Jordan POV-

Sunlight and the unique smell of the morning met Jordan's senses as soon as she woke up.

Usually, the cold bite of the morning breeze would have bothered her enough to open her eyes in search for all the covers she pushed away in her sleep, but she felt surprisingly warm.

She hugged the pillow next to her in an attempt to gather more warmth, that is until she realized her pillow felt a little odd.

'Tom must have slept over' she though, settling into the warm body that was hugging her back.

Then she remembered the injuries across her body, the friend who came back into her life...and who came back to her house.

Sure enough, Jordan was on her side facing the left part of the bed, snuggled up with Stefan, who was sleepily facing her as well.

Her arms were resting on his chest and his went around her body loosely as their legs tangled up with each other for warmth because of some blankets that seemed to have fallen off in the night.

A quick assessment confirmed that most of the weight of the blankets were on this side, and the barrier they had before going to bed was long gone.

It should have been weird. Being so close to each other even if they had met as kids and had bonded so well yesterday. Thing was, she felt like this had been their life all along.

Stefan was a good guy though.

There should have been doubt in her head about it, specially after how Capsize had deceived her, how Furia had betrayed her, and how Dianite tricked her.

In them, she had felt doubt, some more than others but it had been there.

With Stefan it was like her head went blank and all thoughts and guards relaxed. Perhaps it was because he was from back home, or because she had talked to a hallway for days pretending it was him.

Maybe it was because he wasn't a skilled fighter who could stab her at any moment.

Truth was, Stefan wasn't like her other friends. They were all fighters.

When she looked at him sleeping then, she saw none of that, just peace.

So she stared at the boy before her and let him sleep as she curled up back into him, letting the premature rays of the sun clash against her brown hair and skin.

Minutes could have passed by until she felt him moving suddenly.

Jordan didn't dare open her eyes as she felt Stefan waking up and going still all of the sudden.

Perhaps he would frantically pull away in disgust or wake her up and tell her to move.

Instead she heard him wasp, and a few seconds later, a deep soft laughter reverberating on his chest before he hugged her slightly tighter and got comfortable to sleep once again.

That eased some knot in her stomach at least.

Shortly after, her alarm went off. The alarm she swore she turned off before putting on the movie.

Problem was, the iPad was on the nightstand behind Stefan.

Stefan seemed to have heard it too, because he groaned slightly and the arm around her disappeared but his body remained close to hers.

Finally, she have up her little act and opened her eyes, finding Stefan trying to carefully silence You men at six's 'Take on the world'.

Not knowing what else to say after that, she said "Good morning"

"Good morning. You...you move a lot in your sleep" Stefan said, his cheeks turning a bit red.

Jordan felt her own flare up a bit all the way up to her ears.

"Lousy first sleepover huh?" She said

Stefan ran a hand through his hair and tried to adjust his eyes to the light.

"You were hoarding the blankets for a bit and when I took them back you came over to my side. I didn't want you to be cold so I didn't move you, I apologize if it was inconsiderate or inappropriate of me" he said, placing his hand back under the warmth of the covers and around her waist.

"Sorry, I do move a lot in my sleep. That and I'm used to cuddling with Tom when he sleeps over" Jordan said

Stefan gave her a sweet sleepy smile before settling back to sleep right as her bed moved behind her.

No, not the bed...

When Jordan turned around, she noticed half a face sticking out of the blankets and quilts. Black hair, two brown eyes, and a nose stuck out the blanket behind her, scaring her to death.

"What on Mianite's name are you doing Tom!" She asked, turning around to scold her friend.

"Well, I came bright and early but you were both asleep, so I decided to sleep as well" Tom said, greeting her with a kiss to the forehead and a glare to the guy behind her.

"How long have you been here!?" She asked

Tom arched a brow, pondering for a bit.

"An hour or so" he said

"You cant just come in to someone's bed unannounced" Stefan said

"Likewise" Tom replied, setting the blankets aside and sitting on the bed.

"I asked for permission" Stefan bickered back

"I don't need permission, I do this all the time" Tom said. When Stefan looked to her she just shrugged.

"Its true"she said, still stealing Stefan's warmth, not ready to go out into the cold world.

"Did you bring breakfast Tom?" Jordan asked, nudging her friend playfully

"Of course! I slayed two chickens this morning just for you!" He said, puffing out his chest proudly

"Ew, didn't need to know that part" Jordan replied, turning back to Stefan "You hungry Stef?"

"Stef?" Tom asked, on the verge of laughter.

"People from our world give their friends nicknames Tom. Unless you don't like it?" She asked Stefan.

She hadn't meant to say it, it just slipped out honestly, came out of nowhere.

Proving she truly didn't deserve a friend like him, he smiled and tucked away a strand of her hair being her ear "I love it Claire"

"Hey! Why don't I get one!?" Tom complained

"I could call you Thomas the Engine if you'd like" Jordan suggested. Stefan burst out laughing as he stood from the bed, his laugher at her own joke even making her laugh as she pushed Tom out of the bed.

Jordan got up and found one of her black jackets on a chair somewhere, then she added her usual black boots before brushing her hair down a bit.

