E/N: This is set seven years after Make The Right Choice, Simon and Blaise have one child now.

Blossom

   "How come the others aren't out with us tonight?" Simon asked Blaise as they walked into 13 Levels night-club.

   "Dunno. They're all-"

   "Evening, Blaise," one of the bouncers interrupted.

   "Hi. They're all being-"

   "Hiya, B," said another.

   "Hello. Being really-"

   "Heya, Blaise." Blaise stopped and looked up at the third bouncer, who stood taller than Simon.

   "I'm trying to have a conversation here, Gaz!" she snapped. He cowered back a little.

   "Sorry, Blaise."

   "You will be. Hello, by the way. Anyway-" she linked Simon's arm, "-they're all being really boring recently. They never want to go out. Not even shopping. I mean really, Freja, I get that, she's boring anyway, plus she baby-sits for us, the others I could possibly understand but, Noo doesn't want to go shopping. Noo! Of all people, Noo! It's mad. Mad! I'm starting to take offence to it. Maybe I smell…"

   "I think I'd have noticed, love," Simon replied.

   "Well, yeah… oh well, just means more time alone with you." He grinned at her.

   "And that's a terrible thing."

   "Oh yes, completely awful." They both chuckled and entered the Earth Level.

   As usual, they were greeted by everyone. The same people were always in the same places around the room. They knew practically everyone. For this reason, Simon's attention was grabbed by the stranger at the bar. She was tall and had golden, waist-length hair. She was chatting amicably with the barmaid, Mel. A thought struck him and it wasn't pleasant.

   "We should go home," he said to Blaise, suddenly. She raised an eyebrow.

   "But we only just got here."

   "Yes, well, perhaps we could go somewhere else."

   "No. The Earth Level is my level. I'm not moving from my level."

   "Please do." He glanced at the bar. The stranger had yet to turn round. "I hear the Air Level is rather pleasant." He grabbed her hand and tried to pull her out, but she was rooted to the floor. She shook her head. "The Water Level?" She shook her head again. "Fire?"

   "We are dancing here," she growled, then pulled him into the middle of the dance floor. "And you can buy me a drink in a minute." He looked over at the bar again and bit his lip nervously.

   "Do I have to?" His eyes flicking from his wife to the stranger.

   "Well, if it's that much of a strain on your bulging wallet, then I'll buy my own." He didn't answer. "Simon!! What the bloody hell is wrong with you?! Do you fancy Mel or something?!"

   "No!" She looked over at the bar.

   "Oh, so it's the new girl you've taken a fancy to?" His eyes widened.

   "EWW! No! Ick!"

   "Ooh, you know her, don't you?!"

   "NO! Who told you?! Oh crap!"

   "Ah-ha!" She ran over to the bar and stood in front of the stranger.

   "Hi!" she said chirpily. "Who are you?" The woman looked startled, but smiled warmly.

   "My name is Blossom," she replied in a fluid, well-spoken voice that screamed aristocratic upbringing. It was at this point that Blaise should have made the connection but, being Blaise, she didn't. She held out her hand and Blaise shook it. "Blossom Archer." Blaise stared at her for a moment.

   "Sorry. I don't think I caught that. Blossom what?"

   "Archer. Blossom Archer."

   "Yes. That's what I thought you said." She looked over at Simon and started grinning. "Then you're related to Simon? Wow!!" Simon was cringing. 'Damn her!' he thought. "Of what relation to him are you?"

   "He is my younger brother." Simon groaned and walked over, this was unavoidable now Blaise was involved.

   "Hello Blossom," he said monotonously.

   "Simon!!" she cried happily. She hugged him joyously. "Oh, it has been so long!"

   "Yes. Well. We know why that is."

   "Why didn't you tell me you've got a sister?" Blaise demanded, interrupting rudely.

   "Because I don't anymore."

   "…eh?" Blossom smirked and looked at Simon.

