-1Evelyn Danvers had already moved to get ice for Meredith's cheek as the girl's cousins surrounded her. Pogue had gone to the door to make sure the women were actually leaving. The Sons were all frowning.

"I will fucking kill her." Lilith stated through clenched teeth as she looked at the mark on Meredith's face that was already turning red. There was a slash of a welt where Astrid's nail must have caught at the skin. "I'm so sorry Mer."

Meredith looked at her cousin. Lil felt guilty for her mother's actions. "Don't be retarded. You can't control her. Half the time I don't even think we come from the same genes."

"Wouldn't that be nice." Quin muttered.

Evelyn had taken her seat again and was mothering the girl. Both Meredith and Caleb looked at her with questions in their eyes. "I never even asked why you came to my dorm…" the redhead addressed the older woman.

Evelyn looked at her. "I was at home getting ready to contact the accountant about our monthly bills, and I just suddenly knew I needed to go to the school and see you. I don't know why."

"Are you feeling okay Mom?" Caleb asked; for a moment he was frightened she'd begun drinking again. That he knew of she hadn't had anything alcoholic since Meredith had purified her.

"Yes, Caleb, I'm fine. I haven't been drinking. I promise you." she reached over and squeezed his hand. "I just suddenly thought Meredith needed me. And now I'm glad I came. I know those were your mothers, but they were horrible. And they aren't going to just go away."

"As if we could ever be that lucky." Sheridan snorted.

"Just remember girls, they know your secrets." Evelyn was intense. "And that woman, Lily, when she threatened you, she made it seem very real."

"They can't reveal our secrets. Not to anyone who doesn't know what we are." Quin sighed. When the Sons and Mrs. Danvers looked at her questioningly she explained. "Our Grandmother put a geas on them…because they didn't have the abilities, and because she figured out pretty damned early they weren't exactly sweethearts, there was a geas put on the four children born without gifts. They can never reveal any of the secrets of the descendants of Bridget Bishop. Sure they can call us freaks, but they couldn't ever explain to anyone why they think we're freaks."

"Still, we should keep an eye on them."

"Trust me, we will." Fury still poured out of Lilith. She was pacing back and forth, and it didn't look like Tyler knew how to help her.

"Were all of your mothers the same?" Evelyn asked hesitantly.

Sheridan responded. "Quin's Mama and Daddy died right after she was born. My Mama died when I was two, but she was sick before I was born. I don't remember a lot, but I remember she was always real frail and didn't play with me much. My Daddy was always gone working. I lived with Grandmother, and my Daddy died when I was five. I never really knew him well."

"Where was your father Meredith?" Caleb asked. "I mean, your mom is here, so where's your dad?"

"My father wouldn't ever demean himself to beg for money." she said matter of fact. "He thinks he's better than everyone else. Thought he hit the jackpot when he married one of the DuVeaux girls…didn't realize that Grandmother had control of the money. He thought it was all in trusts for the girls since Grandfather had passed on."

"Lovely stories, huh?" Lilith sneered. "The bitch and the man who married her for her money; the tramp and the man she killed; the terminally ill with the negligent husband; and the couple who were risk takers and finally took one risk too many. Our parents…aren't we proud."

"Can't you heal yourself?" Reid asked abruptly. He'd been surprisingly silent for most of the exchange.

Mer looked down. "No. It doesn't work on me. I can only help others." She touched the bruise on her cheek and flinched slightly. "I'm extremely tired. Dealing with her, any of them, really takes it out of me. I think I'd like to head back to school now."

Some of the others had already ordered food. Caleb smiled at her. "I'll take you back. I have to drop Mom off on the way, and grab my book bag from your dorm anyway." Something in his voice said he had something to talk to her about so she nodded.

It was a quiet drive back to the Danvers Mansion, and Evelyn hugged Meredith quickly before giving Caleb a kiss on the cheek and heading inside. Finally, the two were on their way back to school.

"Say what's on your mind." Meredith told him quietly.

"Why is my mom being drawn to you?" he asked curiously.

"I don't know." she shrugged. "I think it's really odd. It's never happened before."

"Have you purified before?" He'd pulled up in front of the school and stopped the car.

"Yes. Several times, and this has never happened. I swear to you Caleb." She said and placed her hand on his arm. She could only hope he believed her.

Suddenly it almost felt as if all of the air in the vehicle was sucked out in a rush and then pushed back into the car. Meredith felt her body moving forward and could see Caleb moving towards her as well. It felt as thought a silver cord connected their bodies from their sternums. "Oh my Goddess." she whispered right before his hand came up to clasp the side of her head and his lips descended.

Caleb felt as if he was on fire for a flash of a moment and then all pain was gone and it was replaced by the most amazing pleasure and happiness. Not even with Sarah, whom he thought he'd truly loved, had he felt anywhere near this. Their lips were fused and when they did finally pull apart, neither could breathe properly. "I didn't even think about this possibility." he murmured as he rubbed a finger down her uninjured cheek…wait a minute, neither of her cheeks were injured any longer. "Your cheek…it's healed."

Meredith's hand raised touched. "I…" she didn't say another word as he moved in for another kiss and she met him halfway.