(A/N): We're back in 1966 with Vi, Evie, Hettie, Lou, and Pip- and Tarea Hugar, but don't worry, he gets the response he deserves. Foreshadowing, as is always the case, particularly with these Evie/Vi chapters. Also, I thought that after Evie returned, I would be writing exclusively from her POV, but I couldn't figure out how to write this one from her POV, to show how out of character she is acting in the eyes of... the other characters, so, Vi.

I don't think there are any trigger warnings for this chapter other than Tarea Hugar existing as a character, and Evie acting 'strangely', which given later context, could paint her actions in this chapter (as viewed by other characters, not what is ACTUALLY happening) as... complicated, trigger wise. I'll explain more about that in chapter 500 (because the idea is played with far more explicitly, there), but again, like the entire plot of 'Evie was kidnapped and possibly being hurt OR WORSE', it isn't what really happened, but certain characters are either questioning whether it is, or are under the impression that it DID. So, yeah.

January 16th, 1966

Vi

"Get out of my house." I'd never heard Evie address someone with so much venom, and I assumed none of the others had, either. Even when dealing with unruly customers, overly handsy university boys, or unsympathetic money lenders, she'd exhibited far more patience and kindness than they deserved- and yet, here she was, glaring at Tarea Hugar like she would've rather enjoyed seeing him dead. It was a reaction that was more to be expected of me or Hettie, than Evie, and I think it threw all of us off, a little bit- other than Evie herself, and Hugar.

He held up his hands slowly as if surrendering, but if anything, this only seemed to make her angrier. "Ms Wright, I understand you've been through a lot in the past few hours, but-"

She cut him off, which was something she almost never did- and only ever because she was too excited to keep something in, at that. "You don't know anything about 'the past few hours', so allow me to make myself perfectly clear," She got in his face- actually got in his face! Her! Evie! "Get. Out. Of. My. House." He looked to me- I don't know why, I certainly wasn't going to help him, considering that less than five minutes ago he'd told me that Evie was dead... mere seconds before she walked into the room.

"Evelyn, please, think this through- I can help you-" 'Help her' what, exactly? She stared him down- well, glared him down, technically- as she held out an arm to gesture to the doorway to the living room, and I assume, the front door beyond it.

"Let me rephrase that, since you seem a bit too thick to understand it," I blinked at the insult- a typically mild insult, but coming from Evie's mouth, it was practically the height of disrespect. "Get out of my house, before I call the police." I shot her a wary look- hoping she was bluffing, considering our aversion to law enforcement in just about any capacity- but I couldn't tell whether she was being genuine, or was a much better liar than I'd ever expected.

Tarea Hugar didn't seem to be able to tell, either- or he'd come to the conclusion that she was serious- because he straightened and gave her a stiff nod, as if acknowledging her request, and declaring his intention to abide by it. "Very well, I'll leave- but do remember Ms Wright-" I wasn't sure if he was talking to me or Evie this time, but I suppose it didn't matter, because she was clearly sick of him, and I had no use for anything he had to say now that my sister was home; safe. "-those people are-" Her face screwed up, and she looked like she wanted to start shoving him toward the door just to be rid of him a little faster. "-dangerous, and dishonest, and no matter how charming-" She rolled her eyes in a way that spoke of exasperation so deep I almost didn't believe it was something Evie was truly capable of. "-they are bad news, and they will-" She finally cut him off, as we reached the front door- her being sure to show him out, and us, unwilling to let her out of our sight, now that she'd finally made her way back into it.

"They're bad news," She repeated, and Hugar nodded like he was glad that he was finally making headway with her. "And you're... what? Good news?" Even he had to hesitate here, which left Evie shockingly smug as she pulled the front door open, and ushered him through it. "Let me give you one piece of advice, before you leave," She said, and he looked tentatively hopeful that she might actually have something useful to tell him- most likely about his mysterious targets. "With everything you know about them... do you really think they're going to let what you did in that bathroom go? What you tried to do?" His eyes widened fractionally, and I thought maybe this was, in fact, useful information. "And do you really think going after my family," She glanced back at us pointedly. "Was going to help you in any way?" He opened his mouth to defend himself, but Evie shook his head. "Leave, and don't come back. Oh... and take your little friends with you, too." I was confused as to what she meant by that, but obviously Hugar wasn't, because his eyes widened- then narrowed, before he nodded reluctantly.

