"Zane!" Aphmau finally says when they're done with their questions. She's hugging Zane tightly. "I was so worried about you! You have no idea!"

"Shhh sh sh sh sh shh..." Zane says. "It's okay, Aphmau. I'm here now--- Ah- Ah- ACHOO!"

Aph jerks away from him. "Ah! You're cold!" She glances at me and then tackles me as well. "Both of you!" She turns back to Zane. "Here, you can have your jacket back!"

"Thanks Aph." Zane says. And then he keeps hugging her. WHY DOES HE KEEP HUGGING HER?!?!? LET GO OF APH, BIG BROTHER!!!

Kim comes back. "I put Zane and Vi's clothes in the wash. Also, Lucinda, I moved your clothes to the dryer."

"Thank you, Kim." Lucinda says.

"You're welcome!" I notice she looks over at Zane and Aph, who are STILL hugging, and then at me, in front of the fire trying to stop shaking. "How are Zane and Violet...?" Kim whispers.

"I... I don't know." Lucinda quietly admits. "He's...acting really odd."

"Are they still hugging?" Kim asks in surprise.

YES THEY ARE! MAKE THEM STOP!!!

"Yes, that's the thing!" Lucinda says quickly. "From what Aphmau and Violet always said, Zane's not that touchy! His body language seems so different somehow..."

PROBABLY BECAUSE A MANIAC WEREWOLF NAMED EIN IS POSSESSING HIM!!!

"Violet, too." Lucinda adds. "She's been so... strange. She doesn't make jokes, she doesn't smile, and she hasn't asked a thing about Aaron yet."

"I wonder what happened to them?" Kim asks.

"They haven't said a word about that." Lucinda sighs. "Zane's just been holding Aphmau."

"That---" Kim says something I can't make out.

"Huh?" Lucinda looks at her again.

"Hm?"

"I... I thought you said something." Lucinda says.

"I just said 'I wonder what happened to them'." Kim says.

"Uhhh...Okay...it just sounded like you said something else." Lucinda says. Then she looks back at me. "Something else is wrong. Violet's just been sitting in front of the fire, saying she needs to warm up."

"That actually sounds like her." Kim points out.

"Yes, but Violet has a deadly fear of fire. She would never get that close to the fireplace!" Lucinda snaps, looking at me. My stomach rolls as I realize for the first time how close my hands are to the golden sparks. I was distracted by... well, everything.

"WHERE ON EARTH WERE YOU, ZANE?? VIOLET??" Garroth finally explodes, (thankfully) pulling my hands away from the fire. "We were worried sick about you!"

"We were out looking around." I say dismissively. "Why do you ask?"

"Looking around??" Garroth repeats. "Violet, there were signs of a struggle! I heard you scream and..." He looks at Aph, who has started making her weird cat-mouth face that she makes when she's super happy.

"Aphmau!" Garroth yells. "Could you stop hugging Zane for one minute and start asking questions?"

"But he's back safe, and that's all that matters!"

UH HELLO YOU FORGETTING SOMEONE??

But "I" don't say anything. I just sit there on the couch, playing with a loose thread. Which then makes me really angry, because it looks so out of place. GET BACK IN THERE, THREAD! GET BACK IN! DO NOT UNRAVEL. DO. NOT. UNRAVEL.

"Aphmau..." Lucinda and Kim come forward. "I understand you're happy that Zane is back...and Violet... but I think you need to take a step back and look into Garroth. He does bring up a good point. Haven't you realized you've been hugging Zane for a long time? Longer than usual?"

Aph just giggles. And then stops. "Huh? N-now that you mention it... you're right. Zane... what exactly happened to you and Violet?"

"What do you mean?" I say from the couch, pulling the thread out further. GET. BACK. IN!!!

Aph notices. She walks over and tucks it back into the couch, giving me a weird look. "I mean... you guys were missing. For longer than you would be without contacting me."

"We were taking a stroll outside, that's all." Zane says.

STOP. TALKING. FOR. ME!!!!! SHTAP IT!!!!

"UHH----BUT---YOU---CLAW MARKS!!!" Garroth screams. "SECRET DOOR!!!"

Hehehe... you must've found the door interesting, huh, big brother?

Sadly, new me does not find humor in Garroth anymore.

"What Garroth is trying to say is... We saw there was a struggle in the room you guys went missing from." Aphmau explains. "Then we found this secret door that led us through some mines."

Thank Irene they didn't run into Ein.

"With really weird rooms." Lucinda breaks in.

"Right!" Aph agrees. "We spent a lot of time looking for you guys. We thought you were kidnapped!"

"Kidnapped?" I break out into laughter and so does Zane. "Oh Aphmau, good one!" I chuckle. "We weren't kidnapped, we're perfectly fine! We just went out for a stroll before the storm got worse."

Garoth and Aph exchange a glance. "Vi...you don't go out on strolls." Garroth says. "Especially in freaky snow weather."

"How would you know?" I ask, pulling the STUPID thread out again. But Garroth turns to Zane.

"Zane, you cringe at the very idea of going outside to do anything! Violet, you hate going out in bad weather because you're afraid bad luck will strike when you need it not to most! You've always been like that since we were kids!"

"I don't think we've met as kids, Garroth..." I say slowly, hating every word.

"Violet..." Aph says, sounding scared. "What did you say?"

"Garroth and I never met as kids!" I repeat.

"This is what I was telling you guys about!" Garroth says urgently. "Zane and Violet are acting odd!"

Aph creeps forward. "Violet... Zane... do you know who I am?"

"Of course, Aphmau!" I chirp. "You're one of my best friends! We've been great friends for a long time now!"

