Chapter 9: Getting Acquainted/First Showdown
Kay locked herself in her room, staring at the objects she placed on her bed. She and Jessica had planned to start to educate themselves about their new powers as soon as possible. Also, Kay had the spell her mother had used to make a clone of her six years ago. She had asked her father for it, thinking it may be useful in the upcoming clash she knew was inevitable between her mother and cousin. Vincent had been more than understanding, though was a little grumpy that his girlfriend didn't have too much time anymore. He started to make friends with Ethan, Reese and his girlfriend's uncle.
Kay decided to see what powers she had. She and her sister had obtained a list from Tabitha of possible powers the two amateur witches might have. Kay was testing for her powers of telekinesis. She focused on her diary and mentally saw it moving. When she opened her eyes, she was discouraged to find it in the same place as before. Kay closed her eyes and tried it again, but to no avail. She didn't even try to close her eyes the next time and witnessed, in wonder, as the binder moved from the edge of her bed to the headboard. "I did it!" she exclaimed, unlocking the door. She raced downstairs, and jumped into the arms of Vincent who had just come in from watching a game over at Hank's. "What's with all the excitement?" Theresa said, coming into the house. "That's what I want to know," the baffled boyfriend said. "I moved my diary with just my mind and eyes!" Kay said. "That's great!" Vincent said, hugging his girlfriend. Theresa went to pick up the ringing phone. "Kay, it's your sister!"
"Jess?"
"Congrats!" Jessica said. "Huh?" Kay replied. "You used your telekinesis, right?"
"How did you--?"
"Read your mind," Jessica said, matter-of-factly. Kay screamed. "We are really making progress here Jess, aren't we?"
"Yes we are! Dad will be so proud!" Jessica said. "As will Tabitha," Kay added. "As will Tabitha," Jessica chimed in. "How about we take the two newest witches in Harmony out for a dinner?" Vincent said. "Really?" Kay said, before repeating the offer to Jessica. "Really. You, Jess, your father, Tabitha, Reese, Hank, Theresa and me," Vincent said. "I agree," Kay said, and then repeated the same sentiment for Jess. Soon, the reservations were made and the party of eight meet up at a local restaurant.
The waitress sat them, and handed out their menus. "Order the best, girls, it's on me," Vincent said. "Hey, I'll help too. Jess is MY girlfriend after all," Reese put in. "Okay, you can pay as well," Vincent said, smiling. They had finished ordering their main meals, and were starting their entrees when Hank caught a glance at the party coming through the doors. "Oh no, Standish party," Hank said. The other seven turned and saw the party of six that just entered. Grace entered on the arm of David Hastings, her first husband. Her son with David, John, was right behind her, helping to escort his cousin, Charity. Charity's fiancé, Miguel, was on the other side of her. And behind them was Noah Bennett, Sam and Grace's first son/child. Noah was the only one Kay has had no problem with—yet. Both Grace and Charity looked the same, but they seemed to have lately taken up with wearing black outfits.
"Sam, what a pleasant surprise to see you with this company. What, Ivy wasn't invited?" Grace said, smoothly. "What is wrong with my company? It is my next door neighbor, my two daughters and their boyfriends, a friend of my daughter and my brother. And, no, Ivy wasn't invited. I am not with her," Sam responded, calmly. "Oh, I thought after our divorce, you would've wanted to rekindle the relationship with your first love," Grace shot back, a smile still playing on her lips. "Well, you thought wrong, Mom," Kay retorted. "Kay," Sam warned. Grace smiled and she and David continued to their table, joined by John, Charity, and Miguel. Only Noah lingered. "Hey, I'm back guys. Miss me?"
"Absolutely," the two sisters said together, hugging their brother. "Okay, Noah, I think you know Reese," Jessica started. "Oh, Miguel's dorky friend, right?"
"Uh, yeah," Jess said, as Kay held back a snort. "Anyway, I'm dating him now."
"Oh, well then, uh, okay," Noah replied. "Give me time to get used to it, and then I will have better come backs." Kay took Vincent's hand and cleared her throat. "Ah, both are dating! I don't even know this one, either. Are you from Harmony?" Noah said. "No," Vincent replied, "I'm from New York. Kay meet me when she moved in with your cousin. We've been dating for a long time now." Noah studied the blonde psychologist. "As long as you make her happy," Noah said. "I plan to," Vincent said. "Well, better go. Mom's shooting daggers. I wish I could join you, you seem to be better company." Noah turned and left.
