All rights to Rise of the Guardians belongs to DreamWorks Animation. All OC's belong to me! Please do not steal or borrow them with out asking me please! I wouldn't mind sharing, but I would like if you asked first.

I want to thank howlingwolf456 so much for giving me this idea for the chapter! This is one awesome person who has helped me greatly! If wolf wrote stories I'm sure they would be some of the greatest in fanfiction! howlingwolf456 will help anyone with their story idea's as long as their not Horror, Angst, or lead to a sad ending.

I decided to make this story extra long, almost twice as long as the others, and with a little extra something! Hope you like it!

"Hey," Bunny said placing his hand on her shoulder. "You sure you're okay?"

"Yeah," She said smiling. "I'm fine."

Bunny watched her carefully ever since they arrived back at his home. She had instantly sat on the egg rock and let it carry her around as she stared off into the distance. She was so entranced in thought she didn't even realize the others had arrived and Jack was now sitting next to her.

"Careful, you'll blow your brain out." Jack joked, blowing snow into her face.

She jerked back as she wrinkled her nose to get the snow off. She smiled as she wiped her face and looked teasingly at them.

"I'm blonde, not stupid." She replied back, knowing that's exactly why he teases her.

"What you tinkin' bout?" North asked smiling and holding his arms out to her.

She slid down and landed into his arms, letting him lower her to the ground gently. "I was thinking about what Moony said. He said I needed to learn to use my powers I have yet to unleash. I'm wondering what that is; I thought I knew all my powers."

"Hm, that is troubling." North said petting his beard.

She giggled seeing the classic Santa Claus move all children imagine.

"If only Man in the Moon could come down here and help." Tooth sighed.

Crystal sat down at the lake and let the water lap up on her knees as she dipped her legs in. She leaned back on her hands as Sandy came over and sat on her lap, careful not to the let the water touch him; sand and water are not a good mix, he would sink like an anchor. He reached up and began to play with her necklace; Crystal took it off to let him look at it in wonder.

"I think that's the first time I've seen you take that necklace off." Jack said sitting next to her and placing his feet into the water, and watching as the water froze around him.

She laughed watching him trying to desperately get his legs out of the ice, but struggled futilely as the ice just came with them. She reached down and touched the ice melting it into the lake once again. She placed her hand on his knee, keeping his legs warm long enough that it heated him up and the water around him, as to not freeze around him again.

"I guess that's true. It seems wrong to take it off somehow." She drawled touched the place in the middle of her chest where the necklace laid.

"You never took it off since I've known you." Jack said before changing his mind. "Well that's not true. You used to let me wear it here and there."

"Why don't you make one like it?" Crystal asked looking at said necklace. "I mean, making it of ice suits you and wouldn't be that hard."

"I never thought of that." Jack said smirking. He held his hand up and created a small three-D diamond the same size and looks of her own. An ice chain was created with it and he locked it around his neck before looking at her with a smile.

She smiled back as he leaned back and plucked a rose and put a light ice coat over it, making it sparkle in the light. She gasped at the beauty of it and reached out to touch it. "A frozen rose."

Light enveloped her vision as she let the vision take over her this time, and no pain came when she did. She was sitting next to a small pond of water with her feet hanging into the water like she was now, and Jack was next to her. In her hand was a frozen rose much like the one she just grabbed. She could hear them talk, and looked around at the clearing in clarity, wanting to see every detail. It disappeared as quickly as it came, leaving her where she was before.

She blinked the light away as she was still staring at the rose before looking up at Jack in the same surprise she always had after she came out of a flash.

"I can guess what you remembered." Jack smiled as he turned to the lake.

"It's weird seeing myself." She laughed, scooting closer to Jack and leaning against his shoulder.

He looked at her in mild surprise, but let a small smile creep across his lips as he leaned his head on top of hers. He carefully let his hand brush against hers as they both leaned on their hands. She lifted her fingers away from his, and he was about to pull back thinking he pushed it too far, when she let her fingers mix with his.

"Though it's all cute and warm to watch you two," Bunny said interrupting. "I think we need to think about your powers."

Crystal groaned as she laid back onto the grass, with her hand still in Jack's. "I don't want to do anything!"

