Chapter 38

"Mark!"

"David, Jesus Christ… you aren't aging like the rest of us." Besides his head was shaved, but other than that… Mark was a tinge jealous. He kept plucking out whites and grays. Screw Dave, the 'normie' as Melina had called him. "Fuck all, man." He grunted when the shorter but wider man lifted him off the ground in a literal back cracking hug. "What is that woman feeding you?"

"Was a vegan diet, I cut that shit quick." David liked to eat healthily, but vegan… no. That meant no eggs, no milk products… nothing that had anything to do with animals. Nuh-uh, he was glad she was out of that phase.

"Alright everyone, drop your shit, drop a load in the toilet if you need to and get your asses downstairs to the back patio!" Melina ordered, grinning from ear to ear and hooked her arm through Brooklynn's, guiding her downstairs.

"Oh my god! Did she really just say that?!"

"Yes I did, sweet cheeks!"

Claira groaned, looking up at her very amused boyfriend and felt her cheeks reddening. Maybe bringing him along HADN'T been a great idea.

"Hey boy, you better mind your P's and Q's in my house or you'll be strung up by your ball sack. That's directly from my wife, not me." David clapped Seth on the back somewhat harshly and heard Mark chuckle, both following the women to the back patio.

Seth swallowed hard.

"Not that I'll be the one stringing you up sweetheart, David will." Melina chuckled, seeing the look on Seth's face and shook her head. "We're only teasing. Claira, if you're the one who does anything naughty, we're getting a hot poker and-"

"WHOA!" Mark bellowed; it was time to end this trainway of crazy. His eyes narrowed in on Mickie James literally running to them. "Shit." He caught her when she jumped on him. "What the actual fuck?"

"HA! I don't get sick anymore!" She shrieked, planting a loud smacking kiss on him before hopping down.

"It's about damn time you got here."

Beth was next, smiling tearfully at Brooklynn and pulled her into her arms, hugging her tightly. Brooklynn had named her daughter partially after her, which had been quite the honor. She was one of 10 godparents to the little girl…who wasn't so little anymore.

"It's been far too long."

"It has." Brooklynn didn't think she would get emotional from seeing everyone again and blinked at the sight of Mickie actually planting a whopper on her husband. She laughed at the bewildered expression on his face and leaned against Beth, feeling the heavy burden on her heart lift a little.

"I want you to meet my husband, Adam Copeland. Adam, this is Brooklynn Calaway." Beth grinned, finally able to announce her with Mark's last name. "One of my best friends on the planet."

"It's nice to meet you, Brooklynn." Adam shook her hand with a smile, wrapping his arm around Beth's shoulders and kissed the top of her head. "I've heard nothing but great things about you and your family."

"Don't lie to her."

"Shut up, Deadman!" Mickie laughed, bouncing over to wrap an arm around Brooklynn before dancing around to pinch Claira's cheeks. "You are…" She frowned, cocking an eyebrow. "Huh." She was Bound, had they told her that? They might've. She did know she wasn't supposed to talk shop around Seth however.

Claira was in hell. She didn't remember half these people and tightened her hold on Seth's hand.

The celebration was underway as far as their marriage went with everyone reconciling, talking and carrying on. The sun was just beginning to set on the horizon when Brooklynn decided now was the time to talk to the circle about what they were facing. "Claira, why don't you and Seth go in the house and relax, hmm?"

Brooklynn could tell her daughter was very uncomfortable being around all these people and they had business to talk about. Supernatural business Seth couldn't be part of. David and Adam were already aware of the supernatural part, but they also didn't care to hear it, so they walked inside with the kids, cake in hand. Brooklynn waited until the sliding screen door shut before turning to face their dear friends and the circle.

"Alright, out with it Brooklynn, what's going on?"

For the next hour, Brooklynn explained to everyone about the dreams she'd been having of Julia, the warnings, all of it…except Taker being back. She made him a promise, even if he wasn't happy with her right now and she would not break it. Hopefully, he was completely dormant to where nobody here could sense his presence. Honestly, that was the least of her worries right now with this darkness looming over them, this threat, and her daughter being the key to it all.

