I do not own Jak and Daxter, just waiting patiently for Naughty Dog to make a new game.

CHAPTER 2

Jak awoke the next morning with the worst headache. He groaned at the sunlight streaming in and rubbed his eyes getting out of bed and heading for the shower, he definitely wasn't looking forward to seeing Ashelin or hearing what she had to say. He stepped in the shower and closed his eyes letting the hot water wash over him. Jak smiled as he thought about what his day would have in store for him, a full day with Keira, yes they'd be working but he'd be able to see her and talk to her. He felt a slight twitch and looked down 'Odd' he thought 'Shouldn't that happen when I think about my girlfriend, and not when I think about my best friend' he chuckled 'Glad its the female best friend that made that happen and not the male one'. The thought of Daxter quickly put to rest the feelings he was having and he quickly finished washing and got dressed ready to face Ashelin, he was going to tell her today, he'd made up his mind it wasn't fair to lead her on.

As he stepped in to the dining hall in the palace Ashelin sat at the table, she looked up and smiled "Morning sexy, how'd you sleep?" she asked cheerfully.

Jak frowned as he poured himself a mug of coffee "Not to great, you?" he enquired.

"Oh you know, after I'd relieved the tension I was out of it" she smirked at him "So I've made you an appointment with the palace doctors" she said getting up and moving around to him.

"What the hell for, I don't need a doctor?" Jak snapped

Ashelin smiled and rested a hand on his shoulder "Then we can have you checked out and then we can be a proper couple". she leaned forward and tried to kiss him.

"Damn it Ashelin, can't you just except that I'm not ready" Jak hissed pushing her away.

Ashelin shook her head "I don't understand, when we got back from the desert it seemed that you were all for it and now its like yuo don't wanna be with me" she frowned " Why won't you do this with me?" she asked

Jak sighed and closed his eyes for a minute, he hated lying "Because I don't want to lose control and hurt you"

"You wouldn't hurt me" Ashelin smiled

Jak frowned and moved away from her "Just let me sort my head out, and stop pushing me and trying to control me" he snapped stamping out the room and heading for the garage.

Keira hummed happily to herself while fiddling with Jak's jet board when Tess strolled in. She jumped on the bench and smiled "Your awfully chipper this morning" she stated.

Keira looked up at her and smiled "And why shouldn't I be" she lowered her voice and whispered "Jak and I...well he nearly kissed me" she grinned.

"What, when...did he come here after he'd been the ottsel last night?" Tess asked confused.

Keira looked just as puzzled "No, yesterday afternoon, while you was showing Ashelin the guns...why did he come back to the bar?" she asked

"He had a fight with Ashelin and came to cool off" Tess explained

Keira nodded "What about?" she asked

"You, because he wanted to walk you home and he told her you was gorgeous" Tess said

Keira grinned "He said I was gorgeous"

"Yup" Tess nodded as she looked towards the door when someone came in "Hey Torn, I'm not quite finished with the gun mods yet" she said cheerily.

"Actually I've come to give Keira the new plans for the hell cats" he smiled holding up some rolled sheets of paper.

Tess nodded "Oh okay, I'll be in my work shop" she waved before jumping off the bench and walking off.

"You know, as far as ottsels go she sure is still hot" Torn grinned

Keira rolled her eyes and held a hand out "So let me see the plans"

Torn handed them to her and watched as she unrolled them and pinned the corners to the work bench, Torn lent on the bench and folded his arms across his chest "So did you think about my offer?" he asked

Keira looked up from the drawings and was just about to speak when a new voice entered the room "What offer?" Jak asked

Keira's head spun around and she saw Jak stood hands on hips looking rather annoyed "Hey Jak, you okay?" she smiled

Jak held her eyes for a minute before giving her a small smile, he turned back to Torn as he started walking "Well?" he asked again

"I just invited Keira out for a drink tonight, so how about it?" he smiled looking back at Keira and winking at the look on Jak's face.

Keira nodded "Why not, I'll be going down for a drink anyway" she shrugged.

"Great, I'll see you there about sevenish" Torn smiled leaving the garage.

