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[greywitchrp]

Ella thought about it. "I...uh...."

A soft blush coloured her cheeks as she realised with much shame how long it had been. She had not been taking care of herself. She knew she had forced herself to sleep to try and restore her power but she had still not had enough sleep and she was so lost on when she had gone home. The days blurred into each other when she thought about it.

"To be honest I don't even know when I slept in my bed last, or how long it was since you, uh, well you know."

She didn't want to come out and say that he had found her secret out. Seen her home. She realised that they still had not had the chance to talk about it. To find out just what he knew and what he didn't. She was perhaps a little scared too have that talk, to let him ask his questions. She had never talked with anyone else about it.

"Mamma Russo seems the type to want to feed you up even if you came in straight after a meal" Jack joked. "But you do seem to be stretching yourself very thin at the moment. Taking a lot on."

"Sending Vinney off to follow up was good, you don't have to do it all yourself"

Jack looked across the table at her, his gaze lingering, taking her in. He he wouldn't describe it as tired, perhaps just worn, the stress of the days weighing on her. It made her no less beautiful, and when she smiled he could see nothing but the light, but when she let herself relax he could see the toll it was taking on her.

"When did you last have a full night's sleep? Nobody can go on forever without a break." he paused "Perhaps you can have a night off tonight"

[greywitchrp]

Jack seemed a bit nervous, Ella wondered if he wasn't good at sitting and stopping. Or maybe he just worried about what Thane might do next. She had to admit she liked that her back was to a wall and not a window.

"I'll have a glass with dinner," she replied to Jack and then looked at the menu and to Mamma Russo, "I think the pollo parmigiana, did I say that right?"

Mamma Russo corrected her pronunciation a few times before she really replied. "No, no chicken. You are too pale, not looking after yourself are you? No, Mamma make you something special. Red meat, you need to take better care. Maybe your new man get you eating better."

Mamma didn't wait for Ella to protest the new man comments before she was gone again. Ella blushed. She didn't want to insult Jack by protesting too much, but she did not want him to think she was insulted by the concept.

She looked up shyly. "Is it so obvious on my face that I am tired?"

Jack thought he saw a flicker of doubt on Ella's face, her smile never wavered, but perhaps there was something in her eyes. But it was gone before he could be sure, perhaps he was just imagining it.

His eyes skimmed over the menu as Mamma Russo arrived, all of the classics were there, rich tomato bases, some baked pastas. The smells in the restaurant were heavenly and as he looked around he could see there really were no bad choices.

"It all looks good and smells even better, but I hear that puttanesca calling to me" he replied "and would you join me in a glass?"

He'd noted the bottles behind the bar on the way in, nothing fancy but just the kind of basic reds that no Italian meal would be complete without.

He found himself a little nervous, subconsciously tugging at his sleeves. He was just taking her for dinner, just being friendly and letting her have a break from the worry. Why was he so nervous?

[greywitchrp]

Ella took the seat with a smile on her face. "Why thank you, kind Sir." She was torn about enjoying her evening knowing she was keeping something from Jack. For all he knew she had another life, he clearly still thought he was taking a widow out to dinner. As innocent as his intentions might be, and she could only assume he was just being friendly, it might hit differently in his mind if he knew she had a husband who was very much alive. Even if he was barely a part of her life.

Still, she had appearances to keep and a single meal with a handsome man was not the end of the world, was it.

Mamma Russo came out loaded with plates and smiled at Ella as she passed. Ella smiled back before turning back to Jack as he sat down.

The menu was set on a chalkboard on a wall not far from where they were, and Ella gestured towards it. "So what is taking your fancy?"

"If I've learned one thing in life it is never to offend an italian nona" Jack smiles "so I guess we will just have to bring ourselves to stay for cannoli then"

He looked around as they arrived. It looked like a popular place, the rush might be over, they wouldn't have to wait for a table, but it was still busy and loud. The kinds of happy sounds that came from people just enjoying company together.

Jack guided them to a table where they could both keep an eye on the door. He hadn't noticed anyone following tonight, but with Thane and his goons it was always best to have warning if they did show up.

Holding the chair out for Ella he did a mock serious bow "Mi lady", a silly grin on his face.

[greywitchrp]

"You might just be in luck on both counts, I never miss out on Mama's cannoli, I think maybe she would consider it sacrilegious to leave before dessert."

Some assumed Mama was a devout Catholic, and she certainly paid her dues sitting in the cold hard pews, but Ella knew it was the old gods that she truly paid tribute to, so she wouldn't curse Ella out for blaspheming.

