Topic: Brave New World

Kaylee Bennett

Date: 2014-06-04 17:18 EST
The world looked good today. The sun was shining, the shadows were easier to ignore, the nightmares had stayed away. And more importantly, Taylor loved her. Kaylee was smiling when she woke up, and that smile had stayed in place all the way here, to Maple Grove. It felt odd to be back on the Grove, where she'd grown up, where most of her family still lived. Odder still was the fact that she had no intention of going to the big house, not today. Taylor's words the day before had stayed with her. We need you to find the house. She couldn't do that, not yet. But there was something she could do.

It couldn't have been more obvious that Taylor desperately wanted to meet Bethany and her husband, to get to know the only other blood relative he had outside of Rufus. So Kaylee had psyched herself up to visit Miranda and find out what, if anything, Bethany knew about her. Forewarned would definitely be forearmed in this case. So there she was, on the front doorstep of Rose Cottage. She hadn't called ahead, hadn't even told Taylor she was going to visit there. She'd just grabbed the bull by the horns. One hand rose and pushed the bell. What was the worst that could happen"

Calling Kaylee was at the top of Miranda's to-do list, and though Rufus had asked her to wait a day or two, once she had it in her head to do something, it was hard for her to wait. She had at least waited until after Rufus had left for work - or whatever it was he called it when he went off to work with Lei or meet with the Council - and until Gabi had dropped off the twins before searching for Kaylee's number in her cell phone, hoping to God it hadn't changed. It was about eleven in the morning, not too early, not too late. The twins were diapered and fed and busy watching Cookie Monster on the TV, which gave Miranda a few minutes to herself to a much-needed phone call. She had just dialed the number when the doorbell rang, and Miranda grumbled to herself.

"You two stay put! I'll be right back!" she told the twins, who were far too interested in Cookie Monster to pay any attention to the woman with the cell phone attached to her ear.

She made her way to the door, not bothering to take a peek through the window to see who it was before opening it, hoping it wasn't yet another door-to-door salesman trying to sell her some life insurance. How they managed to get through Humphrey's security, she'd never know, but she was planning on giving them a piece of her mind this time. The phone rang twice before she got to the door, and Miranda realized that she was hearing a strange echo, as if the phone was ringing right outside her door.

Unaware of what was going on the other side of the door, Kaylee jumped when she heard her phone ringing, digging around in her pocket to fish it out. Assuming it was Taylor checking up on her, she didn't even glance at the number, raising the phone to her ear. "Hey, gorgeous, what?s kicking?"

Miranda pulled open the door just at that moment, hearing that echo again, as Kaylee replied via the phone, as well as right in front of her. "Well, thank you, Kay, but maybe I should be asking you that," she said into the phone, though Kaylee was standing right in front of her.

The confusion on her young cousin's face was priceless to behold, even more so when Kaylee took the phone from her ear to actually look at the number there. "Miranda!" she protested, hanging up and putting the device back in her pocket. "You have all the patience of a rabbit on Viagra, you know that?"

"Rabbits don't need Viagra, dear," Miranda pointed out with an amused smirk on her face, eyes bright and lively, as she reached to wrap her younger cousin up in a motherly hug. "How are you, sweetheart' I've been thinking about you."

"Kinda the point I was making." Forestalled from saying anything else by a hug she hadn't been expecting, Kaylee tensed for a second before she relaxed, hugging Miranda in return with a deep breath in and out. "I'm ....better," she answered the query as honestly as she could. "And trying to be brave here, so the less people see me on the Grove, the better for now."

"Point taken," Miranda replied, shooing her into the house and closing the door behind her. One of the twins whined for a moment, before turning back to the TV. It was Andy, Miranda's cat, who came over to say hello first and inspect the newcomer, meowing and brushing his tail against Kaylee's legs. "Sorry, Kay," Miranda apologized, tucking a strand of hair behind an ear. "If I'd known you were coming, I'd have told Gabi today wasn't a good day."

"What?" Kaylee looked up from where she had crouched to say hello to Andy, turning her head to peer through the door to where two small boys were transfixed by Count von Count. "Oh my gods, is that the boys?" she asked, shocked. "They're so big!" She shook her head at the thought of Miranda cancelling babysitting duties just for her, offering a faint smile. "No, it's cool, don't worry. They didn't know me before, so they're not expecting anything. I can handle kids."

Miranda frowned a little at the way Kaylee had put that. Before. She only knew what Rufus had told her. He hadn't gone into great detail, but from what little he had said, she knew Kaylee had been through an ordeal that would have broken most people. "You've been away a long time, Kaylee," Miranda told her, with that motherly tone in her voice that she usually saved for Bethany. "A lot has changed," she said. But then, most of those changes had been good ones. "Come in and make yourself comfortable. Would you like a cup of tea" Coffee" Anything?" she asked, reaching for Kaylee's coat.

"I'll have what you're having," was the answer, as Kaylee shrugged out of her coat and rolled the sleeves of her top up to her elbows. There was no sign of the cuts and scrapes that had marred her arms a couple of months ago now, nothing to say that there was anything wrong with her at all. Except in her eyes, and the slightly more delicate look to her body. "Just not too sweet' I'm kinda delicate with strong flavors still." She figured Miranda had been told a fair amount, her eyes straying back to the boys. "Want me in there, or in the kitchen with you? Those two look like trouble with a capital T."

"They're captivated with the Count right now. It should give us about an hour of peace before all hell breaks loose," Miranda replied, as she hung Kaylee's jacket on a hung and then turned to take her arm and lead her toward the kitchen, from where they'd have a clear view of the terrible twosome. "Still like iced tea" I brewed some fresh this morning."

"Cool." Even if Miranda hadn't been steering, Kaylee wouldn't have resisted being ushered into the kitchen, easing herself down into a chair at the table with a last glance at the toddlers. "Congratulations, on your marriage," she said softly. "I'm sorry I missed it." Her eyes found a picture of two happy couples on their wedding day - Des and Piper, and two she didn't recognize, but could make a guess at. "I missed a lot."

