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And now we're more then ready to start typing on new chapters on both of our stories (for those of you that have read or are reading Baby!) and both will be updated as soon as possible : )

But, until then, enjoy the chappie!

Sorry, Dana's hyper today...

Cookies, Ice cream, Caffeine!

RUN!!

-Shopping with Liz-

"Come on John!" Liz yelled as she pulled me along.

Hellboy and Abe hated me.

I groaned as we stepped inside the mall and were immediately stopped by a guard.

"Ma'am, that half naked man is not allowed inside this mall. He has to have a shirt on..."

"I know, but he just got back from a mission trip and he only had his pants left from it... Look at the man's chest for heaven's sake! Do you think that acid would leave him any clothes?" Liz asked, making her voice sound like she was close to tears.

"Just help the poor guy." He whispered and let us by. I glared at the fire starters head.

"What?! I didn't completely lie... You were burned and it was during a mission..."

"Lie... much..." I managed in broken English. Abe had to teach me how to speak and read in English all over again, which had to be extremely frustrating for him... And Hellboy had to teach me how to hold a gun... we hadn't even gotten to firing the thing yet, and now Liz had to help me learn to dress. "P-problem..." I whimpered and pointed to my chest. "M-much...p-problem...for...e-everyone."

"No John, no!" She urgently said and placed a hand on my shoulder. "Not at all. You're worth going through every bit of this so we can have our John back." I looked at her curiously. I knew what she said and tried to smile as she poked my chest. "Not a problem." She said softly.

I realized a benefit to living with the snake people... I never had to worry about so many clothes!

We had been gone over three hours, the entire time spent at the mall, moving in and out of shops that had Liz squealing in excitement and throwing me color after color of shirts, pants, boxers, and socks until there was a pile in my arms that went well over my head.

"Go try them on!" She'd tell me happily. Eventually, if I wasn't moving fast enough, she'd send in a store person to help me with a button on a shirt that just wouldn't go for me. But each time he got close I'd scoot into a corner and he'd look at me sympathetically and wait until I was alright. I'd realize how silly I was being and let them help me, a sheepish smile on my face the entire time, and trying to force myself not to shudder each time their hand would brush up against my chest.

By the end of the escapade, we'd been to (and bought from) all of the male department stores in the mall. "Time to go." Liz said as she saw the car pull up. "I think we made great progress John." She said on a smile. "I don't think anyone would recognize you... not even Hellboy!"

I smiled a bit and stepped into the car. Maybe... maybe that wouldn't be such a bad thing.

The car was pulling back into the garage.

I waited to see how bad the damage was. At least that's what I told myself even when my head was telling me I was nervous that John had been taken from me again. According to Abe and Clay, I had been edgy and irritable ever since John and Liz left HQ. I saw John step out of the back seat and immediately felt relieved and had to smile. Bit by bit he was turning back into John... My John. I watched as he took Liz's hand and helped her out of the car. Liz had said something about making him buy more pants since the ones he had were dirty, old, and about two sizes to small for his hips now because he'd lost so much weight. But I had to admit the jeans she picked looked good on him.

I looked him over and realized that the black shirt she'd picked for him didn't look bad either. It actually pulled out his new muscles that he'd gotten, probably from the king having him do more then just be his whore. It actually pissed me off a bit even if my tail was swishing happily at the changes.

"Sorry to cut your trip short, but Abe has been waiting patiently for three hours and John's late." I said as she glared at me.

"I need to talk to you Red, after we drop John off." She whispered. I nodded, wondering what the problem was.

After we dropped John off at the study Liz led me to her room so we could talk about whatever it was we needed to talk about. I really needed to get back to John; he always got a bit jumpy when I wasn't around for to long.

"What's up Liz?"

"John thinks he's a problem." She said, not bothering to be subtle about it. "He thinks he's a problem because we have to re-teach him everything."

My jaw dropped.

"What? But we're doin' it because we want the old John back…"

"I know, but he still thinks he's being a burden."

"Then we'll have to show him otherwise." I muttered as I went to get him from Abe.

I was time for some training with me.

"Come on John, you've almost got it…" Abe coaxed me as we read one of his books.

"N-nonc-conform-" I still struggled with a lot of words, but normally just sounded through them.

"Come on John, you can do it." Abe said and placed a hand to rest slowly on my shoulder, letting me decided whether I was ok with it or not. "And HB don't you dare think about taking him now."

I glanced up and saw Red and, like a kid at Christmas, I got up and ran to him. He smirked a little as he caught me in a hug. He was the only thing I felt was still a constant in my life, he made me feel normal.

"And now you've ruined my lesson. Why Hellboy, honestly?" Abe asked on a sigh as he straightened the creases made in the book.

"Oh don't get your wet suit in a knot, he'll finish." He griped as he sat down in the chair. He placed me in his lap so I had my side up against his chest and so that he could see the book. "Ok Scout, let's get this finished ok?"

I nodded and looked back at the page and frowned as I found the word I was stuck on. What the hell was that word anyway? I looked at Abe for help.

"Sound it out John." Abe encouraged.

"N-non-con-conform-ist…" I managed.

"Good, now say it together."

"N-nonconformist." I whispered.

"Good!" Abe exclaimed, wrapping an arm around my shoulders to give me a big hug. I felt Red chuckle and looked up. He looked at me and smiled and I couldn't help but smile.

"Good, now, let's go do some combat training. Whadda ya say kid?"

I nodded enthusiastically. "Ja! Ich will sein oder gelernt!"

Hellboy tilted his head at me. "Ok… I understood yes in that whole thing Scout." He told me. "My German's a bit rusty kid."

"He said he wants to be trained… But in what is the question. All of the American humans must have been broken of their English when they went to Germany…"

I saw Hellboy nod. "More then likely. Liz said he didn't talk much in the mall and when he did his two or three words were in broken English."

I lowered my head and whimpered softly, "Ich soll das schwieriges…"

"You are not a problem John!" Abe told me vehemenently.

I nodded. "Problem."

The next thing I knew I was straddling Red's lap, facing him, and looking into his eyes.

"You ain't a problem kid." He said, flames from the fireplace flickering and casting lights over his face. I started leaning down to rest my head on his shoulder and his hand moved over my back to rest on the back of my neck. His face was only inches from mine. "Scout, could I-" The room was filled with red as the light went off and the alarm rang out.

I hated that alarm.

Kay! Another Chapter up and another story is being written as well!

The other is a story we started earlier and it probably isn't that good yet, but try reading it. Hopefully it will be better by the time we finish it.

Love,

Dana & Andi