Violet sat in front of a little old lady with a tight smile and wondered what Grandma Bones had in store for her this time.

After the Doctor failed to bring them back in the correct year, the sorceress found her family very angry about her disappearance.

''A whole year without a single word from you, Violet!'' Steven exclaimed, ''And you let her go with a stranger, Finn!''

''We are very aware of what your siblings did, there's no need to repeat the same things over and over'' Grandma commented, ''But let me say I am very disappointed in you since you could have called and let us know how you were''

''Only a week passed for me, and the Doctor promised to bring me back in time for dinner before messing up''

Finn was snickering at her discomfort but said nothing as Steven glared at him, who had already received his dose of blame the morning he warned the family of her trip to space. Until that moment, he even forgot what Grandma said about the punishment that had still to be delivered.

''However, have you at least listened to me when I talked about the ghost in Cardiff?'' the girl asked, ''I said nothing to the Doctor when we left, but I am pretty sure someone so vengeful could find another way to breach in this world''

''This is the danger of dealing with dead souls, dear. This man, I presume, could still be there waiting for you to come back''

''Grandma, you want them to go there and banish one of our people.'' Steven protested.

''A cut to the root of the problem''Finn commented, ''Like Grandpa used to say every time he dealt with his troubles''

''What do you suggest then?'' Violet asked the matriarch, ''I had had enough of corpses moving around without control for this week, thank you''

''Since it was your job to banish the threat and heal the balance of events, you will go to Cardiff and seal away this poor soul''

-.-

''Why do I have to tag along in your mess?'' Finn scoffed as he drove them to Cardiff.

''I needed a companion, dear brother, and Steven disappeared as soon as the very idea of this trip came up''

The older Bones pouted at her mention of their brother, called in by his colleague for the disappearance of the Prime Minister.

''I am sure your adventure with the Doctor has been exciting, and I would never blame you for a couple of escapades when Grandma becomes too much ''

''This was my last trip, and there are things to do here, like your coming-of-age ceremony, which reminds me Grandma Bones will have our heads if we take our time''

''Maybe he will feel lonely'' he suggested, still a bit upset at the mention of the year she had spent away from her family.

''He has Rose, and whatever you think of him, the Doctor is a good person''

''I do not care because I just spent a year wondering if my decision to let you go had led you to death, and I cannot forget and forgive so easily, Violet''

Despite his cheeky smirk, Finn had a big heart and deeply cared for his family, so as the days passed, the hope of her safe return was getting slimmer.

He could not accept what Steven had said two months after her departure.

He could still remember the sudden change in his brother after his return from another unsuccessful search with his alien contacts.

Violet had no idea how much pain they had been through, thinking her dead or forgotten in some place by the scatterbrained bald man and his silly human companion.

''I have already apologized for this, and you are making me feel guilty, Finn''

''I plan to take advantage of it and make your work harder for my forgiveness, so think of it as payback for the sleepless nights'' he joked lightly, but Violet knew there was still a tinge of disapproval in his quips.

It was strange coming from the usually spirited Finn, who had never held a grudge because it was a waste of time and energy.

Maybe their trip to Cardiff was what she needed to mend their bond.

-.-

When they arrived, the city was calm, with no magical activity in the spot where the parlor blew up, but no one had thought to build something else in its place.

''Humans, despite their lack of common sense, have a keen instinct, and unconsciously they feel uncomfortable in places where bad things happened'' Finn commented, ''Grandma gave me the maps of the galleries under Cardiff. Since there is nothing to see here on the surface, we can move underground and see if the old cellars are damaged.''

''The rift is no longer here, but the residual power was enough to last centuries'' she said, ''I remember the corpses were guarding them, and I never found his chain to this world, so it is the only place we have to check''

''Then, get on with it because tonight I have a date''

''Are you still pining after the girl with that hideous orange hat?''

''No, I moved on, and I think you will like her since she has a little shop in our street''

Violet wanted to ask more about the new girlfriend, but the older Bones sent her a warning glance as they finally found the old rusty door that led to the maintenance room.

The danger sign was brand new and easily ignored by the two sorcerers who pulled out the map and followed the galleries to the lowest part of Cardiff.

As they proceeded forward, the smell of dampness became increasingly unbearable.

''I feel respect for people who work with a stench so terrible''Violet commented, pulling her scarf over her nose.

''Maybe we will find some decaying corpse in here''

''You are not helping at all, shut up''

The young man smirked at her before pointing the torch in the right direction.

The map was surprisingly accurate, and they wondered how the old matriarch had managed to obtain it because it looked like something hard to find in a shop or the basement.

They had a short argument about the grease stain in the middle of the paper, but nothing so important in their opinion.

When you meet Grandma Bones, the word strange takes a new meaning.

''Well, this is an unexpected wall, but I was searching for a door'' he commented, patting on the damp bricks to find a possible entrance.

