WHERE ARE ALL MY FANFICTION BUDDIES!?

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Raven rolled over the next morning and lay still for several moments before shuffling again. It took her a second to open her eyes, but when she did the sun streamed in, something odd to see in this climate. She blinked in the light and after a second, sat up. She glanced at her clock, ashamed to realize it was nine in the morning.

Then she remembered today was the day to meet with their blackmailers. No one had woken her up.

Standing up, Raven walked in to her bathroom. She quickly showered off before getting dressed and checking that her katanas were still nicely in their sheaths. Finding them safe, she turned. Nero was having the Colonel arrive out here today and she wondered if they were already downstairs. She certainly hoped he wouldn't say anything to Pietor about the betrayal without consulting Nero first. As stupid as it was, Raven still found herself getting nervous about Pietor's anger even though she could thoroughly defend herself now. Anastasia seemed suitably sane now and she wondered if he would tell her.

But she was too angry to really care since he hadn't answered her question. Originally she hadn't meant to accuse him, but he had simply brought it up without her help.

Raven grabbed her phone, intending to head down and speak to Nero if he was still here, but as she grabbed it, a little paper fell out from underneath it. It landed next to her feet and Raven bent down to grab it. She squinted at the picture, then blinked, astounded at what she saw. Her breath caught in her throat and she couldn't breathe for a few seconds.

She was silent for several moments, gazing at it.

In the picture was her when she was about eleven. She looked tired and rather thin and it was clear she was in the Glasshouse, but that's not what caught her attention.

In the picture on either side of her were Dimitri and Tolya. Dimitri was smiling sideways at her and Tolya stared ahead at something in front of them. They both looked about as healthy as her, although Dimitri was still just as cheerful in their horrible situation. There were guards in the background and the three of them appeared to be waiting in line for something.

###

Raven walked down the stairs a little while later. Iliana had Juliana on her lap with the puppy in her arms. She was brushing him repeatedly. Prince didn't seem to mind too much, although he stared at the ground with his little ears perked.

"He is very sleepy Mommy." Juliana said, leaning and twisting to look at his face.

"I'm guessing he didn't sleep much last night." Iliana replied "New place and new roommates."

"Did Keesha mold to the new dog?" Alexis asked, sipping a cup of coffee.

"She didn't even seem to notice." Iliana said, with a shrug.

Juliana hopped off her lap and took Prince over to Nathaniel, who sat across from Nero and Darkdoom. She didn't say anything, just set Prince on the couch and lifted up her arms. Nathaniel lifted her up and set her next to him by her dog.

"How are the fingers?" he asked, glancing at Iliana.

"They want to get the stitches out in a few days." she said, wincing. Nathaniel smiled in amusement.

Raven frowned as she came over, confused at their casualness "Is it just me, or did we not have somewhere to be this morning?"

"We did." Nero said, handing her back the piece of paper he was reading. Raven took it with one raised eyebrow. The writing on this letter was typed and in a cursive font.

Pietor, Anastasia, Max, and Natalya. Do not go the scheduled meeting that was made with your vague contacts. They plan to capture you and extract any information you have. Please. Stay in safety.

Raven frowned again, scowling along with it.

"What the hell is happening?" she asked.

"My words exactly." Nero said as she gave it back to him. He seemed concerned as he looked at it, but he didn't say anything else.

"Did Pietor go anyway?" Raven asked.

"Even though that's totally something he would do, no." Iliana said "Him and Anastasia are out with the men, prepping for whatever crap."

"Did the Colonel arrive?" Raven asked, looking at the door that led to the other hangar.

"Not yet." Nero said, following her gaze "He's arriving around noon I believe."

"Another guest?" Juliana asked, spreading her arms curiously.

"He's a friend of theirs." Iliana said.

Alexis scoffed "No, he works for them. There's no friendship between them."

Nero rolled his eyes.

"What?" she asked defensively.

"Alexis why do you live such a bitter life?" Nero asked, looking at the ceiling.

"I don't know. Maybe it's because I know you?" Alexis replied.

Nero shook his head "Your comebacks are so weak."

"You do jump to the bait." Raven muttered.

