Hey guys. Look I'm going to be honest. I'm sorry for not updating in a while, it's been really full-on for exams. I know I've let some of you down, I haven't given up on this story, it's just that time is a problem.

I've also been taking some creative writing courses which have taken up most of my free time; and I've started to write an original story - everything created by me. I'm about a third of the way through it (100 pages written). Thanks to all the reviews; I'm sorry for not answering any questions.

Also for my other Fanfiction 'I Am Number Five', I updated it yesterday, the chapter is around 7,000 words (and Eight's first appearance is in it!) - so please check that out!

I'm going to be honest with you - I've lost faith in the main series; don't get me wrong The Fate of Ten is a good book, but I think the series hit it's downfall after 'The Rise of Nine' or 'The Fall of Five' - just personally.

ACTION!

Stan/Nine POV

It's Sunday morning and I don't wanna get up. After Marina, Joe, Maren and I finished the project… well it was Joe, Marina and Maren – I really just watched them talk about it. I roll around in my bed, reaching the uncomfortable stage in sleeping-in. I drowsily pull myself out of bed, tripping and face-planting myself in the carpet. It smells nice. I just lay there, I think I'm sleeping, or maybe daydreaming, then I hear Sandor's voice,

"STAN!" I groan in response, picking myself up slowly and walking towards the door. I enter the living room, Devektra is already awake and drinking coffee on the couch, Sandor is at the kitchen bench laughing at something Dev said. They look over to me as I walk in, still half asleep,

"What time is it?" I groggily say, flopping myself down on the nearest arm chair, Sandor grins,

"11:00, you slept for quite a while, I think we should start on some training my young ward" he muses, coming over to Devektra and sitting by her, she snuggles into him and he wraps an arm around her. I find myself smiling as well – I'm really happy for Sandor and Devektra; they're getting married! Finally. They haven't decided on a date, but it's going to be after this semester. I also find myself wanting something like that – not a wedding, but just a nice relationship, I guess. For no particular reason my mind soon drifts to Emily, she's kind, funny, pretty. But I don't know if she likes me – I don't even know if I like her! Ugh, stupid emotions.

"Aw look, he's daydreaming about that girl" Sandor teases, I scowl at him and Dev just laughs,

"That's cute!" she says in between laughs, Sandor soon joins her,

"Shut up" I snap, but they're already cracking up. The heat in my cheeks has started to rise and I feel my lips morph into a grin which I try to suppress.

"What's her name?" Sandor asks, sobering up, I look to him, Devektra looks just as interested – I probably can't evade this topic. I sigh,

"Emily. She's Number Five"

Sandor raises his eyebrows, and then wiggles them. Devektra smirks and makes the typical 'aw' face and noise. I roll my eyes and grunt.

"Well my young ward, with your charming personality, I'm sure she'll be in your arms in no time" Sandor exclaims, getting up with Devektra and walking to their room. I face-palm, which kind hurts now, and go to my room.

I'm tempted to lie down again, just sit in my bed, staring at the ceiling – doing nothing. Maybe I will daydream about Emily.

Or not.

Ever since my first Legacy came during the Capture the Flag game, I've been having trouble sleeping. It's not something major I guess; it's just, sometimes I would wake up in the middle of the night and find myself sleeping on the wall or ceiling. I haven't told Sandor yet, but I guess there's only one solution – control it, and there's one solution to that - train.

I groan. Quite loudly for that matter.

"Stan get up!" Dev calls, I hear her placing her cup on the kitchen counter. Weird. I've never heard sounds that far – must be the house, it does bounce sound off certain angles on certain walls.

Running my hand through my shaggy hair I groan again. I need to get it cut, it's well past my ears. A shuffle at the door grabs my attention,

"Stan you-Oh for the love of Lore, get up, we're leaving soon" Sandor says, peeping his head into the room.

"Leaving where?"

"To see your grandfather, now hurry up" he says. I immediately bound off my bed, almost face-planting again. I haven't seen grandpa in a long time, since he lives in Lorien's countryside, I barely see him – so I guess you could say I'm a little excited. I still remember the games I used to play, how I would play with the Chimaera, he would tell me stories around the small fire pit he had. It was great. I don't know why Dad would've wanted to ever leave – I guess the jousting competitions got held in the city.

