Well, the moment had finally arrived. As the sun set and the stars started shining, the neon-lit front of the Collection's new bar flickered on and illuminated a huge area, in the grounds just outside the rest of the main commercial block, drawing all kinds of attention due to its different mood and design to the rest of the planetoid. Yes, the memo had been sent out a few days prior and the drunks and the dates were already vying for seats, but it was getting plenty of interest just by popping up.

While the rest of the front was in vibrant colours, the sign centred above the door shone bright white, 'The White Rabbit' emblazoned in blinding cursive, next to the silhouette of a bunny. The building had already gotten a fresh coat of paint on the outside, and lots of new furniture inside, as well as glass doors replacing the heavy wooden ones.

The pair's arrival definitely would've been too late if they hadn't made sure Jack would save them a seat.

The warmth of Bernice's smile was heightened by the lights reflected in her eyes. She leant on Braxiatel's shoulder and stared up at the Rabbit, waves of nostalgia crashing through. Taking her hand, he led her closer and held the door open for her to pass, stealing a kiss on her knuckles as she went in.

This pub wasn't the only thing garnering attention, unfortunately. Walking here, before it was too dark there had been a few unwelcome cameras catching them together, and that was certainly something to expect more of when they got inside.

The interior had even more neon signs than outside, and with the previously scratched or threadbare chairs, booths, and tables replaced it definitely scrubbed up better than before. Friendly chatter and classic tunes made an atmosphere that felt a little bit more like the other White Rabbit on Earth. That change, however- was not unwelcome.

Skipping over to the door to greet them, practically rocking on his feet, the Kadeptian winked. "Irving, Benny- like the new look?"

Brax straightened his tie indignantly, part of a far more casual grey suit that seemed a little bit less out of place here than his typical attire. "Of course I do! I chose the new look- and it's hardly any different to begin with. Just less... damaged. That broken chunk of drywall is finally repaired!"

"I just missed this place, really," she added. Somehow, Jack seemed even taller than when they'd last seen him. Benny glanced down at his shoes. Four-inch heels. She laughed to herself. That explained it.

He led them, (having to scramble awkwardly to keep up) to a comfortable-looking red booth near a corner, overlooking the shadows of the greenery outside and the stars and galaxies overhead.

"Thought you might just like a spot by the window. Bit of a view. Lovely fountain over there, by the way."

Irving nodded in approval. "Excellent. Jack, start a tab."

"Already on it, Irving!"

"I'm thinking classic- chips to share? And of course, Jack. Cocktail number four," Benny requested.

"Sounds good to me."

"A number four... That one's the 'Blue Blur,' got it. Coming right up!"

As Jack bounced away, Benny leant in closer to Brax. "...Did miss the Rabbit. Seems like a lot of things we've been missing have been coming back lately, aren't they?"

He nodded, resting his chin on his hands. "Mhmm, I've noticed that too. First you, then everybody and everything else."

"It's largely nice, but I've gotten a few mixed feelings from it." Her tone matched her expression- blank and puzzled.

"If my sisters show up out of the blue, I'm going to get suspicious," he remarked with what seemed like a joke, but something in his voice was a little bitter, a little sad.

"Already pretty damn suspicious of some of it, to be honest..." She didn't want to bring up Jason now, so Bernice left it at that.

"I didn't do anything nefarious, I swear," he held up his hands defensively.

That made it a bit harder to avoid the topic though, unfortunately. "You're last on my list. Jason- my Jason, popping up out of nowhere right after we started dating doesn't sound at all like something you would do. And the casket, well..." She trailed off. He could have been lying about knowing that part. She knew there were things that didn't line up and this was starting to shine a light on it. One she'd need to say something about, eventually. But not now.

Rightfully though, he denied everything. "Absolutely not."

"Really do want to investigate. But first a good old-fashioned night at the pub? Certainly help things wind down." She leaned back into the cushioning of the booth as far as she could, idly counting the seconds as they waited.

The man popped back over unexpectedly, startling the two of them when he spoke. "Talking about your not-dead husband, are you? Because as soon as we opened up, he's been sobbing at the bar." He sighed, clicking his tongue again. Drawn out of that train of thought, he placed their starters and drinks on the table. "Anything else?" He pulled a small datapad from the pocket in his blazer to write the more detailed orders down.

Braxiatel rolled his eyes at Jason's apparent presence. "Well, tell him to sob somewhere else. This is a respectable establishment." Thinking it over, he asked- with a very clear preferred answer, "Do you still have that case of Heartshaven wine I stashed in the basement? The one I told you to never serve to customers?"

