He knew there was something there. He wasn't stupid.

Caleb knew that there was something between Aria and Kieran. For one, Kieran couldn't keep his eyes off her. And two, Aria didn't look at Kieran at all. Which was exactly how she'd treated Caleb at first.

And now.

He couldn't blame her. He was ornery as hell right now. As he'd stated, he wasn't stupid. There was a part of him that knew he was in denial about how much he used his powers. She was right; his face in the mirror told him he was using and aging because of it. But there was a larger part of him that overruled that first part of him every time he said he wasn't going to use.

And now that he had been clued into the whole story and that it was a curse, he didn't feel any happier about it. Because, again he wasn't stupid. He had already figured out that more than likely, Branwen would need to die to reverse it. That part of him that was power hungry dreamed of the ability to use his powers without consequence. But a surprisingly large part of himself cared about Branwen. She was his friend. And the best friend to the girl he loved. And the love of his own best friend.

So why was it that he could care about Branwen enough to not want to sacrifice her for his own means but that his love for Aria couldn't bring him to overcome his power addiction… not that he was saying that was what it was… or was he?

"How was everyone's day?" Catherine asked, startling Caleb out of his inner thoughts and back to the very silent dinner table.

Why she insisted on them eating together every night was beyond him. She couldn't miss that barely any of them were talking to each other. And yet here they were, together at the table, not saying anything while she tried to force cordial conversation.

"I heard you took a walk down by the lake, Aria?"

All heads turned to Aria, who almost dropped her fork and she stared at Kieran, who was for once not looking at her, before turning and giving Catherine a very awkward smile. "Yes it was scenic but rather cold."

Caleb knew her well enough to know there was a second meaning to her words but Catherine didn't seem to notice. "Well there are plenty of winter supplies in the mud room if anyone needs them. Feel free to use what you need. I know you all didn't pack much."

That was an understatement if he ever heard one.

"There are also snowmobiles out in the shed if you would like to tour the area. It may be snow covered but there are still many things to see. I'm sure Kieran would love to highlight some trails for you to explore, wouldn't you dear?"

The look on Kieran's face said he'd rather suffer hypothermia but he just gave her a tight smile and nodded. "Of course."

Caleb didn't understand what was going on there but every now and then he found himself intrigued by the weird power struggle he sensed between their host and her companion.

"And how about the rest of you?" Catherine asked, looking in turn at Nathan, Pogue and Caleb. "Have you braved the outside environment yet?"

"Actually," Nathan said, "I've been in the study. You have a lot of very interesting tomes in there." Catherine raised her brow, smiling at him, but waited for Nathan to continue. "You're a witch, obviously. We're not stupid. Why else would you be involving yourself? But you must know how dangerous it is to mess with the head coven. They could lash out at you and your whole coven. Why would you bring this upon yourself? What's in it for you?"

Caleb wasn't surprised that after that question, almost every pair of eyes were on Catherine, waiting for her response. He was surprised, however, that the only person who wasn't staring at her was Aria. She had to know something more than the rest of them.

Is that why she felt safe leaving the house? Caleb had to admit that there was a part of him that feared if he left and lost sight of the house, he'd either get lost and never find it again or he'd come back and the whole house itself would be gone. Who knew what kind of magic these people had and what they could do with it. As he recently discovered, there is a whole world of magic out there he never knew existed.

He didn't know why the others weren't leaving the house but he could guess Pogue wasn't getting too far away from Branwen.

Just as Catherine went to speak, a loud beeping went off and everyone looked around before settling on Catherine again. She looked at Kieran and they both looked up as there was a bang at the top of the stairs. They all got up and crept over to the living room to see what would appear except for Kieran. He ran to the bottom and the steps and went go up them just as a very pale and unbalanced Branwen appeared at the top of them.

She stared down at them all for a second before it appeared her knee gave out and she pitched forward. Aria screamed and Caleb was just about to use to stop her from hitting half way down. But then Kieran caught her shoulders and scooped her up before grabbing the railing to catch them both.

They all just stood there in mid motion for a minute. The trance was broken when Branwen, voice crackly from nonuse, said, "Kieran, please put me down."

Kieran walked down the stairs still holding her and set her down in a chair in the living room. Oddly enough, she didn't take her eyes off Kieran the whole time, despite the other people in the room around her. Not even Aria and Pogue got a glance.

