J opened up the front door and stepped inside the house. The first thing he noticed was the sheer lack of anyone.

He quietly walked up the stairs, when he reached the top he heard sobbing. He tracked it back to Star’s room. He quietly approached the door. He opened the door and saw Star laying on his bed facing away from the door, crying with his head in his hands.

J stepped into the room.

There was a pause in Star’s crying before he continued.

J approached the bed and kneeled down beside it. “Star...” He said as he gently put his hand on Star’s shoulder.

“What do you want…” Star sobbed.

“What else would I want for my brother, other than to try to help him with whatever’s wrong?” J asked.

“It… It’s gone.” Star said.

“What is?” J asked.

“Just… Something of mine. Someone took it…” Star said.

“I… I figure it isn’t my place to ask this… but what did they take?” J asked.

“It’s something from… Before I met you.” Star said quietly.

“So… that’s… what I saw…” J said quietly. “Wait… why… would they steal just one thing? Whoever it was was in my room… and they didn’t take anything of mine…”

“I’m… Sorry. I don’t mean to… To cry...” Star said shaking his head. “It’s… It’s stupid I know. I shouldn’t be so upset over a small object…”

“No… it’s not stupid.” J said. “If something really important was stolen from me I’d break down and cry too.”

“I just… Want to lie here for awhile.” Star said shakily.

“I wasn’t going to force you to move.” J said. “If you want me to… I can stay with you until you feel like getting up…”

“I don’t think I’m going to feel better…” Star said quietly. “Just… Go have fun. Don’t worry about me.”

“Hm. You telling me to go have fun… and I thought you knew me.” J said, “I can’t have fun if you aren’t going to have fun too.”

Star stayed silent.

“Like I said. I’ll stay as lon-” J said before being cut off.

“Joel…” Star snapped. “I really don’t want to talk. Just leave me alone.”

J sighed, “Okay…” He said quietly, “I’ll… be downstairs if… you need anything…” He got up from the side of the bed and walked out of the room.

J walked down the steps and into the living room. He sat down on the couch when a sudden sharp pain lanced through his side. “Fuck…” He groaned pressing his hand to the scar. The pain slowly ebbed away, “Good… at least it’s not long lasting.” He said quietly.

There was a knock at the door.

J stood up and the pain flared up again. He slowly walked over to the door and opened it up. In front of him stood the hooded figure from the other day.

J stared at the hooded figure, “And you decided to come back.” He said, “I’d tell you to fuck off and I will but you have something that belongs to my friend. So hand it the fuck over right now.”

The figure reached into his pocket and handed J something wrapped in a cloth. “Tell him I’m sorry.” A feminine voice said.

J’s eyebrow raised, “Wait… a thief… saying sorry for… stealing something…” He said, “That doesn’t really add up.”

“Well I guess there’s a first for everything.” She said, about to turn around.

“I’m going to take it you knew what you were taking and who you were taking it from.” J said.

She stayed silent.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” J said.

“It’s good to know he’s being taken care of.” She said.

“I take care of my family.” J said. “I always have and I always will.”

“That’s why I like you Joel.” She said.

J froze up, “What… did you just call me?” He questioned.

She started walking away.

As J opened the door further to try to follow the pain flared up even more forcing him to lean against the door for support, “No one… outside of my family… should know my real name…” He said.

“You keep him safe wolf boy.” She said, continuing to walk.

J’s lip curled but he made no move to follow. After a moment she disappeared from view.

J stepped back into the house, the pain ebbing down a little bit. He shut the door and slowly stepped back from it. He looked down at the cloth bundle. He looked back up at the stairs and stumbled forward. When he reached the stairs he grasped the railing with one hand and walked to the top.

Once he was at the top he walked back to Star’s room and knocked on the door.

“What do you want?” Star asked.

“I’ve got something for you…” J said as he opened the door up a little.

“What…” Star mumbled.

J opened the door up fully and walked in, “This…” He said holding the cloth wrapped object in his open hand. “The thief… just returned it…”

Star’s head snapped to J. He jumped up and grabbed it from him, staring down at it.

“She also said sorry…” J said. He let out a little groan and grasped his side again.

