Sorry for the random disappearance these last few weeks, I was feeling a bit burned out and needed a break. Have a mish-mash filler chapter before I get to the proper stuff XD

To Riordanlover16- My mum watches those Say Yes to the Dress shows and I don't get it? I know it's a special day and all that, but some of the prices on there, oh my god. Do you know how many books I could buy for the price of a wedding dress? No, I don't think we've got Arby's over here, but they do sound nice :D

February had marched in with a watery, yet bright burst of sunshine, layering swirling ribbons of light through the window. Louisa sat on her bed, feet on the floor and warming in the stubborn rays. On her knees, her sketchbook was balanced. Her pencil scritched across the paper, crafting the familiar chubby cheeks and incessant smiles of her Bradley.

He was on the floor, enamoured with the play gym Leo had brought him. He had only played in it a few times so far, though clearly adored it. He was reaching for the toys dangling above him, batting at them in his clumsy way and squealing whenever he made contact and kicking in delight.

Oh, yes, he would be a fantastic swimmer one day. Louisa couldn't wait to pitch him into the sea.

She swished her pencil back and forth, capturing each mad line of hair. Bradley had her hair. Untamed, wild, thick and black as the ocean depths. He had her eyes, that brilliant oceanic green flecked with pale gold in the sunshine, squinting against the light. She couldn't wait to break out her colours, to detail his eyes on paper.

The bedroom door creaked open, stealing a fraction of warmth from the room. It was Leo, back from getting her a hot chocolate. She had really fancied a hot chocolate, topped with those delicious tiny marshmallows.

She was lost in Bradley's sketched smile, only realising the real thing had shrunk away when he began to sniffle. She looked up, seeing his upset came not from his inability to grasp the toys above, but from the stranger in the room.

It wasn't Leo.

It was Denise.

Louisa stared at her, eyes narrowing. Denise stared back. She wore the same long skirt and maroon cardigan Louisa had last seen her in, darker now against her ashen skin.

Her nose was bleeding.

"Monster," she hissed through a jaw she could not move, lips hissing out the word. Louisa studied her, the greyed eyes fixated on her. "Monster."

"'Kay," Louisa said. She turned, sliding from the bed to the floor. She was kneeling, set to pick Bradley up and away from the weird zombie lady, except…

He wasn't there.

Oh, Louisa thought to herself. It's one of these again.

Clearly not thrilled at being recognised for what it was, her nightmare amped up the aggro. She blinked and in Bradley's empty place, there was now a pool of blood, tinted orange and amber under the flickery sunlight. Denise started towards her, unable to lift her feet from the floor, body stiff with death.

Louisa rose, squeezing her eyes shut.

Wake up, wake up, wake up.

She pinched her arms, her cheeks, pulled on her hair.

Wake up!

A gurgling noise opened her eyes. Denise was still there, though something was happening to her. She had her arm up, hand primed to grab Louisa once she was within reach. She shuffled and staggered, fighting the rigor in her face to hiss that one word over and over.

Monster. Monster. Monster!

The door slammed shut, its resounding crash killing the light. Darkness swallowed the room whole, thunder muttering beyond the walls.

"Oh, come on," Louisa sighed, tugging her hair in fistfuls. "Wake up, wake up. This is bullshit, wake up!"

A flash of lightning expelled the shadows, a glimpse of the encroaching horror. Denise, revealed for a moment, was crumbling before her, skin and flesh mottling with decay. Globs fell from her, hitting the floor like oversized raindrops. The second flash revealed the white of bone in her fingers, her arms, her face, bright as stars ever closer.

Remnant flesh blackened and congealed in squelches. Louisa retreated, back to the wall. Her wrist was bare when she searched for her watch, gritting her teeth as lightning cascaded through her vision, almost searing away the sight of Denise crumpling into oily sludge. A lumpy pile on the carpet, writhing along with a lightning-dashed slime trail in its wake.

It shivered and lurched towards her, folding over itself. It grew, upward, stretching and twisting with a sickening array of crunching and tearing.

A hand moved out for her again, no longer flesh and bone, no longer bone, but blacker than black clumps cobbled together in oozing rivulets. An imitation hand, fingers stubby unyielding protrusions dripping black dots on the floor.

Louisa inhaled sharply, blinking twice. The room brightened, dappled with sunrise. She was on her back, in bed, shoulders grasped by Leo. Leo in front of her, not… whatever Denise had been. He was shaking her, stilling when he saw her awake.

"I thought you stopped breathing," he whispered, tears pooling. "Dios bueno, I thought…" His hands slid down her arms, settling by her elbows. With hands that did not feel like her own, she grappled clumsily for him, managing a feeble grasp on his forearm. He sniffed, a tear slipping down his cheek.

