Oh no guys! 8 more chapters until the end of this thing! Hard to believe that I actually stuck with the story, seeing how boring the 1st chapter was to me. Anyways, this chapter has another song inspired for it and I'll put it in the scene it was meant for. This chapter was kind of a mix of fun and sadness to write…

On to the reviews!

doodlegirll: You'll find out right now. Enjoy!

Now on with the show!

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Chapter 22

It's Love, Isn't It?

-

The three friends reunion came as a shock to them all. Al looked at them both with fear, as Mike couldn't help but stare at her. Ted's jaw had literally dropped, and he was using a screwdriver to put it back in its place. Finally, Mike got up the gall to speak.

"Al…Al…what are you doing here? Why are you sneaking about?"

When Al did not answer, he realized why. He stood over her and took off the tape from her mouth.

"Well?" asked Mike awaiting an answer. Al refused to look at him, but she spoke.

"I came here for my camera," she said simply.

"There must be another reason!" he yelled at her, nearly knocking Ted over in the process.

"None of which that concerns you," she said coldly.

"Of course it concerns me!" he yelled. "It's my lab and you snuck into it!"

-

Wilbur could hear the yelling. H knew Al had been caught. But what could he do?

I better get Carl. I can take them on…but it would be rude to leave Carl out of the fun, he thought to himself reassuringly.

And with that, he ran outside to seek the aid of his friend.

-

Al and Mike looked at one another with cold stares. Ted had finally had his jaw in place.

"Gee, Al," he said as he looked at her. "I thought I'd see you again...just not as a SPY!"

"I'm not a spy Ted," she said rolling her eyes. "I'm here to seek the truth."

"WHAT TRUTH?" yelled Mike. "What could I possibly have that could make you sneak back here?"

"A TIME MACHINE!"

Mike froze. He looked at Al, who was fuming.

"What?" he asked, incredulously.

Al smirked. "That's right…A Time Machine. One of them has gone missing from old Robinsons' lab. Yeah…Wilbur Robinson has told me all about you. I though you were worse before, but his experience with you has proved me wrong…your even worse…"

"Wilbur Robinson!" he yelled. "You would trust what a snot nosed kid tells you?"

"He's more reliable and trustworthy than you'll EVER BE!" she screeched.

This struck a blow at Mike. Ted ran over to him, worried.

"Hey Yagoobian…you okay?" he asked. Mike did not answer. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he pushed Ted out of the way to face Al completely. He kneeled to where she was tied up and looked her straight into her cold dead eyes.

(song: "Goob's Story" by Danny Elfman. Only for the scene between Mike and Al)

"Al…" he began. "What has happened to us? Ever since my little fiasco with the Robinsons, all I ever wanted was a friend…and when you came along…it was as if my wish came true. Even more so! Not only did I receive a friend, but…I got someone who truly cared for me. Someone who I cared for back…someone…I loved…"

Al's eyes brightened up a little, but she grew frightened.

"Don't you see Al?" continued Mike. "I love you! I know I never said it, but wasn't it obvious? Ever since you left, I've been a mess! Two days Al…TWO DAYS! That's 48 hours without you! Life never seemed more pointless…pointless without you…"

Al's mind was racing with kind things to say, but she held her tongue. Mike sighed when she did not reply. He swiftly untied her and helped her stand up. Al suddenly gave a shriek of terror when Mike pulled her close to him in a tight embrace. She did not return it; keeping her arms close to her sides.

"Al…" he whispered. "Please come home. Things are not the same without you. Come back Ally…please…I…I l-l-love you…"

Al suddenly began to cry. She really wanted to say something, but could not bring herself to it. She couldn't believe what he was doing…he's probably messing around with her feelings. She wants to believe him, but she knows it can't be right. Still, she felt the need to hug him back. Her arms trembled as they moved to embrace him when…

"Get...your greasy mitts off of her…"

Al stopped what she was doing and pushed away from Mike. Both of them saw Wilbur and Carl standing before them in fighting positions.

"Wilbur! Carl!" she screamed in delight. "Thank goodness!"

