Hey everyone, I hope you're having a better time than I'm having. I've been on the mood lately and so much has been going on that I can barely keep up. Truth to be told I'm not at my best. Anyway, I've had this chapter for quite a while (few weeks) but hadn't built enough courage to actually update. I haven't scrutinized grammar as my usual self due to lack of time. I do hope this turned out well. I don't know when I'll post my next chapter, as you can see I'm as unstable as an elephant on a giant ball balancing in one foot. Unfortunately I'm highly inconsistent, so that's sums it up.

I do think this is the best chapter yet; at least it has higher quality than my last ones. I know I take long but the chapters are improving (although slowly), so I hope this makes it up to you. On another note, I edited the last chapters in hopes of making it better, hope you appreciate the effort.

Btw, this fic is officially AU (although slightly) due to something you'll read further ahead. If you haven't read the 13th book (which highly disappointed me btw) do not worry, there are no spoilers (I hope).

I'd also like to thank everyone who reviewed, you make my day really: stef, ASOUE lover, Dizzy Izzy and Promise.Me.Forver. You all rock my world! No kidding, well…maybe a little bit. This chapter is for you!

Enough rant, down with the disclaimer:

Disclaimer: Egocentric-theorem doesn't own ASOUE, unfortunately. If I did, the 13th book would have been way different. Not that it had irked me that much, it wasn't THAT bad. After all, it is a kid's book, right?

Summary: Even though Olaf is long to be gone, and the Quagmires and Baudelaires are far from little children, life has not been easy for them. Slowly struggling through everyday and learning to live; secrets, tragedies and lies surround this pair of siblings. Could things be any different? Slightly AU R&R

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VERACITY FOR ALL DEEDS

Decision: (n) 1) Something somebody has chosen. 2) Firmness in choosing something. 3) Process of choosing. 4) Boxing victory decided on points.

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Chapter IV

The bright morning sun rose slowly over the not so far away mountains providing the wonderful and small city with its morning splendor before finally being covered by the dirty white clouds, making it seem gloom and desolate.

It was a quiet morning, as they slowly awakened from their slumber, opening their eyes warily as the soft cold breeze brushed against their long feathers. The worst of winter was yet to come; global warming could do wonders to what should be a hostile atmosphere. And even though the beautiful sun still shone behind the large clouds, in the sky, the air felt slightly moist and chilly; making it quite clear that the comfortable weather wasn't going to last, clouds approaching dangerously over the sky, giving quite the possibility of rain.

It was early in the morning when the Baudelaire and Quagmire's kitchen began its cock-crow activity. The rustling sound of pans and plates echoed around the vast room, suddenly followed by a frying noise and the arousing smell of food, made it easy to assume someone was cooking. The door slipped open quietly, the worn out figure of Violet Baudelaire standing behind looking tired, who looked surprised at finding someone that early in the morning, yet alone cooking, after all Sunny was involved in the meals more than half of the time, and Violet was sure she wasn't much of an early person.

"Fiona?" Violet inquired quietly, squinting her eyes; she didn't need glasses but was altogether tired to focus correctly in anything more than her morning coffee.

"Violet?" the shorter girl replied mingled, she had never seen Violet in such a disheveled shape before, which was a shock; after all she was an inventor. Violet waved her hand in dismiss, seeing how Fiona gawped at her unbelievingly.

"Yeah it's me; guess you've never seen me in my working-with-complex-and-oil-using- machines outfit before, right?" Violet said before chuckling lightly to herself.

"I like to be comfortable, and wouldn't like some decent outfit to be drenched in dark oil," Violet added gaining a loud giggle from her friend, and decided to sit on a near chair of the breakfast table.

This was how meals at the Baudelaire & Quagmire mansion went, they only ate in the dinning room in special occasions like birthdays and Thanksgiving; in consequence all uneven meals were eaten in the breakfast table, nothing near fancy, from Isadora's famous Waffles, Violet's lousy cooking and Sunny's delicious meals, but in all it didn't really matter because they had each other and that was more than enough.

"Coffee?" Fiona offered hopefully, showing Violet a coffee pot filled with hot steaming dark liquid. Violet's nostrils filled with its endearing and energetic aroma, sending a pleasing prickle to her nose.

"Yes, please," Violet replied with a small tired smile as Fiona nodded meekly, and proceeded to pour her a cup placing it soon afterwards on the breakfast table. Violet practically licked her lips, as much as she wanted to quit it, coffee was her addiction and she couldn't get throughout the day without at least one cup.

