It Went Scarily Well.

"It sounded like it went well!" Tori chirped as you ended the call. "So..."

"Yeah..." You muttered. "Nessa's ready to move in today."

"That's good! I know I-er... Tori was worried!" Andrea exclaimed. "When's she coming?"

"Apparently we're picking her up." You sighed.

"That's... less good." Tori said, awkwardly rubbing her arm. "I promised I'd do some check-ups today."

"Oh yeah, you did..." Andrea muttered. "Well, I'll be your handler for today and Peter can-"

"I'd rather not Drea. Some of my appointments today, remember?" Tori interrupted, raising her eyebrows repeatedly.

"Yeah... that might be awkward with me along..." Andrea muttered. "I guess I could pick up Nessa?"

"Nope." You grunted. "She'll only move in if I pick her up. Tori's dad made that clear."

"I'll rearrange my appointments." Tori said, exhaling loudly. "There's nothing dire, so it should be fine. And I'll come with."

"Let's get changed and go then." You muttered, standing up...

That Afternoon

"Remember the place?" Tori asked as you pulled into her family's driveway. It had been literally years since you'd been here. "I really thought I'd move back home before you offered..."

"Is our treehouse still there?" You asked, trying to find any and every change the neighborhood had undergone.

"The treehouse! You remembered?!" Tori shouted.

"Yeah we-"

"You two had your first kiss there." Andrea muttered from the back seat. "You were... four, right?"

"I was five. It was my birthday, and she forgot to get me a present." You explained with a smile. "She runs up to me and-"

"No, you ran up to me! You were crying and crying!" Tori said, a smile on her face. "'Pwease, it's all I want!'"

"That is not how-"

"I've seen her memories, it's what she remembers." Andrea interrupted. "It's been like, twenty years though. You two probably just remember it differently."

"I'm definitely right though." You muttered. "Out of curiosity... did Tori read your mind too?"

"Yeah. It was voluntary, so it was a two-way street." Tori answered. "You wouldn't believe how many-"

"He doesn't have to know!" Andrea interrupted.

"I have to now."

"Okay, so... you two met on the Town Hall job, right?" Tori asked, winking at Andrea. "And Andrea's first thought was 'wow, that guy is hot!' right?"

"Really now?" You teased. "You know, my first thought was that you had a coffee stain on your pants."

"Annnnnnyway... she starts digging. Asking for your name, right? Finally, she gets it. Looks online. Finds your profile online. Downloads every single picture you posted!" Tori said, beaming. "Then, she does it. You know, Pete."

"Really?" You asked. "The virus thing, right?"

"Yeah... I figured you were good at computers with all the math with your architect stuff..." Andrea muttered. "I thought it'd be this charming thing, okay?"

"It was!" You shouted. "You'd walk in everyday. You'd go: 'I keep getting these pop-ups, can you help?' Every single time, it was just a .png!!"

"Yeah, and then Jill told her to do that!!" Tori shouted, giggling. "The 'r u busy tonight?' picture!!"

"Yeah! It was great!" You exclaimed before sighing and staring at Andrea. "You know... I'm really glad it happened."

"I am too." Andrea said, flashing a smile at you. "Just... let's make a better story up for our kids."

"Kids..." You muttered, blinking. "You've never..."

"Let's get Nessa, you can talk about this later!" Tori said, changing the subject. "We've been sitting out here for a while, they probably think we're weirdos!!"

"Yeah... yeah." You muttered. "Drea, I... you want kids?"

"Later, Pete!!" Tori shouted, opening up your door. "My sister-"

"What changed your mind?" You asked, blocking out Tori. "Is it because I'm gonna propose? We don't have to wait if-"

"It's not that." Andrea muttered, fidgeting. "Tori wants kids. But with the curse, and..."

"Tori, is this true?" You asked, snapping your head to look at Tori.

"Look, can we just-"

"I'll find a way to cure it. If you're that worried about-"

"Drop it." Tori said, her hands shaking. "Please."

"Tori..." You muttered, getting out your car to hold Tori close. "I'm sorry, I just... if you ever want to talk about it, just..."

