Author's Note: The Calm After the Storm is my first story. Constructive criticism is welcome. I hope you enjoy it!

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of the 39 Clues.

"They're here!"

Immediately after the cry, eleven Cahills bolted towards the door. When they opened it, they were met with the, now former, hostages.

"Nellie, Uncle Fiske!" shouted Amy, running towards them with Dan following.

"My kiddos!" Dan was relieved that Nellie and Uncle Fiske hadn't changed a bit. Even though Fiske was not one for hugs, he hugged the three as if his life depended on it.

"Mom, Dad, Madison, Hamilton!" Reagan ran over to her family and tackled them with a group hug. Eisenhower Holt felt a burst of joy and relief in his heart when his little girl ran towards them with so much energy that it would've made Buchanan Holt proud.

"Ian!"

"Natalie!" The two siblings hugged, and this time, Ian wasn't ashamed that tears were pooling and running down his face.

"Ted, Uncle Alistair! I'm so glad to see you!" Sinead and Ned rushed over to the two and even though Ted was the handicapped person out of both, it was he that led his uncle towards his overjoyed siblings.

"Cuz!"

"Oh my baby!" cried Leila Wizard. She engulfed Phoenix in a hug, with Jonah hugging them both.

After ten minutes of emotional reunions between the seventeen Cahills, they entered Grace's mansion and sat in the spacious kitchen.

"I hope you're going to uphold your promise of the sushi," remarked Natalie to Nellie," because I am absolutely famished."

Nellie smiled. "Sure thing, Nat. Now that my shoulder's all fixed up, I can get back to cooking again. Sashimi here I come!"

After the six hostages had been rescued, all of them had been admitted to Boston General Hospital to fix any damage that had been done. Since the doctors and nurses that treated them were Madrigals, no questions were asked by hospital staff.

"Um, I don't really like sushi. Can I have some cookies instead? I really missed eating them," said Phoenix timidly, uncomfortable with the many unfamiliar faces around the table.

"Of course you can!" Leila Wizard turned to Nellie. "Do you have any cookies here? His favorite is-"

"Oreos. I know."

"How did you know that?"

"When you're trapped by homicidal Vespers in a cube cage, you tend to talk to pass the time."

"Then it's settled," said Ian," we'll have sushi for dinner tonight. And some caviar perhaps?"

He looked to Natalie for an answer. "Yes please."

"I'll go with you to buy the supplies Nellie." Amy got up as well and started for the door, but stopped short when she noticed something.

"Hey, where'd Jake, Evan, and Atticus go?"

"Atticus and Jake went to see their dad and I don't know where Evan went. Probably being his usual geeky self on a computer."

"Dan, you are such a dweeb." said Amy, rolling her eyes.

Nellie laughed. "Gosh I miss you two and your constant squabbling."

"Am I supposed to take that as a compliment?"

"Oh come on Dan, let's go shopping." Nellie rose from her seat and started towards the door.

"You coming Nat?"

"Why would I want to go grocery shopping? If you ask me, that should be left to the servants. I don't want to go to a place where peasants accumulate by the dozens and go through the food with their contaminated hands."

Nellie sighed. Natalie hadn't changed a bit. Not even after the traumatizing experience. Once a Kabra, always a Kabra.

After an hour of sorting sushi ingredients into the refrigerator and kitchen shelves, Nellie, Amy, and Dan laid on the lounge chairs beside the pool.

"I'm exhausted," sighed Amy.

"Yeah me too. Who knew finding swordfish would take five grocery stores."

"It wasn't that bad. If you were a cook you would understand."

"Nellie, a crab almost pinched my toe off."

"Fine, it was that bad. But it was your fault first. You are NOT supposed to aggravate animals with huge pincers. Especially with sticks and shouting 'OBEY THE FORCE!'. "

"Hey, what can I say? I was born to annoy the heck out of people...and crabs." "True that," said Amy.

"Well, the fish aren't going to cook themselves," Nellie jumped out of the chair. "LET'S COOK!"