treba da je poljubi , velikog brata – you should kiss her, big brother

onda bi trebalo da napuste – then you should leave

veoma dobro – very well

I'm still experimenting with where to put the translations, so let me know what you'd prefer. Anyway, I think you guys will like the end of this. Some nice Teslen fluff for everyone. Unfortunately, this is where it all starts to go downhill (uh-oh). Some nice Kiri/Nikola sibling time too. If any of you can figure out who they're talking about, I'll send Tesla over to cause chaos in your house.

Normal Disclaimer. I only own Kiri. She does my bidding.

Helen had just begun walking around again two days before classes started, so when she returned to school, Kiri stuck close by, helping Helen carry books, get up and down stairs, and sometimes even just stand up. The official story was that Helen had fallen off a horse onto some rocks. As the only two who knew where Helen had been, Nikola and Kiri were told that Helen had fallen off a rope in the cave. Neither of them asked what she had been doing in the cave. For them, the fact that she was safe and healthy seemed to be enough. John had joined their study group, and they moved to an empty lab to accommodate their increased numbers. John still treated Kiri as nothing more than a servant, often asking her to do things just to prove he could. Kiri did them all, without complaint, though her personality around the group became more subdued. This was something Nikola noticed almost immediately, and worried about until one Sunday in November, when Helen invited just Nikola and Kiri over. It was the first time the three of them were spending time together without the other three since school had started, and Nikola was not going to waste it.

"Kiri, are you alright?" he asked almost as soon as they were all settled. Kiri looked at him with surprise written plainly across her face.

"Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?" she countered, cocking her head.

"You been unusually quiet lately," Nikola elaborated.

"I have noticed that," Helen added, furrowing her brow at Kiri.

"Mr. Druitt does not like it when I speak around him," she told them, shrugging. "And I do not wish to offend anyone."

"Kiri, you shouldn't allow John to dictate what you do," Helen remarked, reaching out to place her hand on Kiri's arm. Kiri shrugged again.

"I really don't mind," she whispered. Before Helen or Nikola could say anything, Kiri stood and wandered away, leaving the room silently. Helen turned to Nikola, puzzled.

"What did-" she started to say. Nikola turned away from the door, which he had been watching with a slightly knowing expression on his face.

"Kiri has been having a lot of trouble with the students this year." He stood as well, heading in the direction Kiri had disappeared in. "I'm going to go talk to her." He disappeared as well, leaving Helen to watch in silence. Ellie walked in a few moments later, moving to sit next to her mistress.

"Is something wrong?" she questioned gently.

"I feel like I'm losing my best friends, Ellie. They hardly even speak to me anymore," Helen admitted, twisting her hands together nervously. Ellie placed one hand over hers, steadying her movements.

"Forgive me if this sounds to bold, m'lady, but perhaps it is you who hardly ever speak to them," she suggested gently. Helen looked at her in surprise, though her expression soon turned thoughtful.

Meanwhile, Nikola found Kiri sitting on the stairs, absently rubbing her right arm. He sat down next to her, sitting silently for a few minutes.

"He grabbed me again today," she whispered, leaning her head against Nikola's shoulder. He wrapped an arm around her, making sure to avoid the area that she had been rubbing.

"Are you going to tell her?" he inquired gently.

"No. He's not a bad person; he's only doing what he was taught to do. I have a relatively nice life as a servant." Kiri smiled reassuringly up at Nikola, who frowned in return.

"He's hurting you, Kiri. And Helen's our friend, she deserves to know."

"Nika, really, I don't want to worry her with this." Kiri stood and took a few steps away, folding her arms across her chest in a defensive position.

"Kiri, if I hadn't been there to see him do it, would you have told me?" Nikola remained seating, resting his elbows on his knees as he leaned forward. Kiri turned slightly, so she was only half facing him.

"No. I knew you would worry. And really, it's nothing too bad. I had a friend once who was beat half-to-death on a regular basis. All he does is grab me and shake me sometimes." Nikola finally stood to stand next to Kiri, gently rolling up the sleeve on her right arm. On her upper arm, plain as day, was a hand-shaped bruise, and the skin around it was clearly tender. Nikola bent down and gently kissed the area.

"Come on, sestrice. We should return to Helen," he suggested quietly, taking Kiri's hand. The two of them walked back into the living room, where Helen was sitting watching the fire, clearly deep in thought. Kiri dropped Nikola's hand and bounced over to her, grinning.

"Helen, I was wondering if you could teach me some biology today. Nika's been teaching me mathematics, but he said you're better at biology than he is." She took Helen's hand, looking at her with pleading eyes.

"Of course I will, Kiri. We can start on Monday." Helen smiled at the younger girl, although she still looked like her mind was elsewhere. Kiri smiled in reply, before turning to Nikola.

"Treba da je poljubi , velikog brata," she said to him.

"Onda bi trebalo da napuste, sestrice," Nikola responded, glaring at her.

"Veoma dobro." Kiri turned and left, leaving Helen and Nikola alone together. Helen watched her go for a few seconds, until she realized that Nikola had moved closer. He reached up and gently stroked Helen's face, and her breath hitched.

"Nikola, wha-" She was cut off for a second time that night, this time by the gentle press of Nikola's lips against hers. This was the third time they'd kissed, but whereas the other two had simply been kisses between two friends, this one was something more. Nikola gently moved his lips, coaxing her to do the same until they were locked in a kiss that was somehow chaste and yet not at the same time. Nikola's hands were resting on her waist, and her hands went up to rest against his chest. The kiss lasted until they were both out of breath, and when they finally pulled away, Nikola rested his forehead on hers as they caught their breaths.

"What was that for?" Helen questioned after a few seconds.

"I-I love you, Helen," Nikola whispered, kissing her nose gently. Helen closed her eyes.

"I love you too, Niko. But you're going to have to talk to my Father." She took a deep breath and took a reluctant step backwards, putting a socially acceptable distance between them.

"When does he get back?" Nikola tried to hide the eagerness and relief in his voice, though he suspected he failed miserably.

"Just before Christmas." Helen smiled, pulling Nikola back for one last hug.