I started creating this AU of season 3 just in my head a few months ago but it became so real to me that I had to write it. This fic takes place during this AU's version of House of Sarcophagi. The only differences that happen earlier in season 3 that you should know before reading is that Nina's absence is handled differently, Joy doesn't leave Sibuna, and Patricia and Eddie get back together a lot sooner, like probably around House of Unity.
"Mr Sweet, the truth is that I…" Fabian trailed off not truly wanting to share with the Headmaster. "I still miss Nina." There it was, it was out there. He hoped this would at least be enough to keep Mr Sweet away from his office long enough for Sibuna to find out why Miss Denby was trying to get into the office.
"Ah," Mr Sweet said, understanding the boy's feelings at once. "Affairs of the heart they can be torturous to recover from." An awkward silence fell upon the two as Mr Sweet considered his next words. "I suspect that won't be a problem anymore Fabian."
"What do you mean by that?" Fabian asked, his mind racing. "Is Nina coming back?"
"Well," Mr Sweet thought. After briefly expelling Fabian, Patricia, Alfie, Joy, KT, and his own son he felt that he needed to make it up to his students by making a good announcement. "Let's return to your class and I will explain," A grin broke out across Fabian's face. Nina had said she wanted to return, but Fabian had no idea when that would be or if it would ever really happen. But now he could at least hope for a minute that his best friend and girlfriend was coming back to Anubis.
The two quickly made their way through the school, stopping when they found Patricia standing over Miss Denby as the teacher sorted through the folders in the hallway.
"Miss Denby, what's going on?"
"Mr Sweet," Miss Denby laughed. "Patricia just ran straight into me." Mr Sweet couldn't help it and rolled his eyes at this. He was very tired of the student's disrespect indeed. "Dropping my assignments for marking. I'm sure it wasn't deliberate, she just wasn't watching her step." Patricia and Mr Sweet gave each other a look.
"Fabian, Patricia, come back to class at once." Mr Sweet said. "I have an announcement to make to your houseguests if you don't mind Miss Denby."
"Not at all," She smiled. Mr Sweet patted Fabian on the back and gently pushed him forward. Patricia started to follow before Miss Denby grabbed her shoulder. Patricia stopped and spun around defensively.
"Be more careful next time Patricia, or someone will get hurt." Patricia felt her eyebrows raise against their will. She wasn't scared of Miss Denby. She'd dealt with far worse and survived. Patricia and Miss Denby caught up with Mr Sweet and Fabian as they made their way back.
When they made it back to the calm orderly classroom, Miss Denby found herself quite impressed that Joy managed to keep her peers well behaved. It wasn't an easy task. Then again half of her trouble students had been in the hallway. Mr Sweet cleared his throat to get the student's attention. "I have an announcement to make." Fabian and Patricia rushed to their seats. "Starting today Nina Martin will be returning to the school," The classroom erupted into chatter. "Ah ah ah, I'm not finished," He held a hand out to silence them. "We also have a new student joining us. Some of you may remember Piper Williamson when she visited last school year, I trust that she will be a great asset to our school and expect you to give her as well as Nina a warm welcome back."
"Are they staying at Anubis House?" Alfie raised his hand.
"Yes. Nina and Piper are returning to Anubis House," Mr Sweet clarified. "Trudy will be reassigning rooms today." He looked up and noticed Willow raising her hand, practically bouncing in her seat with anticipation. "Yes, Miss Jenks?"
"May I move into Anubis House too?" Willow crossed her fingers together, with a pleading look on her face.
"I'm sorry Willow, but Anubis House is now fuller than ever." He shook his head. "No, you will be staying at Isis House." Willow frowned. Mr Sweet sighed, you can't please everyone.
Nina stood in front of Anubis House happy to be back. Even after everything that happened the school year before, this place felt like home. Nina grinned and stepped into the house. "Nina!" Trudy called approaching the girl. "Good to have you back sweetie, we've missed you." Trudy wrapped her arms around Nina. "I'll take your things upstairs, we're having to reorganize the rooming situations a bit but we'll get that all sorted as soon as everyone comes home from school." Nina handed the bag to Trudy and watched her disappear up the stairs. Nina wasn't surprised the rooms would be changed, between Amber leaving to go to fashion school and the new American girl the others told her about, a lot of the dynamics would be different. Taking a deep breath, Nina walked into the living room and was surprised to see someone sitting on the sofa.
"Patricia?" Nina walked further into the room. "What are you doing home already? Are you feeling okay?"
"Oh, hello Nina," The girl laughed. "And I'm Piper, not Patricia,"
"Oh," Nina giggled. "Hi, Piper,"
"I'm going to school here now." She explained. "Just moved in today."
