Summary: Will Kat stay with the legacy or her grandmother, only one thing will tell.
Disclaimer: I do not own Poltergeist The Legacy or it�s characters.
Rate: PG
Category: Drama
Kat sat next to Nick who sat next Alex, while Derek and Philip sat closer to her grandmother. She was in black slacks and a dark blue tang top and her hair was up in a ponytail. She held on to Nick�s hand as he started to cry a little bit, Alex began to cry soon after, Kat had chosen to be strong and not cry. Kat noticed that her whole family was there from both her parents� sides. Everyone had started to say things about her, how she was a good friend and dedicated mother. But then it came time for legacy to talk. Alex would go first then Nick then Philip, and then Derek and Kat grandmother would go last.
Alex: �Rachel Corrigan was one of the bravest people I ever knew. She fought everyday with a new attitude, but always put Kat first. Her body has left the place but her spirit has not. I can only hope that I have the wisdom and power she had as I move on in my life�that I can raise a child with such love and understand like she has. But Rachel will forever be in my heart as colleague and best friend.�
Nick: �When I first met Rachel she seemed like every other woman I�ve ever met, but I was wrong. Rachel became more of a sister to me than a friend, and she showed me that it ok to show that you love someone. I had lost so many friends and family, but I think she has helped me move on with their deaths and hers. She told me that everyone has a destiny that everyone has something they�re meant to do it just up to us to find it. So with Rachel�s words of wisdom I hope that she found her destiny, because she helped me find mine. So I hope that she is looking down at us right now and smiling for she always knew the kind of person I would become.�
Philip: �Rachel and I had one thing in common, we both wanted to help people. She had her oath as a doctor, and I had my oath as a priest. She was always trying to see things from every point of view, but never gave up in less she had to. Which as far I know did not happen a lot. I�d call about situations that had happen to me and she would listen and give me advice. It seemed a little ironic that a priest would need counseling. But than Rachel Corrigan was not your everyday woman. She had so much pain in her life, but she also has strength�and her compassion for others.�
Derek: �Rachel was the most remarkable woman that I have ever met. Through all her pain and suffering she never gave up hope. She never let her love for her daughter Kat die. If anyone needed someone to talk to she would always be there no matter what. If Kat had something that was bothering her, she would stop everything for her. Her love, compassion and heart are only a few things that will be remembered about her. Her courage, strength, attitude are things we all shell cherish. So lets not remember these last days, lets remember all the good times. The day we all met her, and the day she became a part of our lives�the day we all began to love her.�
Kat�s grandmother went up and started to talk about her, and Kat was quiet. She didn�t move or speak she knew she should of but she couldn�t not now. Nick grabbed her hand as they started back to house. Everyone had gone there since her grandmother said she would fix the dinner. Kat never left Nick�s side, she was afraid she would lose him and the others forever if she did. The day began to fade and everyone had started to leave. Then it came time for Kat to leave with her grandmother since as far as they knew she was Kat�s legal guardian.
�No, I want to stay with you,� Kat said and Nick looked at her.
�Sweetness, listen we�ll see you in a couple of days, I promise you. Just right now your grandmother�she has custody, so by law you have to go with her, but we will be back I swear,� Nick said and they all gave her a hug and Derek lend down to her.
�Remember what we have taught you,� Derek said as her grandmother took her hand and opened the door for them to leave most likely forever. Tears weld up in her eyes as she and her grandmother began to leave, but she looked at them and became strong once again.
So in a few moments she would leave for the courts office where they would read her mother�s will. Kat had not seen why she should come, but everyone else thinks she should so she went. She sat up and began to get ready, she had to hurry or she would be late. Kat walked out into the living room where she had greeted her mother so many times. She closed her eyes trying to remember everything they had done. Derek said the best way to move on is to remind your self of them so that what she did.
�Kathryn it time to go,� he grandmother said.
�Coming,� Kat said.
Kat grabbed her jacket and they began to walk to the car and she just walked slowly and her grandmother didn�t say anything. Kat noticed that compared to Nick she was a really slower driver. But she wasn�t about to say that or she was start in on a speeding limit and safety when children are in the car speech. They came to the lawyer�s officer, and Kat held her breath and started to pray for a good our come.
