Faithers: *steals the Buck plushie* GRRRR. -_-

Amethyst: =D

Faithers: *bad mood because she still doesn't have one* GRRRR. -_-

Amethyst: My laptop keeps freezing up. -.-" BUT my new Buck plushie makes it better. ^^

Faithers: *stomps off to bug parents for Buck plushie* GRRRR! -_-

Amethyst: Well, seeing as how Faithers doesn't have much to say other than "GRRRR", here's the chapter! *throws Buck some beef to make up for last time*

Scrat couldn't take it anymore. He had been following Scratte and Skrit around, waiting for his chance to valiantly save Scratte from the brown squirrel, and all that was happening was that he was getting angrier by the second.

Which, obviously, wasn't very productive.

What was he supposed to do? Scratte seemed perfectly happy (this fact made him angrier-er), and it's not like he had a plan.

He watched Skrit watch Scratte, and he watched Scratte watch Skrit back. He felt like a shadow, witnessing everything that happened but unable to do anything but follow along. This frustrated him, because…

Hm. Why DID it frustrate him? He had gotten over his infatuation with the female squirrel, hadn't he? At least, that's what he had thought.

Scratte was making pretty eyes at Skrit...AGAIN. Scrat twitched as he watched them. Then he noticed Skrit's eyes drifting constantly down to the acorn half in Scratte's paws.

Oh that brown squirrel was going to PAY.

At first, Buck had insisted on walking on his own, saying that with his brace, he would be able to walk just fine.

Peaches, however, would not allow it. Being just as stubborn as Buck, she had picked him up with her trunk and promptly set him down on her back.

After much complaining on Buck's part, he had finally relented and merely instructed her where to go, still pointing out interesting things to Crash and Eddie as they moved.

Peaches was left wandering around in her thoughts, barely able to listen to Buck's directions and change course as he indicated. She thought about her parents. She thought about her other two 'uncles'. And she thought about the fight with her dad.

Where was he anyway? Was he worried? Did he know that she was gone yet? Surely he must, they'd been gone for two days now. Was he out looking for her, or waiting for her to come back? Was he-

"Fruity?"

She glanced around, looking at Buck over her shoulder, "Yeah?" she asked quietly, coming to a stop.

He turned to his fanboys. "Why don' you two find something to eat? You haven' eaten anythin' since ya got down here. Stay close, though."

They obliged, leaving Buck and Peaches alone. He looked at her. "Wha's troublin' ya?"

"You wouldn't talk last night, why should I talk now?" Peaches said stubbornly, though a part of her really hoped he came up with a good reason against it. She really needed to talk to someone.

"You needed ta sleep," he said matter-of-factly, "and it woulda been a long story. Teenage problems are much simpla."

Peaches sighed, "You needed to sleep too, you know." she frowned, "But...I was thinking about my dad...wondering if he was looking for me somewhere or something."

He paused, thoughtful. "I'm sure 'e's worried abou'cha, if tha' helps."

Peaches frowned, "I just...feel kinda guilty I guess. I'm probably worrying them all, and...well...I wish I could tell them I was sorry." she looked to the ground.

Buck tilted his head. "Wha' happened?"

"I had this big fight with my dad..." Peaches admitted, "And I didn't exactly make up with him before coming down here..."

"Ah, I see." He scooted up and leaned on her head. "Wish I could say I know wha' tha's like. Nevah go' into fights with my parents though. No point."

"Parent...s? You only ever talked about your dad. What was your mom like?" she asked curiously.

Buck smiled fondly. "'Er name was Nyota. She was really nice, and I coul' tell tha' she loved all 'a us, but…"

"But?"

"Well, wha' with fifteen kits, she was fairly busy. An'…" He sighed sadly. "She died givin' birth. Only one kit survived, but…Well, le's just say tha' she didn' live a very long life."

Peaches blinked, "That's...depressing."

He grinned. "My whole life is depressin', Fruity. Bu' as ya can see, I turned out jus' fine!"

Peaches had no response to that, out of trying so hard not to laugh at him. It was then that Crash and Eddie came back, sighing contentedly and lounging once they clambered back on her back.

Diego had started to notice that Manny was getting more and more determined as time passed. He was starting to get worried. If Manny kept getting worse, who knew what could happen?