''Maybe they closed it when the building exploded, and I guess it was full of burnt corpses in there, not exactly a pleasant show''

''Then, what are we supposed to do besides waiting and hoping for a hidden and unmarked entrance?'' Finn snickered, definitely more amused at the perspective of bailing on their punishment than her but sobered up at the memory of the last time he tried to play that dangerous game with the grandma.

It had not been a pleasant hour for Finn when Grandma Bones tracked him down.

''I will make a breach in the wall''

Violet was about to protest and ask for a more discreet method, but her brother, as usual, did it regardless of the consequences.

The floor quaked, scaring her to death as it cracked open under their feet, and the rumble of the bricks breaking echoed noisily in the galleries.

Violet could imagine humans panicking on the surface about an earthquake with the ruckus Finn had unleashed.

''Silence is not your forte, brother''she sighed, grabbing his shoulder when he tried to stride forward in the new passage created in the wall ''And do not rush head-first in a possible trap!'' she scolded Finn,'' Do you have a speck of cautiousness in that brain or not?!''

''You are boring, just like Steven'' he scoffed, ''Ah, wait, no one is boring as Steven, but you come close to the top''

Violet ignored him and pointed the torch at the other side of the breach, where a damaged room had been closed for decades.

The stench was even more unbearable than before, adding the tell-tale rotten and burned flesh to the list.

''I think we are heading in the right direction''Violet said, now wary of the cold atmosphere they were detecting,''The presence is not here, but his chain is still working, so why are traces of activity so small in this place?''

''Then prepare yourself, because we are entering the nightmares of this person''

And no description would have been more accurate than that short sentence.

The place had absorbed so much pain and anger that its power filled the room like a curse, making them feel like stepping into their deepest fears.

It was something their Grandma Bones often said about her encounters with old and vengeful spirits, who had had centuries to accumulate hate in their chains to the earthly plane.

Whoever had the strength to withstand the smothering force had to face the danger of being corrupted by its influence.

''This is awful'' Finn commented.

They both had to breathe deeply before stepping in, and Finn was already on the verge of vomiting, his head pounding painfully when the image of the parlor on fire appeared in his mind.

Violet paled when she spotted a once-white apron on the stairs that led to the floor above, already knowing it was something only Gwyneth wore that day.

Unconsciously she tried to reach out for whatever trace of the maid was still clinging to the tattered cloth.

Something else assaulted Violet as soon as her mind opened and a shrill scream echoed in her brain painfully, making her lean against her brother in support.

''Come on, we have to destroy it and leave this place''she grimaced, ''He is angry and just noticed our presence here''

''It will be a pleasure to send him back to the other world''the older Bones smirked,''I will pay him back for the headache this trip is giving me''

As usual, the calm and collected composure Finn usually displayed in front of others slipped off as soon as the perspective of a good fight coming up.

Steven said it was childish and uncouth, but neither of his siblings paid attention to his words regarding their skills, especially the middle child of their family when he showed off a more insidious gift than the others.

The ability to control inanimate objects was common in their world, but Finn had enough curiosity to explore the deepest crevices of his magic.

Violet knew he had come up with a new theory, and yet he still had to talk with her about it, something she knew was almost impossible to do for him given the constant need to show off Finn usually had.

Whatever her brother found out had to be dangerous or a revolutionary result if he still had to say why her intervention was instrumental to his experiment.

''He has been leeching off the poor girl as she wore that apron every day from her arrival in this house, influencing the residents in all the possible ways'' Finn surmised.

''But I felt nothing on it, not even when she was alive''

''Because spirits have no visible strings you can see, there is only the sensation of him lurking about, but I am more susceptible to anomalies such as inanimate objects with killing intent than you''

''An apron is trying to kill us'' she snorted, ''If this mission fails, Steven will never let it go''

Finn scoffed in amusement, already imagining their brother and his smug face.

The air in the scorched room changed as soon as the familiar incorporeal voice manifested again.

'' I am flattered you remembered to visit me even after so many decades''

''I had no choice and, as you know, it is better to tie the loose ends before an accident occurs''

''The Doctor is as annoying as naïve, not the kind of companion one of us can bear for a long time, I am glad you finally understood''

''To be clear, we are not here to chat about her poor choice in friendships, and I think you already know it, so make it easier for yourself and give up'' Finn commented nonchalantly.

''It will be painful either way''

''Obviously, but it would give me much more satisfaction to see you fight'' Finn replied with a cold smirk.

That side of her brother had upset Violet for a very long time, but in the end, she got used to it.

The prankster always took his jokes too far and came out as a nut-case in front of strangers, and Steven still thought there had to be some truth in it, but she knew better.

Finn was not a maniac with sadistic tendencies, no one was more affectionate than him with family and friends, but the tall figure tended to scare people senseless when he opened his mouth.

''Come on, we have better things to do, brother''she nudged him and felt the hands tickle with raw power.

The Doctor wondered if Violet was regretting her decision to stay behind.

