As the afternoon bright sun rays dispersed through the young priest's dorm room as the curtains were opened, Father McKenzie was leisurely reposing on the small, modest bed, staring up at the ceiling. Grotesque frown has already loomed on his face. Heart throbbing in his chest. He wasn't occupied with any engagements at all. 

In the past days, his life in the church was regulated, besides he didn't struggle at all. Even more they weren't hectic as his daily agenda wasn't fatiguing him. In his leisure time, he can be found either speaking to Sister Molly if she wasn't busy at all or otherwise in his dorm room, relaxing and contemplating the serene atmosphere that encircled him. In addition to the past days, since his last encounter with a policeman especially Casey, he hasn't encountered another authority, disturbing him with its severe presence and disputable questions. 

All of a sudden, something interrupted the silence in the sufficiently spacious dorm room due to a couple of raps on the wooden door, as a result of an uninvited guest who currently disturbs the juvenile priest's peaceful jiffies. Little did he know who it was until he responded plainly "Yes?", subsequently one of the clerical members made its own way inside his dorm room, shutting the door as it was Sister Molly, his mother figure. 

"I am sorry for disturbing you, Alex!" The older woman apologized politely, ambling up to the chair to take a seat. A vague, soothing smile curled up in the corner of her lips. In the meanwhile, Alexander stared up at his mother figure as a slight, instinctive smile grew across his lips, couldn't endure its gradual growth. "I didn't mean to," As she was on her way to resume her sentence, the man of the cloth cut her off reluctantly. 

"It's alright, Molly! You aren't obligated to apologise for your arrival there." He forgave her, stretching his arm as his arms were under the back of his head.

"Oh," She gasped instinctively as her amber brown eyes were darted to the younger man. "You seem to relax a lot lately." The middle-aged woman confessed, chuckling gingerly. 

"Not exactly," The holy man couldn't help but cackle as his smile drastically transformed in a smug, wicked grin. "I am not busy like the other days, Molly! And that's why." 

"I see." She played uneasily with her fingers, a girlish, coy smile honed on her pale face. "But also let's not forget any intruder hasn't questioned me over Briarcliff and the priest and the former nun."

"Ah, this toyboy and his freeloading cow?" The suddenness of the vanished smile on the holy woman's smile, consequently transforming in a skeptical, huffy frown flashed on her light complexion, saturating its true colors of her recent emotions.

"Alexander!" 

"What's it, Molly?"

"In the first minute of your conversation with Casey, you spat on her and right on the second minute, you defended her and accused him in insulting her and physically abusing her."

"That's right," He paused, exhaling, then inhaling dramatically. "But that doesn't mean, the both sides are perfect, I mean, she isn't a flower for smelling and I cannot support Casey's actions towards her."

***

"Just look at you, Ellie!" Julietta held the eldest twin daughter as she was sitting on the royal armchair in the living room as the grand Victorian fireplace's flames danced inside the working fireplace, igniting its chopped woods, sorted by their size. 

"Granny!" The little brunette giggled in her grandmother's arms, feeling secure and comfortable in her presence as well, her big hazel eyes locked up her hazel ones. 

In the interim, Jude and Anna were having a tea party with Tristan and Agnes in their room, whereas Timothy was busy with his brother John, watering the flowerbeds in the yard unlike Timon, who was boiling water for tea for his wife and oldest granddaughter. 

"What are you attending now, little angel?" The elder brunette posed the question kindly to the little girl, pinching teasingly her button nose, wearing a broad, merry smile, shaped on her plump, rosy-coloured lips.

"Kindergarten with my brother." 

"That's so sweet! Do you have any friends from there?" 

"Not many but a few." Ellie and Julietta got pretty along as a grand-daughter and grandmother, in fact, their platonic relationship significantly developed and improved. Additionally, the older lady was pleasantly flabbergasted by Ellie's fluent speech in expressing herself though she was almost five-year-old ray of sunshine. 

"Tell me about them!" 

"They are Kaitlyn, Gloria and Johnny though Johnny isn't attending the same kindergarten."

"What about him, sweetheart?"

"He lives with his mother in New York." She explained laconically what exactly the things were with Johnny though her vocabulary was decent enough for almost five-year-old kindergartener, besides she was slightly young to discover more about Lana's tough life and her experience in Briarcliff in details and how she was impregnated, due to a rape case. 

"Oh, I thought he was living in Boston like the rest of your buddies." 

***

"Elsa," Agnes turned to her favorite rag doll, who sat alongside her as the both adults sat on the carpeted flooring in the children's room, whereas Tristan rubbed his head idly. "Tell Mommy how beautiful is she!" 

