a/n Sorry, sorry, I meant to upload much sooner than this. Because I made y'all wait, here's two chapters for you. Thank you so much to Heather and Emerald0319 for reviewing - it makes my day.

The Matchmakers

Chapter Six: Toil and Trouble

Lennox Residence

Kay looked at Miguel's profile in the gloom of the car's interior as they pulled into the driveway.

"I had a good time, Miguel." She murmured softly, then winced as he shot her an irritated look.

"No, you didn't, Kay. You barely touched your dinner, you didn't want to talk, and you move away every time I try to touch you. What is going on? I thought you wanted to be with me! I know you're still upset about Fox finding us together and breaking things off with you, but it was for the best. Now we can be together without guilt, without sneaking around. I thought that's what you wanted. Was I wrong?"

"No, Miguel! I do want to be with you." Kay's eyes sparkled with unshed tears. "It's just that...I just feel so bad. Fox hates me. He won't talk to me, he won't even look at me. I ruined everything, and I hurt him so badly."

"So what, Kay?" Miguel's voice was growing impatient. "It's not like I feel good about it, but it happened, and being miserable over it won't change anything. It's been months. At some point, you're going to have to move on." He got out of the car, slamming the door.

Sighing, Kay climbed out after him. Miguel was standing in the driveway, his back towards her, tense, staring at the house. Walking over to him, she put her hand on his shoulder.

"Miguel..." She started to say.

"Shhh!" Miguel looked at her, and Kay saw that all annoyance had fled, to be replaced with an apprehensive expression. "Kay, look!" He pointed at the house. "What the hell is going on in there?"

Kay looked in the direction he was pointing and her eyes widened in shock. The entire house was lit up with an unnatural glow and every few seconds a distant explosion would rock the structure as if mini earthquakes or explosions were going on inside, and the windows would light up with alternating white or red glows, and occasional sparks. Muffled shrieks and dull thuds could be distantly heard as well. It sounded like the old house was under siege! "Oh my God!" She mumbled against her hand, which had flown to cover her mouth. "I don't know! I just-" Her mind raced. What had Tabitha and Endora gotten themselves into now? And how could she keep Miguel from finding out about it?

Miguel's face was set in a determined mask. "Kay, you stay here. I'm going to check it out. Something really weird is going on here."

"No!" Kay cried. Miguel stared at her in surprise and she struggled to cover. "Look, you can't go in there alone. Besides, I have a feeling I may be better able to deal with whatever it is then you are."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Miguel stared at her in bewilderment.

"Um, just that Tabitha can be a bit...eccentric and hard to deal with. I can manage her. Why don't you go find my dad and see if he will help?" Kay crossed her fingers that he would listen to her. If Miguel walked into the house now, who knew what he would find? He could discover the truth about Tabitha, Endora...and her. There was no way she could let that happen!

Her hopes were dashed as Miguel gave her a disbelieving look. "No way. I'm going in there, right now. I just hope Tabitha and Endora are OK."

"Me too." Kay murmured reluctantly as she followed him up the walkway, the two of them moving slowly and cautiously as the noises grew louder and the lights continued to flash out the windows. Just as they reached the door, the loudest boom of all sounded, followed by a near blinding flash of red light, nearly rocking the ancient house off its hinges. Kay and Miguel both lost their balance in the shaking that followed, crashing to the ground.

"Kay! Are you alright?" Miguel helped her to her feet. "What the hell was that? Come on! I think something terrible has happened in there!"

"I don't know, Miguel, look...it's all stopped!" Kay held up her hand for silence and they both listened hard for a moment. Complete silence reigned. The shaking was gone, as were the flashes of light. They exchanged confused looks. It was almost as if it had never happened. They stared at each other worriedly for a moment, then Miguel reached for the door.

"Miguel, I'm scared." Kay grabbed his other hand, feeling sick to her stomach. All thoughts and worry about Miguel finding out her secret had fled. It was Tabitha and Endora that she was worried about now...suddenly, she couldn't shrug off the fear that something terrible had happened to them.