Star pocketed the object and looked back up at J with a smile. He walked over and lifted J into his arms. “You shouldn’t be walking around mister…” He said, seeming to be back to his happy self.

“Good… to see you’re back…” J smiled.

“Now… I’m going to take you downstairs. We’re going to have sex. I’m going to make you dinner. And we’re going to have fun.” Star said. “Not in any specific order.”

J chuckled a little bit before he grasped his side a little harder, “Sounds good.” He said.

----------------------------

“Oh… god…” J mumbled, “Great sex and even better food… Did I ever tell you that you’re perfect?”

“You could stand to mention it more.” Star shouted jokingly from the kitchen.

J laughed a little, “I’ve always thought you were perfect!” He said, “It’s just the last few times I never got dinner made right after!”

“Flattery will only get you dessert and a round seven.” Star said.

“Round seven… so you WERE planning on stopping!” J said jokingly.

Star came out, setting the food on the table and sitting down. J noticed the clothed object in his other hand.

“Not letting it leave your person now?” J asked motioning to the object.

Star just shook his head before crossing his legs on the couch and staring at J.

“Mmm okay then.” J shrugged. He leaned forward to get some food before a pained look crossed his face. He stopped and quickly gripped his scar.

“Does it still hurt?” Star asked. He scooted closer to J and placed a hand on his arm, looking down at the scar.

“A little… it’s been acting up recently though…” J said.

“Well that’s not good. How about I feed you?” Star smiled widely.

“That sounds wonderful.” J smiled.

Star picked up the plate and brought it closer. “So… Besides the obvious. How are you feeling?” He asked.

“Great…” J said. “And that’s just being made better now that you’re happy again.” He leaned onto Star’s shoulder.

“Mmhm.” Star mumbled.

“What’s next?” J asked. “I mean… after sex…”

“Depends on you.” Star said.

“Well you know me… I’m up for anything.” J said.

“Oh well that’s good…” Star said.

“Is something wrong?” J asked.

“No just thinking.” Star sighed.

“About what?” J asked placing a hand on Star’s.

Star looked down at the object on his lap.

“Oh…” J said, “If… you wanted to talk I’m right here.”

Star sighed and took the the object, handing it to J.

“Okay… what… did you want me to do with it?” J asked as he looked at it.

“Open it.” Star said.

J unwrapped it and saw a switchblade. “Oka-” He stopped himself and took a second look at it. He remained quiet.

“Do you know what it is?” Star asked.

“Yeah… a switchblade…” J said quietly.

“And do you know what it is… To me?” Star asked.

“An… important piece of your past…” J said.

“Then you know how much it means when I say I want you to have it.” Star said.

“I do…” J said.

“Good… Now that that is out of the way.” Star said, quickly standing up and heading to the kitchen. “Why don’t I… Start working on dessert.”

J smiled a little more, “We didn’t even eat dinner yet.” He said.

Star ignored him and started making something.

“Okay…” J said quietly.

-------------------------------------

J pushed open his bedroom door and the first thing he noticed was his chest sitting wide open.

“You know… You have really nice handwriting.” A voice said.

J looked over to his bed and saw the cloaked person from earlier. He saw a large book open in her hands. He glared at her before stepping into the room. “So, again you’ve come back… and this time you’re looking through my things?” He said, “And that… no one… not even Star has seen that book.”

“Not like I haven’t read it before.” She said with a sigh, flipping the page.

“Read… it be-” J was interrupted.

“Dear what ever the fuck this thing is: Today the others have gotten the idea to write a book about our lives. It appears Funny has already begun to use it as ample jerking material as by the time I got to write... there was a small stream of cum dripping from the binding” She read, looking up at J as he barely made out her raise an eyebrow under the darkness of her cloak.

“Yeah… he fucked the damn book…” J said quietly before chuckling a little, “And then he proceeded to dump a large bucket of fish on Charlie…”

“Kinky.” She laughed.

J sighed, “There’s a lot of private stuff in there…” He said.

“Joel is a cute name… I don’t know why you hate it.” She said.

“I don’t hate it. I’ve just always been called J.” He said.

“Well it had to start somewhere. And you never seem to correct it… So you obviously have a problem with it.” She said.

“No… my parents always just called me J.” J said, “Occasionally they’d call me Joel.”