Then the former nun and Timothy's younger sister couldn't suppress snickers, escaping their lips as Jude slapped reluctantly her round knee. "Rare bird, you are so beautiful, according to Agnes's words!" Tristan imitated the rag doll's voice in mocking manner as the both adults's incessant snickers as the both children joined them, levitated up in the room, fueling it with sanctuary of the life, muting its remorseless silence that spontaneously might arch between the family members anytime. 

"Elsa is right, Judy! Even your daughter and son." Anna replied cheerfully, optimistically.

"Well, there are prettier women than me. Not gonna lie!" The former sister of the church confessed modestly, playing it as a demure, insecure young lady who has never dated anyone and hasn't received any compliments. A coy, humble smile distorted across her lips.

"Mom!" Tristan and Ellie snapped viciously, pouting their lips. They were beyond disappointed by their mother's pessimism and humbleness in the same time. They abhorred when she thought negatively about herself and not cherishing the ethereal beauty which the former holy woman possessed at age fifty.

"Judy, do not say this! My brother is so lucky and thinks you are the most beautiful woman he has ever laid eyes on." Anna riposted, winking at her gamely. Further, her voice was composed. All of a sudden, the blonde's face flushed, peppered in ruddy tintas her cheeks rapidly heated, due to Anna's words.

The truth was the former monsignor really thinks and perceives his wife not only as the most beauteous woman in his opinion, moreover as a unique person and couldn't be proud and lucky of meeting her in a place where he would the least expect his fate to reward him with a mere nun, subsequently being fond of her and feel a profound, spiritual connection with her. A mere nun, who bewitched him from first sight with her potent and tough cookie character. They were peculiarly destined to be for one another. Although the relentless circumstances that delayed their marriage and to unire them as a romantic couple, due to their abstinence and took vows, they were perpetually happy for not only being a married couple, but also they were an inseparable family.

"I know what he really thinks of me but that doesn't changes my opinion about myself.

"Oh, Judy, Judy!" Anna exhaled sharply as the former pious nun cleared her throat momentarily. "Everybody else thinks you are gorgeous, no matter what this wee, inner voice in your mind tells you."

"Aunty Anna is right. Listen to her!" Tristan attempted to persuade his mother. Meanwhile Agnes imitated grabbing a plastic teacup, sipping of it as if it was real.

"I know what do you mean for which I am grateful, but," The former nun paused by taking a deep breath, stroking lightly her daughter's mane of golden curls, cascading down her shoulders. "During a nunnery, no one hasn't complimented me."

"Oh come on, Judy! It was a different time back then." Anna sighed a sigh of relief, offering a benevolent smile to the mildly older woman as their eyes met. "But I still believe you were drop-dead gorgeous as a nun."

"Excuse me?" The blonde couldn't help but sarcastically chuckle. "I used to be a nun. Wearing wool, rigid habit and wimple which covered almost every inch of my skeleton. It's not attractive at all." She raised her shoulders. 

"You shouldn't be that modest at all, dear! Even if you were a nun, no matter you used to wear, but if you have fascinating facial features, you are still lovely even in the frumpiest clothes."

"You want to say even as a nun I was still pretty?" The middle-aged mother of 3 posed a rhetorical question, arching an eyebrow in perplexion, chewing her bottom lip.

"I truly mean it. Timothy saw it with his own eyes when he used to be a priest and worked with you." The brunette flipped her side fringe. "It wasn't necessary to be out of your wimple and dark robe so that to show off and receive tons of compliments. It was enough to determine your beauty in these attires of the church what belle are you."

The former sister of the church couldn't contain a growing, charming smile as she was beyond flattered by her sister-in-law's compliment, accepting it from the bottom of her heart. Then Agnes swatted faintly her mother's shoulder as she looked down at the little girl, smiling radiantly to her.

"It means my mom is extraordinary in everything." Tristan added.

"That's right, Tris! Your mother is unique. You are even unique." In the meanwhile, Jude slightly bowed her head, closing her eyes as she emitted a light chortle, holding her temple as her fingertips caressed the silken skin of her forehead.

***

"Here you go with the tea, mom and Ellie!" Daniel handed miniature mugs, filled with hot black tea. A subtle grin honed in the corner of his lips.

"Thank you!" The both females expressed their gratitude in unison.

"No need to!" He sat on the other royal armchair against Julietta.

As the both females sipped their hot teas, hence, they left their mugs aside on the coffee glass table.

"I luv tea." The young brunette confessed enthusiastically, giggling half-heartedly.

"Me too. Do you, Ellie?" The elder lady replied joyously.

Daniel just observed his mother with her granddaughter as they relished each other's company.

"Ellie is beautiful just like her mother and father." The older brother of Timothy commented in taunting manner, readily drawing attention.

