I had the sneaking suspicion everything had been organised in my absence. Just a feeling. Why may you ask? Well, I came out in an old jumper I bought three sizes too big and tiny shorts the next morning rubbing the sleep from my eyes. I opened the fridge, grabbed a yoghurt, a spoon and sat down. Then realised there were two men in suits filling up the rest of the sofa. Cue the realization and...

"What the fudgeballs?" I squeaked, leaping up only to collide with a similarly dressed woman. Panicked I dropped my yoghurt and scrabbled over the back of the sofa only to notice others in similar attire. Not one person I knew. Stranger, stranger, creepy stranger, stranger... I was fugging dreaming. Just find a familiar face, find a familiar- Zed! Never had I been happier to see that bloody Benedict.

"Are you holding auditions for Badass of the year in here or something?" I hissed, managing to corner him against the kitchen counter. "'Cause you have a pretty interesting pool of candidates Benedict."

Zed was unfazed and crossed his arms. He appeared to be the only one in jeans and a shirt. "Tulip said we could plan here since they know where Xav's place is."

"Yeah, right above our heads! Could you not have gone to Vick's? Or yours."

"Most space here and Vick's friend who loaned him the apartment wants work to stay out of it," he said, betraying only the slightest hint of exasperation with me. "This is a really good tip so let us get on with it." Without another word he neatly cut around me and went to speak with 'creepy' stranger. Well, looks like I could have gotten a worse Benedict than Will. This one was downright toxic.

I twitched with anger as I stormed down to Tulip's room to let someone hear a piece of my mind before I exploded. "Tools!" I growled. I shoved in her door, waking both her and Kanti but I was not about to feel for that yet. Though it looked like Kanti had to borrow something to sleep in for fear I bite her head off retrieving her luggage from my room. Anger now, guilt later.

"What did you agree to?" I said. I came over and yanked back the duvet. Tulip moaned and turned her face to the pillow. "TULIP!"

"Ugh, no go raiding but wanted to help," she mumbled. "Essay finish later."

"So, what the entire Benedict clan and their 'interesting' choice of company will be here for the day planning?"

"Just until three or four," she said attempting to prop herself up before plopping back down in defeat. "Everyone but you, me, Kanti and Lucian do something and they have lots to finish mon amie."

"Wait… He gets to go," I said. It was only when I hissed in pain did I notice how tightly my fights were clenched. I literally needed a chill pill because that realization should not have had me abusing my hands.

Tulip finally sat up while Kanti rolled over to face away from us. "What did you expect? The guy can sense danger. He's needed Wills. Seriously needed."

Stupid irrefutable logic.

"Fine," I sighed and plonked myself down at the end of the bed. "Want to do something fun when the crowd out there dissipates then?"

Tulip pursed her lips to conceal a rapidly expanding smile. "Hell yeah. I can do that essay tomorrow." She prodded Kanti's bare shoulder. "What do you say K?

"As long as we can include Lucian," she mumbled through her pillow, "It would be awful of us to leave him alone."

"Sure, sure," Tulip said with a wave of the hand. "We can put a facemask on him or do his makeup with you around. Can I just say, whipped!"

As kind as we knew Kanti to be, she would definitely be up for it if only to have fun toying with her soulfinder. And oddly... I found myself wishing to be her at that moment. To have that certainty in a relationship.

But for how long? An evil voice whispered in my head. Just imagine losing that.

I know, I know I argued with myself. But I should be happy for those who accepted their soulfinders. It was just... Hard sometimes.

That afternoon, I waded back through the packed New York side walks loaded down with bags. And one incredibly annoying box. You would think with everything else this generation has achieved a better way to carry pizzas would have been accomplished already. This box was as awkward as a first date.

I pinched it between my shoulder and chin as I looked for my phone, shaking the bags of toiletries and junk food down to the crooks of my elbows. Where was it already. For the love of... My phone had officially entered Narnia through my coat. Just as I was about to give up my finger grazed along a rip in the pocket's seam. "Shit!" I swore. And since this was New York, no one even glanced up from their phones.

I put down all my stuff on a bench nearby and took off my coat to have a good rummage in the inner lining. I had just managed to get two fingers around my phone when a familiar voice spoke. "You really should bring that coat on a date first." Christophe said. I dropped the phone again and threw him a glare before finally pulling it out. "Ah, life's most precious thing- the phone." He said grandly.

"Thanks for the running commentary," I said sarcastically but a smile gave me away. The guy was confident, bordering on arrogant, but it suited him. "What are you up to in these parts? I never see you around here."

He openly smirked as though enjoying a private joke at my expense and tucked his hands into his pockets. "Ah, just looking around. Having a bit of a night out around here later."

"Cool but heads up, heavy tipping is like mandatory. You pretty much pay for your drink twice over."

"Nah, it's at someone's so I might catch you later." He seemed to think he was terribly amusing today. My freezing pizza might disagree.

"Okay…" I said slowly. He was already off and soon blended in with the crowds. I shrugged it off and proceeded back home, doing my balancing act all the way to the apartment.

