Disclaimer: I own nothing.

So here's the fourth chapter of this one. Sorry it's been so long since I updated it. We've got another jump through time for this. But I hope you enjoy this chapter. JJ finally gets to interact with her guardian fairies!

Ten Years Later - JJ's 26th Birthday In 6 Months

Penelope opened the door to the house she shared with Derek and the rest of her family. On the porch of their Edwardian style house were Erin, the leader of their order, David, and Maeve, the fairy who had been helping them try to locate Reid.

At least Spencer would be happy now.

But them being there was slightly concerning. Whatever had brought them here must be extremely important to have drawn them out in full force. This couldn't be good. It led her to think that maybe some sign of Elle had shown up.

"Hello, everyone," she said. She raised an eyebrow. "Not that I'm not happy to see you all, but for you all to be here at once doesn't spell out anything good."

Erin shook her head. "No," she said. "It isn't good, as you've already pointed out."

"There's been a spike in dark magic," Maeve said softly, concern covering her sweet face. "It's incredibly strong. Which means only one thing..."

Penelope's face went pale. "Oh, God," she said. "Elle." She opened the door wider and pulled them along. "Come in! We have to talk about this. Luckily, we're all here." She closed the door behind them and gesture for them to follow her to the basement where they would go down to the basement, their base of operation that contained all their magic items. The room had everyone in it, and they all stood swiftly; Strauss required all their respect, even if she could be a raging bitch sometimes.

Spencer went straight to Maeve's side. He took her hand gently. "Maeve, you look pale!"

She touched his cheek. "We've got more important things to discuss," she said.

"Everyone, sit," David said, motioning for them to all take their seats at the round table they all had meetings at. "This involves -"

Emily's hand rubbed her temple. "It's Elle," she said. It wasn't a guess. She knew how her sister operated well enough. "She's come back finally."

"Yes," Erin confirmed. "And as the curse nears with everyday, she's making preparations. We're looking for her spinning wheel she plans to use, but we have no idea where it is so far. She's doing a remarkable job of hiding."

Derek snorted. "It's always been her specialty, the devious snake."

"We're doing everything we can," Maeve said, "but it's not enough yet."

David sighed. "How is the protection of the pure human coming along? You're doing the job you were assigned?"

"Yeah," Blake said. "She should be getting here soon."

Erin cocked a brow. "You've befriended your charge?"

"It's the best way to keep an eye on her," Penelope said, holding Derek's hand. "Ever since Bella moved for her job, she's needed friends. And we love her...as if she were our own child." A forlorn look covered her face. She was still in desperate want of a baby of her and Derek's own. However, the Order had yet to give her permission. They controlled her and every other supernatural beings activities.

David looked to Erin. "And I okayed it, Erin," he said. "It's a good thing for her. And it allows these hooligans to do their job." He jerked his thumb in the direction of the whole group. Emily and Alex merely scowled at him, Spencer looked confused, and Derek and Penelope pursed their lips.

How kind of their mentor to stand up for them.

"Well, then," Erin said, "I see no problem with you befriending her. Just be sure to keep everything hidden. I don't want her coming down here to discover there's something magical in her friends' basement." She frowned when the bell rang upstairs.

Alex perked up. "It sounds like our guest is here," she said.

XXXXX

JJ stood on the porch outside the house where several of her friends lived. She checked her watch, then glanced through the window to see if she could see anyone moving around. She thought she was on time.

Her friends that lived together were somewhat...odd. All of them were a tad eccentric, and she still didn't quite understand why they all lived under one roof together, but she enjoyed spending time with them all.

Knocking a few times, she waited until Emily came and opened the door. Emily had been the first of the group she'd met and she was easily one of the greatest people to have a drink with. She was a local bartender, and had taught JJ all sorts of drinking games. They'd met one night while JJ was having a rough night after a bad break up with a boyfriend.

From then on, frequent bar goers and close friends of Emily had continued to stream in, namely her sisters, Penelope and Alex, and two men, Penelope's husband, Derek, and Spencer.

Penelope was a computer analyst at a security firm while Derek was a private investigator with Spencer. Alex was a teacher at an online school.

How they all lived together was baffling to JJ.

JJ's life had changed so much since moving out of home. She was now working a successful job as a museum curator, she had a nice apartment, her childhood cat was living an unnaturally long life. But there were things severely missing from her life. She was alone after her boyfriend of three years dumped her, her parents still tended to treat her like a child, and almost anyone she ever met left her or walked all over her.

As Bella articulately put it, she was "too nice."

But these people, they treated her almost like family. She didn't quite understand why they were so enthusiastic to spend time with her, but she was grateful. When she was feeling alone, she just called upon one of her friends and they were right there for her, no matter what.

"JJ!" Emily said, opening the door wider. "Come in, come in!"