"She's doubtlessly gorgeous little princess." He earned Julietta's blissful glimpse, remarking with a blooming, radiant smile. "I just cannot lie! Aren't you gorgeous my little princess, are you?" She posed a rhetoric question to Ellie, staring down in awe at the kindergartener, admiring her inherited naturally stunning facial featutes.

"I am a little princess." Ellie responded, patting excitedly her grandmother's shoulders.

"But our little gorgeous princess especially yours and your mesmerizing parents as well."

"And Danny, do not bring the topic of your jealousy of my daughter-in-law. Am I clear?" Julietta turned to her son, scorching glare at him as her forehead creased. Her husky voice sounded particularly menacing, despite her wit.

"But mom, I am not jealous. I just admire her beauty and couldn't I be a gentleman towards her?" He justified, playing it a silly as he pretended little did he know how searing is zealousy, oozing from him and it seemed hell for Julietta, Jude and Timothy. Im the meantime, Julietta listened to her son as she averted her eyes directly to her granddaughter, pecking light, loving kisses on her pale temple as she giggled childishly.

The former nurse couldn't be more exasperated inside though keeping it cool more than her own son's pretty lies, opting to persuade her otherwise. On the contrary, the elder lady knew the truth and little did she know how might she affect him with her razor-sharp, cold-blooded words as well.

"Don't be childish, Danny! Everybody knows you are obnoxiously zealous of my daughter-in-law."

"But that's not," The older son of Julietta's sentence remaimed unfinished in the limbo as he tried to have control over his voice although its vague change.

"There are no buts. Since my son and his wife's arrival with their children,"The former nurse handed the teacups for her granddaughter and herself as they sipped the gradually cooling beverage. Then she left her teacup aloof on the coffee table,drifting her hazel eyes up to Daniel. "You laid eyes on the wrong woman, I mean the one is already married and has her own children."

"It's true I laid eyes on her," The young man confessed, playing with his fingers as a cocky, subtle grin flourished on his face. "However, it's essentially because of her beauty and maternal nature."

"Freaking bullshit, Danny! It's not easy to fool me in such ridiculous way. Just don't try it, okay?" He nodded in defeatist manner. "Everybody in this house knows what you think of her and what do you actually want." She winked at him in vile way, staring slyly up at him as the young girl gaped uncertainly at the both adults, pursing her baby pinkish lips and abiding quiet for this moment.

Timothy's brother just set free a frustrated sigh as his mother progressed with her utterance, infuriating her and rolled his hazelish brown eyes. 

"Granny? Granny?" Ellie opted to caught her grandmother's attention as she accomplished it for a little while. 

"What's my heart?" Julietta looked down at the young girl, smiling to her and enquired her in velvety voice. 

"I luv you!" The little girl spilled the tea.

"I love you even more, Ellie!" The elder lady admitted her genuine, platonic feelings and emotions she felt for her granddaughter. Then the both females cuddled as Ellie's face was buried in her grandmother's chest. 

"This comment which I spilled this morning, I expressed my frustration over their delay for the breakfast time."

"Danny, do not bring this topic again! It was total embarrassment to talk about them like that." She averted her eyes, whilst Daniel commenced to speak. Furthermore, she was beyond disgusted by her own son's comment earlier today as well which was definitely evident. 

"Wasn't it true they made love to each other the night before? Huh?"

"And what? It's not a big deal."

"It's and that's why they cuddle in one another's arms."

"Is it bothering you, Danny? And that's why you spilled the comment bluntly? To embarrass them?" The elder woman began to list provocative questions, pinching lightly the young brunette's button nose. "You desire to take away Judy from Timothy? Is that you want?" 

A malicious grin blossomed on his lips as he listened his mother dramatically inquering him, wiping his sweaty palms in swift motion in his pant's legs. 

Julietta knew right away Daniel yearned for her daughter-in-law and to seperate them in peculiar way. What she knew more about his jealousy was that he ached for sleeping with the blonde and Jude break Timothy's heart though Jude would never do such abominable things to her husband since she was undeniably loyal to him, besides her doting the former monsignor. 

"If you dare to spread the word over the mansion and they mention it came from you, I will rip your lips off, mum!"

Then swallowed a heavy lump in her throat.

***

"Tim, I have trouble believing Daniel is adequate lately." John exclaimed as they held colorful watercans by watering the flowerbeds' soils in the large yard, lowering their heads as their eyes were focused on the flowers. 

"Me either!" The former holy man confessed briefly, inhaling carelessly. "The comment on the table earlier today was awful and awkward."

"Yeah! At least, he hasn't touched your wife yet." John tried to be optimistic.

