I am sorry this next part took so long. New job. Check out the Prologue for the disclaimer. Oh, I should inform all I began this story before watching ALL of S2 (Thank God for DVD's.) and so I did not know the name of Duncan's child. So assume the name is Lilly Hannah Kane and she's one of those cool kids who uses their middle name. I probably wouldn't want to be associated with my murdered-dead-aunt too. Other than that...reviews and critique help.

Chapter 2

KANE HOUSEHOLD

Hannah Kane sat at the large country-chic kitchen table with her Mac. She was 'heavily editing' Allyson's 'unbiased' piece on the new dress code rules for Neptune High. Ally was a good friend but her writing sucked. She gave-up on the edit job and decided to move the piece to the back of the paper. She flipped to the next article. She had dreaded reading this article. It was the article Vice-Principal Fennell had e-mailed her. The award-winning article was written by the newest Navigator staff member and neighbor, January Grant. Hannah cringed. She didn't need to stalk the girl or attempt communication to know that January was not going to be her bosom buddy. January was rude and had already judged them all. Hannah begrudgingly began reading the article on the Ellis kidnappings. The kidnappings had made national news and Hannah knew the plot line. What amazed her was how the freshman reporter managed to out-scoop even the Times. She clicked out of the article before completely finishing it.

There was no denying January had talent or was good. The problem was January knew she was good and wouldn't settle for anything less than she was capable of- even if it meant totally screwing the rest of the staff. January would write what she wanted and Hannah, the SENIOR EDITOR, be damned. She took a sip of the ice tea, cooling the problems that had begun to run through her head when she would inform her friends she had to give the "new obnoxious kid" a star spot. Not only because Mr. Fennell had suggested the idea but because Hannah wanted a paper that could get her recognition and into the schools. She wanted in Ivy League on her own terms and not the fact she was a very very rich little girl.

"Reading Allyson's article?"

Hannah looked at her younger half-brother Scott. She gave him a menacing glare. "Wait, how long did you two lovebirds date?"

"Shut-up." He mumbled, getting a glass of tea for himself. "We all make mistakes."

Hannah moved herself from her computer and laid a hand on her brother's back. "Some more than others, little brother."

"Ha. Ha." He responded sarcastically, walking to her computer. He immediately pulled up not only Allyson's article but January's. He began to read.

Hannah took a sip from her brother's glass and without looking up, "She's good, isn't she?" She groaned. "It's not just my imagination…is it?"

"No. She's better than I thought. Wow! She wrote this?" He asked, looking at Hannah.

"Yes, during her freshmen year of high school she wrote that piece. It also garnered her an internship at the New York Times."

"The Times? You're kidding?"

"Oh God, I wish I was."

"Yeah, well be prepared, we could be the next subject of her award winning piece."

"What do you mean?" She looked at him, puzzled.

"She's apparently very familiar with our family…"

"Who isn't Scott? We're Kane's. Our family is like the West Coast Kennedy's according to most." She interrupted.

"She knows you're only my half-sister."

"That's not common knowledge."

"No it isn't. She's also shown an interest in the Cheerleader Kidnappings and overheard, she might be going to Mars Investigations to do research."

Hannah slid on a stool and finished off her brother's tea without thinking. "I hate her."

"Hate who?" The light hearted voice of Duncan Kane chipped-in as he walked in on his children.

"New girl. She's on the paper. She's a "crime reporter." " Scott answered for his sister, preventing her from saying something far worse.

"Is that all?" Duncan asked, knowing it had to be more than that.

"Vice Principal Fennell placed her on the paper- he feels she'll make it what it once was. She might, too." Hannah concurred. "However, she knows she's good and she doesn't care who she takes down to get her story from what I've read. She also has made it very clear she hates 09er's, California, and the human race."

Duncan looked at his daughter, who generally took after her mother and wanted to believe the best in others, was now struggling with a new girl. Oddly, the description brought to his mind the description of another girl. Another girl from another time that too would sacrifice anyone and anything for truth. He had been one of her sacrifices…more than once. Duncan's clear and bright eyes darkened and his voice caught. But that girl, she was long gone, wasn't she? "C'mon Hannah she's probably just nervous- new school and new place."

"Yeah sure, Dad. She's already latched onto the "Three" and writing about the Kidnappings. Oh, and then there's the part where she said and I quote, 'I think I am smarter and better than you and your friends because I am not a snob or bully…I want to get through the next 3 years and return back to civilization...blah blah blah' She pretty much thinks we're all of the devil." Scott quipped.

"It can't be that bad…"

"He's not lying. She has made it abundantly clear she thinks she's superior even though she moved into the 09 district herself." Hannah replied defending her brother.

"Just moved? Her father isn't the new judge, is he?"

Hannah nodded. "Her dad is the new judge from New York. Why?"

Duncan gave a wry smile as Nichole walked into the kitchen. In her hands were bags of groceries and she had that look on her face. She gave a bright smile to her husband and kids before she spoke. That's it Nichole, smile and then kill them, Duncan thought wryly.

"We have dinner guests, tonight. I invited the new judge and his family over for dinner." She placed a loving arm on her husband's shoulder and looked at her kids. "Duncan, why don't you call Cindy and Richard and invite them?"

"And Logan?"

Duncan watched as his wife grimaced at the mention of his best friend's name. No, Nichole didn't like Logan Echolls. Very few people ever liked Logan and could tolerate him. However, Logan had returned to Neptune after a bitter divorce and on the trails of a huge blockbuster hit that would make him successful. And Logan hated being successful. He hated being liked.

"He's more than welcome to come too." She mumbled before escaping to the living room to handle preparations.

Duncan gave a sympathetic look to his children, who were confused and dismayed at the news. "It's one dinner. One evening and look on the bright side with Uncle Logan and Dick here, it will no doubt make for an interesting night. Maybe even newsworthy…." He gave a sly wink to his daughter, who just groaned.

TBC... Please R&R and I will try to write faster.