Kaylee Bennett

Date: 2014-06-04 17:20 EST
"You didn't miss much as far as that goes. We eloped," Miranda said with that impish twinkle in her eyes. Not only was she a hopeless romantic, but she was also an eternal optimist. "Kaylee," she started, her voice softening with obvious concern for the girl, who was more like a daughter or a niece than a cousin. "Be glad you're home and don't worry about what you've missed. We're just happy to have you back. You have plenty of time to reconnect when you're ready. For now, just be patient with yourself and take it one day at a time."

Leaning forward on her forearms, Kaylee managed a faintly teasing smile for Miranda. "Are you and Rufus reading from the same script?" she asked, almost mischievously. "That's almost word for word what he told Taylor yesterday. Not the same subject, of course, but pretty close."

"Maybe we are," Miranda replied, leaning in to press an affectionate kiss against Kaylee's cheek. "Welcome home, sweetheart."

Odd, how affection from her family made her feel awkward. But Kaylee rallied, smiling up at Miranda. "Thanks," she said quietly, and meant it. "Heard you got yourself a daughter and grandkids on the way. How'd that happen again?"

"Long story," Miranda said as she turned away to fetch a couple of glasses and fill them with iced tea. Thankfully, her back was facing Kaylee, so she couldn't see the frown on the other woman's face. "We decided it was safer for Bethany if we stayed apart, but now that she's grown, there didn't seem to be much need. We were very young then, and Rufus didn't think he could keep us safe." She didn't bother to go into what he wanted to keep them safe from. Kaylee had experienced the darker side of Rhy'Din for herself and didn't really need an explanation. Miranda set out some cookies on a plate and turned back to set it on the table, the trace of a frown fading from her face. "I've learned not to dwell in the past. No regrets. It's better to make the most of each day and look forward to the future."

Kaylee sighed softly, looking down at her hand against the table for a moment. "Well, I gotta do a bit of dwelling before I can look forward," she said quietly, and it couldn't be more obvious that looking back was the last thing she wanted to do. "I'm not quite ready yet, but it's something Taylor really needs me to do. So, uh ....Well, I'm trying to give him something that'll take a little pressure off me. Is that a bad thing" Am I being really selfish?"

"That depends on what it is you're trying to do," Miranda said as she set the glasses on the table and took a seat at the table. She hoped the TV would occupy the twins a little longer. It seemed to Miranda that Kaylee needed someone to talk to - another woman, someone she trusted and could confide in. Jay had never been much of a mother to her children, and Miranda had always found that hard to forgive, but maybe she could fill the void that Jay had left, if Kaylee would let her. She reached across the table and gave the girl's hand a gentle squeeze. "I'm here for you, Kaylee. You can tell me anything. I promise it won't go any farther than these two ears."

Kaylee watched as Miranda's hand covered hers, feeling the warm squeeze with an odd sense of detachment, as though it wasn't really her sitting there at all. "Taylor really wants to meet Bethany," she said quietly, without raising her eyes from the table. "He tried not to let me see, but I know he was disappointed when I nearly freaked out at the thought of it. So I'm ....I'm trying to work up the guts to go and visit, because I know he won't go and leave me here alone. I-I guess I'm here because ....Well, only you know what she knows about me. I, uh, I thought it would be easier to do if I knew what she was expecting me to be like."

"So, you're here because of Taylor and not yourself," Miranda guessed. She knew it must have taken guts for Kaylee to come here on her own so soon after her ordeal, more so because she'd come here not for herself, but for the man she loved, a man whom Miranda was also starting to know and care for. Her family was certainly expanding. "Bethany doesn't know much, Kaylee. I've protected her from Rhy'Din." It was Miranda's turn to sigh. "Maybe I was wrong in doing that, but she's my only daughter, and I needed to keep her safe."

"You did good." That was saying a lot, especially from someone who had so recently experienced the very worst Rhy'Din had to offer and survived. Kaylee took a sip of her iced tea, swallowing slowly to make sure it wasn't going to make her stomach turn, and set her glass down once again. Her eyes flickered toward Miranda. "So she ...she wouldn't be expecting the old Kaylee" She'd just take me as I am?"

"What is it about the old Kaylee that makes you think people will be disappointed by the new Kaylee?" Miranda asked pointedly, making an assumption she hoped was right. Though she might sometimes appear to be a little bit ditzy, she was nothing of the sort, and she could read people pretty well.

Kaylee gave her a look that was surprisingly close to some of the isn't it obvious expressions Miranda had taught her own daughter over the years. "You know what I mean," she said softly. "I'm okay most of the time, but I gotta be somewhere safe before the shadows get too long, and I can freak out over the smallest stuff. I've seen the disappointment, Miranda, in Correy, and in Caroline. They want to fix me, but this is as good as I'm gonna get. I'm not ever gonna be the Kaylee they remember again."

"Caroline and Correy have no room to judge. They have both been through their own trials and tribulations. Are they the same person that they were before that' Everyone changes, Kaylee. Hopefully, for the better. Those who truly love you will understand and learn the love the new Kaylee as much as the old one. You just need to give them some time," she told her young cousin, reaching across the table to lay a reassuring hand against her arm.

"No, I know that, I do," Kaylee tried to assure her, covering the hand on her arm with her own, without a second thought. "But everyone has expectations, even if they don't want them to show. And there's been ....a development that I know everyone will think is just a flash in the pan, like everything that went before. But it isn't. This one isn't going anywhere."

Kaylee Bennett

Date: 2014-06-04 17:23 EST
"What development?" Miranda asked, curiously, though she could have guessed the way Kaylee had put it to her. If it was what she thought it was, Miranda was completely in her corner and woe unto anyone who might try to hurt Kaylee or speak badly about her.

The girl was quiet for a long moment, but finally summoned up the courage to confess. "I love him," she said very quietly. "And it's not like all the other times I've thought I was in love. It's real this time. And the last thing I can cope with is my family looking at him as though he's not going to last, just because of my track record. It isn't fair."

