AN: Not rude at all dear. Don't worry, I have two chapters planned for the Denes in Louisiana. One is happening near the end of this series and one near the beginning/middle of the next. The first one deals with how Callum, Boo, Freddie and Thorpe manage the squad while they're away and the second will actually see Stephen and Rory interacting with the Deveauxs in Louisiana :) Yes, Stephen has ruined my life cause no one will ever be perfect enough now xD And yes, they are wedding bells...for who is a secret but I can tell you that there is a proposal coming in the next series. As for the wedding...well, I guess I'll have to start planning series 5 ;)

Oswulf stone

The sewer had been dark and wet. They had splashed through knee high water, crouched to avoid the low roof and often had to walk single file to make their way through the narrow tunnels under Hyde Park. Whenever they could have walked side by side, she had walked by Stephen. She had just watched him awake from the dead and, although she hadn't been able to remember the circumstances of the situation, she knew that she had been the one to wake him. There was no way she was leaving his side now. When she had panicked, he had calmed her, told her he needed her and taken her hand. And they didn't let go.

She held onto his hand now, tightly, as they wandered through the sewers once more. They led the way as Boo and Callum followed behind. Freddie and Thorpe were waiting for them above, at the Serpentine. Rory hadn't missed this place one bit. The water still came to knee height, the roof still dipped down to meet them and the walls still came in on her. And then they came to where the tunnels split. Amazingly, they seemed to remember the way. It was almost like they were moving on automatic. When the tunnel narrowed and they had to walk single file, Stephen took the front, holding his hand behind him so that Rory could keep hold.

Sometimes she lost her footing in the water and she stumbled. Callum, who came behind her, caught her, and held her steady until she regained her footing. Stephen would squeeze her hand tighter, reassuring her that he had her, that he would get her out of here safely. At one point, she placed her hand against the wall and the dampness of the brick brought back the memory of Stephen placing his hand on hers. One thing there were all grateful for was that they weren't carrying the Oswulf stone this time. They came now carrying only termini in case they came across anything in the tunnel.

That menacing white fog she remembered often swept in front of them and one of them would be ready to terminate anything that formed from it. Too many incidents had occurred now. Checking to make sure the Oswulf stone was still in place was a priority. Stephen had even contacted the Shadow Cabinet in case a relocation was needed. Rory really didn't want to move the thing again so she hoped they could solve what ever problem they faced without actually relocating the stone. Not only was it heavy, but they wouldn't know where to put it.

And then Stephen lost his footing and fell to his knees before Rory could react. She helped pull him up, checking to see if he had hurt himself. "I'm fine," he told her with a small smile. And he seemed to be ok, just wet from his fall in the water. Rory closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to keep the walls from getting any closer in her mind. She felt her hand get squeezed. "It's ok," Stephens voice said. "I'm here. Do you remember what I told you the last time we were here?"

"That you needed me? That you weren't strong enough to do this without me?"

"Yes, both of which were true then and will always be true until the end of time, but I told you something else as well. Can you remember?"

She took deep breaths as she tried to play through the old reassurance in her mind. "That panic can't hurt me?"

"Yeah. I've got you." He laced his fingers through hers. "Let the panic pass."

She stood for a couple of minutes more, occasionally feeling a reassuring rub on the back from Boo or a shoulder squeeze from Callum, but always feeling the gentle, calming feel of Stephens thumb slowly running up and down her finger. She nodded.

"We all ok?" She heard Callum ask behind her and, with murmured assent, the small group of shades once more stepped slowly through the dark. When they finally reached the wall topped with bars that had stopped them the last time, they all stopped to rest. They could go no further anyway. "I think I've found the problem." Stephens voice echoed in the tunnel. They all looked towards the wall and saw the Oswulf stone lying on the ground, almost completely dry. The pipe they had placed above it 2 and a half years previously lay beside it while the occasional drop of water fell on it from above. "That's it?" Callum asked. "The shit happening at Marble Arch and Lancaster Gate is because the pipe fell down?"

"It would appear so." Stephen said. "We should consider ourselves lucky. We don't have to move the stone, just replace the pipe. And some drops from the old river Westbourne are still falling on it so some protection is there. We're lucky that the situation wasn't worse."

"That's fabulous mate, it really is but can we just put the pipe back and go home?"

