Well, it's been a LONG time since this story was updated. I hope that you'll enjoy this chapter; I worked really hard on it!

Chapter 3

Somewhere To Be

"Blast," Basil muttered as he looked up at the sky. A drop of water had fallen on him; he knew what that meant. "I thought the rain was going to stop…" he muttered again. Beside him, Selene gathered all the children closer to her, trying to keep them warm in the rapidly-cooling weather.

"I thought so too," Selene said quietly. "I knew I should've brought the jackets…" she muttered darkly, glaring at the gray sky.

"We just need to cross the street," Basil said, looking at said direction. There was his home on Baker Street, waiting to give them warm shelter from the bone-chilling rain. He grinned slightly; Selene would finally see his new home, and the young detective had always been a bit of a show-off. He looked both ways of the human street, making sure no carriages would make a surprise attack on them. "Hurry along," he said, gently guiding Selene and the children across to make sure they would be safe first and foremost.

Selene and her troop suddenly sprung out into a steady, swift run, their feet barely touching the ground with practiced grace. A surprised Basil jogged after them, all the while wondering when Selene had learned to be so nimble. He finally met them under the roof of the apartment complex within the human building, the girls – Molly and Genevieve – were shivering desperately and looking at him with wide eyes to lead them to warmth quickly.

His long-lost friend looked at the door with calm interest, "Would this be your place, Basil?"

Basil nodded as he flicked out his keys from his pants pocket. He unlocked the door and opened it to them, revealing a cozy living room with a lighted fireplace Mrs. Judson has supposedly done earlier. All the children opened their mouths in awe as though they'd just walked into a four-story mansion. Even Selene gawked for a moment before regaining her composure. I don't know why she's so bewildered, Basil thought as he let them stare for a moment, Her house before that night was quite a pleasant one as well. Surely she had a comfortable home wherever she was. Selene's family had been an upper-middle-class one; they could've afforded a much bigger house than what they had, but Artemis and Rita weren't splurging mice. He supposed Selene and Apollo – if he was alive or not – had grown to be the same.

"Well, come in," he said awkwardly, extending the door further in. "Ladies first."

Molly and Genevieve looked at him curiously, like they'd never had the privilege of being first. But they grinned anyway and rushed inside to the warmth. The boys – Greg, Jerry, and Nolan – shrugged and politely made their way in. Selene stepped in last, smiling at Basil as silent thanks for treating her troop so well.

Selene rushed towards the girls, "Oh, bother," she murmured. "You two are absolutely drenched." She looked at Basil, "Basil, would you lend me some towels? All of these kids need one."

"Did someone call for towels?" came Mrs. Judson's voice from down a hallway where the bathroom and pantry resided.

Selene's eyes widened slightly in recognition of the voice, "Could it be…?" When the plump lady mouse emerged from the hallway with three towels, the younger female mouse gasped. "My! Mrs. Judson!"

Said mouse looked at who had said her name, and she nearly dropped the few towels she'd had on her arm. "My God…" she whispered, something completely unlike her. She hardly ever used 'God.' She took a few steps towards the younger mouse, placing a hand on her cheek, staring into her green eyes. "Selene?"

"Yes…" Selene said, joy brimming through her body. She instantly wrapped her arms around the elder's shoulders. "Oh, Mrs. Judson!"

As the housekeeper embraced back, Basil remembered even more about their childhood together. Mrs. Judson had been a housekeeper for the Jordan family even back then. Selene would always come over with Apollo, and she had loved helping Mrs. Judson with the chores.

But the moment was shattered when Mrs. Judson pulled away from Selene and said, "Goodness, you're drenched!" She looked at the children, "Oh my! You're all drenched!!" She rushed back into the hallway, "I'll be just a moment!"

Selene knelt down beside Molly and Genevieve again, rubbing their arms with her own hands to keep them warm. "So this is where the great Basil of Baker Street lives," she said casually as she scanned the room. "You always did have a homey taste, Basil. I love it."

"I'd give you a tour, but you're preoccupied with drying up, I believe," Basil replied with a smile, "Thank you."

