Some Strange Type of Peculiar Love

Evesdropping

Fiona's POV

I woke up snuggling into Hugh. It was still dark outside so I tip toed carefully downstairs and into the kitchen. I looked outside, but now it was raining ash. I ran into Horace's room and shook him awake.
"Jesus Fee, what's the matter?"
I tugged him to the window.
"Oh my bird. Everyone wake up now!"

Jake and Noor came home an hour later with Bronwyn.
"Hello lass." It was Addison! I hugged him right and he licked my face.
"It's good to see you alive and well." I nodded.
Jake came over and gave me a hug, I kissed him on the cheek. Noor introduced herself to me.
"Hello, I'm Noor Pradesh." She smiled but her eyes looked sad. I nodded and retreated upstairs to get them some towels. I was coming down when I heard Jake and the others whispering, most likely trying to refrain from letting the younger ones and Horace know what they were speaking about.
"What did Miss P say?"
Noor shook her head.
I stepped on the stairs lightly
"Miss Bruntley, Miss Bloom." Miss Peregrine was standing in the doorway.
"Yes?"
"I need you to go back to Jacob's house in Florida and then to Abe's old residence to get V."
"Is she hurt?" Emma asked.
"She's dead." Noor said coldly.
I handed Noor and Jake a towel each.
"Are these.... my moms?"
I shrugged.
Emma embraced Noor in a tight hug.
"We'll bring her back."
Noor nodded.
"Enoch, I need you to round up all the hearts you can."
"Why?"
"Because we need to ask Velya some questions. Lots."

Emma and Bronwyn came back an hour later lightly dusted in ash.
I was stirring soup as Horace instructed me too, but I was growing tired of him telling me how I was doing it wrong. Hugh's been bickering with Miss Peregrine all day about the safety of the acre and if Caul will find us.
"So we just wait here to die?" He shouted. Claire gave him a look that could curdle milk.
"Mr. Apiston," I could tell Miss Peregrine was trying to hold back her anger, but she was growing thin.
"Miss Peregrine! We're ready to start!" Enoch called.
"I'm getting some air, do you want to stay here?" I nodded. Hugh grabbed his jacket and went out into the ash smeared world.
"Now, I need all of you to stay out here, understood?"
"Yes ma'm." Everyone said. She shut and locked the door.
"Fee, up for an adventure?"

I grew my vines to the second level where the reanimation would take place. I climbed up using my vines for support every so often; Horace barley made it up.
"I hate—"
I put my finger to my lips. The twelve year old rolled his eyes but kept quiet.
I peered into the window, Jacob was holding Noor's hand.
"Did I hear her say something about snacks?"
Why can't he shut up!
"Hey what are—"
Horace fell back and grabbed my sleeve, which caused me to fall back. I landed on top of him in a very compromising position.
"What were you doing up there?" Emma crossed her arms and helped us both up. Horace was whining but seemed otherwise unharmed. I saw a thick row flowers on the ground, they must have grown when I wasn't paying attention.
"Oh my bird! You were eavesdropping!" Emma laughed.
"That was such a me thing to do!"
"Millard! Go put some clothes on!" Horace whined.
"Leave the secret lurking to me next time you fools."
"Well you weren't here!"
"Well why didn't you come get me!"
Millard was so irritated he was almost foggy with sweat. Horace was nursing his shoulder while glaring at the general area which his voice came from.
"Because we didn't know where the bloody hell you were!" Emma yelled.
"What's all this shouting?" Hugh appeared with his jacket slung over his shoulder in a very handsome way.
"Fiona and Horace were snooping!" Claire pointed her finger at us, when did she get here?
"And what are you doing out here?"
"Miss Peregrine wants you guys." She turned and walked toward to door, "By the way, you're all terribly loud." She slammed the door behind her.

