Jupiter's Magic: Okay, usual disclaimer, I do not own anything in my story, ONLY my OC's. Please PLEASE REVIEW!

Alister: Do it so I don't have to deal with her whining

Jupiter's Magic: *Chucks pillow at him*

Alister: What the hell is up with people throwing pillows at me?

Raphael: *sigh* Please review


Unfortunately for Alister and Valon both, the very same program that aired on MTV (and that featured Skye) ended up on the Fox channel and Raphael ended up seeing what he had missed while he had been in the kitchen. This, of course, did not sit very well with him and he left for a walk shortly afterward.

It was around midnight when their female roommate finally came back. "Hey guys! I'm home!" Skye called, walking through the door and setting her purse on the table.

"Dude. You sang...You have an amazin' voice!" Valon exclaimed. "Can I have your autograph?"

"I live here, Valon. You don't need an autograph," she laughed, looking to Alister. "Hey, where's Raphael?" she asked.

Alister did not look up from his book. "He went out somewhere in the woods for a walk. Did you know there's a stable back there?"

"Kinda. I almost forgot about it since I left for Doma and pretty much forgot about…oh wait. He's back there?"

"Yup," said Alister bluntly.

Skye was quiet for a moment. "You guys saw me on TV?''

"Yep."

Skye sighed. "How much did you see?"

"Up to Osmond's shout-out to the mystery man."

"…I'll go talk to him," she sighed, walking out the door.

"Did you know that she liked 'orses?" asked Valon curiously.

Alister shrugged. "Well, we learn something new every day."


Skye's POV

For once, I was grateful that I had created a path in the woods; the leaves are annoying to trample through and I would get lost for certain without it.

I wonder what Raphael is thinking right now…I'm pretty sure I know what he's thinking. I don't know how much Raphael heard, but it's about time I start finding out what's going on and settle things once and for all.

Walking a bit further, I finally come to the lake where Lola and I used to stop at when we rode our horses. I remember that one year we brought a bench to this lake; it's on this bench that I find Raphael on, seemingly lost in his thoughts. "It's pretty out here, don't you think?"

Raphael jumped and looked at me for a brief second before looking away again. "It is," he said simply, though I can already see the tension in his shoulders.

I hesitated for a moment before I steeled myself. It's too late to back out now."Can I join you?"

He did not even turn around—he just gave me a nod in reply and I took a seat on the other side of the bench. We sat there in silence for a little while, just looking around us; I decided to break the silence first. "Raphael, I—"

"What is it that you want me to do?" he asked me suddenly, and then he looked over at me with frustration plainly written on his features. "You weren't sure when I asked you the first time and I hurt you then, but when I tried to move on you got hurt again. I don't know what it is you want me to do here, Skye, and I don't want to keep hurting you."

"I know," I sighed. "I…I just got scared, that's all," I admitted reluctantly.

"Scared of what?"

"That…that you would hurt me."

Raphael stared at me, stunned. "You honestly think I would hurt you? I'm no Caden, Skye," he growled, blue eyes flashing. "I've known you since you joined Doma, but after everything we've been through you're saying that you don't trust me?"

"I do, and I'm not comparing you to Caden," I assured him. "I'm just…scared. I don't want us to end up hating each other in the end and having to go our separate ways. That's not fair to Valon or Alister. Then there was Caden, who put me through all sorts of Hell; I'm just…kinda skittish about dating another guy after what happened."

Raphael's eyes softened. "I understand that. That was why I backed off and decided to see if I could find someone else to be with. It didn't work out, though, since I'm not really sure she's my type anyways."

I stare at him in surprise. "You mean to tell me that you and Michelle aren't boyfriend-girlfriend?"

"Her coming over to lunch was the third date I've had with her since Christmas Day," he replied wryly. "During the first two I got the impression she just wanted to drag me around as an accessory on her arm; this afternoon she ended it, and I can honestly say I'm all the better for it."

I let this latest information sink in and then I laugh. "Can I say something?"

Raphael arched an eyebrow at me.

"Michelle was a skank. That outfit she was wearing today? Totally inappropriate," I giggled.

To my pleasant surprise, the tension completely melted from Raphael's shoulders and he let out the first genuine laugh I've heard in days. "She was a bit too clingy. And you're right, she is a skank."

"Feel like having a late dinner?" I asked him, getting to my feet.

"I don't mind. I take it you didn't eat at the club?"

"Lola wouldn't let me," I replied, shaking my head. "I love her, but sometimes she can be so pushy."

Raphael got to his feet and began to go onto the path but then he stopped moving, instead looking at me. "Where do we go from here, Skye?" he asked.

I frowned. "…Why don't we just try it and see what happens? Go slow and see if this's what we want. If it isn't then we can back out before things escalate and get ruined beyond repair," I offered at last, hoping that he would accept it.

To my delight he gave me a small smile. "I can work with that," he said, beginning to walk alongside me on the path.


Back at the house (Normal POV)

"I found him!" called Skye happily as she entered the house—and then she stopped walking, staring in disbelief into the family room. "What the hell?"

"What?" asked Raphael as he came in behind her. When he saw what Skye was looking at, his mouth honestly dropped open.

Valon had been wrapped in the rug, duct tape wrapped haphazardly around the rug to keep Valon in place. Alister and Ember were looking deceptively innocent as they sat on the couch; they were playing Halo and ignoring Valon entirely.

"Alister, what exactly happened? And why is Ember here when it's almost one o'clock in the morning?" asked Raphael, looking half amused and half exasperated.

"Valon snuck over to Ember's house and dyed her hair pink," Alister said, not taking his eyes off the screen.

"Neon pink, might I add," Ember said, growling as she took off her cap with a flourish and revealing her now-pink hair.

"So…you tied him up?"

"It's better than doing what Ember wanted to do," replied Alister absently as he shot an opponent on the screen.

"Which was?" prompted Skye.

Alister looked over his shoulder with an arched eyebrow. "Given how much we know Ember, what do you think she wanted to do?"

"Blow him up?" offered two voices at the same time.

"You got it!" confirmed Ember with a wicked grin, yelping when Alister's player shot her. "The hell, Alister! What was that for?"

"All's fair in love and war," said the redhead with a laugh.

"C'mon, fellas. Lemme go!" Valon whined, trying to free himself.

"No," Ember said bluntly, killing Alister's character. "Yes! I blew you up!" she cackled just as her own character was blown up by one of Alister's grenades.

"Dammit!"


I love my 8 simple rules for dating my daughter thing. I do not own Halo.Please Review