Oliver had managed to crawl into his own bed, immediately falling asleep as soon as his head met the pillow. However, when he woke up again covered in sweat, he regretted not showering before he slept. Dried blood still clung under his nails from Lutz's wound. When he peeled himself from the mattress, the boy noted that he was almost back to normal. The sniffling had to stay and plague him, though. He would not get away so easily.

When he emerged from the bathroom fresh and happy to pretend he scrubbed away his sickness, he jumped as a small body nearly smashed into his face with an overly loud, "Yahoo!"

"Lila," the teen breathed a sigh of relief. "Do not give me a fright like that."

"It seems like you have been on edge lately," the fairy keenly observed, hovering closely as he rummaged through his dresser.

"With all these blokes running around slicing up my Housemates, and a cold to top it off? Yes, you can say I am a tad edgy."

"Yikes." Lila sat on his head once he pulled his vest over his shoulders. "Do you want me to stimulate your immune system so you can be healthier quicker?"

"Err...thank you for the offer, but I am almost done with it. Maybe next time. Did you see that odd boy again?"

"Not yet, but I'm keeping an eye out!"

Oliver put a hand on his door knob, and tipped his head. His cargo shifted to adjust herself as he murmured, "Yes, he's...it was such an unusual encounter. Do you think he is a long lost twin?"

"You know how we were saying the Realm is the meeting place of different worlds? You know, before we got interrupted?"

"Do you think...?"

"Maybe! How about this, I'll go straight to you if and when he comes around again. We kind of scared him away last time."

"You scared him!"

"I am not the one that looks like the semi-spitting image of him! Don't forget your keys!"

"Oh, drat."

Lila dropped the subject for the present. "Are we going to the bakery?"

"Of course." Oliver shut and locked his door behind himself, and casted suspicious glances down the hall. "I need to see how Bella is doing. She was sicker than I am!"

Once he clunked down the steps, he passed the corridor stretching from the dining hall's doors to the other side of the House, where a pair of girls from the benches were approaching. He stopped before they could gasp and wave their arms. They hurried to him, smiling wickedly about something. "Join us for breakfast, Oliver!"

"Sorry, girls, I am afraid I have to be at the bakery at the moment."

They simultaneously slouched. One whined, "Oh, come on!"

The other put her hands on her hips. "Yeah, screw you for having a life!"

Oliver could only stare at them in shock. The other girl giggled at her friend's sarcasm. "Make sure you get to us sometime soon, okay?"

He did not have a choice. Through their titters and hair twirling, these girls were beasts. "Okay," the boy weakly agreed. "Sometime. If I may," he gestured to the front doors.

More evil laughing. "Of course." They continued to the dining hall without further altercation. They delighted Lila, based on the little snickers coming from the top of Oliver's head. He did not understand the charm; it must have been a girl thing. If he thought about it, Anabella had her viscous underlay, too. Oliver shivered, and for once, it was not from the cold.

Lila pressed closer into his hair during his walk, not enjoying the winter, like him. The journey was uneventful, save for a patch of ice he unfortunately mistook as a puddle of water, and carelessly treaded on it. A passerby gawked with her mouth open instead of helping when his arms flailed, but he had regained his balance with an indignant cough.

Through the small apartment complex, Oliver called, "Bella?" The untidy blanket was still strewn on the back of the couch as he and Allen left it the previous day. He decided to fix it before entering the hallway. "Bella?"

"I am here," a voice croaked. Oliver pushed open her bedroom door with a light knock, but the room was empty. A door further down the hall opened, and he backed into the corridor. Anabella emerged from the last room past the bathroom, carrying a thick folder with many tabs sticking from the files stuffed between its pockets. "Ah, I was hoping you would be here soon."

"Bella, you all right?"

The elder stopped, lifting her eyebrows. "Are you? I have heard from a little lovebird that you came down with something."

"Ooh!" Lila sang, most likely grinning ear to ear from her spot.

Oliver did not acknowledge the fairy. "Allen was here to see how you were doing, too."

"I know," Anabella would not stop smiling, scuffling pass her worker. "Come to the kitchen." She set the thick bundle on the dining table. Oliver hurried to the stove to start a kettle of water. "Why is my grandson's bat up here? Never mind, he does not care for it." After a quiet moment to lower herself in one of the chairs, she giggled, "He likes you, you know."

"Who?!" Oliver squawked. "Your grandson?!"

Anabella's face fell to a blank stare. "I am afraid Louis likes anyone and anything. I am talking about Allen."

"Oh," Oliver eased, turning back to the stove. "Well, I would hope so!"

"What makes you say that?"

The teen dropped his gaze to the toe of his shoe squishing against the tiled floor. "We have been...involved for more than a few weeks now."

Anabella was quiet. He glanced over his shoulder in worry. "Oliver, can you come over here for a moment?"

