Chapter twenty – A New Life

Tina stood erect as she relayed her report. When she was finished, she didn't shrink away or fear for the consequences. She was perfectly prepared for what fate would await her. She could not read Dr. Cortex's expression, for his back was facing her, but her instincts told her he was furious. His breathing was rapid and he was clenching his fists tightly behind him. Tina waited, wondering how he would react to her humiliating failure. Tina would have quickly explained that she was willing to do whatever it took to kill the entire wretched lot, but she knew that doing so would only make her look weak. So she waited, silent.

Finally, Cortex turned. To Tina's astonishment, his face was completely composed. He glanced at her with no anger in his beady, human eyes.

"Well then, we must proceed to the next plan then, mustn't we?" Cortex spoke, his tone a tad preoccupied.

Tina's jaw dropped. She frowned darkly. Did he not intend to offer any kind of reprimand for her failure?

"Is that all?"

Cortex hardly regarded her. He was striding toward his giant computer, something else obviously on his mind.

"What would you suggest I do? I cannot have you terminated. Despite your failure you are still valuable to me. I admit I am not surprised that you did not succeed, and not only because of your seemingly impossible ability to produce results. I have spent every waking moment since creating that abomination, Crash Bandicoot, that failure does not really faze me any longer. All that must be done is to press on."

Cortex sat down at his computer, and Tina was rather astonished at the measure of acceptance Cortex was demonstrating. It was not the reaction she expected at all.

"I have a plan much more effective in mind for the future." Cortex continued with a small smirk. "And I will have use for your skills of stealth and ingenuity to complete it."

Tina felt a grin slowly influence her lips as she offered a small bow.

"I am yours to command, Doctor."

Pinstripe was irate. He had placed a call into Cortex to see when Tawna would be returned to him. Cortex simply replied to remain focused on building the city, with no mention of the runaway whore. In a furious temper after receiving the news, Pinstripe had smashed one of the nightclub tables and put a stool through the window. He couldn't control his frustration. Veronica had done her best to console him; reminding him that she was a much better asset to the club than Tawna was. Pinstripe had noticed with some amusement that Veronica had received a mysterious black eye, and when he asked her where it had come from she'd been evasive. Tawna had spunk, and that was one of the things he loved about her. No matter. He would continue with his work for now, but once he conjured a plan he would get her back. It was only a matter of time.

When the bandicoots had returned to the house, the sun was just rising in the sky. Crash was complaining that he had missed the most crucial sleeping hours, and Coco was sighing in exasperation.

"Don't you realize you could be dead right now? Who cares about sleeping?"

"I care very much so. People always take sleeping hours for granted. I'll have to sleep all day today just to catch up."

"And that's different from every other day how?"

Tawna couldn't help laughing at the bandicoots' banter. The whole ambiance of the simple life they all led on the island was so…comforting. It was as though she was returning home. When Aku saw the state they were in, he was immediately concerned. Physically, Crunch was worse off than any of them, but he hardly seemed to be affected by the multiple wounds he'd received. Nonetheless, Aku Aku insisted on treating him, and Crunch was too tired to attempt an argument. As Aku provided personal checkups for each of them, Tawna continued to glance in Crunch's direction. She was delighted that Crunch, at times, would return the glance and their eyes would meet. When Tawna felt herself enraptured in his deep green eyes she could feel her entire body tremble. Every time he offered a smile, no matter how small, her heart would feel warmer.

Tawna had been feeling rather lightheaded, which was why she returned to Coco's room to rest. Crash had said he was going out to get some wamba fruit for the four of them, but Tawna guessed that he would simply find a sunny patch and fall asleep the first chance he got. Tawna cuddled into her blankets, feeling warm and happy. Her thoughts continued to drift to Crunch, and she had no intention of chasing such lovely thoughts away. As Tawna rested, someone knocked at her door. Instantly hopeful that it was Crunch who knocked, Tawna smoothed out her hair and sat up straighter in her bed before giving the all-clear. When Aku soared into the room, Tawna was a little disappointed. However, she was glad to see the comforting mask. After Tawna offered a quick overview of what had happened and the injuries she received, Aku got to work. Since Tawna had gone through this process just the other night, she wasn't as awed as she was before. She laid back and rested while Aku continued his examination. Soon, the light faded and Aku leaned backward. He looked at Tawna.

"I would wish to inspect once more to see if your internal injuries are healing as they should, if you would allow me?"

"Sure." Tawna said with a smile, and awaited more magical glows to engulf her.

Aku spent about five minutes with his eyes closed while a wonderfully pleasant light rested on Tawna's skin like sunshine. She closed her eyes and smiled. Suddenly, Aku jolted backward as though something had shocked him. Tawna's heart sunk immediately. By such a reaction, she could judge that the old mask did find something unusual inside her. Tawna could not keep the fear hidden from her voice.

"What is it?"

Aku regarded her as though he just remembered she was there. His expression was not exactly forlorn, but rather astonished. Tawna waited, her hands clenched at her sides. Aku shook his head.

"This…this is something I did not expect."

"What is it? Tell me, please."

Aku met her gaze. He revealed the information, and her jaw quavered in absolute shock.

Crunch sat on the couch completely erect. His wounds were still causing him some pain, but nothing that he couldn't deal with. What did give him some anxiety was the realization that the virus that had infected his body was not completely neutralized. Aku had informed him that his system had been able to repel some aspects of the drug, but some defiantly remained. If Crunch wanted to rid himself of the disease completely, he would have to extract the information of an antidote from Cortex. Since Crunch was feeling that he owed the good doctor a future visit anyway, this idea was not completely out of the question. At least his body was better able to fight it now.

