Amanda spent the ride home dividing her time between looking at her human face in the mirror attached to the passenger-side sun visor, and sticking her hand out the window, and giggling at how the wind would blow it this way and that.

Darcy smiled as she looked briefly over at Amanda, “That’s not safe sweetie put your arm in the car.”

Amanda quickly pulled her hand back in, just in time as a mailbox that someone had put too close to the road whizzed by. “Meep!” she half-squealed, half-chittered, guarding her hand. “Scary,” she whispered, looking up at Darcy.

“See sweetie, it’s dangerous.” Darcy pulled into their driveway and parked the car, going to the other side to help Amanda out and get all the clothes to take to her new room. Amanda followed behind her, but stopped at the door. She wrinkled her nose and sniffed the air again, quietly walking inside and shutting the door behind her.

“Crystal witch too?” she suddenly blurted out of the blue as she followed Darcy to the new room. Her eyes widened somewhat at seeing the whirlwind of pink. Pink walls, pink bedding, pink furniture, all in a shade close to the pink in the dress she had made off with just yesterday. “Pretty,” she whispered.

“No sweetie Crystal is a norm, but she’s a wiccan.” Darcy smiled.

Amanda looked over at Darcy with a blank look on her face, “Norm?”

Darcy giggled a little and then smiled a bit, “A Norm is a normal person, who has no magic like me , who isn’t a vampire or a ware like you sweetie.” she paused for a second as if to think of how to explain something to Amanda, “Sweetie, you aren’t supposed to tell anyone that witches, vampires or even ware’s like you exist ok?”

“Why?” Amanda asked with an innocence that almost seemed as much reflected in her curious smile as her wide-eyed gaze.

Darcy smiled at her, “Because sweetie, there are bad people who would want to hurt you if they found out about you or us ok?”

“Oh. No tell bad people!” Amanda answered, as if agreeing, and nodded to emphasize the point.

“That is part of it sweetie, you can’t tell anyone, not just bad people ok?” Darcy smiled as she ran two fingers through Amanda’s hair, “Lets go make something to eat, Mom will be here tonight.”

Amanda’s eyes widened even further. “Darcy Mom not...” she struggled to find the right words, then made the same hand motion she used to describe what happened to her own family, looking inquisitively up at Darcy.

Darcy smiled at Amanda, “They were your family sweetie, but my family is now your family because you don’t have any anymore ok?”

Amanda shook her head. “No, Darcy family is …moving? is ok? No seen,” she tried to explain.

Darcy pulled Amanda into a hug, “My family is okay sweetie, they are like me, and they will love you just as much as I do.”

“Yay!” Amanda giggled happily.

Amanda started to follow Darcy into the kitchen, but something caught her eye. A big, shiny box inside an even larger wooden box sat in the far corner. Several other, small rectangular boxes sat above it. She could almost see her reflection in the black surface of the large box, like a muddy puddle that had been set upright and frozen in ice. She tapped at the surface lightly. It wasn’t cold to the touch.

“Not ice...” she mused thoughtfully. She paced back and forth in front of the strange collection of boxes for a second or two, sniffing the air around them. “Not food.”

She backed up a little and sat down on the nearby coffee table. Something small and rectangular poked her backside, and the rectangular box screamed to life. Tiny people ran frantically around inside the little box, and she shrieked. Moments later, a small raccoon fled the scene as fast as her little legs could carry her, knocking over no less than a lamp, the coffee table, and an end table in the adjoining hall that had, moments before, held a fine vase and flowers.

By now Darcy had come running - entirely too late - to see what all the screaming had been about. She followed the trail of carnage into the hallway, up the stairs, and into the master bathroom where a pile of towels in the far corner seemed conspicuously nervous.

“Amanda?” she called, but gently. The pile of clothing and towels jumped.

“Honey what happened?” she asked as gently, as she peeled back the first towel, a pair of underwear, and a t-shirt to find the nervous little ball of fur staring up at her. “There you are.” She smiled down at her, lightly stroking her fur. Amanda relaxed somewhat and nuzzled Darcy’s hand before taking her human form again.

“Scary box!” she announced, causing Darcy to stare blankly at her for just a moment.

“You .. You didn’t go into the basement did you?” she asked carefully. Amanda shook her head.

“No. Black box in first room. Inside bigger wood box.”

Darcy tilted her head in thought for a moment or two, mulling Amanda’s explanation over in her mind. “Was this a loud box?”

“Yes! Very very! Like ice, but not cold. Like window! Scaaaary!”

Darcy giggled softly. “Oh, the television!”

“Tele... who?” Amanda tried to mimic Darcy’s words.

“Television. It’s … You know what a picture is?” she asked. Amanda nodded vigorously. “Well, a television is … a device that displays moving pictures.”

“Not real?”

“Well, it’s complicated. The short answer is, not harmful. It’s for entertainment - for fun.”

“Oh!” Amanda answered excitedly, but then she frowned. “Darcy? Sorry about mess.”

Darcy giggled as she kissed Amanda’s forehead and hugged her. “It’s okay sweetie. You were just scared. You didn’t do it on purpose.”

