The weekend passed by as normal, Tabitha being alone up in her room practising on her guitar playing not spending time with the others more than necessary. But as Sunday afternoon approached and Darrin's parents came for a quick visit Tabitha put on her usual fake happy mood and forced herself to go downstairs to greet her grandparents. Although she wasn't and never really had been too thrilled about her grandparents on her dad's side, they were her grandparents and she owed them to behave and she did do her very best to not sulk during their visits. But as the time went by, Tabitha couldn't hide her gloominess too well as her façade started failing, much to her own annoyance. Not wanting to spoil a perfectly okay visit and not wanting also her grandparents to worry, Tabitha excused herself and went upstairs.

Darrin, who wasn't quite satisfied with Tabitha's behaviour, despite her efforts, went after her.

"Tabitha?" Darrin said firmly just as she was about to enter her room. She turned around and when Darrin noticed that he had her attention, he continued wit a distinct tone of disappointment in his voice, "It wouldn't hurt you if you tried to be a bit more pleasant the short time when your grandparents are here."

Stunned that her father didn't seem to understand that that was exactly what she had been trying to do, Tabitha just looked at him upset, actually feeling a bit hurt.

"And can't you put on a little less controversial outfit and at least comb your hair when they come?" he said and made a gesture to her messy outfit and tangled hair. "Didn't you see how you startled your grandmother with your extreme appearance?"

Hearing her father going on complaining, Tabitha's anger rose. Here she had made an effort to smile and act as she was ok, when she was screaming and crying inside, and the only thing her father could do was to complain! "So you want me to lie to grandma and grandpa? Acting as if I'm all right?" she hissed silently not to let her grandparents downstairs hear. "You just want me to be someone I'm not!"

"No, that was not what I said," Darrin said calmly, trying to sound as if he understood. "I just want you to be a bit happier, as you were before."

Tabitha looked astounded at her father, feeling her frustration rise. Did they actually think she liked being miserable? And that she liked to disappoint everyone else? Of course they wanted the sweet little cheerful Tabitha, but she was long lost gone. And as it felt now, Tabitha doubted that she would ever come back. Being close to tears, Tabitha turned around, rushed into her room and slammed the door in her father's face, not wanting him to see her tears.

Darrin sighed. Being a teenage parent started feeling a lot harder than he'd ever thought. Tabitha had become completely unreachable for him and Samantha, and neither of them understood what went on in her head. Although she mostly kept to herself, a fight had started being unavoidable as soon as their paths crossed and even if Darrin figured it was only a phase that would pass, he certainly wished it would pass soon. He sighed again, before he went down to the others.


After an hour or so, after Phyllis and Frank had left and when Tabitha had gained control of herself, she civilly enough let her parents know that she wanted to go over to a friend. With Darrin and Samantha only being happy to hear Tabitha seemed to be spending time with friends again, gladly agreed that it of course was ok. But instead of walking away to a friend's house, Tabitha popped away as soon as she'd exit the house.

"So, what d'you been doing?" Serena asked as Tabitha popped in.

"Nothing much. My grandparents came for a visit, but mostly I've just been up in my room working on my music…"

Serena looked at Tabitha in surprise, "Your music?"

"Yeah… I've been learning how to play the guitar and now I've just finished writing a whole song…," Tabitha said almost embarrassed. Not only had she never really talked about her music to anyone, but no one had never before shown the slightest interest in her music either.

"Hey, how about that?" Serena said, obviously being impressed. "You must play it for me."

Before Tabitha knew it Serena had twitched up a guitar.

"Oh, no…," Tabitha protested shyly. "I've never played for anyone before."

"Well, it's about time then," Serena simply said and looked at Tabitha eagerly, waiting for her to begin.

"All right," Tabitha agreed uncertainly and took the guitar, feeling a strange mixture of nervousness and excitement to show someone her work. "But it's just barely finished, and I'm not any good…"

"Shush that, just go on. I'm dying of excitement here!"

Nervously Tabitha began playing, and without really expecting it Serena was captivated. Except from some mistakes every now and then, it did have potential.

As Tabitha sang the last note and as the sound of her guitar faded, Serena clapped her hands excitedly. "Wow, Tab! That was awesome!"

Tabitha blushed, "you really think so?"

"Love it, love it, love it!" Serena excitedly said and gestured her arms just as excitedly just to strengthen her point.

Tabitha blushed even more. Sure, Serena got excited about everything, but Tabitha had definitely not expected this kind of recognition of her silly song.

"Well, I've been practising for ever…"

Serena dropped her arms and looked straight at Tabitha curiously wondering how little witchcraft her cousin Samantha had actually taught Tabitha. "You know you don't have to practise right?"

"Yeah sure I know I could always zap my skills up. But I don't want to use my witchcraft for this. It's fun learning the hard way. It feels fulfilling somehow."

Serena snorted, not hiding she felt a bit offended that Tabitha dismissed the magical way.

