"What news, brother mine?"
"Lady Kathryn, may I present my belov'e'd?"
Kat turned and saw a woman in priestess garb, the moon fresh painted upon her forehead.
"Oh, great Lady," said the woman. "I kneel before you in abject piety..."
"Oh, you have to be kidding me," Kat said, bluntly. "Get up and stop grovelling, girl."
"Character," warned Darryl quietly.
"Hath thine wits left thee entirely?" Kat demanded of the empty air. "Arise, child. A priestess wouldst ne'er grovel in such a manner, 'tis unseemly, forasmuch thou wouldst no' hath the mark so strong upon thee, thou art suppos'e'd to be a woman grown, no' some babe of thirteen newly appoint'e'd to my mysteries. Furthermore thine timely arrival upon this vessel which doth convey us unto Avalon with greatest of speeds doth leave several questions weighing heavily upon mine mind. Prithee, could thou explain them to me?"
"Uh..." the girl looked to Darryl for help, not really following the flow of words. "That's not..."
"Perhaps thine mind desert'e'd thee whence thou telepor'e'd from Avalon itself? Or perhaps 'twas from faerie? For thou art suppos'e'd to be o' faerie bluid, and as such must be some relation to me - Morigaine, perhaps. I mineself art suppos'e'd to be o' faerie blood, but no' mention of Viv-"

"Alright, CUT!" yelled a voice. Instantly the lighting changed, revealing not a ship, but a carefully planned stage. Jade strode onto the stage.
"What is the problem now," she asked, with an emphasis on the "now".
"This is ridiculous!" Kat exclaimed. "There is far too much wrong with this script. It would never be shown anywhere. It's trash."
"Oh really."
"Yes, really. I know you wrote it, but it's rubbish. Sure, King Arthur for the children of today is all well and good, but you could at least get the history right! And leave some of the names correct! And ensuring that the story made *sense* would be a good idea too."
"I wrote this the way I wanted it..."
"Well, I am not going to perform in something so far from the story that it's barely recognisable! You can talk to me when you're ready to be reasonable."
"It's *MY* script!"
"And it Does Not Make Sense. You have not changed one word since I read it the first time. I made it a condition of my acting that the script be altered to make sense, and it still doesn't. Therefore, I'm not coming back until it's fixed! You want to write your own story, make it original. You want to write Le Morte Darthur, read the damned book, don't rely on trendy rubbish like "Merlin" and "Excalibur"."
Kat turned and stormed off the stage, ignoring Jade's cries to return.

Jade sighed, and turned to Darryl.
"Can't you reason with her?"
"Perhaps. My sister was ever tempestuous."
"Tell me about it. The problem is she *knows* I need her. She *knows* she is the only one I could consider for the role. She *knows* that nobody else could ever play the lady and get away with it, and she knows that I need her for my film if I want it to work."
"Kat sees to the centre of things," murmured Darryl. "Uh... She does have a few points though."
"Not you too!" Jade turned and walked off the stage. "OK, coffee break!" she yelled. Work ceased immediately. Word had gone around that Kat had quit, and all knew it wouldn't go on without her.

"Kat?"
"Yes, Dazz."
Darryl entered the room, to find Kat sitting in front of her mirror, wearing selected pieces of her costume. He had to admit that the effect was far more striking then when she had the whole get up on.
"Quitting again?"
"I'm sick of it, Dazz. The story doesn't even make sense. It's a variation of Arthur for the kids of today, but it doesn't even mirror the story in more than the vaguest sense. Vivian didn't *have* a brother, only Ingrane and Morgause, and Ingrane married Gorlis and had Morigaine, and then Uther and had Galahad - And Morgause married Lot, and Morigaine lay with Galahad, who was her own brother, and..."
Dazz laughed. "With a lineage like that, is it any wonder that she can't keep the names straight?"
"That isn't the point. You need to have Ambrosius and Gorlis and Lot and Uriens and Ectorius..."
Dazz sighed. "Perhaps she is not trying to do the entire history?"
"It still doesn't make sense. The whole idea is ridiculous."
"You could try being nicer to her, you know. She is going to be our sister."
Kat laughed. "That doesn't stop me telling you and Jimmy and David what I think!"
Dazz laughed with her, then sat on her bed.
"But we just pick your points out. She hasn't known us that long, and doesn't have our... connection."
Kat sighed. She was the only sister to her three older brothers, and the boys had looked after her as best they could. Their parents had died when Kat was only 13, Darryl 15, David 19 and James 21. The boys had fought tooth and nail to keep their family together, and as a result, the family had grown closer than many.

Kat was 24 now, a successful scholar in Medieval history and many subjects that weren't *strictly* "history" - she was the youngest expert on medieval history England had ever known, and she was also a successful actress by accident. After being hired to pick up many faults in movies, she'd been so frustrated with one of the many "actresses" who had won the role of Vivian, that she had stormed on stage, taken the head-piece of the girl and placed it on her own head. The instant transformation from small blonde girl who knew a lot about Arthurian Legends to the Lady of the Lake personified had left the producer speechless. After the had delivered the lines to the somewhat stunned "Arthur", the producer had hired her again, in a slightly different capacity. And so began her career. She had refused to do anything other than medieval works though, which annoyed some, but meant that she was extremely well known and sought after in her field. She unfortunately had somewhat of a temper, and it usually took one of her brothers, or compliance with her wishes, to calm her down again.

