(Goth)

"So, it's taken some hot-wiring, but I managed to communicate with the other dimension," Doc said eagerly.

"Really? Who?" I asked him as he searched through papers on his desk. He had finished the machine recently so we sat in his study. Or rather, Rurik sat and held me on his lap. He hugged me possessively, refusing to let me move a few paces away from him. He had been overprotective ever since he a) found out I was pregnant and b) claimed his prize. It had been two days since our night together, and the week was almost over. It was almost time for me to go home.

Doc glanced up at me. "Some professor. The connection was total crap but we managed to arrange a time. We're going to do it tonight."

"When?" I tried to scoot off Rurik's lap but he hugged me tighter, hitching me higher onto his lap.

"Rurik, let me go!" I demanded but he smirked, rubbing my leg.

"No. You're too delicate to walk around~" he purred.

"I am not delicate!" I snapped. I leaned into him, "If I were delicate, the other night would have broken me~"

His smirk widened, reaching into his eyes, "True, but that doesn't mean I'm letting you go~" His hand trailed up and squeezed my ass. I squeaked and smacked him. It surprised him enough for me to leap off his lap and walk over to Doc.

"When are we doing it, exactly?" I asked Doc again, looking over his complicated papers. I felt Rurik's hands wrap around my waist as he grumbled unintelligently into my shoulder.

"Closer to midnight," Doc said, "we have to create a false-surge to power the machine. Once it's up, you'll have to be nearby. The professor said that he'll have your Palette and our Goth waiting for us." Doc looked up at me, "He also said Raven would be waiting."

Rurik tightened his arms around me and I felt a low rumble in his chest. But I nodded, "I want him there," I assured Doc, who nodded to himself.

"After what he did?" Rurik growled, bending over me, "After what he nearly did...?" He caressed my belly. He had grown quite attached to the idea of a child. I only hoped his Goth would be welcome to the idea.

"My brother, my real brother Raven, is nothing like the Raven that attacked me," I said stiffly, "He loves me. He might barely tolerate Rurik, sure, but he loves me more than he hates him. He would never lay a hand on me, never attack me or hurt me or call me a whore." Tears pricked at my eyes, but I fought them back. "No two worlds are ever completely parallel, anyways. I can't expect you to understand."

Rurik threw his arms around my neck, kissing the back of my head. I scoffed, rolling my eye. But I let him do it. It was his way of apologizing. He rarely said sorry, much like the boy I fell in love with. I sighed, wishing I had my Palette's arms around me instead of Rurik.

"You'll be with him again soon," Rurik murmured into my skull. I looked up at him, slightly surprised at his words.

"Don't think I'm unaware of how much you miss him," Rurik stared at me seriously, "I could tell you wanted him even as you begged for me the other night."

I blushed, hiding under my scarf, "D-don't you miss Cupcake?"

"Of course I do," Rurik shrugged, "I just have different ways of dealing with my emotions. I can't afford to let them get to me."

"What, like taking advantage of others' emotions?" I said bitterly, holding myself. Rurik went to speak but I cut him off, "Don't deny it. You've been playing with my emotions since I got here."

"Not saying you're wrong," he said, "Just wrong about my intentions, Peppermint."

The back of his hand caressed my cheek, "Playing with you isn't how I cope with emotions, sweetness," he leaned in close, "it's how I have fun."

"If you two are done with whatever it is you're doing," Doc interrupted, "I want to check on that baby before you go through the rift."

(Palette)

I paced the cabin nervously. Ghost watched me silently, his eyes traveling back and forth as I moved within the cabin. He sat on the couch, his knees up to his chin while he watched me. Finally, I stopped and turned to him.

"What am I going to tell him?" I asked him.

"About what?" Ghost asked, hugging his knees to his chest.

"About, ugh, you know!" I flailed my hands about, frustrated, "that thing we did! What am I going to tell Goth?"

Ghost shrugged, being unhelpful, "You could say nothing. He'll never know about it if you keep quiet."

"Ugh!" I started pacing again, "I can't tell him nothing! For one thing, I'm a crappy liar and two, I can't look him straight in the eyes, tell him I'll only love him, and be honest about it if in the back of my mind lies the ever-present memory of my betrayal!"

"You're being whiny again," Ghost said, putting his knees down.

