(1) Family Ties (D. Salvatore)

Chapter Seven

Tansy stands in front of a mirror as she takes in her appearance. She's decided to go out. A change to her usual plans. Because whilst Sheila has not said anything about what today is, Tansy can feel her eyes on her. Pity. Worry. Swimming there. She needs a break. She needs to get out of the house. To get away from the eyes. Sheila is making her feel fragile. But she knows how to deal with this. She knows how to grieve in her own way. She doesn't need the eyes on her. So instead of her pjs, she's wearing jeans, a top, and some boots. Nothing fancy. Just actual clothing. Even though she doesn't particularly want to dress up to go out, she would be more than happy to go out in a pair of pjs, but everyone tends to look at her strangely for doing that. So even if she is not in the mood, she has to make an effort. To wear something appropriate.

........

A number of patrons leave the Mystic Grill before Tansy pushes open the door to the Grill and heads inside. It's the only bar in town. The only one. Which, unless Tansy is willing to go further a field, is her only choice. She lets out a breath as she adjusts her jacket, her eyes scanning around at the people gathered here. And everyone is in costume, because of course they are. It's Halloween. It's not a holiday she celebrates, nor one she enjoys in anyway. Too many years of monsters wearing the disguises of humans being a part of her life she supposes. She slides past a couple of Supermen and what she assumes is some form of gnome as she heads straight for the bar, her eyes locked on the small empty space that she is planning on taking up for the rest of the night. She is going to be warming that seat for as long as she has cash. The bartender raises an eyebrow at her when she leans on the bar, pushing herself up a little to sit on the stool, silently asking her what she wants to order.

"Jack and coke" She orders as she taps her nails on the bar top. For the month that she has been here, she hasn't left the Bennett house, mostly because she was still adjusting to the time zone and she just didn't want to. She had no reason to when everything that she wanted was inside the house. Perhaps a part of her trauma from the war. Because even back in England she was turning into a recluse. Preferring the company of her books and artefacts. The bartender sets the drink onto the bar once he has made it and Tansy hands over the cash for it. It's loud in here, perfect to drown out the sound of her own mind and the screaming of her grief. Just for today. Tomorrow she will be better. Back to normal. Probably not the healthiest of coping methods, but it is currently working for her. She takes a drink from the glass and hums a little. She doesn't drink muggle alcohol very often, preferring the wizarding world choices, but what can she do when this is all she has access to.

"Elena?" She turns when someone taps on her shoulder, trying to get her attention. She raises an eyebrow at this guy as his face twitches when he realises his mistake. His blue eyes peer intensely at her. She tilts her head and pulls a face.

"Nope," She answers. "Tansy" She informs her intruder. He's frowning at her, almost in the same way that Bonnie did when they first met but she literally doesn't register it. Not today.

"Sorry, my mistake" He tells her and then moves to walk away, though he does glance back at her, as if trying to figure something out. Tansy doesn't care though. Not today. She turns back to the bar and to her drink. Her intruder doesn't go far, he takes a seat along the bar and keeps his eyes on Tansy in the mirror behind bar.

........

It's not too late when Tansy returns to the Bennett house. She'd run out of money faster than she would have at home. Everything is more expensive it seems in the US of A. She closes the door behind her as she shrugs out of her jacket. She lets out a breath and then pauses when she hears sniffling. Crying. Tansy turns and frowns at the couch where the noise comes from. She makes her way to the couch and peers over it. Bonnie is sat there, in a witch costume.

"A little on the nose" Tansy comments but Bonnie looks up at her with tears in her eyes. It is a bad time for a joke. Bonnie is very clearly upset. Tansy catches her as she lunges forward to hug her. Tansy blinks a little, slightly confused to the mood shift from what she saw this morning. That something has upset Bonnie this much. Tansy hugs her back, touching her back to comfort her. "What happened?" Tansy asks her softly. Bonnie pulls back and reaches up to brush away her tears.

"I did something" Bonnie admits.

"Oh, like a spell?" Tansy counters. "Did someone see? If you tell me who I'll wipe their memory of it"

"No" Bonnie shakes her head. "It came from my necklace" Bonnie pulls the necklace from inside of her costume. Tansy touches the necklace and then lets out a breath as she feels magic coming from it.

"Where'd you get that?" She asks, turning around the amber stone in her hand.

"It's part of my costume. It's a piece of junk" Bonnie argues. Tansy hums and shakes her head. Something at the back of her mind is flickering. A memory of a book. If she hadn't been drinking all night then she might find this easier.

"I've seen it before" Tansy mumbles, drawing her thumb over the amber. "Where have I seen it?"

"Everything okay?" Sheila asks as she walks into the room, looking between the two of them.

"The necklace" Tansy states and points to Bonnie's neck. "Where have I seen that before?" Sheila moves towards them and takes the necklace into her hand and looks down at the design. "I have seen it before, right?"

"You have" Sheila assures her. "In a book....here" She releases the necklace and moves to the shelf where she pulls a book from the shelf and approaches the two witches. "That necklace belonged to one of the most powerful witches of our family" Sheila admits and opens up the book and then holds it out towards Bonnie. "There she is. Emily Bennett. Your great-great-great-great-grandmother. And there's your necklace" Bonnie takes the book from her grandmother to stare down at the photo on the page. Tansy lets out a noise as she realises. She'd brushed herself up on the Bennett family history to help with Bonnie's lessons.