Disclaimer: I do not own or profit from this writing


Chapter 41: Aftermath

Abigail felt warm, but this was a more earthy warm, she decided. More solid. No more of that ethereal, neither here nor there, stuff.

More importantly, it reminded her of Reid. That made her smile as she decided to just enjoy it for a moment. Knowing her luck she was probably in a hospital somewhere.

She cracked open an eye slowly, afraid of what she would see, but also because it took so much effort. Finally she managed to force both open.

Well, that was her ceiling. Good sign. And judging by the amount of pain she was in, she was alive. Another good sign.

Reid felt her stir and propped himself up on an elbow as he looked down at her. She hadn't been asleep nearly long enough to heal, but at the same time every minute she was asleep was driving him nuts.

"Thank God you are awake," he said, looking into her bright blue eyes. He thought of how she would be when she would wake up, what both of their reactions would be, but this one was completely unexpected. She burst into sobs that wracked her entire body. He pulled her close to comfort them both as she cried.

"You're okay now," he whispered into her ear.

She nodded. "I . . . I couldn't see before this . . . what the outcome would be," she said trying to get a breath. He brushed her hair back. "Then, I saw everyone but you and me," she said. "They wouldn't show me what happened to you, which scared me so much," she said.

"We are both fine," he promised. "You still have some serious burns on the lower half of your torso and your left leg. Chase started with your face even though your legs were a little worse. I think he knows how important vanity can be after being burned," he grinned.

She just tried to bury her face further into his chest. "Why are you here? Don't you hate me now?"

"Hardly. Angry, sure," he admitted. "But I'll wait till you are a little more healed to argue. It could hardly be a fair fight what with you bedridden and all." He tried to make the conversation light which she appreciated.

"I'm afraid to close my eyes," she admitted.

"I am right here, promise." She found herself in a comfortable position where the pain was bearable and she fell back asleep. He held her close wondering how the other reunions were going. He wasn't sure whose reaction he was more curious see—Tyler's or Chase's. Thinking about the different scenarios gave him something to pass the time.

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"They are fine," Christiana Simms promised when Hannah called. "Patience just called to talk to Hope, who was quite worried I can tell you," Christiana continued. "Peony was a doll, which I already told Violet. Chase and Isabel were just dolls. I might have gone a little crazy on buying them toys," she admitted.

"Thank you so much, Christiana. I can come get them…later, I am going to nap first."

"Take your time, Honey. Tyler called and he sounded exhausted too. I hope you are all okay."

"Oh, we are all fine," Hannah said happily. "And now that I know the twins are fine, everything is perfect. Feel free to buy them as much as you want, give them as much sugar as you want. You have my permission to spoil them rotten."

"Oh, I will. The other moms are coming and going too. You might need a new room to house all of their things," she laughed. "Take care, then." Hannah hung up and leaned back in her computer chair.

"I could have told you they were fine," Chase said, standing in the doorway. "I popped over for a moment. Peony was taking a nap, but Hope was playing with Isabel and Chase."

"Oh, I forgot, your ether trick," Hannah said tiredly. Suddenly she felt shy around Chase. She had never felt shy around Chase. Ever. She was baffled as to what to do next.

"I, uh, well…I'll let you get some sleep."

"Wait," Hannah said jumping up. "Uh, thanks for saving Abigail, Chase."

"Of course," Chase said surprised. "Contrary to what the sons may think or say, I wouldn't let anything happen to you girls."

"I know that," Hannah said. "I . . . this is just more awkward than I thought," she admitted truthfully, moving to sit on the edge of the bed. "I feel like I have so much to say, I do have so much I want to say to you, but I have no idea where we stand, what you feel anymore."

"Hannah," He said kneeling in front of her to make her look at him. "We have plenty to talk about. Several things that this whole fiasco brought up."

"Oh, how could you have picked power?!" Hannah demanded angrily, remembering the confrontation that seemed like ages ago.

"I didn't!" he argued. "Did no one hear me? I asked it as a question!" he huffed. She was shocked, and couldn't help but think how adorable he looked irritated.

"A question?" she asked confused.

"Yes! I said 'power?' as in, did you honestly think I would pick it over you? Damn it, Hannah, I have always picked you over everything. Even if it was only a one-sided thing."

"That's not true!" Hannah said defensively. "When you left I cried myself to sleep for months!"

"I didn't leave, I was forced out," he said bitterly.

"We didn't know, we didn't want it, Chase," she said cupping his face to make him look at her, and see the truth of her words. "I hated Violet's and Patience's mothers for doing that. And Abigail's mom for whatever it was she told them before she died. When it was just the five of us, I begged and pleaded with Patience to try to find you but she said no one would listen to her."

