P.S. you know the drill. I am poor college student. I own nothing.

The next morning came much too early for Rachel, who would have preferred to remain under the protection of her comforter for the rest of her life. She arose, however, and went through the motions of living. She could almost feel the depression settling into her chest, a crushing weight that she was never going to escape.

A silk robe pulled on over her bra and panties, she padded her way to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee. The morning paper was sitting face up on the island counter and the room was empty. As she waited for the coffee to percolate, she glanced at the paper and froze.

"That's it. I've finally snapped. I'm hallucinating." The glaring headline COUNCILMAN ADVOCATES FOR SHUNNED WITCH stare back at her. She lifted a hand to grab the paper but she was shaking too badly. She couldn't control it. A little voice in the back of her mind said that she was going into a violent shock, but she ignored it. Moisture clouded her vision as she tried to read the article.

In a politically surprising move this morning, councilman Trent Kalamack publicly endorsed Rachel Morgan of Vampiric Charms, a runner who was recently shunned by the Coven for moral and ethical standards. In an exclusive interview with the man himself, Trent revealed his close connections to the witch and personally vouched for her character. "She's a wonderful person." He said, then added with his trademark grin. "Sometimes a little annoying, but still." He went on to say that he would use whatever resources in his power to have the shunning revoked.

Rachel Morgan, as our readers well know, was the witch who… Rachel skipped the description of herself, skimming down to the next paragraph.

Trent further said that he was the reason behind her most recent demon encounter, which was at the basis of the shunning. "I was betrayed by a close friend of mine. If Rachel had not saved me, I would right now be demon fodder. The demon mark she wears, she took for me. Her aura has smut on it that should be mine. She is not a black witch. She is a white witch who was forced into making extremely tough decisions. She has acted nobly and from her heart in everything I have ever seen her do. She is an example of what a fine witch, and a fine woman, should be." The interview's interest was piqued at this glowing endorsement from the powerful councilman, as we are sure to reader's is. His evasive response to follow up questions was accompanied by a very faint blush. "Rachel is a close friend. We grew up together. She is important in my life. Other than that it's not really any of your business." Being a gentleman, he of course apologized for being rude.

For all his evasion, it sounds to us like the councilman has finally been caught and what a great catch he is. However, now that the reasons behind the admittedly rather dubious looking recent events is known, we are confident that the shunning will be revoked. Councilman Kalamack also informed us that the mall riot and other recent black magic that has been attributed to Ms. Morgan was in fact the fault of a female banshee, whose name was not disclosed. The woman has been apprehended by the FIB, with the help of Ms. Morgan at great personal risk, and is currently in custody awaiting trial. This paper would like to humbly apologize to Ms. Morgan for wrongly accusing her of a great many things. We hope that in future truth will be the main focus of our reporting, rather then public opinion.

Rachel could no longer stand; the shaking was so bad. She slid to the floor; tears that she couldn't control pouring down her face. "This c-can't be-be real! W-Why would T-Trent d-do this for me?"

Her gaze was trained on the tiles under her feet, completely unfocused. She felt light, weightless, like she might float away. She was dizzy, though. The world spun around her and she thought she might faint. The only steady object was the newspaper in her hand.

It took a long time for her to come back to herself. She was cramping when she realized she was slumped on the floor. She stood shakily, feeling the sudden and intense need to see Trent, to find out why. The further she walked the steadier she because until she was nearly running to the front hall. Shoving her bare feet into a bare of boots and pulling on her long felt coat, because it was hanging there, she snatched her purse off the little table by the door. Pulling out her keys, she hurried to the car. She was nearly wild, driving almost blindly and much to fast. She needed to see Trent. Now.

In a much shorter time then it should have taken, she was pulling into the opening to his estate. The gravel crunched as she parked and leapt from the driver's seat. She did not spare a passing thought for that fact that they had let her in without question and she didn't even have to slow down. The gate had been open for her. She rang the bell and pulled the coat tightly around her. It was cold and she was not dressed for the weather. She ignored the temperature and bounced in her shoes. Nervous energy ran through her every movement. Surprisingly, Quen opened the door.

"Quen! I need to see Trent right now! I don't care what he's doing. I need to see him." Her hair was wild and windswept. Her legs under the coat were bare and shaking. In fact, her whole body was shaking.

"Ms. Morgan. Rachel. Are you alright?" Concern filled his voice as he ushered her inside.

"I will be when I see Trent. Please, Quen!" Her eyes begged him and he saw the newspaper clenched tightly in her fist. He was sure she didn't even realize she had it.

"Alright, Ms. Morgan. I will announce you. Follow me, please." There was a hint of amusement in his tone and affection.

"Thank you."

The two made their way up to Trent's home office, where he was currently holding an extremely important meeting with several company-heads from across the world. Quen knocked softly and enter, shutting the door behind him as Rachel paced nervously.

