THEN
Through the week of Christmas the new couple found ways to meld their households and relationships, while still keeping to their own traditions. Their obvious euphoria was contagious, adding to the joy of the season. Even Sylas's father Shawn, who ordinarily took the holidays hard, was pleased to see his son reconnected with his childhood friend. And perhaps even more pleased to see their new relationship forming.
Anna Jane could say she spent most of her time observing and this chapter of her life was no different. Her favorite things to watch were always her boys, and now her girl. Their journey, their light. And now how bright it was to see how it caught with Sylas's. She'd dated others who met them and they either played patient, or outright confused if they didn't fall in line with conversations. Sylas not only kept in step, but added new ones. A new dynamic of harping on the others when they seemed to be over defensive of Cole. Of sharing winks with Caroline when Ethan and Anna got going. Of this silent contentment. A surety that only complimented Anna's.
And when she woke up late in the morning after her first New Years kiss, pillowed on Sylas's side, the two of them plopped on Ethan's bedroom floor with the other three, she felt as complete as she ever could.
Still in the shadows, there was the secret. Every time Anna or the others recognized the feeling, the next that followed was shame. It wasn't a lie, but it couldn't help like feel like one. Like a betrayal. He was one of them, whether it was in ability or not. And each day that went by without him knowing was another that shame grew. Especially for Anna, who never had been one to keep things to herself. Not like this.
A week before break was due to end; she sat alone in the apartment at the Grand thinking it through. It was the perfect time as Caroline was shopping in Seattle with Cece, Ethan was off with his dad, and Cole was taking before and after pictures of a rehab Sylas was working on. And wasn't that its own joy? All her people were doing their separate together things and all was well. Anna treasured that in anticipation that things would not always be so.
"Mon reve, I can hear the buzz of your thoughts over the halls and through the woods."
Anna sighed from her perch on the kitchen counter as Phillip swung in. "You weren't in the woods Papa."
"I was so." He waved his arm in the direction of the theatre. "Set design." He narrowed his eyes at Anna. "You know, for one so young and in love you should be off frolicking."
"I frolic plenty but for now I really must reline the cabinets."
Phillip opened one at random and whistled. "That's an awful lot of floral." Closing the door he moved to the fridge. "You want to keep those buzzing thoughts in your head or share the load?"
"I have a choice to make that's all."
"You have many, what a freedom that is. I assume this one involves the young master."
Anna grinned at the old nickname for Sylas, unheard since his first visits to Forks. "It does. I know you could say that I have plenty of time and to just enjoy but I don't think any of us have that kind of luxury. And I don't like lying."
"You're not lying. And I say that knowing my withholding from you felt like lying."
"And that's just it. I'm withholding information that could involve him. It certainly affects him as long as he loves me." Anna started bouncing her heel against the drawers below. "You know on our first date he spoke about choices and how important of a change its been to him that he was making his own now. How can I take that from him? I know how important it is to have my own."
"Goddamn it."
While outbursts were not uncommon when it came to Phillip, the growling tone was. Anna picked up a roll of the paper and swatted him. "What's your damage?"
"It's another piece you see. Another piece of you growing up. So many pieces happened younger than they should have." He held up a hand. "I'm not saying you're too young to be in love. But maybe I wish there had been more time before this sort. Or maybe for you to not have to take it so seriously."
She reached out and touched his chin. "Papa, the type of person I am, I was always going to take it seriously."
"Regardless. I can't say he isn't the type I would hope for my girl. As such, I wish you wouldn't worry. Whether you decide to tell him now or to wait, there isn't a rule book on this sort of thing."
"Perhaps not but if it's going to bother me then I should probably just get on with it."
"What do your cohorts say about it?"
Anna sighed. "They agree that there's this feeling that Sylas is like us. And if he's not, then there's some sort of connection, maybe its enough that he would understand it all and not run for the hills."
"Anna Jane, no matter how this goes that boy is not going be running for the hills unless he has a good grip on you first."
She elbowed Phillip as she boosted herself down from the counter. "That may be. I'm gonna head over to Holm House and see which of my cohorts are home by now."
Seeing Phillips hesitation Anna huffed. "You remember how you used to let me go to down to the bodega by myself to pick up milk? How old was I?
At his grumbles Anna merely picked up her phone and wallet, slipping one into each pocket of her coat. "I'll text you that I've arrived if that's helpful."
"The last time your lot grew they tried to kill you all, I think I'm entitled."
Anna softened and tapped a hand to his chin before wrapping her arms around his so rarely still frame. "We're all careful and aware Papa." She clapped his back. "Though you did just prove why I have to tell the rookie."
"Why you all do maybe. If I know anything about you three, then four, and now five….you don't do things alone."
From the door Anna replied "hopefully we never will."
Streets away at Holm House Ethan sat on a milk crate while his father worked on changing the oil of the car, handing John this and that every so often. Now that he was only five years from being the same age John had been when he was born, Ethan felt their relationship shift. Parts of his father's life that he never understood started to seem clearer. As John stepped up for him and being there for all four of them, it solidified to Ethan that even if there had been times he wished his father was in the home more traditionally growing up, he still had a dad who was there for him. And didn't see him or his friends any differently with what changed. It wasn't an appreciation he knew how to voice, so needling one another still came more naturally.
"I hear you have a date tonight."
John hmphed. "I haven't heard if you do, at eighteen I find that concerning."
"Ro and I have been together for two years, we don't go on dates."