It was amazing how many around here had their own versions of double lives. Nothing quite so literal as Ella, however.

"Looks like we have missed the rush," Ella said as they neared.

Jack shook his head a little, breaking his focus at the sound of her voice. The scratches might not be fresh, perhaps they were old he told himself, not really believing it.

Still, no point worrying her yet, she was safe with him for now, perhaps he'd stay at the Church tonight, just keep an eye on things.

He turned and offered Ella his arm as they started to stroll towards the restaurant.

"Well" he started, considering the question deeply "I'm looking forward to a nice puttanesca, but if I'm honest I'm really hoping they have a good cannoli to finish up the evening. There's something about coffee and cannoli that always hits the spot".

He was quiet a moment before adding "If I can convince you to stay for desert that is".

Jack was noting the cars as they walked, a habit more than anything. it seemed unlikely anyone would follow them in a motor tonight, but you never knew.

[greywitchrp]

Ella noticed the way that Jack was looking at her door as he checked it, she saw the subtle way his face tensed. He'd noticed something and she wondered if her protection wards were failing.

They weren't foolproof, no one could keep anyone out who really wanted to come in. It just made people feel like they didn't want to. If you started to mess with freewill completely then you were in for a world of hurt when karma returned again. Ever mind the rule of three what you do comes back to thee, this lesson well you must learn, you only reap what you do earn.

She could hear Molly's voice in her head. She had always tried to make sure she balanced anything that erred on the darker side with acts of light, it didn't always work. But she knew if someone really wanted into her home then her protection wards wouldn't keep them out.

Had someone taken her shawl and why?

There was nothing to be done about it now, she might as well just focus on dinner. She could try scrying out the truth later.

"So, Jack, is there anything you are hoping is on the menu tonight?"

Jack considered Ella, he could see the exhaustion, the tired, she must have her guard down a little, she seemed to do so well at hiding that normally.

"Yes, dinner, you can have a bit of a night off from the worry perhaps relax and even laugh a little" he smiled at her.

"My coat is not as elegant as your shawl I'm sure, but you're welcome to it if you're feeling the cold" he offerd.

As they left Jack paused to make sure the door was properly locked, not his door, but sometimes it was easier to just embrace the habits of the lifetime.

He noticed some scratches around the lock. Unusual, Ella didn't seem the type to fumble and miss the lock with her keys.

[greywitchrp]

Flashback

It had been a hard night, not that there were many easy nights for Jack, there hadn't been for a long time. If he slept through the night it was only because he'd worked himself to exhaustion so there was no room for the dreams. Apparently that had not been enough last night, the nightmares had come again. The nightmare was always the same event, he hadn't been there, he hadn't seen, so his mind filled in the details in the worst possible way.

He needed a case, something he could use as an excuse to work himself to exhaustion, to keep the dreams at bay. "Something that actually pays this time" he grumbled to himself, noting the letter from his landlady. She wasn't going to evict him, she was a kind soul, but he was behind again.

He thought the last case would pay, tracking down a family heirloom, a painting, that had been stolen from one of the more notable families. People with plenty to spare that would have made it worth his while. He'd found the painting, despite everything he was still a good detective, and the thieves were hardly professionals.

His payday had been at hand, he could have just taken it back, claimed his reward and paid his rent on time for once. But he couldn't ignore how much that little girl resembled the woman in the painting. It was a family heirloom all right, just the wrong family. Swindled out of the one memory they had of their matriarch in a time of need and desperation.

He'd left the painting where it was, in a place of honour in the small flat, he'd reported back that there was no trace of it, that the painting was gone for good. Not the result he needed for a payment on results kind of job. His soul was heavy enough already without adding another weight, perhaps it balanced out the lightness of his pocketbook.

----

He was sitting at his desk when the man walked into his office. Well dressed, clearly plenty of money. Jack sized up the two brutes he'd brought with him. Bodyguards no doubt, brawlers that you would not want to meet in a dark alley, but just hired muscle.

"Word about town is that you're a man who's good at finding out what's really going on" the man spoke, drawing Jack's attention back. He did a double take, whoever this man was he didn't need the bodyguards. He was dangerous, Jack could see it in his eyes, there was a barely concealed violence there. But smart, not like the brawlers, this man would hold a grudge and if you were lucky you'd find a knife in your back when you least expected it. If you weren't lucky, well Jack suspected that there were much worse things this man had done than just murder. This was not a man you said no to.

