DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters created by Alexander Key and
owned by Walt Disney Pictures. This is fan fiction, and not endorsed by
Mr. Key, his estate, or Walt Disney. No copyright infringement is
intended, and no money is being made from this story. It is based on plot
elements used in both the book Escape to Witch Mountain as well as the
movie of the same name, although the book and the movie differ extensively.
Please direct all queries, comments, etc. to kevinpkhaynes@yahoo.com. It
is my sincere desire that you enjoy the story as the pure entertainment it
was intended to be.
LIFE ON WITCH MOUNTAIN
By Kevin Haynes
CHAPTER 14
Tia hadn't been this busy in her life. Eric seemed to never quit moving, and he usually needed Tia with him. She made calls, arranged appointments, set up interviews with the press, and accompanied him to official events. When she wasn't with him, she was busy doing the research he had asked for. She was amazed at the amount of information available about the so-called "alien threat" of the late 1960's (when her people actually did arrive) and the early 1970's. Most of it was without proof, and some of it she was actually able to cross-reference with top-secret government information about test flights and experiments.
Despite her inner assurance that things would turn out well, she carried several concerns. The first was her report to Eric. She had been given one month to accumulate all of the information he requested. Between her efforts, Kurt's research, and special sources from Uncle Bené, she had enough information to fill a 20-page report easily. The problem was that most of it pointed to some kind of phenomenon in North Carolina near Witch Mountain. She even found the news article where she let the bear out of the cage at Sheriff Purdy's jail. That was fun to see, but also troubling. It didn't mention her name, and the only picture was of the empty cage, but it was still a potential problem. She didn't want to lie to Eric, and yet she couldn't tell him the truth.
That led to the second concern. Tia found that she had developed real feelings for Eric. When he escorted her to official functions, it always felt like a date. They had never talked intimately, never held hands or kissed, but the feelings were there. She knew she had them, and she could also sense the feelings of others, so she knew for a fact how Eric felt about her. But what should she do?
During her years at New Home, she had heard her fellow Homedwellers debate the pros and cons of marrying humans. It was always a tricky topic, and while they never argued - disagreements among her people never got personal - there was no consensus. If she were to marry a human, for example, first she would have to tell him that she is from a different planet. That would cause him to wonder if they could have children, and what those children would be like And, of course, she would outlive him by many years, since her people have longer life spans. No Homedweller that she had known had married a human, and the genetic complications of a human and a Homedweller bearing children were completely unknown.
Having feelings for Eric would complicate everything. Part of being on assignment, by its very nature, meant deceiving the humans you worked with. If she really cared for Eric, she wouldn't deceive him. And yet, what could she do - walk up to him and say, "Boss, I'm in love with you, but I'm from another planet and I don't want you to harm my people?"
At least the last concern, which was working with Kurt, had been resolved. They had had a wonderful dinner together her first week at work, and had talked late into the night. He had nothing but respect for Tia and Tony and great memories of the time they spent with her. He even admitted that he'd had a crush on her for a long time, until he really thought about the spaceship and the abilities she possessed. That caused him to realize that, whatever Tia was (because she obviously wasn't human), it would probably never work.
He did ask a little bit about what she was, and Tia answered him honestly. She didn't tell him everything, but she did talk about her people and why she was in Washington. Kurt was supportive and said he would be happy to help her. He also talked glowingly about Eric and the work he had done during his first term. It made Tia admire Eric all the more, but she still wasn't sure how good that was.
She had talked with Tony a little bit about the situation, and he supported her. He knew her well enough to know that her heart was rarely wrong. Tony would never have adopted a cat, but Winky turned out to be a real asset. He would have left the bear in the cage, and yet it had helped them get away from Mr. Deranian. He would have stayed at Mr. Bolt's for a while longer, and they would have ended up prisoners for good - it was Tia's instincts that got them out. So if she felt in her heart that Eric was right for her, he wouldn't stand in her way. It left some questions unanswered, but that had never stopped Tia from being right!
