A 'bang', followed by a sigh of frustration, made Sahara look up from where she was wiping down a table in Drake's Café. Jack had walked into the dining room, looking both tired and in a bad mood.

"Alright everyone, listen up!" he called.

The chattering ceased as customers turned their attention to him.

"We're closing early today. So finish up what you've got, because in fifteen minutes the doors will close regardless of if you're finished or not."

"You can't do that!" a teen called.

"It's my café," Jack replied as he glared in the direction the voice had come from.

There was grumbling all around and yet no one made another comment. Nodding with satisfaction that everyone seemed to have gotten the point, Jack turned back to the kitchen. Sahara and Alegra exchanged glances. It wasn't even lunchtime yet. Both abandoned what they were doing and hurried after Jack.

They found the twins cleaning the kitchen, getting ready to close up.

"What's going on, boss?" Alegra asked as she and Sahara entered the kitchen.

Jack turned to them, a scowl on his face. "We're running out of ingredients."

Alegra frowned. "Then buy some more."

"It's not that easy," Orion spoke as he entered the room behind them. He was holding a hologram screen in his hands.

"No money?" Alegra asked.

Sahara had moved to help the twins out and Arden tossed her a rag so she could wipe down the counters.

"Actually." Orion and Jack exchanged glances. "It seems that Regona is finally beginning to run out of things."

Everyone froze.

"Running out?" Reagan asked. Panic was in his eyes as he whirled around.

"It's a wonder we lasted this long. I guess with the population being so low after the virus we could simply use what was stored. But now it's almost gone," Orion murmured.

"Can't you make more?" Sahara asked curiously.

"Who? The kids?" Jack asked with a snort. "They're too busy boarding around to do that kind of stuff."

"Death! We're all going to die!" Reagan yelled as he put his hands on his head in despair.

"I won't," Arden told him in a matter of fact tone.

Reagan's eyes grew wider. "Mutiny! One twin may not live without the other!" He picked up a spatula and stabbed it in the air to get his point across. Everyone ignored him.

"Actually, Rayne has made sure that the basics will always be available," Orion explained. "We just won't have any of the luxury items."

"Like strawberry milk," Sahara murmured.

The twins froze and turned to stare at her in horror.

"Terrell's going to go on a rampage if that runs out," Arden told her fearfully.

"Death!" Reagan wailed as he sunk to the floor hugging himself. "If it isn't from hunger, it's from a strawberry milk addict. I don't want to go that way. I'm too young to die!"

"Oh shut it," Alegra told him. "You're worse than Naomi."

"He has a point though." Arden shrugged. "Can you see Terrell without his strawberry milk?"

Sahara, Reagan, and Orion all shook their heads simultaneously.

"He'll probably kick us all out of the warehouse," Orion noted.

"While still demanding rent," Arden added.

"And then he'll chop us into little pieces while laughing like a maniac," Reagan whispered.

Arden turned to his twin. "I don't want to know what goes on in your head."

Jack turned away and left the room, excusing himself from the conversation.

"If you're all so worried about Terrell's strawberry milk, I have a solution," Alegra said calmly.

All eyes turned to her.

"Just get him to break the addiction."

"She's a genius!" Reagan yelled. He paused. "Wait...how?"

Alegra just smiled.

The group cleaned up and helped Jack chase out the last few customers. He told them that he would be closing the café for a week and so they should take the time off. No one argued with his decision. They headed home, curious to see what Alegra had in store for Terrell. Orion, however, stayed back with Jack to help him figure out what to do about the dwindling ingredients.

Naomi was waiting for them at the warehouse. She was sitting outside, playing by herself. When she saw the group arrive, she ran out, squealing in excitement. Reagan and Arden ran towards her, both seeming as excited as she was. However, they froze when she ran right past them and into Alegra's arms.

"We've been dumped," Reagan told Arden mournfully.

Alegra and Naomi ignored them both as they walked past them into the warehouse.

"Where's Terrell?" Alegra asked Naomi once inside.

"Dada?" Naomi asked. She shrugged. "Sleeping."

"Isn't that all he does?" Alegra asked dryly.

Sahara shot a look towards where she knew Terrell's mattress lay.

"Not waking him!" both twins yelled at the same time as they quickly put their fingers to their noses.

