McConn July 13 2038 (fixed)

Zaphira resorted to playing with the toy, finding it less interesting that when it had moved, but exciting nonetheless. Mimicking her father's past action, she wiggled it on her fingers touching his nose with it, making a kissing sound like when her mama said her bruises were all better.

"Yes, we've met..." Eglantine stated, she had not thought about the venerable Headmaster in years and wasn't about to waste thought on him. She spotted Horatio enter not far behind Ciaran and Kiara and wondered why exactly he seemed so upset. They would have to talk later... Kiara and Ciaran could have Tav, she would have her hands full with her husband. Once Horatio made up his mind to dislike someone; little could be done to change his mind.

"I am sure the opportunity will arise." she smiled, imagining that Ara, Kay and Sine would be very happy to welcome Serena into the family. They were more sensible people than say her husband and grandson.

Ciaran smiled warmly as he gently shook her cold hand. It reminded him faintly of Eglantine's hand, since she was usually cold, due to her deplorable health.
"The pleasure is mine, I assure ya, lass." he bowed, kissing her hand softly as he would any other lovely young lady. Serena was his step-daughter and he was going to start the relationship with her the correct way.

"So who have ya been meeting so far?' he asked, curious. He winked at Rossa, glad she was also putting her best foot forward. He was always proud of his little Rose.

David beamed at his daughter, her actions reminding him very much of Emma when she was a baby. He returned the action kissing the puppet back .

"Why thank you Angel" he said to her smiling.

Serena stiffened visibly at Ciaran's contact, unused to any real acts of kindness through most of her remembered life, it now made her uncomfortable. Sitting even straighter in her chair. She merely nodded her head to him, pushing away the bit of guilt that came with the plan of what she intended to do... but once her mother was dead her guilt would leave....

Kiara smiled slightly oberserving her husband and long lost thought to be dead daughter.. Ciaran could fit the phrase "Too kind" perfectly, to those not used to his charm. She had be a bit overwhelmed and though she would never admit it slightly scared by it at first...

She was still unsure what to say to Serena... still for the most part in shock. All those years of going to to the Lestrange family cementary and visiting her grave.. not to mention the amount of blood she had to pay to get in the cementary was ridiculus, she was 3 quarters pure blood and the darn ward refused to accept that fact as it was offically marked down as Muggle born in her birth information. So it took enough blood to nearly make her pass out...

She sighed when Horatio entered, avoiding his gaze, she hadn't known him to judge with out geting to know the person first.. Same with Tav... yes she felt there was something being hidden form them by Serena, but what right did they have to know what that was? They all had secrets they hid, even she..

Serena blinked after effective cooling her hand that Ciaran had insisted on warming up.. Meet?

Well now that she thought about it.. now one had really offically introduced them selves except Ciaran and Rossa. She had picked up names of who had been mentioned.. and who she had looked up before comeing here but none Save them had given her a proper introduction..

"Of the people in this Room? As side from your self, and Rossa none... though I didn't need one for a few" her eyes went to Eglantine and then to Kiara..
She of cousre already knew who Kiara was and she had been raised by the Pureblood Prince family... she had learned of all the pureblood family lines form a young age. So she knew she was the Rosier hire on site.

"... And.." now what to call said Rosier hire... she had only known the woman for the past 20 minutes, and even though she beinning to form some type of recspect for the woman she refused to call her Grandma, that would just be weired. It felt just as weird to call her by her first name... She went with the only logical solution to the problem.

"and Mrs McKevin introduced me to David, his daughter Zephira and Son Zeki, and her son Sevie. I have made a few educated guesses on who everyone else is.." Her grey eyes travled to Horatio, "Mr. McKevin, I assume?" then they went to Edwin... " I am Guessing you are Edwin?"

Then she had her thumb pointed to the wall behind her.. "And the tall guy most likely shoohing daggers through the wall and into my skull would be Tav?" she asked sounding plainly curious if she had gotten them right..

Despite Serena's stiffening, Ciaran continued to smile as he released her hand. Kindness and love, from his experience had always been a better approach than any other. Perhaps that was why of most of the people in the room, he was one of the few Ava, his younger sister-in-law actually still spoke too... of course he didn't advertise said fact, it would no doubt cause a rift to form between himself and Horatio.

Speak of the devil, he hoped Horatio would soften his glare just a wee bit... it would doubtless not help anyone or anything if he continued to melt the tablecloth with his angry orbs.

Zaphira began to cry, fat tears dripping down her baby cheeks as she felt the anger around her. It was no secret that something bad was happening and she did not like it one bit.
Chuckling at "Mrs. McKevin", Edwin nodded. "That's me to a T." he bowed. "And that's Tav. Give him a few years and he might cool down. He's got some hot blood in those fiery veins... red hair is not for the faint of heart." he joked, lightly punching Ciaran's shoulder. His brother-in-law nodded, looking slightly sad.

