Time Swap

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A/N:

Chapter 25 (Angelica Freed)

Charlie hopped to her feet and watched as Spencer handed Tommy and Gabe the book. Mr. and Mrs. Walsh walked in after him, but Spencer instructed them to not do anything just yet. The two were smiling at her as if they'd just seen their granddaughter, it was a tad unnerving. She had to judge the fact that everyone else looked tense and uptight with him under their glares, more and more it was feeling like this was her birth father. Along with that thought, the strong desire to tackle him was overwhelming her mind.

None of that mattered now. Her eyes drifted to the book, she held her breath and watched Tommy flip hastily through the pages. Could this seriously bring her mother back to them? Was Spencer playing them? "Which spell do you think it is?" Gabe asked, moving over to Tommy and gazing down at the book. Gabe pointed to the page that Tommy was reading, his eyebrows lifted curiously. "There's a spell to pull someone back from the past. Apparently it requires being read in the presence of a blood relative…"

"That's not the one we're looking for though," Tommy replied. He grimaced and continued flipping through the pages. His brows meshed together, forming two creases on his forehead. Frown lines dug into the corners of his lips, and his eyes narrowed into slants. "Here's one…entrapping someone within a time sphere. It makes the person able to see what's going on in the outside world, but forces them to relieve their most haunting memories over and over again…my god…to think Jonathan would do that to her."

Spencer bowed his head and clenched his fists, a guilty expression crossed over his eyes. Charlie had to wonder if he knew what memory Angelica would be reliving, aside from the murder of her own mother. "Is there a reversal spell?" He lifted his head, his Adam's Apple fell and rose in the center of his neck, and his eyes narrowed. "There has to be a reversal. Charlie…she needs her mother…" Tommy glanced to him and huffed.

"Relax Spencer, there's bound to be one here…" Tommy's eyes moved rapidly, scanning the page. Once they reached the bottom, his lips curved up and his eyes lit up with excitement. "Found it! There's a reversal spell on page 381. Apparently there's four hundred spells in this book…two hundred main ones and two hundred reversals…"

"Interesting."

"Yeah." Tommy wasted no time flipping the pages over and gazing at the open area in the living room. "God, please let this work…my family's full of scientists, I can't believe in magic. That's absurd! But if this brings back my cousin…" He closed his eyes and began to read the spell aloud. Charlie felt a chill run down her spine as heavy tension filled the air.

In front of her a mist started to appear while Tommy read. A collective gasp ran out from those in the room as a giant red sphere slowly materialized before her. Her eyes widened, her heart began to crash against her ribs, and a magnetic force started pulling her body towards the sphere. She extended her hand, whimpering at the shadowy figure within the transparent orb. "M-Momma?"

"Not too close Charlie," Bob said from behind. She ignored his warning and took another step. The sphere grew thicker as Tommy went deeper into the spell. She couldn't understand how all of this was working, but she was amazed that it was. Much to her surprise, a hole formed on the wall of the orb, allowing he to see inside.

There she was in full glory, Angelica! She gasped softly as tears sprang from her eyes. Angelica's head was bowed, eyes closed, and chest slowly moving in and out. Her arms were up in the air, chained by some strange circle of light at her wrists. "I-It's her!" Charlie enthused, "It's Momma!" Angelica's eyes flew open, meeting her bewildered gaze. The circles around her wrists vanished with the orb, and she fell onto the ground, stumbling forward.

Immediately, Tommy threw the book on the ground and ran to help his cousin stand. Susie and Teddy rushed over as well. Susie and Tommy stood at her sides, putting her arms over their shoulders. Angelica smiled weakly. "It's about time. I knew you guys could do it, but…wow…" Charlie ran up to her, hugging her legs. Angelica let out a surprised gasp and peered down at her with a smile. "Hey Charlie. I hope I wasn't gone too long…"

"She was worried about you," Teddy remarked, "We all were." Charlie was certain she heard Gabe mention something about some worrying more than others, which she didn't quite get, but she was far too happy to be concerned with it. "I don't know what convinced Spencer to get that book from Jonathan, but I'm glad he did."

