Star woke up and stretched, standing up and walking out to the empty hall. The first thing she did was head to J’s room and knock on the door. “You awake in there?” She asked.

There was a small grumble in the room followed by the sound of the bed shifting a little.

Star slowly opened the door and peeked in.

She saw J holding Scootaloo close to his chest, both of them still fast asleep.

Star smiled and gently closed the door. “I’ll let them sleep in a little.” She said to herself.

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

A half an hour later:

Scootaloo walked down the steps, “Morning.” She said.

“Hey there.” Fluttershy waved. “How’d you sleep?”

“Great!” Scootaloo said happily.

“Breakfast is ready!” Star called from the kitchen.

“Is your dad awake?” Fluttershy asked.

“Yeah he should be coming down shortly.” Scootaloo said as she sat down on the couch.

“Doesn’t he need help with his wheelchair?” Fluttershy asked.

“I tried to help him… he just said he was fine.” Scootaloo said.

“Alright well… Why don’t you go in and get some food.” Fluttershy smiled, playfully shoving Scootaloo towards the kitchen.

“Alright… alright…” Scootaloo sighed as she walked into the kitchen.

“Morning. How’s it going?” Star asked.

“Good.” Scootaloo said, “So what’s for breakfast?”

“Flapjacks, sausage, eggs, some orange juice. Oh don’t forget the toast and jam.” She smiled, pointing to the table full of food.

“Gre-” Scootaloo was interrupted as something came roughly down the steps.

“Are you okay?” Fluttershy asked quickly.

“Yep.” J said as he pushed himself up, falling back to the ground, “Nope… still can’t stand.” He grunted painfully.

Star peeked out into the living room in time to see Fluttershy hoist him over her shoulder and walk him into the kitchen.

“Morning?” Star grinned, staring at J.

“Morning.” J said.

“Wow I didn’t think you actually meant that.” Scootaloo said.

“One hundred percent. And it was worth it!” J said.

“Yeah he just wanted to be manhandled a little more.” Fluttershy joked, patting him on the ass before setting him down in one of the kitchen chairs.

“I know he does… My wittle Joey Woey…” Star said pinching J’s cheeks.

J stared at Star seemingly unimpressed.

Star gave J a quick kiss on the lips. “Enjoy your food.” She said.

“Thanks.” J said as he shoved some food onto a plate, handing it to Scootaloo.

“Thanks!” She said quickly carrying it into the living room.

J filled his own plate and started eating.

“Oh yeah and Twilight is also coming over today to cast the spell.” Star said, shoving a sausage into her mouth.’

“Okay.” J said as he ate some eggs.

She started to slowly suck on the sausage, occasionally taking it out of her mouth and giving it a teasing lick.

He raised an eyebrow as he looked at her.

Star’s lips formed into a smile around the sausage as she continued to lick it.

J smiled a little bit.

“Maybe you can continue your show later.” Fluttershy raised an eyebrow.

Star stared at J for a moment before opening her mouth wide and slamming it shut, biting the sausage in half, the greasy red juices dripping to the table. “Sounds good.” Star said.

J grabbed his plate, put it on his lap and slid back out of the kitchen.

“Hey Dad.” Scootaloo said.

“Hey can you move over a bit?” J asked.

There was a tugging on J’s pant leg.

J looked down to see Clara. “Hey you.” He smiled.

Clara laughed and reached her arms up.

J picked her up, nuzzling her a little.

Clara looked down at J’s lap silently for a second before looking up at him and giggling.

J looked down and saw some of his food was missing, “Well… if you’re hungry go ahead.” He smiled.

Clara reached down and grabbed some of his food and motioned for him to set her down.

J set her down on the couch.

Clarac slid off the couch and crawled over to Richard, who was sitting off to the side. J noticed he had some food from his plate in his hands.

“Oh so it was both of you.” J said.

Clara put one of the sausage in her mouth and started chewing on it, trying her best to eat it with no teeth. She started wiggling around as she chewed harder and fell onto her back, kicking into the air as she did so.

J chuckled a little.

The front door opened and Twilight walked in. “Morning… And I’ll talk to you after I eat the obvious food that is in the kitchen.” She said as soon as she smelled the sausage, running into the kitchen.

“Okay…” J shrugged.

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

“So we’ll start with Richard. Unless anyone has a problem with that?” Twilight asked, flipping through the pages to the spell.

Star shrugged, looking at J.

J shrugged. “Go for it.” He said.

There was a small flash of light as she cast the spell.

