Ch. 6: The Overland

"So, here's all the money we've collected from the Overland, and all of your money, and all of the money Luxa sneaked out with," Rapess murmured, putting a huge pile of American Dollar Bills onto the flat rock in front of them. Gregor nodded, putting it all into a satchel, along with two fake IDs (which an Eistle fashioned), clothes and other essentials.

"How long shall we stay up there?" Luxa murmured, looking so nervous that Gregor wrapped his arm around her protectively.

"As long as it takes to make you look like Gregor. Now, are you sure that they have ways to change eye color?" Rapess looked at Gregor expectantly.

"Yes," Gregor sighed, "They're colored contact lenses. They'll already think she's wearing them, because her eyes are purple!"

"Okay, then this should be fine," Rapess murmured, "Now, the Dragons are creating a portal, and they'll fly you guys up there. We'll be waiting for you, and I'll deliver news."

"Good," Luxa murmured, "now, here's my question: are you sure that you're parents can't find us, Gregor? And that I'll be able to blend it enough?"

"They can't find us, Luxa. We have fake IDs," Gregor nodded, "which is a miracle. And we're in New York, you'll just be another sight for tourists: the Palest Girl Alive," Gregor laughed. Luxa laughed along with him nervously.

"So how much money is this?" Gregor asked.

"Well…" Luxa sighed; then went through it, "About ten thousand dollars."

Gregor gagged on his mushroom.

"That's not enough?" Luxa asked, and her face was in a pathetic expression.

"More than enough," Gregor coughed out.

"Good," Rapess nodded.

---

Gregor and Luxa were there, outside, in the Overland. It was nighttime, unfortunately, and Gregor didn't really think that they'd be able to find a hotel or motel with room.

"Then what will we do?" Luxa begged.

"Well…" Gregor looked around, and sighed, "We won't sleep, that's all. Let's go get something to eat at McDonalds," Gregor laughed, "you'll love it."

The pair walked together to the nearby McDonalds, Luxa looking up at the sky the whole time, in awe at the stars.

"Wow," Gregor laughed as he had to pull her out of the way of a tree as she stared, "You don't get out often."

Luxa laughed with him as they entered the restaurant. Gregor asked her softly, "What do you want?"

"Whatever you get, I'll try anything," Luxa smiled. Gregor got a cheeseburger, fries and a coke, plus another one for Luxa. The Mexican cashier looked curiously at Luxa.

"Needs to go to Hospital, no?" the man laughed, nodding at Luxa. Gregor shook his head, glaring at him, and taking their food. When they sat down, Luxa sniffed the burger curiously.

"It's just meat," Gregor laughed, eating his, "meat and cheese and bread."

Luxa shrugged and bit into it. Her eyes lit up and she smiled after biting off, making a happy noise in her throat. Gregor laughed.

"Niiice," he smirked. Luxa rolled her eyes and bit into her burger again, still looking very happy. Gregor rolled his eyes and ate his quickly. He was nervous for some reason, and he didn't know why. Probably because the man at the counter thought that Luxa was really sick, and that wouldn't be good for walking around and trying to get her tan…

Luxa had moved on to her French fries by now, and made an even happier noise with these. Gregor almost doubled over laughing as he ate his, just shaking his head in amusement.

"Gregor," Luxa murmured after swallowing another fry, "these taste a lot like potatoes."

"That's because they are. Fried ones, anyway," Gregor laughed. Luxa raised her eyebrows and finished them off.

"I'm so thirsty," Luxa murmured.

"Drink the coke, then," Gregor pushed the coke bottle towards Luxa. She opened it and took a hesitant sip. She pushed it away and stuck out her tongue.

"I do not like the bubbles," Luxa shook her head furiously.

Gregor shrugged, "No big deal. I'll go get you water," and Gregor walked up to the counter and got water. He gave it to Luxa, who nodded and gulped it down.

"Much better," Luxa laughed. Gregor smiled as well, and finished his food.

"Well, what do you want to do know?" Gregor asked pleasantly.

"What is there to do when you stay awake during night?" Luxa asked cheerfully as they walked down the dark street.

"Let's see a movie," Gregor grinned, and led her to a nearby theater. Luxa suddenly pulled on his sleeve as he looked at all the titles.

"Can't we go find somewhere to stay? I am exhausted," Luxa murmured.

Gregor saw how here eyes drooped, and knew that this was a lot to take in.

"No problem," Gregor smiled, "we'll see a movie tomorrow. For now we can go get a room at someplace."

The pair walked around the city, which Gregor finally noticed had a small layer of snow. He saw that Luxa was shivering in turn, and Gregor realized another problem of the Dinosaur section of the Underland- it was cold. He didn't even notice anything.