Darryl was 26, an actor in his own right, and married to a lovely girl for almost 2 years. Sarah had, 12 months ago, given Darryl his first son, and had privately told Kat that she thought she might be pregnant again. Kat adored her nephew, and happily spent hours telling little Timmy story upon story. Tim was another male who could calm Kat's temper with nothing more than a smile and a few touches.

David was a producer, and that was how he'd met his current fiancé, Jade. David was just 32, and had finally decided it was high time he got married. Jade herself had always admired David's work, and was working hard to make a name for herself when she met him in person, and instantly fell in love.

Jade herself had somewhat of a mixed background. Her parents were American, and she had only moved to England 5 years ago, at age 23, to start her career *away* from Hollywood. She was an only child, and still received weekly phone calls from her parents - they missed her dreadfully, and were planning on travelling to England in the next year. Jade worried for their health, as they were getting older, and long plane trips weren't exactly the best thing for her parents. However, they would do what they would do; and Jade certainly wasn't getting married without her parents in attendance.

The final brother, James, was 34, and an executive general manager for an oil and gas company, like their father had been before he and their mother died. He and his wife, Melissa, travelled a lot, all over the world, but had recently moved back to England with their two girls - Elainer and Julia. Melissa was 8 months pregnant and wanted to have their third child in England, where she and her husband had been born.

"Kat?" Dazz asked, bending over to look at her face.
"Sorry. I was just thinking about Jimmy."
"Ah. They're moving in today, aren't they?"
"Yes, they are."
Brother and sister smiled at each other, and then Dazz settled back.
"Try and explain to Jade what the problem is without the frustration levels going through the roof?" he requested, quietly.
Kat laughed. "I'll try, but I'm not making any promises! If all else fails, I'll go scream at David and *he* can explain it!"

***

Kat and Jade spent the rest of the afternoon shut up in Kat's room, and by the time they emerged, they both seemed happier with the result. Jade sent someone off to print out new copies of the script, and told everyone they could go home. The two stood together, and were shortly joined by Darryl, and David.
"Got it sorted?" David asked, "Or do I need to have it explained to me?"
Kat laughed. "Got it sorted. I drew her a family tree, so she can get the lineage correct, and I explained a few things about Avalon."
"I didn't realise the Lady of the Lake was a real person," Jade admitted quietly to David as he wrapped his arms around her.
David chuckled.
"Few people have done as much reading as our Kat on the subject," he allowed. "Are we all ready? Jim called to say he, Melissa and the girls left the animals with Melissa's parents, and would be meeting us at the old house."
"Good!" Kat beamed. "It will be nice to have everyone back in the house. It's lonely there now that all you boys have gone."
"Oh, poor little princess," teased Darryl with a laugh. "We'll all move back in, and Lainy and Jule can run up and down the stairs, and Tim can cry in the hall, and..."
"Actually, on second thought, why don't we all go to Dazz and Sarah's?" Kat suggested with a laugh.
"No luck," Dazz replied. "Sare and Timmy will be there by the time we get there. Let's get going. It's time for a family reunion."
The four piled into a waiting car, and went back to the family home.

***

Kat climbed out of the car and ran up the few steps to the front door. She then exuberantly threw her arms around the neck of the tall good-looking guy on the door-step.
"Jimmy!"
He laughed and hugged his little sister enthusiastically, lifting her in a huge bear hug. By the time he put her feet back on the ground Dazz and David had reached them and were thumping Jim on the back, then wringing his hand thoroughly. Then the four paused, simply looking at each other. Kat stared at the three faces she loved so well. The family was together again.

Gradually, the other associated family members emerged from the back-ground. Kat knelt to pick up Tim, who had toddled over and tugged at her skirt, saying "Ka!" in delighted tones. While Kat greeted her nephew seriously, Sarah came around the corner of the house, then called around the corner, "Mel, they're here!" Heavily pregnant, Mel waddled around the corner, just as Sarah spied Jade.
"You must be Jade," she said, and Jade nodded shyly.
She was feeling somewhat overwhelmed.
"Don't worry," Sarah confided. "They're always like this when they first get together after a separation. They remember we're here after a few moments."
"They seem... very close."
"They are. But you're easily accepted. The half-sentences take a little getting used to though!"
"Half...?"
"You'll see! Mel, this is Jade. David's fiancé."
Mel laughed. "I would hug you, but I'm finding even hugging my Jim a little difficult these days! I can't wait until this thing is born!"
The three women laughed, and the 5 on the step turned to look at them. As Kat turned, Tim caught sight of Dazz, and instantly transferred his affections.
"Da!"
Dazz accepted Tim, and Kat moved down to talk to Sarah and Mel.
"Mel, you're huge!"
"I know!"
"Do you know if it's a boy or girl yet?"
"No, and I don't want to!" Mel warned. "So don't you dare tell me!"
Kat laughed, and placed her hands on Mel's belly.
"You can tell if it will be a boy or girl?" Jade asked curiously.
"I guess," Kat said, but Mel and Sarah both laughed.
"She hasn't been wrong yet," Sarah explained. "And not just with Mel and me. Everyone who asks her - and sometimes people who don't."
Kat was concentrating on Mel's belly, and suddenly she grinned.
"Have you picked names yet?" she asked.
"Yes. Lars Yohan if it's a boy, and Maya Devi if it's a girl."
"Better keep thinking," Kat grinned, then leaned over to Sarah and Jade and whispered, "Twin boys."
"Twins!" Sarah exclaimed aloud, then swiftly covered her mouth. "Oh, Mel, I'm so sorry!"
Mel was looking somewhat dazed.
"Twins? More girls? NO! Don't tell me! That at least will be a surprise!"
The girls laughed.
"I had better tell Jim..."