"Yes..." Horatio bit out, unfolding his arms. He did soften his glare slightly as Zaphira continued to cry, he hated seeing his granddaughter upset.

"YOU STUPID FAT UGLY GOOD FOR NOTHING-" Greta flew into the room in a dizzying rage close behind the heels of Ewan, who looked way to smug to have done nothing to anger her.
"Hey! I'm not fat!" he called back, teasing her by hiding behind David's chair. Greta couldn't get to him without chancing knocking her uncle and cousin over.
"Mum!?" she whined, ignoring all else around her and going to her mother. "Make him give it back!"

David hugged Zaphira close to him, "Shhh Angel it is okay... " he soothed. "Perhaps I will take her out and calm her down" he said think getting her out of the tense room would soothe her cries.

Kiara sighed she was not sure if either her or Ciaran could concince Tav other wise, he had a stuborn streak in him a mile long. Catching his look she neared his side and put her hand in his, they would talk to Tav together.. weather they would fail or succeed in that was not yet to be seen.

Serena raised her eye brow alot like her mother did as if to say "I see..."

Then she blinked at the wirll wind as a blond Teen and younger boy ran in to the kitchen... the blond girl she guessed was Greta her half sister.

Kiara sighed "Give what back Fairy?" she asked having no Idea what were fighting about in the first place.

David slowly made is way out of the kitchen, hold his daughter safely in his arms.. once out the chaos of the kitchen he gently rubbed Zaphira's back and kissed her cheek...

"Hey Angel.. no one mad at you I swear" he said softly to her.

Zaphira continued to cry despite her father's soothing until he walked out of the kitchen, where she miraculously was silenced and smiled happily.
"Mama?" she asked, large eyes looking around curiously. She hadn't seen the woman in a while, not that she was worried at all, her papa was there. "Em?" she liked the girl who made funny faces and laughed.

"My wand!" Greta pouted, folding her arms. The thundercloud that had perched over her forehead looked very similar to Eglantine's rare but nonetheless past anger. Ciaran noted and had noted on many occasions that his daughter seemed to have gained more than her grandmother's physical likeness... although he knew that Eglantine was far more reserved than his wild little girl.

Ewan chuckled.
"I didn't take her stupid wand..." he muttered. Eglantine held her hand out toward him and he dropped the stolen item into his mother's outstretched palm.
"Five points from Ewan." she muttered, knowing at the McKevin house several gems had just vanished from a box labelled "Ewan"... it had long ago been made the only possible way to keep the twins in some shape obedient.
"Ah...nuts." Ewan sighed.

"Only five!?" Greta exclaimed, her mouth dropping open. "Grandma, that's not fair!" She looked from her grandmother back to her mother. "Mum, tell her that's not fair!"

Ciaran resisted the urge to chuckle. It was just like Greta to fight a losing battle.
"Who's she?" Ewan asked, looking a Serena as if she had just suddenly appeared in the room. "Whoa, she looks like Kiara." he exclaimed. "You related?" he asked, a constant stream of questions.

David smiled glad his little girl wasn't crying any more, "Mama will back in a bit Angel and Emma is out playing" he said going in to the McConn living room, he sat on the sofe placed Zaphira on his lap.

"So for now it is you and me Angel" he said as he lightly tickled her.

Kiara slanted her head to one side at her youngest daughter and then locked eyes with Rossa who winked back at her mother.

Both of them looked at Eglantine "Eglantine/Grandmama, It not fair" they said in union in the same voice Greta had but in a jokeing manner with similar smirks on there faces.

Serena looked Ewan, and let out a snicker "Yes... who I am guessing you are either Ewan on Ean? Yeah I am related to kiara, I am her daughter infact from a previous marriage... just disvovered information recently" she explained shortly to him.

Zaphira giggled, touching her father's chin with her small hand.
"Papa..." she cooed, large blue eyes mesmerized as they looked into his. Angel was her name, that much she knew, the name only her father used for her. Grandmother called her Liebling. Mama called her snuckums.

Furious and annoyed, Greta rolled her eyes, folding her arms.
"Haha, very funny." she moaned, stomping out of the room.
"Greta!" She turned back at her grandmother's mention of her name and caught the wand thrown at her. "No yelling at Ewan."
"Fine..." she muttered, continuing out. She stayed behind the door, listening to what was going on though, slightly angry with Rossa and her mother... not to mention Ewan. She was going to ring his neck...

"Really? Sweet! You're my niece that means!" Ewan threw a fit in victory at the ceiling. He loved having older "kids" as his sister's children... it was hilarious to him. Although he enjoyed it, Ean his twin did not, wet blanket that he was.
"So where've you been all this time?" he asked, truly curious.

David's smile widened and kissed her hand, "Yes, that I am Angel, and proud to be it" He said pulling her in to hug her.

He then pulled out another finger puppet, this one looked like a puppy, and he had it kiss her cheek.

