Charmed T

by Yusho MinChao

A Charmed Reimagining. After separating six months prior, three brothers are brought back together, and that's when they are started on a path that will change their lives forever.

4. If I Die Young

Charmed T =

Thriller

Three

Trio

Triquetra

Trinity

The T can stand for any one of these words. Pick one.

Charmed T

It's close to midnight,

Something evil's lurking in the dark

Under the moonlight,

You see a sight that almost stops your heart

You try to scream,

But terror takes the sound before you make it

You start to freeze,

As horror looks you right between the eyes

You're paralyzed

Cause this is thriller, thriller night

And no one's gonna save you from the beast about to strike

You know it's thriller, thriller night

You're fighting for your life, inside a

Killer, thriller, tonight

They're out to get you

There's demons closing in on every side

They will possess you,

Unless you change that number on your dial

Cause this is thriller, thriller night

There ain't no second chance against the thing with the forty eyes, girl

Thriller, thriller night

You're fighting for your life, inside a

Killer, thriller, tonight

If I Die Young

A young blonde woman with jade green eyes talked with an older brunette woman with jade green eyes. They were sitting on the front porch, drinking tea.

The young woman sat with her phone in her lap, listening to the song Bones.

"Reese Jean Delilah," the older brunette said. "It's your birthday. Happy birthday. Enjoy yourself. Enjoy your day."

"Mother," Reese said. "I'm too old to celebrate my birthday. I'm a spinster who is probably going to end up living with her mother. Getting enjoyment out of life has long passed." She sighed.

"You're not old," her mother said. "After Damian, I just want you to be happy. That good-looking young man asked you out the other night. After we have your birthday dinner, you should go see him. You don't have to date him. Get yourself laid."

"Mother," Reese said. She laughed. "We are not going to talk about Damian, and we are not going to talk about me getting laid."

Her mother laughed.

"I won't say another thing about either," her mother said.

"We're not doing a birthday dinner either," Reese said. "I got to go to work. I'm leaving."

"You're not going to kiss me goodbye at least?" her mother asked.

Reese kissed her on the cheek.

"I love you," her mother said.

"I love you too," Reese said. "Bye mom."

Four Weeks Later

Reese stood outside that house, looking upon that same front porch. Her body had become transparent for a moment. She could still hear the song she had played that day. That was the last time she spoke with her mother. It wasn't the last time she saw her mother. She could see her mother all the time now, but her mother couldn't see her. She saw glimpses of her death: when her heart was ripped from her chest, when her heart was eaten in front of her, and when her body dropped to the floor. She saw the single tear she cried.

Reese walked away. She silenced that song. She left, walking away from her mother and the house.

~~~!~~~!~~~!~~~

Clive leaned across the bar. He was on his break. He enjoyed waiting to go on break to meet with one of his brothers, who usually stopped in. Today, Coronado came through. He came to get some food and see if he might find someone he could have fun with after he got off work.

Coronado caught Ximena standing just behind Clive as Clive excitedly told him he might have a chance to prepare dinner for the mayor soon. He knew the look on her face.

"Hey Clive," Ximena grabbed his attention.

Clive stood up with a warm, gentle smile on his face.

Coronado caught her gaze for a moment, and he quickly shook his head.

Ximena ignored him.

Coronado leaned on his elbow.

"I wanted to ask you-" Ximena stopped in mid-sentence.

"What happened?" Coronado asked out loud. He rose from his elbow and looked around the room. Everybody was frozen. He looked to Clive. "You used your power. I can't believe it."

"Forget about that," Clive said. "She's about to ask me out."

"She is," Coronado said. "Say yes. Go out on a date. You're birthday's about to come up. Treat yourself. Or treat her. Give her that good Halliwell loving."

"I'm done with dating," Clive said. "I'm not doing anything for my birthday either. You know I don't celebrate my birthday. Not much changed with me in your six month absence."

A phone went off, and it began to play this song: Oh My.

"Whoever owns that phone I'm with them," Clive said.

"You're not done with dating," Coronado said, "and you are celebrating your birthday this year."

"I'm not even going to do Cliff's birthday family dinner this year," Clive said.

"I agree," Coronado said. "We're not doing that again. We're fine, strapping young men. We can do better than those old man dinners for your birthday."

"I don't have the best luck with women anyway," Clive said.

They both remember his ex-girlfriend and the several ex-girlfriends before her that either cheated on him, lied to him, or used him.

"She'll probably try to kill me," Clive said, glancing at Ximena. "I think I'm done with love. I give up."

"You're too much of a romantic to give up on love," Coronado said.

"And my birthday is just another day," Clive said. "It's just a reminder that you're another year, another day, closer to death. Now that I'm a Witch I don't need anything else to remind me that my life is fleeting."

"Look," Coronado said. "You're not going to do this. Love is not outside the cards for you just because you've had a number of hiccups, and being a Witch isn't an automatic death sentence. Weren't you interested in Aqua just last week?"

"Aqua was attractive," Clive said. "Ximena is attractive. However, besides everything else I said, I stand by not mixing business with pleasure. If anything goes wrong, which it probably will, we'll have to see each other every day. I don't want us to have a hostile work environment."

"Can you at least leave the door open?" Coronado said. "Don't outright shut her down. I'm not going to get through to you, especially about love. This is a conversation for you to have with Cliff. If you don't talk to him about it, I'm going to talk to him for you."

"You're a traitor," Clive said. "I'll talk to him if you promise not to do anything for my birthday."

"Normally I would respect your wishes, as I have for many years now," Coronado said, "but I don't think I can this time. You're going to talk to Cliff, and I'm not making any promises. Consider this payback for all those smartass remarks you've been dishing out since I've been back."

"I'll remember this," Clive said. He frowned at Coronado when the room unfroze. He fixed his expression as he turned back toward Ximena. The phone playing the song he heard earlier stopped.

"If you might want to go out tonight," Ximena continued from where she left off. "There's this Movie Trivia Night that my friends and I try to win once a week. Winners get free movies for a weekend minus concessions." She laughed nervously. "I remember you saying you were a movie buff too: at least a movie theater popcorn buff. I thought I'd invite you."

Coronado wanted to throw something at Clive because he saw the chemistry between them, but Clive had a hard time with showing people who he was because to him he was messed up, even though he was really just a good guy that couldn't get past his initial shyness and awkwardness when meeting new people.

"That actually sounds like a fun night," Clive said, avoiding her eyes. "Can I take a rain check? Get back to you another time?" If Coronado weren't sitting right behind him, he would've flat out declined: to spare Ximena, but he didn't want Coronado to talk to Cliff. He looked toward her.

"Oh yeah," Ximena said. "Let me know. The offer's good whenever."

"I'll talk to you later Coronado," Clive said, turning from her. "I've got to get back to work."

"See ya brother," Coronado said, watching Clive hurry to the back.

Coronado gestured for Ximena to come over.

"I saw you shake your head," Ximena said. "You tried to warn me. He's not interested."

"He's interested," Coronado said. "He just got out of a bad relationship: a really bad one. It was so bad it would depress him to know that you knew about it. So, I can't tell you. He's also getting the hang of this job, and he's dealing with family stuff too. I hope that didn't sound like a lot of baggage and turn you off him. He doesn't expect much good to happen to him is all."

"It doesn't sound like a lot of baggage," Ximena said. "I'd like to learn more about him. He's a good guy. You didn't turn me off him. I'm glad you told me. He's kind of private."

Coronado chuckled.

"Yeah," Coronado said. "He takes after Cliff in that regard. Don't let them fool you though. They might seem like sticks in the mud, but they can be as wild as I am. They just like to keep their fun sides under wraps."

Ximena laughed.

"Coronado," Ximena said. "You're crazy."

Coronado rose from his stool to head back to work.

"Clive's a good deal," Coronado said. "I'll work on him. If you hold out for him, he won't disappoint." He turned to leave, but he turned back. "Keep Saturday open. You're invited to Clive's Surprise Birthday Party."

Ximena laughed again.

"I'll do just that," Ximena said and nodded to him.

Coronado took off after leaving her with a rakish smile. He passed an attractive blonde woman with jade green eyes who had just come in and stood at the end of the bar, and he left her with that same smile and a nod.

~~~!~~~!~~~!~~~

Clive was headed out for the day. He had finished the dinner prep, and Chef Molay told him he couldn't work any more doubles that week. He had his car because he had talked Cliff into letting Coronado borrow his truck. Cliff would be working some night shifts and sleeping most of the days anyway. He wanted to slip past Ximena because he felt bad about asking her for a rain check. He waited until she was busy with a few guests before he made his way for the door. He was standing beside a young woman. She had blonde hair and jade green eyes. Her words prevented him from leaving right away.

"I used to want to work here," the young woman said to herself. "It was my dream."

"There's still a chance," Clive said, overhearing her. "It was my dream too. I couldn't believe it when I got the job here."

"No…" the young woman said. "I wanted an amazing husband, two beautiful kids, maybe three or four, and some land for a small garden. I wanted so much. All of that was a part of my dreams. Any chance I had at making my dreams come true is gone now."

"Can I help you Miss?" Clive asked the young woman standing beside the bar, looking forlornly at all the dining room guests.

"Who?" The young woman asked. "Me?"

"Yes," Clive said.

"You can see me?" She asked him.

"Yes," Clive said. "I can see you." He knew that feeling of seeming invisible, especially with an older brother like Cliff and a younger brother like Coronado.

"That's impossible!" She exclaimed: shock and surprise in her voice.

Clive glanced to their left and right. He was a little surprised she didn't draw attention to herself and their conversation.

"Why is that?" Clive asked: a little smile on his face.

"Because I've been dead for four weeks," the young woman said.

Her words were an eye opener for Clive. His smile dropped from his face.

"You okay?" Ximena asked him. "Are you talking to yourself?"

Clive looked to her trying to figure out how he could lie when he was such a bad liar.

"I'm sorry," Clive said: for lack of anything else.

"No," Ximena said. "You're fine. I've been known to talk to myself a time or two too. My mother says it's a sign of genius." She laughed.

Clive laughed nervously, but he allowed himself to smile genuinely.

Ximena went back to work.

"Are you an actual Witch?" the young woman said.

"Yes," Clive said under his breath to try and avoid drawing attention to himself, answering her truthfully because why lie to a young dead woman. He was doing his best to speak under his breath. "Who are you?"

"I'm Reese Jean Delilah," Reese introduced herself. "I'm, I mean, I was a Witch practitioner. A Warlock killed me. I hate to ask, but would you help me? I seem to be stuck here on Earth. I can't move on."

"Yes," Clive said. "Of course. Nice to meet you Reese. If you would, follow me. I'd be happy to help."

~~~!~~~!~~~!~~~

Cliff had just woken up from last night's shift. He checked the time on his phone. He was supposed to be going to the gym to meet with Macias. He slept later than usual. He thought he would, considering Coronado had his truck and after last week with his Mom and learning about his Gramps and Dad he wanted some extra rest and time to mull over his thoughts. He noticed he hadn't spoken with Elli in a little while. He also noticed that Macias had kind of pulled away, had been keeping his distance. When he went into his bathroom, barefoot, shirtless, and wearing nothing but his sweatpants, he still wasn't surprised to find Macias there.

"Kind of surprised you didn't cancel on me," Cliff said. He went to the sink to rinse off his face. He dried it and turned toward Macias.

"I have to talk to you about something," Macias said: more serious than usual. "I thought it better I pull away because I felt like I was being dishonest. I told myself a long time ago I'd always be honest with you."

Cliff nodded.

"Hold that thought," Cliff said. He pulled Macias from his seat on the back of the toilet.

Macias reached and placed his hand just inside Cliff's waistband.

Cliff placed a hand on Macias' to stop him, preventing Macias from pulling down his sweatpants. He took Macias' head into both his hands, held onto his golden brown curls, before he gave him a soft kiss that changed into a rough one that ended with Cliff biting his lower lip. Macias became instantly hard. When they parted, their eyes meeting, Cliff grabbed hold of Macias' hard-on and clutched it for a moment. This made Macias laugh. Cliff smiled. Macias tried not to drop to his knees right then. He couldn't after what he saw last week, a woman who disguised herself as Elli and somehow became the woman named Lori, and after agreeing to work with Elli, assisting her and her partner Sora in learning Cliff's and his brothers' secret: not without telling Cliff first.

"What was that for?" Macias asked.

"Do I need a reason?" Cliff asked him back.

Macias shook his head.

"I owed you that," Cliff said.

"You don't owe me anything," Macias said.

"Acting serious doesn't suit you either," Cliff added. "You worried me."

"Aren't you always worried about me?" Macias said.

"No," Cliff said. "I know if you needed me you wouldn't hesitate to call on me. That's what separates you from everybody else I lo-hate: everybody else I care about." He couldn't say that word: the word everyone in his life wanted to hear him say. He couldn't bring himself to do it. Clive had mentioned baby steps last week. He'd take it easy, take it slow, and see, feel out himself and his world a little more: a little more each day.

Cliff had taken Macias a little off guard, but with his last line Macias was happy to see the Cliff he recognized. He did love seeing a Cliff trying not to hold himself back. It brought a smile to his face.

"Do you want me to know?" Cliff asked him: seriously.

"I do," Macias said. "I think you should."

"You don't want me to know now," Cliff said. "Not yet."

"I don't," Macias said.

"That's fair," Cliff said. "I'll wait until you're ready to tell me." He placed a hand on Macias' hand, which was still inside his waistband. "You want to-" He glanced down at their hands before he met his eyes again. "Before we head for the gym?"

"Hell yeah," Macias said, pulling down Clive's sweatpants and bending low to meet his front.

"I'm your guy," Cliff said. "Don't you forget it."

Macias looked toward him.

"I'm yours," Macias said. "I didn't forget."
Cliff covered half his face out of embarrassment.

"I never apologized for saying that," Cliff said.

"And you're not going to," Macias said. "It's true. We aren't going to argue the semantics. We aren't going to argue the truth."

Cliff uncovered his face and nodded to Macias.

Macias nodded in return.

"Now shut up Sarge," Macias said, "so I can get you off." He took Cliff into his mouth.

"Yes Sarge," Cliff said after a hearty laugh.