Alexis clapped triumphantly and Nero looked at her in surprise. Raven pointedly avoided looking at either of them and busied herself in walking around the couch to sit down.

"Wow, Natalya." he said "What did she bribe you with?"

"She just likes me better." Alexis said smugly "Or hadn't you heard?"

"They always team up." Darkdoom said.

"I'm not on any team." Raven said irritably "I was just stating a fact that Alexis loves provoking people and Max goes for it. He doesn't rise to anyone else's mocking words."

"Not even yours." Nero said pointedly.

"I'm not mocking you." Raven replied.

"Maybe just a little bit." Darkdoom said, holding his fingers about an inch apart.

"A lot." Nero said, raising an eyebrow.

"There's a lot to mock." Alexis replied.

"What is with the rivalry?" Raven asked.

"It's been that way since they met, Natalya." Darkdoom said, letting out a long dragged sigh.

"I still don't understand how you can get along with Pietor, who won't speak unless spoken too, and for some reason you can't stand me." Nero replied.

"Hey that's my husband you're taking about." Iliana said "Ouch."

"It wasn't meant as an insult." Nero said, still looking at Alexis while he replied to Iliana.

"Pietor, unlike you, is a gentleman." Alexis replied.

"Am I not?" Nero asked, looking around with his arms spread.

"No." Alexis responded.

"I'm sorry I don't meet your standards of chivalry, Alexis." Nero said sarcastically "Please elaborate so I may further my knowledge."

"Right there." Alexis said, pointing at him "That little smirk and your tone of voice. Women see you from across the room and they're like 'oh what a guy.' Then they realize you're a grouchy sarcastic snob."

Nero just smiled at her. Juliana looked at both of them, eyes big as she made a face with puffed cheeks.

"Stop that." Alexis snapped, scowling at Nero.

He shrugged and looked away in amusement.

"Can I go and get Daddy, Mommy?" Juliana asked "And aunt Anastasia?"

"Yeah because pretty soon we're going to have to get Pietor to pull Nero and Alexis apart." Darkdoom muttered.

"Just don't disturb them if they're really busy." Iliana said.

"Dis-tuuuurrrrb." Juliana said, hopping off the couch. Nathaniel smiled after her. She sprinted over to the door. She pulled it open and squealed loudly.

Anastasia winced at the noise and gestured at Pietor as she went past the little girl.

"Your off-spring is happy to see you."

"Hey." Pietor said, gently whacking his daughter over the head. Juliana messed up her hair even more and followed them over.

Raven looked over at him, slightly surprised to see that he was looking back. After a moment, he gave a small nod. She stared at him for a few more seconds before slowly nodding back. Anastasia frowned and Pietor bent to pick up Juliana.

"We are going to have another guest Daddy." Juliana said putting two hands on his face.

"We are?" Pietor asked "Who made you so smart?"

"Daddy!" Juliana said, throwing up her arms.

"Who was the letter addressed too?" Raven asked "They know my name apparently."

"I thought it was rather casual." Anastasia said, still looking at her curiously.

"Well I'm just glad we don't have to go. It was stressing me out." Iliana said.

"Don't stress." Pietor replied.

Iliana tilted her head back and let out an exaggerated groan before standing up "Okay. What do you want for breakfast?"

"Something good." Pietor replied.

"How about something exotic?" Alexis asked, standing up.

"Ooo like what?" Iliana asked, following her.

"Poached eggs? Quiche? Cinnamon rolls?" Alexis asked.

"Oh dang girl, lead the way." Iliana said "Let's do it."

Nero watched them before leaning over to Darkdoom "Guess who's coming with the Colonel?"

"Who?" Darkdoom asked as Raven and Nathaniel got closer.

"Nigel." Nero said.

Darkdoom's eyes shot open with interest "Really?"

Nero nodded.

"Even with Alexis here?" Darkdoom asked.

"It can't do much harm." Nero replied.

"I guess the other three are missing class time as well." Darkdoom said.

"He won't miss more than a day or two." Nero replied.