   "I like her," she said. "You have got good taste, Si. I always said we were similar."

   "Meep!" he yelped. He grabbed Blaise and pushed her behind him.

   "She's straight! And we're married! M-A-R-R-I-E-D!! Married!! She's out of bounds!"

   "So?" the barmaid, Mel, interrupted. "Since when has that stopped Blaise?"

   "What?!" Blaise squeaked. "I haven't cheated on Simon! Ever! I wouldn't!" Mel shrugged and walked off. "Ack! What's she talking about?!"

   "She is probably winding you up, darling," Blossom replied, staring at the Siren's breasts.

   "Oh. Er. That's… ok then. Well. So. You're Simon's sister, then." She began absent-mindedly tugging her top up a little.

   "Biologically, yes."

   "How come- ow. Si, pick me up. I'm getting neck-ache." He picked her up and sat her on the bar, as you would with a small toddler. She scowled. "I'm not a child."

   "I know, but if I hold you, my arms will start to ache."

   "I'm not heavy!"

   "No, I know, but- oh, I give up."

   "I definitely like her," Blossom commented. Simon pulled Blaise closer to him.

   "We are not having a repeat of when I was 14," he growled.

   "Ooh, what happened?" said Blaise, getting interested.

   "I kissed his girlfriend in front of him." Blaise looked unfazed. "With tongues."

   "Oh." She looked shocked for a moment, then burst out laughing.

   "I was then in a relationship with her for three months."

   "Wow! Go you! Sorry, Si." She giggled. "So why weren't you at the wedding? How come I've never heard any mention of you before?"

   "My mother disowned me when I was 20. I would presume she has forbidden any mention of my existence now."

   "My mom disowned me too! Wow! We have loads in common! Can I buy you a drink?"

   "Right, that's it," said Simon. He picked up Blaise and put her over his shoulder.

   "PUT ME DOWN!!" The small woman shrieked at the top of her voice, kicking her legs and pounding her fists on his back, causing everyone to turn and stare. "SIMON!!! I'M WARNING YOU!! PUT ME DOWN, THIS INSTANT!! LET ME GO!! NOW!!!!!!" He said nothing till they were out in the corridor, though he still didn't put her down.

   "Do not offer to buy her a drink!" he snapped. "I'm not even meant to talk to her!"

   "She's your sister!"

   "That is irrelevant. You never, ever offer to buy Blossom Archer a drink." The rich, crisp, well-spoken tone he normally spoke with came through more than ever in his irritation. That was one thing Blaise couldn't stand.

   "Don't use your posh voice on me, you poncy git!!"

   "Don't talk to my sister and I won't have to."

   "Why?"

   "Because she'll think you're making a pass at her!"

   "What if I was?" She connected with the floor, painfully, with a loud smacking sound.

   "WHAT?!?!?!"

   "OWWW! You bastard!"

   "You said let go."

   "Not like that!"

   "What do you mean, what if you were?"

   "I was joking, idiot!"

   "You'd better be."

   "I wouldn't cheat on you, Simon. Especially not with a girl. And especially especially not with your sister." He sighed.

   "Look, let's just go home."

   "But we're not pissed yet! I never leave a club before I'm pissed! I wanna get drunk, dammit!"

   "We'll get drunk at home."

   "It's not the same."

   "We'll have a nice, quiet- well, no, not quiet. It's likely to be rather noisy, actually. We'll have a nice, noisy night in." She grinned.

   "Ooh, is that a promise?"

   "Would I lie about that?"

   "Well, what are we waiting for then?!" She grabbed his hand and ran out.

~*~*~

   On the fourth attempt, he finally got his key in the lock. Simon and Blaise were kissing passionately on the doorstep, whilst he tried to let them in without looking. The door swung open and they almost fell over. They'd got half way up the large, elaborate, mahogany staircase, when Freja walked out of the living room. She frowned.

