Then

As they turned down a side street Anna studied the houses. "I don't come this way often. Which one did they take?"

"The old Skinner place isn't it?" Cole reached down for a leaf that had turned orange early.

Anna took the offered leaf and brought it close to smell. "No that's out by the school."

"Really? The things you miss when you lived in a trailer park." Cole tsked.

"I think it was the Hewitt's. Some relative of ours, I can't remember how removed but Mom would know. They moved out to Colorado or somewhere Midwest."

"You Holm's and your taking over the town." Anna pointed at a ranch style house. "That one."

"With Caroline sitting on the stoop, yeah I think you're on to something." Ethan chuckled.

"Hmm. Single level. Easily accessible windows." Anna's hand clapped on Cole's shoulder to keep from falling as Ethan kicked at her ankle.

Caroline rose and hitched her school bag on to her back while Ethan beamed as they crossed the lawn.

"Hey. Do you want to put your stuff in ours instead? We're just coming off a hike."

"No, I'm good." Caroline smiled at Ethan's friends.

"Oh right. Cole, Anna Jane." He smacked the back of his hand on each without looking away from her.

"Just reverse those." Cole muttered.

"I managed to guess who's who. It's great to finally meet you guys."

"Finally." Anna arched a brow at Ethan. "See, you didn't have to hog her."

"It's still within September, chill. Curfew? He asked Caroline.

"Uh, not too late. My parents are actually out hiking too. But they'll be home later tonight, I'll just want to beat them back."

Cole considered her and his grin flashed. "Why, they know you're out don't they?"

"Well." Caroline hitched the backpack a little further up.

Ethan chuckled. "There goes any worries I had about us being a bad influence."

"You shouldn't judge the homeschooled. But really, they know I'm going out but I didn't tell them I'd be with anyone."

Cole punched his chest twice while Anna caught the mock fainting Ethan. "She's ashamed of us already Mother." Ethan told Anna.

"I didn't even wear my best overalls and straw hat." Anna sniffled.

"Hey, I don't know you three. What if you have some hazing ritual planned? I'll survive it sure, but if my parents hear about it they'll pull me out of school."

"Worse than shame. Distrust." Cole said with a shake of his head.

"Wait, it could be an appreciation for books and movies like Carrie." Anna looked to Ethan.

"Well I have a crush on her, so I accept." He winked and gestured for them to start back down the sidewalk.

As Cole turned to lead the way, Anna asked Caroline how she liked transitioning from home schooling. Though she kept in step closer to Ethan, and blushed when he said crush, there wasn't really a shyness about Caroline, which the other two had been expecting. She had a very precise and sure way of speaking one wouldn't equate with a soft demeanor. And it was also immediately apparent to Cole and Anna that she wasn't Ethan's typical type.

Physical wise Ethan would be the first to say he didn't have a type. He just liked female. And his best friends would usually agree. But personality wise he didn't range far from having a relationship where they didn't ask much, and nor did he. He didn't use the girls in their school, as some may. But Ethan didn't share much of his life, he didn't seek out being an integral part of theirs. Now his friends realized Caroline knew a great deal more about him than girls he'd dated for months at a time. And where he'd typically push no further if a girl stopped talking, he continued to draw out more where Caroline was concerned. By the time they made it to The Grand, Cole and Anna were six steps past interested in the new development.

"What's it like to live in a hotel?" Caroline asked as she looked over the building.

"Pros and cons like anywhere I guess." Anna shrugged. "We bounce around often but it ends up being the place we go back to. So it feels like a hotel and it doesn't."

"We've moved so much, that even houses feel like a hotel. Or like…uniform. My parents did a good job dressing them up even though most don't on base. This is still the first house to not feel that way."

Ethan returned Caroline's smile. "Another reason to be thankful you're here."

Maybe Cole and Anna elbowed each other a few times, but they couldn't deny they'd relaxed considerably. Just as the woods had done.

They began to pass the Grand, but it was Cole and Caroline who fell into step as she paused to admire the murals that decked the east wall of the building. Cole took out his camera to oblige as she pointed at the color blending in one. Various theatre images were painted over the brick. The classic masks held the attention of the middle while scenes played around surrounding. Stanley yelling for Stella, Poe with a raven perched on his arm, the Younger family around a dinner table, Titania and Oberon in the moonlight, and dozens of others flowed from roof to basement.

"It's probably the best advertising the town has to offer." Anna smiled as she always did looking at The Grand. "Papa is convinced when he dies they'll paint him as Puck in the Midsummer one."

