"Simone, don't be ridiculous. I know I can break up Charity and Miguel. Do you honestly think that some silly premonitions are going to stop the hands of fate from giving Miguel to me and taking him away from the sniveling psycho brat?"

"Kay, I know you love Miguel, but you really should try to be nicer to Charity....she is your cousin; and besides, if they ever found out what you were trying to pull off, you'd lose both of them. Come to think of it, if they knew that you rigged the fish guts thing at prom, no one in your family would ever trust you again."

"Simone, I'm not going to get caught. I've been way too careful. The only person who could tell them is you, and you're not going to do that cause I'm helping you get Chad away from Whitney. Besides, I am nice to Charity."

Simone blinked hard to hold back the laughter about to erupt. She sat down on the couch in the living room of the Bennett house trying to stifle any sounds. Kay, tired of being second guessed by her best friend, just rolled her eyes and went into the kitchen to get some sodas before they started watching the movie they had rented that afternoon.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Oh, Timmy. This doesn't look good. It doesn't look good at all."

"What's wrong, Princess?"

"It appears that Kay's good friend Simone no longer has any faith in what Kay is doing. This could be the end of us, Timmy. Without Kay to help us make Charity's life a living hell, we'll never get her over to the dark side."

"Oh. Can we go now? Timmy's was making a batch of martimmies before Timmy's Princess brought us over here...again."

"Not now, Timmy. I've got to find out what Kay's got planned for the little blonde time bomb."

Timmy and Tabitha continued to gaze through the window of the Bennett's trying to eavesdrop on the conversation in the living room, when Tabitha felt a seemingly urgent tap on her shoulder. Startled, she turned around quickly, dropping Timmy in the process.

"Hi, Tabitha! What are you doing looking in the window of the Bennett's?

"Hello, Reed. I was just trying to see if anyone was home. That's all."

"Umm...its Reese, Tabitha....and yes there are people here, in fact, I'm here to see Kay. I just can't stand to be away from her very long."

Tabitha leaned over to pick up Timmy and began dusting him off. "Oh, well, that's certainly a very sweet sentiment. I'm sure she would love to see you right now."

Reese pushed his glasses back up into place and beamed. He couldn't wait to see his angel. He had wonderful news for her.

"Well, Reese. I think I'll be going home now. I have some things to do before Grace starts her sale at the gift shop."

"Weren't you going to talk to them?"

Tabitha scrambled for an answer. "Ummm, no....I just wanted to see if someone was there. I heard a noise I didn't expect and I wanted to make sure that no one was trying to break in."

"Oh. Okay, Tabitha. I'll see you later then."

As Tabitha retreated back to her house, Reese stood on the front doorstep of the Bennett house trying to contemplate how to get Kay to go with him that night.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Oh, Miguel! They're so beautiful! Thank you!" Charity gushed as she gazed at the wild flowers he had picked for her on the way over.

"Just like you." He replied, his green eyes wide as he greeted the love of his life.

"You're so good to me. Sometimes I think that I don't deserve you."

"Don't be silly. It's I who doesn't deserve you"

They both heard the doorbell ring followed by Kay's "I'll get it!"

Miguel smiled. "That must be Reese. He was coming over to pick up Kay. Some mystery date. He never told me what he had planned."

Charity cocked her head to the side. "Aww. That's so sweet. I wonder what they're going to do. They seem so happy."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~

"Reese! What are you doing here?"

"Don't you remember our date? I have a surprise for you." Reese beamed, like a kid in a candy store.

Kay rolled her eyes. She couldn't believe this. First prom, now he's convinced that she's smitten. How am I going to get rid of him. I just wanted to watch a movie tonight with Simone, she wondered. "Gee, Reese, I'm sorry. I completely forgot. I'm not even dressed to go anywhere."

"Oh, that's ok. It's a casual surprise. Did you make other plans? Cause we could do this another time."

Simone, having walked up behind Kay, nudged her in the side. "Go with him, Kay" she whispered, "we have this movie for 5 days. It won't kill you to spend an evening with Reese. You could brainstorm away from the situation."

Kay turned and glared at Simone. "Can you hang on a second, Reese. I need to talk to Simone for a minute." Kay dragged Simone upstairs. Once safely out of Reese's earshot, her temper got the best of her. "Are you crazy! I can't stand him. I don't even like being in the same room with him! Yes, it will kill me. I will go crazy just like Charity. I don't think I could take it."

For the next minute or so, Simone just stood there, listening to Kay pick on Reese, who was still waiting patiently downstairs. Simone's eyes grew wide as she saw two people peek out of one of the bedrooms. They had heard Kay's complaints. Simone frantically tried to get Kay's attention as the two started coming into the hallway, shocked by what they had overheard.

"Kay! Shut up!" Simone pleaded.

"Simone, what is your..." Simone spun Kay around so she could see her audience.

"Charity...Miguel...I didn't know you were up here....."

"What did you mean, Kay? What did you mean when you said that you'll go crazy like Charity?" Miguel looked at her, pensive, but confused.

Kayforced a blush. "Oh, I just meant that's he's so good to me. Before long, he'll make me as crazy for him, as Charity is for you." Kay held back the gagging sensation she felt as she spewed the sickeningly sweet sentiments to her cousin and Miguel.

Charity, satisfied with that answer, cocked her head to the side. "Awww...I'm so glad that you too are so happy. You make a great couple."

Kay shook her head with mock sadness. "I don't deserve someone like Reese. Sometimes I feel like he's too good for me."

As Kay was praising Reese's name, Simone politely bowed out of the conversation and went downstairs. I can't believe they believed her, she thought. They have got to be the most gullible people. No wonder she's not worried about being caught.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Hey, Simone. Is Kay almost ready?"

"Yeah, she should be down any minute. Do you want a drink?

"Sure, thanks. That would be great."

"So...I'm dying to know. What's the surprise?"

Reese shook his head and smiled lightly. "Nice try there, Simone. But I don't want to take any chances that she might find out before I can unveil the surprise. I want this night to be really special."

Simone smiled. "You are a true romantic. I'm sure you'll have a great time tonight." As Simone led Reese to the kitchen she wondered if Kay was right about what she said...Did she really deserve Reese's affections?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Charity and Miguel both looked at each other. "How can you say that Kay?" Charity exclaimed. "Of course you deserve to be happy with Reese. It wouldn't be happening if you didn't!"

"She's right. Believe me, If I thought even for a minute that you guys didn't belong together, I would let you know how I feel. I would never want my two best friends to be unhappy."

"Thanks, Miguel."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Timmy, we've got a problem. Reese is up to something, and I think we may lose Kay to goodness. If he manages to get his plan working for tonight, we may lose our best ally!"

Timmy shook his head and tossed back another martimmy. "Princess, I really don't think Kay could do a 180 that fast."

"Shows how much you know, doll-face. If his plan works, we'll lose her forever."

Simone and Reese were on the couch, talking about the movie that she and Kay had rented, when Kay finally got away from the lovebirds upstairs. She walked down the stairs, somewhat dreading the night to come, but she couldn't disappoint Reese. He is after all, Miguel's best friend. One of them, anyway.

"I'm all ready." Kay announced as she strolled into the living room. Since she had been accosted by Charity and Miguel, she hadn't changed her clothes, she had only run a brush through her hair, and brushed her teeth quickly.

"Great! Why don't we leave now. I promised your parents that you'd be home by 12:30 tonight."

"Ok. Let me just grab my jacket and we can go."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Tabby. Kay and Reese are leaving. Should Timmy be worried?"

"Oh, yes, Timmy. Very worried. Reese has more than dinner and movie planned for our darling Kay."

Timmy shuddered. "I wish Timmy's princess would be a little clearer. What is Reese going to do?"

"He's going to tell Kay our secret."

"What? That you're a witch? I think after he saw you as a fish, he was pretty convinced."

"No, no...Reese has always known that...I'm talking about the other secret."

"What secret? I don't think you ever told Timmy about that secret."

"That's right, I haven't and I'm not going to. Only three people know. Reese, myself, and Alistair Crane."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*Somewhere on the highway, approaching Castleton, a town next to Harmony*

She looked at her watch. "I hope that this Miss Lenox is still alive. This letter is really old...but surely someone will know where Grace Standish resides if she is still in Harmony."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Reese led Kay outside towards the large stretch limosine in the driveway. When she saw the vehicle that they would be taking that night, Kay protested.

"Reese, I thought you said that this is casual date?"

"It is, but I thought that a princess like you should go in style."

Kay blushed. "Thanks, but don't you think its a little too much style?"

"Never. Nothing's too good for you, my darling." With that, she opened the door and helped her into the car. As he rounded the back of the limo to get in on his side, he took off his glasses and tossed them into the bushes by the house next door.

Reese slid into the seat opposite Kay and smiled warmly.

"Reese...where are your glasses?"

"Oh, I don't need them. I never did. I just kinda wore them for the heck of it."

"Why?"

"In hopes of blending in. Don't worry. I'll explain all as the night progresses. Tonight is going to be full of surprises.

Kay furrowed her eyebrows, as if she didn't understand. But she shook it off and smiled at Reese. She was determined to look like she was having fun...if not for Reese, for Miguel.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*A car approaching Harmony*

"Harmony, 16 miles. Oh good. I'm almost there. I just hope I'm not too late."

"Julian. We have got to put a stop to Tabitha Lenox."

"Father, I don't understand why we need to even bother. She's a harmless old woman."

"That shows much you know, you infantile, slobbering drunk. Now that you've been disinherited, and Ethan has displayed some rather sickening loyalty to you, I may have to use my backup, and neither one of you will inherit the Crane fortune."

"You can't mean..."

"Yes, Julian. That's exactly what I mean."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The limo made its way down the street. But not a word was spoken inside. Kay wasn't exactly sure of what to say to Reese. Reese on the other hand, couldn't, and wouldn't take his eyes off of Kay.

"Reese? What are you staring at?"

"The most beautiful, and secretive person in Harmony. But I am also wondering what you're thinking. We both hold secrets that need to be shared. Tonight, if things go the way I want them to."

"Secrets? What secrets? I don't have any."

"Oh really. I know how you feel about Charity. I know you hate every cell of her being, simply because she has Miguel. Don't look so surprised. I'm sorry, but I thought it was very obvious. That's one of Miguel's biggest faults. He can never see the obvious, regardless of how often he is exposed to it."

Kay shivered. She didn't like this new, calm, and oddly intuitive Reese. Kay felt like he was inside her head, walking around and reading her like an open book through a magnifying glass. It was as if he suddenly transformed into this new, confident being whom she didn't know.

"Are you cold? I'll ask the driver to turn up the heat a little."

"No, I'm fine....its just that...everything you're saying makes so much sense, but at the same time, its a bit unnerving. How can you know these things. It was never my intention for you to know."

"Kay, I knew from the minute that I saw you with Simone on the prom boat drawing the giant X on the floor. I had a feeling that you were up to something, so I hung around the boat until you left and I found the drum of fish guts, and the power box that went with it. After it dumped on Charity, I naturally deduced that you planned that...and the only reason you would want to hurt your own flesh and blood like that was if she had something that you wanted desperately. Knowing your personality, it was the only thing that made sense. It had to be Miguel."

