"Ezra! Is your room clean?!" Taylor called from the dining room as he set the table for their planned light lunch.
"Yes Dad!"
"It's been so long since we've seen Tanya, I don't think I'd recognise Kit," Natalie mused as she helped him.
"I know what you mean," Taylor's eyebrows rose, "though I guess... well I saw them last year. But yeah."
"She hasn't met Ezra, has she?"
"I don't think so."
"Mom! Mom! River's in the music room by himself!" Penny came running into the room.
"Ezra!" Taylor called again, "Can you get River please?!"
"Okay!"
The doorbell rang.
"That'll be them," Taylor sighed.
"I'll get it," Nat grinned, touching his shoulder as she walked past.
Penny tailed her as she opened the door.
"Tanya! Hi! Come on in!"
Tanya & Kit
"Natalie, hi," Tanya smiled, holding onto Kit's hand.
She stepped through the doorway when Natalie moved to the side and looked down at Kit, who was looking around in wonder.
"He's still getting used to actual houses," she laughed. "How have you been?"
Natalie & menagerie
"We've been great!" Natalie assured, closing the door behind them, "we've fixed a light lunch for you, as I figured you'd want to get back to Avery."
She stepped aside and leant down to Kit.
"Hi there Kit, I'm Natalie. Ezra's Mom. And this is his sister Penny."
Penny was standing beside her, sucking her fingers timidly.
Tanya & Kit
"Thanks, I hope it wasn't too much trouble," Tanya said, shaking her head.
"Hi," Kit said, somewhat shyly. He looked at Penny and smiled a little.
"Oh, the famous Penny," Tanya smiled, bending to be at eye level with Penny. "Your Auntie Avery has told me a lot about you."
Natalie, Taylor & menagerie
”Not at all,” Natalie stood straight again.
Penny looked Tanya over, and smiled.
”Hi.”
”Come on in to the dining room,” Natalie offered, “let’s not keep in the hallway.”
She led the way through, Taylor looking up from where he’d set glasses on the table.
”Hey Kit!” he greeted with a smile, nodding to Tanya.
Penny ran over to her usual place at the table and climbed into her chair. Noises could be heard from down the hallway.
”Ezra?! Kit’s here!” Taylor called out.
Tanya & Kit
Tanya followed Natalie through the house to the dining room, Kit holding onto her hand as he walked.
"You remember Taylor, don't you?" Tanya smiled down at her son.
Kit smiled and nodded. "Hi."
Taylor, Natalie, menagerie
Penny stared across at Kit from where she sat as Taylor smiled.
Ezra soon appeared in the doorway with River hot on his heels.
”And this is Ezra,” Taylor announced him, “…and River. Guys, this is our friend Tanya. And of course, Kit.”
”Kit!” Ezra exclaimed as he ran over to him, “come into my room, I’ll show you that harmonica I wrote you about!”
”Guys, food first,” Natalie insisted, garnering a moan from Ezra.
”Drinks?” Taylor offered, backing into the kitchen.
Kit &Tanya
Kit grinned as Ezra came into the room. "Ez!"
Tanya laughed a little, and let go of Kit's hand. "Natalie's right, food first, Kit."
"Ok, mom," Kit said, rolling his eyes so only Ezra could see.
Taylor, Natalie & menagerie
Ezra chuckled, then looked at Tanya.
”Wow. You’re strong!”
Natalie gave her son a wary look before turning to Taylor.
”I made a couple of jugs up, they’re in the fridge.”
”Cool,” Taylor gave her a thumbs up and went to fetch them.
”You can sit here!” Ezra said to Kit, patting the chair next to his as he got seated.
Natalie went to fetch Viggo from the living room as River just stood beside his chair to wait for some help.
Tanya & Kit
Tanya took her seat, and smiled at Ezra.
"Have you come across a favourite power yet?"
Kit grinned as he sat down next to Ezra.
"Awesome."
Taylor, Natalie & menagerie
Ezra hesitated thoughtfully.