Sandy had fallen asleep on her with the necklace lying gently in his hand; when she flopped onto her back it caused Sandy to fall also and flail around trying to catch his bearings, sending the necklace flying out of his hand and into the water in front of him. He crawled off of her lap quickly as he looked frantically at the edge of the water for the necklace.

"What's wrong Sandy?" Tooth asked noticing his frantic behavior.

He shied away from Tooth as she looked at him hard. He finally looked at them as they pressed on to get an answer. He made her necklace appear in front of him made out of sand.

"What happened to her necklace?" Bunny asked.

Sandy turned guiltily from Crystal as he pointed to the lake. She sat up quickly, crawling to the edge, and looking into the water.

"It's okay Sandy." Crystal smiled reassuringly. "I can get it easily."

She touched the tip of her finger to the lake, watching as the water rippled out. The other's watched carefully as she pulled away and stared at the water.

"Nothing's happenin' lass." Bunny sighed with a chuckle.

She shooshed him as she stared at the water in anticipation. Soon the water began to lightly move as a shine made its way up through the water, and out encased in a small glob of water. She held her hand out and let the water land in her hand and slip through her fingers, revealing the necklace lying there.

"See?" She smiled to Sandy. "All good!"

Jack leaned forward and snatched her necklace out of her hands making her complain. "Maybe it's best if we keep this on you."

He moved her hair away from her neck gently as he put the necklace around her and fastened it around her neck. She turned and smiled at him, before turning back to Sandy and patting his head.

"What are we going to do now?" Tooth asked.

"I think I'll take her on a trip." Jack smirked.

"Trip?" North asked confused.

"Yeah," Jack said standing up. "I think the best thing to help is for her not to think about it. Besides I think it'll help with her memories."

Bunny grunted as he crossed his arms in refusal. "I don't think that's the best thing mate."

"It's worth a shot." Jack said shrugging, but inside was feuding with the urge to hit Bunny.

His opponent opened his muzzle to argue more when North held up his hand and smiled. "I think Jack is right."

"Good you agree," Jack said quickly as he grabbed her hand and flew off before anyone could argue.

"You do know I can fly right?" Crystal giggled as she looked up at him.

"I know," Jack smirked as he looked down at her before quickly looking back up.

Crystal didn't feel the urge to push him away anymore. As she felt her back press against his chest, and his arms around her waist to keep her up, she actually relaxed and relished in the feel of his touch. As she looked back on how she acted towards him before, she couldn't believe she was so scared of letting him near her, but she understood now, that fear wasn't of him, but for him.

She closed her eyes and let the wind blow around her and Jack as the sun beat down on her and the wind blew a gentle breeze that was slightly warm. She reopened her eyes as she felt Jack shift and watched as he flew around lakes and villages, showing her everything out there. Finally he spotted what he wanted, a small house in the middle of nowhere, away from the rest of the civilization in the town. He slowed down and landed in a window that was slightly ajar.

"Where are we?" She asked looking around.

She walked out of his arms as she felt a pull towards the room in front of her. Jack sat on the windowsill bench as he watched her carefully wondering if it would help. The room was small, yet comforting; there was a small twin sized bed pushed into a corner of the room with a light blue comforter and sheets on it that were still rumpled, as if someone had just gotten up. There was a small dresser with a mirror, brush, and chap stick on top; there was a small closet across from it that held few clothes, and a few books were stacked on the top in a makeshift library. Against the wall near the window was a small desk with papers spread all over it and around on the floor with a backpack sitting at the edge of the chair still open. As she looked closely she could see there was dust and frost, which surprised her due to that it was summer where they were.

She spun in place taking in the whole room as she was enveloped in warmth and comfort at the room. She could see herself working at that desk, brushing her hair, lying in the bed sleeping and relaxing, looking through her closet, reading the books, going through the dresser, and pulling out papers from the same backpack. As she turned and looked at Jack confused, she could see herself sitting there looking out the window and waiting for Jack to come. The same window that Jack decided was his only entrance and exit from the house to the room…no….her room.

"This is…" Crystal breathed.

Jack got up and smiled as he put his arm around her waist, steadying her from the sudden onslaught of remembrance. She gripped his jacket and put her head against his shoulder trying to stop the spinning from her head. She had remembered so much from one little room that it made her head spin.

"It's your room." Jack confirmed looking down at her with worry.

She let out a chuckle and looked up at him with a smile as she spun around in her room breathing in the scent of sakura blossoms that seemed to encompass the whole room. Jack laughed as he watched her and caught her quickly before she fell over.