"That's not important at the moment!" I snapped, "What's important is figuring out how on earth I'm going to tell Goth I had sex with someone else!"

Ghost shrugged again, "If I'm right about Rurik, and I pretty much am always right about him, he and Goth have probably-"

"Don't say it," I growled.

"-already had sex, maybe more than once," Ghost finished. I growled in exasperation, ripping my hat off and throwing it away.

"No, Gothy would never betray me like that. Not willingly," I shook my head. Ghost looked at me sympathetically.

"I doubt he would," he said softly, "but Rurik has ways of making people do what he wants. And with Goth, he has even more of making him nearly immobile and needy." He hugged himself, "That's how he controls me."

My anger curbed momentarily. "I-I forgot about that," I muttered. I almost said 'sorry' but Ghost would have snapped at me again. He flashed me a little smile.

"You're learning well," he told me. I grumbled, rolling my head.

The door creaked open and Raven entered with the professor behind. Raven eyed me warily. He hasn't trusted me since he caught me and Ghost in the woods. I hope he doesn't plan on telling Goth himself, my fist clenched against my will.

"Well, the machine is set and ready to go. I just have to wait for the doctor's signal," the professor clapped his hands together, looking at me and Ghost. "The signal should be coming soon. We should be waiting out there for it."

Ghost stood up, fiddling with his scarf. The professor perked up, "I have something for you, Ghost."

"Oh?" he said, looking up. The professor pulled his satchel in front of him and pulled out a long length of black cloth. He handed it to Ghost, who looked relieved.

"You washed the blood out!" he said excitedly, "Oh, thank you, professor!"

He held the cloth up. It was his pants, the ones that had been covered in blood from his broken leg. He looked at me, "Thank you for letting me wear Goth's things but I'll wear this home." He ducked into the bathroom to change into his clothes.

Raven had approached me while I watched Ghost move. He grabbed my arm and I looked over at him, snarling slightly at his abruptness. So used to looking down at Goth it was mildly unnerving to be confronted by a hooded figure as tall as myself with nearly identical features.

"What do you want, Raven?" I asked, keeping the growl out of my tone.

"I'm seriously considering making sure you never touch my brother again," he said in a low, cool tone. "You're a lying, cheating bastard and you don't deserve someone like Goth."

"Have you forgotten what happened last time your family tried to keep him from me?" I replied in similar low tone. Raven's eye flashed and his grip tightened on my arm.

"How dare you," he growled, "If it hadn't been for you none of this would have happened!"

"And Goth would be miserable!" I growled back.

"At least he'd be safe!" Raven yanked my arm.

"Is that what you call it when Geno beats you?" I asked. Raven's snarl grew wider, but he let me go. He pushed me away, stepping back. A small, dark cloud had begun to form around him. He pushed it down till it disappeared.

"I'll give you one chance to tell him what you did," Raven warned me, "Or you'll be sorry you ever touched him."

He left the cabin. He pulled his hood higher over his skull, sulking out of the doorway. He slammed the front door just as the bathroom door opened.

Ghost came out, looking a bit uncertain. When he saw Raven gone he relaxed and stepped out. He was back in his tattered pants and slightly worn shirt. The bottoms of his pant legs were tucked into his soft boots, and his shirt was tucked into his pants. His hood shadowed part of his face, letting the white of his skull gleam out of the darkness.

Looking over him, I understood why Rurik called him the wraith. He looked like he belonged to the night, a true walking shadow.

"Well, I'm ready to go home," he said, smiling sadly but looking happy.

(Goth)

I stared in wonder at the machine Doc had hooked up to me. Even though you could see through my ecto-belly, this machine produced a better image of the child inside me than could be seen through the red magic. A small pulse tracked the soul-pulse of my baby, a steady, quiet, rhythmic beat. The shadowy image on the screen showed the minuscule body of the little monster, barely the size of a quarter. If only Palette could see this...I thought as I watched Doc move the camera on my waist around.

"I thought ultra-sounds only work on real flesh," Rurik said. He stood next to me, still maintaining a possessive closeness.

"They do," Doc said, "this isn't an ultra-sound. It's an energy reader. It reads and maps the depth of magic energy in monsters that are made of more difficult substances than flesh. Even if they are fleshy it can be difficult for some to actually receive ultra-sounds."