Selene nodded, and Mrs. Judson rushed back into the room with plenty of towels for everyone. The children all said thank you in unison, and Selene followed with her own word of thanks.

A few minutes later, Olivia had arrived and was introduced to everyone of the children. She was thrilled because Genevieve was her age, Nolan a year older, and Molly, Greg, and Gerry were a year younger. Olivia seemed to like Selene as well, smiling once Selene had greeted her in her most friendly way. Now all six children sat by the fire, chatting about their likes and dislikes. Selene sat comfortably on a chair, completely absorbed by its coziness. It was like she hadn't experienced such a thing in years.

Was she living in a sewer all this time? Basil remarked to himself.

Selene sighed as she watched the children gabble and giggle. "Such a lovely atmosphere, hm?" she asked him quietly.

Basil couldn't help but smile and nod. "Yes."

"Selene, dearie," Mrs. Judson came up to the white mouse, who looked up at her curiously.

"Yes, Mrs. Judson?"

"Come with me, love. I want to show you something," the elder took Selene's hand in her own, and led a confused Selene out the living room.

A just as confused Basil watched them curiously, wondering what Mrs. Judson could possibly want from his missed companion.

"This…" Mrs. Judson began as she shuffled through an old trunk at the edge of her room, Selene watching her curiously from her place on Mrs. Judson's bed. The housekeeper then pulled out a simple but all the same lovely outfit. A white shirt with puffy yet light sleeves, and a lavender dress to go over it, its own neckline lower than the shirt's.

Selene recognized it immediately.

"That was my mother's…" she whispered softly, eyes widening slowly as the kindly mouse stepped forward, holding it out to her as Selene stroked the fabric gently. She took it into her arms and pressed the fabric to her nose, taking a whiff of it. "It still smells like her…" Tears welled up inside her eyes, causing her to pull the dress away so as to avoid getting salty drops on it. "Oh, Mum…"

Mrs. Judson watched sadly as the younger mouse mourned. Fourteen years of being alone (since she hadn't heard any news of Apollo's wellbeing). She must miss them terribly, she thought, any young girl would miss their parents when they where so quickly and violently taken away from them. She sighed, "It was in a trunk."

Selene looked up, wiping away her tears and sniffling with her arm. "Hm?"

"It was an odd thing. It was the only belonging that didn't burn down. In it were four things: your mother's outfit, your father's sword, Apollo's slingshot, and this…" she reached into the trunk again, and pulled out a slightly worn Siberian husky plushie. "Remember, sweetie?"

Selene gasped happily, "Yuka!" She took the stuffed animal in her arm, snuggling it close to her. "Oh, I missed you!" She remembered the many nights she slept with the stuffed animal. She hadn't been able to take it out of the trunk the night of her family's 'demise.' She wouldn't admit this, but during those fourteen years, she would often wish she could still hold Yuka. The stuffed animal was her 'sweet-dream charm,' as she called it. She looked at Mrs. Judson with curious eyes. "Mrs. Judson, does Basil know about the trunk?"

Mrs. Judson shook her head. "Only I did." She patted the trunk, slowly rubbing her hand across the smooth wodden surface, "I've never figured out why it didn't even have a scorch…"

"Must be magic…" Selene muttered under her breath, not enough for Mrs. Judson to hear. Annoying family magic…

Mrs. Judson then pressed Rita's old gown to Selene, "Dearie, please, try it on."

A shocked Selene looked up, "Adela Judson, are you sure?" Inwardly, Selene was desperately hoping the elderly mouse had washed the garment at least a few times. She didn't want to smell like ash throughout the rest of the day...

Adela smiled, "You have the exact same build as Rita did. Try it, Selene…please?"

Selene looked at the garment, and for the first time in fourteen years imagined her mother smiling and laughing with it while finding ingredients for dinner in the kitchen. She ran her hand over its fabric again, this time clenching a bit of it in her hand. "I will." Mrs. Judson squealed in delight and started cornering the young mouse.

"Excellent!" What a beautiful girl she's become...perhaps, even more so than Rita.

The children were set next to one another; sound asleep beside the warm, crackling fire. Basil, this time with Dr. Dawson with him, watched them carefully.

