"𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓾𝓷 𝓲𝓼 𝓾𝓹, 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓴𝔂 𝓲𝓼 𝓫𝓵𝓾𝓮; 𝓘𝓽'𝓼 𝓫𝓮𝓪𝓾𝓽𝓲𝓯𝓾𝓵, 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓼𝓸 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾."

"ALARIC!"

Alaric landed on his back with a thud. You tackled him to the floor, tears streaming down your face as you sobbed into his shoulder. "What???" He gave you a puzzled expression at first, but seeing how you reacted, he could only sigh and sit up right as he patted your head. "Hey, kid." He said gently. "You look like you've been through a lot."

You could only sniffle and nod as he helped you to stand up again.

"Wanna talk about it now or later?" He asked as he led you back inside the apartment building.

"Later." You choked out as you constantly wiped your eyes left and right.

He gave a hum for an answer and took the liberty of making you a hot chocolate before bed. You missed your big brother, and you found yourself in tears at every kind gesture he made for you that night.

It was good to be home.

.

.

.

The next morning came quickly, but you missed it completely. You slept in until two in the afternoon that day, and honestly, you only woke up when you heard a knock on your window.

You woke up groggily at first, your hair an absolute mess, but after a yawn and a good stretch of your arms and legs, you realized that this was the first good rest you'd had in probably six months. A knock resounded on your window again and this time you jumped in your seat. Who in the hell would be knocking on your window at 2 in the afternoon?

Taking your adaptable staff from your desk, you pulled back the curtain, ready to smack any intruder. Until you realized that it was Leo standing on your balcony.

You quickly opened the window and gave him a confused expression. "Leo? What are you doing here? It's like 2 in the afternoon and - " You didn't get to finish your sentence before he jumped into your room and embraced you in a hug.

"I'm sorry." He muttered to you, his mouth right beside your ear, and his arms wrapped around you just tight enough for it to be comforting.

You were surprised at first. He came here unannounced and suddenly jumped into your room, but his warmth (despite being cold-blooded biologically) was something you missed. "I forgive you." You whispered back to him in a gentle manner.

He pulled away from you only to close the distance again with a kiss. Your lips connected with one another and molded together in a passionate dance. The first time you kissed it was nervous and hopeful, but this was the first time it was anything more than just a simple peck or quick gesture; this time he had placed meaning behind it.

Then there was the jingle of your doorknob and the opening of it. "WAKE UP LAZY ASS! It's two in the-" Alaric stopped short, his jaw dropping as he watched the two of you pull away.

Leo's eyes shot up, looking directly at Alaric with wide eyes. You could only let out a soft giggle as you reached your hand to your lips, the bliss still there and making you giddy.

Both of them only stared at you while a soft, air-headed smile graced your lips. "Hey Al, I'm up, what's for breakfast?" You asked with a chuckle.

"B-Breakfast!? It's 2 in the afternoon! And you have your boyfriend over too!? My parents are home you idiot." He hissed, shutting the door behind him. "Lunch was half an hour ago!"

Leo stood awkwardly behind you, not knowing if he was hiding behind you or if you stood in front of him to protect him. "Alright, alright." You said waving Alaric way. "I'll be there soon, and I'll explain everything that happened while I was gone ok?"

The back and forth argument continued until you sobered up from the love filled kiss that Leo had given you. You gave him a quick peck goodbye and Leo left your room from the window with the same affectionate look in his eyes.

Alaric gagged at the lovey-dovey garbage show the two of you put on, but he was happy that you'd found solace in Leonardo. Even if he thought the boy was still rough around the edges, he was a good choice.

.

.

.

After you told him about what happened; the Triceraton invasion, the Fugitoid, the space adventure, and the relationship statuses, Alaric was thoroughly burnt out. It was so much information to take in, and although he had seen you just the other day before your past self ran out of the house, he had a hard time remembering that you had a 6 month adventure in that little time span.

He was just glad that you were alright.

But one thing did linger in the air. "When are you going to tell them?" He asked.

You played with your food as you poked at it with a spoon. You said nothing at first, only looking sadly at your nearly empty portion. "I don't know." You whispered.

"You had six more months with these guys, (four if you don't count the time where they left you for two months) and you aren't going to tell them that you have to leave soon? You have, like what, two more months maximum, then you have to leave." Alaric said.

"I know, I know, but they're like family - you're like family. I don't want to leave you all behind. I don't know if I want to leave." You muttered with a sigh.

"You don't have to leave forever." Alaric suggested. "You can finish school back home and you can return to NYC afterwards. I'll help you get into a college here, and you can live with me and my parents, or if you and Leonardo are serious, then you can live with him."

Your eyes drifted up to stare at Alaric, slightly wide with shock and a soft, sort of teary expression wavering behind them. "You would do that?"

Alaric scoffed. "Of course I would, idiot. You're my like a little sister to me. No host strings attached. I love you like one, so why wouldn't I treat you like one?" He asked with a gentle and crooked smile.

You stood from your seat and rushed to his side, enveloping him in a hug, despite that he tried half-heartedly to shrug you away. Eventually he gave in and patted your shoulder to reassure you.

"Everything will work out fine, don't worry. Sometimes fate is your friend."