At the hospital, Kay Bennett's world was coming crashing down around her shoulders. She had been so sure that if she could just get Miguel in bed, everything would work out. He would realize that he loves her, not Charity, and they could be together forever. Well, she had gotten her wish, but even now all Miguel could think about was Charity. True, she was in critical condition, but Kay had finally realized that he would never leave Charity, would never love anybody else, especially not her.
Oh sure, Kay's words to Simone were confident, but deep down she knew her obnoxious friend was right. Even though her perfect little cousin would die as soon as that plug was pulled, Miguel would always love her. Kay was no better off than before she applied the essence of Charity. Hell, if anything the situation was now worse: before, she'd at least been Miguel's best friend, but now he'd most likely hate her for the rest of his life.
It wasn't just Miguel, of course. Her family would also never get over Charity's death. Her parents treated the pasty face like a daughter, more so than they treated Kay at times. Her mother, especially, felt that Charity could do no wrong, Charity was so wonderful, Charity was so perfect. Charity got the big blowout for her 18th birthday, while Kay's was barely acknowledged, and the only time her mother ever even talked to Kay anymore was when she suspected Kay of doing something that would hurt Charity. In fact, Kay firmly believed that if her family had a choice, every single one of them would rather see her dying in Charity's place. Why does everybody love Charity more than me?, Kay silently wondered with tears in her eyes.
But you do know why, Kay, a voice in the back of her mind whispered. How could anyone possibly love you with Charity around? She's brave, pure, innocent, and kind, while you're basically petty, mean, and downright evil. Kay suddenly realized that the voice was right, and Simone's accusations were accurate. She was simply not as good as Charity, and never could be.
Kay had tried to be good so many times, had honestly resolved to quit scheming and be a better person, but the temptation had always been too much, and she had always chosen evil. Charity never would have done that, nor would her mother, her father, Noah, or Jessica. What's wrong with me, Kay thought. Why can my family be better naturally than me no matter how hard I try?
*****
"No, Timmy! I won't let you go! You're my sweet little lad and I love you," Tabitha whispered through her tears as she watched her precious "dollface" slip slowly away from her. In her very long life, Tabitha had never felt like this before, or ever even thought she was capable of such vast grief. This must be how all the people she had cursed with "pain and suffering" over the centuries had felt. Suddenly, it didn't seem quite so funny anymore.
However, this was not the time for philosophizing about her role in good versus evil, and the witch's thoughts were all on Timmy. How she loved this doll turned boy; her life just wouldn't be complete without him. What did any of the chaos that was surely in store for the good people of Harmony matter if Timmy was lying in the cold ground? In theory, a witch wasn't supposed to be capable of genuine love, yet Timmy had somehow gotten around all her defenses and warmed the heart she didn't even know she had.
Tabitha could of course build another Timmy doll, but it would never be like this one. She'd had a Timmy of some sorts throughout most of her lifetimes, but they had always been little more than voodoo dolls, tools to an end. No, this one was special, irreplaceable. There would never be another Timmy, and she would never try to make one.
"No, I've never accepted defeat without a fight and I'm not going to start now," Tabitha resolved. "There must be a way to save him that I just haven't thought of yet. Let's see, I've already tried praying but that was a wash, and the dark forces surely wouldn't go out of their way to save someone who was hurt fighting them. Timmy said that if Charity died he would die. Perhaps a connection was established through that cursed horn."
The horn—of course it was the horn! The type of magic used to destroy Zombie Blondie creates a permanent link between those who cast it. One couldn't survive the aftermath without the other. And Charity, being the chosen Standish and all, was the cornerstone. If she were to be healed, Timmy would be fine!
Unfortunately, that didn't leave Tabitha any better off, since she had no idea as to how she could fix up the brat anyhow. "If only I knew what to do, whatever it was, I'd do it," she vowed solemnly.
Just then, Toto barked and jumped up and down frantically.
