Thanks to Hayley, Thursday and Brie for the lovely reviews: D

I will reply to each separately I promise: D

Not much more left: D

The first time Howard had been inside his sister had been strange enough. Even thinking of it like that…Everything just felt so wrong. Surely somewhere this constituted incest.

Before had just been a taster. Now he was immersed in her, Howard felt like he was being lost. She clutched at his hand tightly as they traversed the corridors of her mind.

He had never thought about what it was like in her head. Now that he was confronted by it, it seemed so deep and dark and ominous. He just wanted to do what needed to be done, and then leave as quickly as possible.

It wasn't like this inside his own head, everything was methodical and ordered. Ordered to the point, where from the outside it could easily appear that he was mental. And it was nothing like Vince's empty coconut husk of a brain. Whoever had designed the layout of his sister's brain obviously had, had no formal training. Most of the corridors appeared to have been fashioned from angles, and seemed to vary dramatically size.

There were doors as well. Howard had compartments inside his brain, which were assigned for specific things. For instance there was a large devoted to jazz, and in contrast a small section comprising of colours/fashion/celebrity. The subject most constantly on Howard's mind, the thing that filled up over half his boxes was Vince.

Like Howard's boxes all the doors inside her head were surprisingly well categorised. He stopped briefly at the one marked Happiness, a collage of faces covered the door all smiling. Him and Her. Her and Saboo. Kitten with him and Vince. Bollo and Naboo. Him and Vince. There were nearly as many pictures of him and Vince together as there were of her, Saboo and Kitten. So him and Vince being together makes her happy.

The space that was gloomy already was suddenly thrown into complete darkness.

'Sometimes the lights go out.' She informed casually. Seconds later everything was light again.

'Why do I keep hearing The Cure?' Howard asked confused, referring to the opening bars of Just like heaven, that had been playing over, and over again.

'That's what that is!' She squealed.

'You know, I've had that song in my head for days. I couldn't work out what it was, funny huh?'

'Hilarious.' Howard frowned back.

'Can you please do something about it? I can't hear myself think.'

'That's up to you now Howard.' She exhaled, her voice sounding fainter.

'Wait, I need you! Where are you going? You can't leave me, I need you!' She smiled at the sight of his panic.

'You don't need me Howard. You've never needed me…besides I'll be back later.' She stifled a long drawn out yawn with the back of her hand.

'Where are you going?' The fear was thick in his voice. He didn't like the idea of her drifting off. Where was she drifting off too?

'Just away.' Before he had the chance to react she was gone, the way she was always gone.

'Ooooh, look after Baby, Howard.'

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Howard's new eyes fluttered open. He surveyed the world through his new gaze. It wasn't radically that different. He suddenly realised that Saboo was peering down at him. Her heart went funny. It sped up considerably at the sight of the anal, squeaky voiced Shaman. Completely involuntarily, a serious of images involving well…Howard attempted to block it all out.

There was no time for that sort of funny business. There were limits to everything, or so he always believed. The last thing he wanted to know was the why, wherefores and hideously graphic details of his sister's sex life.

'That, wore off fast.'

'Yes' Howard swallowed thickly as he struggled to sit up. Saboo's hands were on him, trying to help him to get up. Howard flinched from his touch.

'Mabel, don't be like that. It was an accident, you know I'd never hurt you.' Saboo's voice sounded softer than Howard had ever heard it before. He sounded hurt to Howard's ears.

'No, of course I know you'd never hurt her, Sir.'

Howard didn't realise his slip of the tongue until it was too late.

'Her…me. Me, I mean me!' He stuttered. 'I know you would never hurt,' Howard's voice died in his throat. He didn't like the way Saboo was staring at him. What should he do? More often than not most of what Howard said went under the radar, even with Vince. He didn't know what to do with someone actually paying attention to him. Howard did the only thing he could think of doing in the situation, however humiliating it was. Howard fainted. Well at least pretended to faint, falling easily into Saboo's strong arms. It was stereotypical, but wasn't it what pregnant women did? Howard was sure he could get away with this. Besides whatever anyone said, he knew what a great actor he was.

