Sharna and Eliza talked for a while longer before Sharna excused herself and headed back to the shower. She was met by Quinn twirling up out of her pile of clothes and spiralling round her head playfully.

Sharna laughed but said semi-seriously, “Quinn, what if I had been Eliza?”

“You're going to tell everyone today anyway” Quinn kept wreathing around Sharna's head, “but I peeked first before coming out.”

“You're full of beans this morning!” Sharna said, smiling at the overexcited fairy.

“I'm going to meet some more people, cut me some slack, this is all very new!”

Sharna thought she heard a slight waver in Quinn's voice and replied a little more gently, “they're all going to be excited to meet you, it's not every day someone gets the chance to encounter a fairy.”

Quinn dived at Sharna and nuzzled into her ear. “Go and have your shower and then we can head to breakfast.”

“Alright, alright, I'll be as quick as I can,” Sharna grabbed up her things and Quinn followed her into the shower area.

Sharna had a shower and dressed quickly. Quinn again flew into her pocket, Sharna gathered up her things and they headed upstairs. The door to her room was still closed so she dropped her stuff gently outside the door and headed to the kitchen.

Because it was so early, Marjorie was still getting ready for breakfast but she smiled when she saw Sharna enter. “You’re up bright and early, and already showered and dressed! You must be feeling better today?”

“Heaps better, thanks for yesterday, the soup was perfect. I think I just got a bit overwhelmed by everything.”

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Marjorie’s eyes softened, “of course you did honey, you’ve been through a lot lately. Anyway,” Marjorie straightened herself up and said briskly, “breakfast is still a little bit away but the coffee is ready if you want to grab yourself a cup.”

Sharna offered to help Marjorie get breakfast organised, but Marjorie shooed her away, pointing her towards the coffee. Sharna was quite happy to be told to do nothing, she poured herself a strong cup of milky coffee and took a seat at the dining table.

She took a large mouthful, placed the cup on the table and relaxed into her chair, closing her eyes and trying to work out the smoothest way of introducing Quinn to the others. It was very peaceful to sit listening to Marjorie bustling in the kitchen, with the birds singing outside. It felt like it was going to be a warm day and she was looking forward to getting outside.

Suddenly she heard a gruff voice in her ear, “good morning sweetheart,” and Sharna shrieked and jumped in the air. Heart racing, she turned to see Gogo leaning over her chair, with mischievous humour glinting in her eyes.

“Gogo!” Sharna reached back to swat at her, but Gogo had already run away laughing in the direction of the sauna. Sharna put her hands to her chest to calm herself, taking deep breaths and shaking her head with exasperation. There was a noticeable difference in maturity between Gogo and the rest of them and she wondered what the age gap was between them.

Gabby wandered in yawning. “I thought you and Gogo usually slept in a little longer?” Sharna asked, surprised to see Gabby down for breakfast already, “breakfast isn’t even ready yet.”

Gabby grimaced, “Gogo thought it would be funny to jump on my bed this morning to wake me up.” She sat next to Sharna, putting her arms in front of her on the table and leaned forward to rest her forehead on them, muffling her next words. “It wasn't.”

Sharna crinkled her nose, “is she normally this provoking in the mornings? She startled me when she came down too.”

With her head still on her arms, Gabby turned her head to look at Sharna, her eyes now full of mirth, “I heard you squawk, I wondered if it was her.” Sharna smiled back, shaking her head again at Gogo's antics. Gabby continued, “she's normally a little more subdued in the mornings, maybe something's up.”

As Sharna watched Gabby, she noted the dark bags under her eyes and her look shifted to one of concern. “Maybe you should go back to bed and try to get some more sleep.”

Gabby’s eyes tightened and she turned back so her forehead was resting on her arms again, “I’m okay, I won’t be able to get back to sleep anyway. And Marjorie told me she was making blueberry lemon muffins for breakfast and they're my absolute favourite, so I'm fine.”

Sharna watched her for a moment and then took another sip of her coffee. “How old are you Gabby?”

“I'm 18, why do you ask?”

Sharna shrugged but Gabby was still face down and didn't see. “I was just wondering, I thought you and Eliza were about my age but Eliza is older. How old is Gogo?”

“She's 15. Seems even younger though doesn't she?”

Sharna was surprised, “wow.. I would have guessed she was at least 16 for her family to allow her to leave home.”

“You'll have to ask her about that.” Gabby said in a more serious tone, still not looking up.

Sharna decided not to ask Gabby any further questions for now. She took another sip of coffee and they sat in silence as they waited for the others to arrive for breakfast.