At the end of dinner, Vincent and Reese raised a toast to their girlfriends. After everyone took a sip, Vincent got down on one knee and held out a ring. "Kay, you have changed my life. I don't think I would've been able to stick to my vow of sobriety during our tough college years if it wasn't for you. Please, please, will you be my wife," Vincent proposed. Kay nearly choked on her champagne, as she croaked out the word yes. Vincent slipped the ring on her finger and kissed her. Theresa and Jessica were beside themselves with joy. "Theresa, you MUST design my wedding dress. And my bridesmaids. But make Pearl's and Jess's a little different. They are my maid of honors," Kay said. "No, no, have a double wedding with Pearl!" Theresa said. "No, no. She's getting married too soon. I can't. Beside, you know our history with double weddings." Charity and Miguel walked by while Vincent was still on his one knee. "Oh, Kay, are you getting married?" Charity asked. "Yes, I am," Kay responded. "Why? Did he impregnate you?" Charity said, flooring Kay and Vincent. "No, I'm still a virgin," Kay responded. (A/N: Since this is an alternate universe, the Kay-Sleeping-With-Miguel storyline never happened. Kay left before the final destruction of Zombie Charity. So Kay's not pregnant and still a virgin.) "Really?" Charity responded. "You know what Charity? I am on cloud nine here and even you can't bring me down," Kay responded. Charity huffed and left. Kay saw a pair of scissors by the register and used them, via telekinesis, to cut off a chuck of Charity's dress a la The Parent Trap. "Oh my God, Kay! You can see her underwear. And they're silk!" Jessica said. "Do her hair before she leaves, do her hair!" Theresa and Tabitha chanted together. "No, Kay. I think you've embarrassed her enough," Sam said. "Your father's right. Get Grace's dress next," Hank said. "Can't argue that," Vincent said.
"CHARITY!" Grace screamed. "Oh dear God," John said. "What is it Aunt Grace?" Charity asked, ignoring the snickers coming from the waiters and waitresses. As she turned around, Miguel's eyes grew wide. "Oh my—Charity put on your jacket now. Oh no! It's too short! Here, take my jacket!" he said. "No, yours will be too short as well!" John said, offering his longer coat. "What's the matter?" Charity asked, still oblivious to her predicament. "Hey, Charity, feel a breeze?" Kay asked, sweetly. "What?" Charity shot back. "Hey, nice panties. Are they Victoria's Secret?" Theresa asked, nicely. "What are you two talking about?" Charity said, then noticed the chunk of her dress on the floor. "KATHLEEN BENNETT!" Charity screamed. "Don't waste your breath, come on Charity," Miguel said as he and John ushered the embarrassed girl out of the restaurant. Grace marched up to the table. "How dare you—how did you do it, Kay?" Grace said. "Or are you going to deny it like the other times."
"No, I'm not. It was I. I used my Standish powers," Kay said. "Standish powers? You don't have any powers!" Grace said. "Oh, yes they do, Gracie," Tabitha said. "No, no, no!" Grace said. "You will ruin all our plans!" Kay smiled. "I will thwart them. I don't like the vibe coming off them," Kay replied. Grace turned and stormed out, followed by David. Noah stopped and offered his support. "I'm totally with you guys. I don't like where Mom and Charity are heading." He wished Vincent and Kay luck and was hoping for an invitation. He left, picking up Charity's discarded dress piece.
The news spread throughout Harmony about Charity's dress. Theresa and Kay were still laughing over it when they went into Church the next week. There, ever pious, in the first row sat Grace, David, John, Miguel and Charity. Theresa and Kay took seats towards the back, and were soon joined by Vincent, who went to park the car. Kay saw her father coming in, helping Ethan with Ivy. Ethan's girlfriend, Gwen (A/N: I also don't have them as married either!), and her mother followed close behind. Luis, Katharine and Sheridan, who was pregnant again, sat with the other Lopez-Fitzgeralds in the front. Beth and Hank (who still had not asked her out) sat together close to Theresa and Kay. Fr. Lonigan began Mass. A strange event followed at Communion time. When Grace and Charity went up to receive, they were unable to approach Fr. Lonigan. The blind priest was able to tell that something was wrong, and moved Grace and Charity off to the side for a later time. After the line finished, Fr. Lonigan tried again but to no avail.
As Kay left the Church, she went to look for Fr. Lonigan, to book her wedding date. Fr. Lonigan felt the woman's approach and held out his hand to her. "Hello, Kay," the priest said. "Hello, Fr. Lonigan, how are you today? I was wondering when would be a good time to book a wedding date?"
