Hey guys, I'm back. Sorry for the loooooonnnngggg hiatus. School got in the way. Anyway, I have the next chapter mostly written, and there's only a couple chapters left after that. All I have left is finals, so I'm hoping to finish this story up before the end of winter break. This chapter's short and kind of boring, mostly just a filler chapter to set up the next chapter which sets up them finding out the John's the Ripper. Anyway, nothing recognizable is mine. Enjoy and review please :)

Nikola spent the next few days doing what could only be described as moping. Kiri and Nigel took turns trying to cheer him up. Whoever wasn't with Nikola was in London trying to clear Nikola's name. It had been almost a week when James showed up. Kiri and Nikola were together, Kiri was making dinner for both of them. There was a knock on the door, and Kiri went to answer it. She smiled when she saw James.

"What brings you here?" she asked.

"Can I talk to you in private?" James inquired. Kiri nodded and stepped out of the apartment, closing the door behind her.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Helen's pregnant. And something's wrong with her and John." James shifted, glancing up as Nigel approached. Kiri smiled at him.

"Nigel, can you finish dinner? I'm going out," she questioned. Nigel nodded.

"Sure." He went inside, leaving James and Kiri alone again.

"You're coming with me?" James asked. Kiri nodded, smiling. She followed James to the Magnus mansion and into the living room, where Helen was sitting curled up in front of the fireplace. Kiri went to her side, smiling softly.

"Hello, Helen," she greeted, sitting down.

"I think he's been with other women," Helen told her. Kiri took her hand, squeezing gently.

"Why do you think that?" she asked quietly.

"He's out all the time and when he comes back he smells like perfume," Helen replied. Kiri shifted slightly.

"How do you know he's not just meeting a woman? For work or something of that sort?" She had ideas about where John had been, but she wasn't ready to tell anyone yet. Helen reached into a small bag at her side and pulled out a golden ring.

"I found this in his drawer. It's too small for him, but it's too big for me." Kiri wrapped her arms around Helen.

"You should talk to him about it," she suggested. Helen nodded, pulling away. The door opened, and John walked in. He sneered at Kiri.

"Why aren't you with your pet?" he asked, walking forward. Kiri tensed, but before she could say or do anything, Helen stood up, her eyes defiant.

"Kiri is here because I asked her to come. I wanted to tell her the good news." She smiled softly, one hand dropping to her stomach. John nodding, looking towards Kiri.

"Are you done siding with murderers?" he asked. Kiri grinned.

"I never side with murderers, sir. I don't like violence." She stood and hugged Helen. "I should be getting back. I'll talk to you later/
Helen nodded, returning the hug. Kiri pulled away and returned to her apartment. Nikola and Nigel were eating, and Kiri joined them. The three of them cleaned up and Nigel went to bed, leaving Nikola and Kiri on the couch, where they talked quietly. They eventually fell asleep, curled up on the couch together. At around two in the morning, there was a pounding on the door. Nikola made it to the door first, while Kiri and Nigel stood in the living room, watching curiously. Nikola opened the door, and Helen walked inside. Her face was bruised, and she was obviously trying hard not to cry. Nikola led her to the couch to sit down.

"What's wrong?" he asked. Kiri sat down on Helen's other side, carefully examining her bruise. Nigel brought over a bottle of wine and poured Helen a glass.

"John hit me," Helen told them. "I thought it best if I left to give him time to calm down." Kiri nodded, standing.

"Come on, you can stay in my room." Kiri took Helen's hand and they disappeared into Kiri's room. Nigel and Nikola glanced at each other. Nikola let out a small growl.

"I'm going to kill him," he threatened, his claws extending. Nigel sighed.

"That might not help clear your name," he remarked. Nikola scoffed, looking away.

"He used to hit Kiri, and now he's hitting Helen," he countered. "He deserves it."

"Perhaps. But we're trying to prove you haven't killed anyone," Nigel pointed out. Kiri appeared, sitting down between them. She looked up at Nikola, smiling.

"Nigel's right, Nika. You can't do anything right now besides comfort Helen." She patted Nikola's knee, then stood again. "I'm going out." Nigel gave her a look.

"It's almost three in the morning! Where on Earth could you possibly be going?" he demanded. Kiri rolled her eyes, smiling.

"I'll be back before curfew, Father," she replied teasingly. She ruffled Nigel's hair, did the same to Nikola, then disappeared out the door.