Welcome to Gaia! ::

They were packed for an expedition. Food, water, supplies, weapons, everything they would need on a foreign planet was in a bag tied with a rope and slung over Tock's shoulder. Jake carried one as well. It was as if they expected to be stuck somewhere barren and empty. But then again, Tock had always said to be prepared for everything.

Polly was bouncing in the lead, turning around half the time to explain something else about the place she had come from, which neither of the teens really understood, but listened to anyway. Tock had a dangerous looking grin on his face and Jake, for once, looked excited. He was finally going to see if he could disappear.

"Hey!" Austin said as they passed a few feet from the treehouse. He had been out gathering berries with Chloe and Kaeden. "I challenge you!"

"And I'm helping!" Kaeden said, coming up to his side, and mimic the point pose. The sudden 'Hey' had gotten his attention and since he had snuck off with Austin again, the other boy wasn't to far away from him at all.

He ignored Polly. He had decided some time ago that he should just ignore the annoying, bossy, girl and focus in on helping Austin. Then he noted the bags and everything. "Hey, where ya goin?" They looked like they were about to explore someplace.

Chloe had realized that the boys had, once more, ditched her and was heading in the direction she heard voices. Voices that were probably her wayward boys getting themselves into trouble again. But if they were being 'held hostage' again by Jake, she wanted to see it. That had been entertaining.

"We're not taking challenges right now," Tock said patiently. "That's not till Saturday. Today's Sunday."

"Technically this would be a challenge day, Cap'n," Jake said lowly.

"But we're going somewhere, so it'll haveta wait until next weekend," Tock said. "Go back to the tree house."

"Yeah!" Polly said. "Go pick your noses!"

"I want to go too!" Austin said, even if he had no clue where they were going.

"Me too!" Kaeden said, his blue eyes shining as he looked at the bags. Going to explore a place sounded interesting to him! He was coming to realize that he liked exploring new place.

Again, he ignored Polly.

"What's going on?" Chloe asked, coming up to them. She nudged up the woven, somewhat ratty, hat that was on her head. Then she noticed that Tock and Jake were prepared to travel some where. Some where far, by the looks of it. Had to be a big treasure hunt.

"And where are we going?" she then asked. Austin would definitely want to go, if it was a treasure hunt. Kaeden, she had noticed, would want to go, just for the sake of going.

"That ain't any of your business," Jake said, scowling at her darkly. This was his adventure, dammit! He didn't want outsiders, especially hut brats getting in the way! "Now take the two brats and go back to whatever it was you were do--"

He grunted as Austin launched himself at him, grabbing onto his thigh and wrapping his legs around his calf. "I'm going!" Austin declared.

"We're going ahead," Tock said as Polly grabbed his hand, pulling as hard as she could.

Chloe gave Jake a slit eyed look. Going would mean they wouldn't have gathered food to store, for the day. But there was plenty in the baskets, back at the hut. She just hoped they'd come back sometime soonish.

Then smirked. "Well, it looks like the boys have already decided. We're going," she told Jake, then started to follow Tock. Just to piss Jake off. "You can come, if you want."

Kaeden looked up at Chloe, jaw dropped. She.. she was going to let them go? And go with them? Chloe just.. well, she didn't -do- things like that! That... was so totally COOL! He grinned toothily, sprinting to catch up. "Come on, Austin!"

"You can carry me," Austin told Jake, just to rub it in. He started climbing Jake's pant leg, making the pirate mutter something dark and pick him up reluctantly. These pants were too likely to rip as it was. Last thing he wanted was to be left bare-assed in front of Chloe and who know who else.

Aock let Polly lead him, moving his hand slightly in the direction she was supposed to go if she veered off course. She had launched into a story about a building where one could stuff white stuff into the backs of dead animals. That confused the hell out of him.

Who would want to?

"It's right ahead, Cap'n," Jake called as they reached the spot.

There were times when Chloe was so, so proud of her boys. Them torturing Jake was one of those moments. Then she decided to focus in on where they were headed. It seemed as if Tock knew, and the air about this trip was that it wasn't a far walk... but if it wasn't a far walk, then what was with the supplies?

Her berry basket was still on her shoulders as well. "Hey Tock, where we goin, anyway?" And what the heck was Polly talking about.

Kaeden had decided the girl had lost it. She was talking stupid things. Would want to stuff white stuff into dead animals? That was just... ick! Stupid girl. He glanced back to check on his best bud, though. At least they were coming!

