Authors Note: Hi readers! You may want to check out my rewrite of the saga at this point if you haven't! It won't be often that I relay info from it into this story, but it will happen and cause some confusion if you haven't read it. You'll still be able to follow without though. Happy Holidays!

NOW

The sun hadn't fully risen when the lady of the house tip toed into her dressing room. Anna Jane slipped into a cardigan and hooked a pair of flats in one hand. She peaked a smile at Cole and Hayley who were entwined atop the air mattress. Anna couldn't imagine a better sight at shy of six in the morning.

In the main room, Ethan was all but buried under a spare blanket on the couch. Anna risked a stroke of the dark blonde tuft before she turned to the counter and grabbing a mug, padded out.

She didn't put on her shoes until she was clear of the deck with its creaking boards. Though there was a morning chill, the air smelled of a clear spring as May settled in. Still not time for starting her garden of course, but the knit sweater she wore wouldn't be necessary much longer.

Anna headed towards the tiny diner around the corner, and popping into the side door called out a greeting.

"Bless you Meg."

A woman with a long and dark French braid took Anna's mug with a wink. "You lucked out that I was coming in early this morning to get a jump on the pies. Full house then?"

"Yes. They can deal with my early rising tomorrow but figured they could use one day off. I love that apartment Meg, but every little noise sure does travel."

"You're sweeter than I. When my husband is off from work I still root around half the house each morning for all I need. Preparation for when we have to be woken up by this one." Meg gestured to the mound of her belly.

Anna smiled. "We're staring at summer. I don't know what I'll do without your breakfasts once a week, or saving me from my loud Keurig when I have guests. Looking after that baby will be worth it though."

"I'll be taking advantage of that often." After doctoring it the way she knew Anna took, Meg passed the steaming mug back.

"Bless you twice." Anna saluted with the coffee and sailed back out.

She could hear some rustles from the houses she passed on the sidewalk. People getting ready for their Mondays. Anna felt grateful as she took her first sip of coffee that she wasn't bustling to get to the office. Though indeed she'd have to make a call or two. Later, she told herself.

After a block Anna rounded the last curve into the village square. Her flats barely tapped on the smooth brick path. As if it were a shoulder, she trailed her free hand over the smooth wooden bench that tucked into the trees facing the scene and church beyond. The brass placard gleamed in the early light, though she rarely read the words she had so carefully chosen. The memorial bench and spot had been a perhaps foolish expense at the time, but they had needed this. And she'd be damned if it wasn't the comfiest seat that others could enjoy when she wasn't.

She sat cupping her mug and enjoying the warmth of it in silence. Usually she came here at night. When she needed winding down. But there were the odd afternoon or morning trips as well. Sometimes for her own and to feel that connection to the village itself. That sense of belonging. Sometimes to speak with him. Part of the name that was carved at the post of the bench. Sure he wasn't just there, but anywhere Anna went.

"Cole's in love. I know how you'd flip over that. Hayley, the girl I mentioned…..I mean not a girl, she's only a few years younger than us. Although I have to admit it has me feeling older seeing how new it all is for them. She's doing fantastic with the matter. There's nerves still, but Hayley seems to jump right in. I think we've been needing that energy."

He had been like that, Anna realized. Sometimes giddily, sometimes with a blazing intensity.

"You'd love her. I know how you would miss…..well…I'm sorry it's another thing to add to that list. But today I'll tell her of you. I thought it would be hard to at first but now that she feels like family, its vital to me that she has whatever piece of you I can share. I know," She added as though she could hear the sigh, "it will still be hard. For Ethan too. We'll manage. And when it's done and they all go back, I'll come here. It all goes on."

She scooted down a bit so the back of her neck lay on the wide slope of the bench's top. It felt just as an arm might. Closing her eyes, Anna indulged in the memory…and then let it go. Better to spend the last of her quiet time, taking in all the morning light and sounds of a waking town had to offer. When she was ready she slid a hand over the velvet wood once more and murmured her promise. And as always, marveled that she felt lighter on the walk back.

Anna smirked when she saw Ethan, still in the blanket from the couch but cocooned on her Adirondack chair.

"You're out early." She smiled as she took the rocking chair in the corner.

"It's ten degrees warmer than this in the city and I'm still used the south anyhow." He pulled a mug from under the blanket. "Plus the Keurig woke up the lovebirds and they yelled at me. They're not the morning folk we are."