~~~!~~~!~~~!~~~

"Hey," Coronado called Cliff after he returned to his office. "I need to talk to you."

"I'm on my way to the gym," Cliff said. "What's up?"

"It's about Clive," Coronado said. "We're not doing one of your old man dinners for him this year. We're throwing him a surprise party."

"He won't want a surprise party," Cliff said.

"You don't think I know this?" Coronado said. "He needs one. He's talking about giving up on love and not even celebrating his birthday because his death is around the corner. I don't have time for that. You need to talk to him, and we need to throw him this party."

"While I wouldn't mind throwing a party for Clive," Cliff said, "I'm going to end up doing all the work for it, and then I'll have to listen to you complain about everything because it's not up to your standards."

"You make it sound like I'm irresponsible," Coronado said.

"I didn't mean for it to sound that way," Cliff said. "You're not irresponsible, except when you have to do anything for anybody else."

Macias laughed next to Cliff, which caused Cliff to smile.

Coronado was going to tell Cliff to tell Macias he said hi, but he decided against it. He hadn't even seen Macias since the incident. He'd wait. Cliff would invite him to the party.

"I'm going to prove you wrong," Coronado said. "You talk to Clive. I'll make the party happen. Can you at least help if I need you to do something?"

"I can," Cliff said. "Seriously, I'll talk to him. We'll throw him this party. Anything you want me to do, even if it's the whole thing, I'll do it."

"No," Coronado said. "I got it. You stick to your strengths: paying the bills, manor upkeep, and ensuring Clive doesn't reach the bottom of his rabbit hole again. I'll throw him a bash, but I'll keep you on-call."

"Sounds fair," Cliff said. "Talk to you later hermanito (little brother)."

"Adios hermano mayor (big brother)," Coronado said slowly. Cliff hadn't called him hermanito since before the incident. "It's going to be Saturday at the manor. I know that much already. Start inviting people. Adios."

Coronado hung up the phone, and so did Cliff.

"You and Elli are coming to Clive's surprise birthday party," Cliff told Macias. "Giving you a heads up now. I'm going to talk with her later."

Cliff and Coronado both looked upon their phones for a moment before they continued on with their day.

~~~~!~~~~!~~~~!~~~~

"I'm Clive by the way," he introduced himself: a little nervous.

"I overheard," Reese said. "Nice to meet you too Clive."

"So," Clive said. "Can you tell me what's been going on with you? What happened?"

"After getting over the shock of being dead," Reese explained as Clive drove them back to the manor, "I tried getting help from other Witch practitioners and Psychics. They couldn't see or hear me. They couldn't help. I accepted my fate. I've been wandering around my old favorite places ever since, watching life pass by for other people. What a wonderful twist of fate that I ran into you: an actual Witch."

"I'm so sorry that you were killed," Clive said. "Does that mean you're a ghost?"

"I think so," Reese said. She proved this by putting her head through the roof of Clive's car and pulling it back in. "Yep. I'm a ghost." She chuckled.

Clive felt bad for her: more than he already did.

Reese had tried to make him laugh about the situation. She saw that it didn't work.

"Hmmm," Reese added. "I must have some unfinished business. I don't know. I guess I should've taken everything my mother tried to teach me more seriously. I didn't really believe in it, but she did. It made her happy. So, I shared it with her."

"I'm so sorry," Clive said. He shook his head, beginning to feel sad and depressed. "I think my ex is the one who might've killed you. I didn't know she was a Warlock. It tried to kill me too."

"Don't apologize Clive," Reese said. "It wasn't you. You offered to help. That means the world to me."

"I have to pull myself together," Clive said. "I said I would help. Do you know what your unfinished business might be?"

"No," Reese said. She shook her head. "I can't think of anything. I am worried about my mother. Maybe, I'm here to make sure she finds peace. She hasn't been the same since my death."

"I'll go to see her then," Clive said. "We will. I also have an idea of how we can find out what your unfinished business might be."

"You've already been a big help," Reese said. "Just meeting you has kept me from…falling to the despair. I was heading that way: slowly but surely."

Clive looked over toward her, but she didn't look at him.

She quickly changed the subject, and he focused on the road.

"She works later tonight," Reese said, "but she'll be off tomorrow. Let's see her tomorrow."

"That works perfectly," Clive said. "I'm off tomorrow too."

"I'll wait until you get up in the morning," Reese said. "I don't sleep."

"No," Clive said. "I'll stay up with you. You've been alone and by yourself the past four weeks: with no one to talk to. Talk to me. I was never a big fan of sleep anyway."

"You don't have to," Reese said.

"I want to," Clive said.

"Thanks Clive," Reese said.

They settled into a comfortable silence. A song came on the radio as they took in the sunset: The Game of Love. They glanced at each other when it started, and they listened to it together until it finished.

Clive sent a group message to Cliff and Coronado. Coronado had started it through an app, calling it TCOs. It was for business only.

[Don't make any plans for tonight. We have some work to attend to for our second job.] Clive was too paranoid to speak of their Witch duties directly. [It's not an emergency and there's no imminent danger. I'll explain later.]

[I'm already getting excited! :D I wonder what we'll face this week.] Coronado said.

[No imminent danger? I'll be home soon.] Cliff said.

[Take your time. There's no need to hurry.] Clive said.

[For someone who wasn't receptive to this stuff, you sure do seem to attract stuff to you. You're a supernatural magnet! Haha!] Coronado.

[*Shake My Head*] Cliff said.

[*Groans*] Clive said. [I'll meet you both later.]

"When we get back to the manor," Clive said, "I'll introduce you to my two brothers. Sorry. That's who I was messaging. All three of us are Witches. With our combined magic, I want to say I can guarantee we can get you on your way. They won't be home for a little while though. Is that okay?"

"I've waited this long," Reese said and chuckled. "Would it be okay if we made two stops first?"

"I'll get you where you need to go," Clive said. "I might have to GPS it, but I'll get you there. Where to?"

"First," Reese said, "I'd like to stop by my old apartment. It won't be mine anymore, but there's something I'd like for you to get. Nobody would've been able to find it. The second stop, if you don't mind, I'd like to stop by my grave."

~~~!~~~!~~~!~~~

Coronado sat at his desk. He'd managed to get a lot of work done. It had been fun, but he always seemed to go through his caseload too fast. He didn't want to ruffle any feathers or showoff. He noticed the other Specialists enjoyed taking their sweet time and complaining about the amazing pieces they had to research and catalogue. Coronado loved the research aspect of his job, and when he spoke to Prynn about writing his cards and reports in his own voice as opposed to the stuffy, snooze-inducing way he learned to do it that aspect of his job became a breeze, especially because he could listen to music while he worked. Leaning back in his extremely comfortable chair, Coronado couldn't help think that while he'd never tell Cliff this having a job like this one he was glad Cliff forced him to go to college. Cliff had been proven right. You could actually get a job doing what you went to school for and make good money, and you didn't have to go to school forever. Getting his work done in a few hours had been easy. Planning and putting together Clive's surprise party should've been easy, but every time he was about to call a number to order or reserve something he realized it was more his own style than Clive's. Coronado could throw a party that would bring down the house, but Clive wasn't a bring-down-the-house party kind of guy.

When he thought of himself, Coronado thought eclectic and eccentric; when he thought of Cliff, Coronado thought rustic but modern; when he thought of Clive, Coronado thought…classy or classic. He could work with that. He had an idea: based on the company breakfast they had on Monday. He went to go see Prynn.

Coronado knocked on the door to her office. She already had him hot under the collar. Oh yeah, he was definitely inviting her to the party, but he wanted to get her help too. He planned on not asking Cliff for help.

"Hey," Coronado said. "You busy?"

"I'm not," Prynn said. "I finished with a Skype conference a bit ago. Was about to call on Trenton. I know you're not busy if it's business as usual for you. Need something?"

"I was wondering if I could get the number of the company that catered the breakfast we had recently," Coronado said. He came into her office.

Prynn met him in the middle of the room.

He looked deep into her eyes: with a look of hunger.

Prynn felt it. She didn't turn away from it.

"Food For Thought," Prynn said. "Yes. Why?"

"I want to throw a party for my older brother," Coronado said. "I want it to be something he'll like, but something that'll send him for a loop."

This made Prynn laugh.

"Food is a cornerstone for any event for him," Coronado said. "You're coming. Trenton can come with you."

"Trenton doesn't do parties," Prynn said. "I'll come though. I'd be interested in meeting your brother."

"Brothers," Coronado said. "I have two. Clive is the middle brother. Cliff is our older brother."

"I'd be interested in seeing if they're anything like you," Prynn said with a nod and smile.

"Want me to pick you up?" Coronado questioned her: with a look and tone that was just barely subtle.

"Hmmm," Prynn said. She turned around, went threw her index box, and pulled out the business card. She handed it to him. "I don't know about that Mr. Halliwell."

Coronado grasped her hand with one hand before he took the card with his other. His eyes never left hers.

"You and I alone…" Prynn sat at the edge of her desk. She crossed her legs. She shook her head.

"I'll text you with more details," Coronado said. "It's Saturday night at my house. I'll give you time to change you mind."

Coronado headed back for his office, but as he reached the door he had a Premonition.

Coronado saw flashes: he saw himself in between Prynn's legs while she sat on the edge of her desk. She let him take care of her, satisfy her, as she leaned back on her hands atop her desk. She wrapped her legs around him. He firmly held her underneath her thighs. He applied pressure: with his hands and with his tongue. He sent her soaring.

Coronado grinned slyly when he came back, shutting her door and locking it. He went to her, looking deep into her eyes, and dropped to his knees in front of her.

"Mr. Halliwell?" Prynn questioned him.

"Sit back," Coronado told her. "Relax. Enjoy the ride." He ripped her pantyhose, pushed her black silk panties aside, and put his tongue to work.

Prynn didn't stop him.

~~~~!~~~~!~~~~!~~~~

"They've been busy the past several weeks," Prynn sat on the corner of her desk while Trenton stood at the window, looking upon the world below.

They were both playing a game of chess on a board nearby. Prynn played the White pieces while Trenton played the Black pieces.

"They don't realize their actions are having ripple effects on the supernatural world," Trenton said.

"They're new to the craft," Prynn said. "They're also quite powerful. They can't help that."

"They draw attention to themselves," Trenton said.

"They're going to face all of Evil," Prynn said. "It's best they did, so Good could make the moves they're making to support them."

"Good is as afraid of them as Evil is," Trenton said. "They were making moves when they were kids. Think of the pieces they've procured on their own: Chevaliers, Familiars, Whitelighters…"

"Corwin was no fool," Prynn said. "Evil might've gotten him in the end, but he was the original: The Charmed One. He planned ahead."

"No," Trenton said and shook his head. "He couldn't have planned this. He predicted the future, but his descendants did this all on their own, even if subconsciously."

"He predicted quite a lot," Prynn said. "It's unfortunate that we ignored a lot of what he said. Of course, my duty is to monitor and not interfere."

"Hybrids have become powerful," Trenton said, "but while they do have many more strengths than either part of their sum they also have more weaknesses."

"Our main weakness, Good, Evil, and the In-Between, is that we all have our rules to follow," Prynn said. She turned from the chessboard toward Trenton, and he turned from the window toward her. "They have no such restrictions. They're unlimited and uninhibited. It's spread across the three of them. That's their greatest strength, and in my opinion the best and only one they really need to be successful."

"And it can only be done if they remain united: together," Trenton said.

Prynn sighed.

"They've proven that will be their greatest obstacle," Prynn said, "but they're working on it."

Trenton smiled without showing any of his teeth to himself behind her before he let the smile fade. He went and stood before the chessboard. He looked over it before he looked up.

Their eyes met.

"Is the Queen going to make its move?" Trenton asked her.

Prynn gave him a little smile. Was he asking about their game or The Charmed Ones? She didn't plan on inquiring of which he was asking about. She placed her hand on her Queen. Then, she slowly pulled it back, crossing her arms.

"Not yet," Prynn said. "It'll let the rook, bishop, and knight do their work."

~~~!~~~!~~~!~~~

Cliff called Elli after he and Macias put their stuff in lockers in the locker room.

"So," Cliff said, when she answered, "why aren't you talking to me?"

"Was it foolish of me to think you wouldn't notice?" Elli questioned him. "That was rhetorical." She said this, knowing he hadn't planned on answering.

"You mad at me for not telling you what's going on with me and my brothers?" Cliff said, which managed to take Elli off guard.

Elli asked herself: how could she know to expect the unexpected from Cliff and be surprised by him every time?

"No," Elli said. "You said I would figure it out. I'm trying. I've been busy with work, and I-" She thought about it, looking over to her partner Sora while she sat at her desk doing paperwork. "I guess I wanted to give you space for a couple reasons: one being that your Mom recently blew into town. I know you don't like to talk about her, so I was letting you process that."

"Her visit was enlightening to say the least," Cliff said. "I don't care to talk about it, except to say I think things might get better for us down the road."

"Oh wow," Elli said. "After 20 years? What happened?"

