Another unplanned Infinity Train story after season two? Am I going to make one of these after every season? Who knows.

As with the first chapter, this story will contain spoilers from season two, so please make sure you've watched the WHOLE THING before reading this! Unless you're into getting spoiled, or just hate following directions. It's not like I can stop you anyway.

And one more time, just like in chapter one, when the next season comes out, some things in this might clash with canon, so just know now that all I have to go off of when writing is the first two seasons! Now finally, enjoy the story.

"Okay, here's the plan. You go into the kitchen, act like an annoying little brother, and distract mom and dad while I sneak Lake up to our room."

"That's a terrible plan. Hey!" Nate protested as Jesse lightly smacked the back of his head.

Jesse, Nate, and Lake were currently standing outside Jesse and Nate's house. They had agreed for Lake to stay there, at the very least until she found somewhere else, but since none of the three wanted to be the one to explain everything to their parents, here they were.

"You got a better idea?" Jesse questioned. At Nate's shrug, he continued, "Then we'll go with my plan. Besides, we just have to get her to our room and then we're good to go."

"I-I don't know," Lake interrupted, more unsure than usual. "I mean, I can take care of myself..." Her shoulders slumped slightly and her gaze drifted downward and away.

Jesse, knowing what she was really worried about, took her hand and said more gently, "Hey, you won't be a bother, or in the way, if that's what you're thinking." And then abruptly dropped her hand as he noticed Nate eyeing the tender gesture with a mischievous look. Lake didn't quite meet his eyes, but Jesse caught the faint smile that softened her features before it disappeared.

"A-Anyway, let's go!" he squeaked, walking up to the front door.

"Uhh, Jesse?" Nate interrupted. "Maybe the kid who hasn't been missing for weeks should go first?"

"Right, right," Jesse muttered, standing to the side as his brother opened the door and called a greeting to their parents. Nate's voice because quieter as he moved further into the house, and even though Jesse knew it wasn't time for him to enter yet, he couldn't stop himself from peeking into the half-open door. His heart clenched as he caught sight of his mother. He hadn't realized how much he'd really missed her until just now, and he was suddenly seized with the desire to burst inside and throw himself into one of the hugs he'd always been so embarrassed to receive. But one glance behind him at Lake, so obviously trying not to look nervous, tempered the irresistible urge into something manageable. He could wait, just for a little longer.

Jesse focused his thoughts again, and seeing that the area inside was now deserted, he motioned silently for Lake to follow. Lake glanced around confusedly, and Jesse pointed up the stairs, turning back around to quietly shut the door.

Creeeaaak...

Jesse froze. He'd forgotten to tell Lake about the horribly creaky first step. He was so used to avoiding it, it didn't even register as important anymore.

"What was that?" His mother's voice came softly from another room.

Jesse whipped around to see Lake frozen on the first step, panic flashing over her face.

"What was what?" Nate's voice now, sounding high-pitched and strained. "I didn't hear anything. Probably nothing!"

Jesse frantically waved Lake up the steps. "Go," he mouthed, and she hurried as quietly as she could up the stairs.

Just as she disappeared from sight, Jesse's mother rounded the corner. Her jaw dropped open. She approached her son cautiously, almost fearfully, as if he were an illusion that might disappear at any moment.

A small, nervous smile crept onto Jesse's face. "Hi, mom."

The spell was broken. Jesse's mom rushed forward and wrapped him tightly in a hug. Her whole body shook with each shaking breath she took. "Jesse," she choked out, "Jesse, where have you been?"

Jesse squeezed his eyes shut as he held his mom tightly. "It's a long story."

Whittney sighed as she rearranged her hands on the dining room table. Although she would have loved to have spent more time with her son, she understood that he needed to rest.

Jesse had given his family a somewhat vague story of hopping on a train, getting lost, and finding his way back. Whittney wasn't quite sure what to make of it, but seeing as the boy looked exhausted and insisted on going up to his room, she agreed to leave it until later.

She pulled her hands apart again and knit them back together in a new formation. She was the last one awake; Jesse, Nate, and her husband all having gone to bed already, but she couldn't seem to stop thinking. Her mind ran in circles, asking the same questions over and over until her brain hurt. Finally, she shook her head and stood up. Sitting here would do her no good; she'd check on Jesse one more time, then go to bed and have a fresh mind in the morning.

As Whittney crept up the stairs and paused outside Nate and Jesse's room, she heard the faint sounds of video gaming coming from behind the door. She let a tiny smile tug at her mouth as she listened to her sons' laughter.

She pushed the door open. "Jesse, I just wanted to say goodnight-"

Three pairs of eyes stared back at her. Two dark, and one bright, shiny silver.

"Hello, Mrs. Cosay," squeaked the girl.

Wow this took way longer than the last one, some parts of it are still kind of weak, but it's done. Please let me know if you find any typos because I'm pretty much putting it straight out to the internet now that it's done.

Also yes this clashes with my original headcanon that little to no time passed while on the train, but after seeing the way Nate acted toward Jesse in the last episode, I'm thinking time probably passed, if not as normal then in some way.

Anyway! I hope you enjoyed, even though it ended a little inconclusively :) I hope everyone understood what happened, and finally I hope you have a nice day!