"But if you've decided that I'm this horrible monster-person, why are you taking me out tonight?"

"Because, I need your help."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alistair picked up his personal line. "Alistair Crane. Who is this"

"It's your ex."

"Oh, hello, formally-beautiful. What can I do for you? Kill you, or simply maim your emotions today?"

"Very funny you cold-hearted bastard. I'm beginning to see some of you in your son and its a bit unnerving."

"And what part of me would that be? Surely you don't see the family resemblance? He's never looked like a Crane."

"No. Its your sense of revenge. I feel he's going after the people we should be afraid of."

"Who? The Bennett girl? There is nothing to fear. She has no idea of her potential, and besides, even if she did become a threat to the Crane Empire anytime soon, she'd never ally with her family."

"No, but your son might. And we cannot afford to lose him to goodness."

"You really are being ridiculous about this. Our son would never go against the Cranes. No matter how much I ignore him in public."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A strange car pulled up in front of Tabitha's house. The driver turned off the engine and removed the key. Tabitha, who had been on the phone, ended the call hastily and went to the front door at the sound of the first knock. Tabitha opened the door to a tall, thin, brunette with intense blue eyes.

"Well, well, well. Temperance Standish. I do believe its been over 20 years since I saw you last, when you were a little baby."

Here's the newly edited disclaimer : "The characters used in this story, with the exception of Temperance Standish, are not mine. They are the property of NBC and James E Reilly. I'm merely a crazy fan to borrow them purely for entertainment purposes. The character of Temperance Standish is completely mine, not copyrighted or anything, but if someone does choose to use the character in the state that I have created her, please ask permission first so that I can read your story :o)"

"Hello, Tabitha. It has been a long time, and you're right. I was 3. It seems like a lifetime. But I had to see you. I heard a nasty rumor that my darling cousin, Charity, is causing you some problems."

"Nothing gets by you, does it my dear. I am glad. I wasn't sure I'd be able to find you without my powers."

"Without your powers? Tell me, Tabitha. Did our friends in the basement get mad at you again? Like they did right before you tried to kill my mother?"

"I swear, you know everything. I haven't had my powers for nearly a year."

"Poor Tabitha. You should have done what they told you to. You'll get no sympathy from me. By myself, I could have fought my darling cousin. But now......now she has help! Damn you Tabitha for making my life more difficult. " Temperance took a deep breath to steady herself and calm her rising temper.

"I'm sorry Temperance, dear. I didn't really except all that happened TO happen. Its really been a very interesting and unpredictable year."

"So I've heard," she sighed. "Well, we have to think of something to do, we can't have you die, now can we?" Temperance thought she heard a small voice in agreement. She started looking around the room in amazement. "I know that I'm not hearing things, after all I AM in your house, Tabitha, so what was that little voice?"

"Oh, that's just Timmy. He's a doll that I brought to life so I could have someone to talk to. A sidekick if you will, after all, you weren't here, and my son has no idea what's going on.......and then there's Kay. She was such a borderline evil person anyway, there was no way I'd get her to help me if she knew for sure that I was some evil witch out to destroy all the women in her family...well, not all of them." With that last statement, Tabitha smiled nervously.

"Timmy. Alright. Well, it appears that our first order of business is to get Reese away from Kay. If we don't do that, then we'll not be able to do anything about Charity."

Timmy got up to shake hands with Temperance. "Are you going to help bring Charity to the dark side?"

"That's my current plan, yes. That seems to disappoint you."

Tabitha picks up Timmy. "He seems to have a little crush on her, and he likes 'good Charity'."

Temperance wrinkled her nose. "How cute. Now, to the matter at hand."

Tabitha led Temperance and Timmy to the couch so they could discuss their plan.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The limo that Reese had rented pulled up in front of the Durkee's house. All the lights were out, giving the place an ominous appearance. Kay stepped outside the car when Reese opened her door. She shivered. There was a gentle breeze, that in the yard, gave Kay an eerie feeling.

Reese place a warm hand on Kay's shoulder. "Come with me. I want to show you something."

Kay nodded. She had no idea what to expect, but with Reese, she felt safe. Not at all worried about the silent house ahead. When Reese opened the door, it creaked slightly, causing Kay to stop hesitantly in her tracks. She looked at Reese as if to say 'What are we doing here?'.

Reese smiled assuredly, "It's alright. Its just quiet and dark because my parents aren't home."

Kay nodded. She was still a little nervous, but she knew that Reese would never hurt her. Kay entered the house ahead of Reese and looked around slowly. She recognized that furnishings that she'd seen so many times before, now bathed in moonlight. Reese turned the light on behind her.

Kay turned around quickly, somewhat startled by the sudden illumination. "Reese, what are we doing here? Don't forget who my father is, if you try anything, I'll make sure you're severly punished!"

Reese's eyes softened. He held out his arms, as if begging. "Relax, Kay. I can't believe you'd ever think that I'd try to hurt you. On the contrary. By meeting me tonight, you're ensuring your own protection. As well as that of your entire family." He smiled. "I just want to show you something. It has to do with why I need your help."

Kay rolled her eyes. "Whatever, Reese. I can't imagine why the heck you'd need my help for anything."

"Follow me."

Kay and Reese trudged upstairs and walked down the hall past Reese's room, and to the end of the hall to room that Kay had never been in before. Reese opened the door and waved Kay into the room. "Here we are. This is my work room."

Kay looked around in wonder. The room reminded her of the attic room in Beetlejuice. There was a large table with a model of the whole town. Kay looked over the whole table, and found everything in the town exactly where it belonged. Kay noticed another table on the side of the room, up against the wall. She moved toward the table. She saw little figurines, and once she got to the table, it wasn't long before she realized that they were the citizens of Harmony.

Kay's mouth opened in confused shock. She reached out and picked up the small, half-painted model of herself. "Oh my God. Reese, did you make these?"

Reese blushed a little, "Yeah...my mom calls them 'Reese's Pieces'," he chuckled. "I've been working on them for a long time to perfect the designs. I'm sorry yours isn't finished yet, but I'm trying to be extra careful to make it look right," he responded.

"Is this what you wanted to show me? I don't understand. Do you need my to model so that you can get the design right?"

Reese grew somber. "No, Kay. Do you see the other brunette girl next to Jessica and Charity?"

Kay looked back at the table. Her eyes found what Reese had described. Kay set the model of herself back in its place on the table. She reached over and picked up the other figurine. "Who is this? She looks like me, but its not...and I've never seen her before."

"I think you'd better sit down Kay."

Kay sat down, the little person still in her hand. She looked up at a very serious Reese, wondering what could be causing this strange behavior of his.

"Her name is Temperance Standish. She's your sister."

"My sister? Reese, I have one sister. Her name is Jessica, remember? Besides if I had another sister, she'd be younger than Jessica. This little doll doesn't look that young."

Reese shook his head. "Your mom can't remember the first 20 years of her life. I know that this is difficult to understand, but Temperance was born in Boston before that fire."

"But the police didn't find any other people....or traces of other people in the building...wouldn't they have found something? Remnants of a child's bedroom, perhaps?"

"No. There was nothing left in the building. Your mother was lucky to get out alive. Temperance managed to survive because she was with another person at the time. I don't know who...probably the person who raised her.....

"So why hasn't she tried to find my....I mean.....our mom? What does this all have to do with you?"

"I'm a messenger of goodness, an angel if you will....though I'm not dead. I was chosen to protect the Standishes and Bennetts."

"Protect us? From what? Charity? I always knew she was dangerous!!!"

"Calm down, Kay. On the contrary. Protect probably wasn't the best word.....because of the amnesia that both Grace and Charity suffer from, neither of them know or is prepared to fight the forces of darkness."

Kay almost choked on the soda Reese had just handed her. "The forces of darkness? You must be on drugs. This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard." Kay stood up and set the soda can, and the small figurine she'd been holding on the table next to her. "I can't believe what you're trying to get me to believe. Unbelievable!" Kay started towards the door.

Reese went after Kay. She had made it half way down the hall when she heard him call out. "Like I said before, this is difficult to accept...or even to understand....but you need to hear this. Your whole family....and Miguel are at stake!"

At the mention of Miguel's name, Kay paused in the front doorway of Reese's house, she closed the door and turned around, tears starting to form in her eyes. She walked up the stairs to where Reese was. "If this is true....all this stuff.....about goodness, and evil.....then I want to know what it has to do with Miguel. I'll help you in any way I can, as long as you tell me what Miguel has to do with it......"

Reese nodded. "I was getting to that, but I need you to listen to everything. I have to say. Believe it or not, his involvement is a relatively minor part of the big picture."

"Alright, Reese. I'll listen. I just can't promise that I'll believe everything."

"Well, I hope that you will when I'm done. It's very important that you do." Reese paused for a few seconds. He got up and walked around Kay's chair. He sighed and sat back down. "As I was saying before, your family is in danger. The reason is that your family comes from a long line of witches.....in the supernatural world, the Standishes are practically legendary."

"Witches?" Kay asked, her eyes wide with wonder.

"Yes, though not in the traditional Wizard of Oz sense. The Standish women are all good witches. They have the gifts of ESP, premonitions, and, in the more powerful, telekinesis."

"You mean Charity's premonitions are real? She's not crazy?"

Reese nodded. "They are very real. But because of her amnesia, and that of your mother's, the family secrets and traditions have not been passed on. Charity's powers have started developing, because of Miguel. The powers in your family always begin to develop when the witch experiences true love. I'm sorry to tell you this Kay, but Charity and Miguel are meant to be. Her powers will only develop to where they need to be, if she and Miguel stay together."

"That seems like such crap. I don't want to believe it. How do I know that you're not just telling me all this to keep me from going after Miguel?" Kay questioned, suspicious.

"I know that you love Miguel. But what's more important in this situation is that Charity loves Miguel. Her own powers have been awaited for generations....they need to be given the chance to flourish. The Standish women have been fighting evil for a few hundred years, and none have been so powerful, as Charity."

"Who are these forces of darkness? How do we know that a specific person could do us harm? Besides, why is it Charity that's so important? Wouldn't Jessica and I and.....this Temperance person have powers as well?"

"Charity's powers are the way they are by simple genetics. Both of her parents were very powerful....and good....witches. You and Jessica are both potentially powerful, but because your mother doesn't remember, and because your father, as a Bennett, doesn't have them in great strength, if at all....you and Jessica are diluted."

"I see.....What about Temperance."

"Therein lies the problem. This is why I need your help. While you share a Standish mother....Temperance's father was an extremely dangerous man. His powers are unlike the world had seen until that time, and as a result, Temperance ended up being a very powerful evil witch. Unfortunately, being raised to use her powers for evil, she's a great threat to your family. Charity can't defeat her on her own. She needs you to help her."

"Wait....I have to give up Miguel to Charity so that she can fight the evil side, i.e., my own sister....and I have to help her defeat that evil?"

"I find it funny that you feel a family loyalty for Temperance, when you don't know her, and Charity, who is your cousin and you do know, you would probably kill if you thought you could get away with it."

"Reese, I can't believe you would say that. I don't want Charity to die, and I've never felt that way, I just want her to give up on Miguel so I can be with him."