"You want to hear my confession?" he asked, and she nodded. "You know I am obsessive," he started and she laughed. "You have always been my first obsession, Anna," he said. "I wanted to come to you as soon as I found these powers. Then I had so many problems with them, I couldn't stand it if something happened to you because of them. What if I scared you, or one of the other girls? Then the whole thing with Caleb, and afterwards I was so messed up. Even now, I'm not completely healed."

"We will fix it, all of it," Hannah promised.

Chase took of his shirt and a scar began on his lower back and disappeared under his pants. "Hannah, I am not even completely healed physically yet. I didn't want you to see me until I was."

Hannah had him lie down on his stomach and she traced a finger over the scars on his lower back. "It doesn't bother you?" Chase asked, surprised, hopeful.

"Why would it?" Hannah asked bewildered. "Battle scars are sexy," she teased. "Girls like them. Abby goes gaga over Reid's tattoos you know."

"No, I didn't know that. And I would have been happy without knowing," Chase groaned, burying his face in the pillows. "You can keep things like that from me, its okay, I promise." Hannah laughed as she rolled him over and leaned over to kiss him.

"Will you be here when I wake up?" she asked. "Stay with me?" He nodded and she laid her head on his chest as she fell asleep, the exhaustion of the whole ordeal finally pulling them under.

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"We are almost twins," Abigail told Chase happily three days later. She lifted her shirt a little to show the scarring on her back. "See? Burn buddies," she teased making him roll his eyes.

"That's not exactly something to brag about, Abs," Chase said.

"Yeah, but it's something between me and you that Hannah can't share," she teased. "She is almost as obsessive as you, at least when it comes to you."

"That is not true," Hannah said which started a 'uh-huh, nu-uh' war between the two of them.

"Anything new to report?" Patience asked, coming in.

"I saw everyone's roll in this," Abigail said. "And I mean every darm minute of everything."

"You okay?" Chase asked.

"Yeah, and I am so proud of everyone," Abigail said happily hugging Tyler who was closest. "Those ancestors sure know what to say to twist the knife."

"Hell yes," Pogue said.

"So, is it over?" Caleb asked.

"Neah," Abigail said slyly.

"Huh? What kind of answer is that?"

"The kind a psychic gives when she doesn't tell her secrets," Abigail grinned.

"What did you see?"

"Like I tell all," Abigail said.

"Don't you?" Patience asked. "I mean, you see more than I remember your mother seeing."

"Hardly," Abigail said. "I only tell what people need to know. But about this…well... I don't know. I mean, yes the curse is broken, but I don't think . . ."

They all looked at her curiously. "Let's just wait a few months and see, okay? I am not sure if what I saw was a vision or just a delusion from everything."

"In the mean time, Hope's inheritance is in a week," Patience said in awe. "I can't believe she is turning 7 already, it seems like it was only yesterday we were all rushing to the hospital…" she trailed off thinking back.

"Violet only had her permit's license," Hannah snickered. "I thought for sure someone was going to arrest the lot of us."

"I thought it was great fun," Faith said stealing a cookie from the platter in front of Chase.

Patience snorted. "That is because you were not the one in labor."

"She is the only one who has not been in labor. Ever," Abigail added stealing the last cookie out from under Chase's nose making him pout.

"Your visions shouldn't count," Faith said.

"How many have you experienced?" Sarah asked Abigail.

"Last count was 9," Abigail said. "What are the plans?"

"The same as it has been for generations," Patience said. "And I told her I would take her shopping to buy a new dress," she said grabbing her purse. "A week. I can't believe it," she said walking out to make sure Hope was ready.

"What happens?" Caleb asked curious. "Is it much like ours?"

"No, ours is prettier," Abigail teased.

"she means that," Faith added. "After having seen 2 of yours, I have to agree: ours are prettier."

"Do you think that now that the curse is broken, any future girls will still be 7?" Chase wondered. "Will boys still be 18? How is this all going to work out?" he wondered, thinking about Chase and Isabel, and grinned when Violet brought out more cookies for them.

"I remember your sweet tooth," she grinned.

"You were always the fun one," he winked.

"Hey," Hannah hit his shoulder.

"I meant compared with Patience," He said quickly. "Pats hid the sweets."

"In the same cupboard. It didn't take a genius to find them. Even Hope has learned the hiding place now," Paul spoke up.

"So I don't win points for originality," Patience said as she walked by with Hope.

Hope rushed up to hug Faith. "Mommy says I can get a pretty dress for my inheritance," she said excitedly. "We watched the videos last night!"

"Come on, Hope," Patience smiled. She held out her hand and Hope rushed up to take it, waving to the group as they walked out.

"Videos?" Pogue asked.

The girls shared a look. "you'll find out later," Violet said.

"How did you keep the inheritance from me?" Chase asked.

