The tension in Lilith’s shoulders hadn’t disappeared since Friday night.
Having an extra set of hands on the ranch was always a welcomed thing - but not when the mouth attached to them continued to make weak ass apologies. Lilith had done all that she could to remain cordial with Carlisle, even if most of her attempts in making things ‘better’ included ignoring him. She wasn’t used to having to share her bathroom or Grandfather with anyone, so the change had been different to say the least.
Despite all of the trouble with Carlisle though, Lilith couldn’t help but worry herself about Sunday dinner. She and Miles hadn’t talked since the Coven party, and she had done everything that she could to keep herself from dwelling on the thought. Standing there in the kitchen beside her grandfather, she thankfully found herself too caught up in the current moment to focus on her worries.
Lilith’s phone was connected to the sound system as usual. Tanya Tucker’s
Delta Dawn played over the speakers as she and her grandfather danced around the kitchen - both literal and metaphorical. The young woman was aware that Carlisle was floating around here somewhere, but she couldn’t be bothered enough by his presence to let it kill her current high. With the steaks in the oven, and a new bottle of whiskey just being cracked open, Lilith began to gather plates in order to set the dinner table.
When Mary came knocking, John was the one to answer the door. Giving the woman a hug, the older man completely ignored Miles standing behind her, and immediately shut the door behind himself to make his point stick.
”So Mary - how are things,” John asked.
As the Prices approached the ranch’s porch, Mary turns to her who was trailing closely behind her son, a stern look painted on her face.
”You better be on your best behaviour, kid. I better not hear one of them sarcastic remarks of yours tonight, y’here me? I don’t wanna watch you play with death,” Miles looks up at his mother, giving her a small smile.
”I don’t know what you’re on about, I’m always on my best behaviour,” he jokes half-heartedly. If he was being honest, part of Miles was nervous and it wasn’t in fear of John. No, he was more nervous about what would happen between him and Lilith. The night of the party a week ago was hazy at best. He remembered her telling him of her grandad’s condition and he remembered the kiss they shared on the couch but from there were only fleeting moments committed to memory until he woke up for work the next morning in his bed with his arms wrapped around Lilith. Was there an ‘I love you’ in there? He wasn’t sure. He couldn’t help but wonder if Lilith remembered more than him.
What didn’t help was the almost radio silence between them. Lost between work and the massive headache that raged in his skull that morning messaging Lil wasn’t an immediate thought then he didn’t know what words to write and next thing he knew it felt all too late. For someone who could talk Miles was far from the best texter. He took a shaky breath as he followed his mum to the door.
Mary reciprocated John’s hug, glad that Miles had been carrying the large bowl of potato salad thus freeing her arms.
”Oh y’know, same old. How have things been at the ranch?” Miles had almost ran right into the door as it was slammed in his face. He huffs, rolling his eyes. He really hoped the whole night wouldn't be like this. He knocked on the door himself with his free hand before raking it through his hair. For as much as seeing Lilith was making him nervous John Montgomery still very much brought an uneasy feeling to his stomach.
As the pitiful knock came through the door, Mary raised an eyebrow at the older man.
"For as much as you don't like it, you should probably let him in,"”Same shit, different day,” John huffed, beginning to walk away from the door until Mary made a comment. Hearing her words, his expression hardened into a scowl. Pursing his lips, John reached for the door handle. He didn’t open the door all the way, but he reckoned it was enough to please Mary and let Miles know he was safe for the time being.
Seeing Mary, Lilith set the plates down on the table before walking over to the older woman and giving her a hug of her own. Listening in to the small talk being made, Lilith was hyper aware of the fact that Miles was right outside the front door. She had known he was coming to Sunday Dinner, but that hadn’t eased her nerves in the slightest.
The young woman was doing her best not to act excited or on edge. She wasn’t going to lie and say that she wasn’t pleased Miles was there - but they also hadn’t discussed the aftermath of the party. How much did he remember? Did she even want to know? Should they just avoid it completely? It was times like these when Lilith was glad she was the only empath in the family.
Wrapping her arms around Marys neck, Lilith quickly whispered in the other womans ear.