"Where did the soft side suddenly come from?" Raven asked "Two seconds ago you were enjoying annoying the heck out of Alexis." she sounded slightly more irritable than usual, but they hardly noticed.

"It's not for Alexis, Natalya." Nero said.

"It's for Diabolus, right?" Nathaniel asked, winking. Nero rolled his eyes again.

Juliana was now out of her father's arms and was back over with Prince. The little dog had his teeth clamped on her shirt sleeve and was pulling back.

"No, Prince, that's mine!" Juliana squealed.

Anastasia shook her head irritably and walked over. She pulled the puppy back to stop it from chewing on the shirt and he twisted around to bite her fingers.

"He thinks I taste good!" Juliana exclaimed, eyes and mouth wide.

Nathaniel choked back a laugh.

"Yeah me too." Anastasia said, setting the dog on the floor.

"You'd be too bitter." Pietor said.

"And what would you be? Sour?" Anastasia asked, raising an eyebrow back at him.

"I have to balance someone out." Pietor replied.

Juliana got down with her dog and ran a hand over his head.

"Are you referring to your wife being insane?" Anastasia asked.

"Well…no, but whatever makes you feel best…" Pietor said.

The door to his training room opened and Laura, Wing, and Shelby all came out. Shelby was talking rather loudly to Wing, who replied as calmly as he always did.

"I totally had you on that last move." Shelby said "Do you always have to pull some psycho ninja movement?"

"To be quite honest, I truly do not think of those moves ahead of time. They are an instinct that you have yet to learn." Wing replied.

"You learn instincts?" Laura asked "I thought they were just that, instincts."

"Yeah well big guy, I'm pretty sure you just wing it every time we fight." Shelby said, then smiled "Wing it? Ha!"

"That may work when I fight you." Wing said, raising an eyebrow "But I hardly doubt it would work when I fight Raven, so clearly I must have some quantity of skill."

"Ever so modestly now." Shelby replied.

"Were you training in there?" Raven asked "Well, for Shelby, play fighting?"

Wing nodded and Shelby just smiled sarcastically at her.

Juliana gently touched Prince's nose and he opened in his mouth in an attempted growl and leaned to get revenge, but it was more like a rasping sound. Juliana giggled as he lifted up a furry paw in the air. Then he sat back and licked his mouth once, ears going up.

"Did you feed him this morning?" Pietor asked. Juliana nodded earnestly.

"Cause I remembered. I have to feed three dogs and I have to water three flowers." she said. Then she put two hands on her face, eyes wide and her mouth like an "O"

"I forgetted to water the flowers!" she exclaimed, jumping up and running towards the kitchen.

"Oh I did it, Juliana." Anastasia said, turning after her slightly.

"Oh!" Juliana turned back around and twisted the hem of shirt around her hand "Thank you."

"You're very welcome." Anastasia said.

"Okay!" Alexis said, coming out of the kitchen with a tray of water-filled cups. But replacing the normal lemon was a very green cucumber.

"Everyone needs to drink one of these glasses of cucumber water before we have breakfast." she said.

"Cucumber?" Pietor asked.

"Yes. It hydrates you way better than lemon water and it'll clear out your digestive track. Then the food tastes ten times better." Alexis responded. She nodded "Trust me. And Diabolus, yes, I know you dislike it a lot, but it's good for you dear and I always know best."

"Of course." Darkdoom replied.

"Here." Alexis said, handing a glass to Pietor.

"Looks kind of nasty." he said.

"They're my fresh cucumbers." Alexis replied "You'll love it."

She went around to the others "Take one everyone, it'll do you good."

"What's Iliana doing now?" Pietor asked.

"Finishing mixing the quiche." Alexis said.

"Finished." Iliana said, walking from the kitchen door.

"Good. Oven time." Alexis responded "Try it Pietor." she took the tray and walked back to the kitchen.

"Have you tried this?" Pietor asked.

Iliana shook her head "Nope, but how bad can it be? It's cucumbers."

The assassin shrugged slightly and took a big sip of the water. His face immediately changed to one of disgust.

"Yep." Anastasia handed her glass to Iliana and walked past toward the stairs.

Pietor swallowed almost as if in pain. He stuck out his tongue "Eh that's horrible."

