Seeing Double - Open to All (PLOT THREAD - FATE)

[Fate]

August 20, 2021

"Chelsea, please."

George paid his fare and chose a bed in the middle, he was exhausted. He'd spent most of the day at the hospital with Dad and Uncle Ralin. Annie had been taken home hours earlier, but he had convinced them to allow him to remain. He could take the Knight Bus home, it was perfectly safe, Merlin he was old enough to take the bus alone, yes he'd be very careful, no Grandma, I won't talk to strangers.

He could be a smooth talker when he wanted. But now it was later than he expected, witches and wizards snoring all around him. It was likely the bus wouldn't get to his stop for a while, so he huddled under the covers and closed his eyes. The swaying was rather soothing, then.

Whoooosh.

August 13, 2038

"GREAT MERLIN'S GRANNY!"

Suddenly the bus was swerving sideways, luggage and people went flying, beds changed into seats and several people started screaming. When the bus came to a halt, the passengers rushed the right side window. The light blinded them at first, it was the middle of the day! But the change from night to midday wasn't what flabbergasted the passengers. For, a short distance away, stopped at an angle, was a triple-decker bright purple bus!

"Is that--"
"Can't be! We're in it!"
"Well, if we are, wot's that?"
"What happened to night!? I gotta get to work!"
"Help me!"
"Something's wrong!"
"Lookit it, its much shinier! Must be new."
"New bus? Waste of money during the war! Should be used to protect against the demons!"
"Or study the magic going wrong!"
"Didn't you hear? The aurors killed the Lady!"
"I heard two days ago!"
"I heard five weeks, they just been keepin' it a secret!"
"No way!"

"Is anyone hurt?" The bus driver mopped his face with a large handkerchief, looking at the clustered passengers. One stepped forward. "What's going on!!" He demanded, fists clenched. He reeked of alcohol, clearly he had been one of the more inebriated passengers of the night. "Tell us!" He took a threatening step towards the driver.

[Elle Callahan]

Niall Callahan

The Knight bus still kind of freaked Elle out. Even though it had been 17 years since the freak disturbance of magic that caused hundreds of people to disappear while using magical transportation, she often wondered if it could happen again. Magic had settled down. The ministry claimed the issue has been fixed. Over the years she had floooed, apperated and used the knightbus without going poof hundreds if not thousands of time. Sometimes though, she just couldn't help but wonder if it would just break again. Her grandfather had been on the original Knightbus. He'd been coming to see her in the "city". It had taken a lot to convince him to leave the country. He was afraid of all the crime in the city. He also was afraid of the demons. She'd told him things had settled down after the Mask Lady had been killed. Demon activity had lessened. Grandda had agreed to come see her. He never arrived. It was later confirmed that the knightbus had stopped in his area but he never made it to London.


"MaMA! MaMAAA" The shrikes of a two year old shattered Elle's musings. Back to reality. Two year old Kristopher had pulled himself up onto the seat. Standing, he had called out for his Mama to see his accomplishment. The little boy had just started to walk and he wanted to do it all the time. Elle grabbed Kris by the waist as the little boy tried to take a few steps on the chair seat.

"Kris, we don't walk on furniture. We sit on chairs," Elle said as she lifted the boy up to put him on her lap. Merlin's underpants! Look away for a second and that boy would always get into some kind of mischief. He might even given Maddy, her 12 year old daughter run for her title of most mischievous offspring. Kris was not happy to have been thwarted and he kicked his little legs, wriggling as his mother tried to seat him properly. "Walk, no sit, WALK!" He shouted in his shrill little voice that could pierce through walls. Elle should have brought Glee with her. She decided to take the knightbus because it was hard to floo with the babies talking and wriggling so much. Nate, Kris's much calmer twin was flirting with the older woman across from where he sat on Maddy's lap. Nate kept smiling at the lady and blowing kisses when she said hi.

Elle had just pulled Kris onto her lap when the bus suddenly swerved, breaks screeching as it came to an abrupt stop. Instinctively, Elle tightened her hold on her son, clutching him to her chest with one arm as she grabbed onto the chair with another. For several seconds, Kristopher just stared, quietly as if observing what happened. Then he began to cry. Nate and Maddy had toppled over sideways on the couch they have been sitting on. Elias, had fallen forward. He was just picking himself off the floor.

