I thought in over a thousand years I&#39;d seen all there was to see.

Irina squinted at Emma just for a moment, half making sure she'd understood the quick English and half deciding what to say.

"It's a ... chance," she finally said. "Some of us are only back for a few days, and I came back to visit Jack. I did not know you would be here too, but I'm very happy to see you."

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Emma glanced toward a blond boy in another part of the bar. "So you're one of those visitors," she said, before returning her attention to Irina. "I had a sense I had to be here, so I came. And discovered I've got a visitor of my own."

She gave the other girl a smile. "I'm glad Jack has someone here to see him."

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"I don't know why me and not one of his sisters," Irina admitted. "But -- it's good to see him and see his world. I thought of him often after he left with you."

She followed the girl's glance. "Who was he to you?"

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"My brother," Emma answered. "And for probably the same reason you felt called to Jack; because we miss the people who we love best."

"Jack's life with his sisters was closed a very long time ago, so he has nothing to miss. There are far more might-have-beens with you."

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Irina nodded, face unreadable. "And you have might-have-beens with your brother," she said. "I think you may be right. I wondered about it too. What it would have been like if Jack had stayed with us in Moscow."

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"That makes two of us, then," Emma said, and resisted the urge to glance toward a particular set of blond curls. "Sometimes I wonder if it would have been happier for him in the long run, with you and Sebastien, although I know this was the safer option."

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"He won't die in a war," Irina said, and she let her gaze linger on those curls. "So many young men did, at home. This is the better life."

She paused delicately. "Does he -- seem happy?"

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"I think so," Emma offered. "I know it makes him happy that he doesn't have to hide who he is, for the most part. He has friends, and school."

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Irina smiled. "I had to ask him directly before he told me he was a Jew, you know," she said. "He hid so much all his life, so this, you -- they are good for him."

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"I'm not much good for anyone; everything Jack's accomplished, he's done himself." Emma looked back at Christian again, who seemed determined to flirt with Tiny. "When we were students here, there was a whole gang of us. Did you know that? We were terrible. Me, Jack, Alex, Effy, Rose, Valentine, Karla, Ronan, Tony... it's not like I get credit for anything."

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"What don't you get credit for?" Jack asked with a smile as he appeared at Emma's elbow. "I see you already found Irina."

If he'd been listening, his expression didn't show it.

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"For you being a terrible, horrible boy, who leaves his guests unattended and lets pretty girls swoop in and steal them," Emma lied without effort.

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"You shouldn't have left me alone so long," Irina agreed solemnly. "A woman on her own on a strange island could run into much worse trouble than Emma."

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"Not by much, and you forget I know you," Jack answered. "You could take care of yourself just fine even when you were 18."

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frater-glacies.livejournal.com

"Speaking of taking care of people, I'm feeling neglected." Emma winced as Christian draped himself over her shoulder, smirking at their little group. "Hello, Ems has rotten manners. I'm Christian."

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"Jack," Jack said, offering his hand. "I'm Emma's ... whatever Emma wants."

Labels were hard things.

"And this is Irina Stephanova Belotserkovskaya, who I became close to in Moscow some time ago."

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"Just Irina," Irina supplied. "No one can fit their mouths around the whole thing. It is nice to meet you."

Jack was getting a bit of a side-eye at 'whatever Emma wants.'

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What Emma wanted right now was to disappear into the bar and never come out again, dammit.

The reason for which was probably going to become clear in 3, 2, 1...

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frater-glacies.livejournal.com

Christian looked Jack over like a piece of meat, letting out a long whistle. "Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaamn, Ems," he said, a wide grin on his face. "Can I borrow him? Does he have a twin brother somewhere?"

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Jack burst out laughing. "And now we know where you got your taste in men, Ems," he said, before turning to Christian. "I don't have a twin, and I'm sure you know Emma never shares her toys. Too bad, isn't it?"

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"I hate you both." No she didn't. "Iriiiiiiiiiiiiiiina, help a girl out here."

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"I would but I think you were teasing me first," Irina pointed out. "I could offer to take care of your brother, but I'm not sure I am his type."

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