Rachel sat on a barstool, leaning against the kitchen counter and describing our meeting in the shower to her audience. Katherine and Becca were laughing. Again. Somewhere, hidden away in the walls, despite what she said about going to sleep, I felt certain Amy was laughing too.

"I don't know what you're complaining about," Rachel shrugged, "I'm the injured party here."

"How were you injured?" I demanded. "I hardly saw anything."

"Yeah, but it's taken me weeks to get used to being wound up all the time, and now I have to deal with the memory of your baloney pony." On cue, a new wave of laughter erupted from the other two. Rachel shifted so she could look at Katherine and went on, "Seriously, you should have given me a heads' up.'"

"I believe I mentioned it once or twice," Katherine replied, wiping tears from her eyes.

"You said, and I quote, 'it's pretty nice.'"

"How should I have put it?"

"You should have told me he's packin' porno sausage."

That was delicate for Rachel, but the result was more hysteria. Even Becca's finer sensibilities were helpless against it. I suppose the conversation would have played to most men's egos, but I wasn't on that list and Rachel knew it, which was her sole reason for bringing it up.

"Can you please stop exaggerating?" I protested.

Rachel rolled her eyes, but Katherine stopped her from continuing, "Thomas, what do you think we're talking about? Nobody's saying you're a mutant," she held her hands a foot apart to illustrate, "but average is something like, what, five inches? What you have is more than respectable, and there's nothing wrong with being appreciated for it."

"Well that too, but I meant girth," Rachel broke in, making a large "O" shape with both hands, which brought the house down. I gave up, slid off my stool, and left them to finish their breakfast if they could manage it between breathless howls.

While I wasn't as flattered as I might have been, I was a little less offended than I behaved. It was part of daily life, and I wasn't always the target, I was just the only one that all three could mock equally. It was a coping mechanism too, and I couldn't deny them that.

I checked my phone for the second time that morning, re-reading the text I'd received while Rachel finished her shower. My apartment had been finally secured, and the four of us had to return to it on Monday morning to give Finn's team another three days for what she called "vital renovations." She didn't specify what "vital" meant, and I wasn't sure I wanted to know.

I didn't look forward to leaving again. The last person to set foot in my old place had been Gloria, which brought back pangs of guilt. I was certain the space hadn't grown any bigger either, and three days in cramped quarters, even with enjoyable company, would wear on all of us. Throughout the day new concerns began to surface. Other students lived on that block, some of whom I knew, so our comings and goings could raise questions even if we avoided the campus. Rachel's Jeep was known to everyone in her dorm and the apartment wasn't that far away. Over three days someone was bound to take note of it. Then there was Penny, who was already suspicious and had admitted to stopping by.

When we discussed it in the office that afternoon, Katherine picked up on my unease and suggested a road trip instead. "There's plenty of room at my parents' house, and they'd love to see you all."

Rachel objected before I could. "That's not a good idea."

"Why?" She asked, but Rachel just gave her a steady look. "Oh gosh," Katherine's eyes went wide, "I'm such an idiot."

I hadn't fully considered the consequences either. I knew I had to avoid spending time in public, but that also meant I couldn't get near their families. Since the girls couldn't be separated from me, they were isolated too, away from the people they loved, at lest until I found a solution. That drove my thoughts back to Kelly and the lab.

"I think the apartment will be okay," Becca said. "We don't have to stay there the whole time, right? We could—we could go out for breakfast or something, or go back to that park."

"It's too cold for the park," Rachel insisted.

"I know, I'm just thinking."

"It's not like we have a lot of options," I muttered. "If Miss Gold and Finn agree that it's safe, it probably is."

"We should come up with a story in case we bump into someone we know," Katherine suggested.

Rachel picked up her plate and stood. "Not that complicated, guys." She looked up at the ceiling and shouted, "Hey Amy!"

Everyone went quiet to see if the hob would answer, and after a minute a tiny, snarky voice echoed back, "What the hell do you want now?"

"I swear," Katherine said under her breath, "sometimes I think Rachel found her mini-me."

"We got some questions," Rachel called out again, unfazed,

After a short wait, a hinged vent swung open and Amy dropped onto the conference table. "I'm supposed to check in with you anyway. What do you want to know?"

"We're out of here for three days, right?"