"I almost lost her," Cliff admitted. "She almost died right in front of me. It's easy to stay mad at someone when they're not around. I don't know. Thinking of her being gone for good was different."

"I get it," Elli said. "May I inquire of the purpose of this call? I do have to work you know."

"Wanted to hear your voice again," Cliff said, "and hoping you can make it to Clive's surprise birthday party this Saturday. Coronado and I are throwing it, but Coronado's going to do the majority of the work. I want you there. Macias will be there too."

"I have to come," Elli said through a smile. "I have to see Clive's face when he sees what you two did. I like a good laugh." At the same time, she grabbed a notepad and pen and wrote on it: Don't make plans for Saturday. We're headed to the Halliwell Manor. She tossed this onto her partner's desk. "You don't mind if I invite Sora along with me, do you?" She looked to Sora, and Sora nodded.

"I don't mind at all," Cliff said. "Coronado wants to be the responsible one, and I'm inclined to let him. If I can, I plan to drink: heavily."

"Oh no," Elli said and muffled a laugh. "You know how you get when you get drunk. Flexing your muscles for people, picking people up and holding them over your head, giving everybody bear hugs, taking your clothes off, and don't forget getting frisky." She whispered the next part. "You're such a happy, horny drunk."

Sora heard her and laughed.

Cliff laughed too.

"Don't let that get around," Cliff said.

"Never," Elli said.

"I'll text you the details later as I get them," Cliff said.

"Sounds good," Elli said. "Talk to you later."

Cliff and Macias pumped iron for a little while before they took turns on the sandbag. They both saw Julio, who grabbed their attention. They greeted Julio as he and a buddy of his went to take turns bench pressing. Cliff and Macias went back to their sandbag.

"Part of the reason I wanted to go to the gym with you today is because I wanted to talk to you," Cliff said. His focus was on his punches and the sandbag. "Are you all right with me and Elli back together: at least intimately?" He stopped punching the bag. "I should've brought this up sooner."

"Far as I know Elli and I are on the same page," Macias said. The puzzled expression that took to Cliff's face made Macias smile. "Neither one of us minds taking advantage of you."

Cliff tried not to smile at that. He looked away from Macias.

"Your body I mean," Macias added.

"I know what you meant," Cliff said.

When Cliff gave Macias his attention again, Macias saw the look in Cliff's eyes that told him Cliff wanted to broach something that wouldn't be easy for him to talk about. It was a hard look.

"You been sleeping with other guys," Cliff said. "Right?"

How did Cliff manage to make him feel guilty when he knew Cliff wasn't trying to do so?

"I only bring it up because I want to keep you and Elli safe," Cliff said: his concentration back on his punches and the bag.

"I know," Macias said.

"Elli knows we're involved," Cliff said. "You know she and I are involved."

Macias, and Elli probably too, knew that those were it. While he and she might have been with other people, masturbated, used toys, or whatever, Cliff ignored urges. He didn't have sex with other people, and he didn't masturbate. He was akin to a camel or a hunchback whale. He didn't need it, but when he got it you had to be ready.

"I've been fucking two guys regularly," Macias said, looking upon Cliff's face even though Cliff wouldn't look at him. "We get checked regularly, together, and always use protection: condoms and Prep. I don't let anyone else fuck me. You're the only one I let fuck me." Macias caught Cliff's eye when he said that. Cliff didn't let his eye linger. "It's been awhile though."

Cliff held onto the bag and stopped it from swinging. His attention wasn't on Macias.

"You want to go in the back," Cliff said, "so I can fuck you right now." He let his eyes meet Macias'.

"Are you serious?" Macias said. "You mean in the locker room, right now?"

Cliff said nothing. He grabbed his growing hard-on for a quick second and showed it to Macias.

"If you got a condom," Cliff said.

"I've got you covered Sarge," Macias said.

"Let's get to it then Sarge," Cliff said.

Macias headed into the locker room, and Cliff followed behind him, glancing around him, taking in his surroundings, to make sure no one was headed in with them.

They didn't bother to get undressed. Once in the locker room, in no time at all Cliff had put on a rubber and was deep in Macias with one of his arms wrapped around Macias' chest and his other wrapped around his neck, hitting a hard, fast, and aggressive rhythm.

Cliff had never done anything like this in such a public place. Yes, he'd had some sexual encounters with Elli and Macias in public, outdoor spaces, but he never had done anything with either of them inside a building where they were most likely to get caught. Elli and Macias had given him opportunities, but he always declined. He didn't want people to think badly or poorly of him. He was helping to raise two kids, teens, and he already had something of a reputation because he fought so much, even if it was on behalf of others.

Now, Cliff didn't much care if he got caught. Clive and Coronado were adults now. Coronado had made that clear. And like Clive had said, they were Witches, which meant they had a job that could cost them their lives at any minute. It reminded Cliff of being in the military. The point was…he wanted to be happy. He thought he had known what that entailed until his life turned upside down six months ago and then again several weeks ago. He didn't know anymore, but he did know he wanted to make the people in his life, who he cared about deeply and more than anything, happy. With his Dad possibly alive, and him with an idea on how to find out for sure through their Uncle, and learning of his Mom's past and her emotional turmoil and journey, and thinking of how and knowing why his Gramps coped with living the way he did all those years, drinking, sleeping around, and gambling, Cliff had made up his mind in the past week that he would try, try his hardest, to ensure he and his brothers got what Coronado always wanted them to have: a full life, even if it did manage to be a short one.

"Fuck!" Macias exclaimed through gritted teeth when Cliff fucked the cum out of him. He shot all over the lockers in front of him. "Fuck…"

When Cliff came, soon after, he thrusted deep, which made Macias take in a quick breath, and then Cliff rested on Macias' back. They were both hot, sweaty, and breathing heavily: still connected. When they heard someone moan behind them, they both turned to find Julio, who had just shot into his own hand.

Julio looked up.

"Eh…sorry," Julio said. "But, that was fucking hot."

Macias laughed.

"I won't say anything," Julio said. "If I had of known, you two were, I would've left you alone Cliff." He had looked upon Cliff's face, which for anyone who knew of him would know it had assumed its neutral position.

Cliff had turned away from Julio to pull out of Macias, remove the rubber, and tuck himself back into his sweatpants. He tossed the rubber in the nearby trashcan.

Julio was worried and nervous about Cliff's reaction as he pulled up his pants

Macias pulled up his gym shorts.

"You're good," Cliff said.

Julio breathed a sigh of relief.

"We're glad you enjoyed the show," Macias said and laughed. He wiped down the locker with some of the disinfectant wipes.

Cliff shook his head while smiling.

"Shower time," Cliff said, grabbing Macias by the head and moving him along toward the showers. He followed him. "You too." He spoke to Julio. "Come on."

Cliff picked up three towels from the shelf. He threw one at Macias' head, and he handed another to Julio. They each took a shower in separate stalls. Macias sang. Julio laughed. Cliff enjoyed their company.

~~~!~~~!~~~!~~~

"If everything has been moved out of your apartment," Clive whispered to Reese as they climbed the stairs of her old apartment building, "why'd you want to come back here?"

"I wanted to become a famous chef," Reese said. "I learned from my grandmother. When she died, she left me some beautiful jewelry and an ornate cookbook in which she had written a lot of her recipes: not just hers but those she'd gathered over the years from family, friends, and places all over the world. She used to travel. I always wanted to travel. I'd like to get the jewelry to my mom, but I'd like you to have the cookbook. That way it passes on to someone who enjoys cooking and has a passion for it. My mom? She can't even make toast."

Clive laughed.

"I couldn't accept it," Clive said.

"Please," Reese said.

They reached the third floor and went to the room at the end of the hall on the left side. Clive knocked on the door and waited. He knocked again. No answer.

"No ones home," Reese said. "Maybe we can come back later?"

Clive looked down the hall. He reached into his wallet and pulled out a credit card.

"No more of your time should be wasted," Clive said.

"What are you going to do?" Reese asked.

"I was the mild-mannered one out of the three of us: my brothers and me," Clive told her as he slipped the credit card into the vertical crack between the door and the frame, "but that also allowed me to be the sneaky one. I read and hung out with the wrong crowd growing up, and I learned a few things." He got the door open, and they went inside. He slowly and quickly shut the door.

"You're a Witch with a few tricks up your sleeve," Reese said.

"The old ladies at my Gramps' church would've considered me a troubled youth," Clive said, "had not my younger brother Coronado already long since claimed the title."

"Follow me," Reese said. She took in the apartment as she walked. "Everything's different. It's crazy to have lived a whole life somewhere and then see it completely gone." She took them to her old bedroom into the closest. She pointed into the ceiling. "The jewelry box and the cookbook should be up there."

Clive went and grabbed the desk chair in the bedroom. He climbed it, and he reached into the ceiling and pulled out the items Reese had discussed. Afterward, he returned the chair back under the desk. He examined the cookbook.

"This is beautiful," Clive told Reese.

"My grandmother was multitalented," Reese said. "I only added one thing. Well, I added one section. She was terrible with desserts, so I started the dessert section and added recipes for Banana Foster's Cake, Lemon Meringue Pie, and Baked Banana Pudding."

"I'm terrible with desserts too," Clive said, "but those sound good. I'll try my hand."

"Hopefully you'll add your own too," Reese said. "Let's go. I don't want you to get in trouble."

The twosome quickly left Reese's old apartment: Reese peeking her head through the door to make sure no one was coming before they left.

~~~!~~~!~~~!~~~

Elli, Sora, and Macias sat at a table in the back corner of an elegant Chinese Restaurant called The Ancient Tiger. They were having dinner together, but the purpose of their meeting was to discuss business.

"Every time I come here I am blown away," Elli said. "The food is amazing. I don't know whether to get what I always get or try something new."

"I've never been," Macias said. "Thank you for the invitation. This is your family's restaurant?"

"Yes," Sora said. "We've had it for generations. It's gone from fast food delivery service, best hole in the wall of the city, to five-star taste-sensation. My parents and grandparents do much of the cooking while owning it. My aunts and uncles tend to the business side of things. My younger cousins run the front of the house. My brother manages. Here he is now. Elli, you remember him. Macias, this is my older brother Jinrei."

Jinrei was tall and ruggedly built. He had dark brown eyes, maintained a head of styled, jet-black hair, and wore thin-rimmed glasses.

Elli waved.

Macias stood and shook his hand.

"This is his first time," Sora said.

"You're in for a treat then," Jinrei said. "I would suggest ordering the Peking duck. I hope you don't mind if I borrow my sister for a moment."

"No problem," Elli said.

"Not at all," Macias said, "thank you, and I'll take your suggestion."

Sora stood from the table, and she followed her brother to the lounge area where people could see the night view of the city. She heard the last few comments from Elli and Macias.

"Damn," Macias said. "Excuse my language. That's a good-looking man."

"I know right," Elli said. "His wife thought so too. They've been married four years, and they have four kids."

"Sora comes from a good-looking family," Macias said. "Apparently, Jinrei's wife can't get enough of the good stuff."

"Stop," Elli said.

The two of them laughed together. Sora couldn't help shake her head.

"What is it?" Sora said when they reached the corner off to the side to themselves.

"I think you're right," Jinrei said.

The two of them had a clear view of Elli and Macias from where they stood. Both of them leaned on the small, round, tall table that occupied their space.

"Could it even be possible?" Sora asked. "Why do you suddenly agree with me?"

"Macias," Jinrei said. "He has been in the presence of all three of their powers. I would say he's spent a majority of time in their home. It's their center." He looked to his sister. "Because he's here in the restaurant, his connection to the supernatural and magic has been magnified." He pulled out the amulet at his chest for a moment before he returned it inside his shirt. "It alerts me and gives me readings."

"I don't plan on saying a word or making a move until I know for certain," Sora said, looking to her brother.

"You could just ask them," Jinrei said, adjusting his glasses.

"I'm a stranger to them Jinrei," Sora said. "If I ask them, they immediately won't trust me, and then they might possibly think I'm a danger to both Elli and them. I won't risk that. I have my duty."

"You're right," Jinrei said. "Besides, there isn't really a need to rush or worry."

"Exactly," Sora said. "I should be able to obtain confirmation of their identities tomorrow night. If they are who we believe they are, I'll speak up. I'll make a move soon after. Each week they draw her closer to the truth."

"Cliff does," Jinrei said.

Sora nodded.

"It's him, Clive too, but it's mostly the brothers' activities," Sora said. "Doesn't matter. She can't learn the truth. I won't let it happen."

"I understand," Jinrei said.

"If you'll excuse me," Sora said. She returned to the table with Elli and Macias.

"We've got a little time before the food comes," Elli said. "Your cousin said she'd get you your usual."

Sora nodded.

"I wanted to discuss Clive's surprise birthday party," Elli said. "I feel that would be the best time to get a hold of this book you mentioned Macias. We, Sora and I, can ensure they don't go upstairs. You can search for it, and if you find it take pictures. You never really said why you think this book is important?"

"The thieves wanted it," Macias said. "Their mom knew about it. She claimed she wanted it. Tells me it has some importance." He hadn't told them about seeing Elli become Lori. He figured that could've been the trick of the eye. That had to have some explanation. "In your business, I think it would at least be called a clue."

"Maybe it contains details of what they do or how they do it," Sora said.

"It could contain the why," Elli said. "It might also tell us what keeps happening to the criminals once they disappear."

"You said you didn't think they were into anything illegal," Macias said.

"I don't," Elli said. "I'm not saying I believe they're murdering people or dumping bodies in shallow graves. I'm just saying this book might have the explanation."

"We've decided," Sora said. "We have a plan. Now, let's enjoy a good meal, and we'll tackle this tomorrow night."

