Chapter 1 - Blankets and Secrets

The doorbell rang. She stood up from her place on the floor and went to answer it. Her face still had tear tracks but she couldn't quite care.

-Harrison? -She asked shocked for a second. - Harrison.- She whispered again, relieved. She didn't know who moved first but suddenly she found herself embraced by him. Tears started to fall again.

-Sh... Hey.- He whispered putting a hand on the back of her head.

-How did …- She started to ask.

-Ingrid called me. - He explained while cleaning her tears.

-Alright. -She nodded but he knew she was still lost. -Come in.

They walked to the living room and he analyzed the scene. Blanket on floor, cup of tea resting besides it. Typical Joanna grieving.

They sat down on the couch and she wrapped her arms around herself. The place was warm but nothing could seem to warm her up, maybe because the coldness was coming from her heart. He picked the blanket up and put it around her .

-Thanks. -She tried to smile but failed.

-That's ok. - He nodded. They stayed in silence for a few seconds, she too lost on grieving and him too lost on how to approach the subject.

-How did I let this happen again? - She asked out loud. It seamed he wouldn't have to pock around for information after all.

-Jo it's not your fault. - He said seriously and she shifted her gaze from the fire to his eyes.

-I was the one that told him to stay. - She raised her voice. - I should have known better. It was Fair Haven for God's sake. - She suppressed a sob.

Those were two things he had learned about Joanna Beauchamp. One: She always found a way to blame herself. Even if It was out of her hands, even if it was already set on faith, she never failed on thinking she was the one to blame every time any harm was done to anyone.

Two: She never broke down. At least not in front of others, Wendy on the side of course. Joanna was afraid of being judged, afraid to exposing her hurt to someone and that person using it as a weak spot. Not that he could really blame her for that, he had seen more disasters happening to her in a decade than in a lifetime to anyone else he had ever met.

-You had no way to know Joanna. To you, to everyone, Fair Haven was secured when you killed Athena and locked the portal. What happened to Frederick was not your fault. - He put a piece of hair behind her ear.

-I just. - She looked up, trying to contain the tears that were threatening to fall once more. - I can't lose him again Harrison. - She bit her lip, another thing to prevent herself from crying again.

Poisoned. Her only son had been stabbed and poisoned.

She had healed the knife wound but he refused to let Freya do and antidote to eliminate the poison. He said it would be too dangerous, that the person who did that to him would be certain that they were witches. He didn't want to risk it.

Harrison pulled her to him again and hugged her. He wished he could take her pain away. He wished he could save her son and bring her sister back.

- How did you know about the portal?- She asked without lifting her head from his shoulder.

-Wendy kept me informed in case you ever needed my help again.- He explained while caressing her hair in order to sooth her.

A few momengs later her quiet sobs filled the room and he was surprised to see her let go in front of him. Maybe that night long ago had brought something good after all.

She fell asleep while crying and he was so tired from the trip that he also found himself slipping out of consciousness.

He woke up with a movement on top of him. He opened his eyes and saw Freya laying a blanket on him. She smiled weakly at him when she saw he was awake.

-Freya, hi. - He tried to seat up but realized Joanna was still asleep beside him. He looked at her and sighed. She was completely drained. Mentally and physically.

-Thank you for coming. - She whispered not to wake her mother. - She really needed a friend now and with dad and Wendy gone you were the only one we could think of. - She sat in the coffee table.

-I've told Ingrid before. There is nothing I wouldn't do for your mom. For any of you.- He looked at Joanna again. - Uhm... What time is it?

-A little after five A.M. I just got here from the bar.

A long silence followed her last sentence, none of them really knowing or wanting to talk.

-She was so lost when dad died. But Wendy was still here and she helped. I don't know what we're gonna do until she comes back. - Freya broke the silence while resting her head on her hands that were supported on her knees.

-Comes back? - Harrison asked confused. Ingrid had told him the story of how Wendy gave up her last life to save her boyfriend, the man she loved.

-I had a vision. - Freya sighed. -Her sister will send her back with all her lives. I don't know how or why, but it's going to happen.

-Joanna told you about Helena then. -He nodded.

-Not the whole story. Just that we have an Aunt that lives in hell. -Freya looked at her sleeping mother and her heart ached. She wished she would tell them everything, the entire truth about their pasts.

-She is not just "living" there Freya. She comands the whole thing.- He explained.

- She's evil then?- Freya wondered why Joanna kept that information.

- Helena... she's a difficult person. But I was never sure if she was a bad person - Harrison thought about all the conversations he had watched occur between the sisters. Helena on hell and Joanna and Wendy on earth.

The hell habitant never did any harm to her siblings. Maybe, just maybe she would send Wendy back because she knew her family needed her.

-I truly hope so.- Freya nodded and looked at her mother again. - We need her.- She felt her voice drop.

- Give her a few more days. I'll try my best to help her.-He remembered the time right after Wendy had killed Ingrid. How Joanna had gotten in a dark place. He had helped her, as always and even though he hadn't taken her grieve away he had eased the pain.