”Please help me keep gramps from killing him.” At Lilith’s plea Mary gives a small chuckle, wrapping her arms around Lilith’s small frame.
"My plans exactly, I really don’t plan on cleaning up a crime scene tonight. Did you hide the ammo by any chance?”As the door is partially opened Miles blinked at it a couple of times, unsure if he was meant to walk in or if John would berate him for being rude for doing so. Eventually Miles felt he had spent too long at that door and pushed it open the rest of the way. At the sight of Lilith a small smile spread on his face. Although he was still wracked with nervousness it really was nice to see her, hell, part of him was almost glad to see John too. There was a sweet nostalgia to it all.
”Good evening!” he greets the household, pretending that the door slam in the face didn’t faze him slightly.
”As much as I could find,” Lilith whispered back with a small chuckle of her own. She may have been laughing, but Lilith was genuinely concerned for Miles state of wellbeing.
Walking away from Mary, Lilith went back to setting the table. As Miles walked in, Lilith couldn’t help the fact that her eyes lingered on his - even if it was only for a split second. Focusing her attention on the wooden grain, Lilith moved around the table as she set down each plate.
”You can just sit that over here somewhere,” she said, hoping that Miles knew she was talking about the massive bowl he was holding.
John had moved back across the room to take the steaks out of the oven, bringing over the large cast iron pans to the table.
”So Miles,” John began, doing his best to remain cordial.
”How was college?”At Lilith’s instruction, Miles’ eyes settled on her once more. Damn, she was beautiful, that never changed. He gave a nod, crossing the room to lay down the bowl. He wanted to idle up next to Lilith and joke about how dead he was going to be tonight but John had starting talking to him first.
Honestly Miles’ was surprised John didn’t just flat out refuse his existence but he was glad for it.
”I- uh- I only spent a year actually in college,” he replies, rubbing the back of his neck.
”But it was great, something new. Turns out studying doesn’t beat real world experience though,” he replies. Silence falls for a moment before he was reminded that he should ask John something.
”How has the ranch been?” he asks,
”I’ve kinda missed this place,”Hoping that she might be able to give Miles some words of encouragement as he approached her, Lilith couldn’t help but be mildly disappointed when her grandfather had spoken up.
Taking his seat at the head of the table, John raised an eyebrow when Miles had mentioned he had dropped out of college. He hadn’t ever expected much from the boy, but seeing him as a quiter only made John’s perception of him worse. Lilith had taken the bowl from Miles’s hands, placing it on the table before taking a seat herself. Beginning to pour drinks, Johns expression soured when the young man asked him about the ranch.
”Been fine,” he huffed.
”I’m up to my ears in paperwork, but such is life.” Taking a sip of his drink, Johns eyes shifted to his granddaughter before falling back on Miles.
”Real world experience is great, kid - but an education is even better in some situations.” ”C’mon gramps,” Lilith joked light-heartedly.
”I don’t think Miles wants the whole speech right now.” Although Miles was thankful for Lilith trying to step in he was going to squander that all away, it wasn’t like he was going to sit in silence and let John see him as less and less. No he had to have an active role in his destruction it seemed.
”And this wasn’t one of those situations,” he replies through gritted teeth, standing at his old spot at the side of the table a seat away from the man, lest he be close enough for John to hit him. He grips the top of the wooden chair tight, his knuckles starting to turn white.
”No point in spending 3 more years studying if I already have a good job in the field,” he says, trying to come off as nonchalant. He looked the old man in the eyes, throughout his whole childhood the pair had a somewhat tumultuous relationship but this was the first time they have had a proper conversation since him and Lilith broke up all those years ago. Despite his mother’s warnings, part of him was ready for a verbal war.
At the scene before her Mary took her own seat between Johnthon and Miles at the side of the table.
"Moving on now. Lil, Miles, how was your first week as coven members?” she asks in an attempt to change the subject, taking a sip of her own drink. She snuck Miles a quick dirty look, a warning for him not to press on before it escalates.
”Look. All I’m sayin’ is why reach for the moon when you could have the stars too,” John chuckled, well aware of the fact that he was already under Miles’s skin in such a short matter of time.
Not leaving anyone any room to get another word in, Lilith turned her attention to Mary after shooting John a look of disapproval.
