We were sitting around the table that night, eating a casserole that Abby had cooked. She actually had a lot of culinary experience for someone her age, having had to look after Nicole when Daniel had to work late. She had been working on it when we arrived and it had now been brought to a point where we could eat it. I had set the table and we were all waiting on Abby to move the dish containing the casserole over to the table. Abby placed the casserole dish in the middle of the table.

"Emma, can you serve us?" Abby asked.

I think unless something happens soon to change his life significantly, something that gives him a place in life, a rôle, a purpose and some light at the end of the tunnel he’ll end up committing suicide before long. Such a mind set is dangerous in people who have kids they care about because their minds become so disturbed they often take the kids with them rather than risk them ending up in even worse circumstances. Keep that to yourself. None else who can’t reason it out for himself needs to know. His lack of self confidence and the fear he’ll lose the children is crippling him to the point of being barely able to function. Christ his whole life has been one unending pile of shite, whatever happens has got to be an improvement. A decent single bloke with no life experience worth a damn and even less self confidence who has clearly been reviled and abused all his life by women as well as men was given the custody of his sister and brother in law’s three orphaned kids because his parents are too old and his sisters already have a family and cant afford to take the kids in, and with no bloody support at all he was expected to cope playing mother and father both to the kids. He’s doing his damnedest, but what the f*** were the powers that be thinking of?”

Ryan Mondalmi

The Customer Presentation.

So we spent most of Monday night gluing Lori back together. We didn't bother with the makeup since I wouldn't be showing any seams. For all the good it did, Aida gave me a titty squeeze to welcome Lori back.

Summer Tutor

Nikkie Silk

Sunday

Mom and dad were merciful, they didn't disturb us until we were ready to get up. It's a good thing we had gotten used to sharing a bathroom, because it takes a while to get beautiful. We didn't go all out like the day before, Aida gave us a much simpler look for a casual day. I resolved to start learning how to do makeup magic if I had any intention of letting Lori out more often when this week was over.

Friday

That was one of the longest weeks in my life. I strove mightily to get things in shape so I could take the next week off. With Aida pulling evening shift so she could get the weekend off to meet my parents our only direct contact was last night's comedy. It helps when you're the boss, playing with the schedule is a bit easier that way. Also, her people were excited that she would be meeting her fiancée's parents. They were in on the scam with her parents, but not with the scam with me.

DISCLAIMER: I am not a canon author.

Chapter 11

Eventually August rolled around and as it drew to a close the three of them packed up their new clothes for the trip to Whateley.

"Any last minute advice Sally?" Fred said as they headed towards the airport in the limo.

"Unless it's an emergency don't show any powers until you get to Whateley," Sally said. "And even then only on Green flag days."

"Try not to drool on any of the hot exemplar babes," Brita said. "Unless it's me of course."

A Slight Diversion

At this point I have to admit to a certain ambivalence. I had fantasized about making love to Aida more than once, but I chickened out long before she could say 'yes.' At that point the memories of my first - and only - experience with sexual intimacy messed things up. Now she had unmistakably said 'yes.'

Caught and convicted: “My name is Jenny now and because I was a good girl I now have the tits and State ID card to prove it.”

It's amazing what young men will do in order to NOT get committed to a hard core men's prison.

Days 1 – 14 = Pre-trial intake; the process begins

All detainees had (allegedly) committed crimes and affronts against women and had been sentenced to indeterminate sentences in a special prison diversion program to atone for the crimes caused by our toxic testosterone fueled ways.

Thanksgiving

Sometimes Chaos can be a good thing. The old place was filled to the rafters, but we managed to find places for both visiting families to sleep. I graciously volunteered to sleep at Lucy's place to make room. Hey - I'm a writer, I make up stories for a living. I don't claim they're convincing stories.

The Letter

I had fallen into the habit of checking the mail each day when it came through the letter slot. Today's missive contained something different: a letter with FINAL NOTICE prominently printed on the envelope. Mom was three months behind on her electric bill.

