AN: Sorry for the long wait. Migraines. I hope you enjoy. I split this chapter in two since it was long and I wanted to end on a better note, so I'll upload another chapter soon.

No copyright intended, I don't do this for profit, I don't own Terra Nova, just Natalie.

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She was back in her old clothes. What used to be a shirt a size too large, fit just right. It was odd being in different clothes, she'd been in the same clothes for the past couple of years. She only wore something different when she swapped between the few extra pairs she brought, then she outgrew them and she used them for cloths, or bandages. She learned to never throw anything out.

Natalie tugged on her sweatshirt and combed her fingers through her damp raven curls. Her cast was off, her mobility was still limited, but it was improving. She exited the bathroom to see Alicia and Elisabeth in conversation, waiting for her.

After weeks of recovery, days spent looking at the same four walls, she was finally allowed to leave the infirmary. The doctor told her she was going home, but she had no idea what home was any longer.

They looked up upon her arrival, "Hi. I'm ready whenever."

"Natalie, did you experience any difficulties?"

"No," Natalie answered, her eyes remaining connected to the doctor's.

"You ready to go home?" Alicia asked, speaking to her daughter for the first time.

She honestly did not know the answer to the question, "I guess."

It was a hot sunny day, far too warm to be outside with sweatpants and a sweatshirt, but she was comfy and that was all that mattered. They made quick work of getting across the colony. Their house was in the middle between the military sector and the civilian sector. It was located near the barracks and Command which allowed Alicia to do her duty, but it was far enough away that her daughter was around children her age and not just soldiers. Alicia had wanted her child to have a relatively normal life, it of course never happened. She chose her path.

Once they reached the house, Alicia punched in the code and pushed open the front door. The house was a standard two bedroom unit, it had the basics with two bedrooms on opposite sides of each other. The walls were barren, they weren't big on decorating, or at least Alicia wasn't. She kept it clean and tidy, didn't leave personal items out, kept those items safe and hidden away. If it weren't for Natalie's open nature, they would never see the light of day and the walls would forever remain bare. It was their differing natures and personalities that caused many arguments.

"Home sweet home," She spoke, her fingers scraping the panels on the wall. Reaching the front of her room, she stopped and turned to look over at her mother, "Is it still the same?"

Alicia nodded, "Yes." She didn't change a thing after Natalie left, she just used the house for resting, sleeping and eating.

Elisabeth wasn't a fool. She'd been Natalie's doctor for several weeks, and through that time she knew there were issues between the two. She didn't know the cause and she didn't know what it had to do with Natalie being OTG, but she did know several times during their visits, Natalie's blood pressure and heart rate increased dramatically. She'd talked to them about it, but neither divulged too much into the matter, both kept their issues close. She knew they could diffuse the situation on their own, but the tension in the room seemed to be increasing.

Elisabeth spoke up, "You should lay down, you've been on your feet much too long today."

Natalie conceded. It was like stepping into a brand new room, similar to the first time she entered her bedroom, but this was different. Then it was unknown, unfamiliar and new; now, it feels foreign and alien. It felt exotic and uncomfortable. It brought back so many memories, and not all good.

|~Brother or Mother?~|

Alicia was back home after finishing her dawn patrol. Natalie was still sound asleep, it was one of the many differences between them, she loved to sleep in, if she could she would sleep all day. Alicia on the other hand was an early riser – walk the perimeter, meet with Taylor, write her report, turn it on, ect.

Taylor and Natalie were still not speaking, she honestly wasn't surprised. After her betrayal came to light, he was rather disappointed in her. He heard her story for all intents and purposes, but it was just to make an executive decision on what to do with her. Banishment was ruled off the table, but once Natalie took the matter into her own hands, he might as well have.

Alicia opened up the door to Natalie's bedroom, and shook her shoulder gently. It was the only way to wake her up, talking did nothing, when she was out, she was out for the count.

It took minutes of shaking before the girl finally blinked her eyes and let out a moan, "Mom?"

"It's time to wake up."

"'M tired. Back to bed," She mumbled, curling up and snuggling under the covers.