"I have been known to get to the bottom of things" Jack allowed, waving for the man to sit. Sure he was a bad man, but Jack needed a case, and this man could pay. Besides, whatever the man wanted it was unlikely to be against someone innocent, Jack was sure he had his own people for that.

"Some friends of mine disappeared recently in some very odd circumstances. I need a man with an open mind to work out what happened so that I can bring some closure to their grieving widows"

Jack didn't really believe the last bit, but if tracking down some thugs paid his bills, so be it. He reached under the table for a weapon as the man reached into his case, just incase. But it was for naught, the man slid a folder over the table to Jack.

"This is what I've been able to find out so far, but all the trails seem to just end. If you find out what happened I'll pay you tripple you're usual rate"

"That's all fine and good, but I don't do business with nameless people, let's start again. I'm Jack" he held out his hand.

"Reginald" said the client, not taking his hand. "everything you need to know is in that file. I'll be back to check on your progress" he said as he turned to leave the office, not waiting for Jack to accept, not a man used to hearing no.

"It couldn't hurt to look could it?" he asked himself, opening the file. It was clear that there was a lot left out, some obvious omissions, but the man's two 'friends' had indeed disappeared. In the Barrens, a rough neighbourhood sure, but not the kind of place where heavies just disappeared. He flicked through the file and found the photo, there was a warning, this woman was dangerous, they suspected she'd disposed of the men, but Jack didn't buy it, even in the surveillance shot he could see the kindness in her eyes.

"What have you gotten yourself involved in now Jackie" he said to himself. Still, better to investigate and know what was going on regardless of what he reported back to Reginald, better to be informed, and maybe it would keep the dreams at bay to be busy again.

[greywitchrp]

"To be honest, I am exhausted," Ella replied honestly, her attention still on her lost shawl. She made a huffing noise. "I swear it was on this chair this afternoon. It shouldn't have grown legs and walked off on its own."

She could not understand where it had gone.

She put her hands on her hips in defeat and then looked back at Jack. "It's not here, I can't just pop elsewhere, so shall we move on to dinner?"

"Families can be so complicated and so hard, but that sounds so unnecessarily cruel. I'm glad you've chosen the route of kindness rather than perpetuating the cruelty like so many do."

Jack could sympathetise in a way. He didn't feel like he fit in anywhere these days. But that was entirely on him. He'd withdrawn from the world a little. He was there on the surface, he appeared to fit in, but there was no connection, no depth. He was a shadow, and yet somehow he didn't feel so much shadow these last few days.

"It must be such a drain living two lives, never fully being in either, never fully letting your guard down" he said sadly

[greywitchrp]

"I was never of that place. Not after my parents died. My step mother made sure I never felt like I fit in, or that I belonged." Ella replied, not sure why she was opening up about that fact.

Days could go by now and she would not think about that woman. It was truly horrible to wish death on someone, but sometimes Ella did contemplate the karmic balance of shuffling her off quicker.

Truly much of what that woman held over her no longer mattererd but there was one thing that she could destroy and so Ella would continue to play nice. Danielle would continue to exist.

"I've never spent so much time gone from there as I have lately, not since I returned to it. But I have felt compelled to help here, but I think I will need to go back for a longer period soon, it would be suspicious otherwise."

Jack breathed a little sigh of relief as Ella invited him in, perhaps he should have expected it but it was nice to know.

Her felt a shadow of energy as he crossed the threshold, nothing he could be sure of, but it felt like the hairs stood up on his arms as he did.

Jack looked around with fresh eyes, noticing the little details he hadn't noticed the last time. It was very much Ella's house, but there were touches of Danielle, just in the choices of decoration, just slightly more taste than you'd expect for the barrens.

"There's no rush, if will be here somewhere." He started to look around the living room to help, just checking the things in plain sight incase it was on the back of a chair.

"You seem to fit in here, perhaps more so than that other place" he said obliquely. Not wanting to mention her secret directly even here.

[greywitchrp]

Ella paused as she stepped inside, Jack was loitering on the top step like he wasn't sure if he could come in or not. Or was it because of the warding she had done after cleaning?

No, he had been inside since then.

"You don't have to stand on the stoop unless you wish to?" She said giving him a smile. She hoped her shawl was actually here, she was going to have a small problem if it wasn't. Although, she could explain to him, he knew about the other house. But she could not go and get it. While he wouldn't look at the door as he came inside, he would notice it if she passed through it in front of him.

She started looking around for the shawl. "I swear I had it today, at least I think I did."