Alegra ignored them as she made her way to the fridge, Naomi close at her heels. Mo jumped off a counter and trotted after the two, seeming to hope that he would get something to eat. The twins turned to Sahara.

"Guess it's your turn." Arden grinned.

"Don't I always wake him?" Sahara asked.

"Because you're the only one he won't kill...that's if you don't count the cat." Arden shrugged. Reagan nodded in agreement.

"Just let him sleep." Sahara tried as she attempted to walk past the twins.

Arden grabbed a hold of her should before she could make it. He turned her around and began to steer her towards the stairs.

"It's boring if he's asleep," Reagan informed her as he went and plopped down on the couch.

"Isn't it safer for you if he's not awake?" Sahara asked. She heard a 'thud' and couldn't help but wonder what Alegra was doing.

"Is it?" Reagan asked.

"Quick. Do it before he realizes the truth," Arden whispered to Sahara as she gave her one more push and she reached the bottom of the stairs.

With a sigh, Sahara trudged up them. She wasn't sure when it had become her duty to wake Terrell from his long slumbers.

As she came to a stand beside his mattress, Sahara paused. Terrell was sprawled out, looking fast asleep. One hand was flung above his head which was tilted to the side. His other hand rested on his stomach and his blanket was lying almost completely on the floor.

Realizing that she was staring, Sahara blinked and quickly looked around. The twins couldn't see her where she was, and she felt relief at the knowledge.

Better wake him, she thought as she crouched down beside him.

"Hey," she said as she poked Terrell's side.

There was no reaction, not even a twitch of a muscle.

"Time to get up..." she poked harder. Still nothing. Sahara sat back and stared at Terrell thoughtfully. He looked so peaceful that she almost didn't have the heart to wake him...almost.

Leaning forward again, Sahara lifted her hand to Terrell's cheek. She poked it. When nothing happened, she slapped it. Terrell groaned as he shifted. He turned away and tugged his pillow out from under his head. Sahara watched as he pulled the pillow closer to himself and hugged it, his lips twitching into a smile.

Really? Sahara thought.

"Any luck?" Arden called from the safety of downstairs.

"I'm getting there," Sahara replied, not sounding convinced. She got up and stepped over Terrell. Once on the side he was now facing, she took a moment to glare at him, hoping it was enough to do the trick; it didn't. "Here goes nothing," Sahara muttered. She reached out, grabbed a corner of Terrell's pillow, and jerked it away from him.

"Ah huh!" Sahara announced triumphantly as she held her trophy above her head. However, her triumph was short lived as Terrell's hand snaked out. Before she could react, Sahara felt him grab a strong hold of her hand and jerk her down. She was helpless as she fell down right next to him. With wide eyes, and not daring to make a sound, she felt her heart hammering in her chest as Terrell's arms circled around her and she found herself taking the place of his pillow.

Sahara let out a little 'squeak'. Her mind was blank.

What? she tried to make sense of what had happened.

Terrell didn't even seem to realize as he continued to breathe in a steady rhythm; fast asleep.

"Help?" Sahara whispered. What do I do?

That was when she became aware of the rise and fall of Terrell's chest. Sahara stopped panicking. His steady breathing calmed her down. She felt a feeling of comfort wash over her. For some reason, in Terrell's arms she felt...safe. Her eyes started to drop...and then they flew open.

What are you thinking? Sahara thought in horror as she began to struggle. She only succeeded in turning around. Her breath caught as she realized how close Terrell's face was to hers. Her eyes trailed to his lips and a memory of him kissing her flashed through her mind.

Sahara squeezed her eyes shut.

"Eeep!" the scream made her jump, yet Terrell's arms stayed firmly around her, making her unable to escape.

"Molester!" Reagan's voice screeched. He was standing at the top of the stairs. There was the tromping of feet and Arden appeared behind his twin, eyes widening as he caught sight of Sahara's dilemma.

"What are you doing here?"

At the sound of Terrell's voice, Sahara's eyes flew back to his face to see that he had opened his eyes. He was staring at her, bleary eyed.

"Must. Save. Mother!" Reagan had jumped into action and rushed over with a pillow, he had brought from the couch, in his hands.

Seeming to realize that he wasn't asleep, Terrell let go of Sahara. Too confused by what was going on, Sahara stayed where she was, frozen to the spot. Terrell had sat up and scuttled back, away from the two twins who were storming towards him.

