Sorry for the delay but her we go.

Ch. 22 I Didn't Mean It

The fight was over quickly. As the bio –merged tamers returned to normal both Takato and Henry received a slap across the face courtesy of their furious girlfriends. Jeri immediately started crying holding on to Takato while he tried to comfort her as Henry calmly listened to Alice scream, rant and curse him until she finally quieted down and started to sniffle his arm quickly found their way around her holding her tight he apologized for upsetting her so much.

While the other couples were having their reunions Matt and Rika were having a glaring contest.

"Why are you here? Is it so hard to understand that I don't need nor want your help?" Rika growled.

Matt growled back, "You obviously do on both counts. In case you haven't noticed we just helped you win and if you didn't want me you wouldn't have kissed me. And I came here because I care about you for some stupid reason!"

Rika felt like her face was on fire she could tell everyone was watching them. "Yeah and now you're stuck here just like we are moron!"

"No we aren't you idiot! Izzy was able to make a portal like the one we use to go in and out of our quadrant if you had just trusted me enough to tell me what was going on this whole mess could have been avoided!"

He was hurt that she hadn't trusted him, hadn't even considered it she could hear it in his voice see it in his eyes no matter how well concealed it was. The others had moved away from them by that time seeing that they needed some privacy.

"I trust you" She said quietly. "I just didn't think it was possible and I knew if we didn't find a way you wouldn't stay behind, you wouldn't let me go. I didn't want you to be stuck here because of me."

He watched her hand clenched at her side looking at the ground then sighed getting close enough to put his hands on her shoulders and rest his forehead against hers.

"Neither of us is used to explaining ourselves to other people, I want to be with you Rika and I know you feel the same way about me as I do about you don't deny it. We can make this work but you have to be willing to try" He tilted her head so they were looking directly into each other's eyes. "And I'm telling you right now if you ever disappear on me like that again there is going to be hell to pay."

She laughed then knowing everything was ok between them and now they had a way back home.

Time Skip

The group had been walking for awhile getting closer to where Ice Devimon was. Rika was still marveling over the fact that Ryo had finally understood she was never going to see be interested in him romantically but what shocked her the most was that he and Matt actually seemed to be friends now.

Boys are so weird. She thought.

They were almost to their destination when they heard an evil laugh that Rika knew well.

"It seems I have guest how nice." Ice Devimon's reflection was on a giant wall of ice in front of them. "I've been wanting to try out my knew trick and I see the perfect little human to try it on."

He pointed his claw at Jeri shooting a sphere that seemed to be made of smoke she was shielded by Takato and Beelzemon who was close by. Nothing seemed to happen at first until they both started shaking.

"Guilmon" Takato was staring a nothing but it seemed like he was watching something horrible. "Guilmon what have I done, this is all my fault." He fell to the ground crying repeating over and over again how sorry he was. Guilmon went to his partner trying to snap him out of it.

"I'm right here Takatomon yu didn't do anything."

"No no no! I didn't want this! I'm sorry! Jeri please! So sorry" Everyone turned to Beelzemon in shock Jeri freezing on her way to comfort her fallen boyfriend.

"Why is he apologizing to me?" She was confused he hadn't done anything to her lately.

The same thought occurred the Henry and Rika they looked at each other.

"You think it's…?" She asked.

He shrugged "It's the most logical explanation"

"You know that's really starting to get annoying." Cody said.

"You get used to it." Kenta replied.

"An explanation would be nice." Joe added.

"The last time Beelzemon apologized was when he killed Jeri's partner." Rika said tonelessly.

Ignoring their shock Henry continued his voice matching her's. "And Takato turned Guilmon into a moster in order to retaliate." Turning to his redheaded friend. "You fixed him the last time he was broken you should be able to do it again."

Shrugging Rika walked over to the sobbing brunette and punched him square in the jaw giving the digidestined another shock and making Matt question his sanity for liking a girl who's idea of comfort was breaking someone's face.

Seeing she managed to get the boy to at least see her she hurried before he was lost to his nightmares again. "Snap out of it Goggle Head we don't have time for this! I know you didn't mean for that to happen but it's over now Guilmon is still here and he is still the goofball you created. So stop your blubbering Matsuki!"

Coming out of his daze Takato was able to see that what he had seen was only a memory he sighed in relief and gently touched his sore jaw. Looking at Rika he smiled. "Thanks Ri-chan."

"No problem now how do we help him?"

"Help him? How can you help him after what he did?" Jeri interrupted before Rika could respond to Yolie's outburst.

"He didn't mean it!" Everyone looked at her surprised she would defend the one who took her partner away. "I forgave him a long time ago when he risked everything to save." Talking to Beelzemon now.

"Don't you understand that?" She kneeled in front of the digimon so they were face to face. "I don't blame you. You were confused and hurt you just wanted somewhere to belong and the dog dava offered you that. He used you to hurt us. Please come back to us Ai and Mako are waiting for you please come back. I already forgave you."

She was crying by the end clinging to the digimon who had taken Leomon away but he was also the digimon that had gone head to head with the D-Reaper just to get her back. Suddenly she felt arms around her "Thank you Jeri thank you"

With a watery laugh she flung her arms around his neck. "Welcome back Beelzemon"

Rika watched the scene in front of her, her blood slowly starting to boil who did the bastard think he was forcing them to remember such horrible times? By the looks on her teams faces excluding the younger ones they were all remembering the days the spent trying to beat that blob of destruction.

She had enough it was going to end NOW!

"Alright that is it!" She shouted startling everyone. "You messed with us for the last time! Come out and face me!"

"I thought you'd never ask. Though I think I'd like it better if it was a private affair."

Ice shot out from the wall encasing everyone but Rika and Renamon in ice cells. It seemed he wanted an audience.

"Now let me show you how inferior the fox really is."

"Inferior my ass! I'll show you why Renamon will always be better!"

"BIO-MERGE ACTIVATE!"

You know when I'm reading a story I hate cliffhangers but when I'm writing I find I like them. We are almost to the end of the line people thanks for sticking with me. Again sorry for taking so long. Review Please!