Tom and Fred had both gone to bed, and Ellie came down the stairs to find Alec skimming through a book.

"Are you even reading that?" she asked skeptically.

"Nope."

"Right," she said, throwing herself down on the couch beside him. "Wanna see this video I took?"

He eyed her suspiciously. "I suppose."

She passed him her phone and clutched a pillow to her chest for protection.

He watched with a critical eye as he giggled and butchered her name, all while under the influence of heavy duty narcotics. When it finished, he set the phone down.

"Miller," he said, looking at her very seriously. "If you ever show that to anyone, I will hunt you down and make your life miserable. Do you understand?"

She nodded. "Still... it's tempting," she smirked.

He shook his head. "Oh, just you wait until I get my strength back."

"Is that a threat?" she asked innocently.

"Oh, no, nothing like that. It's just that, Tom happened to let it slip you're incredibly ticklish."

She slammed the pillow down that she was holding. "He did not!"

"Oh, he very much did," he said, smirking. "Your secret is out."

She scowled at him. "If you weren't all broken I'd punch you."

"I can't wait," he drawled.

She threw the pillow at him.