This chapter is fairly overdue...

Riku: Yes. Yes it is.

L: Oh, be fucking quiet. All of my chapters are overdue! I suck at keeping schedules.

Riku: Yep.

L: *Glares at Riku* Would you shut up so that I can say something?

Riku: Go ahead.

L: Thank you. *Clears throat* So, happy New Year everyone! Er, well, a few days late, but you get the picture... Anyway, how has everyone been? Ready to get back to this story? Well, wait one more second, because I have something to say.

So, I wanted to go ahead and say this: Thank you all so much. Thank you for what is probably the best year of my life, despite my intense depression. So, why am I choosing now to say this? Because later this month, January 23, will be the one year anniversary of my first story, I'm Free, But Now What. Which means that it will be the first anniversary of me writing. And, well, that's a rather special moment for me. Well, for all of us, really. I mean, we're all Lunar Knights, myself and all 264 of you. Yep. Two hundred and sixty motherfucking four. Throughout this year of writing, I have made 8 multi-chapter stories, 2 oneshots, and joined in on a collab with the awesome Tsuzihri07, which you guys should totally fucking check out. Not only that, but I've amassed a following of 264 badass fucking Lunar Knights, some of which have actually become friends of mine. That is all fucking amazing. I'm honestly speechless at how much support you guys have given me. It's unbelievable that I've been able to write stories that that many people enjoy. So, once again, thank you for this amazing year. Don't worry, though, because I'm not going anywhere. I still have all of my active stories, as well as a hell of a lot of stories that you guys haven't even heard of yet. So, raise your Mountain Dew and coffee in celebration of this year, as well as more to come.

Riku: *Sniffles*

L: Dude, are you crying?

Riku: *Sniffles*N-No. I just got something in my eye.

L: *Sighs, rolling eyes* Anyway, you guys have waited long enough. Here's a chapter.

Just Let Me Get At Least One Hit In

I felt myself slowly return to consciousness, allowing me to discover another sensation: a slightly intense heat in front of me, my arms wrapped around it. What the hell? Did Ashley get in my bed with me again? I blinked my eyes open, only to be met with a sight of orange fur, rather than beige. What the fuck? I quickly racked my brain, confused as to why my arms would be wrapped around Jessica, until I finally remembered the events of last night. More than content that the sweet and beautiful girl in my arms now had the title of my girlfriend, I pulled her closer, smiling slightly. Arceus, this is amazing. We finally showed those assholes that we can kick their asses, Adam got to have fun with his party, and I have the most perfect being in the world asleep in my arms. Life really seems to be looking up for me. I continued lying there, relishing the peace and bliss of the morning. I didn't move at all, until the Flareon in my arms began waking up. She shifted her head slightly, opening her mouth just wide enough to let out an adorable yawn, before rolling over to face me.

"Good morning, Riku." She greeted me, a smile spreading across her face.

Instead of vocalizing anything, I merely kissed her on the tip of her nose, pulling her closer. She giggled quietly, burying her face in my chest. She brought her face from my chest, before gently pushing her lips against mine. I returned the kiss, enjoying the calm feeling in the action and the welcome warmth that she gives off. We eventually broke apart, only to stare at each other, smiles painting our mouths.

After a few minutes of this, our silence was broken by Jessica saying, "Y'know, as much as I love lying in your arms, we should probably get dressed."

I sighed, agreeing, "Yeah, I guess."

"Oh, don't be so sad about it." She told me. "It'll give me a chance to shower. I haven't done that in a few days. I've been too down to."

I kissed her nose again, telling her, "Well, no one could guess it, with how beautiful you look."

She smiled at me, a blush forming on her face, visible even under her orange fur.

I chuckled, complimenting her, "You have a cute blush. It makes you even more beautiful."

"I have a blush?" She asked me, shocked. I nodded, and she commented, "Odd. I've never blushed when my previous boyfriends complimented me."

"Really?" I inquired. She nodded, so I said, "Interesting."

"Yeah." She replied, trailing off at the end. After a few seconds, she said, "Anyway, I should probably get in the shower now."

I nodded, telling her, "Alright. While you do that, how about I go and make some coffee?"

"That'd be nice." She agreed.

"Thought so." I told her. "I'll bring you some."

She gave me a quick kiss, saying, "Thanks. If I'm not out when you get up here, could you leave it on my desk?"

I returned her kiss with my own, telling her, "Of course."

"Thanks." She told me, before standing up.