"Fine, I'll grant you that...but you have already accepted Temperance as your sister. She's out to destroy your family, and you still don't like the idea that you are destined to fight her."

Kay thought about that for a moment and gazed at the figures on Reese's desk. Reese's Pieces. She smiled to herself. Its amazing the detail that he puts into them, she thought.

Suddenly, she saw one move. She jumped. Reese looked at her with faint amusement. He had also seen the small Theresa doll move from the Lopez-Fitzgerald house, up the hill to the Crane mansion. Kay looked at Reese. "Are they supposed to do that? Or was I seeing things?"

"No, they move quite frequently. It kinda lets me know when something big is about to happen here in Harmony." Reese got a strange look in his face, and groaned. He held his stomach and sat carefully in the chair next to the model.

"What's wrong? Are you alright, Reese?" Kay asked, extremely concerned at the obvious pain he was in.

"I'm fine, Kay. Something big is happening at the Crane mansion right now. Something really big. Lives are going to change."

Kay had long gotten over the weirdness of this night, and took Reese's word for it. "Whose?"

"The Cranes. The Lopez-Fitzgeralds. Your family."

"My family? Why my family? We have know connection to the Cranes."

"Watch the figures. You won't be able to hear them, but we'll both be able to see things. I'll fill in what I can."

"Alright."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*5 hours later*

Sam lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. It was late. He let his eyes wander to the alarm clock next to his bed. The glowing red numerals practically screamed at him. 3:07am.

Five hours, he thought. I have been lying here for five hours.

Sam sat up and punched his pillow, then lay back down, as if that would solve his insomnia. Tired of staring at the ceiling, he rolled onto his side. He looked over at Grace, asleep next to him, but with her back to him. He was grateful that she was still willing to sleep next to him, considering all that had happened that night, just a few hours before. Despite their current sleeping arrangement, it was obvious, at least to Sam, that Grace was still upset and not ready to forgive him. That was why she wasn't cuddling.

Sam smiled at his emotionally distant wife. For their entire marriage, Sam had always slept with Grace in his arms. A person could walk in on them asleep at any time during the night, but they would always find Grace lying next to Sam, head settled on his shoulder, with one of his strong, protective arms holding her to him; and she'd have one slim, gentle arm around his stomach and a hand resting on Sam's chest.

Sam had loved that. To him, after having been married for more than 20 years, their closeness was proof of a perfect, healthy marriage. But that had all changed. And for the first time in almost three decades, Sam felt lonely.

**Flashback to 8 hours before; at the Crane mansion**

"Grace, Sam! I'm so glad you came tonight! I'm going positively out of mind with all of Julian's stuffy, snooty friends, " Ivy gushed as she swept the Bennetts into the living room. "Grace, I've been meaning to come by the store, have the items for Halloween arrived yet?"

"No, not yet. But I do have photos and catalogues of everythingn that's come in. Please come by and we can talk about what you need." Grace said, a calm and happy smile on her face.

Same excused himself from the ladies' conversation and made a beeline for T.C., who was at the bar, glaring dangerously at Julian Crane across the room.

"Hey, T.C., I'm so glad that you and Eve agreed to come tonight. I don't think I could get through this party without having someone to complain to."

"I know what you mean, Sam. I'd probalby kill Julian tonight, if you weren't here to take my mind off of it," T.C. tossed back a shot of tequila, and stood up. "Come on, Sam. I need to get away from the bar, I want to keep my wits about me. It would be bad if I lost control tonight."

"Yes, it would. Let's go outside. I think Ivy has Grace backed into a corner about the store...either that or they're talking about Ethan and Noah."

T.C. chuckled. "Probably comparing stories."

"Probably. That's a scary prospect. Noah and Ethan are nothing alike. Thankfully."

"Or unfortunately. What if Ethan were like Noah?"

"You have a good point there, T.C. But he's not. He's exactly like his father."

Across the room, Grace and Ivy had finished their discussion of the decorations, and after being joined by Eve, had begun discussing their children; just as Sam and T.C. had predicted.

"Honestly, Grace, I do wish I was as close to my daughters as you are to yours. After Ethan marries, there will be no one for me to dote on...until he has children, that is. I'm afraid my other children hate me.

"Oh, Ivy. I don't think that's true, deep down, I'm sure they all love you very much, " Grace said, sympathetically. "I've never met them, but I'm sure they love you as much as you love them."

Sam and T.C. walked up at that moment and gently placed an arm around the shoulders of their respective wives.

"Hello, ladies, having fun?" Sam said, a forced smile on his face. He eyed Ivy with an intense stare, as if to say, "I love my wife, Ivy. Don't you dare hurt her."

Ivy looked away from Sam's stare. She couldn't admit to herself that it was over. Especially now that their son was getting married. Ivy began wringing her hands, as she began remembering the good old days. Her sudden change in disposition did not go unnoticed by her conversation group.

"Ivy? Ivy...hello? Are you alright?" Eve began snapping her fingers in front of Ivy's face. This caused Ivy to jolt back to reality.

"What? I'm sorry, I must have drifted off for minute, there."

"Are you alright?" Grace asked, concerned.

"Yes, Grace. I am, thank you."

Satisfied, Grace smiled. "You had such a look of contentment on your face. What were you thinking about?"

Ivy looked at Sam, her eyes penetrating, "I was thinking back to when Ethan's father and I were happy" Ivy forced a smile. "Unfortunately, while I am sure he's happy with the way his life is, I can't say that I've been as lucky."

"Does Julian know that you're unhappy, Ivy? I'm sure he would want you to be happy too."

"Huh?" Ivy's stare was interrupted by Grace's question. "I'm sorry Grace, what did you say?"

"Oh, I basically asked if you have mentioned that you're unhappy, to Julian."

"No, I haven't. He wouldn't understand. Worse yet, he'd probably send me to Europe to shop. He's so clueless that he actually believes that would make me feel better. Europe is nice, but its not a cure-all."

"That's too bad. Its a shame that you and Julian aren't happier."

"Yes it is, isn't it? Oh well, I've learned to deal with it. Apparently, so has Julian." Ivy paused. Sher forced a smile and began to change the subject. "But, really, let's talk about something happier. I heard that Noah is coming home soon. I'll bet you two can't wait for him to arrive."

"Yes, Ivy. My wife and I are very anxious to see our son." Sam answered, carefully emphasizing the word "our" as if to twist the knife in Ivy's heart a little deeper. "Supposedly, he's bringing a girl with him. I, for one, can't wait to meet the one who's captured his heart."

"Oh neither can I, Sam. Just think, in another year or two, we could be throwing a party for our own son's wedding." Grace hugged her husband.

"Scary prospect, honey. I can't imagine my oldest child getting married that soon. Actually, I'm not sure I'm ready to experience my child's wedding."

"I'd have to agree with Sam," T.C. added. "I know that I have a few more years to go with Whitney, but the idea of her getting married is not an event I'm ready to handle."

Eve only nodded to show her agreement with her husband. "How are you feelin about tomorrow, Ivy? Are you ready to see your son get married?"

I'vy smiled dreamily. "I do admit to feeling a certain sense of loss. I love Ethan more than life itself, and I know that he'll be happy with Gwen...but I still feel like a part of my life is over. I'm sure that's normal though. I suppose it will be worse when my youngest daughter marries."

T.C. and Eve smiled, thinking about Simone. Their little girl was the same age as Ivy's youngest, but they were content in knowing that Ivy's youngest was a girl, and away at boarding school.

Sam, on the other hand, was nervous of the prospect that one of Ivy's daughters was Noah's age, and attended the same college. He shook his head. "Ivy, you'll have to excuse Grace and I for a moment."

Ivy nodded as Sam swept Grace away to talk.

"Sam, why did you do that? Did I do something wrong?" Grace looked upset, she didn't understand the urgency with which Sam had pulled her aside.

"There's something I need to discuss with you. It has to do with Ivy." Sam led Grace to a chair so she could sit down."

At that very moment, Theresa walked in, her tear-stained face streaked with tears mingled with mascara. Pilar went to her daughter and began to take her upstairs. Pilar's hushed voice was heard, in Spanish, trying to calm her down.

"No, mama!" Theresa yelled. By now, this incident was attracting the attention of the entire party. "Ethan loves me! He can't marry Gwen! He's not a Crane, he's not a Crane!" Theresa continued sobbing, and collapsed on the stairs, hysterical with tears. Pilar cradled her daughter, while their audience grew and the crowd grew silent.

Julian and Ivy stood in front of their guests, Julian with a look of confused shock, and Ivy, sheer terror.

"Pilar! What the hell is going on?" A very drunk Julian bellowed up the stairs.

Sam looked from Pilar to Ivy and watched as her worst nightmare was about to come true.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Crane. Theresita is not herself today."

"I'll say she's not. What was this bellowing about Ethan not being a Crane? He's my son, he is a Crane, and he's marrying a Hotchkiss in the morning."

Theresa looked at Julian, Ivy, Sam, and now Ethan and Gwen, downstairs. Her anger over the wedding was obvious. "Ethan is not your son, Mr. Crane. I have proof. He is Sam Bennett's son."

"Ridiculous!" Julian whirled around so he could see both Ivy and Sam.

Grace, tears welling up in her eyes, looked at Theresa. "Theresa, are you absolutely sure about this?"

Theresa gazed at Grace, and nodded slowly.

Grace looked at her husband for an explanation, any explanation, and Sam, unprepared for this, just looked down.

"How could you? I thought you loved me! Why...how...when...oh! I don't even know you!" She then reached back and slapped him as hard as she could. "Damn you both!"

As Grace ran out the front door, Julian turned to face his wife. Ivy's frightened face looked towards Ethan. "I'm sorry...so...sorry..."

Ivy passed out. Even rushed to her side and began checking Ivy's vitals. Julians tossed back the rest of the brandy in his hand and started toward Sam, who was sitting, in shock, in a chair by the doorway into the parlor.

"You bastard. I'll have you destroyed. You amd your whole family. How dare you sleep with my wife. You pass yourself as so honorable. You have absolutely no business-"

"Stop it, father." Ethan broke in. "Can't you see that yelling him will do no good? The so-called damage has already been done." Ethan turned around to face the guests. Their shocked faces made him feel sick. "I think everyone should leave. The party is over."

Quietly, and still in shock, the guests began filing out of the front door. Ethan heard some whispering, he just knew that in about an hour, the sudden revelation would be known to the world. He was, himself, still in shock, bu he managed to steer Julian upstairs to his room so that he was out of the way.

Theresa met him in the hallway on his way back downstairs. "Ethan, I'm sorry," tears still coated her eyes, "I didn't mean to cause this to happen."

"Leave me alone. Do you honestly think that everything I've learned is good news? You've destroyed every aspect of my life that was stable." He paused as he started to walk past Theresa.

"Ethan! Please! I love you!" Theresa cried, panicked.

"You have a funny way of showing it. Just get out of here. I never want to see you again."

"You don't mean that."

"Yes, I do." Ethan waved he off as he went down the staircase. "Oh, and if you're ever on this property again, for whatever reason, I'll have you arrested."

"Ethan, I love you! Don't do this to me!"