"Where's your friend, Basil?" Dawson inquired. Basil hadn't really told him much of anything – just that 'an old friend' was coming over for a visit and that friend had left with Mrs. Judson for some odd reason. The younger mouse hadn't even specified the gender of his friend.

"She's right here, Doctor," Adela Bethany Judson called from the hallway she and Selene had disappeared to.

Basil's eyes widened.

Selene was in an elegant lavender and white outfit, a tight black belt around her west so as to keep the dress's figure. Her hair had been dried and was put down; Selene hardly enjoyed her hair down. She looked almost like a shy schoolgirl, with the way her eyes were cast down. After quietly following Adela inside the living room, her eyes timidly lifted up, and she smiled sweetly at the two gentlemen. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Dawson."

Dawson got up from his chair to shake hands with the pretty mouse, "Pleasure's all mine, Miss…?"

As Selene graciously accepted the doctor's hand, "Skyhaven, sir. My name is Selene Celesta Skyhaven." Her green eyes glowed happily, as if she hadn't said her full name in a long time. "And a friend of Basil's always a friend of mine."

The word Skyhaven ran a bell within the doctor's head. This girl was supposed to have died when Basil was only a child. How on earth…? "Likewise, miss," the doctor said finally as he, Selene, and Adela journeyed to the living room where Basil was. Selene took a seat next to Basil and Adela and Dawson were on the other side. "Now, Miss Sky -"

"Selene's fine, Dr. Dawson."

"Selene. Basil recently told me that you and your parents were killed of arson. Would you care to explain how you escaped?"

Selene sighed. She knew that she would have to explain herself eventually. "The killer had hired a thief guild. But the guild didn't busy themselves with killing innocent children, so they rescued me and Apollo. I kept a low profile from then on." She then reached inside her shirt and took out the amulet her mother had given her that night. "Mum and Daddy gave both of us these, except Apollo's is slightly different."

"I see," Dr. Dawson gaped, "How unusual for thieves to rescue children…"

"The two leaders were a couple and wanted to have children one day; they didn't want the least bit to do with hurting us."

Basil nodded, "It does make sense." He smiled and patted Selene on the shoulder, "I'm just glad you're back."

Selene smiled gently at her old friend. "Likewise, Basil, likewise."

Adela nudged Dawson with her elbow to his arm. He looked at her curiously, and she nodded her head at the two young mice before them. Dawson got the idea but he was uncertain about leaving the two alone. Adela shot him a glare and he gave in; they both wandered out of the living room, leaving the sleeping children with blankets to give them more warmth and Basil with Selene.

Basil took Selene's hand, and she looked up. He grinned and twitched his head to the staircase. Selene grinned back and he led her to his upper story.

"You've made a good living for yourself, Basil," Selene said as they walked down the upper hall, scanning pictures of times long gone. At one she stopped short, staring at it with an aching look in her eye.

Basil sharply turned around, keenly aware of Selene's absence. He'd just got her back; he wasn't going to let her go without a fight. His tense stance then softened as he saw what Selene was doing.

Her silhouette was barely lighted as she stood in the hallway, staring straight at the picture, one hand on the wall and the other on her chest, as if it would cease the heartbreak. The hand on the wall was lifted and she grazed the old photograph with her finger tips. "Yes, quite a good living. I only wish I could've had the same…" she whispered again. She cast her head down, eyes closed in a futile attempt to stop the tears flowing for the second time that night.

As tears rolled down her cheek, she felt a finger whisk it away softly. Selene's green eyes snapped open as she gasped quietly, not expecting such care put into one touch. She slowly turned her head to Basil, who wore the same pained expression as she did after looking at the picture.

The portrait was of both of the young mice's families. Selene's family was on the left and Basil's on the right. There was twenty-nine year-old Artemis Xavier Skyhaven, twenty-seven year-old Rita Camille Destiny-Skyhaven, nine year-old Apollo Tisorin Skyhaven, and the then seven year-old Selene Celesta Skyhaven flashing her widest, happiest smile.

