As Henry strode through the streets thinking about this special day, Vicki was busy with the children readying them to go to her mother's house for the weekend. It was their wedding anniversary and Henry had planned a romantic weekend at home. They had given Gwen the weekend off to be with her family while Vicki's mother offered to keep the brood.
"Mom, are you sure? That's six kids for two days," Vicki had reminded her. Marjory just laughed at her daughter.
"Honey, I think Pierre and I are qualified, don't you? Besides," Marjory thumbing toward Abbie,"we've got mini-me over there to help us." Abbie helped London with her packing while Ward busied himself with making sure he had all of his artist tools with him. Matthew was older, no longer needed breastfeeding and was happily watching the commotion. He looked exactly like Abbie and Vicki, his personality even showed that he would more than likely act just like them too. His eyes drank in all of the acitivity with amusement, clapping his hands every few moments.
"Allright," Vicki sighed. Putting the children in the car at last, Vicki felt her heart tug a little as Matthew cried, reached his hands out and said mommy over and over as she walked away from the car. She knew in just a few moments he would be fine but it still made her feel bad...for a minute. Closing the front door behind her, she knew Henry would be home in about an hour with take out, her request, so she decided to have something special waiting for him when he got home.
Henry was purchasing some last minute items for their weekend together before he stopped for the take-out Vicki had requested. A woman, who had been watching him with interest, walked over to him and struck up a converstation. Being used to this, Henry thought nothing of it, only glad that Vicki wasn't there to get rid of her as sometimes, Vicki tended to take a rather different approach to giving people the brush off. She was a very tall, leggy brunette with full lips and big green eyes. Henry was still picking out his items when she brushed him gently with her shoulder, then smiled as he glanced at her.
"Special evening?" She asked coyly.
"Yes, my anniversary," Henry answered politely.
"Huh..must be a special lady," she repsonded.
"Yes, very," Henry was still being polite but he was ready to end the conversation and get home to Vicki.
"I can see that. The look on your face is pure love," she sighed.
Henry smiled because the thoughts he was having about Vicki were anything but pure at this very moment. The woman stood behind Henry in the checkout staring at him as he waited to pay for his items.
"Do I know you?" the woman finally asked. Henry turned slightly telling her no, not wanting to divulge his profession to her. He was in a little bit of hurry to get home. Brushing him lightly again, she whispers in his ear.
"I think I do know you, Henry, Duke of Richmond," upon hearing that, Henry turned quickly and saw that he did indeed know her. Her eyes flashed momentarily showing her true nature.
"Lady Kathleen?" he asked in surprise. She smiled slightly, nodding in an affirmation that she was indeed Lady Kathleen.
"Surprised I take it?" she asked as Henry paid for his items.
"To say the least," Henry mumbled. She paid for her items as Henry waited for her outside hoping to get a very quick explanation.
"So, how is it that you and I, who should be long since dead are here, in Toronto you're wondering?" She said as the walked toward Henry's car. Henry knew why he was here, she however was a mystery.
"What are you?" Henry asked. He hadn't sensed anything but her eyes told a different story. She was not her former self, her looks altered just enough that he did not recognize her.
"I am a Guardian." she stated. Henry titled his head in puzzlement.
"A Guardian." Henry shrugged not having a clue as to what that was.
"Henry, you and Victoria were destined to be together, you know that by now," Henry did know that.
"Are you saying you are the same as Giles and his family?" Henry wondered if she was descended from them as well.
"Sort of, but my job was to make sure you made it to that point, to meet one another."
"Oh, matchmaker?" Henry teased. She laughed and her voice was melodic sounding. She explained that it was she who had brought them together.
"No, it was the case with Asteroth," Henry corrected her. He was leaning against his car comfortably trying to sort through her story.
"Who do you think set Asteroth free?" She said raising an eyebrow. This angered Henry. She had put Vicki's life on the line, he was at her throat in an instant fully vamped out.
"What do you mean you set him free?" Kathleen never flinched as Henry continued to hold her by the throat.
"Let me go, Duke," she rasped out. Henry relented but was still vamped out, still angry and untrusting. She had been a Lady in waiting in his father's court when he was younger. Again, someone placed strategically to keep an eye on him. With this revelation, he was uneasy with her.
"Relax," she sighed out, "I had things under control."
"Really? Is that why we eventually had to send Asteroth to hell? Where were you in all of that?" Henry gritted his teeth, his jaw clenched.
"My job was to get you two stubborn, strong-willed people together, you worked everything out on your own. I left town when you finally, " she rolled her eyes for dramatic effect "conjoined so to speak."
Henry was unsure whether he was to be mad, grateful or maybe kill her for doing what she did but then he realized, he should be grateful. If not for the tragic turn of events involving Asteroth, he and Vicki might not have ever met, thereby, no family and certainly nothing to celebrate tonight. Henry could sense she was being truthful.
"Why didn't you just set up some chance meeting rather than all the theatrics of a demon?" Henry asked.
"Henry, my dear, if it were only so simple with you two, I would have done it LONG before now. You two were my challenge so in return, I gave you a challenge," she said with a shit-eating grin.
Leaning gracefully against his car, arms and legs crossed, Henry laughed and shook his head.
"What?" Kathleen asked.
"Nothing, but how appropriate that even our conjoining, as you put it, involved some kind of strange happenings. I should thank you, I suppose and I must be going but do tell, do you live around here? I don't recall seeing you, I think I would have remembered."
"No, I don't. I came by to give you this, for your anniversary," and with that she handed him a box. Henry opened it revealing a beautiful set of rings, a his and hers set.
"What are they?" Henry asked admiring them. They were both gold-toned suggesting to Henry they were very expensive. The emblem on them was something Henry didn't recognize although he was sure it was symbolic for some type of unity. It looked as if it were something along the lines of a celtci cross.
"One each, for you and Vicki. A symbol of a perfect union, that I, " again dramatically, "am so happy to be a part of." Confindence was definitely her strong point.
"Is this supposed to be a gift for Vicki?" he asked.
"For you both, if you so choose, it's up to you. Now, my job is done and I'm off to help others in need of finding their soulmates," she said with a wave of her hand.
"Wait!" Henry called after her, shoving the box down into his jeans.
"Yes?" she stopped and turned.
"Why now? Why so long?" Henry didn't understand why it had taken her so long to come forward with the "gift".
She smiled, "I wanted to make sure you stayed together, don't want to waste a perfectly good set of rings."
Henry smirked at her response. She laughed at his reaction.
"Seriously, you may need a reminder very soon that you are one. Your unity is your strength Henry, never forget that," and with that, she was gone.
Henry got into his car wondering what new adventure might be in store for them.
Smiling, he pulled away knowing how adventurous things would become as soon as he got home to Vicki...