• Axel appeared beside Angelica. "It's time to go home."
    "Ok." Angelica stood up and walked back to the other end of the city to the hideout where she had always staid.
    "You always seem to be thinking." Axel said, breaking the silence. "What of this time?"
    "Just trying to remember." Angelica said automatically, not realizing she said anything at all.
    "Oh." Axel didn't really like being reminded in any way, shape or form, of the fact that she may not ever remember being a child.

    The day went on like every other day in Angelica's life. She spent time with her father, Terra and Reno. When they went out to do their job as the "Protectors of Aladar" Angelica babysat the two infants. They were very easy to take care of, they slept most of the time... grunted when they were hungry, cry if they needed a diaper change or knew they needed a bath, whine if they were bored and fuss if they wanted held. Angelica was taught at home, she never went to a public school. Axel, her father, was the same way. Whenever he was home he would teach Angelica whatever she needed to know for basic school education. Terra taught her self-defense, and Reno taught her how to cook. With all this in sometimes one day she was already ready to graduate high school and start her own life. But she was afraid to be out there alone sometimes. After all Aladar is one of the most dangerous places.
    It was getting late and Angelica made sure the babies were fed, clean and happy and placed them in their cribs. She sang a lullaby she heard in her dreams, she didn't understand the words but knew it was in a different language and she thought it was beautiful. The babies were soon fast asleep and Angelica smiled, another successful babysit. Angelica slowly walked to her room across the hall. This normal teenage room had always been her room since she could remember. She might as well grown up in this room. She remembered the babies room being some elses a long time ago but could not remember. She shrugged it off long enough to get dressed for bed, even though she was not tired. She began to ponder where she heard that lullaby. She remembered someone telling her that it was a song of friendship... but she couldn't remember anything else.
    Not knowing what to do, everything was done, she pulled out her art kit and began to outline a face she did not know. When the outline was done she began to paint. She kept his hair white and skin was almost white but had very little color but the eyes were a breath-taking bright lightning blue. "Wow." She breathed when she stepped back to look at the final product. She failed to notice the shadows moving behind the painting and a figure stood beside her.
    "You didn't forget me after all." Danny grinned when he saw the painting.
    Angelica jumped almost screaming, but really didn't want to wake the babies across the hall. "What do you mean? I don't know you."
    "What?" Danny was baffled. "Angelica... that's me you painted."
    "I just drew something from my head, I didn't know it was anybody..." Angelica said backing away from him. Danny looked away from her, suddenly upset.
    "We were best friends before father forced me to stay away from this place. My room was across the hall from yours, it was easier for me to get to you when you had nightmares. You said you couldn't forget me."
    "I'm sorry, I was brainwashed... sometime when I was... maybe seven? Eight? Ugh... I don't remember." Danny suddenly looked up at her.
    "WHAT!? Do you remember anything before that?"
    "Only bits and pieces." Angelica shook her head.
    "Do you remember who did it?" Danny wanted to see if his suspect is the perpretrater(sp?).
    "I don't." Angelica said.
    "Please try, Angelica. PLEASE!"
    "Sshh, I swear you wake up the babies in there I'll have you stuffed in the oven." Angelica hissed.
    "Sorry. I want to know who did this to you."
    "I don't remember much I just remember someone saying 'you won't remember the little wretch.'"
    Danny knew of only one person who reffered to him as a 'wretch'. "I'll be right back." Danny said and sunk into the shadows just like he did when he left the first time. Angelica's head started throbbing so hard she collapsed.

    "Angelica."
    "Yeah?"
    "We'll be friends forever right? You're the only friend I've ever had."
    "Of course. You've been the only friend I've ever had too."
    "So, even if I have to leave. Will you still remember me?"
    "Of course I will Danny. Why you ask?"
    "Just wondering."
    ~
    "Hey Angelica, I learned this cool knew move, I can go anywhere I want just by stepping into a shadow. Come on I can take you to see those fairies!"
    "Really?"
    "Of course, if we hurry maybe we can watch the fairy dance. I know how much you love to watch them."
    "You're the greatest Danny!"
    ~
    "Angelica, can I ask you something?"
    "Of course."
    "I know how much you love that one guy that played with us a couple weeks ago... how much cool stuff he knew and how powerful he was..."
    "What are you talking about? Sure that guy was pretty cool but I don't love him. I don't even concider him a friend."
    "Really? Gosh I feel silly. I guess you could say I was pretty jealous."
    "Of what? That he would replace you? Danny, no one can replace you."
    ~
    "Angelica I have to go. I promise I'll try to visit you ever now and then. But promise me you won't forget me if I don't return for a while."
    "I could never forget you Danny. You're the best friend I've ever had."

    "DANNY!" Angelica suddenly jerked up.
    "Angelica! You remembered!" Danny was back in her room.
    "How long was I out?"
    "Just during the night." Reno said. "Which reminds me I need to get breakfast ready. One of the infants across the hall started grunting. He was hungry.
    "I'll feed him." Terra said rushing in the room and taking her son to the kitchen. Axel grabbed the other baby just in case he started grunting or whatever. Angelica suddenly hugged Danny.
    "I'm so sorry. I didn't want to forget!" She cried.
    "It's okay. Father wanted you to forget me to try to make me more like him. He figured if you forgot me then I would eventually end up forgetting you."
    "You're father is a cruel man." Angelica whispered.
    "You just now figured that out?" Danny gently pushed her back so he could look at her.
    "I was brainwashed remember?"
    "Sorry." Danny hugged her tightly. "I'm just... overwhelmed. I've been through a lot. With father and that brat Nancy... you brainwashed... my training."
    "It was too much to handle?"
    "What father called you was the lamb the dragon choked on." Danny said letting her go.
    "Huh?" Angelica never heard of that before. Danny chuckled a little.
    "Let me try that again... uh... what father said about you was "the straw that broke the camel's back."" He said. Angelica was curious.
    "What did he call me?" She asked.
    "You don't want to know." Danny growled. "Listen, I have a trainer who's a lot better than the ones my father assigned to me and they're a lot nicer too. So whenever my lesson of the day is over I'll be back." Danny hugs Angelica one more time. "Promise to stay out of trouble?"
    "I'll see what I can do." Angelica giggled and hugged him back.
    "I'll see you when I get home." Danny said. Smiling at the fact that this is his home once more.
    "Ok." Angelica smiled and watched Danny slip in to the shadows. "I remember everything." She whispered to herself, smiling.