Curse

Summary: Fiona and her family help Rebecca find peace.

A/N: Think of this as an AU season two/season three episode with Fiona. It's technically a companion to my 2010 two-part series "Lineage," but you do not need to read that in order to read this story. (I mean, you can if you want, both stories are still on my profile.) Marathoning So Weird inspired me to branch off of my old two-parter, but I think new readers will be able to follow without getting lost. All the characters are themselves, almost as canon left them in season two...except for a few tweaks based on groundwork already present in the series. Writers/producers hinted that Molly's family had witch magic and Jack was a knight in a past life. Both were going to be part of the Original Season Three. So I explored those concepts, bringing them together in my own "series finale" (minus Annie, my AU pretends the real S3 doesn't happen). This story picks up from there but focuses on Rebecca, a canon character featured in season one.

Chapter One

In 1974, Stevie Nicks of the band Fleetwood Mac wrote a song called "Rhiannon." She explained in interviews that she found the name in a book and pictured a "Welsh witch." Years later, Nicks learned the character existed in a real legend about a goddess queen. That's weird enough to get my interest.

Even weirder, my mom says the song inspired the melody for "Rebecca." I have to admit that, from what I've seen, Rebecca and Rhiannon do have some things in common. Both are mysterious ladies who leave people behind to travel the world. In the Welsh story, Rhiannon was a goddess who lives among mortals...sort of like Rebecca. This makes me wonder. Is my mom's childhood best friend immortal because of pure genetics, or is there a much deeper reason?

If there is, can she and her family be saved from their fate?

Thirteen-year-old Molly McQuinn was sick of the beach. Her fair skin had burnt to a crisp the first week of summer vacation, making the harsh, hot sand almost unbearable. Still she went every day, hoping for some distraction that would keep her away from her home and her parents for a few hours. Early in the morning she'd spread a blanket on the sand and begin to read her latest paperback novel. She did realize that nothing would change if she kept to herself, but at the same time, she didn't have the courage to approach...them.

The five friends also trekked down to the beach every day, but they carried beach chairs and magazines, gossiping while they worked on their enviable tans. All they seemed to care about was their own social circle, celebrity "news," or when their favorite store would be having a sale.

The carefree chatter and frequent napping would go on until about noon. Then, their guy friends would show up, leading to a volleyball game or a sandcastle-building contest. Molly couldn't imagine belonging to a group like that. It would be impossible for her to fit in with classmates who were so...normal. Constantly she wondered how some people were like that, and some people sat alone, baking in the sun while trying to read a book under the glare.

In their defense, they didn't completely ignore her. After a while they nodded hello as they passed by her in the morning. One day, they'd even invited her to share their picnic lunch. Molly knew better than to get her hopes up though. When they talked, it'd been like they were speaking a different language. She couldn't care less about fashion tips, or any of the mean, immature boys in their class. It embarrassed her to think of it, but she wound up talking about the book she was reading instead, the conversation stalling because no one had read the classic title. They didn't invite her to sit with them the next day.

She managed to recover from the humiliation, but when she went back to the beach, she walked further down the shore to find a place where they wouldn't be able to see her. To her it wasn't "hiding," it was...giving up. A couple weeks later she stopped going there entirely. With no other option, she hopped on her bike and went to the neighborhood park, hoping nobody from school would be there. Most classmates were at the beach or on vacation.

This decision led her to Rebecca.

Wearing a colorful dress and sandals, the then-unfamiliar girl sat on a bench alone, reading a book but also watching the scenery around her. She appeared to be...observing, surveying passerby with cool detachment. Molly couldn't figure out what her deal was, and after that previous failed attempt to make friends, she was too scared to try again. But something prevented Molly from looking for another bench. There was space for at least a second person, so instead Molly chose to sit down and read quietly next to her.

She was surprised when they read "together" in silence for almost an hour. In that time, Molly became a little braver, encouraged that the new girl hadn't walked away. Finally she closed over the book and glanced to her left. "Um...hi. I'm Molly."

At first Molly worried the sudden introduction would startle her, but the girl was calm as she also closed her book. "Rebecca," she said, then added as an afterthought, "I believe we're neighbors."

Right, Molly thought, Ma said people moved in across the street, and they had a daughter. "Yeah, my parents and I saw your moving truck the other day. I'm in the house directly across from yours."

"Yes, I've seen you and your parents. I love your garden."

"Thanks, I'll tell my mom." Searching for more to say, Molly asked, "So, um, how old are you? What grade are you going into?"