"We've got no idea," Tock said over his shoulder as he tugged Polly behind him and lifted a hand to where the two men had disappeared. "So you should turn back now, while you still have the chance."

His hand disappeared. "Found it," he said before stepping through.

"Whooooaaa...." Austin said, his eyes huge as Tock and Polly disappeared. "Think there's treasure in there?"

Chloe stopped, jaw dropped as she saw Tock and polly vanish. "Wha--"

Then to her horror, Kaeden went right on through, looking more curious than afraid. "There might be!" he called over his shoulder to Austin, before vanishing.

"Kaeden!" Chloe yelled, knowing that now she would -have- to follow them. And hope she could get back, for Ahja's shake. She hesitantly started for the opening now, seriously not looking confident.

Jake walked through, still holding Austin. He stopped as soon as he did, seeing the strangest sight in his life. They were surrounded by rock and people. The people were bustling left and right, all in a hurry to get somewhere.

And there, standing in front of him, his back to the other man, was Tock. The Captain looked a bit shocked and confused, but not enough so that he didn't turn around. "We need to mark this spot," he told Jake, digging in his bag. He pulled out his rock ax and headed for the wall they had stepped through.

Chloe had stepped through as well and heard Tock, then saw what he was doing. Her mind processed quickly that he was going to make the wall - which was stone, with an ax. "Woah, woah! Hold up there, Tock. I don't think hitting this.. stone thing will do much," she told him, then swung her berry basket off her shoulder. "We'll make it with berries, okay?" she said, fully planning on smashing the berries on the wall. It would make it.

Kaeden was speechless as he looked around. There were people EVERYWHERE. More people than he had ever seen in his LIFE. And there were no trees like he was used too. It was all stone. People lived in stone?

Down the way a bit, a preteen was setting out of a store. Aurora looked around for the next place to go when she spotted someone that was bright orange-red and very familiar. She gave a gasp, then shouted. "POLLY!"

Polly jerked, her eyes getting huge as she realized who it was. Without a thought she started to run across the street. "RORRRRYYYY!!!" she screamed, only to get grabbed by Tock as a car rushed past.

"What in the hell do you think you were doing?" Tock demanded, turning her so he could glare at her. She grinned sheepishly.

"Sorry Daddy," she said. "But it's Rory! It's Rory!!" she shouted, pointing wildly. "Hi Rory!! This is Daddy! He's like gator boy!" she yelled, now waving wildly at her friend as Tock tucked her under his arm.

"Berries is fine," Jake muttered, still looking around in wonder.

"I bet there’s LOADS of treasure 'ere," Austin said, awed.

Kaeden had to agree. "I bet there's lots of everything here. And food," he said, once again showing that he thought with his stomach. He was a growing boy, after all!

Chloe did her berry thing in a hurry, and hoped it wouldn't rain before they returned here.

Rory almost used her speed to save Polly, but saw that the big man saved her friend. Once the road was clear for a moment, she ran across the street. Never mind she became a blur. The blur ended with her right next to Polly. Rory had the other girl in a hug. "It's so good to see you! I was so worried! So was Chris! We were all kinds of worried! He even went to the place to -find- you!" she rattled on.

Ze'zee huffed slightly, seeing her girl with strangers. Then, once on the other side of the road, she realized why: Polly. As the girls were greeting each other, she looked to the teens to see who Polly got herself involved with. One was a very big, dark skinned man. The other looked like a walking gator. Not that she thought too much about this. She was a walking reptile. There were two other kids, and a Hippo girl, as well.

But after Polly's first parental problem, she wanted to make sure the little girl was someplace good now.

"Oye," Tock said before Polly could launch into one of her explanations that made no sense. "Introduce me."

"Oh," Polly said, having forgotten he was there. "This is Captain Daddy Tock!" she said. "He's the captain of the Jolly Rodger and he can do all sorts of cool things! And he doesn't care if I catch on fire, or anything!" she was a little older and talked better, not that she realized this. She was also a lot tanner.

"And I'm Jake," Jake said. "Her uncle."

"Ewww, not another girrrlll," Austin muttered, glaring at Rory because she was the wrong gender.

Rory, true to being a girl and therefore supporting girls (especially friends from people she didn't know) stuck her tongue out at Austin.

"Aurora!" her mom scolded lightly. She received a sheepish grin and just shook her head.

"I'm Rory," the girl introduced herself, needlessly, to the big gator boy. He looked so much like the stuffed toy, that she thought the toy became real! "This is my mama, Ze'zee," she continued on. Then looked at the other three people.