Kay held her breath as Miguel pushed open Tabitha's front door, her heart pounding as she imagined the possible carnage they could find inside. Miguel was right-from the looks of it something terrible had happened in the house tonight, and knowing what she knew about Tabitha's potential enemies, she was fearing the worst.

Miguel peered through the doorway, and then back at Kay. "The hallway is empty. Everything looks normal so far, but I'm going to check it out. I want you to go to your dad's and stay there until we know what's going on here. Thank God he's watching Maria tonight-I hate the idea that she might have been here with whatever's happened."

"No, Miguel, I need to know!" Kay's eyes sparkled with unshed tears. If anything had happened to Tabby and Endora...she hadn't realized until this moment how attached she really was to the witch and her daughter. Tabitha and Endora had taken her and Maria in and been her family for the past two years. They had supported her, and helped her and been there for her, and they had to be OK...they just had to be.

Slowly the two of them stepped in the darkened hallway, then stopped.

"Tabitha? Endora?" Kay called, her voice shaking. She and Miguel froze as sudden footsteps heading their way. They tensed, ready to fight or flee as a dark figure came through the doorway, then reached up to flick on the light. The glow illuminated her standing there...Tabitha, holding a smiling but sleepy looking Endora in her arms.

"Tabitha!" Kay cried. She ran forward and threw her arms around her. "Oh thank God you're OK...I was so worried!"

"God had nothing to do with it." Tabitha mumbled under her breath, then formed a bright smile as she saw Miguel eyeing her in surprise and speculation. "Of course we're fine, dear...why wouldn't we be?"

Kay stood back, her eyes searching Tabitha's face for answers she knew the other woman couldn't provide with Miguel standing there.

"But..but...the lights, and the noise...Tabitha, Kay and I saw what was happening when we came home. The whole house was shaking like there was an earthquake, and the lights...something was going on here, Tabitha. Something dire, and I want to know what it was." Miguel folded his arms and gave Tabitha a searching look as he and Kay followed her and Endora back into the living room. Tabitha set Endora down on the couch and then turned back to them with a wary look.

"Oh...the lights! You saw them, did you?" Tabitha shuffled her feet nervously. "Well, you caught me. Endora was a little restless, so I tried to...well, entertain her a bit, you know with an...er..." Kay watched as Tabitha struggled to come up with something plausible. "A laser light show-that's it!"

Miguel looked at her in disbelief. "A laser light show? Tabitha, how dumb do you think I am? For lights like that you'd need tons of equipment-there's nothing here and there was no time for you to put it away."

"Er..." Tabitha looked at her daughter. "Help me out here, Endora, would you?" She whispered.

Discreetly, Endora pointed a finger and with a tiny puff of smoke, black speaker boxers, strobe lights, and a control board appeared behind the unsuspecting Miguel.

"Look behind you, dear." Tabitha smiled sweetly.

Miguel turned and stumbled back, tripping over one of the lights, dropping to his knees and hitting his face on the corner of a nearby table. "What...how...that wasn't here a minute ago! I would have seen it! Kay, did you see all this stuff when we came in?" He pulled himself to a kneeling position, looking around in bewilderment.

"Um..." Kay scratched her head. She didn't want to lie, but Tabitha looked so desperate. "I did, actually. You were so worried about Tabitha and Endora that you must have been too distracted to see it."

Miguel stared at them as he got to his feet, wiping off a drop of blood where he'd hit his lip. "How could I not see it? You could outfit a Vegas show with this much equipment." He looked beyond confused. "But what about the explosions, and the shaking?"

Tabitha shrugged. "Sound effects. I suppose I had it on a little loud. At my age, my hearing's not the best."

"But..but..." Miguel stammered. Before he could continue, suddenly a thumping sound had them all turning their heads. "What was that?" Miguel demanded, whirling around. The sound was followed by a muffled shriek. "Oh my God!" He continued. "Is that someone screaming?"

Kay was as startled as he was but Tabitha gave her a desperate look, shaking her head, and then turned to Miguel with a polite, yet puzzled expression. "I didn't hear anything, Miguel. Are you feeling alright?"

