A/N: Tori begged to get the characters back to the Venture so that will happen next chapter. Oh the antics that will happen there... Heh heh heh. Anyhoo, I still don't know how this story should end. I have an idea that me and Tori created but dunno about it yet... I want this story to end soon though since it's already quite lengthy and taking up most of my free time. So yeah. Read, review, and enjoy!

Chapter 26: Sleepover

(Ashley POV)

"Yay!" Ashley smiled and clapped her hands together as David moved to sit on the couch at Tori's side. She skipped over to the two, how looked very down. "Smile or I'll bite one of you," she warned.

David did a head nod and tilt. "It isn't everyday that Griffin lets someone stay at the lair."

"How would you know?" Ashley said before Tori could get a word in. "Have you tried to stay here before?" She wiggled her eyebrows as she spoke. Ashley saw Tori clench back a laugh. 'Success! We have laughter.' "Sl-ash," she sang.

She saw David furrow his bro at her. "This isn't a fan fiction Ash," Tori said.

Ashley just shrugged. "A lemon then?" Tori glared at her. "Maybe a lime?" The glared got to the point where Ashley thought she was staring daggers at her. "Just a touch of zest?"

"No!" Tori boomed.

Ashley sighed, "You guys need to lighten up or something. Have a drink maybe." She turned and began towards Griffin's makeshift bedroom sluggishly. 'Maybe their moods are contagious?' She felt sort of depressed, too. 'The Paladins are all over. You have barely any freedoms anymore. Get used to it. This is life.' With a sigh, she grabbed her bag that was, oddly, lying on the bed. "How'd this get here?" Ashley asked aloud.

Griffin appeared by the top corner of his bed. "I brought it." He sat on the edge of the bed and pulled off his shoes.

"I didn't…" 'I suck at sensing anyways.'

"Yeh didn't sense it because I made sure you couldn't. Adaptation," he said, tapping his temple and laying on back on the bed.

"Where'd you go?" she asked, joining him at his side after moving her bag..

"David's place. Got Tori's bag and grabbed David a set of clothes." Griffin shrugged twice as he spoke, seeing to be mellow.

Ashley scooted over a little. "That was nice of you."

"Yeah yeah," he trailed off.

She raised an eyebrow and said, "Well, g'night," with a small hug. Ashley inched back to her original spot and turned over onto her side, facing the wall and shutting her eyes.

A pair of arms moved around her middle and she opened her eyes. "A hug and a goodnight is all, yeah?"

Ashley made a subtle sigh as she said, "Yes ya frisky man. David and Tori are in the other room and I'm a bit tired."

His warm breath moved against her ear and neck a few times. Her eyes shut again and she reveled the feeling. When she opened her eyes again, she gave her head a small shake. "And that's gunna stop us?"

Ashley smirked. "As a matter of fact it is. I mean…what if they do? And on your couch, no less."

Griffin grumbled something before letting go of her and getting off the bed. She made a little smile as she shut her eyes and drifted to sleep.

---

(David POV)

Once Ashley left the room, David got up and grabbed a beer from Griffin's miniature fridge. He turned as he opened the top and saw Tori eyeing him suspiciously. 'That's right. She's not a fan of drinking…' "I won't make you drink if that's what you're thinking," he told her.

A sigh could be heard from Tori before she asked, "So who gets the couch?"

David made a small smile. "Share?" Tori nodded and David sat next to her, sinking back into the comfort of the couch. He felt her rest her head on his shoulder and he smiled once more as he took a sip of his beverage.

When he glanced at Tori, David saw she had her eyes shut and seemed to be getting to sleep. He smiled a little and Griffin burst into the room shouting, "What's goin' on in here?"

"Shh," David shushed him.

Griffin scowled and said, "Don't do anything on my couch Rice, yeh hear?"

David chuckled. "Okay Griffin. Night." Griffin scowled more, if it was possible, and walked back into his room. David leaned on the arm of the couch a little with Tori leaning on him. He put his drink down and shut his eyes.

---

(Tori POV)

She awoke with a splitting headache. Tori sat up, rubbing her forehead gingerly. "Cripes…" She looked around and found David sitting with his back against the couch. "David, are you awake?" she whispered.

