The smell of cookies filled the room, but the two didn't have time to enjoy it as they rushed around to get everything packed and cleaned up before they left.

Stress wrapped them up in tinfoil (chef) carefully, and placed them into baskets, while Alex threw everything in the sink and wiped down the counters from the egg shells he had no doubt cracked and the flour that hadn't quite made into the bowl. Stress used spider string to hold the tinfoil on and secure it better, which was a technique Alex hadn't seen before.

In the mess, one of them had flicked off the oven to make sure they didn't forget later and risk disaster, and they had both licked the spoons used for scooping the dough. If they died from raw egg poisoning, (if that was even possible) they would die happy.

Working together in a rush made the process speed by, and in only a few minutes everything was back to normal, save for the dishes in the sink they planned to do later, and most importantly, the new delicious smell of cookies in the air.

"And now to deliver them!" Stress smiled, hands on her hips and a wide grin as she surveyed the room.

"Where are we going exactly?" Alex asked.

"Well Joe said we could give his to him tomorrow, or give them to him at the place, and I'd rather do the latter so I don't have to make a trip to his place tomorrow." Stress thought through aloud.

"That doesn't answer my question." Alex chuckled.

"Well my eltra is still broken, and you don't haf one, so we're gonna haf to go through the nether." Stress said the name didn't seem like she was all too excited.

The nether was partially an answer then. At least it was something, so Alex shrugged and dropped the question.

Stress placed the baskets- 2 big ones, a medium one, and a small one for Joe- near the door. Alex slid on his boots and tied up the worn laces and slid on the armor he had forgotten he had taken off, feeling the familiar weight back on his shoulders. He hardly even remembered taking it off, but something about moving faster and easier was the reason probably. It felt both comfortable and restranting have it back on, but he didn't complain out loud. The nether was as good a reason as any to have it on.

Stress slid some golden boots on, a jacket, gloves, and full diamond armor (apart from the boots) over it. It didn't look very comfortable.

"Woah, how far are we going in the nether?" Alex asked as he eyed up the armor.

"Oh not far, don't worry." Stress said. "Just like to be prepared is all."

"Ok then." He said.

Stress took 1 big one and the medium one, and handed the other two to Alex. With the arm that had the medium basket looped over it, she grabbed a sword on a nearby armorstand and held it awkwardly. Alex stifled a chuckle at the scene.

Laying on a chest was a half used glowing iron sword.

"Mine if I borrow this?" Alex asked, picking it up to get the feel of it. He held both baskets clutched in his other hand by the handle so he could actually hold the sword correctly. And figured it was a bit more comfortable that Stress's situation.

"Of course luv!" Stress nodded.

She stood in front of the portal and looked at it warily.

"Did we turn the oven off?" She asked.

"Uh, yeah?" Alex said.

"And we're not forgetting anything?"

"Cookies, armor, our own two feet. What else do we need?" Alex glanced at her and shrugged.

"Uh-" Stress avoided eye contact and scanned the room again, looking for another excuse to avoid the inevitable.

"Stress, are you ok?"

"Yeah yeah- just a lil' nervous is all."

Alex switched the iron sword to his other hand and put his now free hand on her shoulder.

"Relax ok. In and out of there ok?"

"Ok." Stress whispered.

The swirling purple danced in front of them, and Stress took a reflexive step backward. The first time, she had gone in so quickly she didn't have time to panic, but she didn't have that luxury this time and panic was seeping through her mind.

"Hey hey, it's ok. How about we go in together?" Alex asked, reaching out his hand to Stress.

This really wasn't his scene either. Nether? Whatever. But helping someone- a hermit no less -through their fears, was something new all together. He really hoped he was doing it right.

She nodded and took his hand, stepping onto the obsidian slowly.

Pop!

And they were whisked away to another dimension!

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Splitting this one into two or writers block wouldn't let me ever finish this again. Don't want a repeat of last year, lol. Thanks for reading!