When Kieran stepped back a couple feet she leaned back in the chair and eyed him up and down. "It's been you, checking on me in my room, hasn't it?"

He stayed stonily still before giving a firm nod.

"I could sense the person didn't want to be there."

This time he flinched. But as Aria was no longer able to hold herself back, she ran over to Branwen and Kieran retreated back behind them all to stand by Catherine.

"I'm so glad you're okay." Aria said, hugging her best friend gingerly. "Are you okay?"

Breaking her own stony demeanor for her best friend, Branwen gave Aria a smile. "Still a little weak. Nothing too bad."

"You're not just saying that to make us all feel better?"

Shaking her head, Branwen moved over and motioned for Aria to sit down in the chair beside her. "I've been aware of a lot of what was going on around me for a bit now. I could feel some of the feeling coming back into my body but wasn't able to really express it. But I heard you sometimes when you came to see me." She paused and looked down at her lap. "Some of you."

Caleb was surprised she would just come out and say it in front of everyone. He also hadn't missed that, despite not going too far, Pogue hadn't gone in to see or sit with Branwen after the first time they saw her. Everyone else turned to look at Pogue but Branwen continued on and the attention moved back to her. Especially when she gave Caleb and Pogue the shock of their lives.

"I'm glad to see you," she said to Aria, "But maybe we should deal with the elephant in the room." She turned to look at Catherine and Caleb had thought she was about to ask the same questions Nathan had been asking before she'd descended upon them. Instead, however, her face went stonily cold. "Or should I say the cat?" Aria got up and moved around behind the chair. Her, Kieran and Catherine were the only ones not surprised when Branwen said, "Hello Grandmother."

Caleb almost choked on his tongue. This whole time they had been in the house of Branwen's grandmother. And Aria had known. Of course she'd known. She must have met the woman, right? Like a long time ago. Before she… went missing. He turned and looked at the woman in question but her face was just as unreadable, though not as cold and mildly hostile, as Branwen's.

He realized now, paying more scrutiny to her appearance, that they did have similarities. Both in build and even attitude. Things that were easier to notice when comparing them in person. And yes, they even kind of looked similar.

And then he noticed the eyes. Slightly slanted, rimmed in dark long lashes, with the same icy blue, almost white, colour. They had the exact same eyes. It should have been obvious but they'd all been so distracted. They'd all been stupid.

Stupid. He should have known she would know. He should have gone to see her. But he'd watched Aria in there, talking to her and holding her hand. He hadn't known what to say. He'd promised her a plan and he still didn't have one. How did one beat a whole coven of witches? One that seemingly ran the world of witches. Pogue certainly didn't know.

But he still should have gone in and held her hand, right? Let her know he was there and that he cared. But he'd told himself that despite loving her, and despite what all had happened since, he'd told her they couldn't be together until she learned to let him in and make his own decisions. And if he didn't stand by that, wasn't he just letting her walk all over him and setting himself up for more disappointment and heartache? Or was he just being stupid?

He felt really stupid when she dropped the grandmother bomb on them. Stupid and angry. Stupid because he should have known. He should have been paying better attention. Angry because if Catherine had kept that from them, then she was up to something and he was back to feeling like a pawn in someone else's game. He was trying to take an active role in their problems and the last thing he was going to do was sit back and take it from yet another member of this all powerful coven who was just out to manipulate and control all their lives.

But really, what could he do? Growing up as a son of Ipswich, despite knowing they had to be responsible with their powers, there had still been a feeling of god-like power. They'd been able to do something nobody else could. They were special. Now to find out that yes, they were still special, but for all the wrong reasons. They were outcasts. Still powerful, yes, but now the upper hand was gone. How was he supposed to make a plan and help with the problem when he was essentially powerless now?

"Hello Branwen." Catherine replied. "Interesting how when you say grandmother it sounds so disrespectful."

Watching them was stressful all in itself. He was used to the way Branwen held herself like a statue. She was cold and still and elegant in the scariest of ways. Catherine was also still and elegant but it was her tight smile and seemingly effortless charm that made her seem dangerous. You could feel the war of wills going on between them.

"Apologies. Obviously you have done a lot for my friends while I have been indisposed. However, I can't help but find it curious that after years of letting people think you dead, your own family included, that you now come forward claiming savior."

There was a little twitch at the side of Catherine's mouth like it was more effort than she thought to hold her smile. "My granddaughter was in need of help. You have gotten yourself in fairly deep trouble and I figured it was time to intervene."