Then there was Basil with his family. His father, forty year-old Barnaby Alton Jordan, his mother, thirty-seven year-old Guinevyr Kiersten Shellick-Jordan, his older brother and sister, the fifteen year-old twins Leighton Cedric and Evangelynn Taneka Jordan (now both were married and thirty-two years-old), his other older brother, eleven year-old Raphael Hubert Jordan (now twenty-eight and married), the nine year-old Basil Reginald Jordan, and little three year-old Miriam Guinevyr Jordan (now twenty and being courted). The Jordans flaunted a bit of their wealth, but they were definitely not very extravagant. They talked courtly, minded their manners a bit too precisely, but if one got to know them it was all just for show; they were a rather laid back family as well.

"How are they…?" Selene asked quietly, "Barnaby, Guinevyr, Leigh, Lynn…Ralph, Miri…" She chanted those words so happily and yet sadly, happy to feel the words roll on her tongue again.

"Mother and Father are alive and healthy, living in a nicely-furnished house not too far from Lynn's. Leigh and Lynn are married and have a child each. Leigh's a doctor and Lynn's a nurse and a month expecting with the second." Selene's eyes widened, staring at her friend as he continued to recite what she'd missed in the past fourteen years. "Ralph's a teacher and married; his wife's five months into her first pregnancy. Miri's become a writer and has published three fantasy best-sellers, and now she's being courted by a nobleman."

"Oh my…" Selene whispered, shifting her gaze from Basil to the picture once more. "You Jordans have all made a good living…" Her eyes looked down, and she continued down the hallway, Basil following suit and taking her arm again.

"What of yourself, Miss Skyhaven?" Basil said half-teasingly, trying to lighten the darkening mood he'd sensed around his friend. Selene didn't pay attention and still looked down and away, her arm slipping out of his grip.

"I'm able to keep myself going," she said simply. She clenched her fists, tightening her eyes angrily, As a petty thief who steals from anyone just to feed her own guild and herself. Selfish. Selfish and pathetic. "I still want to become an archaeologist, but I don't have the money." I could've done so much more…become a truly happy person. "So you're all very lucky, Basil." A truly happy person…with you, Basil…

She blushed deeply as she just looked back at what she'd thought. With Basil? Truly happy? What had made her think such a thing? Though whatever had was making her heart pound rapidly, and she feared that with Basil's keen senses he'd hear it.

"So you haven't the money," Basil murmured carefully, hooking Selene back into reality. Her eyes opened themselves slightly to look at him sadly, and she nodded. He smiled. "Selene, I could easily -"

"No."

"You didn't even know what I was going to -"

"No."

"Selene, just hear -"

"Basil Reginald Jordan!" Selene said in a loud whisper, gaining some of her personality back from the pit of sadness she'd just been in. "If you even think I'll let you loan me money, then -"

She silenced when Basil held her hand, not take her arm, this time. Her eyes looked up at Basil's dark brown ones…

And she felt like she could stare at them for eternity and a day. Why was she feeling like this all of a sudden? "I couldn't do it, Basil," Selene said gently, a sad smile tracing over her face. "I could never ask you to do it." She was just about to move onwards, but this time Basil let go of her hand and grabbed her arm. Jolting only slightly, she looked back at him curiously.

"Why won't you let me?" he asked seriously. "I have more than enough money; being a detective is no lukewarm career, I assure you."

"I have no doubts," Selene said, "But I just couldn't." Thinking that her following actions would help change the subject, she went into Basil's arms and wrapped her arms around him. "Could we just go to wherever you're going to lead me? Please?" Besides, a petty thief and a gentlemanly detective were never meant to help one another. Makes me wonder why I searched for his help in the first place…

Basil, seeing how much Selene disfavored discussing her life after the fire 'til before they'd reunited, nodded as a sign of his consent. "Alright," he finally said, and instead of taking her arm into his – the proper and most gentlemanly thing to do – he let his hand to hers, and led her further down the hall. "We're not much further." They turned a corner (Selene was shocked at how big his house actually was) and walked down another corridor, where they finally stopped in the second door to the left. Basil politely turned the knob and opened the door, leading Selene in first.

