what up my peeps? lol yes, the rumors are true, I'M ALIVE! OMG, it's been so long since i've updated, and for that i deeply apologize. i just haven't been able to work on any chapters since i was without a computer for a while. plus i just got a job recently, my first job, so that's taken up a lot of time too. anyway, i am SO SORRY for the long wait, but i promise this story will be finished! enjoy

oh, and this chapter is dedicated to Dylexa, one of my most awesome reviewers. happy birthday Dylexa, this is my present to you :)

DISCLAIMER: i do not own the secret Saturdays or any of it's characters. i only own Lina, Gwen, Misty, and any other characters that aren't actually in the show (though i wish they were!)

"Galina? What are you doing here at this hour? I'm surprised to see you here at all" Van Rook said.

I sighed and scuffed my boot against the ground. "Uh, yeah, well… I need to talk to you about something"

Van Rook nodded and motioned for me to come in. I did, and we went into the living room. "I forgot how huge this place is" I thought.

"Is everything all right Galina?" Van Rook asked. "Those Saturdays didn't hurt you did they?"

I shook my head. "No, of course not. I'm fine, but I just thought you should know…" I hesitated. "Doc and Drew said that they might be able to send my sister and me back to our own world"

Van Rook looked confused. "Your sister? What are you talking about?"

I frowned. "My sister, Gwen. Don't tell me you forgot about her!"

Van Rook shook his head. "I can't forget about someone I don't know Galina. You don't even have a sister"

I frowned. "What? I… I don't?" that meant my worst suspicions were true. Gwen wasn't my biological sister. She was my foster sister. I don't know why that fact bothered me, but it did. "So Gwen and I… we aren't truly related" Van Rook still looked confused, so I quickly explained who Gwen was.

"Well I must say that I'm surprised" Van Rook said.

"surprised about what?"

Van Rook looked at me. "Surprised that you decided not to stay here"

I shook my head. "I do want to stay here, but… but Gwen's going to try to make me go back with her"

Van Rook was quiet for a minute, just looking at me. "Well are you going back or not?"

I shrugged. "I guess I have to. And I hate to say it, but Gwen does have a point. What would our parents think if she showed up without me? They'd probably think she wasn't responsible enough and that I'd been kidnapped or something" I sighed. "I thought that, since you… you're my…" I swallowed. "How hard is it to just say dad, or even father?" I thought.

"You mean since I'm your father?"

I jumped and looked at Van Rook.

I nodded. "Uh, yeah. Exactly" I blushed a little. "I'm sorry I can't say it, but…"

"Don't be sorry Galina. I know you must be ashamed to know that you and I… that we're related"

I shook my head. "No, I'm not ashamed. It's just… that time at Weird World… when you saved me from that cryptid, I knew that you aren't as horrible as people may think. If you were truly a horrible person, you wouldn't have bothered saving me. You would've just let that cryptid eat me. But you didn't" I smiled a little. "And that right there shows that you aren't so bad" we sat in silence for a minute before I stood up. "Well I guess I'd better get back. I'm really tired, and it'll probably be morning soon"

Van Rook nodded, and he followed me to the door. "Galina?"

"Yeah?"

"If you decide to leave…"

I turned to Van Rook, waiting for him to finish.

"If you leave and somehow end up back here… I just want you to know that I will be here for you. No matter what"

I smiled a little. "Thank you. That… that means a lot"

...

THE NEXT MORNING…

I woke up and blinked at the harsh sunlight streaming in through the blinds. I went to sit up, but something heavy was draped over me. "Oh, hey Komodo. I forgot you were here" I said, scratching the dragon's head. Komodo had come into my room the night before, and I'd let him sleep at the end of my bed. But he must've moved closer to me during the night, because now he was spread over me. Komodo closed his eyes, stretching his neck toward me. "You're such a good boy Komodo" I said. "I wish we had cryptids in my world" I said, scratching under Komodo's chin. Five minutes later, I got dressed and went into the lab where I figured Doc and Drew were. Sure enough, they were there. "Hey guys" I said.

"Hi Lina. How're you feeling?" Drew asked, turning to me. "You're supposed to be in bed you know"

I sighed and nodded. "I know Drew, but if I don't get up and walk around a little, I'll go crazy!"

Drew sighed. "You kids, you can't keep still for five minutes" she chuckled a little and turned back to the portal. "We're almost done with the testing" she said. "So far the tests have been successful, and you and Gwen might be able to leave as soon as tomorrow"

I felt like my heart was going to stop beating. "T-Tomorrow?" I stammered.

Drew nodded. "Yes, as long as everything keeps going smoothly"

I groaned and shook my head. "Aww man, this sucks!" I thought. "Uh, do you guys know where Zak is?" I asked.

"I think he was talking to Misty in the living room last time I saw him" Doc said.

"Misty? But she and her parents left a few days ago"

"he was using the MVP" Drew said.

"Oh!" I said, nodding. "Oh, ok. Thanks, I'll go see if I can find him" I turned and hurried out of the lab. I went into the living room and saw Zak on the couch, his MVP in his hand. He looked up and smiled at me. I smiled back and sat next to him. "Hi"

"hey"

"what're you doing?"

"I was talking to Misty"

I frowned. "You didn't have to hang up just because I'm here"

he shook his head. "No, it's ok. Misty had to go anyway. Apparently she and her parents are trying to relocate in case Argost tries to kidnap them again"

"oh" I said, nodding. We sat in silence for a few minutes.

"Lina?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you… are you going back with Gwen?"

I sighed and shrugged. "I don't know. I want to stay here, but… but I miss my other family too. My mom and dad, my dogs and my horses. And my old life"

Zak frowned. "But I… I don't want you to leave. Besides Fisk, you're my best friend"

I blushed and smiled a little. "Thanks. You're my best friend too" more silence.

"So are you staying? Or are you going back?"

I frowned. "well…"

HA, Lina's not giving us a straight answer today. i hope y'all enjoyed that, especially you Dylexa! i hope to update soon, and i mean it this time, lol. peace out!

-FreddysNightmare1984