I nodded to her, before rising from her bed. I put my boots on and left her room, heading for the stairs. As I descended to the floor below, my thoughts were focused on my newfound relationship. Arceus, this is amazing. I mean, the circumstances weren't exactly ideal, and I'll need to castrate Levi with his own teeth at some point, but we're together now. And Kyle can now stop harassing Levi. At this thought, I froze, almost at the foot of the stairs. Shit. Kyle. How the hell are we supposed to tell them about what happened? Or, as a better question, how are we supposed to tell them that Jessica is dating me now? I mean, Kyle likes me, but Jess is still his sister. I'm just that weird Lucario that they've known for about half a year that leads the band and has one hell of a Hearthstone obsession. I mean, I guess that we could keep everything a secret until it's a good time to tell the others. I let out a sigh, stepping off of the stairs and going towards the dining room. Damn, this is going to be difficult. I'm willing to do it, though, if it means not only a relationship with the amazing Flareon upstairs, but also a relationship where she's kept happy. I entered the dining room, freezing at the sight.

"What the actual fuck?" I asked, both appalled and shocked.

The scene before me left me so unbelievably fucking irked and annoyed. Trash was strewn all on the floor, from chip bags and plastic drink cups to dead glowsticks and party hats. Drinks and food alike coated the floor, making it difficult to see a place that either wasn't coated in snacks or looked too sticky to get your shoe up from. And in the center of it all, asleep on the dining table, I saw a stretched out rug of beige. Seething, I picked my way over to the dining table, thankful that I didn't come down bare footed, until I stood at the table. I reached over to the sleeping Ninetails, before grabbing her by her scruff and yanking her into the air, causing her to wake up and let out a yelp of surprise. She dangled from my grasp, scrambling in surprise, until her eyes found me.

"Riku?" She asked me. "What are you doing? Put me down."

"Not until you tell me why this whole fucking room looks like shit." I demanded, my voice raised slightly.

Ashley brought her paws up to cover her ears, whining, replying, "I don't know. Just please don't yell. I have a killer headache."

I rolled my eyes, saying, "I'm not yelling. My voice is barely raised." She whined again, so I asked, "Where the hell are the others?"

"Chris, Alex and Leo left not long after you went upstairs, and the others were in the living room the last time I saw them." The Ninetails told me. "Now, please put me down and stop shouting."

I sighed, rolling my eyes in annoyance, before dropping the beige fox onto the table. She let out a small grunt upon landing, but I had already turned away and started for the door. I stormed out of the room, across the entry hall, and into the living room, to be greeted by a similar sight, the only difference being that Adam and Ashtynn were asleep on the couch in each others' arms, and Kyle and Valerie were in the same position, but on the floor. Sighing in annoyance, I went over to the sleeping Zoroark, before nudging him with my foot. He didn't budge, annoying me even more. Ears, please forgive me, but I must resort to drastic measures. I closed the doors to the room and coated my hands in Metal Claw, before doing a simple action that is for some reason considered a move: Metal Sound. A loud screeching sound filled the room as I scraped the claws together. My four friends were up in seconds. Maybe not up, but awake, their hands shooting up to cover their ears. I kept the sound going for a few seconds, before getting rid of the claws. I then stalked over to Adam and Kyle, before lifting them up by the collars of their shirts and holding them in the air slightly.

"What the hell happened in here?" I asked, almost shouting.

"A party, what the hell else?" Kyle responded. "And don't yell. I have a bitch of a headache."

I rolled my eyes, growling out, "I know that you had a party, I just want to know how the hell it got so dirty in here."

"We don't know, damn it." Adam insisted. "Now put us down and stop yelling."

I rolled my eyes, prepared to throw the two out into the snow that I knew was outside without even having to look, before I caught the scent of something. What the hell?

"Adam, blow at me." I demanded.

He looked at me, confused, but complied, too disoriented to argue. As soon as his breath hit me, I recognized the scent. I've smelled that far too much to now know it. I dropped the two morphs, who hit the ground with a grunt each, before storming into the kitchen. Upon entering the room, I saw that the room was only slightly dirty, and Ashley had made coffee, which she was sitting on the counter drinking.

"What's up?" She asked, her voice groggy.

I didn't respond, instead going over to the multiple empty drink bowls that were sitting on the counter by the sink. I sniffed both of them, each one giving off the same scent as Adam and Kyle's breath.

"Mother fucker." I sighed out.

"What?" Ashley repeated.