Rossa locked eyes with her mother, both feeling guilty for making Greta even angrier then before. It had been intended to lighten the mood, and anyway they all knew no matter what they said they Grandmama wouldn't punish Ewan further, her wand had been unharmed and there was no real harm done to anyone.

Since she wasn't really needed in the kitchen she got up to talk with her sister. Looking definatly at her swollen foot from the wasp sting she limped out of the kitchen, contrast to Greta's stomping.

She sighed and leaned on the wall beside her sister, "Sorry Gret, We didn't mean to make you angrier." she said sincerly not at all likeing her sister's anger directed at her.

"Wasn't thinkin I guess" she said guilt plain in her voice.

Kiara sighed noted to also apologise later that night, she sometimes forgot what a firey temper her daughter had, tad on the touchy side. Sensitive like Rossa, but instead of crying when feelings are hurt, she becomes angry.

Serena blinked curious about the angry girl that had stormed.. quite literaly out if the room, she could sence great power within the girl.

She raised a eye brow, still finding it odd having a uncle younger then her.. much younger then her.

At his question as to where she had been she highly tempted to say dead. But held her tongue against her normal nature. She highly doubted that reasponse would go over well with the others in the room.

"Ah I have been many places... Russia, Germany, France, New Zealand, Ireland, Australia, the Americas, hell I have even stepped on a ice berg or two in the Arctic circle. But if what you mean is why I have never been here... well, I didn't know I was Kiara's daughter untill afew weeks ago" she explained.

Then another noise could be heard coming up to the kitchen, Beagan and little Emma were walking up the backward, well one of them was walking.

Emma was having a fun time having a piggy back right in the 11 year old boys back as Beagan half walked and half staggered in to the back deck under the weight of the 5 year old.

"Gah... Emma I can't see with you hand in my eyes." he said nearly triping over a step.

"Ooops, Sorry Beagan, come on you can do it, we are almost there" she cheered.

Beagan gave big sigh of relief... Clearly glad the tiring experince of helping Emma to the house nearly over..

On closer inspection a scraped knee in Emma's leg could be seen, Not that the 5 year old seemed to Care anymore.

Giggles floated around the room as Zaphira patted the puppy's soft cloth head. She loved attention, especially from her father.

Greta sighed, anger washing away as she looked at her older sister. Rossa had always and probably would always be her favourite sibling. When she was younger, she had hung onto every word Rossa had said, wanting to emulate her every action. As she had grown, Greta had stopped idolizing her sister as much... but she still clung to the fact that she wanted to be like Rossa. Above all she hated being mad at her.
"No, I'm sorry." she muttered, tracing a square in the carpeting at her feet. "Ewan is just so annoying. I didn't mean to get mad at you or Mum..." she sighed, sliding down the wall to sit with her arms wrapped around her knees. Her pale hair fell down in front of her face and she roughly pushed it back. Just last week she had begged her parents to let her cut her hair, but her father especially had insisted she just learn to take care of it.

Frowning at Serena's use of language when speaking to Ewan, known for his ability to repeat any undesired word, Eglantine restrained herself from berated Serena... She was not the young woman's professor after all. Ewan however was entranced. The lady was amazing in his mind, so independent and free, stating exactly what she wanted to say and throwing caution to the wind... or so he thought.
"Wow! Did you ever kill anyone?" somehow that seemed to be the next thing out of his mouth.

"Ewan!" Eglantine admonished, in synch with Ciaran's action of lightly whacking the impertinent child's arm.
"Sorry..." Ewan muttered, not looking at all contrite.

Sevie giggled, pulling away from his mother as he ran to the door, pointing at Emma and Beagan while jumping up and down.
"Me next!" he cheered, not seeing the reason behind Emma being carried.
Ciaran and Edwin both chuckled as Beagan finally staggered into the room.The former went and gently pulled Emma off of Beagan.
"You okay, sprout?" he asked, ruffling Beagan's hair. "And how about you, sweet potato." he teased, tickling her tummy.

David laughed along with his daughter in her giggles, she was such a delightful little thing. His little Angel, Emma would always be his Munchin, and Zeki would always be his Buddy.

And of course his Darling wife, she was his world.
__

Rossa sat down next to her sister relieved she wasn't mad at her, "Mum will be relieved to hear that. She feels bad to... expect a heart felt apology from her later" she said.

"And I don't blame you for being mad at Ewan, I would be to..." granted she didn't have nearly the explosive anger Greta did, but she would still be annoyed. Looking at her sister she still looked at her in mild concern. It still seemed something was bothering her.

"Something else bothering you Gret?" she asked as she offered her sister a hair tie that had been around her wrist, for her to use to help with her hair.

__

Serena barely managed to keep from bursting into laughter at his question, she liked this kid, he had nerve she liked that. She merely rased her eye brow and said nothing.

Kiara contemplated that perhaps dark arts was apperent in the Serena's life, she was begining to thing more and more, that it could.