Horace and I were upstairs discussing what he heard.
"I heard snacks, did you?"
I nodded.
"Hmm, and bedtime as well."
I shrugged.
"Maybe she was stuck in a loop brain?" I cocked my head to the side.
"It's when you resurrect someone and their brain thinks it's a different time. She must have thought she was scolding Noor."
I nodded.
I heard a knock at the door.
"What can we do for you, Portman?" Horace asked.
"Oh don't be so conceded! You know why I'm here."
"And that is?"
"Honestly you guys, we would have told you! But Noor's moment was ruined by your bickering!"
"There wasn't really a moment."
"Butt out Enoch!"
"Besides we still don't know what your jabbering about." Horace's posh accent made me giggle.
"Your listening in on everything like children!"
"We're children? You always say you're going to tell us everything, but then you run off on your stupid adventures putting all of peculiardom in danger!"
Noor was in the doorway now. She looked hurt.
Horace sighed, "Noor, darling, it's not your fault. You've had no good influences," Horace sneered at Jake, "But we are sorry for ruining your moment with your mum."
I nodded solemnly.
"What do you mean?"
I had a puzzled look on my face.
"Jake said we ruined your moment with our bickering."
"Oh, I heard talking but I was just assuming some kids were outside."
"Oh. Well you seemed upset so I thought you could hear them."
What a bloody idiot.

Some time later, Jake told us his new plan.
"There's a loop we need to go to, it's where the messages came from."
What messages?
I looked towards Horace.
"There were telephone rings about the prophecy." He whispered.
I looked at him again confused.
"Oh yea! Noor is supposed to save us all or something."
But she barley just got here! I must have looked like a rabbit about to be made in a meat pie because Horace laughed.
"That was the exact look I had. But don't worry, she seems to be catching on quickly."
Miss Peregrine cleared her throat.
"Miss Frauenfeld, Mister Somnusson, hush now."
We stared at Jake again.
".... and that's where we'll be. Who's with us?"Bronwyn, Emma, Enoch, Millard (at least I think I saw his sleeve in the air) and Olive volunteered.
"I'm sorry my little magpie, but you're much too young." Olive looked disappointed but relived.
I raised my hand. Horace laughed and put it down.
"Oh no, you've had enough time away for one lifetime." I rolled my eyes but was silently grateful no one asked me to go along.
"I'll go."
I gawked at Horace.
"Are you sure? It's going to be very dirty."
"Thank you Enoch but I'll be fine." Horace said snidely.
"We're leaving to have a drink at the pub in half an hour, whoever wants to come is more than welcome." Noor said.
I nodded at her and she smiled.
I saw Hugh talking to Millard. 
"I'm sure going to miss you champ."
"Oh don't talk to me like I'm a kinder!"
The two laughed.
"I really wished you could come with us, we're going to need you, Hugh."
"I'm not going anywhere, I can't leave her again."
I saw Millards cap bob up and down.
"Well you get ready! We have one last hurrah!"

Hugh was in his room putting on a new white button down with dark coffee brown slacks, an almost identical outfit from the one he was wearing before. I was wearing a light brown sunflower dress with a white t shirt underneath that Emma got me from the present. (see top of the chapter)

"Wow, Fee you look stunning. Trying to catch the eye of a new suitor, ey?" I laughed and flopped on his bed.
"I wouldn't sit there," he said fixing his collar in the mirror, "that's where Millard sleeps."
"So?"
"In the nude." He stared at me in the mirror and laughed when I jumped off and patted myself down.
"Hugh?"
"Yes darling?"
"I think you should go."
"That's why I have a nice shirt on, you don't think this is too nice do you? I don't want the bar patrons to think I'm too posh, they already give us a hard time enough as it is."
I shook my head, "the shirt is very handsome on you, you may need more of a variety of colors, though."  Hugh threw his head back and laughed, "you sound just like Horace!"
"Hugh,"
"Are you alright?"
I noticed my face looked grim in the mirror. He turned around and I stood up and put my hands around his neck.
"I think you should go with them, they need you."
"Fee, I need you."
"But—"
Before I could continue he kissed me.
"We're going to the pub!"
"We'll meet you there!" Hugh called back.
There was a knock at the door. Hugh looked frustrated and I giggled. It was Horace.
"Oh you definitely need more of a vari- oh, sorry, I didn't realize you were canoodling." I blushed and his my face in my hands smiling. Horace laughed.
"What do you need Horace?"
"Oh yes, sorry, anyways Miss Peregrine is going to be at the hive as you like to call it, although I think 'nest' is more comforting, and correct, don't you think."
"Out."
"Well don't be too long, also I'd go in your bedroom Fee, Millard sleeps in the nude." Horace winked and Hugh chased him out. I went across the hall into my room and Hugh shut and locked the door.
"Now, where were we?"

3/25/21