Rory nodded enthusiastically at Callums idea as Stephen approached the wall. "Ok," he said as he pulled himself up. "Hand me the pipe." Rory picked up the pipe and handed it to him while Boo shone up the beam of her flashlight. "Thanks love. Now could someone hand me some rocks? I'm gonna see if I can wedge this pipe in here so it doesn't fall again."

"I'll find some," Rory said as she knelt down and felt around the ground. She found three quite large rocks and passed them up to Stephen one by one. She watched as the water started trickling steadily onto the Oswulf stone once more and silently begged that that would be the end of the issue and that she'd never have to come down here again.

Stephen dropped down from the bars, much steadier than he had the last time he did that. The last time, he had to be caught by Boo to avoid crumbling into the water completely. This time, he was sure of his footing and infinitely stronger. At least now he hadn't just woken from the dead. He smiled at Rory and nodded to the others. "I think that should be the end of it."

"Thank God," Boo said as she started leading the way back out. Stephen took Rory's hand again as they walked, glancing back at the stone to make sure the water was still falling onto it. Rory took deep breaths as she walked, trying to remember the rhyme she made up the last time she was down here. She gave up trying to recall it and focussed instead on every step she took. They seemed to get back to the ladder quicker than they had managed to get to the stone. Maybe it was because everyone was desperate to leave. Stephen called up to the outside world. "Thorpe?"

Thorpe's face appeared and looked down at them. "Good to see you all safe."

"It's good to be safe. The stones secure. The problem is hopefully solved."

"Excellent work. Get yourselves out of there. Rory's looking a little pale."

They all turned to Rory who had indeed gone very pale, the darkness, the dampness and the closeness of the sewers a little too much for her to handle. Stephen gently pushed her to the ladder. "Go on Rory, you go first."

She nodded as she climbed up, each step taking her back to the daylight above. She felt Stephens hand on her back as she started her ascent and felt Thorpe's and Freddie's hands take her arms to help her out at the top. Thorpe spoke authoritatively but kindly. "There's a bench over there. Go and sit down. No, don't worry about us, we're fine. Go."

She nodded to him as she watched Boo step onto the ladder. The bench he motioned her to was only a few feet away and she could clearly see everyone emerge from the manhole. Thorpe helped Boo out and she saw her ask Freddie something. Freddie pointed in her direction and Boo smiled before making her way over to the bench. She saw Callum come up as Boo sat down. "You alright, yeah?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine. I just needed some air."

"I completely understand."

Stephen came last, nodding to Thorpe, who pointed towards the bench. When Stephen saw her on the bench with Boo he smiled before helping Thorpe replace the manhole cover. Callum and Freddie were already on their way over to the bench. Callum called to her. "You ok Ror? You did go really pale."

She smiled softly. "I'm fine. Honestly."

"Good, good." He stood next to her, leaving the final space on the bench for Stephen who was now walking over with Thorpe, phone to his ear. She could hear him talking as he approached.

"-situation under control. Yes...yes...yes, I understand. Goodbye."

He hung up the phone as he sat next to Rory. He put his arm around her and gently pulled her close to him. He addressed them all. "The Shadow Cabinet have told me to monitor the situation." He felt Rory tense next to him. He gave her arm a reassuring rub. "It just means I've got to keep an eye on any incidents around this area. If there's an unusual amount, I have to report it in but I don't think it'll be an issue now." He kissed the top of her head. "It's over."

"Stephen?" Her voice was soft. "Can we go home?"

"Of course."

They both stood. "I'm going to get her back home. She's still quite pale."

They all nodded. Thorpe rubbed her shoulder. "Good idea. She looks like she needs a lie down."

"Do you all want to come back for tea? We've bought a kettle."

They all nodded as they walked out of Hyde Park and back to the cars.

After a quick drive, Boo, Callum, Thorpe and Freddie sat in the dining area of Rory and Stephens flat nursing cups of tea. Upstairs, Stephen was gently covering Rory with the blanket of their bed before sitting on the edge, stroking her cheek with the backs of his fingers. "Are you sure you're ok?"

"Yeah," she said, cuddling into the pillow. "Just a panic attack. Kind of wore me down."

"Will you be alright on your own?"

"Yeah. I'm fine. Honestly."

"Ok. I'll be just downstairs if you need me."

"Ok."

She smiled as he leaned down and gently kissed her forehead before standing and leaving the room, gently shutting the door behind him.