A/N: Hi everyone, it's nice to see you all again. Anyways thank you for reading and reviewing. It means a lot for me. Please forgive me if I don't personally respond to each review, but sometimes life gets in the way.
"I don't know why you want to find that creep," Thalen said with a huff. Abigail had to agree with the other halfa.
"For once I agree with Thalen," Alex said seriously.
Catalina who was leading the group through the city spun around to face the teens. She made an exaggerated shocked/ frightened face. "Both of you agree on something? The world must be ending," the woman said. Abigail put a hand to her face so the boys couldn't see the smile that was forming due to the woman's theatrics. Said halfas didn't look amuse at the woman. "To answer your question. This halfa is family. Family fights sometimes," she said before continuing forward.
"Won't it be better for us to separate to cover more ground," Abigail suggested. The woman stopped to face the teens again.
"Excellent idea. Make sure you go in pairs," Catalina said before continuing her path. Leaving all four teens looking at each other.
Abigail decided to take control of the situation. "Come on, Thalen," Abigail said grabbing the taller halfa and heading toward the crosswalk. The taller halfa stumbled a little but quickly regain his balance.
"If you wanted to be alone with me, you could have said so," Thalen said with a smirk. Abigail could feel her cheeks burn as she blushed.
"You were pretty awesome in that fight," Abigail said trying to change the subject.
"I know. I could have done more, but Alex kept getting in my way," Thalen responded. Abigail shook her head in amusement at the arrogant tone the other halfa used.
"Right. I hope that halfa didn't go too far. It will be nice to have someone else around," Abigail said. The pair paused to let a couple walk past them on the sidewalk.
Thalen crossed his arms, "I don't think we need him. We can take Dan." Abigail could tell that the older teen was upset, but didn't know why.
"Catalina wants to wait till Vlad finishes the ghost gauntlets," Abigail said, but understood why the other teen wanted to get the fight with Dan over with.
"Yea, I know," Thalen said, "I just wish he will finish them faster." Abigail couldn't help but agree with him; as soon as Dan was defeated, she'll be able to go home. She was really missing her home; not that there was anything wrong with staying with the halfas, but it wasn't family.
Thalen continued their previous path. Abigail followed and almost bumped into a couple who was staring at Thalen. "I'm so sorry," the girl said politely.
Abigail gave the couple a strange look. The woman was slightly shorter than Thalen with straight black hair. The man beside her was taller with black hair as well. "Can I help you?" Thalen asked feeling uncomfortable with the pair of dark blue eyes that were staring at him.
"Thalen?" the woman asked softly.
Thalen narrowed his eyes, "Who wants to know?"
The woman frowned before opening her purse and holding out her wallet. Abigail could see Thalen's mind working; no doubt he was wondering if he could take off with the woman's wallet. "I'm your mother," the woman said pointing at her wallet.
Abigail leaned forward so she could look at the offered object. A small picture of the couple and younger Thalen smiled back at the girl. She looked over at Thalen to look at his reaction. The former thief was quiet for a moment. "Where have you been?" he asked his voice low and dangerous.
"Son, you were taken from us. We have been searching for you. We did everything in our power," the man said as if pleading with the teen to believe him.
"And to think when we were at a convention, we would bump into you," the woman said tearing up. Thalen looked back at the picture with a sad smile.
"Mom, Dad," he said slowly as if trying to remember. The woman nodded and released a small sob.
"Come home with us, son. It will be like it was before," the man said. Thalen frowned again.
"I was alone for years in a lab and you think you can come back here and ask me to go home," Thalen said that dangerous tone.
"Give us a minute," Abigail said as the parents finally noticed her. The girl pulled Thalen to the side out of earshot of the two adults. "Thalen," Abigail started softly.
"What?" Thalen said crossing his arms.
"You should talk to them. They are your actual family," Abigail admonished.
"Real family doesn't desert each other. Especially not to a strange lab," Thalen said.
"You don't have to go with them just talk with them," Abigail said. Abigail could see that the thief was becoming more stubborn.
"I don't need them," Thalen said starting to walk away from Abigail and the two adults. Abigail grabbed his purple shirt.
"Please, Thalen. For me?" she asked batting her eyes. The taller halfa's gaze softened and he sighed.
"Fine. But only for five minutes," Thalen said stomping to the two adults. Abigail smiled fondly thinking of her own parents. She decided that the other halfa needed his personal space. Without a word, Abigail left the male halfa alone.
DP~DP~DP
Robin didn't release the ghost girl as the ghost that set off their ghost sense came into view. Robin narrowed his blue eyes at the suit-wearing ghost. "Somber," Robin greeted.
"Hey, what's the big idea? Trying to come here and take my turf," Wendy complained from his grasp.
