I hate Culebra fights

by Penguincake

Summary:

Jen is coming home for the summer from college, or so she thought. Now stuck in the past Jen has to find a way back to her present maybe the past versions of her parents and Uncle could help.

 

A story in which Kate and Seth's daughter gets transported twenty-three years into the past before her parents are even together. How will she ever get back to her present?

Chapter 1: Back to Jed's

She got out of the cab and sighed in relief. She loved being at college and having fun with her friends but nothing beat coming home to her family.

She handed the cab driver the last stack of cash her Uncle gave her when she left for spring semester and turned to enter the truck stop, Jacknife Jed's. The family run truck stop, her home.

She would never openly admit it, especially to her sisters, but its rustic charm and consistency of crazy always warms her heart when she returns back from school. Plus the insanity that is the truck stop itself is her favorite part.

Her smile falters as she walks in and looks around, her Uncle told her they'd be renovating while she was away so she was shocked to see that it looked newer in its rundownness. The wood paneling lining the walls, ancient speakers flanking the stage, and the oldest ugliest tapestries lining the walls were all there like usual but somehow cleaner? It somehow looked worse than when she left four months ago. Like someone tried to clean but didn't get far.

Her heart still warmed at the sight.

"Sit wherever you'd like there's not hostess." Came a familiar voice to her left taking her out of her thoughts.

"Uncle Richie," she smiles walking towards him at the counter excited to see him. "Mom must be so upset you haven't renovated you know how much she hates the decor."

"Excuse me? Uncle Richie?" He asks her looking her up-and-down confused and she watches as his face shows no recognition as to who she is.

"Yes?" She says smiling not yet getting that the Uncle she knows and loves so dearly truly has no idea who she is and that this is actually not a joke. "Where's mom and dad? Are they here?"

She looks beyond him trying to see if they were in the kitchen ready to come out and laugh but when her eyes return to his face, she watches her Uncle's brows furrow in confusion and suddenly she's panicked. What the fuck is going on?

He continues to stare her down his hands on the counter suddenly a little angry, "Who are you talking about missy?"

Shit.

Her eyes widen and she looks around to the tables to her right hoping to see some glimpse of her siblings hiding, that this is all a trick, but she sees no one. What's going on?

When she looks back at her Uncle he's looking at her like she's some crazy loon and it hits her hard. He truly has no idea who she is. She looks at his hands on the counter where they always have a calendar, just for scheduling means, and catches a glimpse of it the year in bold: 2024.

Three years before she's even born.

She looks back up and her Uncle is just staring at her an eyebrow raised like she's wasting his valuable time.

She quickly mumbles out, "I'll take a burger with everything on it. Double fries and a shake." Then slowly walks to the table that her and her siblings always sit at, the one in eyesight of the counter but far enough that their loud laughs and giggles can't interrupt the going-ons behind the counter. Her heart feels heavy with their absence.

Fuck.

Fighting back tears she glances around the dining area her mind running circles trying to understand just how she got here. It all looks the same, but it always has. Her whole life this building has never changed. So she replays her day.

She got on the usual bus to come home and took a nap for the hour and a half ride. Then she grabbed a cab because she didn't want to bother anyone to come get her. But none of that explains how she got here, in the past, before even her parents got together? What was she supposed to do? Where was she going to stay?

"Hello, here's your food and drink," said a female voice. "Can I get you anything else?"

She didn't look up still stuck in her thoughts and so distraught with this new knowledge that just gave her normal reply of: "No, tell Jameson thanks for me."

"Who?" Questions the familiar voice.

The girl looks up worried suddenly remembering where she was and sees a younger version of her mom standing before her smiling.

Kate Fuller. Well Kate Fuller-Gecko, but she wasn't her mom yet, even if she did look the same. Red dyed hair that would not come out (no matter how many salons she went to), warm welcoming eyes, and a smile that could turn criminals to her whims. The sight was welcoming and she would've been thrilled if she was in her own time, but her brain freezes and she spews out: "Oh sorry. I'm a regular at the restaurant close by and forgot where I was."

Her not-mom smiles at her. "Are you sure you're alright? I was talking with my friend over there and he seemed worried about you."

Her mouth falls slightly and she chances a glance back to the counter towards her not-Uncle who was to attempting clean the counter but instead was fully watching their interaction.

She turns back at not-mom and mumbles, "Um yes?"

"Can I sit?"

Unsure how to approach this she nods. It seems her body just decided for her.

"What's your name?"

"Jennifer."

"That was my mom's name." Not-mom said excitedly smiling. "I love that name. I'm Kate."

Jen just nods with a smile.

"So how do you know Richie? I heard you called him Uncle. He's a little freaked out about that as neither him nor his brother would have a child your age. Are you related to them?"

Shit not-mom was prying and Jen had been told by friends and family she was an awful liar when put on the spot.

She could be honest, and really she wanted to be, but part of her didn't want anyone to know who she was. What if they didn't believe her? Hell her parents aren't even together yet they'd freak out, wouldn't they? Hell she's kinda freaking out.

Then she locks eyes with not-mom and something inside Jen breaks at the familiarity and comfort in her gaze.

She nods gulping before she starts eating to occupy herself.

"Okay." She watches as her mom's younger self contemplates the news out of the corner of her eye. "I'll be right back."

Maybe this was a bad idea she starts to think. She knows she looks like a Gecko fine, but if they're all together and not-mom sits close to her then they'll know sooner than later that something is going on. That she's not only a Gecko but a Fuller too. She favors both of them too well to not be found out.

Stuck in her thoughts, she misses them all come over together and looks up into her dad's (nope not-dad's) eyes, as not-mom asks if they can all sit with her and her heart stops.

Gods, he looks so young, so put together, so not like how she left him four months ago. She turns away quickly to gather herself before she can look at him again with a tiny shake of her head.

She continues to eat once they're settled and can feel not-dad's eyes look her over from across the table touching all her facial features. She has her mom's eye color but her dad's eye shape and nose and when she smiles or looks scared, he's always said she look just like her mom. So when she does meet his eyes again she can see him form the connections as his eyes wander over to look at Kate.

"Jennifer, you already know Richie, but this is Seth his brother." Take her mom (nope not-mom) to take the reigns of this impossible situation and completely throw caution to the wind. "Boys this is Jennifer. She says she's related to you both."

"Alright out with it then." Uncle Richie growls out tension thick in the air and Jen can't breathe suddenly worried that she made the wrong decision in being honest.

"Richie-" Kate scolds him from Jen's left then turns to her with a smile. "Jennifer ignore him. We just want to know how we can help."

Jennifer looks at not-mom then chances a glance at not-dad, Seth, who just nods encouragingly at her to speak.

"I don't know what to say," she forces out and looks down. Gods how do you say this? Hello I'm your future child. You may not be together yet but something happened and here I am in the past. Help me?

"You said you're a Gecko. How?" Not-dad asks sternly now the lightness from before vanishing as she takes the minute to ponder her answer.

"Um..." she pauses again looking away sighing. Just rip the bandaid off. "I'm Jen Gecko. I'm twenty. I-" her voice chokes as the realization of the situation suddenly occurs to her. "I just wanted to come home." Oh gods this was harder than she thought. Breathing out with tears in her eyes she continues trying to blink them back. "I don't know how I came here it just happened. I don't know what to do. I thought I was coming home and now-" She stops looking at each of them and can feel the tears tracking down her face.

"What do you mean 'come home' Jen?" Not-dad asks a hint of anger in his tone but his brows are furrowed and he seems concerned over her emotions.

"I-" She starts but her chin starts shaking in an effort to hold back the sobs that threaten to erupt.

"It's okay Jen, take your time," not-mom reassures in the most mom way possible rubbing her hand over Jen's back that she suddenly starts sobbing into her hands.

"Jen how are you a Gecko?" Not-dad asks more angry than she thinks he means to. He's always been protective and someone coming in claiming to be related to them, must have put him on edge.

"Seth-" Kate warns again, but when Jen looks up at him in tears and he looks between the both of them his mouth falls open and his brows furrow as his earlier conclusion is confirmed.

"Jen who are your parents?" He chokes out quieter staring her in the eyes calmly. It's not a question but a demand and Jen's been on the receiving end of this type of questioning more times than she cares to admit and knows that not answering him will get her into more trouble.

"You," she starts between hiccups. "And Kate." She quickly looks down at her lap not wanting to see the implosion before her but to her surprise it's quiet.

Not-mom gasps and her hand pauses on Jen's back but that was the only sound for a whole minute.

"So that's why you called me Uncle Richie," says said Uncle leaning back next to not-dad breaking the silence as his arms go across the back of the booth with a smile on his face.

She glances up at him wiping her tears smiling. Of course it'd be him to break the awkward silence she'd expected nothing less. But still her actual future parents were still sitting awkwardly looking between eachother and her with unreadable looks on their faces.

"Why were you coming back here in the first place?" Uncle Richie asks her as his curiosity got the better of him.

"I was at school- college. The semester just finished so I was coming back home for the summer," she answers him suddenly feeling like herself again.

"Ah," he pauses looking at her. "How does that work with Gecko as your last name? I'm sure Texas still knows of the Gecko Brothers."

"I'm Jennifer Fuller on all school papers. It's just easier that way."

"Excuse me, I'll be back," not-mom suddenly says not looking at them all as she walks towards the back.

Jen watches her go and is bewildered as neither man in front of her gets up to follow her. She's confused because her dad would've, in a heartbeat, followed her mom out to check on her. He always says, "Your mom may think she likes to stew with her thoughts, but she actually likes to talk it out." Then he'd wink at her and follow her mom out.

"What are you-" her uncle starts asking, but she cuts him off looking right at not-dad who is still trying to process the situation.

"Aren't you going after her?" She asks him pulling him from his thoughts.

"Huh?" He asks confused.

"Mom just left aren't you going to follow her?"

He looks to her left suddenly realizing that she's alone on her side of the table and looks to Richie wide-eyed.

"You always follow her. Says she likes to talk it out." Jen finishes staring at him the whole time.

He mumbles something like "Fucking-a" under his breath before he jumps over the back of the bench to follow the now cold trail that was once Kate Fuller.

"You really are their kid." Uncle Richie laughs in amazement as the door to the kitchen closes behind Seth.

They laugh together for a few minutes before he asks her again, "So what are you studying or whatever?"

She smiles wide at him because she knows he's going to like her answer. His future self sure did. She smirks at him before saying, "Business."

"Hoping to take my spot missy? Or daddy's?" He antagonizes with a smirk to match her own.

"Well only one of you ages and none of my sisters seem intereted. So I'm all you got."

"Sisters?" He asks eyebrow raised. "Just how many of you are there?"

Shit she should check herself before answering him, or she's going to reveal every single future detail before long completely by accident. "Maybe I should keep that a secret Uncle Richie. You know, too much future knowledge or whatever."

"Fine. But good to know I'll have company after he's gone." He smiles with a wink.

She smiles back at him suddenly seeing not-dad come back in from the kitchen without not-mom and frowns.

"Back already brother?" Uncle Richie asks him as he deposits himself next to Jen clearly in a mood.

He gives his brother the middle finger then turns to Jen and says, "Didn't work sweetheart. She yelled at me to go away."

Jen just shrugs.

"Seth, take it easy," Uncle Richie says.

"Take it easy Richie? This little lady just comes in tells me she's my kid and then makes me go after her 'mom'? Who for the record didn't want me near her and you want me to 'take it easy'? So no, Richie, I won't take it easy. What are you doing here?" Not-dad is now facing Jen when he asks the question.

"I don't know," she answers honestly looking away from him.

"Then figure it out kid." Not-dad huffs storming off back into the kitchen.

Uncle Richie shakes his head. "Sorry kid. I'm sure you know not to take it personal." The door rings and a few customers walk in as Uncle Richie sighs and gets up.

"Want to help?" He asks motioning behind him towards the counter.

She smiles and nods as she gathers her plate and quickly downs the rest of her shake to put in the sink like she's done countless other times.

Chapter 2: A Child?

Summary:

Seth and Kate ponder their new relative as she settles into Jed's. While Richie does what he does best and breaks the tension.

She's behind the counter serving customers when Seth finally comes back out. She hasn't seen him yet so he just watches as she continues to work completely at ease.

Like she's always done this.

It reminds him of Kate. Completely smoozing them with her customer service skills, batting her eyes at them and giggling where appropriate, but her body moves like she's constantly ready for anything. A skill and behavior that is clearly all his.

He sighs. He'd hoped if he had a family they'd be far from here. Far from this life anyway. She seems fine mentally but if Jed's is her home then what has she seen? And why is she here?

"Jen," he says walking closer.

She glances back at him and smiles probably forgetting she's not in her time and continues making drinks

"Go take a break." He grabs the shaker from her hand and continues making the drink.

"Can I go in the back?" She asks eyebrows scrunches together sounding worried.

"Yeah go." He doesn't even look back at her but he can hear the door move as she goes through it.

"You're new girls good Gecko. Makes my drink perfectly even knew my name," slurs Dave, a drunken regular. He's not even a Culebra so Seth doesn't know why he keeps coming back. The man's sure as hell has seen some shit, but maybe he's just blacked out one too many times to truly remember.

"You better leave her alone then Dave," Seth warns suddenly feeling protective over the girl he barely knows but who looks too much like Kate to not say something.

"Ahhh you know me Gecko," Dave laughs nearly falling off his stool. "I like them young, but I like them blonde."

Richie suddenly appears at Seth's side before he can lay into the guy about manners. Asking where Jen went off too looking around the dining area suddenly worried she walked away from the bar where he put her.

"She's in the back. I thought I'd give her a break." Seth quells his worried brother. Finding amusement in how Jen has quickly grew on Richie in less than a day.

"How kind of you brother, but warn a guy next time."

"Don't worry she won't be here that long." Although he was anything but sure at this point.

"Sure brother," Richie says rolling his eyes but then suddenly serious. "We really should talk about that."

"Later," Seth replies.

- - -

Kate jumps and makes and inhuman noise. She didn't expect to see anyone in the kitchen in the middle of the afternoon, especially not her and Seth's supposed future daughter. The noise startles them both.

The girl quickly turns around knife in hand ready, but sighs in relief as she realizes who it is. "Sorry, dad said it was okay to come back here."

She turns back around finishing doing whatever she's making at the counter. As Kate approaches she realizes it's a snack.

"I just didn't expect anyone," Kate replies wandering to the counter where Jen is to do the same. "Everyone's usually working at this time of day."

Jen smiles at Kate and offers her the slice of toasted bread with peanut butter she'd been making for herself. Suprisingly, or unsurprisingly, also her usual go to snack.

Kate takes it with a smile and grabs two glasses from the cabinet to her left. She wanders over to the fridge to grab the milk and pours them both a half glass figuring if Jen is who she said she is, she'd also go for this.

Jen smiles at her as her new piece of toast pops up.

Kate moves over to the island to sit as she watches Jen finish preparing her snack. She looks a lot like Seth which Kate finds endearing to no end, but now that Kate has a second to come to terms with everything, Jen does have her eye color and hair, although a tad darker. Hell she even carries herself like she does, but with the confidence of a Gecko. But the finding out portion of all of this was seriously overwhelming.

Jen comes and settles down next to Kate in perfect view of the window to watch the shipping parking lot. Kate has always enjoyed having her snacks here to do the same.

"I'm sorry I sent dad after you earlier," Jen says not yet looking at Kate. "He said you weren't happy about it. I just-I forget you guys aren't actually together. You see-"

"It's fine Jen. Don't stress about it." Kate stops her as she finishes her last bite of toast.

Jen turns to smile at her and then continues eating her toast and Kate watches as her eyes wander over her features like she had just done herself. "It's weird seeing you young."

"I'm sure it is," Kate laughs. It's weird for her too.

"Dad too." Jen pauses then still looking at Kate, but a sad look in her eyes quickly appears then is dropped just as quickly. "Uncle Richie hasn't aged a day. Fucking Culebras."

"Richie's still at Jed's in your time?" Kate asks suddenly curious. She never really thought she'd raise kids here, but if Richie is still around and she's with Seth, he'd never leave his brother.

Jen nods but doesn't go into detail just chugs her glass of milk.

"What about Scott? Is he around?" Why is she suddenly worried about her brother's relationship with her supposed children. If Richie's not dead then Scott has to be fine. Right?

"Uncle Scott? Of course," Jen smiles and laughs.

Kate smiles back relief filling her stomach as they both go back to stare out the window while a peaceful contentness falls over the two of them.

- - -

Jen tries to go back to the front after her snack with not-mom but not-dad doesn't let her. So she returns back into their quarters and sit with not-mom who is watching her favorite movie. Which Jen has seen just as many times as her and she ends up falling asleep about 10 minutes in.

She awakes to harsh whispering down the hall and a dark living room hours later.

She smiles as she stretches and realizes someone had put a blanket on her during her nap. They may not be her parents, or her actual uncle yet, but she is grateful that they have listened to her and seem to care. The blanket covering her is proof of that and it warms her heart.

She stands following the whispering to what she know to be the office of her dad and Uncle in her time suspecting it to be the same here.

They always forget to close the door so like she'd do with her sisters when they were little, she stops and listens at the door. She can see nothing but reverts to listening to their movements inside, as she can tell their locations by the floorboard creaks.

"Where are we putting her we don't have that many rooms here?" Asks not-mom, by the sofa.

"I told you we needed to expand. We have too many people coming and going and it finally caught up to us." Uncle Richie grumbles, by his desk.

"But we're all sure and agree she's related to us?" Not-dad asks, also near the sofa.

He's clearly the only voice of reason between the three of them. Hell she herself would be skeptical if she was in their position. Some girl comes in and tells them she's related to them and also somehow decades into her past. She'd kick them out in a heartbeat.

"Are you serious Seth?" Uncle Richie laughs his voice taking up the entire room.

If Jen was thinking she'd realize how much closer his voice had become, but she was off her game today because when the door opened in front of her face she nearly stumbles into the room after him. When she catches herself, she locks eyes with Uncle Richie first who is smiling at her sneaking.

"Clearly she's a Gecko," he laughs rolling his eyes waving her into the room. "Hello little Gecko-Fuller, come to join the fun?"

Jen walks in not looking at her parents and takes the seat she'd normally sit in if she was in her time. The big one to the left of her dad's desk, smack in the middle of his and Uncle Richie's desks, and settles in.

When she glances back, Uncle Richie is smiling back at her while her parents stare at her in wonder. Probably at her familiarity of the room she guesses.

"Jen could you answer some questions?" Uncle Richie inquires. "Your poor daddy here still seems a little skeptical."

"I am not," said man scoffs. "She fucking looks like us for Pete's sake Richard, but you and I both know we've encountered some shit."

Jen know they were talking about Amaru. Hell her mom liked to use it as a lesson about strength and obligation to family. Jen however, likes to tell her sisters it was just piss pour luck and their mom got the shit end of the deal. But still Jen agrees to the interrogation.

"How'd we meet?" Uncle Richie starts.

"From who's point of view?" Jen asks unconcerned staring at her Uncle.

"Katiecakes."

"Grandpa took mom and Uncle Scott on a last minute trip to Mexico in an RV where they stopped at the Dew Drop Inn after Grandpa got drunk and mom had to drive. She was about to park when dad walked in front of the RV, beer in hand, and smiled. The rest is history."

"Interesting." Uncle Richie says tapping his finger to his chin thinking of the next question. "And what happened after the Titty Twister?"