"Just trust Alexis." Iliana said, patting his cheek affectionately "She said it was good for you."

"It might be, but that's a sad way to stay healthy." Pietor said.

Iliana shrugged and took a drink. She made a little face, but swallowed "It's not too bad. There's just a lot of cucumber in there."

"Did she used to make you drink this?" Nero asked, looking at Darkdoom in amusement.

"No. She always offered it, but…" Darkdoom wrinkled his nose "It's kind of an acquired taste."

"Alexis is an acquired personality." Nero replied. Darkdoom raised an eyebrow at him.

"Well two adventurous parents sure came out with one timid kid." Raven said.

"Yeah, Nigel never really has been an ambitious boy." Darkdoom agreed "But he has a good heart."

"Not arguing." Raven said "I just think it's funny that he's so soft spoken, but in his first year of school, he created a giant mutated plant."

"Like mother like son." Nero said.

"Yummm!" Juliana said from her spot on the ground. Iliana had just given her a drink from her cup and she straightened up.

"Here, have it." she said, giving the drink to her daughter.

"Are you saying my wife creates giant mutant plants?" Darkdoom asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Wife?" Nero asked, looking slightly surprised.

"Ex-wife." Darkdoom said quickly. His friend frowned slightly, but hid it.

"No, but that's where he gets it." he said.

"And her magic health drink." Nathaniel added, holding up his glass.

"I actually don't mind it." Raven said "She has given it to me before though."

"I just love her assumption that we're all going to drink it because she said so." Nero said.

"It's her way. She's just a little insecure." Raven replied.

"Natalya, I've seen insecure." Nero said "Alexis is not."

"Why do you think she likes to demand control over everyone?"

"Because she's Alexis." Nero said.

A little while later…

Nigel stepped out of the car and closed the door. He immediately looked up at the massive place, eyes big with amazement. He glanced back at the Colonel who was talking with the men he had brought with them.

"Mr. Darkdoom." he said, nodding "You can head inside, right through that door."

Nigel hesitated a second before nodding. He didn't know why Dr. Nero had had him come here and he certainly didn't know where to go, but when the Colonel spoke, you listened. He was fairly certain his father was here so he wasn't too worried.

He walked over to the door the Colonel had gestured at and stood there for a second. He didn't know whether or not to knock or just walk in. If he walked in, he hoped Dr. Nero or someone he knew would be right there.

After a few more seconds, Nigel turned the handle and went in. Darkdoom, Raven, and Dr. Nero all looked over and he let out a silent breath of relief. Another dark-haired woman glanced over as well as a little girl.

"Nigel, what?" Shelby called, standing up. Darkdoom smiled at him.

"Hi." Nigel said, smiling slightly nervously.

"Who?" Iliana asked, looking at the others "Who's this?"

"This is my son." Darkdoom explained, standing up.

"Oh." Iliana nodded at Nigel "Hey."

Nigel slowly waved in return and looked over at his father, who was already coming over to embrace him.

"Who is that?" he asked.

"Her names Iliana." Darkdoom replied with a smile "I think you'll like her. She's really nice."

Meanwhile Juliana quickly ran over. She looked up at him with big eyes "What's your name?"

"Uhh…Nigel?" he said.

"Nigel." Juliana repeated very slowly and very thoughtfully "Hmm." she turned back to her mother.

"Who was that?" Nigel asked.

"That's Juliana." Darkdoom said as they walked over to the others.

"Mommy and Daddy named me." Juliana said matter of factly.

"Whatcha doing here?" Shelby asked.

"I'm not really sure." Nigel replied.

"We can come in and eat breakfast even though it's almost lunch!" Alexis called, walking out of the kitchen.

Nigel turned around quickly "Mom?"

Alexis's head shot his way and her mouth dropped in shock "Nigel!"

Darkdoom smiled as she ran over to him and they hugged.

"Oh my gosh!" Alexis said, letting him go and holding him to look at him "You look so good! How are you here?"

"The Colonel just brought me here." Nigel said, looking stunned "Why are you here?"