A Rude Awakening

I woke up when my phone started ringing. I knew it was my sister Caroline since the ringtone was Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline. Caroline thought I was a genius to be able to do something like that and had me put Croche's Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown on hers so she knew it was her husband calling. I had better add that Leroy was a nice guy, not a bad bad one.

"Whazzit?" I mumbled.

All Brides Are Virgins, Aren't They?

Arising on a fine Saturday morning to find my love had already claimed the bathroom, I contemplated the day ahead. Vonda had warned me to dress comfortably in something simple and to wear comfortable shoes. She had been shopping with her mother before and knew how to prepare.

The Questions

I stood naked beside the bed, still holding my wet towel. What the hell was going on around here?
 

I wouldn't go so far as to call myself a skeptic, but haunted houses were things you found in movies, not in real life. Point one: I was the only one in the place. Counterpoint one: I had left the door open, not to mention the windows.

Freya's Heir

DISCLAIMER: I am not a canon author.

Chapter 10
On Monday they dressed in slacks and shirts with full sleeves and brought a jacket along to the airport.

"Are we taking the armored limo?" Fred asked.

Security chief Rodriguez said, "Yes, ma'am. We are also sending four guards in front of you in an armored SUV. There will be another SUV and another limo waiting at the Berlin airport."

"Thank you," Fred said. "Any more protesters?"

John is a seasonal worker who often moved from one ranch to the next.
However, his newest job might become his undoing.
It isn't the ranch owner, a certified bad-ass witch, who turns out to be his opponent, but the very herd she keeps.
John can only trust himself. Not a good sign as he might be too curious for his own good.

This story takes place in the "Fashionable Witches" verse and can be read stand-alone.

Author's Note: This story was posted unfinished by Paula Dillon after working on it for two years when writer's block struck. Chapter 1 consists of her originally posted story that has been edited in concert with the extension and completion of the story jointly authored by Paula and Tigger.

Mind, Body and Spirit
by
Paula Dillon

Author's Note: Korean terms used in the story's Karate classes are parenthetically translated the first time the term is used in a chapter. For example GOMAN! (stop) CHARYUT! (attention). A glossary of such terms is contained in Appendix B of Part 1 for future reference.
~-~

Chapter 7

After unpacking they ate and slept and were free of jetlag the next morning.

"Let's do some sparring on the beach after breakfast," Fred said. She was sitting at the kitchen table in just a robe.

"Sure," Sally said. "I brought my gi." Sally was dressed in blue cargo shorts under a white tank top.

"Then maybe I can practice my blasts without losing clothes because I'll be starting with none," Brita said. She was also in just a robe but hadn't bothered to tie it shut unlike Fred.

Chapter Five

DISCLAIMER: I am not a canon author.

Monday morning while Brita and Sally got driven to the DPA offices to get tested Fred ran by himself again and practiced his new running spell.. He was planning to surprise the other two with it some time.

Fred saw them at lunch, "Hello ladies. How did it go?"

"It went well," Brita said. "Sally was great at moral support. I am an avatar 1, induced Exemplar 3, and an Energizer 4a at least for now."

"She can produce both light and heat in great amounts but with little control as yet," Sally said.

DISCLAIMER: I am not a Canon author.

Chapter Three
Fred got to sleep in his own bed that night and appreciated it. He also appreciated taking a shower by himself rather than having a nurse wash his unburned bits while the water quickly flowed past him in the high tech tub. He had a lot of pent up frustration to release now that he had privacy.

After a good night's sleep he awoke and went down for breakfast, "Hi Sally! It almost seemed weird not talking to you before going to sleep last night but I'm glad we're out of the hospital."

Chapter Two

DISCLAIMER: I am not a canon author.

A few days later, Dr. Wang examined them again, “The first degree burns are gone already, the second and third degree are healing nicely. If this continues, you should be done in a few weeks instead of the months it would normally take and have minimal to no scarring.”

“Thank you, doctor,” Fred said, “I could wish for a book to read, but it would get waterlogged.”

“Maybe they can set us up with audiobooks?” Sally asked.

“We can do that if you don’t mind both listening to the same one,” Dr. Wang replied.