"Richie seriously? I think one question was enough." Not-mom whines at him.

"I'm just being thorough Kate."

"Mom was already out, and dad had just left you inside. So when mom saw dad going to leave she asked dad if he wanted company and he agreed. I think you like to call it their 'Mexican Honeymoon'."

Uncle Richie laughs as both not-mom and -dads look mortified. "Right you are little Gecko. Right you are. Anything else parents?"

"Richie-" not-dad scolds before he turns towards Jen. "Did you figure out why you're here kid?"

With all eyes on her she shakes her head and stares at her hands in her lap.

"Alright. We'll talk about it in the morning then. You can take my bed. You know where to go?" He decides suddenly throwing everyone into motion moving towards the door.

Jen nods and stands up.

"I'll grab you some clothes Jen." Not-mom states suddenly leaving the room.

"Jen?" Not-dad asks before she reaches the door.

She turns around to look at her not-dad and not-Uncle questioningly. God the continued mental gymnastics she has to do to continue to understand the situation is getting exhausting maybe referring to them like this needs to stop for her continued sanity.

"We'll figure it out," he tells her seriously.

She nods to him with a smile believing him completely. He's never proven her wrong before. He always keeps his promise.

"Goodnight dad and Uncle Richie," she smiles at them before walking out the door.

Chapter 3: Favorite Uncle

Summary:

Jen remembers she brought her suitcase with her, Uncle Richie takes Jen shopping, and the adults have a conversation about bringing in someone to help.

Notes:

A lot of Richie's pov. Enjoy!

In the morning, she wakes to darkness not unlike she is used to when at home, but the room was off. Smells too much like her dad, the bed's too big, and in the wrong spot. Doesn't help that she isn't in the right year. That aspect of it continues to rattle within her mind.

When she finally does manage to get up, she remembers she has no clothes. Then a thought hits, her suitcase!

She throws open the room's door excitement coursing through her body and heads towards the restaurant in a hurry.

"Whoa kiddo," laughs not-dad as she almost runs into him in the hallway grabbing her arm as she tries to go pass him. "Where are you going?"

"I brought a suitcase with me. I think I left it at the restaurant," she replies while twisting her arm out of his grasp to walk towards the door leading to the restaurant.

"Not like that you aren't. Let me go look," he grunts pulling her back into the residence.

She lets him go, figuring his "dad" instincts were activating and she'd get no where if he is going to continue acting like this. Gods it was just like old times.

"What's going on?" Inquires not-mom appearing from behind her, coffee cup in hand, still in her pajamas looking over Jen as if to check for injuries.

"I remembered I brought a suitcase with me. I think I left it in the restaurant," Jen explains as her beloved future dad comes back through the door with her yellow suitcase pushing it towards her.

"Oh thank the gods!" She can't believe she'd forgotten about it last night.

Actually, she could with the state she found her supposed home in, aka non-existent. At least her family was here, she did have that going for her. Things were good in that aspect.

She grabs the suitcase from him, pulling him into a hug to kiss his cheek. She stalks off after completely forgetting this isn't the dad she's used to, again, as he went ridged with her affection.

She hears her younger mother giggle as she rushes off with the suitcase back to her father's room.

She joins her shortly after a startled Seth got his bearings back and mumbles something about paperwork.

"I can't believe I forgot about this," Jen mumbles to herself as she unzips the suitcase on the floor and tears through her clothes to sort them. Lots of dirty ones in here, books, three pairs of shoes, and other shit.

"Anything good?" Kate asks leaning in the doorway, intrigued as to what her future daughter was bringing home from school. She never went away for school so she was curious as to what was deemed important for a college student.

"Just clothes. I do have dirty clothes, could we do a wash?" Jen asks looking up at her. Oh how she wished she was her older mom. She could spill all what happened at school, ask about the siblings and their sports activities, all while she unpacked back into her room like last year.

"Of course, I'll go get a basket," not-mom smiles at her moving from the door.

"Great thanks mom." Jen smiles back, but freezes when she sees not-mom stop. She hates this crazy situation, but what else was she supposed to call her? Her name? She is going to be her mother she can't do that, are you kidding? But she sees her mom's form continue on so she returns to her suitcase with a deep breath.

---
"Hey kiddo, heard you remembered your suitcase. Was wondering about that yesterday. It really just appeared strangely enough. Anything good in there? Checked all your pockets?" Uncle Richie asks her early afternoon as he stumbles into the livingroom awake for the day.

"No," She sighs looking up from her book. It was a new book about the history of the Conquistadors that she bought before her trip. "Just what I remembered bringing."

"Darn. Where's the parentals?" He asks pretending to look around a smirk playing on his lips. "Did they leave you by yourself?"

Oh gods, she knew that tone. He has something up his sleeve and she was surprisingly down for whatever at the moment. You know not much going on anyway. She smirks back at him nodding, "I think they did, Uncle Richie."

"Put some shoes on little Gecko," he says starting for the back door.

She rushes back to her dad's room for a pair of sneakers and rushes to follow him out. "Dad's going to be pissed."

"What your dad doesn't know isn't going to hurt him," he smirks opening his passenger door for her to get in.

She smiles up at him as she plops down in the passenger seat of his favorite car, and he slams the door shut, always the gentleman.

She smiles to herself reminded of the time he took her and her sisters out for a stroll to get icecream when they were little at like 8pm, aka bedtime. When they got back her parents were pissed, but he made sure each girl was clean faced before they came back, to "hide the evidence." But he'd treat them like princesses, making sure to open each of their doors and help them to buckle. She cherishes this fond memory even now that it's touched with a little sadness of nostalgia.

When Uncle Richie gets in, they peel out of the garage a second later speeding down the highway towards actual downtown. The sunglasses he hands her (she was pretty sure were her mother's) helped cover her eyes and disguise some of her other more prominent features, just like his did.

Once downtown, he parks and they walk around. He tells her he'd buy her whatever she wants. "First niece privileges."

After two pairs of new shoes, five stores where she only bought two things from each, they wander back to the car after getting icecream her holding one tiny bag while he holds the rest. He seems content about it and Jen is happy to spend time with her favorite Uncle (don't tell Uncle Scott about that tidbit).

"Ready to go back little Gecko? Your parents have been blowing up my phone for the last 2 hours," her Uncle comments once they get back in the car.

They barely make it back into the garage before not-dad is walking towards them and from what Jen could see his temper was at an all-time high.

"You're in trouble Uncle Richie," she mocks. "Best to smooth out mom first. Dad's usually more agreeable when she's calm."

Richie looks at her stunned. "She's not even out here," he starts to say before a small hand is banging on the window. "Shit."

"Use the 'I needed clothes' line," Jen suggests and they both move to get out of the car.

"No note, Richie, and then you don't even pick up our calls. Are you serious?" Not-mom lays into him angry like she was actually older Kate in mama-bear mode.

"She needed clothes," she hears Uncle Richie throw out to her irate mother.

"You good kid?" Not-dad is at her side as soon as not-mom started laying into her Uncle.

"I'm fine dad promise," Jen replies with her best fake smile moving to go open the trunk of the car.

"We're going to have to set some rules about this, you can't just leave like that. We had no idea where you were."

Shit, Jen swears to herself, they're both going protective. Ugh fine, she could play fake sweet, this dad hadn't learned that one yet, "I thought it'd be fine I was with Uncle Richie."

"Your Uncle's a moron," he growls and Jen knows instantly that she has him. "Your mom and I were worried Jen. We didn't know what happened to you it just looked like you disappeared."

"Sorry dad," she replies remorsefully as she continues to grabs a few bags from the trunk and starts handing them to him. She doesn't think he realizes what she is doing yet, but she shuts the trunk and starts walking towards the residence. Hoping to escape her mother's rath.

"Seth-" she hears not-mom growl out from behind them.

She continues her quick escape to the door, but stops abruptly at the door as she realizes the code she knows doesn't work. Why is this the one thing they continue to change and nothing else!
Not-dad reaches around Jen to punch it in for her and let her in. "Here daughter," Seth says handing the bags to Jen with a smirk. "I'll be sure to deduct these purchases from you inheritance."

She glances back at him and grimaces knowing his threat to be true. He likes to use it in the future when her and her sisters have broken artifacts and priceless items in the house during fights. She's seen the updated list.

---
Jen had been right yet again to Richie's shock once more, calm Kate down and Seth was more than eager to see reason. That only draws more questions as to how much trouble her and her sisters truly were in the future. He'd have to ask her later.

But now in the silence of his office, as he sent Seth off to sleep in his room, and the very adult argument the three of them had about the 20 year old, he can't help but think they might need help.

Kisa.

She's been alive a lot longer than the rest of them and has seen some things so when he takes his phone out of his pocket to dial her number the only surprising aspect of the whole ordeal is when she answers on the first ring.

"Richie," she drawls into his ear after the first ring.

"Kisa. We have a problem here and could use your help," Richie states vaguely.

"A problem?"

"Yes. A problem I rather not discuss on the phone."

"So not apocalypse Culebra issues," she ponders. "How soon do you need me there?"

"Within the week would be nice."

He hears her huff, but he waits patiently for her answer. "I'll see you tomorrow then." Is all she says before the line goes dead.

Richie sighs with relief, although he'd never admit it to anyone, especially Kisa, he was stressed and worried about the repercussions of Jen being here. He feels like he can breathe a little easier now knowing Kisa is coming.

As he moves to the livingroom to watch his middle of the night telenovela in front of the TV, (the only time when he got some peace and quiet in this fucking house) he hears movement off to the side in the kitchen. His first thought is Kate, as she is usually up for snacks this late at night, but when he approaches the doorway to the kitchen, the height of the silhouette off. "Kate?"

The figure turns around in the dark and he is met with Kate's eyes, but instead it's the little Gecko standing before him with a loaf of bread in her hands.

"No Uncle Richie, just me," she smiles at him before turning back around to put two slices in the toaster.

"Midnight snack?" He asks turning the light on, watching her move with ease across the kitchen. Did they really not change anything in here even after twenty some-odd years?

"Can you grab the milk?" She askes him as she reaches into the cabinet for glasses.

He obligates, moving to the fridge and turns to give it to her. She had two glasses out now and he gives her a look.

"For mom."

Then around the corner, Kate walks in rubbing her eyes.

She freezes when she sees the two of then also up for a second, but smiles when Jen hands her a slice of toast and the second glass of milk. Like mother like daughter Richie thinks to himself.

"Well since we're here. I thought I'd let you know I asked Kisa to come," Richie says glancing between to two women in front of him.

"Kisa? Why?" Jen asks making a face he'd seen Kate do countless times before when she doesn't like his idea.

He smirks at her. "She's been alive a lot longer than any of us. Maybe she has an idea why you're here little Gecko. Or better yet, what to do."

"You think it's a good idea?" Kate asks thinking out loud. "Seth's going to be pissed."

"It'll be fine Katie, you know it's a smart idea. He'll just have to deal with it," Richie laughs walking away to go back to his plan of the night. Telenovellas and drinking.

Notes:

Up next Kisa

Chapter 4: Kisa

Summary:

Kisa comes to help and Jen is not not please, but Seth might have a heart attack.

It was late afternoon when the Queen Bitch arrives bike helmet and all. Jen and Kate are sitting at the booth Jen choose the other day, the one closest to the counter. Looking now Seth realizes that he could see it's convenience, close enough to watch, but far enough for them to not interfere with the kitchen. He wanders towards them as Richie greets Kisa.

"She's here," Seth greets as he reaches them.

Jen turns to see around Kate and her brow furrows. "She looks different."

"What do you mean?" Kate inquires now turning herself to look at Kisa.

But he knows Kisa looks the same as she did last time he saw her and Kate will think the same. He glances at Jen and can see her contemplate something, but she just shakes her head. Probably something to do with future business he really doesn't want to know.

Seth follows behind the girls as the both get up to greet her, and is once again thrown the reminder that some day, in the distant future, this is his family, or part of it, from what Richie has hinted at. Not that he wasn't going to complain with what Jen had mentioned yesterday, things for them have gone well.

Kisa turns when they're near and Seth watches her raise one brow mouth moving to speak.

"Not here," Richie states ushering them all to the residence.

"Dad," Jen whispers as they pick up the rear.

"Yeah kiddo?" He replies also in a whisper glancing at her.

"Don't embarrass me," she states almost angry. "I know you hate her, but seriously try to be nice."

Seth grabs her arm to stop her and makes her look at him. "Why?"

"Just dont." But her high pitched whisper betrays her as she raises her eyebrows worried.

"Out with it." She wants him to be civil fine he can do that, but embarrass her? God, he's barely been her dad for a day, how can he embarrass her within group conversation?

"Fuck this is awkward." She rubs her hands over her face hiding her eyes as she whispers silently to herself. She must decide something because she takes a deep breath then looks him in the face with a stoic expression. "I may, or may not, have a massive crush on her. In my time."

Seth freezes. Like he literally feels his whole body stop working and the way she's looking at him, like she revealed the largest secret of her life. Maybe she did. Maybe she hadn't told him in her time, but here now, a child of his, just told him that she's crushing on the Queen Bitch. Shit. "Are you both," he coughs a little, "involved in your time?"

Jen's face reddens. "Gods no, dad," she hisses glancing down the hall where the rest of them disappeared panicking.

"She's a Culebra, Jen."

"I know dad."

"Did she change you? Are you one of them?"

"Gods of course not. Kisa doesn't even know in my time." She attempts to placate him and Seth really does try to calm down, he does. The poor girl is panicking in front of him, but he thinks he might have a heartattack if she continues. "Just don't embarrass me. Please dad. Gods, I'll be awkward enough trying to explain everything. Me being your child and trapped in the past-"

Seth looks her over as she's literally begging him, Gecko's don't beg, and he sighs. Fine, he'll put his feelings on hold for her. God, he was whipped and she wasn't even actually here yet. "Okay. Let's go."

When they rejoin the group he follows Jen over towards Kate on the couch and sits down next to her. He watches as Kisa finishes her conversation with Kate then she stares at Jen questioning.

"I'm guessing you're the problem that Richard mentioned," Kisa states now looking at Richie.

"Uncle Richie," she exclaims whining at his brother giving him a dirty look.

"Uncle?" Kisa replies surprised looking back at Richie then back at the girl. "Ah, new Gecko. So which one of these lovely humans are your parents then?"

Jen froze. "Both of them?"

Seth watches Kisa's face as she turns over this new information in her head and glances between him and Kate. Then she nods, "Clearly."

The room falls silent and Seth can feel the little Gecko starting to freak out and is ready to either stop her word vomit, or godforbid speak himself, he can't stand this atmosphere himself, when Kisa decides to speak.

"Alright tell me the story," she says.

"Okay," Jen pauses and clears her throat. "I was coming home from college-on the bus. I fell asleep at one point and then got in a cab to come here. Gave him my last stack of cash from Christmas. And what do you know 22ish years in the past."

Kisa nods contemplating her story. "Interesting. And I'm not Aunt Kisa?"

"It's just different," Jen replies her voice a little shaky.

Shit, Seth thinks.

"What? I'm not around enough?" Kisa pushes seemingly more interested in her place in Jen's life than Jen being in the past.

"I didn't say that," Jen says taking the bait.

"Just not important enough," Kisa sighs playfully.

"I didn't say that either."

"Jen," Seth warns her quietly.

"Ooh daddy coming in for the rescue," Kisa teases. "I'm just playing, Seth."

He grunts in response not trusting his words since he promised Jen he'd be on his best behavior.

"This is why Richard was chosen Seth, you're no fun," Kisa rolls her eyes. "So, who'd you meet first?"

"Uncle Richie," Jen speaks confidently.

Kisa nods again her brows in a constant state of furrow with Jen's replies. Seth hoped if her face stayed like that long enough it'd be stuck and maybe then she'd be tolerable. Or better yet, his child wouldn't be a bumbling idiot like she is right now.

"So you have an idea then?" Voices Richard from his place on the wall to their right.

"I've met with those from the past, but I don't know much. I might be able to talk to someone," Kisa answers not looking at him.

"You think she can get back?" Kate ponders from the other side of Jen.

"I didn't say that. I've heard stories, but I don't know their outcomes."

"It's happened before?"

"Could you contact someone then?" Seth inquires instead wanting to be done with this and move on, he's starting to get a headache.

"Sure," Kisa states. "But since Richard was the first person she saw here, I'm thinking this has to do with him. Was Richard in your life?"

"Yeah, of course he was," says Jen.

"Was he happy?"

Jen sits with that question for a second and even glances at Richard probably thinking how much to reveal on the subject of the future. "He seemed it."

"Okay, so probably not."

"Hey," Richie exclaims from the wall.

"Sorry Richard, but maybe she came back to help you to be happy?" Kisa fake smiles sweetly, gazing at Richard batting her eyes at him.

"Unlikely," he mumbles.

"But it makes sense Uncle Richie," Jen states standing up walking towards him.

Great, Seth thinks she was going to spew and dote on Kisa, and now he had to pay attention to what she's saying instead of tuning out this entire gross conversation like he's been wanting.

"None of my sis-siblings want to take over dad's spot when he retires except me, but if we find you someone then-"

"You can do whatever you want?" Richie snaps back lightly eyes narrowing at her.

"You'd let me do whatever I'd want anyway," Jen dismisses with a wave. "But I could travel more and not feel like I'm always leaving you. It's genius."

"It could work. I still think I'll ask around, but it is a thought," Kisa smiles at Jen.

Seth watches as Jen's face reddens from the attention. God, this was going to be torture.

Notes:

We have some fun coming in the next chapter!

Chapter 5: Breakfast Trouble

Summary:

Jen and Kate bond in the kitchen before a surprise comes and things get heated.

Jen walks into the kitchen the next morning to see not-mom cooking breakfast on the stove. Eggs from what it looks like to Jen from the doorway. She could almost pretend she was back in her time, it was just another morning where her mom was making the family breakfast seconds away from calling for her siblings to come eat. But it wasn't and that reality was overwhelming to remember.

"Morning Jen," not-mom smiles at her as she turns back around grabbing some bacon in the fridge close to the doorway where she stood and continues to sing to herself.

"Morning," Jen replies with a small smile when she realizes there is music playing on low volume. Music she recognizes, her mom's Feminine Rage Playlist. A playlist she knew the mom in her time listens to religiously thus helping to instill in her children the concepts of feminine power.

"I love this song!" Jen walks in closer, singing along to Miranda Lambert's "Mama's Broken Heart," turning up the speaker.

Not-mom turns around spatula in hand already having moved the eggs away from the burner to give the song its moment facing Jen.

"Go and fix your make-up girl it's just a break up..." They chorus together as they pulled eachothet up on the island to sing and dance holding eachothers hands screaming the end of the song. Now this is something Jen specifically misses when she is at school, pure unadulterated fun with no judgements.

As the song finishes, not-mom notices not-dad looking at them from the kitchen doorway. Jen notes the smile dancing on his face and the way he seems content from watching the show he just witnessed.

"Is this something I should expect in the future?" He laughs looking at Jen while extending a hand to help not-mom off the island as the next song kicks on Lola Blanc's "Angry Too."

"I'd never tell dad," she laughs winking at him thinking about the many times he would participate in the future in their fun. He's even jumped up there with them, twice. One time in particular when one of her sisters had been through a messy breakup and mom wasn't around. He has his own little quirk that he'd do with them that she hoped she'd see some time while she was trapped here.