Beagan groaned and flopped in to Rossa's former seat, " Perhps larer Sevie...Yeah I am fine, just never realized how big our backyard is when ya got a 40 pound monkey hanging on your back." he said, his head on the table.

Kiara chuckled and went to the sink to grab her son a glass of water, 'here Honey" she said as she handed it to him.

"Thanks Mum" he said drinking the cold liquid.

Emma giggles " I am good Edwin" she said.

Beagan eyes widen idignantice, "I carried you here becasue?"

Emma blink, "Oh yeah I scraped my knee, but it doesn' hurt any more. Thanks for carring me back the Beagan" she beamed with a wave.

Beagan sighed and bonked his head on the table... Mumbling about the unfairness of it all.

Greta couldn't help but roll her eyes. She often felt uncomfortable with her parents' deeper shows of emotion. She was rage and anger personified, but rarely apologized, cried or showed "weak" emotions. Her Da had said awhile back that there was nothing weak about crying or apologizing... but Greta was too stubborn to accept that as a fact.

"He's such a dweeb." she muttered, usually Ewan was the McKevin twin she got along the best with, since Ean was far to negatively sensitive. But not that week. Day after day they had fought and quarrelled. She looked up at Rossa, taking the hair tie. "Thanks..."

"Nothing is bothering me." she sighed, messily tying her pale hair into a loose pony tail. "I'm just..." she looked back at her knees. "Annoyed." Having noticed her sister limping, Greta peered at the foot.
"What happened to you?"

---

Sevie's disappointment was manifested in a near temper tantrum, which was thankfully stopped mid-scream as Eglantine hurried to scoop him up and soothe him with whispers and kisses. Thinking that the child was beyond the point of "being spoiled" and nearly at the point, "no hope", Ciaran bit his lip to keep quiet. It was after all not his child, and Eglantine and Horatio had had enough children to know how to raise them. It was natural besides that the youngest and therefore baby of the family was slightly coddled.

Chuckling, Edwin turned Emma upsidedown, tickling her as he examined the hurt knee.
"Hmm..." he pondered in doctor fashion. "We may need to operate." he joked, turning her right side up and tossing her up into the air. "She's flying!" he shouted, laughing softly.

Horatio had to admit he was amused by both Edwin and Beagan, even by Ewan, but the scowl remained.

"So what's your job?" Ewan asked, clearly disapointed that he'd been forced to recant the killing question.

Rossa nodded "Ah.." it still amased her how different she and Greta were, almost opposites, yet they still got along relativly well. Rossa considered her self lucky, her sisters anger wasn't something to be wished on anyone.

"Oh, It is nothing, a wasp stung me, apperntly I don't react well to them. Mum put a potion on it so it doesn't hurt, taking longer to working on the swelling though, feels werid to walk on.." she said with a shrug as she moved her puffy foot.

"So, did you notice the new woman in the kitchen?... Apparently she is Mums for her first marriage." she said.

__

Beagan sighed and looked slightly guilty at causeing Sevie to cry... "Sorry Sevie, I am tired... perhaps Edwin will if you ask nice.. he seems to have alot of energy" he commented.

Emma squealed as Edwin flipped her and made her fly. "Weeee!" she cheered as she giggled.

Serena thought for a second, she couldn't exactly tell him and everyone else she killed for a living... she would have wands and curse's at her in no time...

"I am a professional dualist.." she said, yeah that would work, would explain the traveling and everything she would later reveal to them.

Nodding, Greta winced.
"Sounds awful." she murmured, looking away from the swollen foot. The new woman in the kitchen... yeah, she wasn't blind.
"I thought so." she shrugged. Sometimes she just knew things; things that she had no reason to know. Regardless, she had known the moment her fiery eyes had spotted Serena, that she was her mother's daughter, but not exactly her sister... and her name and rising power. A gift perhaps, or a curse, Greta had yet to decide.

--

Sevie sniffed, his chubby cheek resting against his Mama's shoulder. Crying was his number one tool to get almost anything he wanted. Unfortunately it didn't appear to be working on Beagan at the moment. Edwin... there was a thought.
Arms stretching out for his older brother, Sevie asked as nicely as an annoyed two year old could.

Edwin tickled Emma once again before settling her in a chair and taking Sevie. He tossed him up once, much to the toddler's delight, then scooped Emma up again, settling them both on either shoulders.
"Sounds interesting." he commented, intrigued by Serena's work, but at the same time slightly cautious about what the other adults might think about her statement.

"Oh" She said, concidering everyone thought the girl was dead for the past 26 years she had expected more of a reaction out of her sister.
"Anyway

"Tav and Grandpapa don't seem to like her at all, its kinda strange usually they like everyone" she commented.

"So.. no luck on convinceing Dad to let you get your hair cut yet?" she asked. Personally she didn't see why there dad was making a big deal of it, if Greta wanted her hair shorter... what was the big deal? If her Dad wasn't careful Greta might just do it with out his permission anyway.