I let out another sigh, before asking, "Ash, who had access to the drinks last night?"

"Everyone, really." She told me. "I mean, they were all sitting out, so everyone could get to them. Why?"

I sighed one more time, before replying, "Can you and the others start cleaning, please? I'm going to grab myself and Jessica some coffee, then we'll help when she gets out of the shower."

"Alright." The Ninetails said. "Want one of us to call and see if Chris, Alex and Leo will come help? This place is going to take a while to fully clean."

"That'd be nice." I answered. I waited for a moment, before adding, "Oh, and Ash? Could you ask if any of them know any cures for a hangover?"

"Sure, I guess." She told me. "Mind if I ask why?"

Instead of answering, I grabbed one of the bowls and stuck it under her nose. She took a sniff in it, before groaning in disgust.

"Seriously?" She asked me, annoyed. "That's why all of us are like this?"

"Yep." I replied. "Except for Jess and I, because we didn't really attend it."

"Damn it." The Ninetails sighed. "This fucking sucks."

I nodded my agreement, saying, "Yep."

She let out another sigh, telling me, "Anyway, I guess that you should get the coffee now. I'll get the others to work."

She leapt off the counter, one of her tails holding her coffee, before heading to the door.

"Thanks." I told her, as she left the room.

I let out a sigh of annoyance as the door closed, before grabbing two coffee cups. I got Jessica and I some coffee, before leaving the kitchen. Upon entering the entry hall, I peeked into the living room and saw that Ashley had managed to get Adam and Valerie up and working, but she was still struggling with Kyle and Ashtynn. I let out a sigh of annoyance, before going upstairs. I entered Jessica's room, nudging the door closed with my foot, just as she stepped out of her bathroom, already full dressed.

"Got your coffee." I told her, causing her to notice me.

She came over to me and I handed her cup to her.

"Thank you." She told me, before giving me a quick kiss.

"Of course." I told her, as she took a drink from the cup.

As she stood in front of me, her cup at her lips, the thoughts that had raced through my head earlier stormed back, and I sighed internally.

Apparently, I had shown some of this, as Jessica asked me, "Riku, is something wrong?"

I sighed, before sitting on her bed. I motioned for her to join me, and she did, a worried look on her face.

I let out a sigh, before beginning, "While I was getting our coffee, I was thinking about this rather sudden relationship."

I looked at her, and she nodded rather solemnly, before saying, "And you realized that it may not be for the best."

As she said this, I saw a few tears start to form in her eyes, so I quickly sat my coffee down and cupped her chin in my hand, causing her to look up at me.

"Of course not." I told her, as I wiped the few tears away. "I know that I'll never be as happy as I am now if I don't have you by my side. But, there is one issue with our relationship: Kyle."

She let out her own sigh, nodding, saying, "Right. I can see how he can prove to be an issue."

I nodded, agreeing, "Yeah. So, I was thinking, and I might have a solution. It isn't ideal, and I honestly despise it, but it's probably our best bet." She nodded, so I continued, "I think that we should hide our relationship from the others. Around them, we just act like friends, but if we're alone we can be together. We'll have to sneak away to go out on dates, but we can go on them."

She nodded, agreeing, "Yeah, I guess. I really hate it, though. Will we ever tell them?"

"Of course." I told her, hugging her to me. "We'll just wait some time, and get them when it looks like a good time. Hopefully when we do so, I won't have to get in a fight with Kyle."

"And what about Levi?" She asked me. "I know how you are, so you'll want to get back at him."

I hesitated for a moment, before saying, "Yeah, we do need to punish him. I won't if you don't want me to, though."

She looked up at me, her face a solid rock of anger, as she told me, "Go ahead. Just let me get at least one hit in."

I nodded, replying, "Of course."

After a few seconds, she asked, "So, should we go down and help with the damage?"

I sighed, saying, "I suppose. Let's go help our hungover family clean up."

"Hungover?" Jessica asked me, confused.

"I'll explain on the way." I told her, as we stood up.

She nodded, and we left the room, my arm sadly vacating its position around her.

So, they're all hungover... Yay!

Jessica: Not really.

L: *Shrugs* Meh, true... Anyway, where the hell did Riku go?

Jessica: Getting coffee.

L: Of course he is... Why is everyone here in love with coffee?

Jessica: Because you got them addicted to it.

L: *Deadpans* Fair enough. Wanna do the outro?

Jessica: Sure. See you guys later. Stay Sick, Lunar Knights!