"If that's what Finn told you."

"Do we have to go to the apartment?"

"That's your basecamp," Amy confirmed. "You're not nailed down though, just follow the same rules you would here. Tom's place is safest, but the whole block is warded so if you need to go to the store or stretch your legs, you should be fine."

"Anything else?"

"Don't go out alone, or at night, and stick to public places. I think Finn plans to post a guard, but whether that's true or not it won't affect you. I doubt you'd even notice."

Rachel turned to me, eyebrows raised, to see if her answers had satisfied me. I just shrugged, so she returned her attention to Amy. "What's the midget got up her sleeve, anyway?"

"What makes you think I'd know?"

"You work for her."

"I'm just a tech monkey. I'm only concerned with one thing and I'm not going to spoil the surprise. The rest is up to you."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Finn wants a wish list. The whole crew will be here along with a few independents. We'll be working in the sub basement and just getting the equipment down there will take some heavy engineering—"

"Wait, sub basement? There's more than one level below us?"

"Well, yeah. Finn seems confident there's a even more under that and a tunnel under the river. None of it's been used in ages and some passages have been walled off. It's in pretty bad shape. Without the wards and a bonded caretaker, this whole place would have collapsed into the river a long time ago."

Katherine held up a hand to get Amy's attention. "What was that about a wish list?"

"There's a ton of space and the only thing it's being used for now is a boiler. Since we have to go down anyway, Finn thought we could reclaim some of it. She has some ideas, but wants your input."

"How much space are we talking about?"

"Same square footage as the ground level." Amy replied, "minus fifteen percent give or take for the hardware we're planning to install. We'll need some room for new conduits too, so maybe round it up. Thirty feet floor to ceiling on each level."

"Thirty?" I sputtered. "That can't be right."

"It's not a normal space, Tom, you know that. This island has been used by the Fae since before the Roman Empire. It's been a fort, then shipping port, but the original foundation is still intact. From what I heard, it used to be a Tir, a city for renegade Fae. There's no telling how deep it goes."

"Why did they leave?" Becca asked.

"Probably too many humans. This area was always under Fae control, but it couldn't remain hidden while the river was in use. Hiding it in plain sight was the best option, making it part of the infrastructure, but unfortunately this tiny port caused a population boom in the city, and by the time the waterway became obsolete the local Fae had already left. It's still an important location, but it hasn't been used as anything but a safehouse for more than a hundred years."

"Where did you learn all that?"

"Fae have schools too," she smiled. "And Finn filled us in when she had us cleaning it out the first time. Working in a place like this comes with challenges we don't normally run into working on human projects."

"A whole city below us," Rachel mused. "And she wants our input to fix it up?"

Amy laughed. "She's not rebuilding the whole thing, just focus on your basement, that's more than enough. You want my advice? Ask big and let Finn decide what she won't do. By your standards my people can work miracles, but she's got specialists coming that could put our regular crew to shame. Jump on that while you can."

"We're not even using all the room we have up here," Katherine calculated, her eyes twinkling. "When do you need to know?"

"The sooner the better, but I'm not talking to Finn again until this evening."

"Good enough," Katherine declared, flashing a wicked grin and putting on a noble air. "Rachel? Becca, dear? Would you be so kind as to join me in my chambers?" She turned and strutted off. After giving each other a curious look, the other girls followed. I watched them go while Amy chuckled.

"What was that all about?" I asked.

"I don't know you as well as they do, but if I had to guess, they think you'll hold them back."

"From what?"

"Asking for the moon. This extravagance already makes you uncomfortable."

"Well..."

"We play by different rules, Tom. This seems like a lot, I get it, but it doesn't hold a candle to Oberon's throne room, or even some of the crap we end up doing for corporate clients. Finn must like you, she doesn't pull out all the stops for just anyone."

"We don't need a throne room," I said defensively. It stung my pride to think everyone could read me like a cheap novella.

"It's not all about creature comforts. A flashy place is like a show of authority, and you're a Fae lord now."

"Oh come on."

"It's true on paper," she said. "If you also consider that you're dealing with a ridiculous amount of stress and responsibility, what you've got isn't that extreme. Maybe she means to take some of the weight off your shoulders. Those three need it too. Finn knows what you're going through, and she knows how important you are. Believe it or not, she's trying to help."