"Iliana's mother and your grandfather got married." Alexis said, shooting a quick glance at Darkdoom.

Iliana waved at Nigel "Hey cousin."

"Oh my gosh, how are you?" Alexis asked again, a huge smile on her face.

"Good." Nigel replied, still looking a little shell-shocked.

"Is that all?" Alexis asked "Keep going! Tell me!"

"Well, there's kind of a lot that's happened." Nigel replied.

"Then come in the kitchen and start right from the beginning." Alexis said. She put an arm around him and took him into the kitchen.

Nero glanced at Darkdoom, eyebrow raised. His friend smiled back at him.

###

"The classes are really great for the most part." Nigel said, looking content as he continued to tell his mother about his new life. The fact that he was also eating her cooking as he was used to probably helped even more.

Alexis sat across from him, listening to every detail. Laura, Shelby, and Wing sat close by and he would include them in his stories a few times. He left out the part about his giant flesh-eating plant but no one else corrected him.

Nero watched the two of them surreptitiously out of the corner of his eye, although he said nothing. He hoped Alexis realized that she wouldn't be able to take Nigel with her once the day was up. He suspected she would want to take him with her to her temporary home here, but he couldn't allow that.

Darkdoom also appeared very relaxed as they spoke and Raven seemed distracted.

"This place sounds whacked out." Iliana said, handing Juliana a spoon for her cereal. She was referring to H.I.V.E., although in reality she knew nothing about it. They sometimes forgot that she had been part of the Convit longer than Pietor and probably new a little about G.L.O.V.E. as well.

"Oh it is." Alexis replied without looking away from her son. Nero rolled his eyes.

Juliana grabbed her spoon and started stirring. Milk spilled over the sides and Iliana scowled at her, leaning to take her spoon away "Uh uh."

"Sorry, Mommy." Juliana replied, smiling with all her teeth.

"I'm going to make you eat cereal with a fork pretty soon." Iliana said and Juliana's mouth opened wide.

The kitchen door swung open and Pietor and Anastasia walked in.

"Oh hey you two! This is Nigel. My son!" Alexis said, smiling.

"Hello." Anastasia said while Pietor just kind of nodded.

"Pietor says hi." Iliana said, smiling for her husband. Nigel smiled slightly.

"I actually didn't say anything." Pietor said "But okay."

Alexis continued smiling as she regained her son's attention.

A little while later…

Nero walked across the hangar toward the Colonel. The man was organizing his men with the Furan's troops already. Nero had come to speak with him alone. The others were plenty busy.

"Colonel." he said with a nod. The man turned and nodded in return.

"Has anything changed, Max?" he asked "Did you meet with them?"

"No." Nero replied "We received another written note from another source I'm guessing, that told us not to go."

"Do you trust it?" the Colonel asked, frowning.

"I doubt the fidelity of it." Nero replied "This all seems far too staged as though someone is playing with us."

"I agree." the Colonel said "What has Anastasia said about it?"

"She and Pietor were in here earlier." Nero responded "But they haven't shown much concern, which I find unnerving."

The Colonel nodded.

"But I have seen no suspicious behavior from either of them." Nero went on.

"May I ask why we brought Mr. Darkdoom here?"

"His mother is here." Nero said "Diabolus spoke with me and I told him I would consider letting her see him."

"Alexis? She's here?" the Colonel asked.

Nero nodded and quickly explained the marital events that had taken place.

"How do these things happen?" the man asked and Nero shook his head.

"How long are you allowing him to stay?" the Colonel asked.

"Not longer than tonight." Nero said "Otherwise Alexis won't let him go."

"I doubt she'd let him go now." the Colonel said.

"She'll have too." Nero replied "Keep me updated in here. We will talk again later."

Later that day…

"No Nigel is like at the top of Ms. Gonzales's class." Shelby said, making hand gestures to accentuate the truth of her statement.

"That's not true." Nigel said, denying it with an embarrassed look for the second time.

"So true." Laura said.

Alexis smiled at her modest son as he shook his head.

"I guess I inspired you." she said.

"Yeah." Nigel replied sheepishly.

"Lexis gived me three flowers." Juliana said, holding her fingers up.

