I stood in the green fog from Eric's experiment, everyone falling silent as the chaos dispersed. All that was left was a chalky cloud of green smoke and the smell of burnt chemicals.

"What the-" was all I could mumble out, mouth agape in shock and body ridged. The kitchen looked untouched, as if we were never here at all.

"Now, off to bed please" Nanny McPhee stated, breaking into the silence. We all stared at her dumbfounded, until slowly, we began to trickle our way to the bedroom. No one dared to say anything, so the silence dragged on.

I couldn't feel Simon's warmth beside me, so I turned. He was standing in the kitchen, body still, but begrudgingly. I stopped and stared at him, wondering what he was thinking about. Was he thinking at all?

I strided over to him silently, grabbing a hold of his hand to pull him along. We sauntered up the stairs and into the room. Sebastian, Tora and Aggie were in the bathroom, as for Lily, Eric and Chrissy were sitting on their beds. Still, the silence continued.

Simon had turned, and was watching me with a look I couldn't place. I was about to speak when I remembered where we were and what was happening. My heart sped up in my chest, not because he was watching me, but because his hand was gently perched in mine.

"I'm going to get some water." I dismissed abruptly, turning away from him. I could feel heat growing to my cheeks as I walked away, screaming at myself to calm down. I was sure my face was on fire by the time I made it down stairs.

I quickly got a cup, stopping briefly to steady myself. Was I overreacting? Or is this normal? I didn't know how to answer either of the questions, and instead I was thrown into a tsunami of unanswered thoughts and emotions.

"Luciana?" A small voice broke in to my consciousness - I realised I had been staring at the wall. Turning slowly, a small figure with flowing brown hair was standing beside me. Lily.

"Yeah?" I asked her lightly, turning to the tap with the cup in my hand.

"Do you like my brother?" This question caught me off-guard. I thought my heart was going to come right out from my shirt. Blushing harder, I fumbled for words.

"You see," Lily took a step closer to me, speaking innocently. "It's like some of the fairy tales I've been reading to Evangeline! You'll fall in love and get married and live happily ever after!!" She exclaimed, her eyes twinkling from the excitement.

"Er..Lily..I don't think I'm ready to get married. Besides, he's my best friend." I replied quietly, laughing it off. Lily's smile dropped slightly, it hurt my heart a little.

"But that's how it starts in most stories!" she countered, grinning at me before going back into the bedroom. I watched as she left, leaning against a cupboard. Lily's curiosity and knowledge had always challenged me, but I found it oddly respectable

I grabbed a glass of water, chugged it quickly, then went back upstairs. The rest of the kids were still getting ready for bed, so I decided to go into the bathroom. I was brushing my teeth when the room was disrupted by a loud voice.

"What on earth are you doing?" Simon asked, walking into the room.

"Getting ready for bed like that women told us to." Eric replied stoically.

"Nanny McPhee" I corrected him, receiving a glare in return.

"Keep in mind that we got rid of the last seventeen nannies. We're getting rid of this one too" Simon growled before storming out. I suppressed a sigh, finishing up my night routine. I entered back into the bedroom, grabbing little Aggie in the process.

She wiggled and gurgled in my arms, staring up at me with wide eyes. After setting her down in her cot I went over to my bed, collecting Chrissy's teddy and its head, the needle and thread still attached to it. I settled down into my bed, closing off into my own world as the movement continued around me.

Abruptly, the room became quiet. I looked up curiously to find Nanny McPhee had walked into the room. Even scrambled to their beds, all except Simon. He, however, strolled over to my bed and sat beside me, cross legged. I wanted to argue with him, but decided to just stay quiet.

Everyone sat in silence as Nanny McPhee scanned the room. I went back to sewing the teddy, in hopes it would deter any conflict. That's when Simon decided to speak.

"You must feel at such a disadvantage," Nanny McPhee turned her head towards us like a crow, crossing the room to Simon. I started feeling uncomfortable so I shifted on the bed, before fiddling with the bear. The tension in the air became uneasy, a heavy silence weighing onto the other kids.

"How so?" She asks plainly.

"We know your name, but you don't know ours." My eyes lifted once more from the bear, looking at Simon ridiculously. He held a hand out to her.

"Pleased to meet you. I'm Oglington Fartworthy" Giggles started in the room as I just sat there, still shifting uncomfortably and looking away from everyone. I'm not shy. Why am I acting shy? Nanny McPhee turned around, being cut short by Simon.

"That's F-A-R-T. Fartworthy" giggles erupted again. My fingers shook slightly, slipping from my grip and prickling my finger.

"Ow!" I wince, not even realizing that Nanny McPhee had turned to me. I recovered quickly, looking at Nanny McPhee with a wide expression. Wanting to shrug it off, I decide against it last minute. "Also Lucy, but I prefer Ow."

Nanny McPhee glances to Tora who replies calmly with a "Booger McHorsefanny"

Next is Lily, "Knickers O'Muffin"

Nanny McPhee looks at Eric, "Sandra." More giggles.

Then Chrissy, "Bum." Sebastian turns to her quickly, starting to protest.

"I'm Bum!"

Chrissy snorts loudly. "Oh, Bosoms"

Aggie pips in, fiddling with her toy. It was a small blue bell, which would chime out when moved. "Bum!"

This causes Chrissy to sit up "You can't be 'Bum' Aggie, Sebastian's Bum. You're poo."

"Poo Bum." Aggie giggles causing Sebastian to once again, protest. "You can't be poo and bum!"

I tense up as Nanny McPhee looks at a giggling Aggie. Her expression is emotionless, and her words ring out amongst the snickers. "Goodnight Agatha."

"Goodnight Sebastian."

"Goodnight Christianna."

"Goodnight Eric."

"Goodnight Lily."

"Goodnight Tora."

"Goodnight Luciana."

"Goodnight Simon..."

The color from the kids faces were drained out, and we all sat with shocked faces, watching her. I finished sewing the bear, setting it beside my leg as my eyes trailed once more to Nanny McPhee. She began speaking.

"Simon, please go to your own bed."
Seriously? My cheeks turn bright red, so I reside to hiding my face in my hands. Simon grumbles out a few words, crawling over to his bed and sitting in his previous position with his arms crossed.

"There is something you should know about the way I work, when you need me but do not want me, I shall stay. If you want me but no longer need me, than I shall go." I look back to her, frowning. She scans each of our faces before turning around.

"We will NEVER want you!" Simon snaps, face growing grumpier.

"Then I shall never go, Goodnight Children" With that, she is gone, followed by the bedroom light being turned off. I stood up after a few seconds of silence and walked towards Chrissy's bed, handing her the teddy before going back into mine.

"How did she know our names?" Tora whispers out through the darkness, "No one ever knows our names."

"Magic?" Lily's face lights up, grinning.

"Witchcraft." Eric states confidently.

"I wish I could do witchcraft." I murmured, apparently louder than I thought because my comment was soon followed by giggles.

"It doesn't matter," Simon snapped once again. "We're getting rid of her tomorrow" An uncomfortable silence filled the room but I didn't dare talk. Half of us were already asleep anyway, and the other half just couldn't get over the events from before. I turned over so that I was facing Simon's bed. His brown eyes caught mine, sending a number of unspoken thoughts into my head.

Neither of us said anything, yet we could have. His stare was awe-like, watching me with bewilderment through the darkness. When I was in between sleep and being awake, I felt someone's warmth next to me. My breath stayed calm, the quilts hugging me tighter. Somehow, my subconscious was able to keep calm.