"A couple of neighbourhoods over, down by the river" he responded. "River" was a generous description for the creek full of industrial run off that Jack could seen from his window. But everyone just called it the river.

"If I was in a hurry I'd take the tram, but I've always found you see so much more, hear so much more walking the streets. Many a case has been broken based on something an urchin told me on a morning stroll"

Jack thought about his apartment, very much the apartment of a bachelor, just a place to sleep really. He spent all his time at his office or out on the streets. But he should take better care of it, keep it more presentable.

As they arrived at the door Jack paused, unsure if she'd invite him in or just want him to wait while she got her shall. He'd been invited in before, but that was so they could have privacy to discuss the things he'd discovered. So he wouldn't assume that he was invited.

[greywitchrp]

"Uh, yes, we should get my shawl."

She really did not know what to make of Jack right now, but she realised, if he did think she was beautiful, if he could find her appealing, he would see no reason to not be upfront about it.

She had to admit, she liked the way he was looking at her. She could not recall the last time anyone had looked at her in such a way.

"Do you live far from here?" she asked as they turned into her street. "I only see you walking, do you stash your auto nearby or maybe take a tram."

She was still at a disadvantage, if he had been following her, he might know all kinds of information about her. She wondered if he had thought she was beautiful when he was watching her.

Jack moved without thinking, seeing Ella tripped he moved to catch her should she fall, totally unnecessarily as it turned out. He smiled as she cursed, he felt himself starting to laugh, she was perhaps not such a Lady after all, he knew he liked this girl, liked discovering her depths.

The laugh died on his lips as she turned to face him, the worry in her face, fear even, it almost broke his heart. He wanted to take her into his arms, to ask who hurt her, to promise he never would. But he was practically a stranger, surely she didn't want such comfort from him.

"Such poise, such grace, I should have known it would take more than a broken path to have you falling into my arms" he smiled softly at her, his tone light before adding "and I like to see the real you, see that mask drop a little".

"Now, shall we go get that shall?" he offered her a hand should she need to steady herself.

[greywitchrp]

Ella was about to remark about Molly's beauty when she realised that Jack was remarking that he found her beautiful. She blushed and looked away shyly. It might have been a slight error to do so, she did not notice the broken pathway that she had stepped over a hundred times or more. Instead she kicked it.

She squealed as pain shot through her toe. "Holy Mary, Mother of Jesus."

She realised too late that her curse might offend her companion but the sudden pain had made the curse that she had picked up off Molly just slip out. She looked at Jack, horrified.

"I am so sorry, it slipped out."

She did not want to make Jack made, though unlike others in her life, she assumed he would not raise his hand to her for the slip.

Jack could see how much Ella looked up to Molly still, part of him wished he'd known her. But there was more to the story, Molly was clearly more than just a role model. There was a way people spoke about family, not the family you're born with but the true family you choose. Whether she'd use the words or not Jack was sure Molly was family to Ella.

"From what I've seen she has a worthy successor. It's easier to see from the outside sometimes. Those kids look up to you, the whole neighbourhood does"

"I think you're more like her than you realise, though I can't imagine she was nearly so beautiful in the evening light" Jack smiled at her.

"We'll figure out a way to deal with Thane, to stop these disappeances. He's powerful, but powrful people can be brought crashing down just as hard as the rest of us"

[greywitchrp]

She smiled softly at Jack, unsure what to make of his chivalrous act of giving his coat to her until they reached her home. She could read into it, but she did not think it could be that. Surely not.

"She was important in this community, I try to do my part now she's gone but I don't think I can ever be what Molly was to so many."

Right from before the Great War she was doing so much, and the stories of what she did for people during were enduring. Sometimes Ella did not feel she could live up to Molly's shadow, but it never seemed anyone expected her to. Everyone knew what a special person Molly had been. Few knew what a powerful witch she had been. Far greater than Ella ever hoped to be.

"She was amazing," Ella continued. "She would have had thoughts about what to do with Thane I'm sure, she probably would have tried to go after her on her own again. I still wonder what would have happened if he hadn't flown across the country before she could."

She remembered that night and Molly's indignation that Thane had been transferred to work directly under the big boss just before she wanted to hunt him down.

Jack shrugged off his coat and put it around Ella's shoulders. "Of course we can get your shall, I wouldn't want you to be uncomfortable in my company" he teased.

They just strolled together in companionable silence for a little as they followed the familiar path back to Ella's house.

"Alec mentioned Molly too, she seems like she was an important part of this neighbourhood and someone quite special to you".