"How do you like it?" Fiona inquired, placing all extra ingredients on the table, taking out a teaspoon from a counter, looking at Violet expectant.

"Don't bother, I will do it myself," Violet brushed away her question, taking the teaspoon from Fiona's right hand, who looked slightly put off, and her cup of coffee in the other.

"So what's with all of this?" Violet inquired politely, stirring her coffee cup slowly, milk and sugar slowly dissolving in the dark liquid. Violet relaxed inwardly taking the coffee cup to her lips. Fiona looked up from her cooking, pushing back her slipping glasses back to their original place.

"Well…I just thought it would be a good gesture from my part if I cooked you some breakfast after all your attentions," she replied slowly a little bit sheepishly. Violet smiled a little bit guiltily, thinking that not so long ago she was already thinking of less than noble things from the modest woman.

"So…" Violet began timidly, feeling slightly rejuvenated and energetic, a light smile slowly curling on her lips.

"Pancakes?" Fiona asked hopefully, offering Violet a plate of good smelling pancakes. Violet licked her lips again unconsciously as she eyed the place discreetly and looked at Fiona's buoyant expression. Her eyes were practically begging her to take them, Violet was somewhat taken aback.

"Err…thanks," Violet replied awkwardly, taking the plate from Fiona's quivering hands, still peeved up at her sudden optimism.

"You don't mind if I turn music on, do you?" Fiona questioned again, giving dark colored girl an eerie broad joyful smile, offering her silverware.

"No of course not," Violet said uncertainly, taking a set of silverware from Fiona's expecting hand.

Music:

Why do birds suddenly appear?

Every time you are near?

Just like me, they long to be

Close to you.

Suddenly the door stirred open, revealing the grumpy looking figure of Isadora, who shot Fiona a dirty look as soon as she acknowledged her presence. Fiona held her nose up in the air with defiance, the younger girl starting to get on her nerves.

"What are you eating?" Isadora asked bluntly, casting the appetizing looking pancakes an odd look, looking as if instead of pancakes there were a tangle of tasty looking worms. She knew before hand, Violet wasn't too much of a cook.

"Some pancakes Fiona had the trouble to cook for us," Violet replied courteously, giving Isadora a warning glance that shouted –don't dare-, cutting the food in a neat half. Isadora brushed Violet's forewarning glance, looking disgusted.

"I'm not eating that," Isadora commented brusquely, casting Fiona an irritated look sitting smartly on another chair, letting out a huff.

"No one is asking you to," Fiona replied as coolly as she could, taking a more dignifying posture. If she wanted war, she was going to get it, reserving her smart smirk to herself.

"I wouldn't do it anyway, besides who is asking you?" Isadora directed the older woman, giving her a defiant look which yelled –don't mess with me, you're no better-.

"Isadora, don't be infantile," Violet tried to be off handedly, placing a piece of trimly cut pancake into her mouth. Isadora looked at her revolted, feeling as if Violet had just smacked her cheek.

"I'm been serious Vi, who's talking to her besides in which side are you—

"Isadora," Violet warned sternly, cutting her in-mid sentence giving her a –you stop that right now glance-, Isadora looked at her in disbelief. She could almost feel Fiona's insolent smirk behind her.

"Stop it Violet, don't look at me that way, you're not my mother," Isadora said dryly, letting her tongue slip, but she wasn't guilty not yet, sometimes she had to admit her temper got the better out of her. Violet dropped her fork giving Isadora a look of incredulity, Isadora fought against the urge of rolling her eyes. Sometimes Violet, took things a little bit too seriously.

"What?" Isadora inquired in annoyance, feeling how Violet scrutinizing her closely. Fiona went back to her cooking happily, finding nothing else interesting and froze in her spot when she heard Violet say.

"Look Izzy, it's not my fault if you're mad at my brother," Violet said carefully, eyeing Isadora's pale face blenching even more and hearing Fiona's spatula fall to the floor. Isadora's mouth began to babble as a fish out of water, while Fiona resumed her cooking, quite taken aback.

"Look Violet…I…" Isadora started quietly, turning her pale face to the interesting table, but was soon interrupted by the shallow screeching of the door.

"Who cooked? Are those pancakes? Yummy!" the light voice of Sunny Baudelaire chorused chirpily around the kitchen. Isadora sighed giving Violet an apologetic look, Violet smiled and squeezed her friend's flimsy hand.