"Hey Seth, is Richie around?" Asks a familiar voice from the doorway that leads out towards the back lot. A voice that Jen knew shouldn't be here in this time.

"Eugene," she growls incredulously towards the dark haired young man who frooze instantly to her left like a deer caught in headlights.

He turns suddenly going back towards the door and she grabs a cup sitting next to her on the counter and throws it in his direction. It just misses his head by the doorframe when it shatters, but it slows his persuit as she launches herself towards his direction jumping off the island.

"What the fuck are YOU doing here?" She stalkes him rounding the island.

"Jen I can explain," his voice squeaks nervously not yet looking at her.

"Is Lauren here?" She growls grabbing his collared shirt and throwing him into the wall. He was always with her littlest sister they were attached almost to the point that it wasn't healthy. It was honestly disgusting.

"What? Lauren?" He laughs dismissedly still not looking at her as he cowers against the wall.

"I swear to God if this is you two, I'll kill you myself," she snaps out her face millimeters from his.

Him and Lauren were always getting into trouble, so much so, that they weren't allowed in certain areas anymore for fear that they'd either damage something, or themselves. Lauren, by herself, wasn't a troublemaker, she makes good grades and is a star athlete, but throw her in with Eugene and all her booksmarts go out the fucking window.

"Jen?" Not-dad voice echoes calmly from behind her in the kitchen. "What's going on?"

Ignoring him, Jen continues her tirade on boy, "Where is she?"

"She's not-"

"Get. Her," Jen growls through clenched teeth releasing him.

She watches him run out the door and banks a right before she goes to the lower drawer of the island where she knows is a stash of weapons. She quickly grabs a gun and wooden ammo. Her and her siblings stumbled the stash once when they were in middle school and received an attagirl from Uncle Richie and a tirade from their dad and mom about gun safety and blah blah. She was once again grateful they didn't like to redecorate.

With the gun now in hand she runs out the door after him. She doesn't pay any mind to what her not-parents are doing and follows the boys trail.

Outside she sees a door close in the next building over and runs to it. When she tries the handle and finds it locked, she aims the gun at the door nob and fires which launches it open.

Eugene didn't get the chance to go far when the door popped open he was standing five feet from the door wide eyed. She fires again close to his head, her aim just to the left of him. As he falters, she rushes forwarded grabbing his shirt and aiming the gun up under his chin.

"Where is she?" She growls out through gritted teeth.

As he gulps, his Adam's apple moves up and down. He is too loyal for his own good they both know it, too willing to continue to lie than get her sister in trouble. So she has to threaten him, to get her sister to respond instead. They'll both talk then.

A noise from above makes her look up to the rafters and there she is shining against the dark ceiling, as the blonde looms from above. Lauren is an avid rockclimber, she should have guessed she'd be up there, but what she didn't expect to see is her sister with a gun in her hand, aiming it at her.

"Get down here," she screams shoving Eugene away from her knocking him down, completely ignoring the threat. Instead, she aims her gun back at him, "I'll fucking put a stake into him. I swear Lauren, I'll do it."

Lauren looks between the two of them and smartly decides to put her gun back in her waistband. She climbs back over the rafters down the ladder right in front of her older sister. "Jen," she laughs nonchalantly, waving a hand at her. "What are you doing here?"

"Did you guys open something?" Jen yells grabbing Lauren's sweatshirt, pulling her close.

"What?" Lauren squeaks. "No."

"Lauren, I swear to God," she shakes her head, pushing her sister back then runs her hands over her face. "Why do you let him talk you into everything?"

"I don't," Lauren scoffs brushing her sweatshirt where Jen had gripped her.

"You do. Listen, I know you have a crush on him-"

"We're together," Lauren says crossing her arms, her head held high.

Jen scrunches her face at her, "Fine. You're together-I'm sure dad's so proud, but you're not a kid anymore. You need to think about the consequences of your actions. Look where we are!"

"It was just a box. How could we have known anything was going to happen?"

"This isn't the first time, Lauren. I've bailed you out more times than I care to admit. If it doesn't belong to you, if it doesn't have your name on it, don't open it. What was it?" Jen asks turning her ire to the boy on the floor.

"Some Mexican thing," he shrugs.

Jen sighs turning back at Lauren who looks wide-eyed at her older sister suddenly nervous. "Where is it, Lauren?"

The blonde points up not daring to evoke her sister's anger again.

"Go. Get. It."

Lauren makes quick work scaling the ladder back up, Jen's watching her movements as she hears hurried footsteps coming closer. Three sets.

Gods how was she going to explain this? Surprise another Gecko-Fuller child!

"Jen, what's going on are you okay?" Not-mom's voice echoes from behind her.

As they approach Jen, Lauren gets off the ladder and turns back towards her. Jen can feel the tension thicken as the situation comes to a head in front of her and Uncle Richie enters through the door just in time to witness it all.

Oh god, this'll be good.

"Mom? Dad?" Lauren looks between their future parents stopping dead in her tracks holding the box under her arm.

Jen remembers the rush of emotions when seeing them for the first time this young and reaches out to her in comfort. Lauren's shaking as Jen's hand touches her arm. When they lock eyes she whispers, "You've been with them?"

"I had no choice," Jen states. "I walked in Jed's, saw Uncle Richie, and didn't think anything of it. I wasn't privy to what was happening Lauren."

"Another baby Gecko," Uncle Richie laughs incrediously from the doorway.

"Jen?" Not-dad prompts moving closer to her blocking not-mom from her view. Jen is too occupied with her sister to realize his true intentions as he takes the gun from her that she'd been brandishing in her hand.

Ignoring yet another not parent question, Jen puts her hands out for the box. Lauren carefully places it in her hands and backs away looking in awe at their not-parents as she inspects the box quickly glancing over the names on the top of it. "Did you even look at the names?"

Lauren just shrugs and when Jen looks towards Eugene, still sitting cross-legged on the floor, he refuses to meet her eyes. She knew then like all the other times before, it was him that talked her baby sister into opening the clearly labeled box meant for their parents. When she opens the flaps she sees a typed note that says simply, "For your collection."

Jen shoots a look to her sister who must have felt eyes on her because she immediately starts panicking and spewing her standard apologies. "Jen, it was a honest mistake. Come on. It could've happened to anyone. Right? And we're alive so that's a plus."

Jen shoves the box towards not-dad who takes it without question, but when Jen goes to launch forward he grabs her by the waist holding her back. It's at this point, when she's thrashing in her father's arms that she realizes she lost the gun. She has a sneaking suspicion that he has it on him, but she'd never get it off him from this position and maybe it's for the best. She'd probably shoot her sister and regret it later.

"Alright, let's all go eat," not-mom calmly says in-between Jen's screams clapping her hands.

Not-dad doesn't let go of her as they walked back to the residence. Jen has stopped flailing, but is humiliated nonetheless as he drags her back. She watches not-mom lead the group back to the residence while her sister and that stupid boy take up the rear with Uncle Richie.

Once inside, she is deposited at a seat at the table and told not to move. Jen is surprised to find it to be the one she'd have chosen if she was back in her time. Lauren sits across from her with Eugene to her left and when Uncle Richie grabs some paper plates to throw on the table, he sits to Jen's left.

Not-dad comes and sits to the left at the head of the table looking suddenly too much like the dad she knows in her time. A glance at Lauren reveals the same sentiment dancing across her face as they both see the disappointment clear in his eyes.

"Can I assume you both, or three, being here is to do with whatever is in that box?" He questions pointing to where he placed in on the island not looking at them.

Eugene clears his throat before speaking. "Possibly sir."

Jen almost gags at the look Lauren gives him. Like he was some knight in shinning armor and not someone who continues to mess up her life.

"But if you two were with it, how did Jen come here too?"

"Not sure."

"Maybe she just stumbled into it," Uncle Richie suggests. "We can ask Kisa more when she gets back."

Not-mom starts placing food on the table with a stack of utensils while they speak. Once finished, she sits at the other head of the table she doesn't speak, but motions for them to eat after Uncle Richie finishes speaking.

"Kisa was here?" Lauren raises her eyebrows and smirks at the news. "How'd she look, Jen?"

Jen scowls across the table at her younger sister not taking the bait.

"I'm sure she looked even better-"

Jen kicks her shin under the table before she can continue.

"Ouch, Jen!" Lauren cries. "What the fuck was that for?"

"Shut your mouth," Jen growls. Why'd she have to mention her crush on Kisa to her sisters? She knew it'd bite her in the ass one day.

"Dad make her stop," Lauren whines throwing on a pout.

Jen scoffs. "They're not our parents yet, you bitch. You're tricks don't work on them."

"Oh yeah, you wanna bet on that?" Lauren threatens standing from her chair.

Jen joins her with a wild smirk on her face, her right hand casually gripping her butter knife.

"Enough!" Not-mom yells slamming her fist on the table causing the utensils to clatter and some drinks to spill. "Sit. Down. Now."

Both girls quickly sit staring into their plates.

"We're going to eat the food I made and you're both going to shut up! We may not be the adults you know yet, but you will treat the three of us with respect. Now eat your damn food."

There was a steady silence at the table that consisted of food noises and utensils scraping before Uncle Richie whispers to Jen incredulously "And there's two more of you?"

Jen shrugs, not daring to glance up and evoking her mother again.

"Amazing," Uncle Richie states in awe. Jen can feel his thoughts turning out of the corner of her eye. "I bet Seth talked you into it Katie."

Now Jen knows the mom of her time would be still mad at the scene her and her sisters caused and she wouldn't personally poke the bear so soon. She learned that lesson early in life, but maybe Uncle Richie doesn't know that. When she glances at Lauren she also ses the same worry on her face.

"I'm sure he had a good reason," not-mom replies nonchalantly moving to stand and gather the food.

Lauren and Jen lock eyes shocked there was no aftershock. Why wasn't there?

"Hey," said man scoffs next to Jen. "Why'd it be me?"

Not-mom pauses and gives him a dirty look that states clearly "It's always you." while at the same time the two sisters also glance knowingly at him.

They'd heard the story countless times. Mom wanted two. "They'll always have a friend," she'd say. Then after the two, dad came to her and said, "What's two more, we have enough space." Mom then conceded just because, "Well the first two were so easy."

"Come on, its not true?" Not-dad inquires when he sees the girls looking at him.

They both laugh until they have tears in their eyes and sharp pains in their guts. Jen needed that, she thought when her and Lauren look up at each other catching their breaths.

"Sorry daddy," Lauren says reaching to pat his forearm and wiping a stray tear. "But don't bet on it."

"Fine," he fake scowls getting up to help clear the table.

Lauren and Jen refuse to move still worried if they both fell out of line, they'd be yelled at by not-mom again. The table is safer at the moment and they both know it. You don't grow up with four sisters and not know when not to push mom's buttons farther.

"We're really before they're together?" Lauren whispers leaning across the table to Jen.

"Yeah like two years before even me," she whispers back.

Lauren's eyes widen and she looks back at Eugene worriedly which Jen finds odd and is just about to ask about it when not-mom clears her throat.

"Alright we want the whole story? We know Jen's. Which child of ours are you?" Not-mom asks leaning on the island behind her with not-dad next to her his arms crossed looking suddenly serious.

Lauren looks at Jen worriedly. Jen raises one eyebrow at her and motions for her to face the consequences.

Lauren looks down at her lap then back up clearing her throat before speaking. "I'm the youngest, I'm 16."

"What about the boyfriend?" Uncle Richie asks from Jen's left. Jen glances at him watching as he takes the boy in with a scowl. "He's a Culebra."

"We've known each other forever." Lauren starts wide-eyed panicking. "He's-"

Jen sighs jumping in to save her little sister, yet again. "He's only been a Culebra for a few years that's why I knew he was from my time. He wouldn't have been born yet."

Jen and Lauren lock eyes. Jen can see Lauren soften knowing she has her sister in her court again despite everything happening. Annoyingly it's what sisters do even if they're pissed.

"Hmm," Uncle Richie ponders looking back at him.

"Go on, Lauren. How'd you get here?" Not-mom forcefully encourages from her place at the island.

"Eugene came to me saying there was a box." She starts vaguely and Jen already knows her sister is trying to maneuver around how not to sound like she was about to throw her boyfriend under the bus in front of their parents. "We'd open some of the boxes before and it's usually some candy, or some office supplies, or something for Jed's..."

"Out with it missy," not-dad spats.

"Fine," Lauren sighs. "He said he found it tucked-it'd been forgotten basically. So we knew you wouldn't miss it so we opened it. When I put my hand in we were sent here. I was standing in the storage closet. My room non-existent. I was shocked." Lauren exclaims placing her hand over her heart. "Shocked daddy. Where's our rooms?"

Gods she's trying to appeal to not-dad's sympathetic girl-dad side and glancing at him Jen honestly can't tell if it is or isn't working. But not-mom surely isn't buying the act she's still frowning at Lauren.

"And why do you think your sister's here?" Not-mom asks before not-dad could speak, or Lauren could spew something else.

"I don't know. Maybe like Uncle Richie said 'maybe she just stumbled into it'" Lauren shrugs crossing her arms leaning back into her chair.

"We still got nothing then," not-mom states to the room. "And two children."

"Not nothing," not-dad chimes in. "We have the box and artifact."

"Maybe we should wait for Kisa," Uncle Richie says nervously getting up to move around to light a cigarette away from the table. "She said she'd help. Let's wait for her."

Jen watches him do his nervous tick of not looking squarely at anyone, but also looking at everyone. Gods this was bad. Jen sighs and tilts her head back.

"Alright we'll wait for Kisa," not-mom decides somberly then she looks at not-dad who smiles sadly at her. Although sweet, her dad would've wrapped his arms around her mom and kissed her forehead tell her 'it'll be okay' and Jen is once again confronted with the reality that she isn't where she should be.

"I gotta get some work done," Uncle Richie states before scurrying off.

Not-dad also looks at his watch and frowns. "I should go too if we're going to be busy this afternoon. I'll see you guys later." He grip not-mom's lower arm and stares her in the eyes before walking off.

Not-mom sighs rubbing her hands over her face. "I also have work this morning."

"Just go mom we'll be fine," Jen smiles getting up from the table.

"No arguing," not-mom looks between the girls. "I swear, I'll put you both at that table and you'll just stare at each other if you can't behave."

"No worries mom we'll probably be out there soon any way. Got nothing to really do." Lauren laughs also standing up.

Not-mom looks between them both and Jen watches as her eyes trace each of their features like she'd done a few days back. She shakes her head then nods before walking away.

"This is so strange," Lauren sighs watching the hall where not-mom disappeared down.

Notes:

Surprise! Another Gecko! She's a wild one as youngest usually are and now the plot thickens.

Chapter 6: A Duel?

Summary:

Kate works at Jed's while the kids hang around but somehow she looses them and discovers how the settle disagreements.

Kate watched as they came into the restaurant shortly after her. The cook and the other waitress giving her weird looks as they exited from the back, but Kate reassures them that it is fine. As fine as your two future children stumbling into your life could've anyway. Both somehow looking the epitome of Seth, but one blonde? She'd have to ask Seth what his mom looked like. And they're trained in guns? It's a crazy concept. Also they have more!? More kids and raising them at Jed's of all places. God what is her life?

The three of them sit at that booth close by. No sound emanating from them as Kate chances glances in their direction. It seemed like Eugene was trying to engage them, but from what she could see of Jen and Lauren's faces they weren't buying it.

Kate placed a triple order of fries and hamburgers. Making sure to include all the sides as Jen had previously wanted two days ago. She brought it out to them when it was ready earning two confused glances and one beaming smile from the boy.

"Thanks Mrs. Gecko," he beams at her toothy smile and all.

God, Kate thought to herself what a suck up. He does seem weird, no wonder Jen doesn't like him.

---
Jed's was unusually busy today, biker ralley, or something, but every chance she got she was glancing over at that table. It all seemed calm currently, but she can't help but think that they are one second from going nuclear on each other.

When she first met Jen and she told them that she was their daughter she was shocked understandably. Jen is kind and wonderful, but totally out of her element in this year. Kate knows she is dialing it back which she understands and respects. She knows this face isn't her whole personality, she just didn't expect Lauren to come in like a bull. Totally opposite of her sister.

Thank God she was the last, but the fighting between her and Jen is insane and Kate can't honestly believe they have two more. God what did their home look like?

When she glances at the table again, all she sees is the boy sitting there. She glances around the dinning area and doesn't see any familiar eyes or hair and a pit in her stomach festers.

BANG!

She jumps and rushes towards the sound.

A gunshot? What the fuck?

Panicking she opens all the doors as she rushes through the hallway. It sounded like it came from the back somewhere.

BANG!

She stops and listens again.

Where was it?

BANG!

Back lot.

She rushes to the kitchen and runs straight into Seth and Richie as they too come rushing towards the gunshots. They both look at her wide eyed and it dawns on them suddenly. It's the girls.

What are they walking out to?

She rushes forward to the red door that leads out to the back lot, yanking it open.

Hands grab her back as another shot is fired out infront of them and she's held close to a firm chest.

"Hey!" Richie yells off to her left storming forward. "What are you doing?"

Seth's arms loosen their hold on her, but he stays close. "You okay?"

She nods looking at him and calms her heavy breathing as she stares into his eyes. Oh how they have the ability to calm her and drive her wild. She shakes her head at the thought.

They both turn towards the lot where Richie rushed off to and see the girls in what she assumes to be a duel. Guns in hand and all. Richie stands in the middle of them although their guns are still aimed.

"Are you crazy?" Seth bellows and Lauren's gun falters in her hand, but she keeps it up.

God, how were they raising them?

"Jen talk," Seth demands looking at the girl.

"This is how we settle arguments," she states nonchalantly. "There's no ammo in them."

Richie raises his eyebrows at her and Seth. "This is how you raise your spawn?"

"Apparently," Seth growls. "Guns now!"

"But daddy were not done yet! She hasn't flinched." Lauren whines.

"I don't care now!" He yells walking towards Lauren and grabbing the gun from her hand as Richie does the same to Jen.

Kate can finally breathe as both girls start walking towards her unarmed, duel forgotten, with the boys behind them.

"I haven't seen a duel in awhile," Kisa drawls behind Kate in the doorway leading back into the kitchen.

"Kisa!" Lauren runs foward to embrace the woman.

Great, Kate sighs, another one of her children obsessed with the Culebra Queen. She looks to Seth who also seems displeased with the realization.

Kisa embraces the girl, but looks at Kate eyes raised. "Another?"

"The youngest," Richie calls from behind her. "Apparently its her and her boyfriends fault." He stalks forward patting the girl's shoulder, pulling her away from Kisa. She pouts at him as he pulls her inside with him.

Kisa glances back to Kate's right where she knows Jen is standing and watches as a look passes between the two of them. She can feel Seth's hand on her back as they watch the silent interaction. He whispers, "Geez breathe kid." But she knows Jen can't hear it.

Jen who's eyes grow wide when she sees Kate staring at her and worry crosses all her features. "Mom I'd never actually hurt her. It's just how we blow off steam."

Kate purses her lips walking away to the door. She hears Jen ask Seth, "Dad you believe me right?"

Chapter 7: Troublemaker

Summary:

Seth contemplates the future, Kisa reveals some news, the girls have ANOTHER argument, and Jen has a heart-to-heart with her parents AND Kisa.

God, Seth thinks looking at Jen, this is insane. A duel? A fucking duel with guns. Jesus Christ, what is his future self thinking? More importantly what were these girls like as kids that would warrant this?