I snorted, still feeling a little petulant.

"You doubt her intentions?"

"How can she possibly understand? My whole life was uprooted just when I thought things were finally improving and it hasn't settled down since."

"She's seen more shit than you know, Tom, cut her some slack. She and Miss Gold both fought in the last incursion."

"The what?" Miss Gold was still a mystery to me, and every detail about her past sharpened my interest. Amy cursed quietly to herself.

"I shouldn't have said that. They'll kill me."

"Why? I already know about the chthonians—the darklings. They broke through the Veil, right? Miss Gold and Finn both mentioned it."

Amy hesitated, glancing around the room as if she knew someone was watching. "Look, we were told not to discuss parts of Fae history with you. There are things you're not supposed to know yet."

"What things? Why?"

"They didn't say, and I wouldn't tell you if they did."

"Is it just because they fought in some war, or is there something else?"

"Tom," Amy warned, and I relented.

"I'm sorry," I grumbled. "Every time I think I'm getting the hang of this, I find out I'm still being kept in the dark."

"Ignorance is bliss," she replied, then hesitated, reading the disappointment in my expression. After several seconds she continued in a conspiratorial whisper. "There's a lot more to the Glim than potions and spells. Start pulling on threads if you're curious. That's all I can say."

I appreciated what Amy did for me, though I questioned the wisdom of it long afterward. It was as though she'd chosen me over her boss, the Fae who had rescued and cared for her. Maybe it was because I was officially her clan leader and that carried more weight than I'd expected. Maybe it was my chemistry causing her to make reckless choices. Maybe she was just being a good friend.

A few hours later, Becca left Katherine's meeting and wandered toward the doors bundled in a winter coat, struggling to carry both the Fferyn and the Glim to her usual spot outside.

"Let me help," I said, jogging to catch her, and she thanked me with a distracted smile when I lifted the heavy book out of her arms. After Amy's comments I wondered what forbidden information lay beneath its heavy wooden cover. "What's going on?"

"Katherine and Rachel are arguing because they each have a big wish and they don't think Finn can do both. They already know what I want, so I thought I'd let them work it out and get some practice with these while I wait."

"What did you ask for?"

She looked up at me, a little surprised, but my interest earned another smile. "A pool. I'd love to be able to swim. I like jogging with Rachel, but I'm starting to get bored."

"Rachel says it clears her mind."

"Not me." She stopped as I opened the door for her, then I followed her through. "It just makes me nervous. I start thinking about other things I want to do, or things I forgot to do, or promises I made, and there I am just running in circles. It's like a—what's the word?"

"Hamster wheel?"

"No, I meant— it's a metaphor."

"What's the argument against asking for a pool?"

"Well there are two basements. Katherine thinks a swimming pool would go deeper than we're allowed, so she wants to ask for a ballroom instead."

"A what?"

"Yeah, it sounds weird to me too. I don't know when we'd have a party, much less one with dancing."

"Even if we did, why would we need a whole ballroom for it? There's a ton of space up here."

"That's what Rachel said, but Katherine wants it fancy and formal. She said it's the only time in her whole life she'll get to ask for one with any chance of getting it."

That made sense. It was a fantasy, and I couldn't fault her for trying to make the most of our situation. "Maybe they should ask for both and let Finn come up with a solution."

"Really?"

"You think it's a bad idea?"

"No, I'm just surprised you'd want to leave anything up to Finn."

I chuckled and shrugged it off. "Well, in the end it's all up to her, isn't it? It's her resources and her team doing the work. Amy said ask big. We may as well put in an order for our own theme park."

Becca giggled. "A stable with horses might be nice."

"A bowling alley."

"A big library with shelves so high you need a ladder to reach them."

"Maybe a couple of tennis courts."

"Two? Really?"

"We'd have a spare in case one breaks." She laughed again and sat down beneath one of the bigger maples. I passed her the Glim and dropped down beside her. "Are you going to do—uh—magic stuff?" I asked. "Is it still okay if I'm here?"

"Actually, it's probably good once in a while because I need to get used to working around it, but I'll be looking up stuff too so I don't know if I'll be very good company."

"I don't mind."

"You're a little distracting." Her cheeks and ears reddened, though that might have been the cold.