"Which would be why I hit the diner before my walk. You insensitive shit."

"Can't be helped. Better we get an early start anyway. They're in the shower now."

Anna wiggled her eyebrows. "Our boy moves fast when he wants to I see."

"Well it was just gonna be Hayley in there, and she suggested we go for two rounds of cooking and start breakfast. Then our Michael tells me to order pick up burritos from the diner, throws his wallet at me, and off he follows. I got dressed quick and headed out here around the time she started half laughing, half yelling, that it wasn't their house."

"We'll make a fellow heathen out of her yet."

"I'm so proud." He eyed her over the mug. "Where'd you head to on the walk? Creek?"

"Town square."

"Ah." Ethan sat up to put the mug down. "What's he think of all this?"

"Probably that it's about time. For multiple reasons."

Ethan opened up the blanket so Anna grinned and crawled in. His chin rested on the top of her head as he wrapped them both.

"I miss him."

Anna's smile warmed. "I know you do."

"I'm so sorry you're going to have to talk about everything."

"I won't be the only one."

"No, I guess you won't. Maybe when we're all ready we send the lovebirds back to the city and then I stay here an extra night so we can get hammer drunk."

"Goes without saying."

Cole opened the screen door with a particularly satisfied smile. "Good morning." He plopped into the rocking chair.

"Doesn't even have his coffee yet. Getting laid does wonders."

"I have no argument." Cole's smile faded as he took in the two cuddled. "All well?"

"Geall." Anna told him. "Its probably going to be a long day. A lot of ground left to cover. And then after that….Cole do you think she's going to be ready to meet them?"

"I don't suppose we can afford to take the break we did when we found out."

"Probably not." Ethan agreed. "If she's not ready we will of course, we can keep her safe no issue. Just means a different plan."

"I think she'll be ready. She already has trouble with the little we'll be doing for her, she won't want to add to that and that's how she'll see protecting."

"I don't blame her. She wants it to be equal, I don't blame her. She's going to be giving up a lot of independence that she's used to between this and well….the boy wonder over here."

"Shove it." But Cole grinned. "It's faster than I ever thought I was capable of moving myself."

"God, I love that for you." Anna beamed and grasped hands with Ethan under the blanket. Their boy, she thought. He was in for the whirlwind.

"I better go get the breakfast pick up." Ethan kissed the top of Anna's hair as he shifted to give her the chair. "Then we can get this show on the road."

"Another minute Ethan. When I called the others yesterday evening to let them know I'd taken out a vamp."

"She says with all the modesty." Cole put in.

"I let them know of Hayley." Anna raised her hands at the boys expressions. "Cole, it's still within my control. Which means its within ours. I wanted to tell them so that if Hayley chooses to meet any she needs to, it will be here. They're not coming to the city and there's no reason for her to hike anywhere else for it. Maple Point will do, and it will still be in Hayley's own time." She crossed her eyes at Ethan. "Stand down big brother."

"I'm not doubting you."

"Of course not, you just love her too. We all do, that's why I wanted to get ahead of it. Keep it all in our control." Anna sent Cole a look.

"As much as its been in our control. I'll get the food then." Ethan rubbed his hands over his face and jogged down the driveway.

"He's worried."

"That she'll get spooked?" Cole shrugged. "Probably. It's not about her though."

"I'm glad that you can see that honey. He'll be fine. We all will. It's just going to take a lot of reliving we haven't fully had to face."

"The reason its worth it will be asking you if you want a top off shortly."

Hayley swung out, handing Cole a steaming mug. "Anna! Good morning, want another?"

Anna Jane beamed at Cole and sighed. "How I miss those days." She turned her smile to Hayley. "Good morning sunbeam. Enjoy the shower?"

"Goddamnit Ethan." Hayley stomped back into the house.

Anna got up and left the blanket with Cole. "Enjoy the deck, I'm going to go tease little sister."

The teasing continued over breakfast, and through the hurried deflating of the air mattress while setting the house to rights. Anna insisted on it. She needed her cocoon to be normal for all they needed to go through. And she knew her boys needed it too. They set up in the living room. The morning light kept it cheerful.

"Ok." Anna took her armchair, while Ethan stretched out on the thick carpet close to her. "So obviously we know Cole started this off. Then Ethan, and I know you got the recent bit from both of them."

"The big kahuna." Hayley took the water Cole offered as he joined her on the sofa. "Ethan said the action part wasn't his part to tell."