Jack nodded. "Didn't get broken during the transit or stolen at any point, if that's what you're worried about. We do."

"Good, I'll take a bottle of that. Do you still do steak?" Once again a pointed question. Things had better be just as serviceable as before he'd left, or there was probably going to be a problem.

The Kadeptian nodded again, flashing a smile with a friendly wink.

"Then a bloody steak and a salad sounds acceptable."

He turned to Benny. Her eyes darted around and she finally settled again. "Shepherd's pie please- don't forget artificial meat."

"Of course, of course! You'll get the best service money can buy- I'll be back in just a tick, Irverfield," he cheekily added, slipping away before they had time to react.

Bernice was frozen for several seconds, and her jaw dropped.

"Irverfield?!"

Brax blushed and awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck, eyes drifting away from Benny. "Not that this current situation was particularly easy to predict, but in hindsight that wasn't a very good name for a ship..."

"No shit," she groaned. "It wasn't even a good name then."

He huffed indignantly. "He better not keep calling us that."

"Or getting other people to call us that-"

"Don't worry, if he does, I'll find a new bartender..."

"I don't think they'd be able to match his cocktails though..." Benny stopped, biting her lip awkwardly. Was this really a good idea? In a busy restaurant where everybody knew who they were? But she wasn't just about to get up and walk away. "Now that we're... not being bothered- what do you want to talk about?"

"How are you feeling about having Peter home?"

"Better. A lot better. Mostly. Anxious about the same things I've always been, but you know me. Still not quite sure how he feels about it though. It's been a lot for everybody, but it's probably hitting him the most," she glanced down, concerned about something. "He seemed a bit... detached when I spent time with him earlier."

"Well, he does have rather a complicated history with this place," Irving suggested.

Bernice countered with a statement of her own. "Yeah- but you also decided to move it right after I told him about us. And he heard about it only the next day. Goddess- at least from an outside perspective we must be moving a bit fast."

"Ah, I suppose you're right... should I talk to him?"

She shook her head up and down and took a long slurp. "It would make me feel better."

He agreed with that, taking a chip. "Alright, I'll do so when I offer him a job. He could still do security. Something to do and help reacclimatize after it being his role on Legion, if nothing else. And nothing against Joseph, but that department has suffered a number of oversights without space being freed up by Ms Jones or Bev."

Benny nodded, idly toying with the straw in her drink. She had wondered about part of that. It felt like something was missing. Regardless of whether she liked the thing, there was a definite void. Her eyebrows furrowed.

"...What happened to Ms Jones?"

He stared into her eyes, grimly, reaching out and resting a hand on hers, squeezing comfortingly. It wasn't him now, at least. "She was older than she looked when you left, Benny. Six years ago we buried her by the lake. And on this end of things you have been absent for a good while..."

Bernice let out a resigned sigh, staring down at the strong blue liquid sitting in front of her, taking a hot chip and feeling the crunch between her teeth. Time travel really was about everybody else dying. This sort of thing was to be expected, yes- but it just had to happen a third time. "Was she happy... this time?"

"Clarissa was as happy as she ever got, really. At the end she had some rather close friends," he stated, shrugging and taking his hand away before they got more stares.

Benny firmly agreed. "That's good, yeah."

"Her highest regards, really. I haven't found someone quite so capable as her other than Joseph, and he has a number of other roles to take care of, including security. We're spreading ourselves a bit thin with people safe to trust. Peter could be one of them, if he's willing to help."

Her son really did know his way around that sort of thing nowadays. Tech, weapons, rules. It might be a good idea, while the Collection was an environment that was safe, somebody still needed to help keep it safe. Other than just Irving anyway, because that just turned out so well before.

Thinking about it though, she realized this meant Brax didn't quite have the hearts to replace Ms Jones directly. Which was again, secretly sweet, regardless of her opinions on the woman. Was he more sentimental than she remembered during the change? Or did she just miss it, far too focused on the end goal- perhaps the answer laid in that itself. He'd reached it, for the most part- the threshold of roughly a decade of the Collection's existence that he needed to beat to save countless lives. Maybe it allowed him to cool down.

Maybe he was just tired.

Not that she suspected Brax would ever really say anything. He was definitely still hiding things to 'keep them safe,' but there were boundaries she wouldn't try to cross without being given an olive branch. Especially not here.

"I- think he could help, yes. But being understaffed for six years- that's absurd! Maybe when this place was invite-only, but you've been running a whole university without a manager or proper secretary? And filling in for my paperwork too?"

