A/N: *ducks everyone throwing rotten tomatoes* I'm sorry about not updating in months, I, uh, had to take my unicorn to the vet, and it was urgent. He has recovered though, so that's a relief.

This was supposed to be one big chapter, but I decided to split it up. I'll post the other one soon (this one is a bit of a filler).

Enjoy!

The smell of baking was wafting through the air, twisting its way into every crevice of the Penderwick house. Jane raised her head from her notebook and sniffed like a bloodhound catching the scent of a criminal. She had been curled up in bed, trying to force out the next plot twist that Sabrina Starr would encounter. Perhaps some baked goods were just what she needed to break her writer's block.

Jane removed herself from the cocoon of blankets and tramped down the stairs, following her nose.

In the kitchen, two familiar people were hunched over the counter, one attacking batter with a wooden spoon and one subtly sneaking pieces out of the bowl. Hound lay in his banished corner of the kitchen where he was put when he got in the way, casting woeful glances at the pair.

Rosalind turned around and caught Jeffrey chewing.

"Jeffrey! That's enough, you've eaten half the bowl," Rosalind admonished.

Jeffrey smiled and turned to the doorway in the kitchen. Jane noticed that Jeffrey's smile was a little strained and there were slight pouches under his eyes. But his face still lit up when he saw her in the doorway.

"Hey! I wanted to ask you if you wanted to help us, but Rosalind said not to disturb you, in case you were deep your writer's world or whatever it is."

Jane smiled and hopped up onto a kitchen stool.

"I thank you for your consideration, good sir, but it would appear that Sabrina Starr is not in the mood for conducting a thrilling mission and would rather eat cookies instead."

"Brownies, actually," Rosalind chimed in, scooping the batter into the pan. "They're Daddy's favorite. Cagney's too," she murmured absentmindedly. Jeffrey and Jane shared a look.

"Er, Rosalind-" Jane glanced at Jeffrey, who nodded encouragement. "Do you think you might be spending more time with, um, Cagney than, well, other people?"

Rosalind looked up from smoothing the brownie mix over, frowning a little. "Of course not. Cagney's just giving me Civil War lessons, that's all. I haven't seen him for a while."

"We know, we just miss spending time with you. Don't forget Jane hasn't seen Cagney in a while either." Jeffrey said. Rosalind didn't reply.

"Maybe you should spend some more time with Tommy," Jane suggested timidly. Rosalind glared at her.

"Are you two suggesting I'm not loyal to Tommy? Hmm?!"

Jane and Jeffrey shrank under her stare.

"Because I am! It's not my fault he's acting immature and childish!" Rosalind banged the glass pan into the oven and slammed the oven door with a sense of finality.

Jane and Jeffrey were edging out of the kitchen, trying to get far away from Rosalind as possible, when something bumped into them.

"Batty? What's that you've got?" Jane asked. Batty's eyes widened as she quickly put her hands behind her back.

"Just some….things...for Hound," she squeaked, backing towards the mud room and the back door. Jeffrey tilted his head.

"Is that Cagney's favorite baseball hat?"

"Just going to see Hound!" Batty practically ran out the back door. Once in the snowy fresh air, she breathed a sigh of relief. "Come on, Hound," she called. The large black dog bounded in her footprints as they set out towards Tommy's house.

"Aunt Claire!" Rosalind rushed to hug her favorite aunt.

"Rosy!" Aunt Claire dropped her suitcases with a thud on the hardwood floors as she was submitted to a crushing embrace. "Sorry I got here so late, the snow is coming down thick."

"It's alright." Rosalind pulled back and smiled. Aunt Claire looked the same as always, brown hair falling to her shoulders and hazel eyes twinkling when she smiled, which was a lot. "Come on, the others will want to know you're here. Go sit down in the kitchen and rest, I'll round them up." Rosalind climbed the staircase and poked her head into the room Jeffrey and Cagney shared. Only Cagney was in there, lying on his stomach with a book entitled The Spring Gardener's Handbook.

Rosalind tapped the door with her knuckles. "Sorry to disturb you, just wanted to say Aunt Claire is here." Cagney looked up and flashed white teeth at her.

"Good to know, I'll be down in a few."

Rosalind smiled back and continued to Jane and Skye's room. Jane and Jeffrey were sprawled on the messy floor, playing the board game LIFE. As Rosalind watched, Jeffrey spun the spinner and drove his car up to land on a pay day. Jane, who seemed to be losing and in a bad temper, threw a couple bills at him as Jeffrey whooped.

"Don't mean to disturb, but Aunt Claire is here," Rosalind announced. Jane, glad for an excuse to quit the game, leapt up, hollering "AUNT CLAIRE!" and sprinted down the hallway and steps. Rosalind heard an "oomph" from downstairs that suggested an excited niece had collided with an unsuspecting aunt.

"Know where Skye is?" Rosalind asked Jeffrey, who was following Jane at a much slower pace. His smile faded as he jabbed a finger towards the window. Rosalind sighed. "Doesn't she know she's not supposed to go out on the roof?" She crossed the room and pushed her head out the window. Skye's silhouette was perched on the garage roof, binoculars glued to her face.

"Skye!" Rosalind exclaimed. "Are you insane? It's thirty degrees, get in here right now!" Skye didn't move.

"One minute, Rosy, Nick Geiger's rubbing Tommy's face in their dirty laundry. Tommy must have done something real bad," Skye remarked, zooming in. Jeffrey snickered. Rosalind was horrified.

"You're- you're WATCHING them?! Skye Magee Penderwick, get your butt in here right now!"

Grumbling, Skye reluctantly pushed herself off the roof and slid into the house. Rosalind noticed with a shock that Skye's lips were blue. "Skye, I swear-" Rosalind snatched a blanket from the floor and wrapped Skye tightly in it. "Now go down, warm up, and say hi to Aunt Claire. She's come a long-"

Skye, who's face had tightened at the sight of Jeffrey, took off eagerly.

"Jeffrey-?" Rosalind started, having noticed this, but Jeffrey was long gone. Rosalind frowned and started down the stairs.

The kitchen greeted her with a happy scene. Aunt Claire sat at the table with Ben on her lap, Hound at her feet, and children hanging off every limb.

"Yes, Batty, I do have presents, but they're for Christmas, okay? Not yet," Aunt Claire was saying. Batty pouted. Just then Cagney came banging down the stairs.

"Oh, this must be the famous Cagney!" Aunt Claire cried, smiling and shaking his hand. "Lovely to meet you, heard so much all about you!"

Cagney smiled back, though a bit bewildered. "Oh, really? Mr. Penderwick mentioned you, though I don't-"

"Oh, I wasn't talking about Martin," Aunt Claire interrupted, winking at Rosalind.

Rosalind put her head in her hands. She was going to have to talk with her aunt.

A/N: R&R! :)