A/N: This chapter is based on Neighbours episode 7081 (the Monday of the 30th anniversary week).


Nina walked into the lobby of the Lassiters Hotel in Erinsborough, happy to be home again. She wasn't expecting to have to wait half an hour for a staff member to show up though, and quickly started to get bored. She was tired from her long flight and wanted to check in so she could rest before she went looking for her friends. As she waited, Nina noticed a flyer on the wall next to the reception desk and walked to it, smiling when she read that there was a festival going on that week. She decided that she would check it out, just as soon as someone took her up to her room. Sighing, Nina took a seat near the hotel entrance and closed her eyes, waiting.

Ten minutes later, someone tapped her on the shoulder. She had almost fallen asleep.

"Ma'am, sorry, but your room is ready. Please follow me."

Nina looked at the woman talking to her and smiled a little, just to be polite. "Thank you."

"I'm Terese, by the way. I'm the hotel manager here, and I really am sorry."

"It's fine."

Terese stopped at room 317. She unlocked the door and handed the key to Nina. Again, she turned to apologise.

"My apologies for the delay at reception." She turned and gasped. "Oh, and the state of this room."

"It's okay," insisted Nina. She had noticed the room, but didn't really care about it.

"No, no, it's not. This is way below our usual standards, Miss, um..."

"Arno. It's Florence Arno."

"Oh, that's a pretty name."

"Yeah, well, there's a bit of a story attached to it."

"Yeah, I'm sure there is. Listen, rest assured, this hotel is usually far more organised than this."

Nina looked around. "Yeah, I remember."

Slightly shocked, Terese turned to face her guest. "Oh, have you stayed here before?" she asked.

"Well, actually, I used to work here."

"You know, I was going to say, you do look a little familiar."

"Yeah, I mean, uh, it was a long time ago," she said hurriedly, trying to not let Terese recognise her. "I don't think we've actually met."

"Ah, well, maybe it was before my time. Now listen, can I offer you a complimentary spa voucher or spa treatment just to compensate for the appalling welcome?"

"No, thank you. I think I'm going to go for a walk."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, I'm positive," smiled Nina. "There's some people I want to catch up with."

"Okay," said Terese. "I'll leave you alone then. If you need anything, please call room service, and I'll make sure you get it immediately."

Nina nodded her thanks, then closed the door once Terese had gone. She sat on a chair and closed her eyes, completely mystified at how the hotel had gone downhill since she had left Erinsborough. After a few minutes of peace, Nina stood again, made sure she had her card and headed out to the coffee shop.


The coffee shop hadn't changed. It was even still called Harold's Place. Being there brought a smile to Nina's face as she remembered all the times she had spent there with Jack, then later with Conner. She was still smiling as she opened the door and walked in, looking for her friend.

"Oh, hi there," said Lauren as Nina stopped her on the way to the counter.

"Hi, is Harold here?" asked Nina.

"Harold, um, no." Lauren paused. "I mean, he's in town, but he doesn't work here anymore."

"Right, okay, well, maybe I'll catch him later then."

"Sure," smiled Lauren. "Just take a seat and someone will be with you soon."

Nina smiled and turned to find a table. She didn't hear the kitchen doors swing shut as someone else exited them behind her.

"Nina?" asked a completely surprised Lou from behind her.

Nina turned. "Lou! Hi."

Lou and Nina hugged each other, smiles on both faces as they finally got to talk in person again.

"You are a sight for sore eyes! Why didn't you tell me you were coming?" Lou asked.

"I promise, you were my next stop. I just... I wanted to surprise you."

"You succeeded. Nearly gave this old bloke a heart attack."

Nina laughed and shook her head at his antics. She turned around then as she heard someone call her name.

"Nina?" Susan asked in surprise.

"Susan, hi!" Nina gave her friend a hug.

"Look at you, for heaven's sake. Are you here for the concert? I heard you were going to perform."

"Actually, no. I'm kind of here under the radar."

"Ah, incognito, hey?" Lou asked in a silly manner.

Nina looked at him, serious. "Trying to be."

"Grab a table, and I'll scope the place out for papparazzi, and then you can tell us everything." He smiled as Nina and Susan laughed and headed for a booth in the back.

