Thankfully for Kellie, Merlin had kept from embarassing her too much in front of Katie. The dinner was proving to be pleasant as the two girls as they chatted about life and their plans on reuniting with her sisters.
"Great dinner Mr. Merlin," Katie smiled as she leaned back in her chair. "Thank you Katie," he smirked. "Admittedly cooking is one of my newer persuits but I am making progress."
"Well thanks dad," Kellie smiled. "Why dont I clear the table while you relax."
Merlin couldnt help but grin as he watched his daughter begin to cleanup. "How did I end up with such a well mannered daughter?"
"Probably got it from mom," Kellie smirked. "Know your not exactly the most well mannered guy to begin with." Katie couldnt help but laugh as Merlin chuckled softly. "Careful Kellie," he smiled. "Our guest hasn't departed left. I could always share some of your adorable childhood photos with her." Kellie paled slightly as Merlin and Katie laughed. The sound of someone knocking caused Merlin to slowly rise from the table. "Thats probably Lisa," Katie said. "I told her I would help cook dinner, she's probably wondering whats taking so long." As Merlin opened the door he gazed at the four young women on hus front steps.
"Um hey," Claudia said, giving the wizard a small wave. "Guessing your Merlin"
Merlin sighed, more reality hopping visitors. "Yes that would be me," he said. "Im guessing your Claudia and Mary Elise, so what do I owe the pleasure of this visit to my home."
"How do you know us," Mary Elise asked. "Interdimensional being Mary," he stated. "That and Ive met the two girls from this timeline before, you two are consiserably older."
Kellie had heard Merlin answer the door and become curious as to who he was talking with as she exited the kitchen her jaw dropped as she beheld the college age friends of her daughter. "Mary? Claudia? What arr you two doing here?"
"Whoa," Claudia gasped as she gazed at the teen. "Mary shes the spitting image of Kel."
"I can see that Claudia," Mary Elise stated. "Now stop staring, your making things weirder than they probably need to be."
Claudia apologized as the two now stood in the doorway with Karen and the teenage Mary Elise. "Sorry to bother you," teen Mary said sheepishly. "These two kind of showed up on my doorstep. Claudia is just dying to meet you."
"I see," Kellie said quietly, still dumbstruck to see the two. "Umm why dont you all come in and take a seat, we were just finishing dinner."
Guiding her old friends into the living room Kellie now found herself talking with Katies friends, needless to say the conversation was somewhat one sided as Claudia peppered her with questions.
"Claudia slow down," Kellie sighed, feeling dizzy from the petite womans line of questioning. "Sorry," she responded. "Its just....how is this even possible? Katies mom died in childbirth. Your telling me that that is a part of a spell because you erased your husband?!?!"
"Yeah," Kellie said meekly. "Wasnt one of my better moves and it cost me alot."
"Hold on a sec," teen Mary exclaimed. "Is that why you get on my case about dark magic? Because you've actually been down that road?"
"Yeah Mary," Kellie sighed. "I...I really didnt want to talk about my mistakes but I could empathize with you. I didnt want you to make the same mistakes I did."
"How come you look like Katies fiance," Claudia asked. "Kellie isnt a clone or something is she vause thats going to make for a really weird marriage."
"Seriously Claud," the adult Mary sighed. "Your really going down that road?"
"Its not like everyone isn't thinking it," Claudia exclaimed. "I want to know if my roommates are kissing cousins or part of some really weird Greek tragedy."
As Mary Elise groaned in embarassment Kellie sighed. She could umderstand Claudias curiousity about everything, it wasn't typical to find out that your friends deceased mother existed in an alternate reality as a teenager who just so happens to be the spitting image of her friends long-time girlfriend/fiance.
"To answer the question Claudia no Kellie, your Kellie isnt me. Last time Katie and Kellie visited we put that thought to rest. Kellie and me look alike but we're different people."
"Different how," adult Mary asked.
"Different parents for one," Kellie said motioning towards Merlin. At first the others were confused before it slowly dawned on them what she was saying.
"Merlins your dad," teen Mary whispered. "Holy hell your the daughter of Merlin!!!"
Kellie nodded, looking back towards the elderly wizard. "Yeah thats my old man," she smirked. "Turns out when I erased my husband he saved me and kind of became my father. Long story short the other Kellie and me may look alike but its just looks. We're totally seperate people."
"Im still puzzled on how you know all this," adult Mary asked. "If you erased your husband, which in turn nearly erased you, how did you end up here?"
Kellie now explained the events that had led to her arrival here. How she had been in possession of the Ring of Age. How her actions had regressed her to infancy before Merlin saved her and finally how she was able to regain her memories of her former life after reacquiring the Ring of Age. For Kellies visitors they sat in awe as they heard the teen bare her soul. Kellie had struggled for years with the knowledge she possessed. She had missed out on so much of Katies life and missed having her sisters. Kellies anger and reckless actions had taken everything she held dear and forced her to try to make amends for her actions. As she finished her tale she slumped forward, feeling drained.
"Ms. O'Toole," Claudia said quietly. "Im...im so sorry for everything you loss. I didn't mean to have you dredge up all these bad memories."
"Its okay Claudia," Kellie sighed. "And its Ms. Pendragon now. Just learn from my mistakes and try not to repeat them."
The four girls nodded as Kellie grinned at them. "So thats about it," she said. "You now know everything their is to know about me. Any other questions?"
"Yeah when you visiting again," Claudia asked.
"Soon I hope," Kellie smiled. "Kind of want to reconnect with my sisters. Just need to build up my strength first."
"Well Lisa's baby shower is coming up soon," Mary Elise suggested. "If your going to reintroduce yourself might be a good time. I know everyone we know will be there."
Kellie rubbed her chin thoughtfully, it did soumd like a good opportunity. "Ill keep it in mind."
"Well thank you for everything Kellie," the adult Mary smiled as she went to stand. "But we should probably head home now."
"Already," Claudia whined. "I mean, cant we stay a little longer? Its not like we get the chance to visit other realities."
"I think we've had enough fun Claud," Mary laughed. "Now lets head home before or I'm telling Mika your reality hopping without telling her."
"Ugh fine," Claudia groaned. As the two college age women now stood before the group, they smiled before vanishing to the other reality once more. Kellie smiled as she turned back towards her friends amd family, she couldnt help but feel fortunate that she could say she had people who varrd about her in two realities