A/N: An angsty fic about a kid's show? That's just how I roll. ;) Before you read this, I wanted to make a few notes. First of all, I've really only watched Cyberchase up to season 4 (although there's a character I haven't tagged yet that appears after season 4). I just REALLY don't care for the new animation style or plotlines. Secondly, this first chapter is pretty short. It's more of a prologue, but since AO3 doesn't have an option for that, it's just chapter one. The chapters will definitely get longer, so don't let this short one discourage you. :) And that's all I've got for now. I really hope you enjoy this! All engagements are appreciated: bookmarks, kudos, comments, even just hits and silent readers.

(But comments/reviews REALLY make my day. :D)

Jackie's eyes fluttered open as the light from the sun o'sphere crept into her hotel room. She stretched slightly and prepared to get out of bed, but the arm resting around her waist tightened around it.

"We're on vacation." Her fiance muttered, "You don't have to get up yet."

"I can't help it. My internal clock still thinks I have to go to work." She rolled over to face him, smiling when their eyes met.

"Too bad. You're staying right here." Slider moved so he was hovering over her, then captured her lips. She surrendered, running her fingers through his brown hair.

"But I'm hungry." She muttered when they parted, "We need to get to the breakfast buffet before it gets too crowded."

"We can get room service." The cyborg retorted before planting several kisses on her neck and jawline. She moaned softly, tilting her head to the side. Slider proceeded to slip his hands underneath her lacy nightgown, running his hands up and down her sides.

"You do remember Matt, Inez, and Lauren are in the room next to us, right?" Jackie muttered, "And your dad's in the other one."

"It's a hotel. The walls are thick." Slider retorted.

"You're terrible." Jackie giggled before he captured her lips with his again. There was a knock on the door and it startled both of them.

"I'll get it." Slider said, a note of agitation in his voice. He got off of the bed and quickly put his jeans on as the knocking continued.

"I'm coming, I'm coming." He said. Jackie sat up and swung her legs over the bed, yawning in the process.

"...Hello?"

"Uncle Slider!"

Jackie smiled as she heard the small voice of her goddaughter.

"Hey, you. What are you doing here so early?" Slider's voice was now full of affection.

"It's breakfast time! Daddy says there's pancakes and eggies and bananas and-"

"Alright. Auntie Jackie and I will be down in a few-" Slider started, but Lauren rushed past him and darted to Jackie, throwing her arms around her.

"Heyya, sweetie. I take it you slept well…?" Jackie picked up the brown-haired four-year-old and placed her on her lap.

"Yeah! My bed is so fluffy! It's not like my bed at home."

Slider smiled and walked over to them.

"Cyberspace is pretty nice, isn't it?"

"Yeah! And I like going in the portal! It spins me around like this!" Lauren scrambled off of Jackie's lap and spun around in a circle. Jackie and Slider laughed, exchanging affectionate glances.

"Lauren? Lauren!" Inez was calling to her daughter in the hallway.

"Do your parents know you're here?" Slider asked Lauren, who clasped her hands and looked down at her feet.

"No..." She admitted with a small, guilty smile.

"She's in here, Nezzie!" Slider walked over to the door and called out to his friend.

"Lauren Anne, you know you have to ask daddy and I before leaving the room!" Inez scolded, but Slider could tell she was trying hard not to laugh.

"Oopsie." Her daughter said softly.

"Don't worry, she was just telling us about all the great breakfast options." Jackie giggled, tugging at her nightgown.

"Yeah. We were just going to head down there. You coming?" Inez asked her.

"We were actually going to order room service." Slider replied, "We'll meet up with you guys later."

Inez nodded.

"Sounds great. C'mon, Lauren. We'll go to breakfast with daddy and then hop in the pool. How does that sound?"

"Yeah! Pool! I'm going to wear my purple swimsuit! And… and…!" The young girl kept babbling as Inez gently pulled out of the room. Slider smiled as he shut the door behind them and then turned back to the love of his life, who was still sitting on the edge of the bed.

"She's pretty adorable." Jackie remarked.

"Yeah, she is." Slider sat down next to her and a comfortable silence settled over them.

"So… umm…" Jackie said finally.

"Yeah…?" Slider turned to look at her but she just stared at her feet. "What's up, Jax?"

"Well… it's just… I really like Lauren. Being around her. She's just so cute, and fun, and…"

"And?" Slider said softly, leaning in slightly.

"I kind of want… another one of her."

It took Slider a moment to realize what she was implying. She turned to him and gave him a nervous smile.

"So you want…" He started but couldn't finish his sentence.

"Only if you do too." Jackie said quickly, reaching over and grabbing a hair tie from her nightstand. She pulled her thick black hair into a bun on top of her head.

"I mean, yeah. It's… I mean, it's actually biologically possible… as you know." Slider said softly.

"But do you want… you can say no." Jackie said, "I know we've never discussed it before and it's very sudden-"

"Jax." He said softly, taking her hands and squeezing them. "If it makes you happy, you know I want to. I've actually thought about it, but was kind of afraid to bring it up."

Jackie gently took his face in her hands and kissed him.

"I love you."

"I love you too." He said softly, "This will… it will be good for us. It will make us happy and my dad, well, he'll be thrilled." He smiled.

"Yeah, my parents will be, too. It is… wow, it just seems like our lives are really coming together." Jackie grinned, "It feels like nothing can take us down."

"Yeah, it really does." Slider rested a hand on her thigh and caught her gaze before pressing his lips to hers again.

Nothing can take us down.

They all need to go. I don't know why. They all need to go. I don't know why. He paced his bedroom for the umpteenth time. They all need to go. They cannot be safe here. He paused by the bedroom window and stared at the cybertree just outside it.

I can still win his favor. All I have to do is end them. They cannot be safe here. They all need to go.

A/N: Thank you for reading! Again, this is just the prologue. The actual chapters will be a lot longer. Any and all engagements are appreciated!

-LiviLu 3