A few minutes later, Lou joined them, a wicked grin on his face. "No press, so we better keep you hidden from view before anyone realises that Nina Tucker is in Erinsborough."

"They'll know without seeing me if you keep talking that loud," said Nina, laughing.

"Right, sorry." But he made no attempt to drop his voice. Instead he just kept talking, asking her about how she was and what she was up to now.

Susan cut him off. "So, tell us, what's been happening in the last ten years?"

Nina sighed and sat back against the soft seat. "So much has happened since my first album," she said, though she figured they already knew most of it.

"Bollywood," stated Lou.

Nina gave him a grin. "That was an adventure."

"And then more albums," said Susan.

"Every couple of years, like clockwork."

Lou smiled. "And I've got every single one of them.

Susan sat forward in her seat. "You know, Karl still jogs to Born to Try, the dance remix."

Nina laughed at that one.

"Uh, Susan, please do not fill her head with thoughts of your husband in Lycra," said Lou.

Nina patted his arm. "Yes, I just got the mental image, thanks," she said sarcastically as she laughed.

Susan rested back against her chair, thoughtful. "You know, I can still remember Conner entering you in that UniFM contest."

"And if my memory serves me right, you nearly killed him," stated Lou as he looked at Nina.

Nina grimaced. "I know."

Susan smiled. "Yes, but imagine if he hadn't."

"It's true. When I think about my career, it all began with that first song. And all of you," said Nina happily.

"Don't forget the Scullywag," Lou said to her.

"Of course. And Jack."

"He couldn't come with you?" Susan asked, concerned.

Nina gave her a smile, but it was more of a grimace. "No. He's busy on the soccer circuit."

Lou tried to make her feel better. "Didn't I see a photograph of you two at some airport on your profile page?"

"Yeah, it was actually in Italy, just a couple months ago." She looked at them. "But I want to know what's been happening here."

Susan looked behind her and pointed to a couple at the counter. "Lou."

Lou looked over. "Oh, I'm needed."

"Yeah, and I've got to get to the church. Lou's granddaughter is getting married this week, and I'm going to perform the ceremony. I'm a celebrant now," Susan told Nina.

"Oh, wow!" Nina exclaimed, happy for her friend.

"And you are invited," said Lou. She was family after all. "Are you happy to stay here for a while?"

"You know, I'm actually going to go for a walk. The only problem is, I don't want to be seen by Paul Robinson." Nina gave them a look desperate look.

Susan gave her a compassionate look. "Oh, well, you know you're staying in his hotel?"

"He owns Lassiters?" Nina groaned. "Of all the places I picked, I'm right under his nose."

"Listen, I can give the manager a call and word her up. It'll be okay."

"Thank you," sighed Nina.

Lou hugged her. "Enjoy your walk and we'll talk later, okay? It was great to see you." He kissed her cheek.

"Great to see you. Thank you."

Nina gave Susan a hug as she left the coffee shop and headed to the hall indicated on the festival flyer she had seen in the hotel lobby. She smiled as she looked at pictures hanging in the hall of all the residents of Ramsay Street. She found pictures of all of her friends- Michelle, Tahnee, Conner, Jack- but her favourite one was the school dance when she was in year twelve. The photo had been taken by Susan during one of the slow dances. She looked at it for a few minutes, remembering how happy she and Jack had been back then, before he cheated on her and broke her heart. And it seemed as though she was going to be stuck in that loop, with Jack breaking her heart each time she finally felt happy. After a few more minutes of staring blankly at the photo, Nina finally left, going in search of Harold.


It took close to an hour, but Nina finally found out where Harold was- in his RV. He was staying with his friends, rather than inside the RV, but everyone she had asked had told her that he was there during the day. So Nina headed to Ramsay Street, stopping outside her old home as she remembered more happy times, and some sad times. She had felt horrible leaving Lou the way she had just after her eighteenth birthday, but she had felt that it was the right thing to do then, and eventually she had come back, even if it was only to fix what her mother had done to Lou. After she teared her eyes away, she made her way over to the RV and knocked, glad when Harold opened the door and let her in.

"I have missed you Nina," said Harold.

"I missed you too." Nina gave her friend a hug. "More than anyone else."

"Even your stepfather?"

"I talk to Lou all the time, we video chat. But I never see you. Where have you been?"

