Harry had known Regina was planning to drop by, but wasn't sure when exactly she'd be there. So he'd settled onto the tiny, thinly padded sofa he'd put in his kitchen, with Nix nestled up against his chest, gently stroking his soft fur. He'd missed his little friend, while he'd been off in the Shire. Sylvia too, but she was snubbing him at the moment, pretending to ignore him. She hadn't been pleased by his sudden disappearance. Nix had no such grudge and was leaning into Harry's fingers, eyes closed in contentment.
He'd missed his human friends too, of course; Kirk and Amy and a few other familiar faces had been with him, but all the rest had been somewhere else. He had a lot of friends here in Lawrence, now, and he'd only wished they could have all been there with him. The Shirt was a bright and kind place. It reminded him of Embrey, in all the best ways - a green, warm farming community full of simple, cheerful, hospitable people. It was soothing. He lived for soothing now, for quiet and ease and gentleness. He didn't remember Hell unless he tried to now, thanks to his wish, but even with that dulled, he still felt that sense of taking a rest to catch your breath after a long, horrible, agonizing struggle.
And for Harry, that meant home, friends, comfort food, and soft-furred pets.
Regina's arrival in the next room didn't catch him by surprise, but her greeting words certainly did. Brow furrowed, he twisted his head up and around, trying to peek around the back of the sofa, but still couldn't see her. Carefully cradling Nix close, he swung his feet to the floor and stood up. Once he was sure the bat had a good grip on his shirt Harry let him hang there, his weight pulling Harry's shirt taut from his shoulders, and peeked around the doorframe.
"Cheeseburgers?" he asked, lingering in the doorway uncertainly. "You got a cheeseburger? Who are you and what have you done with Regina?" The teasing was fond if genuinely confused. Harry kept a hand close by Nix, still stroking his fur gently.