"Well, this is home." Nazir said as he carried in the last crate from the cart.

"Not as nice as the old one, but it will do." Babette replied.

"Well, when the listener returns she will, without a doubt, be bringing loads to coin with her." He laughed. "Now get some candles lit while I put our night mother into position."

A few days past until the listener came back. Nazir was in the dining room when she appeared. She looked ashen, and looked as if her mind was elsewhere.

"Welcome back. Tell me, how's the Emperor?" He asked.

"He now serves sithis in the void." She replied.

"Wonderful. And how about the payment?"

She was silent for a long while before saying "20,000 septims."

"HA HA!" Nazir screamed. "We should have done this ages ago! Tell you what, how about we use this money to clean up the place a bit." She was silent. "Right?"

"OH, yes, right. The…sanctuary, right." She said, looking around.

"Go to Delvin Mallory, in Riften. He'll know what to do."

"Um, yeah. I'll, uh, go do that. Right now. I'm leaving." She said while smiling and walking up the stairs. "See you soon."

Nazir waved. He couldn't wait to see what this place would look like.

2 months passed and still no word from the listener. Babette and Nazir were sitting at the table one night when Babette said, "You know, it has been an awfully long time…"

"Babette my dear be patient." He said, putting his bread down. "Let's not forget that our listener is also the dragonborn. She could be doing other things, but she will be back. She was also talking about wanting a big house in Solitude, so she could be doing odd jobs trying to save up some money."

Babette sighed and rolled her eyes.

1 month later, there was still no sign from her. They had cleaned up as best they could, but it would be marvelous if they could get Delvin in here. However, Nazir was still hopeful.

He was going to bed one night and had a very powerful dream.

It was dark. He was standing in a room and the night mother was on the other side.

"What…." He started to say.

"Nazir," She said in her always-whispering voice. "I have to tell you something."

"But," He said, shocked, "I'm not the listener!"

"Do you not wish to serve me?" She asked.

"NO! I…I only live to serve you!"

"Good. Come closer."

He took a few steps closer to the coffin.

"Closer."

He walked all the way until his feet touched the base.

"What is it, my mother?" He asked. There was a moment of silence before she said…

"You've been had."

A/N:

Yes, I actually did this. I had already finished the DB quest line on another account so I knew that the ending was LAME (plus you only get to keep 1,000 of the 20,000 coin) so I took the money and bought a few houses with it.

Yes, I stole from the Dark Brotherhood.