”It’s been an adjustment,” Lilith responded, now taking a drink herself as she passed the bottle to Miles. Their hands had touched for the briefest of moments, goosebumps racing up her arm as she pulled away.
”I can’t speak for Miles, but I can say I’ve already learned a few things,” continuing to speak, Lilith took another drink from her glass as her attention fell back onto Mary.
”Like how people are still going to ignore me, my family's connection to the barrier, my predictions - but I digress.” Pursing her lips, the young woman sighed.
”I guess the most important thing I’ve learned so far is how to try and get along with people that I don’t want to.” ”You mean that Carlton boy,” John questioned.
”Where is he anyway?”Miles huffed, sitting in his seat. He wanted to argue back with John but was cut off by his mum and Lilith. At least Lilith was already passing him the liquor. His hand brushed against hers as it found a free space on the bottle causing a small smile to play on his lips. He poured his drink before turning his attention back to his mother's question.
”I mean Monday was… interesting but apart from that it doesn't feel all that different yet,"Carlisle at that moment, came down from upstairs and looked around at the sudden crowd around the table. This was the first time all week he had actually come out of his room. If he wasn't doing ranch things, or working at the Coven, he spent his time in his room staying out of Lilith's way. Things had been tense and he wasn't sure if he had made any progress with Lil forgiving him. He looked a bit better too. Most of the exhaustion was now gone, though he had seemed to have developed really pale skin, almost like he was coming down with some viral infection.
"Hey everyone. Didn't wanna come down too early and cramp everyone's style" He said with a nervous chuckle. Seeing Lil, John and Miles in the same place was like facing all of his anxieties at the same time.
Miles' eyes flew to the familiar voice coming from the other side of the dining room.
”Carlisle?” he enunciates. Over the past days he’d attempted to text Carlisle a couple of times but never got a response. Part of him had thought maybe Carlisle was mad at him for leaving with Lil that night but if that was so why was he here? He looked between him and Lil. Did Carlisle have another reason to avoid him? What if Carlisle felt guilty for something?
”What are you doing here?” he asks brashly, not that he intended it to come out harshly. He couldn’t help but suspect he might be here for Lil. It’s not like Miles and Lil kept up any form of substantial communication over the week, maybe Monday night truly was nothing.
Carlisle could detect the harsh and brash nature of Miles' words. A small smile came across his lips. It seemed someone was insecure.
"Well circumstances forced me to live in the coven household and well, it was quite lonely. Actually it was hell. So I came here and Lilith and John were kind enough to give me refuge until I figure out exactly what is going on" With that Carlisle would sit down next to Lilith, trying to keep distance between him and Miles. He made sure that he was also a fair bit away from Lil, despite being next to her. He didn't want to annoy her.
On any normal day, Lilith would have killed for a Sunday dinner like this. All of her favorite people in the same place, enjoying a meal together - who wouldn’t want that?
As Carlisle entered the room with what could only be described as a weak attempt at 70’s swag, Lilith couldn’t help but momentarily dwell on the fact that Miles had mentioned Monday. What all
did he remember? There was no way to ask him outright without exposing herself or making things awkward. She had been prepared to explain why Carlisle was there herself - or better yet gloss over the whole thing - but Miles seemed to beat everyone to the punch. Lilith couldn’t help the way her eyes cut in Miles' direction as she heard his tone. What on Earth did he have to be so defensive for?
It took every fiber of Lilith’s being not to shove Carlisle out of the chair as he took a seat beside her. John had made it very clear that she was supposed to be nice to their guest, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t have a few accidents while he was here, right? The closer that Carlisle got, the more difficult it became for Lilith to ignore his emotions. Thought to be fair, she would have assumed that his arrogance was suffocating everyone - not just herself.
”For someone who’s in a tough spot, you seem to be feeling really smug about all of this,” Lilith quipped.
”Why’s that?” Miles knew that response should have calmed him but he very much didn’t like the pomp in Carlisle’s voice. It took Miles everything in him to not growl back at Carlisle’s response. Instead he took another gulp of his drink, letting himself get distracted by the burning sensation of the alcohol. What was Carlisle playing at? It was less Carlisle’s being there that made him mad but the almost triumphant tone of his voice. As if he won some game between them Miles was never really playing, as if he’d won Lil by just being there. As Lilith spoke up Miles remained slight, cautiously watching Carlisle.