"That wasn't you, right Violet?" Sunny inquired smartly, an amused smile playing in her thin lips, taking in a heave of irresistible aroma.

"Here," Fiona said sweetly offering the young child an appetizing looking plate. Sunny beamed letting herself fall beside Isadora in a chair. A mischievous smile slowly curled in Isadora's lips, a malicious glint emanating from her eyes.

"Sunny, I wouldn't eat that if I were you," Isadora said mysteriously, giving the pancakes a dark look. Fiona tensed behind her.

"Why's that?" Sunny questioned in bewilderment, feeling a pit of light sadness slowly forming itself in her stomach knowing she could eat, just yet.

"Well, I tried warning your lovely sister, but she wouldn't listen to me…those pancakes are poisoned," Isadora whispered loud enough for everyone in the kitchen to hear, including the cook. Sunny's eyes widened in horror, and moved the plate the farthest she could along the table in terror. A triumphant smile played in Isadora's face, almost laughing aloud of the silliness of the matter.

"Sunny that's not true, Isadora is lying, eat," Violet encouraged giving Isadora a warning look, fighting back a smile. Sunny looked uncertain at her older sister and examined the 'evil' looking pancakes closely, looking doubtful.

"Sunny, let Violet have her way, but then don't come and say I didn't warned you, wait a minute, you couldn't because you would be dead by then," Isadora addressed a worried Sunny looking at Violet's reaction from the corner of her eye, an amused smile plastered on her lips. Violet kept the stiff face, taking most of her self control and looked at Isadora blankly. Sunny gave both Isadora and her sister an anxious glance and gulped, she certainly didn't wanted to wake up dead, well more like not waking up.

"Quagmire, if you want to talk about me, be brave and say it face to face," Fiona alleged vastly offended at the younger woman's actions. Isadora snorted loudly. Sunny looked at Fiona's foul mood, making her mind, eating pancakes at times like this was dangerous.

"I would love to triangle eyes, but you shouldn't be messing in other people business" Isadora said with fake hilarity, using the nickname she used back at Olaf's troupe, fighting back the urge to lunge at her.

"Isadora that was uncalled for," Violet said severely, pleading Isadora to stop the stupid confrontation. Isadora's face suddenly softened and gave her female friend a remorseful smile, while Sunny helped herself with some cereal. Fiona sighed and returned to her cooking again.

"I'm sorry Violet," Isadora apologized. Violet nodded off handedly not giving Fiona a second look while Sunny eyed the pancakes from the corner of her eye fearfully.

"It's just that the moron I got for a brother decided it was a good idea to wake me up early, and you know how I get when I don't sleep well," Isadora lied successfully, part of her statement being true, the other not quite. Violet nodded again, standing up from her chair taking her empty plate with her, locking eyes with a certain dark haired young man who had just entered the kitchen.

"Oh look who's here!" Isadora exclaimed in what she hoped could be a bubbly voice, noticing how her brother locked glances with Violet oddly. Isadora frowned lightly.

"Morning," Duncan said gruffly, breaking Violet's gaze coldly, his heart meaning to stop right there. Isadora looked at her brother surprised while he poured himself a cup of black coffee, a bundle of newspapers under his left arm. Violet continued her way to the dishwasher quite puzzled.

"Something wrong Duncan?" Isadora called, eyeing her brother suspiciously, something was definitely wrong in his behavior. Duncan took a seat opposite Sunny, took a sip from his dark coffee and began reading the newspaper.

"No," he replied simply, shuffling pages rapidly through the newspaper as if looking for something, the room suddenly falling into an uncomfortable silence. Violet made her way back to her chair and eyed Duncan from the corner of her eye while taking a sip of her mild coffee, when something caught her eye. The Daily Punctilio.

"Everything written in that newspaper is rubbish," Violet pointed out even though it wasn't really needed to, a certain kind of resentment slowly rousing from her chest; all what the putrid newspaper did to their life was making it a little more miserable than it already was. Duncan shuffled the newspaper's pages once more, a simple smirk playing on his face, which was wisely covered by its gray pages.

"I know," he replied as composedly as he could, the plan had went as it was intended to and apparently thanks to the Daily Punctilio's help, Mr. Snicket was seamlessly out of danger or at least Duncan hoped so. His smirk rapidly disappearing, the small seed of insecurity and anxiety still present. He sighed, putting the newspaper back to its respective place away from his face unhurriedly.