"We're twins," She sat down by Piper. "I start back here today too," Nina was glad that there weren't any Sibuna things going on at the house. At least not yet. Nina could imagine herself accidentally saying something to Piper under the pretense that she was talking to Patricia. Last year when Piper visited, Nina had been incredibly paranoid about it.
After school, the students began walking to Anubis House buzzing to see Nina and Piper. "It really will be nice to see Nina again," Willow said, walking alongside the Anubis students, she'd been spending a lot of time at Anubis House lately, she even had a spot at the dinner table. "I think we got quite close last year." Jerome raised a brow at this. He'd never seen Willow and Nina talk before. Although he hadn't even really noticed Willow until the start of this school year. Jerome was too wrapped up in himself and then helping his dad that he hadn't noticed a lot of things. Jerome looked at Mara as she walked alongside Willow. Unfortunately, he wasn't changing into a better man fast enough and he'd lost Mara for good.
Eddie held Sibuna back, leaving Mara, Jerome, and Willow to walk ahead. "What?" Patricia crossed her arms. Eddie rolled his eyes playfully at her. Eddie could tell Patricia wanted to see Piper as soon as possible but he had to make sure they were all on the same page.
"Look, I don't think we should tell Nina about Frobisher yet,"
"What?" Alfie protested. "She's an original member of Sibuna, we can trust her, dude."
"No, I know we can, and we should tell her if he really is awake. But we don't know that right now." Eddie explained hoping Fabian, Patricia, and Alfie would understand. Eddie thought Joy and KT would be more likely to side with him but the other three were very loyal to Nina. And then if they got Amber to vote over the phone he was done for. "I just don't want to worry her if it's nothing,"
"I thought you already were certain," Patricia said.
"Eddie's right," Fabian sighed. Eddie was surprised at this. Okay, maybe things would work out. "Nina said she was having family problems, let's not throw all this on her if we don't have to."
"We need to find out what's happening in the gatehouse first," Joy finally spoke up.
"If this was a movie we'd send in a bunch of surveillance and bug the place," Alfie said.
"Alfie you're a genius!" Fabian threw an arm around Alfie.
The students arrived home and quickly found Nina and Piper in the living room. Fabian practically ran to greet Nina. She laughed as Fabian squeezed her in a tight embrace. "I missed you," Nina said softly.
"Are you okay?" Fabian asked. "You said you were having a family emergency, is Granny Martin okay?"
"All is well," Nina pulled herself out of the hug so she could look her boyfriend in the eyes. "Really it was just some drama that needed to be sorted out. I'm just happy to be back," She gave him a quick kiss.
"Gross," Joy said playfully sticking her tongue out at the couple's display of affection. "Good to have you back, Nina." Joy pulled the girl she once called her enemy in for a hug. "Oh, Nina, meet KT, she's the new American."
"Hi Nina," KT waved. "I've heard so much about you."
"Hi," Nina smiled brightly. "Everyone's been telling me about you on the phone I feel like I practically know you already,"
"Wow, who would've guessed it? The cheery Americans are already making friends," Patricia said, her voice dripping with sarcasm, but she hugged Nina and then pulled Piper off to the side, away from Alfie, who pouted and then went to greet Nina instead. Ever since Mr Sweet announced Piper was enrolled at the school Patricia couldn't help but worry about her twin. "What are you doing here?" Patricia questioned. "What happened to your music school?"
"Well, I've done so much since I visited here, and I've more than proved myself." Piper started to explain. "And after months of Mr Sweet begging our parents to send me here, they finally agreed."
"Begging?" Patricia didn't like this. Why was Mr Sweet so desperate to get Piper into the school?
"I guess Mr Sweet told them he thinks it would be good for both of us to be together right now," Piper studied Patricia for a moment then frowned. "Are you mad?"
"No," Patricia forced a smile. "I'm glad you're here, really." She pulled her twin in for a tight hug. "I've missed you,"
"I've missed you too Trix,"
"Alright, if I could just get your attention for a moment," Trudy said as she walked into the living room from the kitchen holding a small notebook. "As some of you may remember, I have been trying to renovate the attic into a guest room over the summer, and now that we have more girls, the attic will be a third girl's bedroom. Do I have any volunteers for moving into the attic?"
Nina raised her hand a little too fast. "I'll do it," Nina had loved staying in Sarah's old room but now that Amber left and she'd been gone so long herself, Nina wasn't sure she'd even get placed back in her old room. And the attic seemed to have a calming effect on Nina, not counting that first night, of course.
"Alright," Trudy scribbled on the notebook. "Do I have another volunteer?" It stayed quiet for a moment. Patricia looked at each of the other girls. Willow raised her hand slowly. "A volunteer that lives at Anubis," Trudy clarified and Willow's hand slumped down. "Okay, I could always put one room down as a triple again," Patricia noticed Nina's frown. Patricia had been hoping she could room with Piper or Joy again but she couldn't let her friend sleep in the attic alone.