”I guess Dad’s would be my favourite,” he admitted, “but I like playing with Uncle Ike’s.”
”He’s always been partial to telekinesis,” Taylor said as he returned with the jugs of juice and soda, “ever since he was a baby. He loves his Uncle Ike.”
”I don’t really know how to use telepathy yet. Auntie Avie said she’d teach me but she can’t now because she’s sick. Sort of.”
”Are you staying with Auntie Avie?” Penny asked Kit as Nat returned to put Viggo in his high chair and help River into his seat.
Tanya & Kit
Tanya nodded. "I'm guessing you get into mischief with your Uncle Isaac's power, then?"
Kit looked at Penny and smiled. "Yup, she's nice. Do you see her a lot? She told me to tell you that she misses you."
Tanya smiled faintly. "Must be hard seeing Avery so... sick," she said to Taylor.
Taylor, Natalie, menagerie
"I'm not allowed to use telepathy until I know how to. Dad said," Ezra pouted a little, ignoring the question.
"Yeah," Taylor sighed, folding his arms as he waited for Nat to get settled, "I'll admit it's reminding me a bit of what I went through when my power was failing. You know that whole lost feeling you get. But I know she'll pull through this much better than I did."
"Not really," Penny shook her head at Kit, "but I talk to her all the time. In my head."
Tanya and Kit
"She's already making some good progress," Tanya assured Taylor. "I know she feels disheartened, not only is she at a loss with her power, but... the rest, as well."
Kit blushed a little with Penny's full attention on him. "Oh yeah, because she's like my Mom."
He thanked Natalie when he was poured a drink, and then turned back to Penny.
"She's really nice though, she used to be over at our place all the time when I was really little."
Taylor, Natalie, menagerie
"Where's your place?" Penny swung her legs under her chair.
"Yeah I know," Taylor's eyes left Penny and met Tanya's, "we need to talk about that, by the way."
"After lunch," Nat suggested, "grace?"
Taylor spoke as the kids waited patiently, then they all started digging in.
Tanya & Kit
"We do," Tanya nodded. "But how is everything else? I heard from Avery that Zac and Kate had a little girl last year?"
Kit waited until he'd finished his mouthful before answering Penny.
"We live on the Station," he told her. "It's cool, have you been?"
Taylor, Natalie, menagerie
"Yeah, she's the same age as Viggo," Taylor indicated where Nat was feeding him, "and we also have... River, who was born in '08-"
He looked up at the sound of his name.
"Shepherd, Zac's eldest, and Monroe, Ike's second, all the same age. Everyone's going good. We've got a tour coming up though, so that'll be the test."
"Oh don't remind me," Natalie rolled her eyes with a grin, "the boys will be off having fun and leave us girls with the hoard."
Penny just shook her head at Kit as she continued to eat.
"I want to go to the space station," Ezra put in, "but Dad says we have to wait until Viggo is a bit older."
Tanya & Kit
Tanya laughed. "Sounds like you're all going to have your hands full. And I hear that Jessica is getting married next month, too."
Kit turned back to Ezra and grinned. "Yeah, you need to come visit and stay over. There's heaps of stuff to do up there, it's awesome."
He snuck another look at Penny.
Taylor, Natalie, menagerie
"Yeah she is," Taylor smile coyly.
"It's a little crazy over there I'll bet," Natalie smiled to Tanya, "what with all the last minute preparations. And somehow fitting all of us into the bridal party. I didn't even really consider it at our wedding..."
Taylor shrugged, "we made it work."
"Dad! Can I? Pleeeeease?!"
"Can you what?" Taylor looked to Ezra.
"Can I go and stay with Kit on the space station? Just for the night!"
"They're staying at Grandma's at the moment," Taylor reasoned.
"Yeah but when they go back! Pleeeease?"
Tanya and Kit
"It sounds like it's going to be a huge bridal party," Tanya said, laughing slightly.
Kit grinned and nudged Ezra. "We can always come down here again. Can't we, Mom?"
