Faithers: And so, dear friends, another week has come to pass. Welcome back to Buck Up.

Amethyst: Locrian-Mode disappeared again...D:

Faithers: D= That's bad. As you all know, we thrive with her Reviews.

Amethyst: And we all want to know what happens in her story...

Faithers: So~ I declare... the next update should wait until she lets us know what's happening~

Amethyst: Agreed. So we will again torture you readers with no updates until she reviews! Or at least replies to that one message we sent her...

Faithers: Here's hoping that happens soon!

Ellie walked over to Buck, looking down at him worriedly and wondering where Avery was. "Are you okay?' She asked, aware that he'd probably been asked that same question several times by now.

Buck looked up at her despondently, his face looking drawn and tired. "I tried ta ge' i' away fr'm 'im... an' 'e 'adta ge' i' away fr'm me..." he sighed, looking away again, "I... I shoulda..." he furiously wiped his eye, "I shoulda ap'logized!"

Peaches looked at him sternly, unintentionally interrupting whatever her mother was going to say. "Don't talk like he's dead! He's prolly fine."

Buck looked at her solemnly, "'e... migh' be... though... an' I..." he looked away again, wiping his eyes once more with guilt clear on his face.

"You should have more faith in him than that." Peaches said, almost scolding.

Buck made no response, staring into the woods where Avery had disappeared. He swallowed painfully.

A twig snapped from a little ways behind the bushes, and Peaches tensed, fearing that it was the Raptor.

Buck's grip on his dagger tightened, though anyone could see that there was a wild look of hope in his eyes. He pushed himself to standing position, leaning lightly on his still sprained ankle.

Avery limped out of the bushes, holding his bleeding arm and grumbling to himself. "I'm too old fer this...I hate dinosaurs..."

Buck's eye widened, and a weak smile appeared on his face. He seemed to be warring with himself for a few seconds before he propelled himself forward and threw his arms around Avery.

Avery "oof"'ed and automatically wrapped his uninjured arm around Buck, surprised. "Uh, hi. Are you alrigh'?"

Peaches giggled quietly.

"Are you?" Buck asked back seriously, releasing Avery.

Avery blinked, still surprised at being hugged. "Er, well...I'll be fine. Bu' I'm no' the one who go' thrown into a tree."

Buck waved his hand, "Bin through worse." He paused, "...well... er..."

Avery raised an eyebrow. "Worse?"

Buck rubbed the back of his head, "Yeh... Rudy's throat isn' exac'ly the mos' comf'table place ta be." he gave a shaky grin, "Then the'ahs th'... eh... Cave a' no Return... yeh... um..."

Avery raised his other eyebrow, indicating that he wanted Buck to explain.

Buck indicated his ankle, "This's bin annoyin' me since we wen' through i'... an' i's really th' only reason I was, ehm, knocked inta th' tree..."

Avery considered this. "Jus' wot exac'ly have ya been up to down he-ah, anyway?"

Peaches looked at Buck expectantly, waiting for his answer.

Buck gave an embarrassed laugh, "Long story... wot with th' dino's, and ge'in' married ta a pineapple... and havin' tha' pineapple cheat on me wi' s'me broccoli... ge'in' divorced ta said pineapple..."

Avery nodded understandingly as if it was something that happened all the time. "Tha' doesn' sound fun."

Buck shook his head, "No' fun at all."

"...the pineapple cheated on him..." Crash started.

"...with... broccoli?" Eddie finished, glancing at Ellie and Manny in curiosity. Manny rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"We already know he's insane, just let him live in his little world." Diego sad softly.

"Yeah!" Sid said with a chuckle, "After all, you guys said he didn't like broccoli... now we know WHY!"

Peaches looked at Avery. "So, your son married a pineapple...and the pineapple supposedly cheated on him...with broccoli...and you don't mind?" She asked for clarification.

Avery raised an eyebrow at her. "'course no'. Happ'ns all the time, dunnit?"

Peaches rolled her eyes.

Buck chuckled weakly, "Does make me miss 'er some..." he muttered, seemingly to himself. His eye got a faraway look to it.

"Yeh, I s'pose i' does." Avery said, eyes also dreamy.

"Wonda wha' happ'ned ta 'er?" Buck murmured, rubbing his chin where a small goatee of fur jutted out.

"Who?" Avery asked, sensing that Buck was no longer talking about the pineapple.

"Gal I'm... pre'y sure I me' befo' comin' down he-ah..." Buck said uneasily, "Pre'ty lass, real spunky. Kinda go' chas'd off fr'm 'er one day. Wonder if she's still aroun' somewhe-ah..."

Avery looked at him consideringly. "Maybe we should go up an' look fo' 'er?" He suggested innocently.

Buck looked away, "Dou' she'd take me back..." he said softly, "Kinda left'er in a pinch..." he looked down, obviously embarrassed.

"Well, the-ah's only one way to find out." Avery said, idly wondering what the "pinch" was but deciding not to ask.

Buck looked around, frowning, "Well..." he seemed unsure. "I'd like to... bu'... this place..."

Peaches gave him the cutest face she could muster. Which was quite impressively adorable, if she did say so herself. "Please, Buck?"

Buck looked away, face closed off. Unfortunately this brought him face to face with the twins.

"PLEASE?" Eddie practically begged.

"Will you?!" Crash asked half a second later.

"Well... maybe f'r visits?" he finally said softly, "I can' jus' leave here... this's my home, forbiddin' as i' is..."

Avery chuckled. "Well, le's ge' goin' then." He said just as innocently as before.

"Betta ge' ya all ta th' surface..." Buck muttered, limping forward. He almost anticipated the trunk to appear around his waist, much more lightly than usual. Peaches plopped him on her head and he smiled.

Faithers: We're nearing the end here! One more real chapter and then the epilogue is what we've planned. Thanks to everyone who's been sticking around. REMEMBER! This next chapter needs YOU.

Amethyst: And Locrian-Mode. We need you too!

Faithers: We need you to update Rising.

Amethyst: Yeees, yes we dooo. ALSO: Russia!Ammy says that you have to review! That threat for banishing you all to Siberia is still in effect! SO REVIEW. Unless you want to freeze to death. ^-^

Faithers: And Canada!Faith still will not help you! Canada!Faith has already become one with Russia!Ammy.

Amethyst: You will all become one with Russia! ^-^