It reminds me of his old room… she thought, her eyes shifting in all directions to take in the slightly familiar setting. A wooden-framed bed, draped with navy blue sheets and a light gray comforter. A desk filled with papers, no doubt related to his detective work, by a French window covered with translucent gray curtains, overall revealing the now-dim view of a London night. Lastly there was a grand piano sitting in the other, otherwise unoccupied side of the room, its white keys shining through the dark atmosphere. Seeing it brought even more memories back to Selene as she passed through the room further. "Big brother…would've been happy to see you, you know, Basil," Selene murmured finally, needing to say at least something. She felt stupid for saying it, though: How random could a mouse get, really?

"Speaking of Apollo," Basil said from behind her, with Selene still staring around the room. "How is he? You haven't spoken of him once." Selene visibly tensed; she hadn't wanted him to ask that. It brought back too much pain…

Feeling the burden on her heart already, she staggered towards the desk as if she were seriously wounded, and grabbed onto the chair's top, almost shaking. Her head was hanging down, her loose hair hiding her angry and hurt face. Maybe, despite what she'd thought before, she hadn't really forgiven her brother at all. Then again, she was only humane. There were things the heart could never forget, therefore never truly forgive. Her trembling became even more noticeable as her anger heightened, and Basil immediately took that as a bad sign. He stepped towards her and tried to pat her shoulder with his hand, but she harshly pulled her body away, still not looking at anything but the floor. Slowly, she looked up with a calm but cold look on her face, still not looking at her old friend but at the window. "…He…he left me."

At first, Basil thought that he was just hearing things. He kept thinking that what he just witnessed wasn't true. That there must not have been icy venom lacing his normally gentle friend's voice, that there must not have been that almost hating look on her face, that there must not have been her anger giving sudden heat to the cool room. It all had to be a lie. Apollo never abandoned anyone. It didn't matter who it was, whether it was the most pompous noble or the most lowly of beggars. No one was left behind, not in Apollo's eyes. Or maybe the person he'd believed his best friend to be was all a lie. "…What?"

"Those thieves that rescued us hadn't told us exactly what they'd done right away," Selene began, still cold and angry, "Apollo thought they were gonna hurt us, or, even worse, kill us. So he was able to squirm out and run like a coward. He…" Her cheeks felt warm, and her eyes felt teary. She hadn't allowed herself to cry about the particular subject in fourteen years; she wasn't looking forward to starting now. "He…left me." Her other hand lifted up to cover her face, as if it could really stop the threatening waterworks. "Pollo left me, Basil." Her shoulders trembled for awhile, and Basil knew what was coming. But Selene didn't like to be embraced until she walked close enough to someone to say so. Basil had never been able to comfort her or hug her when they were children because she hadn't allowed it. That one time in the Marketplace only a few hours ago had been the first time he'd held her in his arms. Now would be the second, as she let out a sob and rushed towards him, both hands covering her watery face. Instantly, he wrapped his arms around her trembling body.

"Shh," he whispered. "Go ahead and cry." Fourteen years, she must have been alone. She hadn't mentioned her residency, but Basil knew. He wouldn't be a detective if he didn't know. His good friend had been all alone with no one to cry to, no one to seek comfort in. He almost felt hateful at Apollo, for leaving his supposedly 'cherished' sister out in the cold world with no one to look out for her besides herself. No, he didn't almost hate him. He hated him. His arms tightened around Selene slightly as the anger built inside of him. He'd protect her now, and that was a promise. Whoever wanted to do any wrong to Selene was as good as dead.

"I tried to forget," Selene finally said. "I did. He wrote me a few days ago, actually. When he did…I thought I'd forgiven him. But…ever since I haven't been able to stop thinking about it…and I realize I haven't completely forgiven him. I could never hate Pollo; he's still my brother and always will be. So, Basil…" hearing his name being directly spoken, Basil looked at her to see a sad smile about her teary face. "Please don't be mad at him either."

But Basil knew he couldn't. It was something that wouldn't be easily let go of.

It would have to stay that way until he could personally go up to his old best friend and give him a good string of curses and slaps.

"It's a memory better left forgotten…" Selene whispered wryly, a small smirk tugging against her smile, "but it can never truly be forgotten."