Tanya turned and smiled at her son. "Of course."
Taylor, Natalie, menagerie
Ezra pouted a little.
"But I wanna go to the station!"
"Ezra?" Taylor frowned suddenly, "what power do you have?"
"Kit's."
"Okay, just making sure," Taylor eyed him for a second before turning to Tanya.
"What do you think? About Ezra coming to stay I mean. It would only be one night."
Natalie looked between them, a little worried.
Tanya & Kit
"It's fine," Tanya told him, waving her hand. "I mean, they're not going to be unsupervised, they can't get into too much trouble overnight."
Kit giggled.
Taylor, Natalie, menagerie
"We just get a little worried about Ezra being around the higher level telepaths," Natalie admitted as Ezra continued talking to Kit about the station, "we're not entirely sure of the specifics on his power yet so we don't know if it might..."
"If he could handle it, basically," Taylor offered, "and coming from families of high strength abilities... well, you know."
Tanya & Kit
Tanya nodded, thinking for a second. "Well, I'm the only Master level up there now, but... there are still Expert levels around. If you like, while I'm here, I could give him some lessons in telepathy as well?"
She tapped her finger against her lip.
"At least, while Avery is still training. I must admit, there are some things that Avery could do, that I have never been able to achieve."
Kit bopped happily, chatting away to Ezra.
Taylor, Natalie, menagerie
"Would you?" Taylor didn't want to get too excited just yet.
"It would mean a lot. I mean, you and Avery of all people would know how dangerous it is to have that amount of power and not be able to control it."
"What power?" Penny chimed in, picking up the word.
"Eat your lunch honey," Natalie insisted.
"I have beans!" River announced.
Tanya & Kit
"It can't hurt, while I'm here," Tanya replied. "I'm re-teaching Avery the basics too, so it's a good starting point."
She paused.
"The only thing I ask in return," and here she smiled a little. "Would you guys be able to babysit Kit? I know it's a big ask, considering you have your hands full..."
Kit looked up at the sound of his name, then shrugged, and went back to eating his lunch.
"What's your power?" he asked Penny quietly.
Taylor, Natalie, menagerie
"Oh that's no problem at all," Natalie insisted, after Taylor gave her a questioning look, "we often have Ike and Zac's kids over in the afternoons anyway so the boys can practise and we girls can... catch up."
Taylor caught her meaning and resisted the temptation to poke his tongue out at her.
"When were you thinking?" he asked Tanya instead.
"I help the animals," Penny replied, picking up a piece of lettuce.
"She has healing, but for animals," Ezra elaborated, "it's a rare one like mine. It's cool 'cause Dad can talk to animals, and I can too when I want to."
Tanya & Kit
"Now, now, Taylor," Tanya teased, catching the fleeting thought he had. "Well, I've been working with Avery in the mornings, so, I could work with Ezra in the afternoons?"
Kit nodded. "Oh cool, that would be awesome."
Taylor, Natalie, menagerie
"After school," Natalie insisted, after seeing the indignant look on Taylor's face.
"Is that okay with you Ezra?" Taylor asked.
"Huh?"
"Would you like Tanya to come over and teach you some telepathy in the afternoons after school? Or you could go to Grandma's-"
"Oh yeah yeah!" Ezra nodded emphatically, "I want to learn!"
"I guess that's settled," Natalie observed, "when do you want to start? And for that matter, how much longer do you think you'll be in Tulsa?"
Tanya & Kit
"Yes, that's what I meant, after school," Tanya nodded.
"I think we'll stay until the end of the month, maybe a little less. It depends on how fast Avery picks up her power again."
Kit looked over at his mother, then back at Ezra. "Your Aunt is so strong."
Taylor, Natalie, menagerie
"Yeah I know. That's why I'm not allowed to use her power," Ezra pulled a face.
"Would you like to start tomorrow? Wednesday?" Natalie asked, "the boys usually have a practise every Tuesday but with the tour coming up it'll be more often..."