"What's going on up there?" Alegra yelled.

"W-wait!" Terrell held up his hands. The twins paused, each holding a pillow threateningly. "I didn't do anything!"

Both of the twin's eyes darted to the frozen Sahara and then back to Terrell.

"She attacked me. I'm the victim here," Terrell tried.

The twins lunged.

"Stop!"

Again, they froze, mere inches from Terrell.

Calmly, Terrell turned to Sahara. "You know...in Regona, this practically means we're married," Terrell said it with a straight face and Sahara's face turned a deeper shade of red.

That did it for the twins and they attacked him with pillows.

"Hey!" Terrell laughed. As he defended himself, Sahara crawled away from the pillow fight, seeking safety. Her face was burning and her heart racing. She felt confused...confused about what had happened and what she was feeling.

The twins turned away from a thoroughly pillow-beaten Terrell. Arden swung the pillow he held over one shoulder and Reagan held his up like a sword as they faced Sahara.

"The dragon is beaten, my lady," Arden announced.

"Aye," Reagan agreed as he placed a foot on top of Terrell's back and pushed him back down. "And from now on we'll face the said dragon when he needs to be wakened, just for you our sweet maiden."

"Dragon you say?" Terrell asked. He squirmed out from underneath of Reagan's foot and attacked him. As Arden turned to save his twin, Sahara took the moment to hurry back down the stairs.

She found Alegra rummaging through the cupboards in the kitchen area for something. "You okay?" Alegra asked as she turned around.

Sahara nodded, not meeting her eyes as she sat down at the table. She felt flustered and her heart was still racing. Even if Alegra noticed it, she didn't probe as she got back to searching for whatever it was she wanted.

"It sounds like a battlefield up there," Alegra commented.

"Someone's dying," Naomi added from where she sat on top of a counter, watching.

"No honey, that's just Reagan squealing like a girl," Alegra told her. She paused. "And do me a favor..."

"Don't marry someone like him," Naomi finished off. Sahara watched as Naomi rolled her eyes before continuing, "the man you marry one day has to be a nice gentleman who cares for you so much he would even go outside the city for you if he had to."

"And?" Alegra probed.

"He should be rich."

"Good girl," Alegra told her.

"How about Terrell?" Naomi asked.

"No." Alegra didn't even turn around. "Because if you do...I'll disown you."

"What's di...dis...diwsfown?"

"Alright," Terrell's voice interrupted.

Sahara turned in her chair to see that Terrell was standing at the top of the stairs. He stretched before lazily making his way down. The twins appeared moments later, their hair as messy as Terrell's from their fight.

When Terrell caught sight of Sahara, he winked at her.

Sahara turned away at once, avoiding his gaze as her face burned.

Terrell chuckled at her reaction.

He's just playing with you...just like he does with every other girl, Sahara told herself. Yet the thought made her heart sink.

Terrell was half way over to the table when he froze. "Wait a minute..." He glanced from one crew member to the other. "Thinking about it...why are you all here?"

Alegra didn't reply as she continued to rummage. Sahara was still trying to find the courage to say something after the incident only moments before.

"No work," Reagan said.

"Regona's running out of stuff," Arden elaborated as he walked past and made his way to the couch. Reagan, seeing his twin's destination, made a run for it. And so the fight for the couch began.

Terrell shrugged as he made his way to the fridge. Sahara realized that both the twins stopped fighting, and even Alegra seemed to watch out of the corner of her eyes. Curious, Sahara leaned forward.

Not noticing, Terrell opened the door. He froze.

"Da da da daaaaaaaaaa!" Naomi used the sound effect.

 Sahara craned her neck to see what the reason was. Her eyes widened as she saw that, save for a piece of paper, the fridge was completely empty. With shaking hands, Terrell picked up the paper. On it was drawn a face with a tongue sticking out.

Slowly, Terrell turned around to face the others. He pointed a finger at the paper. "What. Is. This?"

The twins both shrank back at the dark air that seemed to have formed around Terrell.

Naomi leaned forward to peer at the paper. "Oh!" she raised her hand. "Pick me!"

Terrell didn't reply as the air around him grew more dangerous.

