It was as if the whole of the household (except for Horace and Enoch) was milling around the first landing when they got there, but Bronwyn was very firm in the fact that too many was not allowed in at the same time, much to the younger one's dismay. Fiona was helping Bronwyn to coax the rest of them to sleep, but Emma and Jacob managed to slip in as the younger ones were distracted, a huge relief settling upon them when they saw their beloved mentor and guardian seated upright on her bed, Millard seated next to her (or so they assume, since there was a floating checkered shirt hovering over a chair.
"Millard?"
"I should assume so, Mister Portman, unless we got another Peculiar child during the time I was ill." Miss Peregrine's dry tone was a balm to hear for all of them. Jacob grinned, and gave an abashed smile. "No, Miss Peregrine. It was just that… we had a very interesting trip."
"One that I expect to hear all about once I'm back up tomorrow. Yes, tomorrow Miss Bloom. I am not that ill, and the medication you have all fetched for me will do wonders. Now, where is Miss De Vere? I believe I have her to thank as well."
"Oh that.. Well, see…"
Before they knew it, the story had come tumbling out from all of them. From how they had used Imogen's powers to travel through time back to that time (Miss Peregrine had been horrified, and would've probably chastised them there and then had they not just pushed on with their story), to their various encounters with wights and hollows, how Jacob had some issues recognizing his powers again. Miss Peregrine had been amused at the ingenious usage of Imogen's peculiarity to traverse the waters to get to the island, horrified that they had capsized and almost drowned.
But it was when they finally revealed to her that Imogen had been shot and was no still sleeping from Enoch's medication, that she had her last straw. Even Bronwyn could do nothing, as the stern headmistress insisted on going up to peek in on the girl. So it was then, that Emma, Jacob, Millard and Bronwyn each played their part in assisting the still rather weak ymbryne up two flights of stairs, to enter the rooftop room.
And as if he was attracted to her like a magnet, Millard flitted straight to Imogen's side the moment they entered, his worry emanating even though he wasn't even visible. Pausing at the sight of the floating shirt making a beeline for Imogen's bedside. Frowning, the ymbryne casted a confused look at Emma, who just shrugged, and squeezed Miss Peregrine's arm. "Look what happens when Millard touches her."
But even the warning could not have prepared Miss Peregrine for the shimmer of color under what previously was an invisible body. For someone who had seen Millard Nullings disappear from her very eyes, and stay invisible for a few decades, she couldn't help the gasp of surprise that escaped her when she recognized the dirty blond hair, sharp cheekbones and jaws, brown eyes… the Millard she had brought back almost eighty years ago, except a couple of years older.
"Millard?"
The sound and question by Miss Peregrine appeared to have disturbed Imogen though, for the dark haired girl stirred then, all questions flying out the window when a flutter of her lashes brought her eyes slowly into focus, only for her to wince. That immediately had Millard hushing her, palms lying quickly on her shoulders to still her movement. "Settle down, love. Don't move, Enoch just patched you up. You'll be in bed for a few days yet."
"Miss De Vere, do you feel okay?"
"Pained. But otherwise fine."
"Pain is common, considering you just got shot. But Mister O'Connor is actually a very good surgeon. He has been studying the subject since we got back to the normal time. He's had eighty years of practice after all."
With Miss Peregrine's faith in Enoch's abilities, a collective sigh of relief escaped them all, before their mentor finally picked up the reins again. "What exactly happen, Mister Nullings? Do you care to tell me how I've now managed to realize you need new pants due to the length now?"
Looking down, Millard almost laughed when he realized his pants were no longer long enough for him, something easily overlooked when he was invisible. A sheepish grin came across Millard's face, but it was Imogen's weak voice that cut through the silence. "It was me, Miss Peregrine. Is it not good… that we can see him again?"
"No, Miss De Vere. It isn't not good persay, but is this permanent? I have yet to see a peculiar's ability get erased."
"Nope, it isn't. Once I let go of her hand, I'll disappear." Millard demonstrated, before continuing. "She drew a sketch of me based on what she felt, and then sketched. She had just traced the drawing for fun with her fingers, but when it shimmered and she held on to me… it just somehow happened?" In all honesty, even Millard and Imogen wasn't sure how they could explain it, so he just tried as best as he could, for he still didn't get the logic behind it.
Looking to Miss Peregrine for guidance however, the younger ones blinked when she merely smiled. "Tis very normal, actually. Peculiarities evolve with time. Like how Mister Portman took some time before he could see the jar of souls in the Library?" Their nod prompted her to speak further, addressing them all this time.
"If it had been any other regular circumstances, Jacob would've had to be trained to be a Librarian, and it would've taken him months to be able to see, and then possibly a few more weeks before he could hold a jar. But our circumstances perhaps prompted him to pick up the skill in a very short period of time, due to the emergency of the situation then. This is simply a manifestation of what Miss De Vere could probably do. I suspect her peculiarity is much like Mister Portman's, except while Mister Portman is the only one who can see, Miss De Vere makes it so we can all see stuff others cannot."
"So if she were to touch a jar of soul, we can see it?" Emma asked.
Miss Peregrine nodded. "She can touch it, but she still cannot pick it up. That job lies solely with Mister Portman. I suspect Miss De Vere would've been a form of Librarian as well, much like Mister Portman actually."
"So we could be like… cousins across time loops?" Imogen teased weakly, her laughing dissolving into a cough halfway through, which managed to remind them all that she still had an unhealed bullet wound.
Hearing that, Bronwyn was quick to usher them all out, before Miss Peregrine asked again, with more color back in her face this time. "Where is Mister Somnusson and Mister O'Connor?"