"Duncan would you like some pancakes?" Fiona offered lightly, giving him a friendly smile which he didn't returned. Sunny's eyes darted open startled and looked the older figure across her wildly, leaping instantly from her seat, gaining weird glances from everyone present. She made her way to Duncan's ear putting one small hand over it in a discreet fashion.

"Don't eat that, it's poisoned" Sunny whispered forebodingly, before darting to the door in a flash, disappearing from sight. Duncan's left eyebrow rose in bewilderment and gave Fiona a suspicious glace. Isadora held back her snickers as Fiona flushed in embarrassment, suspecting the kind of information Sunny transferred to her brother.

"SUNNY, DISHES!" Violet yelled for her younger sister, both trying to relieve the tension and make Sunny do her chores. Duncan went back to his newspaper bundles with a gentle shake of his head while Fiona went back to her own business. Sunny entered the kitchen reluctantly, placing her dirty dishes in the dishwasher giving Violet a pleading glance before disappearing from the kitchen, again, in a dash. Violet shook her head in light amusement while Isadora smiled to herself; she didn't minded Duncan's foul mood when it involved Fiona's suffering. It was a mean thing to say, but she had no mercy to the person who made her life transform into living hell.

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Klaus Baudelaire stared at white ceiling blankly, feeling as empty as he had never felt before, sadness and apprehension slowly starting to consume him. Truth to be told, he didn't really knew when things had gone amiss nor had he realized how much pain he had inflected, he was had been blind.

A writer once said, "Nothing hurts more than the truth"; Klaus had always found the phrase a little bit misdirected. He had always seen the truth necessary and pleasant, incapable of producing damage but benefit, however, now he was aware that he had been wrong, truth was painful to handle, he had been wrong all along.

He was wrong when he thought one of his parents was alive, he was wrong when he denied his parents had killed Olaf's, he had been wrong when he thought Fiona was malevolent or when he thought she had forgotten about him. He was wrong when he took Isadora's feelings as granted and pushed them aside, and he was wrong when he denied himself, he did not loved her.

Indeed, he had been wrong many times, as far-fetched as it might seem to others, and it was painful, very painful.

Klaus wrapped white sheets to his body; the sheets could protect him from cold but not from pain.

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Quigley sat on the edge of his bed frozen in delight, a dark velvet box grasped between his hands carefully, a rousing feeling of excitement and eagerness filling up his body in an overwhelming fashion. His hands trembled with anticipation; he opened the fine shaped box admiring its engrossing content, an exquisite ring, a master piece, but not as near beautiful as its future possessor.

He did not dared to touch it; the simple thought of touching something so magnificent and chaste with his dirty hands was outrageous. Quigley knew he wasn't as near as perfect as Violet deserved, but that was about to change; he would become a better man, just for her. And then when the time is right, the ring will be hers and they could live a happily ever after, just as she so rightly deserved, just as she had always dreamt.

Quigley stood up from his spot in an unfaltering step, dark velvet box charily held captive by his careful hands. One day we'll be happy, one day she'll be happy. He closed his eyes for a second before sighing and returned the box to its respective place, perfectly hidden away from prying eyes and stared at the cabinet for a slight moment before leaving the room, his body trembling with emotion.

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Isadora glanced at Fiona with interest for a fraction of seconds, wondering what the hell she was still doing with their food and oven before returning her sight at the uptight atmosphere at the table. Something was definitely wrong, Duncan seemed more reclusive than ever and Violet looked as if nerves were consuming her, there was something fishy in the atmosphere and she could not help but to wonder what the heck was wrong with them.

"I checked your vehicle this…morning," Violet said slowly, feeling the urge to break the awkward silence that suddenly took over the place, in a idle attempt to bright up the uptight atmosphere that evolved around the table.

"It's not mine," Duncan answered coolly before taking a swift sip of his sharp dark coffee, "It's Eileen's" he added as an afterthought looking up discreetly to see the girls' reactions, after all it has been quite a while since they have last seen the famous Eileen Pangbourn or any of her siblings for the matter.

Violet's and Isadora's eyebrows arched in an almost synchronized motion, astonishment apparent in their face. Duncan reserved himself a knowing smile, taking another sip from his now mild black coffee, its steaming hotness drifting away in the air.