"Of course not, he's far too sentimental and only likes to talk about the cutesy stuff." Anna crossed her eyes at Ethan. "We'll probably jump all over each other truth be told so you'll have to excuse us."

"Your bark is worse than your bite, all of you."

Cole smiled. "Yeah well we'll see how you feel about that after. And when we're done, we can make a plan."

"On if I'll meet the others…the Emissary."

"Sure as shit not letting you meet a preserver anytime soon." Cole muttered.

"Anna killed one yesterday, I'm sure my day of meeting one isn't far behind. Hah." Hayley shook her head. "That was said far too casually. Look at me go."

Cole took her hand. "You're doing great. And actually meeting damn near anyone from the Emissary isn't much better than the Preservers."

"It's better than it was when we did it." Ethan shrugged. "For us it was training."

"It won't be for me?"

Anna chuckled. "I think we're established enough that we can do that ourselves if you so choose. Meeting them is like meeting folks from another office branch of your company essentially."

She leaned forward. "In the meantime, there's no reason we can do a little test. That way while you hear everything we have to tell you, you can make a choice with all the info."

"Shit. Fuck. Ok. Damn." Hayley let out a shaky laugh while her hand clasped her forehead. "You want me to." She wiggled her fingers over her head now.

Ethan laughed. "If you want. But it's probably best to not see yourself as on the outside of this in anyway. Might as well get it over with."

Hayley looked at Cole. "You show me."

"The easiest way for the first time is to pair it with something you want, something your body wants. It makes it easier."

"For us it was a response to fear but it doesn't need to be that serious." Anna clarified.

"Ok. I guess I'm feeling…a little warm."

"Could use a breeze in here." Cole nodded. "Door or window, dealers choice. Just think of the feelings, what would change them, and visualize."

"Right." Hayley looked at the door and then the window. Banking on the window's proximity making it easier she looked at the bottom of the frame, imagined it lifting. The glass shook. "Holy shit."

"That's good. That was close." Cole reassured her. "For your first round it helps if you mimic the movement you're trying to do."

"Like Matilda, sure." Feeling the bit of pressure she'd been carrying release, Hayley looked back at the window. The pressure she realized wasn't from her friends. Wasn't from fear of being one of them. It was from fear of not.

Taking a breath, she looked at the window again. At the bottom of the frame. She curled her hand up as she glanced at it and the scared wood creaked as the pane slid up.

"Itty bitty pretty one." Cole murmured and took her hand to kiss.

Hayley stared out the window while her breath flew out. She managed a smile to Anna who leaned further to rub her knee.

"In the beginning we were all so jazzed about the superhero feeling, it took us a little while to feel what you're probably realizing."

"That it's all different now."

"Yeah." Ethan nodded. "We each had times where we ended up doubting our judgement when we didn't even notice we were different for so long."

"But you did notice. That's how you found each other."

"And they say I'm sentimental." Ethan winked.

"Ok. So. I'm telekinetic. Jesus." Hayley looked at Anna. "Do I unlock all the trade secrets now?"

Anna smiled. "For better or for worse."

THEN

Caroline shut the window after climbing through with a huff and turned back to the boys. "I feel you all have a phiobia of entrances."

"You entered through the fire escape window, its an entrance." Ethan gestured down the hallway. "The apartments are pretty new, Anna and Phillip used to live in the old innkeepers headquarters."

Looking around at the art that lined the walls, Caroline grinned. "Its got the same charm of the theater and hotel for sure."

"They're great but I kind of miss the old wing." At the lead, Cole reached the last apartment first and without knocking, went right in.

This time Caroline didn't hesitate in the breech of typical manners. Her curiosity won out hands down. From the narrow entryway, to the small sitting room on one side, the walls were covered in tilted words. Lines from plays, movies, books, all scrolled from near the ceiling to the baseboards. The kitchen was wallpapered or Caroline suspected it would have been covered as well. None of the furniture matched, the styles varied, and still it felt welcoming.

"Eclectic." She commented and smiled again at the photographs jumbled on one wall. "You took this." Caroline said to Cole, pointing at a picture of Ethan.

"Good guess. Christmas pantomime when we were, what? Twelve?"

Ethan nodded. "Phillip smooth talked Anna into being in it. I figured she'd enjoy it more if one of us were too."

Caroline sighed. "Of course you did. Start showing me your flaws, wouldja?"