"Cec and I have been together for near twenty, think we got that way from not having dates? Gotta keep the spice alive kid."
"We're fighting big evil, there is regular spice."
"Speaking of, hows the new member?"
"We don't know if he's a member of that yet. We just know he's with Anna."
"If he's with Anna he's a member and you know it." John eyed his son. "How are you adjusting with that shift?"
Ethan shrugged. "Dunno yet. It usually is an adjustment when one of us dates someone but this doesn't feel like that."
"Serious stuff kid. Seems theres more serious stuff than kid stuff going on these days." John shook his head with a sigh. "Don't know when you got to be so damn old. Can't say I don't wish some of this waited til you had a few more years under your belt."
"Don't start that now. I know Cece thinks it too but we can't be worrying about you two going Southgate too."
"Caroline's parents are on a different level Ethan. I hope they come around for her sake."
Ethan thought his father would have gladly said more, and more likely to Caroline's parents on their lack of support. It was nothing the rest of them hadn't thought but refrained for Caroline's sake.
"I don't know much about Sylas's folks past him losing his mom before he moved here."
"Yeah I don't know how involved his dad would be if that was the case." Ethan admitted. "I don't know all the details but he's not well mentally or physically. Hasn't been Sylas's whole life. He doesn't talk about it, so of course neither does Anna."
"Serious stuff." John repeated. At a whistle he looked up and smirked. "Speaking of."
Ethan looked over to see Anna Jane walking up the driveway. Right away he stood. "What is it?"
She held up a gloved hand. "No not that. Well. That, but not that."
"Right" John nodded and closed the hood of the car. "This is done, and sounds like you'll need the keys."
Ethan took them and rubbed a hand down Anna's arm. "What's going on Shine?"
"I want to tell him."
"Ok. You've thought it through?"
"I relined all of the kitchen cabinets."
"That'll do it. Dad?"
"On it." John paused to give Anna a kiss on the cheek. "Its going to work out."
"Where's Cole?" Ethan asked as John went back in the house.
"I texted him to bring Sylas once they're done there. Should be soon. Is Caroline back from…oh." Anna smiled as Caroline came out the back door. "I was worried I was going to have to cut your shopping short with my nuttiness."
Caroline hugged Anna with a sigh. "It's not nutty to tell your boyfriend what he's getting into, but I don't know about the having an audience part."
"Well, the proof is in the pudding." Anna checked her watch. "We should get going. Let me drive, it'll keep me from wigging." She grabbed the keys from Ethan.
"Can I ask where you've decided to set this scene?" Caroline rolled her eyes as they met Anna's in the rearview mirror. "Cuz that worked out so well the last time."
"Did we die?" Ethan pointed out. Still he reached towards the back seat for Caroline's knee.
As they pulled into the elementary school lot, they made sure the playground by the woods was infact empty. The winter months tended to keep kids to the town park when school wasn't in session.
"You're not telling him because you're getting a sense of anything right?" Caroline confirmed.
"No no." Anna waved that away as they leaned against the car. "I haven't felt anything since we've been back. Which has been really nice so I was tempted to just float like this but I know they'll try for something eventually and I want him to be ready for whatever comes."
"It's the right thing to do." Caroline nodded, looking warily towards the swings she and Ethan once occupied. She filled with conflicting feelings of warmth at the happy aspect of the memory, and unease at the ones that followed.
And yet her smile was easy as Ethan's arm came around her, tugging her closer to his side.
Sylas's truck pulled up minutes later, his grin all for Anna as he parked.
"I haven't been here since that last trip when we were nine." Sylas said as he got out and reached for Anna's hand. "She used to scare me shitless and climb that big ass tree over there."
Caroline snorted and dropped her face in her hands. Ethan whistled. Cole scuffed his feet.
"I jumped from it once and they're still sensitive about it." Anna explained with a glare at the other three.
"So are we breaking in, I thought you guys only did that with the high school."
"Perhaps we can save a B&E for later but no for right now I just have to tell you something and I thought it would be easier if we were all together."
Immediately Sylas's grin faded as his eyes traced over Anna's face. "Those are serious words Anj. Are you alright?"
Anna cupped his cheek with her free hand, squeezing with the one he held. "Not that kind of something, we're all good. We're just all…" She trailed off looking at the others who nodded in return. She looked back to Sylas. "Do you want to ease in or dive?"
Turning his head so his kiss landed in her palm Sylas said "What do you think?"
"Cole, Ethan, Caroline and I all have a form of telekinesis that stems from a bloodline created to protect others with supernatural power from those that are trying to control or destroy them. I'm a direct descendant and my family has been hunted for generations, to this day. The four of us found out together when two years ago in this park vampires tried to kill us. Oh yeah, the bad guys have vampires on the payroll."
"If that isn't on the back of our book cover, I don't want it." Cole said and got Ethan's elbow to his gut for his trouble.
Sylas glanced briefly at the scuffle and then back to Anna. "Telekinesis."
"Yes." Anna took a step back and gestured to an abandoned mostly deflated basketball on the edge of the playgrounds court. With a curl of her fingers, it floated up and then soared directly for them, stopping to hover right next to her.
"This."
"That." Sylas breathed.
Anna's eyes searched Sylas's. "Among other things."
"Ease or dive?" He asked.
Bracing Anna raised her chin. "What do you think?"
Sylas waved a hand at the air a foot away from the basketball so that it began to spin in midair.
"That. I can do that."