Elle made sure her children were okay before she stood up and walk to the front of the bus, holding Kris on her hip. She peered through the window to uncover what happened. On the other side of the street was a slightly faded purple bus. Merlin's soiled underpants. That can't be the knightbus. It vanished. Forever. Or so everyone thought. Maybe it had been invisible all this time? Just stuck in this one place. Or maybe something else happened.

"Elias, watch your siblings," Elle said as she handed the sniffling Kris to her eldest son. Elle pulled out her wand, "I'm going to see if everyone is alright over there." She said as she marched out of the new bus.

[Alecsander]

Elias Kameren

"Maddy, quit that!"

Elias flapped a hand at his sister, warding off her attempts at pulling his hair or tweaking his ear. She must have been switched with a gremlin at birth or something. Why else would she be such a nuisance?

He made a face and looked away, sitting up straighter. They were on their way to Diagon Alley to meet Father. Diagon Alley was a rare treat, and although it was a school shopping trip, Elias didn't mind. He loved school, and if they behaved they might get to have dinner at his favorite restaurant. At least he could manage to act maturely. At least the twins had the excuse of age.

Suddenly the bus swerved, sending Elias tumbling sideways. As the bus came to a stop, he climbed to his feet and looked dazedly out the window. A bright purple bus, the very spitting image of the Knight Bus, was haphazardly parked just a few yards away. He was so busy staring Kris took him by surprise as he was deposited in Elias' arms. The older boy grinned at his mother's words, turning to Maddy as Elle hurried off the bus.

"Hear that, squirt? That means I'm in charge." He shifted the crying Kris, bouncing the baby on his hip. Nate was crying too, not surprisingly, since Maddy had all but landed on the boy.

"Hey, hey." Elias tried to calm both toddlers.

[Maddy Kameren]

It had been a pretty fun trip before they nearly lost their lives. Maddy had been sitting on the couch playing with Nate, urging him to smile and preen for the other passengers. He was such a sweet baby. Always smiling and he liked her better than Elias. Or so she thought. Nate liked everyone.

Then disaster struck. The bus went all crazy, more than normal and started swerving. For a second Maddy thought it would tip over. She'd been kind of excited at first. She liked the way the bus moved quickly, and stopped suddenly. She liked the sliding and bumping that usually happened inside the bus. It was like those crazy muggle roller coasters that Max had taken them on once. But then it became scary when the bus nearly hit it's twin!. Maddy was thrown forward, her body half covering Nate, who instantly began crying. Maddy sat up and pulled her brother close. Cooing to him not to cry, that it was fun.

Mummy quickly got up to do her hero thing. She was a great healer. Maddy watched her Mum as she left leaving Elias (eye roll) in charge.

"Hear that, squirt? That means I'm in charge."

Maddy shrugged her shoulders not impressed. "That means you get to change the diapers." She said nodding towards the diaper bag that was tipped over sideways.

"Kris smells a little stinky," She said as she waived her hand in front of her scrunched up nose.

[Elle Callahan]

Elle marched off the bus. She refused to look back as the cries of her babies filled her ears. She wanted to just hug them tight and sooth them all. Even Maddy and Elias. Although, Maddy probably thought the whole ordeal was "wicked cool". At twelve that girl was already well on her way to being an adrenaline junky. Elle prayed that her daughter wouldn't go into law enforcement. Oh, the girl would find all the adventure and thrills she wanted there but Elle wouldn't be able to stop worrying about the risks Maddy would take. A husband, nephew and niece in law enforcement was enough. But there was really no sense in worrying about it now. Her children were fine. They were healthy and unhurt. Elias was watching them. He would make sure they were safe. Not that she thought anything would happen to them. There were other people on that bus. A few had come out with her to inspect what had happened.

A light pole had fallen over from the impact of the other Knight bus sideswiping it. Elle stepped over the broken glass from the side mirror.

The closer she came to the bus the more she was certain that this was the missing bus. A slightly tattered poster on the side of the bus warned about the demons. How in the world did the bus come back? Elle stepped inside, wondering who inside she would see. Would they all be dead? Alive? Aged? Unchanged.

The doors of the bus were open and Elle poked her head inside.

"I'm a healer, is everyone alright?" She asked.

(does Elle know George? She's friends with Theo and she was working at St. Mungos when George disappeared. She could have been the healer for what ever had him at the hospital?)