He helped her sit up, her head lolling on his shoulder. He was warm, as always, but shivering as he wrapped her in a hug. Shaking. "I thought I'd lost you."

"No," she mumbled. "'M here." She turned her head, scanning the rest of the room. Storm was watching them, standing by the crib. Her tail swished and her ears flattened, snorting in relief. Behind her, Bradley still slept, hands up by his head. He had kicked his blanket away, tangled around his left foot.

Storm glanced back at the baby and then at her rider.

He's OK, she said.

Louisa wheezed, a shiver up her spine. Leo pulled back as she rasped around breaths, clutching her hands. She shook her head, eyes unfocused. A sheen of perspiration on her face, hands trembling in his.

"What?" Leo urged. "What is it, what happened?" She shook her head again and he bit his lip, withdrawing verbally, thumbs massaging her knuckles.

"Stupid… brain…" she garbled around gasps. Leo smiled feebly, a forced affectation. It had obviously been a nightmare, she knew that before Denise disintegrated into sludge, all too familiar sludge. It would not rattle her, she would not let it rattle her. Not this time.

Another shake of her head, marshalling herself into sitting up straighter. Storm whickered off to the side, still guarding the crib. Further reassurance Bradley was OK, was sound asleep, was breathing nice and evenly. He was safe.

Louisa was safe.

Leo rubbed her upper arms.

"You're freezing," he noticed, wrestling the duvet up and around her shoulders. She held her arms out though, not letting him complete the loop until he was in it. Perpetually warm, her personal radiator. She enclosed him in her arms and the duvet and he remained close, kissing her temple, her cheek. She exhaled slowly, eyelids heavy with the pull of sleep but obstinately ignored. She wanted to stay in this world, where things were as they should be. Not in that other world that wanted to tear it all away.

They had company for breakfast. Harvey was sat at the dining table, rather than in the kitchen. Nico sat to his left, raising his half-drunk mug of coffee in greeting. Will was opposite him, neatly arranging banana slices on his chocolate spread toast.

"When did you get here?" Leo asked, swiping up a muffin before Louisa could devour the plate.

"About ten minutes ago," Will smiled.

"Ugh," Louisa grunted, working the heel of her hand into her eye. "Fuckin' mornin' people."

"Hello to you too," Will took a large bite of toast. "I'm here to vaccinate your child."

"Oh, shit, yeah. My bad."

"I'll let it slide just this once."

"Just this once," Jessica agreed, emerging from the kitchen with plates of bacon sandwiches. "Can't believe you forgot, Lou." She shook her head, lips pursed. Louisa squinted at her suspiciously.

"You forgot too."

"No, I was simply testing you."

"Yes, you are very testin'."

"Shut up and eat your food."

"Yes, Mom." Louisa swapped Bradley for a plate of bacon sandwiches, two of which were immediately stolen by a salivating Leo. Jessica sunk into her seat, bouncing Bradley on her knee. He burbled happily, accidentally claiming a lock of her hair in his mad flailing. Jessica didn't stop him from trying to eat it, simply sighing bemusedly.

Louisa eyed Nico sidelong, dumping three bacon sandwiches on his plate. All eyes fell on him, only relenting the pressure when he picked the first up and started eating.

Louisa frowned. "All this time 'n' ya still a pain in the ass."

"Ditto," Nico said around his mouthful.

"Children," Jessica admonished, "it is too early for squabbling."

"Sorry, Mom," they chorused, returning to their food. Leo was already reaching for more of the glorious bacon sandwiches and then two more muffins.

"Solace," Jessica said, Will freezing mid-bite. "Where's my wedding invite? I've got theirs." She jerked her head at Louisa and Leo. Will scrunched his nose, chomping quickly.

"Don't blame me. I wanted a nice summer wedding, but someone wants a Halloween one." He glared sidelong at Nico, who grinned.

"True to form."

"Is it a spooky Halloween wedding?" Harvey asked Nico.

"If I had my way, yes."

"No," Will exasperated. "Stop it."

"First dance is going to be to 'Spooky Scary Skeletons'."

"Stooooppppp."

"Good gods, Leo," Harvey marvelled. "Chew your food, chew."

"'M 'un'gy."

"You don't say."

"Aaaahhhhh!" Bradley declared, springing up and nearly headbutting Jessica in the face. "Ah! Aaahh!" Jessica nodded sagely.

"Wise words, munchkin, wise words."

"Aaahhhhbbrrrbbbbbbb."

The plates were emptied soon enough, the last of the coffee drunk. Bradley had done his utmost to grab hold of Jessica's white chocolate and raspberry muffin, pouting when she bested him at every attempt.

"You have no teeth," she reminded him, "and this is my food." He settled with chewing her fingers, gummy and dribbly, until Will scooped him up. Bradley stared at him, bumping a small, drool-damp hand on his chest.