"You have to sleep with a lot of frogs before you find your prince," Miranda remarked offhandedly and more than a little ironically. She wasn't really surprised to hear Kaylee proclaim her love for Taylor. She already knew how Taylor felt about Kaylee. "He loves you, too," she assured the young woman. "And no, it's not fair, but they'll come around in time." Miranda studied Kaylee quietly a moment, wondering who it was exactly that Kaylee was worried about. After all, she was an adult and whatever happened between her and Taylor was no one else's business but theirs. "If there someone I need to talk to?" she asked. In not so many words, she was asking if there was someone she needed to scold and set straight. She knew Humphrey wasn't a problem. He adored Kaylee and was thrilled to have her home. That narrowed the list down a little.

"No." Kaylee smiled, appreciating the offer the way it was given. "When it comes to it, I'll deal with the ones I'm worried about. Right now, I just want Taylor to meet his family. I don't want to disappoint him again. And maybe if I can do this, I'll be able to do what he needs me to do."

"I assume you know why this is so important to him," Miranda said, turning the subject to that of Taylor for a moment.

"Yeah, I know." For a long moment, Kaylee was silent, looking down at her hands. In her mind's eye, she saw the fresh cuts on her fingers, the score marks on her wrists; she remembered the pain and fear and loneliness, the guilt at having survived at all. "Lucky number 7."

If it was not for Rufus' explanation of both Taylor and Kaylee's plight, Miranda might not have understood that reference. Though most of the time she preferred not to know, if she was going to help her husband's nephew and her cousin, she needed to know at least a little bit of what they'd gone through. She stifled a shudder at the thought of Kaylee having gone through all that alone, but there was something she needed to make clear and once again she drew Kaylee's hand into her own. "You're not alone, Kaylee. Not anymore and never again. You have friends and family who might not understand, but who love you just the same. You have Humphrey and Caroline and Correy and a dozen others. You have Rufus and Taylor, and you have me. I know I'm not your mother, sweetheart..." she said, reaching over with her free hand to brush Kaylee's hair back from her face. "But if you let me, I'd like to help."

The eyes that rose to meet hers were awash with frightened tears, but somehow Kaylee's voice was steady. "I need all the help I can get," she admitted. "I'm better, but I'm not me, not yet. I look in the mirror and I see a stranger. I got no idea what Taylor sees, but he sees more than anyone." She drew in a deep breath, and abruptly scooted her chair closer to Miranda's, wrapping her arms around her cousin and pressing her face into her shoulder. "Thank you."

How many times had Miranda done this very same thing with her own daughter" And with Gabi and Piper and Olivia and whoever else needed a little love and support. There were those who needed it more than others, for now, that person was Kaylee. "It's all right, darling," Miranda said, turning to wrap the girl in her embrace. "Let it go, Kaylee. You can't hold it inside forever."

It wasn't the offer of support that broke Kaylee's strong, silent suffering. It was the embrace. Her own mother had never had time for her, and since Caroline had taken Humphrey's place and started her own family, there'd been no time for Kaylee in that mix. The girl's dam broke, not with a trickle, but with a flood, pouring out a storm of pain and fright, shock and distress, everything she had felt in those seven months of captivity, into Miranda's capable arms.

Miranda did not judge, nor did she scold or make a fuss. She only held the girl close, rubbing her back gently, whispering soft words of reassurance that, though Kaylee might know in her head, she might not feel in her heart. "Shhh," she murmured softly and soothingly. "It's all right. You're safe now. No one can hurt you here. No one is ever going to hurt you again. We'll make sure of that."

Not even Taylor had seen Kaylee this upset, this openly traumatized by her experience. She'd somehow managed to lock most of it away, not wanting to hurt anyone else, not wanting anyone to feel helpless in the face of her pain, but somehow Miranda had bypassed all the locks and opened the door. Kaylee clung to her, sobbing like a child, supremely unattractive with all the sniffing, coughing, and gurning, not to mention the sheer amount of snot that she produced as she wept. She definitely wasn't a pretty crier.

Miranda wasn't a mother for nothing. She had wiped more tears and snotty noses than she could count, and not just those of her own daughter. She waited patiently until Kaylee was all cried out, knowing it would be good for her to let some of it go in a safe place with a person who had no expectations and who wouldn't condemn or judge. She reached for the box of tissues she kept on the cupboard nearby and pushed them toward Kaylee so they were there when she needed them, but otherwise she said nothing, only waited patiently until the girl was done, her heart going out to her, wishing there was something more she could do besides this.

The recovery took almost as much time as the crying had done, half the tissues screwed up and soaked through before Kaylee thought she might possibly be somewhere near the vicinity of stable again. Sniffing once more, she turned slightly ashamed eyes to Miranda. "Sorry about that," she apologized softly. "I haven't done that before now. Guess you got lucky."

"I don't mind, sweetheart. I've been cried on, peed on, pooped on, puked on. You name it, and I've survived." Miranda offered a reassuring smile, before gathering up the snotty tissues and tossing them into the trash. She glanced toward the living room where the boys were still watching TV. "How would you like to meet two of your youngest cousins?" She didn't mention the fact that Jon had a newborn son or that Bethany was having twins or anyone else who'd had a child or become pregnant in the last seven months or so. One thing at a time. "Watch this..." She smirked, the playful side of her coming out. "Oh, boys! Auntie Manda has cookies!"

Kaylee Bennett

Date: 2014-06-04 17:25 EST
Kaylee let out a soft snort, amused and embarrassed all at once, feeling the heat in her cheeks slowly start to fade in the aftermath of her outburst. "Thanks, Miranda," she smiled faintly. "I appreciate it." At the mention of Gabi's boys, her glance flickered toward the main room just in time to see the boys perk up at the thought of cookies. Still not quite there on their feet, nonetheless they charged at varying speeds toward the kitchen, sometimes crawling, sometimes toddling, but within a couple of minutes, there were four little hands on the edge of the table, and two pairs of eyes peering over the top of it at the plate. Kaylee laughed, she couldn't help herself. Children in this family were all the same.

"I'm a magician. I can make an entire plate of cookies disappear right before your eyes!" Miranda declared with a girlish giggle, handing each of the boys a cookie, as well as one for herself and Kaylee, too. "Just don't tell Gabi. She thinks I spoil them." She glanced at the two boys, wanting to introduce them to their cousin Kaylee, though she could just barely tell them apart. "This one is Jacob..." she said tentatively, resting a hand on top of one boy's head. "No, wait! That's Theo!" she laughed.

