It was evening by the time the trio returned to the lab. Predictably, Lee had asked to meet the nymphs, so he could "woo the lovely ladies." Ford never would have guessed that the sketches of forest nymphs in his Journals would capture anyone's heart, but he did have to admit the nymphs were beautiful (and drawn by quite the skilled artist, if he did say so himself).

Somehow, Fidds had ended up coming with them. He seemed reluctant, but Ford supposed he wanted to keep tabs on Stanley. It was unclear why Fidds had such a strong reaction to Stan's arrival. Was he truly concerned for his safety and his work? Or did he have something to hide? He had only met Lee once before; Ford didn't think that was long enough to develop such strong hatred for someone.

Whatever his motivation, Fidds stayed with the brothers for the day. As Lee romped through the forest, Fidds stayed back, his shoulders perpetually hunched. This didn't help the mood, but despite the obvious tension, they still had an exciting adventure — mainly because Lee ignored Fidds' hostility except to joke about it.

Lee seemed as excited as Ford had been when he first explored this forest, though he didn't express it the same way Ford had. It took Ford a bit to get used to his brother's personality again, after being away from him for so many years; but he soon remembered that, for Lee, what seemed to be flippancy or mockery was actually awe and respect. Lee didn't comment on the grandeur of the creatures he saw, but instead made jokes about the gnomes and the fairies. At one point, a group of gnomes scampered by, carrying one of Susan Wentworth's pies. At least, Ford assumed it was made by Susan (or "Lazy Susan," as people called her after the idiopathic damage to her eye), seeing as she was the only townsperson he knew who routinely baked pies. Lee watched the gnomes with wide eyes, laughing. "Wow," he said, "they'll have pie for days — that thing's twice their size!"

Ford, for his part, wondered whether Susan had seen the gnomes as they stole from her, and whether she'd finally believe in the supernatural. Not likely, knowing the people of Gravity Rises.

Soon, they reached the tree of Ford's favorite hamadryad, Juniper. When Lee said nymphs, he hadn't specified what kind of nymphs, so Ford had chosen to visit a friend.

Her tree stood within the habitat of the leprecorns — a horrifying cross between leprechauns and unicorns. The hamadryads didn't have much of a habitat, the way other creatures did. The species of the forest had firm territories, some of which were hidden by invisibility fields, like the minotaur dwelling. The hamadryads, though, were interspersed between the other habitats. Their cousins — the naiads and the dryads — had their own territories, but the hamadryads lived everywhere and nowhere. Ford supposed that when you could merge seamlessly with the tree to which you were bonded, the need for property became greatly diminished.

Lee became instantly enamored with the leprecorns, laughing as their horns played an annoying loop of Danny Boy, and Fidds sulked on the fringes of the clearing. Ford shuddered at the music and approached Juniper's tree. "Juniper," he called, "it's Stanford. I've brought friends."

The tree in front of him wavered, as if in a mirage. A tall woman clad in a dress of pleated juniper needles stepped out, her form shifting from ethereal to solid.

"Stanford Pines!" It was both a greeting and an admonishment. "Why do you never visit?"

"I'm sorry, Juniper, I really did mean to—"

She waved a hand, flipping her long auburn hair over one shoulder. "I keep telling you, call me June."

He didn't think it much mattered which he called her; neither were her real name anyway, just how he referred to her, since she claimed she was hesitant to share her real name with a human. Still, nymphs got testy when one didn't comply with their whims, so he relented. "Okay, June, I apologize for not visiting sooner."

She stared at him, then giggled. "So formal." Her eyes drifted to Stanley, who had abandoned the leprecorns to gape at her beauty. "Who's this, Fordsie? He looks just like you!"

Ford might have introduced him, but Lee stepped forward, intent on doing it himself. He swept into a pithy bow. "Stanley Pines, milady. I'm Ford's twin brother. Might I say, you look ravishing."

June giggled again, while Ford slapped a hand to his forehead. Where had Lee even learned the word "ravishing"?

These leprecorns weren't helping, either. A few of the pesky creatures trotted up to Ford, chirping Irish phrases and playing tinny music from their horns. Ford wanted desperately to kick them out of his way, but he didn't dare with Juniper standing so near.

"June, could we perhaps go somewhere else?"

June, who had been talking with Lee, stopped and blinked at Ford. "Why?"

Ford didn't mean to, but he gave himself away by glancing at the nearest leprecorn.

June laughed. "Oh, I see. Is this why you never come visit? You're irritated by my babies?" She scooped up a leprecorn and stroked its beard as if it were a dog.

Ford cringed at the sight. "Well, yes," he admitted. "Could we please go somewhere else?" he repeated.

"I like it here," Lee declared. He stooped down and plucked a four-leaf clover from the ground, holding it out to June. "It's the luckiest place I've ever seen."

Ford thought he heard a quiet noise of disgust from Fidds — and he had to agree with that sentiment.