He shakes his head and instead follows Kate inside ignoring Jen's question completely. He doesn't even know how to answer it. He doesn't even know her that well to answer it in the first place and at the moment he can't even look at her.

They all settle in the living room, he follows Kate who decides to take a seat on the couch next to Lauren. He stands next to them while Eugene stumbles in joining Lauren on the couch. God that kid was something. He even looks like a dork, but she looks at him like he is made of gold and something in him refuses to put out that light in a face that looks so much like Kate.

He'd save it for his older self to deal with.

And god what a fiery child she is. She uses being the baby to get her way and he respects that, he does, it's just the length she goes to get what she wants is incredible. And she is all Kate.

Seth can see that everything he loves about Kate's physical appearance she has. Her eyes, her hair type, even her build, all Kate. And seeing that in a child of his that has the Gecko wild personality is a gift.

Jen walks by him then arms to her side, visibly still upset that he didn't answer her question, but still also visibly mad with her sister that instead of joining them on the couch, she's sitting on the arm of Richie's chair.

"So I have news," Kisa states after a beat.

She's wandering their livingroom not looking at anyone. Pacing. He's never seen her nervous before and when he glances at Richie, he's clocked it too.

"Okay," she pauses putting her hands on her hips and looking between the girls. "My source said without whatever brought you here you're screwed."

When she finished, she looks to Richie, maybe for encouragement Seth can't tell. But he does see Jen's face darken at the move. Maybe she is thinking of her sister in that moment and what she did to bring them to this point, or maybe it is just pure jealousy. Seth guesses, misplaced jealously.

"Oh don't worry about that Kisa," Lauren smiles. "We have it."

Kisa turns her attention directly to the girl and shakes her head confused. "You have it?"

"Yeah. Jen called out Eugene, stalked him, found me, and forced me to give it to her."

Oh god, she's playing her sister again and Jen's shaking ready to go.

"Yeah because it's my fault we're here, Lauren," Jen taunts back.

"I said I was sorry," Lauren replies nonchalantly returning to smile at Kisa. "You know you're prettier now than in the future. Right, Jen?"

Across the room, Jen attempts to launch at her sister, but is thrown off when Richie grabs her and holds her down. He has one arm wrapped around her arms holding them down and another hand over her mouth muffing her screams as she kicks trying to get away.

Seth sighs as Richie speaks to his youngest niece, "You're trouble missy."

"Let's go," Kate sighs grabbing Lauren's arm, dragging her off the couch and out of the room. "Eugene, why don't you go help Jed's," she calls over her shoulders at him in an afterthought.

To Seth's surprise he does obey, immediately, telling Kisa it was nice to see her again.

Richie stands and throws Jen down on the sofa who emits a scream once her back meets the couch. She erupts fully into tantrum legs flying and arms pounding the sofa.

"Why do you let her get to you?" Seth huffs moving closer. "She does it purposely and you know that."

Jen sits up and stares at him her eyes dark and menacing as she looks at him with a locked jaw. "Maybe because you've always babied her dad."

"I'm going to go outside," he hears Kisa mention behind him as footsteps disappear out the door.

He doesn't know if Richie left too, but a part of him hopes he doesn't have to be honest to his future daughter in front of his brother.

"You can't blame me for future me Jen," he states almost calmly.

"Well I'm going to," she huffs back throwing herself in the cushions behind her. "You and mom always treat her like she can do no wrong. She gets in trouble all the time and nothing comes from it. If I did half the things she did, you'd make me sleep in the fucking desert. Again."

"I'm sure we had our reasons."

"Yeah whatever," she crosses her arms not looking at him.

"Alright let's continue," Kate says walking back into the room looking around. "Where's Kisa?"

"Outside," Seth drawls still looking at Jen.

"You okay?" Kate asks coming to sit next to Jen on the couch.

"I'm fine," Jen states with no emotion.

"I talked to her and told her she was out of line. Is it always like this?"

Jen shakes her head and Kate looks at Seth worried. He sighs and joins them on the couch, "She said it is."

"Geez," Kate sighs out looking at him. "And you want four?"

"It's not always like this," Jen sighs uncrossing her arms. "Lauren and I usually have more of a buffer." She pauses looking between them, "But for when we don't you've make us duel. It helps relieve the anger."

"I can imagine," Seth rolls out slowly.

"We aren't doing that again here. That was crazy," Kate says quickly looking away then back wide eyed worried. "But I'm glad it helps in the future."

"I'll go bring Richard back in," Seth stands up moving towards the door.

---
Jen only looks up when she hears Kisa clear her throat. She doesn't sit, but continues her pacing on the floor in front of the couch. Not-dad returns to his seat next to her as Uncle Richie pauses in the doorframe.

"Alright, so Richard and I looked at the artifact and I've sent a picture of it to my contact. If I hear anything I'll let you know, but it's definitely Mexica." Kisa says quickly looking at them on the couch.

"What should we do in the meantime?" Not-mom inquires. Jen is grateful someone asked the question as she's still fuming from fighting with Lauren and can't form a full sentences at the moment.

"Just don't touch it," Kisa pointedly looks at Jen with her eyebrows raised. "That'd be a good start. And maybe trying finding Richard that girl."

"Yeah I'm sure that'll work," Uncle Richie growls rolling his eyes.

"It's a good start, Richard," Kisa frowns then turns her attention back to Jen. "I should get going, but can I talk to Jen for a second?"

Not-mom stands immediately. "I should go check on Lauren," she says walking away.

Not-dad stands up and Jen starts to panic, looking up at him realizing she is going to be alone with the goddess. God she is going to have to get through this alone, why is it so hard to face her here, and not back home?

Once alone, Kisa moves towards Jen on the couch, sitting down where not-mom once sat. She smiles at Jen who's stomach is currently doing flips and it takes everything in Jen not to outwardly freakout.

"Jen, are you okay?" She inquires touching her right arm lightly.

Jen nods. "Yeah, totally."

"No, seriously Jen. Tell me."

Jen closes her eyes sighing then looks back at Kisa's perfect face. "As okay as I can be being here in this time I guess."

"From what you've said, you've had a stressful time back home. I know you want to go back and we'll get yoy home, but maybe take this time to hangout, relax, do something for yourself. Spend time with your younger parents and get to know them. I don't know. Do try not to kill your sister though, I think they'd be mad." Kisa smiles at her then looks out the kitchen window she is facing from her seat. "I really should go. I have some things to do, but I'm sure I'll see you soon."

Jen joins her as she stands. "Thanks Kisa. This really means a lot that you're helping."

Kisa smiles and pulls Jen in for a hug. A hug which Jen was not expecting and freezes for like half a second before fully embracing Kisa like she isn't some stupid 20 year old embracing her crush and is instead hugging a friend.

The hug ends too soon and when they lock eyes again, Kisa smiles. "Anything for a Fuller." She winks at Jen who does everything possible not to collapse at the move and watches Kisa disappear out the kitchen door.

Chapter 8: New Plan

Summary:

Three men walk into Jed's and the girls come up with a plan. Well two plans. Also Kisa's back!

It had been three days since Kisa left them with the plan of finding Uncle Richie a girlfriend. Kisa was supposed to return with information about the artifact from her source, but Uncle Richie's calls and texts haven't been going though and although he told them not to worry, Jen was worried.

It didn't help that the girl they decided to look for, a middle school girlfriend that her dad liked to hound him for when they were reminiscing, is going nowhere. They had no leads and their booth in Jed's is becoming cluttered.

Jen had taken to grabbing a chair from the nearby table and sitting at the end, mainly to sit closer to Lauren, who insisted on Eugene joining them. He'd only sit next to her in the booth, and refused to leave her sister's side when they'd been able to steal not-dad's computer, which they're currently using, so the chair has become a necessity.

"Geckos!" Yells a man to her right as he enters through the door banging it open like he owns the place.

There's two other guys trailing behind him both built like linebackers walking like they have sticks up their asses. The man talking, however, is built like their dad tall and similar body type.

The girls both turn their heads towards the interruption and watch the three men move towards the counter where their not-parents have been talking.

Not-dad moves slightly towards where Jen knows he keeps a gun under the counter. This forces not-mom to move just behind him. He then leans on the counter infront of her to look at the men standing in front of them.

"To what do we owe this pleasure, Simon?" He smiles at them.

Lauren whispers into Jen's ear, "You said we're two years before you were born right?"

Jen nods glancing at her sister quickly then back at the action.

"Do you remember when dad got that leg injury?"

Jen's head turns immediately towards her sister. "Two years before me. You're saying that's The Jeffersons?"

Lauren nods. "Maybe we're not just here for Uncle Richie maybe..."

"We're here to stop that," Jen says incrediously nodding her head, looking back at the counter. Not-dad is now standing up with his arms crossed, Jen vaguely heard something about a money exchange.

"Maybe we're also here to bring them together early," Lauren continues also staring at them.

Jen can hear her sister's mind turning over the new information as she studies the scene, they'd both heard what happened like it was a legend. Three men enter Jed's, Jed's isn't busy, they take the gamble and do business at the counter. One man fires, then dad does, Uncle Richie comes out from the back, shoots all three, but dad gets hit. A bullet to the knee. This ends their robbing era, mom nurses dad back to health, they confess their love, and get together. But with them here, Jen thinks, maybe we can change that.

"How was dad doing before you left?" Jen asks suddenly remembering the fact that their parents were also 22 years older and their dad was sick.

"He was putting on a brave face when mom took him to the doctors. You know they don't tell me anything," Lauren whispers hurriedly with a sad smile.

Jen nods. "Maybe, that's why too. Hey, you got that gun?"

Lauren smiles as she lifts her shirt slightly showing Jen her hip, "Yeah." Lauren slides it out. They both know Jen is a better shot and she hands it under the table to her.

Jen stands slightly, sliding it behind her back and tucking it into her pants while keeping an eye on the men at the counter. Not-dad's starting to look wary while not-mom has chanced a glance at their table, her eyes betraying her confident stance.

"Lauren if anything-" Jen starts grabbing her sisters forearm in an embrace.

"It won't. I know there's a hidey-hole here. I just have to look," Lauren says seriously.

"Lauren I'm serious. Tell them everything if something happens."

"I swear," Lauren says quietly leaning in so their foreheads touch. "I love you."

"I love you," Jen sighs. Taking a breath she locks eyes with Lauren who nods once when Jen stands straight signaling that she's ready.

Jen casually strides over towards the counter pretending not to look, but she can see not-mom stiffen slightly, and only because she knows her so well in the future is this noticeable. She nods slightly to her when their eyes meet. She glances back at the booth before she reaches them, seeing Lauren and Eugene have disappeared.

"I'm telling you, Simon, you don't have that option," not-dad says sternly to the man.

"And I'm telling you, Gecko, you're going to regret that," the man says and although she can't actually see his face she knows he's smiling. Also from this angle she can see him reaching for his waistband and the sheen of his gun peeking out.

Jen decides it's time and walks steadily faster towards them, taking the gun out from her own waistband and cocking it loudly before placing it behind the man's head. "No, no, I wouldn't do that," she mocks.

She feels Lauren's presence before she sees her as she steps up to her right and aims a gun at one of the burley men. The third one tries to move, but Eugene's suddenly there and knocks him out with his fist. That Culebra strength does come in handy sometimes.

"Girls?" Not dad stares in shock. "What are you doing?"

"They're going to try to kill you daddy," Lauren says as she fires the gun, the man turning to ash infront of her. "We're just speeding up their deaths."

Jen fires hers as the guy starts moving. He turns to ash on the second shot. When she glances up at their not-parents they're in a state of shock.

"What are you talking about?" Not-dad yells. His eyes locking with Jen's as he drops the gun he had aimed at her. "Richie!"

But Uncle Richie is already at the kitchen door walking out with his gun in hand. He was ready, Jen thought, thank god.

"Why'd you do that?" Not-mom panics moving away from not-dad who had grabbed her waist when Eugene knocked the guy to Jen's left out. "Why?"

Lauren recovers first. Maybe it was because they had already decided to stop the act, but she tells them the truth. "One of them was going to hurt you daddy. We were stopping it."

"What-what do you mean?" He asks suddenly breathless.

"In our time, your knee gets shattered and you stop working. We thought with us being here we could prevent it," Jen answers watching him steady himself.

"Um, this one's still alive," Eugene says, arms raised, as the guy takes aim at him from the ground. Jen doesn't hesitate and fires at his heart.

"None of them live," Jen sighs looking back at her not-parents and Uncle. "Uncle Richie kills them all. There's no harm done."

"No harm done?" Not-mom yells out. "You both just killed Culebras. People. Do you know what is that does to your souls?"

Jen looks at Lauren and they're both thinking the same thing, "No more than has already been taken."

Lauren nods at her statement. "We're sorry for the mess. But we're not sorry for preventing your chronic pain. We'll go."

Lauren places her gun on the counter and does the same with Jen's, ripping it out of her hand. She then grabs Jen's arm and pulls her past their not-parents and Uncle to walk into the kitchen and into the residence where they sit on the couch together. Eugene's somewhere close by, but Jen can't see him and doesn't really care either.

"You think that'll help?" Jen asks her younger sister.

"It doesn't matter. We just have to get them together." She doesn't look Jen in the eye when she says it, but she knows she's evaluating her feelings as to what just happened.

They've killed before. Had to. Their lives were in danger then and she felt no remorse for those they killed. Now she didn't know what she felt. It didn't feel like remorse, or heartache, but weirdly hope that somehow her and Lauren would get home.

---
Kisa walks into the residence at dusk holding two burgers. "Your parents handed these to me," she says handing Jen one and sitting the other infront of Lauren who is asleep on the couch.

"I heard what happened. How are you doing?" Kisa ask as she sits down on the arm of the couch closest to Jen.

"I'm fine, but what did you find?" Jen sits up straighter taking a bite of her burger realizing if Kisa is here then she has news.

"I'll tell you later," Kisa waves dismissedly. "You killed someone, you are you sure you're okay."

"It was necessary, Kisa, he was going to hurt dad. They would've been killed by Uncle Richie anyway." Jen takes another bite so she doesn't have to look into Kisa's sad eyes.

"They may have been going to die, but you just changed the course of everything. Things are going to change."

"Things were already changing Kisa, Lauren and I are proof of that. We just hurried it along." Jen was standing now moving her and her burger into the kitchen. This was all starting to be too much. Wasn't her and Lauren here talking to them, already changing the course of their lives?

"You changed the burden of those deaths from your uncle, onto the two of you, that's what you did. You being here, may have changed the future from the start, but now you've put those deaths on your souls, instead of Richard's." Kisa moves toward Jen slowly as she speaks, locking eyes with her the whole way.

"It wasn't anything we haven't done before," Jen hisses out. "It's what you do for family. I'm glad we took their lives dad's life will be better for it."

"You don't know that," Kisa says harshly shaking her head. "Your lives may be altered because of it."

"We're both still here," Jen states pointing between her and Lauren, asleep on the couch. "That has to count for something right?"

Kisa sighs looking at Lauren peacefully asleep on the couch and crosses her arms.

"We think pushing them together sooner is what we should do," Jen starts drawing Kisa's attention back to her. "They should have all the time in the world together. If it happens in two years, it can happen now. Hell I'm living proof they work out."

"I don't know, Jen, this is territory I'm unfamiliar with."

Jen grabs Kisas shoulders long forgetting about her plate she put down somewhere. "When dad's knee gets blown apart, they stop robbing. But if we push them together, maybe we can have the same result. Hell, I'm fine being two years older. It could work. Lauren and I both think so."

"What do I think?" Lauren asks sleepily stretching out her legs not yet opening her eyes.

"That we can get mom and dad together," Jen answers staring at Kisa's bewildered face, having dropped her hands off her shoulders.

"Oh yeah easy," Lauren laughs sitting up. "We already know everything and they're already in love. So." She motions to the burger now fully awake. Kisa nods to her. "Thank you," she says as she grabs the plate.

Kisa sighs, moving back to sit on the arm of the couch, "Are you guys sure?"

Jen nods.

Lauren does the same.

She's truthfully not, but if there's a chance that this might work, then she'll try anything to get back home.

"Fine. I'll help then."

"Really?" Lauren asks excited.

"Of course," Kisa smiles at her. "We'll get you both back somehow."

The girls nod then watch her leave back towards the door separating the residence and everything Jed's. Jen rejoins Lauren on the couch. Lauren places her empty plate back on the coffee table and stares at the door Kisa left through.

"We'll see them again right?" Lauren asks her voice a little shaky.

Jen is once again reminded that her little sister is still a kid. Just sixteen. And just like her, wants to get back to their sisters and actual parents.

Chapter 9: You're not a Gecko?

Summary:

A surprise visitor and their company send the Gecko-Fullers and Kisa into a tailspin.

Jen opens their bedroom door to walk into the hallway, continuing her chat with Lauren who insisted they leave the room since Eugene is still asleep on the floor.

"Jen it'll work," she whispers from behind her as she follows Jen.

"I'm not saying it won't, but we need them to be open to it anyway," Jen turns locking eyes with Lauren who had closed the door behind her and stopped.

"Then we'll get them to be," Lauren says with a devilish smirk shaking her head.

Movement down the hall stops their conversation, as a door is opened, specifically, the door they know belonging to not-mom's room. Both girls immediately freeze bracing to be yelled at for talking loudly so early in the morning by said woman, but instead they come face-to-face with not-dad.

Oh this could be good for us, Jen thinks smiling.

"Daddy," Lauren squeels moving towards him for a hug.

He opens his arms pulling her in to kiss the top of her head before letting her go and smiling at Jen.

"Hi dad," Jen smirks. "What were you doing in mom's room?"

His eyes widen at the question before sputtering out, "She just-needed company after yesterday."

BANG!

The three of them freeze. It came from the kitchen, but not-mom and Eugene were both behind doors. It didn't make sense. They turned back down the hall towards the doorway that leds to the livingroom and the kitchen, seeing Uncle Richie and Kisa emerge from Uncle Richie's room that's everyone.

Jen's first to act moving towards a frame on the wall that in her time contains a safe with some guns. She moves it slightly and is disappointed to find it missing. "You should really put a safe here."

When she turns, not-dad is moving towards her opening the right drawer of the green bureau that sits under the frame. "That's because they're here."

She puts her hand in grabbing a gun, ammo, loading it in before placing it into her waistband.

"Lauren," not-dad whispers to his hands on her shoulders. "Go to Kate and tell her what happened. She should have a gun under her bed and in her nightstand. Go." He pushes her back down the hallway they just came from then glances at Uncle Richie across the livingroom doorway.

"I'll go," Jen whispers. "They might get confused when they realize I'm not the Gecko they are looking for."

"No," not-dad states matter-of-factly grabbing her shoulder to push her behind him.

"Dad, I can do it," Jen whispers pleadingly staring into his eyes.

He sighs closing his eyes. Jen sees his eyes dart over to her uncle who must have silently said something because suddenly she's being pulled in for a hug and then her dad's eyes are locked into hers. "We'll be watching. You know the signal?"

Jen nods then looks across the hallway towards Uncle Richie and Kisa both standing ready as she rounds the corner head down into the living room. She pretends to be looking down at her non-working phone, she just happened to have on her this morning, and cases the area.