He was completely dormant. Anything said this week, Taker wouldn't know a thing about until he eventually woke up. He wasn't risking any of them finding out about him because Mickie and Mark would probably work together to find a way to be rid of him forever.

"Are you 100% certain that Claira is the key to this?" Mickie asked gently. "We've been tricked before, Brook." She wanted to be certain because, if Claira was the key, then they were going to have to sort out what the hell that meant and Claira may not like or even help.

"I don't know. I mean…the dream was warm and full of light. And Julia told me there are ways for the dead that crossover to contact their loved ones through their subconscious." Brooklynn explained, folding her hands in her lap and lowered her eyes, letting out a shuddering breath. "I just don't see why the darkness or whatever this is would trick me by telling me what they directly want."

"Well, there is ONE way to find out and determine if this dream is real or an illusion."

"Which is?"

"Let Randy touch you. He'll be able to see into your mind, your subconscious, and feel the dreams. Unless anyone else has any other ideas?"

Brooklynn was in deep shit.

"Hold up," Randy held up his hands, shaking his head. "I can't TELL if it's real just by feeling and seeing it. I'm going to experience it just like she did, and feel what she felt. That just validates her point, it doesn't validate facts." He wanted facts. "Okay, so… Claira is the target, and we heard from Trish and Steve how that played out on your trip here. You guys panicked the fuck out of that kid. What if she's just a pawn to…" He hesitated. "Look, I don't have kids, I can't, but I've seen how you all act when it comes to yours, you'd kill for them." Collective nods all around. "You panic and do crazy shit," That seemed to just be parenting in general. "Maybe make mistakes and maybe we could be making one if we just assume."

"What about a séance?" Mickie suggested, suddenly having an idea.

"You want to raise the dead?" John asked, staring at her with a frown. "YOU can't."

"Mark can," Trish said after a moment. "And John can do an automatic writing at the same time, maybe pick up anything else we may miss."

Randy just saved her ass and Brooklynn owed him, not that she could ever tell him why. "A séance to talk to Julia directly. That sounds good to me."

"One problem with that – what about Seth?"

"Very true, we can't just have a séance with that kid here, not unless he finds out magic and ghosts and monsters are real."

That was a very valid point and Brooklynn really regretted bringing Seth along for the ride now, her eyes finally looking up at Mark. She had avoided him for the better part of the day, but they couldn't fall apart, not now. They needed each other to get through this and, besides, her fight was with Taker, not Mark.

"What do you think? Do you think this is a good idea? Would you be able to summon Julia even though she crossed over?"

"Just keep in mind, you're the only one who will be able to see her, Brooklynn." Beth reminded, knowing she was worthless because all her power revolved around water.

"Not in a séance." Mickie intervened with a smile, feeling John wrap his arm around her. "We'll all be able to see her as long as we can summon her here. It's a long shot, but the only way we can tell if these dreams are legitimate or not is doing it. As far as Seth and Claira go, we can do the séance in the basement and leave them upstairs. Shouldn't be an issue as long as they stay away."

"Yes! You'll be able to see our refinished and furnished basement!"

"I can ward the basement, it'll keep them from coming down." Mark said after a moment, grinning. He'd ward it and, if anyone got to close, they'd find something else to go do.

"There we go, we got a plan." Randy felt relieved, he liked having a plan. He didn't like not having a game plan, that never ended well. "If I wind up in a coma again, someone just shoot Mark."

"No, we'll just shoot you." Brooklynn smiled, no malice in her tone and felt Mark take her hand beneath the table, her head leaning against his arm.

"Hey now! That's not very nice!"

"Husband comes first, Orton. You know that."

"My god, how weird is it to call him your husband after all this time?"

"Well, he was TECHNICALLY my husband by the state of Texas because of how long we've been together, but…it's nice to actually have his last name now."

"Has anything changed?"

This is where Brooklynn had to lie and felt her stomach twist in knots. "No, not really."

"How is that possible?" John demanded, eyeballing both of them and folded his arms in front of his chest. "There's a difference between being together and being married."

"Not to them." Glenn smiled at the married couple and raised his beer in the air. "A toast and let's just say it all together in unison…"

"BOUT FUCKING TIME!"