Kay bit her lip then matched Tabitha's expression. "I didn't hear anything either, Miguel. You do seem awfully tense. Maybe you should sit down."

"No! I mean, I could have sworn...it sounded like it was coming from the hallway closet. Maybe I should go look." Miguel started out of the room.

Tabitha's eyes widened in panic and Kay reacted quickly, grabbing Miguel by the arm. "Miguel, stop. You're insulting Tabitha. I mean, she's already explained everything and now you want to search her closet? Don't you think that's a little rude, especially after all she's done for us?"

Miguel sighed, his face softening at Kay's earnest tone. "You're right. I'm sorry, Tabitha. I guess Kay and I just scared ourselves and let our imaginations run away with us. After all, it's not you're the type to have someone tied up and gagged in your closet or anything." He touched his bleeding lip ruefully. "I'd better go clean up. I'll be right back." He hurried out of the room and up the stairs.

"Tabitha!" Kay turned on her as soon as Miguel was out of earshot.

"What?" Tabitha did her best to look innocent, which was quite a stretch for her.

"Oh, don't give me that look. You know what! Miguel may not realize it, but you are totally the type to bind and gag someone and stick them in your closet! Who is it, Tabitha? What's going on here?" Kay put her hands on her hips.

"Believe me, dear, you don't want to know. But nevertheless, I shall explain everything to you when I have the chance. For now though, I need your help. You need to get Miguel out of here, right now. I have some unfinished business to take care of."

"What? How in the world am I going to do that?" Kay demanded.

"Do what?" Miguel asked, returning to the living room with his face washed and wearing a new shirt.

Tabitha thought quickly again. "Well, Miguel...actually I need a wee bit of a favor. I was wondering if you and Kay could help me out but I don't want to impose." She adopted a sorrowful tone and batted her eyes sweetly.

"Of course we'll help you, Tabitha. What is it?" Miguel queried.

"Wonderful!" Tabitha brightened. "I need some...steak, yes, that's it. Immediately."

"Steak?" Miguel looked confused. "Now? I don't even know if there's any place open."

"Oh, there is. A butcher's shop over on Fifth and Primrose, but they will be closing soon, so I need you to go right now." Tabitha smiled ingeniously.

"Um...ok." Miguel gave Tabitha a look that said he clearly felt she was a few sandwiches short of a picnic. "Well, no need for Kay to go out in the cold again. I'll be right back."

"No, no, Kay must go with you. You'll need her help. You see, I need quite a lot of steak, about a hundred pounds of it. It's...very important. Just tell the butcher to put it on my account." Tabitha's smile widened and she crossed her fingers, knowing she sounded quite insane but hoping Miguel would be thick enough to just write it off as one of her eccentricities.

Miguel stared at her, open-mouthed. "You need a hundred pounds of steak? At ten o'clock at night?"

Kay gently stepped on his foot. "Sweetheart, she's a little odd, remember? Let's just humor her." Kay took his hand. Miguel shot Tabitha one more puzzled look, then let Kay lead him out of the house.

"Kay, I think we should seriously consider getting our own place." He whispered to her as they left.

Tabitha breathed a heavy sigh of relief once she heard the front door close behind them. "That was too close, Endora. We have to get rid of Charity immediately! Would you bring her back in here, please?"

Endora's spell finger sparked and a moment later Charity appeared on a chair in the living room, a gag in her mouth and her hands tied together, as well as her feet. Her eyes glared angrily at them as she attempted to shriek through her gag.

"Oh, hush, Charity. You lost fair and square, no need to be cross about it." Tabitha rapped her on the head and then smiled as Charity's shrieks grew even angrier.

"Now what shall we do with this do gooding brat, Endora?" Tabitha walked in a slow circle around the furiously rocking Charity. "Should we throw her to our friends in the basement?" Her smile became cruel and Endora frowned.

'Mommy, don't make me an accessory to murder before I even start kindergarten.' Endora looked at her mother reproachfully.