"For Faith's, you spent the night at a friend's house, your first sleep over," Violet remembered fondly. "For Abby's, your mom took you to the circus to spend the day with you."

"You brought me back that stuff elephant," Abigail remembered fondly. "I still have it, you know. Mr. Peanuts," she grinned.

"Is there anything we need to do to help with Hope's inheritance?" Sarah asked.

"We have that down," Violet grinned. "It's exciting! The first of the next generation," she said looking down at Peony who was being held by Paul.

"A little over 6 years for Isabel's," Hannah shook her head. Chase squeezed her hand. "I don't want to think about it," she decided.

"Well, in the meantime, I have a paper to finish," Faith said.

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"What's going to happen?" Caleb asked.

"Shh, you'll find out," Abigail grinned impishly.

"That smile is much to much like Faith's," Tyler pointed out.

"Patience is going to bring her in any moment," Violet hushed them. They were in the manor house in Ipswich where they always celebrated the inheritance birthdays.

"What time will it happen again?" Pogue asked curiously.

"7:34 tonight," Hannah said.

"What was this about you going to force Pats to go on a blind date?" Chase asked Tyler.

Everyone shifted to stare at Tyler.

"What?" he said defensively. "I…" before he could say anything else the front door opened and Patience and Hope arrived. When she walked into the front parlor everyone yelled "Surprise!"

Hope just stared at everyone in shock for several seconds before excitedly going around to hug everyone. The entire parlor had a medieval princess theme and everyone was in costume to match the dress Patience had bought for Hope's birthday. "Did I mention I am glad we went with the Princess theme?" Hannah winked, twirling in her princess gown. "It comes complete with my own Knight in shining armor," she grinned, kissing Chases' cheek.

Everyone followed Hope around as she explored their hours worth of decorating to turn the Manor house into a castle. "There is a horse!" she yelled in surprised delight when she looked out the back window. "Mommy! We have a horse!"

"Just for today," Patience said.

"Can I ride it?"

"Why do you think we got it?" Paul grinned. He mounted first and Tyler helped lift Hope up to him.

They watched Hope ride off with Paul, laughing and giggling. "The one bad thing about breaking the curse?" Patience started.

"There is something bad about the curse being over?" Pogue asked.

"Now I am terrified everything is going to hurt her. I never had to worry about that before," Patience said.

"Look at how happy she is, Patience," Abigail said wrapping an arm around her waist. She gestured to where Paul and Hope were riding in the field, Hope obviously having the time of her life. "That's life."

After several games and eating cake and opening presents, it was finally close to Hope's time.

"Are you nervous?" Reid asked Hope.

Hope shook her head solemnly suddenly look much older than her seven years. "I am ready," she said happily. "What do I do?" she asked Patience.

"Nothing," Patience said.

"Just breath," Abigail encouraged looking at the clock. They had 2 minutes.

"What happens?" Tyler asked.

"Pretty, pretty lights," Hannah grinned.

"Shh," Abigail said, feeling it begin.

Suddenly Hope sucked in a deep breath, drawing everyone's attention. Light began to emanate from some other source other than the lamps and it took the Sons a moment to realize that it was coming from Hope.

As if they were playing with her, the lights began to swirl around her until they finally melded into her and Hope became a beacon of pure, white light in a sea of semi-darkness.

When the light faded, Hope's eyes remained pure white with a flash of gold before returning to her normal violet eyes.

The Daughters all squealed happily and all tried to hug Hope at the same time. "I can not believe you are a big girl now," Patience said.

"I feel different," Hope said confused.

"Now all the Power is inside of you," Faith said reassuringly. "You'll get use to it."

It took a moment for the girls to realize that Paul was the only one with them. They looked over to see the Sons just watching them. "Did we scare you?" Violet teased.

"Constantly," Reid grinned.

Tyler came up to Hope first. "You were beautiful, Hope," He said honestly. It had been such a shock to the Sons to see something so beautiful and pure from the Power.

When Patience finally went to put the exhausted Hope to bed much later, Faith decided the mood needed to be lifted and waved a DVD. "Videos?" she grinned. "It's our own Inheritance," she explained. Patience had played the video for Hope so the girl would know what to expect.

Abigail turned to the Sons. "What's wrong?"

"It was different," Caleb said.

"It might not be any longer," Violet pointed out.

"In a way, I hope they will always be like that," Chase said as Patience reemerged and brought in bowls of popcorn once she heard about the home videos. "I don't want them to suffer with the Power, like we have. It should always be a beautiful and pure thing."

"It will be what we make it," Hannah determined.


Special thanks to everyone who reviews. Unfortunately the new system won't let me go back and reread them here (*Bah*). A HUGE thank you to all of you!

There will be one last chapter, an epilogue, so stay tuned!