“Weird. But then again what’s normal around here?” She joked.

“Yes… what is…” J said.

“So how’s Ethan and Emile doing?” She asked.

“How do you know about them?” J asked.

“Because I do.” She said with a smile. “Just like I know about Sarah and Serena… And Ben… And especially Alexa. She’s so cute when she sleeps...”

“Y… what?” J said in partial disbelief.

“You have really nice kids. Did you know Alexa has the same eyes as Cadence?” She said.

“H… how would… you know that?” J stammered.

“How do you think I’d know that Joel?” She said.

J remained silent.

“So… How was the food?” She asked.

“Leave my children alone.” J said.

“Why? They’re adorable.” She said.

“Why? Because I’m telling you to.” J said. “You’re coming close to making it on my threat list.”

“If I wanted to kill your kids they would be dead.” She laughed.

“That’s not the point.” J said.

“The ‘point’ Hah… I see what you did there. Because of that switchblade in your pocket.” She smiled.

“How… would…” J said.

“And how are all 2186 eggs?” She asked curiously. “Are they any closer to hatching?”

“How… do you know that number? I told no one…” J said.

“Obviously.” She chuckled.

“How… do you… know that number?” J questioned again.

“Because I can count.” She said.

“Well if you know that number the you already know the Brothers Grim.” J said.

“Yeah… R’yota and Gael are cute.” She shrugged.

“With one command I can sic them after you.” J said, “And the only thing preventing me from doing that is that I know you can’t infiltrate the hive mind.”

“So how’s Star been? Personally I mean.” She asked.

J remained silent.

“Good to know.” She said sarcastically.

J again kept silent.

“Star was right… You are a good listener.” She laughed.

J cocked an eyebrow.

“Well I should really be going. It’s nice finally meeting you.” She said, setting the book on the bed and standing up.

“Go ahead.” J said. “I’m not going to stop you.”

As she passed by J he could tell that her face was wet, like she had been crying.

“As much as I really… really want to hate you… is something wrong?” J asked.

“I’m fine. Just… Take good care of Star okay?” She said shakily.

J grabbed the the hood and pulled it down. His eyes went wide as he saw her face, “How… in… the hell…” He muttered.

Beck looked up at him with a forced smile. “Hello Joel…” She said.

J stepped back slightly.

“Please don’t tell Star… Not yet.” She said calmly.

J sighed, “I won’t. Just don’t hurt my children… and since…” He sighed again, “When no one else is around… watch over Alexa when I can’t…”

“Of course.” She nodded.

“Goodbye Beck.” J said quietly.

She walked up to the door and turned back one last time. “Oh… And if you ever hurt Star… Which I know you wouldn’t. You wouldn’t ever see any of your kids again.” She smiled.

“You’d risk bringing everything Equestria has down on you if I hurt Star? That’s so sweet.” J said, “And I’m sure you know this… but you wouldn’t have to punish me… if I hurt Star there wouldn’t be a life left to punish.”

“Oh I know that. I’d do it because it’d be fun.” She said.

“Now I know why you hit Fluttershy.” J said.

“Well technically I hit her because she was about to kill me. But yeah… It was a little fun.” She said.

“Yes… fun… and not at all you’re obsessive over Star.” J said.

“I just wanted him to be happy.” She said sarcastically. “And I know how much he loves taking care of people. Now he has two to watch over.” Her smile growing as she pointed to J’s scar.

“Hm not the first time I’ve been shot.” J said. “And I doubt it’ll be the last.”

“Good to know you have it all planned out!” She laughed.

“No. I just know that there’s more than just an ‘old friend’ after me now. I have to deal with the changeling race not connected to the hive.” J said. “Assassination attempts suck.”

“Kidnapping sucks. But I’m not complaining.” She said with a shrug.

“Rape sucks. And I don’t complain about that.” J said.

“I’m sure you don’t.” She said.

“I stopped after I made sure there was nothing left of them.” J said.

“Very interesting.” She said.

“So are we just going to stand here and talk or were you leaving?” J asked.

She turned and walked out immediately.

J shut his bedroom door and looked over at the book on his bed. He walked over and picked it up, flipping back to another section before sitting down and began reading.