"Have you tried talking to Mum about it alone? You know she is more layed back about that kinda thing, if you tell her how much you want to do it, she probably manage to convince Dad to let you" she advised.

"How do ya think Dad ever said yes to me getting tattoos and piercings?" she asked with a laugh as she pointed to the rose tattoo on her front, the pheonix tattoo on her arm.

___

Emma giggled again as she swept onto Edwin's shoulder, she hugged his head and messed you his dark hair.

"Whoa, ain;t this fun Sevie?" she asked the toddler smileing brightly.

Serena smirked sligtly at the boy, "I am never bored with it, keeps me on my toes" she said with a wink.

Kiara still thought taking in the information... It made sense.. Kiara continued to stare into space, lost in thought and a million miles away.. overwhelmed by the situation still...

Then Serena felt something, and her gaze fell on Beagan, he was a snake speaker, like her.. and he had a serpant on him.

And in fact his did, a small guarder snake way coiled around his wrist, resting under his summer robe sleeve.

"The serpant on your arm got a name?" she asked curious.

Beagan jerked his head "hmm? how did?.." he asked as he usually kept the snake well hidden.

The small dark green snake stuck his head out of Beagans sleeve. "ssshe iss a Ssssspeaker"

Serena's smirk widened "I believe he just answered your question" she said amused.

Beagan looked nervous for a bit... he didn't normally openedly discuss his Snake speaking ability...

"Umm his name Sorrin" he murmered.

Serena nodded "Hm, good name" she said as she fidgetted her hand in her pocket for her smokes... Merlin she needed one soon.

"Nobody liked everyone, Rossa." Greta pointed out, not the least bit caring as to why her grandfather and brother disliked the woman. Personally she thought the whole thing was silly. After all, their odd family with its connections, ages and all had no right to ever look down or judge a new thought dead member... But they did...and she didn't want to be mixed up in it.

"No." she muttered. "And he told me not to go against him on it... As in, don't go whining to mum just because I was stupid enough to not ask her first." She hit her head against the wall, the slight pain clearing her head slightly.
"You're older, sis..." she sighed. "That's why he said yes."

--

Sevie nodded, as he braced himself with a handful of Edwin's hair. Chuckling in pain, Edwin gently loosened his brother's fist.
"Watch the hair, pumpkin." he muttered, his eyes pinned on Beagan and Serena. It made sense that the woman would be able to communicate with snakes... after all she was Tom Riddle's granddaughter. Possibly therefore the Heir of Slytherin... the wheels turned in his head... maybe even the Heir of Rosier. He hoped not; it would be better that the Heir turned out to be someone they all knew a bit better... someone his mother could help from turning to the dark arts.

"You do know about the blood line." Edwin stated, although it was suppose to be a question. Ciaran wished Edwin had kept quiet, but said nothing. After all... Edwin was an adult.
Seating himself beside his wife, he gently took her hands in his, hoping to be of some comfort and help. It worried him that she appeared so overwhelmed.

"What do you plan to do now?" Horatio asked. "You've met most of us. And had a moment or more to see our basic characters. A professional duelist would know us by now." His glare had vanished, replaced with curiosity and an odd mixture of pure uncertainty and wonder.

Reaching up, Eglantine took Sevie down from Edwin's shoulder, ignoring the stabs of pain that arched through her back as she did so. Her accident injuries and others had been healed when she had surrendered to Excessum. But with her severing from it, slowly the injuries had begun to manifest themselves again, much to Eglantine's horror. So far, she had been able to keep the fact a secret, not even Horatio knew. The small tendril of Excessum was also in constant step with the pain; whispering in her mind's ear to take back her power.

"Kiara?" she asked softly, kissing Sevie's head. She was worried about her daughter. It wasn't normal for her to react so badly to even situations as startling as this one. Kiara had taken her discovering she was Tom Riddle's daughter via Eglantine much better than Serena's being alive...it would seem.

Rossa sighed, "That isn't fair, I am only 2 years older then you, not that big a difference"

Rossa thought of a moment, "have you concidered, braiding it?, there is a charm I could show you, take care of the hair in two seconds" she offered, letting the thing with Serena go as Greta didn't seem to interested.

_____

Serena thought of a moment and nodded, "I know of it" she said simply, in fact she probably knew more of the line of slytherin then they did, she also knew it would be one of Kiara's children, it wasn't the blond girl, though she was powerful, and and Beagan.. certainly not, had the snake speaking ability but that was it.

The snake on Beagan's wrist hissed "It isssss ssshe, sssshe isss the Hire"

Beagan's eyes widened for a moment and looked at Serena, Yes he could believe that. He didn't say anything she may not know...

She looked to Horatio.. "I will go in a bit... but.. if it is alright with you I plan to come back? There is one person I haven't seen much of" her eye tured to Kiara..