It was at this point that Kaylee was treated to one of the wonders of twins. Jake and Theo inspected their cookies, inspected each other's cookies, and then swapped before beginning to gum on them happily. Astonished, she looked up at Miranda. "Do they do that a lot?"

Miranda laughed again and reached over to tousle both the boy's heads of blond hair, so like their mother. "Yes! Aren't they adorable" And Gabi is such a good mother. I'm really proud of her. You should go visit sometime. I'm sure she'd love to see you. Oh! And Cian has a new girlfriend. She's a real live mermaid."

"You know, I think I met her," Kaylee mused, automatically reaching down to lift one of the boys - possibly Jake - up onto her knee. She'd spent a few years babysitting various smaller members of the family, it was impressive that she still had that instinct. Of course, Theo then objected, which was how she ended up with one toddler on each knee, comparing notes in their own garbled little language about their cookies. "Larami or something, isn't it' Small and blond, and he's hopelessly in love with her."

"Leilani," Miranda corrected, glad Kaylee remembered that much. She thought Kaylee might appreciate the boys. She had always been good with children. What else didn't Kaylee know yet that she could fill her in on' Good news only. The girl didn't need to hear any bad news right now. "You should see Lyneth. She's grown into a very cute and clever five year old. She's going to be a heartbreaker someday."

"Hold on, five?" Kaylee stared at Miranda over the boys' heads. "Last time I saw her, she was this tiny little toddler. How'd she get to five so quick?" This, from the girl who had been babysitting the night Lyneth had gone from two to thirty in order to save Des' life.

Miranda smirked a little at her cousin's question. "Do you really need to ask me that?" She offered no answer, unless Kaylee really wanted one, shifting her gaze to the boys whose faces were smeared in crumbled cookie, along with Kaylee's lap. Unable to help herself, she broke into a giggles again. "Come on, help me get these two troublemakers cleaned up and down for a nap, and then I'll tell you all about Bethany and Jason."

"Wow, I guess I need to pay a visit, then," Kaylee commented. Of all the families within the greater Granger fold, the least intimidating was the one belonging to Des and Piper. She looked down at her loaded lap and chuckled softly. "Okay, you take Frick and I'll take Frack. C'mon, little dudes, your momma is gonna owe me bigtime for this one."

And just like that, the rainstorm that was Kaylee's tears ended, and the sun came out. Miranda knew it wasn't going to be easy for her, but she also knew Kaylee was a lot stronger than even she gave herself credit for. It might take some time, but she would heal, especially with the support of family and friends, not to mention the love of one very special young man. It wasn't long before the terrible twosome had been fed, changed, and were down for their afternoon naps, which gave Miranda and Kaylee a little more time to talk. Miranda had made them both sandwiches and refilled their glasses of iced tea, inviting Kaylee out onto the back porch that opened onto a garden to enjoy lunch.

Out in the sunshine, having survived the process of bedding down a pair of twins who apparently had a great love of hair grabbing, Kaylee seemed to relax more, bypassing the porch entirely to stretch out on the grass right in the noonday sun. "So ....Bethany," she said, tucking her hands behind her head as she breathed in slow and deep, unaware that the hem of her shirt had ridden up just enough to show off a few of those claw marks on her belly. "All I know is that she's your kid, she's got a rack to die for, she's married to a cop, and she's bulging out with twins. Spill, woman."

Miranda chuckled, settling herself on the stairs to finish her sandwich while Kaylee stretched out on the lawn. Her gaze flickered briefly to the marks Rufus had warned her about, but she said nothing about them, only smiling when Kaylee asked about her Bethany. "What else do you want to know?" she asked, thinking Kaylee had summed it up pretty well.

"First thing that comes to mind when you think about her," the younger woman said, eyes closed to really enjoy the sunshine. "Just talk, Miranda. I'll bet no one's let you just run on and on about Beth, and you must be dying to do a little boasting. I'm all ears."

"Hmm, first thing that comes to mind?" Miranda didn't have to think about that very long, a sad smile touching her face. "For the longest time, she wanted to know her father. She asked and asked, never understanding why she couldn't meet him, why we weren't together. She is a constant wonder to me, Kaylee. I don't know how I got so lucky as to deserve her or Rufus."

"You hit the jackpot all right," Kaylee agreed. "Good genes in the English. Just look at Piper and Vicki." She flashed Miranda a smile that was almost her old self, rolling onto her side and belatedly pulling her shirt down. "And you're gonna be a grandma. That's just so weird. I seriously can't imagine you being called that. Gordon being a grandpa, really easy to imagine. You, a grandma" Gotta be a mistake,"

"I'm older than I look, I guess," Miranda replied, repeating Kaylee's own words back at her, "Good genes." She sighed again, unsure what else to say about her daughter and not wanting to brag or gush too much. "She's a nurse, or was a nurse. She's going on pregnancy leave soon. I'm not sure whether she'll go back to it or not. She and Jason....They just fit together, like....two peas in a pod, you know? I've known him for a few years. He's a good man, and he's good for her. He cares about her. I'm not too worried about them, to be honest." She didn't mention the fact that Jason had taken a bullet for her daughter. She didn't mention any of the business in New York involving the mob. As far as Miranda was concerned, all that was in the past.

Kaylee Bennett

Date: 2014-06-04 17:28 EST
"Christmas is gonna be crazy with kids," Kaylee mused softly, considering all the births she'd missed, the children she had yet to meet. "I mean ....Lynnie and Lila, and Jack and Emily, and Jake and Theo, and now Caroline's new baby, and Jon's new baby, and your new grandkids. It's manic."

"Humphrey is going to be in his glory," Miranda remarked, though there was the hint of a faint frown again. "I'm not sure if Jason and Bethany will come for Christmas or not," she said, though she had no reason to believe they wouldn't. Even if Jason wasn't overly fond of Rhy'Din, all Bethany's family was here, and Jason knew his mother was welcome to join them. "Rufus tells me they've lived other lifetimes together, if you believe that sort of thing," she added, belatedly.

"Oh, soulmates through the ages, huh' Speaking of Humphrey ..." Kaylee sat up, knowing better than to ask after the grand patriarch's health. If he wanted people to know, she would have been told, despite her attempts to stay out of contact. No, what she wanted to know was a little more prosaic. "Is the music room at the big house still as it was" The grand still there?"

