A/N: Prepare for some tension!

Chapter 5

"Hey Lyn! It's so great to see you! Who this?!" Slate asked taking a seat next to her with his lunch.

"Hey Slate, this is my new friend Eric. Eric this is my cousin Slate."

"It's nice to meet you Eric! I knew Lyn would make friends quickly!" Slate said shaking his hand.

"Nice to meet you, too. You seem very... energetic."

"So, I've been told, but there's nothing wrong with that." Slate said.

"True it's a good thing at times I would think."

Eve came over seemingly not even noticing Roslyn and Eric. "Hi Slate." She said in a dreamy voice sitting next to him.

"Hi Eve, have you met Eric?" Slate asked.

Eve looked confused then looked over at them. "Oh! No I have not. Who is he?"

"My new friend, Eve. Eric this is Eve she's fun most times."

"Oh, well it's nice to meet you." Eve said but she was staring at Slate.

"She likes him, doesn't she?" Eric whispered to Roslyn.

"Oh, yeah majorly." Roslyn whispered back.

"It's kind of ironic though. Many years ago, her dad use to date his mom before the really nasty break us." Roslyn explained in a whisper.

"Wow! Was his mom like this?" He asked pointing to Eve.

Roslyn nodded. "That's what I've heard anyways. So was her mom with my dad when they were… fifteen."

"Wow, awkward huh?"

"Not really, it actually happens a lot. My mom is the only one who only dated one who's husband or wife was their first and only boyfriend or girlfriend." Roslyn explained.

"That is impressive."

"I can't help but wonder if it has something to do with whatever she's hiding from me though." Roslyn said in thought.

"So, is this everyone?" Slate asked.

Roslyn looked around. "Aaron, Alesha, and Haydon aren't here."

"Also relatives?"

"Well, Haydon and Alesha are Eve's cousins," Roslyn said alway ignoring the technical 'step' part. "and, I'm pretty sure Aaron's dad dated Eve's mom for a short while."

"Wow, they had confusing personal lives."

"Very, oh and no one knows for sure but Aaron might be Eve's cousin once removed." Roslyn added having almost forgot that.

"How is that possible?"

"No one knows what happened to Aunt Candace." Eve said. "No one's heard from her in so many years, long before any of us were even born."

"Why? Did she just leave?"

"Well, to be fair, our parents are actually the ones that left." Roslyn corrected. "When they joined the Firestorm-O.W.C.A. Alliance."

"They left their home?"

"Yeah, to the manor, I personally don't quite understand that logic." Roslyn explained.

"Hey, give them credit they did visit their home." Eve said

"True, but it's still kind of weird." Roslyn commented.

"Why?"

"Well, they've always really valued family so why would they..."

"They did not abandon their family." Eve said getting a little mad.

"I'm not saying they did!" Roslyn said defensively.

"Well, it sounds like you are." Eve huffed.

"Let's just drop this please? I don't like fighting with you guys."

"Okay, but we are going to talk later." Eve said.

Roslyn sighed. "Alright." Eve nodded and turned back to Slate as Aaron arrived.

"Hey guys, who's this?" Aaron asked taking a seat.

"Eric, this is Aaron."

"Nice to meet you, Aaron." Eric said.

"You too." Aaron said shaking his hand.

"Aaron, this is my new friend Eric." Roslyn delayedly introduced.

"Nice to meet you."

"Now we're just missing the twins." Roslyn commented.

"You got new twins?" Haydon asked as he and Alesha snuck up on them.

Roslyn jumped in surprise before turning to them. "You'd think that with the entire manor doing that to me all the time that I'd be use to it. Anyways, good, so we're all here."

"Who is the new guy?" Alesha asked.

"Alesha, Haydon, this is my new friend Eric. Eric, these are the final manor kids, twins Alesha and Haydon." Roslyn introduced.

"Ah, the twins." Eric said.

"So, even though we're probably going to get asked this when we get home, how's school going for everyone?" Roslyn asked.

"So far, so good." Slate said.

"That's good, Slate. Anyone else?" Roslyn asked generally.

"It was fun." Alesha said.

"I'd have to agree with you on that one." Roslyn said thinking specifically about gym class. "Anyone else?"

"Math and morning were never meant to be." Eve said.