"I'm Chloe," the hippo lady said. She had her hand holding on to the tip of another boy. He looked fascinated in the other things around him, frankly. "This is Kaeden, and that's Austin," she continued, gesturing to the two boys.

Tock looked at Ze, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "So you two knew Polly before she came to me?" he asked.

"Yeah! Rory was in school with me! But now she's older," Polly said, pouting at that fact. "How come you grew without me?" she demanded. "Is Chris even bigger, too?"

"Where's the treasure?" Austin demanded of Jake, figuring all the girl talk was a waste of time.

"And how would I know?" Jake asked back. "I've never been here."

"Hey Austin! Get down here," Kaeden said, looking up at his bud. "I wanna go exploring! We could probably find you a treasure around here some where!"

"Oh no, you boy's are not going to wander around her without the rest of us," Chloe warned them. Last thing she wanted to do was get lost. At the moment, Polly knew someone here. That someone knew how to navigate this place.

"He did! He's huge now!" Rory said, grinning sheepishly. "And I just grew! Over night, like! And I can run really fast now! You can catch on fire?" she asked, amazed. "Oh you've missed soooo much! You have -got- to meet Wisp! And--"

"I knew her. What I really want to know, though, is where is she staying now? Rory and Chris haven't been able to find out, and we've been worried," Ze'zee said evenly. More talk of treasure, just like Polly. They must be in a place she really fit in. And the little girl looked really happy, and healthy. She was relieved for that.

Ah, c'mere," he said to Ze, motioning her over to the wall. "Touch here," he said, holding his hand up to the wall then moving it forward. It disappeared. "You can look through if you want."

"It's an island with lots of trees and mermaids and pirates! I'm a pirate!" Polly said gleefully. "That's where they send all the bad kids to! It's fun!"

"Bad kids?" Rory asked, puzzled. A hand shot out, taking her mom's hand. She didn't want her mom to, well, vanish, without her! "But Polly's not a bad girl!" she protested this. Then tilted her head. "You said it's fun, though? And you can catch on fire, and no one will mind!" Which seemed to be good. "And people don't get mad at you for taking shinies?"

Ze'zee paused for a moment, but was game to try. His hand did vanish, after all. And with Rory gabbing on to her, she did peek her head into the vanishing point. And saw jungle.

If anyone else who didn't know saw thing, they'd see a lady without a head on one end, and just a floating head on the other end. She pulled her head out. "Alright," she told Tock. Then grinned. "Welcome to Gaia. I suppose Rory and I should show you guys around?"

Mentally she noted the place, and where it was located. Berries or not, she should know.

"Actually," Tock said. "Lovely lady, I want to ask a favor of you. Two of them, actually."

He put Polly down, motioning for Ze to step aside with him. "I want to know where her mom lives. The one that came before me. And I'd like you to take care of Polly for a little while. A couple of hours at most. She's homesick for her friends."

"Tock," Ze said, looking at him leveledly. "Even if I told you were that.. woman," the way she said that suggest that she wasn't at all happy with Gwen, "lives, I don't think you could find it."

Chloe was listening with half an ear and frowned, stepping over, leaving Jake to watch the boys for a moment. "Oh no ya don't," she said, having seen that grin earlier. "Tock, ya ain't gonna--"

"You didn't see her when she first got to the island," Tock told Chloe. "She was in tears. She kept thinking I was going to take her back." He cracked his knuckles, a loud, popping sound that sounded a bit ominous. "The b***h has to pay."

"Daddy?" Polly asked from behind, tugging on his shirt. "I want you to meet Chris, too!"

Well, that did change things, if you asked Chloe. So that was another reason why Tock was so attached to the little girl. Then another head poked itsself to Chloe's other side and tugged on her shirt.

"Hey, let's go some place. I'm gettin bored here!" Kaeden said. He wanted to move more than an arm's length away!

"It seems to me," Ze said, unable to help a little grin on her face. "That you have to meet some people before.... letting her know that Polly's in good hands." Ze'zee didn't like Gwen, and didn't want to have anything else to do with the lady. But just saying... hello.... wasn't a bad thing, now was it?

"Let's go to Chris's!" Rory added, right behind Polly. But she couldn't help it. A hand ran over Tock's tail. She wanted to know what he felt like!

Tock blinked, looking down at Rory blankly. "What?" he asked. "That's your mom, right?" he asked, pointing at Ze. "You should know what scales feel like."

"It's different," Polly said, shaking her head. "She's smooth and you're all bumpy."

