Greetings to you all! I had a little extra time so I managed to finish this chapter up. I hope you've had fun with this side path story – and if you didn't, ah well. I can only write what I like – and you'll find a treat at the end of this chapter.

Chapter 9

No Worries

Toby folded his arms, jaw set. "I missed literally everything! Seriously."

"I got it on tape! No worries. Also don't tell anyone I taped it, I'm not distributing it for money or anything." James handed Toby the camcorder, hurrying to the tunnel opposite them. "They were awesome, no question."

Toby looked it over, checking the film and nodded carefully. "Thanks, I'm looking forward to it." Claire tilted her head toward him and Toby whispered, "I don't have the heart to tell him he didn't have any room on the SD card. I'm sure you all were awesome."

Jim was sitting in a chair in the middle of the room. He was also blindfolded. "Guys, I promise I won't open my eyes." Blinky had just pulled in the Vespa, carrying it so it wouldn't make a noise, James helping by holding the other side.

"Hm, can we trust you Jimbo? With your halo and honesty?" Toby stroked his chin. "Got an idea. Claire, take off the blindfold and cover his eyes with your hands. Remove the temptation." She shook her head amusedly but obeyed, taking the blindfold off and placing her fingers in its stead. "I think the Grand Foyer is getting to be pretty nice."

Thanks to the brownies, the crystal veins were flush with color, creeping up the walls and filling the room with light. James helped Blinky arrange the Vespa and Toby checked his phone; he and Claire had to get on the gyre soon so she could get to the hair appointment with Darci and Mary. The only thing he knew about Darci's dress was that it was purple. He had a purple bow tie to match it. And he'd gotten her an iris corsage, safely tucked in the Lake household fridge.

In all honesty, Toby wasn't upset to have missed the mess with the boggarts and goblins. The brownies were all back, happy in their crystal-carved homes. The goblins…well, that would be a work-in-progress. Fama was in the cat carrier now, although he too seemed to have a fondness for chocolate that goblins shared. The stonescale was gone, people were only moderately grumpy now, and the current company had survived until Jim's seventeenth birthday. So all in all, pretty good.

Barbara and Strickler stood behind the chair, Barbara looking nervous. "I'm sure it will be fine dear," Strickler murmured, leaning in and whispering something in her ear. Jim fidgeted nervously.

Blinky dusted all four hands off, scuttling over to Jim. "Very well. I think we're set. Happy seventeenth birthing day Master Jim!" Claire uncovered his eyes and Jim blinked, and he couldn't stop a grin from spreading over his face. "Perhaps this will help with travel in and to the city. And your mother insists you wear the helmet." Blinky stood back, James behind him, watching nervously. "James and I went in together to get the parts and build it."

"Blinky built it. I'm not so great with machines, I sent him needed parts. But yeah, team effort," James clarified. Toby's guilt about the armor lessened when Jim turned and hugged both Blinky and James. The former accepted it warmly and the latter looked like a small child excited to be trusted with something valuable.

"Thank you guys. You didn't need to do this. But I do love it." Jim inspected the machine, shaking his head in disbelief. "It looks so much like the old one!"

"I mean it about the helmet mister." Barbara gave the device a suspicious glance. "I know it's silly to worry about a Vespa of all things, considering all the other stuff you do, but I still want you to be careful."

Merlin cleared his throat. They'd nearly forgotten him against the wall. "Yes, yes, all very good. I also have things to hand out." Toby looked at the old man, surprised. "I think they're called souvenirs?"

James turned around, jaw hanging a little. "You actually got souvenirs for people? On purpose? Who are you?"

"Oh can it. In the travel guides I read it's supposedly seen as respectable to purchase tokens of interest and give them to people that didn't travel with one." He reached into his trench coat pockets – he seemed to have become irrationally fond of long coats – and pulled out an item at a time. "I wasn't sure what everyone liked."