"You mean Eileen Pangbourn the aeromechanical genius who used to compete with Violet back in 'the old days'?" Isadora inquired back instantly, quite taken aback from such a sudden declaration while Violet blinked a few times in realization, memories of the good not so old times coming back to her mind.

"The same one, and don't say 'the old days' Isadora, it makes me feel old besides how many Eileen Pangbourn do you know?" Duncan asked in amusement at his own sister's expense, his humor returning back to normal, not that he wanted it to but it was such a good opportunity that he just couldn't help himself. Isadora sent him glare, accompanied by a kick on the shin at which Duncan couldn't help but for the sake of his ego just show a pained smile.

"Geez Izzy, No wonder you could never had a serious boyfriend," Duncan commented a hint of amusement in his voice, which unknowingly picked on one of Isadora's nerves a little bit farther than intended. Isadora's face contracted in offense, her right fist clenching automatically over the table. Violet placed her hands over her face in an attempt to hide her smiling face, the comment wasn't nice but it definitely improved the room's mood, things getting a little bit back to normal.

"Honestly Duncan, you can be an ass sometimes," Isadora snarled, standing up from her chair in a brisk manner. Violet moved her hand away from her face revealing a rather surprised expression; it had always been Isadora's way to be a little bit too dramatic; Duncan shook his head in fake disappointment, feeling there was nothing to make a fuss about.

"Fine have it your way, laugh!" Isadora yelled waving her hands frantically, before making her way to the door, stomping her feet, stumbling across Quigley in the doorway.

"Isadora, what's the matter?" Quigley inquired having sensed Isadora's bad mood, the moment he saw her snarling face, and grasped her arm wanting her to stop, which she brushed away quickly, sturdily giving him a menacing –leave-me-alone- look.

"Ask Duncan," she replied hotly before closing the door loudly behind her leaving a strangled Quigley behind who gave his brother a questioning –what--you-have done-to-her-this-time stare.

"What's the matter with her?" Quigley asked directing his question to his brother in what could be called a subtle way. Duncan merely shrugged before standing up looking at the floor, hiding his face. Quigley and Violet exchanged a befuddled glance before Duncan left the room. This place is getting weirder every day.

"What's going on?" Quigley turned to Violet eyeing her suspiciously. Violet shrugged, his guess was as good as hers; things were somehow stumbling down little by little.

"And what's with Sunny, in the way back she bombarded me telling me something about poisoned pancakes- Quigley commented in bewilderment and a tint of amusement, being interrupted by the sound of a dish crashing against the sink. Violet bit her lip in nervousness.

"No problem, I have everything controlled," Fiona's slightly exalted voice echoed behind them. Violet grimaced; Fiona worked so hard to make them breakfast for something like this to happen.

"Would you like pancakes Quigley, they're really good, Fiona cooked us some," Violet said, giving him an almost pleading glance and a small tired smile which Quigley couldn't help but to give in.

"I would love too," he said kindly, turning around and giving Fiona a lighthearted smile. Fiona perked up considerably and nodded while Violet secretly smiled to herself.

"Would you like coffee with that?" Fiona asked happily, Isadora's presence no longer bothering her mind, while she proceeded to give Quigley a generous amount of food.

"I'll rather have juice," he replied with a smile, making his way to refrigerator and serving himself a glass of orange juice.

Finally, Violet smiled whole-heartedly, maybe things weren't as bad.

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Isadora stomped her feet through the staircase, and heaved a deep breath in an attempt to calm down. She knew she had reacted a little bit too strongly on the matter, and that what Duncan said was true to some extent, as much as she wanted to deny it, but at times like this it was a hurtful thing to say. Truth to be told, thoughts of Klaus still lingered her mind every now and then, what the hell, they were there all the time as much as she wanted to cast them aside, it was almost like a curse. A painful wretched curse.

Isadora came into a stop; maybe she should go back and apologize. It wasn't too late was it? Was it? Isadora gripped the handrail of the staircase tensely. What if he doesn't take me back? Isadora made a false step, her knees collapsing against the floor with a faint thud, the stairs had finished; she was upstairs. Her eyes looked around indistinctly, disoriented, as if waking from a dream alarmed.

What if he hates me now? Would I be able to cope with that? Isadora's body began to tremble with emotion, she could not cry, it was foolish, she was strong at least she wanted to be strong. Why do I have to be so…weak?

"Izzy?" a distinctive voice called behind her. It seems so far away, someone is calling me…but I'm lost…I can't go back…I'm a failure…I'm useless…

Isadora hugged herself feebly, finally letting tears roll down the edge of her eyes. Why can't I get it right for once?