"Oh, them." Emma echoed, exchanging a look with Jacob and Millard, and then tentatively trying to tell the story of the oddity surrounding the two boys throughout their journey. "And then Horace said something about Enoch being scared and they just… went up."
A thoughtful look flitted across her face. "Head back to your rooms to rest, you must be tired. Miss Bruntley can accompany me up. Bronwyn, would you please bring me to Horace's room?"
Ascending the stairs, Bronwyn had to pause a few times for the elder ymbryne to catch her breathe. When they finally arrived at the second landing though, Miss Peregrine surprised Bronwyn by telling her to wait outside, before she stepped in. The dimly lit room greeted her, but a pair of eyes immediately met hers when she tried to find the two boys she searched for, only to find them curled up on a single bed, with Enoch holding a sleeping Horace against his chest.
"Mind telling me what happened, Enoch?"
"I love him."
"Like a brother?"
He shook his head, careful not to jolt the slumbering partner of his. "More." he paused, and Miss Peregrine allowed the silence to fall, letting him speak when he was comfortable. "I know tisn't proper, Miss Peregrine, but Horace… is kind. He understands. He can see, and he doesn't judge me like how Emma and the rest does."
"I'm sure Miss Bloom and the other's don't mean it-"
"I know they don't, Miss Peregrine, and I don't fault them for it. But it is painful to have to avoid people because of what they think of you. But Horace doesn't. He knows I care, he makes me want to be a better person because of what he thinks of me. I want to be that person he has placed on his own pedestal. My own… my own family ostracized me once they found out what I was. I never believed that I could ever do anything with my powers but he…. He did."
"He was the one who got me the first few medical books I ever read. He made me see that it was because of my peculiarity that I could probably get answers no one else ever could, help solve mysteries that would otherwise remained unresolved. He… I tried to deny it, but when we met the healer on the mountains he said…"
"He said that denial won't make what we feel go away. I know I love him, Miss Peregrine. I just never had the courage to do anything about it until he took the first move." Horace's sleepy voice spoke up, apparently woken up by the noise. Enoch shifted as his partner sat up, but the two never lost contact, still connected by touching kneecaps.
"I hope you get it, Miss Peregrine. Enoch makes me courageous when I wasn't, and I in turn know he can do so much better than what he thinks of himself. We-"
Miss Peregrine stopped their tirade by holding a hand up, but the two boys were mollified by the fact that they had a smile on her face. "I understand, boys. Please, do not think I'm about to prosecute you for this. Love is love, regardless of who or what it is with. Do understand however, that I will scrutinize you two as closely as I do to Miss Bloom and Mister Portman, until you are of legal age. You two are also to sleep in separate rooms now. Enoch, you will change bedrooms with Millard and room with Hugh now."
More relieved that their guardian had not reacted in horror, the boys merely nodded (even if they'd get frustrated by the change in rooms in future days), and were left to savor their last night alone in the room they shared together, as Miss Peregrine stood up. "I must also caution you that not all around you will accept what you have. Be cautious on who you tell, and who you associate with. I may not always be around to protect you."
With that, she left the room and allowed Bronwyn to help her back, realizing that it will take a few more days before she recovered her original strength. "Has everyone went to bed, Bronwyn?" she asked, realizing by now how fully she relied on the simple minded peculiar to help her in the day-to-day going ons of the house. The girl nodded, before speaking. "Everyone except Millard, Miss Peregrine. He said he'll go back to his room after he's sure Imogen is fine."
"See that he does so, Miss Bruntley. They are young yet."
"He is twenty though."
"And this is the first girl he's been with. Allow them some time, but after that get him back. They both need their rest afterall."
"Feeling better?" Millard tenderly brushed Imogen's forehead, relieved to find the color coming back to her features. He had been so afraid for her, that at that split moment he realized he would do anything to keep her with him. In a brief period, Imogen had managed to crawl her way under his skin and into his heart, a part of him that he doubted he'd ever learn to survive without.
Her wane but sweet smile made a smile curve his lips too,a sight Imogen drank in with delight. She never imagined she'd be able to see his face, but she had been contented with that, just happy that he was around. The sight of him now had her heart beating a mile a minute however, something she wasn't sure was safe for her, considering the dressing that bound her wound at her mid-section.
"Sleepy, but better." Was her weak reply. He smiled, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead. "How's everyone? Is Miss Peregrine okay?"
"She's fine. She went to take a look at Horace and Enoch I think. Emma and Jacob are back in bed, and the younger ones are knocked out, although I suspect they'll be all over us tomorrow. So you better get your rest so you can deal with them."
A knock sounded on the door, and Bronwyn's voice floated in. "Millard, Miss Peregrine wants you to get to bed. I'll take care of Imogen for the night."
Disappointment pricked at Millard's heart, for he was loathe to be apart from her, but they should've known better that Miss Peregrine wouldn't allow them alone for any long period of time at night. After eighty years, they know how uptight their guardian could be regarding their propriety at times.
"You would think she'd let up. I'm twenty now, following my regular age." Millard grumbled, getting a small and soft chuckle from Imogen. Burying her fingers in his dirty blond locks, she tugged at it, grinning at her partner. "Relax. We'll see each other tomorrow."
"And every other day after that."
"Have you ever thought of leaving here?"
"Plenty. I've always wanted to be a historian, a lecturer. A teacher."
"You'd make a spectacular one, Professor Nullings." she teased, and he laughed, lacing his fingers with the ones in his hair, squeezing her hands. "And you?"
"I want to draw cities, lands, towns, people… everything."
"We'll do it all together, one day."
"Millard!"
"Oh for Bird's sake, I'm coming!" he retorted with a huff in his breathe, and grinned when he heard Imogen's amused laugh, and her push on his shoulder. "Go already. Don't make Bronwyn wait forever."
"I'll see you tomorrow, love."