For Gloria and her friends it turned out to be a fun and exciting summer. The weekend getaway with Katie and Kellie was only the start of things.
After returning home the girls continued to have fun with Katie and her friends. Despite some concerns about kitsune or any other problems from the other timeline, it turned out to be a quiet summer.
In July, the girls helped in welcoming Samantha's daughter Tricia to the world. Tricia, unlike Lynne, proved to be a far less magical event. Although Samantha was forced to undergo an emergency c section, both mother and daughter made a full recovery. As summer now began to wind downGloria now accompanied her sister, parents, and friends to a camp ground for one last get together before Katie and the others returned to college. As Gloria now rode with Katie, Kellie, and Morgan, she found herself lazily staring out the window.
"Hows Morgan doing Gloria," Katie asked. "Shes sleeping," Gloria responded as she gazed at her niece. Gloria now returned to staring out the window, trying to gain her bearings. "So where is this camp ground," she asked.
"Not too much farther," Kellie said.
Gloria narrowed her eyes as she looked between Katie and Kellie, the two women were keeping something from Gloria. "So what's the plan guys," she asked. "We got mom, dad, Ann and Mr. and Mrs. Harris. Not to mention all of my friends and yours, what exactly are you planning?"
"Just thought it would be fun," Katie said innocently. "Kumi and Cole have been trying to go on vacation for awhile and since Mom, Dad, and Ann were coming I thought they might like to join in. Besides, there's enough people that watching Tommy wont be any trouble."
"Sounds reasonable," Gloria stated. "But why did you insist I invite all my friends too? Was it just to babysit?"
"Just relax Glo it's nothing bad," Kellie chuckled. "Besides, I figured you'd like the idea of hanging out with your friends at a campsite lake." Gloria frowned as she looked between the two women, obviously they were both keeping a secret. Gloria shrugged as she returned to staring out the window, she would have to wait and see what Katie and her friends had in mind.
As the string of cars pulled onto a dirt road Gloria looked ahead to see a small campground ahead of them. As they approached, Gloria was suddenly blinded by a flash of light. Wincing and holding her head Gloria rubbed her eyes as her vision returned. "Did you guys notice that," she asked.
Katie and Kellie said nothing as they now pulled into the campsite. As everyone disembarked they were impressed by the lakeside cabin Katie had rented. A large crystal clear lake spread out in front if them while the cabins the group would be staying in appeared to have many modern amenities to make their stay as pleasant as possible.
"Wow Katie," Lisa said in awe as she and Jason removed a sleeping Lynne from her carseat. "How were you able to afford this?"
"Actually," Katie smirked. "I'm not the one who rented it. They did."
Lisa and the others turned gaping as they saw an elderly man and a group of teenage girls exit one of the cabins. "Kellie," Lisa said in awe. "So great to see you but how did you get here? Aren't you limited in the amount if time you spend here?"
Kellie smirked as she approached her sisters, giving them a tight hug. "Usually you would be right," she said. "But heres the thing. This isnt your timeline, its mine."
"Wait is that what that flash of light was," Gloria exclaimed. Kellie nodded as she looked over at her niece. "Yeah that was us."
"How did you manage a spell like that," Ann asked curiously.
"Well," Kellie grinned. "Since the last time we saw eachother my friends and I have been kinda busy. Each of us has magic now, which is kind of why we brought you all here but I'll let dad over here explain."
The group now turned towards Merlin as the elderly wizard now approached, a smile etched on his face. "So happy to see you all again," he smiled. "And thank you Katie for bringing everyone I asked for."
"Hey dont mention it," Katie said.
"So um Merlin," Jason asked curiously. "Why did you bring us all here?"
"Well," Merlin sighed. "After everything you have all been through this year I believe a celebration is in order."
"I'm always happy to party," Claudia stated. "But, whose gonna watch Kari?"
"Actually Claudia," Merlin said. "I am happy you mentioned you adopted daughter. You see this is a party to celebrate the next generation. Kari, Lynne, Morgan, Tricia, Tommy, and Kumikos unborn daughter are our guests of honor."
Gloria and the others looked at the collection of infants and the toddler that had fallen asleep during the trip to the cabin.
"Well that's all well and good," Ashley stated. "But why was Katie so insistent on me, Jen, Shiro and Sebastian coming as well?"
"Glad you asked Ashley," Kellie said stepping forward. "You see, after talking with Katie we decided on something. First though can you four step forward?" Ashley shrugged as she Jennifer, Sebastian and Shiro now approached Katie's teenage mother. "Perfect," Kellie grinned as she now looked over at Gloria's friends. "Diane, Felicia, Naomi. Can you join them as well?"
Gloria's friends now cautiously approached as well, unsure of what exactly was going on. "So what's up," Felicia asked.
Katie and teenage Kellie smiled as they looked the group over. "Well," Kellie smiled. "After talking things over with my daughter. Weve decided that its finally time that you receive magical objects as well."
The group gawked at this answer. They, like their friends would be receiving magic just like their friends. "Wow," Sebastian gasped. "Thank you."
"Not to rain on the parade," Diane said sheepishly. "But who is going to be training us. Gloria cant possibly train us all."
"Your right," teen Kellie said. "And after talking things over with Katie and her fiance we decided that it's going to be my friends that train you."
The group gawked at the teenage doppelgangers approached, each holding a magical item for the group in front of them. "Kellie kinda clued us in about what was going down," teen Lisa said. "She helped train us, now it's our turn to return the favor. Hope your ready for a fun weekend."
Gloria had watched everything transpire, still shocked at what she had heard. Turning towards her sister, she could see a broad smile on her face. "Well Katie," she thought with a smile. "You certainly know how to end the summer with a bang."