The spirits are here

Of those we hold dear.

"Call down the stars

For those we love,

Call down the angels

For those we've lost,

Journey's end, a place to spend

Eternity in the Summerland."

Harmony waved her wand over the feast of the dead to bless the harvest vegetables, fruit, pumpkin bread, and pomegranate wine, which they would share with each other, the deities, and the spirits, in celebration on this Samhain night.

"This feast we leave

This Samhain Eve.

Those passed to nourish

As they slip the veil."

Storm lit a black tea light.

"This year dies

On harvest skies

But life takes place

In Goddess grace."

Destiny lit a black tea light.

"Good come to us each one

Negative from us begone

May the new season bring

Love, light, and blessings."

Harmony lit a black tea light.

"Each beginning an end

Each end a beginning

Bless us here and those apart

Blessed be; you hold our hearts."

Morgan stepped up and placed Meggie's doll on the altar. "On this night, I remember my twin, Meggie. Meghan, my sweet; my heart that was broken and hollowed at your loss is now mended and full. I loved you then. I love you now. I always will. I will love you until we meet again-"

He turned to Destiny. "Where?"

"In the Summerland," Destiny replied.

"Megs, until we meet again in the Summerland. God-speed."

Destiny brought Horace's uniform cap and a baby bonnet that Ida had embroidered. "I remember my friend Horace, who led Morgan through the tunnel maze beneath the lighthouse to find me. Blessed be, Horace, Ida, and baby makes three. Peace dear family for eternity."

Harmony placed one of their nana's mirrors on the altar, the one in which she had seen Lisette wearing the gown that brought her to Paxton Castle, to the love of her life-had brought each of the triplet triad to the loves of their lives, Destiny realized. "Nana, we missed you in life and mourn you in death," Harmony said. "We've lived in your home, worked in your shop, known you better, and loved you more. Thank you for preparing Vickie to receive us. You carry all our hearts in the Summerland."

Storm placed their many great-grandmother Lili's diary and book of shadows on the altar. "Lili of Clan Lockhart, grandmother, matriarch, Pictish witch, your message we heed, and your heritage we keep. With the laird of Mackenzie, may your love bloom sweet in the Summerland."

Destiny looked to see if, by any chance, Nana or Lili had joined them this night, but they had not, yet she knew that all their ancestors were smiling down on them in spirit.

Storm and Aiden, together, brought to the altar a copper seahorse necklace fashioned by the mother of Aiden's baby daughter, their baby now. "Claudette," Storm said. "We're raising Becky so she knows that you gave her life. Bright blessings."

Aiden cleared his throat. "We're raising her with love, Claude, and with a big sister named Pepper. Your mother is with us, too. Rest in peace."

Destiny swallowed hard. Most of their loved ones were still with them, praise the Goddess, though their babies and some of their siblings, whether by birth or adopted, were either asleep nearby, or elsewhere, by necessity.

Harmony blessed and included each in the celebration by name: "We thank the Goddess and ask for blessings for our half sister, Vickie, her husband Rory, and their little Rory in Scotland.

"For our half sister, Pepper, for Aiden and Storm's baby Becky, and Becky's grandmother Ginny, all here on the island at the windmill.

"Bless Regina and Jake, King's daughter and grandson, our dear friends, Melody and Logan, Kira and Jason, and their children. And bless our own babes soon to come."

Destiny and her sisters regarded each other with inquiry, their triplet telepathy running rampant. "Not me" became the mantra, with a wink and a "yet" after each, except for Destiny who abstained from adding "yet," the omission nearly breaking her.

Harmony changed the music to the golden moldy "Monster Mash" for an upbeat ritual celebration of life and after-life, to which they could dance in the circle with the spirits.

Harmony and King, Aiden and Storm, swung their booties with enthusiasm, but Morgan took her tenderly in his arms, so tenderly that Destiny fell deeper in love, if that were possible, and he waltzed her in place so as not to hurt her, his love for her shining in his eyes.

How could she resist? And yet they were so different.

She wanted to weep for what they could never have.

To end the ritual, they a shared a feast to thank God and Goddess, with pumpkin bread, honey, apples, and pomegranate wine, leaving a piece and sip of each on the altar for the deities.

Before her sisters and brothers-in-law left, they placed the bowl of harvest fruits and vegetables on the porch for the wandering spirits of their loved ones to refresh themselves during their earth-side journey this night.

Neither her sisters nor Morgan would let Destiny off the fainting couch to say good-bye, so she accepted their blessings and kisses from there.