Gah! I'm really sorry this is late everyone, I know I update on saturdays and would've done but all hell broke loose.

1, the power in my house blew out and I had to live two days without the computer.

2, just started a sunday job and couldn't move when I got home.

And those who are reading my fic 'baby blader blue' bare with me please because I'm having a creative block.

On a lighter note, here's chapter nine of Just A Bowl Of Fruit.

Don't own beyblade or the groups/musicians that pop up.


Chapter 9 - Nicky.

"Now Nicky, I want you and Johnny to be responsible while you're over there." Nicky's mother told her as she unloaded two suitcases and a shoulder bag, she was wearing the jacket she had in Johnny's picture.

"Mum!" Nicky ogled at her mother like she was mad.

"I know sweetheart." Tina was like her daughter, with longer hair and slightly shorter in terms of height. "Have fun."

"I will mum." Nicky gave her mum a big hug before walking into the airport's reception desk with her bags. "Um hi, I wonder if you can help me, a friend has sent a jet over for me, his name's Giancarlo?" Nicky asked the receptionist.

"One moment please." she checked on the computer. "Oh yes, Nicky King?"

"That's me." she handed over her passport for checking.

"Seems to be in order, I'll have someone escort you to the jet."

When she saw the private jet she whistled.

"Nice." too awestruck for a better word.


"Johnny, will you please sit still, you're making the whole bench move." grumbled Robert, fiddling with Spencer's bandana in his jacket pocket.

"Sorry Rob, I don't know why but I always get butterflies in me stomach when I know she's nearby."

"Makes two of us." They all looked up to see the girl from the picture, her hair falling out of her ponytail and her moon shaped earrings swinging. "Hi Johnny."

Johnny walked up to her and pulled her into a hug, making the chains on her shoulders jingle. "I've missed you so much. Did you have a good flight?"

"Enrique's staff treated me like a princess. And I missed you too." she pecked him on the lips before stepping to greet the others.

"I should hope my staff treated you like royalty." Enrique piped up, shaking her hand.

"Hm, they did Enrique, thank you. So that must make you two Oliver and Robert." she shook Oliver's hand and then Robert's.

"It's great to meet you Nicky, I did wonder why Johnny was tamer than usual." Robert smirked in the Scot's direction. Nicky sweatdropped but smiled.

"Shall we get out of here so Nicky can get settled in?" asked Oliver, taking one of Nicky's bags.

"Merci beaucoup Oliver."

"You speak French?"

"Only a bit, I failed my exam and I've forgotten most of it."

"You failed, how come?"

"I panicked."

"Maybe you need a better tutor should you want to learn it again." said Oliver. "Come on, Ferguson's outside."

Robert's POV

Nicky's a really nice girl, Johnny definitely got lucky. Though she seems rather quiet.

"Are you alright Nicky?" Johnny, that's the second time you've asked her.

"Yeah, just finding it all hard to take in, I mean yesterday I was on a cramped train from shopping in London and now I'm in a spacious limo in Germany." I suppose it can be a bit daunting if you're not used to our lifestyle, bless.

"What did you buy?"

"I treated myself to a Chinese style shirt, some memorabilia and some decent drawing equipment." I think she's going to get on famously with Ray and Oliver.

"Robert's just completed a piece and it looks really good." Thanks Johnny, broadcast my business.

"Really? This I'd like to see." She seemed more awake now, maybe because she's more comfortable with us.

"I wouldn't mind a female opinion actually." And I mean that.

"Looks like I came at the right time then." Her grin reminds me of Tyson, strange.

"Master Robert we'll be at the castle momentarily." Ferguson informs me.

I looked to the others, Enrique and Oliver were locked at the lips, since Enrique got here they've been trying to sort me out so I can't really have a go at them.

Nicky's curled up to Johnny's side as he points out parts of the castle to her. She doesn't seem to be too interested, just relishing in Johnny's warmth, can't blame her really, she hasn't seen him for god knows how long and he's pointing out my castle. Twit.

I just wish that could be me and Spencer, it's killing me inside, I might have my friends with me...

But I feel so alone.