Suddenly she felt someone kneel beside her, placing a warm hand over her shoulder. Isadora looked up finding the regretful face of her brother. Isadora sobbed letting herself being hugged gently.

"I'm sorry Isadora," Duncan said with sorrow, caressing his sister's hair in a very brotherly way. Isadora shook her head faintly, a new wave of sobs emerging from her throat burring her face over her brother's now wet shirt, holding up for comfort, holding up for hope. Save me…

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Eileen Pangbourn grabbed her suitcase slowly, gripping its metal handle with force. The letter had been so sudden, sure she had been waiting for instructions but nothing compared to what she had to do now. It was such a good thing to know Mr. Snicket is okay, and the fact that I'll be seeing Duncan soon, too soon, but I'll certainly miss Kit and her lovely daughter.

Eileen looked outside the window, the cold air brushing past the cold trees, the dead leaves lying lifelessly on the ground. She had never been fond of winter as much as Duncan tried her to convince her otherwise. A tiny smile crept by her face in remembrance. He'll always be someone special. She had been told when little, that there were very special people around the world, that you'll never manage to forget no matter how hard you try, at that time, she didn't knew what it meant exactly but now it was more than clear. No matter how far away he was or how much she wanted to deny the fact that he was there, but he was always present with no intention to leave.

Eileen sighed before closing the door quietly behind her and went down the stairs to find Kit and her daughter waiting for her outside the doorway. Kit looked up, smiling warmly at her in rather motherly way.

"I really appreciate what you've done for me, thank you very much," Eileen said politely, feeling her face redden. Kit smile remained while she evolved Eileen in an embrace.

"You don't have to thank me, after all you are just as close as family," she said in such a maternal tone, that it recalled Eileen of her own deceased mother. Eileen hugged her tighter, she didn't want to let go.

"Tell the Baudelaires and Quagmires I say hi," Kit added, giving Eileen an affectionate kiss on the cheek. Eileen barely nodded, turning down to the small blonde girl beside.

"I don't want you to leave," the 5 year old Diana said, her big baby blue eyes nearly to the edge of tears. Eileen kneeled down and took the small girl in her arms, feeling her eyes water slightly.

"I promise I'll be back…with a gift," she added giving the girl a lopsided smile. Little Diana looked up at her letting go, her face perking up considerably.

"Could it be a book!" she exclaimed excitedly, crystal tears hanging from the corner of her eyes. Eileen nodded and patted her head, while little Diana ensued to wipe her tears.

"Guess I should be gettin' going," Eileen finally said, tightening the hold of her scarf against her neck, a protuberant smile never leaving her rosy lips. Diana gripped her mother's blouse her eyes tearing again.

"Have fun on your trip and take care," Kit said, Eileen kept herself back and nodded before making her way to a black cab, waving back to her surrogate family.

…My family…

"I'll be back," Eileen yelled from her cab's window, waving goodbye wildly. She will miss them but she had an important mission to carry on and she had no time to waste.

…Here we go…

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Violet examined how the perfectly conditioned and positioned meshes fell upon each other in utter coordination. It was weird how the sound of a machine working soothed Violet most; while most people preferred the sounds of nature or a calm voice, Violet felt better while being with machines. Perhaps it was because she understood them better or because while working on them she didn't have to think about anything else, whatever the reason was, it had always worked for her this way except while her parents were alive but that was a completely different topic.

Violet looked away from the VFD vehicle and sat on a chair with a huff. Sometimes not even machines could cure her uneasiness. She closed her eyes tightly, her eyes pricking acidly, she was tired. She had spent most of the night examining the flying device after Duncan left last night. Violet bit her lip instinctively.

Things were not going alright; they had barely passed three days together and the house seemed to be falling apart. It was getting tiring, and she still had a Christmas party to plan. Violet shivered with cold, the weather seemed to be thinking along the same lines.

Violet stood up; taking her woolen jacket from the near table where she had last left it. Today might just be a brighter day. Violet thought, making her way out of the room, jacket on place. It was getting cold, but the sun couldn't be brighter. Violet smiled vividly, for what felt like the first time in days.

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Klaus looked at his reflection in the mirror. A sick feeling suddenly reaching his mouth; he looked terrible, he felt worst. Dark disheveled hair, tired bloodshot eyes, sick pale skin, dry lips, he didn't seem like himself at all; he didn't feel like himself.

