I saw Across the Universe this passing Friday and damn, everybody should go see 'cause it was AMAZING. Reason why I named this new character Lucy. Anyway, here's the next chapter, another twist is coming your way!!!

Chapter 20- Classroom + Kids + evil teacher KINDERGARTEN

How the hell did I end up here?! Ann asked herself as she stood in front of the kindergarteners, holding Lucy's hand. The bitch of a teacher nodded her head at Ann and Ann smiled sweetly back.

------ Day Before: Teen Vogue Offices, NYC ----

Ann leaned back in her chair, staring at her computer where a picture of everybody, including Kate and Sarah was her wallpaper. It was the picture that they had the Provost take in front of the gym building back at the reunion. After the reunion, Paige moved in with Reid and Tyler moved in with Ann.

She tore her eyes away from the computer screen and grabbed the koosh ball that was sitting on her desk, tossing it up in the air and catching it a few times. Mondays sucked for Ann, especially before deadline because Ann had already okayed the layouts with her photos in it and was currently watching the writers and editors run around while she was bored out of her mind.

The phone ran and Ann yawned. On the second ring, she picked up, "Ann Connors, Teen Vogue Features Photographer."

"Miss Connors, this is Inspector Crewson, I have some rather disturbing news," the man on the other man stated in response.

"Who about?" Ann asked as she sat upright in her chair.

"You sister," the Inspector answered and Ann swallowed. Ann older sister, Alexa had left the family twelve years ago and moved to Los Angeles because she didn't want to be apart of magic. Nobody had heard from her since then.

"What happened?" Ann asked, her voice iced with fear.

"She and her husband were found dead this morning in their home in Los Angeles."

"oh," the word fell from Ann's mouth before she could stop it.

The Inspector took that has a sign to continue, "now, their daughter-"

"-DAUGHTER?!" Ann screamed and all heads in the office room turned to glance at Ann before returning to their work.

"Yes Miss Connors, their was daughter was unharmed," the Inspector seethed, obviously losing a bit of his hearing from Ann's outburst, "Now she has no other family except you so you are officially her guardian. You will pick her up at JFK, flight 407 arriving at 4:07 pm." Silence met the Inspector's ears, "Miss Connors?"

"Ok," Ann replied once she got over the initial shock, "thank you Inspector. Umm… good bye." Ann hung up before the Inspector could reply. She stared at the white wall a couple hundred feet in front of her, I have a niece, Ann snapped out of her dazed world and picked up her phone, dialing the first number that came to mind, "meet me in five minutes."

----- JFK Airport, Arrival gates; 4:00 pm ----

Ann stood a few feet from the National Flight Arrivals Gate for Los Angeles, gripping Tyler's forearm. Security had let Ann and Tyler come up to the gate, a 'one time thing' they had told the couple.

"If I'm your fiancé, does that make me her guardian also?" Tyler asked, not tearing his eyes away from the doorway the passengers were supposed to go through when they arrived.

"You're theoretically her Uncle Tyler," Ann replied, "I haven't set up her room yet!" Since Tyler had moved in and Paige out, Paige's old room was to become the niece's and Tyler and Ann were supposed to share.

"I wonder how old she is," Tyler wondered out loud as people started filing out, "I don't see her."

"Maybe that's her," Ann nodded at the doorway. A girl around seven years-old came hoping out, her long bright blond hair flying gracefully behind her. She was wearing black cowboy-like boots, a bright long silky shirt and a shirt tank-top. She stopped hopping a foot or two from Ann and looked around.

"Do you sense any magic coming off her?" Tyler whispered in Ann's ear. Ann concentrated on the girl for a second.

"A wisp of it. Alexa's bounded most of it but since she's dead now, that bind will probably break within the next week or two," Ann replied and stepped forward in front of the girl and leaning down to her height, "are you looking for somebody?"

The girl bit her lip the same way Ann did and looked up at her, "my Auntie Ann."

Ann smiled at her, "what if I told I were you Auntie Ann?"

The girl's eyes widened, "really?!"

"Yep, Auntie Ann Connors," Ann introduced herself, "and this is your Uncle Tyler." Tyler smiled down at the girl who gave him a big toothy grin in return, "what's your name?"

"Lucy!" The girl exclaimed.

"Alright Lucy," Tyler said as he bent down to Lucy's height with his back to her and helped her onto his back. Lucy grabbed his neck to stay now and Tyler choked, "let's go get your stuff from the baggage people."

------ Four hours later, Ann & Tyler's Apartment -----

"I have no experience with kids," Tyler stated as he leaned against the countertop in the kitchen with his cup of coffee. Ann sat down at the table and ran a hand through her hair while glancing at the bathroom door where Lucy was taking a bath.

"I don't either," Ann added and stole another glance at the door, "I guess we'll just have to make it up as we go along."

Tyler nodded and pulled out his cell phone from his jean pocket, quickly checking the time, "shit, I've got to go, the guys are probably already at the club." Ann stood up as Tyler grabbed his wallet and drumsticks off the counter.

Tyler pecked Ann on the lips, "call me if you need anything alright?"

"You're numero uno on my list," Ann replied an after one last kiss, Tyler left and Ann sat back down.

"Auntie Ann?" Ann turned to see Lucy standing in the bathroom doorway, clad in red cotton pajamas.

"Yes Lucy?" Ann asked.

"Why did mummy and daddy have to die?" Lucy asked.

Ann opened her mouth to answer and then closed it, choosing her words carefully, "I don't know," Lucy frowned and Ann added hastily, "but I swear I'll find out!"

Lucy nodded and a tear fell down her cheek. Ann quickly got out of her chair and walked over to her, leaning down and pulling the young girl towards her, "it's going to be ok honey," Ann whispered to Lucy as she cried into Ann's shoulder.

After a minute, Ann pulled away, "Alright," she used her thumb to wipe away from remaining tears off Lucy's face, "you're going to go to bed so you can get some sleep before you start your new school tomorrow," Lucy nodded and Ann led her to her room.

"Auntie Ann?" Lucy asked as Ann tucked her in.

"Yes?"

"Can you make me a huge breakfast tomorrow?"

Ann smiled and turned off the lights, "of course." She walked over to the door, "'night Lucy."

"'night!"

----- Next Day… Kindergarten Classroom -----

"This is Lucy, she'll be joining you guys for the rest of the year," Ann told the kids who were sitting 'campfire' style in front of her. Lucy smiled nervously at the class and gripped Ann's hand in a death grip.

"Why don't you tell us all what you do for a living Miss Connors?" the teacher asked in the fakest voice Ann had ever heard. Fist thing tomorrow, Ann thought to herself, call this school and get Lucy switched out of Mrs. Freaky-Scary Lady's class.

"I wish I could," Ann answered, "but I can't. I actually have to go to work now. So-" Ann leaned down to Lucy's height, "behave, have a good time and don't do anything I wouldn't do."

"That could mean a lot of things Miss Connors," the teacher snapped.

Ann eyed the woman, "I bet it could. See 'ya after school Lucy," Ann waved and left the room, making her way to the nearest exit. Second thing, Ann thought, get the She-Devil fired.