Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or locations from the covenant.
A/N: Not edited yet, so forgive grammar.
Step 6: Hurdling the hurdle
I couldn't sleep. The silence of the room was only broken now and again by my sister's even breathing. I looked at the clock on my nightstand. It read two o'clock. I'd been in bed for at least an hour, yet sleep still eluded me.
Tossing back the covers, I pushed myself up and touched my feet to the ground. I was restless; I couldn't stop feeling like something was going to happen. I wasn't able to get much out of my family, which was likely contributing to my insomnia.
Much to my surprise, they didn't try to kill Reid after I'd introduced him, opting instead with asking why I'd brought them here. During the length of the explanation, my dad barely looked at the group clustered in the doorway, acknowledging them only afterwards with the tiniest of nods. My mother did much the same, recognizing their presence with only a glance. Lilly was the only on who introduced herself as she greeted them from beside my father with a wave of the hand. They then gave me the task of settling the sons of Ipswich in the guestrooms for the night and went to sleep.
Obviously I was missing some information about the whole Nicca situation.
Looking over at my sleeping sister, I sighed as I got up. I'd have to make her tell me about it tomorrow, if I ever got enough sleep to make my brain function properly.
As quietly as I could manage, I tiptoed my way out of the bedroom, stopping only to grab a quilt on my way out. I then made my way to the front porch where I settled myself on one of the patio chairs, wrapping the quilt around myself. The night air was cooler than before, but it was a comforting reminder that I was home.
I couldn't be sure how long I'd been sitting there just looking up at the stars when I heard footsteps. I turned to see Reid standing in the doorway, watching me. Not in the mood for the verbal battle that was sure to ensue, I went back to admiring the night sky without saying anything.
"Couldn't sleep?" he asked quietly from where he stood.
I nodded mutely, hoping he would take the hint and leave things be.
"Me neither," he informed me sitting down.
I wasn't sure what he expected me to say. I didn't want an argument and I was getting a headache just thinking about trying to explain the magical community to him. I therefore opted to stay silent, wishing he would leave me to enjoy my peace and quiet.
"You going to share your blanket or what?" I'd been too much to hope for.
I looked at him again and realized that he was still wearing part of the Spenser uniform, but no coat. Even thought he deserved the cold he'd surely get for not wearing a coat and it meant bringing him closer, I wasn't cruel.
"Here," I said as I handed him a corner of my quilt.
"Thanks."
The silence lasted only a few minutes. "So we're supposed to get married huh?"
I didn't bother looking at him. "Uh-huh." I drew out the syllables.
Another pause issued.
"So…" he hedged. "We were kinda wrong about the whole you're a liar and one of the RRFs thing."
This time I caught his eye and gave him my best are-you-kidding look.
He shrugged nonchalantly. "You have to admit, you wouldn't have reacted much better if you'd been in our place."
I thought about it. "Probably," I admitted at length. It was about as much of an apology as I was going to get from him, so I accepted it.
"You're not much of a talker are you?"
I looked at him again. "I'm tired and not really in the mood for conversation."
"Ah." He shifted, gazing up at the sky. He looked young in the moonlight, and uncertain.
My curiosity got the better of me. He wasn't here to make small talk or because he liked talking to me. "Why are you here Reid?" I asked. "What is it you want to know?"
"I'm not sure. I couldn't sleep and then I saw you sitting here. So…" he trailed off.
I wasn't happy with the incomplete answer and it must have shown on my face because he then added: "Besides, isn't it time I got to know you? We are supposed to get married."
Maybe I was being cynical, but his change of heart seemed too sudden. "I take it you've changed your mind about the marriage thing."
"Well," he said, turning to me with a wolfish grin. "I realized it meant we get to go on a honeymoon." He finished with a leer.
In return, I gave him the look he deserved.
He looked unperturbed. "What? Can you really blame me for thinking about it?"
"So you'd try to get in my pants even if you thought I was crazy?"
The face he gave me was all the answer I needed.
"You're unbelievable."
"Would you rather I lied to you?" he asked.
"You're an ass," I retorted.
"So I've been told." He grinned contently, stretching out his legs before him. "Never seems to stop girls from throwing themselves at me though."
I shook my head in exasperation. At least he wasn't delusional.
"Do you think they're going to show up soon?" he asked, suddenly, all laughter gone from his voice.
The question caught me off guard. I searched his face, surprised at the sudden turn of the conversation. I found genuine concern for his friends there. It made me think better of him.
"I don't know," I answered truthfully. "Maybe."
"Is there any way to know…" he paused grasping for the right words and settling for "who they are?"
I had the feeling he wanted to say "what" they are. "You could try looking for them in the Archives." I replied after thinking about it. I'd worked for me. "The Archives are a library that keeps records of all of the families that are part of the magical community. Well at least most of them, the records aren't perfect, but they're your best bet." I explained.
He nodded. "Could you show them to me?" he asked, concern for his friends clearly painted on his face.
I was sure I was seeing a side of Reid not many people got to witness, not even his friends. I reached out and touched his left hand, which lay fisted in his lap. "I will."
He squeezed my hand and gave me his trademark grin. "Thanks."
"I think we just had a moment." I teased him.
"Yeah, well, I'm sure we'll have better moments, mainly in the bedroom." And just like that the cocky-borderline-asshole attitude was back. I let go of his hand disgusted.
He laughed.
We stayed there in companionable silence for I'm not sure how long; I nodded off at some point and vaguely remembered him asking where my bedroom was.