All of this was going through Tia's head when there was a knock at her door. The door was open, so she looked to see who it was. Eric stood there, almost tentative. He had never knocked before if the door was open, but had come right in. Tia could sense something different in him. She greeted him, "Hi, Eric. Come on in."
He did, and he sat down in a chair facing her desk. "Tia, I have been invited to dine with the President and his wife tomorrow night. It will be a very formal dinner at the White House. I was told I could bring a guest, and . well, I'd like you to join me."
Tia's heart skipped several beats, and she tried to think of how to respond. "Well, Eric . if you need me to be there, you know I will go. I would love to meet the President! Do you need me to take any notes or bring anything?"
Eric smiled a little, and looked away for a second. Then he looked her in the eyes and said, "No, Tia. Not at all. You're not going as my assistant - I'm asking you out on a date." His eyes sparkled as he said it.
Tia probably looked as incredulous as she felt. She didn't know why she was surprised, since she had already sensed how Eric felt about her. Perhaps it was actually hearing it that shocked her. "A date? Really? Wow. Um . Eric, I don't want to say no . in fact, I really want to say yes. But, I'm your assistant. I work with you. Shouldn't we talk about this?"
He stood and said, "Yes, we should. We really need to. But first, would you accompany me? If the date goes well, and we have fun, then we should talk afterward. If it doesn't go well, and you absolutely hate me afterward, then we won't have anything to talk about, will we?" He was grinning, and Tia couldn't help laughing.
"I guess you're right. What time will you pick me up, Prince Eric?" Now her eyes sparkled.
He bowed slight, and, putting on his very best British accent, he said, "Milady, my coach will arrive at exactly half past six." And he walked out the door toward his office.
She sat back in her chair, and almost yelled telepathically into her watch. "Uncle Bené! Help me!" She didn't expect a response - it was more of a desire to talk to someone about this. Suddenly Eric peeked around the corner and said, "Did you say something?"
Tia looked flustered. She tried to think - had she said anything audibly? She didn't think she had. So she said, "No. What did you hear?"
He frowned and said, "I'm not sure. Must be my hearing - I guess my checkup is overdue! See you later."
Now what was that all about? Tia wondered.
LIFE ON WITCH MOUNTAIN
By Kevin Haynes
CHAPTER 14
Tia hadn't been this busy in her life. Eric seemed to never quit moving, and he usually needed Tia with him. She made calls, arranged appointments, set up interviews with the press, and accompanied him to official events. When she wasn't with him, she was busy doing the research he had asked for. She was amazed at the amount of information available about the so-called "alien threat" of the late 1960's (when her people actually did arrive) and the early 1970's. Most of it was without proof, and some of it she was actually able to cross-reference with top-secret government information about test flights and experiments.
Despite her inner assurance that things would turn out well, she carried several concerns. The first was her report to Eric. She had been given one month to accumulate all of the information he requested. Between her efforts, Kurt's research, and special sources from Uncle Bené, she had enough information to fill a 20-page report easily. The problem was that most of it pointed to some kind of phenomenon in North Carolina near Witch Mountain. She even found the news article where she let the bear out of the cage at Sheriff Purdy's jail. That was fun to see, but also troubling. It didn't mention her name, and the only picture was of the empty cage, but it was still a potential problem. She didn't want to lie to Eric, and yet she couldn't tell him the truth.
That led to the second concern. Tia found that she had developed real feelings for Eric. When he escorted her to official functions, it always felt like a date. They had never talked intimately, never held hands or kissed, but the feelings were there. She knew she had them, and she could also sense the feelings of others, so she knew for a fact how Eric felt about her. But what should she do?
During her years at New Home, she had heard her fellow Homedwellers debate the pros and cons of marrying humans. It was always a tricky topic, and while they never argued - disagreements among her people never got personal - there was no consensus. If she were to marry a human, for example, first she would have to tell him that she is from a different planet. That would cause him to wonder if they could have children, and what those children would be like And, of course, she would outlive him by many years, since her people have longer life spans. No Homedweller that she had known had married a human, and the genetic complications of a human and a Homedweller bearing children were completely unknown.
