A Human’s Guide to Surviving Magical Mishaps by Kit Bryan
Rule 80- Don't expect food to fix your problems, unless the problem is hunger. Then, by all means, grab a snack and carry on!

I put on a brave face and follow Lucy out to the living room. I find Ashton and Fin having what appears to be a very serious conversation, their voices lowered so that we can't hear what's being said. That hardly seems fair, I have to resort to written conversations to keep secrets from them! I wonder how fae manage any kind of privacy with their hearing being as good as it is. I guess the fact that they don't lie already makes it hard to keep many secrets, but I would think that if you have to speak the truth, it would only make keeping track of who might be listening in even more important. I'm anxious to see Ashton, I have no idea how he's going to react. Maybe I shouldn't have waited so long to talk to him, but I really WASN'T feeling well. And is it really so unreasonable to take some time to think after something like that. And if it took me a while then that's his fault too because who could think straight right after being kissed like that? As soon as we walk in, Ashton and Fin fall silent and look over at us. I anxiously meet Ashton's gaze, although I'm hoping that the anxiety isn't showing on my face. Ashtin smiles at me and stands up.

"Kat, are you feeling better? Lucy told us that you are not feeling well." Ashton approaches me and without hesitation places the back of his hand over my forehead, checking for fever. Then he leans down and looks at each of my eyes individually, checking for... Well I don't know exactly. He takes my hand and squeezes it gently.

"Are you feeling unwell anywhere? Are you in any pain?" He worries over me, apparently he's as much of a mother hen as Lucy is.

"I'm alright, Lucy gave me painkillers and I had a nap which I think helped. Maybe I'm just tired." I conclude. I decide not to mention that the cut on my arm hurts, I'm fairly sure that's obvious. It's only been a few days and it will take longer than that to heal. Plus Ashton feels guilty about that particular injury so I would rather not bring it up unless I have a very good reason. Ashton's bright smile returns.

"I am glad you are okay. Do you know what you want to do this evening? If you are not feeling well I believe that we can probably fend for ourselves for one night." Ashton says earnestly.

"Uh... sure you can. Actually, I was thinking of picking up dinner and going in to check on dad. He's got to be even more tired than I am and I doubt that he's taking care of himself. Actually. I bet that everyone down at the station is running on coffee fumes and energy drinks." I say thoughtfully.

"So you want to take your father dinner?" Ashton confirms.

"Yeah, and we can probably check in on what they've found out in the meantime too. It's win-win." I say brightly. Fin nods agreeably but Ashton is still looking at me closely.

"You are sure that you feel well enough?" He confirms. I nod.

"I'm fine. Really." I say honestly. I do feel a lot better already. I was probably just tired and dehydrated. Ugh, human bodies are so high maintenance. We're worse than pot plants, and I can't keep them alive either. "Lucy, are you planning to tag along?" I question. She looks incredibly torn. Glancing at me and Fin with a look of regret.

"I WANT to, but I probably shouldn't. I have the early shift at work tomorrow and I have completely neglected my laundry. I need to clean my uniform and I really should get some sleep too. When I found you napping earlier I was kind of jealous." She sighs.

"It is understandable, you must take care of yourself." Fin encourages her and Lucy frowns briefly before covering it up with a bright smile.

"Right. Well, in that case I should head off. Thanks for hanging out guys. I'll see you... I don't know. Later I guess." She says awkwardly. She gives me a quick hug then lets herself out. Interesting. Fin didn't get a hug that time. A glance at him shows that he is maintaining his usual poker face, but his gaze is locked on the front door where she left.

We decide to pick up pizza for dinner because it's easy. But when I go online to order we discover that there's some promotion thing going on and it will be way cheaper than I anticipated. Feeling generous I decide screw it, and order a dozen pizzas. Dad won't be the only hungry cop down at the station and we can eat there too. A dozen might not even be enough to get everyone fed, but at least I can provide a snack for them all. On the way to pick up the pizzas, Fin is quiet in the back seat, it seems like he's thinking about something and I decide not to interrupt. I end up setting Ashton up with my phone to play music again. He does so happily, sending sideways smiles my way every thirty seconds or so. He is in a great mood, or maybe he's just excited for pizza... Both guys come in to help me carry the pizza. Ashton automatically gets up to follow me in. Fin almost doesn't seem to notice until Ashton's car door slams shut, at which point he throws his door open and launches himself out of the car, refusing to be left behind. It's almost comical watching him duck his wings through the car door and I notice he moves them around a little as he steadies himself. I wonder how much Fin's balance is affected by his wings. He probably has a slightly different centre of gravity than people who don't have wings. Once I have the guys loaded up with pizzas and a random variety of drinks, we hop back in the car and make the short trip back down to the station. I do visit fairly often, but I don't usually spend THIS much time here. We check in at the reception desk and hand over a slice of pizza to the receptionist who accepts cheerfully. We stop in the hallway between the stairwell and the lift.

"Ashton, there is no way I am going to carry this stuff up the stairs." I tell him bluntly. He sighs and glances wistfully at the stairwell.

"You could leave the pizzas with us and meet us at the top?" I suggest but he shakes his head. His expression is an odd combination of nausea and determination as he steps into the lift. This time he prepares by sitting on the floor before it starts moving. I do my best not to smile. It's kind of adorable. Fin seems completely unbothered.

"Are you okay with the lift Fin?" I ask. He shrugs.

"It is not overly pleasant, but the sensation is not all that different to what one might feel when flying. It is the feeling of being out of control that I do not enjoy." He answers. I guess he's fine then?

Ashton takes a moment to compose himself before we leave the lift. I can't tell because I'm already looking through his glamour, but based on his look of satisfaction, I'm guessing that he managed to not drop his glamour this time. "See, it's not so bad. Maybe you just need to get used to it." I point out. Ashton gives me an unimpressed look.

"I think I would prefer to continue taking the stairs." He says dryly. I rearrange the drinks that I'm holding to free up a hand and pat him on the elbow.

"We can take the stairs on the way back down." I promise. Ashton's expression breaks out into a mischievous grin.

"I look forward to it."