JJ smiled. "Hey, Em," she said, setting her bag down on the nearest surface. She smiled. "How are you?"

"Fine," she said, pulling her into a hug. "We were just waiting for you to get here...we're thinking Chinese tonight. How does that sound to you? We can go to the bar when my shift starts."

"Sounds good to me," she said, giving her the thumbs up. As she was about to speak again, the rest of the gang, followed by three people JJ had never seen.

Penelope's face brightened instantly and she broke out of Derek's grasp to wrap JJ in a hug. "JJ!" she cried happily.

JJ inhaled the scent of her friend's hair and squeezed her back. "Hey, Penelope," she said. She got the impression that Penelope was particularly attached to her, but she didn't know why. All of them seemed to be that way around her. At first it made her curious, but then she just accepted it and basked in the feel of friendship. "Em says we're thinking Chinese tonight."

"We should hit up the bar afterwards, too," Derek said, coming up behind his wife and putting his hand on the small of her back. A cough broke out behind him and Penelope. Derek rolled his eyes and JJ had to suppress a giggle. Whoever the source of the cough was, they clearly were the cause of some problems for the group.

Alex came up and put her hand on the back of the older gentleman. "JJ, this is David Rossi and his girlfriend, Erin. And that is -"

"This is Maeve," Spencer said proudly, putting his arm around the petite brunette standing beside her. "She's my girlfriend from...out of town." He smiled widely and Maeve blushed red to her ears.

JJ extended her hand to each of them. Again, she felt like she was being observed as if she were familiar to them all. She smiled sweetly and said, "It's great to meet you all.

Are you coming with us to get dinner and drinks?"

The man, David, shook his head. "No," he said. "We've got other things to do tonight, but we're very happy to meet you too. We've heard...much about you." He smiled and his glittering eyes twinkled as he winked at her. She got the feeling this man knew her from somewhere, but it didn't see likely. He had a face that she was sure she'd remember.

"Actually," Maeve said softly, raising a hand in the air. "I'm coming out with you guys tonight." She looked at Spencer and smiled. "I've got some time, so I'm staying with Spencer for a little while today."

JJ beamed at how happy Spencer looked. He was socially awkward most of the time, but with this girl he looked truly happy. For some reason, instead of feeling jealous and resentful of people who had love, she just felt happy that other people had love. Most days, she felt alone, but at least her friends had someone they loved. Loneliness didn't entirely bother her, as long as people like Penelope and Derek and Spencer had people they loved.

"Well, it was great to meet you," the woman named Erin said. She dragged David forward by the arm and out the door without another word.

JJ blinked a few times, slightly confused by that woman's attitude. Had she said something wrong?

"Ignore them," Derek said with a roll of his eyes. "They're weird."

JJ nodded hesitantly. Forcing a smile, she shook her head. "Ah, it's okay," she said, waving off the concern. "It's no big deal."

"I am so ready for some food!" Penelope chirped, coming back into the room from the kitchen. "I haven't eaten all day in preparation for it!" Seeing JJ's frown, she

XXXXX

Aaron sat at the bar with a glass of whiskey in his hands. He was sick and tired of girls leaving him and making him feel like crap. The one girl he had been in love with, Haley Brooks had been murdered their senior year of high school and afterwards he had stuck to dating only every once in a while.

Thank God he was set on having a job in the FBI. There would be little time for women then.

"Can I get you anything else?" the raven haired bartender asked, leaning over as she wiped down the bar with her rag. "Another beer maybe?"

He looked up at her and shook his head. "No," he said gravely. "But I would like a shot."

The bartender winked. "Of course," she said. She went beneath the bar and pulled out a bottle of tequila and a shot glass. "Here you go." She set the glass down and nodded. "You enjoy that."

He nodded simply and took the glass, staring at the deep amber liquid. Looking back up, he noticed a blonde across the bar, chatting with both the bartender and a group of people. She had honey blonde hair that glowed beneath the light of the bar and sparkling blue eyes that glittered when she spoke. Her head fell backwards as she laughed, exposing her swan-like neck. She was breathtaking, like looking at the mist rising above a field of grass in the morning.

But her beautiful appearance didn't have anywhere near the effect on him that the look they shared did. From across the bar their eyes met, and all of the sudden something sparked in him. It was a warm, comforting feeling that made him feel light and heavenly. Their gazes held and he felt his breath catch in his chest.

What was going on?

Their eyes broke apart far too soon. She returned to looking at her friends, and it was as if nothing had happened. Even though the moment was over, the feel of her innocent eyes haunted him. There was something about this girl that was...different. She didn't look like she would trample anyone's heart. Hell, she didn't look like she could squash a fly.

Aaron sighed and shook his head. He just needed to get his head out of his ass. He didn't need women. He just needed to drink his shot and forget about women.