At that, he aired out his collar. Not sure of what element of the atmosphere or which part of Bernice was causing it, he briefly turned away to compose himself, and finally answered.

"It has been- difficult. Unfortunately. Your return has lifted some weight off my shoulders in that aspect. But the effort I'm exerting in other matters isn't particularly conducive to having people close to me again," he hesitated, trying to reword it and include Bernice and the family, adding, "-most people." Unfortunately, this was a lie. And not the most subtle one either. Braxiatel was risking a lot in this too, allowing himself the luxury of closer friends and love when the monster lurked in those dark corners of his mind- but that burden couldn't be known.

"Maybe we shouldn't talk about work..." she suggested.

And that was also something a bit grim to think of in the neon-lit bar with 2000's Britney Spears droning on in the background, with his love just across the table. Brax straightened himself out and cleared his throat. Inspecting Benny, he redirected the conversation.

"You know, you look rather lovely this evening."

She scrunched up her nose and furrowed her brow, a bit confused at that.

"I look how I always do. Not even dressed up- hardly," she scoffed. The jacket, jeans, and plain shirt begged him to differ.

"Well, perhaps you just always look lovely."

She only laughed. "Either you've gotten suave or are a whole lot better at lying again, because honestly how do you say that with a straight face?"

"Because it's true?"

She refused to directly bring up when she came back being bruised, bloody, and battered, when she was filthy and had her hair in what was kind to call a rats nest, when she was apparently rather green, or when she was hungover and covered in sick. Because this was a restaurant, and if he really still thought she looked lovely then- she'd gladly accept the compliment.

Dragging them from their flirtations kicking and screaming, hopped Jack- precariously balancing two platters of steaming food, grinning like a madman. "Here's your meals. Irving, Benny. Didn't expect you two to become an item in the prime reality, but here we are... I'll just get back to cleaning up after Jason."

Brax nodded in approval. "Thank you, Jack."

Benny thanked him too. The delicious meaty scents wafted up to them, giving warm, rejuvenating life to what had become an otherwise somewhat cold conversation. "Ahh..." Scrunching up her face in concern, she caught Jack's comment and responded. "...Were we together somewhere else? I can't entirely recall everything that happened when we were all together. Or has Jack seen something we haven't?"

Braxiatel shook his head. "Not anything I remember, but I hardly know as much about what's going on out there in all those other timelines as my other self did."

Bernice let out a somewhat concerned 'hmph' and stared down at the shepherd's pie. It had become a bit of a comfort food when she lived on Legion. And if the aroma was anything to go by, it was just the same as it always had been.

Brax seemed slightly less excited about the steak, but considering he could have it- and have it better just about whenever and wherever else he wanted, that was a fairly normal response. Jack had poured them two generous glasses of deep ruby wine, and after a tentative sip, the delicate flavour slipped back onto her palette.

It was unique in its taste, Bernice only had it once before- when Irving was kind enough to share some, before they even really knew each other the way they did now. Braxiatel was starting his steak, and she had a bite of the pie.

Exactly as she remembered. Perfect.

They ate in silence for a bit- at least the closest thing to silence that was possible here, eyes gliding over one another in appreciation once in a while, then gazing into each other's, then lingering for a long time on their lips.

Bernice thought about it long and hard, heat slowly rising in her cheeks. Yes, it would be nice to get to show their affection in public. No, she didn't want every single gossip in the bar ogling them.

It was worth the risk.

"Brax... Are you- are you ready to kiss in public? Just a small one?"

"Yes, I think I am."

Slowly, she leant over the table, holding Braxiatel close, followed by stealing a quick kiss on the lips. They just barely touched there, but he was completely flustered once again. There were a few audible gasps from the watchers, along with an "It's about time!" called out from the now-familiar voice of Roda.

"Goddammit!"

Bernice had pulled away from Brax fully, who was now frozen in place, then violently slammed her fist against the wooden table, shouting and shooting glares at the interruption as the dishes on the table clinked and rattled. Jason wailed in the background.

"Oh, it really puts a tear to my eye," Jack teased, feigning wiping one away.

Still embarrassed, Braxiatel unfroze and rolled his eyes at the commentators. "Yes, thank you, all of you. We really don't need your input."

"Uhh... How many people in here've been staring at us?" She was quite frankly a bit afraid of the answer to that question, but had already asked it anyway.

Jack started tallying it up, eyes flickering as he counted it on his fingers. "That's one, two, three, four- six... eight people watching Irverfield."