[greywitchrp]

Ella tried to think back to how she had come to know Vinnie. She wasn't sure she could really remember. "I think just through conversation. I think I knew Murray first, he was friends with Molly who owned my place before she died."

She nearly said that Molly left it to her, but for some reason she didn't want to have to explain the relationship between her and Molly. That was one secret that Ella wasn't sure that a man like Jack would want to know. Most didn't, especially men she found, they were so dismissive of anything they couldn't quantify. Magic was science that they just didn't understand yet, or so the quote she had read kind of went. But that wasn't something you could really get people to believe if they weren't ready.

They walked slowly down the street, the last of the sunlight making one last effort to cast shadows from the trees that grew along the edge of the paths. She watched as the weak shadows shimmied in the evening breeze. She shivered a bit as the same breeze blew through her dress.

Looking over at Jack she interrupted her reply about Vinnie. "Do you think we might detour by my house, I would like to get my shawl or a coat. It's going to be quite chilly once that sun vanishes. I really do not want to catch a sniffle, not with all that is going on."

She never really got sick, knowing how to look after herself, but she was also cautious to avoid the chance to get sick. It was easier to treat a cold that never arrived than one that did.

Jack turned and looked at Ella as they walked, watching her face intently, just quiet for a moment, another moment, perhaps a moment to long. Despite the light tone he got the impression she really believed that.

"I think you badly underestimate how much the pleasure of your company is worth" he coughed and looked away, realising that was probably far too earnest a statement, they had only known each other a few days.

"But tell me" he said, trying to shift the conversation to lighter topics "How do you know Vinnie?"

[greywitchrp]

Ella found herself laughing. "Whatever you think you're buttering up for I'm not sure I have anything worth such flattery."

They started to walk toward Mama Russo's with Ella leading the way since she knew where they were going. She could almost taste the cannolis. They were divine, though rumour had it that it was one of the sons who made them even though Mama Russo took the credit. She took all the credit.

"Well..." Jack pretended to think about it deeply, consider it closely.

Her smiling was dazzling, and he was hardly going to say no to spending longer over dinner with Ella.

"I think I could be okay with that, hardly a chore to have desert with a beautiful woman." he smiled back at her "Perhaps we could even stretch to a glass of wine, just because I enjoy your company".

He know he should probably be focusing on other things, waiting for Vinnie to report back, making sure the kids were settled in at the church, he did even have a case or two.

But somehow none of that seemed important by comparison, even though he was telling himself it was just because he wanted to make sure she was protected.

[greywitchrp]

Ella almost snorted at that. There were moments that she forgot that he had been hired to do that, that there was still some small reason to be weary of him. Truly, she trusted her instincts and her instincts told her that he wasn't still working for Thane. And she trusted Alec's instincts too, and Alec clearly trusted him too.

"I should warn you, I like dessert too," she said giving him a smile. Her mind had already weighed up what it would look like, but she realised, for Ella, it would look fine. For Danielle, not so much. But she was Ella here, and Mama Russo's wasn't exactly a spot where anyone would misconstrue them eating together as a romantic event. It was a busy little restaurant owned by the Russo family. Nothing around here had the same overtones of romance that restaurants Danielle frequented could. Soft candlelight and private tables between large plants. There was nothing like that at Mama Russo's.

She assumed there was nothing more to Jack asking. Why would there be.

Jack accompanied Ella and George back to the church as Vinnie left to follow the lead. George had clearly had a little much sugar and was running around excitedly as Ella and Jack strolled slowly together.

The usual crowds of children surrounded both Ella and Jack as they arrived, Jack helped the boys walk the perimeter again, set up a watch for the night, make sure they knew what to watch for, what to do.

He didn't really expect they'd be able to do anything, but it was important to let them feel they were contributing, make them more likely to reassure and protect the other children rather than get up to pranks.

As he came back he saw George digging into a huge plate of pasta, clearly enjoying it.

Turning to Ella he said "That pasta does look really good, if you're not busy tonight, perhaps you could introduce me to Mama Russo. I could buy you dinner to make up for the whole 'Hired by Thane to follow you' thing"

[greywitchrp]

Ella was not surprised where George settled on as where he had followed the men. Back in the day that had been owned by Thane's boss.

A lot of places that had been were now owned by various corporations. Ella had looked into it a few years ago when she heard that Thane was back in town and he was much higher up the food chain than he had been.

Vinnie looked pleased as punch with the information. "Thanks, George. One day you might make a right good detective for the precinct."