Anna came rushing in. "Oh we can name those. Sorry, sorry. It took more tracking than I'd like. You neanderthals could have offered drinks at least." She went to the kitchen herself. "Cole, put the kettle on. Actually, scratch that. No need for me to throw a hot beverage on the man."

"Shine it's not exactly going to get us anywhere if you go off on him right from the start."

"Oh I think it will, but I'll reign it in. To start."

"Don't you think there's a better chance of him telling you everything if I'm not here?" Caroline shrugged when Ethan glared. "I'm a stranger to the guy is what I mean."

"From what Carlisle said, I doubt Papa will see you that way. He probably knew we were all the same." Anna rolled her shoulders. "We'll find out."

"How did you tear him away from the Grand on a Sunday anyway?" Ethan asked.

"I told him we were trying out for the first play of the school year and needed pointers. He knows auditions start next week so that'll get him up here."

"Then what?" Cole chuckled darkly. "We meet with the emissary whoever the hell they are? Start our Hogwarts training?"

"Better than everyone else knowing what's going on, except us." Ethan looked out the window. "Do you think my parents know?"

"No." Anna and Cole said immediately.

Ethan rolled his eyes. "If this is because they're rich."

"No idiot, it's because they're good parents….and squares."

"They'd be shit at lying." Cole pointed out. "My parents were good at parenting but they also would have kept it from me if they thought it was safer. I don't think they did, but we can't exactly know. Cece and John keeping anything from you would be a shocker."

"I met your mother for a total of 14 minutes last night and I can tell you're a unit." Caroline agreed. "My parents would have told me I think. Especially my mom. Army stuff and all."

"I have a feeling its just mine. Carlisle said Simones and Novak's have been in this since the beginning. There's no reason for any of your families to have known if you all are the first." Anna plopped down on the outrageously ugly but comfy looking couch. "We know the Simones are famed liars, cons, and runners, so it all adds up."

"It makes sense and all, but if you start thinking that makes you separate Anna Jane, I'll deck you." Ethan snarled when Anna shrugged.

"Seconded." Cole raised his hand. "You'll knock him out no question, but I'll be just as pissed."

"Children, enough." Caroline sat with Anna. "Are you sure you want to ask your grandfather about all of this?"

"He has to know, and we need to."

"We do but from everything I've heard, even around town, you and Mr. Simone are really close."

Anna took Carolines hand. "Sweet one."

Phillip burst in, rubbing his hands together as he looked at the kids.

"I need to know the play that has finally enticed the talent you all possess." He doubletaked at Caroline. "Oh. A new offering."

"It's really nice to meet you Mr. Simone."

"Mr. Simone…Reve, what have you told this one?" Phillips smile of greeting broke as he looked at the other three. "Right. What law have you broken."

"Trespassing. Nothing new." Ethan shrugged.

"This however…"Anna swung her hand in the air and a book flew off the table and towards Cole, who stopped it before his face with a glance. "Is new." Anna finished.

Ethan vacated the chair, gesturing to it, and Phillip sank down. His energy withered as he and once still, he suddenly looked his old age. Suddenly exuding a seriousness that they each had rarely seen. Suddenly transforming the feel of the room.

Anna sat back down on the couch between Caroline and Cole, Ethan resting on the arm. United, but not entirely separate from Phillip yet. Anna leaned forward a little.

"We know what we know, but we want to hear the rest from you."

He looked to Caroline which caused tension from Ethan. "Obviously she can do this stuff too Phillip."

Caroline cuffed Ethan. "Give the man a break."

Phillips lips quirked a moment before his expression reverted. "I apologize." He said to Ethan. His eyes met Anna's. "I apologize that this must hurt you. Hurt all of you. I cannot apologize that I've kept it from you though."

"Why did you? It doesn't make sense." Anna tapped her head. "If anything you share too much with me."

"I promised your mother."

Anna nodded, her teeth clenching together as Cole rubbed her back. "Well it's not about her anymore. She's gone and it's about the people who are right here and don't know who the hell we are anymore."

"You need to make a promise to us now Phillip." Cole waited for him to tear his gaze from Anna's. "We'll tell you what's happened and how we know, the little we do. You need to promise us that you'll tell the rest. We'll trust you'll tell us what no one else could because you're the only of our family who knew."

Ethan glared for confirmation, and then relaxed when Phillip gave a little nod but looked to Caroline.