"Course I did." Alexis said, gently tapping her on the nose.

She hadn't left her son's side all day and he seemed to be running out of things to tell her. Iliana seemed to be just as interested about learning about him as she did and Darkdoom appeared to be enjoying himself.

"So where do you live now?" Nigel asked, turning the subject to her.

"Well same place. I'm just here visiting your grandfather since he lives here now." Alexis said "I'm supposed to head back tomorrow morning actually but…"

Nero leaned forward slightly.

"It's hard to believe it's almost been six years." Darkdoom said, smiling. Nero silently thanked his friend.

"Yeah in about a year, wow, our educations done!" Shelby said "Holy cow!"

Alexis smiled weakly "Yeah, that's true." she was just glad to see that Nero's harsh school hadn't destroyed her little boy's sweet spirit.

"Ms. Gonzales has actually been asking me to come in for a few things." Nigel said.

"Ah ha!" Alexis exclaimed "So you are amazing in her plant class!"

Nigel ducked his head slightly and she wrapped an arm around him and squeezed.

"So does this mean we make something extra special before you leave tomorrow?" Iliana asked, winking at Alexis.

###

Iliana ended up helping Alexis and Anastasia make a classic Russian dish, beef stroganoff. It gave Nigel a few minutes of alone time, although during that time he seemed to want to join her in the kitchen. Darkdoom had kept him busy however, along with the other students.

After they had eaten together, Alexis started packing to leave. She seemed extremely reluctant to go and took her time doing so.

Juliana sat in the main room, watching her own little cartoon on the screen. Iliana was next to her, making sure she finished her dinner. The little girl had excused herself early, but Iliana had caught her and brought out her plate of food for her to clean.

Shelby was laid out on a couch, staring at the ceiling. She was staring at Juliana's movie casually.

"Relaxed there, Shelby?" Raven asked, raising an eyebrow at her.

"I'm tired okay?" Shelby said, without moving.

"Okay." Raven replied.

"I never thought the Wraith would get tired." Iliana said, smiling at her.

"Whoa. Whoa." Shelby said, sitting up. Then shrugged "Eh, who cares? I haven't had anyone call me that in forever."

"Well you used to be a big deal around here." Iliana responded "Although now that the Convit's out of the way, you're safe I guess."

"I love being a big deal." Shelby said.

"We know." Raven finished for her.

"So she's got a little extra confidence, what's wrong with that?" Iliana said, shrugging as Pietor came over to them from his room.

"Thank you Iliana." Shelby said.

"Don't talk to her." Pietor said.

Shelby threw her arms up "What the heck is wrong with me all the sudden?"

"You're in my seat. Get out." Pietor replied.

"Since when is this your seat?" Shelby asked.

"Since I was alive. Move."

"Make me." Shelby said.

Pietor's eyebrows went up. He leaned and grabbed her by one arm and one leg. Then he turned and dropped her onto the chair next to him. Shelby grunted as she landed and Pietor sat back on the couch. Nigel stared, eyes wide.

"Well that's one way to handle her." Darkdoom said, smiling.

Pietor mostly just scowled.

"I'm more comfortable here." Shelby said, sticking out her tongue at him.

"Good." Pietor replied.

"Hey Nigel!" Alexis said, poking her head out from the kitchen "Will you come here for a minute?"

"Sure." Nigel replied, getting up and walking over.

"Can I go?" Juliana asked, spreading her arms.

"No, you need to finish your dinner." Iliana said, handing her back her spoon.

"Then can I go with Lexis?" she asked.

"Sure." Iliana replied "Just eat."

"Ow." Juliana said, holding up her injured hand.

"Oh does it hurt?" Iliana asked "Here." she scooped up some of the food and let Juliana sit back while she fed her.

"Oh yeah." Pietor said, standing back up.

"What?" Iliana asked, looking after him.

"Nothing." he shot a look at Shelby while pointing "Don't take my spot."

She stuck her tongue out again while his back was turned.

"That's a very dangerous thing to do. Especially to Pietor. Just saying. It'll get you killed." Iliana said, gesturing at her expression. Shelby raised an eyebrow.