"Eighth. I'm only twelve, but I skipped kindergarten." To Molly's ears, Rebecca's automatic answer sounded strangely rehearsed, like she'd been told to remember the line for a play.

Dismissing the oddity, Molly said, "That's cool, I'll be in eighth grade too."

Puzzled by her dream, Fiona slowly opened her eyes in the dark and stared at the ceiling of her room on the bus. She felt restless so she sat up in bed. "Well that was weird," she muttered. Why would she dream about her mom meeting Rebecca? More importantly, how? She just found out who Rebecca was less than two years ago, after only knowing of her from the song. Neither her mother nor Rebecca herself ever related their first meeting.

Fi ran to the notebook on her desk and wrote down everything while it was fresh in her mind. Whatever this was, she wasn't going to take the chance that she wouldn't remember it in the morning.

When she walked into the common area a few hours later, notebook page in hand, Fiona smiled at the music blasting from the bus' CD player. It was one of her mother's favorite bands, Fleetwood Mac. She'd heard it the instant she woke up. Her mother sat at the table while she read the newspaper, humming along in between taking sips of her coffee. "'Morning," Fi said, amused.

"Fi!" Molly exclaimed, nearly jumping out of her skin. The paper fell on the table as she rushed to lower the volume. "I'm sorry, I knew you were sleeping but for some reason it didn't even register..."

Fiona laughed. "Don't worry about it, I didn't really sleep well anyway. Where is everyone?"

"They went to get breakfast. Jack and Carey wanted to pick out their own doughnuts," she explained, shaking her head. "They got into a heated argument over jelly versus cream filling. It's moments like that where I can't believe my baby boy is going to college in September."

"I believe it. Can't get here soon enough," Fi joked.

Molly chuckled, knowing Fi didn't truly mean it. "What's that?" she asked, just noticing the handwritten page.

"The reason I didn't sleep well last night," Fi answered. She gave her mother the piece of paper as they sat down at the table. "Those notes you're reading are from a dream I had. It was about you and Rebecca, when you were kids." It took some willpower not to add well, when you were a kid. "Is that what happened?"

Her face pale, Molly was silent as she read both sides of the page. Finally she steadied her nerves by letting out a deep sigh. "Y-yes," she confirmed, nodding. Her near-whisper sounded spooked, overwhelmed...and embarrassed. "Even the part about those girls from school."

"I'm sorry, Mom." Fiona had started to feel guilty when she reflected on what she'd seen. While intriguing, her dream could also be considered an invasion of her mom's private memories. Fi probably wouldn't like it if her future daughter "looked into" her past this way. "I wasn't trying to dream this. Trust me, I was pretty surprised myself." She paused to gather the courage she needed for her next words. "I think this means that Rebecca is here in Phoenix."

She didn't expect her mother to be thrilled, but she hadn't anticipated Molly crumpling up Fi's notes and tossing them aside. "So?" she said coolly. "We've crossed paths before, and she didn't want to see me then. What makes now any different?"

"It is different now, Mom. You...you believe more than you did two years ago," Fi said, then wanted to wince. The reply sounded cryptic even to her.

Molly raised an eyebrow, leaning back in the seat and crossing her arms. "Oh?" When Fi wasn't sure how to answer, she added, "Are you saying that...Rebecca...has to do with..."

The question was left incomplete while Fi struggled for an answer. "She wants to see you," Fi said instead, deciding her best tactic would be avoidance. "So much, you have no idea how much...she just couldn't. She, uh...wasn't allowed."

Incredulous, Molly interrupted, "Fiona, the woman is my age with a kid of her own. She's allowed to see whoever she wants."

"Not exactly, in both cases..."

"What are you not telling me?" Molly demanded, frustrated by her daughter's cagey behavior. Her voice inched up in volume as she continued, "Why are you keeping her confidence when you barely know her? You're my daughter Fiona, yet you're lying to me now to protect a stranger, just like you did before. What is this secret that makes it okay for her to abandon me over and over again?"

"It's not my secret to tell!"

Fiona's defensive shout stunned both herself and her mother. Standing up from the table, she waited a second to catch her breath and calm her racing heartbeat. "Mom, please give Rebecca another chance. I know she doesn't deserve it, but I think...if I tell her what we are, if I convince her we aren't a threat to her safety, she'll tell you herself this time."

"'What we are'?" Molly exclaimed, her eyes wide with disbelief as she stood to face her daughter. "Fiona, if this woman won't trust me with the biggest secret of her life, why in the world should I trust her with mine?" She paused, fearful as she considered the consequences. "And if I have to worry that you'll tell Rebecca about our family's magic then I don't want you looking for her, understand?"