To her left, is one man asleep on the couch and although she can't see them there's more in the kitchen ahead. She sticks her left hand behind her back, making sure whoever is in front of her can't see and points towards the man, holding up one finger. Continuing to the kitchen, she stops at the doorway. "Hey mom-" She pauses then looking up, pretending to be confused as she looks around the kitchen spotting four total. "Who are you?"

The man at the stove smiles at her and a chill travels down her back. His hair is dark and he's wearing a suit unbuttoned at his neck. She glances next at the table, seeing two people sitting there, and standing across the island is a man with his arms crossed watching her. All three are wearing full black outfits. She throws up four more fingers behind her back before moving slightly to the right just out of the doorway but within the livingroom.

"Well you're certainly not a Gecko," the man at the stove greets spatula in hand. "Don't worry pretty girl, we're only here for them."

Shit, Jen thinks. Those three deaths are already catching up to her.

"Gecko?" Jen shakes her head confused. "There's no Gecko here."

The man places the spatula down next to the stove and walks towards her.

Good, she smirks to herself. Right where I want you.

"Don't play, little lady, you know exactly who I am talking about." When he reaches the doorway he tilts his head, his eyebrows coming together as a question forms on his face. Jen curses her father's looks that grace her face. "But maybe," he continues reaching out to touch her face. "You could do."

"What do you mean?" She inquires stepping back closer to the edge of the doorframe.

"You're a Gecko aren't you? Somehow." The man answers following her steps.

"I don't know what you mean?"

"But you do." His face, now inches from her own. "And I'm sure they'll come looking for you."

A shot rings out suddenly, missing the man by inches and Jen dives right behind the kitchen doorframe as three more ring out back where she'd left her family.

She quickly grabs her gun, firing two shots at the men near the tables before they can even move hitting them both in the heart. She stands up smiling before she sees the man from across the counter grining wickedly, his gun already smoking. Before she can fire at him a bullet enters his forehead and another his heart as he goes up in smoke.

"Jen?" Not-mom questions rushing to her from the other kitchen entrance. She grabs her face once she reaches her her eyes wide as she takes Jen in. "Jen? Oh my god. SETH!"

Jen looks down seeing red covering her shirt. She's somehow up against the kitchen wall now. She knew something happened, but didn't expect a bullet hole. She suddenly feels like she can't see straight.

Her eyes find Lauren, who is one step behind not-mom, as her breaths start to get shallow from panic and she sees fear reflected back at her.

"Breathe Jen. Just breathe."

Confusion starts as Jen realizes Lauren is now on the floor, next to not-mom, holding her side down.

Panting, Jen stares Lauren down pleading to her. "Tell them." She pants. "If something.."

Lauren just nods tears in her eyes not needing Jen to finish her sentence.

Kisa is the next face she sees and Jen thinks if she's going to die, at least she got one more look. Kisa's face comes in-between not-mom and Lauren looking at Jen's wound when Lauren moves her hand. Jen watches Kisa study the wound as Uncle Richie and not-dad appear at the doorway. Jen can tell from their abrupt stop at her head, that they are both panicking. She doesn't dare to look up further.

"Jen," Kisa calls locking eyes with her as a sense of calmness settles over her body. How was she always able to do that? "I can take it out, okay? But it's going to hurt."

Suddenly, Lauren's taken away from her line of sight, and not-mom moves closer to her head. She rubs her forehead before grabbing her hand.

"Richard?" Kisa asks looking up at him as something wordless crosses her features.

Jen sobs knowing instantly what was about to happen when she sees her uncle's face. "No don't."

"Wait-" Lauren tries.

But they're not fast enough, and Uncle Richie's hand is on her forehead bringing her into a trance dream.

She hates his trances. They have always been the same to her ever since she was a child. She sees Lauren's body face down in the kitchen and she starts to hyperventilate. The next bodies she sees are her other two other sisters, their feet sticking out from behind the island and tears start streaming down Jen's face. She turns and sees her dad's body in-between the livingroom and kitchen, one hand out towards her mom whose body is faced down in the middle of the livingroom. The sobs over take her then and she can't feel her body. She locks eyes with Uncle Richie, his sad face looks hauntingly away from her while Kisa tries to come comfort her. Jen backs away from her shaking her head collapsing on the ground as she cries.

And just as soon as the trance dream starts, she is thrown out of it screaming, sitting up immediately on top of the kitchen island. Panicking she pushes hands away from her and stumbles off the island falling to her knees crying in the fetal position on the floor.

Lauren's face comes into view as she pulls Jen's hands off her face and forces her into a hug. "It's okay" she speaks softly as she pulls Jen off the floor and out the back door knowing that the sun will comfort her older sister.

Jen had been prone to injuries since childhood. When it was Uncle Richie who watched them, he had adopted the cover of putting her to dream so he could fix her injury as she always refused help when injured. He learned quickly it did more harm than good.

Once outside, Lauren lets go of her. Jen turns away stumbling towards the lot and lets out a scream. It echoes bouncing off the metal buildings lining the lot. The scream helps her retransition back into reality. It may not get the images of her dead family out of her head, but something about it helps fill the hole that it causes.

She falls to the ground when she finishes exhausted. Lauren's arms return around her as she continues to cry silently into her sister's shoulders.

"Jen has bad trance dreams when you put her in," Lauren explains while patting her head. "They've always been like this. We die in them."

"I'm so sorry, Jen, I didn't know." Uncle Richie whispers.

Lauren pulls her up to stand. "You couldn't...have known," Jen chokes out wiping the tears from her face, shaking her head. She walks towards him for a hug. She loves his hugs they're firm and warm somehow even with his Culebra blood pumping through his body.

"They're always the same," Jen starts pulling away from him to look him in the eyes. "I get turned and I kill everyone." She chokes a little, but continues, "You and Kisa are standing there watching me as I come to from what I've done. It's awful."

"I won't do it again," Uncle Richie says looking into her eyes before pulling her back into a hug. "I'm so sorry."

She smiles as she feels her parents hands on her back. Not-mom's small one rubbing circles and not-dad's on her shoulder rubbing it with his thumb.

"We should head back inside he'll be awake soon," Kisa whispers breaking the moment as she disappears back through the red door.

Uncle Richie breaks their hug and places a kiss on the top of her head. She smiles at him as he disappears after Kisa with Lauren skipping inside behind him. Not-mom and dad both still have their hands on her shoulders looking at her with sad smiles on the faces.

"I'm fine, I promise," Jen sighs wiping off the remnants of tears.

Neither one speaks, but not-mom nods and smiles at her reassuringly as not-dad wraps his arm around her shoulder. They walk together back inside.

"Who is he?" Lauren asks a finger to her lips leaning in to look closer at the man tied to the couch.

"Carlos Madrigal," Kisa drawls out sitting down in the chair closest to the couch where Carlos is tied up on.

Uncle Richie pulls Lauren away from the Culebra and pushes her towards their not-parents and Jen.

"Maybe we should go," Jen states looking at the man suddenly worried. Their parents told them all the stories about this Culebra and none of them ended well. She did not want to deal with that currently.

"He already knows who you are," not-dad says pulling her closer looking down at her.

"I'll go hangout with Eugene," Lauren says disappearing back to the room.

"Ahh," Carlos groans moving to sit up on the couch, cracking his neck, and looking around the room.

"Santanico," he nods in Kisa's direction. She makes no acknowledgement but crosses her legs. His eyes travel to Jen and he smiles. "A new Gecko?"

Jen rolls her eyes.

"I know they don't have a sister, but you're too old to be a daughter." His eyes roam her features and she crosses her arms staring back at him as he continues. His roaming stops when he looks into her eyes and he smirks. "Ah, but you are though. Somehow."

"Shut it Carlos, what do you want?" Kisa asks him bored.

"I came to see why three of my men were killed," he replies to her just as bored.

"They were going to hurt Seth."

"Hm. That was not their task."

"I don't take it lightly when my life is on the line Carlito," Seth growls from Jen's left his arm still protectively around her. She can feel his body grow ridged as the conversation continues.

"Sure sure," Carlos speaks nonchalantly.

"What about you little Gecko? What are your feelings towards dear Seth Gecko getting hurt?"

Jen stares at him for a long time before she speaks stepping away from not-dad smiling at him deciding to have a little fun. "I'm the reason he wasn't hurt in the first place Carlito."

Carlos's face hardens. "You're the killer then."

Jen laughs. "I just stopped something from happening that's all. They'd be dead anyway."

Carlos stands and Jen hears three guns click around her. She isn't worried and Kisa hasn't moved so Jen knows she's safe.

"Ahh," Carlos laughs. "Protective of your little Gecko I see."

Then he rips the ropes off him and stalks forward towards her. Kisa is up and at his throat before Jen could even blink pushing him down into the couch.

"Enough," she hisses.

He sends Jen one more disgusting look before he puts his hands up. Kisa pushes him back into the couch once more for good measure and sits down in front of him on the coffee table.

"Who are you? You're no Culebra. Hybrid maybe?" He inquires looking Jen up and down again.

Kisa starts snapping in front of his face to draw his attention towards her instead. "No don't address her. I'll answer your questions."

"Then answer," Carlos snarls at her.

"She's human."

"I got that, but why is she here?"

"She was brought in to deal with a problem. She's a psychic."

Jen could almost praise Kisa's quick thinking and the nonchalance of her phrasing. It is incredibly hot, but Jen can tell Carlos isn't buying it.

"And her looking like a Gecko?"

"A funny accident."

They all watch him contemplate the sentence still looking Jen over. "What's my future then?"

It was a challenge Jen knows that, they all know that, and it is a good thing she had listened to her parents talk about their past. Plus with her being in love with Kisa, she knows just about everything to know about her. Jen knows about Carlos, although, she'd never seen him before today, she knows exactly what happened to him.

Jen shakes her head. "I'm sorry there's nothing to tell."

"See Santanico I knew you were lying." He tsks. "Who is she?"

"You misinterpreted me." Jen replies looking him in the eyes. "There's nothing to tell because you die. You die by the hands of someone you once considered your friend. Your lover. You don't have a future for me to tell."

Carlos tries to feign indifference, but Jen can see it written clear as day in his eyes as they bear into her. He believes her. Of course he does. He had wanted to die a long time ago.

Kisa had told her the story when she was a child. A man she loved had wanted to die and would only accept it by her hands. It took her awhile, but she honored his wish. They had grown apart but when he asked, she knew he was serious so she did it. She told the girls that she didn't regret it because it was the only honest thing Carlos Madrigal had ever told her.

"I see." Was the only thing he said after a long stretch of silence.

His gaze landed on each of them as if trying to guage if they too believed her. First, on Kisa studying her in front of him, then Uncle Richie, not-dad and not-mom, until finally back to her.

She could feel him judging her. Her appearance, her stance, her face and eyes. It felt like he could see through her and one wrong move he'd know exactly who she actually is.

"It's time for you to leave Carlos," Kisa states bringing his attention back to her. Controlling the narrative yet again.

When his eyes fall back to Kisa, they narrow before he stands up. "You don't need me to help with you're problem?"

"Don't worry, we got it." She waves him off leaning back on the coffee table. "Richard will show you the door."

The four of them watch as Uncle Richie guides Carlos Madrigal through the kitchen to the red door. When Carlos turns around to try to say something again, Uncle Richie uses his Culebra gift, placing a hand to his forehead to stear Carlos away. He slams the door behind him.

"Well that was a hell of a morning," not-dad breathes out as the red door shuts.

"No kidding," Kisa states shaking her hair out still leaning across the coffee table.

Notes:

A little fun and then some more chaos next!

Chapter 10: Dancing and a Stranger

Summary:

A normal day at Jed's after the morning chaos and Kisa's contact arrives.

"Where'd you send him?" Kate asks Richie later on in the day while filling drink lunch orders at the counter.

"Mexico," he mumbles continuing to look over his paperwork. "I put it in his head that he was searching for some artifact there buried in a temple. I removed Jen from his mind. He won't be back."

"Thank you," Kate whispers placing the different cups on a tray to be brought out.

"I love them too Katie," Richie whispers in an unsteady voice. It makes her glance at him, she hadn't heard him be that vulnerable in awhile and instead of looking at her, he was watching them.

Jen had offered to take some orders so she is moving around the floor. She had a grace about it like it she enjoyed some aspect of it that Kate has never been able to grasp. Lauren, on the other hand, is sitting at their table belly laughing with Eugene. The girl had no thought to help, just content to hangout with her boyfriend. The site made Kate smile.

"Having them around," Richie starts. "I just-there will be family around after you and Seth. It'll be nice, you know? Like a piece of you guys will still be here."

Kate smiles at him reaching out to squeeze his hand. "I get it. I really do."

They were suddenly broken out of their moment when Lauren yells over the booth. "Turn it up mama!"

They'd kept the same playlist what's-his-face had when they'd taken over. They never cared enough to change it. But as Kate listens, she can hear the start of Shania Twain's Any Man of Mine and is faced with the reality that they hadn't changed it in over 22 years.

Richie reaches behind him to crank the volume as Lauren jumps up next to Jen smiling. They both move to the center of the dining area next to eachother as they started kicking their feet out line dancing and singing loudly to the song. Seems to Kate that this isn't the first time they've done this. She can just picture the girls and their sisters dancing like this all the time.

It puts a smile on her face.

When Gretchen Wilson's Redneck Woman comes on next, Lauren has secured the stages microphone, microphone that hasn't worked in months, and passes it to Jen who not only continues her line dancing, but also starts singing while doing it. Some time during the song, Seth and Kisa come out from the back and stand at the counter to watch.

At then end of the song, the girls start laughing wrapping themselves in eachothers arms before pulling away to go back to what they were doing beforehand. Lauren returns to Eugene and Jen walks slowly to the counter to place the orders she took two songs ago and grab the drinks Kate prepared.

"I take it you four are the entertainment?" Richie smirks as she reaches the counter.

Jen rolls her eyes, still panting from dancing, and sticks her tongue out at him. "Well, when your family owns the place, you take to making a scene at all times when needed." She winks at him before she walks away with the trays.

"Some kids you got," Kisa drawls with a smile before walking back toward the kitchen.

When Kate looks at Seth, he is staring dreamy-eyed out past her towards the girls like his future looks bright and happy. It makes Kate feel something stir deep within and when his eyes snapp to hers, she feels a blush creep across her cheeks.

--- With the afternoon lull the girls are back to their booth conversing quietly. Kate knows they are up to something, planning something specifically.

Lauren has taken Seth's laptop at some point, again, and they both are attached to the screen whispering to eachother. She swears they have taken Seth's wallet too because she found it on the counter twenty minutes ago and he'd never leave it out like that, but she's really not going to pry about it.

"Hello," says a stranger walking towards Kate at the counter. He looks about the boys age, but Kate can tell by his walk that he is a Culebra plus his outfit is covering most of his body. He smirks as he come closer to her at the counter. "You must be Kate. Kisa called me to come."

"Oh!" Kate exclaims realization dawning on her. "Let me just let her know."

Kate reaches for her phone to text Kisa in the group chat they have with Seth and Richie. Kisa may have invited him but she'd rather not leave the front unattended with the girls and a Culebra she doesn't know.

Once she finished, she turns back to the man. "She should be here soon. Can I get you anything?" God her hospitality continues to not know what to do with Culebras.

He smiles shaking his head no.

As they wait, he takes the chance to glance around the room. There is one group finishing in the far corner, humans. The other, the girls and Eugene. Kate watches him look at both of them, his eyes faltering on the girls table. This sets Kate on edge.

He quickly glances back at Kate and says nothing. She smiles at him expectantly, but his eyes just study her instead. It makes her feel completely exposed like her whole being is being ripped open. This immediate makes her not trust him, especially with the silence falling between them.

The kitchen door swings open ending the staring contest. Kate looks to her left Seth walking out first with Kisa right behind him. He walks straight over to her, glancing at the man before eyeing her up-and-down as if studying her for injuries.

They haven't really talked about it fully. She knows that the girls being here means things escalate, but they haven't talked about it, or the other thing that happened. If she's being honest with herself she's a little too afraid too.

Richie walks out from the back last as Kate and Seth move out from behind the counter following Kisa's path towards the man.

"Callum!" Kisa laughs arms outstretched to hug him. "Thanks for coming on such short notice."

"Oh please." Callum laughs wrapping his arms around her. "Anything for you, my Queen."

Kisa bleams at him then turns towards Kate and the boys to introduce them.

"Callum this is Richard, Kate, and Seth." She points to each of them as she speaks. Callum nods, but he doesn't seem quite interested, like it was old news in a sense.

"Pleasure." Callum bows slightly.

"We should get the girls. Kate?" Kisa smiles turning to look behind her at Kate.

Kate startles at the mention of her name still wrapped up in the strangeness of the man's aura. When she recovers she turns towards the girls calling out to them, "Jen, Lauren, can you guys come here?"

Jen turns around to look and her eyes widen slightly before turning back to whisper something to Lauren who's whole body freezes.

Now, if Kate hadn't been with them for the last few days, she might have missed this change in the girls from the distance, but she caught it. It was clear as day to her that something was wrong.

As Jen moves to get out of the booth, she leans back in to whisper to Lauren then stands, brushing off the nonexistent wrinkles from her shirt before turning to face them. Her face is almost emotionless like she is concentrating on something and nothing at the same time. She stops before them. "Callum," she nods towards the man before quickly looking away.

Kate pauses. They hadn't introduced her to him. How'd she know his name? And why was she putting up an emotionless front? Jen is like Seth confidence protrudes every pore at all hours, but right now, she is hiding herself. What is going on?

"Have we met?" Callum inquires clearly also confused staring wide eyed at her.

Kate can feel the boys pause beside her, as they come to the realization that something happened and they missed it. Richie ever so slightly moves closer to Jen and just in front of Kate while Seth moves to a hairs inch away from Kate to put his arm around her like he meant to do it. Kisa looks between them confused, but Kate isn't quite sure if she heard what Jen had actually said.

"No, sorry," Jen replies still not meeting his gaze but instead chancing a glance at Kisa almost willing her to continue the conversation.

"Callum this is Jen. Jen, Callum. He takes a special interest in unique artifacts I thought he could help with yours," Kisa states staring between Callum, who is looking Jen over, and Jen, who refuses to look in his direction.

It is then that Lauren and Eugene join the group and similarly enough neither of them are looking at the Culebra either. Lauren stands close to Jen, almost slightly behind her, but in an arms reach. Eugene stands behind Lauren looks confused which seems to be a common occurrence. In the few days that she's also come to know Lauren, this behavior is strange for her too. Lauren is bubbly and outgoing. Almost consistently always the life of the party, very Richard of her, but right now, she is acting her age and it is at this moment that Kate becomes genuinely worried.

"We thank you for coming, but we're going to sit this one out. You don't need us right? You have the artifact. You can tell us about it after." Jen word vomits looking between her Uncle, Seth, and Kate as she speaks. She doesn't glance once at Callum almost pleading for them not to say anything when she locks eyes with each of them.

"Sure, Jen," Kisa replies cautiously now queuing into Jen's change in demeanor.

As Kisa finishes, Jen quickly turns behind her pushing Lauren in front of her. She stands between Lauren and Callum almost guarding her, a hand gripping one arm while the other is on her back pushing her sister towards the residence. Eugene follows them silently glancing between them like Jen did with an air of indifference.

Kate turns to move towards Jen grabbing her arm as she passed her whispering, "Everything okay?"

Jen locks eyes with her, then glances at Callum emotion on her face for the first time this entire conversation. She's terrified. "Of course," she replies with a fake smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes.