Ethan stopped on the stairs and turned to face Theresa. "Do this to you? You? Why is everything about you? You've very likely ruined my life! All you care about is yourself. You are the most spoiled, selfish, ill-bred, little girl I've ever met in my life! You deserve everything that's coming to you, including a reinstatement of the stalking charges. I suggest you leave now, before I have your own brother arrest you for trespassing."

Theresa stood there, her whole body shaking, racked with tears. She just couldn't believe that this was happening. Sadly, she made the only intelligent decision she'd made since meeting Ethan Crane, she left the Crane mansion.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Reese turned to Kay. "Amazing isn't it. Ethan is your brother. How does that make you feel?"

"Awful...I can't believe my Dad cheated on my mom..."

"He didn't. The last time he was with Mrs. Crane was a few months before he met your mother."

"How do you know about this?"

"I told you, my pieces. Those wonderful little figurines on the table over there tell me everything. I know all of Harmony's secrets back about 30 years..."

"No, mama!" Theresa yelled. By now, this incident was attracting the attention of the entire party. "Ethan loves me! He can't marry Gwen! He's not a Crane, he's not a Crane!" Theresa continued sobbing, and collapsed on the stairs, hysterical with tears. Pilar cradled her daughter, while their audience grew and the crowd grew silent.

Julian and Ivy stood in front of their guests, Julian with a look of confused shock, and Ivy, sheer terror.

"Pilar! What the hell is going on?" A very drunk Julian bellowed up the stairs.

Sam looked from Pilar to Ivy and watched as her worst nightmare was about to come true.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Crane. Theresita is not herself today."

"I'll say she's not. What was this bellowing about Ethan not being a Crane? He's my son, he is a Crane, and he's marrying a Hotchkiss in the morning."

Theresa looked at Julian, Ivy, Sam, and now Ethan and Gwen, downstairs. Her anger over the wedding was obvious. "Ethan is not your son, Mr. Crane. I have proof. He is Sam Bennett's son."

"Ridiculous!" Julian whirled around so he could see both Ivy and Sam.

Grace, tears welling up in her eyes, looked at Theresa. "Theresa, are you absolutely sure about this?"

Theresa gazed at Grace, and nodded slowly.

Grace looked at her husband for an explanation, any explanation, and Sam, unprepared for this, just looked down.

"How could you? I thought you loved me! Why...how...when...oh! I don't even know you!" She then reached back and slapped him as hard as she could. "Damn you both!"

As Grace ran out the front door, Julian turned to face his wife. Ivy's frightened face looked towards Ethan. "I'm sorry...so...sorry..."

Ivy passed out. Even rushed to her side and began checking Ivy's vitals. Julians tossed back the rest of the brandy in his hand and started toward Sam, who was sitting, in shock, in a chair by the doorway into the parlor.

"You bastard. I'll have you destroyed. You amd your whole family. How dare you sleep with my wife. You pass yourself as so honorable. You have absolutely no business-"

"Stop it, father." Ethan broke in. "Can't you see that yelling him will do no good? The so-called damage has already been done." Ethan turned around to face the guests. Their shocked faces made him feel sick. "I think everyone should leave. The party is over."

Quietly, and still in shock, the guests began filing out of the front door. Ethan heard some whispering, he just knew that in about an hour, the sudden revelation would be known to the world. He was, himself, still in shock, bu he managed to steer Julian upstairs to his room so that he was out of the way.

Theresa met him in the hallway on his way back downstairs. "Ethan, I'm sorry," tears still coated her eyes, "I didn't mean to cause this to happen."

"Leave me alone. Do you honestly think that everything I've learned is good news? You've destroyed every aspect of my life that was stable." He paused as he started to walk past Theresa.

"Ethan! Please! I love you!" Theresa cried, panicked.

"You have a funny way of showing it. Just get out of here. I never want to see you again."

"You don't mean that."

"Yes, I do." Ethan waved he off as he went down the staircase. "Oh, and if you're ever on this property again, for whatever reason, I'll have you arrested."

"Ethan, I love you! Don't do this to me!"

Ethan stopped on the stairs and turned to face Theresa. "Do this to you? You? Why is everything about you? You've very likely ruined my life! All you care about is yourself. You are the most spoiled, selfish, ill-bred, little girl I've ever met in my life! You deserve everything that's coming to you, including a reinstatement of the stalking charges. I suggest you leave now, before I have your own brother arrest you for trespassing."

Theresa stood there, her whole body shaking, racked with tears. She just couldn't believe that this was happening. Sadly, she made the only intelligent decision she'd made since meeting Ethan Crane, she left the Crane mansion.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Reese turned to Kay. "Amazing isn't it. Ethan is your brother. How does that make you feel?"

"Awful...I can't believe my Dad cheated on my mom..."

"He didn't. The last time he was with Mrs. Crane was a few months before he met your mother."

"How do you know about this?"

"I told you, my pieces. Those wonderful little figurines on the table over there tell me everything. I know all of Harmony's secrets back about 30 years..."

With Eve's help, Ivy soon came back to consciousness, and upon realizing that the night's events had not been a dream, she broke down into tears.

Sam just stared at Ivy. Searching for the words to convey his feelings, and finding none, he shook his head. "I have to find my wife. I need to explain this to her."

"Chief Bennett." Ethan spoke gently from the staircase. Gwen went to Ethan and put her arms around him.

"Ethan, I really do need to find Grace. Can you wait until tomorrow?" Sam's eyes had a quiet fire, but at the same time, he seemed 10 years older.

Ethan only nodded.

"Thank you. I'll see you tomorrow then." Sam grabbed his coat and left. He decided, that knowing Grace, she'd be at home baking something. Sam headed to the house first.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Julian's cell phone rang.

"Julian Crane." he said, groggily.

"Julian! What the hell is going on over there?"

"Apparently, Ivy had an affair with Sam Bennett, and Ethan is not my son."

"I know all that, Julian. What's happening right now? Has Ivy begun packing yet?"

"I don't know, father. As far as I know, she's still downstairs recovering from her fainting spell."

"I have sent my lawyers to the mansion. They will be drawing up the divorce papers."

"Divorce? Oh no, father. I am not divorcing Ivy."

"Yes you are."

"No, I'm not. She'll be far more miserable if she's still married to me."

"I will not have that woman in that house sitting in the lap of luxury, spending my money."

"Father, she may have had an affair, but it must have been very early in our marriage, and besides, I have three children with her. Ethan may not be mine, but they are."

"Fine. But she must still be punished for doing that, and waht better way to punish her than to attack Ethan."

"What do you mean, father?"

"I will not allow him to carry the Crane name. He must be forced to change it."

"You're not suggesting that he become Ethan Bennett, are you?"

"Well, certainly you don't believe that Governor Winthrop is going to allow his bastard grandson to carry his name."

"No, I suppose not. Do you honestly believe that Sam Bennett would allow him to take that name?"

"There may need to be some manipulation."

Julian snorted. "Of course there will be, father. But I suggest you wait a few days." Julian pulled out a flask from the top drawer of his bedside table and took a few drinks.

"I will wait. The lawyers should be arriving at any minute to take care of the paperwork. You'd better tell Ethan to start thinking about a new name. As far as the divorce, that's up to you. Goodbye, Julian."

Alistair hung up before Julian could respond. Julian set his phone down. He opened the door and called down the hallway for Ethan to come talk to him.

When Ethan appeared in the doorway, Julian beckoned him to a chair. "Ethan, I have just got off the phone with your grandfather...I mean, Alistair, and he's informed me that you are to be removed from the family...so to speak. He's sending over lawyers to have your name legally changed to something other than Crane. He told me to give you two hours to change it."

"To what? Bennett? I'm not changing it to anything until I can talk to Chief Bennett. Or at least until a paternity test is performed. I could still be your son."

Julian thought for a moment as to whether or not that was possible.

Just then, the cell phone rang again. Julian answered it on the second ring.

"Yes, father?"

"Ethan brings up a good point. A paternity test is important. Is Eve Russell still downstairs with Ivy?"

Julian's eyes grew wide as he looked around the room. It was always eerie how Alistair always knew exactly what was going on. He looked at Ethan. "Ethan, is Dr. Russell still downstairs?"

"I think so."

"Will you go get her for me?"

"Of course"

"Meet me in my office."

"Yes, father."

Five minutes later, Eve and T.C. arrived in Julian's office. It unnerved Julian that T.C. had come with his wife, but he wasn't surprised.

"Eve, the reason I asked to see you is because of the unpleasant situation my wife has put this house in. I need to arrange a paternity test for Ethan. I figured that this would be fastest. Also, if at all possible, I would like it if you would perform the test yourself. You know, to keep it hush hush until the family knows who Ethan's father is."

"I understand, Julian; but I am not qualified for that kind of work. However, I can arrange for a completely secret anonymous test. I will need Ivy and Sam to give their permission, as well as a sample for the fastest results.

"Why, Ivy?"

"Well, its easier to determine which cells from the sample to compare."

"Very well. I leave it to you to set up the appointments, and such. Thank you very much for your time, Eve. T.C." Julian nodded to each of them, respectfully, as he led them out of his office.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sam reached his house in record time. There were only two lights on in the house. Jessica's room, and the kitchen. He sighed as realized that Kay was still with Reese and Charity was still at Miguel's house. Jessica was home, and still awake. Sam hoped that she hadn't already spoken with her mother. And he hoped that she wouldn't hear her parents fight. Sam went inside and headed towards the kitchen; he heard voices. Damn, he thought, Jessica is talking to Grace now. Sam started to turn away from the kitchen, but Jessica saw him.

"Hi, Dad! Did you have fun at the party tonight?" Jessica threw her arms around her father in greeting.

Sam just hugged her for a second. Was it possible that Grace hadn't said anything? He released Jessica from the embrace and smiled. "Well, it was eventful, to say the least. Would you mind leaving me alone with your mother for a few minutes? There's something I need to discuss with her."

"Does it have to do with why she's so upset?"

"Upset?"

"Yeah. Can't you smell that? Mom never bakes this late at night unless something's bothering her."

Sam sighed. "Just go upstairs, Jess. Please?"

"Sure, Dad." Jessica headed toward the stairs and ascended them quickly.

Sam entered the kitchen. Grace was standing at the counter kneading, no, beating the crap out of, some dough.

"Grace."

Grace slowed her kneading a little and sniffled. Then she resumed her work. Sam saw two empty cans of tomato soup.

"Grace, honey." He reached out and touched her shoulder.

Grace turned suddenly. Her eyes were red-rimmed. "Don't call me that. You have no right to call me that."

"No right? I'm your husband! I have been for over twenty years and I love you very much. I think that's enough reason."

"Not when you've been lying to me for as long."

"Grace, will you at least let me explain?"

"Why? So you can lie some more?"

"Grace, I had no idea that Ethan is my son. Can you honestly say that I would deliberately keep that from you?"

"You didn't tell me about Ivy either. How do I know that you're not hiding anything else from me?"

"Let me tell you everything. Right now. I'll clear the air."

"How do I know that you won't just lie to me again?"

"Just hear me out. You can decide yourself whether or not to believe me, ok?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kay stared, wide-eyed at Reese as he explained what was going on between his parents. "Poor Mom! I can't believe my father could do that to her."

"He didn't know, Kay. If he did, he would have told your mother from the beginning that he had a son."

