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Alex
I took in my new surroundings. Green trees swaying in the wind, blue sky untouched by any trace of what had happened.
I felt a hand on my arm, and looked back to see my mom smiling at me. A sad, yet hopeful smile.
"I love you" She said quietly, a tear falling down her cheek. Before I could open my mouth she kept walking across the tarmac, and I saw my sisters run after her.
We had just landed back on earth, the feeling of what seemed relief and sorrow in all of us. We were all quiet, not like when we were getting on the large ship to go there.
We had come back on a large war ship, the mere size of it engulfing everything else at the airport.
I stood still for a moment, taking in everything that just happened over the past few months. Going to the Chanaiben home world, the Yeerks...
We had stayed to try and help rebuild what was left of the planet, before our parents decided we needed to come back home. To be away from all that.
Even though we had just helped regain a world, we were still their kids. We were still in need of protection.
Or so I thought. I could never really work out what was going through their heads.
Nicole walked by with her parents on either side of her, holding their hands. I wanted to say something to her, to ask her if she would be okay, but I just couldn't bring myself to move. She had been so distant since the last fight, and although she had gotten both her parents back, there was still something missing in her. A spark that had been snuffed out. Every time I had tried to approach her after it, I got the cold shoulder, or she would walk away.
The rebelling Yeerks had been sent back to their planet, under the supervision of volunteers from the Yeerk resistance. When they were all safely to their planet, the resistance would be put into a separate pool, and the hosts would return back to their home worlds.
Like Cassie. She had been a volunteer, but the Yeerk had decided to leave her after seeing how much her daughter needed her. Nicole just wasn't the same.
I sighed, looking back into the sky. It was so beautiful here, so peaceful...
Yet it would never be the same. I could feel it.
None of us would be the same. Not after what we had seen, felt, experienced...
Dad was right. War changes you.
I felt so different from the day I stood here with the others, ready to get on that ship to take us there. So tired.
I had barely slept. When I wasn't the one having nightmares, I was comforting my sisters. Especially Megan.
She was so haunted. So...
She just wasn't Megan anymore.
I watched the others walk by me, Aerionna and Kay included, as well as all the parents, and some random Andalites and Chanaibens. The War Hero Aximilli, Rtaia, Ovatt, even Maiyan...
No one was running. No one was talking or happy.
I felt my heart go heavy. Would any of us be able to smile again? Be happy?
"Hey kid"
My dad was suddenly by my side, looking at me with his usual grin. It shocked me a little.
"What you doing standing here on your own?"
I sighed, looking down "I don't know. I just... I don't feel the same"
"And you never will"
I looked at him skeptically. He patted my back, and we started to walk side by side, after the others.
"Dad?"
"Alex, I never wanted you or your sisters to go through any of this. It was the last thing I ever wanted. That's why I was so angry at your mother when she told me about when the Ellimist had shown her. Knowing you would... go through, what we did..." He shook his head.
"Are you and mom going to be okay?"
He smiled again, looking in her direction "I love her more than you know"
"Wait..." I realised something "You knew we were there that night?"
He laughed "You are not my kids for nothing. I knew at least one of you would sneak out"
I stared at him, and he gave me a gentle nudge to keep going, his face turning solemn.
"Dad, will... how do we keep going after all this?"
"Nicole will be fine, she just needs time. Her father was worse than this after the first war ended. We'd lost his brother in it all, and almost lost his cousin. He was a mess... " Then he smiled again "But thanks to my marvel and wonder, look at him now!"
I couldn't help but laugh. My dad was still my dad. Smart, but also coming out with his strange sort of humour.
"Alex" He stopped, turning me to him.
"I know I don't say this often enough, but I'm proud of you. I couldn't have asked for a better son. And I know... you will make it through this"
I looked down, scuffing my foot on the floor and feeling a blush rise to my cheeks.
"Thanks dad. And..." I looked up, my eyes now brimming with tears "I'm proud to have Marco the Animorph as my father"
He hugged me, patting my back and letting me go, seeing he looked about ready to cry.
"Don't let your mother see us blubbering. She will never let us live it down!"