He put a snow globe with a tiny model of Buckingham Palace in Toby's had, a keychain of the Eiffel Tower went to Jim, and a jeweled egg went to Claire. She grunted at the weight of it, holding it in both hands. "Thank you Merlin. That's…actually rather sweet of you," she managed. "You have to tell us how everything went! Russia especially, we were worried about you!"

"Oh, that Bratva thing. Yes." He waved a hand disinterestedly, a teddy bear was the next item to come out, easily the size of Toby. He handed this to James. "That's for Mordred. Well, after our conversation I used my magic to detain them and find out where they were based in St. Petersburg. I went there, found that they were not the friendliest of folks, and it all ended with a large number unconscious mobsters. I had to take off after that, so I'm not sure about how things went."

Toby googled "Bratva" and whistled. "You broke a huge drug ring. Millions of dollars worth are now in police custody. That's actually really cool. It's on the news, look."

Merlin shrugged. "It was moderately exciting. And I've unloaded all the artifacts I recovered in the locked room. Incidentally, I picked this up in a tunnel a few days before I left and quite forgot it." He opened his hand and a cubic zirconia ring sparkled from his palm. "I meant to give it to someone. Does it belong to any of the ladies?"

Toby took it. "Chompsky's going to be ecstatic."

Claire turned to the left, then to the right. "Wow. The hairdresser was right. It really suits the dress to have my hair up."

"Girl, I love it. Red is such a good color on you." Darci was dazzling in plum, a long, sweeping gown that complemented her tall form. Her jewelry was gold and Claire privately thought she looked like a movie star. Mary was just as lovely, dark hair swept over her shoulder with gold pins in it, a shorter gold dress showing off her smooth skin. And Claire's dress was ruffled on the hem like a flamenco dress, slimmed up a bit to match the prom theme. She'd never worn such dark lipstick, but it made her feel mature.

"Turn just a little, princesa. You girls are growing into such beautiful ladies!" Dad took pictures as they moved, and Claire smiled bashfully when he sniffled. "Seems like yesterday I was attending tea parties with you."

Enrique cackled and Mom smiled, bouncing him and Walter Jr. on either arm. "You girls look radiant. Like your quinciñera, remember?"

Claire did. The dress had been much flouncier per her mother's request – it was nice to be in a dress she had selected and paid for. Toby poked his head into the room, cheeks bright red. "You beautiful ladies are not allowed to laugh at me in a tux. Got it?" He sidled out, and Claire was surprised to see that his bow tie was straight, his hair combed back looked neat, and altogether he was a dapper little image.

"You look good TP!" Darci pulled him into the pictures, and Toby's blush brightened. "Come here handsome, get in some of these!"

Mary and Claire moved out of the way, letting the couple take the camera time. Nana Domzalski would want pictures she knew, and Dad took several from various angles. Claire leaned in toward Mary. "So it really was quits with Hank?"

"Yep. Haven't talked in months. But that's totally cool – I can dance with whoever I want now. Providing they're unattached I suppose." Mary sat on the stair, Claire mimicking her. High heels looked awesome but they hurt like a dickens. "Sorry Jimmy Jam can't make it."

"It's fine. He has a test to finish, and I can have a night out with you girls." And that was true for the most part. But looking at Toby and Darci posing and looking goofy, she couldn't help but feel a little hollow. She wasn't between boyfriends like Mary – she had an incredible one. He'd memorized an entire play in two weeks for her. But she could still enjoy the evening, even if it would have been better with him.

"I'm ready to take you all now. I think Gertrude will love these." Dad turned and gave Mom a kiss, then smooched Enrique and Walter Jr. on the foreheads. "Come on ladies and gentleman!"

"Thanks for driving us Mr. Nuñez. I'm still not allowed to have minors only in the car. And I don't have a car," Toby added. Claire watched Arcadia dash by in a blur of light as they took off down the streets. The school had rented an event room in a hotel in the city – the implication there was that if teens were going to drink or engage in general insensible behavior, at least they wouldn't get killed in an accident – but no fewer than fifteen faculty members would be chaperoning the party. And Señor Uhl had an impeccable nose for trouble, as they all knew.