10 minutes and 2 bathroom breaks later, I'm in one of Sandor's upgraded cars, driving down the main city boulevard towards the outskirts. Looking out the window I catch a glimpse of the various people doing various things on the Sunday late morning. Turning round the corner something catches my eye.

It's not something, it's someone.

I haven't met them before, but I feel like a know them.

It's a girl, probably a couple of years younger than me, she strolls through the busy streets, a pet Chimaera at her heels. The last thing I register before she's out of sight is her distinct auburn hair.

"If you wanna sleep, you can, it's gonna be a long ride buddy" Sandor muses, flicking his head in the direction of his favourite pop artist, other than Dev, I think his name is Dan Jones. I obey and slowly feel my eyelids drooping to the comfortable hum of the engine and the smooth bumps of the road.

"Stan slow down! You'll fall" I hear my grandmother say, as she runs after a 4 year old me. I'm laughing loudly, not stopping as I chase the Chimaera in front of me; it's a wolf-looking animal.

"I'm too fast Ma" I shout happily, grabbing the tree branches to pull me up the trunk. My meaty 4 year old hands clutching the branches tightly. I look down at my grandmother, she's red in the face but smiling widely at me. The Chimaera climbs up with me, whining about the lack of space.

"Come on dear, Pa has already cooked dinner and it's getting dark" she reasons, her jet black hair is pulled back into a neat bun; her faced looks aged, but also youthful and full of energy.

"Okay, but only if doggie comes down too" I say. I am really stubborn. My grandmother chuckles, holding her arms out to me, nodding.

The next thing I know, I'm in her arms, laughing as she tickles me. My echoes travel throughout the countryside. It's so peaceful.

The scene shifts and I'm about 12 years old. I'm at the beach, looking to the water. Sandor is with me, laughing as Devektra pulls him along to the waves.

"Come on my young ward, I bet I can catch a bigger wave than you!" he shouts, grinning widely as he runs towards the ocean. I grin, that comment would easily set off a 12 year old me.

I run forwards, not caring that I've left my belongings unguarded. Sandor should know better than to challenge me! It happens so fast, one minute I'm sprinting full on to the water, the next I'm on the ground, groaning…

"Ow, ow, ow" a girl's voice peeps from beside me. She's sprawled on the sand next to me, clutching her head and cradling her shoulder. I instantly feel guilty,

"I'm so sorry, I didn't see you there-"

"I didn't either" she says back, her eyes glistening at me. I get my first real good look at her. And to be honest, she's beautiful. She's around the same age as me; long dark hair, flawless skin, full lips… Wow.

"Here, let me get some ice-"

"No, no, it's fine-"

"No, I insist, besides, I did just run into you" I say, for some reason grinning, she looks to me, and smiles. Taking my hand in helping her up,

"I'm N-Stan, Stan Worthington" I stutter, almost giving out my Elder secret. The girl smirks,

"Maddy. Nice to meet you Stan"

Before I can dream anymore the void of darkness overcomes me, and then it turns black.

Emily/Five POV

Sunday. Great.

It turns out having your house trashed by a nobody is bad, as well as having nothing stolen either. You see, when the house was trashed, you'd expect something to be stolen, but nothing was, not even the money on the desk for our house cleaner Rhonda.

I like Rhonda, she's very nice.

So Kate thinks someone was looking for something specific.

Yeah it gives me the creeps, but having Britney here just puts everything into perspective. Note the sarcasm.

"So why are we still here?" she asks, sitting on my half broken armchair – Kate's half-broken armchair. Speaking of Kate she got here a few minutes ago, freaked out of her mind; sure, most people would be, but when you walk into a trashed living room and see two teenage girls sleeping on the sofa, you don't scream without warning. It's a given.

I give a look to Britney, and glance to Kate, she's speaking with the authorities, the sirens blaring in the background. John's Cepan, I forgot his name – what? The Lecture Hall group together thingy wasn't a get to know session. Anyway, John's Cepan is standing by Kate, talking to her in hush tones after she turns away from the police.

"Can we go?"

"I dunno, can you?"

"Shut up" I smirk at Britney's annoyed reaction.