Miranda seemed a little surprised by the question, though it made perfect since, considering Kaylee's penchant for music. What would she think of Jack and Jasmin, Miranda wondered. "Yes, it's still there. It will probably always be there, so long as Humphrey is around. Jon plunks away at it now and then, but it goes mostly undisturbed. Why' Do you feel like playing?" she asked, hopefully. If Kaylee was thinking about music again that had to be a good thing.

"Yeah, well, I kinda lost everything when ....Well, whatever." She shook her head, frowning a little. "Listen, don't tell Taylor this, but, uh ....my apartment was wiped. I went to check on my stuff a few weeks ago, and everything was gone. They must have used my key to get in. But, uh, that kinda suggests that whatever these things are, they've got human contacts, or humanoid, or whatever. But the point is, I don't have anything. My guitar, my music, it's all gone. The grand, it's ....it's home, you know?"

"Your music?" Miranda echoed. She's wasn't overly concerned about the guitar or even Kaylee's other possessions. All those things could be replaced, but if she'd had music there - original music that she'd written - that would be impossible to replace. "We can get you a new guitar, Kaylee." Another thought crossed Miranda's mind, a troubling one. "Have you told anyone else? I don't think you should go back there, Kaylee. What if..." She couldn't bring herself to state her fears aloud, unable to bear the thought of anything further happening to the girl or to any of them.

"No, I haven't told anyone," Kaylee told her quietly. "I, uh, I sold the place real quick, and I'm not going back. It was just ....it was almost worse, you know" Someone went through my whole life. Gods know what they did with it all. I'm betting they sold most of it, but what did they destroy' It was horrible, in that completely empty place. There wasn't anything there that even hinted I'd ever lived there."

Miranda exhaled a sigh of relief. Thank God. She stifled a shudder at the thought of Kaylee going back there. She had a feeling that if the sun hadn't been shining, Kaylee would not have wanted to be talking about this at all, and Miranda didn't really want to linger on the darkness. "But you did live there and you are alive, Kaylee, and that is something to celebrate. All those things can be replaced. What is important is that you are alive. I know it's been hard for you. I can't even imagine what you've been through, but you're not alone. If you like, I can have Rufus look into it. Maybe he'll find something that's been overlooked."

"Maybe. I just don't want Taylor to freak out about it. He worries too much about me as it is." Not that she minded him worrying about her. Kaylee actually rather liked Taylor worrying about her, especially after his demonstration last night of what happens when thoughts spill over into reality. Her smile turned just a little bit secretive for a moment, her eyes lighting up as she considered that very recent memory. "Hey, do you think anyone would mind too much if we just take off in about nine months and come back married?"

Miranda's expression betrayed her surprise at the sudden change in topic, and she chuckled in amusement. "Going to rob me of the opportunity to design a wedding gown, are you?"

"You could still design me a dress," Kaylee conceded. "Just one that travels well." She flashed a bright grin, not quite the old Kaylee smile, but a variation on it. A new Kaylee smile. "Where we're planning on going, there'll be plenty of people who'll be really happy to take pictures."

"You don't think Rufus would like to see his only nephew - a man who is like a son to him - marry the girl of his dreams?" she queried, though in the end, she would leave it up to Kaylee and Taylor to decide.

"Yeah, like that isn't a brutally transparent excuse for you to point out that you'd wanna be there if it comes off," Kaylee chuckled, shaking her head. "No plans set in stone, okay' Oh, but he's got a Granger ring these days, so we all got the same level of protection going on."

"Okay, how about we cross that bridge when we get to it?" Miranda countered, regarding any possible wedding plans, though she had another question. "Where are we not getting married then?" she asked, flashing a conspiratorial smile at her younger cousin. She made no comment on the Granger ring. It went without saying that everyone who was anyone to the Granger family got one, as means of protection. Rufus had one, and Bethany and Jason wore them when they were in Rhy'Din. It was only a matter of time before Taylor was given one, as well.

"We're not getting married in New Orleans at Mardi Gras," Kaylee informed her with a low giggle, finally moving out of the direct sunlight to join her aunt on the porch and take a drink from her glass. She sobered quietly, glancing down at herself. "I kinda have a professional question for you, if you're okay with me picking your designer brain."

"Of course," Miranda answered, sliding over to make room for her as she joined her on the porch stairs. If the question she wanted to ask had something to do with Miranda's profession as a fashion designer, then Miranda could just about guess what the question might be, but she waited for Kaylee to ask herself. There was another wedding coming up quickly and she wasn't sure how Kaylee felt about that yet, either.

Kaylee Bennett

Date: 2014-06-04 17:31 EST
"Well ..." Kaylee fidgeted awkwardly, reluctant to even mention this, but she forced herself to go ahead with it anyway. "I was hoping you'd have some advice for me. I ....these clothes. I've been wearing stuff like this for a couple of months now, but I'm not really happy to be wearing it. It's not the sort of thing I would choose to wear. But some of the stuff I used to wear, it ....it rises up, or it shows off my hips or my back or my stomach, and there are marks there I'm not comfortable with people seeing. Not yet."

"Hmm," Miranda mused thoughtfully. Thankfully, Rufus had already warned her about this. "How far do they go?" she asked, without asking to take a peek. She didn't want to make Kaylee uncomfortable showing parts of her body she might want no one to see.

"They're kind of concentrated between here and here," Kaylee said, indicating just below her hips and roughly the line of her bust. Pale, she still managed to make the offer Miranda didn't want to ask for. "I could show you. That'd make it easier. But I won't, if you don't want to see."

"It's not that, dear," Miranda assured the younger woman. "I just don't want to make you uncomfortable. You wouldn't be the first person to ask me for such advice, you know," she told her, though in truth, Miranda knew it would be difficult to look at Kaylee's scars if only because she cared for the girl. "There are plenty of ways to cover up and still look pretty and feminine, Kaylee. And to be honest, cropped tops are a bit too adolescent for you anyway. We don't we go inside and I'll show you a few sketches?"