The wounds seemed to have healed very well under Declan's care, she barely felt a thing when dressing.

Once she was done, Jordan realized Stefan didn't have any other clothes to wear. Tom must have noticed too because he eyed Stefan's outfit.

"Are those my clothes?" Tom asked

"Yeah I let him borrow them to sleep. Your fault for leaving them here silly" She replied, clasping weapons in place as she watched Tom round the bed were Stefan stood.

"I won't stand for this!" He said. Realizing Stefan was tall enough that Tom had to look up at him, Tom stood on the bed and stared down Stefan like a child.

"Gimme!" Tom demanded

Stefan didn't seem upset, specially as he gave out a dismissive shrug and began to take the shirt off, smiling at her teasingly.

Jordan's mouth hit the ground as Stefan began lifting up the shirt, she begged her eyes to look away to not be seen as some sort of pervert in his eyes.

"Woah! Not in front of Jordan!" Tom said, jumping down the bed and tugging the shirt back down

She couldn't see Stefan's face as she turned around back to her dresser, her face flaming red.

"Clothes won't be a problem anymore!" A female voice screamed from her doorway.

Sonja

Sure enough her friend walked in, hand in hand with Tucker, who had a small basket full of clothes it seemed.

"Sonja went to the villager market first thing in the morning for all of this" Tucker said, trowing the basket on the bed.

"I gave Jordan her first clothes when she got here, it's only fair I do the same for Stefan" she said pushing away from Tucker to hug Jordan.

"Good to have you back safe" Sonja whispered before heading to Stefan, instructing him how to put on his new Mianite clothes.

Tucker came over to her and fixed her remaining blades in place, scolding her on how hazardous her own method was.

"So, I hope Sonja didn't eat all the cane sugar available on the island because of me" Jordan said to Tucker

He laughed "Almost. Two more days and I might have joined her"

"I heard that Jordan! Leave my eating habits alone!" Sonja yelled

"Um, what are these for?" Stefan asked, grabbing everyone's attention.

On his hand were a small flint blade and some oils and butters.

Tucker sighed and made his way over to the 'otherworlder'.

"It's for shaving" Tucker said

"No shaving cream or Gillette razors here Stef" Jordan yelled, laughing at Stefan's confusion at the objects before him.

"Apparently so" he said

"Tucker, can you help him, I'm afraid he's gonna get hurt with those" Jordan said

Tucker smiled before pushing Stefan towards her adjoining bathroom

"What's a razor?" Tucker asked Stefan before closing the door, leaving Jordan unable from hearing the rest.

The remaining three went back downstairs to get food ready. Jordan was questioned on her time with Dianite but they seemed uncomfortable asking a lot of things, which worked out in her favor.

They seemed at ease once she stated that, no she hadn't been tortured or harmed, threatened, or even looked at the wrong way.

By the time Stefan and Tucker returned, her friend was cleanly shaved and properly dressed in clothes that fit him perfectly.

Sonja, as always, had the perfect eye for such things. Stefan had some black pants much like hers, along with a grey wool shirt and a black leather jacket adorned with various belts over it containing some daggers by his sides and a sword on his back.

The funny part was the shoes. He had on some boots like Tom's. Black and knee high. Clearly Stef had never worn such things and ended up walking a little funny in them.

He sat down next to her at the large dining table they used for the after-purge parties, and gave her a look, daring her to comment on his walk.

Jordan clamped her lips together and dug in to her food.

Truth was, the Mianite fashion looked good on him. Sonja seemed to think so because she let out a squeal when she saw him, proud of her work.

From then on it was peaceful conversation at the table, mostly questions towards Stefan on how he got here.

Apparently, she didn't give him nearly as much credit as she should have. The science behind his artificial portal was extraordinary and complex. Unfortunately no one else at the table seem to have understood that, or anything at all by the likes of it.

"How did you tether the signal here though?" She asked after swallowing her bite of bread.

"Oh that... a man with purple hair...he opened a portal breach and gave me a special type of sand that is part of the void essence" Stefan said.

Jordan paused her eating and turned to face him.

"Ianite helped you get here?" she whispered

"No way! Even he gets help from your god! What, are you gonna follow Ianite too Stefan?" Tom demanded from where he sat before Stefan.

"I don't think it matters who he follows now. This is a time of war with the gods, I don't think grilling him on following one of them is essential. This isn't like when Jordan first came here, I doubt the gods will gather in peace just to hear his decision" Tucker said, swinging his spoon back and forth.

"Does he even know what we are talking about?" Sonja pipped in.

Right. He wouldn't know.

"Stef, Ianite, the man who helped you he's a god" she tried explaining, getting ready for the denial.

"I know who he is" Stefan said "When I opened the breach the fist time, you said you were in Mianite. Did a little bit of research and found out everything, including how...odd this situation of yours is" he said

He knew about the steams! Her being confused for Jordan!

He truly was way smarter than she gave him credit for.

"So you know of the gods then? Your world must have stories of the gods then. Good, I didn't want to have to explain things to you" Tom said, slouching back in his chair and taking a bite of his chicken.