"What was she doing?" Anastasia, who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, asked and Iliana jumped about two feet in the air.

"Geez lady!" she exclaimed.

"I literally walked down the stairs in front of you." Anastasia said.

"Well I'm sorry; I honestly thought Pietor was the only ninja in our family." Iliana replied.

"Sorry to disappoint." Anastasia replied.

"We already have three in the house." Iliana said "We don't need another one."

"Okay thanks, I'll take the day off." Anastasia replied.

"Am I done Mommy?" Juliana asked, gently tugging on her mother's shirt.

"I guess you can be done." Iliana replied, setting down her utensils "Go ahead."

The little girl hopped down and headed quickly toward the kitchen. She wiggled her fingers at Nero when she passed and he waved back.

"So whose idea was it to bring Nigel here?" Iliana asked.

"It was all Max." Darkdoom said.

Iliana smiled at Nero.

"Yes, Iliana?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"You're a softie!" she replied, eyes narrowing playfully at him.

Both of Nero's eyebrows went up at that.

"But that's okay. It's okay. Pietor's a big softie too." Iliana said "I mean, not with most people, but like whoever heard of an assassin loving animals?" she looked at Raven "Do you like animals?"

"It depends on the animal." Raven replied.

"Well are you a cat or a dog person?" Iliana asked.

"It depends on the cat or dog." Raven said, giving a slight shrug.

"Do you like Drake or my cats better?" Iliana asked, scowling ever so slightly.

"I don't know." Raven said "Drake's fine and your cats are fine. Everything's fine!"

"Everyone." Iliana corrected and Raven rolled her eyes.

"I think you could be more a cat person." Iliana went on, studying her "Because they're sneaky and dogs are more open."

"Okay." Raven said and Iliana dropped the subject with a scowl.

Pietor was walking back over as his wife started talking again.

"I would say I'm more of a cat person although dogs are pretty awesome." Iliana said.

"I had a dog when I lived at home." Shelby said.

"You had time for that?" Iliana asked.

"Of course, why does everyone think being the Wraith was a twenty-four hour job?"

There was a small murmur of amusement that passed through them and Shelby shrugged irritably.

"Sorry, Shelby." Iliana said, smiling.

The student just raised an eyebrow.

"Hey, Iliana." Pietor said.

"What?" she turned to look at him.

"Guess what day it is?"

"What day?" Iliana asked.

Pietor pulled a capped syringe form behind his back "Vaccination day."

Iliana frowned at him, looking alarmed "What are you talking about? There's no such thing as vaccination day for Iliana. You know that."

"There is now."

"What the hell, Pietor? Get away." Iliana said, her face visibly paling ever so slightly.

"You're kind of years overdue from your last vaccination day so…" Pietor shrugged slightly and walked forward.

"If you come any closer with that, I will hit you." Iliana said, eyes wide. She stood up "I'm not joking."

"Look." Pietor said "This is literally one of the easiest and smallest injections there is, so-"

"Damn you, Pietor, back off." Iliana said angrily.

"Iliana, look." Pietor began, taking the cap off the needle.

"Oh my god." Iliana's eyes rolled up and she crumbled backward in a dead faint. There was a gasp that could have come from one or more of the people sitting in the room. Nero caught her about two feet above the ground, looking startled. He lowered her down, looking up at Pietor.

Pietor muttered a quick "Yes!" at his success and walked over to her. He got down, took her arm, and carefully pushed the syringe under her skin, injecting the contents.

"And all done." he said, sticking a Band-Aid over it for Iliana's sanity. He stood up straight "Thanks for catching her by the way."

"Pietor, that was horrific." Anastasia said.

"It was kind of mean wasn't it?" Pietor replied with a small chuckle.

"You literally just made her faint in fear." Nathaniel spoke with a slight disapproval in his voice.

"It's for her benefit." Pietor replied. The others still stared at Iliana.

"Why not just wait until she's asleep or something?" Anastasia asked.

"I just did." Pietor replied, gesturing at her "She's didn't have to feel anything."

Anastasia rolled her eyes "I mean like at night."