"I don't know your parents dear, I can't say it with as absolute certainty that I can with Ethan and Cole's. They didn't know. But I can say your name and your families was never in any listing I've seen. That makes me close to certain yours didn't keep anything from you, they just didn't know."

Caroline nodded. "We've talked about that" She gestured to the others. "My parents don't know anything, they couldn't have."

"There's a listing? Sorry." Cole waved a hand at Caroline. "This is wild."

Phillip looked from face to face. All too young. Too patient. "I can make that promise that I'll tell you everything I know. It was inevitable we would get here. I wished every day that it wasn't."

Anna also looked at the others, and got their nods. Taking a breath she began with the hike in the woods with the boys. She drew in how they had already been tense in regards to Carlisle based on his odd behavior at the funeral, but most their doubts faded when he came through for them at the school. Phillip gestured her to continue, though he rose to pace as she detailed the fight and the talk with Carlisle the afternoon before. Staring hard out the window, any eccentricities from him wouldn't have been noticed from anyone. Now he was just a man, one whose only family had been threatened.

"At no point you thought to call me?" He looked back to Anna. "You were angry, fine. You didn't call a single adult to go with you if you felt the need to hear all of this from him? Even with them not being in the know, the Kelly's would have…."

"Would have what Papa? You haven't exactly brought me up to reach out to adults for help if you recall." Anna held up her hands. "I don't want to fight about how you could have done differently. Until we know the rest."

Phillip reached out to the gold band he wore on his right thumb. The wedding band he could never take off, but had moved and spun when unnerved. He moved back to the arm chair to sit.

"In the 1700's when the covens first cast the spell it was to a handful of people. Each from different families. Before the spell they each showed signs of a bit of kitchen magic you could say. They were good at healing, at intuition. After the spell they were heightened. From that group, two grew close. When the covens split, they ended up being the first to try and bring what became the Emissary together, focusing on those whose powers awoke in the spell. Focusing on how they were given this gift to keep generations safe. To give them a choice in who and what they wanted to be. Their names were Elyse Simone and Lazlo Novak."

He smiled sadly. "They married, as it was the natural course back then. They raised children while they fought off their new kind being slaughtered. The Emissary may have been the start of that side, but the Novak's were the heart of it. They were the ones chosen to lead. The Emissary accepted that and felt no threat. The Preservers were arguably larger in numbers and stronger. But there was little unity. The vampires were fickle. Any they collected often spent the majority of their time planning to go out on their own. The Novak's focused on drawing everyone together. Of finding a new way of life. And they did."

"Until they didn't." Anna guessed.

"Until the prophecy."

"We're Harry Potter, I'm telling you." Ethan whispered.

"It went close to what Carlisle told you. What he left out I assume was what he wanted to come from me, as it started with our family. When the split happened, when the ones from the original spell were hunted, the original witches from both The Preservers and The Emissary had the same prophecy. The only threat to The Preservers, the only thing that would completely protect The Emissary, hadn't been born yet. A trinity unit, each with units of their own. Six pieces of a single soul. And one of them, who was from that original spell, would rule. That leadership would help those pieces to stop the war. They would bring peace."

He paused and regret passed over his face at seeing the knowledge hit home. At seeing the innocence that was never much of to begin with, draining.

"Elise and Lazlo knew with that prophecy that it was one of their descendants. They both ruled, it made sense it would be either from their children or their families. For generations the Novak and Simone's were protected, but also watched for signs of this six. The Novak side was proud of the prophecy. The Simone's, known as gypsies, were not. They wanted their freedom and they fought to break away. That choice was respected and honored. But maybe only because no Simone's showed signs of great power. For centuries."

Another spin of the band. "I knew of the legend. I managed to dodge The Emissary and Preservers most of my life, based on the simple truth that I had no abilities. It skipped many generations, mine was one. They had no interest in me, except ending another of the Simone line. I was used to roving around though, I could elude them easily enough. Falling in love didn't even break that stride. Marriage didn't either. I told my wife, my Jean, because it would of course affect her. She didn't believe it at first, indulged my eccentric imagination as she called it. And then she got pregnant."

Now his smile was warm. "We'd tried for years and assumed we couldn't have children. It was like that year hit and it was meant. Right away she felt different. Every woman will of course say you feel different when you're carrying, but Jean had asthma, which went away rather than becoming difficult as she grew. We were thirty eight, much older than most our friends had been when they had children. For back then. But it didn't slow her down. It didn't click then. It didn't click until I was looking at Elizabeth." His eyes closed with the widening smile. "She glowed. When I held her I felt all the magic that every parent worth a damn does. And still I could separate, that it was more. That she was more."