"Well, if it isn't the Robinson kid and their piece of junk," said Mike, unimpressed. "Isn't it passed your bedtime?"

"Shut up Bowler Hat guy," said Wilbur with a sneer. "All we want is the girl…now gimme!"

"Yeah…step away from old Ally," said Carl.

"I'd like to see you try and stop me!" said Mike, sticking out his tongue.

This was the trigger for Wilbur and Carl to attack. Wilbur went after Mike while Carl went over to where Al was.

"You okay?" he asked.

"I am now," she said with a small smile.

Suddenly, Ted rushed over to where they were. Carl got into an attack mode.

"Al! Get behind me!" he cried and Al obeyed.

"No! You don't understand!" said Ted. "I don't want to fight you."

"Yeah right!" said Carl.

Ted rolled his eyes. "You idiot! We don't want to hurt Al! We just want to talk to her…"

"Talk to THIS!"

And with that, his arm extended to give Ted a good punch right in the kisser. Ted was sent flying up against the wall. The wire circuits on his head buzzed with sparks; he was temporarily knocked out.

"Never mess with the robot who can stretch," said Carl. Al laughed, but couldn't helpbut think:

Poor Ted. Too bad he can't stretch...he's just bendy...

Meanwhile, Wilbur had knocked Mike off his feet and was about to punch him when Mike kicked him off, sending Wilbur flying. Mike stood up and brushed himself.

"Nice try kid," he said as Wilbur struggled to get up. Mike was about to get a hold of Wilbur when…

"HYYYYYAAAHHHH!!!"

Within a second, Al kicked Mike in his vulnerable spot. Mike fell over in pain, screaming and moaning.

"Let's go!" said Wilbur as he dragged Al and Carl out of the lab and out of the house.

-

After a little bit of running, Al, Wilbur and Carl finally paused for a little bit to take a breather.

"Nice moves out there little buddy," said Carl giving his friend a high-five. "Lucky for you Al stepped in for you there when Mike almost had you…"

"Hey!" said Wilbur. "I let her do that!"

Carl scoffed. "Yeah…sure you did…."

Wilbur saw Al not responding to their conversation. She was holding her camera close to her, looking up at the dark sky that twinkled with stars as the wind blew strongly.

"Gee Al," said Wilbur, walking over to where she was. "I'm sorry I didn't come in sooner. I never would have thought he would pull off the "I love you" st…"

But he was cut off when Al immediately hugged him. Wilbur, somewhat surprised, hugged her back.

Score! Thought his teenage mind. Wait 'till the boys at school hear about this…

"Oh Wilbur," cried Al. "It was horrible…I don't know what I would have done if you didn't come in time…"

They stopped hugging and Wilbur looked up at Al's eyes, which were red and puffy. He gasped.

"You loved him, didn't you?"

Al nodded. "That's why…it hurt…when he did that…"

Carl slapped himself on the head. "Just when I thought the plot couldn't get even more complicated…"

"Wilbur…Carl…" began Al, "Thank you for everything but…I don't want to spy on Mike anymore…I just want to move on…"

Wilbur was opened his mouth to protest, but he closed his mouth and nodded. Al smiled. She gave Carl a hug and a kiss on cheek, and did the same with Wilbur.

"Tell the Robinsons that I said thank you…for everything," she told Wilbur.

"I will," promised Wilbur.

With a final hug, Al walked off into the night, holding herself close as she did. She had no idea what she would do now, but at least she was moving on…

Keep moving forward Al, she thought to herself as tears ran down her cheeks. Keep moving forward…

Carl sighed as he watched her go. "Do you think she'll be okay?"

Wilbur nodded. "I think so."

And with that, the two friends headed off for their home, where their family waited for them.

-

Aww…poor Al. She won't be back until maybe Chapter 27…but guess who's making her first appearance next! Yep! Doris (or DOR-15, whatever) is coming in! She won't confront Mike until chapter 25, but at least you'll finally see her. Oooh…that'll be so much fun to write!

Thanks for reading!

-Kim