Racing through the streets of Copper Canyon I let out a breath still slightly curious about Berto and what he wanted to talk to me about.

"Jessie, you should keep your mind on where we're going." Shock scolded once he had to remind me that we'd raced past N-Tek's secret entrance twice.

"Sorry, Shock but my mind was somewhere else." I commented, sending a blast of Turbo energy towards the wall and once the wall opened up revealing a chair I quickly sat, strapping myself down. Once the chair brought me into the building I grinned quickly dashing towards Berto's lab after Shock detached and he rolled his eye following me as I neared the sliding doors.

"I know exactly where your mind is, Jess." Shock said with an eye-roll aimed at me once he caught up and after we walked into the room I noticed something strange.

"Where's Berto?" I muttered as I headed for his keyboard unaware that someone had seen me walking into Berto's lab and as I wandered towards his computer I didn't hear footsteps but Shock did and he frowned at the figure as it slowly made its way towards me. Just as I reached the computer and I was peering up at it a pair of arms wrapped themselves around my waist.

The warm pair of lips I felt against the back of my neck made me jump before I turned my head enough to find Berto staring back at me a grin on his lips when he saw me staring at him. "Relax, Jessie. Who did you think it was?" Berto asked, secretly pleased that he'd managed to sneak up on me for once.

"That was not funny, Berto." I scolded and he just chuckled at me gently pulling me forward into a much longer kiss that left me grinning like a fool. "Maybe a little." I finally admitted and he just nodded, kissing my forehead. "So what did you want to talk about?"

"I was wondering if you'd like to go on a date this Saturday?" Berto asked and I nodded so fast he tried not to laugh which wasn't easy. "Now that that's settled how did your class go today?"

"Other than having to put up with a very annoying Max Steel it went great." I replied, noting the arm still draped around my waist. "You're going to be hearing that from me for a while." I added with a faint smile and he just nodded, giving me a kiss that left me red-faced.

"I know you'll forgive him at some point, Jess so I won't worry about it. So where should we go on our date?" Berto asked and I just shrugged earning myself a laugh. "Bella, you don't care do you?"

"As long as we get to spend it together I really don't care what we do." I pointed out and he shrugged, leaning in to kiss me again though as soon as our lips touched I heard someone clearing their throat and I rolled my eyes turning my head slightly to find Max standing there. Steel prodded his shoulder and Max sighed, stepping foward as Berto released me and I crossed my arms waiting for Max to speak.

"Look I know you hate me but..." Max began until I held up a hand and as everyone watched I rubbed at the bridge of my nose.

"I don't hate you, Max but what you said really hurt me. When your father returned home you had your dad back in your life. I can't say the same for me." I told them, feeling Berto's hand on my shoulder and I nodded at him once he gave my shoulder a squeeze. "My father never came home to me and neither did my mom. You can't begin to understand how it feels to see someone else have their family reunited and not yours."

"Jess, I didn't even think about that." Max replied, running a hand through his hair as I stood there silently watching him until he cleared his throat. "I missed my dad so much but he came back to me and now I can get to know him. Honestly I wasn't even thinking about how much that would hurt you when I said it."

"Yes and that's why I was so angry with you. I know my mom's never coming back or my dad because that monster, Makino destroyed them. I can't even lay flowers at their graves because..." I trailed off with a cough, turning my head as I quickly wiped my eyes.

"Sorry, Jess. I was just jealous that you learned that Turbo power my dad taught you so quickly and I had trouble with it. That and you were training with him." Max explained, stepping close enough to pat my shoulder with one hand.

"Max, I get that but it'll never stop hurting to know they're gone and nothing's going to bring them home to me." I finished with a sniff, allowing Berto to gently tug me into his arms patting my back as tears leaked down my cheeks. "All I have now are memories and that's only thanks to Berto and Shock." I added, swallowing the lump in my throat.

Shaking his head Max looked at Berto as I buried my face in my boyfriend's chest, needing the hug more than anything. After a slight pause Berto gave Max a nod and with a faint smile he wrapped his arm around me and I blinked, lifting my head to find Max giving me a one-armed hug. When Shock and even Steel joined in I couldn't help a sniff and with a weak smile I relaxed as everyone hugged me.