Mel drifted off towards her husband, and the other three mounted the stairs behind her. Tim had since transferred his affections a third time with a loud shout of "Dim!", so when Melissa broke the news to Jim, he had to pass Tim to Sarah before he soundly kissed his wife. There was laughter, and the family moved inside and settled in the kitchen. Kat made herbal tea for everyone, and the family's conversation filled the house. Jade soon understood what Sarah had meant about the half sentences.
"I see you moved..."
"Yes, it was getting too..."
"Where is the...?"
"In the lounge."
"Is that a new...?"
"Yes, I got it last winter."
"Did you get...?"
"Yes, do you...?"
"It's lovely, Princess."

Slowly however, once the siblings had resolved the major issues relating to the house, the sentences became whole, allowing Jade, Melissa, and Sarah to join in the conversation. Tim attached himself to the hem of Kat's skirt and followed her around the kitchen - and she often used a foot to scoop him out of the way of other (far larger) feet as people moved around in the kitchen.
"Oh, Tim, come away from there," scolded his mother when she noticed.
"It's alright, Sarah. He doesn't let go, and I'm almost finished now."
Elainer and Julia had been waiting patiently for attention, and as soon as Darryl stooped and removed Tim from Kat's Skirt, Julia darted forward and tugged on her aunt's skirt.
"Aunty Kat, can Lainy and I-?"
"Sure," Kat replied easily, and the two girls bolted from the room.
Shortly thereafter the sound of patent leather shoes running up the stairs was heard clearly in the kitchen.
"You shouldn't let them up there," said Melissa with a smile. "They'll make such a mess, and I can't go up and clean after them with this!"
Kat laughed, and set the tea-pot on the table.
"It's not that bad. The attic is fairly messy already, and it's not like I didn't mess it up when I was little."
"Did she ever!" laughed David, and launched into one of many family stories, which kept them entertained for many hours, as one flowed into the other without pause.

It wasn't until after dinner, when Tim, Elainer and Julia had been put to bed, and the seven adults were sitting around the fire that Darryl brought up the strange news he had recently heard.
"The mirror is being sold again."
"The mirror?" asked Jade, who had relaxed after a few glasses of wine, and was now feeling quite part of the family. "Is that a club, or what?"
"The mirror is strange," Kat replied. "We had it when Mum and Dad were still alive. When they died, someone from some sort of society came and took it away from us."
"That's right," said Jim slowly. "I'd forgotten about that."
"I used to imagine it took me between here and Avalon," Kat said quietly.
"Childhood fantasy?" queried Sarah with a smile.
"No. Somehow it was more than that. It seems ridiculous now, of course. I was only 13 when Mum and Dad died, and hadn't "used" it for a couple of years by then... But I can clearly remember stepping into the mirror, and serving Vivian."
"That's why you're so good as her," said Darryl, generously. "You've been playing her since you were five!"
"Not quite," Kat laughed, and the mood lightened somewhat. "But still. I wouldn't mind having the mirror back."
"Well, it's being auctioned tomorrow morning, at that old estate in Teesside, we can go and have a look," said David.
"Not me," protested Melissa immediately. "I'm not up to it, and I like to sleep in!"
Jim laughed, and put an arm around his wife. "I'll stay with you, Mel, don't worry. Those young children can go gallivanting around the country-side in search of a mirror. You and I can stay here and look after the other children."
"You can arrange lunch, too!" laughed Darryl, standing and pulling Sarah to her feet. "I think, however, if we're to be up early to attend this auction, it's time for bed."
"I made up all the beds," Kat told them with a smile. "I knew that once you got here, you wouldn't be able to leave."
The boys laughed, and Jim helped Melissa to her feet. Jade got to her feet, and David put his arm around her.
"I'll show you my room," he said to her with a smile, and they left the room.
"Alright?" Darryl asked Kat, quietly.
"Alright," she smiled, banking up the fire and putting up the screen. "I'll see you in the morning."
Each family member kissed goodnight, and went to their beds.