Branwen nodded as if she understood and then gave a demure smile even Pogue knew was fake. "You'll forgive me if I struggle with the idea of familial obligation in our line seeing as what I have suffered at the hands of your daughter."

Slowly Catherine's smile did fade. "Your mother…"

"Is a power-hungry, control-addicted, hypocritical murderess who has convinced me by way of her actions that there isn't a maternal, let alone merciful, bone in her rigid, immovable person. I accept no relation to her. And if what you spawned and your disappearing act shows any indication of your familial or maternal capabilities, I might suggest I would be better off without you."

All shows of false kindness lost, Catherine laid a stern frown on her granddaughter. "I understand you've been through a lot, but you will not show me such disrespect in my own home, or, so help me, I will show you maternal capabilities and take you over my knee."

"You gave up that right when you left us. I would like nothing more than to leave with my friends and return to Boston, but I'm not stupid enough to think you'll let us do so. You may not have meant for them all to come but I'm sure now that we are all here your plan doesn't involve us leaving. So either let me leave or tell me what the point of all this is. Because you're right, I don't have the right to disrespect you in your house, but you don't have the right to hold me captive and if you don't give me a reason to stay in your house, I will use every last bit of power in my body to leave it."

Pogue could almost feel the battle of wills like an electrical current passing between the two of them. He was sure that Catherine had knowledge and power that could keep them here is she chose but he also knew Branwen would fight every bit of it out of pure stubborn pride if she had to.

Catherine and Branwen just stared at each other in silence for a few minutes, feeling each other out. Not one person tried to intervene. They knew better. Eventually Catherine gave a tight smile again. "Maybe we should talk in private."

"No." Branwen said flatly.

"No?" Catherine seemed genuinely surprised.

"There have been enough secrets already."

"This is a coven matter."

"You left your coven and now so have I." Branwen said. She swept a hand around the room. "We may not be a coven, exactly, but these people are my friends, my chosen family. They mean more to me than any coven ever will. They are in this with me until the day they choose to leave. If there is something to be said it will be said to all of us. If there is a problem to be fixed, we will fix it together. Take it or leave it."

Pogue couldn't help but notice that Branwen's words were a step towards the transparency and respect he had asked her for. But she still had not looked at him and he would be sure of nothing until they spoke. He could not know if this was her accepting his words or just a show of rebellion or solidarity for the sake of her grandmother.

"Fine." Catherine said. "But perhaps we should start fresh in the morning. I'm sure your fiends would like to spend some time with you and you should eat something to keep up your strength. I think I'll retire to my rooms."

Branwen narrowed her eyes but gave a firm nod and watched her grandmother leave the room before leaning back in the chair. Aria then returned to her side. "That was intense."

Smiling, Branwen laid her head on Aria's shoulder. "Yes but after all, what else do you do when you wake up from a coma other than go toe to toe with your long lost matriarch."

"The battle scared her cougar pup away." Caleb said, sitting down on the couch beside them.

Pogue looked behind them, just noticing that Kieran was no longer there. He hadn't noticed him leave and wondered when, exactly, it had gotten too hot in the room for him.

Branwen actually laughed a little. "I'm glad to see you up and walking, if a little worse for the wear."

"Right back at you." Caleb replied.

Pogue didn't know when they had become so chummy. It was odd that he and Branwen were on the outs and Caleb and Aria were too, but Branwen and Caleb were somehow closer after all the drama.

"And he isn't her cub." Branwen said a little bitterly. "My guess is that he is her minion. Kieran is a soldier type. Not one for personal relationships or friends but great at taking orders."

"He's friends with Nathan." Aria said, looking at the man in question.

Branwen looked at Nathan a little surprised. "I didn't know you two still spoke."

"We don't, really. But I've seen him a couple times over the years. He got his punishment. I didn't see the point in hanging on to old feuds."

"Maybe because it wasn't yours to carry." Branwen said quietly. "You have no right to forgive something that had nothing to do with you."

"Branwen, is that really something you want to keep carrying around? He didn't understand. And he tried to make it right."

"If it weren't for him my father might be alive right now."

"That could be said for more than one person in this room."

Pogue, feeling like a ping pong ball, froze at Nathan's comment. It wasn't as if he hadn't thought it himself but it still felt uncomfortable to hear it said.

"Someone please tell me what is going on." Aria said, crossing her arms.