With his eyes firmly closed, through choice this time. Howard felt himself being lifted off the carpet, and finally onto firmer ground. He couldn't help but wonder if she was alright. Everything was going so wrong, so fast Howard could barely keep up. He had always had a suspicion that he'd been born under a fated star, but this was just ridiculous.

'Mummy! Daddy!' Howard's ears pricked up at the sound of Kitten's familiar squeal. He recovered himself quickly, the last thing he wanted to do was frighten his nephew.

'Mummy!' The little boy ran towards him, wrapping his pudgy arms tightly around Howard's neck.

'Kit.' Howard clutched the little boy tightly, shedding a multitude of tears on the fabric of Kitten's narrow shoulder.

'Mummy, why are you crying?' Kitten asked, his forehead knotting tightly in confusion.

'I'm not. I'm just,' Everything washed over him. The fact that he could touch his nephew. The stress of being alive and dead at the same time. How much he missed his old life. He knew now how much he'd taken for granted. Her hormones weren't helping either.

'I'm just happy, big man.'

Howard felt Saboo's hand on his collar. Instantly he knew something was wrong.

'Mummy's tired, she needs to have a little rest.' He gripped the flesh of Howard's upper arm, and pulled him along, quickly into the confines of his sister's house. He dragged him up the stairs, his hand tightening like a vice. Something was wrong.

Saboo dropped the pretence as soon as the bedroom door snapped closed behind them.

'What have you done with my wife?' Saboo snarled, pinning Howard against the fabric of the door. Howard gulped nervously.

'What are you talking about, Sir?'

Saboo's hands were suddenly wrapped around Howard's neck, choking the life out of his sister's body.

'You sound just like that doss bag, Howard.'

'No, no…please…' Howard gasped. He desperately attempted to struggle, but her body was just too weak. White hot spot swam in front of his gaze, as he fought to breathe.

'Please don't kkill me,' He managed to stammer. Saboo released the pressure from his thumb just enough, so that Howard could squeak again.

'…I've…she…me…we've got so much too give!' It was the dreaded conformation Saboo had expected.

'I knew you were him! What have you done with her?'

Saboo's vice-like grip enclosed around Howard's slender neck once more. All the oxygen rushed out of Howard's lungs, and he was sure he was just about to die again. His mouth moved with the action of a gulping fish.

'What? Speak up I can't hear you!' Saboo ordered. Her heart pounded in Howard's ears, all the blood was rushing somewhere, he just wasn't sure where. He gulped again. Suddenly Saboo let him go.

The force of the air rushing back into his chest collapsed Howard in on himself, he slumped to the floor on his knees, a coughing, spluttering mess.

'Where is she?'

'I don't know.' Howard answered truthfully, when he finally regained control over her abused vocal cords. Saboo lunged towards him again, causing Howard to shrink back against the bedroom door.

'She's safe though!' He exclaimed, thinking quickly. 'I'd never put her in any danger!' Howard wanted that to be desperately true, but he knew how much he'd always failed her. He'd failed her by not protecting her from Bainbridge, he'd failed her when he'd let Old Gregg kidnap her. He was a terrible brother.

'I knew it.' Saboo uttered to himself as he paced the length of the bedroom, his heels leaving a deep impression in the plush carpet.

'I knew no one could recover from one of my spells so fast, I'm not bloody Harrison!'

'Is that all you really care about? That you're the best Shaman?'

The Shaman halted mid step, he fixed Howard with an accusing stare. She's told him things. Things that Howard didn't even know that she knew, things that Vince, that Naboo, that Bollo had told her. Things about Howard's past, things he's still ashamed of. He can almost read the venom of the Shaman's dark gaze. 'No, that's you!'

'I'm going to cast you out!' Saboo informed.

'No please don't, you have to help me!' Howard begged pathetically. He couldn't, wouldn't go back to being a ghost again. His begging however seemed to have the opposite effect on Saboo.

'I always gave you the benefit of the doubt, but you really are pathetic.' Moon. That was it, the thought snapped quickly into his head.

'Bainbridge!' He called out.

'Bainbridge is back!' Howard continued.

'Why should that concern me exactly?'

'Bainbridge is back. It won't take him long to work out some devious way of becoming flesh and blood again, Sir.' The words flowed quickly from Howard's lips like a dictionary of vomit.