"Agreed," Elli said.

"I'm with that," Macias said.

~~~!~~~!~~~!~~~

Clive stood just behind Reese as they stood before four headstones: Ruth Anne Quincy – Beloved Mother and Grandmother, William 'Bill' Jean Quincy – Beloved Husband and Father, Thomas Delilah – Beloved Husband and Father, and Reese Jean Delilah – Beloved Daughter.

"I keep coming back here," Reese said. "I don't know why. At first, I think I was looking for them. I was looking for my grandparents and my dad. I was hoping they'd show up, find me, and lead me to where I'm supposed to go: to what's next. Then, I guess I kept coming back as a reminder. It's sad, but I'm not sad for myself. I'm sad for my mom. She's all alone now."

"You two were close," Clive said.

Reese turned to face him.

"She was my best friend," Reese said. "That probably sounds pathetic, but we talked about everything. She was always there for me, especially after my dad died. She could always, always, make me laugh."

"That doesn't sound pathetic at all," Clive said, shaking his head. He was trying not to cry.

Reese couldn't cry, but she sounded like she very much wanted to.

"Every year we would celebrate my birthday together," Reese said. "This would've been the first year after three years with my abusive ex Damian. I didn't go though. I skipped out on it to meet with some guy. That's why…That's how…I died." She looked at Clive a moment. "I gave up on my birthday. That's the main reason I didn't celebrate it. I was tired, sad, and lonely. Told myself another one would come. Like it always does." She met his eyes. "Don't ever give up on your birthday. Don't let life bring you down to the point that you don't celebrate it." She turned back toward her grave. "Because when you're gone, when your short life is over, you won't have to worry about ever celebrating it again."

Clive looked upon Reese's grave and then looked upon Reese.

"Hey," Clive said. "Let's go. You've introduced me to your family. I want to introduce you to mine."

Reese turned toward Clive and nodded. They left together, walking side by side.

~~~!~~~!~~~!~~~

"Got your text," Cliff said, sitting at the island when Coronado came through the back door with two handfuls of bags. Cliff took the bags from him. They were decorations. "You got everything covered?"

Coronado went and shut and locked the door.

"Yes," Coronado said. "I got it all done. Food will be catered. Cake is ordered. An old buddy of mine is going to DJ the event. Sent out invitation texts."

"Who all did you invite?" Cliff asked.

"I invited some of his work friends," Coronado said, "specifically Ximena. I invited some of his old culinary school buddies. I got in contact with some of his Tae Kwon Do and gaming buddies. They all said they'd be happy to come. They were kind of surprised because they realized they'd never known him to celebrate his birthday with a party. I had to tell them it was because he never had."

"They'll make this one a great one," Cliff said.

"I got Clive a gift," Coronado said. "By the way, because you didn't help, you're paying for half of everything. And no, you're not putting your name on the gift I got him."

Cliff couldn't help laugh.

"I would've helped if you'd have let me know what you needed done," Cliff said.

"You can help now by taking that stuff to the basement because you're the only one who ever goes down there," Coronado said, "and we need to hide this stuff until late tomorrow."

"I live to serve," Cliff said, carrying all the bags down into the basement.

"I know you had sex," Coronado said, shouting down after him. "Cracking jokes and laughing…You can't pull anything past me."

Cliff had gone down the stairs laughing, but he came up the stairs good and quiet with a neutral expression and straight face.

"I knew it," Coronado said, sitting down at the table. "You and Elli?"

Cliff sat on his stool, and he looked at Coronado who was smiling. Coronado's smile slowly faded.

"I actually want to tell you," Cliff said, "but I'm afraid if I talk about it with you I might ruin one of the presents I have for Clive."

"I'm guessing that's the two of us not getting into it," Coronado said.

Cliff nodded.

Coronado laughed softly to himself.

"Well," Coronado said. "We can talk about it. Let's just take it easy. We'll go, and if it looks like it might get ugly we'll stop."

"It was with Macias," Cliff said. "We, uh, did it in the locker room at the gym."

Coronado started laughing.

"I knew there was a young, fun, and wild ma n deep down underneath that old man somewhere," Coronado said. "I mean, we're all related to Gramps, and Gramps was a freak."

Cliff shook his head and laughed.

"Never done anything like that in a public place," Cliff said.

"Never?" Coronado half-questioned and half-exclaimed. "Man, I've done it in parking lots, libraries, offices, etc., etc. Go on."

"That was the first time since you know," Cliff said. "A guy from work ended up catching us, and he uh-" He gestured with his hand jacking off. "To us."

Coronado laughed again, and Cliff laughed with him.

"I didn't even care," Cliff said.

Coronado gave him a look.

"I cared for a minute," Cliff said. "Then, I got over it. I mean, I wasn't ashamed, and I didn't feel guilty."

"You're not supposed to feel those things when you're having fun and when you're happy," Coronado said.

They shared silence for a few moments. They weren't looking at each other. Cliff was leaning forward on the stool, holding his fist. Coronado was leaning backward on the table, resting on his elbow.

"I was angry with you because you gave him something I can't give him," Cliff said. He wasn't looking at Coronado.

This caused Coronado to sit up, but he didn't say anything for once.

"Yeah," Cliff said, "I know it doesn't make sense. He fucks other guys. I can ignore that. But this was you, and I caught the two of you. Like you wanted." He finally raised his head and looked at his brother. "Gramps used to tell me all the time 'It's weak to give your heart away. Don't do it. Why? Because you need it if you're going to be strong, if you're going to do the things you know have to be done. You can't be weak Cliff. I'm shit. So, you have to take care of yourself, your brothers, and this family, especially after I'm gone.' Yeah, sometimes he was drunk when he told me that, but it's always stuck with me. Those two have my heart, and they know it, even if I can't properly express it. You and Clive, you're always going to be my younger brothers no matter how old you get. Now that we're Witches, I'm going to be more protective than I was before."

Coronado smiled at this.

"You all think I don't know myself," Cliff said. He sat back and leaned against the island. "I know myself too well. I know I care too much. I'm a jealous guy. I feel strongly. I can get-" He coughed. "A tad bit violent." He coughed again. "If I didn't know me before, my powers have hit me over the head with it. All that to say I'm trying and I'm going to try to be more open with all of you, and that I am truly sorry for hurting you. That was unforgiveable."

"Don't apologize," Coronado said. "I brought that on myself. I knew what I was doing: sort of. Is it stupid that I'm glad we fought? That was real. You felt like my brother. You should've kicked my ass. And this conversation here, this is real. We should've become Witches sooner. The point is part of the reason I did it is because I never could understand you. I didn't know if you resented us or hated yourself. You wouldn't let me and Clive know. Gramps probably knew better. You. Clive got to know a little more eventually. I feel like this is the first time you let me get to see you. I get it. I at least have a better sense. I finally understand." He paused briefly. "You." He rapped on the table. "We should do this again some time."

Cliff smiled. Coronado laughed. They both turned toward the front door when they heard Clive enter.

"Hey guys," Clive called to them. "I'm here."

Cliff and Coronado went and stood in the foyer. Clive shut the door and locked it. Reese took several steps down the short hall. Clive went before her and stood just inside the foyer as she stood in the hallway entrance way.

"Glad you made it," Cliff said. "Your messages had me concerned, especially after not hearing from you the rest of the day." He looked to the young woman. "Hello. I'm Cliff."

"Sorry about that," Clive said. "We had errands to run." He held up the jewelry box he held in his hand and the cookbook tucked to his chest.

"I know you," Coronado said. "I've seen you before. You're from the restaurant." He looked to Clive, speaking in a quick whisper that they all could hear. "If I would've known you were already seeing someone, I wouldn't have been pushing you earlier."

"No," Clive said. "We're not together." He looked at Reese, and Reese looked at him. She smiled and looked down and away, and he smiled and looked up and away. "This is the person we need to help. Her name's Reese." He went and set the jewelry box and cookbook down on the foyer table.

Reese waved.

"No offense," Coronado said to Reese and then spoke to Clive, "but she doesn't look like she needs help."

"She's dead," Clive said. "She's a ghost. She needs our help to move on."

Cliff and Coronado both looked to Reese in unison, and then they both looked to Clive in unison.

"She doesn't look dead," Cliff said.

"She's not a ghost," Coronado said. He looked to Reese. "I'm sorry. He's kidding. He's a kidder." He looked back to Clive. He spoke in another quick whisper that everybody heard. "What are you doing? Stop that. Stop insulting the pretty lady."

"I'll prove it," Clive said. "Reese." He turned toward her. "Think fast." He tossed his car keys at her.

Reese didn't even move to catch them. The keys sailed through her. She gave him a look and then giggled.

"Family meeting," Cliff said.

"Family meeting," Clive said.

"We got to talk this out," Coronado said to Reese. "Don't mind us."

"Take your time," Reese said. "I'm not going anywhere."

"Be right back," Clive told her. "Feel free to tour the manor."

Reese giggled and nodded.

Cliff, Clive, and Coronado took to the kitchen.

"Are we sure this isn't some kind of trap?" Cliff asked, crossing his arms and taking a firm stance.

"I'm sure," Clive said. "She told me how she died. It was four weeks ago. She was one of Violet's victims."

"Sorry man," Coronado said.

"That's not definitive proof," Cliff said. "I'm not trying to poke holes."

"It's not a trap," Clive said. "Just trust me. I want to do this. We're going to do this."

Cliff glanced at Coronado, who shrugged. They both recognized that Clive was adamant about this.

"All right," Cliff said. "You seem like you have a plan."

"I do," Clive said, turning to Coronado. "I was hoping you'd get a Premonition. That might give us an idea of what to do or how to help."

"That's a good start," Cliff said.

"The two of you seem to be forgetting that I don't actually have control over my power," Coronado said. "Today that came in handy though. Gave me an in with my boss. Made her climax twice with my tongue."

"Get your brother," Cliff said to Clive.

"Do not use your power to get action," Clive said, grabbing onto Coronado's shoulders, shaking him a little bit, and speaking just a bit overly loud.

"Can't control it," Coronado said.

"Yes we know," Cliff said, " but you can control yourself."

"Eh," Clive said. "That's debatable."

"What," Coronado said.

"Back on topic," Clive said, "can you try?"

"I was always going to try," Coronado said. "I just wanted to point that out." He left the kitchen. "Onward."

"Wait," Cliff said. "There was another reason why I wanted to have this family meeting."

"What's the reason?" Coronado asked.

Clive waited to hear what his brother had to add.

"I arranged a visit for us with our Uncle," Cliff said. "It'll be some time next week. They want to give him time to prepare and adjust to the idea."

"Shit," Clive said.

"Oh man," Coronado said. "We're really going to go see him?"

"Gramps said he never wanted any visitors," Clive said. "He didn't when he finally became lucid."

"I told his doctor to relay a message to him," Cliff said. "'We're coming to see you: to help you and Dad.' The doctor told me he calmed down for a few minutes when he got that message before he reentered his agitated state."

"I just hope we didn't give him false hope," Clive said. "Maybe his condition isn't magic related."

"Gramps couldn't help him or Dad," Coronado said. "Mom pretty much confirmed it was though."

"I got the impression Gramps was a pretty strong Witch from Mom," Clive said.

"As strong as he might've been," Cliff said, " according to The Book, he was nothing compared to the three of us."

Clive and Coronado could tell it kind of pained Cliff to say that out loud about their Gramps.

"We'll go," Coronado said. "We'll see. We'll do. Is that all?"

"Yes," Cliff said. "I'll give you two the exact day and time when I obtain that information."

Coronado looked to both his brothers.

"Gentlemen," Coronado said, leaving the kitchen a second time. "Onward."

Clive followed Coronado. Cliff brought up the rear. They met Reese in the living room before the fireplace, looking over some of the family photos: them with their Gramps and Granny, their Uncle and his family, their Dad, and the recent one of their Mom. Coronado put that one up.

"We're going to help," Cliff said. "I apologize if there was any doubt."

"No need," Reese said. "You're actual Witches. It would've been more surprising if you hadn't discussed the ghost girl who showed up out of the blue."

"Were you a Witch?" Coronado asked.

"No," Reese said. "I came from a family of Witch Practitioners. We don't have magic, but we study the supernatural, create remedies, write spells, and brew potions. We pray. We celebrate traditions and important powerful days. Sometimes we have contact with Witches who we support. They bring what we do to life."

"Learn something new every day," Coronado said.

"Can I just say you three are ridiculously good-looking," Reese said. "I feel like I'm dreaming."

"Thank you Miss," Cliff said.

Clive didn't say anything just tried not to blush.

"Us?" Coronado said. "You're fucking gorgeous. I definitely would've come after you."

Cliff slapped Coronado on the back of his head.

Reese giggled.

"Coronado has the power of Premonition," Clive explained. "He's going to try and see something of your past or something of your future that might help us help you."

"You're up Coronado," Cliff said.

Coronado got serious.

"Look into my eyes," Coronado told Reese. "Focus on me."

Reese did as she was instructed.

Coronado looked into her eyes. After a few moments, he slowly closed his own. Somewhere, he guessed his mind's eye, he saw Reese still before him. He took a deep breath. He took a second one. With his third one, Coronado opened his eyes, and he saw flashes: an older brunette with jade green eyes was shouting and arguing with a man with dark hair and dark eyes. He was angry as hell. He threw her to the ground and started kicking her in the stomach.

Coronado came back. He met with jade green eyes again, but this time they were Reese's.

"You all right?" Cliff asked. He could tell Coronado was clearly a bit shaken. He placed a hand on his shoulder. "What'd you see?"