At Kai's, Spencer POV.

Woke up this morning, showered, the usual, and for what?

To sit on my arse, hugging a pillow, doing fuck all. That's what.

Everyone else has gone out, or so the note Tyson left me says.

I've got the animals for company but it's not the same.

Izzy's looking at me, his head's to one side and he's pawing at my leg. If he had a human voice, he's be asking what was wrong.

I threw away the pillow and patted my stomach. Izzy climbed up and settled there, he's more like a cat when he does, I suppose that's why he and Fudge get along so well.

Stroking Izzy's fur makes me feel better, probably because it's so soft.

"Izzy, never fall in love, it's painful." Perfect, I'm talking to a dog.

Ok, what's just jumped on my legs? Oh, it's Fudge. She usually glares at me like Kai does Daichi, but since I found a nest of mice in Kai's attic, she's been more friendly since.

What was I doing in the attic? Kai asked me to bring an old trunk of fabric and junk down for Mariam, she wanted to make a dress or something.

"Spencer? Jeez man you look shit." Thanks Bryan, leaning over the back of the sofa I'm lying on, I really needed reminding.

Yeah I haven't eaten or slept properly since last week, I'm beginning to look like one of those experiments in that Doctor Who episode, minus the spots. Yeah I know which one even if you don't, I've been a bit of a Doctor Who nut since the first new series came out.

"Bryan, why aren't you with the others?"

"I was worried about ya big guy, heck we all are."

I raised an eyebrow, Tala's been making jokes about the whole model thing, so not all of them.

"Even Tala. You know he shows concern through humour, it's just reading him right. You know, he was worried when you threw that apple at him, apart from blading your aim is lousy." Really? I didn't realise it hit him.

"Where did I hit him?"

"In the head." Damn. "So what's wrong Spen? I've never known anything to get you so down, I'm surprised you haven't heard Seaborg's sad whale song yet."

Bryan, what the bloody hell are you on about? He must've seen it in my face.

"Tyson spoke to Dragoon at the first worlds, When I discovered that I loved Ray and got all depressed about it, I kept hearing the sad cry of a falcon."

I know Bryan's had problems but proclaiming he can hear pining bit beasts has put the icing on the cake.

"I found it was Falborg. I know it sounds totally insane, but the impossible can happen, most of the relationships in this house have proven that. Right Iz?" now he's asking the dog's opinion! That vacation's sounding mighty likely.

Izzy even barked in reply.

That's it. I'm phoning Alden. I need something to occupy my mind.

"Pass us the phone." was all I said to Bryan.

Within the hour I was behind the counter helping Alden. Well right now I'm doodling because it's quiet.

"You couldn't have come sooner Spencer, I'm about to get a huge delivery in and I'll need all the help I can get with Meena at school."

"Has she come up with anything yet about my situation?" I had to ask, I'm going crazy, my birthday's in four days.

"I stopped her short at the Romeo and Juliet ending." Rather not be poisoned thank you.

"When did that come?" I asked, she usually has a number of ideas.

"After you getting shot right in front of him." Alden sweatdropped, turns out Meena was going through a depressive stage, great.

"That might work. If I can get Bryan to... Ow!" That hurt! Alden just hit me with a DVD he was holding.

"Spencer, how can you think such a thing? Promise me that you won't do something so stupid?" The worry in his face, I couldn't say no to this guy.

"I promise, sorry I don't even know where that came from." The Abbey mentality kicked in there, makes me shudder at the thought.

"Please don't go schizophrenic on us Spencer."

"Johnny!" Though I thought it, a brunette girl to Johnny's right spoke it.

"Sorry Spence." Johnny apologised after being scolded by a girl? Whoa.

"I've been called worse." I grumbled. "Who's your friend?"

"Oh yeah, Spencer this is my girlfriend Nicky, Nicky, Spencer from the Blitzkrieg Boys."

"I thought you looked familiar, pleased to meet you." Johnny's girlfriend? That definatly came as a surprise.

"And you." Aren't I the talkative one today.

"Hey is that a Darlek?" She pointed to my doodle. It only looked like a tower and a dome with spots right now.