"Jen?" Kate whispers seeing beyond Jen's outward appearance as the girl glances back to Kate and a quick intake of breath comes from where Callum stands when Jen's eyes return to her's. Kate glances at him, but he's steeled himself back a look genuine curiosity now on his face. What was that about?

"Don't worry. It'll be okay," Jen smiles back at Kate as she too disappears through the door.

"You said it's HER artifact?" Callum asks Kisa.

"Well it was a gift and it got opened." Kisa shrugs guiding Callum towards a table in the now empty truck stop.

"You okay?" Seth whispers to her right.

"Yeah, but stay alert." Kate replies looking back at him. Richie who is starting to follow Kisa, but heard her, only replies by turning back and winking at her following Kisa to the table.

Notes:

Flashback chapter next to for some context!

Plus maybe any introduction to another daughter

Chapter 11: I hate culebra fights.

Summary:

A flashback from Jen's past, or a glimpse into the future. Jen and her sisters have a hell of a time when someone unexpected comes visiting.

(Jacknife Jed's residence 17 years in the future)

Jen awakes and stretches for the day. She meets Lauren in the hallway like they do every morning. Both girls are always so hungry in the morning that Jen, more often than not, is up to make her littlest sister breakfast. She considers it time to bond with the ghoul as she's usually calmer in the mornings and this is the only time they are safe to interact. Saturday mornings are different though, the parents usually are up and making breakfast, but this morning is different, their parents and Uncle are away for the weekend so no Saturday family breakfast.

Lauren smiles up at Jen still in her pajamas her blonde hair wild from a night in bed.

"Let's get some breakfast, " Jen smiles back at her thirteen year old sister who is more than capable of making her own breakfast, but tradition is tradition and when the parentals are out, Jen has to keep it alive. These mornings together will be nonexistent in a few years when she's off to college and away from home so she is embracing it.

As they walk the little hallway towards the livingroom that connects with the kitchen, Jen hears movement beyond the wall and pauses. Their other sisters are asleep and no one else is home. So who is that?

She pushes Lauren to her right motioning for her to be quiet as she peeks her head around the corner, from this position she can see clear into the livingroom and kitchen. She notices things are tossed and a man is sprawled out on the couch playing with his knife. She sees one more man in the kitchen, but he's tucked passed the left of the doorway that she can't see what he's doing. She also sees a foot peaking out from the other side of the kitchen doorframe. That's three.

Shit.

Jen turns back to Lauren who's looking at her wide eyed and grabs both her shoulders before leaning in to whisper, "Do you know the code for the safe room?" All their rooms connect to a tunnel system that leads to the safe room. The code changes every week. Their dad's a little anal about their safety and their Uncle is always more than happy to comply with his changes, as making sure his darling nieces have a safe place to go if something happens at Jed's is also his number one priority.

Lauren nods fear clear in her eyes.

"Go wake Lillah, tell her we have a Code Brown." Jen's suddenly grateful that her parents thought ahead to code words just incase something like this happened. Maybe they weren't so crazy. Code Brown, intruder in living space, or Code Shit, as they liked to call it, which means hide the younger ones then come help. "Get Gwen and go hide. Hurry Laur," she quickly whispers pushing Lauren down the hallway.

With Lauren gone, Jen crouches down to keep watch until Lillah can join her. The one on the couch seems to have fallen asleep and the two in the kitchen seem too comfortable for her liking, but she'll deal with that later. The one with their back to her seems like he's making breakfast?

Lillah suddenly appears crouched on the otherside of the doorframe of the livingroom with two guns in each hand. She nods at Jen when she arrived. She's still in her pajamas, and her messy brown hair is still tied in her go-to bun that mom hates because it never comes down. She places one gun on the floor while she puts ammo in the one still in her hands. Once finished, she places it on the floor and at Jen's nod she slides it across the entrance before picking up the other one to do the same.

Jen glances out towards their intruders making sure no one saw anything, but no ones moved and she thinks they're okay.

Lillah finishes preparing her gun then looks back at Jen across the frame knowing she'd have a plan and silently nods telling her she's ready. They've practiced a similar situation with their dad and Uncle once beforehand, but their mom talked them through it and they knew what to expect. This one, they're on their own and the odds are against them.

With a deep breath, Jen glances going through the plan in her head. She can get the one on the couch easy, clear shot, no worries. The other two, no shot. They're the wildcards, but Lillah might be able to get the one with his foot out.

She glances back at her sister and points to her, then the kitchen and mouths, "Can you get him?"

Lillah peeks out and surveys the situation herself. Her eyes first landing to the one on the couch, then to the shoes poking out in the kitchen, and lastly to the one hiding behind the frame still. Her face scrunches as she turns back to Jen and shakes her head no.

Shit.

Jen closes her eyes and takes a deep breath before looking back at her sister thinking quickly for another angle. She eyes her sister, then the man on the couch, then looks quickly back at her sister, an idea forming. With the drills they've done before, they're ready for this. Their parents insisted they learned how to shoot and their Uncle and mom have consistently discussed strategies with them over dinner. Plus, they're sisters, they know what the other is thinking purely by looks at times and Jen's hoping Lillah knows exactly what she's saying.

Lillah smirks at her, the one she shares with dad, and nods pushing her gun closer to herself sitting up a little straighter ready to move quickly. Jen does the same, as she holds up three fingers at Lillah. She counts down preparing both of them for action when her sister nods.

At one she aims at the man on the couch. He's sprawled out, but not laying down so Jen has clear aim to his heart. Which she aims for. The shot echos as the gun fires and Jen ducks back further into the doorframe while Lillah steps out to shoot as the second guy is in the kitchen doorframe now prompted to move by the gunshot.

She shoots once then steps back glancing at Jen a smirk covering her face with confirmation. She mouths "Culebra" before they move onto the next stage of the plan.

Jen's eyes widen as she chances a glance back out towards the livingroom to where she shot the man and sure enough, he's gone.

She's suddenly grateful that all they have in the house is wooden bullets.

With two down, the sisters eye each other. They both come to the same conclusion to just go for it. They nod once to each other then move to the entrance to shoot at the last man.

To their surprise he's just standing in the doorframe of the kitchen. He's tall like their father maybe a little older, but Culebras could be any age not matter their looks. They both fire at him, but he moves at such speed that the bullets miss and he moves behind the large island of the kitchen while his own gun fires at them.

They have no choice, but to duck behind the left side of the kitchen doorframe in the livingroom.

"I hate Culebra fights," Lillah whines in Jen's left ear.

Jen watches as the man moves further into the kitchen. When he comes within her line of sight, she fires at him, but he turns just in time that it passes over his left shoulder. Jen swears she sees him smile.

He fires three times at them, but they land in the doorframe. Jen instantly hates how long it's going to take to subdue, or end him, and mentally prepares herself for a long fight. It's like he's just playing with them and maybe he is Culebras are weird like that.

She only hopes that Lauren and Gwen got through to their parents and they'll be here soon from their vacation. Of course, the one time they told them to go have fun while Uncle Richie went down to Mexico for the week, things go to hell.

Gods they're never going to be left alone again because of this man.

"Come on out girls," the man finally speaks after six rounds of back-and-forth taunting. "This only ends one way."

They have one more bullet between the two of them. Lillah curses her mistake of thinking this would be quick and not taking more.

Jen puts her hand out for Lillah's gun. "I'll end this," she whispers taking it out of her sister's hand before Lillah can shake her head no.

If she can sneak in the kitchen and get to where mama keeps the knifes near the stove, she could use them to go after him if this last bullet doesn't hit. She's nervous, but It's just one step into the kitchen then two steps left. It'll be fine. The guy's probably low on ammo himself. He couldn't have anticipated their showdown any more than they could've.

It'll all be fine.

She takes a deep breath as she stands up, gun ready and out. As she takes a step into the kitchen, she sees the man matching her step-by-step already up and watching her. His eyes never leave hers. She fires at him, but he's already moving in her direction as she steps left towards the stove.

She reaches out for a knife, but the block is empty except for one dull knife. She grabs it just as he fires, but Jen's also quick and the bullet skims her right upper arm.

She can feel the blood start falling.

He lunges at her suddenly, but Jen's ready and swipes the knife at him. He grabs her arm blocking her attack and making her drop the knife. He throws her back hard into the counter making her gasp.

"You can't win," he growls pushing her further into the counter.

She kicks him in the balls and rounds the island as he recovers and follows. They move towards the table where she gets caught by a chair and he swipes at her with a knife of his own. It meets her cheek as she topples over the chair trying to miss the knife and falls to the ground.

Suddenly, Lillah sprints out from behind the doorframe and jumps on him. She takes a knife to the stomach, but starts pounding on his head before she's thrown into the island behind them.

Their fight gives Jen enough time to get back on her feet and she runs at him when he's distracted with a leg of the chair that broke. When he turns, she falters at the smile the man's wearing as he eyes her, blocking her every move barely breathing heavy.

When the leg breaks in his hand, he leans in with a smile. "What now sweatheart?" He laughs throwing the wood away from them before moving to grab Jen's throat.

Lillah quickly jumps on his shoulders and wraps her legs around his throat. It distracts him from Jen who can see the man panic, he didn't anticipate Lillah's actions like he'd been able with the others.

He's moving his shoulders quickly trying to get her off and Jen has a thought that maybe like her uncles, this Culebra, also has a gift. Like he can somehow anticipate their next move through eye contact?

And suddenly Jen has an idea.

With the man distracted, she moves to grab the knife she dropped and then a rolling pin from its drawer. When she hears Lillah fall from the man's back with a painful yelp, Jen is forced to enact an unthoughtout plan which is perfect for the situation.

"Lillah?" Jen says from her position near the oven. She's looking into the reflection of the microwave above the stove watching the man. "He has a gift like the uncles don't look him in the eye."

"Clever girl, huh?" Laughs the man. "Took you long enough though I'm disappointed. I thought you Geckos were smarter."

When he stops, he's in Jen's ear standing right behind her. She can feel his form covering her body and she drops the rolling pin to the floor. She hears it roll away from her as his hand comes around to envelop her throat. "I think I'll enjoy your death the most, Jennifer."

She gasps as his hand tightens. She hopes Lillah sees the pin of the floor. It should have rolled off to her left, hopefully, towards her and she prays that if she has to die, their parents will get here before he can find the rest of their sisters.

Her senses start to hum as her visions blackens and then just as fast, she's coughing, collapsed on the kitchen floor in front of the oven. Lillah's face is the first thing she sees when her vision comes back.

They laugh when their eyes meet and she's about to hug her sister when the man behind her starts to groan. Lillah whacked him in the back of the head with the rolling pin making him let go of Jen. He collapsed on the floor shortly after.

Lillah helps Jen to her feet as they both move to stand over the man. They can't leave him here, they have no way to keep him subdued until help comes so outside into the sun it is.

"I really hate Culebra fights," Lillah sighs crouching down to grab his arm.

"I'll do it," Jen pulls her sister's arm away.

They lock eyes and Lillah opens her mouth to say something, but closes it with a frown before waving her older sister on.

Jen takes a look at the man studying his face. Lillah did a number at wacking him that his Culebraness still hasn't fixed him yet. Probably whacked him a few times for good measure while Jen caught her breath. His eyes are bruised and his nose is definitely broken. Jen kicks his side once before she grabs his right arm.

He's heavier than he looks, but she has to do this herself. He and his friends came into their home, put her and her sisters in danger. She'll watch him burn for it.

She drags him the length of the kitchen to the red outside door, where Lillah is already standing, arms folded, waiting for her as she drags him past the mess he helped create.

Only once he's over the lip of the door does he start to squirm. Realization must finally kick in that he's going to die. Lillah quickly grabs both his legs and they carry him like that, down the porch steps, into the back courtyard, and into the blazing sun. They put him down when he starts screaming, once the sun starts touches his body. Jen watches him writing in pain as Lillah turns away.

Jen stands there waiting for him to become a pile of ash, zoned out, listening to him scream. When his cries stop, her eyes refocus to the spot he once was and suddenly it all hits her.

She can do nothing else, but scream as the adrenaline wears off.

Notes:

There you have it, the names of Seth and Kate's girls during this flaskback (in order): Jennifer(17), Lillah(16), Gwendolyn(14), and Lauren(13).

Plus the name of the fanfic said by none other than, Lillah!

I also wanted to say, I'm leaving for vacation in a few days I'll try to keep posting but idk what the wifi will look like. All the best until then. See you all soon.

Chapter 12: Callum

Summary:

The "adults" get some answers from Callum or maybe more hints. Seth throws a fit and some secrets are revealed.

Notes:

Hey guys back from vacation and ready to finish this! Big things happening and everything's coming together now in the story just a few more chapters left now!

Seth, with his arm on Kate's shoulders, guides them to the table Kisa has sat her and Callum at. He sits Kate down first at the chair across from Kisa before he grabs a nearby chair and pulls it up to Kate's right, close enough that their knees touch under the table.

"You know you can't lie to me Kisa," Callum states staring at Kisa sitting next to him. She scoffs before looking away. "You called me here."

She rolls her eyes. "Fine. Yes it's true."

"What's true?" Kate asks concern gracing her features.

"Callum here has a unique gift-" Kisa starts to explain.

"And you didn't think to let us know," Seth replies suddenly angry that he didn't have all the information on this man beforehand. Kate feels him starting to heat up at the news, but they don't know what his gift is so there's no reason to freakout before they have the whole truth.

"Don't worry Mr. Gecko, your children are fine," Callum waves dismissedly. "If anything I should be worried with what Ms. Gecko has shown me."

"What are you talking about?" Seth seethes besides Kate.

She puts her hand on his thigh closest to her hoping the contact will help him settle a little. He's always been protective, especially after everything that's happened, but this, although called for, is hurting their chances to get any information he might have.

"Callum's gift is that he can see a person's next thought, or move, when looking in their eyes," Kisa says slowly like she's talking to a child.

"That's why the kids weren't looking at him," Kate whispers looking up at Seth suddenly understanding Jen's warning before she left. Jen doesn't trust Callum because she's dealt with him before.

"Exactly Mrs. Gecko!" Callum replies enthusiastically clapping his hands once. "Now should I take a look at the artifact?"

Kate pats Seth's knee as Richie stands up to go get the box from their residence, his leg's hot under her touch, but she can feel him calming down.

For now.

Maybe.

Hopefully.

"Don't give me that look Seth Gecko. He's an expert in his field and if I thought he'd be a danger to Jen and Lauren I would've never invited him here," Kisa states staring at Seth trying to drive the point home to trust her.

"You should of warned us. That's all I'm saying," Seth scoffs.

"Mr. Gecko, I'm neither a threat to you nor your family. I can assure you I am more concerned about what I saw from your eldest daughter about myself than I am over anything," Callum states matter-of-factly like he actually means it and his sincerity calms Kate.

"What did she show you?" Kate asks him curious.

"Nothing to concern you presently Mrs. Gecko," he replies waving her off. "Like I said, I am no threat."

"You're saying she's shown you something from the future? Did you threaten my children?" Seth asks angrily the conversation suddenly catching up to him. He stands up knocking his chair back in the process completelu forgetting Callum just told them that he's no threat but the issue still stands nonetheless.

"Mr. Gecko may I remind you, I am here of my own volition at the request of an old friend. If you continue to harass and beraid me I will leave," Callum states still seated looking straight at Seth who's hands are on the table leaning closer to the man.

"Seth," Kate growls now also standing next to him. Why can't he just behave for one conversation then throw a fit afterwards? "We need his help. Calm down."

He turns his head to look at her, the blinding anger fading when they lock eyes. He shakes his head looking down at the table then stands up straight. "I'll go check on the girls." He places a hand on her shoulder before he turns to walk to the kitchen.

Kate watches him leave as she sits back down. He'll be mad at himself later for how he acted, but for now he was smart to leave before they would lose this opportunity.

"Don't worry, Mrs. Gecko, he'll be fine. Your children will bring him comfort," Callum says from across the table.

Kate rolls her eyes and calms herself before looking back remembering what Kisa said about this Culebra.

Richie returns then, placing the box infront of Callum before sitting back down at the table. He glances over at Kate with a quick nod in the process.

The three of them watch Callum inspect the box, before he grabs the napkins left at the table to lift the artifact out of the box. He holds it up between his two fingers inspecting it like a prize.

"Definitely from Mexico," he murmers.

"What do you mean?" Asks Kisa as Richie mumbles, "No shit."

"The wood carving is consistent with Oaxacan woodcarvings," Callum answers while looking over the artifact.

"Looks like the fucking Road Runner," Richie mumbles.

"You are correct Mr. Gecko, but it's missing its color," Callum sighs putting the item back into the box carefully. "But what I don't understand is how it brought your children here, Mrs. Gecko. However, Ms. Kisa here did clue me into what I was coming to discuss so I did bring a diary about a pair in a similar situation."

The three of then watch as he pulls out the diary from his bag and places it on the table in front of them.

"What happened to them?" Kate asks in wonder. Maybe this is the key to everything, maybe this diary could send the girls back home to their time. Maybe they weren't stuck here until something happened or they "fixed" something. It could have the answers they need.

"Oh!" Callum laughs like it's the funniest thing in the world. "They never went back. They liked the time period and stayed. Although, the diary clearly lays out they tried, but were unsuccessful in their attempts. But regardless there's still something to learn here."

Kate shoots a look to Richie who's face reflects the same, almost horrified look back to her. They didn't go back? What does that mean for the girls? How are they going to get home? What are they going to do if they can't get back?

"What do you mean they were unsuccessful?" Richie rounds out back to the man.

"Mr. Gecko, it's all in the diary," Callum smiles pointer finger tapping the diary in question like it holds the key to the universe. "They went back 15 years, or so, and landed in a different area. Completely lost. They had no one to help and their object, a piece of wood, like this one, got lost in their travels. They could never find their home, or relatives to help. The pair simply lived on knowing they tried everything beforehand. They carried on with their lives."

"Can I see it?" Kate asks pointing to the diary her hands shaking as Callum pushes it towards her still speaking. They carried on? What if the girls can't leave? What are they going to do? What if they're never born?

"I can leave it here with you to look over. I'm afraid I have other matters to attend to today and must leave. Ms. Kisa, pleasure as always." Callum smiles taking her hand in his to kiss her knuckles before turning to Kate and Richie and nodding. "Mr. Gecko. Mrs. Gecko."

"I'll walk you out," Richie says moving to stand with him.

"Kate, it'll be okay. We'll figure it out," Kisa says as the men walk away putting her hand out to reach for Kate reassuringly.

"How can you be sure? Those people stayed." Kate starts spewing, hyperventilating. "What if they're stuck here Kisa? What if everything changes because they came here and then they're never actually born? What are we going to do?"

"It always looks worse before it gets better," Kisa says calmly, patting Kate's hand trying to calm her down.

"I think I'm going to be sick."

"Hang on." Kisa, wide-eyed, runs away quickly before returning with a plastic bag just seconds before Kate empties her stomach into it. Kisa puts her hand on Kate's forehead afterward. "You are warm. Do you feel okay otherwise?"

Kate does some deep breathing as she tries to calm her thoughts, but shakes her head. "Just getting my period soon that's all. Wait-no. I should've already had it."

Kate locks eyes with Kisa who stares at her worried, but excited at the same time. Kisa looks at Kate's abdomen then tilts her head in wonder. "I just thought it was a fluke."

"What?"

"There's a heartbeat."

