Outskirts Of Appleby, North Lincolnshire

"Sophia's going to be three soon, actually, and James will be two soon enough... Seriously though." Rachel stared at her intently. "You don't mind staying in the chicken coop?"

[wait, three years? OH CRAP]

"At least, I probably won't bump my head or anything." She shrugged, readjusting the strap of the backpack onto her shoulder.

"Anyway, have fun." she shrugged. "You can use the bathrooms inside anytime you wish, and you can come into too."

"You're so great, you know that? You should win an award or something!" This was said as Olivia was heading out the door.

"Dinner's at six!" she called out.

Rachel then climbed warily up the stairs. "...We have another boarder, Nick." she said slowly.

Nick, who had just gotten James diapered and put back in his crib, turned around to stare at Rachel. "This is a home, with a family of four, not a hotel."

"I know, but you can't talk!" she snapped back. "You had to go and invited Larry or whatever his name is in!"

"Eric! And that was you! You said, Oh don't mind Eric it's okay! and the poor guy looked like he was going to cry!"

"Well Olivia has been cut off from her inheritance! Wait you know what-" she paused. "Let's just stop fighting. It's not like this is going to be turned into a business."

The chickens stopped their pecking, and turned to stare apprehensively at the stranger approaching them with that rather creepy smile on her face.

"Yeah, alright." Nicolas limply offered her a hug, and kissed her on the forehead. "I love you. But I'm also very tired and wish that we hadn't been interrupted..." He seemed quite bitter about this. Well, who wouldn't be?

Rachel shrugged. "That's the way the ball bounces. Why don't you take a nap, while I cook dinner? Or better yet, YOU cook, and I nap?"

He sighed. "I'll cook, while you nap, if you'd like."

"Thank you! I'm so sleepy!" And sure enough, she stretched out on her bed, and soon enough, she was dozing.

Rachel woke up a hour later, obviously looking groggy.

"Is dinner ready yet?" she croaked out, while rubbing her eye.

Nicolas had fallen asleep at the kitchen table. The Daily Prophet was open on the table, and he was slumped over it, sleeping. Some ingredients were flying about, obviously having been charmed by him. Okay, so he had cheated and looked around some wizarding cookbooks they had stowed away, what was the harm in that?

"...Great, Nick." she mumbled. Oh well, dinner was already half ready at this point. There was nothing else for her to do but sit down next to him, and fall back asleep.

And at that moment, Olivia barged back in through the back door. Since it was unlocked. She smelled strongly of shed feathers and hay. "Yo!"

"Eeek!" screeched Rachel, immediately snapping awake, and whirling around. When she saw who it was, she calmed down. "Ohh... you.. phew." she wrinkled her nose. "You smell weird!"

She shrugged, strolling over to the stove to check out what was cooking. "What's happening here?"

Rachel shrugged as well. "I'm not sure, ask Nick." She then reached over, and jabbed Nick in the stomach. "Wake up!"

"Spaghetti and meatballs," he murmured, adjusting himself and drifting back into sleep.

She looked back at Olivia. "There's your answer."

"Oh." Olivia removed the lid from the pot, and the boiling foam began spilling over the sides. "Oh-shit," she whispered, putting the lid back.

Rachel stared at her suspiciously. "Olivia, you failed your Potions class. What are you doing near that pot?"

"Actually," she turned to Rachel, raising her index finger. "That was one of the only things I passed. Thank you."