>October was drawing to a close. It had now been almost a month since you came back from Switzerland
>Annie was back to, and might even have surpassed, her former glory
>Most of the geists that were supposed to be returned to their previous owners had been, but there were still a lot that didn't have a place to go back to
>The only dignified solution would be opening up a little shop
>Selling them off to people you could get a feeling for
>Maybe opening up a little shop
>Get into gunsmithing? 
>Maybe later
>Maybe another day

>Today, it was saturday
>This means rolling out of bed when you and not someone else wanted 
>But Annie wasn't in bed
>She wasn't much for sleeping all day away, but she was a snugglebug of epic proportions
>it's not like she can't take care of herself

>you cleaned yourself up and went downstairs
>a few familiar faces around the kitchen table
>you nod a little, just acknowledging that they are there
>two sandwiches are made, and you thud down in front of the TV, leaving the kitchen as a Geist zone

>But Cassie sat down next to you a moment afterwards with a hint of worry in her face

>”Mm?”
“I know it's not my business, but Annie acted weird this morning. Did you guys like… Fight or anything?”

>You think back to the previous evening

>”Nope. She was as cheerful as always. Something up?”
“I dunno. She seemed… like something was off. Oh, and she was off to the store a while ago”
>”Maybe we should give her some space. I'm sure she can handle herself”
“Yeah, i’m not worried about that. Ah, i’m sure there is no problems there”

>And why would there be any problems?
>Annie could probably solve any situation she went into
>With  foot of lead, an iron fist, nerves of steel and a tongue of silver
>What a girl she was
>Oh well, she would be back later

>Which did allow you to think a little about the one thing that was nagging you
>Doll
>She had taken up a bit of a parental role when you and Annie were out
>She stood in Annie’s shoes and handled it brilliantly
>But now when she was back, Doll found herself being almost superfluous
>She had never really gotten along well with any of the others
>In her old home, and her old owner who sold her she was the biggest around
>Which meant she could always overpower someone if she had to
>But that wasn’t an option here considering Annie's role in everything
>A long story short, Doll was informed she was Annie's bitch if the tall Russian so desired
>That in and of itself was not a problem, Doll would be more than happy to end up in that position

>But it was just not going to happen. Annie only shared a bed with Anon
>Meaning the only fun Doll got was from screens
>The TV when no one else was around, usually in the early morning hours, or on the laptop
>which worked until someone else used the internet and the speed went down the drain
>So she usually slept the days away in the garage or somewhere where no one went and sat up at night and watched things on the internet

>You had to do something for her, the poor thing
>but then again, what could you do? Doll had that slightly spiky personality about her. She usually didn’t get along with people on equal terms
>Maybe it was a belt fed thing

>However that was a thing for later as the old white sedan flew into the front yard, gravel flying from the tires
>Annie barely had time to get out from the car before she came running into the house

Hey Anon!

>But there was no kiss or hug, she just flew by
>”Uhh, hi Annie…”

>But her speed was explained a second later, as the bathroom door slammed shut
>Nothing worrisome then

>But there was something odd about it
>She left the water running
>Which in itself wasn’t strange
>For the first five minutes
>Or fifteen
>But after half an hour, it was starting to seem a little off
>You went upstairs and tapped on the door

>”Everything okay in there Annie?”
y-yeah, no problem. At all
>”Uhh…”
Fuck. Give me a second, i’ll be right out

>Fuck? Annie was usually rather reserved in her language. She thought it unladylike to swear

>But she did go out eventually
>Visibly uncomfortable

>”If you’re feeling ill, yo-”
Shh

>She gets a firm grasp on your hand and drags you downstairs
>Out, and into the garage
>still holding your hand

It’s still you and me, right? No matter what?
>”Of course. But you have me worried here”
And you promise not to hate me?
>”Please Annie, i’m not going to hate you. No matter what. Thought that was obvious since what went through”

>Annie looked weak
>Vulnerable
>Defeated

>She sighs heavily and picks up a small, about 5-6 inch plastic stick-something from her back pocket
>She holds it up in front of you, revealing two horizontal lines

>”Oh”

>Annie looked down, almost ashamed of herself

>”If that is what i think it is… wait, are you sure about this?”
This, and like seven other ones, for different brand
>”Ah”
Yeah…
>”I didn’t think that was possible”
It isn’t. On all accounts, according to all sources, this isn’t possible. At all. Ever
>”Waitwaitwait, how did you get the idea of doing one of those tests anyway?”
I just felt weird! Just looked up some internet diagnoses…
>”Okay. I’m probably as responsible as you are, so no one is getting upset now, alright?”

