Outskirts Of Appleby, North Lincolnshire

"Again? So soon?" He looked a little worried. "But, Sophia and James are so young, and now we have all those animals to look after."

[holy SHIT, rachel]

(IGNORE THIS.)

"HAH! Just kidding!" she said, cracking up.

Nicolas grinned, giving her a light slap on the arm. "Don't kid around like that!"

"Sorry! I had too!"

He set his book on the bedside table, and lay on the bed beside her. "Really, now. You gave me a right scare."

"I didn't mean it..." Rachel stretched and got up, and walked over to to a little table, where there was a small pile of books. She picked one up-To Kill A Mockingbird "A Muggle friend who lives around here said that this was good..." she said quietly.

He gazed up at her, then at the book in her hands. "What's it about?"

"So far it's about this little girl named Scout who lives in the southern part of the United States during the Great Depression, with her brother, Jem, and her dad, Atticus. He's a lawyer... and that's as far as I am into it."

"I'll have to read it once you do." He stretched, sitting up on the edge of the bed.

"You should. My friend said that everyone should read at least once in their lifetimes."

"Really? I've heard the same about this book, Tom Sawyer. Americans write good novels, huh?"

Rachel shrugged. "I guess, but we write good books, too. Have you read any Charles Dickens? He's excellent."

"No, not really. Haven't had much time to, work's been stressful."

"What's been happening?"

"Blaine's been giving us more and more work," he groaned, massaging his temples. "And sending us out into the field, too."

Rachel furrowed her eyebrows. "I don't like the sound of this Blaine... maybe yo should find a different job."

"No way! If I keep going at the rate I'm going, one day I'll have his job, I bet. And it pays really well, and... something about it, I just like."

That worried look didn't leave Rachel's face. "Well, if you're sure..."

"I'm positive!" He grinned boyishly, and laid back on the bed. "Really, don't worry about me. I've been through worse than Blaine Bradford."

"I guess you're right! Blaine is just a conceited guy. Who needs to worry about him?" And Rachel laid back contently.

"I shouldn't. You shouldn't." He yawned audibly. "I'm so tired. What about you?"

"I can stay up... I could go downstairs and read there, if you want to sleep." offered Rachel.

There was a loud crash downstairs - the sound of a large pot clattering to the floor.

"I'll be right back." she muttered, and she slowly got out of bed, and made her way downstairs. She was not looking forward to what she was about to see.

"...Olivia, what are you doing now?"