"Ah," Tock said. "Makes sense. I guess."

Jake was trying to get Austin off of him. "You aren't a hostage this time," he muttered, tugging at the kid. "Walk by yourself."

"I can see better from here."

Rory, having been caught, blushed. "Mama's smooth, you're not. You're different," she agreed. Of course, this also confirmed that Tock wasn't a walking, talking, stuffed toy. He was flesh. Somehow, she was just a little disappointed.

Jake protests got Chloe's attention, and she grinned wickedly at him. Seeing him pestered was still fun.

Then Kaeden ran up to him too. "Hey, hey! I wanna see from up there!" he called, starting to try and climb Jake too. Way this was going, he might just be pants on the streets.

"So, to Chris' then?" Ze asked, willing to take them. The vindictive side of herself did want to torment Gwen, but the nicer side just screamed that was wrong. Besides, Missy should talk him out of it.

"Alright," Tock said. "For now."

"Yay!!" Polly said, hugging Rory spontaneously. "I bet he's humongous!" she said, dancing and still clinging to her friend. "Is he? Is he?"

Jake groaned and picked up the other boy, reluctantly. "You know Chloe's not THAT much shorter than me," he said. "Why don't you two ride on her, instead?"

"So... what is this place called, anyway?" Tock asked, looking around and making mental notes of where they were. He had a good sense of direction, he needed it on the island, but this was hectic.

"Well, the planet is Gaia, this city is called Durem. Shopping district," Ze'zee told him as she walked. she also knew it would be bit of a walk to get to Chris'.... Ah well. "Wanna ride on a bus to get to Polly's friends'?" she then asked him.

"Cuz Chloe's a lady," Kaeden told him, having picked something like that up from Polly. Maybe, he didn't remember, frankly, and he didn't care. "You're bigger though! You can do it!" He patted the man on the head, then started to look around.

Chloe grinned at Jake evilly now, walking along as well.

"Chris is huge!" Rory told her friend again, empathizing this with holding her hands out. "And strong! And we've started a superhero group with Wisp! Who you have to meet. She's cool too! And Chris just found out he's a vegetarian - which means he doesn't eat cows and stuff. Fish doesn't count, though," she explained. "And he's been making fun of me!"

"He has??" Polly demanded, her eyes narrowing. "That big bully! I make him stop!"

Tock snorted, realizing something abruptly. "So... you're an adult, right?" he asked the lizard lady. He was taller than her, and broader, but she had a certain air to her that said she was full grown. "What's it like?"

"You are enjoying this way too much," Jake complained as Austin stared at all the sights and sounds around him. "You carry them, they're your kids!"

"They like using you as a free ride. Who am I to stop that?" Chloe replied which a chucking in her voice. Kaden was tapping on Austin's arm now and then, pointing at things that he found interesting. Usually it wound up being the same thing the other boy was looking at.

"Actually," Ze replied, having to stop and think about that question. "Being an adult is... well, I suppose it's like being younger, but you have more responsibilities. And it can be much calmer," she told him, knowing she wasn't doing a good job at explaining. "I don't really know. For my race, I have a long way to go before I even hit my prime."

"Well, he teases me for fallin on my face, and running into walls, when I was running. And he doesn't wanna do the superhero thing either!" Rory said, explaining things. Then she grinned. "You can probably join if you wanted too!" She didn't know what happened with Wisp and her first hero outting, either. To her, it was still a game.

"Oh really," he said. "Y'know, I'm one of the oldest on the island. So I've always wondered what it would be like to meet an older woman." He hadn't, but damned if he would tell her that. "You don't mind younger guys, do you? I tend to grow fast."

"Daddy!" Polly said, tugging on his tail. "Quit flirting with Rory's mommy!"

"Who taught you that word?" Tock asked her.

"You did. You say that Jake and Chloe are always flirting, remember?"

"I do not flirt with her!" Jake protested loudly.

"That goes double for me!" Chloe said, protesting the flirting as well and glaring at Tock for even suggesting it.

Ze'zee laughed at that, unable to help herself. It was funny! Frankly she had never tought of that sort of thing since she left Zard. Rory was far more important to her, right now.

"No flirting with my mama!" Rory added, giving a little defiant glare up at Tock.

He grinned at Rory, shamelessly. "Then I'll flirt with you, shall I?" he teased.

"DAAADDDDYY!!" Polly yelled, her irritation clear in her voice. He started to laugh, enjoying this trip more because she was back to her cheerful self than anything else.