Alicia rolled her eyes, stood up straighter and crossed her arms over her chest, "Doc said I can't let you sleep in."

"Then it'll be our secret."

"Natalie," It was a warning, don't push me.

She, of course, did, she was never a good listener, "I'm sleepy; and you've lied before, what's the difference?" But the moment the words came out of her mouth, she knew she had crossed a line.

Alicia's posture tensed, she pursed her lips, "Be out of bed in five minutes, breakfast will be ready then." She turned and left the room, leaving her daughter, sitting up agape at her.

No words were passed through breakfast, it was silent the only noise being the clinking of the utensils. And Natalie was never silent, at least not in the years Alicia has been around her. She always had an opinion, always had a voice, but the days since she'd been home, actually since being back from OTG, she was different, almost like she was a different person.

Natalie was almost done with her meal, which consisted of fruit, vegetables and a protein shake – she refused to eat meat, apparently she was now a vegetarian. If she didn't hunt, it was a wonder she survived out there. She couldn't possibly survive on just the vegetation out there – they didn't even know if some were even edible.

Putting her drink down, she looked at her mom, "I didn't mean to hurt you."

Natalie was adamant to not apologize, she hadn't since her betrayal unless you count the one time she used it in a sarcastic manner. But she had to mitigate what she had said.

But she couldn't help but feel guilty for what she said and she had to mitigate what she said.

|~Brother or Mother?~|

Alicia saluted at the soldiers standing post around the Command Centre as she mounted the steps. Shannon and Taylor were both inside upon her arrival, they appeared to be in conversation. Taylor caught her eye and she tipped her head in his direction.

"Morning, Wash," Taylor greeted.

Shannon turned around to face her, "Hey, Wash."

"Shannon, Sir." She stood at attention.

Jim paused as he realized something, "Wait...I'm in before you– I'm never in before you." He frowned in confusion as he tried to figure out why, "What happened?"

"Natalie was discharged from the infirmary yesterday," Taylor answered for her.

"So you were with her. Which means she's better, Liz wouldn't release her if she didn't believe so."

"Yes, but she doesn't handle boredom well and what she does with it can be dangerous."

|~Brother or Mother?|

Alicia didn't know what she was anticipating when she first arrived at her home after finishing the paperwork with Taylor, but she was certain it was not this. It was not even remotely close. She predicted a minor mess – she knew Natalie was unorganized, but this was a little much, even for her.

A doll laid beside her foot, two others not too far from the door – it was obvious they were tossed. Pieces of clothing were scattered across the hall, creating a trail from her open bedroom to the bathroom. In the kitchen, bowls and pans sat in the sink and a dish was positioned on the counter. A pair of flats sat on top of each other on the floor, beside the dining table. A music player sat on the table, the sound turned off. Across the room, the two couches were pressed together and Natalie laid across them. Pens surrounded her, a plexscreen on the couches with a pen in her hand.

She was too engaged in her work to notice Alicia had returned or to look up at her.

"Natalie!" Alicia called in an attempt to get her attention. It succeeded, but it startled the girl in the process.

The drawing utensil slid to the side, painting a line through the drawing, "Crap."

She dropped the pen and looked up at her mother, "What?" She said it like she had no idea why her mother was upset.

"You know what. I have cut you a lot of slack, but you know the rules. You make a mess, you clean it up, it's not my job to pick up after you. You're nearly fourteen."

"I wasn't expecting you to clean it up," Natalie muttered, but they both knew she heard.

Alicia sighed, she would have Natalie clean it up before bed, but she first needed to diffuse the situation, "The harvest festival is coming up; a few days."

"Dr. Shannon already told me."

"You can make some friends, and you can wear a dress. I know how much you like dressing up."

The dress part got Natalie's attention, "Are you going to wear one?" In all of her years, she had only once seen her mother in a dress. It wasn't by choice and she hadn't been born yet.

"No."

"Why not?"

"Maybe for your birthday." She intended it to be a joke.

"Yes!" Natalie didn't take it as one.