"I know I've never been more happy to have someone like you in my life." Zane chimes in.

"Okay..." Aph crosses over to Kim and Lucinda. "Guys... do you know who this is?" She points to Lucinda.

"Lucinda!" I reply.

"How long have you known her?"

"A while." I admit. "We met in high school. She's a really powerful witch, and I've always been a bit jealous of her hair color."

"Aw!" Lucinda coos.

"Zane?" Aph asks.

"I've known her a while too. I don't know her too well, but she's cute." Zane says without an ounce of shame.

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?

"Oh!" Lucinda laughs. "That's very nice of you to say, Zane! Thank you! I don't ever think I've been complimented by you."

"You haven't?" Zane asks. "Well, I should compliment you more then! Not just on your looks but your intelligence as well!"

Wow. Okay. HOW can you guys not know it's not him? He would NEVER say these things!!

Lucinda lowers her voice. "I don't know what's gotten into Zane, but I'll take the flattery any day!"

"Hmm..." Aph points to Kim. "Guys, do you know who she is?"

"Kim!" I wave, but a very little wave, not at all like my big, dramatic ones I normally do.

"Again, Kim and I barely talk, but I somewhat remember her from high school." Zane tells Aph. "I know she had a crush on Laurence."

"HA!" Kim squeals nervously. "WHAT?? No way! I didn't nor do I now!" She slaps Lucinda a couple times on her shoulder. "Yeah! That's it!"

"That... checks out as well." Aph admits. She turns to Garroth. "All right, Zane and Violet. Last one. Who is this?" She points to my big boob-headed brother, who is currently making plead-y eyes at us.

I've never wanted to hug my stupid brother more.

"Well, I'm not sure exactly..." Zane says.

"But... you've met him before." Aph tries. "Like all of us!"

"No, we just met him outside." I say, FINALLY pulling that stupid thread out of the couch. "But I know his name is Geroth."

WHY. DID. I. JUST. PRONOUNCE. IT. GER-OTH?!?!? I'M NOT IVY!!!!

Everyone stares at me. "What?" I demand, wanting to punch myself in the nose for the hurt look on Garroth's face. "Why are you all looking at me like that?"

"What the..." Aph says, her face showing every horror I'm feeling.

"See???" Garroth demands. "THEY'RE ACTING LIKE THEY DON'T REMEMBER ME!!"

"I'm sure I would remember someone like you." I tell Garroth. "You're pretty loud."

"Hey!" Garroth protests loudly.

"Hahaha!" Zane cracks up. Then he stops. "Hmm...be right back real quick. Gotta go to the bathroom." He runs off.

"I'll go make sure he doesn't get lost." "I" say. I run after him. "Zane! Wait up!"

He grins back at me. "Violet, our plan is working perfectly! They have no idea who they're here with!"

"I know!" I say excitedly. "But that guy Garth worries me. He doesn't seem to trust us, and why does he keep saying we're his siblings?"

"Beats me." Zane shrugs. "We better go back now. You come after me, okay? So it looks like you went too."

"All right." He leaves and I wait a couple minutes before joining them.

"WHAT??" Aph screams. "WAIT. Aaron isn't back??" She looks around wildly.

"No... I thought that was weird, too." Lucinda admits.

"Yeah, it's been a while now." Kim agrees.

"We have to find Aaron." I say. "Brother wants to see him so badly!"

"Brother?" Garroth demands, while Zane elbows me in the ribs.

"Zane." I amend. "He wanted to talk to Aaron about something."

"That's not important!" Aph yells, distracting everyone again.

No, you stupid potato, IT WAS MY ONLY HINT!!!!

"The storm is picking up!" Aphmau continues.

"Yeah, it's pretty bad out there." Zane says.

"I HAVE to find him." Aphmau cries. "I can't lose him too!" She runs for the door, not even getting into proper winter gear before the door opens and she's gone.

"APHMAU! WAIT!" Zane and I yell. We try to chase after her, but Lucinda, Kim and Garroth holds us back.

"Stop, you guys!" Lucinda commands. "You're not even wearing shoes! You just got back! We need to stay here, and if Aphmau doesn't come back, we'll go out to find her. Okay?"

"Okay." I agree. My stomach gurgles and "I" look up at Kim. "Do you happen to have any food, by chance?" I ask.

She smiles. "Garroth can make you something. C'mon." She leads us to a big dining area labeled "Bigby's" that I hadn't noticed before and seats us at a table while Garroth goes into the kitchen and moves things around. He finally comes out holding two bowls.

"Here you go, baby brother and baby sister." He puts bowls in front of us. "Chicken noodle soup!"

"Thanks." Zane says. "Um... but, I have to ask. Is calling us "baby brother and baby sister" like a thing for you?"

No, you fat little nugget, he's calling us babies because WE'RE HIS LITTLE SIBLINGS!!!!!

"Zane. I understand you and I have had our difficulties in the past---"

"No, we haven't." Zane says.

"We JUST met you." I put in.

"RAAH!" Garroth groans.

Kim comes running in. "Garroth, can I speak with you a moment?"

"Sure." Garroth turns back to us. "Bon Appetit, Zane and Violet!"

"Thanks!" We chorus, digging into the soup. I treasure every bite, knowing full well that my stupid boob-head brother made this with all the love he could. Even if love technically isn't an ingredient. Garroth can make it one!

Garroth and Kim leave the room, probably talking about his "I'm your brother" thing. All I want to do is hug that boob-head and tell him I love him.

Stupid potions.

_______________________________________

I'm just curious--- Laurel or Yanny? I hear Laurel, my sister hears Yanny. It's odd.