"Remember you have to tell her, it's not good keeping secrets – they'll all eventually resurface" the blonde head-cheerleader says to me. I'm surprised. Those words just came out of her mouth.

"When did you get so philosophical?"

"What does philosophical mean?" the look on her face just says it all.

"It mea-why do I even bother with you?"

She laughs. I'll leave it at that. But she is right, I have to tell Kate about my suspicions, I've told Britney – great start. But what's Britney gonna do? Go to Hessu and tell… actually that's not bad. She can do a lot.

The evening came quicker than usual, most of the broken furniture and items were removed, luckily the warranty on them hadn't expired, considering this is a new place, sort of. Kate paces the almost empty living room, running her hands through her now messy hair.

"This bad, what are we gonna do? We can't move, but we're a target now.." she mutters, I can really tell the Cepan of an Elder thing is going to her head.

"Hey Kate, just sit down, relax; who knows, the break in might've been a random one, just some burglar looking for cash"

"But nothing was taken, not even the money for Miss Gharloce!"

"Rhonda didn't come today"

"Why?" she queries,

"I dunno, cramps?"

Kate grins, but returns to her stressed out expression.

'Mayb-"

"You don't get it Emily, a robber or burglar, when they break in, they break in for something, anything, money, jewellery even medication! They don't just come in and trash the living room and leave, leaving everything else untouched!" she exclaims. A shudder courses through me, I'm scared.

"Maybe we should call Mom or Dad, maybe my Grandparents" I offer, Kate shakes her head,

"Not now, time is crucial, if it's true what Reynolds said, that the Nine are being watched, we can't have it in the spotlight, it'll draw too much attention to you" she explains, I nod, seeing no other resolution. I pace slowly around the room, reaching a box that the damage removalists didn't take, under Kate's orders. It's old wooden frame is poorly held together, looks like it'll fall apart any second. But what's inside is what really grabs my attention. It's a collection of old photos from my younger years.

I'm smiling and laughing in them, I see my dad, throw me in the air, Kate's in some of them, looking much younger, around 23, she hugs my three year old self. I can't help when a few tears start brimming at the edges of my eyelids. They were happy times, happier than now. Don't get me wrong, I love my life, but back then, everything was just… simple.

Simple.

"You were three years old, the first time I met you" Kate says, crouching down with me as she looks on in the photos" all signs of stress seem to disappear and fade from her face as she stares into the print.

"You kept all of them?"

"Yeah, memories, they're valuable" she answers. We sit back against the one remaining chair in the living room and go through the photos, laughing and smiling, remembering time back then. Then it happens.

Nearer the bottom of the box, a folded piece of paper in wedged between the piles – looking as if it was placed there in a hurry. The ends are split as I unfold it,

"Hmm, I've never seen this one before" Kate says, taking it from my hand. looking at it, out of my view her eyes widen, and something that looks like disbelief flashes through her eyes.

"Kate what is it?"

"Um, it's nothing, just-"

"Kate, what is it?" I ask with a firmer tone. She sighs in defeat, showing me the photograph. It's a bit blurry, but the figures are a bit clearer. In the picture is a woman, I recognise her immediately – my mother. She's smiling brightly, she looks tired, but extremely happy at the same time. In her arms is what draws my attention.

There are two bundles. One pink and one blue.

The pink one is me, I've seen enough baby photos to recognise Baby Five. But the other baby? I've got no clue.

"Who's the baby in blue?" I ask, there's a long silence before Kate answers. I can't draw my eyes away from the picture. It's like a distant memory, but severed from my mind. The baby's eyes are amber like mine, but faint brown hair sprout from the little head. I look to Kate, I can tell she doesn't want to answer, but the look in her eyes shows that she's keeping something from me. My heart is thudding against my chest as her mouth opens, the words escaping from her lips shocking me beyond repair. I'm speechless. Feeling betrayed as she speaks.

"It's-He's your brother. Your twin brother"

So thanks for reading, I'm not sure when the next chapter will be up - but it won't take half a year (lol). This chapter I actually forgot that I had written it, and forgot to post it (so sorry).

So please review, give me criticism, thumbs up, hate, virtual cookies, happy faces - anything.

Thanks again for believing in this story.

Paragon Eight.