House of Greetings

"Eddie, what are you talking about?" Fabian asked, his voice rather hard.

"I, uh..." Eddie stammered. "Sorry it's just..."

"Eddie, I know what I told you, and I know what Sarah told me," Nina said, standing up to face Eddie, "but you all are the closest thing to family I have."

"But your Gran," Eddie protested. Nina looked away.

"Nina's Gran died a few months back," Fabian explained. "She's been in London with a second cousin who's now her guardian."

"Oh," Eddie said softly. "I'm sorry. Are you sure it's safe, Nina?"

"I don't care if it isn't, things obviously intend to happen here, whether I'm here or not. How much worse can it get?"

"I wish you didn't say that," Eddie muttered looking at the floor.

"Eddie, what is it?" Fabian asked, sensing there was more to Eddie's concern over Nina's return then he was letting on.

"I had a vision," Eddie admitted. Nina's eyes widened and Fabian stood beside her.

"About what?" he asked.

"I'm not sure. These men were talking about the Chosen One and the Osirian, something about power, it was short and I didn't catch much of what was said."

"Is that all? Can you remember anything else?" Fabian questioned.

"Well..." Eddie looked at Nina, as if he was afraid to bring it up in front of her. "I heard something about a sacrifice. That's it though."

"A sacrifice?" Nina asked worriedly. "Maybe Eddie's right, Fabian, maybe I shouldn't have come back."

"No!" Fabian said, taking Nina's hand. "No, we don't know that, Eddie could have had this vision even if you weren't here."

"But Fabian, the Chosen one," Nina protested. She was afraid, so afraid. After all that had happened, all those she'd come near to losing, she didn't think her luck could last much longer.

"It's alright," Fabian assured her. "If Eddie's right, and there are people plotting something, we'll stop them, we always have. For now, let's just pretend everything's normal, alright? No one else has to know about this. Right Eddie?"

Fabian looked at Eddie, an unspoken pleading in his eyes.

"Yeah, it'll be fine," Eddie said. "Come on, Patricia is probably growing tired of waiting, and everyone will be thrilled to see you. Have you met Willow yet?"

Fabian and Nina walked out together, and Eddie heaved a sigh as he followed. Why did he get the feeling he'd just lied?

When Fabian walked into the kitchen, Patricia and joy leapt up and made for him at once. "Fabian! What have you been hiding from?" Patricia teased.

"Nothing, I just lost track of time," Fabian replied happily. "Hey Joy."

"Hey Fabes," Joy said. "Really, what have you been doing that you forgot all about your friends?" Fabian smiled broadly, he couldn't stop smiling in fact. Patricia proceeded to accuse Fabian of getting lost in a science book again, Joy was to busy studying his face, trying to guess what it was that had cheered him up so much. She hadn't seen him this happy since... she glanced over his shoulder.

"Nina!" she cried. Patricia promptly quite talking, and pushed past Fabian to get to Nina. Fabian was startled, but not to surprised. Joy followed her, and the two hugged Nina.

"What are you doing here? I thought you weren't coming back!" Patricia asked.

"I couldn't stand it, I had too," Nina said, "and boy am I glad I did!"

" We're glad you did too," Joy said. "Fabian was absolutely desolated without you here. at first he though sweetie and Victor had captured you and was keeping you locked up somewhere. He accused Eddie of helping them."

"Now, hold on, I wasn't..." he trailed off when he noticed the raised eyebrows. All this time Willow had slipped a bit closer until she was in the group surrounding Nina.

"Hi," she said, grabbing Nina's hand and shaking it happily. "So you're Nina, oh I've heard so much about you, I'm Willow." Nina smiled and said hello to willow, glancing at Fabian. KT hung back from the group, rather conflicted about whether she'd be welcome. She needn't have worried, for as soon as Nina could tear herself away from the chattering Willow, she made her way over.

"Hi, are you KT?" she asked. KT smiled a bit shyly.

"Um, yeah, and you're Nina Martin? It's nice to finally meet you."

"Same," Nina said. At that moment Trudy bustled into the kitchen a huge basket in hand.

"Alright all of you, I'd like my cooking space back please, unless you'd rather not have any lunch. Where have Alfie and Jerome got to? They're in charge of setting and clearing today, make sure they know that."

"Yes Trudy," the students chorused, and they headed off.

"Sibuna meeting in the attic tonight?" Nina whispered to Fabian.

"It will be a Sibuna meeting now that you're here," he whispered back.

"Come on Nina, you and I share a room now," willow said, grabbing her hand, and preparing to lead her up the stairs. At that moment the front door swung open and Victor walked in, his face as hard and unfriendly as ever.

"What are you all doing here? This is a hallway not a lounge area!" he cried.

"We're just going, Victor," Nina said. Victor looked at her through slitted eyes.

"Sooo, you're back again? I hope they'll be no trouble this term, Ms Martin. for your sake."

"I hope not either, Victor," Nina returned, and then proceeded to follow the unnaturally quiet Willow upstairs. Fabian watched her go, with smile. he felt a presence at his shoulder, and turned around slowly.

"What are you still doing here, Mr. Rutter?" Victor asked.

"Nothing, Victor, I was just-"

"Get out!"

Fabian hurried down the hall to his room.

TBC