"No," Kate laughs like it's the craziest thing she's ever heard from Kisa. "You're joking. No. I can't be. No we-no."

Kate and Kisa are both looking at each other in shock and amazement when Richie comes barreling back into Jed's stomping towards them. "When the fuck did you and Seth get married?" He exclaims before stomping away. "Oh he's going to hear it. And without me? Am I nothing to you two? What the fuck?"

Notes:

Oooh big things coming in the next chapter I'm really excited for you guys to read it!

Chapter 13: The Plan

Summary:

Richie confronts Seth about him and Kate revealing their secret but also Kate's new one. This changes all the things the girls thought about their vacation to the past.

Richie storms toward the the residence still mumbling nonsense to himself while Kate and Kisa stare at the place he once stood speechless.

Kate recovers first and sprints after him making it back there to see Richie and Seth standing eye-to-eye, the girls looking between the two men they know and love confused.

"What are you talking about Richard?" Seth growls out antagonized by the confrontation.

"I'm talking about the fact that I had to find out from some stranger that my brother is married Seth," Richie replies pointing a finger straight into his brother's chest.

"What are you-" Seth starts confused, but stops when he sees Kate behind Richie. A worried look suddenly crossing his features. "What happened? Are you okay?" He moves around Richie walking straight towards her.

His eyes scan over her from top to bottom like she's hurt somewhere, completely ignoring Richie's interrogation, as his sole focus falls on Kate.

Kate's mind is still racing on the realization that she's pregnant, that she can't remember if she wiped the tears from her eyes or not. Physically, she feels like her body is here in their livingroom, but mentally she feels the strain of the day. Callum and his insight into the girls predicament, Kisa telling her that she's pregnant, and then Richie blurting out to their entire family that her and Seth got married. She must truly look like a wreck.

"Kate?" Seth prompts her putting his hands on her shoulders bringing her back to the present.

She shakes her head slightly, furrowing her brows, trying to fight back the tears that seem to want to fall now that someone's asked. "I'm fine."

Seth removes one hand from her shoulder and turns back to his brother searching for answers. "What happened, Richard?"

"What do you mean, what happened? She was fine," Richie speaks a hint of anger in his voice at the accusation, before looking to Kate with a calm voice. "Kate, what is it?"

Kate glances at the girls, Jen's holding Lauren while watching them, a hint of worry gracing her features that look too much like Seth's that it takes Kate's breath way. And she can tell that Lauren's scared, but she's putting on a brave face like she'd do and Kate's heart warms. Their girls.

"I'm pregnant," she whispers. Seth's eyes lock with hers as his hand that was on her should moves to cup her face.

"What was that?" He whispers back a hint of amazement in his voice.

"We're having a baby," Kate laughs out wrapping Seth into a hug.

"What?!" Jen gasps from her left before grumbling to herself, "It's too early. I don't come until '27."

"Jen it's 2026," Richie scoffs as Seth continues to tighten his grip around Kate.

"What no it's not?" Jen scoffs back.

"It is Jen," Kisa confirms from behind Kate.

Kate and Seth pull away him using his hand to wipe her face of tears as she does the same to him.

"That's crazy. I read the calendar at the counter it had '24 on it," Jen says matter-of-factly.

"Been too busy to change it." Richie shrugs.

"That means you guys married at the courthouse in April, if we're in May, I come in January," Jen lists out her eyes squinting as she speaks. "That means I'm a-Wait nevermind, I don't even want to know."

"It means we need to get you both back home," Kate says stepping away from Seth slightly.

"Callum had something then?" Lauren questions suddenly interested.

Kate sighs and looks back at Kisa before shaking her head. "No. He didn't. But maybe now that we know-wait where's Eugene?"

Him and Lauren have been attached at the hip. They never stray too far from the other making it strange that he's not here with her when he knows that Callum could have the answers they need to get back. He should be here to comfort her like he's been doing, but he's not.

"He went to lay down," Seth says with an air of indifference.

"There's noone here," Kisa says a far-off look in her eye.

"What? He should be in our room," Lauren says moving towards the hallway.

"Noone's here kid," Richie confirms before she reaches the hallway.

Lauren turns around and looks at them all her eyes wide in confusion. "Where'd he go then?"

It dawns on Kate then, they've all dismissed him because Lauren said it was an accident. They've allowed him free access to the compound because of Lauren's insistence that he's fine. But where would he go? She's also never been able to figure out why he asked for Richie that morning. They never even got to ask because Jen scared him away. He'd even hidden Lauren at first and Lauren's the only reason they know about the box. It's like he wanted Lauren hidden and Jen's presence here changed everything.

The package.

Kate turns wide eyed and rushes out of the livingroom saying nothing. How could they be so careless to leave the package out in the open like that? The key to getting the girls home and it's just left unguarded? What were they thinking?

She pushes the kitchen doors open to the restaurant, there is just one wall and she'll be able to see the table. Her heart beating a million miles a hour, but it's still there. Cardboard and all.

She approaches it with a smile, but her smile falters as she looks in it and the birds gone. "Fuck."

"What is it?" Seth asks from somewhere behind her.

"He took it," Kisa states somber next to Kate. Did she have the same suspicion? Did she not trust him too?

Kate turns around to face the group. Seth's within arms reach, Jen's trying to comfort Lauren with her arm around her sister, Richie's standing guard near the girls, and Kisa's looking at Kate expectantly. Hell they all are.

"Jen, when did Eugene enter the family?" Kate starts knowing she'd probably have more information since she's the eldest.

"The year before I left for university." Jen stands a little straighter while answering. "You think this is his fault?"

Kate nods before looking towards Richie, a plan forming in her head. "Richie can you go see if you can find any paperwork on him? He came in that morning looking for you, we must have paperwork on him somewhere."

Richie nods before walking off towards the office.

"I'll go help," Kisa says following him off.

"Was he already a Culebra when he joined Jed's?" Kate asks Jen.

"Yeah, he said he was recently transformed," Jen replies confused. "You think he was lying?"

"You think it's something more," Seth states looking at Kate a knowing look on his face. Kate locks eyes with him, the rest of the plan forming in her head.

They'd get him to mess up.

"Can you pretend like everything's fine Laur?" Kate smiles moving in front of her youngest future child putting her hand on the girl's shoulder.

Lauren smiles back at her wickedly and nods the same look of determination on her face that Kate has on hers.

Notes:

I forgot when I started this I wanted it "set" in 2020 but I changed it in the rewrite and made it 2024 so here we are in the future! Welcome!

Hope you enjoyed the chapter fun things coming next!

Chapter 14: Eugene (part 1)

Summary:

The Gecko-Fullers wait for Eugene to return, he does, and things get ugly.

The three of them watch in silence as Kate paces the length of the livingroom in front of them. Seth sits in the chair facing the bedrooms bored, but his eyes follow Kate as she moves. The girls sit at separate ends of the couch also watching Kate, but Lauren's foot keeps taping the floor and Jen's biting her nails. They're all antsy.

Seth grabs for Kate's hand on her fifth pass by him, "Sweetheart you're creating a draft."

"You're also stressing the baby," Jen says pointing at herself.

Kate rolls her eyes at Jen, but stops next to Seth their hands now intertwined. Seth squeezes her hand in a gesture to get her to look at him.

She always gets a little too in her head when things are too out of her control. This plan is half formed and she doesn't exactly know what they are going to do when Eugene returns and she is worried someone is going to slip up. Jen's not the best at lying and Lauren's in love with the boy so Kate's not really sure if she can pull this off.

"Where do you think he is?" Kate ponders asking no one in particular.

"He'll be back soon. I can feel him." Kisa replies appearing from the doorway leading to the hallway behind Kate.

"Did Richard find anything?" Seth asks her stroking Kate's fingers in the process.

"Yes, but he's got some other stuff to do first with it and I got bored." Kisa waves dismissedly walking to plop down in the chair across from Seth with a humph.

"Do you happen to know what it is?" Seth asks again slower staring daggers at Kisa who has become engrossed with her fingernails.

"No, Seth."

"Great."

"What happened?" Eugene asks appearing behind Kisa like he never left the grounds looking at them all, his eyes wide.

Kisa and Kate lock eyes at the sound of his voice while Seth's grip tightens on her hand. Jen doesn't move, but watches the Culebra like a hawk. Lauren stands to greet him wrapping her arms around his middle, her face in his chest.

Now the game begins.

"Eugene, they said we're stuck here," Lauren whines.

Clever girl suck him in.

"Yeah, we're stuck here thanks to you." Jen stands suddenly stalking over to him. "This is your fault."

Oh fuck, she's going all in. They didn't plan for that, but it might be harder for him to get out of it.

"Jen it was an accident," Eugene replies his hands out in surrender as Jen points her finger at him.

"You and Lauren just had to open that stupid box," Jen scoffs shaking her head. "My life is ruined Eugene. I had plans."

"Plans? To take over your Uncle's business? Those aren't plans, Jen, that's an obligation. Besides you can relax while we figure this out," he bites back angry his culebra eyes showing.

The older three don't intervene, but Seth moves to stand, ready to intervene if needed, Kisa moves to get a better view of them, and Kate squeezes Seth's hand showing him that she's also ready.

"Relax? You think this whole time I've been relaxing?" Jen laughs in disbelief. "This whole time, I've been trying to figure out how to get us back to our time, Eugene. To get back to the life I was supposed to be living. Everything is on hold thanks to you."

"What kind of life is that Jen?" Eugene laughs back his face icy as he squares up to Jen. "Taking over your family's empire? It'll be waiting for you when you get back because no one wants something that's dying. You act like it's destiny, or something, but it's just going to be handed to you like everything else because you're a spoiled bitch."

Lauren gasps moving away from Eugene slightly covering her mouth with her hand in shock.

"Alright, we're done," Seth replies angrily stalking to stand in-between them.

"Bitch? Are you kidding?" Yells Jen as she lunges towards the boy while Kate and Kisa each grab a shoulder to hold her back.

"Eugene maybe we should-" Lauren starts trying to reach out to comfort him.

"No," he says waving her off facing her now. "I'm tired of her thinking she's better than us. She's not. This is her just manipulating you again. And for what-"

"That's enough," Seth growls in Eugene's face now. "You will not speak about my daughter like that I don't care who you are. You say it again and you won't live to see the fucking sunset."

"I've done everything I could to protect my sisters you asshole. You have no idea what its like to be part of a family," Jen yells angry tears streaming down her face while Kate and Kisa hold her.

"Take a walk boy," Seth grounds out.

Eugene's eyes wander over them all, still slits before he growls and walks back the way he came mumbling nonsense the whole time.

"Jen I didn't-" Lauren starts looking at her sister shaking her head.

Jen just nods the tears slowing, but she's moved away from Kate and Kisa and walks to her sister. She smiles as she puts her hand on Lauren's shoulder before whispering, "I know. Finish the job."

 

---

 

Lauren reaches the bedroom door and is about to knock when she hears talking behind it. He should be alone in there.

"We've got to push it up," he whispers harshly to someone.

Lauren doesn't hear the response so he must be on the phone. Where'd he get a phone from?

"Yeah well, shit happened. And that fucking bitch is back after me. Again."

Another pause.

"Fine. Fine. I don't care I want them dead."

Lauren hesitates then, he's talking about Jen. Right? He wants her dead? She knocks then to disrupt the conversation. Yes, she loves him. He is kind and gentle and he lets her talk about everything, but she had no idea who this man talking on the phone is and she doesn't like where this conversation is going. The boy she fell in love with would never say that about Jen, but he's proven his hatred already. She can get to the bottom of this. She's brave enough for it.

She hears him pause and quietly hang up the phone before answering the door.

"Hey," he greets her waving her in.

"Who were you talking to?" She asks kissing him on the cheek as she enters.

"Some contact for that trip we were planning." He dismisses her moving to sit at the end of the bed.

"Oh, okay." She doesn't believe him and doesn't want to push yet so she smiles at him.

"Listen about what I said-" he starts then gets up and starts pacing in front of her.

"Yeah, that wasn't okay Eugene. What happened?" She places her hand on his shoulder to stop his pacing and to get him to look at her. "Jen may be scary some times, but she's still my sister. You can't talk about her like that."

"I don't know okay? I'm just so tired of her thinking she's better than everyone. She's always riding our asses and for what? The three of us coming here was an accident she needs to get over that. We'll get back like geez."

"Was it an accident?" God she shouldn't confront him alone what is she thinking? But she can't stop herself she knows he's lying she can feel it especially now that her mom pointed it out. It all seems so clear now.

"Lauren," he sighs moving in closer. "Of course it was. Why do you think that?"

"Eugene, you'd tell me if it wasn't right? We tell each other everything."

"Baby," he whines patting her hair down with his left hand. "Nothing. Is. Going. On."

He turns around then and walks away from her. She can feel her heart pounding in her chest. She should've never asked. She should leave the doors right there. But would he let her?

With his back to her she slowly walks away from him while speaking, "Eugene, I'm serious. We can fix this just tell me the truth, please."

He turns then and stalks towards her a sinister smile gracing his features. She's so close to the door, one more step, but when he touches her shoulders, her eyes close expecting the worst, but she feels a pull instead and when she opens them again the room is different. No, not different familiar like back home. Right time, back home.

"I really didn't want to do this," he frowns shaking his head slightly patting her cheek. "I wanted you with me, but circumstances changed. Goodbye, Lauren."

When she blinks again he is gone.

Shock envelops her entire body as she starts to shake from panic. Oh god, he did everything. He sent them back two decades himself with no object to kill them? He said "them" right? And now she's back home with no way to warn them, to tell them the truth.

Notes:

Ahh I'm so excited for this chapter. When I started this I had no idea how they'd get back and they (the characters) decided it was his fault.

Chapter 15: Eugene (part 2)

Summary:

Eugene gets confronted by EVERYONE

Kate stands watching the doorframe for a half hour before deciding that it is taking too long and moves down the hallway.

She can't let her youngest be with that boy any longer. What were they thinking sending her in like that without backup? Yeah, maybe he wouldn't hurt her, but they can't be too sure they barely know him.

She knocks hard twice on the door once she reaches it then leans on the frame waiting for an answer. She can feel Seth and Jen behind her also waiting although she didn't hear their footsteps.

They'd all been anxious.

Kate knocks again after a second of no answer harder this time and the door inches open slightly as she raises her hand for the third knock.

"Hello, Mrs. Gecko," Eugene nods through the two inch crack in the door barely showing himself to her. Kate can just about make out his eyes.

"Where's Lauren?" She asks getting straight to the point.

"In the shower," he smiles motioning behind him like it's the most normal thing, but it makes Kate want to wring his neck.

"I don't hear anything. So I will ask again, where is my child?"

"She's getting ready for the shower, Mrs. Gecko."

Kate narrows her eyes at the boy, but his expression doesn't change, and he's still wearing a shit eating grin as the door starts to close in front of her face. But Seth is faster and moves pass Kate, his shoulder checking the door before it can close completely. Eugene is thrown back a bit making his Culebra eyes glowing.

"I really didn't want to have to do this," he growls.

"Then don't," Jen growls back passing Kate and Seth pointing a gun at the Culebra. "You can end this Eugene. You take us back and we finish this there."

"Why would I do that? I have you exactly where I want you," he smiles lurching at Jen.

Seth pushes her towards Kate as a shot echoes within the room. They both turn in time to see Seth and Eugene struggling on the floor. Eugene has Seth pinned and is millimeters away from biting into Seth's neck.

Then in a blink, Richie is throwing the Culebra off Seth and stalking towards him growling, his own Culebra eyes glowing.

Kate moves towards Seth while Jen yells over the growling, "Don't kill him Uncle Richie he's the only one who knows how to get back us back."

"Richard hold him down," Kisa's voice calls from down the hall.

The fighting stops as a slam echoes through the room. Kate helps Seth up from the floor. The fall did something to his knee and he can't put weight on it so Kate's holding him up on one side as Jen worriedly watches on.

"You can't do this! It has to end. She has to die," Eugene cries from the floor on the otherside of the bed as Richie has him pinned down.

Suddenly two sets of footsteps fall down the hallway. Dread travels through Kate's body as realization sinks in that only Kisa's here so who does the other set of footsteps belong to? Richie's holding Eugene down and with Seth injured she can't defend her and him if this is something serious. This leaves Jen the only one able to defend them all if this is something.

"Where's Lauren?" Richie calls out sitting up looking at them.

"He wouldn't say," Kate replies watching the hallway waiting.

The boy laughs and chills run over Kate's body at the sound despite Seth's body heat enveloping her.

"I sent her back," Eugene coughs out. "She asked too many questions."

"That's enough son," Callum says from Kate's right as he enters the doorframe.

Jen turns wide-eyed and backs towards Kate and Seth watching the man with wide, questioning eyes.

"I apologize for the intrusion and my son's antics," Callum says as he enters the room.

"Son?" Kate whispers.

Kisa follows him in. "He called saying the boy approached him asking for help in a matter. With what he saw from Jen earlier, he had a suspicion, and then when Eugene called him an hour ago, he turned around and came back."

"My son here is seeking revenge for my death," Callum starts as he grabs the boy from the ground roughly frowning at him. "While I respect the cause, I cannot allow it to continue. I do not know the reason for my encounter with you in the future, Ms. Gecko, and for that I apologize for his actions."

The man bows before the three Geckos who are standing in shock by the door.

"You promised," Eugene grounds out face flushed with anger. Richie had bound his hands at some point while he was on the ground and with Callum holding one of his arms, he starts thrashing again trying to get away angry.

"I promised nothing son," Callum replies scrunching his nose at the boy.

"But you did and I was so close. So close to killing them," Eugene whines spewing words attempting to get his way. "We can still do it. C'mon dad just help you wouldn't have to die. We could still be a family. Dad, please. Just the mom. It'll work. I've done it. It works."

"Eugene you can't play with your gift like this," Callum speaks level toned to the boy shaking his head. "One thing can change so many."

"It works though."

"Look where that got you boy." He frowns at him and turns back to Jen ignoring Callum's continued pleas to save his life. "Is your sister back?"

Jen nods afraid to use her voice, shaking as the terrifying man before her asks her a civilized question.

"Eugene, where's the object?"

Eugene huffs at him and looks away. Callum takes no time and grabs the boys chin forcing it down to look into his eyes. Eugene's face morphs in horror as Callum stares at him realizing he won't get away with anything now.

Two seconds later, Callum moves three spaces still gripping onto Eugene's chin and lifts the foot of the mattress. He shakes his head again disappointment clear on his face as he lifts the wood carving out and tosses it onto the bed.

"You should say your goodbyes Ms. Gecko. We'll be in your livingroom," he nods to Seth and Kate as he pulls Eugene behind him out of the room with Kisa quick to follow.

 

---
The room is silent as the four of them just stare slack jawed at the doorway, but then Seth groans and Kate and Jen throw themselves into action helping him to sit on the bed.

"I guess you'll need that cane after all dad," Jen smiles at him sadly.

"I guess so," Seth grits out rubbing his left knee.

Jen looks at the three of them and she tries to fight back the tears gathering in her eyes. She quickly looks down at the floor when their eyes move to her.

"I-" Jen starts, but her hand is grabbed by Seth who pulls her down for a hug that is quickly joined by Kate and Richie. It feels like their love just envelopes her.

"I'm going to miss you kiddo," Seth speaks into her ear.

Jen pulls away to look at the three of them tears in her eyes. "It feels like goodbye, but I know when I go home you're all going to be there."