"Sa'han, Ms. Morgan is here to see you and I believe it is urgent." The amusement was much more evident now.

The blonde elf glanced from the men sitting at the table with him to Quen and back. "How urgent?"

"Very…"

"Yes, well—" Apparently, it was very urgent, as the door opening cut off his remark. Rachel entered looking, Trent thought, more beautiful then he had ever seen her. Her eyes were sparkling with an intense light and her hair floated around her like a halo. It almost looked as though she were standing on the edge of the Ever-After. He stood.

"Ms. Morgan, what—"

"Why! Why did you do it, Trent? You'll ruin you reputation! Then everything will be for nothing! Everything will be gone!" She looked about to cry.

It was then that he noticed what she was wearing. Her coat was hanging wide open, revealing a parted silk robe and a matching set of black lace underwear. His eyes widened. She must have come directly here from reading the paper at breakfast. He hoped she turned off the stove. "Rachel! Calm down! Nothing is ruined."

He went to her and hugged her. He didn't care if it was in front a room full of potential business partners. He reached up and smoothed the hair from her face. "Everything is fine." He turned. "Excuse us for a moment, gentlemen."

Her wild eyes shifted from his face to the men in the room and she gasped. Glancing down at herself she flushed and, turning she rushed from the room. Trent followed, muttering, "I will never understand her."

In the waiting room, which Sarah Jane had vacated, Rachel was once again pacing. Her coat and robe flared widely, like she didn't care if she exposed her body to him. She was much too distracted right now to worry about it. Trent, however, was finding immensely difficult to think of much else. Clothed she was beautiful. In barely anything but black lace bra and panties, she was exquisite.

"Trent! Why? Please, tell why you ruined yourself for me! I saved you so you could do good, save the elves, help people! You can't do that if you throw it all away because I guilted you into saving my ass, when it's not worth saving!"

Trent grabbed her again, and drew her to him. "Rachel! Calm down. Breath. Nothing is ruined." He felt her deep breath and then she relaxed in his arms. "I wasn't guilted into doing anything. When you left yesterday, I realized you were right. I meant what I said in the Ever-After. I do want to be more then I am. It is my fault that all this is happening to you…Okay maybe not all, but a lot of it. I wanted to fix it. I want to see you smile again. I never ever want to see that horrible defeat in your eyes again. You're a good person, Rachel Morgan. I believe what I told that reporter. You're a good person and a white witch."

She gazed up at him, her eyes wide and her lips parted. "But your reputation! You're a councilman! You—"

"My reputation can go Turn itself." He smiled softly at her. "Rachel…"

She stared at him not moving, as he lowered his head. He kissed her lightly. When he pulled back, he was greeted by a huge smile. He smiled in return. "Rachel, I want to be more for you. I never wanted you to hate me and I never hated you. You scared the shit out of me sometimes, but I never hated you. When I attacked you after we returned, I wasn't thinking straight. I was terrified and traumatized and I need to lash out at someone. I am so sorry that it was you. I'm sorry you can't have the family you always wanted. I'm sorry that because of me you trapped in a deal with… that thing. I…I think I'm falling in love with you and I can't help myself. I'm sorry about that too…"

He released her and turned away, not willing to see the disgust in her eyes. "I know you're in love with Ivy and I know that you were dating that swimmer guy. I am doing what I can to get the shunning revoked and it should be done by the end of the week. Then you can go back to your life and your loves and then you don't ever have to see me again. I'm so sorry I made you hate me."

She watched the hunch of his shoulders as he took a couple steps away from her. He could seem to move properly. "Trent…"

He straightened his shoulders, but didn't turn back to her. "I never hated you and I never will. I said that to you yesterday to hurt you. I didn't think it actually would. I love Ivy, yes, but I could never be with her. I'm just not made that way. I do not love Mitchell and I never will. He's safe. He was fun and now he's gone. And I don't have a thing for Pierce, no matter what Jenks will tell you. I don't care if he is Rachel Candy." She took a couple steps closer, almost so that she was pressed against his back. "Trent. Honestly, I have nothing left to lose and you can't use it against me any more. I'm in love with you. I have been since we were at camp together. I didn't know it until we were trapped in the Ever-After together, but I realized then that you mean everything to me. I can't—"

Trent spun and stared at her. "You mean it?"

Her eyes narrowed. "Okay, I pulled some low stunts in the past, but that is just insulting. Of course, I mean it!"

A grin impossibly wide pulled his mouth up and he seized her. Spinning her around in the air, he hugged her fiercely. "I love you, Rachel Morgan. I never thought I'd ever love anyone."

She held his face in both hands and gazed at him for a moment. Then she kissed him with such urgency and passion that it nearly took his breath away.