"I figured we could find some of your teeth her. That possibly your aunt and uncle didn't throw them all away." Jack told her as he tugged her towards the door.

She stared at him in awe as she smiled wider and nodded her head, gripping his hand and following after him excitedly. Crystal walked after him in anticipation as her body shook in excitement, wanting to find more memories. Remembering all these things was like a drug to her and she couldn't get enough. The hole she felt before inside her was now slowly being filled and completed.

She stopped as laughter was heard in the room on her right. Jack stopped and listened before quickly trying to pull her away, but it was too late her curiousness was already caught on what could be happening and who was in there. She pushed the door open slightly and took a step inside and marveled at the party being thrown in there. She peered around the crowd until her eyes landed on a couple who was smiling widely and laughing as they held up champagne glasses for a toast. Instantly she knew who these two were; her aunt and uncle, the two who tormented her, her whole life.

"Let's give a toast!" Her uncle shouted catching everyone's attention. "To getting out of that ridiculous life raising a child!"

"To Crystal dying!" Her aunt added in making her flinch back. She felt Jack grip her waist from behind, making her turn and press her face into his chest as her hands came to her ears, trying to block out what was being said. "It was the best thing that ever happened to us! No more giving her money! No more having to check up on her! No more having to raise her!"

Jack's anger bubbled over as he felt Crystal begin to tremble beneath his arms, wrapping her up tightly to calm her down. To their surprise the rest of the crowd actually CHEERED with her aunt and uncle for her death! It infuriated him so much that he didn't think twice before sending a cold gust of wind into the room and freezing the room in a light coat of ice.

"Where did this ice come from?" One of the guests shouted as everyone shivered and slipped on the ice.

Jack grabbed Crystal and rushed her out of the room as he dragged her into the attic and away from any noise of the party below.

"I'm sorry," Crystal whispered as she shook.

He pulled her back and looked her in the eyes. "No! Don't you dare blame yourself!" Jack yelled at her. "They should be the ones to apologize to you!"

Crystal nodded slowly as she watched Jack walk around the room, looking at the things placed inside. It was full of old furniture and boxes as he looked through each box. They were filled with old clothes, and junk that had long ago fallen to age and dust.

"I can't find anything," Jack sighed as he stood up and dusted his hands off on his pants.

"What's this?" She asked tracing her finger along the dust on a chest sitting off by itself behind everything.

Jack walked over and helped her lift the top off as they peered inside the mysterious chest. Crystal ran her hand inside, taking out the cobwebs that accumulated and covered everything along with the dust. She quickly wiped her hand on the couch near her and stuck her tongue out in disgust as she just imagined the spiders crawling all over the stuff. She turned her attention from that to the chest once again and reached inside to take the contents out.

There were old music boxes that long lost their music, toys that were badly taken care of and destroy, a jewelry box that held all sorts of simple and klanky necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings inside, and at the bottom of the box was another box. She shook it and heard thumps inside at something hitting the walls. She opened it up and sat back on her heels as she took out the bundles of envelopes that were held together by ribbons. There were seven bundles that she took out and placed on the floor, some with only one or two, and others filled with tens of envelopes.

Each bundle had a name on top, showing who it belonged to. 'Tifani', 'Ray', 'Seth', 'Tyler', 'Sierra', and 'Michael' adjourned each bundle. She took a sharp intake of breath as she thumb through to the last bundle and stared at the name on top.

'Crystal'

She traced her finger over the name as she finally breathed again and stared at it in shock. Jack stopped messing with the rest of the treasures to look over at her and see what she had seen. A tear fell down her face and hit the envelope bundle causing her to reel back and quickly wipe at her eyes.

"What's wrong?" Jack asked frantically.

"It's my mother's handwriting." Crystal told him as another tear fell.

He looked away from her, not sure what to say, when something caught his eye and he quickly reached out. "Found them!" He said happily.

Crystal looked over at him and saw the teeth he held in his hand. But the teeth were corroded and fading away, making it hard to believe they'd get anything.

"You ready to find out something?" Jack asked excited now as he stood up and held out his hand.

"Can I take these?" Crystal asked looking down at the envelope bundles. "I-I don't want to part with them. It connects me to them."

