Chapter 87

Laid up at Berlint General Hospital, Fiona coldly brushes off a visiting Gerald Gorey, who leaves behind the medical files of Loid's VIP patients and asks her to pass them along. The nurse who ushers him out turns out to be Sylvia in disguise, covering the workload of both hospitalized subordinates for the day and making her irritation plain. Sylvia reports that despite the many broken bones, the damage is lighter than feared and Fiona can resume duty once discharged. Fiona privately credits the mountain training she undertook for a rematch against Yor with toughening her body, savoring the irony. Sylvia commends her for bringing in Wheeler, tells her she values her too much as a subordinate to lose her, and adds on her way out that Fiona should not push herself, not even for Twilight. The realization that her feelings are transparent to her superior reduces Fiona to a flustered wreck, much to Sylvia's amusement.

At the Forger apartment, Anya declares Yor's breakfast slightly improved, thrilling her mother, and Yor insists on handling the chores so Loid can rest, though he quietly works through paperwork in his room. Anya recounts the zoo trip and shows off a stuffed toy lion, provoking a jealous Bond to ruffle his fur into a makeshift mane and cycle through other animal impressions on request. Yor brushes his coat back into shape, remarking on how glossy it has grown since he joined the family, then brushes Anya's hair when the girl asks to be shiny too. Franky drops by with supplies Loid requested, Anya decides his hair needs brushing as well, and the living room dissolves into cheerful racket. Emerging from his room, Loid surveys the chaos and retreats without a word.

Disguised as a nurse, Sylvia checks on Fiona and the hospital operation, confirms her injuries will heal fully, and reveals through a parting remark that she has long understood Fiona's feelings for Twilight.

The Forgers spend a quiet domestic day, with Yor covering the housework as promised while Anya, Bond, and a visiting Franky fill the apartment with noise, a snapshot of the family settling into real warmth after the Shellbury crisis.

The chapter establishes that Fiona's love for Loid is no secret to Sylvia. Anya gains a new plush companion in the toy lion from the zoo, and the cover features Fiona, Gorey, and Sylvia together.