"Okay, Pete..." Tori mumbled, trembling against you.

"I won't tell him anything more about it, I promise." Andrea said, suddenly right there, holding you two. "So don't pry, Peter. Or let Tori channel you."

"I won't." You promised. "Now let's get Nessa..."

Soon after your three-way hug ended, Tori led you to the front door. "Vanessa?" Tori asked, leading the way inside. There were no lights on, no sounds. No sign of Tori's parents anywhere either. "It's Tori!"

"What's going on here?" You asked, guided by the faint light sneaking into the house's windows. "This isn't how I remembered it. Your dad was always out here watching some sport..."

"It's Nessa." Andrea said, gulping. "She's... not handling her curse well. Don't say 'want' or 'need' AT ALL."

"She won't be able to help herself..." Tori muttered, guiding you down a hallway. "You two stay out here for now, okay?"

"Whatever works bes-"

"Peter?!" You heard a voice shout from behind a door. "You come in! And only you!"

"Nessa, I can't-" Tori began.

"Only Peter!!" Nessa shouted. "You and the other one wait outside!"

"Okay... Pete, just watch your words." Tori said, walking away with Andrea in tow.

Taking a few steps forward, the door seemed to open on its own. Slowly. Agonizingly slow. "Inside!"

"You wa- would like me to come in?" You asked.

"Yes."

"Okay, I'm coming in then." You muttered, pushing the door open. Immediately upon entering, the wall of monitors caught your eye. Camera angles across the house and outside filled the screens. You didn't even hear the door behind you close, you were so focused on the screens. "What is this?"

"It's for my safety! I can't be **** to channel anything if I can protect myself like this!" Nessa shouted. Turning to look at her, you gulped. Wild auburn hair, dark circles under her eyes, what was probably days or weeks old clothes covering her chubby figure... she didn't look healthy to say the least. "You understand, right?!"

"Nessa, are you okay?" You asked, stretching out an arm. Immediately, Nessa backed away, breathing heavily as she stared at your hand. "I won't-"

"You'll make me channel you! I know you will!" Nessa shouted, shaking. "Don't come closer!!"

"What happened?"

"Why should I tell you? You'll just get inside my head and read my mind! I thought you wouldn't, but you just tried, didn't you?! You're like the others!!"

"I won't make you channel me!" You shouted, making Nessa flinch. "Sorry. I can't imagine what it's like, but... whatever happened before won't happen again."

"You're just trying to make me lower my guard! You'll do to me what they did!!" Nessa shouted, staring at your hand. "You'll make me do things! I know you will!!"

"I won't." You promised. "You're better at my house than here. Tori and Drea won't make you channel them, Tori can't even... just trust me. The worst that might happen is my cat Sabel could... desire some extra food in her bowl."

"What about Neighbors?! The Mailman?! There's people everywhere!" Nessa shouted, her eyes shakily locked onto you. "Every single one is a potential threat!!"

"I live in the boonies, so my nearest neighbor is half a mile away. And I'm **** to use a P.O. box because they don't deliver out to me. That's the country for you." You said, slowly taking a step forward. "You can trust me."

"I..."

"I'm coming closer." You said in a soothing tone. Nessa flinched and closed her eyes, seemingly bracing for the worst. But she didn't try to run away or anything. So you continued. Slowly, you inched towards Nessa and put your arms around her. She trembled, but hastily grabbed your back, her arms shaking as she hugged you in return.

"You're warm."

"You said that a lot as a kid, remember?" You whispered, rubbing Nessa's back softly. "Whenever it rained, you'd call me your favorite teddy bear."

"You were warm back then too." Nessa whispered, her trembling ending. "I'm ready to leave now. If you're really okay with me..."