"I'll move into the attic with Nina," Patricia finally said.
"Really?" Nina asked, brightening up instantly.
"Yeah, and I promise to be a better roommate than I was last time," The house guests that had been there to witness Patricia's mean antics laughed at this. It really was funny that Patricia and Nina were now moving into the attic together as friends. Things really had come full circle.
"Perfect," Trudy wrote in her notebook again. "Alright then we'll have Piper move in with Mara, and Joy and KT will continue sharing. Unless you girls want to swap around more," The other girls shook their heads. "Nina, Piper, I'll put your things in your room and you can start unpacking, Patricia I'll help you get your things together and moved into the attic."
Patricia quickly packed her things up from the room she'd been sharing with Mara, and Trudy helped her bring them up into the attic. Nina walked around the room unpacking her things. To her relief, the room had been changed quite drastically from when Vera lived here. Things would be fine, she decided. Patricia went downstairs and found Fabian and Joy in the living room. "I don't understand why Mr Sweet would beg my parents to send Piper here,"
"I wonder," Fabian started. "Maybe he was trying to get a more agreeable descendant to participate in the ceremony. Maybe your parents just didn't send her here until it was too late,"
"Serves Mr Sweet right," Joy placed a hand on her hip.
Mr Sweet walked into the room, choosing to ignore Joy's comment. "I don't suppose you know where I can find Nina and Eddie?" He asked.
"I just saw Eddie in the kitchen a minute ago," Joy offered with a weak smile.
"Nina was unpacking in the attic." Said, Patricia. Mr Sweet made his way into the kitchen. The three long-time friends gave each other a look. "What's that about?" Joy shrugged, unsure if they should worry or not.
Mr Sweet sat down at Victor's chair with Nina and Eddie sitting before him. After gathering the two teens, Victor reluctantly allowed Mr Sweet to use his office to have this private conversation. Mr Sweet wiped his hands nervously on his pants. "This isn't an easy thing to say, Edison but it's something that you deserve to know." He started.
"Dad," Eddie didn't know what was going on but he didn't like it already. Mr Sweet opened his mouth to speak but the words wouldn't come out. He was afraid that he was about to lose his son again. Things were already patchy between them after the eclipse. "What is it? You're scaring me,"
"Eddie, you and I are twins," Nina blurted out. "I asked Mr Sweet not to tell you until I came back,"
"What?" Eddie stood up.
"Edison, your mother sent Nina away to be raised by her estranged aunt when she was born, I was told that Nina had died. Your mother did all this in order to keep the true Chosen One hidden from the society… that I was a part of." Mr Sweet knew that Eddie would've just found out that last part from Nina if he didn't include it. He had made so many mistakes. And of course, he couldn't even tell them why he had been so desperate to drink from the cup of ankh. He didn't want his children to pity him.
"So what you're telling me is that I was separated from my twin sister because my dad couldn't be trusted not to exploit his daughter?" Eddie shook his head. "I don't want to talk to you right now," He stormed out of the office.
"Eddie," Nina stood up and followed him into the hallway. Mr Sweet stared blankly ahead. Of course, he was relieved that his daughter was alive but now his son hated him again.
Fabian walked in between Joy and KT with a small bag of cameras over his shoulder. Patricia and Alfie had decided to stay behind to catch up with Piper. And Eddie had been meeting with Mr Sweet about Fabian could only guess what. "I didn't know Patricia had a twin," KT said, a bit dejected.
"Don't feel too bad, nobody knew Patricia had a twin until she showed up here last year," Fabian chuckled. Why had there been so many secret sisters that term?
"I knew," Joy said with a smirk. They arrived at the gatehouse and crouched down in the bushes.
"Eddie!" Nina rushed to his side just as he started descending the staircase. "Eddie, can we talk?"
Eddie stopped at this and turned to face her. "Yes," Nina took his hand and Eddie let her pull him into the attic. He was surprised by how much the attic had changed, who knew colorful wallpaper could go such a long way? "If you're gonna tell me I should forgive dad I-"
"I'm mad at him too," Nina stopped him. "I grew up thinking that my parents were dead… that was horrible,"
"I can only imagine," Eddie sighed. He hated the Society. He didn't even fully understand it but now he knew it was the reason his father wasn't around, and why his twin sister grew up alone. He also knew that his friends had been traumatized by the Society, even though they wouldn't fully explain what happened.
"Your mother-"
"She's your mom too, Nina. You can say it if you want,"
"Our mother reached out to me right before summer break ended." She sat down on the bed in what Eddie assumed was her side of the room, judging by the cutout of America. Patricia's stuff sat across her bed still unpacked. Eddie blinked realizing that his girlfriend and his twin sister would be sharing a room. On one hand, Eddie thought it was cool and liked that they were already friends, however, he was hoping that the two wouldn't decide to team up against him. It was only natural that Eddie and Nina were going to fight now that they were siblings and Eddie could easily see Patricia taking Nina's side at his expense.