I woke up in the morning with a start, automatically reaching for the clock to check the time. It was ten in the morning and for a moment I thought I was late to class. My memories of the previous night were a little hazy, the veil hadn't completely lifted and I wasn't sure how much of it had been a dream and how much had actually happened. Only thing I was certain of was why I was here.
Lilly had already vacated her bed, which meant I couldn't make her tell me the whole of what had happened last night with Nicca. I pulled back the covers lazily and went to shower.
As I went down the stairs I heard voices emanating from the kitchen. I hurried to see who was in there. Going closer, I'd been able to make out my sister's voice and several male voices. I reached the doorway and indeed the Covenant was in there, scattered around the room, making conversation with Lilly, who didn't seem to mind the attention of several attractive teenage male witches.
I went in and zoomed in on the kitchen island where coffee awaited me.
"Slept well?" Reid asked, making me jump a little. I sensed someone close by, but I hadn't expected him, Lilly or Tyler maybe.
I turned, so I was facing him and the wall. He gave me one of his now familiar grins, instantly making me suspicious. "Well enough," I replied cautiously. "Is there a reason you're asking?"
He moved to my right still facing the kitchen and leaned into the counter. "Did you know you talk in your sleep?" he continued to question me, trying in vain to restrain the smirk playing on his lips.
"It happens," I answered even more suspicious.
"Okay, just wondering." With that he left to rejoin the rest of the group, leaving me puzzled.
What had that been all about?
I tried to ignore it and went to join everyone.
"Morning," Caleb greeted me looking, I was happy to see, slightly embarrassed.
"Morning," I returned the greeting brightly, before exchanging two more 'mornings' with Tyler and Pogue, still smiling politely. I could so be mature about the whole thing.
Uncomfortable silence settled over the room. The only ones who didn't weren't bothered by it were my sister, who didn't know much about the situation and was looking from one person to another trying to understand, and of course Reid. But then again nothing seemed to ever faze him.
"So…" Cool and collected Caleb trailed off, for once looking unsure as to how to proceed next.
"So…" I repeated. I was being petty, but I was half-human after all.
"What Caleb is trying to say Tinkerbell," Reid interrupted sitting causally at the table, "is we're sorry we didn't believe in the crazy notion that, much like in Harry Potter, there exists a whole hidden magical community."
All I could say was, "Tinkerbell?" At the same time Caleb let out a frustrated "Reid!"
Reid shrugged, seeing nothing wrong with my new nickname and probably laughing at his "brother's" embarrassment. Maybe our conversation the previous night had happened in my dream.
"That's basically it," Tyler intervened, trying to hide a smirk.
I smiled at him, he'd been willing to give me the benefit of the doubt and since he was speaking up for them, I decided to relent. "I accept your apology," I said looking from one son of Ipswich to the other, but focusing mainly on Caleb.
Relief was evident on his face. "Thanks."
"You guys want breakfast?" Lilly asked, saving us from another awkward silence.
"I'll help," I volunteered and went to prepared hopefully enough food to feed four male teenagers.
---------------------------------
"What's the point of this marriage law?" Pogue asked, from the back seat of my car. We were driving back to Ipswich. My family had practically thrown us out, using the excuse that we shouldn't be skipping classes, as if the reason why they wanted "us" to leave wasn't obvious. It wouldn't stop me from finding out why a meeting with my sister's future husband had ended the way it did.
"Did you guys read your letters at all?" We'd settled into an uneasy peace we'd probably all have to learn to live with if the new law wasn't retracted.
There was a loaded pause. Reid, who had wrestled the keys from me earlier claiming I drove too slowly, answered for the group. "We didn't really believe in the letters…"
"Which I take to mean that you either didn't read them or don't remember." I finished for him, turning so I was facing the driver's seat.
"Something like that," said Tyler sheepishly.
"The point is to infuse the magical community with new power, sort of reenergize it if you will," I explained. "Basically the population is dwindling. A lot of urm… 'magical beings' are as close to immortal as you can get, but many of them have a hard time carrying pregnancies to term or don't feel the need to even have kids. And the few children that are born seem to have stunted magical powers or none at all." I'd turned so I could look at them all as I spoke.
"How can that be?" Tyler asked, looking confused.
"No one really knows," I answered. "My best guess is the races are too inbreed."
"What do you mean by 'magical beings'?" Pogue asked at the same time Caleb who had finally tore his gaze away from the window asked, "What about Sarah and Kate?"
Pogue looked stricken; he stared at me hoping too for an answer.
"Marry them before whoever you're supposed to marry comes along." I couldn't give them better advice.
We were all thrown forward as the car came to an abrupt stop. I recovered first and undid the seatbelt I'd been wearing. I turned towards Reid ready to kill him, "What the hell was that? You're lucky there aren't any cars around!"
He kept on looking forward and answered my question with one of his own. "Were you expecting a friend?"
I frowned, a friend? What? "No, what does it have to do with anything?"
His gaze never wavered as he answered, "Well there's a girl on the road and she looks like she's been looking for us."
I scowled, but followed the trajectory of his eyes and found that there was someone in the middle of the highway.
"Do you know her?" Pogue asked leaning between the two front seats, trying to get a better look at the girl.
I didn't get the chance to answer him.
"Tyler, you're a very hard little witch to find."
A/N: Okay I need feedback, pace too slow? I know I need some more descriptions, and I'm working on that. Probably more character interactions. Anything else? Also if you have ideas as to what could happen between point A and B. I know where I want it to go, but I need stuff in between.
Ahem, REVIEW!