Disclaimer: I had the certificate-snatching ghost cornered… but he eluded me! I will find him! I know I will…

"…": characters talking to each other

'…': characters talking to themselves

(…): extra facts about something in the story

((…)): my opinions

AN: I apologize for the long wait… I have a really bad workload this semester so updates will be slow… but they will come through in time! At least I hope so…

Chapter 7: Awakening, Part 2

Crockett residence, New York City, planet Earth, Milky Way Galaxy- December 2, FC 72, 7:15 AM

Shirley's eyes stayed wide as Shayla and Casey looked at their mother, confusion etched on their small faces.

'What's goin' on with Mommy and Daddy?' asked Shayla, her emerald green eyes boring into her brother's.

'How should I know?' Casey replied hotly, crossing his arms over his chest. Both twins took their focus off speaking to each other telepathically and looked to where their mother was- the doorway to their parents' bedroom.

A minute later thirty-two year old Chibodee Crocket came out of the bedroom clothed in nothing but black sweatpants. Shirley blushed as she noticed Chibodee's well-toned chest along with his slightly darker complexion. Chibodee took no notice of the small audience as he walked down the carpeted hallway in his bare feet, muttering under his breath as he tried to hold back a large yawn.

"What in the hell's going on?" Chibodee muttered to himself as he thought back to when he had woken up a few minutes ago.

FLASHBACK- 10 minutes ago

Chibodee opened his eyes but quickly closed them when he felt light hit them.

'Something's wrong here… I sleep like a bear in a cave during the winter- which means no light when I go to sleep and wake up- so where's that annoyin' source of light comin' from?'

Chibodee closed his eyes tightly and tried to go back to sleep but to his ever-growing annoyance the light still continued to shine. After a few seconds of futile attempts Chibodee yelled, "All right, you damn light, I'm getting up!"

Chibodee threw back the covers he was sleeping under and threw his legs over the side of the bed, yawning widely as he did so. He started on feeling his feet touch carpet, not the rich hardwood floor his whole penthouse in New York City had, which he had had imported from the Neo-American space colony for a hefty price. Chibodee stared down at the dark blue carpet that was illuminated by the light and knew something was wrong.

Chibodee got up and turned around slowly to take in his surroundings. He looked around the room, which had a pale yellow ceiling and green-blue walls, and saw a king-size bed with navy sheets and hunter green pillows, and two black dressers, one on either side of two doors, which Chibodee could see led to a bathroom and a large walk-in closet. A mirror hung over a vanity in a corner where curtains were drawn over a window and two light brown side-tables were on either side of the bed, both with a lamp, an alarm clock, and a book. One table had a copy of the latest Gundam fight-technique manual while the other one had a novel titled Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

'Pride and Prejudice! I don't read that crap… but Shirley does…' Chibodee's eyes widened as the implications hit him like a tidal wave head on and he started pacing.

"What the hell is going on!" screamed Chibodee as he caught sight of himself in the mirror, his navy blue hair cut to his ears with completely pink bangs and small pink streaks here and there, his emerald eyes having grown a shade darker, along with his skin tone.

Chibodee stared at his reflection and blinked, thinking, 'Okay, maybe some coffee will help me to find out what's going on…'

FLASHBACK END

Chibodee finally made it to the kitchen and dug through the cupboard where he remembered the instant coffee was kept.

After a few minutes Chibodee's face showed panic and he began to fling the contents of the kitchen cupboards all over the room, desperately looking for the coffee. When Chibodee couldn't find it he began to mutter under his breath, each fruitless minute giving way to louder muttering and darker words. Shirley, knowing Chibodee like she did, knew what words he was most likely going to say next. She got up and marched over to the kitchen, which was connected to the living room by an open doorway.

When Shirley entered the kitchen she dodged what appeared to be a box of dry pasta, which went flying out the kitchen and into the living room. Shirley's eyes glittered a dangerous dark green as she marched up to the Gundam fighter who was blissfully unaware of her presence. She cleared her throat and smirked when she saw the man freeze and slowly turn around.

"Oh, uh, hi, Shirley," stammered Chibodee as he got to his feet and stared at Shirley, noting how angry she looked.

"Hello yourself, Mr. Crocket," Shirley replied tersely, desperately wanting to curse at the man for being so idiotic as to curse in front of children but knowing if she did so she'd be just as bad as Chibodee.

"So, uh, what's up?" Chibodee asked, as his eyes darted around the kitchen, looking for something or someone to look at while trying to avoid Shirley's eyes.

"'What's up', as you say, is that you were cursing like a madman in front of two young impressionable minds!" Shirley all but screamed at the Gundam fighter, while at the same time feeling the beginnings of a headache.

Chibodee raised an eyebrow and asked, "What impressionable young minds?" Chibodee searched the woman's eyes and saw truth in them; not a hint of mischief.

Shirley was about to reply when the two adults heard children's voice behind them.

"Mommy, why are you and Daddy fighting?" Shayla asked, holding the box of dry pasta that had been flung earlier in her arms, and Casey's eyes showing he was asking the same thing.

"Dad- dad- daddy! What do you mean by that!" Chibodee spluttered; his eyes wide open in disbelief at what he was hearing. How could these two kids call him dad when he obviously wasn't their real father?

Shirley's eyes also went wide again, having realized what the twins had been trying to tell her earlier. 'Chibodee Crocket is the father of these two little angels! He and I are together!'

Shirley's head began to pound immensely when she heard the news and she clutched her head, concentrating with all her might to stop the pain but failed. Shirley gave up and fell backwards, losing consciousness as she did so, but not before hearing a concerned Chibodee asking her, "Shirl! What's wrong baby!" or the concerned yells and tears of the children or the feeling of landing in someone's strong arms.