Hearing the quip from Lilith, Carlisle almost shrank in his seat. His shoulders curled inwards as he almost began sliding down his seat to disappear.
"I was… I wasn't trying to sound smug. I am just grateful that you were there for me when I needed it. Despite everything going on this week." He responded meekly. Clearly she wasn't ready to start forgiving him yet.
Eyes still locked on the boys cowardly frame, Lilith pursed her lips, trying to keep in her inner bitch.
”Just because you don’t say it, doesn’t mean you’re not feeling it.” "Honestly I am not" Carlsie raised his hands defensively. He knew that Lilith was still apprehensive about him being here.
"After what my mother did, I thought I could cope on my own for a whole and it turns out I couldn't. I needed help, plus it feels nice to be close to people I trust. Never really felt this way with my own mother" ”Honestly, I’m not” Lilith mocked him.
”Either you or my powers are lying to me, and I don’t think it’s the divination, my guy.” Pouring herself another drink, Lilith took a sip before speaking again.
”We’re not here to fix your mommy issues. Pass the potato salad.” "I.." Carlisle was about to call into question her divination abilities. But decided against it. Deep down he was a little happy that he was closer to Lil right now than Miles. But it wasn't his main emotion. He was being truthful about being grateful. He picked up the potato salad and quietly handed it over, not saying a word as he did. Afterall, Lil could just cut through his words and find out the truth.
Miles had remained silent in the tennis battle that had become of Carlisle's and Lilith’s words. He couldn’t help but feel
off about this whole situation. The fact Carlisle was under the same roof as Lilith day in, day out
”But why here Carlisle. Don’t you have a whole townhouse to go to?” he asks, putting a hand out to take the bowl of potato salad from Lil when she was finished spooning her helping onto her own plate.
"Well… Yes." Carlisle started. He had an idea where this was going to start going.
"Yes, but it wasn't an issue of where I had to stay, it was more the issue that living on my own it seems is a terrible idea."Miles’ eyes narrowed at his friend. Only a week ago he was rooting for his friend to get with Lilith but now sitting so close to her with the week just gone behind him he couldn’t help but feel… was that jealousy toward him?
”And you chose to come here? After how Monday night ended for you?”It seemed now it was Miles turn to dig into Carlisle. He was half expecting both Mary and John to get a turn next.
"I don't know why I was pulled here. My body just went on auto pilot and when I felt my worst I came to the person who made me feel the safest. Which was Lil. Trust me. Once I realised where I was I had contemplated going back, but by then it was too late. I know this week has been rough, but me and Lil have had a whole two years of hanging around being the only young adults in the coven. We spent alot of time together" He wasn't exactly sure what Miles would make if his answer, but he was being honest. While Miles and Carlisle were technically best friends, that only really ran up to College when Carlisle came back home. Since then that spot had been occupied by Lilith.
”Autopilot, huh,” Miles responds, trying to hide his bitterness, his eyes moving between the pair. He knew Lil and Carlisle were close and that had never bothered him before now but it seemed something had changed in the last week. Miles piled potato salad onto his own plate before looking up, his eyes meeting Lil’s. How did she feel about what happened Monday? Hell, did she even remember any of it?
Lilith listened silently as Miles and Carlisle exchanged words. She didn’t
want to read people's emotions, but it was hard not to do when being in such close proximity to everyone. She knew that Carlisle was being truthful when he said he was grateful and that Lilith made him safe - but she couldn’t hide the fact that she also felt arrogance and a strange twisted sense of pride there. Miles on the other hand - he just seemed to be radiating a slow boiling anger. The thought was enough to make the girl tilt her head ever so slightly in realization as their eyes met again.
Was she in the middle of yet another dick swinging contest between the two of them? She was just about to speak up when John beat her to it once more.
”What happened Monday,” the older man questioned, now beginning to pass the first pan of steaks on to Mary.
”Everyone keeps beatin’ around that bush, but it don’t seem like y’all want to talk about it.” At John’s question, Miles sucks in a breath. Sure he wanted to have this conversation but he was more wanting to have it with Lil, privately. Not in front of her gramps of all people.