Richard was on his back staring up at the ceiling, “Ow.” He mumbled.

“Hey buddy you okay?” J asked.

“Yeah Dad I am.” Richard said.

“Good.” J smiled.

There was a pause as Clara started screaming.

“Why is she screaming?” Fluttershy asked, covering her ears.

“She’s been doing that a bit recently…” Star said, covering her own ears as well. “Just cast the damn spell!”

“Got it…” Twilight mumbled as there was another bright flash of light.

The screaming grew louder and more high pitched as Clara appeared there, her and Richard looking around the same age as Scootaloo.

“Why is she still screaming??” Fluttershy asked, pressing her hands tighter to her head.

“CLARA!” Star shouted.

Clara immediately stopped and looked at her. “Yeah?” She asked.

J shrugged, “I’ve blasted my eardrums enough times.” He said.

“Why… Were you screaming.” Star asked.

Clara tilted her head. “Was I? I thought that was just in my head.” She shrugged.

“Okay…” J said.

“That’s… Distressing.” Twilight scratched her head.

“Not really…” J said.

Everyone except Star looked at J for a moment. “A little curious though…” Star shrugged.

“Oh… right none of you have a crazed demoman in your head screaming at you in russian.” J said. “Sucks. He’s funny at times.”

“Sure that sounds fun.” Clara nodded.

“What?” Star asked.

Clara looked up at her. “What?” She asked.

“You… Said something sounds like fun.” Star said.

“Oh… I wasn’t talking to you.” Clara said. Everyone noticed Clara’s hand slid over and grabbed the air, curling as if she was holding someone’s hand.

Star looked up at J with a growing smile on her face.

J leaned back in the chair.

“I wouldn’t do that.” Richard said.

“Oh I know it’s going t-” J was cut off as the chair’s back broke. “Yep. There we go.”

“You okay?” Fluttershy asked.

“Yep.” J said, laying on the floor, “Just fine.”

“So Clara… Who are you talking to?” Star asked curiously.

“My friend.” Clara smiled.

Star looked at J again. “And is he here right now?” Star smiled.

“He’s not a he.” Clara said.

“She?” Star said.

“It’s whatever it wants to be.” Clara said.

“Does it have a name?” J asked.

“It told me not to tell you.” She said.

J sighed, “Okay.” He said.

“Well what can we call it?” Star asked.

Clara leaned in as if someone was whispering to her. “It says you ca- Oh sorry.” She said.

“What?” Star asked.

“She says she’s a she now. So you can call her Jennifer.” Clara smiled.

“Well it’s nice to meet you Jennifer.” Star said. She walked over to J and lifted him onto the couch.

“Yes, it’s nice to meet you.” J said.

“Yeah… nice to meet you.” Richard said sounding a little skeptical.

“So how are you two feeling?” Star asked.

“Good.” Clara nodded.

“So-so.” Richard said.

“Well that’s good.” Star said.

“Do either of you need anything?” J asked.

“Not right now.” Richard said, sitting down on a nearby chair.

Clara stood up and silently walked upstairs.

“Clara?” Star asked. She ignored him and walked into J’s room.

“I’d investigate… but…” J said tapping his bandaged leg.

A few moments later Clara came out dressed in J’s clothes, holding Tibbers in her hand. “Can I have this?” She asked.

“No honey that’s your fathers… I mean… That’s J’s.” Star said.

J closed his eyes for a moment, “You can have Tibbers… just take good care of him.” He said.

Clara came down and took a seat next to J on the couch, smiling as a hand wandered over and grabbed his.

J held her hand and smiled. He glanced down and saw something in her pocket. “What do you have there?” He asked.

“Oh! Yeah I found it in your room next to Tibbers.” She smiled, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a switchblade. She pressed the button and the blade shot out. “So cool.”

“Sorry sweetie but no one is allowed to have that.” J said gently taking it from her. “It’s… too precious to really be used anymore.”

Clara’s expression faded to a blank expression and she crossed her arms, staring straight ahead.

J closed his eyes, “Star… there’s a loose board under my bed. Pull it back. Bring the small envelope down.” He said.

Star nodded, running upstairs and into J’s room.

“What’s in the envelope?” Fluttershy asked.

“A little… something I managed to pick up a while back.” J said. “I’m happy that he didn’t find that compartment.”

Star came down shortly after with the envelope, holding her arm with her other hand. “Got it.” She said.

“What happened?” J asked.

Star moved her hand away to show a little blood running down her arm. “Nothing just cut my arm on a syringe in the compartment.” She shrugged.