"It's a face!" Naomi continued. "I know because I drew it." She smiled proudly.

"Where in Regona is my strawberry milk?" Terrell roared.

Both twins pointed accusing fingers at Alegra, who was still rummaging.

"It was her idea!" Reagan announced.

Terrell whirled to face Alegra. "What is this?" he asked again.

Alegra paused as she found what she was looking for. "This," she said calmly, "Is an intervention." She turned around, hiding something behind her back.

Terrell's jaw dropped and Sahara watched the scene before her unfold with fascination.

"A what?"

Alegra looked past Terrell and at Sahara. "Help me out here," she told her.

Sahara simply shrugged, still not able to find her voice.

Alegra let out a sigh. "Regona's running out of things pretty fast," she said. "Strawberry milk is one of those things."

"We're not out yet!" Terrell protested. He waved at the fridge. "This was still half full yesterday!"

"And yet what will you do when Regona does finally run out?" Alegra asked calmly.

Terrell looked as though the thought was unbelievable.

"Like it or not...we will run out sooner or later," Alegra told him. "It's better to get you over this addiction while we still can do it nicely...it's either that or make you suffer through cold turkey later on, if that's what you prefer."

Terrell's mouth opened, yet nothing came out.

"We'll start off with one carton per day. Then we'll make it to one per two days..." Alegra murmured to herself.

"Out!" Terrell roared as he glared daggers at Alegra.

Alegra raised an eyebrow.

"All of you!"

No one moved.

"If we go...you'll never know where your strawberry milk is," Arden piped up.

Terrell crumpled the piece of paper in his hands. "You can't do this! You can't rob a man of his strawberry milk!" He began to look around in panic.

"You should listen to yourself sometime," Alegra muttered in distaste.

"I knew it...I just knew you would all bring me misfortune!" Terrell continued.

Sahara tried hard not to giggle at how he was panicking just because there was no strawberry milk.

"Now, now," Alegra told him as she placed a hand on Terrell's shoulder. She didn't even notice the death glare he sent her. "We will cure you of this addiction," she told him firmly.

The twins nodded in agreement.

"It's not an addiction!" Terrell replied. "It's my life!"

"The first step to acceptance is denial," Alegra replied.

"It's not..."

"See!" A smile appeared on Alegra's face. "We're already getting somewhere!"

Terrell looked ready to murder her.

"And don't worry...I've actually found the perfect solution to all this," she continued.

Terrell paused. "What?"

"It's a way to get you over strawberry milk."

"Over it?"

Alegra nodded. "In fact, you'll forget all about it in no time with this plan."

Everyone was listening. The twins and Sahara leaned forward in anticipation.

"And what exactly is this plan?" Terrell asked.

Alegra's smile widened. "Break your addiction, by making you addicted to something else."

There was silence as everyone stared at her.

"And what would this other thing be?" Reagan breathed the question on everyone's mind.

Alegra whipped forth a lollipop from behind her back. She held it high for all to see. "With so few kids in Regona, it's perfect. We won't run out for years!"

The twins both clapped, looking in a trance as they stared at the lollipop in awe.

Sahara eyed it. "Isn't that bad for his teeth?" she asked.

"Who cares about his health?" Alegra waved it off.

Terrell looked at a loss of words.

"It doesn't really solve the problem," Sahara commented.

"Yeah it does. Lollipops are bound to last longer than strawberry milk."

"On what basis?"

"How many people have you seen walking around eating them?"

Sahara shrugged. "He'll still be addicted to something else."

"Psh," Alegra shrugged. She turned to Terrell and made a great show of handing him the lollipop. "Here, to help you with your strawberry milk withdrawal...it'll keep you occupied."

Terrell glared. However, he then reached out and snatched the lollipop, unable to resist the free candy.

"I want one too!" Naomi protested. Alegra tossed her one.

"I don't think you all appreciate me enough," Terrell spoke as he un-wrapped the sweet.

"Nah, you're just the guy who lives off my money," Alegra told him as she walked away.

"What if I told you I was an important person?" Terrell asked.

The twins relaxed as they realized that Terrell's mood had gotten better.

"What if I told you that I was?" Alegra retorted.

"Hah." Terrell stuck the lollipop into his mouth. "You're all dead," he added as he kicked the fridge shut.

The second it closed the whole City began to shake.