True to his word Jake stayed inside quietly for the remainder of the day. He was fidgety and he really did want to sneak out but he was also nervous at the prospect of getting into trouble that he couldn't get out of. He knew that Fu wouldn't steer him wrong or at least, he hoped that Fu wouldn't steer him wrong.

After dinner Jake laid on the couch, idly twitching his tail and gazing at the TV without really watching it. Fu trotted into the room and rested his front paws on the arm of the sofa, gazing at his young charge. "Just a barrel full of laughs, aren't you?"

Jake gave him a halfhearted glare. "Ya know, I think I liked it better when you didn't talk," he said in a teasing voice.

"Ha ha," Fu replied dryly. "Cute. Look, I know this is hard for you, but we'll go out tomorrow, I promise. So please, don't do anything tonight."

Jake pretended to be insulted. "Why Fu, I thought you'd know me better then that," he said while sitting up and switching of the TV.

Fu grinned and jumped up on the couch, sitting down next to Jake. "I know you well enough to remember when you snuck onto the subway by yourself when you were seven because you wanted to go to a toy store."

"Did I really?" Jake asked.

"You don't remember?" Fu asked, raising an eyebrow.

Jake shook his head. "I believe you," he said. "But no, I don't."

Fu laughed and sighed, putting his head down into his paws. "Kid, I lost about six pounds following you around that day and no one even noticed you were missing. I still don't know how you managed to do that."

"Timing," Jake said with a wicked grin. "Pick the right time and no one notices."

Fu sighed but Jake could tell that he was more amused then he was tired. "Well, I just want to make sure you won't go anywhere."

"I won't," Jake said with emphasis. "I still a lil' freaked out by all this. I dunno if I just wanna stroll outta here without knowing what's going down."

Fu nodded. "Good," he said, relief apperant in his voice. "Glad to know even you have a sense of self preservation."

Jake glared at Fu but was interrupted by his grandfather coming into the room with a phone in his hands. He put his right hand over the receiver and said quietly. "It is your mother, she wishes to speak with you."

Jake nodded fervently, suddenly realizing how much he wanted to talk to his mom. His grandfather walked across the room and handed the phone to Jake. He then turned around and motioned for Fu to follow him as he went upstairs. Fu cast a small glance back at him and then followed the small man upstairs, leaving Jake to confront his mother for the first time since he found out his family's little secret.

Jake sighed and leaned back as much as he could, half slumping on the couch and drawing his knees up to his chest before putting the phone to his ear. "Mom?" he asked.

"Hey sweetie," he heard her say quietly. He smiled unconsciously and relaxed for the first time in two days.

"Hi mom," he said with a bit more hardness in his voice then he had intended. His mom must have sensed that he wasn't too happy with the situation because he could practically hear her wince over the phone.

"Oh honey, I'm so sorry," she admitted. "I'm sure dad has already explained to you why we didn't say anything. I just didn't want you… I mean…"

Jake sighed into the phone, cutting his mom off. He felt sort of bad for interrupting her but he figured he had a little leeway in this conversation. "I understand," he admitted. "But… mom, why didn't you at least mention something? I suddenly find out I'm not even human and now I'm at G's shop with wings and a tail I can't get rid of. It's kind of hard to take in, ya know?"

He knew his mom was already feeling kinda bad but he still felt like he needed to tell someone that he still wasn't completely okay with everything. His mom apparently understood quite well because she didn't try to defend herself or say it was all okay. Instead she asked Jake a question he wasn't quite expecting. "Honey, can I tell you about my childhood?"

"What's that gotta do with anything?" Jake asked.

"Plenty," she replied. "If you listen then I think you'll understand why."

"'Kay," Jake finally said after a rather long pause.

"Well, my sister and I were born in Hong Kong," his mom began.

"Wait, you were born in China?" Jake asked. This was something he actually didn't know.

He heard his mom chuckle and relaxed a little bit. Apparently this wasn't something a lot of people were aware of. "Yes," she answered. "Well, think about it. I began high school in the mid 80's but your grandfather was the Chinese dragon in the 70's. My dad met my mom shortly after a… fight he had and your aunt was born not long after. Then I was born."

Jake thought about it and then realized that the time frame was right. "He was the Chinese dragon in the 70's? And what fight?"

His mom paused, as if carefully choosing her next words. "Yes, and I don't think that's something I should talk to you about. You need to ask your grandfather, but don't do it yet, it's something he still doesn't like to talk about. Anyway, I was pretty young when we moved to America so it didn't really matter anyway. However, because I was a dragon and because I knew I was a dragon I was treated differently by those in the magical world."

"What do you mean?" Jake asked. "I mean, G said you can't really do the magic thing."

"No, I can't," she admitted. "But I'm still a dragon and there are still rules in the magical underworld about how dragons are seen and treated."

"Why?" Jake asked.

"Because of traditions going back thousands and thousands of years," she replied. "Honey, the role of dragons being in charge of the magical underworld is a role that has been around for probably tens of thousands of years. It's not something that will just change, even if you want it to." Jake was silent so she continued. "I was treated like the daughter of the Chinese dragon. Even if the people here don't really like dragons they still treat us with respect. Respect is a big thing in the magical underworld."

