Author's Note: O.K, this is the first time I've ever worked up the guts to post something I've written. And yes this is a Theresa/Archie pairing. I don't really know why, I just like the pairing. This idea has been floating around in my head for a while now and it wouldn't go away. So I wrote it down. Tell me what you think!

Disclaimer: I own a cat, a dog, and a box full of comic books. But Cott? Nope!

Time Stops

Archie leaned against a marble pillar, closing his eyes as he tried to catch his breath. He had just escaped early from Ares and his grilling practice, and was now focusing and making sure his lungs were still working. He leaned his head back against the pillar, breathing slowly through his nose.

"I don't know what's wrong with me Persephone, I just can't..." Archie's head snapped up as Theresa's normally cheerful voice broke down into tears. He started to push himself away from the pillar, having no intentions of overhearing anything about the resident drama queen, possibly his least favorite team member, and a constant thorn-in-his-side.

But before he could make his escape, Persephone's gentle voice interrupted him. "Theresa, my dear, please, you need to calm down!"

The purple-haired teen suppressed a groan. He was definitely not going to try to sneak away now, he didn't want to accidentally get caught eavesdropping by the Queen of the Underworld.

"Now, tell me what is going on. You don't normally get this weakened after a vision, do you?" Persephone asked.

There was silence for a moment, and Archie unconsciously docked his head to the side, trying not to miss anything in a conversation that was suddenly something he needed to hear. "I-I've just started getting these horrible migraines the past few times I've gotten visions. Oh, Persephone it's getting so hard..." she broke off again, crying, deep heart-wrenching sobs that shook Archie to his core.

Migraines? Since when has Theresa ever gotten migraines? Ever since Archie had known the fiery redhead, he had never seen her sick. Even during the week when the flu had raged through the dorm, taking down everyone but himself and her, she hadn't even looked sick. They had spent the week taking care of the rest of the team, giving each other exasperated looks every time they'd passed each other walking down the halls towards (or away from) the latest disaster. Now she was getting migraines because of her visions? It was both unsettling and a little scary to know the annoying, fiery, headstrong girl could be so weakened by something the entire group took for granted. Her visions were often the only reason they all walked away from Cronus, the maniac Time God bent on World Destruction, intact.

For a moment, Archie wanted to follow after the two women as he heard their voices fade as they moved away, but then he remembered that he wasn't supposed to be listening to them, and he sighed, leaning back against the pillar once more.

"Archie?" Blinking out of his thoughts, Archie looked up to see Herry standing before him, a confused look on his face. "What are you doing Arch? Still exhausted by Ares' workout?"

Quickly deciding to let Theresa tell the others what was going on on her own, Archie gave the muscled youth in front of him a smirk. "Me? Exhausted?" He rolled his eyes for added effect, "No way man! Now lets you and I go and grab some burgers, eh?"

Herry's big grin at the mention of food made Archie chuckle as he pushed off the pillar he had still been leaning on and walked away from the hidden hall of the school. He tried, and was mostly successful in pushing his worries about Theresa out of his mind as he followed Herry to his truck. Let the drama queen take care of herself. She's not going to appreciate my help anyways...

What are you doing to me? I don' t understand anymore and I'm afraid of losing myself...

That Evening

Archie, Odie and Neil marched into the brownstone, laughing at a joke from Odie. They were greeted by most of the rest of the team, who all gave them cheerful "hi!"s or "What took you so long? I'm starving!"

Grinning at Herry, Archie snapped back playfully, "Easy Herry. We're back, no need to get so worked up!"

Atlanta rolled her eyes, standing up from her seat, "All right then, since you guys took so long getting back, you can wash the dishes tonight. And no Neil, I don't care if you just had your nails done, you still doing them!" Ignoring the groans from the three boys, Atlanta waltzed out of the sitting room.

Archie's eyes followed her as she walked away, before he shook his head, clearing it. Atlanta was pretty, smart, cheeky, fast, brave, and many other things, but she was also his best friend. He had come to terms with the fact that this was not going to change, and tried not to think of the spunky redhead any other way.

He rolled his eyes at Neil, who was still whining over "having to do a chore that was so beneath him, why was Atlanta so mean to him, what had he ever done to her, blah, blah blah..." and strolled down the hall towards his room. He glanced at Theresa's open door as he passed it, noting she was not there, and continued down the hall, reminding himself to leave her alone. Reaching his room, he pulled his backpack off, and dumped it on the floor. He thought about doing his homework, then resolved to not spend so much time thinking about homework (A.N.: The author in no way endorses not doing your homework. Get it done people!).

Unzipping his sweater, he tugged it off and tossed it in the direction of his laundry basket, before walking over to his bed and collapsing on it. Putting his hands behind his head as he stared up at his roof, he tried to keep his mind blank, not wanting to think about anything for a while. He was unsuccessful.

Crap. How am I supposed to ignore Theresa if she won't get out of my head? Archie scowled to himself as he remembered the broken sobs he had heard from the Fighter not an hour ago. What's going on with her anyways? She's never gotten sick before, so what's the deal with her migraines? Sitting up with a groan, Archie couldn't help but picture Theresa's normally beautiful face, contorted in pain. Argh, Archie, stop thinking about her!

Half-irritated, half-concerned, the annoyed teen pulled himself out of bed, and walked out of his room. He had no idea why he was suddenly so concerned with the annoying drama queen, but it was irritating that he couldn't stop himself from worrying about her.

Shaking his head as he walked down the hall once again, Archie decided he would suck it up and ask Theresa if everything was O.K.. And when she gets defensive and tears my head off, what am I going to say? "Sorry I just happened to hear you when you were talking to Persephone, and I wanted to make sure you weren't dieing on us?" Right, Archie great plan. Rolling his eyes, he made his way to the kitchen and the alluring smells coming from it, still debating with himself.

To be continued...(eventually)

A.N.: EDIT ALERT!! I looked over my chapter and found a few things that could be fixed. I don't have a beta reader yet, so I have to catch my mistakes on my own. Sorry about the suckiness... Now Review more, and make me happy!

R'n'R!