Kat sat down next to grandmother, and across from the Nick who smiled at her and she smiled back. Philip and Derek were seating on one side of Nick and very close to Rachel�s lawyer. Alex had walked in and Kat�s smile seemed to grow as she started her way towards Nick side.
�Hey Kat,� Alex said taking Nick hand as she sat.
�Hey Alex,� she said back.
�I would like to say thank you for the kind words you said at Rachel�s funeral, and hope you stay in touch with Kat after this,� her grandmother said.
Kat along with the legacy members looked at her, but Derek gave them a look that told them to stay quiet. The lawyer entered and looked at the family, he smiled and sat down. Kat still was in shock at what he grandmother said she could only hope that the legacy got custody of her.
�I am John Bailey Rachel�s lawyer�Rachel had just rewrote her will only a few days before she died. So please understand that that there is nothing you nor I can do to changed this. She asked me to read this word for word, and it may sound more like a letter than a will, John said as he took out a paper.
�Why didn�t Rachel tell anyone she changed it,� Alex said in Nick�s ear.
�I guess we�re about to find out,� Nick said.
�I Rachel Corrigan write this down and hope people will understand my doing. Over the last few years I have made four friends who have become my and Kat�s family. So I hope that my family understands this and move on with their lives, as I know they have. I give all musical items, such as records, CD, cassettes and interments to my mother-in-law since I know her love for music. All clothing I own I give to Alex, yes that even means my blue sweater Patrick gave me for my birthday. All money that is in my accounts except for Kat�s college fund, I give to Philip, may his church use it well. All my jewelry, photo albums and bible I give to Kat. Everything else, like my house, Car, all my paper work on my thesis and any other items in my house I give to Nick. No I have saved the most precious item for last and hope you understand. Custody to daughter Kathryn Corrigan, I give to. Before I say whom I want her to go with please understand my reason. My mother-in-law could provide a good and safe home for her, but she does not understand Kat and her gifts. Nick and Alex are too much like her brother and sister so that wouldn�t work. So that left me with Philip or Derek, Philip lives all the way in Ireland so I couldn�t choose him and he spoiler her to much even if he did live here. So I give custody to Dr. Derek Rayne. Now he already knows of this and has sign the papers to verify this. So please take care of her and Kat live a long life and understand what you destiny shall be. I love you all. Dr. Rachel Corrigan.� John said.
The room stood still no one could speak, no one but Derek had been prepared for what had happen, but he thought it would be Philip who got custody not him. The lawyer stood and smiled at them and so did everyone else. Kat ran to Nick who had opened his arms when he saw her move. Alex could only hug Philip who was still in a little shock at this all, but was very happy.
�I told you everything would work out,� Nick said as the lawyer left.
�I will not stand for this�I am the child grandmother I should raise her,� she said.
�Look, I have an Idea lets let Kat choose,� Derek said.
�What,� Alex said.
�I agree�Kat you are 12 going on thirteen you are old enough to understand so who is it,� Philip said.
�Kathryn is but a child she can not choose what is best for her an adult must,� she said.
�STOP IT, Kat yelled.
�Kathryn,� her grandmother said.
�I may only be 12 but I know what I want. And as much as I love you I believe that Derek should raise me�he understands me more than you and Mr. Bailey said there nothing we can do about it,� Kat said.
She stood there looking in shock at her granddaughter who had just claimed that a man who she had only known for a few years could take better care of her. After a few minutes they left Nick still has not let go of Kat�s hand thinking someone might take off with her.
�Derek when did you sign the papers,� Nick asked.
�It must have been that paper I sign a month ago for her,� Derek said.
�You didn�t know,� Kat asked.
�I knew one of us would take you and you would be living at Angel Island but I didn�t know it was me,� Derek said.
�Can we go and eat, grandma doesn�t really cook well and I�m hungry,� Kat said.
�You read my mind,� Nick said.
The spirit watched and smiled as all was going as he had planned. Soon he would see what the legacy would do without Rachel and her child would do without her mother. But then again the child connection with Derek was like a father�s and daughter connection, so only time will tell. The love between these people was as strong as any family he had encountered over his thousand years of living.
Next Chapter: Second Chance