K and K 36

Alexis and Katherine had run into a snag in their plans for Katherine to be a registered veterinarian. First she really needed 4-1/2 years of schooling that included certain classes. Now Kate had in fact taken a number of them in her schooling and they were able to transfer those credits. The problem was it had been Kate who took the classes. Because of that Katherine was suffering in her classes and even though Alexis was doing her best to help her, she just couldn't keep up.

"What classes did you take in your world?" Alexis asked her. "I grew up in a tiny village; what I learned, I learned from my parents and my gran. Schools similar to this one were only in major cities and I don't actually know of too many. The closest was weeks away even by horseback." That was something that Alexis had been afraid of. Their worlds were just too different. Alexis was going to have to take some if not all of those classes first, and that was before the 4 years that Alexis and even Katherine were presently enrolled in. Something that was going to have to change.

"I'll be 50 by the time I graduate and become a veterinarian." Katherine collapsed onto the sectional and didn't know whether she should cry or laugh so she did a little of both and it sounded terrible. Alexis sat next to her and held her tight while Katherine did the same. She needed a lifeboat. The 15 years of difference between their ages had just hit them in the face like a hurricane or tornado. They were secure with each other, but this was just too much.

"How many coins are left?" Alexis asked since she had a crazy idea, a really crazy idea. One that would do her dad proud. Her question made Katherine think about it since the skull and coins were in their bedroom and she didn't want to let go of Alexis to go count. "We started with 11. Kate used the first one by accident leaving 10. We used four more while I was in Canada which takes us down to 6. Kate used one to get me to Fiji so that leaves 5. When I use one it will leave 4. When Kate uses another there will be 3 left. Just enough for us to change places one more time before she gets the last say. She uses it and we'll be here or there for life," Katherine counted out.

"I want you to listen, just listen because I have an idea. Kate has a lot of information that we need. She has all of the money that we need access to. We're going to use up half of what she left you, leaving you with $20 million plus what Dad left me which is half of that," Alexis informed her yet again. Martha had gotten the other half and the government got their cut leaving them with just under $10 million each, plus the houses and cars.

"She's living your life at your age while you are living your life at her age. You are out 15 years and that quite frankly sucks. Fifteen years of your life, poof!" Alexis spread her arms wide to emphasize her point. "I want you to record a heartfelt plea not to just ask to change places but to change years as well. She goes back to being 37 while you go back to being 24 and pray that it works. Hopefully the magic of this thing's that powerful. But you need to decide Kat...do you want to stay here with me even if this doesn't work?" Alexis's heart was pounding and it felt like a heart attack. Her heart was either going to soar or be crushed.

"I hated her Canadian home, it was a prison and I was all alone. At home I had new friends and I was starting to like Rick then I ended up here. Fiji was better and nicer but I was still alone and just wanted to go home while I searched this world. Now I have a reason to stay...I have you," Katherine's lower lip was quivering and her tears were flowing. She suddenly found herself being crushed by Alexis and then kissed hard. "I want you to stay. I really want this to work. You're getting the ass end of this deal," Alexis kissed her again.

They just held each other for a while till Katherine had a question. "What about classes?" She was falling behind in the complex classes because she didn't actually have a base of 4 years under her. "You miss a semester," Alexis scrunched up her face since it sucked as an idea.

"And fall even further behind," Katherine moaned. "Not if this plan works Kat, not if it works," Alexis countered and hugged her. "Take a couple of days and think of what you want to tell her. Just remember, I'll be here to help plead your case," Alexis reminded her then kissed her again.

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Alexis came home from school to find Katherine sitting on the floor at the coffee table with a pad and pen. "HI! How's it coming?" Alexis sat on the sectional next to her and tried to take a peek. "You tell me," Katherine handed Alexis her the pad and watched her read, not being able to read her face. "A little less Canada maybe. You don't want her to feel too guilty. You want her to see this switch from your point of view. Especially since she has the final say with the last coin," Alexis advised her. Still Alexis was going to do everything she could to get Kate to use that last coin since she wanted Katherine back permanently.