Amanda smiled, “So ok?” as she hugged Darcy.

Darcy smiled at Amanda and nodded as she got up, “Lets go clean up and get dinner started for Mom ok sweetie?” reaching for Amanda’s hand.

“Ok Momma,” Amanda answered sweetly.

Darcy looked at Amanda and a tear flowed down her cheek, “Thank you sweetie.”

“Momma sad?” Amanda asked thoughtfully as she squeezed Darcy’s hand and smiled up at her.

“No I'm not sad sweetie, I'm happy.” Darcy smiled as the two of them started to pick up Amanda’s mess in the living room and hallway.

Amanda tilted her head and smiled. “I..’m happy too,” she answered thoughtfully and then scurried to catch up.

Both girls laughed as they picked up the stuff Amanda knocked over, then went to the kitchen to get a dinner ready for Darcy’s mom to Visit.

Sometime later a car pulled into the driveway and an older woman entered the house, “Darcy I’m home sweetie, and the food smells wonderful.”

“Hi Mom,” Darcy called from the kitchen. Amanda practically bounced into the living room and threw her arms around the woman.

“Hi Darcy’s Mom!” she bubbled happily.

Donna, taken by surprise for a second smiled and hugged the young girl back, “Well hello there. Amanda right? You can call me Grandma.”

“Grandma!” Amanda echoed excitedly. “Momma made yummy dinner, and I helped!” she bubbled happily.

Donna smiled as she held the young girl and walked to the kitchen. “So this is the raccoon you were talking about Darcy sweetie?”

Darcy’s wry smile betrayed her even before she spoke, but she nodded, setting aside her spatula. The kitchen seemed to almost be permeated with the various pungent scents from her cooking.

“Yes, this is Amanda,” she answered. “She’s a bit of a handful, but she’s learning so fast,” she added with a giggle. “I just couldn’t turn her away.”

Donna eyed her new granddaughter up and down as she talked to Darcy, “I can see that, She’s a sweetie as far as I can tell and is learning her manners unlike a certain child I knew.”

“Oh, that was just an awkward phase; she grew out of it eventually,” Darcy teased and grinned just a little. “She thinks this is a bad idea, taking Amanda in like this, but the poor thing is an orphan. It’s not like there are a lot of options for her - especially being a more unusual were-kind.”

Donna smiled, “Child I know you have grown up; I’m not here to condone you for taking in a stray. I just wanted to meet her, that’s all.”

Darcy smiled and pulled both Donna and Amanda into a hug. The girl squealed a little and nuzzled happily between the two. “Thanks Mom. I know this is the right thing - for both of us.”

“I can see she loves you Darcy, I approve of your adoption, but she's got to meet your sister first.” Donna continued to smile.

The three of them sat down at the table to eat dinner, Amanda remembering the eating manners that Darcy was showing her earlier in the day sat and ate like a perfect angel, “Momma, I’m done.” She smiled over at Darcy as she finished her food.

Donna smiled at Darcy and commented “She sure doesn’t eat much for a wild raccoon sweetie.”

Amanda looked over at her new Grandmother, “Nanna I watch my girl figure!” and giggled.

Donna smile got brighter at being called Nanna. She always hoped to have grandchildren, knowing that Melissa would probably be the first to have children, but this was totally unexpected. But she welcomed it anyway. “Amanda, you are so well mannered sweetie. Why don’t you go take a bath and get ready for bed so me and your momma can talk ok?”

Amanda nodded and ran off upstairs to take a bath; she loved to take bubble baths.

Darcy and Donna walked into the kitchen, and Darcy went over to the fridge as her phone rang. “Hello Williams residence?” she answered with a smirk knowing full well it was her sister on the other end of the line.

Upstairs, Amanda finished with her bath, put on her nightie, and snuck downstairs to get a glass of milk. She stopped outside the kitchen as she heard her Momma talking on the phone.

“What the hell are you thinking Darcy Ann Williams?” a shout over the phone could be heard.

“What hell?” Amanda echoed, hiding behind Darcy from the scary, noisy box in her hand.

“Melissa whatever do you mean?” Darcy replied as she held Amanda gently.

“A were?! You aren’t serious are you!?” Melissa yelled into the phone, “What kind of hair brained
idea are you working on Darcy, you can’t even take care of yourself let alone a ware!”

Darcy sighed, “Melissa you have to meet her before you pass judgement. She needs a family, and I know I can do this. It’s not like when I was 10 with your stupid dolls. I learned a lot when I left Ravencrest.”

“But Darcy, this were you want to adopt is still a child, and you were never good with children.” Melissa complained.

Darcy lowered her voice somewhat, “She’s all alone, Melissa. Her family was killed, and she’s, as nearly as I can tell, been living out of garbage cans like a common raccoon until I found her. I can’t just turn her back to the streets. She needs me.”

Melissa sighed into the phone, “I’ll talk to you at dinner this weekend, after I meet this new girl to the family.” she hung up the phone.