The Deakons weren't at home. There was a little sign on the door that said they were at the beach party and wouldn't be back until late.

Austin looked at Jake. "So now what?" he asked bluntly.

"How am I supposed to know?" Jake asked.

"A beach party?" Ze'zee said. "Huh. Then we'll just go to the beach!" she said, sounding happy about fact. She had been meaning to take Rory to the beach, just hadn't been able took.

Rory looked a bit more shocked. "That's.. today?!" she asked, reading the sign again. How could she have forgotten??

"You knew about this?" Ze asked her girl.

"I forgot," Rory admitted, with a shrug.

Kaeden looked at Rory, who was no where near as annoying as Polly, then at Chloe. "Hey Chloe! Can we go too?" he asked.

Chloe shrugged. "If that's where Ze'zee wants to take us," she said. Though she was a bit tired of all this walking. Sure she walked around back in the jungle, but she never was willing to walk to the beach... And this place was bigger than their island.

"Then we're going to the beach and to see Chris!" Polly announced. And that, as far as she was concerned, was that.

It was near the middle of the beach party, after Tock had chatted with Chris for a while when he approached Ze again. He had a slight smirk on his face, and for all appearances it seemed he was going to try his hand at flirting again. But then he spoke.

"I need your help," he said. "I want to make it quick, too," he added as he glanced over at Polly, who was having the time of her life. "Can you take me over to her... 'mommy's'?"

"You mean Gwen's?" Ze asked, momentarily surprised by his request. Then she frowned slightly. During this beach trip, she had simply been getting some sun. It was nice to just sit out on the beach and watch the kids have fun.

But now she was curious as too why he wanted to see Polly's previous guardian. "How come?" she asked, a little suspicious.

"Oh, no reason," he lied. "I just want to have a little chat with her. Ask if she has any of Polly's stuff, still. Clothes are hard to find where we come from."

"With as tattered as your things were, that doesn't surprise me," she drawled, then got up out of her chair. He was up to something, she could sense that. Thus it was best not to let him go alone. "Alright, but about the kids?"

"Chris is with her," he said, glancing back at the boy. "When I was his age I was running an entire ship full of kids. He can handle a few little girls. But that's why I want to make it fast."

He shoved his hands into his swimming trunk pockets, obviously intending on going just as he was.

Ze didn't really see the point on going to change either. Gwen was probably going to have a heartattack from this! "Alright, I'll take you. But first let me tell Rory so she doesn't get worried, or anything," she told him. Rory was getting big, but the last thing she wanted to do was run off without the girl knowing.

She went for the stage where the three were then. "Rory! Come'ere a moment!" Frankly she was surprised to see the girl getting off the stage. She sang? That was a surprise!

"Yes?" Rory asked, after jogging up to her mom.

"Tock wants to meet Gwen, so we're heading there for a moment. You and Polly can stay here with Chris."

Polly followed, her eyes widening as she overheard what Ze said. She looked over at her Dad, wondering why he was leaving her to go see her Mom, then back at Ze.

"But--"

"It's just to see if she has any of your things, still," Ze said quickly, seeing that look on her face. "We'll be back quickly enough! Unless... you want to come with us?"

"I'll go with you, Polly, so it'll be okay," Rory told the younger girl, holding out a hand reassuringly to her.

Tock walked over, standing still taller than Polly even though she was on the stage. "Hey," he said, nudging her jaw with his forefinger so she was looking up at him. "You wanted to see your friends, right?"

She nodded. "I do!" she said with a bright smile.

"Then stick here and talk with everyone, alright? I'll be back in just a little while."

Ze smiled at this, approving of him greatly. He was good with Polly and her klepto ways were obviously fine with him. That made her glade, actually, that the little girl who had so much trouble with her 'mommy' had finally got herself a very good 'daddy'.

"See? Now, we'll be back soon," Ze told them with a smile, feeling better.

"Okay, we'll be here!" Rory replied. She liked being at the beach. It was alot of fun!

Polly waved as Tock and Ze walked away, then looked at Rory before hopping off of the stage. "Let's follow them," she said shamelessly. "Cuz Daddy's my friend, too!"

Chris jerked from where he had been looking at the book of songs. "Wait a moment--"

"Let's go! Let's go!" Polly said. "Before they get lost!"

"Then we'll have to run to make it back before them," Rory agreed with a wicked little grin. She liked this idea! "Besides, the karaoke thing is doing well on it's own, we can go!" she agreed.