They arrived and with a kiss to her father's cheek, they entered the building and gaped. White lights were strung on tables and chairs, tea lights in lanterns on each table. The dance floor was hardwood and polished, and the brightness of dresses and flowers was almost too much. Claire was swamped by so many familiar faces that it nearly floored her. That was Shannon? She looked so different with longer hair and a little makeup! Eli's voice was still cracking, but the pitch was lower. And Steve…well, Steve actually looked about the same. A little more groomed maybe, but he was comfortingly familiar. "Ladies. Toby."

Toby drew up. "Dude, you know my name. I thought you thought it was 'Buttsnack Two' or something."

"Don't push it Domzalski. The Creepslaying has put a dent in my pent-up aggression." Steve rolled his eyes when Eli elbowed him. "If any of you lovely ladies are in need of a male on the dance floor, I can offer my services."

"And be sure to vote for prom king and queen!" Eli rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Maybe this will be the year of Eli, huh?"

"Maybe bud." Steve shoved him good-naturedly. "Speaking of Buttsnack, where is he?"

Claire faltered. "He has an exam this evening. So he's not able to make it."

"Oh. Right, he missed a few months of school, huh?" Steve put his hands in his pockets. "Well, we can party without Lake, right?" Claire forced a smile onto her face and nodded.

Much to her surprise, she did have fun. The teachers watched like hawks, and Uhl had a ruler he used to measure the space between students. There was no one foolish enough to attempt dirty dancing under his watchful eye.

Toby, as it turned out, could indeed "cut a rug like a jitterbug." He and Darci where a whirl of feet and dance steps, and Claire danced with Mary and Eli and Steve in a group. The music was loud, and whoever the DJ was, they had some sense – what had his name been? Kyle? No, maybe Krel – and played a number of Papa Skull songs.

Inevitably, as the evening drew on, romantic songs began to play, and Claire took a seat to rest, bobbing her foot to the melody. Eli's ears flared scarlet when Mary commandeered him for one, and Toby whispered something to Darci across the floor, cutting off their slow dance. Darci grinned and nodded. He then hurried across the floor to Claire's seat.

"Come with me." She blinked but stood up, Toby taking her hand and leading her to the other side of the room. "Got a surprise for ya."

He led her to the door, but instead of going through he released her hand and bowed. "I'll leave you here and return to milady." He winked at her and took off, leaving her muddled.

Then Jim stepped through the door and Claire put a hand to her mouth in shock. "You…but…your test!"

Jim smiled, looking embarrassed. "I have never sat for an exam in a tux before. And I might have fumbled some of the essay questions at the end. Though to be fair, I'm not good at essay questions anyway." He stepped toward her and Claire didn't know who had helped him comb his hair so neatly – slicked to to the side, neater than she'd ever seen it – or how he'd gotten a suit, but the effect was one she loved.

"Did you plan this?" She wrapped her arms around his neck and Jim took her waist, and they moved in a slow circle.

"It was Darci's idea to make it a surprise. I was pretty sure I could make it for half of prom at least, even with the test, but we thought it would be fun to do. And you needed some time with your friends. It worked out well." He glanced to the side. "You look really beautiful."

Claire sighed and put her head on his shoulder. "You're not so bad yourself. Let me guess…your mom helped with the suit."

"Yep."

"And…Strickler with the bow tie."

"Also correct."

"And your hair. I love it like that. Um…James?"

He snickered. "Blinky. But we are invited back to my Dad's for popcorn and movie night after this. Mordred's allowed to stay up and pick movies on Saturday nights."

"Nice." The song ended and drifted into something faster, but they didn't break apart. They were far enough away from the others that it didn't matter, and she spied Uhl nudging two older teens into a couple instead of a mass of intertwined limbs. "I'm glad everything's slowed down some. I kind of missed just spending time together."