“A syringe?” J asked closing his eyes momentarily.

“Yeah it’s just a cut though, nothing serious.” She nodded, walking over and handing J the envelope.

J pulled out a small ivory handle about the size of the fully extended switchblade. “Okay…” He said handing it to Clara. “Just flip the latch back and slowly open it.”

Clara looked at it with great interest for a moment before going back to her unimpressed expression. She took it and quickly pocketed it. “That’ll do.” She shrugged, crossing her arms again.

“Not even going to check to see what it is?” J asked.

“Maybe…” She shrugged. She looked over at the empty side of the couch and slowly nodded. She took it back out of her pocket and flipped the latch back.

“Hold the side where the latch is attached and open it from the other side.” J said.

She did exactly as he asked and watched the blades flip up. “Ohh it’s a butterfly knife.” She smiled widely. Her gaze slowly turned to Roph.

“No.” Roph said.

“I guess you could say it’s a… Roph knife?” She smiled wider.

Star shook her head in disappointment. “You’ll… Have to work on those.” She sighed.

“Jennifer thought it was funny…” Clara pouted.

J leaned back on the couch.

“What do I get?” Richard asked.

“What do you want?” J asked.

“A drink.” Richard said.

“A… Drink?” Star asked uncertainly.

“Like orange juice.” Richard nodded.

“Sure…” Star shrugged and walked into the kitchen.

Clara continued fiddling with the blade for awhile. She let out a gasp and jerked her hand away as the blade hit her skin. She looked at her hand curiously.

J looked over, “Something wrong?” He asked.

“It didn’t cut me?” She said.

“It’s a self-defence weapon. It’ll only cut something if you're in danger.” J said.

“So… It’s magic?” Clara asked.

“Yeah.” J nodded.

“Well that’s no fun…” Sarah said, peeking her head out of the basement.

“Yeah I’d say you got ripped off.” Serena laughed.

“Give it to Twilight then.” J sighed.

“No.” Clara said. “I like it.”

“Really?” Star smiled.

Clara nodded. “That way… No one has to get hurt.” She smiled, hugging J tightly.

J hugged her back, “I’m glad you like it.” He smiled.

She put the knife into her pocket and jumped up. “Is it okay if me and Jen go play?” She asked.

“Sure.” J nodded, “You two can go have some fun.”

Clara grabbed Richard’s hand and giggled as she pulled him upstairs.

J looked back into the kitchen, “Star is something wrong?” He asked.

Star’s attention snapped to J. “Oh… Sorry… Orange juice coming right up.” She said, peeking out into the living room, “Where’d Richard go?”

“Upstairs with Clara…” J said. “Star… you seem distracted… what’s wrong?”

Star shook her head. “It’s nothing.” She said, walking out and taking a seat on the couch.

“You sure?” J asked, grabbing her hand.

Star stayed silent.

“Star?” J asked softly.

“It’s um… Lemmy.” She said.

J paused for a moment, “Good or bad?” He asked.

“Bad…” Star said quietly.

“W… what’s happened?” J asked.

“He’s kind of… Um…” Star mumbled.

“Kind of… what?” J asked.

“Dead.” Star said quietly.

J opened his mouth for a moment before shutting it. He then pulled Star into a hug.

Star pulled away and stood up. “I think I just… Need to be alone for awhile.” She said, walking upstairs to her room and closing the door.

J fell back against the couch. He closed his eyes and remained quiet.

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

J quietly pushed open Star’s bedroom door and wheeled himself into the room. He shut the door behind himself, “Star?” He said quietly. He saw her laying on the bed. Eight tentacles were protruding limply from her back, laying on the bed around her.

“What…” Star asked.

“I wanted to check on you.” J said as he wheeled up to the bed.

“Whatever.” She sighed.

He remained quiet for a few moments, “I thought… I could at least… try to help…” He said quietly.

The tentacles slithered around J and lifted him onto the bed.

J laid his head down beside Star, quietly looking at her.

“He’s gone… He’s just… Gone.” Star said quietly.

“I… I can’t even begin… to imagine how that feels… but… It hurts me… a lot… to know that Lemmy’s gone…” J said.

“Yeah I’m sure it does.” Star said.

“I’m not trying to patronize you.” J said, “He was part of the family. And it’s painful to lose any family member.”

Star pulled J close and hugged him.

J hugged Star back. “If you want me… I’m here for you.” He said quietly.

Star pressed her face into his chest as tears slid down it. “I know…” She mumbled.

J held Star tightly.