"Travelling around Australia. It's been great, but I missed everyone."

"I know the feeling."

"How is your career going?"

"Good. I was in London. I flew here to see everyone again."

"How long are you here?"

"Just for a few days. I have to head back to London to finish off a tour next week. What about you?"

"I'm leaving Friday. I'm going to finish off my travels. I still have South Australia, WA and Northern Territory to go."

"What about Tassie?"

"That was my first stop."

"So Melbourne is your third or fourth stop?"

"Fourth, after Tassie, I went up to Queensland, then stopped in New South Wales on the way down here."

"I haven't been to Northern Territory. You'll have to tell me what it's like up there."

"Of course I will. You know, I have all four of your albums. I've been listening to them lately. It reminds me of how much fun you had at my piano."

Nina laughed. "Oh, Harold, you are so sweet. I'll have to come visit you again when I finish in London."

"Call me, and I'll tell you where I am."

Nina promised she would call and then kissed him goodbye so she could return to her hotel room.


Once she was back at the hotel, Nina headed upstairs to find the manager in her room again, just finishing up on the phone. Nina gave her a small smile.

"Hey. Are you mad that an imposter checked into the hotel?" she asked Terese.

"Well, Miss Arno, as long as you promise not to be mad about this," she gestured to the room, "how could I possibly hold a grudge against you?"

"It's a deal," said Nina as she breathed a sigh of relief.

"It is a thrill to have you here."

"It's a thrill to be here."

"You know, I'm living in your old house."

"22 Ramsay Street?"

"Yeah. My daughter nearly fainted when someone told her she was in your old room."

Nina grinned. "Oh gosh, Erinsborough really is a small place, isn't it?"

Terese nodded. "Hey, can... can I ask you something? You don't have to answer."

"Yeah, that's fine."

"Why Florence Arno?"

"Well, uh, I was supposed to meet someone in Italy for the day..."

"Florence?"

"Yeah. That someone, Jack, he was flying in from Chicago, but his plane was late, and then by the time he arrived, I had to leave for London."

"Oh, that's a shame."

"Yeah, we always dreamed of taking a boat ride down the Arno River, you know, but all we got was a photo in the transit lounge instead," she said wryly. "You know, I guess the name's my way of clinging on to that little fantasy."

"Well, there's nothing wrong with that... but there's something very wrong with this room."

Nina sat on the unmade bed. "Relax, it's a first world problem. It's good to be reminded of that."

"Ah, but at this hotel, we pride ourselves on our gold level standards."

"Oh, yes, I know. It's cause, when I used to work here, I remembered our boss would drill that into us every day- 'gold level standards'- and we'd go and mimic it in the staff room."

"Ah... maybe something tells me I should go and check the staff room."

"You know, come to think of it, I have had some of the happiest times of my life in this place."

"Well, I promise you that this place will be in ship-shape within the hour, even if I have to get someone off the street."

Nina watched Terese leaving, and got an idea. "Wait, are you up for a wild idea?"

Terese stared at Nina suspiciously. "What would that be?"

"Why don't I clean?"

"As a maid?"

"Yeah."

"I don't know. You're a famous singer."

"So? I'm trying to be a normal person while I'm here."

Terese could understand that. She nodded reluctantly. Nina took the uniform and went into the bathroom, exiting a few minutes later in the dress and apron.

"How do I look?" she asked as she spun around.

"Well, it fits," sighed Terese, "but are you sure you really want to do this?"

"Yeah, it'll be so fun."

"But Nina, it won't be glamourous. You'll be changing sheets and restocking mini bars."

"Yeah, I'll have you know I was very good at putting the little bottles in a row." She paused. "Look, I know it's kind of weird, but this is something I'd like to do, I need to do it."

"Okay, okay," said Terese finally.

"Thank you. So, there's only one last thing. Paul, he lives upstairs, right?"

"Yeah, top floor, the ivory tower."

"Okay, cause if he sees me, he's going to want me to do this concert, and..."

"Oh, Nina, rest assured. If there's one thing Paul doesn't pay any attention to around here, it's his staff."

Nina smiled, feeling a little better. She thanked Terese and set about cleaning the bathroom and room.


A/N: WA is Western Australia, and Tassie is an Aussie abbreviation for Tasmania.