"The makings of one."

"Cool, They were funny until they made them levitate up and down stairs." I didn't know that they couldn't before.

"I've only watched the newer ones. I want to see the old ones but can't get hold of them anywhere." I admit.

"That's a shame, despite the dodgy sets and that they're still enough to send ya hiding behind a cushion, I didn't Adam and eve it until I saw for meself."

"Another Brit huh?" I should've seen that from the roundel on her jacket, the RAF logo, Ian's got this thing about planes.

"You betcha." she grinned, looks like Tyson's, spooky.

"We get everywhere nowadays." Alden laughed behind me.

"Hey Nicky, here's that album you wanted." when did Johnny move to the CD racks?

"Which one?"

"That Palm Trees and Power lines one." That's a weird title.

"Oh Sugarcult." Even weirder name, Kai was listening to them once I think.

"Are they any good?"

"I like to think so, I'm stuck in a Goo Goo Dolls and Kelly Clarkson fix at the moment." This girl's sounding like me it's scary. Only she's got her man and I haven't.

Some people have all the luck.

Normal POV.

While Spencer was musing and doodling, Johnny and Nicky were talking quietly over CD's

"That's who Robert likes, it's his birthday party we're going to." Johnny whispered.

"I guessed that when I saw Robert's painting, that's why I said he looked familiar, luckily he thought I was talking about his blading status or I would've let the cat out of the bag."

"You've never seen a match in your life."

"Yes I have, I watch but I don't blade." Nicky rolled her eyes.

"Why is that anyway?"

"Guess I'm too lazy I suppose. I better go and check on Oliver and Enrique. I can imagine them arguing over what fabric to buy."

"But you're the one that needed the fabric."

"Exactly... ooh! 'A Boy Named Goo' I've been looking for this for ages." she squealed. Johnny rolled his eyes and pulled out his wallet. "Oh put it away, I have money."

"But I'm your boyfriend, I'm supposed to spoil you."

"I don't want to be spoilt, I want to be with you."

"Why did I fall for a girl so stubborn?" Johnny grumbled as Nicky walked to counter and Spencer rung it up along with the other CD Johnny found.

"Because I keep you on your toes my highlander, and you know it."

"Highlander? That's cute." Spencer grinned, bagging the CD's.

"Aww, he's blushing to his daisy roots." Alden called.

"Don't think I've heard that one." Spencer added, handing Nicky her purchase.

"It's boots. And it's been great talking to you Spencer."

"And you, we'll have to do it again sometime, when I'm not stuck behind a counter."

"Yeah, well you never know. See ya soon. Bye Alden."

"Bye kids!" he turned to Spencer. "Nice girl."

"Yeah and look who she's with."

"Love changes everyone." said Alden, patting the tall blonde on the shoulder.

Walking out of the shop, Johnny and Nicky found Robert standing outside the fabric shop, arms folded, head bowed and eyes shut.

"Robert, you're acting like Kai."

"Nobody's perfect. Enri and Oli are inside should you want to bash their heads in Nicky."

"Thanks Robert." and Nicky ventured inside.

She found the pair arguing over what she knew was silk and organza.

"What are you guys arguing over?"

"Nicky, I need your help with my costume." pleaded Oliver.

"Why what's your mask like?"

"I know what I want, just I don't know how to go about getting it."

"Do tell?" Nicky rubbed a temple, she had known these guys a few hours and already had a headache as Oliver explained his idea. "Ok, well first of all you can put the organza and the silk down. What you need is muslin, some elastic bands and some cold water dye."

"Will Robert let you do this?"

"She's helping with my costume as well apparently." Robert had joined them.

Robert POV.

"Will Robert let you do this?" Enrique, Maisy's always complaining at me for one thing or another.

"She's helping with my costume as well apparently." I told them, well that's what Johnny told me, he knows something I don't. But then again he was on the phone with Kai this morning.

"Rob hold still a second," Ok, why are you holding that big roll of cloth against me? "Geez, I'm gonna need the whole roll." why, there's only three of us that need it.

"Why Nick?"

"Just trust me on this." Now she's heading for the dyes.