[Alecsander]

Elias narrowed his eyes at his sister. The twins weren't potty trained yet, and he hated cleaning diapers. He sniffed. Kris was sniffling now, but quieting, his head nodding, the bout of fear-induced hysterics wearing him out. Elias couldn't smell anything, and he was a lot closer to Kris than she was. She was probably just messing with him. Maddy had been poking at him all summer, trying to see what she could get him to do.

"Just shut up and keep Nate out of trouble." He ordered, taking a seat facing the window, laying Kris across his shoulder so he could sleep. He watched his mum approach the other Bus with trepidation. Of course he knew what it was, the Flux and the Lost were important historical fixtures. Mum had even lost her Granda, he'd been riding the Bus when it disappeared. But what did it mean? He worried as only a thirteen year-old boy, too old for his years, could.

"What do you think's happening?" He asked Maddy, his voice low.

[Fate]

"What is going on!"

A man bulled to the front, formal robes askew, voice demanding. He stared down at the woman, trying to intimidate her by his, admittedly large, presence. He was obviously one of those who thought themselves extremely important.

"I demand to know what is going on! Why is there another Knight Bus? Isn't one enough? There's a war on, you know!"

"I heard it was over!" piped up a foolish young man in the back, cowering backwards when the Important Man shot him a look of disdain.

"Bull!" He roared. "Young lady!" He pointed a finger at Elle. "What are you, some sort of rep? Well you can tell--"

"'Scuse me." Another young man, slim and lanky with the unfinished growth of a teenager, interrupted. "Did you say you're a healer? I think this lady's broken her arm."

"SILENCE WHEN YOUR BETTERS ARE TALKING." The Important Man bellowed, trying to shove between Elle and her patient. "I AM NOT DONE WITH YOU, MISSIE."

"Sir! That's no way to talk to a lady!" George protested, motivated to stand up for the healer. His father was very adamant on manners.

[Maddy Kameren]

An onslaught of questions greeted Elle's announcement that she was a healer. One voice boomed over the crowd. A well dressed man shouldered his way through the crowd. He wasn't particularly tall. Not for a man. He was of medium height, five-nine, ive-ten, and rather stocky build. It was his attitude that made him giant. He wore his superiority like a second skin. Elle could feel his incredulity as he towered over her, his posture pulled taunt as he looked down his nose at her four foot nine frame. Obviously he thought she would shrink back from his intimidating frame. Cower at his feet and stammer out answers.

Well he could clean Merlin's dirty drawers then. Elle was not someone easily intimidated. Especially not by men who threw their size and power around. Elle remained silent, taking in everything. When a young man said someone was injured, Elle slid sideways, to bypass the man full of self importance.

"SILENCE WHEN YOUR BETTERS ARE TALKING." The Important Man bellowed, trying to shove between Elle and her patient. "I AM NOT DONE WITH YOU, MISSIE."

Quickly, Elle pivoted on her feet, facing the man, her wand pointing towards his face. Her fawn colored eyes turned black with suppressed anger.

"Sit down. Shut up and wait. Or be stunned.Choose wisely," Elle said in an icy tone that traveled. She continued to stare at the man, wand at the ready. She knew that he wouldn't be intimidated easily but she was not going to back down.

"That woman needs medical attention I will tell you all what is going on as I attend her. You wouldn't want to be accused of letting someone suffer for your own gain now would you?" Elle pointed out as she tried to keep sarcasm out of her voice.

Walking backwards, wand still pointed at the man, she headed toward the woman. Elle crouched, taking her eyes off the larger man. Gently she examined the arm.

"A simple fracture, it'll take just a moment," Elle said the quick repairing bone charm to heal the arm.

"It'll be a little weak for a while but it's healed." Elle said to the woman. Elle stood up, looking at the crowded bus.

"Calm down and listen. I can't talk with you all yelling at me. I'll be blunt. The war is over and has been for 17 years. The knight bus you see outside was built to replace this one when it disappeared.---" Voices over ran Elle and she let it for a few minutes. Then she fired sparks into the air.

"I know it sounds impossible but the demons affected magic. Created a void. One day everyone using magical transportation disappeared. It has been 17 years. And now you're all back. I don't know how or why but you are. And no I am not lying. Why would I be?"