"We can work around it," Taylor shrugged, "I just need to be able to drop him off and pick him up."
"Unless he stays at your Mom's on those nights?" Nat suggested.
Taylor hesitated thoughtfully.
"Wouldn't hurt I guess."
Tanya & Kit
"Well, if we do it here, then I can bring Kit over and then bring Kit home," Tanya nodded. "So if you have a small space, it's not a problem."
Kit grinned slightly.
Taylor, Natalie, menagerie
"I was thinking more of the noise..." Taylor reasoned, "figured you'd want to do it somewhere quiet? Not that Mom and Dad's is the most quiet of households, but it's certainly better than when everyone's here."
"Whatever works for you, we can work around," Natalie assured.
Tanya & Kit
"That's a good point," Tanya mused. "It might be better to be over at your parents house then. He's going to need quiet, at least at first."
She gave a wry smile.
"After awhile, you get used to a lot of noise when you're trying to focus."
Kit giggled, overhearing.
Taylor, Natalie, menagerie
"That's what I figured," Taylor smiled, "and believe me, I know what you mean."
"Dad?"
"Yes Riv'?"
"What's that?"
"You know what that is. It's tomato."
"I have tomato?"
Tanya & Kit
"When I'm gone," Tanya said thoughtfully. "It might actually be good practice for Avery to train Ezra. It'll help her remember the tricks of the trade, so to speak."
Kit took a sip of his juice and carefully put his cup back on the table.
Taylor, Natalie, menagerie
"We figure she'll need to anyway, which is why we'd already asked her before..." Taylor shrugged, pouring himself some soda while Penny held her cup out to bags next.
"Like I said, we don't know the strength of Ezra's borrowing abilities yet and we need all bases covered."
He half filled Penny's cup before River held his out too.
"How's 3 o'clock tomorrow?" Natalie asked.
Tanya
"I think she mentioned that," Tanya said. "But she was hesitant to... this sickness has really knocked the stuffing out of her, hasn't it? Every once in awhile I get a touch of the old Avery, but..."
She shook her head.
"Three is fine."
Taylor, Natalie, menagerie
"Dad? Can we go now?" Ezra asked, having finished his lunch.
"What do you say?"
Ezra sighed.
"May Kit and I be excused?"
Taylor nodded, and Ezra's face lit up.
"Come on! I'll show you the harmonica!" Ezra headed for his room.
"Dad!" came River's voice.
"Yes River?"
River just grinned cheekily. Taylor rolled his eyes.
"I know what you mean," he said to Tanya, "it was like that from the get go."
"Even empathically she's changed," Natalie said thoughtfully, helping Viggo with a drink bottle, "I mean I'd still get hints of the old Avery, but her emotional tides seem to have... plateaued?"
Tanya & Kit
"Thank you for lunch!" Kit grinned, hopping off his chair. He ran off after Ezra.
Tanya nodded. "She does seem rather... flat, for lack of a better word. I suppose it makes sense, with... her particular illness, her emotions were tied to so many of her memories."
Taylor, Natalie, menagerie
Taylor paused, then nodded when the harmonica started up on cue.
"Understandable," he sighed, "but frustrating."
"How are the nightmares going?" Natalie asked quietly.
Tanya
"Less severe from what I understand," Tanya lowered her voice.
"Jessica has been dreamwalking."
Taylor, Natalie, menagerie
Taylor’s eyebrows rose.
”That’s good of her,” Natalie said, a pointed look at her husband.
”Yeah,” Taylor nodded, “I guess that would help.”
”Mom can I go too?” Penny asked suddenly.
”Let your brother play with his friend, they have a lot of catching up to do,” Natalie insisted.
”Can I go outside then?”
”Sure.”
Penny slid from her chair and took off outside.
”Mommy!” River suddenly cried out, arms reaching out to her.
Nat sighed and got up to help him down.