Brooklynn laughed along with Mark, lacing their fingers together and rolled her eyes at the catcalls and whistles when he dropped a soft kiss on her lips.

"Okay, so when do we wanna do this séance?"

"Ask the Warlock of the group."

"Witching hour of course. Mickie?"

"I don't have an Ouija board, and you're going to want one. Full moon tonight, that's good."

"This is D.C., I'll find one." Of course, Mickie didn't have an Ouija board; she wasn't the kind of mess around with the dead. Smart girl. Doors that got opened sometimes wouldn't shut, or the wrong thing came through.

"I've got silver, plenty of that." Melina volunteered, smiling when she was given a look. "I do know a thing or two, even if I can't do it."

"Why don't you and the guys go out to get what you need while we clean up? When you get back, we'll start setting things up for the séance." Brooklynn suggested, already standing along with Mickie, Melina, Trish, and Beth.

"No offense, but I'll stay and help clean."

"Same here."

"Pussies. Come on man, we got some catchin' up to do."

"I'm bringin' some beer!"

"Steven, no drinking and driving. You better let Mark or Glenn do the driving or whoever ISN'T drinking."

Steve cleared his throat, nodding. "Yes, honey."

"Goddamn, she's got you whipped!"

"Since when did you develop a sense of humor, jackass?"

"Since I fucked your momma."

John and Randy both spewed their beers out simultaneously.

"Oh, by the way, it's a full moon tonight, so we got lucky and you guys arrived in the nick of time. We should be able to contact any spirit we want with that much celestial power." Mickie explained, shaking her head at John wiping beer off his chin. "Get moving, boys."

"You're an idiot, James. You can't contact 'any spirit' you want, leave that shit to the people who actually deal in it." Mark sneered at her, his eyes flashing when she purposefully brushed her aura against his. He was sorely tempted to retaliate, but… he didn't.

"Be a good boy and run along now."

"One day, you two may actually like each other."

"Oh shush, Glenn, this is us getting along."

"Remind me again what had to break inside that brain of yours to marry him?"

"Because I love him, even if he is a smartass sometimes." Brooklynn looked down at her ring, the amethyst stone and smiled before carrying some of the dishes back into the house.

"Hell, she stuck with him for 17 years before they finally tied the knot."

"I still don't understand why he waited so long to ask you." Mickie would never understand that one, shrugging. "I guess people move at different paces."

"The bottom line is, you're married now and we're extremely happy for both of you." Beth winked, beginning to put the food away after covering it up with tinfoil. "Geez Mel, did you make enough food?"

"Considering how many people are here that I'm feeding, damn right I made a feast!"

"Will the baby be alright during the séance tonight?"

"Yeah, she'll be fine."

"Mickie can ward that womb, bank on that." John laughed, coming in when Melina shouted for muscles, flexing.

Even at his age, he was built. He had to stay in shape, they had a houseful of kids and pets. Lots of pets. Mickie loved animals. So did the kids. He was so glad to be here in D.C. and away from the zoo he called home.

"She did it for each of her pregnancies so we could-"

"You shut your mouth right now!" She was three shades of red.

"Fuck?"

"BROOKLYNN!"

"That's actually a very good idea. I wonder why Mark never did that with us while I was pregnant with Claira." She wondered aloud, shrugging at the gaping faces of her friends. "What? We have a healthy sex life and…"

"OKAY, enough talk about sex." Melina ordered, remembering now why they all stayed separated because it was chaos whenever the circle got together. Not to mention, she hadn't had sex in a few weeks due to morning sickness, which was just about…she flew out of the kitchen and barely made it to the downstairs bathroom, emptying the contents of her stomach.

"Where are her kids anyway?"

"At their grandparents for the week. She figured it'd be best if they weren't here during the magic stuff since they don't know about it."

"Gotcha."

"Oh, that is… Melly, hold on…" Mickie went chasing after her.

Why the hell was she suffering when they had magic? It couldn't necessarily take away everything, but it sure as hell could make it bearable. There was no way she would have even considered getting pregnant again without the aid of magic.

"What the hell…" Beth watched as Mickie ran after the preggo, shaking her head. Her power was fairly useless unless there was water involved. She was actually… fairly normal and had married a normal man.