Author Note: Set around the time of the thirtieth anniversary of Neighbours. Nina has left to see Jack but returned, this time with someone, and it isn't a temporary visit. Also, it is slightly AU, and some characters from the show are not in it, while some older characters have come back.
Nina Tucker walked up to the house she had bought in Ramsay street, surprised that it was Harold's old home. It had been a long time since she had set foot in there. Once she had left Erinsborough to go live with her father in India, she had never thought of coming back, and although she had returned, it had been brief, enough to deal with some things she had left upon leaving the suburb and the country. She hadn't gone back to the piano in that time, or the pool, and things hadn't been the same. But when she had returned almost thirteen years later, she had realised how much she missed everyone. The four days she had spent there weren't enough, and she had been planning to stay longer until Jack had messaged her. Now she was back, having convinced Jack that she needed to return home, and that he should too. He had told her that he had some things to do and would meet her in Erinsborough, so she had kissed him goodbye and gotten on her flight to Melbourne.
Inside hadn't changed. The house was still the same bright and cheery yellow colour. The piano hadn't moved. Nothing was out of place. It was exactly the same as her memories. Harold had left her a message telling her that the house was all hers now, that nobody was living there anymore, so she didn't have to worry that she would have people coming and going. She wasn't counting on the surprise he had left her though.
"It's so good to see you Nina!"
Nina turned around and smiled, happy to see Harold there, his arms wide open and a big smile on his face. She walked back to where he was standing near the couch and gave him a hug, having missed his upbeat attitude more than anyone or anything else.
"It's great to see you too Harold. I thought Susan said you were leaving a few days after I did?"
"Well, when you put an offer in for the house, I found out and thought I would surprise you. I've missed you so much."
"I've missed you too."
"Have you seen anyone else yet?"
"No, I came straight here to drop off my bags. I was thinking of going to the coffee shop actually. Would you like to come?"
"I would love too. We should catch up before I leave tonight."
"Tonight? Where are you going?"
"To travel around the country, and to visit some family in Brisbane."
"That sounds lovely. But please be careful. And promise me you'll call when you stop?"
"Of course."
Nina smiled as she hugged Harold again. "Just let me put these away and we can get going."
Harold nodded and waited until she disappeared to put the next part of his surprise into action. He pulled out his phone and made a call, just managing to put it back in his pocket before Nina came back into the lounge room.
"Ready to go?" Harold asked.
"Yes." She locked up her new home and set off with Harold.
The coffee shop- still called Harold's place- was packed. A sign on the window announced that there was a lunch special between twelve and two, so Nina ordered some lunch for herself and Harold, then found an empty seat near the door.
"So, what brings you back this time?"
"I missed my home," smiled Nina. "I'm tired of traveling. After I left Erinsborough to go to America, I met up with Michelle in New York before I went to Hollywood to sing. She convinced me that I should sing in New York, so I returned there after my contract was finished in Hollywood. But it isn't the same as singing here. Unless I was with Jack, I wasn't happy, and it's hard to be with him with our schedules. So I made the decision that I was going to return home, and asked Jack to come too. He's finishing off a project, then coming down."
"Why didn't you come home sooner?"
"I don't know. But writing Only Human made me realise what I wanted: Jack and a quiet life. I spoke to Mayor Robinson, and he agreed to give me a job working as an entertainer at Lassiter's until I can find a solid job."
"That was nice of Paul. How does he feel about Nina Tucker working at his hotel?"
"He thought I was joking at first. His exact words were 'why would you want to work as a maid or an entertainer when you can sing?'"
Harold laughed. "That sounds about right."
Nina smiled. She thanked the waitress that brought them their food and then turned her attention back to Harold. They were busy chatting when the door opened again and someone sat down next to them.
"Michelle?" Nina was surprised but happy to see her best friend.
"Hi. I was wondering when you would show up already. I've been waiting all morning for Harold to call me." Michelle threw her arms around Nina. "I can't believe you're really here!"
Stunned, Nina didn't know what to say. She just kept hugging her friend until Harold cleared his throat.
"Michelle came back last week to see some old friends. I promised to call her when you came to Erinsborough," said Harold, trying to explain how Michelle had gotten there but not been there when Nina had been back for the festival.
"Are you staying here?" asked Nina.
"For a while, but then I'm going back to America to live with Flick again. Harold tells me you're living here now. Maybe we can go do something together this week?"
"Uh, yeah okay. But it has to be during the day, I'm working every night."
"Where are you working?"
"Lassiter's. Apparently Paul Robinson can be quite nice, although people keep telling me he's a little mean."
"Little isn't the right word," said a voice nearby.
Nina and Michelle turned around. "Sorry?"
"I wasn't meaning to listen to your conversation, but when you mentioned my dad, I thought I should say something."
Nina and Michelle felt confused. They didn't know who this girl was. Harold smiled though and introduced the young woman.
"This is Elle Robinson. She is Paul's daughter. And she's right, he is more than a little mean."
"Oh, nice to meet you Elle. I'm Nina, this is Michelle."
"Nina Tucker?"
"Uh, yeah, that's me."
"My dad talks about you all the time. Apparently he has a new favourite singer- you. Ever since you came to town and sang at the festival for him, he's been so fascinated. He went out and bought all of your albums and listens to the songs so he knows them."
"Oh, great." Nina laughed a little. "A true fan."
"Whatever you do, try to keep away from him for at least the next week. Hopefully he'll have calmed down by then."
"That won't be easy. He gave me a job at Lassiter's as the resident entertainer."
"Oh, well, he never goes down there anyway, and he barely notices his staff."
That got another laugh from Nina. "He noticed me quite easily a couple of weeks ago when I was helping out at the hotel."
"I remember dad mentioning that. You were cleaning and he thought it was odd."
"Yeah, Lou mentioned that actually," said Michelle with a grin. "Going back to your roots Nina?"
"Actually, Terese mentioned that they were short staffed and she was trying to get someone to clean the room I stayed in, so I offered to do it. And, yeah, it felt nice to be unnoticed for a while again."
"Don't be silly."
"No, it's true! Everywhere I go, people know me, and sometimes I just want some privacy."
"I get that, I was pretty well known around here for my horrible way with people," said Elle, "it was nice to get to New York and be anyone I wanted to be."
"You used to live here? How come I haven't seen you before?"
"You had already left Ramsay Street when I arrived. And then I moved a few years ago to New York for work."
Nina smiled. She liked this girl, despite the way she tried to say to people she wasn't nice. She reminded her of Tahnee, and how America had changed her.
"Anyway, I should get going, my dad is waiting for me so I can meet my cousin Daniel. Apparently he was meant to get married, and it didn't happen, so I get to console him." Elle said goodbye, gave Harold a hug and then walked out of the coffee shop.
"I've heard about her," said Michelle, "but I honestly didn't think that she could be so mean."
"I don't think she is. She kind of reminds me of Tahnee. America made them be nicer."
"Maybe." Michelle smiled. "Now, what are we going to do this week?"