A/N I'm back with another chapter! I have to say that I'm really happy about the way that this story is turning out. ^-^ Anyway, enjoy!

"Any ideas of what to do with her?" Tooth asks, pointing towards the women laying on the ground. I glance behind me and lean back on my arms.

"Well, we should keep her close until everyone that went missing turns up. Just in case." I respond. Everyone nods in agreement. "The more important question is where do we keep her?" I inquire. This is going to be up to the guardians. I don't have a home base, so I won't be keeping her with me. They'll have to work it out for themselves.

"Why don't we keep her at North's place? If Sandy is willing, we can borrow some sleeping dust to keep her sedated. If we need to talk to her we'll just have to be cautious about it. Some one'll have to wear earplugs so they can knock her out again if she starts singing or whatever." Jack suggests, now standing about ten feet away from me. I nod my head in response, because it's a pretty good plan. To be honest, though, I'm mostly just too excited to even care about what happens next.

I still can't believe that we've won! We actually beat this by working together as a team. I grow quite and revel in my happiness. I enjoy watching the guardians talk excitedly about everything that occurred, and also apologizing for some of the same reasons. Jack was mainly the one apologizing, but everyone forgave him almost instantly. Tooth is hugging everyone, while North keeps trying to get a high five from Aster. As I watch the five of them together I feel an overwhelming fondness for these people. I've never been one to have many friends, but these guys have grown on me in the past few days. I see them as something starting to resemble friends. Maybe it's just the excitement high talking, who knows.

The only thing that really matters is that we're all still alive. Some of us worse for wear and tear, but still alive. We made it through this. Now I can understand why Manny chose these five to become guardians. They really do care for one another, and not just because they're bonded through their oaths. I think that I'm lucky to have had the opportunity to fight along side them. Somehow, they've shown me that I don't have to always be alone to really be free. In fact, being alone feels more like a prison now. I guess I was just used to it? I don't know, but I defiantly make a mental not to at least start talking to some other people. If I can find even one friend who's as loyal as these guys are to each other, I will indeed be lucky.

"I think we deserve to celebrate!" Tooth exclaims as she flitters about a foot off the ground.

"I'll agree with that. We can do it at my place, so that River can come if she wants." Aster recommends. Everyone looks at me expectantly.

"Why not? I don't have anything else to do tonight." I say with a smile.

"Jack and I'll drop her off," North says, gesturing to the women on the ground, "Then we meet you there!"

"Okay, but somebody has to help me up first." I say laughing. I hold out my hand and Tooth excitedly grabs it. She helps me up and I'm surprised. Tooth is stronger than she looks. I pat her on the shoulder and say a quick thanks. After North and Jack disappear through a portal that North opened up with a snow globe, Aster thumps his foot on the ground twice. Gravity pulls the four of us downwards. A giddy laugh escapes my throat as Sandy, Tooth, Aster, and I slide along the underground tunnel.

When we finally excite the tunnel, we're all deposited onto the ground in a frenzied clump. Our limbs are tangled together in an absolute mess. We all start trying to pull ourselves free, but somehow we only manage to get even more tangled. I start laughing at how silly we must all look, and soon Tooth starts laughing with me. Aster is the first one to successfully stand up. He turns around with an amused smile gracing his features. He bends over and starts to untie us like someone would untie a shoelace. Soon enough we're all standing separately from each other, even though Tooth and I are still giggling to each other.

We follow Aster towards his house, and he holds the door open as we walk inside. Aster excuses himself for a moment to grab some drinks for everyone. Sandy and Tooth make themselves comfortable, and I wonder how many times they've been here to celebrate. Sandy sits on one of the two chairs. There's also a couch. I can't stop myself from pondering how much time Aster himself spends in this room. I just can't picture him reclining out on the couch after a long day of work. I chuckle to myself and walk over to where Tooth is now sitting on the couch. I plop myself down on the ground in front of her.

"Hey River, will you show me how you did that fireball thing?" Tooth asks. I look over my shoulder at her.

"Sure." I reply. I hold up my left hand and summon a small flame. Tooth's looking intently at it as I make it grow until it's about the size of a baseball. The fire is reflecting in her eyes, and she smiles.

"That's really cool!" She exclaims. I opened my mouth to respond, but Aster walks into the room before I can.

"Oi! Ya better not set anythin' on fire!" Aster warns as he eyeballs the flame. I roll my eyes.

"That happened one time!" I exclaim sarcastically as I extinguish the flame. I laugh and turn back around as Aster begins handing us glasses that he's filled up with... Something. I honestly have no idea what this is, but it smells strong. I take a small sip and begin coughing as it burns my throat.

"Little too strong for ya Shelia?" He jokes. I try to glare at him, but end up laughing at myself instead.

I can already tell that it's going to be a good night. Soon after we've all settled down, Jack and North arrive. Jack sits on the opposite end of the room as I am, while North takes one of the chairs. Everyone begins joking and chatting with each other. Tooth and I settle into a good session of girl talk before we decided that it would be a good idea to start ranking the men based on cuteness. Everyone thought it was pretty funny. After about the third drink my brain started to go fuzzy. I somehow lost my ability to talk properly, but I couldn't care less. The other's were in the same shape as I was.

After a few hours of laughing at each other, we decided to call it quits for tonight. After all, some of us still had to work tomorrow. Everyone stumbled to get up and we all hugged each other. Tooth told me that I needed to come by more often and I promised that I would. We all started to walk out the door one by one. I was the last in line to leave, but I didn't even make it all the way out the door when Aster called me back. I walked back towards him and leaned over the back of the couch.

"Yep?" I asked with my face pressed against the couch cushions.

"Are ya okay?" He asked with an amused tone. I gave him a thumbs up as I giggled to myself. "Why don't ya stay here tonight?" He asked, a little more seriously. I pushed myself off the couch enough to look at him.

"What?" I asked. My brain is no longer working, so I didn't fully process what he just asked me.

"Stay here tonight. We have to meet up tomorrow anyway.." He trails off. I pause as my brain finally comprehends what he said.

"Sounds good ta me." I say with a shrug. I'm way to far gone to even care at this point. Aster get's up and begins to gather the cups that everyone used. That last thing I remember doing is rolling over the back of the couch to lay down on the cushions. I fall asleep without a second thought.

A/N Guys, I think I'm getting sick.. In the middle of the summer.. Joy! lol. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Stay awesome!