A/N Ok, it's the 13th of August and you would not believe how rainy/windy it is here, which is why I've updated quite quickly (for once!)

Trouble unlocked the door to his (and Grub's, he reminded himself) flat and made his way over to the kitchen in order to think about what he could cook for Holly. She had ordered a salad when they had been at the restaurant, although Trouble had a feeling that this could possibly cause offence. In that case, he decided to serve couscous with grilled halloumi and whichever vegetables were in the fridge, followed by birthday cake. Chocolate, of course.

Seeing as Grub was due home in about half an hour, Trouble thought that he could use the opportunity to practise. The couscous, that is- the chocolate for the cake would be bought at the last possible moment, or his younger brother would devour it within minutes.

45 minutes later, the doorbell rang. Grub had forgotten his keys again.

"Trubs! Trubs can you let me in please?" he called through the letterbox.

"I'm coming," Trouble sighed in reply, placing the plates on the kitchen table on his way. It had taken longer than anticipated to prepare the vegetables, and this was further complicated by the act that the kitchen knives in the dishwasher were still dirty- someone had forgotten to set it before they left for work that morning.

"Ooh," said Grub, wiping his (immaculate) boots on the doormat. "Something smells nice!"

They sat down and began eating, exchanging anecdotes of each others' day: Grub had sent a request to Foaly for a Retimager exam to prove to Captain Verbil that he hadn't been staring at Lili Frond; Trouble had finally completed the last Hybras form; Grub had filed a complaint against the macaroni cheese in the canteen.

"Don't forget, Trubs, that Mummy's coming to tea on Wednesday. Is that why you cooked this tonight? To practise? Trub?" Trouble had stopped eating, a look of horror on his face.

"I thought you were going to Mum's for tea on Wednesday!" he exclaimed.

"I was, but Mummy phoned me at work and said that she never gets to see you," Grub looked rather put-out at this, "So she's going to come here because you said you were too busy to go to her house. Why? Is that a problem?" Grub finished, and took another forkful of red pepper.

"Well, I've asked Holly to come over as it's her birthday on Wednesday."

"Oh."