True summary: The Rakshana have carried their grudge against Gemma Doyle through the ages. After finding that they couldn't retrieve the realms' magic after assassinating her, they decide to wait for their chilled, then served revenge... Meanwhile, Gemma finds out in the after life that there's only one way to see Kartik again... Like it says, TSFT spoilers, so if you haven't read it yet, STOP READING THIS AND GO READ IT! There. You have been warned. Ummmm... probably T because there's going to be swearing and stuff.

Let's see. Um. The reason I wanted to bring it to the present is because I can relate to this time period and don't want to try and ruin the original Spence, etc with my bad writing. Plus, it makes things so much easier in dialogue. I mean, it's beautiful to read Victorian dialogue, but writing it is just such a pain...

My first AGATB fic! Please enjoy! And if I were Libba Bray, would I have killed the ridiculously hot Kartik?! So no. Plot only is mine. Plus the kids. No wait, they come from Kartik and Gemma, so... maybe not...

Sighing, Gemma sat down and looked out of the window that overlooked New York. She could barely believe it- here she finally was, far from oh-so familiar England and even further from now beloved India. She chuckled at the thought: India being beloved. It was only a few months ago that she had been so glad to be rid of it.

Months? Gemma thought for a few more moments, and realized that it had to have been much longer. How long, however, she could not decipher. Time and space had lost nearly all meaning ever since that day in the Winterlands…

A sharp pain and a sudden flood of wetness beneath her made her gasp, which alerted the maid to the situation.

"Get the birthing room ready!" The maid called loudly into the hall before rushing to help Gemma. Her odd New York accent oddly comforted Gemma, who could, for some reason, see nothing but his face before her eyes…

A few years later…

"Mama!" A bubbling girl with very curly black hair came running to her, a frown adorning her adorable face. "Mama, Thomas has just pulled at my hair for I told him that he must not sneak out! He is cruel to me, when others are taught to be civil!"

Gemma sighed as she mused that maybe these twins of hers had yet to prove they were twelve years of age.

"Do not allow Thomas to do as such. We women are strong enough to stand up to him."

"But Mama!"

"Mary, you are older than him, no matter how little the margin is. Shall we go scold him for such naughty things?"

Mary considerably brightened at this idea and they walked over to where the boy was playing.

"Mama, I did not do anything!"

"Hush, now, Thomas. You should not do such things to your dear sister, nor should you endeavor to do anything without my permission."

"How is she a sister of mine? We look nothing alike," Thomas mumbled under his breath. It wasn't entirely a lie; though the twins both had gold-flecked green eyes, Thomas had rich red hair and had grown to be quite tall, while Mary was quite the opposite.

"Thomas!" Gemma's sharp tone shocked the boy into looking up at her. In a softer tone, she said, "You should not say such things about your sister. We are all we have left, my dear. Do not ever forget that."

"Forgive me, Mama." Thomas mumbled shamefacedly. Gemma smiled kissed his forehead. Mary frowned as she came closer. Gemma laughed at the sour expression and kissed Mary also.

"Mama, what is my name?" Mary asked innocently, but Gemma knew what would come next. She happily complied.

"You must never forget this name of yours, Mary. Your full name is Mary Sahirah Dowd."

"And what is brother's name?"

"Thomas is simply Thomas Henry Dowd."

"His name is not as splendid as mine, is it?"

"No, my dear."

"Mama, can you tell me the story behind my name?"

"Well…"

Gemma smiled as she sat with Thomas and Mary at her feet and explained, for the umpteenth time, that Mary was the name of her mother, and that Sahirah was a favorite mentor of hers that had died in order to save Gemma and her friends.

This time, however, Mary asked an unprecedented question. "Mama, whatever happened to Papa?"

Gemma's breathing halted abruptly and she sighed softly.

"My dear, before you were born, there was a great battle. A great big battle, but nothing you may repeat outside of these walls, for no one else in the world knows of it," Gemma started. Mary and Thomas both swore never to repeat it. Though they were only twelve, they knew more than enough of the world to know what might happen. "Your father was a brave man, and he fought with me every step of the battle. In the end, however, he sacrificed himself to save me. And he ended up saving you two as well."

Mary smiled softly. "That's terribly romantic…"

Thomas growled in annoyance. "He should have been strong enough to save both of you."

Gemma shook her head. "No, no… He was stronger than any man that you may see about you today. Much, much stronger, in both heart and soul. Now," she said, brightening, "who shall come with me to call on Mr. Timbleton?"

Both children accompanied their mother as they walked to the sweets shop, dodging the taxis that ruled the New York streets.

"Do you see her?"

"Yes. I do."

"Have you a clear shot? It will only be a few moments before the poison takes effect."

"This must be foolproof. The Rakshana must eliminate the creator of the seal to break the seal and draw the magic from the realms."

"For the Rakshana, Gemma Doyle must die."

And then the shot flew.

Gemma almost felt the bullet enter her body before it actually did. She crumpled immediately, thousands of thoughts buzzing about her slowly numbing mind.

"Mama!" The children cried as she lay on the sidewalk, a crowd forming. With her last burst of strength, she took both children's hands, and then released them. Her fingers fumbled with the amulet around her neck, which she thrust into Mary's hand.

"This must be always in the Dowd line, Mary. It must go to your daughter someday, and then to hers… Take care of each other, my loves…"

Gemma's eyes flew to the sky and her back arched in pain.

"Kartik…"

And so passed Gemma Doyle, daughter of Mary Dowd, priestess of the Order.

I'm so sorry! I know that this chapter sucked, but I'm working on it! I swear it'll get better, really. It's just that I just got this inspiration and rushed to write it down... Plus I suck at writing the early 1900's... Please review constructively: It's not just to get more reviews or get praise (though I wouldn't mind that ), but to better my writing. Therefore, if you want to review, whether positively or negatively, please add a few reasons why you like it? Please??

By the way, no, I've never given birth or been near anyone who was in the process of giving birth, so I'm sorry if the first part is completely inaccurate. And no, you won't be seeing anything else like that in the series. And I was working on making the children 8 years old, so if they sound kind of immature or something, that's a mistake. Ummm. Point it out?

Sonya... is working on the next chapter while dealing with the odd craving for peanut butter and jalapeño flavored potato chips

Goodbye, mere jaan!