Chapter One



A Year later…



Miguel is in his garden weeding when Charity comes out the house frantic. Her eyes are wild with fear and she is wringing her hands. Inside the baby is crying his head off. Charity is so upset that she doesn't see the hose and trips over it landing hard face first on the grass. Miguel jumps up and helps her. Charity clinches him tightly, eyes squeezed shut, hyperventilating. For the life of him, Miguel can't figure out what has her so upset.



"Charity what's wrong with you? What happened?" he shakes her a bit when she doesn't respond. "Hey, tell me what's going on."



Charity swallows and looks away shouting, "Timmy get the baby!"



Miguel rolled his eyes. He doesn't like Timmy in his house especially around his son but minutes later the baby calms down as always. Even Miguel has to admit that Timmy has a special touch with his son.



"Miguel, I just…I just saw something awful." Her voice is grim.



"What Charity? What?"



"She's out. I know it. I saw it. I was in the living room reading to Eric when I saw her coming. She's coming here!"



"Who? Who is coming here?"



Charity shakes her head slightly, "Kay. She's out and coming back. She's coming back to get me," she throws her arms around Miguel who holds her gently, rocking her back and forth in deep thought.



Nobody has seen or heard from Kay in six years. Six long years ago she was arrested and convicted of manslaughter for killing Tabitha. Although she professed her innocence no one believed her, including him. Once it came out about all the schemes that she pulled to break-up him and Charity and the fact that she was seen threatening Tabitha just before the death added up to guilty. She was sentenced to ten years. Kay went to prison upstate and a month later she refused to see anyone. No word has been heard from her since.



But it has only been six years. How could she be out so early? He thought, then he voiced his opinion out loud.



"Are you sure?" he moves back to look into her eyes.



"Miguel I'm sure. I just had a vision of her. She looked…I don't know deadly, her eyes filled with purpose. And her mind…" she backs away from him, throws back her head and says, "God! It…it was like pure unfiltered hatred for me," she drops her head for a sec and then looks at him again, "for us." She walks back over to him, "Miguel I'm afraid. I'm afraid for us."



Miguel stares at his wife thinking. If Kay is out then she might come back to Harmony although there is nothing here for her anymore. Everyone has basically gone on with their lives…well almost everyone. Noah has been working on his sister's case for years with Ethan's help. He is convinced that she is innocent of the charges. He even has Simone believing him. But Miguel was there. He saw the look of evil in her eyes. The methodical way she moved as she struck Tabitha repeatedly with the knife. And she would have killed him too if it weren't for Charity and her powers



At trial Miguel was the star witness. He testified against Kay and was one of the pivotal reasons that she was found guilty. He didn't want her to go to prison though. He thought that she needed mental help. But the court ruled her sane because she didn't bring it up as a defense prior to trial. He can still see the look in her face. She was shattered by his words and it killed him to say it. But he is sure he saw what he saw. He was there.



He pulls Charity close to him and walks her back to the house. When they enter they see Timmy standing on a stool trying to reach something in the fridge. Miguel frowns at the doll and watches Charity rush over to it and starts baby talking to him. Timmy's face is aglow with love for her and Miguel leaves the room disgusted. Sometimes he wonders about Timmy and his motives. Timmy is more than fond of Charity and on more than one occasion he felt like the doll was trying to harm him. Charity always blew it off but Miguel knew what he knew and he always stays prepared just in case the doll Timmy gets any ideas.



His son is on the couch sleep and Miguel gently sits on the edge and strokes his hair. Eric is fair like his mother but his eyes are a brown. He is a good boy for two years old. Sheridan and Luis's kid at two was a nightmare on feet. The boy inherited a temper from both his parents. Miguel smiles down at Eric and then he starts to worry. Charity is a psychic. Her visions have been right on more than one occasion. He has no reason to doubt her now. And if Kay is out and coming to Harmony it would make sense that she would be after them, especially him because he is the main reason she was convicted. He needed to know more and finally after making a decision. He reached for the phone.



Police Station…



Luis is packing up to head out early for the first time in weeks. He hasn't had dinner on time in so long that his family will be shocked to see him. He is just about to walk out the door when the phone rings.



He snatches up the phone, "Harmony Police, Lopez-Fitzgerald speaking."



"Luis, It's Miguel."



"Hey little brother. What's up? A problem?"



"Possibly. Charity just had a vision…"



"Oh boy," Luis puts down his jacket and takes a seat knowing that whatever is coming it won't be good.



"She thinks Kay is coming back to Harmony," he said disregarding Luis comment.



"Really?" Luis says slightly disbelieving.



"Yeah. I was wondering. Is it possible for her to get out of jail this soon?"



Luis thinks a moment, "Well, maybe. It depends on the way the prison is run. She might have had good time but I doubt it. The last time I checked into that case, she was sitting in solitary confinement for breaking some chick's jaw."



"What!"



"Yeah. I don't know the details but they claim she did it although she had no weapons and nothing indicated that she even attacked the girl."