   "What have I told you about that?" she said sternly. "In here. Now." She disappeared again. The couple looked at one another cautiously.

   "What's rattled her cage?" he said. She shrugged.

   "We'd better do as we're told." They went back down and into the living room. Simon yelped.

   "What are you doing here?! And how did you get here before us?!" Blossom sat on the sofa smiling.

   "We'll leave you to it, shall we?" Freja said. "Come on, Nis."

   "No, I wanna see this," the weredragon replied.

   "Now, Dragonissa." Freja grabbed her by the ear and dragged her out.

   "Answer my questions!" Simon whined.

   "Well, I followed a short way," she responded, "then you began to get a little…. distracted, so I asked around a bit, found out where you lived and beat you to it. I must say, it is a very lovely house you have here" He groaned and fell into Blaise's chair. Blaise settled on his lap, snuggling close to him and laying her head on his shoulder, and pulled her duvet round the two of them, mainly to shield her scantily clad figure from Blossom's roving sight.

   "So, how come you're here in Alden, Blossom?" Blaise asked.

   "I have been seeking out my family for the past four years. I was particularly interested in what my little brother was up to."

   "Gods, it's like Ebony all over again," Simon complained. "I'm being stalked. Only without the…. ew…. ew…. ewwww…. oh, that's gross…. ew…. oh gods…." Blaise slapped him. "Thank you."

   "Anyway, Blossom, you were saying…?"

   "Yes, well, I just thought I would see what everyone was up to. It has been ten years, after all."

   "That long?" Blossom sighed.

   "That long."

   "So Simon was…. 15 when you left?"

   "Yes, he was only young, bless him, and so painfully shy. I remember it all as though it were only yesterday."

   "Why did your mom kick you out?"

   "Because she's a disgrace to the name of Archer!" Simon snarled. Blaise slapped him on the leg.

   "That's rude! Apologise!"

   "Do not worry about it, Blaise," Blossom said with another sigh. "Ten years of my mother telling you someone is evil and sinful and 'a disgrace' would make you say that about someone you used to love too." Blaise's eyes widened and she looked up at her husband.

   "You'd better not divorce me in three years time!!" she said, panic-stricken. He rolled his eyes.

   "Don't be daft." He kissed her gently on the forehead.

   "Well you love me, and she tells you I'm evil and decadent and sinful!"

   "And, if you remember, that is one of the things I love about you. Blossom being a lesbian was not one of the things I loved about her, therefore it was very easy for my mother to twist me to her way of thinking." Blaise looked uncertain, but she accepted what he told her. She looked back at the Elven woman.

   "So, you're mom doesn't like you much then, huh?"

   "You could say that. But it has only been since I told her I am a lesbian. She thinks it is unnatural and when I brought a girlfriend home to meet her, she just went mad. I have not seen her since. Not that I am bothered. If she will not accept me for who I am, I do not want to know her."

   "It's your own fault," said Simon. "You didn't have tell her."

   "I thought I could though. She always said I could tell her anything. But she is just a prude."

   "I'll second that!" agreed Blaise, "She really hates me. Wow, we are so alike!"

   "No, you aren't," Simon affirmed.

   "Oh my gods…" Blaise interrupted. Blossom and Simon both arched a golden eyebrow.

   "What?" they said together.

   "I've been trying to work it out for ages. Piper is the spitting image of her!"

   "Oh, bloody hell, yes…" Simon groaned.

   "I am sorry, you have lost me," Blossom said confusedly.

   "Piper is our daughter," explained Blaise, "she's one."

   "I have a niece!? Oh, how lovely! Can I see her?"

   "No," said Simon firmly, "she's in bed."

   "Oh well, maybe tomorrow."

   "Maybe not."

   "Oh, come on, Simon. You used to dote on me!"

   "Yeah. Used to." Blossom sighed for a third time.

   "You are far too much like mom, you know."

   "I am not!"