Relieved that Miranda didn't seem to need to see the damage to offer her advice, Kaylee smiled, nodding. "Sounds like a plan," she agreed. "So do I get the family discount for the consultation, or are you gonna invoice me for the whole caboodle?" she added, needing to tease her cousin as she took to her feet once again. Anything to get away from the awkward feeling that had come with the thought of exposing those scars.

"Don't be silly. You're family! The consultation is free. You only have to pay for the finished product, but if you can't afford it, don't worry about it. I'm not exactly hurting for money these days," Miranda replied. She wasn't going to let a little thing like money stop her from making Kaylee feel attractive again. She moved to her feet and led the way inside, where she had tucked away a small studio for herself in a spare bedroom.

"You're pretty awesome, you know that?" the younger Granger commented as she followed through toward the little home studio. "I mean it, look at you. Successful kick*ss woman, married to a bad*ss Watcher, with a grown up daughter and grandkids on the way, and you still have time to watch everyone else's kids while you work. That is way more than awesome. I'm gonna have to think up a new word just for you."

Miranda shrugged as if it wasn't a big deal, a pleased smile on her face. "I try," she said. "It hasn't always been easy," she admitted. "You can't imagine how much having Rufus back in my life has changed things for the better. He makes me feel young again. Bethany is the light of my life, but she's a grown woman now. She doesn't need her mother watching over her twenty-four to seven anymore. She has Jason for that." As they stepped into the room, Miranda plopped down at her desk and searched for a sketch pad and a pencil. "Have a seat," she told the younger woman. Though the room was small and cluttered, there was plenty of room for two.

"You know, I kinda wanna meet both of 'em now," Kaylee admitted, which was a huge leap in the right direction for her. When she'd arrived, her whole being had been vehemently dreading even having her name mentioned to Bethany; now she wanted to meet her cousin. "Are you sure you don't need to see the damage?" she asked, needing to be certain. "Seriously, I can handle taking my top off so you know what you're dealing with. I trust you, Miranda."

"Not unless you want to show me. Covering up our flaws and imperfections isn't that hard, Kaylee, if you know how to do it. It might be hard to believe, but sometimes less is more. You want to accentuate your best features and conceal your flaws. You have a lovely face and figure. You don't need to dress provocatively in order to look attractive." She scribbled something on her sketchpad with the pencil, taking a moment to add this or that to the drawing before turning it around to show her what she'd sketched. On the pad, she'd drawn the slender figure of a woman with a shape similar to Kaylee's wearing a pair of form-fitting cropped pants and a frilly tunic that bared her arms and neck, but covered her middle. "Something like that maybe, and that's just for starters."

Ah, well. She wasn't going to get a definitive answer from her cousin, it seemed, so it was up to her. If it hadn't been for Taylor's tenderness the night before, this definitely wouldn't have been happening. Kaylee hesitated for a moment, and lifted her shirt over her head, letting it hang on her hand as she turned slowly, allowing Miranda to see what, exactly, the young woman wanted to keep covered from most eyes. The scars were multiple and dark, still raised and livid with color that would fade over time. To distract herself, she looked down at the pad, and to her surprise, even as exposed as she was, a faint smirk touched her lips.

"The pants, I like," she said quietly. "I don't think I'm ever going to be a frills kind of girl, though. I wore a dress for the first time last night, and I ....I felt like me again. And, you know, it kinda made Taylor's jaw drop. That was a nice feeling, too." Deeming enough time had been given up to her scarred body, she pulled the shirt back on over her head, and finally thumped down into the seat that had been offered.

To Miranda's credit, her only reaction to the girl's insistence on showing Miranda what it was she was dealing with was a pair of arched brows. She held her breath a moment, forcing herself not to gasp in a display of shock or revulsion. She had seen scars before, but never quite like this and never on a woman so young and lovely as Kaylee. Her gaze only lingered on them for a moment, before shifting back to Kaylee's face. "All right, let's do this another way," Miranda said, getting up from her chair and moving over to a pile of magazines that cluttered a corner. "What was the dress like?" she asked as she crouched down and started sorting through the pile.

"Uh ..." Kaylee looked dumbfounded for a moment, before her brain kicked it. "It was an Herve Leger," she told her cousin, knowing that of all people Miranda would know what she meant by that. "Cap sleeves, sweetheart neck, bodycon, kinda bandage looking in shades of pink and purple. Taylor said it looked like a summer sunrise."

"Hmm," Miranda murmured in reply as she chose a few magazines and set them aside. They were fashion magazines, of course, and all of them promoting spring and summer fashions. "Take a look at those," she said, while she continued to sort through the pile. "Let's get an idea of what appeals to you, and then, we can go from there."

Kaylee Bennett

Date: 2014-06-04 17:34 EST
As she flipped through the pages, Kaylee realized she was enjoying herself. Clothes had always given her a happy feeling, especially when she was wearing the mish-mash of bright colors and conflicting styles that had always been her hallmark. But Miranda was right; she wasn't a teenager any more, nor did she have to conform for a recording contract. It was time to find out what this Kaylee's style was. She could easily have lost hours looking through the magazines with Miranda but, aware that two small boys were going to wake up in about an hour, she kept it short for now, ending up with several of the mags open at bright, flowing designs - the sort of thing usually called boho, or hippie, Some sweet and feminine, others bright, but all of them definitely Kaylee. "How's that?"

Miranda moved over beside her and watched as Kaylee pointed out this outfit and that, all of them bright and cheery, some more feminine that others. The one thing they all had in common was that they were designed not to show too much skin and would serve the purpose of covering Kaylee's scars and yet still enhance her natural beauty. Not only that, but they were youthful in appearance without being too trashy or adolescent. A perfect wardrobe for an aspiring musician. "I think that might work. What do you say we go shopping?" Miranda suggested with a bright grin. Shopping was, after all, one of her favorite things to do, especially when she had such a lovely young woman as Kaylee to work with. "Not today. When is good for you? My schedule is flexible."

"Uh ..." Once again, Kaylee hesitated, her mind racing. Part of her was screaming to go home and hide right now, never to come out again. Another part was telling her how well she was doing, pointing out that nothing bad had happened today. That Miranda wouldn't let anything bad happen to her. "Well, so long as it's middle of the day kind of thing, I can do anytime," she said tentatively. "I mean, I'd rather not if Taylor's not working, but I think he's got a pretty heavy week."

