As Thanksgiving approached, Stephanie was both excited and annoyed about her day. She would finally get an opportunity to meet Ann's parents but not Jackie's.
Aside from Jackie having yet to tell her parents about magic, their was the age difference between Ann and Jackie. Although Jackie was 19 and an adult, Ann was significantly older. A nearly 30 year age difference existed between the pair and although Jackie's parents liked teenage Ann, meeting an adult Ann with her adopted daughter could lead to big problems. "Look Stephanie I'm sorry," Ann said sadly as the pair drove to her sister Lisa's house. "I know you wanted to meet Jackie's folks but it's not a good time."
"I know," Stephanie sighed. "It just sucks, I mean she won't even be around for Thanksgiving." Ann nodded sadly, knowing Jackie was seeing her family for the holidays. Hopefully tomorrow she would get a chance to see Ann but for today it would be Ann's side of the family. "So who's going to be there," Stephanie asked.
"Well let's see," Ann replied as she now thought over the guest list. "My sister Lisa and her husband Jason. Katie, her wife Kellie. Your cousins Lynne and Morgan. Gloria and her boyfriend Caleb, my parents, your cousin Ann and my sister Kellie and Ann's father Jack."
"Other sister Kellie," Stephanie interrupted. "What do you mean other sister? I've never met Kellie or Jack." Ann now blushed, realizing for the first time she had not mentioned her older sister Kellie. "Crap," she grumbled. Turning to Stephanie, she now rubbed the back of her neck as she explained not only Kellie but Jack as well. As she did Stephanie couldn't help but gaze in confusion at Ann. "Alternate timelines? The daughter of Merlin?! She was reborn! MOM!!! That makes no sense!"
"Okay I know," Ann groaned. "Look, it's super complex okay. Basically she and Jack died and were reborn in an alternate timeline. Ann, your cousin, she's their daughter. Also from an alternate timeline but that one no longer exists. Basically my family history is convulated as all hell. I have a former big sister whose 20, two nieces who are freaking powerful wizards, two other preschool nieces that are freaking all powerful, and a mother who is scarier than all that put together!"
Stephanie paused, seeing the anxiety clearly on her mother's face. Even in the best of social situations Ann was shy and awkward. Throw in a very complex family history and two parents she was nervous around and it was obviously beginning to be too much for the woman. Offering her mother a small smile, Stephanie simply took her mother's hand, giving it a sympathetic squeeze. "Everything will be okay mom."
Arriving at the Turner home, Stephanie could already see a rather large gathering of people. Over the last few years the entire O'Toole family could not be together for various reasons. Now, the family was coming together. Today Stephanie would meet more relatives than she thought possible. Knocking on Lisa's door, mother and daughter were surprised as a man in his late twenties answered. "Aunt Ann, Aunt Stephanie good to see you."
"Um mom who is this?"
The man paused, looking between the pair before chuckling softly. "You didn't tell her yet," he laughed. "Well I'm Evan. I'm one of the guys that came from the future. My mom is right over there." Evan now pointed to a 4 year old Lynne Turner who was currently playing a game with her cousin Morgan. "Let me guess," Evan grinned. "Aunt Ann has been tight lipped about the family?"
"Kind of?"
Evan laughed, shaking his head as he motioned the pair inside. "Ann you're going to get an earful from Grandma and Great Grandma. Why don't you head into the kitchen, Grandma was wondering when you were going to get here."
"My grandparents are here?"
"Sorry," Evan blushed. "I meant my grandma. She's your aunt Lisa. Whole time travel thing kind of throws things off. Aunt Ann's parents are on the way. Why don't you head into the living room, everyone is just hanging out in there." Stephanie nodded, her head spinning from the introduction. Peaking into the loving room, Stephanie sighed in relief as she saw her cousins Gloria, Ann, and Katie's wife Kellie. What she wasn't expecting was the group that was with them.
"Hey Stephanie," the teenage Ann called, rushing to meet her cousin. "Hey Ann," Stephanie called back. "Looks like a full house." Ann nodded, her cheeks blushing as she now looked at the guests with her. "Yeah," she said sheepishly. "My umm parents kind of came with alot of family." Ann now paused, pointing to an elderly man with a long white beard as well as a rather scary looking woman with one arm. "So my parents are helping out Aunt Lisa in the kitchen," Ann stated. "But um, my grandparents are kind of here with us."
"Your grandparents?"
Ann nodded, fidgeting nervously as she now motioned towards the pair. "So that's Lilith," Ann stated. "Shes my dad's mom from when he was reborn in my timeline. She's also the um Queen of Demons."
"I'm sorry what?!"
"And over here," Ann continued, not wanting to answer any questions. "Is my mom's dad Merlin. So um yeah...my grandparents are a legendary wizard and the Queen of demons." Stephanie balked, gaping at the pair of legendary figures in silence. She had wanted to meet her extended family but she had never expected it to be this bizarre. "Ann you're frightening the girl," Lilith replied, her voice so cold and dread filled that it sent chills down Stephanie's spine. "This is alot for any mortal to take in and the poor girl has not even met Martin and Marilyn."
"Martin and Marilyn?"
"We usually call them grandpa and grandma," Gloria said. "Grandpa is really nice. Grandma though can be a bit intimidating. Not with us, she loves her grandkids and her great grandkids but her daughters? Yeah, she kind of intimidates them."
"I've um never met her," Stephanie replied meekly. The others now raised an eyebrow, glancing towards Stephanie's mother Ann before looking once more at the teenage girl. "I do believe your mother will be hearing quite an earful today," Merlin said. "However Marilyn shall be quite happy to finally meet you Stephanie," Lilith added.
Stephanie didn't know what to say, simply gawking at her extended family in stunned silence. "Welcome to the family Stephanie," Gloria smiled as she pat an empty space on the couch. "It takes some getting used to its alot of fun."