Disclaimer - I don't own ASOUE.

It was almost exactly 6pm on the 12th of November of the year when Violet Baudelaire was 8 and Klaus Baudelaire was 6, and Sunny Baudelaire was not even an idea. The Baudelaire parents were standing in the hallway of the mansion in which the family lived, and Mrs Baudelaire, who had just put on her coat, was talking to her two young children.

"Now, children, you'll behave for Mrs Morris, won't you?"

"Yes, Mummy," said the two children.

"Will you go to bed on time?"

"Yes, Mummy."

"Will you remember to tell Mrs Morris about the bedtime routine?"

"Yes, Mummy."

"Are you going to answer the phone when Mrs Morris isn't there?"

"Yes, Mummy."

"Good – what?"

"No, Mummy," the children hastily amended. "We won't."

Mrs Baudelaire smiled and kissed them both on their heads.

"Wonderful," she said.

"We'll be back before 11pm," added Mr Baudelaire, pulling the children into a hug. "So don't worry, eh?"

He was looking down on Klaus as he said that. Klaus looked up and blinked behind his round glasses.

"Dad, that was last year," he said, smiling slightly. "I've grown since then. I know it's silly now, and I won't be scared this time. Besides, I'll probably reading Great Expectations in the library -"

"Not all evening, Klaus," laughed Mr Baudelaire. "I know you're capable of spending lots and lots of time in there, but you should probably be a bit more sociable today. Violet -"

"I'll keep an eye on him, Father," said Violet, correctly guessing what Mr Baudelaire was about to ask. "And," she added, glancing up at her father with a sheepish smile, "I won't spend all evening in my bedroom, building the radio I was telling you about."

Mr Baudelaire beamed at her, and ruffled her hair.

"Good girl."

"Right, Bertrand," said Mrs Baudelaire. "We'd better be going, or we'll miss the beginning of the opera."

Klaus nodded, and Violet reached out and patted his arm. Mrs Baudelaire smiled at the two children.

"Mrs Morris will be here in just a moment," she said, "so you won't be alone for very long."

A car horn sounded outside.

"That's the cab," said Mr Baudelaire. "Well, children, we'll probably see you tomorrow morning – Mrs Morris will put you to bed on time, I hope!"

"We'll tell her," said Violet. "Don't worry."

"OK," Mrs Baudelaire said. Mr Baudelaire opened the door, and stepped out into the cold night. Mrs Baudelaire followed and turned one last time.

"Goodbye, darlings," she said.

"Bye, Mummy," said the children.

"Have a good evening," added Mr Baudelaire.

"You too," said Violet.

The parents nodded, smiled, and closed the door, leaving Violet and Klaus alone for at least as long as it took Mrs Morris to arrive.

First chapter of my first story! Please review - you know you want to!