”Oh, just a werewolf attack… and the falling barrier and all that,” he responds sheepishly, looking down at his plate.
"Smooth,” Mary mutters sarcastically before taking a sip of her drink.
John Montgomery may have not been blessed with the gift of divination, but seeing the reactions of people around him was enough to let him know that something was going on. The color had seemed to drain from Miles face, and had found it’s way to Liliths. Carlisle was cowering as usual and Mary…
Giving a quick glance at his surrogate daughter, John’s expression soured.
”Werewolves, yeah… I heard about those.” Swallowing his first bite and taking a drink, John looked around the table once again.
”That doesn’t explain why I had to go get Lil from Marys, or why you all look like you’ve been caught with a hand in the cookie jar.” Mary gives a sigh, putting her glass back on the table. She knew John would put it together eventually.
"Well, what do you reckon happened, pops?” she asks the older man, turning to face him. She could only hope he wouldn’t be close enough to a weapon.
Mary’s disposition was enough to make John uncomfortable by itself. The tension in the room made the older man reach for the revolver that he kept strapped under the table. There was a fifty-fifty chance that Lilith could have hidden it away with the rest of them earlier this afternoon. Feeling the cold metal in his hand, the older man had to fight back a smirk. It seemed that his grand-daughter hadn’t tried quite hard enough this time.
His expression still stern, John watched as Liliths face turned to an even darker shade of red. A panicked look seemed to set into her eyes as she looked across the table at Miles. Carlton seemed smug.
Turning his attention back to Mary, he muttered
”You gotta be shittin’ me,” before leaning back in his chair, revolver in hand.
Mary’s eyes narrowed at John as his hand seemed to fumble under the dining table. She didn’t really need to look next to her to know what he was up to but she couldn’t help herself. Just as she thought, the man had his revolver sat on his knee. The sight brought a wave of protective anger over her. Sure, John was essentially her second father but if that gun was going to be pointed where she knew it would be, that was her son he was threatening. Mary wasn’t going to stand for that.
"Johnathan Alexander Christian Montgomery!” she snaps, slamming her cutlery down on the table.
"You better not be ‘bout to point that gun at my boy or so help me I will rain down on you from the grave after takin’ that bullet. You’ve already lost one daughter, you wanna lose the closest thing ya got to another?” she sneers, leaning closer to the older man.
As Lilith gave Miles that panicked look the little colour left in his face seemed to drain away. Sure, John had threatened him with a gun or 2 in the past but he never seemed to actually draw one. At least not to the point that his mother spoke out against the man so harshly. He returned Lilith’s panicked look, seeming like a deer in headlights.
Finger still on the trigger, John’s protective energy matched that of Marys.
”I ain’t gonna kill the boy, Mary, but I think he should know full well what the fuck will happen if he hurts her again. You might be the closest thing I have to a daughter, but that’s Lilly sittin’ in that chair, and I’d take losing you and him over her any day of the goddamned week.” As he spoke, John began to bounce his leg up and down with both anger and anxiety. What the hell was happening right now?
Meanwhile, Lilith’s brain was going into problem solving mode as usual. How was she supposed to fix this situation?
”Now gramps, I don’t think there’s any reason for anyone to have their hands on a weapon right now.” ”Bullshit,” John spat, his attention now on his grand-daughter.
”You really think I’m just goin’ to sit here and let you go back to bein’ a shell of a person? When you were with him, all you did was make him your life. Your mood wasn’t right unless his was, and when he left - all you did was stay locked in your room for months. Hell, you even tried to kill yourself, Lilly. And I know it wasn’t all over a boy - especially that one - but I’m not goin’ to sit here and let him ruin shit again.” ”Gramps - honestly - we haven’t even discussed what happened,” she mumbled, pushing the food around on her plate with her fork. She knew she was in the hot seat right now, and she had no idea how to get out of it.
Carlisle watched as the situation unfolded. This wasn’t ideal at all. Someone was going to get hurt and here he was just sitting back and listening. Wasn’t this what he was supposed to do? Keep the peace? With a soft sigh he rubbed his temple
” I think everyone should just calm down for a moment, put down any offensive weapons before we do something we regret.””I think you should shut the fuck up while you’re still ahead, boy.” John replied almost too quickly.