Jak stared at Keira "What?" Keira asked.

"Your going out with him?" he asked

Keira nodded and shrugged "Just a drink Jak, if I didn't know better I'd think you were jealous" she smiled slyly

Jak stepped towards her and moved some hair out of her eyes, tucking it behind her ear "Do you want me to be jealous?" he asked.

"Maybe" she whispered "But you have a girlfriend" she frowned looking down

Jak tilted her head up with his finger under her chin "What if I made a mistake?" he whispered.

"Then maybe you should fix it" she smiled looking into his eyes.

Jak nodded "I will" he whispered moving away from her "So what we working on?" he said

"I brought a zoomer in for you, I thought you could work on it with me" she smiled

Jak smiled back "You know I was in a really crappy mood before I walked in here, how do you always know how to make me feel better?"

"Thats what comes from knowing someone your whole life. And you always make me feel better aswell" she smiled shyly.

Jak's smile beamed as he took his jacket off and went to look over the zoomer.

Jak's good mood hadn't lasted long. Keira flinched as she heard him banging the hammer on a piece of metal. She quietly moved over to him and placed a hand on his as it held a piece of metal while he hammered it. He looked at her "I'm fine Keira" he said knowing the concerned look in her eyes.

"So why is that previously straight piece of metal now curvy and full of hammer marks?" she teased.

Jak shrugged and lifted his hand gently to dislodge Keira's "I'm just letting out some frustration" he said

Keira took the hammer off him and put it on the bench, she lifted her hand stroked his face "Jak, talk to me, tell me whats wrong?" she said softly.

"I just...why did I mess up this bad, how could I be so stupid?" Jak snapped.

Keira frowned "What did you mess up, is this about you and Ashelin falling out last night?" he raised an eyebrow at her "Tess mentioned it" she explained.

"She's just pushing too hard, trying to rush things, control me..." Jak sighed "I shouldn't be talking about this with you" he shook his head.

Keira frowned "Why not, were best friends?" she snapped.

"Because it's not fair on you. I know I hurt you when I got with Ashelin and I want to apologize for that" Jak smiled slightly.

Keira moved away from him and shrugged "It did hurt, it still does when I see you together, but I have to move on" she looked up at him and smiled warmly "I just want you to be happy Jak, god knows you deserve it".

Jak nodded and looked up as Ashelin entered the garage "Thanks Keira" he whispered 'you've such a good heart, thats another reason I love you' he thought as Ashelin smiled and kissed Jak's cheek.

Keira moved away "I've got stuff to do, I'll see you guys later down the bar" she smiled going upstairs.

'What the hell am I doing?' Jak thought to himself as he led on his bed staring at the ceiling 'I need to fix this mess that I've got myself into'.

He closed his eyes and thought of Keira 'I love her, I have to tell her...I've loved her all my life and I have to tell her'.

Jak heard a knock and opened his eyes as Ashelin walked in "You ready to go?" she smiled.

"Sure, but I'm really up for watching Torn drooling over Keira for too long" Jak said getting up. This was going to be torture for him and he knew torture and didn't like it.

Ashelin stood in shook as Jak got to the door he turned to look at her "Ashelin, are you okay?" he asked as he frowned

"Torn's going out with Keira?" she asked shocked

Jak chuckled at the look on her face "He asked her out for a drink yes, why do you care?" he asked

Ashelin thought she heard a touch of jealousy in his voice when in reality the jealousy was directed towards Keira going out with Torn and not the fact Ashelin seemed to be bothered by it "I don't, I just didn't think she was his type that's all" she said moving towards him.

"Me neither" Jak sulked and led her out.

Torn and Keira was sat at the bar in the Naughty Ottsel "So how'd it go today?" Torn asked before taking a swig of beer.

"Fine, why?" Keira asked sipping her orange juice.

Torn shrugged "It just seemed Jak was a little put out by us coming for a drink" he said.

Keira smiled slightly "We've kinda been having these moments, we had one this morning and yesterday" she shrugged "I just can't seem to read him as well as I used to".

