"Xander!" Ellie exclaimed in surprise as she closed the door of the classroom to see her brother and his girlfriend waiting in the corridor outside, "What on earth are you doing here?"
"Surprise visit," Xander said, "I'll explain on the way."
"Where are we going?" Ellie asked in confusion.
"Where you've always wanted to go," Xander replied, "We're taking you to Stoneybridge."
"What?" Ellie said, "How did you manage that? I thought you said we'd never get clearance."
"I found a way around it," Xander said, "I'll explain once we're in the car."
"Ok," Ellie replied.
Fifteen minutes later they were on the main road leading out of the town.
"Explain," Ellie said without preamble.
"You remember our dearly beloved great-uncle Terence," Xander began.
"The one with the peg leg and the glass eye?" Ellie said, "The one who tried to give your whiskey on your sixth birthday?"
"Yeah, that one," Xander replied, "Well I told the school that our poor beloved great-uncle Terry met with an unfortunate end and that we need to travel to Scotland to pay our respects to him."
"But he died two years ago," Ellie said, "And Mum and Dad stopped speaking to him after the BBQ."
"What happened at the BBQ?" Jana asked.
"Trust me, you don't want to know," Xander replied.
"So what are we actually doing?" Ellie asked, "You said we're going to Stoneybridge, are we going to visit Segolia?"
Xander nodded, "Tomorrow. Tonight we're having a movie night at Jana's. You'll get to meet Jana's family- although word of advice, avoid Meinir she bites."
Jana stifled a laugh, pretending instead to have a coughing fit.
"Jana, are you ok?" Ellie asked concerned.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Jana replied, "Thanks."
"You don't seem well Jana," Ellie added, "You look exhausted."
"Oh, it's nothing," Jana said nonchalantly, "I had food poisoning a few days ago."
Xander smiled, 'food poisoning' seemed to wolfblood standard reply.
"Well I hope you feel better soon," Ellie said with a smile.
"I think we should pull over soon," Xander said, "I need to look at the map."
"You mean you need to get coffee," Ellie began.
"No, I don't usually drive this route back to Stoneybridge," Xander said, as he pulled over, "I couldn't go the usually way because it was flooded. I can't wait until you go to college and I don't have to drive three hours to visit you."
"Well I guess that's why we've that's why we've stopped outside a Starbucks," Ellie said quietly.
Xander rolled his eyes, "Ok, ok. Yes, I'm getting a coffee."
"Can you get me a pumpkin spice latte, please?" Ellie added.
"I can't believe that's actually a thing," Xander said shaking his head, "Jana do you want anything?"
"No, I'm ok for now, thanks," Jana said.
"Be back in five," Xander said as he walked in to the shop.
"Xander seems tired too," Ellie mused, "You know you two can drop the act. It's obvious why you two are so tired today. I have to admit you two do move quite fast in your relationship, moving in together after nothing each over only a few weeks and everything. I should be so surprised."
"Surprised about what?" Jana asked confused.
"Well you know," Ellie said, gesturing wildly hoping that Jana would understand.
Jana shook her head, "I don't understand."
"How can you not understand what I mean?" Ellie said exasperated, "You know what. You and Xander, you've obviously done you know what, haven't you?"
Jana went bright red, "Ellie…"
"Oh, my god, Jana," Ellie said, "I knew it. I knew it. I bet I'll be an auntie soon. Imagine me, an auntie before I'm twenty, god, I feel old already."
"Ellie, I…" Jana said, trying to hide her embarrassment.
"Jana, it's nothing to be ashamed about," Ellie said reassuringly, "It's normal in relationships."
"You don't mean, you and Rory?" Jana said in shock.
"No, no, gosh, I wouldn't put Rory's life in danger like that," Ellie said, "He's my best friend, I don't want Xander to kill him. But it is a bit hypocritical of him, don't you think, him and you, you know and then he won't let me… well, you can see why it's hypocritical?"
"Ellie…" Jana started.
"I'm glad you understand," Ellie said, putting an hand on Jana's arm, "Lauren just says I'm too young to be worrying about things like that."
Xander appeared knocking on Ellie's window, which she rolled down.
"One overpriced, overly convoluted cup of coffee for the madam," Xander said, passing the cup to her.
"Thank you, kind sir," Ellie said.
"Ok, ok," Xander said as he climbed in the driver seat, "Jane Austen moment over."
"Jana and I had an interesting conversation," Ellie said suddenly.
Jana turned bright red and tried to hide behind her hair.