Miguel is silent for a moment, "Why were you checking into Kay?"



"For Sam. Yeah, since he quit he doesn't have easy access to information. He asked me for it once and I gave it to him. He doesn't anymore. He contacts the prison directly now." Luis hears his brother talking to someone but he doesn't understand what is being said.



"Hey. Hey Miguel. Look man, I want to go home so if that's all…"



"If that's all. Luis if Kay is out she might be coming back to get at me…"



Luis frowns at the phone for a second and then says, "Why?"



"Because I put her behind bars. I was the one, my testimony was the reason that she went to jail."



Luis thinks for a moment and finally he says, "Maybe but are you sure that she would want to harm you? When she went to jail you told me that she forgave you."



"I know. I know but Charity's vision seems to have Kay hating me."



Luis ponders Miguel's comments for a moment. In the past the department has relied on Charity to help them solve crimes. Her accuracy on the cases has been close to 100%. If she says that she has a bad feeling about Kay then Luis knows enough to pay attention.



"Look, I'll check on it, okay?"



"Yeah. Thanks bro…"



"No problem. Now I have to go. This call is spoiling the surprise I have for my wife."



"What's that?"



"Coming home on time," they both laugh and Luis hung up the phone. But he doesn't make any moves to leave. He is still thinking about what Miguel told him and he wonders if it is possible that Kay is out and coming to Harmony. If Charity's vision is true then Harmony is not going to be the same again.



Noah's apartment…



Noah rushes to the kitchen to check on the dinner he is making for Simone. He invited her over to make up for the fight they had two days ago. She believes that he is obsessing too much on his sister's case at the expense of their relationship. She has been very understanding and helpful but she wants time with just him and nothing else. When she stormed out the house that night, Noah felt the emptiness enclose on him. It hit him then. He is letting a lot of his life pass him by trying to free his sister. And the one person that has been there with him through it all he has been neglecting. But he is in conflict. The idea of his sister sitting in prison for another year hurts him more than life. He knows with all his heart that she is innocent. He just has to prove it.



Ethan has worked hard on his case, which is amazing considering he is a coke head and just recently joined the family. However, Ethan is a great defense attorney and very popular in the criminal court. He has filed every motion and done more than his fair share of work and it is to no avail. The brothers can't get her out. The case is too airtight. Noah hopes that this year they will find something to help her. Kay will be twenty-five. Some of the best years of her life are now gone forever. He wants her out before she loses another four to that harsh environment. And he hopes that when she gets out she'll be able to salvage her life.



Right now he has to salvage his own. He has dated Simone for three years. And they have been the best years of his life with all the heartbreak happening in his family. She was there for him when he tried to convince his mother not to leave town after dad left her. She was there for him when Jessica walked away from his fight to get their sister out of prison choosing to side with that imbecile cousin of theirs. She has also been there when Ethan came into the picture and his father Sam going on a drinking binge when Ivy rejected him again. She is always there for him and all she ever asked was just a little of his time. Lately he hasn't given it. He is too wrapped up in his worry over Kay.



He had just walked out the kitchen again when the phone rang. Noah turns his head and reaches for the phone. His hand flips the shoulder length brown hair out of his eyes as he answers it.



"Yeah."



"Noah?"



"Yes," he says annoyed.



"This is Luis."



"I know. Caller id does wonders. What do you want?" he snaps in reply.



He can hear Luis take a deep a breath. "Look Bennett, I'm calling to find out when your sister got out of prison."



Noah frowns deeply and then gets pissed off, "Hey man fuck you. You know damn well that my sister is still in prison."



"Hey, watch what you say to me. And I got it on a reliable resource that she's out." Luis said angrily.



"A reliable resource huh? Well why the hell don't you ask them because as far as I know she is still in." Noah began to pace ferociously trying to control his temper.



"Don't jerk me around Bennett. I won't have that sister of yours threatening my brother…"



"I told you she is not out. So damn you and your brother. Calling me up and telling me about some source. Who's the source?"



"It doesn't matter…"



"Dammit it does to me! You called me so tell who's the source?" Noah stopped pacing and tried to unclench his jaw.



Luis is quiet for a moment and the says, "Charity. Your cousin…"



"My cousin? So that nutcase calls you and tells you that Kay is out and you call me for verification?" He spats at the phone disgusted. In the background he hears the doorbell, "Screw you man." He hangs up the phone steamed.



Simone is outside smiling happily. It's been a long time since Noah and her spent some time together. She is looking forward to it. When Noah opens the door she has a big smile on her face. But it quickly falters when she notices his expression. His demeanor is hostile and his facial expression dangerous. For a moment Simone is afraid. She has never seen Noah so angry.



"Noah, what happen baby?" she reaches out slowly and caresses cheek.



