A.N. Another chapter done. This one took me somewhere I wasn't expecting to go, but that's not always a bad thing. I'll let you decide. I don't own Hocus Pocus, blah blah, blah. Read on!

OooOooOooOooO (Lacia POV)

I felt the street begin to rumble under my feet, and all at once I heard the sounds of a rapidly approaching car. Then a warm body smashed into mine and threw me clear of the vehicle.

A second later, I found myself staring up into Binx's brown eyes as I tried to figure out what had just happened. 'Did I just almost get hit by a car?' I speculated. 'I think Binx just saved my life.'

"Um… thanks," I stammered. His eyes went all funny for a second, and he shifted slightly as he hovered over me. 'Did he just get closer?'

"You're welcome. Next time, use the sidewalk. That's what it's for," he suggested. I laughed to cover my bewilderment. Then an idea popped into my head and out of my mouth without passing through my mental filter first.

"You know, this is the second time tonight we've ended up like this." He appeared to think it over before he answered.

"Yeah, but at least this time there are no witches," he added. I concurred, and another random idea emerged. I had been thinking about mentioning it for a while, but I had never had the opportunity. I took the time to do so now.

"I can't believe what Winifred said about us! Well, technically she said it about you, but it had nasty implications for me too." I fought down the blush that wanted to rise in my cheeks.

"She's never liked me, obviously, and you were messing up the grand plan. Being rude was one of the only things she could do to discomfit us at the time, and she has no qualms about playing dirty. Sorry if it upset you," he explained. I thought over his rationalization and decided that it made perfect sense. I also chose not to let the rudeness bother me.

"No, because I knew it wasn't true. I got over rumor-mongering years ago, and no one else was going to hear about it anyway." He looked at me oddly for a moment before replying.

"Good for you. Most people don't figure that sort of thing out at your age," he praised me. I shoved down the blush once more at his compliment and elected to joke about it.

"And I suppose you're some sort of all knowing guru?" I inquired with a smirk. He grinned back and accepted my challenge.

"No, but I have had three hundred years to figure a few things out," he shot back. I gave a shrug; he had me there.

"Good point. So share some wisdom, oh Exalted One." He laughed loudly and gleefully about that, and my smile grew. He made a big show of thinking.

"How about this: we should get off of the ground because we have things we need to do. As much fun as this has been, there's work to be done," he suggested.

I forced down a sigh; I was having fun, but he had a point. "Right," I consented. Binx didn't move, and I got the feeling that he didn't know why I wasn't getting up. I chose to break the silence.

"Oh Ancient One, I can't get up until you get off of me," I pointed out.

He flushed. "Oh, right. Sorry," he mumbled as he got to his feet. I started to get up, and he offered me a helping hand. I took it, and he tugged me to my feet. We walked back towards the catacombs hand in hand. I made sure to keep to the sidewalk. A minute or so passed quietly.

"Does this happen to you often?" Binx questioned abruptly. I glanced at him in surprise.

"Having witches after me? Holding hands with a three hundred and fifteen year old boy? Dodging zombies? No, this isn't my average day," I replied. He shook his head.

"No, not that. Sorry. I meant your mom leaving you home alone. You said it like it was a typical event," he clarified.

"Where did this come from?" I hedged. I didn't want to admit my mom's dilemma to Binx. 'If he knows, he won't treat me the same way. No one does, and he'll be no different,' I reflected.

"I've been thinking about the things you've told me. So is it normal?" He refused to be diverted.

"I… fine. Yes, it is a fairly regular occurrence. She's only home about every other month anymore. She… she has a problem," I confessed.

"Talking might make you feel better, but you don't have to tell me if you don't want to," he assured me. The thought only lasted for a moment before I banished it.

"No, you deserve to know," I said. I took a deep shaky breath in preparation, and he squeezed my hand to show support. "A year after Dad died, she met a new guy. Things went okay at first, but it ended badly. She started… drinking. It wasn't so bad at first, but then she started staying out all night and coming home still trashed. After a while, she became an all-out alcoholic. A few months after that, I found out that she was doing drugs. She's shattered her life completely at this point. The only part of her that's left keeps her away from me. She figures that it's too late for her, but she can protect me from it. When she is home, she goes bar-hopping every night and sometimes doesn't come home until the next afternoon. A few times, she's gotten sauced at home and hit me.

"I stay at Katie's most of the time, but I can handle myself at home if I can't take being around that girl anymore. The last time Mom was home, she brought a random man back. When he left, she drank herself into a stupor, knocked me around a little, and left. She hasn't been home since then, and that was two months ago. I don't know if she's even still alive," I finished. There were tears in my eyes again, but I shoved them back. 'I've done my crying about this already,' I told myself.

"So that's why you said you were on your own," Binx breathed. He spun me in for a tight hug. "I'm so sorry, Lacy," he whispered into my hair.

"It's okay," I sniffed. "I get by, and that's all I can ask for. Please don't act any differently around me because of this," I begged. He slid back enough to look at my face, and I stared back with as much intensity as I could muster. "I liked the way you treated me before."

"Lacy, why on earth would I treat you any differently?" He asked incredulously.

"Everyone else always acted like I was fragile after they found out. It made them think that I was weak and delicate," I answered sadly. "I don't want you to think that I'm all frail and vulnerable."

He shook his head fervently. "If anything, this makes you stronger, Lacy. But of course I won't treat you differently."

"Thank you," I responded gratefully. "Now can we please stop talking about this and move on? We still need to go get the book back," I informed him.

"Yeah, sure. Let's go," he acquiesced. This time, I was the one who reached out and took his hand in mine. He peeked down at our joined hands and then back up at me. I smiled at him and tugged as I started walking.

"C'mon," I called joyfully. I felt emancipated of my grief. Binx had been right; talking had bled the poison from the wound and left me free. Now I was almost happy enough to skip; everything seemed lighter.

After a moment of shock at my rapid mood change, he laughed, let go of my hand, and ran up behind me. I had no time for confusion before he caught me by the waist from behind, lifted me off of the ground, and spun me. I started giggling along with him. His antics cleared the air of sorrow, and my laughter rang true. When he finally set me down, we were both out of breath. I turned to face him once more.

I gazed up into his clear brown eyes; they sparkled with happiness now. I was transfixed, and it seemed that he was too. Time slowed almost to a halt as we stared at each other.

"K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" Called a small child. We broke away from each other and searched for the kid. We had forgotten about the trick-or-treaters, and suddenly we were surrounded by children in costumes. I didn't even bother to say anything; I just started rushing toward the manhole. 'We'll never get there if we keep getting distracted like this,' I thought with a roll of my eyes. The joy still lingered, but I focused on my newfound determination to get back the book. I heard Binx struggling to catch up at a walk. Finally he broke into a run, and seconds later he was by my side.

I halted just short of the metal disk, but it wasn't over the hole anymore. It appeared that safety wasn't an issue for Billy; he hadn't bothered to put the thing back. I leaned over and looked into the dark hole.

"Geronimo," I whispered.

OooOooOooOooO

A.N. That was unexpected. This chapter kinda ran away with me. Sorry it got so dark in the middle there. I tried to lighten it up after that. And they finally got back to the tunnel! Anyway, I hope you guys liked it. Review!