Ten minutes and a hundred and fifty euros later, we're walking out of there with all the bits and pieces Nicky picked up, the Muslin, three dyes of each colour, cotton threads and some tartan ribbon that apparently matches Johnny's kilt.

"Do we really need all this stuff?" Johnny couldn't believe his girlfriend had bought so much.

"Look, it's not going to get wasted, what we don't use I'll take home and find a use later." I'm liking this girl even more.

The minute we walked out, we collided with a bunch of people.

"Ow, hey why don't you look where you're going?" Nicky grumbled, the roll of muslin on her chest. Johnny picked it up as they stood.

"Who do you think you're talking to?" Shit, Tala, don't go there.

"Who do you think you're talking to Ivanov." Johnny! Prepare for bloodshed people.

"You must be Johnny's girlfriend." Saved by Kai.

"Yeah, Nicky King, pleasure to meet you Kai and thanks for letting me come to Spencer's party." wow, Kai shook hands with her.

While he was introducing everyone to Nicky, though she knew who most of them were already, I got up off the floor and dusted myself off, then helped Oliver up.

"Where's Bryan?" Enrique you've got a good eye.

"He's picking up all our masks, he was at home with Spencer but Spencer decided-"

"To help Alden at the shop, we were just in there weren't we Johnny."

"Yes dear." You make it sound like you're married to an old crow, poor Nicky.

"Have you all got your costumes sorted?" asked Tyson.

"Nearly, we've got to make some stuff to go with the masks." Nearly. I'm not even close, the party's in four days!

"I know nothing about sewing Nick, you know I don't and neither do these guys." Don't you jab a thumb at me McGregor.

"Well some of us need to make robes or something for ours." I thought you were sorted Ray.

Then Ian walked up to Nicky, what's he up to? I feel protective of her already, like she's a little sister or something, "Where did you get your jacket? It's so cool." Ah the jacket, definitely a conversation starter.

"I made it and thanks."

"Can you help make my costume, please please please?" Any more pleases Ian?

"Ian, that's just rude." no shit Hil.

"But she's cool!" Something is seriously wrong with that kid.

"Actually, we could use a creative hand. That's if you don't mind Nicky." Trust Tala to get Hilary to ask.

"Um... sure, guys?"

"It's up to you Nicky, other than the tennis courts and the pool there's not a lot at the castle." Well I couldn't let my guest be bored could I? The other three should know better.

"You really don't mind do you?"

"Not at all, Nicky." I smile; she is like a little sister.

"Right, who wants what, so we can get it now." Nicky asked.

"Yay!" Ian, let go of her before Johnny kills you. No, instead she picks him up like a little kid, aww.

"Well six of us need something to go with our masks, including Spencer."

"Hmm." Nicky, please say you've got enough Muslin, you've spent enough already. Seriously, this girl would not let me pay for the stuff; I'll have to slip some cash into her pocket when she's not looking. "This should hopefully be enough, it's a new roll."

I'm glad she said that.

"Hey, what's with the mother's meeting?" Here comes Bryan with a load of boxes in a wagon behind him. Then he spotted Ian in Nicky's arms. "Ian didn't get lost again did he?"

"No I did not; this is Johnny's girlfriend Nicky."

"And this is Bryan I take it." I nodded, I'm the only one she can see over Ian's hair.

"Hi." Eloquent isn't he?

"Hey! What's the hold up?" I think we're blocking the way guys.

"Oh wait a second will ya!" Wow, feisty, I'm starting to see why Johnny likes her. "Let's go guys."

"We'll meet you at the mansion."

"Thanks Kai."

"Come on Ian." Mariam, he looks a bit attached.

"Don't want to, like Nicky." Knew it.

"He can come with us if he wants to stay with Nicky. And I don't mind." why does everyone want to ask me that lately?

"Ok, Ian, you behave for Nicky."

"Yes Kai." I'm getting soft. Ian sounded so cute.

0o0o0o0

So now we're in the limo, Ian's sat between Nicky and Johnny, and Johnny's actually playing along. I think he's gonna make a great dad when he's older. Ok, I have no idea where the hell that came from.

