A/N: Hi! Wow, I'm so excited for this story! Third chapter already, and I only started a few days ago!

Chapter III

Two hours and six cups of tea later, my stepfather- to- be was completely sober, though a little restless. "More tea," Jonathan grunted. I emptied the pot into my own cup. "Actually, you're going to meet my dad now." Jonathan knocked over his cup. "What?!" He cried. "Why's Mike coming? I thought he was across the Pond in the States!"

I folded my arms. "My dad is coming because my mum and I agreed that inviting him was for the best. You and Uncle Brian are going to drive to the airport to pick up him and his family." Uncle Jonathan groaned. "Who is included in his family?"

"Dad, his wife, Jordyn Amelia Wilson Princeton, and their daughter, Tracy Eliza Princeton. Trace is just a year younger than me. That shouldn't be a problem for you. Right?"

Jonathan squared his shoulders and nodded. "Right." Michelle put the cup into the microwave and faced the windows. "The sunsets are beautiful this time of year." She said quietly. "Summer sunsets are always the best."

"It stopped raining? I thought that storm would last forever!"

"Just like that night," Michelle commented.

I nodded. There was no confusion as to which night she was referring to. THAT night, the one that changed our lives forever. Michelle turned to me, eying her dad and Jonathan nervously. "Speaking of that night, there's something I have to tell you. Something really important."

"Me too. You want to go somewhere more...private?"

"Nah. Dad and Jon are leaving, so we might as well stay here."

And so we waited- half an hour- for Uncle Brian and Uncle Jon to leave. Kathy was with Aunt Jackie, at my apartment. No one was in the house, and no one was expected for another hour or so. I put the pot on the stove for more tea and faced Michelle.

"What's up?" I inquired cheerfully. "Besides the fact that my mum is hours away from marrying a bloke she met a month ago, I mean." Michelle chucked nervously.

You would never believe me."

"After everything we've been through? You seriously think that?"

Michelle laughed. "I s'pose your right. Well, this was really unexpected."

"Just tell me already!"

"Freddie Boath called a few days ago."

I groaned. "Aw common, I thought you were going to say something more interesting, like a god visited you in your dreams!"

Michelle gasped; I nearly choked on my tea. "How did you know?! I didn't even tell my parents or Kathy!"

"Isis came to me too," I said gently. "What did she talk to you about?"

"Nothing much. Said I- WE- were more special than we realized. Then there was something about a...family divided?" She shook her head. "Can't remember much. And you?"

"I knew her," I said quietly. "The trip Anubis sent us on, it all a test of a sort. And...she called me 'Cousin'. As if we were related."

Michelle sat quietly, staring out the window. "Kathy and I took a walk by the Thames last week." She said finally. "Even with all this confounded rain, it looked dried up, as if we'd been having a drought." I smiled slightly. "Things are always hard to explain. Maybe it'll be back to normal in a few weeks." Michelle nodded uncertainly. "I guess you're right. But I just can't shake the feeling that something bad is happening." She shook her head and laughed. "What am I saying? I must be going mad!"

"Positively bonkers," I agreed, giggling.

"Absolutely insane!" We laughed. Four raps on the door quieted us down. Four knocks sounded again and I snorted. "Four knocks," I giggled. "Don't let the Doctor answer it!" Michelle chortled. I got down from my place on the kitchen counter. "Did your dad lock the door?"

"No, he never does if someone's still here."

"Okay, just making sure. It's open!" I called. The door creaked open slowly. "Don't let the Master in!" Michelle screeched. I held onto the counter to keep from falling over. "I think we just broke a record." I gasped.

"Where's a Sonic Screwdriver when you need one!" Michelle grasped the table for support.

he footsteps grew louder and were closer. By the time the person reached the doorway, Michelle and I were on the floor from laughing so hard. "Honestly," the man's voice surprised us. "I think you two have been watching too much Doctor Who."

"You can thank Elizabeth for that." Michelle laughed, pulling herself up. "Nonsense!" I disagreed. "There is never such a thing as 'too much Doctor Who'!"

"That's chocolate and glitter, Liz." Michelle reminded me. I grinned. "Doctor Who, Merlin, and Harry Potter." I countered. The man walked over to me. "Elizabeth, you will always be the most insane person I've ever met."

"Thank you!" I replied cheerfully. Cody looked puzzled. "That wasn't really meant as a complement." I laughed. "I know," Cody looked to Michelle for help; my best mate only shook her head, hiding a grin of her own. "It's useless, Bryant. I've tried plenty of times to make her see sense. It never works."

"Who wants to be normal? It's so...boring." Cody kissed my cheek and helped me up. "Brian called me to check up on you two. He said, 'Knowing those two, they aren't even dressed yet.' And he was right. There are less than two hours left, and you're just laughing like there's no tomorrow."

"Well, how about you stand guard at the front door while Michelle and I get changed." Cody raised an eyebrow; I rolled my eyes. "Pinkie promise," I held out my pinkie, waiting for my boyfriend to link his own. Cody smirked.

"Do you, Cody James Bryant, pinkie promise to stand guard at the door until Elizabeth is dressed completely?" Michelle asked. Cody smiled down at me. "I do," he chuckled. Michelle turned to me. "And do you, Elizabeth Hyacinth Princeton, pinkie promise to be dressed in your Maid- of- Honour dress quickly, and without a hitch?" I smiled at Cody lovingly. "I do," Michelle bit her lip to keep from laughing out loud. "Then I pronounce you Pinkie- Linked!"

Cody winked at me. "Do I get to kiss my Pinkie- Link partner?" Michelle shrugged. "Sure, knock yourself out." Cody kissed me lightly, wrapping his arms around me. Out of the corner of my eyes, I could see Michelle fake gagging again. I pulled away, laughing. "Now go, I've got a dress to put on." Cody kissed my hand. "I'll drive you to your mum's if this infernal storm doesn't let up."

I frowned, ready to reply, but Michelle was already dragging me out of the kitchen. "Forty- five minutes!" She called over her shoulder. "Then we'll be ready to go!"