AN: Cover art was drawn by me, though it's only a part of the whole piece.) So uh… my muse decided, thanks to the positive reviews to this silly thing, that it would rather write a new part than do homework. So... new part! Dunno when I'll next update but I hope you like this.

I have an idea to work in a kid-friendly version of the anomalies into this story, though there's gonna be no real time travel or anomaly hopping for these babies...

(Also, the ages have changed! Jess is just turned 2, Hilary Becker is 3, Connor and Abby are 4, Sarah, Stephen and Emily are 4 and a half, Danny, Jenny, and Claudia are 5, and Nick, Matt, Tom Ryan and Helen are 5 and a half. Others will be introduced later, like Jack, Johnson, Leek, Lester, and Patrick, among others. Lester is the eldest of the kids at 8.)

Jess was really little, Abby thought, watching her friend toddling along, so maybe Hilary had a point when he said she shouldn't come with them… But, knowing Jess, the littlest of their group would've followed them anyway.

The other boy had eventually given in, which had made Connor giggle at least, and now they were on their way all together to tell off Helen for picking on Conn. Abby didn't like bullies, and she didn't like Helen, but Nick and Stephen did so she'd become a part of the group. But maybe now the older two would put their feet down…

Abby would do it if they didn't, and she knew Danny, Hilary, and Emily would be quick to help her, too.

The older kids were walking in front, because Helen had some mean friends and Nick and Matt wanted to be sure nothing bad would happen.

Claudia was walking with Nick, and Jenny next to her was flanked by Danny, and next to the redheaded boy was Sarah. Beside Nick on the other side was Stephen, and while Abby couldn't see his face she had a feeling he wasn't happy about this. Too bad. Tom Ryan was next to Stephen, and a little behind so he could walk with Emily was Matt. Behind them were, well…

The little ones, which included Abby herself, Connor, who she was holding hands with, Hilary, and Jess.

They marched across the floors, carpeted and wood alike, and hid around corners when adults came into view. Their parents were having some sort of party or whatever, and if they got spotted they'd be back in the playpen quicker 'n they could say 'anomaly'. Which, y'know, is pretty quick. That's not an easy word, in Abby's opinion.

"I'm not so sure this is a good idea." Connor whispered, his hand gripping hers tightly. Abby sighed, and squeezed his hand.

"Don't worry, it's gonna be fine. We're gonna find Helen and do that thing where we all cross our arms and stare at her till she has to apologize to you. And promises to not bully any of us ever again. And then we're gonna go back to playing, yeah?" She told him.

Unsurprisingly, he didn't look any happier. Abby sighed, and stopped walking. Connor walked into her.

"Hey, Hils?" She called, wiggling a hand at Hilary, who promptly let go of Jess' littler hand like he'd stuck his fingers in the plug spot in the wall again. Connor squeaked in alarm when the bigger boy came over, and Abby squeezed his hand in hers again. Silly, the lot of them.

"Yeah, Maitland?" Hilary asked, head tilted. Jess frowned, and then toddled over after him. He called everyone but Jess by their last names.

"Tell Connor here there's nothing to worry about." Abby said, smiling when Jess' eyes went big at the thought of Connor being scared, and immediately turned to hug him. He didn't startle or squeak, but then he never did with Jess.

Hilary rolled his eyes.

"Temple," he started, drawling out the name, and Abby thought maybe she should've asked Claudia instead when Connor hid behind her again. Hilary noticed, and when he spoke again he wasn't as sarcastic. Good, she wouldn't have to do the scary-glare at him. "She's right. We're all going together so there's nothing to fear. Nick wont let anything happen."

Abby knew that it wouldn't be enough but it seemed to calm her best friend down a little, which was good enough for now.

"Thanks Hilary." She said. Jess unlocked her arms from around Connor, took her binky out of her mouth, and beamed at him.

"No more scare." She told him, firmly. Connor giggled, and nodded, his grip on Abby's hand finally loosening.

"Okay. I'll try not to be scared."

Danny looked over his shoulder at the younger ones, and then smiled at Jenny.

"Abby's good at that." He said. Jenny looked confused. She'd been focused on what she wanted to say to Helen. "Keeping him calm, I mean. He's scared of everything, y'know, even his own shadow." Danny explained, lisping over some words.

Jenny's eyes cleared as she understood.

"Well, you'd be too if someone told you all sorts of scary things about shadows, and then played a mean trick on you." She said, pursing her lips. Danny nodded quickly.

"I wasn't saying 'nything bad about him, Jen." He paused. "Who did that?" Danny asked, even though he thought he knew.

"Caroline." Jenny said.

"What'd Leek give her?" Sarah piped up, curiosity caught.

"A whole package of gummi bears, and a shiny blastoise card."

Danny whistled low between the gap in his front teeth. At Jenny and Sarah's glares, he blushed.

"So not worth it, of course! Nothing's worth hurtin' Connor." He assured her. It was true.