Seeing Serena's disappointment, Tabitha cheerfully turned the subject around to Serena's benefit, "I think mom mentioned sometime that you used to play the guitar." With a twinkle in her eye, she continued, "Wouldn't be other than fair that you played me some now…"

Serena smiled happy of getting the attention. "Well all right," she said, trying jokingly to sound a bit reluctant.

She twitched up her old psychedelic-painted guitar, always being a special fan of the hippie time and before Tabitha knew it, Serena was rocking away.

Being caught up by the music, hours went by as they played and danced, happy of one another's acknowledgments for their newly found common interest.


It was all dark when Tabitha with a smile on her lips came home. Not seeing anyone around Tabitha walked silently up to her room, hoping the rest were asleep and wouldn't notice her late homecoming. Not at all being ready for bed, despite the late hour, Tabitha instead sat on the bed and smiled for herself thinking of the fun they had had this afternoon. She looked at the guitar standing in the corner and intuitively she picked it up. Softly, almost inaudible, she began playing on the strings, careful not to make too much sound.

Even if she lately kept most things for herself, her music was the one thing that had been completely off limits to anyone else. Because her music was so personal somehow. Whenever things were feeling too hopeless or dreadful in her life, which lately was most of the time, she could always sneak off to her own little refuge in her room, play her music and write her songs, and feel a delightful distance to the world outside. And important enough it also felt as if she through her music could release some of the obvious feelings that burned inside of her through letting it all out in her songs. That was why Tabitha felt she couldn't share her music with anyone. Although, now she had. She had played and talked about her music to Serena, and strangely enough Tabitha realized that it actually felt rather good. It felt good to share something that was so important to her and it felt good to be acknowledged for it. Because even if she wouldn't dream of playing her music, or even talk about it for that matter, to someone else, not the least her parents, she wouldn't mind of at least once actually getting some kind of recognition that she actually played. And her parents' complaint was not what she had in mind. Never once had they shown the slightest interest in her music without some kind of disapproval and even if Tabitha tried to convince herself she didn't care what they thought, she knew she did. But they had become so distant to her now that Tabitha indeed started feeling indifferent to their opinions. Not wanting to think of it any further she pushed the thoughts away and in silence practiced the new type of chords Serena had taught her.


Sam was standing outside at the patio in her nightgown, looking up at the cloudy sky, feeling a most distinct feeling in the pit of her stomach. She had been sitting up waiting for Tabitha to come home, but as she was sitting in the sofa, almost half asleep, the feeling had suddenly attacked her out of nowhere and automatically she had walked outside. Seeing the cloudy sky she knew that there was no doubt that the signs of Tabitha's Evoluventus were getting stronger and that it was closing in. But as her worries now lay in that Tabitha wasn't home at this late hour, Samantha turned around and shut the door firmly behind her, not wanting to concern about the signs at this moment. Instead she walked back and fourth, looking at her arm watch, feeling most uneasy. Even if it pleased her and Darrin that Tabitha seemed to have rejoined with at least one friend, they certainly didn't feel as pleased with Tabitha's late whereabouts. As she restlessly sauntered about, a light coming from Tabitha's room caught her eye. Quickly she rushed upstairs and opened the door to find Tabitha sitting laid-backed in her bed with her guitar. For a second she felt mostly relieved to see her daughter home safe and sound, but as the relief vanished the upset took its place. "Where have you been?" she asked and looked strictly at her daughter.

When noticing her mother in her doorway Tabitha looked up but when hearing the sternly tone in her voice, Tabitha looked back at her guitar. "Out... You said I could…," Tabitha plainly said.

"Yes, but not 'til this hour! Do you even know what time it is?"

Tired of her parents' constant nag Tabitha didn't even mind answer, knowing it wouldn't be any use anyway.

When not getting any answer Samantha continued with a sterner voice, "it's late, that what's time it is!"

Yet again Samantha got no response. Samantha sighed over her daughter's obstinate behaviour, really not being in the mood of talking to a wall. "Well, I'm going to bed now and I assume you'll do the same."

"I'm not tired," Tabitha now said for some reason.

"Tabitha, it's almost midnight and you have school tomorrow!"

"I know that!" Tabitha said and looked angrily up at her mother, so tired that they never just leaved her alone. "But you don't have to tell me when I should go to bed. I can take care of myself."

"Obviously you can't!" Samantha blurted out, really starting to loose her temper.

Hearing her mother's raised tone of voice, Tabitha looked back at her playing, ignoring her mother yet again.

Samantha sighed angrily. The usual sadness and indifference that Samantha saw in her daughter only worried her, but when she got fierce like this Samantha's temper was really close to bursting, not feeling much else than angry. But somehow her anger did not only turn to Tabitha, but also to the signs she felt a couple of minutes ago. How could they even consider Tabitha being ready for the Evoluventus? She frustrated thought. Couldn't they see she was impossible? For Samantha it was plain as a day that Tabitha would be judged unfairly if anyone would analyse her at this day. So why were the signs attacking her like this? She sighed again, feeling both angry and worried, but mostly just totally frustrated that she felt so helpless. Tiredly she left the room, thinking there was nothing more she could do at this time.