This is so messed up, Fi thought angrily. I get why she doesn't want to find Rebecca, but for her to forbid me from finding her? She's not looking at the whole picture. There's a reason we're in the same town as Rebecca again, and we shouldn't ignore that. "Yeah, I get it," Fi retorted. Then she spun around and marched back to her room.

Not even a minute after Fi left the common area, Molly turned to the door when Irene climbed the steps onto the bus. Ned and the boys followed, each carrying a brown paper bag full of doughnuts and bagels. "How much did you buy?" Molly asked Irene, attempting to level her shaking voice. She didn't need to announce to the group that she and Fiona just had a fight.

Her son answered her question as he placed the bag he'd been carrying on the table. "Mom, I don't know if you'd noticed," Jack teased. "But we're six people, and three of us are grown men with healthy appetites. This is especially true when fresh, homemade assorted doughnuts are involved."

Carey nodded in agreement while the adults laughed. "Seriously, how can you expect us to just pick one? It's unreasonable."

"Grown men, huh?" Ned asked, chuckling.

While Jack and Carey gave him insulted looks, Irene said to Molly, "Don't worry, we remembered to get a bagel and a doughnut for Fiona. She still sleeping?"

"Um...no, she's awake." Avoiding eye contact with Irene, Molly went to turn off the CD player. Fleetwood Mac's self-titled 1975 album had still been playing.

The entire Phillips-Bell clan gave her suspicious glances. "Uh oh," Jack said. "I'm sensing post-fight tension. What did my precious little sister do now?"

"Nothing," Molly insisted, sitting back down at the table with an indignant huff. The balled-up page of Fi's notes flew off the table, rebounded off the window and landed on the bench between her son and Carey. Ned and Irene stepped back from her in surprise while Jack curiously unfolded the paper to see what was on it.

No one was too shocked by Molly's display of power. Even though she never said a spell, once in a while extreme emotion would cause her family's abilities to...make things happen. (She probably sent the notes flying because of her fight with Fiona.) Molly vividly remembered when she found out about the real cause of Rick's crash, and her ensuing magical meltdown that led to Fi getting hurt. This recent string of incidents made Molly fear similar results. After calling her mother, the family was relieved to learn their powers would settle down with practice.

"Hey Mom? What's this?" Jack held up the page he'd spread out so it was flat.

Picking up on Molly's hesitation, Irene handed Carey one of the full bags from the store. "Here, why don't you guys take some breakfast to Fi." She passed Jack the bag of individual cream cheeses and plastic knives, exchanging them for the wrinkled notebook page. "Go," she ordered.

"Yes ma'am," Carey said, mock saluting her with his free hand as he and Jack walked out of the common area.

After the guys left, Molly waited in silence as her best friends sat at the table with her and read about Fi's dream. "I don't understand," Irene confessed when Ned put down the page. "Why was Fiona writing about your best friend from eighth grade?"

"The one in the song," Ned clarified. "Who mysteriously disappeared."

"Fiona knows why she left," Molly stated with conviction, shocking them both. "But she won't say what it is. That's why she told me about this vision, and said that Rebecca's here. She wants to find her...again, so that I can finally hear the truth from Rebecca herself."

Irene raised an eyebrow. "And you don't want that?"

Shrugging, Molly explained, "More like I'm afraid to hope. How can I allow myself to feel that again when she's just going to run?"

"Fiona didn't hint at all about her reason for leaving?" Ned asked. "Molly, this doesn't make any sense. Why would Fi keep this from you, when she must see how much it tears you apart?"

Molly sighed. "She did indicate that Rebecca's secret was...paranormal, like ours. I don't know what to make of it because if Rebecca was a witch, Fi could've just told me. And being a witch wouldn't explain why she has to keep moving."

"So what happened with the fight?" Irene asked. "Did Fi storm off because she wouldn't tell?"

Frowning, Molly regretted that she'd let her anger get the best of her. She did have a right to fear that Fi would trust Rebecca when it wasn't earned, but at the same time, she should also trust her daughter's judgment. It had proved itself countless times in the past. "Well there's that, and..." Molly paused, embarrassed to continue. She supposed this personal response said it all. "Fi said she wanted to tell Rebecca that we were witches, so I...got scared and forbade her from finding Rebecca on her own."

Based on her friends' exasperated looks, she knew they didn't agree with her ruling either.

Fiona was pouting in her room when Jack and Carey knocked on her door. The fight making her grumpy, she muttered "what do they want?" to herself and stayed at her desk on her computer.

