Firstly, before I start this chapter, I have to say thanks for the reviews, and a special thanks to LiLMissDeadly for the review that got me off my butt to write the next chapter, and jblockk for a question that made me add a little to this chapter and another (oh yes...another chapter is sitting on my computer :o ). If all goes well, there should also be the next chapter up within the week. Thanks everybody for the questions and support, and feel free to ask questions, correct me, etc., I'll PM you back with a reply (or fix my mistake) the next time I'm online. Enjoy!

~O~

"Hey, Howl."

Darren came down the stairs next to Sophie, hand relinquishing itself from between her fingers. A little dollop of goo rained from the ceiling to the newly cleaned floors. Howl was chewing on something. Sophie identified it as the strange, floppy sticks of salted meat from Howl's world. Darren gave a wide smile, "Sophie gave me Michael's old room to sleep in."

Howl coughed on the wad of food in his mouth, "the room next to Sophie's?"

"That is Michael's room."

Howl went red, food puffing his cheeks as he took another snap at the jerky stick, "Fantastic."

Sophie put her hands at her sides, "Where else was he going to sleep?"

"The broom cupboard."

"There's the brother I know and love!" Darren rolled his eyes and laughed, "What do you think, Sophie?" he bumped her at the hip. She blushed and put a hand to her mouth.

"Same old Howl." She winked at Darren and giggled.

"Did I just hear Sophie giggle?" Calcifer swooped in from the chimney; grin wide on Calcifer's face. "Hello Sophie, Darren…gooseberry." Calcifer nodded at Howl, "I wanted to tell some people about the Wizard Jenkins' brother arriving," he cackled, "I've got a whole city and market running scared!"

"Calcifer, that wasn't nice." Sophie sighed and laughed. Darren looked a little less at ease. His eyes were wide and mouth agape, stooping to approximately Sophie's height.

"Sophie, what is that!"

Calcifer's face became whiter with perturbation. "I, little human, am a Fire Demon. Rawr." He puffed himself out a little and coughed out a little smoke. Darren stepped back and grabbed Sophie's arm. Howl unwrapped a new stick of jerky.

"Really, Calcifer."

"I can speak, y'know."

"It doesn't mean you have to go out of your way to scare him."

"He's from Howl's world. They need toughening up. Look at his pants! There's barely enough material to wrap around his buttocks!" everyone looked to the denim pants; Sophie nodded her head approvingly.

"I think it's better than those baggy things the men wear in Market Chipping." Darren went pink at the ears; Howl shoved the whole piece of jerky in his mouth and grabbed another one. Calcifer cackled. Darren cleared is throat.

"So you're visiting?"

"Kind of."

"Wait. How has Howl told you about me but not Calcifer?"

Howl nodded viciously "I did tell Darren." He attempted a grin, but found his mouth too full and swallowed the two lumps of jerky at either cheek. The result was another cough and a visible descent of at least two sticks worth of jerky down Howl's oesophagus

"It's one thing to hear about a fire demon and a whole other thing to see it."

Calcifer glowered to a deep orange, "Was that an insult?'

Darren shook his head vehemently, "No!"

"Calcifer!"

"Sorry, Sophie." Calcifer have Sophie a smug smile. "So Darren, How long are you staying?"

Darren cautiously raised back to his full height, "Nothing's set. I just came to visit. I had the impression I might be catching a wedding…"

"Oh! That would have been Martha and Michael's—my little sister and Howl's apprentice." piped up Sophie.

"Really…" Darren's voice trailed as his eyes went to Howl, whose chewing had slowed considerably at the shift in conversation, wide eyes locked on Darren. They looked away when Sophie continued.

"Yes! Howl didn't want Michael moving out of the house with his training not yet finished but Martha and Michael were so excited about getting married and starting a family they couldn't wait. They live close in Market Chipping so they can help with the shop and Michael can finish his training."

Darren nodded politely, then frowned, "Younger sister? But…you're nineteen…that means…"

"Martha's fifteen, I think." Sophie thought, "These last few months have thrown me off. I think I've forgotten half of the dates for things when I was a crone and never got them back…" she laughed. Darren wasn't so overjoyed.

"You mean to say your fifteen-year-old sister is married?" Sophie looked to Darren curiously.

"Yes, but…" then it dawned on her, Howl spoke first.

"People don't usually get married so young in our world." Howl said self-importantly. He swallowed the last of the jerky in his mouth, "Many don't get married at all. Like Jon Bon Jovi."

Darren leaned over to Sophie, "A famous singer. Howl over here thinks he looks like him."

"Is this singer handsome?"

"He is considered so, yes."

"Delusional."

Calcifer sniggered, Howl brandished another jerky stick, "Hey! You're supposed to be on my side!"

"About what? And I've seen that singer; he wears tighter pants than your brother."

"Calcifer!"

"What?"

Sophie patted Darren on the back, "Your pants look fine." Sophie concentrated not to look down again. "How about we go for a stroll in the city? That's more exciting than the Market."

He smiled, "Whatever you suggest."

Howl rolled his eyes.

Sophie began to walk forward, and halted in front of the couch littered with Jerky wrappers and one bloated wizard. "Are you coming, Howl?"

Howl took another bite of jerky, shifted, then said miserably, "Of course."

"Me too!"

Calcifer whizzed out the door and into the city of Kingsbury.