"It's incredible," I said, slightly breathless as I saw the first picture of my baby. Our baby, Palette...they're so wonderful...

"Unfortunately for you, Goth," he looked at me with a small smile, "I can't tell the sex at this stage nor can I read skeleton sexes. We're rather difficult."

"That's okay," I shrugged, "Palette and I want to be surprised anyway. But, um," I hesitated. A hand rubbed my shoulder.

"What is it, love?" Rurik asked.

I let out a short laugh, "Could you, uh, print out the picture?"

Doc grinned, "Sure."

While he saved and printed out the best angle, I looked over at Rurik.

"I want to show Palette," I explained, and he nodded.

"I figured that," he said. He glanced at the machine, smirking at me, "I wonder what other parts of you that thing could map..."

I blushed and glared at him, "Honestly..."

"I'd love to try it out and see," he purred, leaning on my skull. He wrapped his arms around my neck, putting his chin on my neck, "Just send out the doctor, leave us alone for a while..."

"You really have forgotten that I am not your boyfriend," I told him. He grinned evilly, tightening his grip on me.

"Yet you moan just like he does~" he breathed softly by my skull, "And you feel the same inside~"

He nipped my neck and I yelped, whipping around and breaking his grip as I blushed madly. I glowered at him, holding my neck in both hands. He chuckled slightly, standing up.

"Oh, you're too much fun, Peppermint," he chuckled. I grumbled, sitting up and scooting away from him. "Oh, c'mon, my sweet."

"No," I crossed my arms, "I'm going home to my boyfriend and you're getting yours back. I'm not letting you mess with me like that anymore."

He smiled at me, leaning on the back of the chair, "I love it when you get defensive."

"Will you quit flirting with me?" I snapped at him.

"Mmm...nah," he stood up and walked away, "You're too cute to stop!"

"Oh, my gods!" I sighed, exasperated. I leaned back on the long chair, too annoyed at Rurik to sit up. Doc came back with a little envelope. He waved it in front of my face, smiling.

"You shouldn't be so annoyed at him," he said slyly as I sat up and took the envelope.

"Oh, and why is that?" I grumbled, putting it in my cloak pocket.

"You're the one banging him, you can't find him that annoying," I glared at Doc fiercely.

"First off, I am not 'banging' Rurik," I spat, "He's not my boyfriend. Second, I can still like him and find him annoying."

"That's not what Rurik told me," Doc grinned, chuckling. My hands gripped the edge of the chair tightly and I swung my head to look for Rurik. He was in another room and saw me. He waved, smirking.

"You son of a bitch!" I leaped off the chair and stalked towards him. There was a glass door in front of me and I slammed it open, stomping towards the grinning asshole. I reached him in a few strides and slapped him. "You told him?!" I yelled, clenching my fist as I glared at him. He rubbed his cheek, smirking at me.

"I tell him a lot of things," he said smoothly, "To what are you referring?"

"You told him we were banging!" I snapped, "We had one night! That does not mean I am banging you!"

Rurik blinked, confused, "I never told him anything about that."

My blood ran cold, before I growled manically and turned to see Doc laughing his ass off. "I am going to kill you!" I screamed, lunging for the door before Rurik grabbed me. I slipped out of his hand, much to his surprise, and ran at Doc.

Doc's laugh changed instantly at the snarl on my face. He now looked afraid as I opened the door again and he started to back away rapidly. I pulled out my knife, flicking it out as I stalked towards him.

I raised the knife before the lights flickered. I froze, looking around as they continued to flicker on and off. Doc smiled, before rushing into the room with the machine.

"Perfect!" he exclaimed.

"What's perfect?" I asked him, putting my knife away. He turned to look at me and saw I was now curious and non-hostile.

"It's the signal from my friends at the energy plant. Now I can send the signal to the professor..." he typed rapidly into a keyboard and the machine whirred into life, making a loud clunking noise. Absently I took a step back from it and accidentally bumped into Rurik.

He set a hand on my shoulder, watching the machine with narrow eyes. He seemed wary of it, and I couldn't blame him much. I felt wary about it, too.

It was large and dull gray. A door-like structure graced the front of it, but it was full of a dull metal sheet. Pipes and tubes ran from the top to the floor and a flashing light appeared on a little key-pad next to the 'door'.