"Oh yeah, that must really suck." Roslyn said with a flinch.

"You have no idea."

"Well, I'm sorry to hear that, especially since it gonna have to be that way for the rest of the year." Roslyn told her sympathetically.

"Oh, why did you remind me?"

Roslyn looked down turning red. "Sorry. Today's just not my day apparently."

"Maybe you're nervous?" Aaron offered.

"I guess, maybe but I've made a lot of stupid mistakes today, even more than usual." Roslyn said.

"Starting with the pool?" Slate asked.

"Actually, starting with the issue on time with Aaron." She corrected.

"Huh?" Slate asked.

"She was up at 3:30 in the morning wondering why no one was ready." Aaron told him finding it rather funny.

"You were?" Haydon and Eric chuckled

Rosyln rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, it was very hilarious. Like I said, not my day today."

"Nerves." Slate chimed in

"Yeah, that's probably it." Roslyn said.

"See?"

"What have you thought of school so far, Aaron?" Roslyn asked changing the subject.

"It's been great except History."

"Yeah, History's really boring, I had it second block." Roslyn agreed.

"The hour seems to drag on." Slate said.

"True that," Haydon agreed. "but the other classes are fun."

"So far yeah have you had science yet?" Roslyn asked.

Haydon shook his head. "I have it after lunch."

"It was actually really fun." Eve said.

Haydon and Roslyn both smiled. "Well, that's good to know."Roslyn said having Science after lunch as well.

"Yeah, we get to work with chemicals!" Slate said.

"Really?!" Roslyn asked excitedly.

"Yeah!" Slate said.

"That's so cool!" Roslyn said excitedly. Ironically, her and Slate love chemicals. Neither of them even know why that's so ironic.

"I know right!" Slate said getting excited again.

"What kind of chemicals?" Roslyn asked.

"Acid and arsenics effects on plants and sugars."

"That's going to be…!" Roslyn started then remembered the problem… different grades. "Dang, that's right."

"Right, sorry, I forgot." Slate said.

"So did I, we're not use to having the grades segregated."

"Yeah, we aren't."

"Hopefully, I'll still get to work with chemicals, too, though."

"I'm sure we will." Eric said.

"Wait, do you have the same Science class?" Roslyn asked Eric hopefully.

"I think so, do you have Peterson?"

Roslyn looked excited and nodded. "Yes, yes I do."

"Then yes we do." Eric said.

"Perfect!" Roslyn said with a smile.

"Someone's got a crush." Eve whispered to Roslyn.

Between her blue hair, almost white silver eyes, and now red face; Roslyn basically turned into the American Flag before whispering to Eve, "Shut up, like you're one to talk."

"True, but still it's fun for me to have this one you." Eve said

"I said shut up." Roslyn repeated in a whisper.

"If you shut up, I'll tell Slate you like him." Roslyn bargined knowing she always wanted her to.

"Oh fine, I'll stop if you promise."

"I promise."

"Deal!" Eve said excitedly.

"For the rest of the day, then I'll keep up my end." Roslyn added.

"Alright, so you'll tell him at the end of the day?'

"Yes, I promise." Roslyn agreed.

"Thank you, Rose." She said hugging her.

"What ever happened to Lynie?" Roslyn asked half joking, it's Aaron who calls her Rose.

"I can change every now and then, but thank you Lynie." Eve said not letting go of her.

"Um... what's going on?" Eric asked awkwardly wondering why they're hugging.

"Oh just an odd sort of cousin like moment." Roslyn said as though that explained everything.

"Um... alright." Eric agreed figuring it was some weird girl thing he'll never understand.

Lunch ended soon after that. "Okay off to science there's another passage if you want to try and find it?" Eric said to Roslyn.

"You know I will." Roslyn said seriously as they headed off. Luckily, she got her father's eyesight.

She looked carefully and finally found it disguised as a wall. "See I found it." She said smugly.

"Fair enough, that doesn't mean you'll find them all though." Eric said as they headed through the passage and the place felt more and more like the Galager Academy.

"Yes I will how many can there be?" She asked.

"According to the rumor over a hundred." Eric said

Roslyn surprised Eric by laughing and saying, "Child's Play."

"Child's Play?' He asked doubtfully.