Cold water rushed down the washbasin as he splashed his face rapidly but he still felt inside a nightmare. A horrible and terrible nightmare. He made his way out of the bathroom feebly, his feet feeling heavier as they dragged along.

He glanced at the closed window, there was barely any light emanating from outside, the red curtain moving once as the wind crashed against its surface. Klaus's hand reached out and opened the window slowly as weak sun rays hit him in the face. He sighed and the slightly cool breeze caressed his arms.

He lightly pulled away from the emanating light and sat on the edge of his bed. It was going to be along day, and he wasn't sure if he was up to it. The idea of staying in bed and escape reality enticed him greatly, it was for once a better option than to face reality.

Unfortunately, the farthest you walked away the hardest it is come back and once you do, it'll be to receive a hurtful blow to the heart just as lethal and painful. That kind of reality was what Klaus feared and tried his hardest to avoid but things get to you sooner or later. That's what scared Klaus the most and that he wouldn't be able to avoid it. That was for sure.

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Mistakes have a high prize –life had instructed him such— and he feared he wouldn't be able to pay this for this one.

He had no idea what else to say or what else to do to make it better. Somehow, as hard as he tried to ignore it, Duncan felt as in intruder. He came in and he came out. He had no longer idea of what happened around the house just as he had no idea about the cause of his sister's suffering; and it worried him.

He felt guilty for thinking about himself, as he stroked his sister's hair and gushed down her sobs, but he wasn't able to block those thoughts away. Had he really been such an absent figure in this house? Could he really still consider himself a part of this family?

"It was Klaus," Isadora said barely above a whisper, her lips trembling with emotion, her brother turned to her slowly as the last words caught his ears.

He looked at her with sorrow, unable to articulate any kind of response. Did he really deserve to take an open opinion about the matter? Did she expect him to take part on something he did not witnessed or saw coming?

"It'll be okay," he quietly reassured with the only words he felt confident to muster. Isadora nodded silently against his chest, considerably calming down.

Should I really be here?

"It'll be okay, I promise," he repeated quietly to assure himself, not feeling confident about that promise ever being fulfilled. He closed eyes and sighed, as his sister's arms disentangled away from him. He really hoped everything to be okay or at least to get better… that was his wish.

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Violet walked nimbly around one of the house empty hallways. The weather had suddenly decided to turn slightly hostile forcing the mechanical genius to turn away from her work and finally decide to rest.

So many things rumbled inside her head fuzzily, giving Violet an annoying head-throb and she didn't feel like thinking about it. To sit down on her favorite sofa and finally close her eyes to rest was the only thing she had in mind, all sort of complicated things laid forgotten. That was a better world for Violet, and to live in it for a while was all she needed.

She made her way to the spacious living room as she heard a not so distant knock on the front door. She was quick to ignore it as she sat on her favorite sofa and closed her eyes.

Another persistent knock drew Violet away from her dreams irritably. She closed her eyes as knocking resumed, this time turning louder. Violet huffed in aggravation, her mind way too exhausted to say anything. She stood up from her place quite exasperated, as the exuberant knocking kept on bothering her.

She quickly made her way towards her front door, slamming the door open with irritation just to gape at the person standing in front of her. She blinked a few times, staring at the woman before her. Could exhaustion be playing some sort of sick joke on her?

"Baudelaire," the young woman said with surprise. Violet didn't need a confirmation, as she stared at the leather brown jacket, the blonde woman wore.

"Pangbourn," she replied soberly, exhaustion moving to another place on her brain. The female before her couldn't help to smirk as she dropped her luggage on the doorstep nonchalantly.

"It's been a while," Eileen Pangbourn said as a polite smile graced her soft features. Violet smiled back tiredly, almost forcedly; a not so pleasing tension suddenly rising in the air.

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A/N: That's it, end of chapter. I gotta say things will start to pick up from here, seriously. I think I could say this is the end of the introduction arc and we're up to more interesting stuff. At least I hope so.

I'll drop the FAQ part because it's probably annoying besides I've given you enough information. I won't figure out stuff for you guys, you'll find things by your own if you're smart enough. That said, I hope you do review. Feedback is always appreciated; if you feel like saying something that is.

Hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

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"Love is a decision not an emotion or feeling, that if made from the heart will outlast anything..." Raul and Samantha Juarez

Cheers,

Egocentrictheorem