taking his hand in mine , i link our fingers and close my eyes . once i nearly fainted , but that was years ago . `` better meet grandma before you get your hopes up , '' he advised billy . right now she and nix had much bigger problems . she walked over to the couch , flopping down on it . the high-pitched whine in nick 's ears was one he knew all too well , and even with his eyes closed and his face buried against kelly 's chest , the flash had caused stars behind his eyes . 