Doc pressed a large green button with a grin, "Here we go."

(Palette)

We were standing in a little cabin, staring a large, gleaming metal structure, when an alarm started blaring loudly. Ghost, Raven, and I all covered our ears as the professor leaped up with surprise and glee on his face.

"The signal!" he exclaimed, running over to a control board. He started to type rapidly, grinning.

"Here we go!" he threw a switch with a grin. A split of light appeared in a door-like structure in the center of the machine as it clunked loudly. The alarm died away and we put our hands down, staring as the light split wider and wider.

A fuzzy image could be seen on the other side of the light as it reached the bounds of the door-shaped metal panel. My eyes widened in shock and happiness as I saw the fuzzy outline of Goth on the other side. He must have seen me as well because he took a step forward. As did I, reaching for him. But as he took another step forward someone behind him grabbed his arm and spun him around.

I couldn't see what was happening as the image had not yet cleared. "Goth!" I yelled.

"ah-all-ette," came a muffled static reply.

The image cleared enough for me to make sketchy eye-contact with the skeleton who was holding my Gothy way too close. I snarled as he smirked and pulled Goth around. I heard a gasp as the skeleton, who looked an awful lot like me, pulled him up into a deep kiss. My eyes flicked back to see Ghost holding his mouth and Raven looking mildly murderous.

I couldn't see Goth's face entirely as the jackass that held him glanced at me during the kiss. He brought up his hands, one rubbing Goth's shoulder while the other flipped me off. I growled and stepped forward but Raven held onto me.

"Not yet, Palette! The machine isn't at full power, it might hurt you!" he shouted over the clanking, or maybe it was the pounding in my head.

So I just watched as the jackass rubbed Goth's back, making him go loose in his grip. Once Goth was nearly fully supported by the skeleton who held him, the skeleton grinned at me maliciously before reaching his hand to grab Goth's ass. My eyes flared before we all heard a loud, angry yelp and saw as Goth gripped the shoulders of the skeleton in front of him and kneed him heavily in the groin.

Raven and I let out unintentional groans of sympathy while Ghost giggled slightly. The image cleared clearly in time for us to hear Goth yell, "You're an asshole, Rurik!" right by the head of the skeleton who had bent over enough to make their heads level.

Ah, so that's Rurik. He is an ass... I thought grumpily as Goth turned and saw me. He blushed but grinned at me. "Palette!" he called.

"Goth!" I called back. I took another step forward, but waited for Goth to come to me.

(Goth)

"You really think I'm letting you go that easily~?" Rurik purred into my skull as he held me tightly. I strained to get at Palette's fuzzy image, wanting nothing more than to go to him. I whimpered a bit as Rurik flipped me around. "I need a proper goodbye~"

"Asshole, what do you wa-mmphf!" Rurik kissed me deeply and tenderly, the softest act he's done to me since I got here. He wrapped his arms around me, keeping me close as he rubbed a soft spot on my back.

He kissed me for a while, rubbing sensitive sections of my back, forcing my body to relax against my will. I basically hung in his arms, holding onto him just to stay upright. I felt his smirk widen as his hand trailed down my back to my ass. He gripped it tightly and I yelped in anger and surprise.

I broke away, gripping the shoulders of his shirt and pulling him down as my knee went into his crotch. He let out a whoosh of air as he bent over, his skull now even with mine. Shaking with fury, I screamed by his head, "You're an asshole, Rurik!"

I turned around to find the image in the doorway clear and Palette's nervous, jealous, angry, lovable face. "Palette!" I called to him, feeling my face heat up.

"Goth!" he called back, taking a step forward. He stopped, waiting for me to come home. I glanced at Doc, "Is it safe to go through?"

He nodded, "Yes, the field is stable. You can go now, Goth."

I smiled in relief, approaching the barrier. I saw my other self approach warily, staring at me. I proffered my hand to pull him through and he took it, stumbling a bit as he passed through the glittering magic.

"Thanks," he said.

"No problem," I pulled him close, whispering by his skull, "Don't be scared by his angry fits. He loves you, a lot. You just need to let him know where the line is, because I'm not sure he knows there is one."