"They're yours. You can do whatever you want with them." Jack said pulling her up. He grabbed the treasures and put them back in the chest gently, before grabbing a bag that was sitting close by and placed the bundles inside the bag and handing it to her.

They walked down out of the attic, quickly fleeing past the room with the group, and made it back into her room where she took one last look before joining Jack on the windowsill.

"Ready?" Jack asked with a kind smile.

She smiled back with eyes alight as she twined her fingers with his and took off, flying through the air and towards the Tooth Palace, hoping the young Toothfairy would be there to help them.

"Tooth!" Crystal shouted excitedly as she spotted her hummingbird movements.

Said person turned and smiled widely as she flitted over to where they landed gently.

"We found some teeth!" Crystal said excitedly nudging Jack forward and opening his hand with the few teeth sitting there. "Would it be enough?" She asked worriedly.

Tooth took them and checked them out before looking grim. "You may not get much out of these because they weren't taken care of. Teeth that have fallen out need to be well preserved, these weren't at all."

"It's worth a try," Jack said squeezing her hand.

She nodded as she let go and stepped forward to Tooth. She touched Crystal's forehead causing it to glow and for her to be sent back into her memories of the teeth.

"Mommy!" A little girl of three years shouts. Her ear length blonde hair bobbing around her face, and her light blue eyes shining with excitement as she held up her tooth that had just come out.

"Oh! Sweetie that's wonderful!" Her mom said taking the tooth and holding it up.

Little Crystal smiled up brightly at her mother with the spot where the tooth was gaping up at her, making her mother laugh take her small hand.

"It's a good time too, since we're all having watermelon outside." Her mom said leading the small girl out into the yard.

"Finally you guys came!" Her father shouted waving his hand in the air.

"They were trying to make us wait!" Her brother Seth, of age six, argued with a groan.

Tyler, her other older brother of age eight, walked up and picked Crystal up making her squeal.

It flashed to another scene where they were swimming at a lake and a now four year old Crystal jumped bravely into the deep water from a rocky ledge.

"Crystal! That was dangerous!" Her twin sister Sierra whined as she looked fearfully down at her sister from the same ledge.

"Come on!" Crystal laughed waving her hand down towards herself.

Sierra shook her head as she ran down the rocks and to their parents who were laughing and watching the boys have a water gun fight.

Little Crystal sighed as she swam slowly towards the shore and walked out. She caught her baby brother of eighteen months old before he could crawl into the water. He cooed out in happiness as he smiled and lifted his arms squeezing her face.

"Michael!" Crystal groaned with a giggle as she raspberried his round tummy, making him squeal with his belly laugh that only babies seem to know how.

Another flash as it brought them to the house her and Jack were just at, yet her aunt and uncle weren't there, her family was.

"Dinner." Tyler said knocking on her door frame, catching her attention.

"K!" She said with a smile as she looked at him with a small smile.

She jumped out of her desk as she chased him down the stairs, and tripping over the last step before sliding across the floor on her face.

She sat up and looked at her brother with a red nose. She smiled at him goofily making him laugh uncontrollably while helping her up and checking if she was okay.

"You know, you can cry sometimes." Tyler said looking at her serious.

"I don't need to cry! Because I have big brother here!" Little Crystal said with a smile.

"What about Sierra? Or Seth? Or Michael?" Tyler said teasingly.

"Nu-uh! Big brother Tyler is my favorite!" Crystal laughed hanging onto his neck and laughing more as he picked her up on his back and took off running.

Funny, but now Crystal was noticing that not once in her memories did she see her family's faces. They were all blurry, and their voices…they were distorted somehow. They didn't sound like they would be theirs.

The memories faded away as Crystal was left thinking about how she didn't notice it before. She stood there blinking at Tooth as said fairy stared at her in question.

"Did it work?" Tooth asked tilting her head.

"Yeah, but it wasn't much." Crystal said disappointed. "And I couldn't see their faces or hear their voices."

"You couldn't hear them?" Tooth asked confused.

"Not their real voices. The voices they had were…" Crystal shook her head. "They were wrong somehow."

"Crystal," Tooth breathed sadly reaching for the girl.

"Oh well! I think I'll go help the yetis a bit!" Crystal said smiling once again while clapping her hands. "I'll see you later Tooth! Jack you coming?"