"Check with Taylor and let me know. We can get an early start if you like. That will give us plenty of daylight." Miranda smiled again, her eyes bright with almost girlish excitement. "Oh, this is going to be fun!" she exclaimed, very nearly clapping her hands together in delight. "Oh!" she exclaimed again, as something else came to mind. "I almost forgot! Lena's wedding! We have to find you a dress for Lena's wedding."

The suddenly effusive delight that erupted from Miranda was enough to make Kaylee jump, though she laughed to cover the genuine fight or flight response, hoping her cousin hadn't noticed it. "Woman, you spend all day with clothes, surely going shopping isn't that much fun?" she chuckled, shaking her head at the enthusiasm. She blinked in surprise at the latest bit of news. "Wait ....Lena's getting married?"

"Yes, but it's always fun when I have a new client to shop for!" she explained, repressing her urge to replace the word client with victim, knowing that Kaylee might take that the wrong way. She shoved the magazines aside and took up her sketchbook again, scribbling something new upon the paper. "Yes, she and Tommy bought some beachfront property and built a house there. That's where they're going to be married. On the beach. It's very romantic, don't you think?" Miranda's smile faded a moment as she realized something. "Oh, you haven't met him yet, have you? Tommy King. Very blond, very cute. They're going to make adorable babies. He's a professional surfer, I think. I don't know much more than that."

"You know, you said the exact same thing about Jon and Vicki, and Des and Piper, and Caroline and Richmond," Kaylee laughed, rolling her eyes at her cousin. "Everyone makes adorable babies in your eyes." It was certainly a surprise to find out that in the space of nine months, Helena had met someone, built a house with them, and was now going to marry them. Lena had always seemed the quiet, cautious type to Kaylee. "Let me guess, she put you in charge of the wedding dress."

"Well, find me a baby that isn't adorable and I'll agree with you," Miranda countered good-naturedly. "Well, of course she did," she replied matter-of-factly. "Oh, you probably don't know that, either. I specialize in weddings now. I own a little shop in town, near the Marketplace. We can stop there while we're out shopping and you can see for yourself." She finished sketching something and turned the drawing toward Kaylee. It was a drawing of a dress, formal and yet not too formal, pretty and flowing and perfect for a beach wedding. "What do you think of that?" she asked.

Kaylee smiled, surprised to find herself enjoying this little outing more than she had ever thought she would. "That's kinda nice," she nodded, tracing one fingertip down the flowing lines of the dress. "Barefoot beach party, huh' I always thought Lena would want the big church, the big dress, the big cake, that kind of deal."

Miranda shrugged a shoulder. "People change, Kaylee. Lena has been through a lot. We all have. Tommy's good for her. He makes her happy. That's all that really matters, isn't it?" And that was all the motherly wisdom Miranda really had to say on that matter. "Now, I promised I would tell you all about Bethany, but first there's something you need to know about Taylor."

The younger woman stiffened, alarm showing in every line of her body as Miranda hinted at some secret she hadn't been told yet. "What kind of something?" she asked in a tense voice.

It wasn't anything particularly secret. In fact, Miranda was pretty sure Kaylee knew just about everything that was important about Taylor already, but she wasn't sure just how much she knew or if there was anything she wanted to know that Miranda could tell her. "Nothing terrible, Kay," Miranda replied, patting her cousin's hand. "In fact, I'm sure you probably know as much about Taylor as I do already."

"Maybe." Kaylee shrugged, brushing her hair back out of her face, unwittingly revealing a hickey on her neck. Last night had been all kinds of fun, once they'd really got into it. "We're still getting to know each other. It's gonna take time, you know?"

"Yes, of course it does, and in some ways, that's half the fun of it, but..." Miranda trailed off, with a sigh, turning serious. How much should she tell Kaylee and how should she tell it' "Taylor is....Well, he's Rufus' nephew, but he's more than that. He's his sister's only child, and as such, he is like a son to him. I don't know all the details, but his sister - her name was Eve - she died when Taylor was a teenager. He never knew his father. I've no idea why. Rufus hasn't said, and I haven't asked. When Eve died, Taylor went to live with Rufus, and they became close. Like father and son. I wasn't there when..." She broke off again, not wanting to mention Taylor's ordeal in so many words. "There is nothing Rufus wouldn't do for that boy. He loves him like his own, and though he has never met Bethany, she is the only other living blood relative he has. Do you understand?"

Kaylee Bennett

Date: 2014-06-04 17:38 EST
She'd said nothing that Kaylee hadn't guessed for herself, but the younger woman understood a little of why it was being said. "I understand," she promised. "It's why I'm here. He needs to know his family, and I don't want to be the thing holding him back from that. So I came here, to see if I could do it, and to find out what Bethany knows about me, what she'd be expecting. And to ask you to tell her and her husband that we'll be coming to visit, to explain about me being touchy and weird. This isn't about me, Miranda. It's about him."

"It is about you both," Miranda corrected. "If you truly love each other, then there is no you or me, only we. You do what is best for both of you. What will make you both happy. Taylor will always be family, as far as I'm concerned, because of Rufus, but so long as he is with you, he's also a Granger. He should know that he's not alone anymore. Neither of you are ever alone, so long as you have family that love you. You will have to bring him by to meet the Old Man one day. No rush. When you are ready. He's..." Miranda halted a moment before continuing. "He's much mellower these days. To be honest, he worries me. He's not going to live forever. We should make his last years happy ones."

"That's why I don't want him to see me right now," Kaylee said softly. "Humph raised me. He doesn't deserve to see me while I'm broken. When I've got the cracks papered over, I'll go see him myself. But I don't want to hurt him any more. And before you ask, yes, I've been in touch. I've been writing to him, so, uh ....he kinda knew about Taylor before anyone did."