"Of course, Ms Wright," He said silkily, but his tone had an edge to it- like a hidden blade. "Right away. You've already made it quite clear that you won't tolerate any... seedy individuals, encroaching on your peaceful little lifestyle, so I suppose I have no reason to stay." He arched a dark brow at her as if encouraging her to challenge him on that assessment, but Evie simply set her jaw, and gave him what looked to be a friendly wave... if not for the sheer despisal behind the gesture.

Then, before he even had the time to turn around, she slammed the door in his face, and spun to put her back against it. We were all too stunned to do anything but watch on as she blew out a breath, and dragged a hand through her hair- which, oddly enough, looked surprisingly neat despite obviously having been slept on. "What?" She asked, seeing us looking, and Hettie shook her head slowly.

"Evie... what the hell was that?" She blinked. "Did he- did he do something to you? Because I'll- I'll-" Hettie ran out of steam, probably because of the lack of sleep, and Evie's face scrunched up again.

"Not me, personally, but he- He's not... he's not a good person, I'll just say that." Hettie, Lou, and I shared a look; Pip was too busy staring at Evie with open adoration to be distracted by such a thing. Which was another point for the tally- along with the kiss on the cheek from earlier. "Who, um... who was that?" I think even Pip stared at her incredulously for that one. "I mean, I know who he is- what he does-" Huh? "-but I don't- I don't know his name." I shouldn't have hesitated, but I did- and I chalked it up to the fact that she was acting... strangely.

I reached out and gently put my hand on her arm- and now that he was gone, she appeared to have returned to normal, because her smile lit up the room. "Evie..." I breathed, feeling something loosen in my chest as I realised she was really here- and not a mirage, or some sort of grief-induced daydream- and leaned in to wrap my arms around her. "Evie." She seemed a little surprised by the gesture, but reciprocated easily enough.

"Vi," She replied, without even a hint of teasing. "I'm sorry I scared you guys- I didn't mean to, but things got... complicated." If her night had been anything like ours, I didn't doubt that... and judging by her reaction to Hugar, I had a feeling it'd been worse, if anything.

Maybe that was why I told her. "Hugar," I said, and her confusion was palpable. "Tarea Hugar, of Hugar Consultants and Contractors. Hettie's got his business card, if you want it." When I pulled back a second later, she was staring at me with wide eyes.

"I- Yeah," She said. "That might prove useful, actually, so... yeah." She looked to Hettie, who patted herself down- then sighed, and rolled her eyes.

"Bloody... sleep-deprived brain. I left it in my dress from last night, it's up in Evie's room." It was a testament to the relationship we all had that Evie didn't so much as blink at that. "I'll go get it- or... Evie, you want to come with me?" This, Evie did blink at. "Y'know," Hettie said. "Get changed, maybe?" Evie stared at her for a second, then looked down at her- my- dress... which conspicuously didn't look like it'd been slept in.

Evie hesitated, then shook her head. "No, I- I'm good for now. Maybe after- Tea?" We all stared at her, before Lou groaned, and we turned our attention to her, instead.

"Ugh, the stupid- There's no way my cuppa's not cold by now!" It was a dumb little thing to complain about, given everything, but judging by Evie's fond smile, it was exactly the ordinary, everyday annoyance she needed to be able to focus on right now.

"Go sit down, you lot- I'll get a pot going." She started heading for the kitchen at the rear of the house, and the rest of us shared a look- before Pip sighed, and started to follow her seemingly of his own accord.

"Hey, Evie, wait up- let me help you in with everything, at least."

(A/N): So, remember how I said I was writing chapter 500? Yeah... I've written one paragraph so far. 172 words. SOMEONE isn't playing ball... (which is annoyingly in character of them...)

Also, do you guys read Vi as Vee, or like... Veye? Because when I came up with the characters, I said 'Veye', because I wanted her name to be Viola (Veye-ole-uh), not Viola (Vee-ole-uh), specifically because I thought it would be weird to have two sister characters name Evie and Vi (E-vee and Vee), but literally every time I read it or say her name out loud I say Vee, so... I don't think it matters, whichever one you choose. I just don't want to be that writer who you hear pronounce a character's name, and everyone who's ever read the story is like, '...you said WHAT NOW?!'

Also also, I went to upload this chapter and almost uploaded the next chapter instead, because they (accidentally, they're not related in any way) have very similar names. That... well, honestly, nothing would've changed, but still- that wouldn't have been what I intended.