"That sounds fascinating," Xander said as he looked at Jana in the rear view mirror, he could guess what the conversation had been about.
"Well I have to say I was surprised," Ellie said, "Especially as Jana is so young."
"I'm sorry I'm not following you," Xander said, pretending to feign confusion.
"Well you know," Ellie said, "The act."
Jana tried to curl up in a ball and disappear into her seat, she had never been so embarrassed in her life, "Xander, I tried to tell her."
"I think you're a bit confused, El," Xander said, "Nothing like that has happened."
"What really?" Ellie said confused, "Jana, why didn't you say that earlier?"
"I tried to," Jana replied.
"Well, I guess my brother is just as prudish as usually," Ellie said.
"Can we change the conversation please?" Xander pleaded.
"Of course, of course," Ellie said sipping her coffee, "Just know that I'll be there for both of you, whatever happens."
"Can we have a little less of the Oprah show? We've still got 130 miles until we reached Stoneybridge," Xander said, "I'd like still be sane by the time we get there."
"Ok ,ok," Ellie said, "I'll be quiet."
"Hallelujah," Xander replied.
"If you let me play that Disney CD," Ellie stated.
"I'd rather participate in a waterboarding session," Xander said.
"Well if that's a no," Ellie said.
"Ok, ok," Xander said, "Just don't play the Aladdin song. You know I can't stand it."
"You're the best big brother anyone can ever want!" Ellie exclaimed.
"This going to be one long journey," Xander said to himself with a sigh.
BREAK-BREAK-BREAK-BREAK-BREAK-BREAK-BREAK-BREAK
"I'm pretty sure the leg doesn't go there," Maddy said to Rhydian as he held a needle and thread in one hand and the leg of the wolf toy in his other hand, "Let me do it."
"Ok, fine," Rhydian said, "As long as it's ready by the time Jana gets back."
"It definitely will be," Maddy reassured him, "I don't think we needed quite to so much stuffing though."
"No, we needed that much stuffing," Rhydian argued, "Jana's going to want to keep it for at least another decade."
"I thought Jana said that it reminded her of herself in wolf form," Tom said.
"Yeah," Rhydian said in confusion.
"Well, Jana's not that fat," Tom said, "Don't you think she might find it a bit insulting."
"She's not a foot long the last time I checked," Rhydian replied, "I don't think we need to worry too much about the exact measurements."
"I'm sure she'll love it," Maddy said.
"Well it's not me that's in danger of being eaten," Tom said.
"When do you think they'll be back?" Shannon said nervously.
"In about half an hour I think," Rhydian said, "Jana's been texting me- a lot."
"More of the same?" Tom asked sympathetically.
Rhydian nodded, "Although there has some been some progress. She's only texting me every fifteen minutes, not every five."
Tom let out a sigh, "I hope Grace is not like that when she's older."
"I don't think anyone in the world is like Jana," Rhydian said, "I can't believe Xander and her are moving in together already."
"You'll be writing your Christmas cards to Xander, Jana and the bump, I bet," Tom said.
"She's my sister, Tom!" Rhydian yelled, "She's way too young for all of that."
Maddy cleared her throat.
"You're mature for your age Maddy," Rhydian explained, "Jana only became a tame wolfblood a few months ago, she doesn't understand humans the way we do."
"I wonder if humans and wolfbloods can actually have kids," Shannon pondered, "We're not technically separate species so it should theoretically be possible. But I wonder if they'd turn at the full moon or not? I wonder if they would experience the dark moon the same way as other wolfbloods."
Maddy shrugged, "Segolia might know."
"This is my little sister we're talking about," Rhydian said, "I don't want to think about all of that."
"You know we're all growing up right?" Tom said, "In a few years we'll all have jobs, families…"
"PhDs," Shannon added.
"Jana's not a little kid anymore," Tom said, "Even if she still needs that wolf toy to be able to sleep."
"I know," Rhydian said, "But I don't want her rushing into anything and getting hurt."
"Jana might not know much about the human world," Shannon began, "But she's not an idiot. She'll be ok, Rhydian, I'm sure she will be."
Rhydian smiled, hoping that Shannon was right.
Ellie rang the doorbell peering through the glass, "I can't believe I'm in Stoneybridge, it's so cool."
"Really?" Jana said doubtfully.
"It's just so beautiful," Ellie gushed.
"You must be Elloisya, I'm Gerwyn, Rhydian's father," Gerwyn said opening the door and bowing, "Welcome to Stoneybridge!"