---

Nessa wore soundproof earmuffs the entire ride home, her eyes clenched shut as Tori and Andrea were relegated to the back seat. You assumed it was to prevent any channeling incidents. You never asked what happened to Nessa exactly, although you had some ideas based on how she acted. When you finally got home, you let Andrea and Tori carry Nessa's clothes and belongings inside, making sure you were beside her as you showed her around your house. She was truly terrified by Sabel, burying her face in your shirt and shaking at any sign of the furball. When the tour ended, you made sure Nessa was alright repeatedly before leaving her in her new room and dialing a certain number in the kitchen.

"Hello?"

"Did you even try to help your daughter?!" You shouted down the microphone.

"Vanessa? She's fine. What-"

"Fine?!" You interrupted, completely furious. "What the fuck is wrong with you?!"

"Channeling takes some adjusting, Tori and I-"

"Adjusting. Right right right right right. You have NO room to talk. Nessa needed someone! Holed up in her room, staring at camera feeds all day and night, determined someone was gonna take advantage of her?! And what do you do?! You ask her sister's friend you haven't even SEEN in YEARS!!" You shouted. "You're a shit dad!!" You said, hanging up and slamming your phone on the kitchen table, exhaling loudly.

"Pete?" Tori asked from behind.

"Yeah?" You muttered, trying to regain some composure.

"My dad's gonna be pissed."

"Good." You said, rubbing your temples. "Did you go through this stuff when your curse activated?"

"Kinda... Dad didn't really help. I had to figure it out with animals at my vet internship." Tori answered. "Nessa... she... she asked for you specifically."

"Tori, if anything like what Nessa went through ever happens to you, I'll-"

"I know." Tori interrupted, hugging you from behind. "Nessa knows too. It's why she wanted you. You're... a great guy."

"What do you think she needs to help her right now? A therapist or a psychologist, or, or... she needs someone who knows what they're doing..."

"I don't know if she'll even accept help..." Tori muttered. "She doesn't even trust me, so..."

"At the very least, I'll make sure Sabel doesn't get in her room." Andrea said, suddenly behind you and Tori. "She's... ugh. Tori, your memories are making me feel so bad for her!!"

"That's just because you're a good person." You muttered before taking a deep breath and raising your head. "Alright... I'm hungry." You said, changing subjects. "Nessa's favorite food?"

"Pizza, I think. Just cheese." Tori answered. "Want me to-"

"You two stay here, just in case." You interrupted. "I'll be back in a little bit..."

That Night

"Still pissed?" Anri asked from her spot beside you, her head nestled in your armpit.

"Yeah." You muttered, staring at your ceiling. "I need a favor."

"Don't-"

"Anri, listen to me." You interrupted, glaring straight up. "Whoever made Nessa the way she is deserve what I want to do to them."

"Pete, you'll only-"

"Names. Addresses." You said, turning your head to meet Anri's eyes. "Understand?"

"Just... just calm down." Anri said, taking a deep breath. "You're not thinking clearly. Both parts of me know-"

"That I'm serious, right?" You interrupted. "And that if anyone ever even thinks about doing anything to either of you..."

"I know, just... I don't want to see you hauled away in a police car!!" Anri shouted. Or, most likely this was all Andrea. "You know-"

"I do." You muttered, kissing Anri's forehead. "Sorry, I forgot." You whispered. Andrea didn't like talking about it but... she had some issues with that kinda stuff from when she was a kid. "It won't happen, okay?"

"Just be careful." Anri whispered, snuggling closer...

The Next Morning

"Appointments..." Tori murmured, rubbing her eyes as she yawned.

"Gotta buy that bed and bath..." Andrea said between slow sips of orange juice.

"So... where am I going then?" You asked with a plate of food for Nessa, holed up in her room.

"I don't..." Tori yawned. "Need you today..."

"Jill can take me if you need my car, Tori." Andrea mumbled. "Yours is good if you need it, Babe."

"But should I go with one of you or stay with Nessa?" You asked. Maybe if you stayed with Nessa, she might give you some names. "If her door's locked, she should be fine if we're all out."

"Good point. I could knock out more appointments if you came with." Tori suggested before yawning again. "But Drea might need help moving stuff from the shopping trip out to the car..."

"Just decide, Babe. We'll all manage somehow." Andrea said, shrugging as she finished her juice...