"It is nice to see you again, Robin. Or do you prefer Revenant?" Somber asked his tone polite.
"I'll make a deal with you, Wendy. Help me beat this ghost and I'll leave," Robin whispered to the girl that was still in his arms.
The girl was silent for a moment. "You better leave," she said harshly. Robin took this as the closest he would get to an agreement and released her.
"So make sure you don't get too –" Robin started stopping as the girl flew straight to the misery-consuming ghost. "close," the older halfa ended his sentence with a sigh. Robin shot an ecto-blast at both Wendy and Somber. Both ghosts dodged the attack. Wendy sent an angry look at Robin before flying into his face.
"What's your issue? Attacking me behind my back," Wendy shouted her fists clenched.
"You can't let him touch you. And you can't lay a hand on him," Robin stated hoping that the other ghost would accept his words.
"And why not?" the girl said hands on her hips.
Robin grabbed the girl by her white tank top and spinning both out of the way of an attack. "Just trust me," he said. The girl's green eyes looked at him suspiciously, but didn't comment. Robin let go of the ghost girl and both repositioned themselves to face Somber. "We attack at once. Ecto-blast only no punches."
"Whatever," Wendy responded before both peppered Somber with attacks that he blocked with an ecto-shield. The misery ghost disappeared in a swirl of green energy. Robin snarled at the other ghost's trick. "Well, that's just great. He teleported," Wendy said looking left and right her white ponytail swinging back and forth.
A tap on Robin's shoulder sent a shudder down his spine. "Sorry dear friend, but I really need the extra energy. You know with the crazy ex-halfa around," the ghost's cultured voice said beside Robin.
"Hey get back here," Wendy shouted shooting two ecto-blasts that barely missed Robin. Robin clutched his head as a massive headache racked his brain.
Robin was walking down the street. "So Rachel is going to prom with me," the teenage boy beside him said.
"That's great. I told you that you just needed to ask," Robin responded.
"Really, asking a woman to a dance isn't as frightening as laying siege to a castle," said the ghost that floated on Robin's other side. The teen smirked at the ghost's comment giving the ghost a small glance. The ghost was dressed in a blue tunic which matched his flaming hair. Robin would have responded to the ghost, but he knew that his friend couldn't see him.
"So now I have to find a tux and a limo.." Robin's friend began to drone on.
"Robin!" the ghost beside Robin called out in warning. Robin looked up to see a pair of bright headlights heading toward him. Fear chilled his blood, but he didn't wait a second. Robin shoved his friend off the street. He held his breath as the light of the headlights enveloped him.
The next thing he knew was pain. He tried to breathe but his ribs were stabbing him. "Robin," the ghost in the tunic called out concerned. Robin looked to the sound of the ghost's voice, but he could barely see the ghost's glowing aura.
"Aeon," Robin gurgled.
"Robin, you need to stay awake. Your comrade has called for aide," Aeon said his red eyes concerned.
"I don't think I'm going to make it," Robin said softly. His mind turned to Naomi; how was she going to make it through life without her big brother. The guilt of leaving his sister was gnawing at his stomach. Robin's vision was turning black and there was nothing he could do to stop it.
…..
The steady beeping of a heart monitor brought Robin back to the present. He opened his eyes slowly. His body was still aching all over, but it didn't compare to the collision. The teenage boy could feel Aeon's cool presence. "Aeon, you're here," Robin said greeting the ghost.
"You are my brother-in-arms. Of course, I'm here," Aeon said a small smile on his face. Robin could tell something was wrong the ghost seemed to be leaning forward slightly, his normally proud stance slouching.
"What's wrong, Aeon?" Robin asked.
"I guess I should explain, but I don't have much time," the medieval ghost said with a sigh. "You were dying, Robin. I didn't have much of a choice."
"What did you do?" Robin asked feeling concerned for his friend.
"It's not important. What is important is to use this second chance I gave you," the medieval ghost said, his form letting off green streams of energy.
"You can't just give your life for me," Robin shouted hoarsely.
"It's my afterlife to give, Robin. I was once betrayed by my brothers-in-arms for protecting my sister. It would have been a betrayal if I didn't help you," the ghost said wisely.
"Aeon," Robin said not wanting to believe that he was losing his friend. "You can't just leave like this."
The medieval ghost smiled as his form slowly dissipated. "It's okay. I found peace."
Robin clutched his white shirt over his chest. His breath heaving. "Pretty good, huh," Wendy's voice came from his side.
"What are you talking about?" Robin asked as the exhaustion set in.
The girl tossed her hair, "In case you didn't notice. I got us out of there. You know falling out of the sky isn't that helpful."