Kate rubs her arm and smiles sadly. "We'll see you soon."

"It's too bad we didn't get to say goodbye to Lauren," Richie states solemnly.

"I'm sure she feels the same way Uncle Richie. And if she's back home then Eugene has something to worry about once we're back."

"I'm sure he's just so excited for that," he says with a wink.

"Help me up, Richard. Let's send our girl home," Seth says matter of factly grabbing the wood carving from his left before getting up.

Kate walks with Jen down the hallway their arms wrapped around each other while the boys hobble behind them like a sad funeral procession.

Kisa is standing arms crossed at the doorframe of the livingroom waiting. Her eyes lock with Jen's when she hears them coming and Jen stiffens in Kate's arms stopping. They let Seth and Richie through first so Seth can sit down. Kate pats Jen's arm then follows them in.

"Kisa-" Jen starts.

Kisa puts up a hand and shakes her head. "Tell me in your time."

Jen smiles and feels a tear roll down her cheek as she envelops Kisa in a hug. Kisa's arms tighten around Jen as she says, "I'll see you soon."

Jen nods as she pulls away tears in her eyes as they lock eyes and together they enter the livingroom.

"Ready?" Kate asks Jen.

Jen just nods and moves further into the room too emotional to speak.

"I am real sorry about this Ms. Gecko," Callum reiterates as she enters.

"Just make him get me home Callum," Jen says.

"Mr. Gecko?" Callum asks Seth who is sitting on the chair closest to the hallway. Seth holds out the artifact for Callum to take.

Eugene, still pissed and tied up in the chair opposite of Seth, sits with a scowl on his face as Callum pulls him to stand before Jen in the center of the room.

"Son, take her home, no funny business. Do you understand me? If I see you again, I will end you myself." Callum is staring into Eugene's eyes and something must pass between them because Eugene just nods wide-eyed at the man. "Now he doesn't need the object to get you back, but it's for the best that it's with you regardless. Eugene's Culebra gift is the travel itself he just likes to play games. But I'm sure your parents will make sure he'll never do this again."

Jen nods then looks around, her parents, holding each other's hands looking at her, her Uncle, who refuses to look her in the eye, and then Kisa, who refuses not to look her in the eye. Jen knows they'll be waiting for her 20 years from now, but them here now, leaving these versions of them makes her heart hurt a little.

She takes a deep breath then smiles to the four of them then reaches for Eugene as Callum places the carving into her hand. He stands back as Jen locks eyes with the boy and she feels a pull in her gut. Suddenly the world spins and she blinks.

Notes:

I have no idea what happened with that last POV so I'm sorry for that.

This is about everything I have written so far so expect conclusion some time late next week maybe? There's still a lot to finish conclusion-wise. I DO know how it ends so expect major character death (I'll add it to the tags) but just be prepared for it.

Thanks for reading!

Chapter 16: Reunited

Summary:

Kate frets over her daughters missing before Lauren and Jen return and are thrusted back into the life they left.

The girls had been missing for four days.

Jen was due back days ago from school and no one has been able get through to her and Lauren just straight up disappeared from the compound at the same time too. No one could find her boyfriend either.

This all reminded Kate of that time twenty-some-odd years ago when Jen and Lauren traveled back in time and at the time it was cool and interesting, but now, living it...Kate is less-than thrilled and worried. Beyond worried actually, she's stressed the fuck out.

Richie has tried to get her to sleep, but she can't just on the off chance that they'd reappear and need her. Hell, with everything that's happened, she won't be surprised if they did show back up and there is a problem. If only she could remember exactly how they were when they left, she might feel better then. She's ride-or-die either way so she's ready.

"Mom, I heard something in dad's room," Lillah says peeking her head into the kitchen pulling Kate out of her thoughts.

She quickly follows her second eldest daughter towards Seth's room. The gun she keeps on herself locked and loaded as they round the corner for the hall.

Suddenly, the door to his room is thrown open and Lauren steps into the hallway tears streaming down her face.

Kate puts the gun back into the waist of her pants and envelops her youngest child into her arms and squeezes. She pulls away slightly as Lauren's sobs level out to look at her face.

"What happened?" Kate asks her calmly placing a hand on her cheek.

"He sent me back without her," Lauren sobs throwing herself back into Kate's arms.

Kate turns towards Lillah, "Go get your Uncle and have him call Kisa. Now."

She pushes Lauren back into Seth's room while Lillah leaves to find Richard. God, what a mess. Why did this have to happen now?

She sits Lauren on the bed and Seth stirs. "What's happened?" He asks groggily trying to sit up.

He's barely been awake the last few days, his energy at an all-time low now that they've stopped the treatment. He looks worse than he's ever been and Kate had been hoping he'd hold out until they came back.

"Lauren came back honey," Kate soothes patting his hand closest to her.

"Where'd she go?"

"Daddy, I saw you younger when you and mommy first got married. Do you remember?" Lauren sniffs glancing at him.

"We were sad we didn't get to say goodbye to you sweetheart."

"What room did you guys send Jen back in?" Lauren asks Kate wide eyed.

"The-" Kate starts looking behind her as Richie enters the room.

"How is she?" He ponders glancing behind Kate.

"Uncle Richie!" Lauren jumps up to embrace him.

"Thank god," Richie sighs kissing the top of her head embracing her.

"Richard, what was the room?" Kate hisses at him urgently.

He shakes his head at her confused.

"Jennifer, Richard, what room did we send her back from?" Kate yells urgently.

"Livingroom, dear. Livingroom," Seth sighs from behind her.

Kate turns around towards him as adrenaline rushes her system and kisses his cheek before running out the door towards to the livingroom. Gwen and Lillah are standing in the hallway quietly talking between themselves as Kate rushes passed them. She can feel them following behind her as she comes to a stop at the doorway of the livingroom.

"How long do you think?" She asks to no one in particular.

"Don't worry Katie, she'll come back," Richard replies patting her shoulder as he moves into the room to sit in the chair closest to Kate.

"I'm going to go sit with daddy," Lauren mumbles solemnly as her footsteps retreat back down the hall.

Lillah walks into the room cautiously and sits on the couch. Kate can feel her eyes on her as she settles down obviously confused to why her mother is staring into the room and continuously looking around, on edge. But Kate can't bring herself to explain what's going on, she just wants her child back where she should be.

"How is Jenny coming back here?" Lillah whispers to Richie.

"That boy. I told you, Kate. I told you-" Richie starts ignoring Lillah's question to berate her.

"Richard," Kate growls looking him in the eye. "I don't want to hear it. We knew we couldn't stop everything and this-" She pauses to wipe a tear off her cheek. "This is something we couldn't stop. Now shut it."

He throws his hands up and sits back further into the chair.

It's a hour later when Kisa enters from the kitchen. She looks like she ran here, Kate's never seen her look so not put together. She tries to flatten her hair as she nods in Kate's direction before taking the seat across from Richie joining the quiet, solemn atmosphere.

Lauren and Gwen enter the room minutes later, Kate can feel Lauren's eyes on her and reaches out to grip her shoulder as Gwen wanders over to Lillah and the two start whispering to each other as she sits down.

Things are quiet for a whole second before a loud pop envelops the room and in a flash Jen is before them in the middle of the livingroom holding the hands of Eugene.

"Oh, thank god," Kate exclaims before launching herself at Jen.

"Mama," Jen cries out as Kate envelopes her into a hug crying, tears streaming down her face instantly as they embrace. When they pull away from each other Kate wipes the tears from Jen's face making sure she is still there before pulling her back into a hug.

Richard and Lauren join them soon after, the latter burrowing her way into the middle of the hug as Richie places his hand on Jen's shoulder. "Good to have you back kiddo," he laughs.

"Jen, I'm so sorry," Lauren cries between them. "I tried to stop him. He sent me back. I swear I didn't know."

"I'll take him," Kisa speaks somewhere behind them taking said boy out of the room.

Barely hearing her Kate thinks good someone should take him away before she finishes looking after her daughter because she can't promise he'll be okay after she's done.

"I know," Jen replies to her sister patting her face and letting go of Kate.

After a few more minutes of hugs and welcome backs from her other sisters, Jen turns towards Kate eyes wide, "Daddy?"

Kate swallows before looking at Richard he looks away from her sorrow clearly written on his face. Gwen and Lillah wrap their arms around his middle in comfort as his arms fall over their shoulders.

Kate looks back to her daughter and says soberly, "He's not doing well sweetie."

Jen nods slowly looking at Kate her eyes betraying her stoic expression a trait she inherited from Seth. "Can...can I go see him?"

Kate nods rubbing Jen's cheek with her thumb as she looks into her eyes, "He's in his room."

---
When she went back to school in January her dad had been stable. He'd been diagnosed with cancer last summer and Jen didn't know much about his diagnosis (not for lack of trying), but when she left in the fall, her parents looked at her and told her he'd still be here waiting when she got back. And he was, but he didn't look the same. He looked worn and older than she'd ever seen him and he was so skinny. It was a shock six months ago and now all she can think is how much he must have changed now, six months later.

She prepared herself for that moment, and now in front of the room she had occupied with Lauren not just yeaterday, she takes a deep breath as she opens the door slowly, peeking in.

The room is dim. The only light is coming from the lamp on his nightstand and the heart monitor that beeps next to him. She can just see his form on the hospital bed as she moves forward carefully closing the door behind her.

"Kate?" He whispers as she gets closer.

"No daddy, it's Jen," she replies quietly sitting on the bed with him. Looking him over, he looks so small. Like a boy. There's no muscle to him anymore, his cheeks have sunken in and his arms are smaller than hers. It's a wild thing to see him like this when just yesterday he was so young and full of life. "I made it back."

"That's good." His eyes don't open as he says it, but he sighs when she touches his hand.

He'd always seemed bigger than life itself, she thinks as she turns away to hide the tears that threaten to run.

"Lay with me," he whispers forcing her to look him in the eyes. They are barely open, but he must still be able to see her struggling with his current form so she nods falling slowly into the crook of his arm as so not to hurt him. She places her head on his shoulder as he places his hand on her head and suddenly she can't hold it back anymore and sobs.

"You were young yesterday."

"I know. It's okay."

"Maybe if we'd just-"

"No, don't start. It was always going to be this way."

"You can't know that."

"I do, Jenny. I do."

She pauses as the sobs grow stronger and listens to his heart beat below her ear.

"Daddy?"

"Yeah, baby?"

"What am I going to do?"

"Live."

They didn't talk more. He let Jen cry into his chest mourning his life, while he ran his hand through her hair in comfort. Then when she finally exhausted herself and fell asleep in his arms, he kissed her head and reached to turn off the heart monitor next to him. He is so tired.

"I love you Jenny," he whispers into the silent room as he too lets sleep consume him.

---
Jen wakes up the next morning well rested and sits up to stretch. When she turns towards her dad behind her he looks content, but stiff. Jen puts her hand on his chest looking for the telltale signs of life, but none come. When she turns to the monitor to make sure, she finds it off.

"Mama!" She screams towards the door stumbling out of the bed. "Mama!"

She can't stop looking at him. He was just alive, how is he gone now?

"Mama!" She sobs again.

When Kate bursts in she goes straight to Seth's bedside throwing herself on it. Richie is right behind her, but he stops at the doorway and places a hand on it to hold himself up. They both realize instantly Seth's gone.

Kate's hands travel all over him as she begs him to wake up shaking him. She sobs into his chest when nothing wakes him up.

When Kisa comes in she goes straight to Jen who watches as her mother breaks down over her father's body. When Kisa touches Jen's shoulder she collapses into her and then when her mother's heartbroken scream turned sob echoes through the room she collapses to the floor in Kisa's arms joining her mother's cries.

When Richie finally walks in as Lillah comes to the door, he goes to the other side of the bed to grab Seth's hand. He doesn't sit on the bed, but he stands there with no emotion, eyes glassy staring into his brother's face.

Lillah following him in, stands at the end of the bed. She doesn't cry she just watches the scene unfold in front of her as her mother breaks down. She knew his death was coming and had prepared herself for it. She'd already cried all her tears.

Gwen and Lauren never come into the room instead they stand at the door holding each other as they both cry watching their mother and eldest sister breakdown in front of them. They feel useless, unable to do anything, but hold each other.

Notes:

Sorry for the delay it was really hard to reread this so I kept putting it off.

Epilogue next.

Thanks for reading!

Chapter 17: Epilogue

Summary:

The Gecko-Fullers say good-bye to Seth Gecko

"You're late," Ranger Gonzalez speaks as he gets out of his car to walk towards the black suv that just pulled in the vacant lot outside town.

"I was busy," Kisa scoffed opening the back door to pull out the bound culebra.

She rips him out of the back seat and the boy's eyes widen as he comes face-to-face with the Peacekeeper. He starts to thrash then, pulling on the restraints attempting to flee from Kisa's hold.

"All yours Ranger," she says with disgust as she hands the boy over.

---
The burial is held three days after Seth's death in the family plot where they buried "Uncle Richie" ten years ago. It was meant to be just family, but some of the workers from Jed's had come and apparently word got out to the press that The Seth Gecko died. Freddie was called and had people at the gate to keep out the unwanted.

The girls all wore black dresses, except Lillah had decided on pants, and sunglasses to hide their identities since they heard the news stations would be there. Jen had been adamant about the sunglasses since she hoped they'd still be relatively hidden once pictures were posted and smeared all over the internet.

Kate hadn't spoken in the three days and Richie was no better. Despite everyone's insistence to help, it was Kisa who had been a rock through everything. She made the whole ceremony happen and only consulted Kate when need be if it wasn't already written down in Seth's will. She was keeping the house afloat while making sure everyone ate something in the process. She'd only left once, but otherwise she never strayed too far from Jen, always checking in with her as the days went on they'd become inseparable.

Jen had felt numb and was just flowing through everything while everyone around her mourned. She had her meltdown in Kisa's arms that morning then stood up and carried on with her day preparing meals and more meals than desserts and pasteries. So much food littered their kitchen that Jen had moved to putting them out for customers. She was putting on a semi-good show for her sisters, but Kisa always seemed to notice when she needed a second.

Now dawning their black outfits and sunglasses, the four sisters arrived at the cemetery in Seth's old car with Lillah driving. One of Freddie's guys waved them in as camera flashes go off around them.

"Fucking voltures," Lillah growls.

"The last Gecko dead. It's a good story," Gwen comments from the back seat.

"Mama should've never sent him to the mourge."

Lillah parks the car behind Richie's where Kisa stands waiting for them. She had insisted Richie bring her and Kate early so that Kate could talk to the pastor before the ceremony. Kate hadn't actually said she wanted it, or spoken it, but he did it anyway.

Kisa waves to them as they park.

Lillah gets out immediately seeing Billie behind Kisa with her mom, and goes to greet them while Lauren and Gwen quickly follow to greet Kisa.

Jen takes a minute in the passenger seat of the car to collect herself, taking a deep breath and closing her eyes before she has to pretend she's okay for the next few hours. Kisa knocks on the window when she doesn't immediately get out, on her side of the car now while her sisters talk to the Gonzalez's.

"Hey," Kisa greets as Jen exits the car.

"Hey."

"I have a hat for you if you're interested, I already gave the others to your sisters." Kisa hands Jen the hat which she takes and stares at.

"For the vultures." Kisa answers with a smile.

"Thanks," Jen mumbles.

"So change of plans. Richard will be speaking on behalf of the family. The pastor wanted someone from the family to speak and he obviously volunteered." She rolls her eyes and loops her arm with Jen's before walking off following the Gonzalez's. "Your mother was the obvious choice of course, but you know, and since he's his own 'self-proclaimed heir' it just worked. Now you and your sisters will stand with Freddie and Margaret-"

Jen stops walking which pulls Kisa back and she stops to look back at her questioning.

"Unless you don't want to?"

Jen looks up and feels a sudden clarity. "Everything will change."

They all agreed it was the best course of action since they still didn't want to reveal who they were incase word got out about them from those in attendance, but it feels like a slap-in-the-face to not be in the front row at your own father's funeral.

"You're an adult, Jen. You can decide whatever you want," Kisa smiles at her after a beat where she hasn't said anything. "They'll all understand."

She smiles at Kisa and nods knowing that she's making the right choice.

Kisa smiles at her and together they continue their trek to the gravesite. She leaves Kisa with her sisters as she wanders towards the front. Her sisters look at her questioning as she walks past them, but she smiles and continues on.

She stands next to her mother not saying anything and looks straight ahead to the pastor who is getting ready.

"Jen," Richie whispers. "What are you doing?"

"What's right, Ricky," she snaps back glancing at him.

"Jen-" he starts.

"Let's begin," the pastor projects to the crowd.

Jen looks forward to give the man her whole attention as she feels a presence next to her lean into her ear. "At least wear the hat."

Lillah.

"We are gathered here today to celebrate the life of a beloved husband, brother-" Jen tunes out the man, she didn't want to listen anyway.

"No, I want them to see me," Jen whispers back glancing at her sister then reaching to remove her sunglasses to tuck them into the collar of her shirt.

Lillah smiles and faces forward still standing next to her.

"Today we release this beloved-"

"What are you doing?" Jen whispers to her once she realizes her sister's not going to leave her side.

"Joining you," she smirks at Jen and then grabs her hand. "I was just waiting for you. We're doing this together."

Jen's head turns towards her sister confused.

"We're meant to do this together. Irish twins and all." She motions towards their father's coffin. "Destiny and what-not."

"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust-"

"I thought-" Jen starts leaning in closer.

"It was always going to be this way, Jenny. I'm with you."

Jen smiles and nods, "To getting richer and fatter..."

"...and dying in the arms of a beautiful woman."

"Now I will invite Mr. Gecko's family to speak," the pastor's voice echoes around them. Jen still looking at Lillah steps forward before her Uncle can even move, Lillah pulled along with her as together they move to the podium and face the crowd.

Jen looks to her mother first, the woman isn't even looking at her, too lost in her own grief to see what life-altering decision her children are doing. Then her eyes catch Richie's, he's hiding being pissed well. His placid face and unwavering eyes are on fire meaning he's truly pissed. She finds her sisters next, they're standing with Ranger Gonzalez and his family smiling at her, encouraging her to go on. And lastly Kisa, who's smile is so full of love and admiration that it makes Jen choke.

"Hello, I'm Lillah..."

Jen's eyes are still locked with Kisa's and only when she nods, Jen speaks, "And I'm Jennifer Gecko. We are Seth Gecko's children." A flash goes off from their left startling her a little, but she continues. "On behalf of us, and the rest of our family, we thank you all for coming to our father's burial ceremony."

"He taught us many things, but the most important was the love of your family. It is through his loving devotion to our Mama that we learned the extent of this."

"He also loved being a father. My favorite memory is him pretending to be the rich man when we'd play heist and he'd critique us on our strategy. He'd make us try again until we could get one up on him."

"He may be known for his bank robbing tendencies with his brother, but he was a great dad and loved by everyone he'd meet."

"We're grateful to have had him as our dad."

With tears in her eyes, Jen moves towards his casket and places her hand on it with a sad smile, "I hope you have the best heist waiting for you, daddy." Lillah joins her and does the same. Then together they walk back to their place next to their mother as they watched the cemetery workers lower Seth Gecko into the ground.

They'll be the major headline tomorrow in the news.

Notes:

Thanks for reading my first chapter fanfic! I'm really grateful you all stuck around and loved this story as much as I did I'm sad to see it come to an end but all great things must.