He looked over his shoulder. "You alright?"

"Horrible headache, but I'll deal."

David furrowed his brow. "You woke up and had a fever. You looked real sick."

"I-I did?" Tori asked. 'I don't remember any of that.' "Where're Ash and Griffin?"

"They went to get some food and I think he said about helping her sense more so it could be a little until they get back. Do you need anything?" he asked kindly with a warm smile.

Tori shook her head. "You don't have to watch me, David," she told him as she sat up.

He nodded, "I know. I just wanted to be sure you were okay."

With a small sigh, Tori said, "I guess I could use some food. If you don't mind, that is." David nodded and disappeared from sight. Tori began to wonder where he went as she peered through his miniature jumpscar. It looked like a plaza in Rome. She scooted back and leaned against the couch. 'Rome is beautiful. With all the architecture and such.' Tori was loosing herself to her thoughts when everything seemed to change; the quiet lair sounded louder and brighter. With a look around, she saw she was sitting on a park bench near the coliseum. It was where she and Ashley sat one day to have lunch. 'How did I get here? Did I just…' She felt her jaw drop. 'I just…jumped!' Tori bolted up from the seat and cheered. "Banzai! Banzai! Banzai!" She was so excited to be able to jump. 'Maybe Griffin will get off my back now…'

Tori sat down on the bench once more before jumping back to her spot on the couch. She found David was looking around the corner of the lair for her. He whipped around with a shocked expression, obviously sensing her jump. "Did you just…" He pointed at her with an awestruck expression.

Tori nodded vigorously. "I don't know how or why, but I did!"

David rushed over to her and enveloped her in a hug. "That's great," he said before giving her a quick kiss on the lips.

She nodded in response. "Great, but confusing. Now I can learn to defend myself more. Dumb old Paladins will be after me."

He blinked, looking at her with a blank face. "No. You can't."

"Can't what?"

"You can't jump. Paladins won't hurt you because you're not one of us."

"But I am," Tori said strongly.

They both turned, sensing a jump. Ashley was laughing and holding a cup of something while Griffin had his hands in his pockets with a small smile on his lips. "What up?" Ashley asked with a giggle.

Tori looked at David, silently questioning if she should tell them. He gave her a nod and she said, "I sorta… Um, I…"

"C'mon. Out with it, yeah?" Griffin demanded as the smile he had began to fade.

"I can jump," Tori stammered. Griffin and Ashley both had looks of shock.

"Awesome!" Ashley said as she dashed forward and hugged her. "You're a jumper, too."

"You're a jumper," Griffin said quietly. Ashley pulled away with a frown, knowing what this meant. "They don't know though. They only know about us three. We won't tell them about yeh."

Tori furrowed her brow. "Look I know what you're all thinking," she said looking at them one by one. "I'll learn the rules and cover my tracks. They won't know."

"They won't know because you won't jump," Griffin sternly told her.

She looked at Ashley, who looked away and sat down; then to David, who shrugged with an unsure look. "No Griffin. If I'm like all of you I won't ignore it. I won't hide who I am." Her voice was strong, yet breaking at the same time. Someone's arms went around her and she saw it was David. "Get off," she grumbled as she pulled away. Tori grabbed her bag before disappearing.

---

(Ashley POV)

Ashley walked slowly to the couch and sat with her head in her hands. "How did this happen?" she asked aloud in a quiet voice. "She was just a sensitive…"

The weight of the couch shifted slightly and she noticed David was sitting next to her. She felt him pat her back. "Maybe she's always been able to do it?"

She looked up and Griffin was pacing the lair with his fingers laced behind his head. "Adaptation," he finally said. "How long have you been jumping places with her?"

"A while…" Ashley was figuring things out in her head. "Maybe a couple years. Shit. It's my fault isn't it?"

Griffin walked over and sat on the floor with his back against the couch. "Her being a sensitive and jumping so many times probably caused something to change. So no, it's not your fault entirely," he told her. Ashley sighed and nodded. "Now where d'yeh think she went?" Griffin asked, craning his neck to look at Ashley.

"I have a good feeling I know," she said quietly.