Tulip opened the door before I even got the key in. "Pizza!" she crowed and took the box, literally skipping back to the kitchen to find plates. "Lucian got the film."

"Princess Diaries?" I asked hopefully. I was answered with a reassuring groan from a room down the hall. With a snort I dropped my keys on the kitchen counter along with my bags. Ah, no bloody Benedicts. They were off on their 'mission' or whatever it was. It kept them away for a night which was all I cared about.

"He did indeed." Kanti said smiling. She took a bag over to the couch and sorted through its treasures. "My lovely prince has made the most noble of sacrifices." I laughed as I set down some of the girly stuff down on the coffee table and went to get bowls for snacks. I'd made up with Lucian, Kanti and Tulip this morning, explaining things were complicated with Will and to let it at that. They thankfully obliged though I knew they were curious.

"Just will use one of these things and paint my eyes shut." her 'prince' said, throwing himself down by Kanti. He'd been examining the back of a face mask pack, simultaneously troubled and fascinated by what it promised. "A glowing complexion and flawlessly smooth skin. Geese this is a load of-"

"Pizza!" Tulip interrupted, dumping plates in their laps. Kanti squeaked in fright and Lucian laughed, flinging the pack at her for good measure. She shoved him away but he only brought her closer, snuggling into her side and peppering her with kisses. My stomach lurched. It was just the questionable hotdog I bought for lunch. I repeated this to myself as I sat down the bowls and went to slot in the DVD. As it loaded, I read the back of the box and snorted.

"Lucian," I said and he glanced up. "Did you ever consider checking did it have audio description for Kanti?"

"Oh well done," Tulip said giving him a round of applause. "You got a real catch Kanti, a real good one."

Lucian appeared momentarily mortified before looking at me smugly. "I can just send it in an illusion to her."

"For an hour and a half?"

"Well, I might need an intermission." He said rubbing the back of his head. Typical guys. Kanti seemed not to be the slightest bit bothered.

"I can just listen to it," she said. "And it's merely the reality just outside of my scope of perception so translating it through illusion should be relatively easy."

"I love that I can give you that," Lucian said kissing her nose. "You never let me buy you even lunch."

"Ok, I need to watch Anne Hathaway as a mess," Tulip announced, chewing with her mouth open. "Leave that cheesiness for the film and pizza." They continued whispering but as I slot in the film I could barely focus as the movie started. Being around such loved up soulfinders created a situation in which it was impossible to think of little else but my current 'Will' predicament. And why... Why did it feel like things were only going to get worse, for Anne and me, before things improved?

I scraped the last of my facemask off while Lucian continued to flex his jaw un-comfortably under his 'Tropical Paradise' mask. "Can I have the sink now? This feels weird." He moaned, still flexing and adjusting his jaw.

I gave my face a last splash of water before moving to the side. "Sure. So, you staying tonight?"

He started washing off the mask with earnest. "No," he managed to get out. "Uriel warned me not to cross Tarryn." He stopped talking as he gave his face a last vigorous rub. "I've my whole life with Kanti so we've time."

I said nothing and pretended to be occupied with drying my face and passed him the towel. "Remind Tools to lock up after you."

"Yeah, yeah," he said. Giving a quick glance at my reflection, I left the bathroom only to bump into Kanti. I stumbled back but managed to grab the doorframe to steady myself.

"My sincerest apologies." Kanti said, appearing genuinely horrified with herself. "I should have been using my gift." she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "And in regards to sleeping arrangements, Tulip has asked me to sleep with her to give you space."

"Thanks," I said gratefully. "And we both know how much of a sacrifice that is for Tools."

"Definitely," she laughed. "Goodnight Willow. I better wish Lucian one too."

"Sure," I said. After a quick peek in the kitchen to make sure Tulip had actually cleaned up, I went to my room. I quickly stripped and pulled on an ancient rugby shirt of Rydians and some ratty tracksuit bottoms. Brothers were handy sometimes.

I was sorely tempted to see had Crystal any knowledge on the status of the raid but the fear of interrupting kept me from reaching for my phone. It was around midnight now but I had no clue whether it had happened seconds or hours ago. I turned the light off and stumbled back to bed in the light of the city below. I would know in the morning so as the apartment gradually grew quieter and Lucian slipped out, I gradually dozed off.

Maybe a few hours later there was a little rustling outside. I ignored it and promptly forgot about it as my brain coaxed me back to a deeper sleep. I pulled the blankets around myself and turned to my side. That was better. Then my door creaked a little. Dammit, some window was probably left open letting a breeze in. But the sweep of scratchy fabric against my face quickly urged me to forget about these seemingly inconsequential worries. After a few breaths, a thick, heavy grogginess siphoned away the last of my consciousness and I was out for the count.

Author person,

Thanks for reading. I hoped you liked it. And thanks for the reviews and follows :)

Also, thought I might let you know the next chapter is from Will's point of view and the end of it explains the last paragraph here... :D I might do another chapter through him if you like it. Let me know

Yes, I updated on a Wednesday. Sue me :D (I will be a good girl now and update next on a Monday or Friday as usual)