"Yeah…" Angelica lifted Charlie up in her arms, holding her close. Charlie threw her arms around Angelica's neck and glanced over to Spencer. Angelica raised her eyebrows and slowly shook her head as Spencer's face fell. A deep sadness crossed his gaze and Angelica released a defeated breath. "I think I know why. This is going to be difficult to tell you Teddy…you too Charlie, I have to be honest…I didn't know how to tell you this before, but…"

"What's the problem?" Angelica walked over to the couch and took her seat. Charlie gazed into her eyes, resting her palms on her shoulders and waiting eagerly for her to speak. Her voice was almost musical, a treat to have after so long. "Charlie. Spencer…is your birth father…" Teddy gasped while the remaining Duncan's glared at the man. "I kept it down because I didn't even want him knowing. I didn't think he should have anything to do with Charlie. I've seen a few things while trapped in there, but…I'm still not sold, I think we need to discuss him…"

"Right…" Teddy sat beside them and glared up at Spencer. He confessed that he did not know Charlie was his daughter, and if he had, he would have told the family sooner. "Then what do you want now, Spencer? I mean…thank you for helping to bring Angelica back to us, but…"

"I only want to know my daughter," he admitted, "That's all. I will do anything to spend time with her, to care for her." Charlie was stunned and amazed by him. She wasn't too sure how he would react, but this wasn't how she would have guessed. He moved his hands behind his back and turned his eyes towards the floor. "I am sorry for everything, I don't expect you to forgive me…but at least consider letting me be a part of Charlie's life…even though I'm sure I don't deserve it."

"We'll think about it. Spencer, we have other things going on as well…mom is in the hospital." Spencer nodded his head and looked to Charlie with a loving gaze. She was almost sold in wanting him around, but she wasn't too keen on the idea. "I don't want to think of you doing something irresponsible. Charlie means the world to all of us."

"I know."

"Yeah." Teddy glanced over to Angelica, hugging her for a few seconds. "We want to talk to you about some stuff, but we'll give you time to rest…" Angelica bowed her head and pulled her lips back into a deep frown. Fresh tears fell from her eyes as she glanced towards her family.

"I've seen from that prison…my dad is…gone, isn't he?"

"I'm sorry, Angelica."

"It's okay, I'll…I'll manage." Angelica breathed in deeply and hugged Charlie close. "At least I have all of you. I want to see Amy, though…" Teddy bowed her head and let her lips fall into a deep frown. "I know what happened to her, I just…I just really want to see her."'

"Maybe tomorrow, it's late and you both need your rest I'm sure…" Angelica started to yawn and quickly agreed to needing a nap. "Mom wanted to talk to you about you moving in, sharing my room." Angelica's eyes widened as Teddy shifted her gaze up to hers. "It's a good way for you to maybe help around the house, become closer to Charlie, and have a place to stay. Tommy and the others said they don't really have a place for you, and knowing how much you love Charlie like we do, we thought it would be best for you to move in with us. That is, if you want to?"

Charlie looked over as Bob put a hand on Teddy's shoulder from behind the couch and smiled at Angelica. "Amy's insistent," he added. His smile fell and he cleared his throat. "I uh…don't know how well she's going to cope when she gets home, she's suffering and can't walk anymore. So…it would be great if you could be there." Gabe and PJ moved over to Bob, PJ pat his father's shoulder while Gabe crossed his arms. Angelica closed her eyes and slowly nodded.

"I appreciate the offer, I'd like to sleep on it first, however. I know I would like that very much…"

Charlie hugged Angelica's neck, squeezing gently, "I want you there B-Momma." Angelica smiled slightly and rubbed her back. "I'm tired of only seeing you once or twice a week! I want to see you more." Perhaps she was too blunt, but she had to be honest about how she felt. "I love you, B-Momma. Just like I love Momma Amy. I want both of you."

Susie put her hand to Angelica's shoulder, "How do you feel Angelica?" Angelica moved a hand to her forehead and sighed.

"I have a headache, my head feels like its spinning, and I feel nauseous. I need a shower and sleep. I could never sleep in that prison, and now it feels like I've not slept for years." Tommy pushed forward, speaking above the crowd.

"All right, let's let her rest. She needs it!" Angelica turned her grateful gaze towards her cousin. Her expression brightened as she slowly rose to her feet, still holding onto Charlie.

"Thank you for looking out for Charlie, Tommy. Gabe. I'm glad you brought me back, but above all, I'm glad Charlie is safe. First thing tomorrow morning I want to see Amy." Angelica looked to Spencer and pressed her lips thinly together. "As for you, Spencer…thank you…" Charlie glanced up at her mom, smiling cheerfully as she gazed towards her. "Charlie, would you like to spend some time with your birth father and his parents?"

This was a difficult question to answer. On one side, she didn't want to be anywhere near him due to the history she knew of him. On the other hand, she wanted to spend some time with him because he was her birth father. The urge to be fair won out and she slowly nodded her head. "Yes please."

"Okay…" Angelica looked to the others in the room and smiled. "Then would you guys stay and watch over Spencer? I don't want him around Charlie right now alone…I want to set up some boundaries, but it'll have to be done later…Can someone please call Harold up? I want to see him too…"

"I'll give him a call," Tommy replied, "You get some rest and we'll make sure Spencer stays right here with Charlie."

"Thank you…"

Finally freedom! What did you think of the chapter?