"What is it with the men in this town! First my Dad, and now you! Don't you understand that it upsets my mother that he was with another woman? A friend of hers that's been in the house! And he never told her!"

"Kay, one thing that I know about your parents is that they love each very much. I'm convinced that they are soulmates. There has to be some cosmic reason why Ivy decided to go back to Julian."

"Yeah. Its black on one side, green on the other, and typically has a president on the front. And I hear Julian has billions of them."

"No, she hated Julian from the start, and loved your father very much. If she was meant to be with your father, she would never have gone back to Julian, regardless of how much money he has."

Kay thought about this for a moment. "Maybe...but I think my Dad was rotten to do that to my Mom."

"Well, wait and see. I'm sure that everything will work out. It just might be weird for a little while."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sam and Grace sat down at the kitchen table.

"Back in high school, our year, and for about two years after that, Ivy and I dated. Very seriously, but completely in secret. We both knew that her father, Governor Winthrop, would never allow us to be together. We were young and in love. We decided that we should not tell anyone. So, we didn't. As you may have guessed, we were lovers, and we had plans to elope one summer.

At that statement, Grace's eyes widened, and the tears started to well up in her eyes. She looked down as Sam continued.

"That summer, I took a job on a fishing boat so that I could earn enough money to run away with her." Sam swallowed as the deep set pain began coming u pafter two decades of suppression. Then he continued. "All the while, Governor Winthrop and Alistair Crane were plotting to get Ivy and Julian together. Julian behaved and charmed her all summer. Because the letters were exchanging were being destroyed by Alistair and Ivy's father, we both thought that we had given up on each other, and our love. Ivy eventually agreed to marry Julian.

A few weeks later, when I returned from the boat, I went immediately to her house, to see why she didn't write like she promised, only to find that she had married Julian that morning. Pilar had answered the door, and she told me that they had already left for their honeymoon. It was the saddest day of my life. My first love was lost to me."

Grace stood up and took a completed tomato soup cake from the oven. She set it on the counter for icing later, and wiped her eyes. She closed the oven and sat back down, then nodded to Sam for him to continue.

"I went home almost right away. I just didn't want to see anyone. When I got there, luckily, my family was out somewhere, so I had the house to myself. I just sat down in the living room and cried. I couldn't help it. All of my plans had basically flown out the window. I heard a noise and looked up. Ivy was standing there. She told me that she had heard Julian and Alistair discussing the successful merger of Winthrop and Crane. She had left him, and she wanted to be with me. We spent the night together. But, the next morning, after being found by her father, she went back to Julian. Until this year, I never saw her again. I became a cop and worked in Boston. Then I met you at the fire. I feel in love with you. I still love you. Ivy is my past. You are my present, my future, my eternity."

Grace sat across the table from her hubsband, digesting all this information; but there was one thing still bothering her. "What about Ethan? Is he really your son?"

"He could be. Ethan was born exactly nine months after the last time Ivy and I were together. I was told that he was born prematurely, but I never really believed it was true."

"Did you know that the possibility of being his father was there?"

Same thought about this for moment, and he flashed back to the moment when Ivy told him that Ethan was his son, the night prom boat sank.

"Ivy mentioned it the night of the prom, but she renegged the next morning. But before that, the thought never entered my mind."

"Why didn't you tell me before that you and Ivy had been together? It wouldn't have bothered me, after all, it was over before you met me."

"That's just the reason I never told you. It was over. And I never brought it up because it was too painful to think about."

"I think I understand..." Grace's voice trailed off. Suddenly, she looked up. "Do you still love her?"

"Do I still love Ivy? I suppose to some extent, because of our history, I will always love her. But we'll never get back together. I love you and our children with all of my heart. That will never change. I will never be with another woman."

"Well, I think I believe you. I'm fairly sure that you've told me the truth. I love you, Sam. I'm not sure how well I would handle it if you ever left me."

Grace put the cake in the fridge to cool. "I'm going to bed now. Are you coming?"

"I will in a minute. I want to talk to Jessica. I'd like to prepare her for what she could see and hear tomorrow."

"Alright, see you soon." Grace ascended the stairs.

Sam reached into the fridge and grabbed the last piece of the cake that Grace had made a few nights before. "Mmmm...tomato soup. That sure hits the spot."

Sam the kicked off his shoes and headed upstairs. He glanced at his watch. 10:37. It was getting late. He wondered briefly where Kay was and continued toward Jessica's room.

Kay sat back in awe. She was amazed that her mother had taken everything as well as she did. It was as if she had known for years and it was simply rehashed that night. She watched the little figurines on the table. She saw her father walk towards Jessica's room. Reese sat across the room, on a chair, doing his best to fill in the speaking that Kay couldn't hear. Kay realized that her father was probably wondering where she was, so she decided it was time to go home.

"Reese. My parents are probably beginning to wonder where I am. I think I should go home."

"Sure, Kay. We can continue this conversation later. But I really do need your help with Temperance."

"Of course. You have it. I just need to get home now. I'll talk to you later."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Are you sure that's going to work, Temperance? It all seems so simple."

"Of course it will work. You and your cotton-filled sidekick wouldn't be able to pull this off...but I still have my powers. I didn't act stupid and lose them, like a certain aging witch that I know."

"Aging witch! Well, you cheeky little-"

"Be careful what you call me, Tabitha, I still have my powers...or have you forgotten already?"

Tabitha grumbled under her breath.

"Tsk, tsk. They say that the memory is the first to go...I guess they were right."

"How in the world did the daughter of Grace Bennett ever turn out the way you did?"

"Let's just say we can blame my grandfather."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Twenty minutes after Sam appeared in Jessica's doorway, she said goodnight and Sam proceeded to his bedroom. She didn't seem too upset, he thought. It didn't seem to bother her that Ethan could be her brother. That's a relief. I wonder how Kay and Noah will react.

Sam got ready for bed and crawled under the sheets. Grace was already asleep. Sam just lay on his back and tried to get to sleep. By 3am, Sam was still awake, thinking about the night's events and about how this would change things in his marriage forever, when he suddenly heard the front door open and close.

Kay was home. Sam knew it was her rather than Charity, because Charity was typically more careful about making noise. After checking the clock, Sam decided to have a talk with his daughter. He wasn't too concerned about Kay getting home so late. It wasn't a school night and he trusted Reese, but he was curious as to what they could find to do at that hour in Harmony.

He met Kay in the hallway. Kay looked surprised to see him awake at 3 in the morning. She looked down with guilt.

"Kay, you're not in trouble, I'm just curious. What did you and Reese do tonight?"

Kay panicked, mildly. She couldn't tell him what Reese had said, or revealed, about her family. "We actually worked on a project for class. Analyzing historical films for accuracy. He rented 4 movies and made popcorn..." Kay did her best to fake a dreamy look in her eyes. "It really was romantic, even if it was initially for school."

"That was really sweet of Reese." Sam paused for a moment as he followed Kay to her room. "Kay, I need to talk to you about something."

"Dad, can we talk about it in the morning? I'm really wiped out."

"Actually, Kay, it can't wait. It's important that you hear this from me and as soon as possible."

Kay grew concerned. She had never seen her Dad so obviously worried about something in her life...except the night of the prom disaster. She fleetingly wondered something if something had finally resulted in Charity leaving Miguel.

Kay shook her head. Gosh, I really have a one-track mind. Dad really needs to talk to me. Well, what's another half hour or so, she thought to herself.

"Alright, Dad. Are you okay? Mom? Jess and Noah?"

"Yeah, they're fine. I'm just in the middle of something right now that's going to affect all of us. Quite significantly."

Kay sat on her bed and Sam proceeded to explain to her everything that had occurred at the Crane mansion, and about his history with Ivy Crane. When he finished, Kay sat quietly, staring into space; shocked by what she had heard.

"Everything that he said was true, " she mused. "I can't believe it." Kay paled as she realized that everything she had been told was true.

"Kay, what are you talking about? Of course everything I said was true."

Kay snapped out of the partial trance that she was in when her father's statement broke through her shock. "Oh! Sorry, Dad. I was thinking about something else. Don't worry about it." She waved him off as she lay down to get some sleep.

"Are you okay with this?"

"Yeah, of course. Its weird, but its not like you cheated on Mom. This happened before you ever met her. It's fine, really. How is Mom dealing with this new knowledge?"

"She took it hard. But I think she understands, and eventually, she'll except it and things will be back to normal."

Kay nodded while fighting a yawn. "That's great, Dad"

Sam patted Kay's leg, then tucked her in and kissed her forehead. "Goodnight, Kay. I'll see you in the morning."

"Night, Dad."

Sam left Kay's room, feeling a little better about his situation. Still wide awake, and completely unable to sleep, he decided to go up to the attic, and go through his parents old photo albums. The feeling of nostalgia often helped him relax and fall asleep. He ascended the stairs to the attic, slowly taking in the smells associated with the room. He turned on the light and entered the small, dusty room. After surveying the Bennett family treasures stored in there, he located the box he was looking for.

He opened the box and pulled out the photo album that he and his mother had put together about his life. Well, the parts he kept secret anyway. Sam's mother had been the only other person who'd known of his relationship with Ivy. She had helped him preserve the memories and pictures and letters that had accumulated during their romance.

Sam looked through the pictures and gently fingered the pressef flowers from Ivy's "prom" corsage and he read a couple of the letters, now slightly yellowed with age. He was unprepared for the pain that those memories began dredging up. He reached up and wiped the tears from his eyes, then silently chastised himself for doing so. I love Grace, he thought, how can I still be upset by these memories?

Sam jumped when he heard Grace call him from downstairs. He suddenly realized that the sun had come up. He had been in the attic for almost three hours. He quickly shut the book, causing something to fall out.

He shoved the album back into the box and handed toward the door of the attic, completely oblivious to the sealed envelope that had fallen on the floor.

Sam kissed Grace on the cheek in good morning when he reached the kitchen, and began eating the massive country-style breakfast that she prepared every morning.

"What were you doing in the attic, Sam?" Grace asked, while flipping her famous flapjacks.

"Oh, I couldn't sleep, so I went up there to look at the old photo albums." Sam shoveled a forkful of scrambled eggs into his mouth.

"Oh, I know how much that relaxes you, " she paused to flip another pancake that had decided that it wanted to stay in the pan. "I'm going to be at the store all day, in case you need to get a hold of me."

Sam looked up. "All day?"

"Yeah, we're getting the Christmas shipment today. The begining of it anyway. Don't worry though, I won't be decorating the store until the day after Thanksgiving."**

Sam smiled. He loved how Grace followed such a strict holiday schedule. "Well, I'm going to have a half-day at work, and then I'm meeting Ethan at the Book Cafe to talk about last night."

Grace stiffened. "Alright, honey. Tell him I said hi." Grace tried to sound cheerful, it was going to be awhile before she'd be over the shock of the previous night.

Sam finished his last few bites and put his plate in the sink. "I'm going to get ready for work. See you soon, honey."

Grace nodded as she started washing some of the dishes, finishing the kids' meals, and made mental plans for the day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Reese turned over on his bed, still wearing his clothes from the night before. When he finished rolling over, a ray of light hit his eyelids, waking him up. He smiled slowly. He knew that what he said had really had an effect on Kay. Just as he had expected, just as he had planned.