He nodded, whispering by my skull in return, "Don't let Palette go soft on you. He loves letting go but is afraid of hurting you. Also, Palette has a soft spot between his shoulder blades. Makes him pant like a dog in summer."

I hid my smile as we broke the hug. I turned back to Rurik, glaring at him, "You better treat him right or I will come after you, Rurik."

He grinned at me, mostly recovered from my low-blow. "Sure thing, Peppermint sweet," he said. He looked at other me, holding his hand out, "Come to me, Cupcake love. I've missed you."

Other me grinned and walked over, giving Rurik a big hug which he returned, much to other me's surprise. Rurik winked at me, but I continued to glare at him.

"I'll be keeping track of you, Rurik," I glanced at Doc, who nodded briefly.

Then I turned and faced my home.

With a deep breath, a hand on my belly, I stepped through the barrier.

(Palette)

I rushed forward as Goth stumbled through the barrier. I caught him as he tripped, falling to my knees and sobbing in relief to hold him close. He fell into me, holding me just as close.

"Oh my gods, I'm so sorry that I ever left you..." I spoke breathlessly into his shoulder, holding him tightly. I never wanted to let go. I never wanted another person to touch him ever again. He was mine, and mine alone. And I was his.

"Don't apologize," he laughed a little, "It's not like you."

I laughed a little as well, "Whatever you wish, babe."

He sighed happily, "It's so nice to hear your words again, Palette..."

I felt a hand on my shoulder and sighed, looking up at Raven. He mouthed 'one chance' and glared at me. Luckily, Goth didn't notice him, too content in my arms.

I grabbed his hands, pulling them off my body to hold them in front of me. "Goth, there's something I have to tell you..."

"What's wrong, baby?" he asked softly. My head perked at his new nickname and I smiled. Then I looked down again.

"The other Goth and I...we-we...him...an-and me...w-we...I..." I couldn't form the words, feeling small, guilty tears prick at my eye sockets.

"Palette, what's wrong?" Goth cupped my cheek concernedly and I leaned into his touch.

"He...I...we...I-I w-wanted...n-needed...him..." I choked on my words.

"Palette..."

"We-we did...an-and I-I...I liked i-it...n-needed it..."

"Palette."

"He w-was so s-soft...g-gentle...demanding...l-like you...so, so much like you..."

"Pally."

"I-I couldn't help myself, Gothy...I-I'm sorry...I-I-I betrayed you..." I shook with my guilt. I sobbed, choking, ashamed.

"Pally, baby."

"I b-betrayed you...an-and I enjoyed it..."

"Palette!"

"How fucked up am-"

"Palette, shut up!" Goth kissed me, cutting me off. I kissed him back, loving his warm, soft jaw on mine. His hands gripped my face, holding me close. I held his hand in my own as he broke away and stared into my eyes.

"Shut up, idiot," he told me, "I understand. You don't have to worry, Palette. I don't blame you, and I forgive you."

"But I cheated on you..." I said numbly.

He sighed, looking at the ceiling and shaking his head. "And unfortunately, so did I," he looked into my eyes, full of a mix of guilt and anger at Rurik.

"But it's in the past," he whispered, leaning his skull on my own, "You missed me so much and I know you've been horny for about a month, so I can't blame you for going for a spitting image of me who wanted you just as badly. I needed to thank Rurik for not only saving my life but saving the life of our baby as well." He took my hands and placed them on his belly beneath his shirt, "So, I let him claim a little 'prize' so I could thank him. But remember," he smirked at me, "The only real prize from me is something you've already claimed~"

We heard a gagging noise behind us and turned to see Raven dramatically fake-vomiting on the floor. Goth turned his smirk on his brother.

"What's wrong, Rae? Upset that your baby brother gave his virginity to this grinning fool?" he looked at me lovingly. There was another over-loud gag as Raven 'heaved' out.

"No, just sick that you two are talking about it," he said angrily, "I mean, c'mon! Look at him!"

"I am," Goth replied, "and all I see is one sexy bastard."

Another loud gag as I laughed and scooped Goth up, carrying him as I stood.

"Let's go home, Pally," he grinned at me.

"Let's go, babe," I grinned back and left the little cabin behind, heading to our own private place. Finally, I could be alone with my Gothy.

I will never leave him on his own again.