   "See, you are being stubborn, just like her."

   "Actually, I've got that off Blaise. And Nissa. And Chrissie. And Freja. And Noo. And Pete… yeah."

   "So, are you staying over?" Blaise asked. Simon jabbed her in the ribs. "OW!"

   "No, she isn't!" Blaise ignored him.

   "We've got plenty of room." The two women laughed. "Would you like a cup of tea, Blossom?"

   "That would be lovely, darling." Blaise got up and went to the kitchen. Blossom eyes were fixated on her curvaceous rear.

   "Stop it!" Simon said irritably. Blossom smirked at him.

   "I am only looking, Si. I appreciate curves in all the right places, and you cannot deny she is bountiful with them. You cannot expect me not to look."

   "But it's my wife," he whined pathetically. "And you're my sister. It's icky!"

   "She looks like she knows how to have a good time!"

   "Blossom! Pack it in!" Blaise walked back in.

   "Do you take sugar?" she asked.

   "No, darling, I am sweet enough." She winked at the Siren. Blaise smiled nervously and shuffled over to Simon. Blossom was staring at her breasts again.

   "Er… yeah… the kettle's boiling."

   "Ok." There was a brief moment of silence as Blaise climbed back into Simon's lap and pulled the duvet round them again. She breathed heavily.

   "So much for a noisy night in," she murmured dejectedly under her breath. Simon's eyes lit up.

   "Yes! Early night!" he declared. "Yes! We'll be going to bed now then! Because we're tired!" He stood up and carried Blaise. "Hope not to see you soon, Blossom, because it'll get me in trouble if mom finds out! Don't contact mom, you'll only piss her off! Bye!" With that, he ran upstairs.

   Freja walked into the living room to find Blossom sitting lone. The Elf looked up to see the Fire-Elf's confused expression.

   "They have gone for an 'early night'," she explained. Freja rolled her eyes.

   "I'm very sorry about them," she began. "They aren't usually this rude."

   "Oh, Blaise was not rude, only my brother."

   "Er… right." 'That's odd,' she thought. 'I wonder if he's feeling alright.' She was starting to get uncomfortable with the way this woman's eyes roved over everything but her face. 'Ah. You're… ah…" It was clicking into place now. "Well, what about that tea then? Oh wait, we're out of milk, I'll have to go out and get some, do excuse me!" She made a mad dash for the front door and slammed it behind her.

   "Freja?" Nissa called. "Strange woman." She went in to see Blossom, since everyone else was disappearing. "Sorry about all this." She sat down opposite Blossom.

   "Do not worry about it. I am rather enjoying myself." She was taking note of Nissa's curvaceous, pyjama-clad body with a smirk on her face. Nissa's face froze with a nervous, uncomfortable smile. This woman looked just about ready to jump her.

   "Er…. that's…. good…. I hope you've…. enjoyed…. Alden…. do you intend…. on…. staying?"

   "I do now."

   "….great. Well, I'll just be toodling off upstairs to find my boyfriend. My big, muscular, tall, strong, over-protective, jealous, easily provoked, werewolf boyfriend!" She scooted out of the room. Blossom rolled her eyes.

   "Perhaps I should stop being so blatant," she mused aloud. Silence rang for a moment. "On second thoughts, forget that."

~*~*~

   "I wish she'd go away," Simon moaned.

   "Yes, I agree." He was sat on the edge of their bed in his boxers and she was donned in her sexiest lingerie, wrapped around him, kissing him, caressing him, trying to seduce him.

   "I don't even know why she bothered coming."

   "No."

   "It's not like she expected a warm welcome or anything."

   "Quite."

   "We didn't exactly part on good terms."

   "No."

   "Mom won't be very happy."

   "Evidently."

   "How on earth did she find me?"

   "I don't know."

   "Why is she suddenly interested?"

   "No idea." Blaise's voice was getting steadily more irritable.

   "She's haunting me."