"Maybe more about what you're trying to accomplish, that you need your 13 years back to achieve that. Show her your heart and what this means to you," Alexis handed it back for more revisions, kissed her and headed for the kitchen to start dinner. "Where's Grams?"

They had discussed their plan with her just days ago and while Martha was sad to see her go and leave her alone, she told her, "It's your life my darling, time to start living it. I know you miss your father and I dearly wish I could change that. But he would want you to live your life and be happy. And I think you are happy."

"You could come with us Martha. It's really big and has four spare bedrooms. There's a theater room, game room, exercise room, and even an indoor pool. It's a very quick boat ride away from Copenhagen. We could even get you your own boat and a space in a marina to park it," Katherine coaxed. Katherine shut her down the instant she opened her mouth to decline. "Think about it Martha. Your son's gone and and when we leave you'll be here all alone. Move your school to Copenhagen. I'm betting you have the money," Katherine tried to persuade her.

"I'll show you Copenhagen, Grams. You can come with us when we go look at it while it's under construction. You'll get to see what we do. Maybe even stay there after we leave for a little while," Alexis added her voice. "I can send Simon to come get you and bring you back," Katherine added a little sugar to sweeten things.

"I make no promises," Martha told them which Alexis interpreted as a yes. She squealed like a teenager again and hugged her grams for all she was worth.

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Katherine was sitting on the sectional with the laptop in front of her along with the skull and all of the remaining magic coins. She had just finished watching her video for the third time and made a quick note on the pad next to the laptop as Alexis came through the door. She dropped everything and sat down next to her. "Have you recorded anything?" She knew that they agreed that today would be the day. "Four different times actually and I'm still making notes," Katherine pointed to her paper.

"You'll be back Kat, I swear it! Even if I have to tie her down and whip her to...yeah I wouldn't do that. It'll work, it has to," Alexis hugged her tightly and sniffled since even she had fears. "I suppose I should do this then," Katherine commented. "Where's Grams?" They had only half a plan on how to handle Martha. "She has a class and said she would be back late," Katherine informed her.

"I'm right here and I love you," Alexis squeezed her. "I love you too," Katherine didn't know how many times she had told Alexis and somehow this felt like it would be her last time. "It'll work, it has to work," Alexis said positively then kissed her head and went behind the sectional to stand behind her and watch.

Katherine took a deep breath and did what she had done all the other times. They had agreed to leave the age request to Kate's last time as they both wished it. This would be an information change of places.

Katherine, however, had a plan that she hadn't shared with Alexis since she had no idea if it would work. Even to her it was an idea that was way out there and doomed to failure. Still she was going to try; she just hoped Alexis didn't kill her when she came back.

Katherine made her plea and held a coin while touching the skull then saw a flash of light. Alexis just stood there looking at her as though nothing had changed. Katherine was still sitting there.

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"Did it work?" Alexis asked softly. But what she got wasn't something she was expecting. Katherine jumped up off of the sectional, spun in place, and took a stance ready to intercept any swing headed her way while delivering one of her own. Except what she saw was a young woman with chin length, fiery red hair. Pale skinned, she was quite pretty. "Who are you?" Kate asked in a demanding voice.

"Please tell me you're Kate. I'm Alexis Castle and this is my home," Alexis spread her arms to sweep the space. "Castle?" Kate was confused. Alexis nodded softly. "Richard Castle is my father ...was my father." Talking about him being gone still hurt her heart.

"Rick?" Kate looked around and could easily see she was back in her world. Plus the skull and coins solidified it for her. She relaxed. "Rick has, had a daughter?" Kate had heard the word WAS. "Dad was killed by ISIS in an attack in Paris a few months ago. Kat tells me you are involved with my dad in your world," Alexis said.

"Where am I exactly?" Kate asked, abruptly changing the subject."This is my home in downtown Manhattan, New York City, 2016. It's late winter here, almost spring," Alexis explained. Kate relaxed some more then saw notes and a laptop that were likely in front of her at the time. "Kat left you a recorded message and a few notes," Alexis gestured at them.