Mr. and Mrs. Durkee we're still out...and as far as Reese knew, they wouldn't be coming back for awhile. Good, he thought. They're the last people I need to deal with right now. I paid them enough to keep them away while I take care of business around here.

Reese stood up and looked in his mirror. He hated the nerdy clothes he always wore. He glanced over at his closet, wishing that he could have more control over what he wore. But his father had essentially ordered to him to wear whatever he was told...to keep up appearances. Reese would have disobeyed, if he thought he could get away with it.

In a type of rebellion, Reese worked out everyday. His muscular build could rival Miguel's any day. He knew that, and so did his family. But it wasn't time to reveal himself. Not just yet. He needed Kay to trust him fully, and accept him as a true friend, rather than just someone to put up with, before any change in his appearance could occur. After all, his future was at stake.

He put on his glasses, fake though they were, and sighed. How he hated them. He sniffed. They smelled a little like the bushes in front of the Bennett's house, where he had flung them the night before.

Suddenly, and unexpectedly, the phone rang. Reese picked it up on the third ring. "Hello?"

"Hello, Reese. How are you, today?"

"Just fine, father. And you?"

"I am well. But I am a bit disturbed about something that occurred last night."

"What's that?"

"I understand that Kay was visiting until very late last night."

"Yes, father. She did. What does that have to do with anything? She's a friend of mine, can't I hang out with a friend."

"Not if it means the end of our family."

"Father, I don't think she's anything to worry about."

"That's where you're wrong. She has the ability to destroy our family. And I will not have that. Do you understand me?"

"Yes sir." Reese looked down. He knew that telling Kay about his powers was a mistake. But how could he not? His powers concerned her too, and she needed to know about them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kay awoke to the sound of her alarm clock's faint attempt at buzzing. She smacked the snooze button and sighed as she realized that she needed to change the battery. She also knew that she needed to get out of bed.

Kay felt like she was in a daze...everything she had experienced the night before felt like some crazy dream, that she simply didn't want to believe was true. First, Reese is some sort of psychic, and Kay wasn't exactly sure if that was what she should call him. He almost seemed a little off-base, after all, nothing he had shown her made any logical sense.

Then there was the shock of Ethan being her brother. Imagine that, she thought. One of the most famous young men in the world was her older brother. Kay rubbed her tired eyes and picked her hairbrush. She gazed in the mirror, wondering if there was any resemblance at all, and started brushing her hair.

"Kay! Are you awake yet?" Grace yelled from the kitchen. "You're going to be late for school!"

Grace's sudden call from downstairs jolted Kay back into reality. "I'm almost ready! I'll be right down," she responded.

Sam finished getting dressed, and began heading downstairs, when he realized he'd left the light on in the attic, so he went back up there to shut it off. He caught a gleam of white on the floor, and picked it up. He realized that it was a letter, probably from the photo album, but he'd never seen it before. Sam put it in his pocket, intending to place in the album again later.

He left the house and arrived at the police station in record time. Almost immediately after sitting at his desk, he was bombarded by Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald, newspaper in hand.

"Have you seen the headlines this morning, Sam?"

"Not yet, but thanks to you, I'll be able to look at them." Sam faked a smile.

"Is it true?"

"Which part?"

"The Ethan part. I figure if that's true, the rest of it has to be. Is he really your son?"

"It's possible."

"It's possible." Luis mocked him, playfully. "The newspaper was more definite than that."

"I really don't know. All we have in evidence is a computer scan of a letter that your sister says was written by Ivy."

"Theresa? How would she get a copy of something like that?"

"I don't know," he grinned, "I just read that little bit in the newspaper. There's a lovely little caption underneath this picture of Theresa." Sam held up the paper and pointed it out. "I'm surprised that you didn't read it. Or did you leave it folded and read the main headline?"

Luis colored a little. "Sorry, Sam. I only had a couple seconds to scan the first paragraph before you walked in."

"That's what I thought. You probably know about as much as I do. I'll try to keep you posted as I learn more and things progress. But for now," Sam tossed the paper to Luis, who caught it, "read up on it. I'm taking a break from explaining myself. I'll fill in any holes, later."

Luis nodded and went back to his desk. Sam read the reports on his desk, but he had difficulty focusing on them. He put them down, and turned on his computer. After surfing the web for a couple minutes, Sam came across a magazine article about Julian and Ivy's wedding.

They looked so happy, he thought. And all it was, ended up being nothing but a merger between the families. I still can't believe she went back to him. Sam wiped a solitary tear from his cheek and tried to go back to work.

Luis couldn't help but notice the small display of emotion from his boss, and wondered what he was thinking about. It was obviously a painful memory, no doubt dredged up by last night's events.

Luis finished reading the articles in the newspaper. He snickered to himself. It sounded so much like those cheesy soap operas that Theresa watched. But this time, Luis thought, it was very real.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Your grandfather?"

"That's right. He has this wonderful habit for passing on the genes that the good people of Harmony would normally frown upon.....just look at my Dad and uncles....."

"Yes...the three of them do tend to have some issues. But what about your aunt? She turned out just fine."

"Yes, she did. And totally powerless, I might add."

Tabitha nodded. "She does seem to get stuck in jam after jam doesn't she. Perhaps that will all end now that's she's found love."

"Gag me. Couldn't she have found someone else? It won't really matter in the long run, because its more important to Grandfather than to anyone else anyway. I could care less."

"Are you so sure about that? Besides, I would be careful what you say, Temperance dear, because he knows everything that's said throughout Harmony."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sam looked across the office at Luis, whom had finished the newspaper and had tossed it aside in favor of some police paperwork. He noticed that Luis had a slightly bemused expression on his face. Sam felt glad that someone found some humor in the situation.

Sam watched as Luis had gone back to work; filing papers and reports on the computer. He also began to wonder why Luis wasn't asking any questions.

He found out, an hour later.

During a short morning break, Luis again approached Sam. "Ok, Sam. I can see it written all over your face. What else should I know that the newspaper didn't cover?"

Sam pondered that for a moment, thinking back to teh articles he had somehow found time to read. "Well, first of all, I didn't know Grace yet, when my relationship with Ivy ended. The newspaper makes it sound like I cheated on Grace, while mocking any honorable character I have in the eyes of Harmony's citizens."

"Well, I sorta figured that you wouldn't cheat on Grace. But it is interesting that they would insinuate adultery on your part. Ivy can't exactly get out of it, because she did cheat on Julian."

"Right. The part about Ethan being my son...well, that's likely. He was born nine months after Ivy and I were last together. I'd imagine a paternity test is in our midst."

"How do you feel about the idea of being his father?"

Sam looked at Luis. He wasn't sure how to react to this question. "You're the first person to ask me that." He paused. "I'm going to have to think about that. I've been so concerned about how my entire family is going to react, that I haven't had much of a chance to think about it myself." Sam sat for a minute, silenced by his lack of assurance on the subject. How did he feel about Ethan being his son? His son. His son with Ivy.

"I always wanted another son, Luis. I guess I never realized how much." Sam smiled. "I must have wished a little too hard. Not to mention, I should have specified that I wanted another child with Grace when I was making those wishes."

Luis half-smiled. "I never thought wishes had to be specific. But I suppose that's where that old saying comes from."

"What saying?"

"Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it."

The phone on Luis's desk began to ring, and he walked over to answer it. "Harmony Police Department. Officer Lopez-Fitzgerald speaking."

"Luis? It's Sheridan" she sniffed, as if she'd been crying.

"Sheridan, are you alright? You sound like you've been crying."

"Yeah, I have. But really, I'm fine. I just found out that the only relative I ever had anything in common with might not be my nephew at all. Really, I'm just fine."

"Sheridan, would you like me to come over? It's dead around here, I'm sure Sam wouldn't mind."

"No, its ok. I really am doing just fine. I've gotten over the initial shock, " Sheridan paused briefly, "actually, the reason I called was to talk to Chief Bennett."

"Sam?" Luis raised his eyebrows in question. He looked over at his boss, and Sam made eye contact at the sound of his name.

"Yes," she confirmed, "I'm sure I don't have to tell you what its about."

"No, of course. I'll patch you through. Talk to you later. I love you."

"I love you, too, Luis. Bye"

Luis put Sheridan on hold and hung up the receiver for a moment, as if trying to understand her mood. Luis exited his mini-trance to talk to Sam. "Sam. It's Sheridan on line two...for you."

"Thanks. I assume its about Ethan?"

"Yeah, I think so."

Sam nodded and picked up his phone, hit a couple buttons and put the receiver to his ear. "Chief Bennett."

"Hi. It's Sheridan."

"Yes. How are you doing today?"

"Considering everything that happened, I think I'm handling it pretty well."

"I'm glad to hear it."

"Thank you." Sheridan was silent for a minute.

"So," Sam broke the silence, "what can I do for you today?"

"Could you possible come to the cottage later? I need to talk to you. Preferably, not on the phone."

"Sure. I'll be able to come over in about an hour. Is that okay with you?"

"Yeah, that's perfect. I'll see you then."

"Alright, goodbye Sheridan. Would you like to talk to Luis again?"

"Nah, I'll see him later. Bye Chief."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Julian pounded on Ivy's door, seemingly to put a hole through it. "Ivy! Open this door at once! You no longer have any options in this house, so I suggest you do so immediately!"

Ivy, who'd been sobbing all morning on her bed, finally raised herself off her sheets. She walked slowly to the door and unlocked it, then proceeded back to her bed. She sniffed and lay back down. Julian continued pounding, unaware of the unlocking of the door. Ivy raised her head, and quietly said to her husband, "it's unlocked. You can come in, since I know I can't stop you."

Julian tried the doorknob, and slowly opened the door into Ivy's dark boudoir. The light from the hallway made a sliver of light in her cave of a room, and shone its light on the bed to illuminate her sobbing and shaking form. For a split second, Julian felt a small twinge of sympathy for the woman with which he once shared a bed. The normally proud, dignified, Ice Queen was reduced to a state in which he'd never seen...and never imagined he ever would. Not from her, anyway. "I just came to tell you that I am not going to do all that I always threatened."

Ivy looked at him with moist, red-rimmed eyes and wrinkled her forehead. "What do you mean? I'm sure you have the divorce papers all written up and ready for my signature...and I suppose you already had Pilar begin to pack my things so that I can live out on the street with....how did you put it? My bastard son?" She sat up. Suddenly rejuvenated by the utter hatred she felt for the man who'd taken her away from her one true love.

"No, Ivy. I haven't and I'm not going to do any of those things. I've had a long talk with my father, and you will remain Mrs. Julian Crane; for as long as you're willing to stand it."

Her face softened a bit, "What?" She practically whispered.

"That's right. I am not divorcing you. You will have an allowance now, so that your control over the Crane fortune will in fact be limited, however, nothing else will change. You may maintain your own bedroom, and Ethan may remain here if he also wishes."

"I don't understand. Why are you, and for that matter, Alistair, doing this? I thought for sure that this sham of a marriage would be over."

"It can be, if you want. However, you will receive absolutely nothing in the divorce."

"Now I get it. You're willing to remain married to me...as long as I behave myself? And then I can have, for the most part, whatever I want. But what is in it for you?"