They missed her during their adventure in Downing Street, and Rose protested it was his job to convince the sorceress to return.

It had been painful for her to see her late father die in front of them, and it would have been good for Rose to have a friend other than the Doctor, who had awkwardly patted her back as she cried.

''So, who is this pretty girl Rose mentions?'' Jack Harkness asked the new companion after they met in London during the forties.

''She spent some time with us and then decided to go back home''

''And I take it is not pleasing for you at all''

''It is a pity because Rose thought they were becoming friends, but it is hard to blame her''

''You could always go back to visit and see if she cannot be tempted for another trip once in a while''Rose interjected, her eyes pleading with the Doctor to do his magic again.

''As long as she can go back whenever she wishes, the girl could agree'' Jack added, ''If that is the problem''

If the Time Lord convinced her before, then there was a chance to do it again.

''You can call her and see if she is available for a visit, but I want no pout if she refuses once again''he sighed, going closer to put the coordinates on the console.

The human girl cheered and called the sorceress, eager to see the older girl again.

They had never been friends before, but now it seemed strange to be in the TARDIS without her because it was their thing – Rose, the Doctor, and Violet- getting in trouble with the Nestene Consciousness, the ghost, Cassandra, and the death of the Earth.

''Oh, ok then, we will join you there'' the Doctor heard the girl say, waiting patiently beside Jack,''Let me know if there is something, in particular, we need to do''

Judging from the shining smile the blonde was showing off, Violet had agreed to meet them, but he had a bad feeling about their brief call.

''Well, it seems Finn invited us to his coming-of-age ceremony, and she wants us well dressed and ready for a fabulous party in a week''she ordered before leaving to find a proper dress in the wardrobe''Go and find something less sporty''.

''I don't want to!''the Doctor protested,''I don't want to dress up!''

Nevertheless, the group made it in time to join Violet at her home, where the family had gathered for the party.

Steve had welcomed Rose and the Doctor with a thin smile, while Jack had shocked the man with his usual boisterous character and got the advantage of the distraction to mingle.

''Is he my replacement?'' Violet joked with Rose when she finally spotted the pair awkwardly talking with her oldest brother.

''Don't be silly!'' the human girl replied, ''He is funny that one, even with his constant flirting, and the Doctor is happy to have a male friend''

''I am ecstatic, Rose'' he commented with a big sarcastic smile, ''Especially when he touches my things''

The human girl sighed and rolled her eyes, appreciating the comprehensive pat on the shoulder Violet had given her.

''When you have two male siblings, chaos is always your companion, but in your case, I see more a mother and two toddlers'' the sorceress snickered, ''I heard you two were involved in the mess with the Prime Minister but I have no idea of what places you have visited after that, so tell me everything''

Rose started to summarize the new places she had seen since Violet's departure, her first meeting with a Dalek in the U.S., and the misadventure in the past.

Despite what she had said to the Doctor, the human didn't want to speak about her father on such a happy occasion, so she resolved to stay quiet and enjoy Finn's party.

''This is the first time you join a community like ours in a coming-of-age ceremony'' Violet said to the Doctor.

''It is, and yet it doesn't seem too different from a human party'' he replied, nudging her teasingly.

''You will have to wait for Grandma Bones and her speech, but I can tell it will be a surprise''

''I love surprises!''

''Good for you, then!'' she smiled at the Time Lord's excitement.

The frail ancient woman sitting at one table caught his attention for the aura of power and respect she evoked, even if her eyes on him were a bit unsettling.

Whatever she was searching for, the Doctor guessed it had something to do with the stares he received from Finn and Violet.

The tiny sorceress had no shame in her examination, but unlike her grandchildren, she did not attempt to be discreet.

Violet knew what her grandma was seeing, but she didn't mention anything to the object of their curiosity, and she promised to inform him of her theories.

Before leaving the TARDIS, the girl had said something about a problem directly related to the Doctor, making the Time Lord uselessly scan himself many times to see what exactly she had seen so alarming.

Grandma Bones whispered something to Finn, who turned around to watch the alien with interest, eyes glinting in excitement.

It was upsetting to be in the dark, not to mention the reluctance others had to inform him of his supposed problem.

''We are here to celebrate the coming-of-age of our Finn Bones, my grandson'' the matriarch said, standing up, ''Now that we have enjoyed the food and the company, it is time to present the challenge our new adult will face tonight''

Finn came forward and waved at the guests with a cheeky smile before sobering up.

''I come forward as an adult, ready to prove myself to my family and friends'' he stated.

''Who will accompany you in this challenge?'' she asked, her thin lips stretching in a smile when Steven and Violet stepped forward before Finn could even say their names.

''My brother and sister. Steven and Violet Bones''

''Let be known the dangers of this trial, for no one in this room will help except his chosen companions''

The Doctor watched the people cheer.

Whatever they were about to see, it would be a strange experience.