"I didn't see you," Coronado told Reese. "I saw…I saw your Mom. She's going to be in trouble. She wears a watch. It tells the time and date. She looked to be at home. Some guy is going to almost beat her close to death tomorrow at around 11:15 in the morning." He was saying this more to himself, but he caught himself.

Reese covered her mouth.

"We've got time," Coronado said. "Do you know this guy? He had dark hair, dark eyes, and he seemed a little nuts."

Reese looked to Clive.

"That was my abusive ex-boyfriend Damian," Reese said. "He must've found out where my mother lived."

"Hey," Cliff said, drawing everyone's attention. "This is a non-magical matter. We can take care of this right now."

"I'll call her," Clive said. He turned to Reese. "We know an Inspector. She's a friend of the family. She can look into him, and if need be take him in for questioning. We'll make sure nothing happens to your mother."

Clive took out his phone and contacted Elli.

"We'll let him handle it," Cliff told Reese. "If you need anything, just let us know." He looked to Clive. "You too."

Clive nodded.

Cliff grabbed Coronado and pushed him along up the stairs.

"Let's go hermanito," Cliff said. "You did good."

"Elli," Clive said. "It's me. Can you do me a favor without asking too many questions?"

Elli chuckled.

"I'm pretty sure those are the terms of our newfound relationship," Elli said. "Go ahead."

"An old friend of mine used to have an abusive ex-boyfriend," Clive said. "She's worried that he might've found out where her mother lives and plans to hurt her mother to get to her. Could you look into him?"

"His name is Damian Rabineux," Reese said. "I left him back in Kissimmee, Florida. If he's not still there…"

"His name was Damian Rabineux," Clive told Elli. "He lived in Kissimmee, Florida. He should still be there, but if he's in the city somewhere. Her mother's life could be in danger."

"Is there anyway I could talk to the daughter?" Elli asked: serious now.

"No," Clive said, looking to Reese. He began to work his way around the truth without flat out lying. "Where she is she can't be reached. He'll never find her, but she can't come back. She can't be reached. I only know because she got in contact with me. She trusts me to handle it."

Reese nodded in agreement.

"I'll look into it," Elli said. "I'll get back to you about it as soon as possible."

"Thanks Elli," Clive said.

"This is what I do," Elli said. "You're a good friend Clive."

They each ended the call.

"She's going to get back to me," Clive said, retrieving his keys. "We're going to go bright and early to see about your mother."

"Shouldn't we maybe go now?" Reese asked: worry in her voice.

"Your mother works nights," Clive said. "The attack is supposed to happen when she's at home in the morning."

"Right," Reese said. "While she's at work, she'll be safe." She went and sat on the couch. "Now I wait."

Clive went and sat beside her.

"Now we wait," Clive said.

"I'd like to take my mind off of Coronado's Premonition," Reese said. "I grew up an only child. What was it like growing up with siblings? What are they like? I've been curious since you said you were the mild-mannered but sneaky one."

"I don't know what to say," Clive said.

"Anything," Reese said. "Start anywhere."

Clive thought about it.

"I've never really talked to anyone about them before," Clive said. "People talked about them, but I didn't. We all collect things. I collect Video Games. I don't have any time to play them all, but I have my favorite system and buy stuff for it. Coronado collects TV series. He finds a good show, watches the heck out of it, buys the series, rewatches it, and then watches all the cast and production commentary. Cliff collects movies. He loved going to the movies by himself when we were kids. He would go buy a large popcorn, large Icee, and buy chocolate-covered raisins to add to his popcorn, not raisinets because apparently these don't blend well with popcorn, and then he would wait until it came out and buy it. He'd watch the special features, deleted scenes, and commentary only. He never watches the same movie twice. He buys the movies so other people can watch them, which at the time was our Gramps, his longtime girlfriend, and us."

Reese laughed.

"Talking about your brothers put a big smile on your face," Reese said.

"I love them," Clive said. "We drive each other crazy, those two don't always get along, but we share bad memories together and a lot of good ones too."

"Tell me more," Reese said. "We've got all night."

"Let's see," Clive said. "When our Gramps would go on the boat to gamble and entertain the ladies, Cliff would pay me to keep Coronado out of the house, preoccupied, and out of trouble, so he could spend time with his girlfriend: i.e. have sex. He also paid me to buy my silence: hush money.

Reese laughed again.

"I shouldn't tell you this," Clive said. "This is terrible. When our Gramps gave us the sex talk, he told us the most important part of sex was leaving your woman pleased and satisfied."

"Smart man," Reese said.

"Well," Clive said, "he told us the best way to do this was orally. I had no idea how I could accomplish this and I didn't think I'd ever have sex anyway, but I wanted to be prepared so… I couldn't dare ask my Gramps I would've been too nervous, so I asked Cliff who, and this is before I even knew he was having sex, taught me how to do it."

"Keep them coming," Reese said.

"Coronado used to be afraid of sex," Clive said.

"I don't believe it," Reese said.

"It's true," Clive said. "He used to be afraid of girls and guys at least where the bedroom was concerned. This girl wanted to have sex with him, but he got scared. He felt like he wouldn't know what to do, and he didn't know what he was getting himself into. After my first time, with this girl I was with for two years, I was able to explain how it should be and feel. Has to involve a passion that leaves the other person guessing, breathless, and always wanting more. Have to make them feel completely accepted by you. That's all anyone ever wants: to feel accepted."

Reese couldn't say anything to this. She just looked upon him.

"I'm going to tell you this," Clive said, "but it's only because you're dead and I know you won't tell another living soul."

Reese burst out laughing. She covered her mouth.

"Not too soon?" Clive asked her.

She shook her head no.

"Coronado got caught by his coach having sex with a guy under the bleaches after after one of their baseball practices," Clive said. "The coach told Cliff instead of Gramps because the coach knew Gramps might've killed him. Our Gramps was big on family reputation. Cliff actually asked Coronado what it was like to have sex with a guy."

"Really," Reese said.

"Cliff liked to understand things in order to try and be a better Dad," Clive said. "We think the idea of it was so foreign to him he couldn't help be curious. Experimentation was for kids, and Cliff saw himself as an adult. He was already in a stable relationship with a girl he loved. The only reason I even know this happened is because Coronado told me because the thing about Coronado is he cannot keep a secret unless it's his secret. He was the reason for Cliff's hush money. Cliff was never much worried I would tell Gramps anything, but he wouldn't leave to chance I might say anything to Coronado, who would then proceed to get him in trouble."

"Didn't your Gramps expect you all to have sex?" Reese said.

"He didn't want us to have sex," Clive said, "but he wanted us to be safe and prepared if we did."

"Makes total sense," Reese said.

"Cliff used to fight bullies for me and Coronado," Clive said. "I used to get picked on. Coronado used to instigate."

"I can see Coronado instigating," Reese said.

"Coronado would help Cliff with his Math homework and would help me with my English papers because Cliff was terrible with Math and I couldn't write a paper for anything," Clive said. "English papers require you to know so many rules. Coronado's super smart. He's the only one of the three of us to go to college. That's why I sometimes call him University."

"Now I want to call him University," Reese said.

"I would pick up Cliff and Elli on the few occasions they would go out and Cliff got drunk," Clive said.

"The same Elli you got off the phone with?"

"Yeah," Cliff said. "They're basically soulmates. Met when they were younger. They've been almost inseparable ever since."

"Aw," Reese said.

"I prevented Coronado from getting date raped once," Clive said, becoming a bit serious. "I went to the house to get him. He texted me he wasn't feeling so hot. Thought it might've been something he drank. Couldn't tell Cliff because he wasn't supposed to be at that party. Caught this Hockey player trying to enter my brother while he was damn near passed out. I threw the guy off Coronado, borrowed my girlfriend's taser, and tasered the shit out of the guy."

"Did you guys report him?" Reese asked.

"No," Clive said. "Coronado couldn't remember much. He couldn't even say who might have roofied his drink or if the guy was just taking advantage of the situation. I tried to get him to, but he told me he couldn't explain to Gramps or Cliff that he almost let himself get raped by a guy. He told me if I said anything he'd lie and deny." He took a moment. "I think about that from time to time. You think I let him down by not saying anything?" He wasn't looking at her.

"I think you respected his wishes," Reese said, "and he was thankful for that."

"Coronado and Cliff saved me from killing myself," Clive admitted: not looking at her. "My brothers did that for me." He went quiet for a little bit.

"It's okay if you want to talk about it," Reese said. "Might be good for you. Tell me what happened."

"I was in the bathtub with a razor," Clive said, "cutting my thighs. I thought. What if…What if I was gone… Gramps wasn't home. He had to work. He was at work. Cliff brought Coronado home from school: from baseball practice. Coronado burst into the bathroom, even though my music was playing. He never knocked. I didn't lock the door for some reason. He found me in the bathtub about to slit my wrist. He shouted for Cliff: yelled for him. Cliff brought me back. They both did." He looked to her. "Did it hurt to die?"

"Only for a moment," Reese told him. "I'm glad you didn't die then, so I could meet you now."

Before he had entered the bathroom, Cliff heard the song that Clive had been playing for a few days. Clive had it on repeat now: Love Lockdown.

"Clive," Cliff said. "What are you doing?"

Clive said nothing.

"Clive," Cliff repeated himself. "Tell me what's going through your head."

Clive wasn't looking at Cliff.

Coronado stood behind Cliff. He didn't know what to say. He felt like he shouldn't say anything. He kept holding his breath. He kept eying the razor.

"I figured it out," Clive said.

"What did you figure out?" Cliff asked when Clive didn't continue.

"As long as I'm alive," Clive said, "other people can't be happy. I'm nothing. I'm no one. No one wants me around. No one needs me. I have to die."

"You can't die," Cliff said calmly. He shook his head.

"I have to die," Clive said. "I have no one. I serve no purpose. I'm not happy here. I don't want to be here. Bad things happen to this family. It's my fault. They happen to me. They happen because of me."

"You cannot die," Cliff said: losing his calm.

"I'm just a burden," Clive said. "I have to die, so I can be one less problem for Gramps, and you, and everyone…"

"You can't die, okay!" Cliff shouted. He breathed heavily. He acted as if those words and the feelings attached to them burst out of him. He grabbed Clive's attention.

Cliff rattled something in Clive's heart and mind. Clive met his eyes.

Cliff had sent Coronado to his room, but Coronado had made to leave before he turned around and went to stand right behind Cliff. He was stunned by his brother's outburst. This was a side of him he'd never seen.

"I know you're not happy and you feel alone and that nobody wants you," Cliff said. "I know it's not the same. But we need you. You can't kill yourself because if you did you'd kill me. You'd kill Coronado. At the end of the day, if you don't have anyone else, you need to know you have us: your brothers. We won't accept you leaving us behind. We refuse to let you do it."

In that moment, Coronado truly admired his brother: for not letting his perceived duty to them as their Dad prevent him from being their brother at a most critical moment in their lives.

"Are you going to tell Gramps?" Clive asked without looking at Cliff.

"I won't tell him anything if you promise me you'll talk to Coronado or me if you ever feel like you've reached this low point again," Cliff said.

Clive wouldn't look at Cliff. He stared at the water. He stared at the razor he held in the water.

Cliff reached into the water and pulled Clive out of it.

Clive fell onto Cliff and hugged him.

"I promise," Clive said. He started crying.

Cliff hugged him back.

Coronado took the razor from Clive's hand, placed it on the counter by the sink, and hugged them both. After a minute or two, he spoke to both his brothers.

"Can we get Clive dried off and put some clothes on him?" Coronado asked. "I think I've seen enough of his dick for today."

Clive started to chuckle.

Cliff tried not to smile.

Coronado glanced down among the three of them before he glanced back up. "Yeah, he needs to get dressed. I think I'm starting to develop some dick envy."

Cliff smiled.

Clive laughed: out loud. He saw the razor. He went, picked it up, and gave it to Cliff. Afterward, he grabbed a towel and wrapped it around himself.

"Get out please," Clive said. He was embarrassed that his brothers had seen what he had.

"Aye aye broham," Coronado said.

"Nothing to be ashamed of," Cliff said. "Gramps once told me we come from a long line of pretty dicks, but it's our mission to learn and know how to use them properly."

Clive fell out laughing.

"Please stop," Clive said.

"Coronado's not the only comedian in this family," Cliff said. "I've got a joke or two up my sleeve."

"I don't think that counts because we all got that same sex talk," Clive said.

"Fair enough," Cliff said. "I'm going to order a pizza."

"Two," Coronado chimed in.

"We'll meet you down stairs," Cliff said.

"No," Clive said. "Don't order the pizzas. I'm going to cook. Just hang out in the kitchen with me while I do it. Like we used to do when we were kids with Dad when Mom cooked."

"You got it," Cliff said. He and Coronado went downstairs into the kitchen to wait on Clive.

Clive turned his music off and looked at himself in the mirror for a moment or two before he nodded to himself and got dressed to join his brothers.

"I know I've already asked too much of you," Reese said: as the sun was about to come over the horizon. They sat on the roof of the manor. Clive had taken her up there, and they climbed out of the stained glass window. "Would you play my favorite song of all time?"

"That's easy," Clive said. "I can do that. Just tell me the song."

"Only Hope," Reese said. "It's by Switchfoot."

Clive found the song on his phone. He had it on a playlist himself. He played it.