”How soon do you need to get back?” Taylor asked, “sounds like the boys will be at it for a while…”
Tanya
"I have a bit of time," Tanya smiled.
"If you wanted to discuss what I found with Avery's mind, that is."
Taylor, Natalie, menagerie
"Oh, right," Taylor had already forgotten.
"We'll leave you," Natalie offered, having set River free she lifted Viggo from his chair and headed for the living room.
Taylor watched her go, and then sighed.
"While you were in there," Taylor indicated his head, "did you see her talking to a guy named Neal?"
Tanya
"I did," Tanya said slowly, nodding.
She leaned back in her chair.
"She had some confusing thoughts about him, which in turn, made me confused. Is there any reason why she is a little suspicious of him?"
Taylor
Taylor's eyes darted to the doors, making sure they were alone.
"Neal is Christian," he said straight out.
"He's managed to harness the power to shapeshift. He's been 'Neal' for at least a month or so that I know of."
Tanya
Tanya's eyebrows furrowed as she listened to Taylor.
"How has he... why would he change his name?"
Taylor
"I don't know," Taylor shook his head in exasperation.
"When I tried to talk to him about it he clamped up. He did mention that Racer had found him and he figured the best thing to do would be to change his face, but I couldn't help getting the feeling that I was missing something."
Tanya
"How did he end up finding Avery?" Tanya asked.
"She doesn't even really know how she ended up in New Orleans, only that she was there and on the streets."
Taylor
"I'm sorry, I don't know the story behind that either," Taylor shook his head.
He hesitated, then looked up at her.
"But I should probably also mention... they were living together in New York for about six months. When he got out of rehab. He admitted back then that he hadn't contacted you yet, so I'm just assuming he still hasn't..."
Tanya
"No, he hasn't."
Tanya pursed her lips, digesting that last bit of information.
"I can't even imagine how they ended up living together. The last time they would've seen each other, to my knowledge, would have been when she went to see him in rehab."
Taylor
"I know, right?" Taylor frowned, obviously confused.
"Not to mention they have one heck of a sordid past. All I could get out of them was that it 'just happened'. As soon as Avie let it slip, Zac and I went over to check on them. Nothing seemed overly amiss, so we didn't bother telling anyone."
He rubbed his chin.
"Sorry about that, by the way."
Tanya
"What a strange turn of events," Tanya mused.
She rubbed her chin, thinking everything over.
"No, that's ok... are you still in contact with him?"
Taylor
Taylor shook his head.
”Our boy Chris… not so good with the phones,” he smirked.
”Last I saw him was not long before she moved back to Mom and Dad’s. She wanted him to stay here with her, but once he figured she could do without him he took off and we haven’t heard since.”
He hesitated, then locked eyes with her again.
”Avery seems to have a strong telepathic link with him though,” he said thoughtfully, “she woke up from a nightmare one night and before I knew it he was knocking on the door. She might be able to contact him?”
Tanya
Tanya paused thoughtfully, before answering.
"It might have something to do with... did she ever tell you that she gave him a shield? That might be where the link has formed..."
She scratched the back of her head.
"Truthfully, I'm not sure what I would say to Chris if I saw him again, but it would be good to see how he is doing now that he's out."
Taylor
”No she didn’t,” Taylor frowned again.
He ran his fingers through his fringe, looking up at the doorways again.
”Well I would say that he’s doing fine, but aside from the whole identity issue…”
He shook his head and cut himself off. It wasn’t his place to bring it up.
”I don’t know. I think he’s a bit lost. We had an argument… which is probably why he hasn’t been back. I don’t know that being on his own is the right thing for him right now.”
Tanya
"It happened when she unlocked his shield," Tanya told him. "When she found out... everything. She thought it would be best to re-shield him again, considering your family and the involvement you may have had."
She leant forward a little.
"Being on his own has never been the best thing for him."
Taylor
Taylor mulled that over, before closing his eyes for a moment.
”I can see why she did then,” he nodded.