The others are waiting for us on the driveway, even the cat!

Nicky stepped out of the limo door before Ferguson got a chance to open it; poor guy looks at a loss of what to do. I just shook my head as we all got out.

"Get used to it; I don't see her adjusting anytime soon."

"Yes sir." He walked off to join Kai's driver, James I think, in a game of cards or whatever they do when they're not needed.

"Was Ian any trouble?"

"Not at all. How old is he?" good question Nicky.

"Eleven." That came from Tala. Really? He looks six and acts it too. "But he doesn't act like it."

Nicky you look pensive.

"Maybe... his mental age is lower than his chronological one." she says this while stroking the dogs, like it's a normal thing. "Does he have anything like ADHD(1)?"

"You know, I think it said something on his file Auto, Autim... ah, Aut-something." Tala, don't get mad if you can't remember a word.

"Autism?" Again from Nicky. I would've never have guessed that one.

"That's the one! Wait, how did you know of it?"

"Both my brother and sister have It." no wonder she's good with Ian.

"Wait, what's that?" asked Ray. They probably never heard of it in his village.

"It's a mental disorder diagnosed in childhood, they have trouble socialising and don't like change, and their routines can be very repetitive and can be obsessive over certain things. It's usually associated with intellectual impairment with a short attention span and the inability to treat others as people."

Wow, I think she must've swallowed a medical journal to find that out. And now I feel really bad about what I said earlier.

"It affects some more than others; my brother is more severe than my sister. Ian's lucky his is a mild case, there's some out there that can't talk or move." she picked him up and gave him a squeeze. "Does he have a good memory or good with numbers or reading?"

"He's good at reading why?"

"They're usually gifted in those areas as far as I know." That explains it, I was beginning to wonder. "Shall we get inside and get started? Or we'll be trying to sort things out when Spencer comes back."

Where has this girl been all our lives, she's a miracle!

"I'm no miracle Rob, just someone who's honed in their common sense."

"You really need to work on that Robert." He's right.

"Shut up Enrique." Doesn't mean I have to admit it.

Normal POV, half hour later.

"Whoa, that sewing machine's tiny Kai." said Tyson as Kai placed the thing on the table.

"Well Hilary only bought it when she had to keep fixing clothes. Will it do Nick?"

Nicky studied the machine.

"Sure will, it's only a basic stitch we need anyway. Right, who's going first?"

"Can I?" asked Ray, "Then I can get some food cooking."

"Fair 'nuff." Nicky shrugged off her jacket and hung it on a chair which creaked in protest. "Everyone just wants a poncho type thing with armholes right? We haven't time to make anything fancy."

"Right." was the collective reply.

"What can the rest of us do?" asked Robert.

"Well I need some buckets with the dyes in if someone wants to do that."

"I'll do it." Bryan ran off into the kitchen.

"I need scissors, a pincushion... and I could murder for a cup of tea."

"I think I can stretch to those." laughed Kai.

"Thank you Kai." Nicky reached a hand into her jacket pocket and pulled out a tailor's tape measure. "And Robert."

"Yeah Nicky?"

"Try and sneak any money into my pockets and I'll cut the fingers off your blading hand." she smirked.

"But you've paid for all of this stuff for us; I couldn't let you possibly-"

"Robert, she's serious." said Johnny.

"But-"

"Be a good little noble and shut up."

"Yes Nick." Robert rolled his eyes.

Within the hour Nicky had made enough for those that needed them

"Bryan! Are the dyes done yet?"

"They're ready!" Bryan came out with a purple smudge on his nose.

"Dirty sod." Ray rolled his eyes.

"What?"

"Wash ya nose." called Johnny.

"Ah man!"

"Ok, Oliver, you want a solid base colour right?"

"Oui."

"Go dunk yours in then, leave it ten minutes, rinse it out and put it in the drier, the other colours shouldn't be affected then. Ray, I'll show peg dying in a minute. The guys have got the right idea."