"As they should." Caroline touched fingertips to the brick. "I haven't picked my medium yet with art, but painting is definitely the leading lady."

"You're an artist?" Cole asked.

"Aaand they're off." Ethan's grin stretched a town block as he watched Cole offer his camera and show Caroline how it worked. "I figured you three would bond over that stuff eventually and get Cole out of his shell."

"I'm not sure he was in it." Anna leaned back against Ethan as she took in the view as well. Apart, but not separate.

"You're thinking of the woods still." He asked and felt Anna's shrug. Tucking his chin on the top of her head he continued in French. "Quit it."

"It wasn't Carlisle." She said low, also keeping to French.

"What?"

"When I looked up the first time. It wasn't Carlisle I saw. His hair and his clothes were light. I could have spotted that from even further than where I was. But I didn't see gold, I didn't see a white shirt."

"Ok. Whatever it was, nothing happened though."

"I'm not real sure of that, and really you aren't either." Anna gaged how involved Cole and Caroline were. "We're fine, but it's something to think about later. I'm not going to miss one second of this."

Caroline looked over and laughed. "Was that French?"

"They do that." Cole muttered and blew at some stray dirt on his camera.

"That's so cool, can you teach me some? Might sink in more than it does in class." Caroline walked over.

"Hey, I was speaking it too, and I'm in your French class. Why don't you ask me?"

"Because her accent was better than yours."

Ethan shoved Anna away, who did nothing but laugh and link her arm through Caroline's.

"La petite knows what she's about. Sorry about that." She told Caroline as the four of them walked on. "We didn't mean to cut you guys out, it's just a habit. We've tried to teach Cole. He holds on to the key phrases but not as much as Ethan has gotten. Terrible pronunciation and all."

"Well you do have the upper hand of being Cajun. He told me." Caroline pointed behind them at Ethan when Anna raised a brow.."

"Well well. Technically, I'm only a bit Cajun. I can only trace some of the one side. Where does your family come from?"

As they walked and learned of Caroline's life and she theirs, the breeze carried their laughs, making a sunny day of their own. By the time they made the loop of the town, it didn't quite seem like three friends and the girl one of them was crushing on. They blended. Easy and quick, so that Ethan Cole and Anna's thoughts were of that faraway fall day where the three of them walked the same streets and into an ice cream parlor. When they made it up the hill towards the elementary school Cole's hand automatically reached for a quick squeeze of Anna's.

"Well this is too sweet." Caroline turned in circles as they walked towards the playground. "Are we allowed to be here on a Saturday?"

"Aha, there's the rookie." Anna laughed. "If it was a rule, I doubt we'd pay it much mind. But regardless, there's only one other playground in the area, so a lot of times kids come here. Not today looks like."

"They're steering clear of the woods probably." Cole stared at the trees now.

Caroline dropped her pack to the ground and squared her shoulders as she walked to the swing set that's back was to those trees. Anna pat a beat on her heart. "Am I gonna make friends with a girl finally?"

"Me first." Ethan jogged over to take the swing next to Caroline's. He watched Cole wander to the butterfly garden the students planted at the end of every term. Anna was already half up a tree. He felt completely relaxed before the first rush of air and push of the swing.

"So."

"So." Caroline agreed as she pumped her legs. "I think you worried for nothing."

"I wasn't worried." He rolled his eyes when she pffed. "I wasn't. You're nice, they're nice. No worries."

"I don't think it was that simple to you. I don't know you Ethan, and I may be a homeschool kid, but I do know guys. If you weren't worried you would have had them join us at lunch the first day. You made it a thing."

"Might be because others have made it a thing."

"I'm not others."

"No." He looked up as she flew past, watching the way her dark hair swung with her like a curtain. "Neither are those two."

"I like them a lot. I would have tried to like them anyway, but I'm glad I don't have to try. I could use some friends."

"I hope you three get to be friends. I want to be your friend. But I also want to be more."

Caroline slowed and swayed a bit so she bumped Ethan's swing. "I hoped so."

"Did you." He reached out and caught one of her chains. "So are you going to come out with me tonight Ro? Just us."

"I think that's a definite possibility. Ha!" She half laughed, half squeaked as with a tug and a spin Ethan pulled her on to his lap and swung them both. "How did you…"

"Ethan!"

Anna jumped down from the tree, barely missing hitting one of the lower branches. Cole was closer and ran to her as Ethan kicked up gravel as he threw his legs down and leaped with Caroline off the swingset. "Jesus, she was near the top." His voice shook as they ran. "Cole is she alright?!"