"Hi," Will said, "I'm going to stab you in the leg and you're going to hate me for it, but it's all for your own good." He jostled Bradley playfully on his hip and smiled. Bradley, recognising his biggest talent, smiled too. "Yeeeeah, that won't last long. Come on then. Stabby stabby."

His bag was by the door, toting Bradley over and then back again to the sofa. Louisa was waiting for him there, sitting when he did.

"Don't stab him."

"He needs his vaccines."

"Yeah, but… gently. He's little."

"You have never 'gently'd anything in your life."

"That's different. That's me." She held her hands out, Bradley leaning for her and gurgling contentedly. "In his leg?"

"Yes. It's soft and squishy, will hurt less."

"He ain't gonna like you."

"He ain't gonna like polio either," Will countered in his best mimic of her, checking labels on tiny glass bottles. Louisa watched him prep, flinching when he snapped latex gloves on. Under his instructions, she freed Bradley's leg from his jumpsuit while he tapped his nail on the syringe, getting rid of air bubbles. "Right, hold him still for me. Sorry, Bradders. You'll thank me when you're older."

Older, yes. Much much older. Louisa kept Bradley still, one arm firm around him, her other hand on his ankle to stop him kicking. He smiled until the point the needle went in, surprise rippling over his face, then registration. He wailed, fists clenching. "Sorry, sorry," Will said again. "Nearly done."

He cleaned the injection site and applied a plaster. Bradley thrashed away from him, curling into his mother and whimpering. Louisa bundled him up, bowing over him and shushing.

"It's OK, it's OK, all done now. All done now, right?"

"This time. He's got two more rounds, but there's a few weeks between each one." Will waved it off, smiling when she fretted. "He's doing just fine, Lou. Perfectly healthy. I'm not concerned about his weight. How're his diapers?"

"Stinky."

"Yeah, but is he peeing and pooing OK? Any concerns?"

"No, I don't think so." She shook her head, looking down. Will did too, seeing a small face peeking from between her arms, sea green eyes still watery, but hard. Glaring.

Will coughed a laugh.

"Now, that's a familiar look. Wonder where you got that from." He waited for Louisa to redress the tot before talking again. "How are you holding up? How's everything?" She remained quiet, motionless. Will didn't press, letting her think.

The others had separated. The table had been cleared, Jessica and Leo in the kitchen for their morning wash-up routine. Harvey was at the table still, resting on his elbows as he played on his new Valdez Industries™ phone. Nico was standing by the window, Storm headbutting him until he relented and stroked her nose.

No-one was listening to them, no-one eavesdropping.

"I'm better," Louisa said quietly. "In… in general."

"Good," Will smiled. "I figured you'd recover from the birth alright, with your magic water healing and that." She nodded, mouth twitching.

"Do… uh…" She hesitated, biting her lip. Will leaned forward, dropping his voice to a murmur.

"I'm here to help, Lou. What is it?"

"I… it's gonna sound really stupid."

"I'm a doctor, Lou. I've heard all kinds of stupid."

"Do you… I mean, have you got… like…" She glanced over at the others, relaxing a fraction when she saw they were all preoccupied. She pulled her sleeve up, revealing the lower part of her forearm. Will studied the scars, ones he knew and ones he didn't. "I can't heal them," she mumbled. "I've tried, but… have you got anythin'? I hate lookin' at 'em."

"I don't think I've got anything that'll heal them completely, but I've got something that can soothe them. That's not like you, though. You can heal pretty much anything, from what I've seen."

"Yeah, but these… they won't go away."

"Do you want them to go away?" Her brow furrowed, jaw clenching irritably. Will waved away her swears before they breached. "Are you letting them heal or are you still caught up on them?" She stared at him, unreadable.

"I don't understand," she said after a minute.

"Some scars are hard to let go, no matter how much you want to."

She said nothing to that. Bradley wriggled on her lap, pawing at her arm. He had been grievously wounded and now demanded attention, soothed somewhat as she supported him standing on her stomach. His head wobbled near hers, looking around for any further stabby stabs. He smiled at her, though it quickly vanished when Will stood and came into view.

Will laughed. "My deepest apologies, young sir," he said with a mock bow. Bradley swivelled away, plonking his head on Louisa's shoulder. She rubbed his back comfortingly, raising an eyebrow at Will. "He'll be fine. He's just sulking."

"Don't blame him."

"I've got a remedy I can mix up, a cream. I'll get Nico to drop it to you tomorrow. It needs to sit overnight. Apply it after you've had a bath and/or before bed." Louisa nodded.