"We're not IRVERFIELD!" she shouted.

He chided. "Not with that attitude! Or would you rather it be Juliop? Elius? Emma, Julius, no subtlety at all, when we played them that time."

Her head was starting to hurt. That stuff always did make it feel scrambled. Even if they weren't wiping her memories. "Goddess. Oh, not that again... Maybe we are Irverfield." This was going to be a long night.

Observing the scene, Brax commented, "...Perhaps next time we should just stay in."

"Agreed."

"Some people have no boundaries. Honestly, the fact I still allow you all to live here occasionally baffles me!" Brax shouted, Benny snorting in response.

Roda smirked, she raised her drink to them with a laugh, then turned away to leave the two be. A few others did the same, but Jack still watched them closely, as did a couple more people.

"Jack, would you- maybe go away?"

"I'm just the barkeep. And your waiter. And as you two are my employer and a dear friend, I must tend to your every need." Producing a Cheshire grin, he took it the datapad again in a display of just how much work he was putting in.

She shot him a rude gesture. "Fuck you, Jack. Cocktail number seven then, will you?"

Roda piped up, tapping on his shoulder. "Speaking of which, Jack... Can I get a top-up of whatever you made me? It's great."

"Seven... Firefly- and that's a five-...Melted Heart," he muttered, tapping the orders into his datapad. "Be right back with those."

With that racket gone, Braxiatel sighed, putting a hand up to his face at the disaster this was turning out to be. "At this rate, I might need another bottle of wine..."

"Evidently..." Bernice commented, pouring herself some more and offering him the bottle, which he gladly accepted. "For now, anyway... Here."

"At least my memory serves me right for once and Heartshaven still produces a fine bottle of wine," he smiled nostalgically. The melancholy was gone now, at least. If everything was to be whisked away on the breeze as that house, then Gallifrey was- at least he could experience the good memories and feel like he was there a few more times, fleeting as the taste of a good vintage might be.

"It's fantastic stuff- shame we have these disruptions," she grumbled, telling another gulp.

He shrugged as a realization dawned on him. "I own the Rabbit. I could just kick everyone out."

Benny held in a laugh. "One solution, certainly. But on opening night? Really?"

Roda interjected one last time. "Seriously, though, I am happy for you. You're lucky to have each other. I'll leave you alone and have my drink now."

Bernice's muscles relaxed at that. "Good. Anyone else?" She glared daggers at Jason, who was still part of the crowd.

"...I'll go."

Her ex-husband reluctantly got up and left, moping as Jack tried to get him to wait up.

"Pay your tab!" he shouted, unable to weave through all the tables between them as the man stepped out of the door.

Annoyed with Jason already, Roda volunteered. "-I'll pay for it."

"Dear, dear Roda, you really don't have to..." Jack pleaded.

"Oh, it's alright. Just make sure you tip well." Irving smirked, then shrugged after another taste of wine. "Next time he leaves without paying, you can just put him to work in the dish pit."

Jack considered it. "Alright. That could give Diego an extra day off. Well then, I won't complain."

At that, Bernice finally shooed them all away, sighing with relief at them finally being gone and allowing herself to finish the meal and appreciate the liquor, Brax doing much the same. There was still half a bottle left over when they left to retire back to the mansionhouse.


Strolling hand-in-hand through the dark, the view was still stunning. It was chilly outside, but still felt cozy nonetheless. Lanterns lit the way as the sky dazzled them overhead. The further they went, the fewer people there were, and the easier it was to appreciate and overcome their anxiety in regards to closeness.

The mansionhouse was just as beautiful at night- before it got too late, all of it was bathed in golden light emitting both from the windows and the many lamps along the outer walls, becoming idyllic and fantasy-like. Something imagined in a dream. Past the fountain, and the hedges, they reached the front doors and slipped inside.

Managing a peck on the cheek as she stepped through, Bernice walked with him on the other side. "Nice night- but it could be nicer..."

"Oh?"

She rolled her eyes and winked. "Oh, come on. Let's get to that office."

He grinned, taking her hand again.

In the halls they chatted about nothing, sometimes a little joke or a compliment, or a fact with little significance. The winding road was easy to navigate through for them, and with the company, it felt like the trek was barely anything at all.

Reaching the threshold, he held open the door, a thin smile on his features. "After you, my dear."

"Of course, Brax," Benny kissed him on the cheek appreciatively again before passing, letting hot breaths linger.

