So, I promised myself you'd all get new chapters when I wrote more for this but this is a celebratory post because my three amazing Tesla shirts arrived today :) I know it's short and I've made you wait a ridiculously long time but life got pretty darn hectic and unpleasant over the last week and a bit and I've done very little writing because of it. And I'm going away this weekend! How rude of me! But I will post another chapter for this come hell or high water before I go away on Friday. Well, I say that but you know me...

Thank you to the overwhelming number of reviews this received! I am just floored by the response guys and it made me feel even more guilty for not getting around to this... I GIVE YOU ALL THE TESLA-STACHE COOKIES IN DA WORLD!

Also, anyone else having trouble receiving alerts and such from ff? Nothing is coming through for me! Speaking of which, this is a second attempt at an upload because apparently some people can see it while others can't... It seems that the direct link from an alert email will work but nothing else! But this morning I did wake up to 22 emails from ff from the past few days!

xx


It was just a pit stop, Nikola reminded himself. Just a pit stop and then he'd go see her. Staring out the window was a perfectly fine thing to do, after all the grounds were pretty and green and everything. Then movement on the long and winding path that led to the front steps caught his eye.

Huggybear and Wolfboy, he recognized quickly, leaning forward as he tried to discern the third figure. She was (and he knew it was a she, those curves were to die for) stomping, her anger discernable even at this distance and he had to admire they way she pushed past the two young men without batting an eye. Confirmation that they were the most annoying creatures in the entire Sanctuary was hard to come by and clearly this young woman was intelligent enough to see as such.

He watched silently as the two boys followed the woman up and into the Sanctuary and Nikola toyed with the idea of heading down to meet them, the concept of a new guest intriguing him. But what about Helen? He really ought to go find her, tell her of her unacceptable behaviour and drag her to the cellar to indulge in one of her better vintages. But what about this stranger?

Sighing, Nikola leant against the window frame, trying to find the confidence that had before been surging through him.


When Nikola finally made it to Helen's office, he knew in an instant she wasn't there, the knowledge rushing through him and helping him to pick up the pace. He could hear the faint whispers of the children, muttering about security protocols and identification systems but what interested him more was the faint curses in an almost familiar British tongue. Grinning, Nikola sped up further, pushing open the door without even contemplating knocking.

"Now children, what have we told you about playing in mother's office?" he drawled, hand on hip as he glared at the other men. Will glared back and Henry rolled his eyes.

"I don't think she'd have told you anything about it Tesla," the Brit growled, drawing his attention to where she stood, bent at the waist as she rifled through one of the lower draws of Helen's immaculate desk.

"Any ideas?" Henry muttered, sidling up to Nikola. "She won't tell us who she is. You ever seen her?"

"Sadly not," Nikola replied, not paying the younger man the slightest bit of attention as he contemplated the nicely rounded rear of the young woman, accentuated by the sodden floral pattern clinging to her body.

With a frustrated yelp, she slammed the drawer shut, straightening up with hands on hips. Pouting, she scanned the room, ignoring other occupants as she stomped towards a large closet nestled between the door and imposing window. Throwing it open carelessly, she again rifled through the contents, dragging out a thick towel which she threw towards the couch before once more bending over and searching the lower draws between muttered curses of ineffectual means of storage.

Nikola cocked his head, watching her as a smile played with his lips. Not that he was seriously considering anything more than looking but she was rather fetching and something about her irritation made him want to chuckle.

"HA!" she crowed finally, straightening up and holding an old fashioned scrunchie up for the other's to examine. Grinning from ear to ear, she made her way to the towel on the couch, quickly rubbing it over her head before winding the dark locks into a tight coil high on her head.

Slipping out of the towering heels she wore, she kicked them aside flexing her toes before closing her eyes and rolling her shoulders. Slinging the towel around her shoulders, she opened her eyes and smiled at the three men before her.

"I don't suppose you could fetch her for me?" she prompted politely, rocking back on her heels as she looked to them expectantly.

"You- you mean Magnus?" Henry asked uncertainly and she nodded but Nikola noted how she barely avoided rolling her eyes at them. "I uh, don't think she's back yet."

"If you wouldn't mind checking," she continued, giving the HAP a sweet smile before turning and walking to the window.

"Out," Nikola ordered, turning to the two younger men with a snarl ready and waiting but, surprisingly, they went willingly, only a raised eye brow to signal their discomfort.

He watched until the door swung shut behind them before turning to face the young woman only to find her once again bent over a small cabinet in the corner of the room, a single tendril of hair escaping the coil on the back of her head to curl softly as it fell over her shoulder.

"Oh stop ogling me," the young woman bit over with a sigh, not looking around at him while she continued searching.

"I was doing nothing of the sort," Nikola replied smoothly, taking a step towards her. "Though now how can I not?"

"I'm warning you Tesla," she said, peeking over her shoulder before continuing her search through the cupboard. "I promise I'll find a way to make you regret it."

"I'd very much like to see you try," he drawled, leaning against the back of the nearest sofa, watching as she straightened and shot him a vitriolic look before carrying a small glass bowl to the desk. Pulling off the lid, she plucked a piece of candy from the dish, popping into her mouth as her eyes drifted shut and she moaned at the flavour.

Finally she opened her eyes again, crunching down on the hard candy as she rolled her eyes at him.

"I'm not kidding Nikola," she said, swallowing the last of her candy as she leant back against the desk.

"Really?" he asked quietly, sauntering towards her and she smirked. "And just do you plan on doing to me?" he continued, coming to a stop before her. She crossed her arms and he leant forwards, placing his hands on either side of her hips so that their faces were inches apart but she didn't flinch, just cocking her head as an evil smile grew on her full lips.

"I'll tell you who I am," she whispered, her soft, candy scented breath fanning across his face as she smiled an all too familiar smile and, in an instant it all clicked. Not that it made much sense but Nikola knew without a shadow of a doubt who this was. Stumbling backwards his eyes widened and the young woman chuckled throatily.

"You can't be," he breathed, heart pounding. And, of course, she was right, he was starting to feel mighty peculiar.

"You're quicker than she said," she replied evenly, giving him a pleased little smile.

"So you're her-."

"My daughter, yes," a familiar voice said from behind him and Nikola spun around, coming face to face with a grim if not outright peeved Helen Magnus.

"Hello mother," the young woman drawled from behind him and Nikola looked between the two of them, cursing his inability to pick up on the subtle similarities between the two women. While their heights were mismatched and their eyes vastly different, they had the same smirk, matching pink lips lilting upwards. And, he noticed suddenly, Helen's jaw too. A stubborn jaw. Oh that could only mean trouble...

"I'd say it's good to see you but we both know that's a lie."