”But I still don’t get why they… I mean, their history? Granted he’s not exactly Blakesley, but… The Eye was her Blakesley, you know what I mean?”
Tanya
"It's been no secret for quite some time that Avery has been powerful for her age," Tanya said.
"She told them that she couldn't unlock the shield, and they believed that, but from what I remember, she said she wanted to get some closure on the Chris issue. She wanted to be able to see him and not be afraid."
Taylor
”You think that’s what she was doing, then?” Taylor considered.
”Choosing to live with him?”
Tanya
Tanya smiled a little.
"If there is one thing I have learned, watching your sister grow up, is that she is a very complicated little creature."
Taylor
Taylor chuckled.
”I guess that’s one way to put it,” he mused, “I guess it comes with the family.”
Tanya
Tanya let out a laugh.
"That is very true," she responded. "But some good has come of this, in a strange way. Her relationship with Jessica seems to be improving."
Taylor
”That’s good to hear,” Taylor nodded.
”Maybe she can start working on the rest of us sometime.”
He paused, thinking of how that might sound.
”Sorry, family drama. There’s always plenty of it,” he waved off, “I’ve personally never had any real gripes with Jess, but I was very much in the middle of it all either way.”
Tanya
Tanya gave a wry smile.
"You don't always like your family, but you love them anyway," she said. "From what I remember when Avery first came to the Station, she and Jessica weren't particularly close. In fact, the only sibling she always had kind words for was you."
Taylor
Taylor nodded.
”We just spent more time together was all,” he shrugged.
”Zac was always busy with his kids. Ike got heavily into his novel writing and power research. Meanwhile she and I were off getting abducted.”
He couldn’t help but smile a little.
Tanya
Tanya chuckled at that.
"Well, that's a way to bond with your siblings, I suppose."
She glanced at her watch.
"Did you need anything else? I was going to try and give Avery another lesson tonight."
Taylor
”Nope, just buying time for Ezra,” Taylor chuckled.
There had been an obvious change from harmonica to piano some time ago.
”Though I guess they’ll be seeing each other a bit more now after all. Thanks for agreeing to have them be pen pals, by the way. It was a pretty cool idea – not mine – and seems to be helping with his literature and everything.”
Tanya
Tanya grinned. "I thought so."
She scratched the back of her neck.
"No, no, of course. Kit always gets so excited when he gets a letter."
Taylor
”EZRA?!” Taylor called, before standing up.
”And thanks for coming over. It was rather… productive,” he smirked.
”Would you like to bring Kit over in the morning? Either I or Nat will bring them back about three.”
Tanya
Tanya nodded, and stood.
"That's fine."
She listened out for the sound of Kit's footsteps.
Taylor & Ezra
”Woah hey! Slow down!” Taylor walked over as the boys ran into the room, “Ezra, it’s time for Kit to go.”
”Awwww!” Ezra frowned.
”He’ll be back in the morning. As long as it doesn’t affect your schoolwork.”
”It won’t! I promise!”
”Good,” Taylor nodded, then turned to Kit and patted him on the shoulder.
”Nice to see you Kit. We’ll see you tomorrow?”
Kit & Tanya
"Thanks for having me!" Kit bounced excitedly.
Tanya smiled and reached for Kit's hand. "You happy to come back tomorrow?"
Kit nodded. "Yes!"
Taylor & Ezra
Taylor and Ezra both saw them out.
”How’s eight?” Taylor suggested.
”Can Kit borrow my harmonica?” Ezra looked up.
”I think Kit’s Mom wouldn’t appreciate it very much, she needs some quiet time to concentrate her power use with Auntie Avie,” Taylor ruffled his son’s hair.
”Okay.”
They made it to the door and Taylor opened it, stepping outside.
”Pleasure to have you, as always,” he smiled, “see you tomorrow!”
Tanya & Kit
Tanya laughed slightly. "Thanks for lunch, thank Natalie for me too."
Kit reached out to do his secret handshake with Ezra, chuckling.
"Thanks!" he nodded.