Mariam was wrapping elastic bands around small bunches in hers. As were Max, Tyson, and Ian with Hilary's help

0o0o0

"Oh man, if I see another elastic band I'm going to make the nearest person eat It." huffed Bryan, as they all sat on the sofas or the floor.

"I was like that the first time I did it. But the results have come out really well."

"Yeah they have, thanks Nicky, we would've been buggered if it weren't for you." Oliver called from Enrique's shoulder. Everyone else agreed and made their thank yous.

"No problem guys, I just never thought I'd be tie-dying fabric with world class bladers. That reminds me. Can I have everyone's autographs? My sister's a fan."

"I'm sure we can do that, once the feeling comes back into our fingers." grinned Tala. "Who's her favourite team?"

"Bladebreakers and team BBA." (2)

"I'm back!" Spencer's voice called from the front door.

"Hey Spen! Is everything put away?" asked Tyson, lowering his voice.

"All but the dyes. I've got some bits and pieces in there that I wanted to jazz up." said Max.

"I did wonder about the socks." Nicky frowned.

"Hey guys, oh, hello again Nicky." Spencer asked as he took up a seat on a beanbag

"Hiya Spencer."

"What brings everyone here?"

"We crashed into each other, quite literally." said Kenny.

"And we all just bundled back here." added Ray.

"For six hours?"

"We tie-dyed some things." Max held up one he did earlier, it was purple with yellow explosion rings. "Nick showed us how. Neat huh?"

"Cool, I wouldn't mind dying some t-shirts actually."

"Nicky looks like you're up again." sighed Johnny.

"We will get more than five minutes together sometime this week Johnny I promise. I need to talk to Spencer about something anyway." She looked to Kai, who nodded and to Ian, who smiled.

Kai had informed her of Spencer's feelings for Robert and now she was going to try and help the others in getting them together as now she knew both sides of the story, but now she was going to tell him about Ian's autism.

Once Spencer picked out a few things to dye and they were in the kitchen Nicky checked Max's socks, currently in the red bucket.

"Remind me to wear sunglasses if I ever go into Max's wardrobe." she laughed. "They could do with a few more minutes." She then explained to Spencer his options of dying.

Spencer POV.

Ok, bundle the fabric up, tie elastic bands round it, and dunk it for ten minutes. Easy enough. But what intrigues me is what she wanted to tell me. I've only known her five minutes.

"So uh, what is it you wanted to tell me?" I asked as I tied the bands into place.

"You know Ian's behaviour quite well right?" I nodded. "That he can get a bit obsessive and has some trouble socialising and he acts younger than he is." Again I nod.

"I thought it was his way of finally being a kid after the Abbey."

"Kai and the others thought that too. When Tala found Ian's file. He found it said Autistic. Ian, bless him... has a mild case of autism." Autism?

"What's that, I don't understand."

"It's a mental disorder associated with intellectual impairment." I know the simple term for that.

"But Ian's not dumb; he reads encyclopaedias cover to cover." He even surprises me with what he finds out.

"Autistic kids usually do well in maths or reading. But their understanding is less then ours." I see, that maybe explains why he acts like a kid. "It usually makes their mental age is lower than the real age too." Ok that explains it.

"Why are you telling me this, why not Kai or Tala?"

"They didn't know what it was until I explained it; my two siblings have it as well. Kai asked me to tell you because he knew you would have questions he couldn't answer." She rubbed my shoulder in sympathy as I dunked my bundled T-shirt in some Dye. "I hope you wanted navy." she added. I don't care really.

"Can it get worse, the autism I mean?"

"No, but maybe Ian will gradually catch up with himself so to speak, his mental age might creep up as he gets older." It's a maybe but it's a good maybe.

"How do you know that?"

"It happened with my younger sister." I see.

"How old is she?"

"She'll be eight soon, there was a time we thought she'd never talk."

"And now she won't shut up. Ian was like that in the beginning." And Boris still beat him, bastard. "What other sibling do you have?" I can't help ask.

"My older brother, he's your age with the mindset of eight." damn that's harsh.

"Sounds like a handful."

"Hm, he can be. But he can be funny. Don't let this news get you down Spence, Ian is still Ian, a tag like autism won't change that."