He was half glad Tawna had finally retreated to her room to rest. It wasn't as though he didn't want to see her. It was simply the fact that every time he found himself in her beautiful gaze he felt uncertain and awkward. He didn't know how to act around her, and the entire issue was causing him some distress. Crash was lying on the other end of the couch, but surprisingly he was not asleep. Despite his previous complaints, he seemed too energetic to rest. Perhaps he was still experiencing a lingering adrenaline rush; after all, Crunch had nearly killed him no more than four hours ago. However, Crash was never one to take near-death experiences too seriously.

Crunch felt something bounce off his head, and he turned in Crash's direction with a snarl. The smaller bandicoot had a pile of wamba fruit pits piled on his stomach. It was amazing how quickly he could devour a wamba fruit. He flicked another pit which this time bounced off of Crunch's snout. Crunch scowled at Crash.

"Would you quit it?" He growled irritably.

Crash examined a pit as he considered. "This is your punishment for doing everything on your own and leaving us completely in the dark. That was rather inconsiderate, you know. Therefore, I am obliged to do every annoying thing I can think of to help you remember that next time you freak out, you'll give us a head's up."

Crash flicked the pit in Crunch's direction, and in the blink of an eye Crunch had caught it in his metal arm and crushed it. Crash pouted.

"You take the fun out of everything."

Silence ensued for a moment while Crash gobbled his remaining wamba fruit. When he was finished, he began to juggle the pits. Crunch tried to remain impassive, but he had to admit juggling eight pits at once was pretty impressive. Suddenly, he voiced a question without even realizing he spoke.

"When did you meet Tawna?"

Crash's lazy posture seemed to stiffen in surprise, but he didn't drop a pit. In fact, he didn't even stop juggling to consider the question.

"Three years ago, I guess."

"How?"

Crash didn't even hesitate. "Just during a general rout with Cortex. Nothing out of the ordinary."

Crunch paused, unsure how to proceed. Crash finally quit juggling and fixed him with an amused look.

"If you're so curious, why not ask Tawna? I'm sure she can tell the story better than I could."

Again, Crash continued to goof about, this time flicking the pits into the air and catching them. Crunch thought about Crash's advice, but didn't think he could ask her. Where would he begin? The entire situation was so damn complicated that Crunch would rather not put up with it. But there was a problem with giving up the subject entirely, because of the dominating fact that he loved her. As he leaned against the softness of the couch in deep concentration, he heard the sound of a door opening.

Both he and Crash turned in the direction of the noise. Tawna had rushed out of the room, and paused when she realized she was being observed by two pairs of eyes. Her eyes were wide and wet, and her cheeks were flushed with distress. Crunch instinctively started to his feet.

Crash frowned. "Tawna? What's the matter?"

Tawna was shaking her head as though unconsciously. She took her bottom lip between her teeth and suddenly sprinted to the door. Crash and Crunch were both stunned as she left the house, disappearing outside. Aku Aku quickly came out of her room, calling her name. When he reached the living room, he paused. Crunch glanced from Aku to Crash in confusion, but he didn't ask any questions. He heard Crash ask what happened as he made for the door, and he also heard a hushed voice that was Aku. Crunch didn't make out what Aku said, but Crash's reply was in a tone of absolute astonishment.

"What?"

Crunch heard no more. He rushed outside, glancing around to find a glimpse of Tawna. But she was gone. He jogged to the edge of the yard and lifted his snout to catch a possible scent in the air. After a moment of studying the smells wafting around him, he caught a familiar scent. On the trail now, he started running in the direction Tawna had taken.

Tawna couldn't stop running. Her rational mind had left her and she couldn't understand what was happening. However, she knew that there was nothing to escape from. There was no enemy chasing her. Her life was not at risk. And still she ran as though she would die if she stopped. Finally, exhaustion began to take hold of her. Tears fell from her eyes, and whether they were from happiness or sadness she couldn't say. All she knew is her mind felt hollow.

Gasping in tiredness, she rested when she reached the calming view of the ocean. She collapsed upon a rock and, unable to withstand her emotions, dropped her head in her hands and sobbed. Her shoulders shook and her chest ached as she cried, but she couldn't stop.

"What's wrong?"

Tawna's head jerked up, and she furiously tried to wipe her tears away. She couldn't look at Crunch, not now. She cleared her throat, attempting to banish the trembling in her voice.

"I…it's…it's nothing…" She assured as she wiped her eyes.

"It doesn't seem like nothing to me."

Tawna felt a slight tremor of invigoration as she felt Crunch sit down beside her. She still did not look at him. How could she face him now? Unable to control herself, she released another sob.

"Crunch." She sniffed as she glanced up at him. "I'm pregnant."

She watched Crunch's eyes widen in shock, and she was overcome by another wave of despair. She turned her head in shame.

"I'm so sorry. I'm…" She couldn't continue.

Silence had settled between them for a moment. She was terrified what he would say. Finally, she decided the strain was too much. She stood and prepared to run off again. However, Crunch had taken her hand.

"Why are you sorry?" Crunch asked softly. "You make it sound like having a child is a horrible thing."

Tawna pressed her lips together, ashamed. But Crunch didn't know who the father was. He didn't understand…

"I know." Tawna said with a whimper. "But it's not your problem Crunch. It's mine. I understand if you never want to see me again."

When Crunch spoke next, his tone was almost angry.

"Why wouldn't I want to see you again?" He asked with a frown. "Tawna, I love you."

Tawna felt as though her legs would collapse from beneath her. She looked at him, her eyes disbelieving. He was smiling softly at her.

"We'll figure this out Tawna. We'll do it together. Alright?"

Tawna felt a smile gently uplift her mouth, and suddenly she felt calm and happy. She leaned toward him, wrapping her arms around his neck, and as soon as their lips met Tawna knew.

She was home.