Cole was running his hand up and down Anna's arm as they reached them. "Just calm and slow it down. Nope. I can't understand you that fast." He told her as she fired off in a mixture of English and French.

"It was definitely Carlisle." She said and took a breath.

"Carlisle?" Caroline puzzled. "Dr. Cullen?"

"What about him?" Ethan gripped Anna's other arm as if to help her focus.

"I was just looking around, watching for freaking birds and you can see Killer Sled Hill from here and he was…he was running over it but he. I don't know….he was blurry."

"That hill." Caroline pointed. "Well yeah, that's pretty far to see."

"Not that kind of blurry, he was what was blurring. Like running so fast…I couldn't. It doesn't make sense but that's what I saw." She looked up at Ethan. "Something is wrong."

Cole touched the back of his neck as though something clicked, but his hand froze as he looked over Anna's shoulder.

Carlisle was at the edge of the school property, and then he was in front of them. No time in between.

Caroline flinched enough to trip but Ethan righted her. Anna swore and clutched at Cole behind her.

"I don't have time to explain anything to you all. Do not run!" Carlisle's ordinarily soft voice took a sharp tone as they moved that had them listening. "There isn't time but there will be. I will answer what you ask of me, but right now you need to listen. There are people coming that want to hurt you. I'm going to help." He held his hands out. "But I need you three to do what you did this morning."

"We didn't do anything this morning." Cole insisted.

"You kept me from getting to you, you just didn't know it. You can't control it yet. There isn't time now just…know that the next people you see aren't people. I'm going to fight them off but some may get through. They will kill you if they can. So stop them."

And he was gone.

"I'm sorry what?" Anna said to the spot where he'd been.

"Is this it? The high school prank in movies?" Caroline asked, her laugh bordering hysteric.

"The grown up's don't typically partake in the hazing in those movies, or I'd be screwed." Cole pointed out.

"What did he mean what you did this morning? What happ…." Caroline broke off as there was a thud in the woods like a tree falling.

"Yeah. I'd like you behind me now. Thank you." Ethan added as he tugged Caroline over. "It's not sexist, I'm just taller."

"Ok. Ok shh." Anna rubbed her fingertips at her temples. "Who would want to hurt us? Jason?"

"Yeah I think Carlisle could take him alone Shine. Cole take off the backpack it'll slow you down." Ethan reached down for his knife. "Screw what Cullen said. I can distract whoever comes out while you guys run."

"Shut up." Caroline kicked around until she came up with a medium sized rock. "Four of us, not one."

"Fine but you move out from behind me one more time and I'll…Oh hi."

A man fell, seemingly tossed from the trees, into a heap at Ethan's feet. He sprang up and looked from left to right. All four took a handful of steps back.

"The kiddies got one of the old timers on their side huh?" His voice was a snarl of hate.

"We don't know what you're talking about and we don't want any trouble. We're just hanging out."

The man studied them until a laugh escaped. "Oh. You really don't know do you? All the easier."

He caught sight of the knife and advanced at Ethan quickly so that Caroline let out a scream and whipped back the rock she held. But it wasn't the rock that sent the man flying back, as it hadn't had the chance to leave her hand.

It was the scream.

The air seemed to ripple from it, and behind them the branches on the trees swung as if in a breeze. The man held his ears and glared as his hands came back red. Caroline took a shaky step back and Ethan's arm came in front of her while Anna and Cole moved in front of them.

"So that happened. Caroline…how did you do that?" Cole whispered.

"How should I know, it's definitely a dream."

"Here's hoping. Any ideas on how to wake up?" Anna's eyes tracked the man as he started forward again. As his dark eyes shifted every slightly to the left, Anna whirled and threw up her arm to block the swing of a woman coming fast. The move didn't have her flying back as Caroline's scream did, but it was as if the woman was lifted and thrown in the direction of Anna's blocking arm. She quickly sprinted to the man who muttered at each other while considering the woods. In the trees they heard more loud thumps, saw the branches and trunks quack from time to time, but no Carlisle.

Still. The four teenagers didn't run.

Ethan spun in a quick circle, looking for anyone else coming as Cole kept an eye on the two who were keeping an eye on them.

"Maybe you want to stand behind us." Caroline told Ethan and Cole.

Staring at her hands Anna shook her head. "Whatever it is, they can do it too."

Ethan looked back at her. "What?"

"This morning Carlisle said 'you don't even know you're doing it do you?' But he didn't say it to any of us in particular. He meant the three of us. And now Caroline can do…well something."