"I'm sure Humphrey only wants the best for you, Kaylee. We all do. And Taylor is the best, if he makes you happy. That is all anyone wants really - for you and Taylor to be happy." She hesitated again before continuing. The rest of what she had to say was even more serious and touched on a subject she knew was difficult for the young woman. "I know that Taylor and Rufus have been working hard to....to make sure what happened to you both never happens again. I know Taylor has been training with Rufus, and I know Rufus is determined to do everything he can to help. I would say it's almost an obsession with them. I can't say I blame them, but remember Kaylee, even the darkest night will end, and the sun will rise." She quoted Victor Hugo. Who knew she was so well read"

As soon as the subject turned, Kaylee tensed once again, her expression growing as neutral as she could possibly make it. "I keep letting him down," she said quietly. "He wants details I can't look at yet, and I know every time I say no, he gets a little bit more frustrated. I'm scared he's gonna resent me for not being able to give him what he wants right away, but ....Miranda, if I do it now, he'll leave me behind when they get what they're after. They can't do that to me. I have to see it end, or I'm never going to be fixed."

Miranda considered Kaylee's words, feeling a rush of compassion and sympathy for the girl. She was no Watcher or Slayer herself, and had no desire to be. She was just a woman, untrained and untested. Oh, she might be able to shoot a gun if the occasion called for it, but she'd never really needed to. Only once, and she'd had Rufus to protect her. She couldn't really completely understand what it was Kaylee or Taylor had been through, but she did understand the desire - the necessity - to be done with it and to make sure no one else suffered as they had. "There's no hurry, is there" Give yourself time. Ask Rufus to train you, if you want. He's already training Desmond and Taylor. I think he's expecting it, to be honest. I'm sure Taylor only wants to keep you safe, but what better way to keep you safe then to teach you how to protect yourself?"

"You really think Rufus would train me" Even if Taylor asked him not to, which I'm beginning to think he might have done," Kaylee said reluctantly. "Every time I mention it, he says it's my choice, and he won't give me any help toward making that decision. I don't wanna get hurt again, but I don't wanna be left behind."

Miranda frowned a little, trying to remember what she had walked in on the other day while Taylor had been to see Rufus and the ensuing discussion with Rufus that followed. "He doesn't want to make the decision for you. He hasn't told you no. Rufus and I have talked about it a little. He expects you to be there when it happens, I think, but he's worried about Taylor, and I'm worried about you. That's why I wanted to call you. To talk to you, to make sure you are all right, and to see if there's anything I can do to help. I'm a very good listener, Kaylee, and I want you to know that I'm here for you."

Kaylee was silent for a long moment, fidgeting awkwardly as she glanced through the window to the sunshine world outside. Out there everything was normal, even in here, it was safe. The danger was in her head, and she wasn't ready to face it yet, no matter how impatient Taylor got with her. "Will you help me?" she asked Miranda softly. "When I'm ready? I know enough about myself to know I'll want it over and done fast. I don't want to linger in those memories."

Miranda took Kaylee's hand between both her own and gave it a reassuring squeeze, that same loving, motherly smile on her face that assured Kaylee she cared. Though she might only have one daughter by blood whom she loved more than anyone or anything, there was still plenty of room in her heart for those who needed her love. "Of course, I will, sweetheart. Anything you need, you only need ask."

The old Kaylee would have made an off-color joke, shrugged off how touched she was that her request had been taken up without any more detail needing to be shared. This Kaylee nodded quietly, reaching across to hug her cousin. "Thank you," she whispered, stroking Miranda's hair. "I appreciate it." As she drew back, two little voices made themselves very clear over the baby monitor, yelling for their Auntie Manda, and Kaylee laughed. "Gods, how do you stand it?"

Miranda hugged her back, holding her close for a moment longer than necessary, just to make sure she knew how much she cared. If it had not been for the two urchins she was looking after that day, she might have even told Kaylee just how much she cared, but instead, she laughed, hearing those little voices calling for her through the monitor. "So much for peace and quiet!"

Smiling, Kaylee rose to her feet. "I guess I better get going," she shrugged. "Gotta stop at the market and work out what I'm gonna feed Taylor tonight, and I got a letter to write to the Old Man. Should fill my afternoon until my boo gets home and I can jump his bones, right?"

"Oh, yes!" Miranda replied with a playful grin. "Abandon me when the going gets tough. I see how it is!" But she was laughing as she followed Kaylee to her feet. "Try not to wear him out too much, or he'll be useless to Rufus."

"How much do I gotta slip you to keep the Watcher up all night so my boy can stay home for a day?" Kaylee countered cheerfully, reaching over to tweak Miranda's nose. "I'll be good if he is, that's my best offer."

"I can be bribed!" Miranda countered with another laugh as her nose got tweaked. She linked her arm with Kaylee's as she led her toward the door before the boys started wailing miserably and impatiently for her attention. She would have asked her to stay longer, but she sensed Kaylee had already stayed longer than she'd planned. "Call me and we'll do lunch and go shopping." She didn't mention Bethany or Jason again, confident Kaylee and Taylor would get along with the other couple just fine when the time came.

"I'll call," Kaylee promised, pausing at the door to hug her cousin once again before rescuing her jacket from the hook. "And I'll probably drop in on the day I pluck up the courage to go to the big house and say hello to the grand. Say hi to Gabi for me?"

"I will say hi to everyone for you!" Miranda replied, returning the hug, pausing a moment to touch Kaylee's cheek once again. "Be kind to yourself, Kaylee. One day at a time." She wrapped her in another hug before finally letting the little bird fly from the nest. "I love you," she whispered, thinking if anyone needed to hear it, it was Kaylee.

"Love you back." It was the barest whisper in Miranda's ear before Kaylee pulled away, offering a last smile before she slipped out into the sunshine and began the long walk back to where she'd left her car outside the main gates, hands deep in her pockets, head down to avoid being recognized. Behind Miranda, those two insistent little voices ramped up their volume in between burbled laughter, suggesting some form of plotting was going on in the crib.

Miranda watched her go, only then letting an errant tear slip from her eye, brushing it hastily away as soon as it appeared. "Be safe, my girl," she whispered as Kaylee faded from view. "And be happy." She closed the door then and turned, laughing when she heard the plotting that was going on in the nursery. "Oh, you two trouble makers are so going to get it!" she murmured to herself, and happily went off to find out just what they were up to.

((Brave new world, indeed. Many, many thanks to Miranda!))