Kiara felt her daughter gaze on her, she didn't know why she felt like this, every time she looked at her or tried to talk to her, her soul felt frozen, her mind blank... lost.

She held tightly on to Ciaran's hands, as if in pain... yet she wasn't it was a strange unerving feeling.

"Perhaps it is best I take my leave." she said rising, feeling a small bit sorry for her mother. When Kiara thought she died, the part of her that held the soul protecting charm slacked its hold almost completely, Now that it reactivated and was going on over drive, it strained her almost to the point of snaping. She would get no where with her mother today so best let her recuperate. Besides, she made great progess with the rest of the family, and for that was a good thing.

Kiara looked up to Eglantine at her name,,"I will be fine, it's just... its hard to explain, when I look at her I am lost in a fog" she whispered quietly so only Ciaran and Eglantine could hear her.

"Yeah... Rachel showed me all kinds of charms." she muttered, referring to her beauty obsessed best friend. Well, best might have been a bit of a stretch, since Greta and Rachel had as much in common as a snake and a rabbit, but they insisted they were best of friends. Perhaps there was truth even in the fact Greta had yet killed the other girl.
"They make me look prissy." she pouted. "I just want it shorter, not like really short like a boy or anything, just..." she touched her shoulders.

--

So she was the heir, Eglantine sighed softly, something not lost to Edwin as he set Emma down.
"Why don't you and Ewan go find Tav and Caleb." he suggested, patting the young girl's head. Ewan's mouth fell open.
"How come I'm being sent out?!" he challenged, folding his arms.

Edwin rolled his eyes.
"Stop it with the drama and get moving." he chuckled, lightly kicking his brother's posterior.

Ignoring his sons' antics, Horatio nodded gravely.
"That sounds fine with me. It is best if you do not push us and we refrain from pushing you." He did not notice Kiara's apparent confusion, his mind was on other things at the moment.

"Perhaps that would be best..." Eglantine murmured, Kiara's whisper sending chills of worry down her spine. "I'll show you to the door." She handed Sevie to Horatio, a cold glare forcing him out of his world and back into the present. She patted Kiara's shoulder, gently trying to assure her in some small way. Children were always the most confusing... in wild, wonderful and yet painful ways.

"It's okay, lass." he murmured. "The sun will be coming through even the fog." Or at least he hoped so, it bothered him deeply that their peaceful, since Ava had stopped visiting, home had suddenly been turned upside down again. But most of all, he hated to see Kiara so lost and confused. He felt helpless to assist her.

Rossa's mouth dropped opened, "Thats it? that all you want? Dads being unresonable... and it is only hair it will grown back it you suddenly decide you like long hair..." she muttered.

She loved her dad to pieces, really deep down she was her daddy's little girl, they have cried together laughted together everything. But sometimes.. he was so, old fashioned...

"Want me to cut it for you? and let him get mad at me instead?" she offered, well to her the whole thing was just silly, Greta was 14... not 4 any more. If he was to be angry at her for making her sister happy for something so small... so be it.

___

Emma saluted and nodded with a smile on her face "Aye Captian" she said. a ever fan of PotC, and pulled Ewan by the hand along with her, or attempted to, him being bigger then she was she couldn't really pull him anywhere.

"Uncle Tav!? " was what she has taken to calling him even though he wasn't her uncle.

"Where are ya?"

Serena gaven a smile and nodded in thanks as she headed to the door. She nodded to Tav and resisted the urge to wink at him. Of all the people in the room though he was the most annoying, she respected him the most. He had sharp instincts and he knew when to trust them... A perfect protecter in her opinion.

"Thanks you allowing me to meet with you, it means alot" she said givng them a small bow of her head at the door.

Kiara sighed in relief, as if a great burden had been taken off of her when Serena left. Her soul felt lighter not so much as it had been before, but she felt better..

Beagan looked worried at his mother, he had never seen her like that. "Ya okay Mum?" he asked walking up to her.

Kiara looked up and nodded "Yes honey I am fine" she said pulling him into a hug.
"Just a little shocked is all, by the news" she said kissing him on the cheek, even though it was more then that.. much much more.

Reminded suddenly why she loved Rossa so much, Greta beamed.
"Really? I mean, won't you get grounded or something?" she asked, worried about her far more obedient sister getting into trouble. The idea was brilliant and she adored Rossa for coming up with it. Still it had its risks.
"That would be so cool!" she exclaimed.

--

Ewan finally gave in and allowed Emma to drag him out of the room, rolling his eyes as he went. He was old enough to stay... why he had to be sent out was beyond him.

Chuckling, Tav patted Emma's head.
"See Caleb, there's Emma and Ewan." he pointed out, glad when his son clapped and smiled. "I was just thinking about taking a few kids out for ice cream." Ewan's face lit up, happy that he was still a kid.
"I'll get Ean!" he shouted, rushing to find his brother.

