Luke was watching the monster trucks on TV when he heard a knock at the door. Jocelyn was in Idris for a month, with Clary and the others, and Luke was home alone, which was nice for a change. Outside, however, Luke's door was hiding something unusual. Lilith was standing beside the Seelie Queen who was fidgeting, her new pink backpack was too heavy for her, stuffed with all the four's toys. Camille was holding Magnus' hand to make sure he didn't wander off and Raphael was teething and grizzling in Lilith's arms.

Lilith knocked again, harder, patting the Seelie Queen's head when the girl looked at her. She was about eleven, and the oldest of the group, which Lilith had told her meant she had to look after the other three. Camille was nine, and was the group's troublemaker, as she really didn't like Raphael and kept pinching the toddler's arms and legs when she thought Lilith wasn't looking. Magnus was five and wanted a pink backpack too- he'd sulked all the way from the mall. Raphael was... well, Lilith wasn't actually sure, but about 18 months to two. He was old enough to talk, anyway, though most of what he said was just asking to be picked up or put down.

Luke opened the door, face unhappy. "What?" He stopped, and looked shocked when he saw the four immortals standing beside Lilith.

"What... what have you done to them?"

"Made them your responsibility! This will throw Downworld into chaos... but I couldn't kill them, that would be boring... this is much more fun!"

Luke gaped as he was handed over the four children, plus all their stuff. Magnus and Camille had a suitcase each, Raphael had a big canvas bag full of baby stuff and some onesies and the Seelie Queen had her backpack and a suitcase. Raphael was handed to Camille who glared at the baby and put him down among the bags.

"Lilith! How long will it last?" he called desperately, putting down the kids' bags and stepping onto the porch.

"Depends," Lilith replied, "I'm not sure. Maybe two years, maybe less."

"Two years?!"

"Or less, that's an extreme. Though, it could be as long as ten if you're not careful."

"Careful about what?"

"I can't tell you, it differs from curse to curse."

"Which curse did you use?"

"I got a rather angry warlock to cast one; I don't know which curse. All I know is that they're now completely human children."

Luke stared at her despondently as she shimmered then disappeared. The Seelie Queen came out and took Luke's hand.

"Raphael's hungry."

"What does he eat?"

"Baby food, he's got jars in his bag."

"Thank you, Milady."

"You're welcome. What are we having for dinner? Only Camille's allergic to gluten."

"Is she?"

"Yes."

"Well; can she eat sausages and potatoes?"

"Yes."

"That's what we're having, then. Go put your stuff in the spare rooms, please. Girls' in Clary's... that has a pullout bed. Boys in the one with one bed; does Raphael have a cot?"

"He has a portable one, but it's bad for babies to sleep in it too much."

"We'll go shopping tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay."

The Seelie Queen went back inside, and Luke heard her repeat what Luke had told her. Luke went back in, scooped up Raphael and asked Magnus to get a jar of baby food. Magnus darted off, eager to be of use. He came back holding a jar of something green, which the instructions said was to be heated for a minute. Luke put it in the microwave and looked for a place to eat the little boy while he ate.

He decided on the floor, and put Raphael's... spinach, maybe?... in a bowl near the fridge. He turned to get Raphael a spoon, and when he looked back, Raphael was spooning the mush into his mouth with his fingers.

"He's sorted, is he?"

"For now," the Seelie Queen replied. She seemed vaguely annoyed that Luke was fairly average at childcare. Luke smiled, asked her to keep an eye on the boy, which she agreed to do, going to sit beside him. Magnus was at the table, with some paper and crayons the Seelie Queen had taken out of her backpack, and Camille was in Clary's room, which was now the girls'. Luke thought he should go check on her, but a glance at his watch told him it was 5.30 and Magnus was eyeing the fridge.

Luke put peeled potatoes in a pot to boil, put some sausages in a pan, and went into Clary's room. Camille was lying on the pullout bed, playing with dolls.

"Hey, you okay?"

"Go away!"

Luke withdrew hurriedly, and went back to the kitchen. Magnus was now obviously hungry- Raphael was sated and was playing with his bowl. He had it on his head as a hat and was giggling. Luke swore and tore it off the baby's head. Raphael, with spinach in his hair, and a pout on his face, grabbed Luke's ankle.

"Give back."

"No, Raphael, it's bad to play with the bowls."

"Not!"

"It is," Luke said, and put the bowl on the bench. Raphael howled angrily and bit Luke's ankle. He only had about fifteen teeth, so it didn't hurt too much, but Magnus grabbed Raphael and yelled at him anyway. Luke separated the two of them, served up the meal, which Magnus gobbled, the Seelie Queen ate and Camille picked at. Raphael, who was sitting in the sink, turned on the water, and cried. Luke bathed the baby, dressed him in a clean nappy-and that was gross- put him in a onesie, set up the portable cot which was tucked underneath the baby food and nappies in the canvas bag, put him to bed, dressed Magnus in a shirt and a pair of undies to sleep in, tucked him up, and turned out their light. When he checked them again ten minutes later, both boys were sleeping, tuckered out by their long day.

Camille was harder to get to bed, but he managed by promising her he'd buy her a new doll when they went shopping. The Seelie Queen just got herself ready, scrubbing her teeth-which reminded Luke he'd forgotten to do the younger kids'- and going to sleep when the clock struck eight thirty.

Luke collapsed on the couch, pleased with himself for surviving, when a horrible thought struck him.

Oh god, I've got to tell Jocelyn and the others.