I.

"I'm feelin' great guys, really." Jake spoke the truth - lying about why he did of course- to his friends as they were getting off of the elevator on the Isle of Draco. He donned on a three-piece suit with the money his parents had given him five days after his birthday. His baby brother finally arriving into the world and his mother's absence kept him hushed up.

' " Don't worry about it."' Sun had made mention to him. A smile broke across his face at thinking about his Sun flower. They had e-mailed each other constantly the last couple of weeks non-stop and when Jethro was crying he would go have cell-phone video chats.

Sun Park had been chosen to stand next to Lao shi when the Council bestowed a kind of ceremonial banner onto Jake. The dragon's thoughts should have been geared towards all of this. Jake knew that, however, he couldn't quite get out of the realm of his secret fling.

Was it wrong to feel this way about your former teacher?

Jake certainly hoped so! The forbidden fruit had never tasted sweeter.

"Jake-aroo," His father's nasally voice interrupted his thoughts.

He turned to look at him and made a face at the tight, pin-striped suit his father wore. His eyes wandered to Trixie and Spud who were dressed in prom-like attire; even Fu Dog had on a bow tie! Jake suddenly felt a deep surge of embarrassment for being seen with them.

"Uh, guys," he stepped away with his hands up, "I'm gonna check on someth in', you-,"

"Jake." The wonderful voice he hadn't heard in person for two weeks spoke.

"Sun!" He whirled around happily to look up into her eyes; her still being one head taller.

The woman was dressed in a beautiful white strapped gown with a blue sash that draped across her shoulders. Jake felt strange sensations that he was just getting use to. He was feeling things that he had never felt even with Rose around. Instead of his heart muscles racing for a simple little kiss, Jake's pulse tightened in a want to grab Sun and make love. And instead of his palms sweating, the insides of his thighs were beginning to really itch.

"Can I speak with Jake alone?" Her voice was calm but her eyes glittered dangerously.

"Sure thingers," Jonathan said, fumbling around with his clip-on tie. "Really nice place you have here," he added as he looked down at his eldest son, "I am proud to be here."

A pang of longing hit Jake's chest.

"I'm sure Jake's proud that you're here, too." Sun answered off-handedly, moving closer.

"Yeah," Trixie and Spud came up to shoulder Jake in between them, "And I'm surethe official American Dragon can speak for himself," her dark eyes narrowed. "Right baby?"

"Guys, guys, come on!" Jake moved away from them and placed a casual hand upon the woman's shoulder. "Sun's just checking up on everything while Gramps is, uh, doing…"

"Nachos!" Fu Dog announced suddenly and headed over to one of the concession stands.

"Long!" Fred Nerk waved at him as he approached with some of the other dragons.

Jake turned over to look at Sun desperately.

"Another time." She bowed her head and left.

'Sun'. He thought in distress.

"Come on, Jakey," Trixie grabbed his shoulders and steered him away. "Let's mingle."

But Jake's only thoughts were for Sun Park.

OoO

'It's going to come out,' She thought to herself as she approached the end of one of the concession stands and made herself a light, dressing-drizzled salad. 'Sooner or later, it's going to catch on. An affair with a teenager? I can just see it now…' Sun had no doubt in her mind that she loved Jake, but more in the older sisterly way. Except, of course, when he looked into her eyes. When Jake stared at her just right she couldn't fight her feelings.

"Sun," Lao shi came up to her wearing a red robe with a golden dragon emblazoned on it.

"Lao shi," She took his hands and breathed heavily. "There's something I need to tell-,"

"No." He cut her off firmly, eyes averting a bit. "There is something I need to tell you."

The Korean Dragon felt her insides freeze. "Yes?" she blurted out with wide eyes.

"I just…" the Chinese Dragon looked up with grateful tiny black orbs, "Want to give you my deepest appreciations for being a good friend to Jake," he grew a little sad, "I know in the last few months he has been sacrificing time with his friends and family to train more

For what will happen today." his lips pressed to her comely hands. "You belong with us."

"I'm…" She tried to loosen his grasp. "Not sure I understand."

"I believe you do." One of the Council members appeared, a smile starting on their face.

"We would like for you to be a part of our family, Sun. As well as Spud and Trixie."

"Part of your… family?" Ideas of Jake and her actually being a couple came to mind.

"Part of our family." He confirmed.

"I will… have to think on that. Thank you, Lao shi."

OoO

Jake made dashes and dips around various dragons to escape his family, friends and all other pursuers in a ditch effort to find Sun Park. With his jacket flung over his head, he raced to the steps of the large main building where off-white pillars rose to the sky that seemed to grew more concentrated with a bustle of white clouds. Before Jake could set foot on the wrap-around stairs he felt something tug at the ankle of his pants to halt him.

"Huh?"

When he turned to look down he saw Fu Dog glaring up at him with accusatory eyes.

For some reason, Jake glared back as well.

"I think it's time we talked, kid."

"I think it's time we don't."

But as Jake tried to leave, the Sharpei clamped down on his leg with a slight growl.

"No, Jake, now."

To be continued…

LP