Reese and Clive sat beside each other. They watched the sun rise.

~~~~!~~~~!~~~~!~~~~

When Clive and Reese came back into the manor, went down stairs, and entered the kitchen, Cliff was drinking some coffee, and he handed Clive a cup of tea.

"I'm headed into work," Cliff said.

"I thought you were working nights this week," Clive said.

"I want my Saturday night free," Cliff said. He looked to Reese. "I've been working and working, and working is fine. It's not everything though."

"I'd agree," Reese said, giving him a nod.

Cliff finished his coffee, washed the cup out, and was headed out the door.

"If you need anything," Cliff told the both of them, "let me know." He was almost out the door. His hand was on the doorknob, and he was about to leave. He stopped.

Clive and Reese were seeing him off.

"You're not taking the night off for a surprise birthday party that might be happening for me," Clive said, "are you?"

Cliff turned around. His face gave nothing away. His mind was on the conversation he had discussed with Coronado about having with Clive.

"I can't say it," Cliff said. "I barely can explain why, but it dawned on me a couple years ago that I can't bring myself to do it." He looked upon his brother's face. "For a long time, I don't even think I believed in it. Then, I met Elli, and I felt it. I met Macias, and I felt it. I knew the feeling when I couldn't even name it."

Clive and Reese listened. They waited when Cliff paused for a brief moment.

"You can't give up on it," Cliff said. "It's because of you I even believed in the possibility of it. You believed so strongly in it that I decided to give it a chance: as opposed to ignoring it or avoiding it. I wouldn't recognize you without it. You wouldn't be you without it." He paused again. "Listen to me. I wouldn't steer you wrong." He nodded to Clive and left for work.

Clive nodded back, even though Cliff had already gone.

"What was he talking about?" Reese asked, turning to look upon Clive's face.

"Love," Clive said without looking at her.

"I'd agree with that too then," Reese said, standing in front of him so that they could look into each other's eyes. "No giving up on love. You've got too big a heart to do that. Just know it comes in the most unexpected of ways at the most unexpected of times." She made him smile. "My mom should be up by now, having her morning tea. Is it all right if we go to see her?"

"Let me take a quick shower," Clive said. "I don't want to meet your mom like this. I smell."

"Go ahead," Reese said and giggled, shaking her head.

Clive went to do just that. He was a little worried because he hadn't heard back from Elli yet. Just as he finished getting dressed and rejoining Reese in the foyer while she admired the grandfather clock, Elli called.

"Is it bad?" Clive asked, answering the call.

"He's in town," Elli told him.

Clive didn't put her on speakerphone, but Reese looked upon his face. He looked away: not exactly on purpose.

Reese caught his eyes.

"You can tell me Clive," Reese said.

"I'll tell you," Clive said.

Elli heard him: quickly theorizing the daughter might be there with him but she didn't ask.

"I've spent most of the night with Narcotics trying to track him down," Elli reported. "He's got drug ties. He's got dangerous friends. Looks like he leads a drug ring. He has two bases: one down in Florida and one here. He's originally from Florida. I had to dig, but when I found him his rap sheet was a mile long, including some domestic abuse charges. Do you want me to send some police to watch over the mother's house for the time being?"

"No," Clive said. "I'll find her, talk to her, and get her somewhere safe until I hear from you again about his whereabouts."

"Are you sure?" Elli asked.

"Please don't worry," Clive said. "It's bad enough I got you involved. I'll take care of it. My brothers and I will."

"Be careful and be safe," Elli said. "Whatever it is you and them might do."

They hung up on each other.

Elli made up her mind to look after Clive and the situation on her own. Reese Jean Delilah… She figured that was one of the daughters' names. She would use it to track down the mother's house and monitor things from a distance.

"He is back in town," Clive told Reese. "We're going now. Let's go. You give me directions, and I'll get us there."

~~~~!~~~~!~~~~!~~~~

Once Reese stood alone in front of her mother's home, but this time she stood beside Clive.

"You nervous?" Clive asked her.

"It'll almost be like talking to her again," Reese said. "Hope she believes you."

"Let's find out," Clive said. He walked toward the door and knocked on it.

"Who is it?" the older woman said on the other side of the door. "It's a little too early for company young man."

"Her name's Billie Anne," Reese told him.

"Yes ma'am you're right," Clive said. "My name is Clive Halliwell."

"Halliwell?" Billie Anne questioned. "That sounds familiar."

"I know you don't know me," Clive said, "but I'm here to talk with you about your daughter." He was nervous. He wasn't a big fan of meeting new people. He wanted a cigarette. However, he grinned and bore it. This wasn't for him. It was for Reese.

"My daughter…" Billie Anna said softly. "She's dead."

"I know ma'am," Clive said. "I'm a Witch." He never thought he'd say that out loud to someone. "I came across her yesterday as a Spirit. She's here with me now right beside me. We need to talk to you."

The door swung open.

"Reese," Billie Anne almost exclaimed. She looked directly at Reese like she felt her there, even though she couldn't see her. She looked to Clive. "Halliwell. My mother used to talk about you or rather your family. I was worried the tragedy of her death would keep her tied to this world. I'm glad she found help from one of the greatest Witch families to ever live: no matter what anybody says. Come in: both of you."

Billie Anne held the door open. Clive allowed Reese to go in first, and then he went inside. He handed her the jewelry box Reese wanted to give her. Billie Anne thanked him.

"Thank you Reese," Billie Anne told her daughter. "Have a seat on the couch." She told Clive. "I'm going to get you some tea."

"Follow me," Reese said. She watched her mother zoom off before showing Clive to the living room.

They took a seat beside each other. Billie Anne brought in a tray with two teacups, milk, and honey along with the kettle. She poured Clive a cup and prepared it. Reese and Clive noticed she already had a cup. Reese looked upon her mother lovingly when she saw that the second teacup was her old favorite cup. Her mother prepared her a cup of tea just the way she used to drink it.

"I know you can't drink it honey," Billie Anne said, tearing up, "but I just wanted you to know that I still think about you every day." She wiped tears away from her face as she took a seat in her chair.

"I didn't think this would hurt so much," Reese said.

"I'm here," Clive told her.

Reese nodded.

"You know about my family?" Clive asked.

"My mother knew about your Gramps," Billie Anne said. "She respected him as a Witch. Rumor has it he vanquished over a thousand Demons. I suspect she hated him for other reasons." She chuckled. "I think she used to say he was a handsome man with the devil in his eyes. You're handsome, but I definitely wouldn't say the same for you. You have kind eyes."

"You were worried she'd be tied to this world," Clive said. "Why?"

Billie Anne sighed, and she looked toward Reese.

"Reese honey," Billie Anne said. "I kept a secret from you. Your grandmother was an actual Witch. It skipped me. So were you."

Clive and Reese looked to each other before they looked back to Billie Anne.

"It's possible for anyone's soul to linger if their death is that tragic or they have unfinished business," Billie Anne said, "but it's more than likely for a Witch, especially after taking in consideration the circumstances of that Witch's death."

"How?" Reese questioned her mother but wanting Clive to ask her mother that question. She was focused on her mother while patting his thigh, even though her hand was going through his thigh. "I didn't have any powers. What do you mean?"

"She wants to know how," Clive said. "She didn't have any powers."

"You did," Billie Anne said. "You had the ability to talk to the dead, and they could talk to you. They did. That was pretty frightening for a little girl. We bound your power. When you grew older, we agreed we didn't want you to get killed over it, so it was better that you didn't regain it. That didn't seem to matter…" She trailed off.

Clive didn't say anything. He and Reese waited.

"Because you died before I did," Billie Anne managed to say, "I think your power was unbound but reversed itself. You're a dead person who can now talk to supernatural beings, which is why you can talk to Clive. I think it did this in an effort to help you."

Reese was kind of speechless. She sat back on the couch.

"Can you explain why it would need to help her?" Clive asked, sitting forward. "Do you know why she can't move on?"

"She lost her heart," Billie Anne said. "She can't move on until she's complete, whole. She can't move on until her heart is restored."

"How could that even be possible…" Reese whispered to herself.

Clive looked to her.

"Hey," Clive said, drawing her attention. "We'll find a way."

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. Clive checked the time on his phone. It was nowhere near 11:15, but Clive thought about it. It was completely possible that because they had taken steps to try and prevent the incident from happening that they changed when it might happen. Billie Anne got up to answer the door, but Clive stopped her.

"Let me answer it," Clive said. "We have reason to believe that Damian might be trying to find Reese through you."

Billie Anne sat back down.

"Actually," Clive said. "We should get you out of here. Go out the back door. You should see my car out front." He handed her the keys. "I'm going to try and talk to him. If things don't go well, Reese and I don't want anything to happen to you."

"I'll leave it to you," Billie Anne said. She grabbed her purse and went out the back.

Clive went to the door when someone knocked on the door again. This time rather impatiently. Reese stood beside him. Clive opened the door

"Good morning," Clive said. "How can I help you?"

"That's him," Reese said. "That's Damian."

"Who are you?" Damain asked. He did have dark hair and dark eyes. He was darkly handsome, and he was clearly someone people wouldn't want to meet with in a dark alley. "Are you Reese's new boyfriend? Tell me where that bitch is."

"I'm a friend of the family," Clive said: very much wishing Cliff or Coronado was here. "If you come in, we can talk about Reese." He saw Billie Anne heading for his car. He opened the door for Damian.

"I like you already man," Damian said, patting him on the shoulder. "Sounds like you provide solutions to problems." He did a complete 180. He walked a little ways in the house.

Clive shut the door behind him, took a few steps, but stayed relatively close to the door. He shook a little.

"Are you scared?" Reese asked.

"A little," Clive whispered. "Trust me. That's a good thing."

They both saw the gun at his back.

"We need to get you out of here," Reese said.

"Don't worry I'm a Witch," Clive whispered back. "I have a power too."

"Are you going to tell me where she is?" Damian said, turning back toward Clive when he realized Clive wasn't following him.

"She's dead," Clive said. "She died four weeks ago. You can let her go. There's no reason for you to come back here or harass her mother."

"You're lying," Damian said. He saw the three teacups on the coffee table.

"Why would I lie about something like that?" Clive said.

"To keep her from me," Damian shouted back. He pulled the gun out on him. "Tell me where she is or I'm going to kill you. And if I can't get an answer from you, I'll just wait here until I can get an honest answer from her mother."

Clive held up his hands.

"I wish she was here," Clive said. "I wish she was still alive, so I could've shown her that there are men out there that aren't like you or like the man that killed her, but she's gone."

"Clive…" Reese said while Clive focused on Damian.

Damian fired the gun.

"Clive!" Reese shouted.

Clive froze the room. He stopped the bullet in midair.

Reese looked to the bullet and then looked to Clive.

"My power is Temporal Stasis," Clive explained. "I get scared, and I can freeze time."

"Nifty," Reese said. "Handy."

"Ain't that the truth," Clive said. "Ghosts and Spirits must not freeze: outside of time."

Reese looked to Damian. "How long does time stay frozen?"

"Not long," Clive said. "Time to go."

Reese went through the door, and Clive opened and ran toward the car. Reese got into the back seat, phasing through the car door. Billie Anne already had the car started. Damian opened the door and looked after them. He and Clive looked upon each other before Clive sped off.

~~~~!~~~~!~~~~!~~~~

"Hey," Coronado said, calling Cliff. He was lying in the bed, staring at the ceiling. "Can you talk?"

"Finally up for the day I see," Cliff said. "Yeah. Wouldn't have answered if I couldn't."

"Thanks smartass," Coronado said. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing much," Cliff said. "It's Saturday, so I'm making sure my guys get some kind of work done. Right now, they're just fooling around."

"I'm calling because I'm leaving it up to you to get Clive out of the house later so I can decorate and get everything and everyone set up," Coronado said. "Ximena's going to help. She offered."

"That works," Cliff said. "I'll take him to go get his gift. I'd been searching for it for a while, and the guy said he'd let me have it if I came and picked it up and paid in cash."

"What are you getting him?" Coronado asked.

"No pissing contests!" Cliff shouted all of a sudden.

"Yes Dad," some of the men shouted back. They were laughing.

"Sorry about that," Cliff said. "I'm getting him the old fighting game he loved as a kid to add to his collection - Rival Schools: United by Fate."

"It's that authoritative tone in your voice that gets both men and women hot and bothered," Coronado said. He tried not to laugh. "You need to get that under control."

"Is that all you wanted?" Cliff asked: ignoring his comment.

"That's for being a smartass," Coronado said. He had a Premonition.

Coronado saw flashes: he saw Damian again and he saw Reese's mother. This time Damian had two other men with him. One of the men seemed to be watching the back door, and the other one seemed to be covering the front. Reese's mother seemed like she'd been beaten up pretty badly already. She was a crumpled mess on the floor. Damian, with those eyes of his that were angry as hell, pointed a gun at her and fired to end her life.

Coronado came out of it taking a deep breath, trying to breathe.

"Are you okay?" Cliff asked. "What's going on?"

"Something happened," Coronado said. "Things just went from bad to worse. I had a Premonition. This time instead of beating her down Damian shoots and kills Reese's Mom."

"Elli's calling me right now," Cliff said. "I'll see if she's apprehended the guy or if she's found where he is. If not, I'll call you back, and we'll call Clive to see what our plan of action is going to be."

"Gotcha," Coronado said.

"Hey Elli," Cliff said. "I'm glad you're calling."

"Is it because you want to talk about Damian Rabineux?" Elli asked him.

"Yes," Cliff said. "You have him in custody?"

"No," Elli said. "I tracked down the location of the mother's house, and when I get there I'm going to monitor it in case he shows up. We can't pick him up for an attack on the mother unless he does something, but he does have some outstanding warrants."

"We have a feeling he's going to kill her if he doesn't get what he wants," Cliff told her.

"Is she with you guys?" Elli asked. "Is the daughter staying with Clive?"

"No," Cliff said. It wasn't a lie because he didn't have a location for the mother and Reese was dead.

"I found a Reese Delilah when I found the mother," Elli said. "Her daughter died a while back. She was one of the victims of the case with Clive's ex Violet. I feel bad for the mother. She lost one daughter and the other daughter has to stay away for fear for her life. I can't even find any record of another daughter, but I'm assuming she went to great lengths to erase her identity so she wouldn't be found."

"Stay safe," Cliff said. "I know you can handle yourself, but stay safe."

"I'll bring him in and be at the party before you know it," Elli said. "Bye Cliff."

"Bye Elli," Cliff said.

Cliff called Coronado back and had Coronado call Clive.

Clive was with Reese and Billie Anne. They were at the park, walking around the pond there.

"This is a conference call," Coronado said.

"Where are you?" Cliff asked Clive.

"I'm at the park with Reese and her mother," Clive said. "I had a run in with Damian." He put them on speakerphone.

"I had another Premonition," Coronado said. "In this one, Reese's mother ends up dead. Damian kills her and has two other guys help him do it."

"Elli's going to monitor her house," Cliff said. "We can leave it in her hands. She can stay with us until it's all squared away."

"No," Clive said. "We should take care of it."

"I don't think that's smart," Cliff said. "We don't have to get involved in this case."

"Coronado said it'll be Damian and two other guys," Clive said. "I'm not saying Elli can't manage it, but it sounds like Sora's not with her on this one, which means she's working alone. If Elli's outnumbered, she could be the one that ends up dead."

Cliff didn't say anything in response.

"We should go," Clive said, "but even if you two decide you don't want to I'm going. Reese is dead. She shouldn't have to feel responsible for her mother's death too."

Coronado didn't say anything. He waited for Cliff.

"Here's what we're going to do," Cliff said. "You drop Reese's mother off at the manor, pick up Coronado, and then swing by and come get me. If we're doing this, we're doing this together."

"Actually," Clive said. "I'll come by and get you Cliff. Coronado, you should get to the attic. I think the fact that we try to change what your Premonitions show you sometimes changes what happens next. He saw me leave the house in my car. He might track me down first, making a stop at the manor."

"Bring her here then," Cliff said. "I'll have Macias look after her. We'll clear the manor, and if they aren't there. We'll head to the second location."

"And break," Coronado said, taking himself up to the attic.

"Ok," Clive said. "Thanks."

"It's not that I don't want to help Reese," Cliff said. "I'm just thinking about everyone."

"I know," Clive said. "I'm not scared right now because I know I can count on you. I just need your help."

"That's what I'm here for," Cliff said. "See you soon. Coronado, don't try to be a hero like last time."

"I'm bunkered down in the attic right now," Coronado said. "Demons and Warlocks I can handle. Guns? No sir."

"All right," Cliff said.

"We'll be there as soon as possible," Clive said.

They all hung up from each other.

Elli alone in her SUV, because Sora had the day off, followed Clive and Reese's mother in his car.

