AN: Lucky readers! You get another chapter! This update come compliments of a very good friend of mine! I'm grounded (again) and she was kind enough to type AND post this chapter for you. She has my unending thanks and I'm sure she has yours too. Now, to address the reviews... Thank you for your generous reviews! They are part of what keeps me writing this fic, even when I get discouraged and want to quit. Also, thank you for the editing reviews! KotokoPlum, steeled is the word I wanted, not steered. FF-Rules, I appreciate your suggestions and did use the second one though I did not see the problem with my wording that you mentioned as the first problem. Thank you both for your editing help!!! I don't always catch these sort of things when I'm typing. I'm not sure when I'll be able to get my wonderful friend to post another chapter for me (she, too is motivated by reviews, hint hint. She loves the attention!) but I'm hoping it will be soon. As always, read, review, and enjoy!

Now an announcement: Code Lyoko has been taken off of the daily line-up for Miguzi. It has not completely left, though. They are still playing it on Sunday mornings at 8 am central time. Also, there is a chance they will play four episodes on a Sunday afternoon, though I'm not sure which. Just thought you'd like to know, now onto the story!

It was starting again. My dad called the principal and told him I had to come home, now. The principal said it was a family emergency and he offered to have Jim drive me home, but I refused. There wasn't an emergency - there never was. More than anything, I wish I wouldn't have to go back to that.... that place. I can't call it home.

As soon as I walked in the broken screen door, an arm shot out and wrapped itself tightly around my shoulders.

"Took ya long enough," my father said angrily, his words slurred together. The house reeked. It was bathed in the foul odors of sweat, animal feces, alcohol, and cigarette smoke. A dirty, mangy cat threaded its way around my legs, nearly tripping me up. She tried to do the same to my father, but he kicked her out of the way forcefully. "Stupid cat," he mumbled. His arm still wrapped tightly around my shoulders, my father steered me around the piles of dirty clothes and beer cans, all the while making our way to the kitchen.

Compared to the living room, the kitchen was immaculate. This alone was my mother's domain and she strove to keep it clean. Even now as she stood at the sink, washing dishes, she took great care to leave them spotless. She was a tiny woman compared to my father and tried always to please him. Today, she had her mousy brown, shoulder-length hair loose. She looks just like my Yumi.

"Theo's here to spend the day with his old man," my father said, unwrapping his arm from me and patting me roughly on the back.

"Shouldn't he be in school?" my mother asked quietly, turning to face us. Exchanging her dishrag for a towel, she wiped off her slender hands and began drying the plates.

"He should be where I say he should be and I say it's here!" my father replied angrily.

"But I've, I mean we've, worked so hard to put him through school, should he be getting his education?" she countered softly.

"I told you he's here for today! Are you questioning my authority?" my father bellowed, gripping the first thing his hand came to, which happened to be my shoulder. Even drunk, he was fairly strong, and it took me a good deal of effort to keep from flinching.

"No... never," she said quickly, then she noticed the hold he had on my left shoulder and her eyes widened in alarm. "Marc, you're hurting him!"

"I'll hurt him if I want to," he growled, then let go of me, pushing me roughly to the right. My side hit the table and I felt a stab of pain. My right side hurt, but my anger was greater. Had he been anyone else, he would be out cold now. I had no time to think on this, though, as my mother leapt forward to steady me, dropping the plate she had been drying. While I straightened myself, the sound of shattering porcelain reached my ears. As more of the plate hit the floor and broke, pieces that had already broken up before exploded upward, flying in various directions. Shards of porcelain struck my blue jeans, but failed to get through. My mother, though, was not as fortunate. Sharp sections nicked at her calves, which were not protected by the knee-length, faded blue jean skirt she wore today. Blood beaded up on the lacerations and ran down her legs, a few drops dripping onto the white tiled floor.

"Look what you've done now!" my father screamed at her, "You worthless woman! You don't even deserve to live!" His heavy boots crunched on the porcelain as he made his way swiftly to her. My mother drew back from him until she was trapped with her back against the white marble-like countertop. "Don't you try to get away," he snarled menacingly, "You've been bad and you deserve your punishment." Before she could react, he drew back his hand and slapped her right cheek. The sound of his hand meeting her flesh reminded me of another instance similar to this one. I was right, then - Yumi was supposed to be punished for staying with Ulrich the night before the dance. I didn't have to be sorry before. Well, I was a little extreme in punching her... a slap would have been better and I bet she'd remember that better.

"Get out of my sight," my father hissed at my mother, breaking me away from my thoughts, "You, too, boy. You both have disappointed me greatly and I don't want to see you two for the rest of the day."

Silently, my mother obeyed his wishes and picked her way across the shard covered floor.

"I'm going back to school," I said slowly, to be sure he understood, "I'll come home this weekend to see you. Goodbye." I turned on my heel and strided confidently out of the house the way I came. Just as I let the broken screen door slam behind me, a glass beer bottle exploded against it from inside the house. The force of the blow pushed the door slightly open, then it slammed again as it closed. It seems he was able to understand me and my disobedience. Too bad. I'm a man and I won't take orders from anyone.

AN: How did you like that chapter? It was mostly a bit of background into Theo's home life to help explain why he does the things he does. Here's your spoiler!

' "Wow, a whole week away from school... it's going to be great!" Odd said excitedly.'

There you go! It's not too exciting, but the next chapter is an information/transition chapter. Thanks for your continued support and please submit a review before you leave! Thanks!