“Why isn’t she…” Dash asked.

“I dunno…” Star shrugged.

“Should we do something?” Fluttershy asked.

The front door opened up and J limped in. “What’s up?” He asked.

“Oh hey… Good to see you up on your feet again.” Star smiled.

“Yeah… it’s really hard to walk though.” J said.

“Well…” Dash said.

“Later.” J smiled.

Star sighed and looked down at Clara, who sat quietly next to her.

“What’s wrong?” J asked.

“Nothing it’s just that… Clara hasn’t said anything all day.” Star said.

“Yeah and we can’t get her to say anything.” Dash said, scratching her head.

Clara looked up at J for a moment before reaching over and grabbing the remote. A few seconds later she pressed the power button and started watching TV.

J attempted to kneel down beside Clara, only for his knee to painfully lock up. “Ah…” He groaned.

Clara’s attention snapped to J for a split second, looking like she was about to say something before she relaxed and went back to watching TV.

“Clara sweetie… what’s wrong?” J asked.

Clara shrugged.

“Well… okay.” J sighed. He closed his eyes and shifted back against the couch. “Is… there any reason as to why you aren’t talking?” He asked.

Clara nodded.

J sighed again, “Well… whatever the reason is… at least you find it worthwhile.” He said, slowly pushing himself up off the ground. A small crack was heard as his knee locked up again. He grunted and shook it away. He limped over to the staircase. “I’ll… just… be up in my room…” He said quietly.

Clara’s hands started to shake slightly. “M.. n…” She mumbled.

“It’s… okay...” J said.

Clara stood up and walked over to J, grabbing his hand and leading him upstairs to his room. Once both of them were inside she closed the door and sat down silently on his bed.

“Well… thank you…” J said as he sat down on the bed.

Clara grabbed J’s hand and squeezed it gently.

J smiled a tiny bit before he laid down on the bed, keeping hold of her hand.

“She likes you.” Clara said quietly.

J looked at Clara.

“And sh-” Clara was cut off as J pulled her into a hug.

J smiled and kissed Clara’s cheek.

Clara quickly wrapped her arms around J and hugged him tightly. “I’m sorry…” She mumbled.

“Don’t be.” J said softly.

“She told me not to talk to anyone until you got home…” Clara said quietly.

“Why… not?” J asked.

“I don’t know.” Clara shrugged.

“Well… okay then.” J said.

“She wanted to ask something…” Clara said.

“What did she want to ask?” J asked.

“She wanted to know how it felt when… You lost Willow.” Clara said.

“How… do you know… who Willow is?” J asked.

“And Silver.” Clara said.

“H… how do you know…” J mumbled.

“She said it must have been hard… Especially Silver. You knew him way longer and he just… Died. Right in front of you.” Clara said quietly.

J remained quiet.

Clara tensed up slightly as something wet slide down her face. She looked up at noticed J was beginning to cry a little. “I’m sorry… Did… I do something wrong?” She asked sincerely.

J shook his head and held her a little tighter.

“I love you daddy…” She said, wiping some of the tears away.

J smiled a little, “I love you too sweetie.” He said.

“She also wanted to know how Star and Beck are doing.” Clara said.

“How… do you know who Beck is… I haven’t even seen her in awhile…” J said.

“Because she told me about her.” Clara said.

“And… how does she know… about Beck?” J asked.

“She didn’t tell me that part. She just says she knows you. And she knows mom. And… Everyone else.” Clara shrugged. “Who’s… Sombra? Or um… Nightmare. She said you’d know.”

J seemed a little lost in thought.

“She also mentioned someone named… Tim?” Clara said uncertainly.

J’s entire body locked up and his face went blank.

“Who’s Tim?” Clara asked.

“N… no one… t… that anyone… needs to worry about anymore…” J said quietly.

“What about Jeffrey?” Clara asked.

“The man who… scarred me and destroyed my knees.” J said.

“She keeps talking about him. She’s very explicit about him.” Clara said.

J closed his eyes. “What’s her name.” He said.

There was a pause. “Jennifer.” Clara said.

“No I mean her real name. You told me she didn’t want her name to be used. That’s not her name.” J said.

Clara stayed silent.

“Clara what is her name.” J said sternly.

Clara shook her head.

“If she’s going to hurt you for saying it then we have a major problem.” J said.

Clara sat there quietly, staring at the floor.

“Clara.” J said, “I need to know.”

There was a long pause. Clara looked up at J and smiled. “But you know me Joel.” She said.

“W… what…” J stammered.

Xana just stared at J.

“That… isn’t funny…” J said shakily.

Xana gently put a hand on his arm. “Of course not. Didn’t we have fun in the basement together?” She asked.

“What… are you doing… controlling my daughter?” J asked sounding irritated.

Xana smacked J upside the head. “She’s my daughter.” She said sternly.

“That doesn’t give you right to take control of her.” J snapped.

“Why not?” She asked.

“So you’d prevent her from living her own life?” J asked.

“But J… You certainly enjoy taking control.” Xana smiled wider.

“Wh-” J was interrupted.

“Well you certainly enjoyed branding AJ. You even got her younger sister to help. That’s quite the achievement. You wanted to own her, make her yours. If I was there, I’d be proud.” Xana laughed.

“Th… that was a mistake… one that I’m never making again.” J said. “And… unlike… you I still feel… the guilt… and shame from that day…”

“Oh enough of your shit. This whole pack is nothing but dominance. You’re the alpha, you don’t know what it’s like to not have control. You think everyone loves you but…” Xana laughed and shook her head.

J shook a little bit, now letting go of her.

Xana stood up and looked at J. “You live everyday telling yourself that you’ve changed, that you have a family, that you are fine. But really… You live in your own little fantasy world based on your own ignorance. You say it’s not like that anymore, that you feel guilt. But in reality your ‘family’, your ‘pack’ is at it’s core nothing but control. The damn definition of it tell me what you really are. And I don’t want any part of your insanity. You say I’m the one that is crazy, but in reality… I’m the only one who cares.” She said calmly. “And I care because I still have my will, choice… Something that hasn’t existed in anyone’s lives since before they met you.”

J closed his eyes tightly and gripped his head.

“That day you met Star? You think you love him, and maybe you do. But really what you see in him, that special thing you fought for and died for? It’s all a lie. You live for what you wish things could be, what you know things never will be. Everything you touch is yours, and you know what? It’s ironic really. Because the one thing you want, you will never have. And do you know what that is?” She asked, the last few words whispered.

J shook his head slowly.

Xana leaned in and whispered something to him. After she finished she closed her eyes. When she opened them she looked at J again. “Daddy? What happened?” She asked.

“N… n… nothing… g… go down… t… to your… mommy…” J said shakily as tears streamed down his face.

Clara grabbed his hand and squeezed. “I love you daddy…” She said in a caring tone, wiping the tears away before reluctantly walking towards the door.

“I… I love… you too…” J said. “Th… that’s… why… I have to… do… this…”

Clara stopped. “What?” She asked a little concerned.

“J… just go down… to mommy… I’m know she’d love to see you…” J said.

Clara stood there quietly for a second before nodding and walking out.