"Room service!" Jack called jokingly. "Bagels and/or jelly doughnuts for Ms. Fiona Phillips."

"Yeah, let us in, I'm starving!" Carey added.

Chuckling despite her sour mood, Fi got up from her chair to let them in. "Okay, but only because you brought me breakfast." She swiped a jelly doughnut from the top of the bag and sat back down at her desk. The guys put the brown paper bag between them on her bed, Jack taking a plain bagel and Carey picking a doughnut. She grimaced at the thought of crumbs or jelly filling on her comforter. "I guess Mom told you?"

"Not really. She did and she didn't," Carey said with his mouth already full. "I don't know if you've noticed Fi, but your mother isn't very subtle about these things."

Fi and Jack glanced at each other, both acknowledging the truth in his statement. "What did she say? Fiona asked. "If anything." She grabbed a napkin from the pile the guys had brought in, using it to catch powdered sugar as she began working on her own breakfast.

"It's not so much what she said..." her brother answered. He gave Fi his undivided attention, leaving his bagel-and-cream cheese on its napkin. "...as much as what magic said for her. The page of notes you wrote flew at me and Carey." Even after all that happened to the family a few months ago, he still looked uncomfortable talking about it. "Mom wouldn't explain with us there, but I saw the name 'Rebecca.' What's going on, Fi?"

Tilting his head in thought, Carey said, "Wait, like from the song, 'Rebecca'?" The two Phillips siblings nodded. "I remember hearing about this a couple years ago, when Clu included it in an email. I couldn't believe she ditched Mrs. P again. That's cold."

"Which is why Fi should leave this alone," Jack said, narrowing his eyes at his sister.

"But it wasn't cold!" Fi insisted. "Rebecca was heartbroken! She never wanted to hurt Mom, not when they were kids or two years ago." Sensing that the remaining half of her doughnut was about to slide off her lap onto the floor, she used her napkin as a plate and put both on her desk. "I promise that she has a very good reason for everything she's done."

His mind almost-visibly racing, Jack asked, "So, what? Is her family in the Witness Protection Program or something?"

"No, it's...'weirder', than that. If you get what I mean."

"Oh." Again Jack seemed like he didn't want to be discussing this. "Then why can't you tell Mom? I understand not telling her two years ago, but now she'll believe you."

Fi shook her head. "It's not that simple, Jack. This subject is...sensitive, for Mom. If I tell her what's really going on, she'll just accuse me of making up a crazy story to cover the real one. I need proof now, aka Rebecca herself." She sighed. "The notes you read were from a vision I had last night, so Rebecca must be here in Phoenix. And Mom won't let me look for her."

To Fi's confusion, Carey scoffed. "You say that like it's ever stopped you before."

"Hey, I listen...sometimes..." Fi realized that Carey had a sound argument, but remembering how scared and insistent her mother had been, she was still reluctant to take matters into her own hands. Was it so important that she find Rebecca if her mother was too hurt to let bygones be bygones? Fi knew why Rebecca vanished, so maybe one day in the future, Molly would be ready to hear the truth. Fiona couldn't be certain that her vision meant she had to find Rebecca again. "How would I even do this?" she asked, trying to deflect interest. "If I disappear at all today, Mom will know what I'm up to and track me down. Maybe she's right and I should just stay out of this."

Both Jack and Carey stared at her, stunned. This was possibly the first time in history that Fi had ever let a supernatural event go. There was an unusual expression on Jack's face, an unreadable mix of disbelief and anger. "No," he said. This atypical encouragement caused more shock than Fi's resignation. "It looks like we're switching places today, because I think you should go for it. I love Mom, but I know deep down, she really does want to see Rebecca again. You have to do this for her even if it means not listening to her."

Her brother's unexpected support changed Fi's outlook. She sat quietly while she finished her doughnut, processing what this meant and formulating a new plan. "Okay," she said, wiping powdered sugar off her hands. "I guess I do still want to find Rebecca again. Since this is Opposite Day I'll say that Jack's right." She and her brother traded smirks. "It's clear that Mom does want to see Rebecca...well see her, and know it's her. We'll start with nearby history museums that have intern programs. If you guys go with me and back up a cover story, Mom will never have to know until we're ready to surprise her."

"Unless she has a vision about it first," Carey remarked. At the siblings' glances, he added, "What? It's perfectly logical to worry about surprising a psychic."

Fiona chuckled while Jack rolled his eyes. "We'll keep that in mind, Carey," she replied sincerely. "It is possible Mom might 'sense' we're lying to her. Although...if Jack's right, she won't really try to stop us either way. She'll want us to find Rebecca."