Carlisle would farrow his brow. No one speaks to him like that. Maybe his inner mother was showing. With a heavy sigh, he focused his magical energy for a moment, looking over at John.
”Really? You wanna do that? Well…” With a burst of energy he focused his magic on John, activating his mental prison spell and sending John into a dimension inside Carlisle's mind; a blank space where there was nothing but Carlisle’s surface thoughts. With a heavy sigh, he lay back on the chair, trying to regulate the energy inside his body. Something felt off though. Like something was sapping his power from the inside.
”Until you have calmed down, you aren’t coming out. I am sorry, but You need to sit there and listen to what Lilith and Miles have to say” He would then look over at the duo, and smile.
”There, now you can speak and figure this out without anyone threatening you with violence”Watching the scene fold out in front of her, Lilith felt a rush of rage. Who the actual fuck did Carlisle think he was? He hadn’t learned how to leave well enough alone, or how to respect anyone? Why did he always have to intervene? Who
the fuck did he think he was to use magic on
her grandfather - especially when his body was riddled with cancer?
”Carlisle. What did you do,” Lilith asked firmly, making eye contact with the young man. The look on her face seemed to freeze Carlisle in place, leaving her with no response - even if Lilith had only given Carlisle a split second to make his decision before she acted.
As Lilith stood up, her chair slid back across the hardwood floor with a horrible scratching sound. Lunging at Carlisle, her fist connected with his jaw as both of them fell to the floor. Straddling the boy's waist, she continued to hit him over and over shouting
”What did you do!” Too caught up in the moment, Lilith couldn’t realize that John had regained consciousness behind her. Whatever spell Carlisle had cast had been broken when she had hit him.
”Lilith,” her grandfather shouted, trying to shake off the dazed state that he was in.
Adrenaline taking over her body and mind, Lilith still didn’t realize what was happening around her. At this point she had grabbed Carlisle's hair, using it as leverage to smash his face into the floor over and over again. It seemed that seeing him bleed only fueled her rage even more.
John had gotten up from his seat, coming over to pull his grand-daughter off of Carlisle. He had left the gun on the table, needing both hands to do what little he could.
”Lilly, stop it,” he shouted, grabbing her by her upper arms as he pulled her away.
Lilith stood up, adjusting her t-shirt and wiping the blood off of her knuckles. John had already begun to walk away, leaving her plenty of opportunity to start kicking Carlilse in his ribs and stomach. As she reared back for what must have been the fifth or sixth kick at this point, John had given up trying to stop her.
Carlisle had begun to double over himself, coughing as he did so.
The air in the Montgomery house seemed to grow thicker, almost pushing Lilith down. A loud pop seemed to come out of nowhere as Liliths foot connected with Carlisle’s body once more, a bright light seeming to come from the doorway.
Miles watched the scene before him unfold, it all seemed to happen all to fast for him to respond. Before he knew it Lilith was attacking Carlisle… again. As John gives up separating the pair Miles strides over and grips Lilith’s shoulders.
”Lil, I think he’s near dead enough,” he coaxes, giving her shoulder a squeeze.
”I doubt you want to be scrubbing blood out of the floorboards,”As the group had crowded around Lilith, Mary slipped the gun off the table and into her pocket before sculling the rest of her drink.
"I just wanted a nice family dinner,” she complains to herself under her breath.
Carlisle thought he had helped. He had given Lilith and Miles the space to have that conversation about whatever the hell they were, in safety. So why was he suddenly attacked by the person he had tried to help? Carlisle couldn’t even defend himself in time. Lying on the ground as each kick came in, causing him to cough harder. The energy inside him was becoming stronger and stronger, each kick made him feel like he was going to throw up more and more.
Then it happened. In a moment he felt like he had lived an entire new life. Memories that weren’t his. Turning to look at the door, he felt his own soul over by the door. But his soul was here. Trying to sit up looking at the door, he spoke, while also coughing up blood.
”What the fuck did you do!?” He said almost glaring at the figure in the door.
