Sins of the Father

Chapter 1: Naughty or Nice

It was Christmas Eve when a bright red Mustang pulled up to the mansion, and a woman climbed out of the car to bang on the front door. She had short hair, dyed — this time in black with bright red streaks — and she looked to be in a bit of a state, if the bottles of expensive liquor in the front seat were any indication.

She kept banging on the door for some time before she started to shout as well, "Katherine Bishop, I know you're in there, you cheat. Stop hiding and come out!"

When the door finally did open, it clearly wasn't who Susan Bishop had expected as a tall brunette with his arms crossed was standing in the entryway.

"Can I help you?" Scott asked as he looked down his nose at the obstinate woman.

Susan peered up at him for a moment and glared. "You're not him, are you?" she asked, slightly slurred. "The one she's engaged too?"

"I'm afraid not," he replied, holding up his left hand to show that he was already taken.

"Good." She drew herself up a bit taller and gave him her best glare, and though it was obvious she was related to Kate, the glare had none of the power Kate's did. "It's Christmas Eve. And I'm going to see my sister."

Scott looked over his shoulder for a moment before he turned back to her. "I'm not sure she's around, to be honest. She had plans tonight."

"Well that's just typical." Susan tried to see around him as best she could. "Little Katie hiding behind people again. Can't even be bothered to tell me her plans."

"I'm sorry, but — did you tell her you were coming? She's been here for quite a while now, and I can't say that I've ever seen you before."

"Like I'd ever be caught dead here," she said with a sneer.

"Then perhaps it's best you just leave if that's how you feel," Scott said, already closing the door.

"You tell her she can't just — I'm her sister," Susan said in an increasingly scandalized tone.

"If that's true, then you shouldn't have any trouble giving her the courtesy of a phone call." He gave her a tight smile. "The number hasn't changed."

"You tell me where she's gone," Susan demanded.

At that Scott slipped outside and crossed his arms over his chest again as he glared down at her. "Lady, I don't have to tell you anything. If you want to talk to your sister, give her a phone call and tell her you're here. Outside of an act of God, you're not getting past me otherwise."

She matched his glare for a long moment before she sneered at him and turned on her heel. "Giuletta was right. She's fallen in with freaks and losers. No wonder she's gone down the drain."

Scott actually laughed at that one. "Yeah, that's gonna make me want to give you what you want."

She just tipped her chin at him. "Laugh if you want, but when I'm through with her... " She glared again and stomped off, muttering something about the "board."

"Drive safely," Scott called out before he picked up his cell and called up Anton. "I've got a drunk driver leaving the school right now. Red mustang, you need the plate number?"

Kate and Kurt came back from their midnight Christmas Mass all smiles the morning of Christmas Day, completely in the dark as to Kate's "family visit" the previous day as they settled in for breakfast a bit later than everyone else, seeing as they'd been up all night.

"It's even more fun when I feel like I understand more of it," Kate told Kurt as she poured them both a cup of coffee. "Next year, I'll go up with you for the communion."