Hey guys, this story takes pace after The Hollow Boy BUT in this fanfic, Lucy didn't leave the team until a few weeks after where she finally realised the danger she put them all in, this is kind of what happens in between.

My head throbbed as the three of them swarmed me with questions and questions, demanding answers out of my cracked lips. My fall down under Aickmeire's mall had left its mark over my bruised ribs that were in their last stages of healing along with my legs that had lost their swelling but only ached as an aftermath.

I was sprawled over the long vintage fabric couch that lined in front of Lockwood's arm chair in the bright, sun lit library on Portland road. My two long feet were propped on top of each other at the arm rest of the couch, entrapped in jet black jeans followed by a grey belt and a long black tunic that flowed a few centimetres below my waist. My hand was plopped against my eyes as I tried to shield my chestnut irises from the sun glaring cones of light.

"Come on Luce! It won't be that bad" I heard Lockwood whine as he towered over the couch, covering the light partially.

"Yes it will" I mumbled below the jet-black fabric of my sleeve. DEPRAC and Penelope Fittes had organised a grand ball in my honour. Sure I was flattered but I really had no willpower left to get out of the house in the blazing heat, go down to the shops and buy a decent dress than suffer through an agonisingly slow party filled with posh looking brats who passed as qualified agents and the old supervisors who had it out for Lockwood and Co. The party was in my honour, the celebration of my survival out of the Chelsea Outbreak case that killed and petrified thousands in London. I was flattered…really I was but like I said before…. NO willpower.

"Lucy, you should be honoured to go to this party, it's all for you" Holly expressed from her position on the floor "It will give Lockwood and Co. brilliant publicity and this may be the break you all have been hoping for"

I lifted my covered arm and placed it over my slim waist, turning my head in her direction "Holly, if I go, I'll look anything far from the guest of honour and besides it may just be a boring party full of drunk and snobby agents who kind of have it out for us since we're getting all this publicity"

"So what" George squeaked from his place behind Lucy's head "Seeing them burn should be paradise for you and just think! THE Penelope Fittes, owner and founder of the Fittes agency has held a ball for one of our own employees. How amazing!"

"Simply marvellous George" I said sarcastically, covering my eyes once again as Lockwood shifted his position, allowing the spears of light to weave around his figure.

"Come on Lucy, please" he begged as I removed my sleeve and squinted to see his pleading face, I scanned the faces of the other duo and gave in "Fine"

"Yes!" the three of them said in unison. The chorused voices and mixed pitches startled me as I made an attempt to get up. As I jumped into a sitting position, Holly and Lockwood stifled a laugh, but George wasn't as polite and burst into a fit of laughter, doubling over like a bobbling idiot.

"Ha Ha Ha very funny George" I said sarcastically but I couldn't betray the small grin perking up the corners of my cracked lips. Holly and Lockwood finally broke and startled me even more, fuelling their laughs to burn fiercer as I was forced to join in.

It was these moments I loved, acting like children again. These moments were scarce in our tight ghost fighting schedules and life threatening daily routines. Slowly as the days past I, strangely, found my heart widening up for Holly. When she wasn't being a whiney prissy or a bossy mother he actually wasn't bad company. We put aside or differences and gave each other a chance and I found a few things about Holly that I like a lot. For example, her caring nature, I felt myself attached to this temporary older sister that I found in London. But we wouldn't be ourselves if we didn't squabble a bit now would we?

"Come, I'm going to make sure you're the star of this ball" my smile fell as I heard Holly's little statement.

"What?" I whispered but before I could get an answer, holly's iron grip rested around my firm wrist. Pulling me off the couch's comfortable padding. Pulling me into the hall before I could steady my startled body as I stumbled into the wall near the coat rack, my brown jacket was thrown at me as I turned towards Holly. My right arm snaked through the sleeve but before the other was secured inside the fabric I was pulled outside by an energetic Holly.

Lockwood and George were left hollering in the four storey house as Holly hauled a cab and we were destined to arrive at Sally's Sequence and Sashes.

As we entered the shop, the door hit onto a bronze little bell that sent a melodious ringing echoing in the secluded shop that was lined with dozens of bright and pale dresses, both for dinner outings or for extravagant balls.

"Why hello dears" piped a cheery voice behind the counter.

A woman in her late 40s stood behind the marble counter, she wore a pale pink corset and a crisp white skirt, her smile radiated true happiness as she gazed at the two of us "Oh my! You must be… Lucy Carlyle"

My insides churned, the past few days I had been swarmed by various Londoners who congratulated and asked for my autograph, when I simply just exited the house to buy a couple of chocolate and raspberry Swiss Rolls or just for a pleasant walk in the park.

"Well, for you two the dresses are on the house"

"Honesty! Ma'am that isn't necessary" I protested but the lady only held up her hand.

"Nope, I insist"

"Thank you Ma'am, but I already ordered a stunning dress to wear to a party that sadly was declined so the only one in check is Lucy here"

"Well then, I sense this is going to take a while, let's going" she said enthusiastically as she stepped out from behind the counter and walked further into the large extended shop "Well! Chop Chop" she waved above towering racks as the girls followed her to a fitting and viewing area.

There were three change rooms fitted into a semi-circle with a small elevated circle with a spotlight showering the whole area. I turned to Holly who raised both thumbs with an enthusiastic smile.

"Well why don't you go look for something, while I set up a mirror" she said with a warm smile, clapping her hands and shuffling off to get a mirror which I presumed would be exceedingly large.

"Come on! Release the inner girl" Holly nudged my side with her hip as she slowly walked to the racks and I begrudgingly followed.

"She's hard to release" I mumbled but Holly heard and burst into a tiny fit of laughter before she silenced herself but I noticed the smirk still lying on her face