"A wedding date? For whom?"
"For Vincent and me. He proposed last Saturday," Kay said. "Before or after--?"
"Before," Kay said, knowing what Father Lonigan was going to ask. "Before we talk about your wedding, we need to talk about something else. Your mother and cousin," Fr. Lonigan said. "What about them?"
"They are evil."
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me, evil. They are changing. It is up to you to stop them," Fr. Lonigan said. "Me? Everyone thought I was the one who was evil, remember?" Kay said. "That was part of Grace and Charity's plan. Push you over the edge to be evil. You must save Miguel, he is but a pawn in her game. He is making a terrible mistake. I've been trying to council him against this wedding, but he is sticking to it. I can't even postpone it either! Try and stop it! You have until December."
"But it's September!" Kay said. "Try, try and try some more!" Fr. Lonigan said. "And don't forget to pray." He turned to leave and said, "If you want to book a date for a wedding you can see me tomorrow."
Later, Kay repeated her conversation with Fr. Lonigan to her father, fiancé, sister and her sister's boyfriend. "Grace and Charity had a plan?" Jessica repeated. "Yes, but I don't know what that plan was," Kay said. "I do, why do you think I was trying to get rid of the Standishes?" Tabitha said, coming in. "Tabitha, I thought you thought Mom and Charity were good."
"No, no. I knew what those two were ever since Chief Bennett here brought home his lovely new wife. She was so kind and good, I almost didn't recognize her as a Standish. She only had amnesia for one year. I recognized her as a Standish once the amnesia wore off. She knew exactly who she was, where she came from, and what she had to do. The Standishes are their own group of powerful witches and wizards, who want to rule the world. Now, my old friends just wanted to cause pain and misery to you all. The Standishes wanted to kill everyone who stood in their way. That's why I killed Faith, hoping to stop her and Grace from meeting when predestined to thwart the Standishes' chances. I forgot about the brat, Charity. She took one look at Miguel and knew how to get her way. She saw you and she and Grace concocted a way to put all the evil blame on you, when Charity started to date Miguel. She has another, already chosen mate you know that? As did Grace," Tabitha explained. "David?" Sam asked. "David."
"But David was hired by Ivy to break up Mom and Dad," Kay said. "Oops," she said when she realized what she said. Sam didn't look too happy.
"That's what Ivy thinks. She doesn't realize she is a pawn in this too. David and Grace manipulated Ivy's love for Sam to bring the two lovers back together. John is a harmless by stander, he even isn't their son. They haven't had any children yet. Ivy has to be released from her prison as well," Tabitha explained. "Somehow, we also need to save John, before he becomes Charity's unknowing mate as well."
"What about Miguel?" Kay said, worried for her best friend. "Miguel, Miguel. He is just a pawn, to turn you evil. He is going to be dropped as soon as he and Charity are married. She really does need to have sex with him to restore her powers. I wasn't lying about that part."
"She won't kill him, will she?" Kay asked. "If need be," Tabitha said. "We must stop Miguel and Charity's wedding!" Jessica said. "It can't go on."
"I don't know how to stop it!" Kay said. For once in her life, Kay Bennett was without a plan. "Don't worry Kay, we will figure it out," Vincent said, pulling her onto his knee. "I think I can do some research on my—" Reese began. "Reese, no. I don't think that your palm pilot will help this time. Sorry," Jessica said. "Yes, Ross," Tabitha said. "REESE! Can't you get the name right?" Reese said. "Sorry, Reese, I'll try to remember that now that you aren't trying to get me burnt at the stake." Reese turned pink at that and mumbled an apology. "No time for that! We have to save the world!" Kay said. "As soon as we come back from New York City," Vincent said. "New York City! Why are you going there now?!" Tabitha asked. "Pearl's wedding. I am the maid of honor," Kay said. "We have to go. She is family," Jessica said. "Besides, it will be a better wedding then the next one we attend," Sam said, referring to Charity and Miguel's doomed nuptials. "Well, then, we plan when you get back!" Tabitha said. "We will stop Grace and Charity before they have a chance to unleash the unknown Standish horrors on the world!"
A/N: Okay, how is everyone liking this story? I know it seems that I am getting off track, but doing worry, this does tie in with the whole theme. Tell me if you like how I'm going, please? Okay, next chapter: Two weddings are planned, one will end in disaster and jeopardize one relationship. Stay tuned!