It occurs to me as I post this that I should really stop posting chapters as soon as I finish them, but I just can't wait to share them with you guys. Although this does mean that if I ever get stuck you guys will just have to deal with it until I get unstuck, but I'm actually doing pretty well with it right now. And it's officially my longest fic. Anyway, definitely the last chapter for tonight, if I finish another one (which is likely, it's already written in my head), I'll save it for tomorrow. Well, enjoy. More violence in this one. I just can't get enough of people punching each other, apparently. And, Nikola might be a little OOC, but please remember he is very drunk right now. Anyway, they'll officially become The Five in the next chapter, so look forward to that. Also, Gregory makes an appearance. Enjoy.

Disclaimer

When James arrived at Nikola's apartment, the Serbian was clearly drunk. There was an empty bottle of wine on the floor next to him, and he was holding another, which was half-empty. He was sitting on the couch, staring at the fire, which was barely more than embers. James sat down next to him, remaining silent for a few minutes.

"What do you want?" Nikola finally hissed, breaking the silence.

"Kiri told Nigel and me about the fight, after she punched John in the nose." James chuckled faintly at the memory.

"Why would she do that?" Nikola sounded completely apathetic, though James knew that probably had something to do with the bottle-and-a-half of wine he'd gone through that night.

"Possibly because she blamed him for the fact that her two best friends had the biggest fight they've ever had," James suggested, cocking an eyebrow.

"We didn't have a fight. We had a minor disagreement," Nikola slurred, pointing his hand at James. He took a large gulp of wine before leaning back and staring at the ceiling.

"And what, pray tell, was this 'minor disagreement' about?"

"Helen wants to act like I don't still love her. But how can I do that? I can't just stop loving her. It doesn't work like that. It's as if she never really loved me." Nikola's voice faded and he drank some more wine. James reached out and took the wine, pressing a hand to Nikola's chest as the younger man tried to follow the drink.

"I think that's quite enough wine for one night. Now, tell me exactly what happened." James hated taking advantage of his friend like this, which he was definitely doing by interrogating him while he was drunk, but Nikola was so stubborn he would never tell James anything sober.

"I was expelled. And then Gregory decided my name was tainted, because of the rumors that I've had sex with women. And even though that's a lie. I never had sex with anyone. And he's used a rumor as the basis for telling me I'm not good enough for his daughter." Nikola reached down grumpily to pick up the empty wine bottle, staring into it with an intensity that suggested he was waiting for more wine to magically appear.

"What happened with Helen?"

"I couldn't face being at the lab. I tried, yesterday, but then I shattered that beaker and then I realized it was no use, I can't get anything done when I'm in the same room with that man. And so I decided not to go. But then Helen came here, sounding like I was avoiding her. And then she suggested that she still loved me, only to tell me I am a fool for still loving her. And she seemed to assume I was no longer her friend. And she called me a fool and then left, right after I had told her I will always love her!"

"Nikola, have you even stopped to consider how Helen feels about all this? Her best friend and closest companion has been expelled, her father is giving her to someone she doesn't love, and now her friend is refusing to participate in the only activity that will allow her to still see him every day. She's afraid, Nikola." James grabbed Nikola's shoulder, shaking him slightly. Nikola held James's gaze for several seconds, causing James to think he might actually be sobering up, before he threw the wine bottle at a wall, smashing the glass.

"What do you know about anything? Why would the great Helen Magnus be afraid? She's been attacked by a bloody griffin and barely batted an eyelash!" he shouted, turning away from his friend.

"She's afraid of losing you. She's afraid you're going to return to Serbia and she's never going to see you again. And as you so eloquently pointed out, Helen Magnus is not used to being afraid. So she lashed out. If you return to the lab sessions, and apologize to her, even if you aren't getting anything done, at least she'll know you're still here."

"I'm done with her! I'm done with trying to make her happy, and I'm done with seeing her when I can't have her!" As soon as Nikola was done speaking, James punched him.

"You pompous, arrogant son of a bitch! Grow up, Nikola. You didn't get what you want, so now you're going to throw a tantrum and run away from your problems!" He yelled. "You're a bloody coward! You know what? I don't even care if you come tomorrow! Our group needs people who are brave enough to stand up to their problems! Just stay here and rot, for all I care!" With that, James left, slamming the door on his way out. Nikola watched him go in silent shock, plopping down on the couch.

"Bože, šta sam uradio?" he mumbled to himself, staring at the fire again.

Kiri found Helen sitting next to the small pond in the center of the park, her knees drawn up to her chest and her chin on her knees. Kiri bounced over and dropped down next to her, taking her hand comfortingly.

"I believe I should probably tell you that I punched John," she remarked without preamble. Helen turned to her, raising an eyebrow.

"Why?" she questioned slowly. Kiri shrugged.

"I was a little upset, and he was there." She didn't tell Helen the truth. Helen didn't have to know what John had done. "James is talking to Nikola right now." Helen looked at her in surprise.

"About what?"

"The fight you two had. We don't want you two to be angry with each other." Kiri rested her head on Helen's shoulder as though to comfort herself.

"I'm not angry at Nikola, not really." Kiri cocked her head, and Helen chuckled. "Don't get me wrong, I think he's acting like a petulant five-year-old who's never heard the word 'no' before, but I'm not angry at him. I'm angry at the circumstances. I love him. And I had my hopes up that we could get married. I never expected John to ask Father for permission to court me. And I never expected Father to pick him over Nikola. When he told me, I-I just didn't know what to do." Helen wrapped an arm around Kiri and rested her head on Kiri's, allowing tears to fall.

"Why don't you tell him these things?"

"He wouldn't want to see me now anyway. I've messed up, Kiri. After what I said to him, I'll be surprised if he doesn't catch the first boat out of here." Kiri giggled, and Helen pulled back. "I hardly see what's so funny about all this."

"Helen, he loves you. He'll stay around forever, just on the small chance that you might someday be his." Kiri looked up at Helen sincerely, squeezing her hand.

"I feel as though I'm losing him. He was talking of returning to Smiljan, and I don't know if I could handle that. I-I don't really want to be married to John. I mean, John's great, a perfect gentleman. He's what any woman should dream of marrying. And I do love him, as a friend. But I love Nikola as so much more than that, and if I could I would marry him."

"Really Helen, you need to be saying these things to Nikola."

"I don't know if I could. Not after what I did. Kiri, I practically told him I would never love him!" Helen stood and walked a few steps away, wrapping her arms around herself. Kiri stood and leapt onto Helen's back, resting her chin on Helen's shoulder.

"Trust me. The longer you put this off, the more unlikely it'll be that he'll accept it. You need to go to him now, while it's still fresh. Otherwise, he'll think you don't really mean what you say."

"How do you know so much about this type of thing?"

"The philosophers in India give away great advice for free." Kiri dropped down and began to walk away.

"Where are you going?" Helen turned to watch Kiri curiously.

"To go make sure Nikola's still alive after James leaves. If it all went well, Nikola should be ready to return to the lab in a couple of days. If not, I'll knock him out and drag him there myself. Idiote čovek!" Kiri threw her arms up as she said the last word, shaking her head in exasperation.

"Good night, Kiri," Helen called. Kiri waved over her shoulder as she started to skip away.

Bože, šta sam uradio? - God, what have I done?

Idiote čovek - Idiot Man