Then she looked Chris. "You wanna come?" she asked him, already starting to follow the adults.

He sighed. "Not really," he muttered even as he got to his feet. He almost jumped as Polly hopped onto his back, riding him like a pony. "Polly!" he said. "I'm not a horse!"

"Am I too heavy?" Polly asked with a pout.

"It's not that--"

"It'll be faster if she's on your back, Chris," Rory told him, secertly wishing she could just clamber onto his back. She never did get a chance too!

"Fine," he muttered. "Before we lose them," he added as he took off. He had a smooth gate that made Polly giggle like a little girl and urge him to go faster. It was like being treated like a pet, he thought with a sigh. But then again, this was Polly.

Polly always had been one to ignore polite things and do whatever she wanted to.

Which was probably why Rory never did get to use him as a ride. She was polite to him, unless she was mad at him - or whatever. But right now, she was doing a 'spot' run. She would run on ahead, see where the adults were, then wait for Chris and Polly to catch up. Then she would do it again.

The did this all the way to the house.

Since it was a weekend Gwen was working in the garden out front. She didn't notice anyone was there until someone cleared their throat from behind her, and she turned.

For a moment she stared at the gator man in pure shock. "Is there something I can do for you?" she finally asked, standing. It didn't do much, because she was still a good foot shorter than he was.

"Yeah," he said with an evil grin. "You can make up for making my little girl cry."

Her face paled and she took a step back. "Wh--what?"

"Tock, that's not a good way to approch people here," Ze'zee said, touching him on the shoulder. Then she looked to Gwen with a little smile on her face.

"Gwen, this Tock. He's Polly's new guardian," Ze'zee introduced. Then looked at him out of the corner of her eye. "He just wants to see if any of Polly's things are still here. Like her clothes and the like."

"Oh, um, well, no," Gwen admitted. "I gave all of her things to the--to the nursery, and I'm very happy that she's found a new home," she said a bit too quickly. "She was just so... so wild."

"You think she was wild?" Tock asked with a dangerous smile. "You have no idea just what wild is, now do you?" He took a step forward, forcing her to take a step back and trip over her flowers.

"Tock, enough," Ze said, using her mother's voice. That voice that just warned you not to do anything else. Not that Tock would really know this, but well, it was habit for her, being a mom and everything!

"There's no point in there. And you are much better for Polly, anyway. Be thankful that you were able to get her," Ze continued. "Now, if you want new clothes for her, we can go shopping later. Rory loves to shop, after all."

Rory was peeking though a bush across the street. "Oh... he looks mad!" she whispered to her friends.

"It ain't enough," Tock snapped, finally looking at Ze. "You don't know what she did to my little girl. She still cries because of it--"

"Daddy!" Polly bellowed, racing over to him and wrapped her arms around his leg. "Daddy stop it!"

"P--Polly?" Gwen asked. "You--you look good."

Ze was just about to bop Tock on the head. He should try to beat the crap (or scare it) out of Gwen! Yes, she was a bad, a very bad, mother but that didn't mean beat her up for it! Gwen did right by knowing when it was too much and didn't continue to make little Polly suffer.

Then Polly appeared. Why Ze was relieved, she didn't know. But if he was good at calming down Polly, then it was likely she could do the same.

"Polly was a bad girl," Polly announced proudly. Everyone looked at her. "Polly was a bad girl for Mommy, and Mommy was a bad mommy for Polly."

"But--" Gwen started out.

"But this is my Daddy," Polly said, stepping away from Tock and pointing up at him. "He's a bad boy, too," she added. "But I don't mind. He's a good Daddy for Polly."

Out of the mouths of babes. Ze'zee couldn't help the little smile on her face as she stroked Polly's feathered hair. "Polly? You just want Ms Gwen to know you're okay, right?" she asked the little girl.

olly nodded, smiling gratefully up at Ze. "Uh huh," she said before looking at Gwen. "Bye bye," she said, tugging at Tock's arm.

Tock looked down, sighing loudly. "Alright. Let's go. You two, as well," he added to where Chris and Rory were trying to hide.

Rory looked sheepish as she came out of the bushes. It was difficult to hid with Chris and his bigness. She received a stern look from her mother.

Ze looked back to Gwen. "Sorry about the trouble. Enjoy your day!" she told the other lady, then went off with the others. Did she enjoy that? Guiltily yes, she did.

As Tock turned his tail snapped, leaving a dent a good four inches deep in her garden, but Polly didn't even seem to notice. She was busy forcing him to carry her.