The lingering doubt still sat there from the main knowledge that 'Guys don't comfort guys'. It's not that he didn't want to comfort Manny…

…Okay, so, maybe that was it. He had no idea what to say. What COULD he say? "Hey Manny, sorry about your kid, but hey, cheer up, she's probably with Buck" wouldn't calm him in the least. He would get Ellie, but she was talking to Avery, and he didn't want to interrupt. And there was no way he was going to trust Sid with something like this. So, he supposed, it was up to him.

"So…" Diego started uncertainly. This was going to be much more difficult than he had originally thought.

Manny looked down on him, a surprised look on his face, "What is it, Diego?"

"…How're you doing?" A feeble attempt, but at least it was something.

Manny frowned, "Not great." he admitted. "I'm worried about Peaches."

"Well, is there anything I can do?"

"I doubt it." Manny offered a weak smile, "I just really want to find her..."

"Well, if it's any help, I'm sure she's fine." Diego said, smiling reassuringly at his larger friend.

Manny sighed, "I really hope so."

"So…" Avery started, looking up at his new friend. "Wot kinda dinosaurs are down here, anyway? Ya didn't specify."

"All sorts, really. We saw a mother Tyrannosaurus Rex, a giant white dino that was bigger than Mama T-Rex, little dinosaurs that were fast and had feathers on their heads, a big plant eater, an armored dinosaur with a club-like tail, flying dinosaurs..."

"I see…And, th' big white one, didn'cha say tha' Buck saved ya from it?" Avery asked, remembering their conversation from the previous night.

"Yeah. It was amazing to watch, really." Ellie smiled, "He danced out of the way of every blow, and managed to tie the giant up with vines then push him off a cliff into a gorge. It gave us enough time to get back to the surface..."

He couldn't hold in the breathy "wow" that escaped his mouth. His son had done all that?

Buck had left a few moments before, his ankle having healed some and being able to support his weight, searching for food for the three surface dwellers. This left the family alone, and just before he headed out of earshot, he could hear Crash and Eddie starting to gush about him again. He smirked slightly and continued walking.

"Isn't he great Princess?" Crash said, grinning up at her.

"Yeah, isn't he just so awesome?" Eddie added, jumping around, stabbing imaginary dinos with an invisible knife.

She rolled her eyes. "He's definitely something, I'll give him that."

Crash grinned, "And you haven't heard the story he told us last time, have you?"

"What story?"

Eddie and Crash shared a smirk, "He'll have to tell you himself, it was much better with him telling it."

She resisted rolling her eyes once more. "According to you two, everything is better if Buck does it."

"Well it's true!" Eddie insisted.

She raised an eyebrow, staring at him. "Such fanboys…" She mumbled, shaking her head.

"You know you love us, Princess!" Eddie smiled sweetly, "We ARE your favorite uncles."

She sighed as she spoke, "Yes, yes, I do." She smirked. "Even if you ARE idiots."

"Oh now that hurt!" Crash pouted, "Why must you hurt us so?"

"We're much nicer to you than you are to us." Eddie noted, "It makes me wonder just how you treat Diego and Sid."

She only grinned innocently.

"Alright, mammals!" Buck said, reappearing with his arms full of various plants and fruits. "Eat up!"

Crash and Eddie immediately dug into the food that had been gathered, and Peaches smiled as she ate some of the berries. It was SO easy to wind her uncles up.

Buck: Faitha's is still off growlin' somewhere.

Amethyst: Still? Sheesh. I told her I'd share. xD

Buck: *shrugs* She wants her own, app'rently.

Amethyst: Ah, I see. OH! Anyone who gets the Star Trek reference I made gets a cookie. Hint: Nyota Uhura. =D

Amethyst: Well...They have to specify as to exactly WHO she is and what role she plays. =D

Buck: ...I c'n hear 'em now... "Off ta Google!"

Amethyst: OI, NO GOOGLING. That'd be cheating. XD

Buck: No' like ya c'n stop 'em, 'xactly.

Amethyst: Points fer tryin'.

Buck: Well, tha' was th' chapta, I s'pose

Amethyst: *cuddles Buck plushie* see ya'll!

Faithers: *far away* GRRRRR!