It was the longest time period they had ever spend together on Earth. He had stayed close by until Freya was born and then he left without a goodbye after they had a fight.

Oh the drama of their relationship.

-You already did. She hasn't slept in days.- She smiled and stood up.- I'm going to try and get some sleep myself. Do you need help? Moving her to her bed maybe?

- I'm fine here. - Joanna's horse voice startled them.

- Hi there sleepy head.- He tried a joke and she gave him a weak smile.

-Hello.- She said and sat upright moaning when a sharp pain went through her neck. - Shit.

-Thank God. I couldn't feel my shoulder anymore.- He joked again while caressing his upper arm.

- Oh, bit me. - Joanna slapped his bicep and stood up. Freya watched their interaction in wonder before going upstairs.

- You're not cooking. - Joanna said for the third time.

-I am. Go seat down. - Harrison said. They were in that stupid discussion for ten straight minutes and frankly he was getting tired of it.

- I'm not sick Harrison. - She stubbornly crossed her arms.

- I didn't mean it like that. I just want to help you. - He gave up. He remembered how their serious fights used to begin and it was a lot like what they were doing then.

- I know. - She also gave up and he furrowed. She didn't use to do that. - But cooking is the only thing that distracts me.

- Fine. - He handled her the spatula and sat on a chair in front of her.

- Thanks, what do you want to eat?

-I'm in the mood for some pancakes. - Someone said behind them.

-Frederick! What are you doing here? - Joanna rushed to his side and helped him seat down.

-I just... I needed to move a little. -He smiled at her but coughed right after it. - Who are you?- Frederick asked Harrison.

-oh, right. - Joanna remembered that she had yet to introduce them. She walked to Harrison's chair and rested a hand on his shoulder. -Frederick, this is an old friend mine, Harrison Welles.

Frederick looked at them for a while, trying to understand the weird sensation he had inside his chest by the sight of them together. Her mother looked better, a little bit lighter with that lost friend of hers.

- Mom!- Ingrid almost ran into the kitchen. -Oh, hi. - She stopped for a moment when she noticed the two men on the room.

- What is it Ingrid?- She looked worriedly at her daughter.

- Freya just had another vision. It's going to happen this morning. - Ingrid smiled. - She's coming back today.

- Wendy... - Joanna whispered.

-Freya, what time exactly did you see on the clock?- Joanna asked as they were all seating around Wendy's body.

They had kept it on her own bedroom, preventing the deterioration of it by a powerful spell.

Her sister didn't seem dead, she seemed asleep. In a sweet, calm dream.

-9 o'clock. - Freya said and looked at the withe clock resting on the closet chest.

8:57

- OK, It's almost time then. - Ingrid nodded.

Frederick coughed and Joanna went to stand up to help him.

- I'm ok.- Frederick said out of breath.- It's ok.

- Frederick...- She looked at him with pleading eyes.

- Mom, not now.- He sighed and looked back at his Aunt's form.

8:59

-Come on... Come on...- Joanna whispered bouncing her knee. She felt a hand in it motioning for her to stop and she caught it between both of hers. Harrison smiled at her reassuringly and she smiled back thankfully.

Frederick didn't miss their interaction.

9:00

-You're sure it was 9 o'clock? - Frederick asked his twin after thirty seconds went by without any motion from the body.

- Yes.- Freya nodded with a furrowed forehead.

A sharp intake of breath was heard and all of them jumped in their seats when Wendy sat up in bed as fast as a thunder.

- Why is so cold in here? - She asked and the room laughed warmly. Joanna was by the bed in a second hugging her sister.

- You little fuck. You do that to me again and I'll kill. - She cried looking into her sisters eyes before hugging her once more.

- I'm gone for 3 days and you are swearing?- Wendy smiled hugging her back.

- Shut up. - Joanna tightened her grip.

- Ok, our turn. - Ingrid and Freya were waiting behind her mother.

The sisters and the Aunt hugged each other with teary smiles and watery laughs.

-Don't I get a hug from my nephew too? - She asked Frederick that was still sat on his chair. They had had a not-so-good path but she had to admit it, she loved the boy.

- I would but...- He started to explain but was cut off by Wendy.

- Joanna why isn't that boy healed yet?

- He won't let me. - Joanna crossed her arms.

- Oh no. We don't have time for you to play hero. - Wendy said.

-What are you talking about. - Ingrid chirped in.

- Helena was really clear: we need to be ready at full force as quickly as possible.- She looked at her sister. - We need ALL the Beauchamp women Joanna.- The oldest sister seemed a little confused for a few seconds before she whined her eyes.

- No, we're not even going there. - She shock her head and all eyes turned to her.

-We need her Jo. Helena said that we have one last enemy. He's stronger than any we've ever fought against, stronger than our father and she will be the key to destroy him. - Wendy sent her sister a stern look and Joanna looked down nodding.

- Mom, who are you talking about?- Freya asked.

Joanna picked her head up and swallowed trying to get herself ready for what she was about to say.

She thought it would never come to this. She hoped it never came to this. But here she was anyway.

- You have another sister. - She said.