelmed. How could they be so inhumane? Low sobs arose from her side and she looked down to see Adonis bawling into the hem of her hoodie. She picked him up and held him to her chest, her eyes dead set on Catty's, deep and stone cold.

The brunette's fingers were trembling now. She held on to the table to steady them, but it only made things worse. Serena raised an eyebrow. Catty wasn't trembling from the cold. Something else was enveloping her: Guilt.

"I'm sorry", Catty breathed, unable to bring herself to look at Adonis. "I mean… I don't…"

"You don't have to do it", Serena interrupted her, her forest green eyes hopeful. "Not if you don't want to"

Catty just stared down at the midnight blue floor tiles. "He's dangerous"

"He never hurt me, Catty", Serena begged her. "Not once. And, believe me, he had lots of opportunities"

"Then why didn't he?"

"Because he's innocent, dammit!" Serena slammed her hand rapidly down on the table, feeling like a lawyer. "Come on! He helped us trap the Atrox the first time around!"

Her fingers were biting into her arms now. "I don't understand"

"You don't want to understand!" Serena snapped. "You can't hurt him! He never did anything to you!"

"Well, he did help Vanessa", Catty sighed. "But I can't side with you. He's a follower"

"Used to be a follower" Serena corrected her.

"Whatever", Catty moaned. "I can't. It's like against the Goddess rules or something"

Serena laughed bitterly. "Since when do you follow rules?" She let Adonis sit down in the chair and got up to pace, her arms crossed. "Have you lost your nerve? Your daring?"

Catty's head snapped up. "Is that what you think?"

"I think you don't have the guts" Serena challenged her, emerald eyes blazing. So far her method seemed to be working.

Catty stood from her seat. "It's not that! I just-"

"Don't trust him?" Serena answered for her. "Why not? What has he done to you?"

The girl just shrugged, unable to answer.

"I thought so", Serena nodded. "You're backing down"

"I never back down", Catty seethed, anger flashing through her dark eyes. "But I won't let you manipulate me either"

Dammit. "Catty", she sighed, falling into a stool beside her. "I'm sorry, but I'm going to do this either way. With or without your help"

"How?"

"I'll find a way", Serena shrugged, secretly grimacing. She didn't even know where to start.

"Do you really love him?" Catty asked, twiddling her thumbs.

Serena sighed musingly, remembering their parting words. "Yeah. Or at least I will eventually".

Catty gave her a strange look and she couldn't help but to return it with a laugh. After a few seconds Catty started to laugh too and before long their laughter was accompanied by a stream of steady tears.

"Wow", Catty mumbled wiping at the dampness on her cheeks. "We're too young for this stuff" she joked, telling the truth.

Serena nodded and sniffed, taking two paper towels from the counter and handing one to her. "Tell me about it"

Catty smiled wryly, her cheeks a rosy red. "Yeah. I thought I would have a nervous breakdown when I found out about the whole destiny thing". She blew her nose, sorrow in her eyes. "But I guess it's inevitable, huh?"

Serena took her hand. "Nothing's inevitable. You just have to know how to get around it". Whoa! Where did that come from?

Catty sniffed and gave her a genuine smile. "How did you get so wise? I feel like I can trust you with anything"

Serena smiled back. "Then you have to trust me now". She squeezed her hand tighter. "Help me. Please?"

The grin fell from Catty's lips and she looked down again.

"Catty, please?"

Silence.

"I can't do this with out you". Tears were edging their way back into her eyes now.

More silence.

"You said it was kind of cool. In that Buffy/ Angel sort of way?" Serena pleaded, desperate now.

"Yeah", Catty murmured doubtfully. "But…"

Something in Serena's chest curled up tightly into a ball and the chaotic hell inside of her seemed to freeze over. "But what?"

Catty looked up at her, wiped at a single tear and let a sly smile creep over her lips. "Stanton's way hotter"

Serena's eyes beamed with overpowering joy, and another stream of hot tears gushed from her eyes. "Then you'll take me?"

Catty crossed her arms and gave Serena the once over. "Not like that. Come on". She started towards the hallway. "I've got some wicked stuff for you to wear". She motioned towards Adonis who had been staring at them quietly from the table. "You too!"

She finally reached a closet in which she pulled out two halter dresses. "Pretty in pink?" she sang in an exaggerated preppy voice, holding up one dress. "Or red hot?" she offered dramatically and struck a sexy pose. Adonis stuck out his tongue in disgust and Serena laughed. For the first time, she saw in Catty, all of the traits that Vanessa adored about her. The courage, the sacrifice, and a sizzling sense of style.

AGH! I hate writing sappy! I hate it! I hate it! I hate iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit! Man…. Its hard for me not to be goofy. This chapter was super hard for me! What do you think? Should I rewrite it? Tell me pleeeeeeease!

REVIEW CORNER:

AngelofDarkness1566- Glad you luved it! Sorry it took SOOOOOO LOOOOONG to update! The next chappy'll be up SUPER FAST cause its really short!

Moonlightchild4- Wow that is… a lot of questions… Heaven does not have super powers. Payasa wont be back (sorries!) Stanton is snorkeling or dying a horrible death or just chilling with his G's. You'll never know! The boy in Serena's room is Collin!

Shadowings- Thank you sooooooo much! For the cool compliments! Yes you were right for the first time! DON'T MAKE A HABIT OF IT!

MiniSparky- Glad you thought it was funny! Stanton will be back SUPER soon! So don't touch that "X" button!

TayTay09- Yeah I got some original fiction. I just never finish it LOL

Kiley- LANGUAGE! Kiley- Kyle Kyle!

Moraq- YEAH! That's where I got the name from! I love that name! Its so purdy! I was about to name Heaven something similar but who wants to pronounce (or spell) Aphrodite?

Badlilme- Sorry its confusing but Im glad you're lovin it!

Elephantsrocmysox- Of course Adonis is a guy! So that's why you asked if he was a DOTM! Wow…

Bonnie Kitts- Glad you think it was good! Love the name. Is that like er… Irish?

AngelGoddess6- Ohhhhh yeah! Writing more RIGHT NOW!

RainChild- WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? LOL Sorry I am driving you insane!

DarkGoddess57- The person in the bathroom will show up super soon. Man, Im confusing myself with this plot. I prolly should have made an outline O.o

Blondie91- Well here it is! Fresh from Word! Enjoy!