"Whaddya mean, 'don't really like dragons'?" Jake asked warily.

"I think my dad showed you. There was a lot of fighting here for a very long time. The people of this country feel like the dragons abandoned them because no one was here for so long. I personally think that no dragon wanted to come here out of fear but my dad did and here's where we are. I'm telling you this because I think you need to know the truth but you have to take it to heart when I tell you."

Jake sighed and nodded into the phone. When he realized his mom couldn't hear a nod he said, "yeah," quietly and waited for her to continue her story.

"Anyway, I went to a school that mostly had humans because since I didn't have any magical powers I just felt more comfortable there. Dad wasn't happy but he agreed. So I grew up like a human but knowing that I was a dragon and having that pressure to be like a dragon was something that made me uncomfortable. I knew that when you and Haley were born it would only be worse because you were chosen to be the first American dragon. Plus I… haven't told your father and I didn't want to risk everything being exposed before I could tell him properly. I know some of my reasons are selfish but sweetie, I am telling the truth when I say I just wanted what I thought was best."

Jake thought about it and realized that she was right. He had the best friends in the world and he loved his dad, even if he was a little weird. His dad's family was a little weird too but it probably would have been even harder to get along with them if he knew everything. In all, he was grateful that his mom had actually thought so far ahead so that he didn't have to deal with so many problems before he was ready. Who wanted to know there was a secret civil war going on when you're six?

"Honey?" his mom asked during the rather long pause.

"I… understand," Jake said finally. "I mean, I know why. I did know why, I was just…"

"Surprised?" she asked with a small laugh.

"That's an understatement," Jake replied with a grin. "But yeah, I get it."

"I'm glad to hear that," she said. "I know you're having a tough time but I'm handling everything with school and your father."

"What did you say?" Jake asked.

"I said that you have the measles and it's contagious. Most dragons that have kids in human schools use that excuse," she replied easily.

"Oh," Jake said, not even thinking that there might already be a useable excuse.

"I'll come by tomorrow to see how you are, okay? So be good for your grandfather."

"I will," Jake said innocently.

"Hm…" he heard his mom reply and he knew she wasn't so sure but there didn't seem much she could do. "Well, just stay out of trouble. Please."

"I promise," Jake replied earnestly.

"Okay, good night sweetheart. I love you," his mom said.

"Night mom, love you too," Jake said, trying not to think about what he was saying. Telling your parents you love them is just too embarrassing but he figured the situation called for it.

They hung up and Jake dragged himself upstairs, a little more at peace with his current situation. He sighed and flopped into bed on his stomach and kicked off his shoes before pulling up a blanket as best he could and burying his face into his pillow. He heard a small snort from the floor before Fu asked, "Feel better, kid?"

Jake nodded into his pillow. "Yeah," came his muffled reply. He heard someone turn off the light as he drifted off to sleep.

"Morning kid," Fu said cheerily as Jake slowly woke up.

"Huh…wha?" was Jake's alert reply.

"Come on, your gramps in at another meeting for the morning. If you really wanna go out, we have to go now," Fu said urgently.

That got Jake's attention. "Really?" he asked. "Sign me up and let's get outta here," he said as he jumped to his feet.

"Woah, slow down there," Fu said but Jake was already heading downstairs.

Fu had led Jake out of the back door and immediately into an old sewer. Jake wrinkled his nose in distaste but Fu merely shrugged. "You get used to it," he sighed and jumped into the hole.

Jake gently lowered himself into the sewer and pulled the surprisingly light manhole cover over his head after they got inside. Fu pulled out a flashlight from somewhere in his wrinkles and laughed at the odd glance Jake gave him. "What, I got to use this skin for something," he said with a loud laugh. "Come on," he motioned and started to walk in the sewer.

Jake covered his nose as his eyes started to water. "Fu, it smells really bad down here."

"Actually, not really but because your chi is starting to actually flow the way it should in your body you sense of smell is stronger then you're used to. Dragons have better senses then most creatures actually, you'll be able to see in the dark, hear really well and so on. Of course that's not until you transform but still, your senses will get better," Fu explained.

Jake tightened his hold over his nose. "Why?"

"Because, you're a dragon. You only had human level senses because your magic wasn't awakened yet. Really that form is just your human shape, but it doesn't mean that it's going to change your senses. Once your chi starts to flow that's all going to change. I mean it won't even be as strong as when you're in your true dragon form but it'll be stronger then humans, that's for sure."

Jake was quiet as they walked along the sewer, pondering Fu's answer. Finally he asked another question. "Where are we going?" he asked.

Fu grinned. "Central Park."

My god, I didn't forget this fic! No really, I've just had a really busy school year and equally busy summer. (Two 40+ hour weeks in a row.) But I still wrote a new chapter. Yay!

Anyways, this chapter contains a lot of my theories and uh... 'made up facts because I think they look cool.' So, if you don't like I'm sorry, I tend to do that with any fandom I write for. But I do keep it all consistent. Sorry about any out of character-ness, I'm always reminded how hard this show is to write for when I pick up this fic. God, Jake's dialogue is just... yeah, anyways, hope you enjoyed this chapter and I hope I get the next one out faster.

Hugs and cookies to all my reviewers and anyone who keeps up with this fic. I love you!