He seemed surprised to find his hands open as if they had been holding a baby. Putting them in his lap he swallowed hard. "You hardly need a play by play. The Preservers passing interest was a memory by then. We didn't stay in one place for long, though that wasn't anything different. But the constant fear. I never felt it when it was just me. When it was Jean and I, we were foolish enough to find it adventurous. We had the opportunity to be the brave characters we often performed as in our plays. Once we had a child, fear came with it. I felt it would choke me at times. I was so wrapped up in that, I don't think I truly focused on what it did to Jean."

"Mom." Anna cleared her throat as if to rid the emotion in the name. "Mom always said Grandmama left."

Phillip nodded. "Jean had been taking a walk with Elizabeth. Killing time while I was in rehearsal. One of them had tracked us, and waited for me to be occupied. I don't think The Preservers truly believed I was without power until much later. Anyway, Jean had become remarkably vigilant and sensed them just in time. She ran towards the streets, grabbing Elizabeth out of the stroller to weave through the traffic easier. It was a miracle they weren't killed, one way or another." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Uh Jean, she struggled after that. She wasn't sleeping well, she wasn't herself. I'm not excusing what she did, but you're young. Those sorts of complexities are for when you're older."

Caroline and Anna looked at one another and rolled their eyes, while the boys just nodded.

"Jean left." Phillip continued. "Elizabeth wasn't quite three. From that point on I did the best I could. I kept The Emissary in the loop, accepting their safe houses and help where I could. I thought it best. I thought they knew what was right." Anger rippled for the first time. "I kept on like that all through Elizabeth's life. Letting them take care of her and train her during times when I was in shows or when I needed to take other work to bring in money. I did what I had to, but Elizabeth. She wanted to be normal. She never used her abilities outside of training or the few times she had to. She'd say maybe if she just ignored them they would go away. That she could go to college, and start a life like anyone else. But she wasn't like everyone else. The only time I think she was ok with that was when she met Tucker Novak."

"From the other family." Cole kept his arm around Anna.

"Yes. Growing up I knew the family stories from the Simone side, I never heard the full shot you have until, well until Tucker Novak was in the picture. If Elizabeth heard more at The Emissary I'm sure she would have wondered at the name as its not exactly common. But she didn't know either, nor did Tucker. He'd only ever heard of Elyse's name in connection to Novak."

"Anyway. We'd been in Tennessee at the time, celebrating Elizabeth's twenty first birthday with a trip to Graceland. Elizabeth enjoyed it so much she decided to stay. Sing for her supper for a while. She was there a year when she met Tucker."

For the first time in Anna's memory, the name wasn't said as a curse. She didn't read that wariness the few times she brought her father up. Regardless, she didn't feel like hearing that part of the story just then.

"If its all the same to you lot, I'd rather we hit fast forward over the romance section."

"Seconded." The boys said, while Caroline simply slipped her hand in Anna's.

Phillip nodded. "Right. They met, they started seeing each other, living and building a home in Tennessee. They fell in love and when they told one another what they could do, they realized each others halves of the history."

"Like The Parent Trap." Caroline said, accepting Anna's grin.

"As you like. They came to see me immediately." Phillips eyes darkened. "Very much like this. To make sure I hadn't known. That this wasn't The Emissary's way of forcing the prophecy."

"Because she was pregnant." Cole interrupted. "Sorry. Was doing the math."

"Yes. I was back in Louisiana at the time. I'd mostly grown up there, Elizabeth spent a decent size of her own childhood throughout the state. It was new for Tucker, but he loved Elizabeth and they both agreed, it felt safe. If the baby was going to be like them they wanted to be wherever felt right."

Now those eyes lit again, as they had when he spoke of Elizabeth being born.

"They were twenty three. They barely knew each other in the big scheme. And still, that bright day in August when you were born, I've never seen the likes of them. Elizabeth warrior determined to bring you into the world, while Tucker was serene and steady for her. And there you were." He laughed in a marveling way. "The lightbulbs didn't burst but they surged a moment. I'm not sure Elizabeth and Tucker knew, but I could see it from the hallway. The whole row down each track grew in wattage and then settled." He looked at Ethan. "You call her Shine, that's exactly right."