"Of course!" He eagerly hustled to his boss, stopping beside her. "What is it-"

She grabbed a thinner folder from the large stack of others, and threw her arm in the air. Lila gasped and launched off of Oliver's head before the old woman would smack her. Oliver was not as lucky. "You should have told me! I have been waiting ever since he fessed up that he had the biggest, 'manliest' crush on you!"

"He does?" Oliver echoed, not paying attention to the fairy cautiously lowering herself back into his hair again. He pondered how loud and stupid Allen was when they had met, and how he still was on good days. Before he could start smiling stupidly, the elder dramatically scoffed.

"Duh! Boys! None of you ever know what to do when it comes to the matters of romance. I'm certain you two would not be dating if he did not."

Oliver untactfully changed the subject. "Would you like some tea?"

"Always."

"What are we doing today?" The boy asked once two steaming mugs sat on the dining table.

"If you wish to stay at this bakery, you will need to know how to run a business economically and financial wise!"

Lila groaned. "That sounds boring!"

Oliver had to agree, but it had to be done. "Of course. Where do we start?"

Luckily for whatever what was left of Oliver's brain about two hours later, the bakery's bell rung out multiple times. He eagerly broke away from Anabella's lesson of writing checks (with little poodles in the background of the slips) to assist the customer. The elder complied, lingering upstairs, since she was still unwell to spring back to the land of the living. Lila was waiting on the front counter, not fond of the stressed (and boring) atmosphere of learning. She leaped into the air, exclaiming in delight at the sight of the boy, and took her usual perch.

"Hello," Oliver beckoned as he came from the stair well. "What can I do..." he trailed off, stopping behind the counter to stare at the police officer popping a giant wad of gum. The teen rested a hand on his stomach, queasy from the knotted sensation it was performing. "What brings you to a bakery, sir? Are you interested in something to eat?"

"No, I'm not." The officer snapped his chew again. Oliver clenched his teeth as the man jumped into what he wanted to say. "Kids around your age are amuck around town, and for some strange reason, a lot of the townies' arms are suddenly disappearing. Hear 'bout that?"

Lila shuddered from the teen's head. "He makes me nervous!"

Another pop made Oliver jump a bit, breaking the image of his Housemates stealing other people's body parts. "Would you mind enlightening me?"

"Hmph! Every now and again, people fight. It's natural. They have methods of legal protection, but when a bunch of gremlins are running around, gathering substances through illegal methods more often than normal, that's a bit alarming, don't you think?"

Oliver's eyebrows lifted at the new information. "Yes, I have heard rumors about that." Rumors? Hilarious, he had just stitched up a poor kid's arm because of this newfound violence!

"Are you one of those boys from the Youth Hostel down the street?"

As the officer leaned on the counter, Oliver nodded, staring at his hands holding the edges of the counter with a death grip. "Yes, I am."

"Have you witnessed, or know anyone who witnessed a collective attack, use or possession of any weapons or objects capable of mass harm?"

Putting on his default smile, Oliver batted his eyes in innocence. "Nothing from the usual, sir."

Though he could not see behind the reflective glasses, he could guess the slight hesitance was for the officer's eyes to narrow. The man straightened, giving the counter a few knocks with his knuckles. "All right, kid. Keep a look out for anything...odd in the meanwhile." He turned around and pointed to Oliver when he was halfway to the door. "And stay out of it!"

"Of course," the boy lamely waved until the door clamped shut behind the police officer's back. His cheeks deflated as the man held his hand up in greeting to a small group of youths approaching the bakery. "M-mass harm?"

Lila stirred on the teen's head, loudly interrupting his creeping panic. "Hey! Look who it is!"

Oliver's grin returned at the sight of some of his friendlier Housemates. The officer held his arms out, antagonizing the fist Allen shook at him in mock defense. Matt and Siegmund went around them, not attending to their stupidity. However, Allen dashed in front of them, only to slam into the glass door. His brother snapped at him, making a pulling motion. Siegmund's shoulders shook with silent laughter as the other teen ripped the door open, pulling, instead of pushing.

There were smudge marks on the once clean glass. Oliver gasped and ducked as Allen pelted forward, despite a counter being in the way, and heaved, slugging his legs over the surface, and landed neatly on the other side. The baker snapped up, demanding, "What are you doing-"

Allen interrupted him by wrapping his arms around his waist and plucking him from the ground. Lila whooped, grasping Oliver's hair so she would not be flung away when he spun around, pinning his catch to against himself.

"No rough housing in the bakery!" Oliver smacked the other boy's chest in rapid succession until the death grip was released, letting him land on the tiled floor with a small huff. He drew a finger underneath his collar as the others approached the counter with a more humane entrance. He gave Allen's chest another smack for good measure, tingling from the dynamic duo of a crooked smile and a wink. "It is about time you two come and see the place for yourself."

Matt grunted, and Siegmund cracked a grin, signing something for a while. The blond furrowed his eyebrows, translating, "He could not stop thinking of cupcakes since the round ones...the pumpkin ones you gave us."