"I do, and I am very thankful to Lord Ianite for helping me get here" Stefan said

Her god had done that, for her...

Jordan definitely had to try and talk with him tonight, thank him personally.

"Stop pestering him about the boring stuff! I wanna know how you know Jordan because I didn't understand a single thing you said earlier" Sonja asked

Stefan took a sip of water and cleared his throat nervously.

"Well, to put it simply, we knew each other as kids. Then the day we became friends, I had to leave" he said "Then we met the day she was brought to this world. I sent her here"

Tom pointed green finger at Stefan and said "What kind of magic do you wield? You witch!"

"Tom, he's not a witch" Jordan said, scolding her friend

"I believe the right term would be warlock actually" Stefan pipped in but Jordan playfully smacked his arm

"Don't encourage him!" She said

"Speaking of which! The wizards are coming over in a bit!" Sonja said, smacking Tom on the back of the head "And you will behave, no killing today"

"Why are they coming. They rarely leave their castle" Jordan asked, ignoring Tom's whines

"You. Tucker told them you came back early so they wanted to visit you. Thats why we are eating at the big table today" Sonja said

Good. She had missed the wizards.

"Don't get too excited Sparkly pants. The pirates invited themselves as well" Tom said

"What!" Jordan screamed

"I thought you liked the pirates?" Tucker asked "Being fellow Ianitees and all. Plus you got along great with their captain, Sonja was already planning your wedding"

Tom slammed his palms on the table and gawked at Sonja in disbelief.

"It was Tom who told them! I saw how you were with them before you left, but Tom went ahead last night to gloat about your return to Ezra" Sonja said, glaring right back at Tom.

"Is this a bad time to mention I notified Champwan and the priest to join as well. I wanted them to meet the stranger" Tucker said softly, a wicked smile across his face.

So the bickering started....

"I swear we aren't always like this" Jordan whispered to Stefan beside her as her friends argued.

"I doubt thats true" he whispered back, stealing one of her grapes when he leaned back to his seat.

Before the arguing could get any further, Jordan said "Why invite everyone? Me returning from my...trip isn't that important"

"No, but you being alive is" Tom said, trowing Tucker a vulgar gesture before settling in his seat.

"That and I though it would be a good idea to discuss the Furia incident and get ready to leave the island. You said you wanted to leave right away, the ship is ready to depart when we are" Tucker said

Of course. Enemies. War. It was all still present.

She had just forgotten.

"When the tide is high would be best actually" a voice said from the door.

Ezra.

Jordan stood up and turned around. There by the door were the four pirates, clad in their usual attire and armed to the teeth.

Sure, she was in better terms with Ezra, but the memory of how he had used her still hurt.

Anger was a better alternative than pain.

Yes, that had been her philosophy. But now she would have to make amends if she was going to travel with them to save their god.

So she gestured to the four empty seats on the far right end of the table.

"Glad you could join us for breakfast. Take a seat" she said, trowing in the manners her mom had grilled into her.

"Why is the Dianitee dining with us?" Ezra asked, none of them moving from the door.

"Believe it or not, Tom is not the issue here. He doesn't give me reason to doubt his welcome into MY home" she replied coldly.

Rupert, the face of that brother she wanted to forget, stepped forward.

"We mean the other" he said, his voice just like Mason's.

She didn't understand what he meant until she turned around to look at everyone present.

"Oh! This isn't Furia" she said, holding out a hand for Stefan to take after which they made their way to the door way.

"This is Stefan. He is from my world and a friend of mine. He got here yesterday" she said

Stefan didn't offer a handshake like she had expected, just stared at the pirates with some form of anger.

Odd

"You look just like Mason" Stefan said, surprising Jordan.

"You met my brother?" she asked, ignoring Rupert's stares.

"I did. He was at the lab with me when I worked on the portal" he replied

Her brother had known of her disappearance and went over to Stefan? How odd.

But now was not the time to have a mental debate on her brother.

"That doesn't matter. Just know that he will be staying with me from now on" Jordan said

"Another? How many more of your people are coming to invade our world then?" Rupert asked

"I didn't realize you viewed my being here as an invasion Rupert. Perhaps you should be looking out for those who are a true threat" she said, silently reming him of what she had seen.

His blood.

That comment successfully shut him up.

"Ezra asked us to play nice" Amy whispered to Rupert not so quietly and made her way forward.

"Stefan eh. Name suits you. Come, I want to sit next to you" Amy said, holding Stefan by the arm and leading him back to the table.

Rupert followed suit and settled down on the last seat next to Amy. Then Bluebeard went ahead as well and sat on the furthest seat on the other side of the table, right in front of Rupert.

That left her and Ezra.

"I'm glad to see you are ok" Ezra said

"Of course I'm ok" she replied, making to turn back

"Why are you back so early? Did you not find the heart?" He asked

Slowly she turned around and stared him down, forgetting her promise of manners and diplomacy.

"Thinking of lying to me to get your hands on it?" She said "I did find it, and I'm here because I got caught, had to make it back or risk punishment by Dianite"