"That's right! He shouldn't dare even thinking of touching my rare bird, you know!" Wiping his creased, mildly clammy forehead. "I don't want to hurt him but I would think of cutting his arms if he does it."

"If I were you, I could rip his lips off."

"It's almost the same."

"Not exactly, my brother Tim!" John finished with watering the first two flowerbeds, cackling ironically. "There's a specific difference between ripping his lips and his arms as well."

"So what?" Then the both men couldn't oppress their giggles in the corner of their mouths. "He will be prevent either from talking or touching things."

***

"Val, do you remember our first intimate act?" Ghost of Velika was being summoned, thanks to the oracle Sally in front of the middle-aged woman's gravestone, located in the maid's yard. 

"I do. Wasn't it actually on the 6th month of our relationship?" Valerie inquired boldly as she crouched down to the grave, cupping her partner's ghost cheeks in the palms of her hands, her hazelish green eyes darted up to her transparent face as Sally was watching the both women talking, couldn't contain a growing smile in the corner of her brown lips. 

"Exactly! And from the sixth month and forward, I couldn't help but falling in love with you even more than the months prior, sweetheart!"

"I wish you were still there. To share with you daily the story of my life and vice versa." The redhead confessed through wry shed tears, tumbling down her creamy, white like vanilla cheeks. 

"I wish I was there with you, Val! Unfortunately, the sickness kicked me out of the world but I am immortal spiritually." 

"Definitely! You are going to dwell always in my heart, sweetie!" The housekeeper carried on, concluding with a bittersweet smile, curled up in the corner of her lips. "And Shona loves you too very much. She misses you sincerely!"

"Aww, that little cupcake! I miss her and love her cordially!" Sally inhaled, relishing the moment of the both former lovers discussing together for a while until the brunette's spectral vanishes. "Bless her and her wishes with yours!"

***

As the late afternoon hours dawned, Anna and John were cooking along as they collaborated in preparing the dinner, whereas Julietta and Timon were supposed to watch photographs with their son Timothy from their younger years unlike Jude, Daniel and Howards' children.

Ellie and Tristan were being taught as they watched the both adults how they cooked and proceed with dinner's preparation, sitting on the chairs and sipping their natural apple juices. Agnes was napping in the children's room as she was fatigued and slothy as well. She has been napping for a half an hour. 

As soon as the former nun went heard ringing phone, coming from the library, she couldn't help, nevertheless speeding up to the library, located on the third floor, towering the stairs in easy as she wore her comfy slippers until the blonde entered in the library, shutting the door, being completely sure nobody would intrude her and doubting somebody might come and harm her as well. 

Once she grabbed the earpiece, she answered immediately the person who currently wanted to speak to her.

"Hello? Who is it?" She wasn't sure who was calling her in five-thirty o'clock in the afternoon.

"Hi Judy!" Valerie echoed jubilantly, delighted to hear her friend's voice. "It's been almost a day since we have heard one another's voices."

"Yeah, Val! It's pleasure to hear you now." The middle-aged mother guffawed joyously, tucking some hair behind her ear. "How are ya?"

"I am well but it's a hell since you and your family fled to England for a while. And what about you too, fella? Tell me more about your first two days in London."

"It's amazing. Timothy's parents and siblings are not only being kind to me, moreover they are wonderful." The former sister of the church's elbow propped on the lacquered dresser, bowing her head as her honey brown eyes were fixed on the dark blue wall against her. 

All of a sudden, due to Jude's oblivion to the uninvited guest's presence that just established inside the library, Daniel snuck up inside the library on the third floor, tiptoeing without his brother's wife knowledge and barely dared to render any sound that might draw promptly her attention. 

What Timothy's older brother planned was to drag Jude off the room where's her recent location and made love to her whether with her consent or otherwise without. His fiery zealous peaked. He wanted to possess a woman he might never have in his life and would never have in his next three lives. 

"Great! It seems your anxiety evaporated suddenly. I told ya they will accept you for whatever you are." 

"That's tru-" As the blonde was about to keep on with her sentence, a clamp on her mouth of a masculine, colossal hand as another knaggy hand was on her abdomen, dragging her with entire strength as the earpiece hung, thanks to the cord that kept its balance. "Noooo!" She glanced over her shoulder, coming to her senses as it was her husband's sibling Daniel. The man who had vicious, unpredictable plans what to do with her.  "Somebody help me!" She opted to cried out loud in case somebody to hear her roar, despite its failure as her voice was almost muted, due to the hand on her mouth, keeping her from its pleas.

"Judy? Where are you?" Valerie spoke through the handset awkwardly, realizing something was out of the borders.

"Ha! Gotcha you, heina!" Daniel seductively whispered in her ear as he leant down to her head as he was dragging her off the library until they left the room.

To be continued...