"Well, thanks. You should go back to the ghost zone," Robin said. "It would be safer for you there."
"Yeah, I'm not going to. That ghost can't just come in here like he owns the place," Wendy said. Robin sighed.
"Well, you're not strong enough to make him leave. Besides, all he wants is misery. He'll be out of here once he gets it," Robin said bluntly.
"You might not be strong enough to take that ghost, but you don't know anything about me," Wendy said confidently. "However, I know you're half human," the girl said smugly. Robin took a quick glance at himself to note that he was indeed in his human form. "You're half human," she repeated again the brash attitude from before disappearing quickly. "I mean. Wow. I didn't even know that there were others. I thought I was all alone. It's so weird being a freak."
"Wait you're a halfa as well," Robin asked in disbelief; he thought meeting the group of halfas was odd and to meet another seemed outside the realm of possibility.
"halfa? That sounds like a derogatory term. Don't ever call me that again," Wendy said angrily.
"Halfa is just what the ghosts call half-human, half-ghost hybrids," Robin said. "It isn't derogatory."
"Well, I don't like it. So anyways, I got to go home before I'm late for dinner. I'll see you later…"
"Robin. My name is Robin," the male halfa said. The female halfa smirked.
"The name's Gwendolyn, but call me Gwen. If you call me by my full name I'll have to beat your face in," the girl said punching her palm to make her point.
Robin chuckled at the spirited response. "It was a pleasure to meet you."
"Yea, back at you," the girl said before taking to the sky.
DP~DP~DP~
A/N: Hey everyone here's a couple of extras just because.
Abigail pulled a rather reluctant Sylvia to her bedroom. "I'm so glad you get to spend the night. It'll be just like a sleepover."
"Oh, I've never been over to a sleepover," Sylvia said in her soft voice.
"It will be loads of fun. We can paint our nails, do our hair and eat everything," Catalina said as she skipped beside the two girls.
"Do you have nail polish, Catalina?" Abigail asked.
The woman gave a large grin, "Do I?" She pulled out a clear box filled with various colors. "I even have things to make nail art." The woman put the box on the ground before sitting on the ground herself.
Abigail grinned as she too sat down. Sylvia followed afterwards. The three became quiet for a moment. "So. I saw some of your drawings, Sylvia. Why are there so many of Alex?" Catalina asked acting nonchalantly as she picked up a blue nailpolish bottle.
Abigail watched as the artist blushed. "He's just easier to draw," the girl said sheepishly.
Catalina gave a wide grin. "Right. I think there should be more pictures of me," she said.
"Do you have any of me?" Abigail asked.
"Yes, I have some of you Abigail. And Catalina, your ghost form is difficult to draw," the girl explained.
"How so," Catalina asked finishing one of her nails and pausing to look at the artist.
"You see. You smile a lot and in your ghost form you have fangs. It's kinda hard to get your smile without it looking creepy," Sylvia explained as if afraid that the woman would be upset. Abigail watched as the woman started to laugh.
"I guess that's true. Hey, Can I braid your hair? Vlad doesn't let me braid his," Catalina asked almost spilling the nailpolish she was using.
"You asked Vlad to braid his hair?" Abigail asked giving the woman a strange look.
"I can't braid mine. It's too short," Catalina answered as if it was obvious and a reasonable excuse to braid the billionaire's hair.
"I don't feel comfortable with you touching my hair," Sylvia said.
Catalina turned her brown eyes to Abigail. "Sure, can you make it a French braid?" Abigail responded. The woman nodded enthusiastically.
….
Thalen blocked the attack from the older man. Vlad resumed his battle stance the foil in his hand perfectly aimed at the teen. "You seem distracted," Vlad pointed out before jabbing the teen.
"What do you think the girls are talking about?" he asked as he tightened his grip on the sword made from ecto-energy.
"Not you," Alex's voice rang out from his position in the corner. He looked over the book in his hand to glare at Thalen.
"Don't you want to see what they are up to?" Thalen asked the other teen. Vlad hit the teen once again with his foil.
"You will leave the women alone. They want time to bond together," Vlad said reprimanding the teen.
"Let's bond by spying on the girl's. Don't you want to see Sylvia's pajamas?" Thalen asked Alex earning another whack from Vlad's foil.
"You will treat the women with respect. But if you don't want to train anymore, we can do something else," Vlad suggested.
"How about a video game?" Alex suggested.
"Sounds great. I'll cream you both," Thalen bragged.
…..
Both Thalen and Alex stared at Vlad in disbelief. "If you don't close your mouth, you're going to catch flies," Vlad said.
"Wait you can game?" Thalen asked still not believing he lost. Even Alex looked shocked.
The man smirked, "There's a lot you don't know about me."