When Branwen didn't say anything, just continued glaring at Nathan, he offered an explanation. "When Branwen's dad was convicted, it was Kieran who brought him in. Kieran was a bounty hunter. When he realized what was going on, he tried to help him escape again, but they were caught. Branwen's father was killed. And Kieran…" Nathan looked at Branwen again before looking back to Aria. "Kieran had his powers stripped."

Kieran had his powers stripped. They had taken away his powers. How was that possible, Pogue wondered. If it was possible, why hadn't they done it to his coven? Was it possible to do that now? Would it save Caleb?

Aria looked as confused as Pogue. "But… how?"

"It doesn't change that he's a magical being. With a strong enough talisman or witch to help, he could still channel magic, but he can never have any of his own again. He was stripped of all active magic. It's just another spell the coven uses for those who abuse their magic or break the laws."

"Why didn't they do that to our ancestors?" Caleb asked, speaking Pogue's mind.

"They had already bastardized their own magic." Nathan replied. "They had turned it into something darker. Stripping them of their powers wouldn't have worked."

Well, there went that hope out the window.

"Fact remains," Branwen said, drawing the conversation back to the start, "How I decide to deal with the issues between Kieran and I are my own business. But I am tired and worn out and I really just want to eat something and hear about how we got here. So can we do that?"

Conceding, Nathan nodded. "We will go find you a plate and bring it out to you." Glancing at Pogue, Nathan turned back to Branwen. "Maybe Aria and Caleb can help me."

It was a poorly presented set up and everyone in the room knew exactly what it was. Pogue didn't know if he was grateful or not but as the three of them left him alone with Branwen, he didn't have the time to worry about it.

When they were alone, Pogue slowly turned and looked at her. It was clear she was still not feeling great but considering he had worried she might never wake up, seeing her alive and recovering was more than he could ask for.

Shuffling his feet awkwardly, Pogue moved forward to sit on the edge of the coffee table in front of her. "How are you?" he asked, then kicked himself. "Sorry, that's a stupid question."

She shook her head. "It's not stupid. I know what you mean." She looked down at her hands folded in her lap before looking up again. "Like I said, I'm tired. I'm worn and not up to speed yet. Also a little perplexed by the Catherine situation. I don't even want to think about how I feel about the Kieran situation. And then there's my mother trying to kill me, the woman who has been like a grandmother to me dying and now knowing I'm not actually marrying her grandson. That doesn't even start on our situation."

Yeah, here he was stressing out about where their relationship was going and she had all that still to think about. "You don't have to worry about that. We have bigger things to deal with."

"Bigger things than our relationship being a catalyst for either change or disaster for the whole world of witches?" She smiled at him which made the truth of her words a little less daunting. She shook her head and looked down at her hands again. "I head what you said that day, Pogue. I understand why you asked. I just don't know how to be that person. I've grown up being told I would one day be the head of the coven. It's my instinct to protect people. I don't know how to let go of the fear that if I don't protect them then no one will."

"Branwen, you have been in a coma for days. We made out okay."

She rolled her eyes at his pitiful attempt at a joke before laying some hard truth on him. "Had I not used my powers to protect you in that crash, you might be dead right now."

He couldn't argue that. The nurses, doctor and Nathan had all said as much. "I think the difference is that neither of us had much of a choice in that. Live or die in the moment is not something to consult about. The problem I have is when you override my right to choose. When you could let me make my own choice but instead make it for me."

Branwen nodded. "I know what you mean but my problem is I don't always see the difference. When I care about someone, saving them is saving them. As long as they are safe, I don't care how they got there."

Pogue understood what she was saying and was glad that this time she was at least talking to him about it. But it still held them at a bit of an impasse. Reaching out, he took one of her hands. Feeling the tingling where their skin touched only reminded him that there was also the question of his coven's curse between them. Did he really want to ask that question? Didn't she have enough on her plate?

"So I hope you're hungry." Aria said and she walked into the room. "Because having three people fill the plate may have backfired.

Pogue let go of Branwen's hand and stepped away so Aria could return to her place. But he felt Branwen's eyes linger on him for a few seconds. When he made it to the other side of the room and turned around their eyes met for a second before her attention was turned back to Aria.

Why did it all have to be so complicated, so frustrating, so stupid?

A/N: Hey guys! Sorry this update has taken so long. I've been struggling with some writers block. Not just on this story but in all my writing. Hopefully you like this chapter and will comment with your thoughts!