"You'll simply allow me to have whatever mistress you wish. And if I choose to have her move into the mansion, you cannot object. And, you will allow me complete control over our children's lives. You will not interfere with any of my decisions regarding their lives."

"And if I divorce you?"

"You will lose them anyway, not to mention your status, and any money that you might feel entitled to, as the mother of the Crane heir. Or, heiress...whatever the case may turn out to be."

"Alistair would never let a woman take the helm."

"No. But I would. And I have no problem at all with giving it to Gwen."

"Gwen? Why Gwen?"

"Well, if you stay with me, I'll adopt Ethan...that is, if he's not actually my son. If you leave, I'll marry Rebecca, and adopt Gwen. And she'll become my heiress."

"You've thought this all through haven't you? Aside from an allowance...what else could I lose from staying with you?"

"That's it. Aside from the freedom being single again could give you."

"Well, the only thing I want, I can't have. Ever. I lost it a long time ago. What else do I have to lose? There's no way I could get it back. Sam and Grace will remain married forever." Ivy paused, considering how she somehow felt triumphant. "Alright, Julian. I'll stay with you."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Grace looked out the window of her shop, and when she realized that there was no one coming, she turned the closed sign around. She sighed; happy that she'd had a relatively busy day. It had enabled her to think about something other than the turmoil in her life.

Grace headed to the back storeroom and started moving some things out to the main room of the store. The box she was carrying was very large and made it difficult to see where she was going. When she passed the register table, she knocked over a bottle of water she'd been drinking, spilling the contents on the floor. "Oh dear, that was clumsy."

She set the box down and ran to the back to grab a towel. But Grace miscalculated the width of the puddle, and slipped on some of the water. She fell head first onto the cement floor of the storeroom, and was knocked unconscious.

Blood began seeping from the wound on her head. And there was silence.

Sam pulled up to the Crane mansion, and around to the back where Sheridan's cottage was located. She heard the car pull up and had the door open before he made it up the walk. It was obvious that she'd been crying. But her eyes were dry, which indicated that she'd calmed down a while ago.

They greeted each other and proceeded inside. Sheridan had made some tea, and began pouring a cup for Sam, and then for herself.

"Now, the reason I asked for you to come over has to do with Ethan. I'm sure you realized that. And I ask that you let me speak, and wait until I'm done before you say anything."

Sam nodded in agreement, and Sheridan continued.

"As you know, Ethan and I have always been very close. I've already spoken with him and we've come to an understanding about something. Regardless of the paternity test results, I will still be his aunt. That will never change. However, since the definition of 'aunt' is the sister of one of the parents, that would require me to be someone's sister. If Julian's not his father, that's out. Ivy and I have never been close...so, that leaves you. If you do turn out to be his father, with your permission, I'd like to call you 'brother'...and I welcome you to the family. Well, my branch anyway. Ethan and I are the only ones in it, and its a very select club." Sheridan grinned. "Of course, I would want you to be a member." She paused a moment before continuing, and took a drink of her tea. "You don't have to respond now. But I wanted to let you know how I felt about the situation."

Sheridan stopped and took a deep breath. She listened for a response, or some sort of reaction to what she had said. But Sam just sat there. He basically just stared at Sheridan as if she had told him that she had been hired to kill him.

"Chief Bennett? Are you alright?"

Sam jolted back to reality. "Huh? Ummm, yeah. I'm here."

"Like I said, you don't have to respond right away. I want for you to think about this."

"Sheridan..."

"Yes, Sam?"

"This is all so very...unsettling. I am deeply honored that you are so willing to accept this whole situation so...graciously. But I shouldn't be surprised, because, as Luis says, you're a remarkable woman. I will be talking to Ethan this afternoon about everything. I'm afraid that until certain things are resolved, I can't really...I mean...I don't know..."

Sheridan reached over and placed her hand on Sam's arm. "I understand. Take your time. I'll always be here for you to come talk to. I may not be completely outside the situation, but I would like to be able to help in any way that I can."

Sam placed one of his hands over Sheridan's. "Thank you, Sheridan. I appreciate it. And I promise I will think about what you said. But right now, I need to get back to work."

"Of course, Sam. I hope all goes well with you. I'm glad you were able to come speak with me."

"Yes. Thank you again, Sheridan. I will talk to you later."

Sam and Sheridan walked to the cottage door and parted ways. Sam got in his car and thought about Sheridan and Ethan. To a certain extent, he hoped Ethan was his son, if for no other reason than an excuse to be Sheridan's big brother. Sam smiled. He wondered how Luis might react to that new revelation. He drove back to the police station, in silence.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Reese looked on in horror as Sam proceeded back to the police station. He picked up the figurine of Sheridan and set it on another table next to a picture of his father. "Sheridan, Sheridan. You have no idea how close to the truth you have come. If Father knew what you told Sam, he'd be very upset." Reese picked up the tiny image of Sheridan and looked at it, as if he was exmaining it for imperfections. "Ah, Sheridan, my darling big sister, I hope you watch your step."

Tabitha suddenly put her hand on her chest. Something was wrong. Temperance looked on with some concern, the Standish in her shining through.

"Tabitha? What’s wrong?"

Timmy, who had been sleeping under orders from Temperance, awoke at the sound of concern in her voice. "What’s wrong with Timmy’s princess?" Timmy began to panic at the sight of Tabitha’s face and began calling for help.

"Hush up, you lop-sided bag of stuffing!" Temperance hissed at him. "Haven’t you ever seen her have a vision before?"

"Yes. But Timmy’s never seen Tabby react so…scared." Timmy shuddered (as much as a living doll can shudder) at the thought of something so scary.

"Relax, Pinocchio. Tabitha will be fine." She said this as much to convince herself as the little doll.

Tabitha finally started to speak, sputtering really, and with Temperance’s help, pulled herself onto the couch.

Timmy brought her a Martimmy. Tabitha thanked him, and looked at their concerned, yet questioning faces. "My, my. The two of you certainly look worried."

"Face it, Tabby. You’re not a young witch." Timmy pointed out.

"Temperance, dear, you look like you’ve seen an angel. Are you alright?"

"Tabitha, despite my somewhat…"

"Harsh treatment?" Timmy supplied.

"Yeah, harsh treatment, you are sort of like family. You and Uncle Reese are the only ones that understand me. After all, the only one other person who knows that I exist, doesn’t seem to care about me, as long as I do what he asks."

"Yes, he does seem to react that way. He must be coming down hard on Reese this morning."

"Why? What happened?"

"He told Kay."

"Everything?"

"Everything. She knows about his powers, and what he sees. Also, Ethan’s paternity came out last night."

"Oh my evilness. Now I understand your…uhh…episode. Talk about a bombshell of a vision."

"Oh, yes, definitely. Kay still doesn’t know about Reese’s parentage…or anyone else’s for that matter. As far as she knows, the only change is that Ethan is now her half-brother."

"Well, that’s something anyway." Temperance paused, and having cooled her temper somewhat, accepted a martimmy from Timmy, and she sat back in her chair to relax. "Have you been in contact with my father at all? I understand that his drinking problem has gotten worse."

"Yes…unfortunately it has. This episode with Ethan probably will not help that very much."

"Then, I guess telling him about myself would not be the wisest course of action."

"Not unless you want your grandfather to put a contract out on you. No, I think it will be better if Julian is kept in the dark about his other daughter."

"Wouldn’t it be wild if Grace remembered me someday soon? And remembers that she was with Julian before Sam?" Temperance mused about the possibilities.

"Hmm, yes. Grace would definitely buckle under that knowledge. Unfortunately, if she remembers something like that, she may also remember other things…it may be safer for us if she remains an amnesiac."

Temperance nodded. "Probably. I don’t think it would be beneficial if that happened. She would almost be required to destroy me…that’s not exactly the relationship that I would want with my mother. Do you think it would be safe to tell her that I’m her daughter…but nothing else?"

"Well…I would wait. If not for the sake of your mother’s mental health…then for that of your uncle’s.

Sam arrived at the police station and sat at his desk. The first thing he did was finally read the newspaper article. He had only skimmed the beginning before and he wanted to read it thoroughly.

Sam couldn’t read anymore. He slammed the newspaper back on the desk, eliciting a look from the officers in the room.

Luis came over to his desk and sat in the chair opposite Dam. A look of great concern clouded his face. "Sam, I think that you should leave. You shouldn’t be working today."

"You’re probably right. Everyone is tiptoeing around me anyway. I have so many conflicting attitudes to deal with that I really just want to be alone today. Maybe spend some time with Grace…I don’t know…"

"Sam, go home." Luis stated firmly. He was genuinely concerned about his friend, and he really hope that this situation didn’t result in some serious problems for him.

"Alright, alright. I’ll leave…as soon as Grace calls to say she’s closing the store."

"Is she still calling every day to let you know right when she flips the sign?"

"Yeah. She really always just wants me to know exactly when she’ll be getting home. She usually tells me how the sales went for the day, too."

"Amazing woman."

"Yes, she is. She should be calling any minute. She always closes the store at three on Friday."

Suddenly, Sam’s phone rang. Happily, Sam picked up the receiver.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Tabitha. I just got the strangest feeling."

"What kind of feeling?"

"I don’t know. Pain…and silence…"

"That is odd."

"I’m going to call Uncle Reese."

Temperance pulled out her cell phone and dialed his number. He picked up on the second ring.

"Hello. Reese Durkee here."

"Uncle Reese. Its Temperance."

"Temperance! Oh my goodness! You were the very last person I would ever have expected to hear from today. How is my favorite niece?"

"Cut the crap, you knew I was in town. And, as long as your brain is functioning, you should know exactly how I’m doing today."

Reese laughed. "I love your blunt nature. It’s such a welcome change to what I’m used to around here in Harmony. But you’re right. I do know. I guess I’m just used to small talk at the beginning of a phone call. How’s my dear estranged mother?"

"She’s fine." Temperance looked at Tabitha while she was talking. "She had an episode a few minutes ago, and she’s a bit concerned about your choice of activities last night. But all in all, she’s fine."

"That’s good. Tell her I plan on visiting her later. So what can I do for you today?"

"I just got a very strange feeling. Like something bad just happened. Really bad. Since you have those pieces in your room, do you think that maybe you could tell me what could be causing these feelings?"

"Temperance…"

"Please, Uncle Reese. I really need to know."

"What did Mom say about you asking me?"

"She didn’t object or anything."

"Alright. I’ll tell you." Reese took a deep breath and prepared to give his niece the news she never thought she’d hear. "Your mother had a small accident at the gift shop."

"What kind of accident? Is she alright?"

Sam set the phone back in its cradle and frowned.

Luis looked at him, concerned. "It wasn’t Grace, was it?"

"No…wrong number. Luis, I’m really overreacting? Or should I try to call her at the gift shop?"

"You know the answer to that."

"I’m going to leave early. I want to check on Grace. I just have this horrible feeling that something’s wrong."

"Sam, I’m sure Grace is fine. But I still maintain that you should leave early."

"Yeah…"

"Sam, its closing time. Grace is probably just busy. She’ll call you as soon as she’s able."

Sam furrowed his eyebrows, unsure if he should listen to Luis. He looked at his clasped hands above the newspaper and began twiddling his thumbs. He nodded slowly as he thought about what to do. Luis smiled and went back to his desk.

