First, my Adam/Tanya fic, now, this one. Two updates in one day. Don't cha just love when I do that, LOL? ;-)

To my reviewers- ya know who you are- keep that amazing support coming!

Anyway, on with chapter fifteen.

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Chad stared at Gina as if she'd just revealed she was half-alien. Had she really just said the words he'd started to believe she'd never say? Going back to Angel Grove? Wow... .

"You're... you're, uh, going back?" he said. What else could he say at that moment?

"Yeah. I've been thinking a lot about it. The longer I wait, the worse it'll be, right? I gotta tell ya... I'm really, really nervous about all this. I mean, I know I've only been gone for less than a year, but... what if there've been a lot of changes, you know?" Gina said, shaking her head.

Chad was still too busy reeling from the news. Going back to Angel Grove. She was going back. He couldn't help but suddenly wonder what "going back" meant. Was she leaving Sacramento- and him- permanently? What would all this mean for them? What if seeing Jason again made her realize she really wasn't over him?

"And, Chad, I want you to come with me," she said, taking his hands in hers.

That snapped him back to reality. "Huh?"

"You can meet Jade and... I just don't think I can deal with Jason on my own. Having you by my side would really help a lot," she said, her eyes pleading with him.

"I'll be happy to help you in any way I can. You know that. But, I have to ask... are you talking about going back for good or..." his voice trailed off and his eyebrows rose.

"No. Not for good. Not yet. I just think Jade really needs to see me," she said.

"So, what are you expecting to happen exactly, Gina? You don't really think Jason's gonna be so quick to work out some kinda visitation schedule with you after... the way you handled the situation. Do you?" Chad asked carefully.

She sighed. "I know it's not gonna be easy. I know that seeing me again after the way I left will really, well, piss him off. Believe me, I'm not looking forward to it at all."

"Gina, are you saying that you now want to be a mother?" he asked.

"The whole idea is still very unappealing to me. I don't know if and when that's ever gonna change. But Jade's really young and... I don't know. I just think I need to go back," Gina said.

"Okay. When?" he asked.

"I was thinking this Friday... which is Jade's birthday. We can get our shifts covered with no problem," she said.

"And we'll make a weekend of it," he said.

"Yeah. Or maybe stay an extra day or two, I don't know," she said. She didn't know anything about anything right now. Her emotions were all over the place.

Chad rubbed his chin, then, laughed a little. "Gina, you know you've always got my support, but... maybe I shouldn't go."

"What? Why not?" she asked with a frown. She wouldn't be able to get through it without him.

"Jason," he replied simply.

"Jason?" she said.

"Jason," he said, nodding.

"What about him?" she asked warily. Always wary where Jason was concerned... .

Chad sighed deeply. "Gina, you're coming back into his life after being gone for nearly a year- and he has no idea where you disappeared off to. That's gonna be a lot to deal with. Bringing me... . Well, don't cha think that's kind of... wrong?"

"Well, I don't intend to flaunt anything in his face, Chad. If it makes you feel better, I'll just say you're a good friend of mine," she said.

"He might not buy it. Even if he does... what if it turns out he hasn't moved past you?" Chad asked, looking into her eyes.

"I'll just have to explain to him that I have moved on," she said.

"You've just got all the answers, don't you?" he said with a chuckle.

"Chad, you don't have anything to worry about. No matter what happens, it won't affect us," she said seriously.

"We'll see," he said.

"It won't," she assured him.

He just nodded. "So... Friday, huh?"

"Friday," she breathed.

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(Angel Grove)

(Thursday evening)

Kim laughed a few nights later at a joke Jason's brother, Todd, had just told. She, Jason, Jade, Todd and Jeff- Jason's other brother- were having dinner at Ms. Scott's.

"That was pretty funny, Todd," Kim said.

Todd grinned at the woman he'd had a crush on as a kid. "Thanks, Kim. I'm glad ya appreciate my talent for comedy."

"You don't have any," Jeff said with a smirk.

"Agreed," Jason said, his eyes dancing with amusement.

"Ignore them, sweetie. You've always been very funny," Ms. Scott said, grinning at Todd.

"Thanks, mother dear. May I say you're looking quite lovely this evening?" Todd said.

"Suck-up," Jason said with a cough.

"You said it, bro. Todd could make a great living as a vacuum cleaner," Jeff said. Teasing Todd together had, of course, always been a favorite hobby of his and Jason's.

"Jase, Jeff... jealousy's a very ugly thing," Todd said, mock serious.

"Isn't it, though?" Ms. Scott said, her eyes twinkling.

"I'll say," Kim said, unable to resist getting in on it.

"Looks like it's three against two," Todd said- causing the others to laugh good-naturedly.

"Can I have a brownie?" Jade asked, looking at her broccoli in disgust.

"I know how ya feel, kid. You still can't get me to go anywhere near squash,"Jeff said, shaking his head.

"And, boy, did I try," Ms. Scott said with a laugh.

Jason looked at Jade. "Princess, you've gotta eat more of your dinner first. You know the rules."

Jade pouted, but, resumed eating.

Just then, the doorbell rang. Ms. Scott gently wiped her mouth and stood. "I'll be right back." Then, she exited the room.

Todd cleared his throat. "Gee, I wonder who's turning four tomorrow. It's not me..."

"Or me," Jeff piped up.

"Or me," Kim and Jason said.

"It's me! I'll be four tomorrow!" Jade said happily.

"And you are gonna love the present I got you, kid," Todd said, nodding.

"What is it, Uncle Todd? What is it?" Jade asked, bouncing up and down excitedly.

"Sorry, little one, ya gotta wait til tomorrow. It's a surprise," Todd said.

"Aww," Jade said- causing the others to laugh.

Ms. Scott stepped into the doorway of the dining room. She was wearing a strange expression.

"Is everything okay?" Kim- who was the first to notice the woman- asked in concern.

"Not really," Ms. Scott said slowly.

"What is it, Mom?" Jeff asked, sitting up straight.

"Your father's here. He wants to talk to you and your brothers," she replied quietly.

The three Scott boys looked at each other... their appetites quickly vanishing.

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That's all for now. My apologies for it being kinda short. Hope ya liked it anyway. The juicier stuff is on its way! Stay tuned!