Ellie smiled, "You have such a beautiful house."
"Thank you," Gerwyn said, "Technically it's Maddy's parents' house, we're just renting it from them. Make yourself at home."
"Hi," Tom said, moving a chair out of her way, "Ellie isn't it?" I'm Tom and this is Shannon, Maddy and Rhydian. Ceri will be here in a minute and Gwyn and Cadwr are upstairs and Meinir's still hiding I think."
"Hiding?" Ellie asked.
"Long story," Rhydian said, "By the way Jana, it's all fixed."
Jana rushed over to her brother and hugged him, "Thank you, it looks like new."
"I'm glad you're happy," Rhydian said.
"I told you already the answer is no!" someone shouted from upstairs.
"But I want to Gwyn," Cadwr pleaded, "I want to stay here."
"Well I don't!" Gwyn replied slamming the door.
"Don't mind them," Shannon said, "They always argue, so where are you from?"
"Norfolk, a little town outside of Norwich," Ellie replied, "If you can call it a town."
"Have you ever been to Northumbria before?" Shannon asked.
Ellie shook her head, "I can't wait to see Segolia tomorrow, Xander promised he'd take me there."
"Well you'll have to visit our research department, it's amazing, you'll love it," Shannon said.
"I'm sure it will be brilliant," Ellie said, "It will be interesting to find out what Xander does."
"I told you," Xander said, "It's top secret."
"Yes, Mr Bond," Ellie said sarcastically.
"Do you want to work for Segolia when you're older?" Shannon asked.
"Congress, actually," Ellie said in a matter of fact tone.
"What like the white house?" Tom asked in a surprised tone.
Ellie nodded, "I totally want to become a famous American politician."
"I'm happy being a working class James Bond," Xander said.
"That sounds awesome," Maddy said, "I'm sure you'd be a great president."
"Yeah, you could be the next Margaret Thatcher," Rhydian suggested.
"Oh, no," Ellie said in horror, "I'd never be like her. I'm far more left wing."
Rhydian nodded in pretend understanding, "I'll sort out some snacks and drinks."
"So where do you work?" Ellie asked.
"I don't," Tom said, "Well I sort of work a bit at the Kafe, it's our local café, but everyone works there so it's hard to get a shift. Rhydian and Maddy are just visiting from Canada, and I think Rhydian's going to start working for the Segolia security team in Calgary soon, Maddy's planning on going to college once the baby's been born, and Shannon, Jana and Xander work at Segolia- although Shannon starts college in about a week's time- she's studying biology, chemistry, maths and history."
"That's awesome, I can't wait to go to college," Ellie said.
"Which colleges have you applied to?" Shannon asked.
"Only the East Northumbria Sixth Form Academy," Ellie replied.
"Isn't that the private one?" Tom asked.
Ellie nodded, "Social services said they'd pay for me."
"I didn't know you were-" Rhydian began.
"It's ok," Ellie said, "It's not a big deal."
"Do you know if you've got in yet?" Shannon asked.
Ellie nodded, "I got my acceptance letter last month. I'm moving up here to live with Xander and Jana whilst I'm at college."
"Congratulations!" Shannon said, "Do you know what you're studying yet?"
"The IB," Ellie said, "International Baccalaureate- it's kind of like all the subjects you studying at school but a lot harder. It will be so amazing to go there."
"Jana could I talk to you a second?" Shannon asked.
"Yeah sure," Jana said following Shannon out of the room.
"Do you think we should mention about the serums?" Shannon asked, "The one's Alex invented. When we mention about you-know- what tomorrow."
"Why did we need to mention the serums?" Jana asked in confusion.
"Well you know how they healed Alex…" Shannon began.
"No, Shannon, you can't," Jana said in anger, "Ellie not a lab rat, Shannon."
"But if she could walk again," Shannon argued.
"It would be amazing yes," Jana said, "I agree. But those serums haven't been tested fully. And we can't just go back to Ellie's school with her all completely fine- how would we explain that, she probably wouldn't even be able to stay on at her school, it's for disabled children only- it's a great idea it really is. But it's not going to work."
"Maybe not now," Shannon said, "But in the future when she's at college and no one would care so much. We should at least tell her."
"We can't," Jana said, "I'm not sure Becca would even let you."
"It's worth a try though isn't it?" Shannon said.
"I don't know," Jana said, biting her lip, "I don't want to put Ellie in any danger."
"I won't," Shannon said, "But she has the right to decide."