   "Of course."

   "She won't ever leave me be now. Ever again. Ever!" Blaise growled in annoyance and got off his lap.

   "Simon. I'm trying to have sex with you here, and all you're doing is talking about you're sister. It's not exactly a turn on."

   "Oh, sorry…."

~*~*~

   Chrissie slammed the front door behind her and sighed. Jeez, her job was stressful. She walked into the living room to see Blossom sitting on the sofa, watching TV.

   "Who the hell are you?" she demanded. "And what are you doing in my house?!" Blossom looked up and smirked. Her eyes searched from the top of Chrissie's head to the tip of her toes, and then back up again, approvingly.

   "I am Blossom," she responded. "I am Simon's sister. Freja let me in."

   "Oh, well that's alright then…. Wait, I didn't know Si had a sister."

   "Not many people do, apparently."

   "Piper looks just like you."

   "So I have been informed."

   "Er…. could you stop looking at me like that? It's a bit unsettling." Blossom's smile only grew. "Right. Well. How about a cup of tea then?" She went out into the hallway. "Where is Freja, by the way?"

   "She went out to buy some more milk."

   "Oh, okay." The fridge door as heard opening. "How odd. We have loads of…. oh." Chrissie crept back into the living room cautiously. "Er, not to seem rude or anything, but I'm going to bed now." Blossom's sight was fixated on her breasts, as it had been with the other women. Chrissie folded her arms. "I'm tired and, uh, my boyfriend, yeah, boyfriend will be waiting, so I'm going to join him. Now. Bye." The winged Elf maid ran upstairs and a cry of "WILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!" was heard reverberating through the house.

   Blossom sighed again. It was the same everywhere she went and it pissed her off. Women didn't react like that when men leered over them. They flaunted it all the more, why not to her?

   "Oh well." She then heard the front door open again. "Could it be…?" Noo flounced into the room.

   "Oh hello!" she said girlishly. "Wow. A new person! Hello! I'm Noo." She held out her hand. Blossom shook it, smiling mischievously.

   "I am Blossom."

   "Oooh! Pretty."

   "I am Simon's sister."

   "Don't be silly. Simon hasn’t got a sister. Silly Blossom. Are you staying here with us? Wow. Cool. You're nice. You can sleep in my room if you want. But we have got spare rooms. Lots of them. But my room is PINK!! And I've got mould. She's called Gladys. She's very nice. I talk to her when I'm lonely. We have funny conversations. And she tells jokes and does tricks. Sometimes she moves to the other side of the radiator to confuse me, but she never leaves the radiator, because she likes it there, it's cold and damp because we don't turn my radiator on because Gladys, my mould, lives there. My room is pink, you know. The girls helped me paint it, but the lads helped me pick the colour. They all thought I should have a nice, gentle mauve but I told them, I said "I'm a hot pink kinda gal and I won't settle for anything cooler than that". Simon sulked for days, and Will decided he agreed. Peter wanted to decorate his and Nis's room in that mauve colour then, but he also liked a shade of baby pink we saw, but Nis beat him up and told him to stop being such a pansy. That was funny. So are you staying with us then? We'd love to have you." Blossom's eyes were wide with fear.

   "Er…. you know, I think I may go and book myself into a hotel somewhere after all. It was lovely to meet you. Tell Simon I shall contact him. Goodbye!!" She left the house quickly, muttering "Psycho" under her breath.

   When Freja eventually returned (nervously), she only found Noo in the kitchen, balancing an apple on her elbow, whilst reading an article about suburban rainforests. 'I seriously worry about her,' Freja thought.

   "Er, Noo? Where's Blossom?" she asked aloud, warily.

   "She went to a hotel," she replied without looking up. "I was telling her about Gladys and then she had to go." A smile crept across Freja's face.

   "OH NOO! YOU'RE NEVER LEAVING THE HOUSE AGAIN!!!!"