"So they knew then? Right when I was born?"

"If we're being honest Reve, I think they knew when they heard the history. And everything they did thereafter was to make sure you would have a choice. Tucker often said he felt like he didn't have a choice. He did what was expected of him, but ruling wasn't what he wanted and he grew up genuinely hoping it wasn't him. The Novak's always believed someone of their line would be the one. So in turn, he never wanted that pressure on you. Elizabeth saw the power differently, but then when you were born it shifted again. It wasn't about her anymore. It was about you. To The Preservers you all have been a myth that if it turned true needed to be destroyed. To The Emissary you were all the salvation. A return to safety. But not truly seen as potential individuals with your own lives. To us, you were just you. When your mother was killed it was my job to make sure whatever path you wanted was the one you were allowed to take."

Anna sank back, looked at Cole and then up at Ethan and let her shoulders shrug with a half laugh.

"Ok. Ok, so Anna Jane is from royalty. Right on. We're…." Ethan gestured to her, Cole, Caroline, and then himself. "….all pieces of one. You had to know. Obviously you didn't know Caroline, but seven years ago, you had to of known when you saw us. If you want us to have a choice why not tell us? Why not tell our parents?"

"I've seen time and again what it is to grow up with the knowledge. You each already had things in your lives that made you mature sooner. That made you separate from kids your age. Where Anna is concerned, I honored her mothers wishes. That she be allowed to be a child, and when she showed signs of power or curiosity, then I was to share and guide her, but ultimately the decision would be hers." He looked at Anna. "That time didn't arrive once before today, did it?"

Anna's jaw clenched. "Exactly like that? No it hasn't. But when Cole's parents were killed that should have changed it. It may not have been connected, but there's no denying they were killed by vampires. We deserved to know what was out there then, what the risks were. And you said nothing to us or to the Kelly's. I bet upon meeting Caroline, the Southgates would have stayed in the dark too."

"I've wrestled with that. Cole." His voice caught a bit so he paused. "Cole, I will always wonder if it could have been different if your parents had known of vampires and all the rest. I'll carry that with me until I'm with them. I can only say that none of you showed signs and to me the only way any of you or the families would be attacked was if it was connected. There were no signs of that prior to, well prior to what I've heard today. I promise you that."

Cole nodded, which seemed to simmer Anna's temper as well.

"Lets circle back to what Ethan asked. Fine we didn't show signs of power before now, but you knew what the prophecy was. You had to have thought that's what we were once you met the boys."

"I was pleased you had found a decent friend group when I first met the boys. I wasn't thinking about a centuries old prophecy. But alright, it wasn't long after that I started to think it, to feel it too. Not power, but that connection."

He smiled at Caroline. "And I apologize for hesitating with you Caroline. It's only that despite what the prophecy says of six, I've never had the inkling that there were more than the three of them. Their connection was always a tight unit. Until now."

Caroline looked at Ethan with a small but slightly scared smile. Anna tensed again.

"Never? There was never a time where you felt this?"

Phillip sighed while Ethan and Cole looked at one another over Anna's head.

"You think he's?..." Cole trailed off with Anna's glare.

"It doesn't matter." She waved her hands as though to erase. "This is about us. Carlisle says the next step should be meeting with The Emissary and training."

"The choice is yours." Though Phillip didn't look thrilled about it. "It's not what I'd wish for you, its not what your parents did. But they would want you to be able to defend yourself. To know all your options."

"We need to tell my parents." Ethan put in. "Ro?"

Caroline hesitated but agreed. "Yeah, mine need to know."

"So more demonstration meetings, rad." Anna huffed and looked at her Grandfather. After a moment she said simply, "Papa."

His breath may have caught at the name, but he recovered just as quick. They looked at one another for a while and finally Anna nodded. "I understand." She said. "We don't like it, but I think we can all understand, you just wanted us to be us."

"It's not fair that there will be changes, but I don't have a single doubt any of you aren't equal to it. I will say though." Some seriousness came back into his expression almost fiercely. "If it gets to be too much. If any of you aren't ready or you want out. One word, and we'll go."

The four of them nodded with Ethan adding the scouts honor sign.

NOW

Ethan rolled his shoulders and took a glance at the others. "Water? Coffee? Whiskey?"

With a stretch of her own Anna turned to the nearest clock. "It's still before noon. Better make it Vodka."

