"Only place we haven't checked for this rift at this point is…"

"The temple." Hamish was way ahead of him as they stood outside the old abandoned house. "I'm going to say we can't just walk in through the front door either. I'm not exactly Temple Magus here and you aren't exactly a member of the gnostic council."

"Plus, Coventry is temple Magus right now." Hamish growled hearing that name. "Calm down wolf, we'll find a way in."

"Vera."

"Absolutely not."

"She's a member of the Hermetic Order of the Blue Rose."

"She's an acolyte, if she gets caught and gets powdered then you will drastically change the events of the future."

"They can't powder her if her memories are protected."

"Then Coventry will kill her, no more Vera, no Grand Magus, no Theodora."

"Then she doesn't need to know she's helping us."

"You just want an excuse to see her again."

Hamish got defensive over that. "No, I don't."

"Against my better judgment I'm going to give you an opportunity to not get our Grand Magus killed but still get us into the temple." Alejandro crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm interested in what your plan is Magus, let's see why Vera picked you as her replacement in the temple."

"Alejandro, don't try to sound so bitter." Hamish put a hand on his shoulder realizing how far he had to actually reach up to do that. This was so unsettling. He actually thought he was probably the same height as Vera right now rather than, well Hamish height. "I'll go track her down but you should probably get off campus for now, it's creepy having an old guy like you hanging around. You might frighten the students." Damn, now it felt good to be a small young guy suddenly because at list he didn't stick out on Campus. Screw you and trying to one up him.

Tracking Vera was easy, he was an old pro at this point just following his nose. Even in a cluttered campus like this she stood out to him. It wasn't shocking seeing her walking out of the library, his eyes lit up seeing the young Magus walk down the steps with that same Vera confidence. He didn't even realize how he was staring at her until Coventry came running out of the library behind her. Hamish instantly narrowed his eyes and growled as they flickered over to silver. All Tundra could see was one of their greatest enemies putting an arm around their mate and it made the werewolf claw to come out so she could rip out his throat. Hamish covered his mouth and pushed Tundra back as Coventry ran back to the library and away from Vera.

Hamish traveled the rest of the way up the steps and caught up with Vera. "Hi Hasan, nice to see you again."

Hamish reached out to take some of her books since she was holding a lot. "I can take those for you." He grabbed a few from her and smirked. "You know backpacks work pretty well for when you have this many books."

"I'm not a backpack sort of person."

Looking over her collection Hamish smirked, she was such an overachiever. He loved her for that but even in college she was pushing herself already. "These are some serious classes for a freshman."

Vera shrugged, "I'm trying to double major."

Hamish found a book of poems in the stack, ah yes. Time to use a little of that knows her better than she realizes magic.

"Knows how to forget!

But could It teach it?

Easiest of arts they say

When one learns

Dull hearts have died

In the Acquisition

Sacrificed for Science

Is common, though, now

I went to School

But was not wiser…"

"I love that poem." Vera interrupted him. Kind of odd that he start reciting it to her, what were the chances?

Hamish wanted so badly to tell her that he knew and that when she was pregnant with Theo he'd read them both poems in bed, mostly her. "Lucky guess book girl."

Vera laughed at his statement. "Hasan, you are a constant surprise."

Hamish laughed a little, "You should see me juggle." She had an infectious smile, even back in his time when she smiled she tend to make those around her smile too and not just because they were nervous. When she had a true honest smile it lit up a room and put people at ease. He wished she smiled more. "By the way, don't think I'm being too presumptuous but I was thinking maybe you and I could sit someplace and eat together and talk."

"Are you asking me out on a date?" She looked over at him with a little smirk.

"I mean, I specifically said eat and talk but if you want to assume it's a date then we could call it that." Had Hamish ever actually dated Vera? Not really, they sort of went from enemies with benefits to bartender with benefits, to 'oh my god I'm having your baby.' Obviously between the last two something like an honest relationship had developed but it was held together by sexual tension and kept pretty separate by Vera's constant walls.

"Well, don't laugh but I'm in an improve group and we are performing today at the Sword and Chalice if you want to come watch. I can hold a front row seat for you and maybe after we could eat and talk."

What, had Hamish just actually gotten her on a date? This was slightly problematic, what the hell was he doing? No, this could work, he could work with this. "I'd love that, I mean I'd love to watch you." Why did that sound so creepy? "I'll be there." Vera paused in front of one of the buildings and took her books back. "This is my stop. I'll see you tonight then."

"Most certainly."

Why had he felt so nervous standing outside this place? He'd been here a thousand times before, yet this was the time he was afraid to go inside. Opening the door he walked in a little shocked at how packed the place was. Sometimes when a band played there were a lot of people but today everyone had all the sitting room and most of the people were standing all the way to the back wall. Well, Belgrave's improve crew must have been a good show. Pushing his way through the group Hamish found one of the chairs up front with the sassy and saucy little brunette sitting in it. The rest of the improve group was talking to her while they tainted for the show to start.

He walked up to them and smiled at Vera as she sat up from the chair. "Hi, everyone this is Hasan."

"This your first time seeing the show?" One of the guys asked.

"I guess, yes." He sat down in the chair as most of the group went back up to the stage.

"Hope you enjoy it." Vera jumped up on the stage and walked off to the side standing there until the group leader who had been talking to Hamish followed her up. "Hello everyone, ladies and gentlemen, Boydes and Squirrels. I'm here with my favorite improve group from Belgrave and we want to put on the best show for you tonight." Motioning to his left he continued, "The best thing to come out of Massacussats since the Salem Witch trials, Helen Marcow." A curly haired brunette bounced up on stage before taking a little bow and stepping off behind him. "From the only place on earth where nobody of any importance comes from David Hawthorn." A goofy looking dude in overalls came onto stage and took a little bow before lining up with the brunette behind the head of the group.

"From the west coast, totally not an Irish gangster Mr. Spencer Davis." A blonde guy waved to the group as the cheers grew a little louder. Clearly he was popular or had a lot of friends who came to support him which was nice. "Too sweet and extra salty is Janic Meadows from her own backyard." Another brunette jumped on stage looking a bit like the tomboy of the group. "And the first, last, and only queen of the corn seen only in a Stephen King reject novel Vera Stone." Vera ran up going into the line with the others. "And I'm your Hoohoo loving host with the most Travis Michelles." He clapped his hands together before waving at both sides. "This first skit we are going to do is lines, I'm going to have Spenc, Helen and Vera come down for this one. Someone pick a number between 1 and 10." The audience spoke up shouting out a bunch of numbers. "Five? Right down the middle, alright Spenc you get to say five words every time you speak." He looked over at Helen, "Alright again pick a number between one and ten." He pointed at a guy shouting in the back "One, Helen you get one word." He pointed at Vera "Last one, pick a number between one and ten."

Hamish raised his voice "Three."

"Vera you get three words." He waited for all three of them to step forward. "Alright, Vera and Spencer you are a married couple attending counselling and Helen you are their therapist."

Spencer cleared his throat and started, "Doctor my wife is crazy."

"Why?" Helen asked looking to Vera.

"He's an eunuch."

"Babe, it was one testicle."

"Frustrating."

"Don't you know."

"Wait, I've got a secret."

"What?"

"Oh shut up."

"I'm, I'm, Ridley Scott's Grandma."

"Damn."

"How dare you."

"I've been living this lie."

"Really?"

"Am I gay?"

"You've always loved old ass."

"Gross."

"Guess I do."

"So our marriage is saved?"

"Well?"

"Hell no granny."