We straightened up, continuing to walk after the others, looking at Nicole, then at Megan and Michelle.
"Alex, remember one thing"
"Yeah dad?"
"You can either laugh, or cry. I choose to laugh"
I smiled, knowing after all that had happened, he was right.
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I tossed my pillow at the wall, getting frustrated.
I had been tossing and turning for hours on end, and was no where near falling asleep. It had been like this ever since we got back. Unable to sleep, and when I could it was usually morning. Mom put it down as just getting used to sleeping in my own bed again.
I put it down to the images running through my head. Shifting, fighting...
Nicole...
Megan had been starting to come around, but I hadn't heard from Nicole since we had returned. Dad kept telling me she just needed time, and mom agreed, but I wasn't sure.
I felt like I had not only lost her as a friend, but also someone who I...
Well, who I had fallen for.
I finally decided to get up and go for a walk, knowing my parents wouldn't mind too much, leaving them a note anyway and getting changed.
I headed out into the night, feeling the cool air on my face as I walked down the familiar streets, past familiar buildings and houses.
Yet everything seemed wrong. Out of place.
So quiet. Almost... almost too quiet.
I looked up at the half moon, wondering how the others were, and if they felt the same way as me.
Some stupid part of me was telling me to just enjoy it, to go with the flow. The other part of me was edgy, ready for action or someone to try and strike. Or the Yeerks to try again on earth...
I found myself near the old park, where we used to play ball. I started to jog towards it, good memories starting to play in my head. Before...
I skidded to a stop, finding a familiar face staring at me from the other side of the park. Even without much light, I knew who it was.
"Nicole?"
My heart leapt into my throat, starting to jog over to her, hoping she wouldn't just turn and run.
"Alex? What are you doing out here?"
"I could ask you the same" I said as I reached her. This was the most normal conversation we'd had in months.
"I...I couldn't sleep. I needed to go for a walk"
"Nicole, I've been worried-"
She looked at me, a small smile playing on her lips.
"I'm so sorry. I... I know I've been... but its just not..."
"I know. Everything here feels wrong" I managed to get out, digging my hands deep into my jacket pockets, feeling my heart sink. I knew where this was going, and I knew I didn't want to hear it.
"Yeah, but... Alex, I know I've been so cold to you, and all you've done was worry about me"
"Uh huh" I couldn't look at her.
"But... I want to talk again, I want to..."
Suddenly her hand was under my chin, lifting my face to look at her.
"Alex, I.. I..."
I stared.
"I love you"
Well, not what I was expecting.
"I... love you too" I muttered, my heart still unbelievably heavy. I wasn't sure this was real. Maybe I had just fallen asleep...
She pulled back, and I grabbed her arm, pulling her back towards me and putting my arms around her the second I could, pulling her close.
I hugged her as tight as I dared, not willing or wanting to let her go. To let her disappear or walk away now she had said those three words.
"Nicole, don't ever scare me like that again" I choked out, feeling tears sting my eyelids. I couldn't loose her... I wouldn't.
She was my friend, we had grown up together, and now I hoped-
"Alex" Her arms came around me, and I felt tears wet my shoulder.
We stood there, for what seemed like an eternity, before she pulled back to look at me, her face streaked with tears still.
"Don't" I moved my hand up to her face, trying to wipe away the tears, resting my hand on her cheek as she looked into my eyes.
Before I knew it she was kissing me hard, and I returned the kiss, holding her close as we did.
"Hey!"
We bolted apart, both of us turning to face the person who had called out.
"You two lovebirds finished?" Seth asked, tossing a baseball in the air, then catching it. He was leaning on a bat, and he'd put his baseball hat backwards on his head. He was grinning from ear to ear.
It took me a second to realise his brother was next to him, hands in his pockets. He was looking at something else.
Or...someone...
Nicole and I both turned to see Cody and Toni walk up, followed by Elfangor, Aerionna and Kay.
Before I realised it, we were all here, including my sisters. Michelle had an arm around Megan's neck, who was smiling for once in I couldn't remember.
"Well, what are we waiting for?" I asked, catching the ball as Seth threw it "Let's play ball!"
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The End!
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