Returning the nod to Serena, he pulled Emma protectively behind him. Horatio and Ciaran both stayed in the kitchen, with Kiara, Zeki and Sevie to care for.

Eglantine went to the door and opened it, walking out along with Serena. Closing the door behind them, she looked into the younger woman's eyes.
"I am not certain what you truly want from your mother, Serena Lestrange." She murmured. "But for what's it worth, I am glad that you are not dead."

Gladdened that Beagan appeared to be helping Kiara, Ciaran gently patted his son's back.
"Grandpapa you wanna come?" Tav asked, deciding it might be best to get the kids out of the way, alone with stoney Horatio. Maybe he just needed time to sort things out, but either way, Horatio was being a big a pain as the kids were collectively. "How about you Beagan. Ice cream."

Tav winked at Kiara, hoping his mum would understand why he was "rushing" off so to speak. It wasn't as if he wanted to. It was the most helpful thing he could think of at the moment.

At that moment, fate stood laughing at them all as she allowed what was bad to suddenly go three times worse. Stepping through the floo, amid her boxes and bags, Lachesis coughed and sneezed, her abnormal attire no less wacky than the first day any of them had seen her.

"Hiya!" she shouted, dropping her assorted packages. "No worries I brought home enough stuff for everyone and I had a bloody brilliant time."

Rossa nodded and smiled, yeah she would likely get grounded, but really where would she be going with a swollen foot? and likely a lecture about it not being right going behind his back like that, and how it wasn't her decision to make... she could probably tell him what he is going to say before he says it to save him the breath..

But this was a small thing, it wasn't like she was doing something dangerous or anything, just going against something her father wished... just this once for her only sister.

"I don't care about being grounded, not like I can really do anything with this foot for a few days... Likely do homework or brainstorm songs" she said.. really to her being grounded was all the bad a punisment anyway no that she was to old to be spanked.

"And hopefully the lecture will be quick" she said with a simple laugh.

"Anyway and don't worry about it looking bad... won't happen, I have learned a few tricks with hair over the years." she said conjuring a comb to go through her sisters hair.

When her Grandmama was.. taken over by death and kids bullied her.. her own hair took quite a beating. Her dormmates put goo in her pillow and it stuck to her hair like chewing gum.. she ended up having to cut it out and have boyishly short hair. Ever since then she took care of her own hair, cut it, dyed it, with the help of spells with out asking her parent permission... it was her hair she would do what she pleased with it. Funny thing was she did so regularly her parents didn't notice..

____

Emma looked up curiously at Tav at his protective behaviour, was the lady that looked like Kiara bad? But at the mention of Ice cream she beamed.

"Yeah! Ice cream!, Rainbow Flavour for me please"

David got up from the couch, Zaphira still safely in his arms, "Want some frozen yogurt Angel?" he asked as yogurt was better for her then ice cream.
__

Serena nodded her head slightly, " Thank you, Ma'am, I appreciate it, I will send warning next time, so Kiara is more prepared... Who would have thought a soul teathering spell could be so taxing on the caster" she said leaving Eglantine with that small bit of info before disapperating out of the driveway.

__

Beagan looked up at ice cream, but looked to his mother if she was alright.

Kiara smiled, "It is alright honey, you go, have fun" she said patting his back. "Dad will be here with me" she nodded.

Beagan sighed and smiled as he gave thumbs up to his Dad and made his way over to Tav.

Then at the sound of Esis's loud voice, Kiara sighed, her head on Ciarans shoulder..

There were times for Esis to come by some not so good times... this was one of the not so good for Kiara...

She mind and soul were already in chaos she didn't need Esis's crazyness adding to it.. As much as Kiara liked the woman.... now was not the time.

Greta had to hand it to her; Rossa was devious when she wanted to be. She doubted the lecture would be quick, but words were not the same as a physical or social punishment, at least not for Greta.

"Okay, sounds great. When do we do it?" she was excited. For once she'd be the one with the neat hairstyle when she went back to Hogwarts. Rachel would be so envious... not to mention that fact it might...no she wasn't going to start thinking about boys. She didn't need a boyfriend...she needed to stop day dreaming in class.

--

Tav chuckled. "All right, Emma's getting rainbow. Come on everyone, let's get into the truck." Although he was a wizard and an auror at that, Tav knew how to drive and had a current license. He'd borrow Edwin's truck, since his was in the shop.
"SHOT GUN!" Ewan called, racing Ean to the door.

--

Noticing the lack of happiness and well welcome...Esis raised an eyebrow.
"Well, I missed all you too." Tav had just herded everyone into the truck, so the house was considerably more quiet than it had been and she felt slightly put out.
"What's going on?" she asked, approaching Ciaran and Kiara. "Did someone have an accident or something?"