Hayley took stock of herself and found she mostly wanted to comfort. While what she had heard so far hadn't been easy, she also knew far worse was coming. She could feel it in the missing people in the room. Without realizing it, she reached her hand out for Cole's.

"We went to Cecelia first. Asked her to call John home early. He didn't hesitate and we had a similar meeting as the first was." Cole explained. "They took it remarkably well. They were scared of course, but they wanted to be strong for us I think. Needing to do that kept them calm. They were will us every step of that first time we met with The Emissary."

"And Caroline's?" She asked tentatively.

A dark laugh came from the kitchen as Ethan walked over with shot glasses cupped in one hand, a bottle under that arm, and juice bottles in the other.

Cole sighed. "The Southgates aren't fanciful people. Even with seeing their daughter turn the lights off and on to the beat of the radio she'd also turned on without moving, they took the side of anger over reason. Forbade her to see any of us."

"Most especially her brand new and clearly evil boyfriend." Ethan seemed as offended as if it had been last week not over ten years ago. He dragged over the ottoman, and moved it to Anna's chair. Before she could rest her legs on it, he took a seat.

"In the end they came around to at least the idea of her learning how to control and use the telekinesis as a defense." Anna narrowed her eyes at Ethan's back. "If there was one thing Mrs. Southgate knew it was war, and she didn't want Caroline unprotected. But they often made it clear they thought we caused it somehow. That their daughter was safe and normal before she met us, and we were no good."

"I don't blame them." Hayley held up her hands Cole. "No, I don't mean I agree with them seeing you guys that way, you dolt. I mean they obviously love their daughter and they're probably right, she was safe one day and in danger the next. That had to be hard."

"Sweet girl." Anna smiled, curling her knees up so Ethan couldn't lean back. "Trouble is, we were teenagers at the time so not a whole lot of slack was given to the Southgates, but we did try."

"Probably more so than with the Cullen's back then." Ethan put in. "Carlisle checked in like he promised but it was years before we met the rest of them."

"Even with Edward being like your great great great Uncle or whatever?" Hayley asked Cole.

"Even with. Not until I was about twenty-one. See like Carlisle told us then, they were in a bit of a complicated spot. Bella and Edward had married that summer, and Bella changed in the fall. We found out before she changed she had actually given birth to their kid."

"Um. Vampire? Edward can't…."

"Don't ask us." Anna and Ethan said and pointed at their noses and then one another.

"Bypassing science and magic hooey." Cole rolled his eyes. "They had a baby and the labor would have killed Bella if they hadn't changed her. Luckily it was what she already wanted, but a part vampire part human baby attracted a bit of attention once The Volturi found out."

"Right. Of course. The Volturi. Does every team have a name here?"

Cole smirked but continued. "The Volturi were sort of the law of the vampires for centuries. They supported The Preservers, but kept to themselves since they wanted to collect vampires with the talents. A lot of the time they found humans with the gifts before The Preservers and The Emissary and they turned them. They would have taken most of the Cullens, especially Edward and Bella's daughter Rory. She's telekinetic as well."

"In the family." Hayley rubbed Cole's knee. "So I'm guessing they fought them?"

"Big time." Anna nodded. "It went on for years. The Cullen's had to split up and run at first. Eventually they rose up, their friends and family back on the Quileute rez and in Forks too. Other vampires and humans with powers from around the world too. We weren't involved but it definitely gave us a perspective on what our futures were going to be."

"Which would be why Carlisle didn't involve us in the fight. It would have changed everything for us that much sooner and I think there was a part of him that knew he couldn't protect his family but he could keep us from being found a bit longer."

"So you didn't meet The Emissary then?"

"No not then. It was all too much too soon. My parents hadn't even been gone a year, we just met Caroline, Anna was thrown a lot with her family." Cole shrugged. "We needed time to just be with it all."

Hayley chuckled. "Yeah I can understand that all right. So how long until you did?"

"Over a year." Ethan slumped back, only to bump into Anna's knees. He shoved at them. "Would you? Jesus."

Anna kicked back. "It took about that long for Caroline to bring her parents around, and we weren't about to do anything if all of us weren't ready. We tested our abilities ourselves, quietly. No one bothered us, at that point. It was towards the end of our senior year that it started changing."

"I'm forced to repeat myself, but, every superhero movie ever."

Anna winked at Hayley, and kicked Ethan until he fell to the floor. Stretching out her legs she sighed. "Best get comfy for this round."