>She takes a deep breath

It’s not so simple.We could do fine, i’m not worried about that. The others worry me
>”Why?”
Because… this is something that doesn’t happen, no matter how much you try, no matter how much you want it, pray, wish, or anything. It doesn’t work. Until it happens to me, by accident rather than anything else
>”Yeah…?”
Jealousy, Anon. Jealousy. Remember the hubris part? I very nearly paid for that with my life
>”Come think of it, this could be something your mother intended when she gave you your new body…?”
Maybe, but it might just have been something she overlooked. Argh! that’s not the point! The point is this might be genuinely dangerous for me! As much as i want to think other geists will be happy for me, for us, i just don’t believe that will be the case
>”Okay, that does make sense”
So, until we figure something out, which has to be before it it starts looking obvious, we have to keep this a secret. Absolutely no one can know

>And in that exact moment, a rake falls over in the corner of the garage
>Annie reacts immediately and draws her pistol

“Sorry! Sorry! I’m Sorry don’t shoot!”

>”Doll…?”
What are you doing here!?

>Annie walks up to her slightly panicking, and probably looking rather intimidating

What. Did. You. Hear
>S-sorry Annie…

>Annie was starting to heat up
>Her right hand starts twitching
>Before it might get to the point where she does something regrets, you step in

>”Okay, let’s calm down here a second. Annie, could you close the door and make sure no one is listening to us?” 

>Annie takes two deep breaths, goes to the door, checks around and slams it closed

No one there

>Doll gestures a holster motion, most likely asking if little Gnevny could hear anything in her state

No, she can’t
>”Right, with that out of the way, let’s-”
Doll, what did you hear
“Sorry… p-please don’t sell me”
>”You’re not getting sold, okay? But you have to cooperate here”
“I heard everything…”
What were you even doing here!?
“I sleep here”
Why?
“Because there is so much less fuss if i do”

>That sort of stops the entire discussion for a second

>”Right, but for now, i’m sure you can imagine what you have heard is very sensitive”
Yeah. c-congratulations

>Doll’s pockets are filled to the brim with spaghetti, almost to the point it’s starting to pour out

Doll. You have done very well keeping the house together, which i value highly. But, this can legitimately get me killed. Meaning, i would much prefer if we can settle this like friends than enemies. I’d rather bribe you than threaten you. Does this makes sense?
”Yeah, it does…”
Good. What i could do is tell you to keep quiet, but i’m going to show my gratitude to you instead, to make sure it’s not a burden to you. You now have a very rare opportunity to tell me what your silence regarding this is worth
“I, uhh…”

>Doll thinks for a minute

“Do i still have a bedroom in the house?”
>”Yeah, there is one spare still”

>She thinks a little more
“H-hey, Anon, think i could tell Annie this like, alone?”

>Annie nods to you, and you head out
>You take a seat on the porch and wait
>And it seems the matter got resolved very quickly, since they are out again in under five minutes
>Doll was smiling brightly
>Annie looked strangely satisfied as well

>”Worked well?”
Yes. I’ve been stupid, she wants to be all independent, but M60s do need attention
>”Okay…?”
We don’t have to worry about anything, Anon. Trust me. And Doll, go in and pack your things, we leave in ten minutes

>And Doll walked into the house. No, not walked, skipped
>Doll was skipping, which was quite a sight

>”Annie, what’s going on?”

>She cringed

I really don’t want to explain this, but if you really want to-
>”If it’s that bad i shant pressure you. Just take care of yourself”
Of course
>”Oh, and Annie, by the way. This uhh… thing”
Our thing? 
>”Yes, our thing. What are the odds that is from Switzerland?”
I’d have no idea, i’ve only been feeling weird for the last two weeks
>”And that was five weeks ago? Because we went shooting last weekend. So… ten days ago?”
You mean if changing and shooting affects…
>”Our thing”
Our thing, exactly
>”New body or not, you’re not going nine months like this”

>She giggles a little at the thought of a quicky in the woods
>There was a few loose rounds of 14.5 in the GTO
>No clip, but single loading was always an option
>Two rounds find their way into the offending trees
>Annie comes back out and gives you a kiss 
>And then skips back in the house, presumably for another test

>You met her in the door, Doll in tow
>And while Doll went and sat down into the car, Annie walks past you, smiling like she has never done before