George looked thrilled with that. It made Ella smile. She looked over at Vinnie. "You'll take this on yourself now? You and Murray and I'll make sure George gets back to the church safely."

"Oh I want to go too," George piped up.

"But don't we need you protecting the others at the church and keeping an eye out for things others might not spot?" Ella replied smoothly. "And I hear they're doing that pasta for dinner tonight."

"They are?" George lit up even though he couldn't possibly be hungry after that huge piece of pie and the way he had helped himself to one of her pancakes. It amused her, though, they always said boys had hollow legs.

"They are, Georgie. What do you say? Want to head back soon to make sure you don't miss out?"

She was not sure what she was going to do tonight. The neighbours were going to notice soon that her home, her real home, had not had lights on in a few nights, and she needed to clear the letterbox too. She really should go home, and yet, each time she did she worried what might happen while she was gone.

Jack chatted with Vinnie as George ate his pie, filling the conversational gaps, but only half in the conversation. His eyes kept drifting to Ella, he could see how exhausted she was, starting to droop in her seat. It seemed he wasn't the only one who'd noticed as the unordered pancakes appeared. Deandra handed him the map on the way past, always on the move, chatting but never stopping.

Jack spread the map out on the table as George finished his pie. Getting his bearings a little. He put the salt shaker on 7th avenue, right where the old Garage was.

"Where was that last disappearance?" he asked.

Vinnie studied the map and consulted his notebook before he placed the pepper on another street. Outside of the Barrens, but another poorer area, the kind of place where they looked after their own but wouldn't expect any help from outsiders.

George, his pie finished, was watching the map with interest, Jack handed him the sugar. "Not to eat, but why don't you show us where you followed these men" he said in response to George's confused look.

George traced his finger over the map, starting at the 7th avenue garage. "They didn't see me, people usually don't" he started "they didn't go direct like, they kept going around, they were hard to follow, but I did"

Jack noted the way he puffed out his chest in pride "You're a clever lad, it's lucky you were on the case" he complimented, and waited for George to continue the winding journey.

"They circled through here, and then back around again, I thought they was lost" his finger traced a convoluted route through the Barrows. "But they didn't act lost, and then they stopped here, they met another man. The three of them was watching Miss Ella's house for a while".

"They kept going, I could have gotten there faster, they went the weirdest ways" George's finger kept moving over the map, looping over blocks, cutting back through alleys "But then they ended up here" he placed the Sugar bowl.

Jack took a note of the area, not the Barrens, an industrial area, lots of factories and warehouses, trucks could just disappear in there.

[greywitchrp]

Ella wasn't really surprised that Jack had come to the same place as her. It was obvious really, and he was clearly intelligent. One had to be to be a private dick. Was that what they were called now?

She zoned out a bit as George ate his pie at the counter and Vinnie and Jack dicussed things ready for when George would point them in the right direction. She would not be going, for obvious reasons. A woman had no business going with the police on such a mission.

She would see George back to the Church and then return home.

She was starting to feel a little sleepy and nearly jumped out of her chair as Deandra forcefully set a plate of pancakes down in front of her.

"Now, don't give me no lies that you've been looking after yourself, you're whiter than my plates are and your eyes are sunken again. When you last eat?"

Ella opened her mouth and closed it again. She couldn't recall. Was it last night? Had she eaten today? That wasn't good. She wasn't meant to be skipping meals while she tried to regain her energy and her magic. But she had been busy, focused on other things. She was terrible at remembering to feed herself.

Jack smiled to himself as Ella stepped in. He enjoyed watching her take control of a situation, it was subtle sometimes, just a little nudge, sometimes less so, but he liked the way she just stepped in when she needed to, there was a subtle shift like her shyness fell away.

Shew as right of course, they had been badgering poor George, it was a lot for a young boy, he'd clam up or worse, start to tell them what he think they wanted to hear. But some pie and a ride in an auto, well what boy wouldn't want that.

"I could defiantly go for pie" Jack said, giving George a smile, stepping back.

They all piled into Vinnie's car, George in the front so he could run the siren, Jack sitting next to Ella in the back for the short drive.

Arriving at the diner they all piled out, it was fun seeing George so excited, but somehow just walking next to Ella just made Jack happy. He held the door for her as they entered.

The usual chaos ensued as the entered the Diner, pie was ordered. When George wasn't looking he could see a look in Ella's eyes, whatever she was going to say she wasn't in the mood for arguments.

As they got settled he asked Deandra "I don't suppose you have a map of the city we could borrow for a moment"