"Selene." Said white mouse looked up and asked what was what the young detective wanted. "Live with me." She was taken aback at how scandalous his suggestion sounded, but noted that he was being serious. "Please, stay with me, Mrs. Judson, and Dawson."

"Molly…" Selene murmured, shaking her head slowly. "Basil, I can't. Molly and the children need me."

Basil sighed. He almost accepted defeat after remembering how stubborn she was, but the drive to have her near him so that he could protect her was too strong. He clasped her shoulders within his hands once more. "Selene, for once, don't think of the effects your decisions have on others. For once, do what you want to do!" his voice was almost a shout, but not wanting to sound too harsh, he made sure not to raise his voice so high. He calmed his nerves with a sigh, and a sad smile came across his lips as he stared at Selene. "You haven't changed one bit, have you?" Selene had never thought of herself when they'd been younger; if it were to save another life, she'd freely give up her own.

Selene was, for once, silent. What do I want? she thought, staring at Basil. Options and consequences went through her mind, and silence ensued for about two minutes before her eyes lit up with her decision. "I have…somewhere to be."

Basil let out another sigh, this time of sure defeat. His face looked away, not wanting Selene to see the pain reflecting in his eyes. "I understand. You want to stay –"

"Here!"

The detective let himself gasp in amazement and delight. Selene had a bright, pure smile on her face. It was the replica of the smile she almost always wore in their youth. "That is, if you'll let me."

There had been dark clouds raining in his heart ever since the day he saw the Skyhaven household burn to ashes. Dark clouds that had only thickened as the mid-December week in which their death anniversary passed through time. Now, for the first time in those gloomy fourteen years, the young detective felt those clouds pass away and a bright new sun-filled time was in his heart. With that fact and because Selene smiles were known to be contagious, Basil let himself grin with pure relieved joy. "Of course." And then Selene embraced him again, laughing heartily in the midst of her joy.

That night, Selene spent the night in Basil's bed while Basil, being the respectable young man he was, slept on the living room couch. In the morning and soon after Mrs. Judson had given them a lovely cheese crumpet breakfast, Selene and the five children headed over to their town of Satchwell. Basil had personally never heard of the place, and had offered to come along to do some short sightseeing, but Selene was unusually blatant about not allowing him to do so. She said that it wouldn't take her long and she'd be back by that day's nightfall. It was fair weather out, but with Basil, ever-watchful, gave her his coat to keep her warm. She thanked them for their hospitality and left the door.

"It's the twenty-third, isn't it, Dawson?" asked Basil as he and his partner watched them go from their window.

"Why yes, Basil. Tomorrow's Christmas Eve. Why do you ask?"

"The eighteenth was her birthday…and a day before the fire happened…" Basil observed a bit somberly. "In fact, from what she told me, her brother wrote to her on the fourteenth anniversary of the day that happened. She's been celebrating Christmas alone for fourteen years." A wry smile plastered upon his lips and a hearty laugh filled the home, shocking both Dawson and Mrs. Judson and Olivia as they reentered the room. "Everyone! We're going Christmas shopping!" he cried, and ran around the house getting into proper outing clothes. After steadily recovering from bewilderment, the others did the same.

Mrs. Judson couldn't help but smile as they came out the door. Basil hadn't celebrated Christmas for eight years; since he'd moved out of his parents' home and gone to college, no tree, no ornament, no stocking had been placed, no gingerbread had been made, no eggnog had been served. She'd been glad enough when she first saw Selene reenter their lives the night before, but now, the elderly housekeeper was even more grateful for the girl's return. Basil was steadily becoming happier and happier by the minute.

Selene had very few belonging to begin with. She only brought her "shopping," outing, and everyday clothes, her ever-present bandana and amulet, and her toiletries. Otherwise, she claimed to possess nothing more. It was fairly easy to go to the guild's base and back, and she returned to Baker Street at her predicted time of arrival, nightfall. However, she was in a fair amount of surprise…

I know the part between Selene and Adela is weird, since it's in center-justification, but there's a glitch that prevents me from properly justifying it. So please, if it's not asking too much, mind the way it is right now!

Lots of love,

Gabby

Oh, and to those who might be wondering: I have NO idea who Molly and Greg's parents are. *shrugs*