A/N: Thanks to everyone who has left reviews! I'm sorry this is a short chapter.
Diana rolled her eyes and flung open the door. "What did you do this time?" Through the smoke, those on the Atlantis side of the mirror couldn't see who it was. After a fit of coughing, a gloved hand appeared through the smoke and waved it away. Still hacking, the figure stepped into Diana's room, although he had a bit of difficulty getting his huge, feathery, smoldering wings through the door way. He licked the tips of his thumb and forefinger and then rubbed out the tiny flame on a feather near his shoulder.
"I thought I could-ah, you know, unclog the kitchen sink." He took a matchstick out of his pocket and chewed on the end of it thoughtfully. "But-ah, I think I went about it the wrong way. Everythin' was goin' fine, and then BOOM, no more sink."
"Lord thunderin' Jesus!" Dean shrieked. Claire patted his shoulder. His right eye was twitching.
Milo, who had remained silent since the small explosion, finally cried out, "VINNY!"
"Yeah," the angel was still muttering to himself. "I shouldn't have put in that bit-ah dynamite… Maybe a cherry bomb…yeah, I'll try a cherry bomb. I should have-a some of those somewhere…" He began digging through his pockets. "Road flare… a bit of wire… nitro-"
"Vinny!" Milo yelled again, hoping to get the rambling Italian's attention.
The angel finally looked up and into the mirror. "Oh, hi Milo," he said casually. Peering at him closely, he asked, "Are you wearin' a toga?"
The king glanced down at his azure garb and then shook his head. "That's not important. Vinny, how did… that," he gestured to the wings, "happen?" His voice cracked slightly at the thought of one of his friends dying.
"That's-ah kinda interestin' story." He scratched his cheek. He had hardly changed since Milo and Kida last saw him. Other than a few wrinkles around his eyes, the major difference, other than the wings and the glowing ring floating over his head, was a little bit of silver in his hair and mustache. He even seemed to be wearing the same black sweater. "You see—" He was interrupted as a loud bell clanged in the distance.
Milo turned to Kida. "School's out. I'll go-"
His wife put a hand on his shoulder. "No, I will get her." Smiling, she added, "Stay and reminisce while you can."
Before she was out of earshot, Milo yelled, "Ta' Kashi might want a word with you."
Kida turned on her heel. "What…"
"Crab in the desk."
"Ah." She muttered something in Atlantean that Milo didn't bother translating for the others. With light, silent footsteps, she was gone.
Claire stared at Vinny for a moment. "I take it you're handy with explosives?" She elbowed Dean, who was grumbling under his breath.
The Italian nodded. "That's an interestin' story, too. You see, my parents owned this flower shop. We would sell-ah roses, carnations, baby's breath, you name it…"
"Um," Claire interrupted before he could continue one of his favorite anecdotes, "Vinny, was it? I think I'm going to need your help." She ignored Austin's sarcastic gasps of amazement and mutterings of "You? Ask for help?" Looking at Diana, she said, "pack me and Dean a change of clothes." When Diana arched an eyebrow in a perfect imitation of her sister, Claire added, "Please. Send them here by tossing them into my wardrobe and have Vinny go through, too."
"Can do," replied Diana cheerfully with a salute. The image suddenly went dark.
"In a few minutes Vinny will come out here," explained Claire.
"How?" asked Helga, now inspecting the empty case.
"Well, wardrobes have been thought to be portals to other worlds for years," Milo explained. "You find that in old fairy tales and myths. I just never thought that Mr. Whitmore would have one, or that anything like that actually existed."
"Not only are magical closets real," said Austin, "but if you put out old shoes at night, elves pop in and repair them."
"Wow, really?"
"No. God, you're gullible." Austin chuckled. "Elves don't exist."
Grinning, Helga pretended to hide her laughter with a cough.
The mirror flickered back on and Diana grinned back at them. "Okay, I think I got enough stuff for you and Dean." She held up a gym bag. "And I was wondering if you would like to have this, too." In her other hand she held up a hanger with a very risqué nightgown on it. Dean's ears turned scarlet and Milo looked away and coughed into his fist, blushing.
"Diana…" Claire warned through clenched teeth.
She shook the hanger so that the lace nightie swished from side to side. "I figured you could use it for one of those nights when you just wanna snuggle up with Dean."
"Diana!"
"What was this anyway? Anniversary gift?" Before her sister could scream again, Diana grinned and placed the nightgown out of view. "Okay, okay, sheesh. You can't take a joke." She rolled her eyes. "I'll send 'em over." She dashed out of the room, clutching the bag in her hand and returned a moment later sans bag. "Ready Vinny?" she called over her shoulder. From Claire's room, they heard him reply, "Ready!" "Okay, step though and just keep thinking about Atlantis."
Claire, Milo, Dean, and even Helga took a step back. From out of the empty space in the wardrobe Vinny materialized. His feet planted firmly on the floor, he looked around with his usual laid-back smile and said, "Okay, that was kinda weird." He handed Claire the gym bag and brushed a bit of dust off his feathers. He shook her hand. "Vincenzo Santorini at your service. But-ah, call me Vinny."
She happened to glance downward. The metal crotch plate, worn over his pants, caught her off guard. "Claire Hansen," she said, quickly looking back up.
"Dean McIssac," Dean introduced himself. "About how much damage was done to the sink?"
Vinny didn't answer. He was glaring at Helga. "It's okay," said Milo. "She's sorry for what she did." He smiled. "She's a whole new Helga."
"If you say so, Milo," muttered Vinny, still staring at her.
"Okay, just ignore me here!" shouted Diana from the mirror. "Not like I did anything worth thanking…"
Claire turned to face her. "Thanks Diana."
"Aw, you're welcome, sis!" She waved to the group. "Bye Claire! Bye Dean! Bye Miltch!"
"Milo Thatch," Milo quietly corrected.
"Bye Kida, wherever you are! Bye Vinny! Bye Helga!"
"Hey, you're forgetting me," Austin snapped indignantly.
"I could never forget you. Kisses for kitty!" She blew kisses at him. "If you need anything Claire, don't hesitate to call. And I mean anything!" The mirror went black.
"She's, um, interesting," said Milo, scratching the back of his head.
"As different as night and day, huh?" asked Helga.
"That's an understatement." Claire peeked out into the corridor. "You guys have guards, right?"
Milo nodded. He was lost in thought. "But not everywhere. We can hide him in-"
"The library," Austin finished the sentence.
"I'm not that predictable, am I?" the scholar asked as they walked down the hallway.
"Why, Jiminy Christmas, no!"
"Great. I'm being mocked by a cat."
"Happens to the best of us," said Dean sympathetically.