"Child's play." She repeated with a smirk.

"You can't be that good."

"Then I guess you can call me AT&T."

"What?" Eric asked

"Their motto, rethink possible."

"You watch a lot of T.V huh?" He asked.

"Actually, no, the manor has millions of T.V.s but no one watches them. I usually just go swimming... I'm not sure how I know that."

"Maybe you picked it up from some of the T.v's?" He asked

"Well, they're never even really on, ever, actually." Roslyn said before pausing and saying. "Why do we even have them?"

"Why are you asking me?" Eric asked.

"I'm not, I'm just thinking out loud."

"Oh okay then." Eric said blushing.

They got to the end of the tunnel coming out right outside of their Science class. "Wow these things are nice." Roslyn said.

"Yeah, once you find them." Eric agreed.

"There's another one right over there." Roslyn said looking across the hall.

"What how do you know?" Eric asked.

"I can faintly see the outline." Roslyn observed.

"It looks like a wall to me." Eric said.

"No, it's a secret passageway. I'll prove it after class and we can see where it goes."

"Deal!" Eric said. With that, the two of them went into their class.

Class fortunately did include some very powerful chemical that Roslyn worked with easily making her wonder why she could not boil water, but she could work with volital chemicals.

They left the class when it was over and went over to the secret passageway and she quickly found the way to open it.

"Well, ladies first." Eric said. Roslyn smiled and headed down the passageway. "I hope this does not go too far I do have a bust to catch." Eric said.

"It doesn't go far." Roslyn said seeing the other side off in the distance as they walked. "You'll catch you're bus."

"I admit you are pretty good." Eric said.

"You ain't seen nothing yet." Roslyn said as they reached the otherside and found themselves outside staring at the buses. "Wow! What perfect luck! See, I told you you'd catch your bus."

"Lucky!"

"So, I guess you have to go?" Roslyn asked.

"Yeah, I have to get home." Eric said.

"Yeah, and my dad will probably get mad if I'm not there when he gets here to take us back to the manor. Well, I'll see you tomorrow, Eric." Roslyn dismissed.

"Goodbye Roslyn, see you tomorrow." Eric said.

"It was nice meeting you." Roslyn said as Eric boarded his bus before sue headed over to the spot they were told to meet.

Her dad was waiting there patiently with Eve and Slate so far. "Hi Daddy." Roslyn said going up to them.

"Hi Roslyn, how was school?"

"It was fantastic! I even made a new friend!" Roslyn said happily.

"Tell me about them." Adam said.

Roslyn told him all about Eric but was worried about what her dad will think of him. He is normal after all. Normal kid, normal family, normal house, normal life.

"He sounds like a nice boy." Adam said.

"He is." Roslyn said in an almost dazed state. "By the way, could he borrow I'd Tell You I Love You but then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter?"

"Sure he can, and Roslyn is that a crush voice I heard?"

Roslyn blushed deeply. "Maybe."

"No." Adam said flatly.

Roslyn was confused and quite shocked, there's only one thing that could logically mean and… no… he wouldn't say that. He wouldn't do that to his only daughter… at lest she wants to believe he wouldn't. "What?"

"You can't have a crush. Your only 12." Adam whined making her laugh

"Y-you're kidding right?" She asked.

"Yes, but I don't have to like him. In fact as your father it's my job to mistrust him." Adam said.

Roslyn sighed, "Alright, I can understand that."

"Good, because until he proves he's tustworthy it stays that way."

Roslyn nodded, "Understood, but I'm sure he will."

As Adam had this conversation with his own child, he couldn't help but think of when his dad had first met Felicity. She got it off easy since there's no reason for him to flat out distrust him, just mistrust. He also thought abou how, at the time, he turned out to have been right. "I hope so." Adam muttered as Aaron and the twins arrived. "Alright, everyone's here. So are we ready to go?" Adam asked with his teleporter out.

"Yes, sir!" They all said. Adam pushed the button teleporting the seven of them back to the manor.

"Go have fun, all of you." He said when they were home.

Eve, Aaron, Haydon, and Alesha headed off to do somethin fun while Slate went up to his cousin remembering that's she's grounded and offered her a hand in a friendly gesture. "Come on, we'll find something fun that you're allowed to do."