"Kat?" Kate questions. "I got tired of always calling her Katherine; it didn't have that personal caring for another person in it. It sounded like I was talking to one of my professors. I tried Kate first but she didn't like that, so I tried Kat and it's stuck so far. You might want to watch her message before we talk," Alexis suggested and watched Kate sit down, making sure Alexis didn't sneak up behind her. Kate woke the laptop and saw her older self on the screen then pressed ENTER.

"Hi, I've recorded this 4 times now and none of them really said what I wanted to say. By now you've met Alexis. Alexis has become my best friend in this world; she's also planted herself squarely in the middle of my heart. It's a funny thing – you've got Rick and I've got his daughter. I love her with all of my heart and I trust her. What I don't or can't tell you she can. There are a number of things that have happened. Alexis will help you to understand and show you what we're doing together."

"To get to the point, I want to stay in this world...with Alexis. What we need to know is if you want to stay in mine? Forever. There should be only 4 magical coins left now. Three after you use one to go back and I want you to go back if for no other reason than to find out what you want. If or when I use another one, that will leave you with just the one, placing both of our futures in your hands. My question is, where do you want to live, here or there?"

"I still have a lot to learn here and in several ways I still feel lost, so out of place. All the things that you take for granted are things that I don't know. I didn't have the education that you had. I didn't take the classes that you have and it's placed me at a disadvantage in this world."

"This leads me to my one big request. When I use the next to last coin I'm going to also wish for my 13 years back. I want to be 24 again and not 37. I want to live those years and not lose them. I'm asking for you to do the same with the very last coin. I will wait for a year or more before using the next to last coin. You have that long to do something in your life while still 24 if this actually works. I know Rick likes you, really likes you. He's chosen you over me and that's fine. Get married, have a baby. Do what you didn't do in this world. Just please, let me have that same privilege. I know you told me you were a thief/assassin in this world. I'm asking that you not steal from me."

"That's about all I have to say. There are a few notes for you to read that are meant just for you. Oh, please give me 2 months back in my world. There's something I want to do and I need to decide what to do with Dapper. He's my animal companion and I can only have just the one. I love him and miss him, but it's not fair to him to stay loyal to you when he's mine. It's going to be difficult but I'm thinking of releasing him and let him choose. I'll ask our friends if they think you would want him to stay as just a pet instead of something more. He could still be helpful and he may want to stay. I'm going to miss him," Katherine wiped away a stray tear.

"Please give me 2 months and talk to Alexis. Bye for now," Katherine waved and reached down to end the recording.

Kate just sat there thinking it all over. "My Rick doesn't have a daughter," she turned to look at Alexis. "I know, Kat told me. But he could...with you. Thirty seven isn't too late, especially with our medicine today, but in her world that might be a death sentence. How old is Dad there?" Alexis wondered just how different he was.

"Wizards go through a lot of training so Rick is 30 in that world. Six years older than me. If I agree to this I'll be 7 years older than him," Kate pointed out what she would be giving up. "I'm 22 and you're 37 in this world. Is that fair?" Alexis fought back. Kate hadn't guessed 22, more like 24 or maybe 25.

"I take it there's something we need to discuss?" Kate changed the subject. "Follow me please," Alexis walked to her dad's...to her study. Kate was right behind her. "Kat and I have a plan. She likes Fiji but hates New York City so we're looking at moving. Actually we've already bought the island and have made the first payment to begin the design phase. Also while you're here we'll be flying to Great Britain to look at and perhaps buy two boats," Alexis started to explain.

"This is it." And she laid out the overall floor plan of the island. "Our home is going to be this mountain. Katherine's convinced that she can make it look like this." Then Alexis pulled out a rendering of the mountain draped in countless plants. "It'll be hollow and we'll live inside it. This is the indoor pool, solar power panels, garden space, windmills, and dock space. As you can expect it will not come cheap," Alexis mentioned their main stumbling block.

"You want my money," Kate said flatly.