"I loved those ones!" Allen claimed, shaking his arms in excitement.

"I need to ask Anabella if I can make something for non-customers," Oliver excused himself, and pelted upstairs. "Bella!"

The kitchen was no longer occupied, yet the mass of papers were still there. He shuddered from the scars many numbers of income and expenses left in his mind. The elder's voice drifted into the hallway, "In my bedroom, Oliver."

He cleared his throat, nearing the corridor. "Is everything all right?"

"Quite," Anabella weakly replied, resting on her bed. "I am going to get some more shut eye. Can you take care of the shop?"

"Of course!"

"Good," she curtly nodded and closed her eyes. "Was that a customer that came in?"

"No, it was some man browsing. He is gone, now." Since Anabella only bobbed her head again, he said, "Some of the boys came from the House. Do you mind if I make them something?"

"The good boys?"

"Allen is with them."

"That does not mean anything, young man." Anabella managed a little giggle. "Go ahead. Don't get too loud."

"Thank you, Bella." Oliver smiled politely, and gently pulled the door shut. He zipped to the staircase on his toes, earning a squeal of delight from Lila. He stopped at the top, tucking his unkempt shirt into place before properly descending. "She will allow it. What would you like?"

Allen slapped the counter with both hands. "Cupcakes!"

Siegmund made a looping motion. Matt raised his eyebrows. "Pretzels?"

"Pretzels?" Oliver echoed. "I never made those before."

"Come on, dude! Cupcakes!"

"Matt? What would you like?" The baker asked over Allen's complaint. "You could be the tie breaker."

"Shut the fuck up," Matt growled at his brother's low chant of "Cupcakes, cupcakes, cupcakes!" "You can get your cupcakes any time we are not here." Allen ignored him, or perhaps did not hear him over himself. "How about muffins?!"

"I have many different kinds of muffins," Oliver said, "Do you know what kind you would like?"

"What kind do you have?"

"It's a bakery." Allen claimed, "They got all kinds of stuff!"

"Even peanut butter and jelly muffins?"

Oliver chirped, "I can make those!"

Matt seemed vaguely impressed. "Really? Then please do."

"Aw, man, peanut butter." Allen did not seem heartbroken that he did not get cupcakes; as long as it was good food, he was happy.

"Is anyone allergic to peanut butter?" Oliver asked, glancing to Siegmund. "Just to be safe."

"The only thing Allen is allergic to is not eating."

Oliver gave Matt a sour look. "I think everyone is allergic to that."

"Whatever. I would keep an eye on your stores around him," the blond warned, and brushed Siegmund's hand to guide him to a table while the other two went in the kitchen.

"Are you going to help me bake?" Oliver offered, shooting the other teen a suspicious look as he turned on the sink faucet. "Do not think you will get more than Matt and Siegmund if you do!"

"Heh, sure, Ollie." Allen let out an unmanly squeak when the baker whipped a dish towel at his backside.

"Be sure to wash your hands."

"I don't got cooties," he said, but stuck his hands in the water anyway.

"That is not what the muffins would say." Oliver shooed Lila from hovering over the sugar container. Her grin gave away her sweet intentions. She giggled, and plopped herself on Allen's head instead. Once the baker brought out all the ingredients, he asked, "Can you spray that pan?"

"With what? Water?"

"Cooking oil," Oliver pointed to the canister on the counter as he pressed the stove for preheating. "Not too much!"

"Like that? Oh shit, it's drippin'." Allen set the tray on the oven, and dabbed a finger against it. He popped it in his mouth, and blanched. "Ugh! That's not that tasty, Ollie!"

"It is not for eating, mostly. It is so the muffins do not stick to the pan."

"That makes sense, I guess."

Lila blew a raspberry, and Oliver poorly stifled his laughter.

"What? What'd I do?"

"Nothing, Allen. Here, I'll measure the ingredients, and you can combine them with the groups I separate them into."

"How come we can't just put 'em all together?"

"Some things do not mix well with others until they are mixed with other things."

"There's a science to this!"

Oliver set a cup of flour in front of him, and pointed at one of the empty bowls. "Yes, if you think about it, there is."

Allen seemed to be unable to stop bouncing in place, even at the prospect of dumping food into bowls. "You know, this is a nice change of pace. 'Stead of runnin' all over town, we do domestic stuff like bakin', an' hangin' out..."

The baker realized he was staring when the other teen trailed off to meet his gaze. Oliver blinked a few times, and glanced to the half mixed batter. Lila held out her hands, prompting, "Yahoo! Say something!"

"Um, yes." Oliver grunted, grabbing a couple of eggs to tap them against the counter.

"What? You don't think so?"

"I do."

Allen shrugged, and turned back to his own mixture. Lila sighed loudly, and smacked a hand to her forehead. Oliver wondered if he would feel as idiotic jumping and clapping with agreement.