Darcy looked over at Amanda and smiled, “You will love your Auntie Melissa I’m sure. Let’s go finish getting ready for bed sweetie.” She changed the subject, giving her a glass of milk to finish before taking her upstairs to tuck her in for the night.

Before going to sleep Amanda looked at her mom and asked, “Is Nanna a witch too?”

Darcy left it for Amanda to figure out as she turned the lights off and closed the door.

The Next morning Amanda woke to two voices at the base of the stairway talking not too loud but loud enough to wake her up, she came prancing down the stairs and stopped in front of Darcy, “Momma mad?”

Darcy looked at Amanda and shook her head, “No sweetie I’m not mad, this is your Auntie Melissa. She’s come over to meet you.”

Amanda stared up at Melissa for only a moment before throwing her arms around her and grinning. “Hi Auntie Melissa!” she announced cheerfully.

Melissa, unable to stay mad at her sister about Amanda sighed and hugged her back. “Well hello to you too sweetie.”

Amanda turned to Darcy, standing up on her tiptoes to cup her hands over her ear, whispering, “Melissa a witch too?”

“More than you know,” said Darcy with a sneer trying to keep a straight face.

Melissa shot her a cross look, “I heard that Darcy Ann Williams.”

Amanda just giggled, “Darcy Ann Williams!” she repeated her Aunt Melissa.

Darcy looking a bit upset with her calling her that, “Ok young lady, march upstairs and get ready for the day, or I’ll have to spank you.” still trying to hold a straight face.

“EEP!” Amanda exclaimed, hiding behind Melissa. “I sorry,” she added, sprinting upstairs.

Darcy and Melissa moved to the kitchen to grab something to drink then moved outside to the patio, as Amanda was upstairs trying to find a cute outfit to wear for the day after she took a quick shower when she heard a slight knock on the door, running downstairs completely naked she answered the door, “Hi I’m all wet,” she said happily to the girl on the other side of the door.

Darcy looked into the house and saw Amanda naked in front of the open door. She gasped rather loudly, “Amanda!” and came after her with a towel pulling her away from the door.

“I’m sorry about that.” Darcy apologized as she pushed Amanda into the downstairs bathroom and closed the door.

“You’re Kelly right? I’m Darcy, Melissa’s sister. Welcome to Casa de Williams.” waving her hands about in a grand gesture like fashion.

“Thanks,” Kelly replied blushing slightly.

Darcy didn’t say anything about Kelly’s blush, instead replying, “Mel should be around here somewhere. You want me to get her for you?”

Kelly unable to say anything because of her embarrassment just nodded her head.

“MEL!” Darcy shouted up the stairs causing Kelly to jump a bit.

A moment or two later Melissa came in from the kitchen area which led outside to the yard where not long ago Darcy and her were talking.

Melissa looking at Darcy, “Darcy?” to get her to look at her.

Darcy looked right at Kelly, “See, I got her.” then turned to the hallway, “Well I gotta get back to my...ummm...well I’m busy.” then suddenly she was off down the hallway gone before anyone noticed.

Darcy looked at Amanda and sighed, “Sweetie, you really can’t be answering the door naked; what will everyone say about me if you keep doing that?” kissing her softly on the forehead.

Amanda looked Darcy in the eyes and started to cry, “I’m sorry momma.”

“Oh, sweetie, don’t cry,” Darcy cooed, pulling Amanda into a hug. “It’s just that the human world puts a... How can I put this. It’s not respectable to run around without clothing unless you’re taking a bath.”

Amanda looked at Darcy her eyes puffy and full of tears, “But I take bath before answering door.”

Darcy nodded, “That's good sweetie, but I meant you are only supposed to be naked in the shower or bathtub, not in public.”

Amanda smiled and nodded, “Ok mamma I get it, no naked outside.”

“Good girl. If you really want to feel half-naked, that’s what swimsuits are for,” she grinned, kissing Amanda’s forehead.

“Can I go play now?” Amanda smiled still wrapped in a towel and not dressed, the clothes she was getting out of her closet in her room were still strewn all over.

“Let’s get you dressed then you can go play, okay?” Darcy answered gently.

Amanda smiled, “Ok”, as Darcy took Amanda out of the bathroom up to her room, to help her get dressed.

As Darcy led Amanda to her room, the girl looked thoughtfully at Darcy. “Is new girl a witch?” she asked, unable to remember if Kelly’s name had come up in the commotion at the door.

Darcy kissed Amanda on the forehead again, “Sweetie, you can’t be asking that every time you meet someone, It can get good people in trouble.”

Amanda frowned, nodding. “Sorry,” she answered quietly.

Darcy smiled as she picked up the pink Princess shirt and the ruffled pink skirt that Amanda threw on the ground earlier and handed it to her, “Now lets get you some panties to go with it.” going to the dresser and pulling out a pair for Amanda giving them to her.

Amanda quickly got dressed and ran down the stairs again, and like a flash she sprang out the front door, before Darcy could even reach the top of the stairs. Amanda stood on the front steps of the house and smiled and looked around jumping off the only two steps in the front she giggled. Stopping after a few steps, she lifted her head and sniffed the air.