Disclaimer: I don't own Bloodlines. I only own my own characters.

Author's Note: This chapter will be entirely in Billy's POV so I hope you enjoy! And please remember to review! :D

Chapter 3: Home Sweet Home

Billy's POV

As we were all still sitting there, drinking our Iron-Bru, which is really nice by the way, the front door opened.

"It's okay," Nicolaclair said calmly. "It's just my dad."

"Hi, Honey," A man's deep voice called. "I got more juice!"

"That's good," Nicolaclair replied, her Scottish accent made me melt like always. It was like silk, gently wrapping around me and making me feel like nothing could go wrong again. "We've got visitors!"

"Who are they?" Her dad asked as he entered the room.

"Um, just some friends of mine. They'll be staying with me for a while."

"Oh," he responded. "Nice to meet you all."

I studied her adopted dad carefully. He was around 45 years old and about 5 feet 8. He was quite round and he had greying hair. Dark brown eyes twinkled cheerfully behind his small glasses.

"I'm John." He introduced himself.

"I'm Eddie," Eddie said, "And these are Billy and Neil."

We all shook hands and then sat down to a dinner of Chinese food.

A few hours later, Neil, Eddie, Nicolaclair and I drove back to Nicolaclair's house in the black Masda that the queen had arranged for us to pick up when we got here.

"So, do we get a bedroom each?" Eddie asked. Nicolaclair laughed.

"Nah, you'll all be sharing my nephew's room."

"Ok," Eddie said and then asked whether or not someone should patrol the house at night. We decided that someone usually would, but since it was only the first night, we could work that out in the morning.

When we got to the house, Nicolaclair's sister was expecting us. Nicolaclair had texted her earlier and told her that we would be coming. I think she probably had to use a little bit of compulsion to persuade her, but it had worked.

When I saw the room we would be staying in, I almost groaned. Two sets of bunk beds were at each side of the room and there was only one large cupboard.

"We can all share the cupboard," Eddie said. "It won't be too bad."

"I know," I told him. "And I'm so happy to see Nicolaclair again. I missed her a lot."

"Yeah, you guys definitely seem pretty close," Eddie noted. "Do you know each other well, then?"

"Pretty well," I answered. "We spent the majority of a week together in France a few months ago. I was going to ask her for her phone number, but I never got up enough courage to do it."

"Well, at least now you guys can talk face-to-face as much as you want." Eddie said. Then, the room door banged open and a boy of about 12 years old came in.

The boy had wiry black hair, mean blue eyes and a thin build. He wore jeans and a black t-shirt and he was carrying a half empty can of coke.

"Are yous Nicolaclair's pals?" He asked suspiciously.

"Yes," I responded politely. "Why?"

"Just wondering. What are your names?"

"I'm Billy," I said. "And this is Neil and this is Eddie." I nodded to each of them as I spoke.

"I'm Liam, Nicolaclair's nephew."

"Nice to meet you, Liam." I said. The boy made a disgusted face at us.

"I hope you're not like the rest of her stupid friends," Liam said. "I hate them and I hate her too, most of the time."

"Why do you hate her?" Neil asked. Neil rarely spoke so I was surprised to hear his voice. I had a feeling that his no-speaking thing was normal for him and that he was more of a strong and silent type.

"Because," Liam said. "She's smart and nice and everyone likes her. I'm not so smart and everyone treats me like a joke."

I looked at Liam again. His face was twisted with bitterness and anger. "That's not Nicolaclair's fault," I said. "And I'm sure people don't mean to treat you like a joke."

"Yes they do," Liam insisted. "And I don't really care if it isn't her fault. I still hate her. I wish she'd just go away and leave me and the rest of my family alone. She doesn't belong with us, anyway."

"That's not nice," Eddie told him firmly. "In fact, I'm sure that you would really hurt her feelings if you told her that."

"So?" He asked. "Maybe she'd go away if I said it."

"Said what?" Nicolaclair asked, poking her head round the door.

"Nothing." I said quickly. "Liam was just talking about his teacher."

The lie came easily to my lips. I didn't like lying but I didn't want Nicolaclair to be in pain either. I also didn't want her asking too many questions because that would definitely get her upset when she found out what Liam had said about her.

"I can always tell when you're lying, Billy." Nicolaclair told me matter-of-factly. "You turn all pink and won't make eye contact with me."

"I said that I didn't want you here." Liam said before anyone could stop him. "I said that I hate you and I wish-"

"Shut up!" I cut him off angrily. "Don't be such a pig to her!"

"It's OK, Billy," Nicolaclair said quietly. "I know where I'm not wanted."

Without another word, she stormed out of the room, slamming the door loudly behind her.

I glared at Liam furiously. How could he do that? Nicolaclair was practically part of his family! How could anyone say something like that, and then not even care that it had hurt someone?

"You should go after her." Eddie told Liam quietly. "It's your fault she's so upset."

"Naw!" Liam said. "I told her the truth. If she doesn't like it, she can lump it."

"You're a little piece of work, you know that?" Eddie asked, then he turned his back on Liam and looked at Neil and me. "Someone should go talk to her." He said worriedly. "She looked really upset."

"I'll go." I said. I didn't know if I could make her feel any better, but I had to at least try.

I walked out of the room and knocked on the door of the one next door.

"GO AWAY!" Nicolaclair screamed angrily. "I DON'T WANT TO TALK TO YOU, LIAM SO LEAVE ME ALONE!"

I winced. I'd never heard her that mad before, not even when all her friends started singing "Nicolaclair and Billy, sitting in a tree! G!" when we sat next to each other on a bus on our way to a zoo. Back then, she'd been mad but I think she was mostly embarrassed.

"It's not Liam," I called through the door. "It's just me."

There was a long pause. I was beginning to think she was ignoring me, but then she answered.

"Come in." She told me and I cautiously opened the door.

Her room was small but really nice. Its walls were lilac as were her carpet and bed covers. She had a small TV and a desk and chair were sitting in the corner. She was sitting in the desk chair, writing in a small glittery purple notebook and wearing a sad look on her face.

"Are you OK?" I asked her anxiously. "I know you must be upset."

"I'm more angry than upset," She responded. "But I well ... I thought these people at least wanted me."

"They do want you," I assured her gently. "Liam is just an immature idiot who doesn't know what he's saying."

Nicolaclair sniffed. She got up from her chair and came to sit on the bed beside me.

"You know what sucks?" She asked me quietly.

"What?" I responded.

"The fact that I can't talk to anyone about who I really am. My mum was the only one who knew and she died! And now I have no one!" She couldn't hold in her tears after that. She started to cry quietly so I put my arm around her. "You have me." I whispered and she hugged me back fiercely, and soon she drifted to sleep right there in my arms. I pulled away from her gently and wrapped her covers around her to keep her warm. I kissed her softly on the cheek and went back to my own room.

"Is she all right?" Eddie asked. I nodded slowly.

"I think so. She's sleeping now."

I glared at Liam's motionless figure on one of the bottom bunks. While I'd been comforting Nicolaclair, he'd gone to bed and was now sound asleep.

"We should probably get some sleep," Neil suggested. "We have school in the morning."

Eddie and I agreed and we all went to bed.

Author's Note: So what did you think? Too fluffy? Not too fluffy? Let me know in a review. hunterofartemis126