Gregor pulled on his coat and gave Luxa hers. Luxa smiled up at him warmly, as Gregor found a hotel and led her inside.

"Hello. How may I help you," the man at the check-in desk looked disdainful of the pair.

"Yes, we would like a room with two beds," Gregor murmured.

"For how long?" the man looked a little less annoyed.

"One or two months," Gregor said while biting his lip.

"What are you running away from?" the man smirked.

"We're actually on vacation here," Gregor rolled his eyes, "she's British, and we won't be able to go home for a while, thank you."

"Well, I can get you a suite, but it only has a bedroom and a double bed. But can I see your ID?" the man held out his hand.

Gregor felt very prepared. On their IDs they were 18, she was from England and he was from New York, he could drive (which he could) and she couldn't, and their names were George Johnson and Lucy Dicks.

"Well George, sign here and here, and…" the man gave Gregor back his ID and turned to Luxa.

"Lucy," she smiled warmly and handed her ID.

"You sign here and here," he nodded.

Luxa had been preparing for this, and he signed her name neatly.

"And this will all come out to five hundred dollars," the man nodded, "for your first month, without food or TV. TV every day will cost you another hundred, food another hundred," and Gregor handed him the money.

"Very well," he dismissed them and gave them each a card and showed them the way upstairs.

Gregor took her hand and they went upstairs to their suite, Suite 615. Gregor sat down on a couch and sighed out.

"You can have the bed, Luxa," Gregor murmured.

"What do you mean?" Luxa raised her eyebrow.

"There's only one bed," Gregor nodded.

"What's wrong with that?" Luxa laughed.

Gregor gaped at her, open-mouthed, "what do you mean?"

"You are such a teenage boy," Luxa smirked, "I mean, we sleep in the same bed, because nothing is going to happen."

"Gotcha…" Gregor stood up and went to the bathroom to change into his pajamas. He was still confused as he walked outside the bathroom, and went to look at the calendar.

January 12th and Gregor raised his eyebrows. It was almost his seventeenth birthday. Who knew that he had been in the Underland for almost a year?

Gregor wiped his forehead off with the back of his hand and sat down. His parents and family would be so worried for him. Guilt grew in his stomach so large that he let out a loud groan.

"Are you okay, Gregor?" Luxa ran out and looked at him worriedly.

"Yeah. I've just been gone for a year," Gregor murmured.

Luxa walked over and hugged him warmly, resting her head on his shoulder. Gregor smiled and rested back on her, and closed his eyes.

---

Gregor took Luxa's hand and they walked outside to go to the movies. It was sunny outside now, much to Gregor's excitement. The clouds were all gone, the snow melting.

"Your skin is so pale it might get a little dark. But if it isn't just right by the time we have to go back, we'll get you one of those fake ones," Gregor explained. Luxa nodded as they rushed into the movie theater.

"Let's see… The Golden Compass looks good. I liked the book, anyway," and Gregor took Luxa's hand and bought their tickets, popcorn and they walked inside the theater. They sat down, and Luxa looked around at everything in awe.

The movie was, of course, brilliant. (A/N: For those of you who have read His Dark Materials series, the movie is coming out this Christmas!!!! OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!! J)

"What is YOUR dæmon?" Gregor asked while they exited, Luxa throwing out her popcorn bag and water.

"Totally a cat," Luxa laughed, "Yours?"

"A fox," Gregor puffed out his chest, and Luxa laughed at him heartily. They held hands and walked back to the hotel.

Gregor suddenly pulled her into a store nearby, it was a movie rental store. Luxa giggled as Gregor went through all the different movies and finally picked out a couple of movies, from Harry Potter to Narnia to Jurassic Park, hoping to find some stuff that she would like.

"What will we be doing with all these movies?" Luxa laughed as they left the store with six different movies.

"Watching them, of course," Gregor laughed. Luxa laughed as well, bought popcorn and sodas, and they ran to the Hotel together.

---

TWO MONTHS LATER

Gregor sat on the edge of the bed, shaking his head madly.

"No, Luxa. You haven't gotten into trouble the whole time that you've been up here, and I'm not about to risk anything. You're almost tan enough, seriously Luxa, I don't want you to," Gregor said firmly.

"Why not? I know the city; I know where we get our groceries. I think I can go and get eggs for omelets," Luxa laughed.

"I don't think you should," Gregor murmured hoarsely, "its eight o'clock…"

"I'll be fine. I've fought in the Underland, remember?" Luxa smiled again.

"Different sort of danger," Gregor murmured, "But fine."

He kissed her very softly, trying not to seem as worried as he already seemed. Luxa smiled, waved, took the money and keys off the counter, and left.

