A/N: and so ends my first week of college. I should be doing home work. Shhhhh don't tell my parents. ;) so I'm sort of running out of ides so head canons would be greatly appreciated if feel like sharing. Hope yall enjoy this.

Septimus left the tower for the first time in a week and set off towards the palace with trepidation. He'd met his Mum once before for a handful of hours, and she had stuck to his side like glue. She messed with his hair, straightened his shirt collar, and seemed to have hand on him the whole evening as if she were afraid he would disappear. He was grateful that looks couldn't kill because Marcia would have died the day they came to the Tower.

Sarah Heap seemed nice enough, but he'd never had a mum before. What should he call her? The thought came to his mind as he arrived at the palace felt too familiar, Mother was stuffy and he couldn't see anyone calling Sarah Heap that.

Septimus walked through the front door and stared at the foreboding dimness of the long walk. Three people in a building so big, no wonder the place felt deserted.

He found Sarah in a small sitting room dusting and polishing, with a picture of the supreme custodian acting as the tray for a pile of rubbish.

"Ummm...Mum?" Septimus said hesitantly. Sarah spun around and smiled warmly at the boy in green standing in the door way.

"Septimus!" she rushed over to him a slip stream of dust following her like a cloak.

"Marcia gave me the day off and said I should get to know the family." His voice was low almost whisper.

"Oh did she now? That might be the first time she's thought of someone else's feelings," Sarah said scoffing. Septimus bit his tongue, he had come to respect Marcia and didn't like anyone bad mouthing her.

"I know you'd probably rather be doing other things, but if you could give me a hand I would be so appreciative." Sarah looked around the room at all the cob webs and dust.

"I'd be happy to help," Septimus said smiling.

They spent the better part of four hours cleaning the room. No one had used it in a long time as the door had nails stuck in it. The curtains were eaten through and came off the pole when Septimus tried to pull them open. The books papers were stuck together or hair thin from bugs munching their way through the shelves.

They talked slowly at first but as the dY progressed they became more comfortable and the conversation flowed more easily. Sarah told Septimus stories of their home in the Ramblings and how they had lit a candle for him on his birthday every year.

Septimus told her of all the things they'd done out on the marshes, and of the few fun things they'd done in the young army like snowed in days.

Jenna came in for a short while in between her princess lessons and helped out a bit. The door closed on them at one point and it took all three of them to open it again. Sarah put a surprisingly heavy leather bound block inside a falling apart stuffed bunny and used it to prop the door open.

Silas came home from a day of Ordinary duties helping people with small problems. He and Septimus had a similar love for board games and played a few matches of counter feet. Nico was in Jannit Martin's boat yard and tended to spend his nights there.

Around ten Septimus decided it was time to go back to the tower. Sarah was of a mind to have him stay over night, but Marcia had not said anything about that and Septimus had had his fill of socialization. With two hugs and a kiss on the head from his mum he was off back to what he supposed was home.

Marcia was on the sofa when he arrived and smiled when he came in.

"I'm sorry it's so late, Marcia. I lost track of time and... I..." Septimus wasn't sure what to say. Marcia was normally reasonable but when it came to his lessons she was not to be messed with.

"They're your family, Septimus, you should get to know them," Marcia said.

Septimus yawned, and Marcia laughed, "go to bed you've a busy day tomorrow."

Septimus raised and eye brow, "What are we doing?"

She smiled deviously, "you'll have to wait and see."

"That's evil."

"How so? You always have to wait for time to pass. I'm not making it go any slower or faster." Marcia said feigning innocence.

Septimus tried to glare, but couldn't hide his excitement.

"G'night Marcia," Septimus said.

"Good night Septimus," Marcia said smiling.

A/N: Hope you liked it guys, feedback I'd love. Hope to see y'all soon. :)