"Same here. I got so wrapped up in trying to cover everything, and graduate on time. But…I don't think it'll kill anyone if it takes an extra semester for me to graduate, do you?" She shook her head, fighting a grin.

"You know, I think Merlin's souvenir is actually a real Fabergé egg." He cocked his head. "There were only a certain number made for the Romanov family. I think he found a real one somehow. I'll have to get that to a Russian embassy somehow."

"Mordred loved the bear. Dad sent Merlin a video of his reaction to getting it. I don't think I've ever seen Merlin really smile like that." Jim sighed. "Why are we talking about this stuff?"

"Because if we start kissing, Señor Uhl will see and tear us a new one." He laughed and Claire stepped back, tugging him toward the others. "C'mon, let's dance with the others. They'll be glad to see you."

"Glad to laugh at me looking like a spastic pigeon more like." But he followed her anyway, and a few people lit up and waved as they approached. "Hi guys."

"Well well, if it isn't Prince Buttsnack." Steve knocked him between the shoulder blades, making him cough. Mary rolled her eyes.

"He's been waiting months to call you that. Ever since he found out King Arthur is your dad." Jim turned to Steve.

"Hey Steve. Dad says you guys have been doing really well helping patrol Arcadia Oaks. So even if you want to act like a Neanderthal, I just want you to know that I appreciate that." Steve stared and his jaw jutted out.

"What am I even supposed to say to that? Ugh." Eli jumped forward, hugging Jim, who grunted before returning the motion. "Eli's glad to see you anyway, so I guess I can put up with you."

"Hello? Can everyone hear me?" The young man DJ-ing looked a little amused. "Wow, listen to that echo. Everybody, it's time to announce the prom king and queen. Which, as I understand it, does not actually come with political power." A few people laughed. "First up is the queen." Ms. Janeth handed him a card and he read it carefully before saying, "Darci Scott! Give it up everybody!"

Toby beamed and kissed Darci on the cheek. "Get up there, Darce!" She took the stairs and Claire thought she did look quite royal as she stood in front of everyone.

Krel blinked. "Oh, wow, you do not need this thingy. Here, you can have it, but you look too good to mess with it." He handed her a plastic tiara and Darci blushed. "And let's see who the king is?" Ms. Janeth handed over another card. "And the prom king is…Eli Pepperjack!"

There was silence for a single second. Then they all erupted in a massive cheer, Eli's jaw hanging. Steve nudged him toward the stairs. "Get up there man! Year of Eli!"

Eli made it up the steps without stumbling too much and Krel put the crown on his head. "You're one of the guys that helps protect the town, right? Very cool. Everybody give it up for the prom king and queen!"

The applause continued and Claire thought it frankly perfect. Steve snapped a few pictures on his phone, and the only people that seemed less than pleased were a couple of football players. Noticing Claire studying them, Steve ducked his head and said, "I may have made some threats. A couple of them were tearing down Eli's posters so I…encouraged them vigorously to cease and desist."

Claire shook her head. "You know, you're not a bad friend to have Steve."

"Well, Eli's the first real friend I ever had." Steve shrugged and Claire's heart warmed. "You ever tell him I said that and I'll give Lake a swirly. I don't hit girls."

She had to laugh then. Jim turned his head, surprised at the sound, and she wrapped one arm around his waist. "Happy Birthday Jim." He smiled at her and they snuck a kiss under the tumult. And the rest of the night the only thing they worried about was not stepping on each other's feet.

The End

The next tale will take some time to prep, but keep an eye out for "Fractured" – it's in the same vein as "Like Father like Son," and though this tale will be referenced, you won't be lost if you've only read the first. As a treat for you staying tuned through my chatter, here is the summary for the next story:

Claire doesn't know what the creature is. She doesn't know how she's supposed to control the insane amounts of magic flowing through her. And she doesn't know where that thing took Jim, or why. But she does know one thing – she's getting him back. No matter what.