~~~~!~~~~!~~~~!~~~~

When Clive, Reese, and Billie Anne arrive at Cliff's job site, Billie Anne stopped them before they climbed from the car.

"Reese," Billie Anne said before she raised her head to look in Reese's direction, even though she couldn't see her. "In case I don't get to talk to you again…" She was already tearing up. "You were the best daughter. I love you so much. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you from Damian, and I didn't tell you about being a Witch. I just wanted you to be happy. I'm so sorry you died."

Clive couldn't look at Billie Anne. It was too sad. He was trying not to tear up. He reached over and took her hand to hold it. She held onto both his hands.

"You were the best," Reese said. "Please don't be sad while I'm gone. I'm going to watch over you, and I want you to keep on living, even if it is without me."

"She says you were the best," Clive said. "She doesn't want you to be sad. She's going to be watching over you, so you've got to live and live well without her."

Billie Anne nodded and cried. She took a handkerchief from her purse and wiped her eyes.

Cliff came to the car with Macias. He and Clive shared a look.

"You going to be all right?" Cliff asked under his breath.

Clive nodded.

Billie Anne left the car. Cliff and Macias helped her out.

"Make sure nothing happens to her," Cliff told Macias. "Watch over things for me. Don't let the guys get out of hand. If the big man has a problem with me leaving, tell him I'm good for it."

"You and I hit the same rank," Macias said. "I got this. Go do what you have to do." He allowed Reese's mother to take his arm. "Ms. Delilah. Right this way."

"They don't make them like you anymore,"" Billie Anne said, laughing through her tears. She made Reese laugh too as she smiled after her.

"That's how I'll always remember her," Reese said.

Clive drove them off toward the manor. Elli followed them.

They went to the manor and cleared it. They saw no sign of anyone going through it or stopping by. Then, the three brothers headed back to Billie Anne's house. Reese instructed them to go through the back, getting them to get the key under the flowerpot.

"I'll go in first," Clive told his brothers. "If anything goes wrong, I can just freeze the room."

"I'm going to be right behind him," Reese said. "Just in case Damian decides to shoot first and ask questions later."

"I'll check the perimeter real quick," Cliff said. "Coronado, go in a little bit after to help watch his back."

"Ok," Coronado said.

"I won't be long," Cliff said, trying not to smile when he noticed Coronado fidget.

"I'm good," Coronado said.

Clive and Reese entered together. When they made it just into the dining room, they saw one of Damian's men in through the living room. Clive made quick work of him with his Tae Kwon Do before the man had the chance to take out his gun. Coronado, who came in just as the second guy came in from the attached garage to check out what the commotion was inside the house, grabbed the nearby cast-iron skillet and beat the guy on top of his head until he dropped his gun and fell to the kitchen floor unconscious.

"Who says I'm not good in the kitchen," Coronado said, tossing and spinning the skillet in his hand.

A third guy came into the kitchen from the hall. He had his gun trained on Coronado.

"Didn't foresee you," Coronado said, putting his hands up along with the skillet.

Cliff came from behind the third guy, quickly and quietly, putting him in a sleeper hold until he went unconscious. He laid the guy on the floor. He took both guns and emptied them before he placed them at his back.

"You got away from me once," Damian said. He had his gun trained on Clive in the living room. "Not again. Tell me where she is."

"I wouldn't," Cliff said, coming into the living room with Coronado. "You hurt him. It'll be the last thing you do."

"You brought numbers this time," Damian said to Clive. "So did I."

Two more guys came in with guns behind Cliff and Coronado.

Cliff pulled Coronado behind him and faced down the two men.

"You're not going to kill me," Clive said. "You're not going to kill them. You're going to leave Reese's mother alone."

"You talk a lot you son of a bitch," Damian said, " but you're not saying anything I want to hear. If you won't tell me what I need to know, there's no use for you."

Cliff Telekinetically sent the two before him down the hall hard into the wall. They fell to the floor unconscious. He turned toward Damian who grabbed Clive and put his gun directly to the side of Clive's head.

"I don't know what the fuck just happened," Damian said, "but I'm pretty sure you can't do it again fast enough to stop me from blowing this man's head off."

Cliff glared into Damian's eyes. Coronado looked upon Clive's face.

"Clive," Reese said. "Clive. Please. Don't die. Don't die because of me."

Clive smiled to her. "I won't. I wouldn't do that to you."

"Who the fuck are you talking to?" Damian shouted.

Clive nodded to Cliff.

"Reese," Clive said. He elbowed Damian, turned around, and moved Damian's gun arm into the air. Damian shot a bullet right before Cliff Telekinetically sent the gun out of his hand just as Elli shot Damian in both his legs through the living room window, which dropped him to his knees.

"I'm so glad you're all right," Reese said, smiling.

"You made me brave," Clive said to her.

Coronado looked to Cliff.

"Should I go open the door for her?" Coronado asked him.

Cliff nodded while making a face.

Coronado went and opened the door.

"You three," Elli said, walking into the living room, holstering her gun, and handcuffing Damian. "Need to go." She read Damian his rights.

"There are five other guys in the house," Cliff told her. "They have guns."

Elli checked her watch.

"My backup will be here in less than a minute," Elli said. "I'll take it from here. I'll talk to you three later."

"Yes ma'am," Cliff said to her.
Elli tried to hide her smile and rolled her eyes.

"Back door," Cliff told his brothers. "You heard the lady. Move out."

"Did you see what they did?" Damian asked Elli as the brothers left the house. "Tell me you saw what they did. They're not normal!"

"Shut up," Elli said.

Cliff, Clive, and Coronado, along with Reese, returned to the manor. They gathered in the foyer.

"Your mom will be good now," Coronado told Reese. "I had another Premonition. I saw her on a cruise ship, lounging and getting her drink on."

Reese laughed.

"Thank you," Reese said. "You all did more than enough. I'm sorry I placed your lives in danger."

"We're Good Witches," Cliff said. "It's our job. That comes with the job. No thanks necessary. Besides, it was mostly Clive."

Reese looked to Clive, and Clive looked to her.

"I wish…" Reese said. She placed her hand close to his face: without touching him even though she desperately wanted to.

"I know," Clive said, placing his head as close to her hand as he could.

Cliff and Coronado watched, as an elderly woman appeared close behind her.

"Don't be alarmed," the elderly woman said. "It's just me: her grandmother." She gestured toward Reese. "Looks like you found your heart old girl. It's time to go."

Reese looked to her grandmother before she looked to Clive.

Coronado took out his phone, and he played a song: This Is Not The End.

Clive and Reese laughed. Clive was tearing up.

"Time for me to go," Reese said. "I can't thank you enough."

Clive nodded.

"Hey," Reese said. "Enjoy your life Clive. Celebrate your birthday. Take care of your brothers, and let them take care of you. Find love. Be happy. Because life is too short."

Clive nodded again, crying.

"Goodbye," Reese said. She left him with a kiss on his cheek.

Clive almost felt it.

"I'll tell your Gramps you said hello," the grandmother said.

Cliff acknowledged Reese in farewell. Coronado waved. Clive met her eyes and held them until she turned and walked with her grandmother. Her grandmother took her hand and led her. They walked toward the manor door. It opened, and they walked into Light. It closed behind them.

Cliff and Coronado gathered around Clive. Cliff held onto him, and Coronado embraced him.

"I couldn't say goodbye," Clive said.

"She knew how you felt," Cliff said.

The song ended.

"Let's you and I go get Reese's mother settled," Cliff said. "Then, I'll take you to get your birthday present."

"My birthday isn't until tomorrow," Clive said. "October 26."

"You'll get your present a day early," Cliff said. "Why not."

"I'll hold down the fort," Coronado said.