After a night like this one, entering the isolated study was like entering another world. And, in a sense, it was. Not a perfect world, but still a wonderful one. Cosy and dim, quiet- save for the sounds of the fire and the grandfather clock.

Safe.

That was probably due in part to what it really was, under the wooden facade. But the windowless heart of the mansionhouse was a tastefully decorated fortress designed to keep out the bitter outside world. And it did- there was nowhere better for it.

Pulling her leather jacket off and hanging it on the coat stand, then throwing off her shoes, Benny let herself relax in the nearest armchair and just breathe. Think without the drone of conversation, think without the wafting odours of a restaurant. Find peace, just for a brief moment.

"Was that evening quite alright?" he asked from out of her view, the sound of rustling paper following.

"Could be better, I'll be honest." She stood back up again to reach his eye.

"Well, I did offer that massage..." he implied, cheekily.

Bernice gazed fondly, before her mind was brought back to her aching back. "Yes, you did. Wine and a massage? That's been calling for a while."

"Sounds like a plan." He took two more glasses out and produced the bottle from inside his top pocket. Funny- but better than that time she remembered thinking he'd done that with a teapot. She took a drink in the meantime while he went looking for something.

"I'll get the massage oils out." He stepped over to one of the wooden cabinets. "...Lavender or Rose?"

"Rose, if that's alright?" It was becoming a running theme, and they reminded her of him.

"Rose it is, then."

Benny stretched, then smirked. "-Guess I don't need this shirt anymore..." and slipped it off over her head. Catching his eye as he turned away with the bottle, Brax looked in another direction. She laughed to herself. "Oh, come off it. You've seen a lot more than this. ...Or is it my scars?" She realized he probably wouldn't have had a good look at the current state of her back and torso when it was so dark, and usually kept as many as she could hidden for a reason.

He came back behind and gently placed his hands on her bare shoulders whispering in her ear.

"They're an important part of you just as anything else is. You're not perfect, no. And I don't consider them such- but true beauty is never without its flaws, Bernice."

Her heart fluttered. Yeah. He was getting suave about it. And being pretentious, making artistic comparisons. Of course he was. But both things she was fond of. Shivering at his cold touch, she took a puff of air and leant over his desk, resting on her elbows and forearms to give him some space to work with as he slowly rubbed his hands down her back. A familiar sensation, he'd done this once before, a very long time ago on a beach.

"Mmm..." Benny groaned out as he started searching for bad spots, smooth, careful motions making her putty in his hands immediately. "Ergh- just... there."

Brax rolled his eyes, lacking confidence despite his evident skill. "I'm still not sure that I'm very good at this."

"You really are... probably- wouldn't remember what this was like if you... weren't." She groaned again as he found a particular spot that had been aching for a while. "Also- why offer if you... can't?"

"...I do happen to like it a little more than I let on, I admit. And you seemed stressed." He shrugged, working his way around. "You've got some pretty nasty knots here..." he commented on the state of it, particularly her shoulders, feeling the tensed muscles.

"I'm a working woman."

"You should ask your boss for some time off. He's clearly working you too hard," he joked.

At that, Bernice couldn't help but laugh. "HA! If you think this is too hard you've got another thing coming. That's it..." Her eyes scrunched up as one of the worst spots started to disappear under his fingers.

"No? This isn't too much? I'll keep that in mind."

"I can handle it!" she reassured him, "Just- things like this I wouldn't mind more often..."

He stated it plainly, "Well, not long ago this would have been wildly inappropriate."

"I know. And sometimes it still does feel like it. But let's not try to think about that too much while we're in the middle of things..." Benny shuddered as his hands slid down her spine.

"Yes, quite..." Braxiatel trailed off.

"It's not like I have a problem with it now, other than the extra attention from random strangers..." Bernice nodded, trying not to move too much. "And I'm already feeling much better. Ooo... There you go. I think you found the spot..." Her reflexes made her wince, but in a good sort of way.

"Like this?" He followed her direction.

"Yeah- just a bit harder- right... there. Goddess-"

Brax added more pressure, using his knuckles and putting some force into it. "Hard enough?"

"Yep. Perfect. Ahh- I think you got it." Benny gestured for him to move away and stood back up. Stretching, the sound of joints cracking followed by a yawn got things just right. This was the most relaxed her muscles had been in ages, spine like liquid and filled with youthful vigour again. "Alright, think I'm up for it now."

He put together what she could've meant. "Up for- erm... taking off the rest of your clothes?"

She got up on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around his neck to pull him close, planting a tender kiss on his lips.

"Yep."