Author's Note: This story is set after Tom's training as a Spook, even though I know Joseph is still writing the last books, but this is just how I wish things ended, especially for Tom and Alice and the whole story is on Alice's POV, hope you like it. I do not own anything, all those rights go straight to Joseph Delaney. One more thing, I'm just correcting some errors here and there, the story is still the same. (: R&R

Chapter 1: New Life

"Alice, wait for me," Tom screamed to me, as he reached the house. We had been arguing who was the fastest since we left the spook's house in Chipenden to get the week's provisions. In the way back, I dared him to get to the house before me and obviously, I won.

"I thought you had finished your spook's training," I said laughing at him.

It was true. Tom had finished his training for a year and he was the County's spook now. Old Gregory retired after he finished to teach Tom and had gone to live with his brother, Andrew. I had decided to stay with Tom, firstly because I knew that he always needed my help. However, I must admit it, if it wasn't for him I would be dead by now, even though it was my fault to make him go through so many dangerous situations. Anyway, I had no family anymore and Tom had been the best friend, family and company I ever had. I felt like my life wouldn't be the same not to have him around and going into adventures with him, after boggarts and witches.

"You know I did, but this race wasn't fair. I was carrying the provision's sack," Tom said as the front gate opened itself like always. We headed to the front door and Tom opened it.

"Come on Tom," I laughed at him as we entered the house. "You know you have to better than that. You are the spook now. What Old Gregory would say?"

"Oh, shut up, Alice!" He said going into the kitchen to leave the provisions for the boggart that worked for him now. "This was the last time I lost a race to you. Next time you will carry the provision's sack."

"I still would win," I said proudly.

He laughed at me, threw his arm around my shoulders and started to walk towards the western garden.

"Dear Alice, you are too proud of yourself! You need to relax a little. It's like everything is a competition to you."

"I'm not like that! You are very proud too," I said a little too fast.

"Okay, I admit I am proud of myself. What I'm saying is that you need to relax. You've been tense since we came back from Anglezarke," he said.

Maybe it was true. Since we came back from his winter's house I had had a bad feeling. Something was coming. Something bad. But I didn't want Tom to worry. I mean, after 6 years going through so many dangerous things with the spook. Now things were different, Old Gregory was no longer with us, and Tom has been the spook for only a year and I had a feeling that he was in danger, so I wasn't going to say a thing.

"I'm fine! Don't worry," I said trying to look more relaxed.

"Please Alice! I know you're lying to me," he said,

I looked at him. His deep brown eyes stared seriously at me. He stopped walking, grabbed my shoulders and turned me to him, so we were face to face. Now that we had grown up he was finally taller than me. I looked up and met his gaze.

"I…I…" I stuttered. I still wasn't sure I should tell him about the bad feeling I had. So, I turned my head and finally realized where we were. Behind us, there was the bench that Tom used to have classes with Old Gregory. I walked away from him and sat on the bench.

"Please Alice!" I heard his voice approaching the bench. "I know you well. I can tell that something is bugging you," he sat on the bench looking at me.

Think of a lie! Lie to him. Faster, Alice! A little voice whispered in my mind.

"It's nothing important. It's just… Well, it's your birthday in two days and I've been planning a surprise to you and what's bugging me is that I need to find a cake recipe because it's Sunday and the boggart won't be here. So, I'm worried because in the library there are no cookbooks and in the city there is no one that would help me," I lied.

"You know," he said grinning. "You are a terrible liar. But it's okay, if you don't want to tell me, you don't need to. I just want you to know I'm here for you."

"I'm sorry Tom. I believe that this is not the right time to tell you. At least not right now," I said looking at him. "It's not because I don't trust you, I do. It's just…" I felt his hands in my face, making me look at him.

"It's fine Alice. You don't have to explain yourself to me," he said with smile on his face.

I smiled back at him. I threw my arms around his neck and hugged him. He hugged me back. Being in his arms made me feel good, like I belonged there. After a while, we let go and sat straight in the bench, he put his arms around me and I leaned my head in his shoulder. We stayed like that for almost the whole afternoon, talking about the past, what we did in his first year in the new job. And for the first time in a long time I felt like I was at home, in a place I truly belonged.

The sun was setting when we heard the bell ringing. It was dinner time. We got up and headed back to the house in silence. Dinner was great as always, we thanked the boggart and went to the spook's library. Tom always read Old Gregory's book to learn even more. I still helped him translating some books written in Latin. Tom didn't exactly learned Latin, so he asked for my help.

Time passed by and it was late, I was so tired that I only remember to fall asleep over a book of spells.