They parted ways.

~~~~!~~~~!~~~~!~~~

Hours later, Coronado met Cliff and Clive as they entered the manor.

"Welcome home," Coronado said.

"What are all those cars doing on the street?" Clive asked. "Is somebody having another block party?"

Cliff smiled behind him, shutting the door behind them.

"Nope," Coronado said, leading him into the living room."

"Surprise!" Everybody shouted toward Clive. "Happy Birthday!"

"You're having a surprise birthday party," Coronado said.

"Did we get you?" Cliff asked him.

"You got me," Clive said. "Thanks you two."

"No problem," Cliff said.

"It's about time you had a real party," Coronado said. "Eat. Drink. Be merry. I want to know what you think about everything, especially the food."

"He did most of the work," Cliff said. "He wants to make sure he did an excellent job, so he can rub it in."

Clive laughed.

"I'll let you know," Clive told Coronado.

Clive mingled, collected presents, and thanked people for coming.

Cliff spoke with Elli about earlier. Elli signaled to Sora. Sora sat near the bay windows with the cat, which was snuggling in her lap with her, nearby Coronado. She signaled to Macias. Macias made his way upstairs.

Elli had formally introduced Sora to Clive and Coronado when they arrived.

Cliff had spoken with Elli and Macias together alone.

"I wanted you two both here," Cliff had said. "Is that okay?"

Elli and Macias looked to each other before they looked to Cliff.

"You got us," Elli said.

"Now you won't be able to get rid of us," Macias said.

Elli and Macias laughed.

Cliff smiled, nodding his head.

"We're going to enjoy the party tonight," Elli had told Cliff later privately, "but you, your brothers, and I are going to talk about earlier another time."

"Yes ma'am," Cliff had told her.

"You came," Clive had said upon coming across Ximena.

"I did," Ximena said.

"Coronado said you helped decorate," Clive said. "Thanks. I know we haven't known each other that long, but thank you for helping my brother with this."

"It was nothing," Ximena said.

"I know you're into fighting games," Clive said slowly. "I am too. I told you that." He took a deep breath and tried not to laugh nervously but failed. "Would you want to hang out and play it some time? Tomorrow? It's a classic: Rival Schools."

"I used to love that game," Ximena said, pushing him back and making him laugh. "Sorry. I'd love to."

"Cool," Clive said. "Tomrrow then."

"Hey Macias," Coronado said.

"Hey Coronado," Macias said.

"Good to see you again," Coronado said. "Hope you're not still mad at me."

"I'm not," Macias said. "I never really was."

"You taking care of him?" Coronado asked him.

"All the time," Macias said.

"Keep it up," Coronado said.

Coronado was a little bit disappointed Prynn didn't show, but he let that disappointment pass.

"Coronado," Sora said. "Does your cat have a name?" She was rubbing the cat behind his ears, which caused him to purr.

"Oh yeah," Coronado said. "We finally got around to naming it. I got around to naming him. He's close to you. He won't let anybody else here touch him. He got his name from one of my Mom's favorite Halloween movies: Hocus Pocus. His name's Max."

"I know that movie," Sora said. "Why not name him after the cat in that movie?"

"I thought that would be too long a name," Coronado said. "Plus, I thought it might be too on the nose."

Macias decided the first place to look for The Book should be the attic. He found the attic door locked. He climbed out of Cliff's bathroom window, and he entered the attic through the stained glass window. He took out his phone and cast light around the attic.

"We shouldn't leave The Book out in the open anymore," Cliff had said: a couple days after the shapeshifters. "The podium was a good spot, but it's too risky."

"I talked to Mom," Coronado said. "She suggested we keep it where Gramps and Dad used to keep it."

"The trunk," Clive said.

"The trunk was enchanted," Coronado explained. "It can't be opened by supernatural beings."

"That's why we could never get into it," Clive said.

"We'll keep a lock on it for natural beings," Coronado said, "and magic will keep out the supernatural ones."

"Now that we own the trunk, share ownership of it, we're the only ones that can get into it," Clive said.

"Then it's decided," Cliff said. "We'll always make sure to keep The Book in the trunk." He let his eyes fall on Coronado.

"Why do you look at me when you say that?" Coronado asked.

"You know why," Cliff said.

"Agreed," Clive said.

"Agreed," Coronado said. "I fall asleep in it on my bed one time." He took The Book from the podium, and he placed it in the trunk before Cliff tossed him an old combination lock. Clive pushed it in the back and out of the way.

Once the work was done, they looked upon the trunk before they left the attic.

"The attic was locked I say it's safe to say you're in here somewhere," Macias said, talking to himself. Doesn't take him long to come across the trunk.

"Bingo," Macias said. "A combination lock usually mean something valuable, and this looks like Cliff's old one, which means I know the combination."

Macias found The Book. He pulled it out. He started to read. His mind was blown to say the least.

"Witches…" Macias said to himself. "The Charmed Ones…"

Macias tried to take pictures, so he could send them to Elli and Sora. It didn't work.

"Must be magic," Macias said to himself. "This is crazy." He put The Book back, he placed the combination lock back on it, and he pushed the trunk back where it belonged. He stood, but then he stopped and thought. "It would explain a couple things. I know that wasn't Elli that Michelle fought last week. There was the caved in locker a couple weeks ago with Cliff. When Clive watched his brothers fight, time did seem to stand still for a moment before it got bad. Coronado basically knew about his relationship back then."

Macias shook his head and left the attic the way he came into it. When he returned the Cliff's bedroom, as soon as he came into the hall, Sora met him.

They heard a song playing downstairs. People were drunkenly singing along: Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight.

"What did you learn?" Sora asked him.

"I found The Book," Macias said. "It said they were Witches."

Sora nodded as if she expected this.

"Did it just say they were Witches?" Sora asked.

"It called them The Charmed Ones," Macias said.

Sora nodded again knowingly.

"Did you already know this?" Macias asked.

"I had my theory and my suspicions," Sora said. "You confirmed it. We can't tell Elli."

"It's going to be hard not to tell her because she knows I went up here to search for The Book," Macias said. "Why can't we tell her?"

"Are you sure you want to know?" Sora asked him. "I can make you forget. Once you enter this world, there's no turning back. It's a dangerous world Macias."

"I want to know," Macias said.

"Elli is a descendant of supernatural warriors or humans who fought on behalf or on the side of the supernatural called Chevaliers," Sora began to explain.

"The opposite of Van Helsing," Macias said. "I'm following so far."

"I am a WereTiger," Sora said. She changed her hand into a paw, showing her claws, before she changed it back. "I'm her sworn protector. I'm the sworn protector to the oldest descendant of her family who becomes connected to the supernatural world because Elli's ancestor saved my family centuries ago at the cost of her own life. Elli became the chosen because of the relationship she established with Cliff when they were younger. I've been near to protect Elli from Evil her whole life."

"Elli doesn't know," Macias said. "She doesn't know any of this."

"None of her family does," Sora said.

"I would ask how do I know you're telling the truth," Macias said, "but I just saw what you did with you hand and I know I'm not crazy and I know I'm not drunk."

"I'm glad you believe me," Sora said. "It's important you believe me."

"I still don't understand why we can't talk to Elli about this," Macias said.

"Once Elli learns the truth," Sora said, "she'll do a lot of good and save a lot of innocents: like her ancestor did, like many of her ancestors did. Unfortunately, history will repeat itself. She'll die young protecting an important supernatural being. The Warlock that was going to kill my family placed this curse on Elli's ancestor and her family line. You just confirmed for me that not only are The Halliwell Brothers Witches but they're also the most important supernatural beings in the supernatural magical community."

"You're saying that if we tell Elli the truth about all this, open that door, she will probably end up dying young protecting them from something, protecting Cliff from something," Macias said.

Sora nodded.

"There's nothing we can do?" Macias asked her.

"There's something you can do," Sora said. "You know them. They have no reason to trust me or anything I would have to say. I am but a stranger. You can offer them a choice: offer Cliff the choice. He can either never tell Elli the truth and erase her memory anytime she comes close to learning it or tell her the truth and try to find a way to save her from that fate. And there is no way to know, no way to guarantee, he or they could or would succeed."

"I have to be the one to tell him this," Macias said. He placed his forehead on the doorframe of Cliff's bedroom. "He's already going to be pissed when he finds out I know his secret, but on top of it I have to tell him the first love of his life who he just reconnected with might be in danger of dying, protecting him. Oh, also, there might be nothing he can do about it."

"You love Cliff," Sora said. "I can tell you've come to care about Elli, even if it has been a short amount of time. She likes you too. She told me." She shook her head. "It won't be easy, but maybe this will help. They're The Charmed Ones, which means they're the most powerful Witches of all time."

"But what does that mean?" Macias asked her.

"It means there's a chance," Sora said. "It means there's hope."

Macias and Sora rejoined the party, walking down the staircase. Sora caught sight of Elli, and Macias caught sight of Cliff. Cliff and Elli, in their respective parts of the manor, didn't see them. Sora agreed to lie to Elli for them, and Macias agreed to talk to the Halliwell Brothers in the morning. They both agreed they shouldn't do anything to spoil the night or the party. When they reached the end of the staircase, the song ended.

The party went extremely well. The Halliwell Brothers had a great time, celebrating together. Cliff got drunk, taking off his shirt and hugging and kissing all over Elli and Macias most of the night. Coronado got drunk, sleeping with two different girls and a guy but not all at the same time. He kept the party hopping, being a form of entertainment and a good host. Clive got drunk, dancing up a storm, showing his moves, and impressing everybody. The back flips, front flips, and spins were a nice touch.

Elli had never seen such a sight of these three. She took a photo of the three of them together. Macias watched over Elli right before she showed him the picture. It was a good one. He looked upon the Halliwell Brothers as they got long with each other and enjoyed each other's company.

~~~~!~~~!~~~!~~~~

"I'm never drinking again," Coronado said on the floor into the kitchen trashcan.

Clive was lying on his back across the kitchen table.

"You say that every time," Clive said. "Now stop shouting."

Cliff was clutching a bottle of Whiskey on the kitchen island with his head on the island with his eyes closed. He said nothing.

All the guests that had needed a place to stay because they were too drunk to leave had gone by now. It was mid afternoon.

Macias came by through the back door. He knocked and drew all their attention.

They gestured for him to come in, but they said nothing.

Cliff had his eye on him. He could tell Macias was clearly nervous about something. Macias was never nervous. Cliff raised his head from the kitchen island.

"We're not moving," Coronado said, "so I hope whatever you have to say you can say it in front of all three of us."

Clive groaned.

"You don't have to be so loud," Clive said.

"The three of you being hungover should make this easier," Macias said, "but I don't think it will."

"You need to talk to all three of us?" Clive questioned him.

"Oh yeah," Macias said. "Before I start, I want to preface this." He looked directly at Cliff. "You have to listen to me all the way through. Cliff, you're going to want to push me away, but fight that initial urge. Clive and Coronado, this isn't going to be easy to hear. I hope you two can help him, and the three of you can somehow figure this out."

Clive rose from the table. Coronado took his head out of the trashcan.

"You're going to tell me now," Cliff said.

"I have to tell you now," Macias said.

Coronado hopped on top of the island by Cliff, and Clive went and stood beside him. They all waited, listening.

Macias put in a wireless ear bud and listened to the song Miracle.

"I know the three of you are Witches," Macias said.

Clive made inhuman noises.

"All the way through," Macias said.

"I found out last night when I snuck into your attic and read from your Book," Macias said.

Coronado put a hand on Cliff's shoulder to keep him on the stool and looked at him a moment as Cliff glared at Macias before he himself looked back to Macias.

"Elli talked to me," Macias continued. "She wanted my help, so she could learn your secret. I know it, but I haven't told her. I can't tell her."

The firs part didn't surprise them so much, but the second part left them confused.

"Why can't you tell her?" Coronado asked.

"Short version – Sora is a WereTiger who was sent to protect Elli who is a Chevalier," Macias said. "Elli doesn't know she's a Chevalier. She doesn't know anything about this world. Sora knows you're Witches too. She didn't want to come to you until she knew for sure but also because she knew you probably wouldn't trust her. I confirmed what she already suspected when I told her last night. Elli gained Sora as a protector when she became connected to you Cliff. However, the problem is if Elli finds out anything about the supernatural the curse on her family line will become active. She'll die young protecting an important supernatural being as many of her ancestors have in the past. You three are The Charmed Ones. Sora said Elli might die protecting you three or you Cliff, or you, the three of you, might find a way to break the curse and save her. But there would be no way to know for sure, there would be no guarantee, after Elli learned the truth that you saved her." He finished. There was silence, except the music in his ear.

Cliff clutched that bottle of Whiskey so hard Clive and Coronado thought it might break in his hand. He swallowed hard before he stood up.

"Don't do anything you'd regret later," Clive told him.

Cliff got close to Macias. He got in his face.

"My initial urge is to punch you as hard as I can, put my fist through your teeth," Cliff said, "but my heart won't let me do it. Sora's right. I wouldn't trust her. I don't trust her. Do you know she could be using you and Elli to get to me and my brothers?" He turned away from him but got right back in his face. "You don't know what shit you got yourself into. I barely know anything about this shit, and I have powers to protect myself. You can't protect yourself Macias." He looked at the floor as he tried to understand before he looked back to Macias. "And you're telling me, you're telling me, Elli is this fucking close to figuring us out, because of me, because of us, and if she does she'll probably die, and it'll be all my fault because we got involved with each when we were kids?" He took the top off that Whiskey and took a hard swig. "Bullshit. Bullshit. I just got her back." He looked at Macias. "What am I supposed to do with this Macias? What the fuck do I do with this information? You've endangered my whole family. Yes, that includes you and it includes Elli." He took another hard swig. "I'm not blaming you. It was me. I did this. It's always me." He left the kitchen, chugging his Whiskey.

Macias' song ended.

"What do you think you all will do?" Macias said slowly. "What do you think he'll do?

"Worst case scenario – he'll cut Elli out of our lives," Coronado said. "Hence, the heavy drinking."

"We won't let him do that," Clive said. "I would suggest keeping Elli in the dark until the three of us can talk and try to come up with a solution. I would also suggest steering clear of Sora as well."

"Yeah," Coronado said. "I'll use that Book to research WereTigers and Chevaliers. If nothing bad turns up, we might be able to trust what Sora said. We might be able to trust her. Hey, Max liked her. That has to be a good sign."

"It would still be bad for Elli," Clive said.

"You're right," Coronado said, "but I'm confident we'll figure something out. It's awesome you know though Macias. We've got somebody outside the three of us to talk to about this stuff now."

Clive looked to Coronado and shook his head.

"Not right away," Coronado told Macias.

"Give him some space," Clive said. "I'll contact you when you can talk to him. If you come across any trouble, come stay with us. He didn't put it the best way, but he's right. Your life could be in danger too. The Evil we face can take many forms. He's angry with you, but he's scared for you too."

"I'm going to go," Macias said. "I'll wait to hear from you. Tell him I love him, and I didn't mean-"

"He knows," Coronado said. "Get out of here, and don't think anything of it. We'll take it from here. Unlike in the past, he'll let us."

Macias left the manor.

"I'm going to hit The Book," Coronado said. "That sobered me all the way."

Clive nodded in agreement.

"We should probably try to find another hiding place for The Book too," Clive said.

Coronado nodded in agreement.

"I'll check on him," Clive said.

They headed up the stairs. Clive checked Cliff's room. He wasn't in there. He followed after Coronado who had gone straight for the attic. They found Cliff in an old rocking chair, drinking his Whiskey and flipping through the book.

"Find anything?" Coronado questioned him.

"WereTigers exist," Cliff said. "So do Chevaliers. I won't bore you two with the details, but they're forces of Good." He stared at The Book. He didn't look at his brothers. He sounded tired, and he sounded older than he ever had.

"Take the Whiskey from him," Clive whispered to Coronado.

Coronado gave him a look.

Cliff nodded.

Coronado took the Whiskey. Clive took The Book.

"Go downstairs," Clive instructed. "Get showered. Get dressed. Put on your Sunday best. I want you both to accompany me somewhere. I know you just threw me a party, but today's my birthday and I want this as my on-my-birthday gift."

~~~~!~~~~!~~~~!~~~~

When they were all dressed and ready to go, Clive drove them. He made one stop at a flower shop. He bought a bouquet of flowers. The final stop was at a cemetery. He took them to Reese's grave. He put down his phone in front of her headstone. He played a song: If I Die Young. He placed the flowers at her grave. The three of them stood together as the song played. Coronado stood to the left, Cliff in the middle, and Clive to the right. The song ended.

"As long as we're alive," Clive said, "our stories are not over. We're not done. There are things we can do."

The three brothers held onto each other. They watched as a phrase appeared on Reese's headstone ~ Go in Peace and Love.