"Oh, they won't kill her...at first." Tabitha grinned, then sighed as Endora gave her a scolding look. "Fine, no friends in the basement. We'll find something more fitting for her." She continued to pace. "I know...we'll burn her at the stake!"

"Mommy!" Endora spoke aloud this time.

"Oh, come on, it would be so much fun, and quite fitting, considering her ancestors did the same to me. Please, Endora? Pretty please? Think of it, a nice, warm bonfire right in our living room. I'll let you roast marshmallows!" Tabitha pleaded hopefully, but Endora folded her arms, looking grim. Tabitha sighed. "Spoilsport. Alright then, but we have to get rid of her, and fast. She can't stay in Harmony. Imagine the havoc she would wreak, not only on us but on Kay. You heard her plans. If she has her way we'll be in a mystical prison and Kay will be sweeping her floors and stirring her magical cauldron."

'Maybe we can send her back to where she came from.' Endora thought.

"Right back to that annoying Order of the Light, so they can put their self righteous heads together and figure out how to come up with another way to strike out at us? I don't think so." Tabitha stopped and shook her head as she thought. Then a slow smile spread across her face. "Let's send her to Antartica. I'm sure she'll find a lovely iceberg to call home."

Endora shook her head again and for a moment Tabitha was at a loss. "I know! We'll send her to one of those irritatingly holier than thou missionaries groups in some poverty stricken Third World country. Think of it, Endora...no phone, no computer, no way to get home, just Charity, a flock of nuns, and a mass of starving orphans. Could it be more perfect?"

'I don't know.' Endora thought for a moment.

"Oh, Endora, she'd love it. What a huge opportunity to spread love and happiness and be completely selfless! This is Charity we're talking about-she'll be happier than Rebecca Hotchkiss in a men's locker room. Won't you, Charity?"

The sounds of Charity's muffled cries said otherwise but Tabitha happily ignored her. "What do you say, dear? Shall we wrap her up and send her, first class on the Witch Express?"

Endora looked at Charity for a moment, then smiled. 'Your wish is my command.' She pointed her finger and the binds flew off of Charity's wrists and feet and the gag popped out of her mouth. Charity had just enough time to cry out, "No, Endora!" before she found herself wrapped up in a new kind of packaging as bubble wrap wound its way around her legs, up her waist and bound her arms firmly against her side. Only her neck and head was left free, and Charity watched in horror as plain brown paper covered up the plastic, wrapping her even tighter. She opened her mouth to scream but a mailing label floated out of mid air and affixed itself directly over her mouth, the address label reading 'Express Delivery-Tanzania'.

The doorbell rang and Tabitha hurried to answer it, beaming from ear to ear. A long-haired middle aged man stood there, clad in a cloak with a badge reading 'Witch Express.' He consulted a clipboard. "You have a package to be delivered?" he inquired a bored sounding voice.

"Right this way." Tabitha gestured him inside, and led him to the living room, pointing at the struggling Charity.

"Hmmm." The bemused warlock looked the girl up and down. "It's an additional charge if you want us to punch airholes in her crate."

"Oh, no need!" Tabitha said merrily, but a glare from Endora made her swallow the words. "Fine, just charge it to my regular account."

"Sign here." The delivery man handed her the clipboard and snapping his fingers, manifested a trolley out of thin air. He hoisted the still struggling Charity on to it and took the clipboard back. Tabitha gave him several bills, which he pocketed with a smile. "Thanks for the tip." A moment later he was wheeling Charity out the door, as Tabitha followed behind, watching with a satisfied expression as he stepped off the porch with his package and then they both disappeared into nothingness.

"That's that, my dear." Tabitha felt extremely pleased with them both. "We won't be seeing her again. No, no...if anyone in Harmony ever hears from Charity again, it will be a miracle indeed..." She paused and looked at Endora. "I do still have one more problem, however."

Endora looked at her inquiringly. 'What's that, Mommy?'

Tabitha sighed. "What on earth am I going to do with one hundred pounds of steak?"

TBC

Coming Soon:

Gwen and Ivy exchange words
Ivy is infuriated to see Sam and Pilar together
Theresa encourages Fancy not to give up on Luis