"Because then she could never sleep with me in the same home again." Pietor said.

"What was it for?" Anastasia asked.

"For diphtheria and whooping cough. She has literally never had those vaccines." Pietor replied "Even when she was pregnant. For the twelve weeks you decided to keep it from me, that was actually the point where she was most vulnerable."

"Why have you waited three years then?" Anastasia asked.

"So I could come up with a way where it wouldn't be too traumatizing for her. Trust me; I've tried the whole 'relax, look at me' thing. It doesn't work." Pietor said.

"Well that was just mean." Anastasia said "She's really going to kill you."

"But she'll be healthy." Pietor replied. He picked up Iliana "I guess she'd best go to sleep now."

"Give her a kiss Prince Charming and see if she wakes up." Anastasia said as he walked toward his room.

"I'll put her in bed. Hopefully when she wakes up this will all be a dream." Pietor responded.

"Wow." Darkdoom said, once they were inside "I can't believe she actually fainted."

"Yeah the poor girl." Anastasia replied.

"I thought he was going to hold her down or something." Darkdoom said with a smile.

"Well when he first came out I was like Pietor what the heck are you doing to your wife?" Anastasia said "Now I see he was kind of being creepy on purpose."

"Why is she so scared of them?" Shelby asked, still looking a little disturbed.

"I have no idea. It's just irrational." Anastasia replied "Pietor does have a point though; Iliana risked her and Juliana's safety by not getting vaccinated."

"Well all I know is that that was a legitimate faint." Nero said "She was out cold."

Anastasia nodded.

Pietor closed the door to his room quietly. He walked over and shrugged at Anastasia "See it's all done and she didn't have to deal with it."

"I'm not arguing with you." Anastasia said.

"Aren't there tranquilizers for things like this?" Raven asked.

"Yes but Iliana would never take it." Pietor replied.

"You had better make her a special breakfast tomorrow just to ease the anger." Anastasia said.

Pietor rolled his eyes as everyone chuckled.

The door to the other hangar suddenly swung open and they all looked over. Anastasia's eyes narrowed as one of their men entered.

"Excuse me, Madame Furan but we have just received a note." he said "I think you should see this now."

###

I would not advise ignoring me, Mr. Furan. I know Mr. Nero is currently with you as well as several of his operatives and that you had no reason for not appearing at our meeting. You may not believe that I will retaliate. I ask you not underestimate me. You have no idea what I am willing to do to get my revenge. If you refuse to listen, I intend to make you all suffer for this. I don't know how yet, but give me time. I tell you to Beware the fury of a patient man.

Anastasia slapped the paper on her other hand "Damn it!"

Nero lifted a hand over his mouth as he reread the letter in his mind. The Colonel stood behind him, face expressionless.

The adults, excluding Iliana and Alexis, had all followed the Furan's guard. Anastasia had read it aloud, clearly unhappy with its contents.

"They keep talking about harming us, but they fail to do anything." Darkdoom said "Then they try to warn us about underestimating them."

"They never used the word revenge before now." Raven pointed out quietly.

"I agree. This one's different." Nathaniel said.

Anastasia looked at Pietor, who was scowling deeply.

"How do they know we're here?" the Colonel asked, looking pointedly at Pietor, but the assassin wasn't looking at him.

"I don't know." Nero replied to him.

"And why is he only mentioning you two?" Nathaniel asked, pointing at Nero and Pietor.

"It may not be a he." Anastasia said.

"That's true." Nathaniel agreed.

"What exactly do they want from us?" Darkdoom asked "Just a meeting? Why don't they come to us?"

"Revenge is how they put it." Raven said.

"How did this come?" Pietor asked, turning to the man.

"The evening patrol had just started out sir. It was found just outside the gate." the guard replied. Nero narrowed his eyes. Why were the Furans sending patrols out during the day?

"Was there a traceable fingerprint?"

"No." the man replied "We already scanned it."

"So clearly this person knows where we live." Anastasia replied.

Sorry this ended so abruptly it was just really LONG. The exciting chapters are coming!

Dang I didn't even realize how close Talya was to Tolya…

Review.

*politely*