"Sounds about right." I smile; he'll still always leave his skates out for someone to trip on. "I have one more question."

"Fire away mate."

"How come you're not autistic?" Both sides of her are autistic siblings and she's normal.

"No idea really, I just count myself lucky in that aspect. Though I never say I'm 'normal'. I hate that word."

"Who is normal nowadays?" I sure as hell ain't.

"My point exactly." she grinned, I can't help but smile.

"Shouldn't you wring out Max's socks?"

"He can wring them out himself. Yours will be done soon."

"Ok, I need to go get my slippers on anyway, my boots are killing me." Standing on your feet most of the day kills as I'm sure you'll know, how Alden does it is beyond me.

"Fair enough." she laughed and left kitchen I followed and went upstairs.

Poor Ian, he got beaten from a young age and didn't have a clue what was happening, Boris is a friggin bastard and knew! If he hadn't been given the death penalty two years back I would hunt him down and kill him myself.

How'd that happen you say? Kai's personal legal team, that's how.

Ah great I'm crying, Ian's like a kid brother and he was treated so badly, I slumped on my bed, how I reached it I don't know, and sobbed.
Next thing I know I'm being held to a chest with a hand running through my hair. I recognise the scent, airy castle and lavender...

Robert's comforting me and right now it's all I need.

Robert's POV.

I was just returning from the bathroom when I heard a sob and followed the sound. My heart shattered when I saw it was Spencer.

Nicky told us Spencer looked a little upset, and then Kai suspected it was the abbey days haunting him, I can't blame him really.

I just walked to him and held him close, it's all that's needed now, me to comfort and him to be comforted.

I cheered when I heard Boris had been given the lethal injection. He had it coming for a long time.

I don't know what to say to him without setting him off again or sounding hollow, so I just hold him while his sobs quieten.

When his sobs died I gently took a step back. "You ok?" I asked him, looking in my pockets for a tissue or something.

"Just about. Thanks Robert." Here we go, inside blazer pocket, packet of tissues. I handed one to him and sat on his bed against the wall.

"Don't mention it." I sighed; he looks like he just wants sleep with his eyes all red and puffy like that. Bless him.

I looked at his room clock, it's nine pm, my mother must be phoning the castle only to get Gustav or the answer machine, who cares I'll phone her back tomorrow.

Looking back to Spencer he's now rubbing his eyes. He doesn't know how kissably cute he looks right now. Kissably? Is that even a word?

"Tired?" I smiled softly at my angel. Well wishful thinking there.

"Bit." He sat against the wall next to me. I did the first thing that came to mind and pulled him to rest his head on my shoulder.

"Go to sleep then." I must be totally nuts.

"Thanks Robert." he yawned and closed his eyes.

I can be a friend now, if nothing else.

Normal POV.

Kai walked along the hall to see where Robert and Spencer had got to, Nicky had to finish Spencer's shirt for him, not that she minded. When he found the door open, he peered in.

The pair of them was asleep, Spencer resting on Robert's shoulder and Robert's head atop the blonde's.

"You two are so oblivious it hurts." he sighed, leaving the room and returning to the lounge. Ian was asleep next to Mariam.

"Robert's asleep upstairs." Kai told them as he sat down beside Tyson.

"The last week hasn't been a good one for Rob." Oliver told them.

"I bet. He's really hooked on Spencer."

"Spencer seemed to be more upset over Ian today; finding out something like this can be a bit of a blow." Nicky told them.

"I always thought Ian was being a pain in the neck on purpose, but now I know he can't help it. How does your family cope with two, Nicky?" asked Tala, Hilary dozing in his lap.

"Dunno, but we do, and if I'm close to blowing my stack I phone Johnny."

"Yeah, she's made me deaf in one ear before now." Johnny pulled her close and kissed her hair.

"It looks like you're staying the night guys." said Bryan, braiding Ray's hair.


(1) - ADHD - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder for those that didn't know, it's someway similar to autism as described above. I thought this would suit Ian somehow.

(2) Team BBA - Tyson and Kenny's team in G-Rev.

Please review! And again, apologies for the lateness.