The noise drew June's attention. Her gaze swung to Fidds, and her eyes narrowed. "What are you doing here?"

Ford's brow knit in confusion. "You two know each other?" Ford had met June on a lone adventure, and as far as he knew, she and Fidds had never crossed paths.

"I'm Ford's research partner," Fidds replied, ignoring Ford's question. "We're just out doing research."

"What kind of research?" asked June, suspicion replacing the laughter in her eyes.

"Actually, we came out here so Lee could meet you," Ford said. "It's his first time visiting Gravity Rises."

After a breath, June turned a dazzling smile on Lee. All negativity was gone from her expression. "That's wonderful! Do you like it here?"

Lee grinned foolishly. "Definitely."

With June's attention back on his twin, Ford shot a questioning glance in Fidds' direction. Fidds just hunched his shoulders further and said nothing. Not to be ignored, Ford approached his friend. "How do you two know each other?"

"We don't," Fidds replied. "She must be confusing me with someone else."

Ford frowned. "She seemed very—"

"Fordsie, come over here!" June called.

With a final glance at Fidds, Ford did as she said. She led the Stan twins away from Fidds and — to Ford's dismay — deeper into the leprecorn habitat. "I want you to meet my favorite leprecorns."

Ford regretted following her. "I'd rather not—"

"C'mon, Fordsie, you know you like them." As she said these playful words, she turned a serious look on him, and he understood that she had something else in mind.

"I know I do," Lee added. But his eyes were on June, not on the leprecorns.

June led them into a meadow of clover (many of which seemed to have four leaves). Leprecorns flocked around them, their beards and tails brushing against Ford's legs. June let out a delighted noise and picked one up, holding it out to Lee. "This is Sean. He's a dear."

Lee took the leprecorn. "Hi, Sean." Seeing their fellow leprecorn in the arms of a human, the other leprecorns swarmed Lee, all vying for their own turn to be picked up. Honestly, these creatures were dumber than the gnomes.

While Lee played with the leprecorns, June took Ford's arm and led him away from his brother. "You asked if your friend and I knew each other," she said, her demeanor once again serious. "We don't. But I know of him. He's aiding the worst enemy of this entire forest."

"What?"

She took a long breath. "Stanford, I know you want to learn everything you can about this forest. About the creatures living here. But there are things we don't tell you for your protection. There's a conflict running deeper than you can know, and you don't need to get dragged into it. Your friend has gotten into it — and he's on the wrong side."

The entire speech was concerning, but Ford found himself zeroing in on the bit about "things we don't tell you". He had to admit he felt betrayed. "I knew you weren't telling me everything!"

June had the decency to at least look guilty. "Yes, well—"

"June! Juniper! Help!"

They turned to see Lee getting buried in an avalanche of leprecorns. "They're too friendly!" he called. "And their beards are making me really itchy!"

The playful mask went on again, and Juniper ran lightly over to him. "Oh, you silly things!" she cried. "Leave poor Stanley alone!"

Just like that, their serious conversation was over.

They stayed with June and her leprecorns for a bit longer, though she seemed uninterested in talking further with Ford about whatever she was hiding, and Ford found himself trying to get away. If he ever had to hear Danny Boy again—

Eventually, Fidds picked his way through the masses of leprecorns and reminded Ford that it was getting dark. Being out in the forest during the night was unwise, as the scientists had learned from experience, so they bid June farewell and left.

As Ford said his goodbyes, June laughed and told him to visit more often and then got serious again. "Just. . . be careful," she said.

Well, that wasn't very helpful. How could he be careful if he didn't know for what he needed to have care?

He did notice, though, that Fidds looked nervous on their way home. Was he worried about what June might have told Ford? The evidence of something strange with Fidds got stronger every day.

Lee pulled him out of his thoughts. "Thanks, Sixer — that was great!"

Ford smiled at his brother. Well, that's why he'd called Lee here, wasn't it? So he could have someone else to help with the situation.

When they got back to the lab, Fidds stormed up to the attic. Lee watched him go with eyebrows raised, but didn't say anything. "Well, what should I make for dinner?" he asked instead.

A minute later, Lee was in the kitchen, concocting another delicious meal. Ford hung around in the entry room, talking to his brother through the doorway and reveling in the aromas of the food. Soon enough, Fidds came back down the stairs, headed to the lab, returned, and went for the door.

"Don't leave, Fiddsy, I'm making dinner," Lee called.

"Save me some."

"Where ya goin'?"

"Away from you," came the acerbic reply. And with that, Fidds left, closing the door firmly behind him.

Lee looked affronted. "Geez, what did I do to deserve that?"

Ford checked out the window to make sure Fidds was really leaving. "I don't know, Stanley. I'm worried about him."

"Yeah, he must not make very many friends," Lee commented as he returned to the vegetables he was cooking.

"Not that kind of worried." Ford leaned against the entry arch to the kitchen. "Remember how I said there was a situation?"

"Yeah."

"It may be worse than I thought."

