Author's Note: Alright, you guys get a treat. Two chapters in two days! This will not be a regular thing, I'll put chapters up when I write them. Please be patient with me even when chapters are late in coming. Please reveiw! No nasty comments if you can help it though.

House of Returns

Fabian walked into Anubis House, setting his bags on the floor inside. He looked about the entry way. The chandelier from his first adventure with Nina hung above him, and there was Victor's office, the stairwell where the ankh pieces had been hidden, all just as he remembered it. Trudy came in from the kitchen, grinning broadly. "Ah! My lovely! I'm surprised to see you here before everyone else."

Trudy hugged Fabian and he smiled as he hugged her back.

"Hello Trudy, yeah, I left early. No else is here yet then?" Fabian asked.

"Not exactly," Trudy answered, grinning rather mysteriously.

"Trudy?" Fabian asked. "What is it?"

"You just put your bags in your room, and then come to the kitchen. You'll get first pick of the buffet."

"Right," Fabian said, and he picked up his bags. Trudy smiled again, as Fabian headed for his room.

Fabian juggled his bags around to get hold of the door knob. At last succeeding, after nearly dropping his load of course, the door swung open and he stumbled in. The minute he stepped inside, the bags dropped unbidden to the floor. Fabian stared, open mouthed. Nina stood up from where she'd been sitting on his bed, and smiled shyly at him. He smiled back at her, shaking his head.

"I don't believe it," he said. Nina looked down and shrugged.

"I guess we can't get rid of each other as easily as I thought," she said. Fabian just stared at her, the way her golden honey colored hair fell over her shoulders, the way her blue eyes shimmered. She looked like a dream. Nina looked back up at him, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. At last they could no longer bear it. Fabian opened his arms and hugged her lovingly, holding her close. She laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.

"Is this a dream?" Fabian asked.

"I don't think so," Nina replied. "I'm pretty sure if it was I wouldn't remember the trip here."

Eddie dragged his suitcase up the walk, smiling at the house. He was glad to be back. He and Patricia were good again, they had defeated a great evil, saved their friends, and the world to boot. Now he was looking forward to a good normal term. He paused on the porch, and took a deep breath. Then he grinned as he reached for the doorknob. As his hand closed around it, he felt his mind pulled to another place, another time.

"No," he muttered. "Not again." It was dark, so dark. He could hear muffled voices. Something about the Chosen One, and the Osirian; something about a sacrifice, and power. Then it was past, and Eddie found himself once again standing in front of Anubis House. He shook himself. "Just forget it Eddie," he told himself. "Forget it. Nina is safely in America. There's no threat this time." He went inside.

The hall way was crowded with the other students. Jerome was chasing after Alfie who was in the process of stuffing his face with Trudy's blueberry muffins, Joy, Patricia, and KT were all laughing over some private joke in the living room, and Willow was staring into the Crocodile's mouth for some odd reason that Eddie had no interest in finding out. He did not get a choice however, for as soon as he walked in, Willow looked up and immediately cried. "It's a Crocodile! It's so hard to tell between it and an Alligator, but I figured it out!"

"Well, good for you Willow," Eddie said, immediately turning to the others. "Hey! Miss me?"

"Only as far as I could throw you," Patricia answered, standing up. "Which I should add is farther then you could me."

"You want to test that, Yacker?" Eddie asked. They grinned at each other and hugged.

"I missed you Eddie," Patricia said. "You could've called once in a while."

"Sorry, I don't have international coverage," Eddie replied. "Hey, KT, how's your aunt?"

"Fine Eddie, thanks," KT answered. "So go on any adventures without us over break?"

"Only if you count making it pass level 9 in zombie slayers 3."

"Zombie slayers 3?!" Alfie cried, and he raced over to the group. "You're kidding right? I haven't gotten passed level 5, let alone 9!" The girls rolled their eyes at the two boys.

Eddie laughed, and grabbed Alfie's shoulder. "Good to see you too, buddy," he said. He looked around the living room, and into the kitchen.

"Where's Fabian?" he asked. The other students exchanged glances and shrugged.

"Don't know, we haven't seen him," Patricia said.

"Oh, are you lot wondering where Fabian is?" Trudy asked. "He's in his room. He got here before all of you."

"Why hasn't he come out yet then?" Eddie asked. Trudy shrugged.

"Oh, he must have just gotten distracted," she said with a smile. All the students looked at each other, puzzled.

"I'll go get him," Eddie volunteered, and he headed for their room. When Eddie walked in he immediately began, "Fabian, come on man what are you..." He trailed off when he saw who Fabian was with. "You," he said, his eyes becoming wide. "You shouldn't be here."

TBC