"Maybe that's a good thing, maybe you just need to re-connect" Torn smiled.

Keira nodded "Listen Torn, I don't think I can do this...I mean I want to be with Jak but I want him to want to be with me because he wants me not just because he's jealous...and you should want the same from Ashelin" she smiled

Torn nodded "I guess your right, do you want me to walk you home?" he asked.

"Nah, I'm fine, I have my zoomer and I wanted to go to the forest anyway...have some thinking to do" she smiled getting up "Thanks for your help Torn" she waved leaving the bar.

An hour later Jak and Ashelin wandered into the bar and up to Torn "Where's Keira?" Jak asked.

"She left to go to the forest about an hour ago, why?" Torn asked.

Jak's eyes went wide "You let her go to the forest on her own at night, god Torn how dumb are you?" he yelled before turning to leave.

"Jak where the hell are you going?" Ashelin yelled to him as he headed for the door.

He didn't stop he just yelled back "I'm going to see if my oldest and best friend is still alive" he snapped before leaving.

Keira sat cross-legged on the edge of the water in Haven Forest idly throwing stones in she heard foot steps behind her and froze.

Jak slumped down next to her and nudged her playfully with his shoulder "Why are you sat in the middle of the forest in the middle of the night?" he asked.

Keira frowned "Why are you following me?" she asked back.

"I was worried when Torn said you'd come here" he smiled.

Keira smiled "I wish you'd all stop thinking I was a helpless little girl, I can look after myself you know" she nudged him back.

"I know that Keira but it doesn't mean I can't worry about you...and I kinda like it" Jak smiled

Keira looked up at the stars "I come out here all the time, it reminds me so much of being home" she said closing her eyes

"I know what you mean, remember how we used to go running around the jungle?" Jak smiled

Keira nodded "Sitting on top of the citidel and watching the sunset" she smiled

Jak placed his hand over hers "It seems so long ago now"

"It was, it was about five hundred years ago...hey I wonder if the younger you and the younger me are sat there now" she mused

Jak laughed "Lets see, its been what a year since I sent the kid back so he'd be what five...you'd be four...a little too young to be running around the jungle"

"I guess, but its a nice thought, them two being together" she smiled

Jak smiled "It sure is, maybe I should have given him a few instructions before he left" he chuckled.

"Like what?" Keira asked moving her hand and intertwining their fingers

He laughed "Like to open his god damn mouth and tell that beautiful girl how he feels about her, and to tie Daxter up every time he was just about to make a move".

Keira laughed "That would be a good idea, I really wish he hadn't interrupted all them times" she turned to Jak "What did you mean today when you said you'd made a mistake and you'd messed up?" she asked.

Jak shrugged and lifted his hand to hold her face gently "I shouldn't have carried this whole thing on with Ashelin, we kissed yeah in the heat of the moment, but I should have stopped it then and there" he shook his head.

"So what are you going to do about it?" she asked

Jak shrugged "Everytime I go to tell her it's over we end up fighting about something else and I walk out without saying what I want to say" he sighed "She now wants me to go see doctor about the dark eco in me".

"Whatever for?" Keira asked wide-eyed.

Jak shrugged "To make sure its safe for us to have sex".

"Why would the dark eco stop you doing that?" Keira asked cringing at the thought

Jak chuckled "Because I used it as an excuse not to sleep with her...but now she wants to drag me off to the doctor, I can't just tell her I don't want her can I"

Keira shrugged "If you don't want her you can't be in a relationship with her can you"

"Not really, but like I said I can't seem to tell her it's over without us getting into an argument about something else first" he sighed "So your date with Torn didn't last long?" he asked

Keira giggled "Torns not really my type, so I told him" she smiled

"Easy as that eh?" Jak smiled

Keira nodded "Yup, now if you insist on looking after me you can walk me to my zoomer" she said getting up

Jak nodded and got up "Will do, can't have you wandering around on your own can we" he chuckled as she rolled her eyes and grabbing his hand and swinging it between them.

This chapter isn't what I expected it to be but nevermind, let me know what you think anyway. X X X X