Sam picked up his phone, selected an open line, and began dialing the gift shop’s number. When the answering machine picked up, he reveled in listening to Grace’s temperate voice and began to leave a message. "Grace, honey. This is Sam."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The phone in the gift shop rang three times, eliciting no reaction from Grace, who was still lying on the floor, unconscious. When the answering machine beeped twice and began playing the pre-recorded message, Grace began moving her head from side to side, and groaned. Then she heard Sam’s voice come over the speaker. She reached upward, as if seeing his face. She gave up shortly, and moved her hand to the source of a sharp pain. She found a large gash on the back of her forehead, and saw blood on her hands.

Grace made a small effort to reach to phone. She had to call Eve. But no matter what she did, she simply couldn’t raise herself off the floor. The effort exhausted her, and once again, she passed out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Temperance set the phone down. Reese had just explained to her about Grace’s accident, and Temperance wasn’t convinced that her mother was going to be alright. Her disbelief was written all over her face as she sat back in her chair. Timmy brought her another Martimmy, and without a word, began gulping it down.

"Temperance, dear, you look as white as a ghost."

With that statement, Temperance snapped back to reality and looked at Tabitha. "Tabitha, I don’t believe Uncle Reese."

"What on earth did he say to you?"

"Tabitha…is my mother going to be alright?" Temperance said, finally. Her question was almost cold; more out of curiosity than concern.

"What do you think? I’m not the only psychic around here, you know." She took a sip from her teacup without breaking eye contact.

"You mean Timmy has powers too?" Timmy asked, hopeful.

"No, stuffing-for-brains, Tabitha meant me."

"Oh, sorry. Timmy misunderstood." He looked down at his Martimmy glass, crestfallen.

"Quite right. Temperance, darling, you have powers far beyond that of your mother and sisters. Why should I strain my brain when you have the ability to answer your own question?"

"Ok, I see how it is. You know something; Uncle Reese needs a visitor. I’m going to go see him. I’ll be back later…"

"NO!"

"What?"

"You can’t go to Reese’s!"

"Why not?"

“You just can’t go.”

“That doesn’t sound like a reason to me. Last time I checked, I was fully capable of walking out of here and heading in his general direction. Shall I test the theory? Or are you going to try to throw Xeno’s Paradox at me?”

“Temperance…that was almost 20 years ago, you were just a baby, and you still managed to undo that spell…it’s not like I’ve forgotten that you’re more powerful than I. Damn that grandfather of yours.” This is last statement was muttered, but not too quietly, for Temperance heard every word.

“What does Alistair have to do with this? The man is as impotent a warlock as witchingly possible. He hasn’t cast a half-decent spell in…” she paused trying to think back, “at least 2 decades. It’s as if he decided to stop using his powers. Rather interesting, when you consider that he still has the entire town of Harmony under his thumb.” Temperance blinked, when she realized what the elder witch had tried to do. “Don’t change the subject. I am going over there.”

Tabitha mused for a moment, trying desperately to think of a reason to keep Temperance from going to her uncle’s house. “Now I remember! Reese is having the carpets cleaned today…you can’t go over there until tomorrow at least.”

“I can’t believe you remembered I’m allergic to those chemicals…it’s been twenty years! Besides, I don’t have to go in his house.”

“I forbid you to go.”

“Who are you to tell me where I can and cannot go? I’m out of here!”

Without another word, Temperance grabbed her coat and fled from the house. Tabitha simply rolled her eyes, helpless, as she watched the stubborn brunette leave.

“Well, Timmy…she’s in for the surprise of her life.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sam pushed open the door to the Book Café and walked in. He looked around the store, and saw few people. Chad Harris waved from the counter. “Yo, Chief Bennett, want some coffee? I just made a fresh pot.”

“Umm, no…thanks for asking though, Chad. How are you doing today?”

“I’m fine…but really, I should be asking you. How are you doing, Chief?”

“I’m alright. I’m slowly feeling like everyone will get over this and my life will get back to normal.” Sam smiled, weakly. “That brings me to why I’m here. Have you seen Ethan this morning?”

“Ethan? No…not today. You got a meeting with him today?”

Sam sat on one of the stools by the counter. “Yeah, we’re supposed to attempt a civil conversation, and decide what we’re going to do now.”

“Well, good luck, Chief Bennett,” Chad looked at the opening door, “because here comes Ethan now.”

Ethan and Sam’s eyes met across the room, and they both froze.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“What sort of surprise, Tabitha?” Timmy asked, curious.

“Well…Temperance hasn’t seen Reese in several years, and I don’t think she knows about Reese’s…assignment.”

“What assignment?”

“Reese’s father ordered him to make himself younger and pose as a student, so we could keep an eye on Kay, Charity, and Jessica…and by association, Grace. Temperance hasn’t seen him since before that…so, since he’s been acting younger, and using his powers to look younger, he probably won’t look much different than he did the last time she saw him. That was about 10 years ago.”

“How old is Reese, anyway? Timmy was never sure.”

“He’s four days older than Eve and Julian’s son.”

“Wow…that makes him older than all of the Bennetts and Ethan, too.”

“Well, Doll-Face, Ethan is a Bennett.”

“Oh yeah. Timmy forgot.” Timmy grimaced, having momentarily forgotten the previous night’s events. “Timmy still wants to know…why would Reese’s assignment surprise Temperance? She has to know that Reese is doing something odd around here.”

“It’s simple Doll-Face. Alistair Crane is dead.”

Chapter 21

“Dead? What do you mean he’s dead? Tabby just talked to him last night.”

“I was talking to Reese.”

“No you weren’t. I heard you tell him about the son you have together. It had to have been Alistair.”

“Trust me, Timmy. It wasn’t. Alistair Crane has been dead since the day Reese was born.”

The phone rang, and Tabitha picked it up on the second ring. “Hello?”

“Hello, Tabitha. From what I’ve observed, you need to tell Timmy about how your precious son was born.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Hello, Ethan.”

“Chief Bennett.”

“It certainly was an eventful party, last night.”

“Yes. Now the question is, what are we going to do about it.”

“I don’t know, Ethan. I just don’t know.”

There was a slight pause. Ethan and Sam just stared at each other, unsure of what one should say to the other. Chad looked up from the counter and noticed the eerie silence emanating from Ethan and Sam. He decided to walk over and see if he could help them out. He picked up two coffee mugs and one of the coffee pots and walked over to the living statues.

“You guys look like you need some coffee…on the house.”

“Thank you, Chad.” Ethan said as he took a cup. His eyes never left contact with Sam’s. He turned his vocal attention back to his father. “Well, Chief Bennett, I think we should sit down. If we remain standing, we might get in someone’s way.” Ethan half-grinned and sat down.

Sam let out a one-syllable chuckle in mock amusement. He sat down and also took a cup from Chad, who also sat down. Sam looked over at Chad in question.

“I just thought it was a good idea if I stuck around. You two look like you have no idea what to say to each other…and at the same time, Ethan, you look like you wanna kill this man, your father, while all he can do is wonder why he didn’t know that you were his son from the beginning.”

“He’s not my father.”

“Ethan, man, I hate to break it to you…but I don’t think your mother would say he was if he wasn’t. Especially when it means a tabloid can print the story without worrying about being hit with a libel or slander suit. If I know Ivy as well as I’m sure I do, I would say she would rather tear out and eat their hearts for lunch than have let them get away with printing a story like that. Especially if it weren’t true.”

“No Chad, that’s not what I meant. Chief Bennett and I have never liked each other. Julian is the man who raised me. He’s my father.”

Chad just shook his head. “Ethan, this situation that you have going on will never get better unless you accept the facts. Everything else will fall into place. Gwen is still going to marry you, and Luis already sent Theresa away to the old country. Your mother still loves you, and I can already tell that your father is interested in getting to know his son better. I think you should give it a chance. If not for him, then your brothers and sisters. On both sides.”

“Both sides?”

It was with this question that Sam finally piped up. “Yes, Ethan. You have siblings on my side too. You have a brother, Noah, and two sisters, Kay and Jessica. Not to mention a cousin by marriage, Charity. We don’t ever have to get along, but I know it would mean a lot to them if you were willing to get to know them. Whether you like it or not, you are part of their family.”

“Do you like it, Chief Bennett?”

“I like the idea of having another child. But I really wish we hadn’t missed so many years.”

Ethan nodded. He wasn’t sure what to say next. This man in front of him was no longer the pompous, arrogant, Chief of Police that he had dealt with every time he came back to Harmony. He was simply a quiet, calm, and very sad man. His eyes were full of regret. Ethan could almost feel his pain. It was if his eyes were telling him exactly how he felt. Ethan felt something wet on his face. He reached up. He was crying.

“I’m sorry...Dad.”

This last word caused the tears Sam had been holding back to spill onto his cheeks. They embraced, as if they had never been enemies. Crying, the two men held each other for a couple minutes. This complete outpouring of emotion brought tears to Chad’s eyes. “I think this calls for mochas topped with whipped cream to the ceiling.”

Ethan and Sam began laughing and wiped their eyes. Ethan spoke first. “So what do we do now?”

“What needs to be done?”

“Well…Julian kicked me out this morning…I have to find a new place…and I want to change my name. I’m not a Crane. Why should I keep the name of a family that rejected me?”

“Well, personally, I think Ethan Bennett is a fine name.” Sam thought for a moment. “What’s your middle name, Ethan?”

“Oh my gosh, I can’t believe I didn’t think of this before. It’s Samuel.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Reese? Hello? Is anyone in there?” Temperance banged as hard as she could on the front door of the Durkee’s house. Finally someone came to the door. It swung open and Temperance saw a face she hadn’t seen in years.

“Temperance? Is that you?”

“Mom!”

“Oh, Temperance! It’s been such a long time since I’ve seen you. That rotten Alistair Crane kept you away from me for so long. What are you doing here?” Caroline Durkee embraced her adopted daughter. “Wait a minute. If you’re here…is Mr. Crane dead?”

“What?? No, Mom. He’s not dead. I just decided that at my age, I can do what I want, and I’ve come back to Harmony.”

“Honey, its great to see you, but do you think its wise that you’ve come back after he ordered us to take you outside of Harmony all those years ago?”

“I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me. I’d love to chat, but I’m actually here to see Reese…is my little brother here?”

“Yes, dear. He’s upstairs playing with those ridiculous models…and I think I heard him on his computer. Or was it the phone? I don’t know. He’s upstairs anyhow. He’ll be so excited to see you.”

Temperance was halfway up the stairs in two steps. “I’ll talk to you later, Mom. Right now I have to see Reese.”

When Temperance got to the end of the hallway to Reese’s room, she knocked twice. She heard scrambling on the other side of the door. “Be right there!” Reese shouted.

He opened the door with such force that Temperance could hear the rush of air enter his room. “Sis!” He put his arm out and pulled her into his room. “What are you doing here!” It was more of a statement than a question. “You weren’t ever supposed to come back to this house! Besides, Mrs. Durkee had the carpets cleaned today. I’m surprised you haven’t passed out yet.”

“Getting rid of the fumes was an easy spell. I’m a witch, remember?”

“True. But, why go through the trouble? Why are you here?”