[Fate]

"Sit down. Shut up and wait. Or be stunned. Choose wisely,"

George ducked his head, pretending to help the young woman who had broken her arm to hide his grin. He knew this woman now. She looked older but it was easy to tell. He’d seen her in the hospital, bullying doctors to get her way. The nurses knew her well, and chatted freely, obviously thinking a 16 year old boy of no concern. If rumor were true than she easily stood down both Kameren men on a regular basis, no meek feat, if stories were true. He’d seen the younger, Alex, at the ministry once. He was tall and powerful, and if the witch stood up to him, the blunderbuss was no issue.

He could have sworn she was younger, though.

"It'll be a little weak for a while but it's healed." Elle said to the woman. Elle stood up, looking at the crowded bus.

The woman nodded, a quiet smile breaking across her face. “Thank you.” She whispered, darting a look at the cowed Important Man. “He’s rather an ass, isn’t he?”

"Calm down and listen. I can't talk with you all yelling at me. I'll be blunt. The war is over and has been for 17 years. The knight bus you see outside was built to replace this one when it disappeared.---" Voices over ran Elle and she let it for a few minutes. Then she fired sparks into the air.

"I know it sounds impossible but the demons affected magic. Created a void. One day everyone using magical transportation disappeared. It has been 17 years. And now you're all back. I don't know how or why but you are. And no I am not lying. Why would I be?"

Silence fell, as if an ax had cut sharply across the noise and severed it. Some stood in shock, others exchanged uncertain glances, shifting uncomfortably. At least two people fainted. And then the silence broke.

“Oh. Oh, oh no!” It was the woman with the broken arm, still sitting on the floor. She brought trembling hands to her face, covering it as tears started streaking down. “Oh, oh….” A slender ring, studded with tiny sapphires, glinted on her finger. Her voice broke into sobs as she rocked back and forth, clutching her face, tears and snot flowing between her fingers as she rapidly approached hysterics.

“Its… ok…” George tried to comfort her, awkwardly patting her on the closest shoulder as his own mind raced. What did that mean? What happened to his family? Dad? Theo… Dad and Uncle Theo had been so mad at each other…. And what about Ralin? Or his sisters? What about Ryan? Thoughts rushed rapidly through his mind, leaving him feel as if he were reeling. Seventeen years! He wasn’t even seventeen years old! How could they have been gone so long?

[Elle Callahan]

Maybe being blunt was not the best approach. At first everyone just stared, shocked into silence. Some cried. Some yelled. Some argued. Others just sat there waiting. It was all to much for Elle. She did not have any answers. So she mustered up the needed concentration and performed the patronous charm. It took her several tries to get the little sparrow formed and she sent it off to Alex with a message. She needed his help.

Off in the corner of the bus waited an old man. He was a spry weather old thing. Small and easily over looked. He was just under five feet and his clothes were worn but clean. His skin was wrinkled and warmed by the sun. A carpet bag was clutched in his lap. His hair was gray streaked with strands of red. At first Elle thought she was imagining it. Then she remembered, it was thought that Niall Callahan had taken the knight bus to see her. When she caught his eye he smiled at her. It was that same impish toothy grin.

Elle rushed to her Grandda. She felt seven years old again as she threw herself into a hug.

"Na-na Elle it's alright."

"You're back, is it really you?" She exclaimed her voice high with disbelief. His warmth chuckle shook her shoulders. His rough hands gently pulled her back.

"Let me look at you. I don't want to believe it's been 17 years. Seems just yesterday that I summoned the bus and came to see you. Except you look older."

"You all look the same. That boy that stood up to mister self important, I remember him. I treated his uncle 17 years ago, yet he's still a kid. And you're dashingly young," Elle said hugging the man that had raised her again.

"How do you feel? Do you remember anything?" She asked him concerned that maybe this return to reality could suddenly affect their health. Would they rapidly age or would they stay the same?

Naill Callahan just let Elle's questions wash over him. She'd always been an inquisitive little tyke.

"I remember getting on the bus during the end of the war, falling asleep and then the sudden movement as the bus clipped the pole."

Elle nodded to his statement. "It's so strange but I'm glad you're back. A lot has happened since you left. I'm married now. To Alex Kameren of all men." She said with an impish grin of her own. It had taken many years but she had finally caught the man.