"Lachesis!" Eglantine entered the kitchen after having bade Serena good-bye.
"Finally someone notices me." Esis chuckled, hugging her younger cousin. "You look sad, something wrong?" she looked from Eglantine to Kiara.
"Whoa, okay something big happened." she sobered, face falling into its rarely serious mould.

Rossa smiled, "Whenever ya want to, could go now up to my room if you want to" she said.

She was a bit nervous about any lecture she might get, grounding she could deal with.. It was being yelled at and lectured that ate at her, but to her if Greta was happy.. it would be worth it in the end.

__

"Yay!" Emma yelled as she ran after Ewan.
"No fair! your bigger you can run faster.

__

Kiara sighed, lifting her head off Ciaran's shoulder and looked at Esis.

"You could say that Esis... more like something immpossable happened... yet nothing seems to be impossible around here" she said.

"It would seem my daughter from my first marriage is still alive.. she droped by earlier... you just missed her. Its just so.... " she sighed.. she should be happy the child she thought was dead was really alive, but she didn't know what to feel, she couldn't feel anything but confusion, it was worse then when she found out Voldemort and Eglantine were her real parents. It was just differnt...

She didn't know what to do.. she just appeared out of no where...

She just felt like crying...

Greta nodded. "Yeah, let's go." she exclaimed, grabbing her sister's hand and all but dragging her up the stairs. She was so excited she began to ramble.
"We could cut it like shoulder length and add streaks of green..." Forever a Slytherin... "And make sure it can't be altered, cause that's the first thing Da will try to do..."

---

After piling all the kids and adult-kids into the truck, Tav had them all buckle up and they roared off down the road.
Ewan and Ean helped Emma and Sevie get their seat-belts on and Zeki was riding in the front seat with Horatio and Caleb. David and Zaphira seemed happy in the back as well and Tav charmed the radio to play a happy tune as they bounced off down the road toward town and the ice cream parlour... his mind however was not on the road but on his mum and the strange woman who had dared to show up and ruin a perfect day.

--

Esis' eyebrow, if it was possible raised higher.
"Ah..." what else was one to say. It sounded terribly complex and unbelievable, no wonder poor Kiara looked so lost and shocked.
"You don't need to try to explain, love." she murmured, gently patting Kiara's shoulder. Goodness what had not happened to Kiara?! she pondered, feeling terrible for having just popped in and made everything worse.

Rossa laughed at her sisters ecitment, being a bit rebelious was fun once one thought about it. Granted not so fun when one was caught, and she knew she would get caught and take the wrap for Greta.

She laughed sheepishly at the look on her Dads face when he saw Greta with shorter and Greener hair.

"Oh boy I am gonna get it..." she thought to herself amused.

___

Kiara nodded, "Thanks Esis" she said with a sigh. Rubbling her forehead she decided to just explain.. at least part of the reason she was so out of it.

"I my as well explain, at least partly.. When Serena was a baby I cast a soul tethering spell, to protect her from being competely taking over by dark arts.. I didn't want her to turn into him, Voldemort. So a part of her soul is protected by me, tied to my soul.. like a tether. When I thought she died, the tie weaken slacked if you will. When she suddenly came back it put a strain on my end... after so many years I was and still am unused to it, hence the increaced feeling of overwhelmedness" she explained softly..

Now she was itching to get out and relieve the presure... but infront of everyone...

Once everyone left or was through with questions, that was exactly what she would do.

Greta sat in front of the mirror and studied her waist length pale hair. She had looked in Esis' photo albums and seen pictures of her grandmother as a child... and a young teen. It was always hard to link the pictures to the woman she knew as her grandmother, but the pictures remained in her memory. She was not her grandmother...nor was she about to become like the woman. She didn't want to be the good little professor or the dutiful wife. Oh no, she was going to be like her mother... like her sister. Exactly what she and only she, Greta McConn wanted to be... and that started with her hair style.

"Right here." she indicated the length. "And can you make it layered?" oh this was fun...

--

Esis had delved into the dark arts more than once in her life... and had heard although never done a soul tethering spell. Powerful magic and it intrigued her that Kiara could do it; especially so long ago. However a 'Wow, sweet spell' was probably not the best thing to utter and thus she only nodded. Damn, her next thought was unpacking... how callous was she? Or uncaring? Maybe just eccentric. She opted with the third and lightly kissed her second cousin's forehead.
"No wonder. You know I love you and that I'm terribly worried. But I've got three skunks to fed and a baby elephant. And we DONT want them to get angry." she chuckled.

"An elephant?" Ciaran questioned, finding it odd even for Esis... was there no end to her madness?
She shrugged.
"Why not?"

Attention left Esis and she waddled out with her huge stack of luggage and both Eglantine and Ciaran turned their attention back to Kiara. Edwin sat down, glad none of them seemed to remember he was there.
"That is a very...dangerous spell." Eglantine murmured. Ciaran closed his eyes. Why hadn't he even guessed it was something of this nature.
"How can we help?" he asked.