"Thank you Slate." Roslyn said then she remembered her promise to Eve "Slate, there's something I promised Eve I'd tell you." She said as he lead her off.

"Oh, okay what is it?" Slate asked.

"Well, the thing is, she's had a crush on you for a really long time." Roslyn told him kind of nerviously.

"What do you mean?" Slate asked confused.

"Well, you remember hearing about Aunt Isabella and Phineas wjen they were you guys' age?" She asked trying to connect it.

"Yeah head over heels for Phineas for years." Slate said having heard the story from his mother a lot.

"Well, that's how she feels about you." Roslyn said hoping he will get it.

"Oh...why?" He asked.

"Well, why wouldn't she? You're really smart, fun, enthusiastic, and nice."

"Thanks, but I'm not exactly cute compared to some of the guys I saw drooling over her today."

"If looks were everything that mattered, the world would be a horrible, horrible place." Roslyn told him. "I'd bet she didn't even notice the other boys because she was so focused on you."

"Really?" He asked and she heard hope in his voice.

"Really, you know I would never lie to you, Slate. Especially about something like this." Roslyn said with a smile.

"It's just, I always sort of liked her..." Slate said blushing

"Then go after her. Don't stand in the way of your own desires. There's no way she could say no." Roslyn told him.

"Thanks, Lyn!" He said running off down the hall.

He quickly found Eve and ran up to her.

"Hey Eve would you want to do something with me?" He asked

Eve smiled widely not caring what he had in mind. "Yes!"

"Okay, lets go to the theme park."

"Sounds perfect." Eve said grabbing Slate's hand. They ran off together. In a short while, arriving at the park.

"You choose where we go from here." Slate said.

Eve looked around thoughtfully but I think I broke my brain. And I got a headache so you all get to see the date next time.

Eve and Slate went back in after the date as I felt sorry for Marcus' headache and hoped it gets better. "That was fun!" Slate said.

"Very fun." Eve said leaning into him.

"Enjoy your date?" Isabella asked as they walked past her. They both nodded happily. "Congratulations." She said.

"Thanks Mom." Slate said with a huge smile.

"Just no sleeping in the same bed." She taunted.

Slate looked discusted, "Mom, we're only ten, we weren't even thinking about that yet."

"Yet being the key word." Isabella said with a straight face.

"We won't until we're married," Eve promised. "I definately don't want to end up accidently getting preganant before that."

"Like Felicity." Isabella chuckled.

"Oh yeah, that's right, didn't she get pregnant with Lynie right before the wedding and find out about it the next day?" Eve asked having heard the story before.

"Yes , she did." Isabella said remembering that day.

"Wait a second, you said that both Lyn and I developed twice as fast as a normal baby right?" Slate asked now that he thought about it.

"Yes I did, why?" Isabella asked.

"So, if Dr. Baljeet concluded that she was a month pregnant by looking a Lyn then she was really only two weeks pregnant and with how the pregnancy timeline works the time they give is usually about two weeks after conception, so that would mean that she actually was conceived on their wedding night." Slate concluded from true facts.

Isabella's jaw dropped as she did the math and realized he was right. "How did we not take that into account?" She asked herself.

'Well, that's kind of awkward. She just got told off by her own son.' Eve thought.

"How did you figure that out?" Isabella asked.

"I'm smart." Slate said simply, "And I just happened to think of that stuff and realize it."

"Don't get smug with me young man." Isabella warned

Slate looked down. "Yes, Mom."

"Good, now get going you two dinner is an hour."

"Alright." Eve said and they headed off to find Roslyn.

"She's in the library." Isabella called after them.

"Thanks mom!" Slate called after her as they headed over to the library. Isabella smiled as they turned a corner.

"Well, it took them long enough."

"Not as long as you." Adam said from behind her.

"Well, when you factor in how long they known eachother and how often their together, yes, as long as me. Longer, actually." Isabella pointed out.

"No, the crush did not start until she was five so about the same time." Adam said

Isabella rolled her gold with annoyance eyes, "I told him years ago not to be like me or Phineas though."

"Good for him."

In another part of the manor, Slate and Eve arrived at the library. "Lyn?" Slat called out

Roslyn jumped slightly turned around with a smile, "Hi guys, how did it go?"

