I sit down on my bed, tired and my lady business still hurting. I want to hear about their lives before I go and spoil it with my bad news. "Girls," I say, smiling, and leaning on my elbow so I can look at them from my bed. "Tell me everything."

Fee smiles delightfully, and says "Well, I just had a feeling you needed me. I left Polly with…an acquaintance of mine."

But something in her voice tells me that who she left Polly with was not an acquaintance. "Felicity Worthington, stop holding out on us," I say, and Ann seconds.

Felicity gives a smug smile. "I've found a suitor. He is…delightful, in the very least," she gives a look, stars in her eyes and the smile changing from smug to sweet, "Oh Gemma, Ann…he's so sweet. He adores Polly and I. He's so different from anything I've ever known. But Lord, is he shy. He practically lives in a hole, afraid of life like the rabbit is of the hunter."

I am…shocked. Ann's mouth slides open, and we are both staring at our friend, dumbfounded.

"What?" Felicity asks, on the defensive. She knew what, but none of us were going to say it.

A small kindling of joy began to bubble up in me. She'd found love again! "Oh Fee," I gushed, "How sweet." I gather her up in a tight hug, tears in the corner of my eyes. "I'm so happy for you," I tell her.

Fee pushes me off of her. "Oh don't coddle me, Gemma. I don't want a big fuss made out of it. Mere praise, would be fine," she said, ornery.

Ann and I laugh. "Oh Felicity," I say endearingly. I missed my friends. I look at Ann. "Ann?" I say. "Tell us your story. I just sent mail to you two, asking you to come. How did you know?"

"Same as Fee. I just felt in my bones." She smiled. "Charlie and I are getting married in November. Life is great, and there really isn't much to tell. I'm a new person." But she was looking at me rather oddly. "Gemma. You look different. Are you okay? Tell us about you, please? You're letters are so dun. You have to be hiding something."

I started. Look different? Me? Could they tell? I stared at them wildly, and Felicity gasped.

"You did not." We all knew exactly what she was talking about it.

I stalled for just a moment. Then squeaked and covered my head. "I did!"

Shouts and squeals could be heard from downstairs. Miss Fallor took a broom handle and pounded it on the ceiling to hush them up.

"Old bat!" Felicity said to the floor, then gripped Gemma's arms. "Gem, who was it! I mean.. Kartik…"

I looked at them, almost afraid to own up to going to the Realms. "It..is Kartik. I…went back to the Realms. I couldn't stand it anymore. He's in the tree, just like Miss Spence was. His body and everything. He's trapped. And, I went to the Realms to escape and went to his tree and we…" I trailed off.

They were both shocked. "Is that…even possible?" Ann asked.

"It's the Realms," Felicity said, "Anything is possible."

Ann looked unsure. "Are you…positive it wasn't your imagination?"

I stood, and crossed my arms, going over to look at the window. I knew it wasn't my imagination.

Felicity gasped. "Judging from the blood on her bed sheets, I'd say it really happened. And I'd say he was huge."

I was shocked. Even for Felicity! I inhaled breath so deeply I sounded like a dying fish. "Felicity!" I shrieked. "I will not…I'm not going to…gracious heavens, shut up!" Embarrassment burned on my cheeks like hot pokers, and it sent Felicity into a fit of laughter, and Ann fidgeted.

"It was like…actually physical though? Not emotional?"

"It was definitely physical," I said, wincing

"Oh, stop it, Gemma. Now you're just saying this to rile me."

"Well then let's stop speaking of it!" I snapped.

"Topic dropped!" Ann says, looking relieved.

I looked at the blood stain. I have one change of sheets, and quickly ripped the ones on the bed off and switched them. Then I went to the powder room and clean up significantly, then changed into a different dress.

I went back and dropped onto my bed. I was exhausted.

"Oh yes, Gemma, I bet you're tired," Felicity teased.

"Felicity. Stop." I only called her Felicity when I was especially angry at her. Otherwise it was Fee or Felicity Worthington.

"How did you get back to the Realms, Gemma?" Ann asked.

"The door of light…like we used to."

"Well then? Let's go." Felicity said, impatient.

"I can't," I said feebly. "Gorgon kicked me out. I haven't told you something about my visit just yet. At the end of my visit with Kartik, he turned Winterlands. And then, in my dreams…Pippa was there. She told me she survived. That she was building an army, to get the magic, and she was going to kill Kartik's tree."

Felicity looked shocked, and angry. "Gemma, you are making that up. Stop it right now."

"Fee, why would I lie to you about something so important? I would never do that to you. Never, and you know it. She's not the Pippa we knew, Fee. She doesn't even have the Pippa we knew in her. She's a totally different person with Pippa's face. In fact, I don't even believe we should call her Pippa anymore."

Ann nodded. "I don't either. You remember, Fee. That thing is not Pippa. So let's call her… Marissa."

I nodded. "Yes. Marissa." I went to put an arm around Felicity, who was looking a bit upset.

Felicity 'harrumphed' quietly, and gave a sad little moan.

"Don't be sad, Fee. Pippa died a long time ago," I soothed. It was true. Marissa wasn't Pippa, and she never had been. She was a devil with an angel's face.

I could feel Fee's discomfort. She was grappling for something to talk about. So naturally, she went back to exactly what I didn't want to talk about.

"It was your first time, wasn't it?"

I couldn't help it. A laugh started in my stomach and bubbled until it was out of lips, and I was laughing hysterically. "Yes! For Pete's Sake, Felicity Worthington, yes, it was my first time!" Ann and Fee were smiling too. I sighed, happily. "Well, dear ones, how much have you seen of America?"

Teehee! Well, suggestions, please! Freaky things need to happen! (: How do you like it? This story will probably become more active, I am ready the Trilogy for the 2nd time so I'm in the mood.