Seeing the confusion on Caroline's face Cole quickly caught her up. As Ethan and Anna's eyes stayed glued on their attackers, Cole ran through Carlisle being at his parents funeral in the spring and that it was why they reacted as they did to seeing him in the woods.

"This is all crazy. How would he know….we didn't even know." Caroline looked at her hands.

" I feel like whoever these guys are knew too." Anna glared across the field at them.

"None of this makes sense." Cole paced.

"Well it does to Carlisle, and he hasn't taken any swings so I say we just keep doing whatever this is until he can explain. Oh shit." She added as another man joined the two staring at them. "Ok just stand together, no blocking."

"Hate it." Ethan joined between Cole and Caroline so they were in a line.

"My instinct was to push the woman away and it happened. Caroline what was yours?"

"I was going to hit him before he got to Ethan but he moved quickly and it surprised me so I screamed. I was thinking of hitting him when I screamed I guess."

"Think about them not moving." Cole nodded as it became a little clearer. "That's what I was thinking this morning that I didn't want Carlisle to come any closer."

"I wanted him away from Cole." Anna looked to Ethan who paled but nodded. "Ok. So. Let's try that."

The four of them looked across the field and were stared at as well. They didn't move but watched as the other three moved towards them. A blur seemed to do a figure eight around them and the woman was gone. The two men going wide and began running forward, only to jolt to a stop as if they hit a wall. The men looked at each other before angrily looking at the four who let out a unison of shaky breaths. Before either side could decide their next move, the blur was back and the men were gone.

And still, the four teenagers did not run.

Without speaking they shifted so one of them faced each direction, their own compass. The backs of their arms touched as they kept watch for the blur they knew was Carlisle, or for the ones who wanted to hurt them.

It was Carlisle that appeared, this time no one saw the blur. He didn't look the slightest bit disheveled, and he was back to the usual calm they usually witnessed in town.

He stayed ten feet away, and smiled softly. "It's alright for now, you can relax."

They all faced him and Cole took a step forward.

"What are you?"

"What are we?" Anna muttered.

"I can answer both of those, yet we shouldn't here. No more are coming today but other people do come to the playground."

"I'd vote somewhere private, but I don't see any of us being that trusting."

Carlisle nodded. "The high school is a bit more deserted on the weekends yes?"

They looked at each other and agreed. Cole didn't step back, but instead took another towards Carlisle.

"Did those people kill my parents?"

Anna's jaw clenched audibly and Ethan closed his eyes. But Carlisle shook his head.

"No, not them Michael."

"But you know who did."

"Yes."

Caroline reached out and pulled Cole closer to them. He trembled but his expression remained dark and trained on Carlisle.

"The ones who did are dead now but you should know about them. We'll talk of all of it and I'll help you all. If you choose to leave town I'll help you do that as well. I promise."

He was a stranger to them. Sure they'd seen him in town, met at events, but a stranger. And Caroline was clearly stressed at how little she knew both sides. But she pushed it back. She held back as Ethan held her. And four heads nodded.

They agreed to meet Carlisle at the high school after they dropped their things at their houses. First they made the walk to Ethan's. They didn't speak, they didn't need to. But when they got there Ethan Cole and Anna stared at the door, as though years had passed since they left it last. Then they looked at each other, and burst out laughing.

Caroline watched them a moment and then joined in herself, the back of her hand covering her mouth as if to keep it in as she shook her head.

"This is insane."

"Oh there is no doubt of that." Ethan reached for her hand again. "If you're freaked and want to go home I'll take you. I'll stay until your parents come back."

"Not a chance. I'm wigging but I've got to know too. If my part in it was just a fluke I'm still not leaving you three with him."

"It wasn't a fluke." Cole took her other hand. "And there's four of us now."

Caroline's smile grew radiant as Anna moved in to take Ethan and Cole's other hands. Once they were linked Ethan cleared his throat and tried to keep his voice casual.

"You know we probably shouldn't touch at the same time, we'll probably blow up the moon."

And they were able to laugh again. It wouldn't be until they got their answers that laughing wouldn't come as easily.

Now

Hayley's breath came in fast pants. Her hand gripped Cole's so tight she had to focus on loosening her fingers when Ethan stopped speaking. Both were pale, as she imagined she was as well. Cole's eyes searched hers, assessing the damage.

"Right. Well. So you're…."

"Telekinetic is the closest label if we look for one." Cole said softly. "If you believe us." At her glare he mustered a smile.