”Well Lil, meet your mother. Somehow.”With a confused expression, Lilith looked at the doorway to see the figure of a
blonde woman standing in front of the door.
Stretching out her arms and wiggling her fingers, the stranger tilted her head to the side, observing the scene around her.
”Well then,” she remarked.
”Thanks for the help back,” she said, looking at Carlisle sprawled out on the floor. Spotting the faces of Mary & John, a smile stretched across the womans face before her eyes fell upon what she assumed to be Lilith and Miles.
”Well I’ll be damned,” she breathed.
”Someone pass me a cigarette. I think we got some catchin’ up to do.” Mary’s eyes were quickly drawn by a flash of light at the front door that was soon replaced by a very familiar face. She rubbed her eyes to ensure they weren’t lying to her only for Claire to still be standing in front of her.
"Where the hell have you been?” she asks, crossing her arms as a jovial smile starts to play on her lips.
Shrugging her shoulders, Claire made her way across the room to give her old friend a hug.
”Oh y’know,” she joked.
”Here, there. Around, if you will. Kinda just been up there in space, floatin’ above your heads.” Mary shook her head in disbelief as Claire pulled her into an embrace.
"A decade, a whole-ass decade. Do ya understand the turmoil those kids put me through? Had to leave when the hormones started, didn’t ya?””Tell me darlin’ -” Claire began, a mischievous look in her eyes as she stood back to look at Miles and Lilith.
”Did we guess it right?” "I think they’re still figurin’ that out but Imma hazard guess it’s a yes. You have a lot to catch up on,” Mary replies. Her eyes move to their children, Miles hands still on Lilith’s shoulders.
"Don’t think your pa’s too impressed ‘bout it though,” John was standing there frozen in shock, much like his grad-daughter.
”What the fuck,” he murmured.
”I - is this real?” he questioned.
”Mom,” Lilith asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.
”Yeah, it’s me. Sorry I just kinda… left everyone,” Claire responded, shrugging her shoulders once more.
”That wasn’t really the plan. I tried to get back here every chance I could, but I couldn’t go see Cordelia - unlike some people,” she quipped, her eyes falling to Carlisle.
Looking back up at Lilith, Claire was unable to contain her excitement any longer. Wrapping her daughter into an embrace, she kissed the top of Liliths head.
”You’ve went and grown up on me, haven’t you, lovebug?” ”Kind of couldn’t help that part,” Lilith joked, returning the hug.
”So you mean to tell me you were dead and now ya ain’t?” John questioned once more.
”Something like that.” ”I don’t fully understand it, but I have all of her memories. And I can feel my soul in her” Carlisle coughed as he tried to stand up, blood almost dripping from his mouth. He struggled to stand, falling back down. His body looked rough. His face looked exactly the same as the night he was found in the basement. Exhaustion covering his entire body.
”Y’know. I don’t feel so good”Knowing full well that she could have helped Carlisle, Lilith chose not to. It was now Johns turn to hug Claire as Lilith stood there looking at the battered boy.
”Well. You know where we keep the medical supplies,” she replied sourly before turning back to her mother.
”Want something to eat?” Carlisle listened to Lilith's tone. Even when he managed to somehow be responsible for bringing her mother back from the dead, she still hated him. He tried to stand up once more, holding on the sofa for support, and accidentally dripping blood onto it in the process. His face hurt. His body hurt too.
”Like how did you do that? How did you come back, and why do I have your memories? Why do I feel like me and you are the same person?””It’s complicated, kid. You came through the astral plane, broke it, and I found the crack. That’s the easiest way I know to put it. Granny mentioned something about being tied to your life force and sharing memories or somethin’ like that.” Rambling on, Claire continued to observe her old home until her eyes feel onto the kitchen table.
”Is that whiskey and ribeyes I see?” Miles was left looking around at all the figures in the room, still in a state of shock himself. The last person he expected to see in front of him was Lilith’s mum in all her southern glory. It seemed the discussion he wanted to have with Lilith would have to be postponed for the evening. He had so many questions yet he didn’t know which ones to start at. Before he could utter out a single word Mary answered her friend’s question.
"Come join us, I’m sure we can spare some food for ya. We got a lot of catching up to do,”
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