Gregor sat back and sighed, trying to watch a movie. He couldn't concentrate; his mind was with Luxa and whether she was okay.

He soon fell asleep watching re-runs of Friends, and only woke up a half-hour or so later when he heard a scream and a shout. Getting up suddenly, Rager senses alert, he recognized the voice of the screaming.

"Get OFF me!" screamed a girl on the street.

Luxa! Gregor thought fearfully, I KNEW I should have gone with her! Gregor ran out the room without any precautions and onto the street.

A man dressed shabbily was trying to pin Luxa to the wall, and she was struggling and kicking. Gregor let out a roar and rushed into the man, breaking his hold on Luxa and pushing him to the ground. Gregor punched him blindly in the face, not paying attention to what Luxa was doing.

"Stop, stop, stop, STOP!" the man cried out. Gregor stopped punching him, but still pinned him to the ground.

"I'll leave, Jesus Christ!" the man gasped, and stood up, "You must really like this girl. Is she your sister or something?" the man broke free of Gregor's hold, his face covered in blood.

"No," Gregor glared at him, not letting him try anything.

"Ah, I see," the man smirked, "Well, then, I'll leave," he limped away slowly as Gregor turned to Luxa. She was watching everything with wide eyes.

"This is why you don't go out alone at night," Gregor said angrily, "he was going to rape you or even kill you!"

"I k-know," Luxa murmured softly. Gregor felt his compassion return in droves, and he gently pulled Luxa into his arms. Luxa sobbed quietly into his chest.

"So, no one rapes in your world? I know they kill, but…" Gregor laughed softly.

"Well, during the wars there is no point, because we're all different species," Luxa murmured, "it's pretty rare, a rape."

Gregor nodded, "and you never thought it'd happen to you, which was a legitimate thought…"

"Exactly!" Luxa sighed. Gregor stroked her hair softly and kissed it. If he hadn't been there every minuet, he wouldn't recognize Luxa now. Her hair was even more golden, her skin still pale but only as pale as an Overlanders ever got. Tomorrow she would go to a spray-on tan place to make it a little darker, and then they would go home. Gregor marveled at the change, and didn't mind one bit.

"Did you get the eggs?" Gregor laughed after a while, letting his fingertips gently graze her cheek.

"I did, but he broke them all," Luxa pointed to a spot down the street where a carton of eggs lay smashed.

"Ah well. We'll go together," Gregor smiled and took her hand. They walked together to the nearby grocery store, Gregor shooting suspicious glances at everyone who was walking as well. Luxa wasn't looking at anyone, just going in closer to Gregor. Gregor felt a small tingle as she buried herself so deeply into him as they walked. They went in and bought more eggs, the grocer looking curiously at them.

"Didn't she just come in to buy eggs?" he laughed.

"We had a bit of a crisis," Gregor shrugged, as did the man. The pair then left back to the hotel, Luxa still not speaking. Gregor had always known Luxa as a strong girl, not really letting anything shake her except for Henry's betrayal and other similar things. This must have been very alien to her, or else she wouldn't be this silent.

"Luxa, will you be okay?" Gregor asked softly as they entered the room, him dropping off the eggs in the fridge and turning off the TV.

"I don't know," Luxa murmured.

Gregor walked over and wrapped his arms around her again, "You'll be okay. We're going back soon, and then you'll be safe from the evil Overland," Gregor laughed.

"But it was so much fun!" Luxa sat up suddenly, "I want to come back!"

Gregor smirked, "Well, at least now we know that you can never go out at night alone," he chuckled and rested his forehead against hers, taking in her scent.

Luxa blushed as she realized that he smelled her like this. Gregor loved it when she blushed, even looking like and Overlander she went all red. Gregor nuzzled her softly, causing her to giggle. Gregor smiled and kissed her lovingly, and she responded differently than normal. Luxa placed her hands on the line where his shirt ended and pants began, letting her fingers go under his shirt. Gregor kissed her harder, not really realizing what was happening, feeling his instincts take control, not knowing why…

---

Gregor woke up the next morning feeling strange and somewhat hung-over, though he had not had any alcohol. He looked around, not really believing anything that had happened. He saw Luxa sleeping next to where he had been; a smile on her face. Gregor smiled as well, and realized that last night was the best thing… ever. He went back under the covers and snuggled up closer to Luxa, not worrying about the war below.

A/N: Well, I don't think there's any need explaining what happened. Really. If you can't guess, then just ask me, for Christ's sake. I'm sorry for the delay in the chapter; I've been busy lately, what with preparing for High School (which I start next Monday, eek!) and family junk, just no time!