Lee flicked the frying pan with his wrist, and the grilling vegetables flipped over in their spices. "What did you think?"

Ford sighed. "I don't know, I was just. . . well, suspicious. He leaves like this a lot."

"Sixer, I love ya, but everybody needs their space. Even from you."

Ford waved a frustrated hand. "No, I know that. But he has this knitting club — or, he told me he goes to a knitting club. He joined it three years ago, supposedly." Before Lee could voice the skeptical expression on his face, Ford plowed on. "But, this summer, I followed him to his club. And I didn't see where he actually went, but I went to the library, where the club was supposed to be, and asked about it. The club never existed. Fidds has been going to a fake knitting club this whole time."

"Huh." Lee added a dash of spice to his vegetables — he'd had to go buy the spices himself, since Ford only had salt and pepper. "I mean, I wouldn't go to a knitting club either, but I also wouldn't pretend I did."

"Lee, this is serious," Ford said, and it came out a bit snappish. He let out another frustrated sigh. "Fidds has been going somewhere else all these years, doing something else. Something he doesn't share with me."

"Maybe he has a girlfriend, and he doesn't tell you because he doesn't want you getting in between them."

Ford blinked, letting the concept wash over him. He. . . hadn't thought romance could be a factor. Of course, he never really thought about romance. It had just never occurred to him.

Lee took Ford's silence as an indication that he was right. "See, Ford, it's just your paranoia running away with you. In fact, that's probably why he's so hostile with me. He knows I'm competition." With that smug assertion, he dumped the vegetables into another pot and stirred the contents together.

Then Ford's brain caught up with him, and he thought this through. "No, that. . . that doesn't work. Fidds has this gun — not a gun with bullets, but some gun that he created, and he never shows it to me or explains it. But he leaves with it almost every time he goes to his so-called knitting club. That's probably why he went back to the lab, to get the gun." He cast his mind back, trying to remember if there had been a bulge under Fidds' tweed jacket.

"So. . ." Lee trailed off, unable to think of an explanation.

"And then today, Juniper's reaction when she saw him. . . She told me he was involved in some kind of conflict, but that he was on the wrong side. I don't know what she means."

He glanced to Lee for a response, but Lee was too busy grinning as he reminisced about June. "Stanley," Ford prompted.

"Right. Um, yeah, I don't know. Is that why you called me here? To spy on Fidds?" He transferred the pot to the table, placing it on a hot pad.

"You're here for lots of reasons — like cooking." Ford stole a chunk of meat from the concoction, snatching his hand away just before Lee could slap at it. "But, yes. I don't like calling it spying, but I figured I could use backup in. . . watching out for him. In making sure he doesn't do anything dangerous."

"We could just ask him what he's doing."

"You saw how volatile he is. What if he walks out on me? I need him to build the portal."

Lee leaned against the counter. "Okay, so you confront him, and he walks out on you, and you can't build the portal. Would that be so bad?"

Ford stared at him incredulously. "Absolutely! Juniper just told me today — there are things the creatures of the forest don't tell me. I need the portal to get answers."

"Okay, sure, it's important. Is it worth Fidds doing something dangerous without you knowing?"

"Depends on what that thing is," Ford replied. "Let's just watch him for a while. Maybe follow him to wherever he's going. See if we can get an idea of what he's doing, and if we need to step in."

Lee gave a noncommittal shrug.

"Just. . . don't do anything to make it worse, all right? Don't let him know we're onto him."

"Are we onto him?" Lee asked. "We don't even know what he's doing."

"We know he's not telling the truth."

"That's dangerous as it is."

Ford paused. He figured that, as a salesman, Lee would know the danger of deceptions. "Well, that's part of why you're here. I need someone to be straight with me."

Lee chuckled. "If there's anything I am, it's straight with people."

"Until you're scamming them out of their money."

"I don't scam people. I give them what they need. For a price."

"After you convince them that they need it?"

"You're catching on." Lee took a seat at the table. "Now c'mon, the food's getting cold. Let's eat."

Ford didn't need to be told twice. He sat, and the brothers ate a lovely meal together. And when Fidds returned hours later and heated up some leftovers with a sour disposition, neither Ford nor Lee said anything to provoke him.

Fidds didn't say anything either, not until he stood at the base of the stairs, ready to ascend to his attic room. "We're going to work on the portal again tomorrow, right?"

Ford looked up from his conversation with Lee on the couch. "Yes, of course," he said.

"Good." Fidds gave Stanley a final skeptical glance, as if doubting that he'd offer any help whatsoever on the portal. Then he walked upstairs without a word.

With that, the twins' previous conversation was thoroughly ruined. So Ford said good night and went to his room.

As he went to sleep that night, he thought over June's words. There was a conflict. . . what kind of conflict? Fidds was on the wrong side. . . of what? Why weren't the supernatural creatures ever straight with him?

His brain offered no solutions. Eventually, Ford fell asleep in his frustration.