Later as I sat on Berto's chair Shock hovered at my side, handing me a tissue he'd snagged from the Medical Bay. As I blew my nose he rolled his green eye and I coughed, holding the tissue as he looked towards Berto. "Feeling any better, bella?" Berto asked and I nodded, wiping my eyes before I leaned back.

"A little I guess. I'll feel better once we go back to my apartment." I answered and Berto raised an eyebrow at me a faint smile curling his lips until I snorted at him. "Not really what I meant, Berto and you know it." I replied with an eye-roll and he just chuckled, leaning against his computer's keyboard with a shrug.

"Whatever you say, bella. I'll just grab my jacket and we can head out." Berto suggested and I opened my mouth to respond until I yawned, blinking and he smiled at me. "Jess, maybe you should take a nap when we get back."

"Berto's right, Jess. You look like you could use the rest." Shock agreed and Berto's eyebrows shot up as he crossed the room to stand at my side. "You can be right sometimes, Berto." He admitted and I covered my mouth fighting off a giggle as Berto rolled his eyes at the Ultralink.

The trip back in Berto's car was a quiet one for me, mostly because I managed to somehow tune out Shock's voice in my head. Once he started to complain about Berto spending the night, a very real possibility if my boyfriend was still at my apartment once it grew too dark for him to drive safely, I ignored Shock and he finally sighed, noting that my eyes were closed. I blinked awake once I felt a hand on my shoulder and I raised my head to find Berto leaning over me his lips curled into a smile once he noticed I had finally woken up.

"Might be better if you had a nap when we get inside your apartment, Jessie." Shock suggested as Berto helped me from the car and I wanted to argue but when I couldn't stop another yawn I gave it.

Standing in my bedroom a few minutes later I stretched, watching as Shock linked with me. The moment he changed my hologram to my usual pajamas he de-linked, hovering beside Berto who pulled back the covers on my bed. "I'll start on dinner while you take a nap, Jess." Berto said, planting a light kiss on my lips despite the eye-roll Shock gave him. "Get some rest okay?" He added and I nodded, climbing into bed without any hesitation.

I woke later to a wonderful smell wafting through the air and I smiled to myself, rubbing at my eyes before I pulled back the covers. When Berto and Shock heard footsteps they turned to find me standing in the open doorway, letting out a quiet yawn.

"Evening, bella. Ready for dinner?" Berto asked and I opened my mouth only for everyone to hear my stomach responding instead and my cheeks burned as they laughed. As we sat down at the kitchen table Shock gave me a light pat on the shoulder and I just grinned, digging into the chicken noodle soup that Berto had made with a much stronger appetite.

"This tastes amazing, Berto. Thank you for cooking and I'm sorry to you both about being so difficult lately." I told them once the meal was over and as I helped Berto wash the dishes and Shock sighed, watching on without commenting as Berto lightly patted my back.

"Jess, you were upset and we understand why. Besides we're proud of you for forgiving Max." Berto answered, setting down his towel when I raised an eyebrow at him.

"Well it took me a while but I know he didn't really mean it. He's still my friend even if he was an idiot for saying that." I admitted and Shock nodded, hovering at my side as I finished washing the last bowl. "Now since the dishes are done want to watch a movie or something?" I suggested, trying not to grin as Berto's arm draped around my shoulders.

"I know what your 'something' is and I really don't like it." Shock complained though when he didn't make a move to take Berto's arm from around my neck I smiled.

"Shock, I'm just going to watch a movie and that's all." I replied and he just rolled his eye at us hovering near my shoulder as Berto led me back to the couch. "Too tired to do anything else right now."

Lying across Berto's lap I watched Shock with a smile on my lips as Shock grabbed the movie Berto had picked up. I really tried to stay awake but between the warmth of Berto's body and his hand stroking my hair I must have fallen asleep only waking in time to find my boyfriend with his head resting on top of mine his breathing light and his eyes closed. Even Shock, determined to keep his eyes on Berto just in case anything happened, had fallen asleep perched on one end of the couch. With a faint smile I closed my eyes, finally feeling at peace with the world.