Tabitha, who was not exactly in the most patient mood at the moment, shouted, "Oh hush up, you stupid mutt, do you want to upset Timmy?!" She was about to grab the dog when she noticed that he seemed to be glowing. Not only that, but he was also getting gradually bigger and somewhat longer limbed. The transformation was soon completed and standing before Tabitha was none other than the Little Angel Girl!
"You were Toto all along," Tabitha declared, still somewhat in shock.
"Yes, I've been disguised in the form of a dog in order to protect Timmy."
"Hah, fat lot of good that's done him in the end. What are you going to do, offer a couple cryptic warnings and float away?"
"No, Tabitha, I've come to tell you that it IS possible to save Timmy, if you really want to."
"Of course I do, Timmy's everything to me. I'll do anything you ask of me," Tabitha said through gritted teeth. How she loathed having to bow to her sworn enemies.
"Then you must save Charity. You and only you have the power to save her."
"How can that be possible? Why would your boss let things happen that way? I'm evil, why would you leave such an important task to me?"
"Fate works in mysterious ways Tabitha, you should understand that. We still have a score to settle but right now, Charity and Timmy are our priorities. Feel the power, you know you have it."
Tabitha was about to reply, but just then the Little Angel Girl disappeared.
Typical. Once again, she hadn't really been any help whatsoever in the actual instructions department. At least evil isn't so frustratingly vague all the time.
Tabitha was about to panic when she suddenly felt a warm strength inside her, and she realized that she did indeed have the power the Angel had spoken of. The evildoer wondered for a second whether God had granted it to her or had merely called attention to what had been inside of her all the time. Well, there was only one thing to do now. Tabitha wasn't unaware of the irony: she who had spent nearly all of her time and energy trying to destroy Charity would be the one to save her from what would otherwise be certain death. She didn't care, though. Let her friends in the basement come after her; she'd worry about that later. Timmy needed her, and he was well worth whatever the consequences might be. Knowing instinctively what to do, Tabitha began reciting an incantation that she had never before heard but somehow knew intuitively…
*****
In a nearby cubicle, Miguel had to be restrained from running to Charity by Hank, Pilar, and Grace, as Sam oddly insisted on pulling the plug himself.
With a lump in his throat, the chief of police turned off Charity's life support. Miguel shrieked, Jessica and Grace wailed, Simone glared a bit and muttered about Kay being evil, and Kay had a look of torment and guilt on her face. It was all over for Charity Standish.
"I want to go with her," Miguel whispered mechanically.
"No, Miguel, you know you can't do that. Suicide is a mortal sin. You'd go to hell forever, and then you'd never be with Charity again," Pilar insisted tearfully.
"I just can't believe this, Mama. Charity and Theresa in one night, it's too much."
Pilar smiled a little as she at least had some comforting words for her grieving child. "That's what I came here to tell you, mi hijo. Our Therasita is alive."
Miguel looked dumbstruck (as usual). "Mama, how can you say something like that? She was executed earlier this night. We all saw her!"
"No, she wasn't! Alistair had her drugged, making it seem as though she had died, in order to get Julian to come home."
Miguel's eyes nearly bugged out of his head. "Julian's alive too?! But he was murdered!"
"Apparently not, Miguel; he arrived at the mansion not long ago. Anyway, Theresa is there too, with her baby, reuniting with Antonio."
Miguel was now VERY confused. "Antonio?"
"Yes, he arrived home less than an hour ago. He wants to be part of the family again, and make up for the time he has missed."
Miguel's mind was swimming, trying to balance the wonderful news he'd just received with the crushing loss of Charity that had just occurred. On one hand, two prayers had just been miraculously answered, but on the other the love of his life had perished in a way he would probably never understand.
At that instant, a blinding flash of pure white light engulfed the room, and for a few moments afterwards, he could see only spots. As his vision cleared, everything somehow seemed different, but before his brain could compute what had just happened, a voice he thought he'd never hear again called his name…