Ethan got off the chair and crouched in front of Hayley and Cole. "You're keeping close to calm but it would be good for you to ease it more."

"Right." Hayley repeated and with her free hand rubbed at the tension in her chest. "Super easy."

"If you don't something in here is going to break and if it's the TV Keith is going to be really put out." Ethan glanced at a picture frame as a crack snaked through the glass. "Told you."

Hayley stared at the picture, the crack fissured to a corner as she did. "Holy shh…I didn't…You think that was me? I've never…"

"Not on purpose you've never." Cole corrected. "Just like we hadn't. But it was always there, and there were things we didn't notice. It gets easier to notice when we're together. Stronger when there's more. There hasn't been more of us in well…" Now Cole's free hand reached for Ethan, who backed away and stood to pace.

"Just settle down and think of England." He advised.

Hayley pushed up as well. "I just need a minute. Just a couple of those." She stalked off in the direction of the bathroom and lowered herself into the cool and empty bathtub. The porcelain felt like a miracle on her warm cheek. "I don't recall saying a minute alone Michael." She called out and nearly laughed at the immediate rushing of steps.

Cole closed the door and finding nothing odd about her position, climbed in on the other end as she curled up her legs. He cupped a hand around her calf, and ran his hand up and down to sooth.

"It doesn't feel like it now, but you're taking this fine."

"I have technical questions they're just stuck right now."

"Understandably. They can wait."

Her eyes met his "You believe that I can do the things you do?"

"It makes sense. And even if it didn't…I feel it." Cole nodded to himself. "The connection was so quick. It doesn't make it less real but I think like recognizes like sometimes."

"And a heavy dose of destiny apparently." She reached her hand to where his stroked her leg. "I'm not scared of you. Any of you. I want that clear."

"Ok." Cole nodded and letting out a breath, "But you are scared though."

"It may be stupid to believe you but it wouldn't be stupid to be afraid."

"No we all are, off and on. I didn't want that for you. I thought I could keep this separate and that maybe I just managed to find someone without it being tied to this."

"You found Ethan and Anna with it being tied to this. And evidently others. Being X-Men doesn't change feelings." Hayley took a breath and sat up. "I know I've just learned a lot of things I thought were make believe are real. So I should doubt if anything is real at this point. Or if all the last few weeks has been orchestrated to help with whatever we're supposed to help with."

"We've asked that before."

"How long before you rejected it?"

"Usually just took being around each other." His eyes dropped and he picked up her hand to kiss her fingers.

Hayley watched his face and sighed. "How long ago was it?"

"Was what?"

"That one of you died." Hayley touched Cole's cheek when he flinched from the word. "Ethan told me that there was four of you once. Then for a while five. I assumed life things happened but now. I'm betting it went a different way."

"Two years this summer." He shook his head. The time had not made that easier to comprehend. "I can't talk about it. Not right now. Not when you're in front of me saying you're scared. Or else I'll find a way to make you leave."

"Yeah, you'd try." Hayley curled her open hand into a fist and tapped it on his chin.

Cole's half smile flashed. "I said we've asked if our friendships were real. I've asked it with you. But then we had our first date. I don't need to be around you now to remember, I'll always remember."

Hayley nodded. Her eyes running over Cole's face. He's so scared she thought. And it wasn't just of what they were facing. He still feared facing it alone. Even if a part of him wished her away from it. "Are you in love with me Cole?"

His hand on her leg squeezed briefly but he never looked away from her. "Completely."

Her laugh came out in teary gasps as he answered so simply but genuinely that her entire body heard and let the fear go for the time being. He reached for her and pulled her over to his lap as his hand came up to turn her mouth to his.

"I love you, I love you, I love you," Hayley said in between returning kisses. Tipping back she smiled into Cole's eyes. "There's a power in three you know."

"It's four now." He brushed at her hair and pulled her in once more. "I love you."

Hayley tipped her forehead on his shoulder and then jolted back. Dozens of cotton balls floated around them, the empty bag on the floor. Cole jerked his head and they formed a dancing circle over their heads.

"It's magic what you three do."

"Sometimes we curse it. Sometimes we enjoy it. You will too."

"I will too." Hayley leaned back and for now, enjoyed the show.

Ethan listened from the floor of the hallway. He'd wanted to give them their privacy but be sure all was well. Be sure his best friends first time saying I love you wasn't interrupted, as thought merely speaking of all their past could invite the ones they ran from.

Just as it had invited all the memories of what that magic cost them.