'So?'

The next bit was a lie, a gamble Howard prayed would pay off.

'How can you be sure Mabel is really over him? They were married. How do you know that she won't just change her mind again, and go back to him?'

Saboo seemed to pause.

'Because I know my wife.' The weaver in Saboo's voice told Howard there was doubt.

'Isn't it better to know for sure? To stop it before it has a chance to start? If you help me catch Bainbridge then you'll stop it before it ever starts, if it ever starts. Help me.'

'Your argument is a persuasive one.' The Shaman mused, stroking the whips of a beard which clung to his chin.

Howard sighed in relief; all the effort had exhausted him.

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After that there was nothing for a long time.

Howard drifted into darkness.

'Mummy! Mummy wake up.' The sound of Kitten's voice woke him from his deep sleep. The little boy's face floated into Howard's blurred vision. He yawned and smiled.

'You've been asleep for ages. Daddy said I shouldn't wake you up.'

'It's all right. I think I was just about to wake up anyway Big man.' He reached out his fingers tracing the smooth outline of the side of Kitten's cheek.

'That tickles!' The little boy giggled.

'Oh does it now, Sir.' Howard chuckled, his hand migrating to Kitten's side, tickling him in the ribs.

'Stop it! Stop it!' Kitten pleaded between breathless gasps, and giggles. Howard could clearly remember the last time he'd done this, the memory flashed up in his mind. It had been in the shop, Kitten had been perched on the top of the counter, while Howard had been engaged in the taxing art of tickling him senseless.

Howard stopped. An expression of disappointment fell over Kitten's features.

'You're being funny today Mummy.' Howard watched as Kitten crawled onto the bed next to Howard. He wrapped his arm tightly around Kitten's tiny body, greedily soaking up the warmth of the little boy. He can feel the way she loves her son, it's different it's like nothing Howard's ever felt before.

'Where is your Daddy?'

'In the basement, he's busy he told me not to bother him, either.'

Howard couldn't help but think about Vince, he had to see him. He couldn't wait any longer, he had to see Vince, even if it was for the last time ever. Even if it was just to say goodbye. Howard knew it was selfish, but he had to tell Vince how much he loved him.

'Do you know where your Daddy put his magic carpet?' He whispered softly against the side of Kitten's head. The little boy nodded, puzzled by the question.

'Silly Mummy, he put it in the garage!'

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Howard left Kitten on the sofa under the supervision of Bollo. He made the Ape and the boy promise that they wouldn't let Saboo know that he'd left the house until the very last moment.

Howard knew he didn't have long, he jumped awkwardly off the flying carpet. Hobbling across the street, Howard felt like his feet were being crucified by his sister's too high, too tight shoes.

'How does Vince walk in these things?' He mumbled under his breath. Howard paused outside the steps, which lead to the front of the shabby building Vince inhabited. His chest tightened, as the door swung open and from the light of the communal hall a figure emerged.

For a moment his heart constricted at the thought, the possibility that it was Vince. But it wasn't. It was Sue struggling to take the bins out on her own. She clutched two bulging bin bags in each hand as she teetered down the wet steps.

'Sue.' Howard called out, thankful that if it wasn't Vince at least it hadn't been Leroy. He'd seen how Leroy had treated his sister.

Sue jumped almost half out of her skin at the sound of her name.

'You scared me.' She exhaled clutching at her chest.

'I'm sorry,' Howard exclaimed as he moved into the pool of orange light cast by a street lamp.

'You shouldn't be here.' Sue warned him, as she tossed the bin bags into a large plastic bin. Brushing off her hands, she turned to start back up the steps without even a backwards glance.

'Please!' Howard called out after her.

'Please! I have to see Vince, you have to let me see him.'

Sue paused on the fifth step.

'Leroy said,'

'Yes, I know what Leroy said, but this will only take a moment. I just want to see Vince, I need to know…I have to tell him…'

The fire of hope rekindled inside Howard, as he watched Sue slowly spin around on the worn heels of her trainers to face him.

'Alright, you can come in. But only for a minute, and none of that spooky stuff.'

Howard didn't wait for her to change his mind. He hurtled up the steps behind Sue as quickly as he could.

'No, none you have my word, Sir.'