Jack nodded wearily as he followed her into the air and towards the Toy Factory. He watched her as she protectively held onto the bag around her shoulders and walked to the yetis to help them with the toys once again.

"Ah! Crystal you're here!" North said coming out of his work room and spotting her. "How long you been here?"

"About twenty minutes." Crystal shrugged handing the yeti another finished toy and hearing him grunt his approval.

North walked over and scooped her into a big hug with a laugh before setting her down and steering Jack towards his work room.

"So?" North asked with questioning eyes. "How it go?"

"How what go?" Jack asked mimicking North's accent.

"I thought you took her on a date!" North groaned throwing his hands up. "It was your chance!"

Jack stared at him in surprise before embarrassment took over and his face reddened. He turned away from North trying to compose himself. "I didn't ask her out on a date." He mumbled to North. "We were searching for her teeth and getting memories from her house."

"Oh!" North said understanding. "Then you should ask out now!"

"What?"Jack asked surprised. "No way!"

"Why not?" North grinned. "If you not, I will."

Jack watched him as North quickly ran out of the workroom and down to Crystal, trying to get to her. Jack flew out and stopped in front of Crystal just as said Santa almost reached her.

"What's going on?" Crystal asked.

"Nothing." Jack said watching North.

"Jack wants to ask you something." North said quickly with a chuckle.

Crystal looked at him with a raised eyebrow, putting down the toy she was working on. "What is it?"

"Uh," Jack said at a loss for words as his face reddened again. "Um,"

"Is it bad?" Crystal giggled. "Cuz you're turning red."

He looked at North quickly and saw him wave his hands towards Crystal, telling the Snow Guardian to go on and ask her.

"I was wondering…" Jack said rubbing his neck in embarrassment. "…If you'd…go on a…"

Crystal leaned forward as she tried to get him to say it, but making him all the more embarrassed to say anything.

"I give up!" Jack said throwing his hands into the air. "I'm not saying it!"

"Jack," Crystal said touching his arm and looking at him. "Just ask me."

He looked at her and instantly knew it was a bad idea, his resolve was breaking as he looked into her eyes. "Would you go on a date with me?" He asked quickly still staring at her.

She pulled back a tiny bit as her face flushed as she looked at him in surprise. She opened her mouth and he waited for the refusal to come. "I'd love to."

Those words sent a shock through his body as he stared at her. She smiled as the flush darkened as she rubbed her cheek self consciously.

"Go, go," North said pushing the two towards the nearest window. He handed Jack a basket from out of nowhere and waved them on. "Go have fun."

"Thanks," Jack said nodding his head to the Guardian of Wonder.

He grabbed her hand and tugged her up gently, flying them to one place he knew they would both love. This place was special to only the two of them, and he knew she would remember it.

"Wow!" Crystal breathed looking out at the opening before them.

She recalled this place from the frozen rose memory, and so many others she had here with Jack. Only snipets came to her, but it was enough to let her figure out it was a special place for them.

"Let's see what good ol' North packed." Jack chuckled as he brought her over to the pond and sat at the edge.

A few sandwiches, cookies, juices, and plates were brought out as they stared at the simple picnic. They laughed as they slowly began to munch away at the food, talking about how North could have possibly come up with this so fast.

"So tell me," Crystal said as she put the remnants back into the basket. She stood up and walked over to a tree. "Am I still the same as before? Or have I changed?" She asked him as she touched the tree and peaches appeared. She touched a vine next and watched as the vine grew and twisted up a branch reaching for her, as if it wanted more of her touch. It grew grapes and slowly retreated back near the tree for safety.

"You've changed a bit." Jack commented catching one of the peaches. "You're more…mature now, than you were before."

"Is that a good thing?" Crystal laughed sitting next to him.

"Yeah, definitely a good thing." Jack laughed back. "Don't want you as an eight year old again."

"Tell me some of the times we spent here." Crystal said dipping her feet in the water. She touched Jack's knees again so the water wouldn't freeze around him quickly and watched as he thought about it.

He smiled as he continued from when they first met, and fed her memory after memory of the time they spent together. Of when she first hugged him, when he first warmed up to her, when they decided to be best friends. He told her of the adventures they had of extreme sledding, pond skating, snowball fights, hide and seek in the woods, and hiking through every piece of land they could get to. He told her about when he first took her into the air and how happy she had been, and he told her about the time when he found out that he didn't freeze her as a human.