Noah sighs deeply and tries to smile. It comes off weak. He wraps his arm around her waist and pulls her close. Simone hugs him tightly. She can't imagine what could be bothering him. Then she thinks about his sister and becomes resentful. She is tired of putting her life on hold for him. She wants to be with him for better or for worst but Noah is hesitant to commit. She can understand his need to free his sister. She knows she would do the same thing. She is helping him now to make up for not believing Kay when she said she didn't do it but sometimes she wants to just think about herself and Noah without Kay always being there.



They walk into the house, Noah closing the door behind them. Simone sniffs and smells something fabulous. She turns to Noah who is smiling brightly now at her look of pleasure.



"You cooked? You really cooked?" she said surprised.



Noah pretends to be offended for a second and then shrugged saying, "I just threw something together. Something I use to make when I was hungry in college."



"What's that?"



"My specialty…spaghetti surprise."



"What's the surprise?"



"You'll see?"



Noah directs Simone to the table and goes into the kitchen. Simone watches his tall, lean frame move back and forth to the kitchen. His shoulder length brown hair whipping back and forth every time he turns around. He is a good looking guy and very earthy. But his passion for justice is what attracted her to him in the first place. That he is laid back, sweet, and generous is an added bonus, but he can be neglectful of himself once he gets involved in a cause he believes in. She hopes she can convince him to be just as impassioned about their love as he is for getting out his sister.



Once he brought all the food out, he served and himself. Then he takes out the wine, opens it and pours her a glass.



"To you Cherie," he says softly. They clink their glasses and take a sip. He leans down and kisses her before taking a seat himself. They are eating and Simone is surprised that he has beef in his spaghetti.



"I thought you were a veggie?"



"I am but every so often, even I like a good cut of beef. I still haven't managed to fully drive out that carnivore nature." He winks at her.



She laughs a bit and they continue their meal. Eventually they fall into conversation about everything from the weather to politics avoiding discussing their families altogether. But eventually Simone's curiosity gets the better of her and she asks him again about what upset him.



"Nothing…" he started but seeing the 'oh please' expression on Simone's face he changed his tune, "Luis called that's all."



Simone scowls, "Why did he call?"



Noah takes a drink of wine, swallowing hard he says, "He seems to believe that Kay is out of prison."



"What!" Simone is astounded, "why the hell would he think that?"



Noah sighs, "Apparently Charity had a vision…"



"Well la de da. The psychic bitch strikes again," she rolls her eyes. She can't stand Charity and the way people to this day fall all over her like she's perfect. Everyone has an excuse when it comes to her. No one else in this town would get half as much lead way as she does.



Noah sympathizes with Simone. His cousin isn't exactly on his hit list either. They have a mutual agreement that they are civilized in public and at family holidays to each other. The rest of the time no contact at all. He reaches out and touches Simone's hand.



"Look, it doesn't matter. It just threw me off," he leans closer to her, "Let's forget about it. I just want to focus on you…on us." He kisses her slowly, tasting the spices on her lips, savoring the closeness of her body.



They leave the table and go to the bedroom. Moments later they are making love. When they are satiated, they rest in each other's arms and Noah again ponders again about how his life has been so much better with her in it. He watches her sleep and smiles. No matter what he is going to make sure that she stays a part of his life forever.



He is just about to nod off when the phone rings. Simone stirs but he hushes her and reaches for the phone.



"Yeah?" he said annoyed.



"Noah?"



Noah looks at the id but the number doesn't show. "Yeah."



"Hi."



The voice sounds so familiar but he can't put his finger on it. Then like a bolt of lightning it hit him, "Kay?"



Ethan's loft…



Ethan snaps awake from the sound of his phone ringing. He growls a bit and starts mumbling. He reaches over Whitney only to discover that she is gone. He isn't surprised. The argument they had tonight was bound to make her pack up after they had sex. But he is still irked that she left without saying anything. C'est la vie. That is the nature of their relationship. Until he got over his coke habit and she stops feeling guilty for being with him, they won't have anything more than a relationship based on sex and mutual convenience. He however, is trying to work on his part, she isn't.



Ethan snatches up the phone that fumbles in his hand a bit before he gains control. He puts it up against his ear and reaches for his cigarettes. Shaking one out, he grunts into the phone.



"Ethan?"



Ethan puts the cig in his mouth and starts looking for his lighter, "Yeah, who is this?" he said in a raspy voice.



"It's Noah. Are you alright? You sound sick."



"Yeah. I'm fine. Just woke me up that's all," he finds his lighter and lit his cigarette. After taking a long drag and roughly blowing out the smoke, he speaks again, "You don't sound so great yourself. Why are you calling me so late? In jail for strapping yourself to a tree or something?" he chuckles at his own joke.



Noah sighs. Then he says quietly, "Kay called."



Ethan's hand stops just before his cigarette can touch his lips, "What did you say?"



"Kay called. Kay called tonight."



Ethan sits a little straighter on the bed putting out his cigarette in the astray on the night table. As his left hand rubs his temple and he thinks about why he decided to pick this time to quit doing coke, he asks, "When? How?"



"I'm hoping you can answer that for me."