"Oh," I said and cleared my throat. "Then, I can leave you alone."

"It's okay if you stay for a little while, I just want to try a few things before my butt freezes to the ground."

"We'll make extra sure your butt accompanies you back inside," I nudged her and she giggled again, then I settled myself close enough that our bodies could keep each other warm. "What are you working on?"

"Same thing as before. Trying to get plants to grow without killing them. Can I ask you a question?"

"Shoot."

"How did you learn to use your powers?"

I blinked in surprise. "I haven't."

"Well you're a lot better than you used to be. The first time you did that thing to me it was like an explosion, but when you... you know, when you helped me in the kitchen... it was nice. It was so smooth I could almost forget that you were using magic."

I took a steadying breath. Though she was only stating facts, the casual intimacy of her words challenged the boundaries of our relationship, as if it was more than Fae alchemy. We were certainly more than friends, but how much more?

I cleared my throat and tried to focus on her question. When I prodded Professor Barnes I wasn't even thinking about it, and Katherine and I had been physical for almost a week without that power breaking free on its own, so there was merit in her observation.

"I honestly don't know. Most of the time I just act on instinct, and occasionally it worked out. After a while I started recognizing what it felt like. It's... I was going to say it's like learning to use a new arm, but that's not quite right. It's not articulate."

Becca rested her head on my shoulder and sighed. "I was hoping you could give me some tips. This is really hard."

"I think you're doing great on your own."

"Hardly. I just keep messing things up."

"Not too long ago you said you had no idea how to turn it on. Now you're producing full grown lilies from a jar of dirt."

"I wouldn't have understood even that much if it wasn't for Meg. I'm only coloring inside the lines."

"So you had a teacher and you're still learning, that doesn't mean you don't have the knack. Look, if you don't worry about attaching the spell, whatever you're working on now, can you still make things grow?"

Becca sighed and responded by mumbling a few words, then gestured casually with her free hand. A barely discernible corona of purple surrounded her and the staff while a familiar tightness signaled a change in the Veil. A few feet in front of us, the dying grass stood a little taller and blushed a deeper shade of green. Then it parted to make way for a cluster of leaves and a stem crowned with a brilliant, white flower. I sat with my mouth open, awed by how easy she made it look, as if restoring life to dead plants was yesterday's news.

"I know what you're trying to do," she gave a weary sigh, "but I'm not being modest. This is just a tiny piece of what the Fferyn is capable of, and I'm not even close to understanding how I'm doing it. Even if I get it perfect some day, it's still only one thing. I have all this fairy magic in my hands, and all I am is a gardener. Not even a good one."

I was appalled at the audacity of her diffidence. "You're a lot more than that. I don't know anyone nicer than you. You put other people ahead of yourself all the time. You're strong, and brave," She scoffed and shot me an incredulous look. "Becca, you decked Mike dead in the face."

That made her grin, but it faded almost immediately.

"It's all true, but it's so typical of you that you can't see how exceptional you are. Katherine literally owes you her life. Me too, come to think of it. Miss Gold was about to snap my neck and you just stepped in and talked her out of it."

"Stop it," she mumbled quietly, her head low, but I ignored her protest.

"Now you're sitting here turning an impossibility into a practical reality by reading a book nobody else can understand."

She sighed forcefully and looked to the sky, tears welling at the corners of her eyes. "Is that really what you see when you look at me?"

"No," I said and she glanced back sharply. "Becca, that's what everyone sees. What I see is a compassionate woman who finds wonder in everything, with a lovely face to match her beautiful heart."

She began to shake her head, subtly at first. "You can't say that. You don't know me."

"I know enough."

"No you don't!" she shouted abruptly, unable to hold back a muffled sob. "I'm filthy, Tom! I'm in pieces!" She calmed quickly, obviously regretting her outburst, and removed her glasses to wipe her eyes with the back of one sleeve. "I'm sorry."

My heart was pounding. I had no idea what I had said to set her off, or where she got the idea that she was unclean, I wanted to protest, but feared making her angry again. "No, I'm the one who should apologize."

"Will you please just stop!" She pulled away, hauling herself awkwardly to her feet and nearly dropping the Fferyn. I tried to take the Glim from her again, but she turned away. "I got it. Thanks."

I stood mutely, watching her back as she retreated into the warehouse.