"You couldn't freeze me?" Crystal asked confused.

"I don't know why I couldn't." Jack shook his head as he tossed a grape up and caught it in his mouth. "You told me it was because I didn't WANT to freeze you, so the cold I controlled wouldn't hurt you."

"Makes sense," Crystal giggled. "So you've always used your powers around me."

"Yeah, you always seemed to enjoy it too." Jack said staring out at the pond. "I was always so scared I was going to hurt you with them. Yet you never left me."

"Well then, as thanks, I'll show you some of my power." Crystal smiled as she got up and dusted her dress off.

She breathed in and the wind blew against her with her breath, moving her dress and hair gently to frame her face and body. She looked down and saw the awe on his face making her giggle and jump back. He watched her as she jumped and twirled around the clearing, flowers blooming in all colors, shapes, and forms wherever she stepped. She began to sing and animals soon appeared around the clearing as they became entranced by her voice and wished to know her. Some stepped forward and danced around with her making her smile out in joy. The sun's light absorbed into her as she continued to spin, soaking into her hair and skin, making it glow with radiance. As she opened her eyes he had to take a deep breath as her eyes shone brighter than ever.

Finally she stopped and smiled at him. She ushered the animals away and thanking them for coming. She walked over to him and sat down once again watching him with a smile as his eyes continued to watch her and he continued to stare in awe.

"It's not all that great." She said shrugging.

Jack composed himself as he smiled and watched her. "It's perfect for me. Who would have ever thought the Guardian of Winter would fall for the Guardian of Spring."

She looked at him with a smile, but stopped as his lips pressed against hers. A memory flashed before her of the first time he kissed her and how she had reacted, but how happy they both were once they did kiss. She could remember the thrill she had, the electricity she felt as he kissed her. As the memory faded she realized that in that time Jack had pulled back and stared at her guiltily.

"Sorry," He said pulling back. "I just thought…"

"Ah!" Crystal said blushing furiously as she touched her lips. Jack looked at her confused and saw the blush consuming her face. "I remembered. I remembered our first kiss."

Jack looked at her carefully before smiling and leaning in close to her again. "Does that mean you want more?" He teased.

She blushed more, but smirked as she pushed forward and onto his lips, wrapping her arms around his neck. He responded by kissing her back hungrily and wrapping his arms around her waist. He licked her lips begging for entrance that she gladly accepted, and she had to hold back a moan that tried to escape as he roamed her mouth and fought her tongue for dominance.

She pulled back for air before attacking his lips again and biting the top one, before moving to the bottom one, nipping at it till blood formed. He groaned as the pain was pleasure to him and he pushed against her fiercely. He was sure that he was kissing her so hard it would bruise her lips, but he groaned as he found the pleasure it brought him to think of her lips being bruised by him.

He pulled back and looked at her lips, and a smile formed as they were definitely bruised. She reached up and pulled him back. "More," She breathed making a shiver crawl down his spine. He pushed her to the ground as his hand slid up her thigh and rubbed circles into it, making her moan out in pleasure. He broke from her lips, but instead took her neck and shoulders into his lips and tongue. He left a trail down her neck and to her collarbone as he nipped at it and found her sweet spot making her moan out again. He bit and sucked at it until he felt content and pulled away with a wet pop from his mouth, leaving a red mark in its wake.

"Now that stupid Kangaroo can't complain." Jack smirked.

Crystal laughed as she pulled her arms tighter around his neck and played with his soft hair. "Shut up and kiss me." She giggle as she rolled them over and laid on his chest kissing him fiercely.

"Beside's they're going to look for us soon." Crystal breathed against his mouth.

"Nah, North can distract them." Jack said pulling her down and biting her lips.

The darkness began to grow outside the woods, leaving an ominous fear circling there. Pitch stood in the darkness, watching the two have their 'date'. He didn't know why, but he hated watching Crystal hang all over him and vie for his attention like she was.

He laughed softly. "If I didn't know better, I'd say I liked her."

He stared at the couple as they kissed and made out with hostility and anger in his eyes. He admitted it, he had fallen for the brave, spunky, fearless girl out there. She was the only one he knew that risked her own life for others.

"She'll be mine Jack," Pitch grumbled, though he knew they couldn't hear him. "I'll take her and she'll be mine. I have help on my side this time, help not even Crystal can fight."