Gwen did. She looked as if she was about to faint.

"Tock!" Ze scolded him again, smacking him up the shoulder. Not that he would notice. His hide was too thick. Then she just sighed and looked to Rory and Chris. "Now what are you two doing here?" she asked them.

"Er, well.. I wasn't about to let Polly go by herself!" Rory said, still looking sheepish.

Chris looked sheepish, but there was a wicked little gleam in his eyes. The way Tock had handled that had been awesome! He hadn't even touched the woman, but he had scared the s**t out of her. And he hadn't even had to break something!

"I couldn't let them go alone," he said a bit belatedly.

"Uh huh..." Ze said, shaking her head. There was just something amusing about that. "Now, let's go back to the beach. Rory, later you, Polly and I can go shopping for her a few more clothes."

Mercifully she was excluding the guys from this.

"Here," Tock said, pulling a small leather bag out of his pocket and handing it to her. "This should cover some clothes for her. What she's got is too small, anyway."

"We'll get her something that might last out where you live," Ze said, checking out what was in the bag. Then she choked at the sight of the jewels in it. Oh she was going to have to get those converted...

"Start with the gold," he told her. "I'd like the jewels back if possible."

"Nuh uh!" Polly said. "That bag's for me! So the jewels are mine now!"

"I didn't say that," Tock said. "I said she could use it to get you some stuff--"

"Which makes it mine!" she said joyfully, her tail flickering back and forth happily.

"Actually, wouldn't that make it mine, if he gave it to me?" Ze asked playfully, enjoying this. "He did give it to me, after all."

Rory snickered, seeing her mom tease them. Then she looked to Chris. "Um, can I ride on you now?" she asked him, finally daring to do this. Of course she had to ask, though!

He sighed. "Fine," he said. "But only till we get to the beach. I don't want to do pony rides for every kid that gets the urge."

"Yes!" Rory cheered and climbed onto his back. "And you're not a pony. It just looked like fun. Wisp and Polly do this too you, and I wanted to try, just once."

"Wisp only used me as a slide," Chris told her as he started walking. "It's different from being used as a ride."

"You get used to it," Tock said, now carrying Polly on his shoulders, his hands loosely holding her feet.

"Wisp only used me as a slide," Chris told her as he started walking. "It's different from being used as a ride."

Ze'zee couldn't help it. She started to laugh.

"Are you sure you heard them say Gambino?" Chloe asked, looking around the busy streets. The smell of salt water we heavy in the air as well. She had one of the larger spare baskets strapped over her shoulders filling with her, Kaeden and Austin's belongings.

"Yeah, I heard them say it. The older ones said they got a ship here, ta live in," Kaeden replied. He was mad at Austin for leaving him and running off to join the pirates. Oh, he could have handled it if this had been back home. But this was different. This was a rift away and there was so much here that Austin wouldn't return to play with him.

"Alright then, let's head for the beach then and see if we can spot their boat," Chloe said, leading the way. They had been here before and she had a pretty good memory for this sort of thing.

Music. Music was the thing that Tock loved best about this world. In fact he had found a band that he adored so much that once he had learned how to use a stereo and a CD player he had hooked up speakers all over their new home ship and blared the music as loud as possible all morning.

Which was why it was easy to find the house boat moored off the shore of Gambino, the large gator man lounging on a chair on the dock, and Polly dancing beside him to the song "Crazy Lil Thing Called Love" by Queen.

Austin was fishing, his bare feet hanging over the side of the boat, his fishing pole far too big for him. Jake was nowhere to be seen.

At the moment, all that music was to Chloe was racket. But at least they found Tock's ship. Figures he's have a ship again. Tock couldn't seem to go without one.

"AUSTIN!" Kaeden yelled, making her jump slightly. "You ran off without me!" He started to march up to the ship to go for the other boy.

Austin scowled, then blew the older boy a raspberry. "Go'way!" he yelled. "I'm a pirate now!!"

"Hiii!!" Polly yelled, waving at them while still dancing.

"Hello Polly," Chloe said, looking around for the rope ladder that lead to the deck. At least, she assumed there would be one.

"You-you cheater! You ran off and didn't tell me!" Kaeden scolded, having found the ladder and was making his way up. The longer legs and arms made him clumsy in doing so. It was awkward getting used to this body.

"You're da cheater," Austin said. "You grew up without me!"

Reluctantly Tock stood, tossing the rope ladder over the side so they could climb up. He didn't worry about Chloe's weight. It supported him, after all. Then he went back to his chair and grabbed his beer, taking another drink. This was absolutely the best of both worlds.