"Great!" Eve sighed.

"Glad you shut up?" Roslyn asked Eve.

Eve blushed and nodded

"Wait, what?" Slate asked confused.

"Oh Eve and I made a little deal at lunch."

"Oh." Slate said putting two and two together. "What did you want her to shut up about?"

"None of your concern."

"Oh come on, Lyn. You can tell me anything." Slate begged.

"Not this, it's girl business."

"Wait, is this about Eric?" Slate asked since he was there when she was talking with her father.

"Well...yeah sort of." Roslyn said.

"You really got it don't you Lyn?" Slate asked his cousin in a family teasing sort of way.

"I don't know what you mean," She said casually.

"Oh come on, yes you do." Slate said.

"No I don't," She said not looking at him.

"Either that or it's too hot in here." Slate said notocing that she was blushing.

"It is a little hot in here," Roslyn lied.

"I though you said you'd never lie to me." Slate said flattly.

"Come on now, Slate, you lied by pretending to be oblivious to Eve's feelings," Roslyn said.

"Who said I was pretending?" Slate asked.

"The act that you said you always sort of liked her when I told you," Roslyn smirked

"That doesn't mean I knew she liked me though."

"Fine, I guess you win there," She admitted.

"Victory!" Slate said like his mom, uncle, and aunt.

"Oh shut up Slte," She muttered.

"Oh come on, I never win anything with you." Slate whined.

"Well, that is true..." Roslyn said hesitantly

"See? Just let me have this one." Slate whined.

"Fine, but stop whining please," She sighed.

Slate sighed. "Fine, deal." They shook hands. "By the way, what is it you like about Eric?" Slate asked kind of nosy.

Roslyn hesitated. "He's normal, I've never met a normal person before. They're kind of interesting, and he's really nice."

"Well, he seems okay, but what about your dad?"

"I like said, I'm sure he can prove himself trustworthy." Roslyn said confidently.

"Uncle Adam is very protective."

Roslyn sighed, "I know but I want to stay possitive."

"Good plan."

"That's what, Mom says anyways." Roslyn said.

"Stay positive?" Eve asked.

Roslyn nodded, "Yeah, basically."

"Well it worked for her."

"Yes, yes it did."

"Then I guess it's worth trying."

"It IS worth trying." Roslyn said simple as that.

"Okay, just don't get mad at me for insulting your future boyfriend." Eve said

"Now why would you do that?" Roslyn asked.

"I wouldn't I just said that to change the topic."

"Odd topic change. Even for us." Roslyn noted.

"It worked," Eve shrugged

Roslyn chuckled. "Well, what I told Eric in gym is true, nothing here will ever be asked."

"Why do you like normal so much?"

"It's interesting!" Roslyn said defensively. "I know our parents always say that normal's overrated and boring but I've never seen anything like it outside of books. It's just something new and exciting."

"Are you saying you don't like your life as it is?" Slate asked.

"Well, they both have their pros and cons..." Roslyn said hesistantly.

"Lyn you sound like you resent not being normal," Slate said.

Unknown to them Adam was not far away at a table of his own. He was not trying to listen in, but the super hearing made it hard for him not too.

Roslyn sighed, "We all have to admit that life in the manor isn't exactly perfect. Why else would we have been so excited to go to a normal school. Everyone nows that it's not something we need, its something that we want."

"So, you do?" Slate asked.

"I don't know, ok?!" Roslyn said a lot louder then she meant.

From his table Adam hung his head. He had become exactly what he had tried so hard not to be, a bad parent. His own daughter resented her life. He got up and left the library. In his mood, he did not even notice he slammed the door behind him.

All three of them turned to the slammed door. "Oh no, you don't think..." Roslyn trailed off worriedly.

"Someone heard." Slate said.

"Possibly more than one. How did we not notice them though?" Eve asked.

"The real question is who heard?" Roslyn asked.

Slate walked up to the door taking a look at the damage, it was too great of an extent to possibly cause on this kind of door without super stregnth. "Either Mom, Uncle Adam, or Aunt Felicity." Slate said paling those are pretty much the worst people who could have heard that. It was obvious that Roslyn knew that because she fainted right there.

A/N: See tension! Leave a review see you next chapter!