Author's Note: Just to tell you guys that this is a relatively short story. It won't be a full-blown, fifty chapter book sort of thing, more like around a dozen.

THIS IS A PLEASURE FIC AKA NO PLOT FLUFF!

Words: 1568
**************************

Amy's POV

My life is officially ruined.

Okay, I may be over-exaggerating, but I might actually be physically injured.

Yay.

Reality check: Nellie is currently dragging me out the door of our faux-Grace mansion (against my will, might I add; to some secret place that she refuses to reveal because she says I'll flee once I hear it. Because that doesn't scare me at all).

Honestly, this situation escalated way too quickly.

******

Like any typical day, I was curled up on one corner of the couch, deeping immensed in a book that was probably as thick as Dan's head. Layers of auburn hair were splayed around my head simply becuase I'd been too lazy to tie it up, and just needed it out of the way. I probably looked like a slob, wearing a cheap sweatshirt and plain cotton shorts.

Most girls my age, at the ripe age of 17 would be out with their friends, simultaneously partying and flirting. But that was not how I rolled. As a proud enthusiast of books, I'd much rather stay in my safe, cozy home rather than collapse from adrenaline.

I had had enough of adrenaline to last me more than a lifetime.

It was peaceful, with Dan gone with Fiske to pick Nellie up from her cooking school all the way across the state. It was spring break for her, so Nellie would be back for a nice, long week of family time. My steady breaths, the ticking of the clock, and the distant noise of the outside world were the only things audible in the quiet serenity of the household.

Jade green eyes were skimming each page of the book, absorbing every new detail, anticipating the end of the suspense that had been building. No matter how boring it sounded, I loved every second of it, relishing the once-in-a-lifetime oppurtunity of quiet.

What I didn't know was that my paradise was about to be brutally snapped in two.

Cue the lights, because here comes Dan, ruining my hopes of ever getting to finish the book.

It wasn't even noon yet, and my brother has already frustrated me. He came in obnoxiously, slamming the door open, and I jumped at the sudden noise.

I opened my mouth to scold him, but snapped it shut when I saw his face.

His face was a storm of emotion; he looked fearful, yet confounded, as if he didn't know exactly what he was afraid of.

I was paranoid, because although the dweeb was an open book, he looked so genuinely done for that I couldn't even scrounge a retort.

After years of being chased, solving problems and decoding riddles with lives on the stake at every single bloody turn, caution was embedded in every cell of my being.

Reluctantly, I asked, "What?"

Dan stared right through me, gazing at nothing at all, looking like a fish out of water.

"They're coming." He whispered, just loud enough for me to hear.

"What? Who's coming?" I asked frantically, becoming more and more erratic by the second, stumped by his insufficient answers.

Just in time, Fiske and Nellie ran through the door, huffing, probably having chased Dan inside. Nellie looked somewhat amused, despite the fact that she was gasping for breath, while Fiske looked worried. I narrowed my eyes at them.

How much did I miss?

Snapping by book shut, I looked up at Dan and gave them the best glare I could muster at the time. Having caught my telepathic message, he nodded solemnly, like he was at a funeral, accepting someone's death, rather than at his own home, about to break the supposedly horrifying news to his sister. I arched an eyebrow, waiting for him to speak up because he was muttering under his breath with his head drooped like a wilted flower.

I stared at my brother and waited impatiently for his mental moment to end. I heard him sigh in dejection, as if he'd given up trying to explain. His facial expression changed now to a comically pained face, seemingly over-dramatically, too.

Immediately, I switched my gaze to the adults in charge in hopes for a decent explanation. Catching my expectant look first, Fiske nodded and began to explain why Dan was more of a mess than usual. What he said next caught me completely off-guard.

"The Cahills are coming over." Fiske stated rather bluntly.

Narrator's POV

"What." It was Amy's turn to be shocked now, so her question came out sounding more like a statement.

How can such a short statement hit her so hard?

At first, the information didn't sink in immediately, so she looked like an idiot, sitting there, mouth slightly agape, blinking every other second or so, just staring at Fiske, Dan, and Nellie. Amy was starting to drift towards La La Land, attempting to escape the harsh reality.

They meant to tell her that the same people who could and would find anything as a reason to hate each other were going to be under the same roof as her? Amy had a feeling that would make the opening of Pandora's box pale in comparison. Even if they did worked temporarily to track and defeat the Vespers, it wasn't out of their love and affection for one another (or their respective branch for that matter).

After she managed to process this information, she tried to restrain her outburst. Instead, she gritted her teeth and spoke as calmly as possible. "Explain please."

This time, Nellie butted in. She composed herself into what Amy assumed to be her impression of a reporter.

"Well, the branch leaders are coming to Boston for a business meeting in regards of the Vesper situation. The higher-up officials believe they have everything under control as of now, but they need insight from the very ones that took down the head mastermind. So these heroic teens were called over to the Madrigal stronghold here. The meeting is scheduled to-"

"Get to the point Nellie." Amy interrupted. She was starting to get irked that she was the only one out of the loop. She'd appreciate it if they'd just spit it out.

"Alright, calm down kiddo," Nellie raised both her hands in surrender. "I was just getting to it."

"Apparently, the meeting got postponed 'til next week, and since everyone's already here, they need a safe place to stay in. You know, with them being possibly the most potentially dangerous people in the world? Of course we're the only available house on such short notice. So...yup." Nellie finished.

"And, that includes who?" Amy was still having trouble accepting all this.

She stole a glance at Dan and Fiske. They were both fidgeting; her brother was chewing on his lips, his eyebrows furrowed, and Fiske was wringing his hands.

Dan finally spoke up, and replied, "Ian, Jonah, Hamilton, and Sinead." He had a dead tone in his voice, as if already giving up hope.

He trudged up the staircase behind him to his room, probably to sulk. Amy would say he was being over dramatic, if the situation was less of a big deal.

"Great," she uttered sarcastically. "Alright then. When are they coming?" She'd decided that freaking out would do nothing, so she calmed herself down, and asked some rational questions. Amy figured she should at least know when the "visitors" would arrive.

"In 'bout four hours." Nellie responded.

Her eyes seemed to be gleaming, enjoying Amy's discomfort. The sadistic woman. She didn't have to worry about the tension that'd brew in this reunion, Amy did. She was the Madrigal leader (in-training) after all. It was her job to keep all madness in check between the most influential people of the Cahill family.

Amy let out a monstrous sigh of defeat. "My life's ending in four hours then." She muttered under her breath.

Apparently, Nellie had heard her, because she  snapped her fingers, and Amy could practically see the light bulb flashing on above her head. She felt extremely uncomfortable as Nellie scrutinized her from head to toe. It wouldn't be surprising if she could hear the au pair's gears clanking as she formulated some plan. It was frightening, to be honest. Amy flinched away as Nellie smirked, apparently finished with her judging.

"Alright come on. Slap on a jacket and a pair of shoes. We're going on an adventure!" Nellie announced dramatically. Amy was confused, to be completely honest.

"What? Where?" She asked, flustered. The girl was losing energy by the second.

Nellie rolled her eyes. "If I told you, you wouldn't wanna go. Duh."

Amy felt like she should've rebutted and fought against her, but she was just too exhausted. Slowly getting up, almost giving into the temptation to flop back onto the couch, she pulled on her jeans. Most of her and Dan's dirty clothes was thrown carelessly onto the couch. It was like a hamper. Without Fiske's scolding borderline nagging, the pile of clothes only grew until it almost became a safety hazard.

Growing impatient after ten minutes of stalling, Nellie grabbed Amy's hand and dragged her out the door.

*****