"Thank you." She turned her head, regarding Nico who had sneakily stationed himself behind the sofa, though not as sneakily as he had thought. "You gonna charge me delivery?" He rolled his eyes, exasperating. Louisa smiled wryly. "I know you too well."

"Yeah, I know," he sighed. He noticed Bradley staring up at him, expression flattening. "Small child."

"Ah!" Bradley waved an arm. "Ah!"

"Here." Louisa hoisted him up. Nico held his hands up, leaning back. "Nico, take him."

"No, no. Babies don't like me."

"Aaaahhhhh!" Bradley protested, arms and legs pinwheeling in demand. Nico hesitated. Only under his cousin's glare did he falter, tentatively holding his hands out. Bradley squealed delightedly, grabbing a handful of Nico's jacket and chewing the collar. Whether he was bothered by Nico awkwardly, inexpertly holding him, arms crossed beneath his diapered bottom, he made no sign of it. He had got what he wanted.

"I don't understand," Nico mumbled. "Tobias didn't stop crying." Bradley jolted, jumping up and fumbling for Nico's nose.

"Well, Tobias likes you now," Will said with a smile.

"Yeah, but…" He dodged the tiny hand again, tipping his head back. In retaliation, Bradley bounced and headbutted him in the chin. "Ow," Nico deadpanned. Louisa snickered and he frowned. "He is definitely your child," he huffed. She shrugged a shoulder, eyes sparkling wickedly. Nico decided to ignore her, looking instead down to the dribbly abomination teetering on his forearms.

Bradley smiled at him, eyes creasing at the corners. He made another grab for Nico's nose and, this time, Nico let him. He nodded along to Bradley's burbles and coos, careful not to dislodge the exploratory tiny fingers.

When Tobias had been born, he had cried and cried and cried if he was put in Nico's care, or even near him. It was only as he got older and started recognising familiar faces that he began to settle and only more recently that he insisted Nico played with him. Uncle Neek, he called him. Nico didn't mind that title so much, though he would never admit it aloud.

It had hurt in the beginning. This tiny new being everyone adored terrified of him straight off the bat. New life in the face of death, squirming and distraught, only calming when back with his mother. Nico should have expected it. Most people were scared of him. Didn't make it hurt less.

Except… Louisa had never feared Nico, not once in all the years she had known him. Hers was the only pegasus that had the nerve to bother him and bother him relentlessly. It only made sense her son would be the same.

Bradley giggled and patted Nico's cheek. Nico blinked, a small smile tipping one corner of his mouth.

Louisa rested her elbow on the back of the sofa, plonking her chin on her knuckles. Nico eyed her warily, sensing teasing on the horizon.

"Don't hold him too long," she smirked. "Will looks jealous."

"I'm not jealous!"

"Oh, you so are."

"What's all this then?" Leo asked, sidling over. "I'm gone for five minutes and Nico's stolen my Bradley."

"You can have him back."

"Not yet," Louisa ordered. From the coffee table, she swept up Bradley's beloved octopus toy, swinging it at Nico and smacking him in the arm. Bradley gaped excitedly, wriggling and flapping his arms. At her nod, Nico took the toy and held it up. "Nico said he'd babysit this mornin'," she told Leo.

"Did he now?"

"Did I now?"

"Yes, yes."

"I see," Leo mused, stroking his chin. "In that case, mi vida, shall we go out?" He offered his arm and she grinned, climbing the back of the couch to loop hers through.

"Uh, what?" Nico clutched her sleeve, tailing them as they moved towards the front door. "You're not really leaving him with me, are you?"

"Yes, I am. We're gonna go taste testin' for cakes."

"You've just had breakfast!"

"And now we'll have cake," Leo grinned, yanking his sneakers on. "Diapers and wipes are in the top drawer in Lou's room, clean clothes in the second."

"Milk in the fridge," Louisa said, zipping up her jacket. "Warm it in the microwave for, like, thirty seconds."

"Don't lose the octopus, it's his favourite."

"Mind his head, it's soft."

"Don't bounce him after he's eaten 'cos he'll throw up."

"He has a nap about eleven."

"Don't leave the octopus in the crib when he's sleeping though. Don't want him accidentally strangling himself."

"What, what? No, don't go, don't leave me with him! Lou! Lou! Leo, come on, I can't…" The door swung shut on him and their cheeky grins. Nico swore in Ancient Greek, turning to Will desperately. Will raised his hands.

"Don't look at me. He doesn't like me, I stabbed him."

"Why would you do that?"

"He needed his vaccines!"

"Yeah, but… Jessica! Jessica, they've left me with the baby!"

"Oh. Weird, 'cos… I'm going out too and Harvey has work. Don't worry, Storm's here."

"She's a pegasus, Jessica. She can't change diapers."

"That sounds like a you problem." Jessica kissed the top of his head. "Have fun!"