"Yours...Katherine's money, yes. If we're right, nothing physical has changed places. You've simply change bodies. Your ID and other things on you stayed didn't they? Katherine mentioned she was wearing armor, had a scimitar, and a magical backpack. Neither of you brought any of that with you. If you agree and live in her world, all of your money will stay here. Gives a new definition to 'You can't take it with you.' doesn't it?"Alexis pointed out which Kate agreed with internally. "What's the cost of this?" Kate questioned.

"The island was $8.5 million. The rest of the project is expected to cost just short of $20 million overall, not including the cost of the boats, marina space in Copenhagen..." Alexis was interrupted. "Copenhagen?" Kate was a little shocked. "Copenhagen University is ranked as the 22nd best university in all of Europe and it has a veterinarian school that we are both entered into here. Kat, however, is suffering with the classes a little. You took a lot of the prerequisite classes but she didn't have the same schooling you did."

"It's another reason why we both want you to wish to change not just places but age as well. Neither of us have any idea if it will work, but until Kat came along and showed me what she could do, I wouldn't have believed in real magic either," Alexis explained.

"So her magic works in this world?" Kate asked a little shocked and watched Alexis nod. "She cast a spell and had the area plants wrap themselves around me and started choking me. She even fired a flare into the pool, so yes, her magic works here," Alexis informed her, pleasantly surprised herself.

"Kat will make an amazing veterinarian with her being a Druid. She just has to get through all the schooling first. If she has to take all the classes you have already, that will mean 4 or more years, plus 4 more years of veterinary school. Eight years added onto 37 is a lot to ask for someone who probably doesn't need the classes to be the best veterinarian here." Alexis was sure of Kat's ability and likely didn't need the classes, but to be a licensed vet meant she needed those classes.

It did tell Kate something. She had already imprisoned Katherine in her Canadian home, not that she intended to. Hell, she didn't even know it was going to happen. However it had happened and she was enjoying herself in the other world. It was true she did miss having a gas-fired range and oven. That stupid wood-fired thing was so hot in some places and damn near cold in others. She had already burnt any number of rolls, cakes, and even a pie. Just cooking a steak took work on that antique. And don't get her started on missing a washer and dryer!

Then there was their sorry excuse for a bra and panties, and where the devil were the tampons? Their idea of pads leaked so very badly. She had taken to sleeping on a towel or two so she didn't stain the bed. While the bed wasn't bad it just wasn't the one she had here.

But it did have one or more things she didn't have here. It didn't have Rick and it didn't have friends. Friends that were sharing life and death with her and trusted her.

"Two months?" Kate looked at Alexis who looked like she was praying; it was written all over her face. "I have just over $450 million in total. Your $20 million is half of what I left her with last time. I'll show you how to access all of it. Give you the addresses for the home in Kansas City, the security codes to get in. Where to find the car keys and how to open the safe that's located there. You already know about the house in Canada and the one in Fiji. The only thing I ask is that you not get rid of the house in Fiji. I was planning on retiring to that house soon," Kate informed her.

"You're going to do it?" Alexis was practically bouncing in excitement. "Yes, I'm going to do it. I..." Kate was forced to stop when Alexis leapt at her and hugged her tightly. Alexis was actually tempted to kiss her soundly since she really did look like Kat, however there was something different about them.

"All of it, including the age difference?" Alexis knew that was a big one. "You're right that we haven't brought anything physical with us but I have no idea if this idea will work. We may stay just as we are," Kate cautioned. She didn't want to steal from Katherine, but other than adding her wish, it wasn't up to her, she didn't think.

"Yes, that too." And Kate found herself being crushed by Alexis.

An hour later and Kate had seen everything about the new place and had written down everything about her accounts overseas that would allow them access to her millions. "There are a couple things I'm going to do for the next two months though and I'm going to need your help," Kate informed her. Alexis looked at her with a face that just screamed 'What?'

"First, I want your help learning how to be a seamstress over the next two months. You wouldn't believe the things they call a bra and panties in her world. I may not be able to take my money or other things with me, but if I learn how to make a pattern, cut them out, and sew them, I can take that knowledge with me. Second, I need to learn how to cook and bake on a wood-fired stove," Kate explained which made Alexis giggle.