"That's why you stayed back," Eddie stated.
"I stayed in America to get to know her for a while,"
"I wish you would've told me,"
"Mr Sweet begged me not to, and I thought it would be better if it was done in person anyway," Eddie was upset that for two months Nina and his father had known and he was the only one oblivious to his huge secret. Taking a deep breath Eddie knew he had to let his anger at Nina go, he was keeping a huge secret from her as well, in the shape of one evil Robert Frobisher-Smythe.
"Hey, we're cool," Eddie offered Nina his hand, when she took it he pulled Nina up from her bed and into a hug. Eddie cleared his throat when they pulled apart. "So do you not want everyone knowing all this, because if so I understand, I mean how long did I keep the information that Mr Sweet was my dad from everyone?"
"No, we can tell them whenever you like." Nina smiled at him. "I want everyone to know you're my brother." Eddie beamed at this, growing up an only child, he had always wanted a sibling. "By the way, can I get my locket back?"
Eddie's face fell instantly. "Um yeah of course," Eddie scratched his hair. "I'll go look for it,"
"Eddie!" Nina scolded him.
"You know me, always misplacing things," He hurried toward the attic door. "Don't worry, I'll find it,"
"You better, Eddie," Nina warned. "You know how important it is."
Eddie rushed out of the attic door, closing it behind him, and slumped against the door.
"Eddie?" Patricia questioned. "What are you doing?"
"Patricia!" Eddie looked up to meet her eyes. "I was just talking to Nina,"
"What's going on?" She crossed her arms. Oh no, Eddie thought. Not jealous Patricia again. "Why are you sneaking around?" Eddie grabbed his girlfriend's hand, interlocking their fingers, and dragged her through the house. "Ow, Eddie!" She protested but let him pull her into his room, where he finally let go of her hand.
"Nina asked for her locket back!" Eddie exclaimed, panic laced into his voice.
"Eddie," Patricia sighed. "I think we should just tell her, she can handle it."
"No!" Eddie pulled the locket out from his shirt. "Not if we don't have to." Eddie's phone went off, he pulled it out and checked the text from KT. "They just finished setting up surveillance at the gatehouse, we'll find out about Frobisher soon. And if he's alive we'll tell Nina." Patricia considered his words.
"Okay," She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pulled him down for a kiss. Eddie kissed her once more then let go. He tucked the locket back into his shirt, hoping he wouldn't have to tell his twin sister that they'd failed to stop a great evil from being awoken.
Fabian, KT, and Joy arrived back at Anubis House just in time for dinner. The Anubis kids plus Willow sat down around the very full dining room table to eat the spaghetti Trudy had made. Alfie got the urge to throw the pasta at Jerome and Patricia but held back due to Piper's presence at the table. He wasn't sure how the girl would think of him if he started a food fight, especially on her first real night staying at Anubis.
Eddie looked around the dinner table. His friends were chatting amongst themselves. Eddie thought there must be a better way to share his news but he took a deep breath and spilled the beans. "So Nina and I are twins." The table went silent.
"What?" Patricia said with that dangerous tone he knew all too well. Eddie closed his eyes. He should've told Patricia before announcing it to the house, especially after how she reacted when she learned Mr Sweet was his father. That's what he was supposed to do. He looked over at Fabian who looked confused, he also probably should've given Nina the chance to tell Fabian. Nina gave him a nervous smile.
"Umm, I just found out when Mr Sweet came over," He grabbed Patricia's hand under the table, turning toward her. "I'm sorry if this isn't the best way to tell you but I'm kind of still in shock." Patricia's face softened and she squeezed his hand.
"Now that, I didn't see coming," Jerome said.
"That's awesome guys!" KT said feeling excited for her best friend.
"Really?" Fabian looked at Nina.
"It's true, it's why I stayed back in America for a while," She explained.
"You know," Willow started. "I'm convinced that I have a long-lost twin sister as well."
"Wait, who's the younger twin?" Patricia asked, making Eddie pause. He hadn't even thought to ask.
"I was born first," Nina smirked.
"Aww, so Eddie's your little brother!" Patricia and Nina laughed and a few of the other kids joined in. Eddie knew this would happen eventually, but he didn't know how to feel about the fact that they were ganging up on him already.
"Oh good," Piper said with a laugh. "Patricia, you can tell Eddie all about being the younger twin." Eddie turned to laugh in Patricia's face, happy she got a taste of her own medicine. The students continued asking questions until they were satisfied and went back to their own conversations and for about an hour Eddie forgot about the danger that was probably lurking around the gatehouse.
I'd like to add more to this AU later so I'll probably just add more chapters to this fic so everything's all together in one place. It won't be in chronological order but I'll try to explain where in the season these fics fit into.