"Not like I meant too! It just happened! I can't control growin or not!" Kaeden said, scrambling on deck. He blinked then, looking around the deck. So this is what it was like to be on a pirate ship? Cool!

Chloe eyed the ladder dubiously. Then she ascended it slowly. Once on deck, she sat down her basket, looking at Tock. "I've decided that we're gonna stay here."

Tock blinked both eyelids, showing his shock, but it was the door of the home slamming open that conveyed the true reaction. "Like hell you are!" Jake bellowed, his ladle in his hand. "This is my kitchen, get your own!"

"Oh yes we are stayin!" Chloe replied, hands on her ample hips as she glared at Jake. "You done took off with one of my boys, and you think I'm just going to abandon him here with ya'll? You have another thing coming! We're stayin. That's final." Even if she already didn't like the ladder.

"He was going to wind up coming over sooner or later anyway," Jake said. "Look'it him, he's a walkin' talkin' pirate boy if I ever seen one!"

Austin was trying to shove Kaeden off of the ship by this time, and failing thanks to his lack of weight on the other boy. "Go, go, go! You're old!"

"Not that old! I'm not old like Tock or Jake!" the other boy replied. There was likely to be a rolling fight about to take place here soon, given that Kae was shoving him back.

"Uh huh. Then Kaeden woulda still been able to see him," she replied, not about to give up. The growing had sparking a little rift in their friendship, but she figured they'd get over it. Especially if they were around each other again. "But he couldn't have as much now."

"Polly wanted to be near her friends," Tock said. "And I wanted cable TV." At least, he had when he discovered it. He now had a gigantic flat screen TV in the front room. "But we don't have room for you two," he said. "It's a four room boathouse."

"I sleep with Tock!" Polly said. "So Chloe can have my room!"

"Or Polly and I can share, while Kaeden and Austin share," Chloe suggested, not about to stop. At least Polly wanted her here!

"Absolutely not," Tock said. "For a little while longer Polly can sleep with me. She's just a lil thing now. Besides, are you fireproof?"

"Ah, right," Chloe replied, thinking about that now. Her skin was thick, but it wasn't strong like Tock's hide.

"And we made a sand bed!" Polly said. "It's comfy and it doesn't catch on fire!" She was grinning, now satisfied with the situation they were in. She was still a pirate but she could see Chris and Rory on the weekends and stuff!

The pushing was now a full out fight between the boys, Austin pounding as hard, and uselessly, as he could to make up for the fact that he had been left behind in the growth thing.

Kaeden was again fending him off and was clumsy in his own throwing of fists.

"Really? That was a good idea," Chloe said, brushing back the girl's feathery hair. Then she glared over at the boys once the fight had gone on long enough. "Alright boys, that's enough of that!" she yelled at them.

Jake walked over, picking both boys up by the back of their shirts to separate them. "You two have kitchen duty now," he told them. "And if you slack on washing dishes I'll make you scrub the bottom of the boat!"

"Ha! It's in water!" Austin said.

"Then you better learn to hold your breath."

Kaeden believed him. Especially when he saw the approving look the punishment Chloe had given. He bit his tongue so he wouldn't say more. This was all Austin's fault!

"You ain't livin' off of me for free, though," Tock said, since it was pretty much decided they were moving in. "You gotta get a job. And since you're a cook, and Jake's a cook, I figure we might as well open up a portside restaurant."

"In other words, we're working together," Chloe replied, lifting a brow. Getting a job, in the way Ze'zee had told her, was going to be new. But if it was doing what she was already doing, then it wouldn't be bad.

Besides, she liked working with the stove and over much better than a fire pit. "Alright. And what are you gonna do?" she asked Tock.

"What else?" he said. "I'm gonna be a pirate."

"Treasure hunting!!" Polly cried happily, dancing around. "Treasure hunting and swimming!!"

"In other words we're going to support him as he plays all day," Jake drawled.

"Then he gets the lower portion of pay, if any, if we're doin all the work," Chloe said, shaking her head. Other than getting paid, this wouldn't be -that- different from the hut. Other than the lack of kids.

"Oh, he'll be fine," Jake said. "Tock's nothing if not gold hungry."

"Shinies like us!" Polly said happily before grabbing Chloe's hand. "I'll show you around."

"I'd like that, Polly," Chloe said, grinning at the girl as she was dragged away.

No doubt Tock would find a wrecked ship some where. But at least Jake gave up that fight.