Having feelings for Eric would complicate everything. Part of being on assignment, by its very nature, meant deceiving the humans you worked with. If she really cared for Eric, she wouldn't deceive him. And yet, what could she do - walk up to him and say, "Boss, I'm in love with you, but I'm from another planet and I don't want you to harm my people?"
At least the last concern, which was working with Kurt, had been resolved. They had had a wonderful dinner together her first week at work, and had talked late into the night. He had nothing but respect for Tia and Tony and great memories of the time they spent with her. He even admitted that he'd had a crush on her for a long time, until he really thought about the spaceship and the abilities she possessed. That caused him to realize that, whatever Tia was (because she obviously wasn't human), it would probably never work.
He did ask a little bit about what she was, and Tia answered him honestly. She didn't tell him everything, but she did talk about her people and why she was in Washington. Kurt was supportive and said he would be happy to help her. He also talked glowingly about Eric and the work he had done during his first term. It made Tia admire Eric all the more, but she still wasn't sure how good that was.
She had talked with Tony a little bit about the situation, and he supported her. He knew her well enough to know that her heart was rarely wrong. Tony would never have adopted a cat, but Winky turned out to be a real asset. He would have left the bear in the cage, and yet it had helped them get away from Mr. Deranian. He would have stayed at Mr. Bolt's for a while longer, and they would have ended up prisoners for good - it was Tia's instincts that got them out. So if she felt in her heart that Eric was right for her, he wouldn't stand in her way. It left some questions unanswered, but that had never stopped Tia from being right!
All of this was going through Tia's head when there was a knock at her door. The door was open, so she looked to see who it was. Eric stood there, almost tentative. He had never knocked before if the door was open, but had come right in. Tia could sense something different in him. She greeted him, "Hi, Eric. Come on in."
He did, and he sat down in a chair facing her desk. "Tia, I have been invited to dine with the President and his wife tomorrow night. It will be a very formal dinner at the White House. I was told I could bring a guest, and . well, I'd like you to join me."
Tia's heart skipped several beats, and she tried to think of how to respond. "Well, Eric . if you need me to be there, you know I will go. I would love to meet the President! Do you need me to take any notes or bring anything?"
Eric smiled a little, and looked away for a second. Then he looked her in the eyes and said, "No, Tia. Not at all. You're not going as my assistant - I'm asking you out on a date." His eyes sparkled as he said it.
Tia probably looked as incredulous as she felt. She didn't know why she was surprised, since she had already sensed how Eric felt about her. Perhaps it was actually hearing it that shocked her. "A date? Really? Wow. Um . Eric, I don't want to say no . in fact, I really want to say yes. But, I'm your assistant. I work with you. Shouldn't we talk about this?"
He stood and said, "Yes, we should. We really need to. But first, would you accompany me? If the date goes well, and we have fun, then we should talk afterward. If it doesn't go well, and you absolutely hate me afterward, then we won't have anything to talk about, will we?" He was grinning, and Tia couldn't help laughing.
"I guess you're right. What time will you pick me up, Prince Eric?" Now her eyes sparkled.
He bowed slight, and, putting on his very best British accent, he said, "Milady, my coach will arrive at exactly half past six." And he walked out the door toward his office.
She sat back in her chair, and almost yelled telepathically into her watch. "Uncle Bené! Help me!" She didn't expect a response - it was more of a desire to talk to someone about this. Suddenly Eric peeked around the corner and said, "Did you say something?"
Tia looked flustered. She tried to think - had she said anything audibly? She didn't think she had. So she said, "No. What did you hear?"
He frowned and said, "I'm not sure. Must be my hearing - I guess my checkup is overdue! See you later."
Now what was that all about? Tia wondered.